August 26, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•ACF worried over growing pro-Biafra agitations P11 •Police team to enforce withdrawal of VIPs’ security P4 •NNPC to review Petroleum Industry Bill in one year P53 •Asia’s richest man loses $13billion in China crash P59 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3318 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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Abuja

going by the recommendations of the commission, which fixes salaries and wages for public officers.

Mbam spoke to reporters at the State House in Abuja after a meeting of the RMA-

•INSIDE: NIGERIA

•Blasts kill six

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Nigerians abroad remitted $20b in 2014, says Osinbajo From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

•New pay structure coming for public officers From Augustine Ehikioya,

NEWS

Page 57

•www.thenationonlineng.net

No federal lawmaker should earn more than N1m, says RMAFC HE Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is unaware of lawmakers’ jumbo pay.

Its Chairman Elias Mbam said yesterday that no senator or House of Representatives member should earn more than N1m monthly,

8,700 troops to fight Boko Haram

D

IASPORA Nigerians remitted home about $20b last year, the Federal Government said yesterday.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the government will tap into the experience the Nigerians abroad to deepen the economy.

Those in the Diaspora will however wait for some time before they can start voting in elections.

Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke at the 2015 Diaspora Day held at the Old Ban-

FC with President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, a new pay structure that will reflect the economic realities will be proposed next month for all categories of public officers.

Although President Buhari and Vice President Yemi OsContinued on page 4

•Prof. Osinbajo

Continued on page 4

IMPORTS N16B TOMATOES YEARLY P53 GOVT OWES N35B PENSION DEBTS P53

19 Defence, Service chiefs to face arms deals panel Four ex-NSAs, 8 ex-ministers also to be questioned Five Israelis to be invited From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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HE arms purchase probe panel will examine contracts executed during the administrations of no fewer than 19 former military chiefs. They are five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers (NSAs) and eight former Ministers of Defence.

The probe has created panic among retired military chiefs who coordinated arms purchases in the last eight years, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Some of the officers, according to sources, have started making moves to have access to “vital records”.

It was also learnt that five Israelis, who played major roles in arms procurement for the military in the last six years, are to be invited by the committee, whose members were named on Monday after President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

The Israelis reportedly left the country on the eve of the general elections, following signs that Buhari might win the poll.

The government has directed that tight security be provided for members of the panel.

The assignment is comWILL THE prehensive; it will run CHIBOK GIRLS EVER through many administrations.

RETURN?

?

Continued on page 4

•The ill-fated fuel tanker at Olosa bus stop, Mushin in Lagos...yesterday.

Two injured, three buses burnt in Lagos tanker fire STORY ON PAGE 60

•The burnt buses...yesterday.

PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•LIFE P13 •SPORTS P23 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •POLITICS P45 •FOREIGN P59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS The courts are busy, their hands full of various disputes. Not a few of these cases are by military officers who accuse the Army of wrongfully dismissing them. OLUKOREDE YISHAU examines the cases of Major Ekundayo Awoyomi and others against the army.

T •President Muhammadu Buhari being captured for the National Identity Card by the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Chris Onyemenem, at the presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holding Plc., Oba Otudeko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc., Jim Ovia, at the NSE Premium Board launched at NSE House, Marina, Lagos. PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

HE weather is bright these days but certainly not for Ekundayo Awoyomi. There is nothing really bright in his heart. As far as he is concerned, he is not supposed to be at his Ahmaddiyya home, off the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, on the outskirts of Lagos, especially, on work days.

Except when on vacation, he should be at work in the public relations directorate of the Nigerian Army, which he joined as a Lieutenant on March 1, 1978. But he has been on ‘forced’ leave since September 1990.

Most times, he is in his living room trying to keep himself busy.

Awoyomi was eased out of the military as a Major 25 years ago. His disengagement letter bore no reason he was asked to go. Going by a military signal of August 2001, the minutes of the Army Council meeting where his retirement was approved was missing and “there is no disciplinary entry in the officer’s personal file”.

The Obokun, Oyo State-born sexagenarian has been turned to a fighter.

He has written several lettersand visited court rooms since his sack. But 25 years after, the 1976 Psychology graduate of the University of Illinois, Chicago, United States (U.S.) is still searching for justice.

Awoyomi is not alone. Even by the Army’s admission, the list of soldiers who accuse their employer of wrongful termination of their employment has been growing. They include the Boko Haram 126 and others. The explosion in their population began many years ago. So disturbing was the population that it was a major point of a February 26, 2009 signal by the Directorate of Army Legal Services (DALS).

The Boko Haram 126

•From left: Director, Sales, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc., Mr. Hubert Eze, Enugu State Governor’s representative Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Vervelde, his wife, Clementine and Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, at the Gulder Ultimate Search Promo at Okpara Sqaure, Enugu State...yesterday.

PHOTO:MUYIWA HASSAN

•From left: Founder, The Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe; Regional Operations Director, South Region, Airtel Nigeria, Veronica Onoja and international digital media expert, Dan Mason, at the opening of Airtel Multimedia Journalism Clinic for select journalists in the Southsouth/ Southeast zones in Enugu State...yesterday.

Barring the unforeseen, Justice Babatunde Adejumo of the NIC will be busy on October 19. His schedule that day will include the case of some 126 soldiers sacked as a fallout of the battle to recapture Bazza in Adamawa State from Boko Haram in October, last year. They were enlisted between 1979 and 2013.

The 126 were among 255 soldiers who were dismissed on January 13 and 14, over what the Army called alleged “disobedience to standing order and failure to perform military duties”.

The soldiers, who claimed to have been sacked through oral communication, took their case before the NIC, sitting in Abu ja.

The plaintiffs are: four warrant officers and others in the ranks of sergeants, corporal, lance corporal, and private. Among the sacked warrant officers are: Akanny Welcome, Davou Nta, Ibrahim Usman and Adediran Ogunmuyiwa.

Their dismissal, according to the officers, was communicated to them orally at their station by Lt-Col. M.J Gambo and Garrison Commander, Gen. B.O Akinroluoyo.

But the Army claimed that the plaintiffs disobeyed their Commanding Officer, Lt-Col. A. A. Egbejule, during a counter-attack by Boko Haram in Bazza.

But, a lawyer in Femi Falana’s law firm, Deji Morakinyo, argued that the soldiers were denied “inviolable opportunity to be heard and make representation in defence and to state their cases”.

According to Morakinyo, the sol-

diers only retreated on the order by their Commanding Officer for “tactical withdrawal” after the terrorists overwhelmed them with “AA anticraft guns, APCS, RPGs, GPMGs, and other sophisticated and superior weapons”.

Morakinyo added: “The claimants particularly aver that due to the insurgents’ counter-attack and the recapture of Bazza from the personnel of the defendant (the Nigerian Army), their Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. A.A Egbejule, in line with military tradition, ordered tactical withdrawal by the Joint Task Force (JTF) so as to re-strategise.

“The claimants further and particularly aver that consistent with military tradition, the Joint Force had to comply with the superior order of their Commanding Officer, hence they withdrew as ordered by their Commanding Officer.”

Now, they want the court to order the Army to pay them their salaries in arrears and other entitlements since they were sacked in January.

They are praying the court to pay them N1m each for breach of fundamental human rights to fair hearing and N5m each as the cost for prosecuting the suit.

But, the Army, through its notice of preliminary objection, filed by its lawyer, Commander A.A Abu, insisted that the plaintiffs were duly sacked and thus asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

Abu said: “The claimants were summarily tried, convicted and dismissed from service, thus this honourable court lacks requisite jurisdiction to hear and entertain the suit as constituted and conceived. This honourable court cannot sit on appeal on the summary trial of the claimant pursuant to sections 155, 125 and 179 of the Armed Forces Act.”

The cases of Lt.Col. K. S. Iberi and Gen. Aminu-Kano Like the “Boko Haram 126”, Lt-Col. K. S. Iberi approached the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which ordered the then Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) to reinstate him with immediate effect. Iberi who was fired on May 26, 1998 via a court martial, got the judicial reprieve in 2013.

The Court of Appeal also quashed the conviction and the two-year jail term slammed on him by the court martial, presided over by Col. Z. M. Yaduma. Iberi served his term of imprisonment before filing an appeal against his dismissal, conviction and sentence.

Justice Rita Pemu said there was no reason why the panel of the court martial would find Iberi guilty of the charges against him. He was accused of being involved in a trick or device to defraud.

The court ruled that there was no nexus to show that Iberi conspired with anybody to commit any crime or cheated one John Nwodo of N377, 000 and one 1300 Mitsubishi Bus with Registration No. BQ 628 AAA on the pretext of awarding a contract valued at N10 million from the Army Headquarters, Lagos.

The court also ruled that the participation of Iberi’s juniors, Major P. J. O. Bojie and Major R. J. Diri, as substantive members of the court martial rendered the trial a nullity.

Another case lost by the Army was

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

•Obasanjo

•Falana

•Adoke

•Danbazzau

•Awoyomi

Army of aggrieved officers and men that of Brig-Gen Maude AminuKano, who was eased out of the Army as Commander, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA). In September 2005, a court martial was set up to try him for charges on circulation of false information on Col. N.E. Ekwale and Col. P.A. Toun.

Eight witnesses were called by the Army but Brig-Gen. Aminu-Kano pleaded not guilty to the charges and objected to the sitting of the court martial on the ground that the offence for which he was being tried in Abuja was committed under 81 Division in Lagos. He also argued that he had been pardoned for the offences he was being tried.

The court martial dismissed his arguments and went ahead with the matter. He was subsequently found guilty of all charges, convicted and sentenced. He was also sentenced to a reduction in rank for each count of the seven charges against him.

A displeased Brig-Gen. AminuKano approached the Court of Appeal, which set aside the decisions of the court martial. The Army was dissatisfied and went to the Supreme Court. It was defeated. Justices George Oguntade, Francis Tabai, Ibrahim Muhammad, John Fabiyi and Olufunlola Adekeye, on February 29, 2010, relied on Section 171 of the Armed Forces Act. Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 to defeat the Army.

The section states: “Where a person subject to service law under this Act (a) has been tried for an offence by a competent civil or court martial under service law; or (b) has been charged with an offence under service law and has had the charges dismissed, or has been found guilty on the charge on summary trial under this Act; or (c) has had an offence condoned by his commanding officer, he shall not be liable in respect of that offence to be tried by a court martial or to have the case dealt with summarily under this Act.” The justices ruled that what the Army did to Brig-Gen. Aminu-Kano amounted to double jeopardy. He was reinstated and thereafter retired from the Army with his entitlements.

The curious case of Major Awoyomi Major Awoyomi has not been as lucky as Brig-Gen Aminu-Kano. It took Brig-Gen Aminu-Kano five years to right the wrong done to him. But, 25 years on, Major Awoyomi is still searching for justice. Many of his colleagues have since retired from the Army as generals.

In January 2000, Major Awoyomi

Military: we must prevent bandwagon effect

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HE reason for the Army fighting tooth and nail to ensure Major Ekundayo Awoyomi does not receive salaries and allowances commensurate with the status of a general, which he would have become by now, can be gleaned from a DALS letter of February 26, 2009.

The letter shows that the Army was afraid of bandwagon effects. It feels there are many Awoyomis who latch on the development should the sexagenarian be allowed to have his way.

The letter reads: “At the FHC, the applicant insisted on reinstatement.

At the out-of-court settlement, he seems to be asking for the whopping sum of one hundred and two million, eight hundred and fifty four thousand naira being total sum •Buratai of salaries, allowances and other benefits accruable to an officer of his standing from the date of his retirement.

“The respondent seems to insist that he is entitled to the reinstatement and by his calculation, he should be entitled to reinstatement at the level of a general of the NA (Nigerian Army), rather than as a Major, since going by the court judgment, the retirement was a nullity and his mates in the NA are now generals. petitioned the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, detailing his plight, especially, his inability to receive pension after he was retired.

The Directorate of Military Pension (DMP) had refused to pay on the basis that he had not stayed for 15 years in the Army. Two months after the letter to the former President, Aliyu Mohammed, who was his Chief of Staff, replied. The Major was given two options: to take his grievances to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), or go to the Oputa Panel. He chose to go to the COAS. The Army Headquarters issued a letter, directing the DMP to pay his entitlements on the basis that he was retired “through no fault of his”. But, the DMP refused to pay his benefits and that marked the beginning of his legal battle being spearheaded by the Femi Falana Chambers. Coincidentally, the same firm is handling the Boko Haram 126 case.

In 2001, Falana instituted a case on Awoyomi’s behalf at the Federal High Court, Lagos. As a result of the suit, the military Secretary conducted an inquiry and found out that Awoyomi was never disciplined before his retirement and that he was entitled to gratuity and pension.

An August 27, 2001 letter from the Army’s Legal Department, advised

He should therefore earn a general’s benefits, i.e. commensurate with his rank he had not been retired unjustly.

“It would be preposterous to accept these terms of settlement and to that extent; it is advised that he is invited by the DOAA for a discussion with a view to a clear cut settlement. His going to the MOD to solicit a settlement is like putting the cart before the horse.

“Thereafter, any success achieved in consequence of DOAA intervention should then be communicated to the HMOD for his endorsement or further action.

“Meanwhile, it is requested that AHQ efforts to keep the appeal against the judgment be continued to forestall negative bandwagon effect on numerous retired officers that feel unjustifiably treated by the NA. “It is very safe to say that such type of officers who may want to take on the NA for having been retired against their will and acceptance are a large number.”

With this kind of position, it was not surprising that the Army went as far as the Supreme Court, which on May 20, threw out their case against Major Awoyomi because “this application is incompetent”.

that it would be good to initiate outof-court settlement “with a view to paying him his entitlements and obviating any embarrassment it may cause the NA”.

As a result of the legal advice, the Army re-issued the document asking the DMP to pay Major Awoyomi. The DMP stood its ground. The suit thus continued and six years later, on December 13, 2006, Justice Abdu Kafarati ruled that Major Awoyomi ‘s retirement was defective. The judge ordered that he should “be paid his salaries, allowances and all other benefits from the date of his purported retirement - that is 1990 to date”. The judge clarified that the date of the judgment should be taken into consideration as having formed part of his service years.

The Army neither appealed the ruling within the stipulated time nor obeyed it, despite the advice from the Attorney-General’s office, forcing Major Awoyomi to institute a committal proceeding against the Army chief on October 10, 2007.

On November 6, 2008, Justice Akinjide Ajakaiye ordered the then army chief, Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, to appear before him.

For the more than a year the contempt proceeding lasted, the Army only sent a Lt-Col to represent it.

Justice Ajakaiye, on October 8, 2009, ruled that he could not commit the army chief and instead advised Major Awoyomi to seek ways of collecting his salaries and allowances.

He was dejected. The sexagenarian had no choice but to rely on a garnishee proceeding to get the Army to pay him.

After some dilly-dallying, the proceeding began and the Army was asked to calculate Major Awoyomi’s salaries, allowances and other benefits. When the Army was not forthcoming, Major Awoyomi did the calculation on his own. He came up with N67 million. He was, however, advised by lawyers to allow the accounts department of the court to do the arithmetic. It arrived at about N70 million.

On January 10, 2010, Justice Ajakaiye ordered the Army to pay Major Awoyomi about N70 million with 21 per cent annual interest. The Army subsequently did its own calculation arriving at N7 million as his allowances and salaries from 1990 to 2006. The calculations were done based on what Major Awoyomi was earning when he was retired and not on the subsisting salary scale of an officer of his rank.

This, according to observers, is unfair and stands justice on the face.

A.E. Arinde and Co representing the Army By the time Justice Ajakaiye was setting aside his earlier order on June 3, 2010, a private law firm of A.E. Arinde and Co, had taken over the Army’s defence. It was brought in by the Army in 2007. This was despite the objection of the Ministry of Justice through a September 17, 2008 letter that the firm had no letter of fiat to do so. That notwithstanding, the judge ruled in the Army’s favour, approving N7 million as Major Awoyomi’s entitlements. Justice Ajakaiye did not approve the N5m calculated by the Army Pensions Board because as far as he was concerned the officer still remains in the Army.

Major Awoyomi had mixed feelings over the judgment. He was pleased with the order insisting that he remains an officer but displeased with the N7 million approved for him as salaries and allowances.

To him, a bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush. So, he decided to take the money first and complain later. Still, the Army did not act on time. The court had to order its banker, Zenith Bank, to pay the N7 million.

The struggle continues For Major Awoyomi and other aggrieved military personnel, there is no retreat and no surrender. The struggle continues. They believe that with victory coming the way of Lt.Col. K. S. Iberi and Brig-Gen. Aminu-Kano, there is hope.

After collecting the N7 million, Awoyemi believes there are other issues the court has to resolve.

The issues are: •Whether the private law firm of A.E. Airende and Co has the right to continue to appear for a government organisation without the fiat of the Attorney-General?

•Whether the Army and their solicitors have the right to set aside the order granted on January 12, 2010?

•Whether the calculation of the Army should take pre-eminence over the one done by the court’s account department?

•And lastly, whether the judge erred by upholding the March 22, 2010 counter affidavit of the Army?

And for the “Boko Haram 126”, they are eagerly awaiting October 19 for the hearing of their case at the Industrial Court. They may also get some respite from the new leadership of the Army, led by Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, which is reviewing their cases.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

NEWS

•President Muhammadu Buhari shaking hands with Beninoise President Boni Yayi after a meeting at the State House in Abuja...yesterday. With them (from right) are: National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bulus Paul Lolo, Chief of Defence Staff; Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, Permanent secretary State House Nebolisa Emodi, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali and others.

‘No federal lawmaker should earn more than N1m’ Continued from page 1

inbajo have slashed their salaries by 50 per cent, federal lawmakers have expressed disinterest in cutting their pay.

But Mbam told reporters yesterday that if the lawmakers’ salaries are cut by the RMAFC after the review, they must abide by the decision.

“They do not have a choice; we are guided by the Constitution and we are going to be guided by such laws that are provided for in the Constitution and the oath they swore to obey the laws of the country.

“We are currently reviewing the subsisting remuneration packages and it is going to reflect the socio-economic realities of today.

On when a new package will be ready, Mbam said: “We expect that before the end of next month it will be ready. But it will go through a process. It is not something that you will just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. It will go through a process and it should be obvious to you the economic realities of the day and it is going to reflect that.

“Recently, the oil price dropped. Many government agencies, the states and local governments have not been able to pay their salaries. These are some of the issues that made it necessary to review it.

“It did not start with this administration; we started the review as far back as last year. It is not because of the present administration that we commenced it.”

He spoke of the President’s advice “to ensure that we use all legitimate means to make all public office holders take home the remuneration as determined by the Commission and ensure that leakages are blocked and we try to expand the size of the cake”.

On revenue sharing formula, Mbam said a draft copy is ready but needed the approval of several authorities before a final copy is released.

“I do not want to give a definite date because it is beyond my control. I do not determine when the process will be concluded but as far as the Commission is concerned, we have concluded our work and announced to the general public that we have a draft.

“But you know it goes through a process before it finally becomes a law,” he

said A statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on (Media and Publicity), Mallam Garba Shehu, on the meeting said President Buhari blamed past administrations for the situation in which Nigeria is forced to spend billions of naira annually on alleged subsidies for petroleum products.

Shehu quoted the president as saying that the escalation of petroleum subsidy payments over the recent years was due to the deliberate neglect of the nation’s refineries, oil pipelines and other related infrastructure in order to allow the importation of petroleum products and for corruption to thrive.

The President restated his Continued on page 58

19 Defence, Service chiefs to face arms deals panel Continued from page 1

A source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as “the sensitivity of the matter”, said: “The probe will require looking into the administrations of five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers and eight former ministers. It is a Herculean task.

“Already, there is panic in

the circle of retired military officers on the intent of the evaluation of arms purchase.

Some of these former military chiefs have reached out to panel members to allow them have access to relevant documents.”

A military source gave insight into why it is necessary to invite the former CDS, Service Chiefs, NSAs and ex-ministers.

The source said: “All arms

deals were not subjected to the nation’s procurement laws even though the late President Umaru Yar’Adua specifically said there should be no due process waiver for the military.

“Most of the military chiefs cited security reasons for not subjecting those purchases to the nation’s laws. So, some of these military officers either depended on the Ministry of Defence or used internal mech-

anisms to buy arms.

“In some instances, there were directives from the Presidential Villa as in the case of the $466.5m contract awarded to a financier of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to weaponise six Puma helicopters. The immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Continued on page 58

UN to adopt SDGs Sept 21

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HE United Nations (UN) will adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the successor programme to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on September 21, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on MDGs,

Hajiya Amina Al-Zubair, said yesterday. The SDGs will be the new approach to tackling global development issues.

She listed 17 goals that will drive the SDGs, including Continued on page 58

Police deploy team to enforce withdrawal of security from VIPs

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HE police are set to implement the presidential directive on withdrawal of police orderlies from unauthorised persons.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive last week when he met with the Ministry of Police Affairs.

A statement yesterday by the Police Service Commission (PSC) said Very Important Persons (VIPs) not entitled to police orderlies should look elsewhere for security cover.

According to a statement by Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, a high level monitoring team had been deployed at the airports, highways and other public places to enforce the directive.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the commission, Mr Mike Okiro, as saying that the team had the powers to stop VIPs’ on the highways and airports to confirm their status.

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

He said any erring VIP or policeman caught in such unauthorised beat would be prosecuted.

Okiro said the commission and the leadership of the Police will enforce the presidential directive to the letter.

He stressed that henceforth only authorised government officials and VIPs’ will be entitled to police security.

Okiro noted that the nation could not be battling with inadequate Police personnel while majority of these scarce officers were in the service of few privileged Nigerians. ``Nigeria Police will now be structured to do its primary duties of providing internal security and protecting lives and property,’’ Okiro said.

He said that commission would give the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force the reContinued on page 58

Diaspora Nigerians remitted $20b in 2014, says Osinbajo Continued from page 1

quet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The theme of the conference is: “Diaspora and Nigeria Change Agenda.”

The VP said legislation, huge finance, and confidence in the electoral system were required before diaspora voting can commence.

He said: “We are also aware of the importance of voting rights of Nigerians abroad.

But to achieve this, the National Assembly will have to legislate. Diaspora voting is in Nigeria’s future.

“Because obviously there is a lot to be done including building confidence in the Nigerian electoral process.

The skills and planning required in planning a number of national election in an atmosphere of continued suspicion of each party is a major challenge by itself.

“Our electoral process is

evolving and as greater confidence is built in the institutions and processes associated with it we may then create voting opportunities for our citizens abroad in the not too distant future,’’ he said.

According to him, his administration was building a new Nigeria that requires the support and participation of all, including Nigerians in the Diaspora.

He said: “Permit me to take this opportunity to integrate the place and role of Nigerians abroad in the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration.

“This is because we have embarked on the building of a bold new Nigeria and we need all hands on deck.

“The time has come for talents from home and abroad to mix it up in patriotic zeal to fashion the Nigeria of our dreams.” He stated.

He added: “First let me quickly lay out our medium to long term strategy as a

government.

“It is namely to build an economy led by a strong and responsible private sector.”

The President said government’s intervention would come in the provision of physical and economic infrastructure and social policies that provide opportunity and succour for the 110 million extremely poor Nigerians in the country.

He said the administration was targeting consistent generation of 5,000 MW of power daily by early 2016, describing it as a modest target from what was already available.

The President also said efforts were on to complete a variety of outstanding power-related projects in order to lay the foundation for 10,000MW and 15,000 MW subsequently.

Buhari said government was pursuing a long overdue reform in the hydrocarbon industry and reorganising

the NNPC and holding the officials accountable for past revenue losses.

He said government would improve the local refining capacity to reduce the over 37 per cent of foreign exchange applied to the importation of refined products.

In agriculture, he said a programme of self-sustenance was on in the production of rice, wheat cotton in order to reduce foreign exchange requirement for importation of such items.

He said rice importation alone gulped about $4 billion annually adding that seven rice producing states were working in concert with the Federal Government to map out the pathway to self-sustenance in rice production within 30 months.

He said the agricultural and agro-allied value chain remained a priority of government in job creation plans as it would support local agriculture.

He said plans were on to create a friendly and efficient environment for investments by removing bureaucracies and red tapes in approval processes stressing that the incentive regime in the country would also be reviewed.

Efforts, he said, are on to return all garment and textile factories to full production capacity within the shortest time possible.

He said to address youth unemployment, government will invest in infrastructure, technology, agriculture and mining while the one-meal-aday programme for primary schools would also create many jobs and business opportunities.

The President said that government would implement Continued on page 58

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

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HE nation’s quest for massive development in critical public infrastructure will remain a mirage without a change of attitude by public officers, renowned lawyer and businessman, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said.

He argued that the practice, where public officers do not respect terms of contracts and agreements, but see private investors in public infrastructure as either competitors or inferior partners, would continue to work against the quest to overcome the deficit in the provisions and maintenance of public infrastructure.

Babalakin, one of the nation’s pioneer investors in public infrastructure development, spoke in Abuja on Monday at a session organised by the Construction and Infrastructure Law Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) at the association’s annual conference. The theme of the session was: “Ending the scourge of abandoned projects in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the subtheme: “The role of private sector and why there is failure in private infrastructural development,” Babalakin argued that the failure of most public and private sectors partnerships (PPP) in the development of public infrastructure was not due to inadequate funding, but of deliberate acts of sabotage by public officials.

Babalakin said it was impossible for the government to fully meet the nation’s infrastructure need without the involvement of the private sector, particularly in the face of dwindling national reve-

How govt can overcome public infrastructure deficit, by Babalakin

•From left: Babalakin, Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Emeka Ezeh and Mr Wahab Toye the 55th Annual General Conference of Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja.

‘

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

nue from oil sales. To him, achieving success requires conscious effort by the government to protect private investors from activities of selfcentered public officials.

He noted the financial reality in the country requires that “we must find a way of creating wealth. We cannot continue to distribute largesse.” And that the parameters for wealth creation must be well protected rather than threatened.

Babalakin, who cited examples of how negative attitude of government officials hadhelped to destroy beautifully conceived private initiatives in the past, said, but for lack of

The substantial buyer of the Nigerian oil is the United States. The US government gave notice that in a few years, it would no longer buy oil from Nigeria... There was no panic in government circle...Today, the price of oil is hovering around $46 per barrel. And if you are making future sale, you have to give substantial discount. So, that budget, as it is, has failed cooperation from government officials, such projects that would have helped resolved the current infrastructure deficit, were frustrated.

He equally spoke about

‘

the involvement of his company - Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited - in the development of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (the MM2 project)

during

and the unsavoury experience, resulting from attempts by government officials to frustrate its operations, by constantly flouting terms of the contract.

“From day one, government has violated every clause of the agreement. To the extent that even the intervention of the regulatory body did not deliver a final solution. We have been to courts and we won at every court.

“But till today, we are denied of 60 per cent of our earnings because of the refusal to abide by the terms of the contract. And I said to myself, who is losing? Of course, the nation is losing, because we have judgment of about N132billion damages against

More support for anti-graft war

‘National Identity card to complement voter card’

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the National Identity card would soon complement the permanent voter’s card in elections in the country.

He spoke after he was registered for his national identity card by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, it would also confirm Nigeria’s population.

Buhari said: “I think this exercise is very important to confirm our population and those who are entitled to vote, that is those who are 18 years and above. It will complement the exercise of the permanent voter’s card.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

“So for those who want their votes to count from whichever party or constituency, they should ensure that they and their families are properly captured.”

The Director General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam, said the exercise had no time limit.

He said: “It is a continuous exercise. So every enrolment centre that we have established remains open forever, they are like branches of banks.

“We are taking deliberate steps to ensure that enrollment centres are opened in each local government. In collaboration with MDAs, we are now extending it to uni-

versities. It will also be extended to primary schools and hospitals.

“With the cooperation we expect from INEC, we are meeting INEC today, it will be extended even further.

“Because of the records of births and deaths that are the primary responsibility of the Nigerian Population Commission, it will even become wider because there are more centres for the registration of births and deaths.

“Once a centre is established, it remains there and people can go and enroll at their convenient time. They will will do the pre-enrollment first because going to any centre for the biometric data capture.

On how many Nigerians

had been captured so far, he said: “On our data base, we have a record of seven million. In collaboration with other agencies, in the next three months or so, we hope to quadruple that number. In the past, the private sector was expected to perform that role, so government did not focus on that.

“The close to seven million that we have in our data base is the product of the pilot scheme that we embarked upon to demonstrate the value of the scheme.

“Now that the MDAs are going to step up the harmonisation, the data base will be populated in a matter of weeks.

“As a matter of fact, we are at the stage of migrating

By Musa Odoshimokhe

A •Buhari

the data from the Bank Verification Number and that is about 20 million.

“We are truly on course and appreciate Mr. President for the recent directive that biometrics data bases in government agencies should be expeditiously harmonised.”

World leaders fight water scarcity

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ORLD leaders, water experts and development professionals and over 3,000 participants are meeting in the Swedish capital, Stockholm to fashion out solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis.

The leaders also called for the inclusion of water in the discussions on climate change, saying the larger impact of climate change would be felt through water.

The event, World Water Week (WWW), is the largest annual conference on water and sanitation. It has been hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) since 1991.

From Seun Akioye, Stockholm

This year’s theme: Water for Development is central to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six which is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

According to Torgny Holmgren, the executive Director of SIWI, ss water is the foundation for all aspects of human and societal progress.

“From the Horn of Africa, over the Sahel, to São Paulo, California and China, people’s perseverance is being tested. We can no longer

take a steady water supply for granted. The many local water crises today combine into a severe global water situation of great concern to all of us,” Holmgren said at the opening plenary.

In his opening address, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven said: “When the international community is shaping a new sustainable development agenda, water management and allocation must be at its heart. Not only as a separate goal but as an essential vehicle for development and health.”

The prime minister said in 10 years, one thirds of the world would live in water

stress region while he emphasised that entrepreneurs and innovators must be encouraged by government to create new technologies make water available to all.

Lofven said competition for water would increase in the coming years and this would lead to conflict with the women and children bearing the major cost of such conflict.

He stressed that while countries differ from one another, all needed water to survive.

Also present at the opening plenary was the President of Marshall Islands Mr. Christopher Loeak who described the horror of climate change on his country. “ We are literarily contemplating being

the government as at 2010,” Babalakin said.

He argued that, had government officials planned and engaged in rigorous thinking, the current fall in government revenue would not have had huge impact on government’s spending capacity because there were sufficient indicators before now, of impending fall in revenue.

“The substantial buyer of the Nigerian oil is the United States. The US government gave notice that in a few years, it would no longer buy oil from Nigeria. It went further to say it was likely to become self-sufficient in oil production and there was no panic. Rather, we continued.

“There was no panic in government circle. All we were told was that we had plan A; we have plan B, and we have plan C. One of the plans was budgeting at $60 something per barrel, which was later reduced reluctantly to $50 something. Today, the price of oil is hovering around $46 per barrel. And if you are making future sale, you have to give substantial discount. So, that budget, as it is, has failed,” he said.

Babalakin asserted that “as long as the government remains irresponsible, you cannot have development. He added that “from my experience, I actually believe that there is a deliberate intention on the part of those in power for projects to fail.”

He said there was need for those responsible for the current state of affairs to account for their actions that contributed to the currently failure of government to address existing infrastructure deficit.

•Holmgren

wiped off the world map,” he said. The Prime Minister of Jordan, Dr. Abdulla Ensour said his country lost one metre a year of the dead sea to climate change.

COALITION of civil rights groups has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption.

At a conference yesterday in Lagos, they said enemies of the war against corruption had started a grand battle against fail.

The group leader, Olanrewaju Sura said Nigerians must take the battle to the door steps of those who have plundered the commonwealth of the people.

He said: “We call this interactive session in view of the seeming grand conspiracy and groundswell to frustrate the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“We call to sensitise Nigerians on the need to rise and support the clamour for transparency in all facets of life and to sack corruption from public and private lives.”

He said the only way the President could fulfil the electoral promises was to recover Nigeria’s stolen wealth, noting that it is the only way to return the country to track.

Suraj added that the body language of the President alone that has sent shockwaves across the country, noting that when the recovery process commenced the looters will try to thwart it.

He said: “Nigerians must not leave this war for Buhari alone; we in the civil rights movements have resolved to be fully involved.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

Arik crew member held in London for allegedly carrying cocaine

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CABIN crew member of Arik Air, Chika Udensi, was on Monday night arrested at Heathrow Airport, London, by the United Kingdom Border Force alleged possession of cocaine.

Arik spokesman Ola Adebanji said it was investigating how the cabin crew member came about the substance.

He said Arik Air would cooperate with the UK authorities and other appropriate agencies in their investigations.

He said :” The airline again reaffirms its commitment to the fight against drug and illicit substances trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances.

“Arik Air carries out vry stringent checks on members of staff and its travelling guests ahead of flights.

“The airline will continue to focus on measures to prevent the possibility of any future similar incidents.

“Arik Air is a responsible

NDLEA launches probe

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HE Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has ordered investigation into the operations of Arik Airlines.

The order was given following the arrest of Chika Egwu Udensi, an air steward working for Arik Airlines on Monday with 20kg of substances suspected to be cocaine at Heathrow Airport, London.

The agency was notified of the arrest by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom.

The NDLEA boss said: “The agency will carry out full-scale investigation into this case to ascertain those behind the criminal act. We shall work closely with our international collaborators on the matter. Arik Airlines will be sanctioned if found wanting.

“The agency shall invoke Section 25 of the NDLEA Act against the airline. The section states that it shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable preBy Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Nigerian company always seeking to maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation.”

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

caution to ensure that its means of transport are not used in the commission of offences under this Act. “Every commercial carrier is to comply with appropriate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other customs control areas, to prevent unauthorised cargo in its means of transportation.

“The law refers to the precautionary measures as training of personnel, promotion of integrity of their personnel, submission of cargo manifests in advance, use of tamper-resistant, individually verifiable seals on containers and reporting to the Agency all suspicious circumstances relating to drug trafficking.

“Nigeria has a cordial working relationship with the United Kingdom in drug control. This has resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of arrests made in the United Kingdom from flights originating from Nigeria over the years.”

Udensi was caught with 2.76 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be cocaine at the London Heathrow Airport .

On May 21, 2013, two crew

members of Arik Air were arrested at the Heathrow Airport, London, on suspicion of drug trafficking.

The air hostesses, 33 and 37, were arrested on a bus used to transport the flight

crew after the drugs were discovered on the bus.

In 2011 , an Arik Air hostess, Ms. Chinwendu Uwakaonyenma Ogbonnaya, was sentenced to five and a half years by a UK court after her December 18, 2011 arrest for smuggling cocaine.

On August 8, 2007, officials of the NDLEA arrested a Virgin Atlantic crew member, Mohammed Ibrahim Wudil, with drugs on a Londonbound flight.

Wudil was caught at the Lagos airport with 1.743kg of cocaine. The drug, which was concealed in a black polythene bag inside a hand luggage, was found in the flight compartment. Wudil was said to have confessed that it was the third time he was trafficking in hard drugs.

Shortly after Wudil, a cabin flight official of the defunct Air Nigeria was caught with drugs, but officials of the airline said the suspect was off duty at the time.

NDLEA has vowed to tighten inspection at all entry and exit points in the country.

The Director of the Border Force in Heathrow, Mr. Marc Owen, said drug trafficking was a serious offence in Britain and those convicted would face long prison sentences.

Fear of Buhari reduces Nigeria’s conference attendance

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N an apparent reflection of the mood of the government on accountability and probity, Nigeria has the smallest entourage at this year’s World Water Week (WWW) in Stockholm, Sweden. Officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources are only five. Last year, more than 30 officials attended the event.

The annual conference, which celebrates its 25th anniversary, is being sponsored

From Seun Akioye, Stockholm

by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

The conference, which attracted more than 3,000 participants from over 120 countries, is the world’s largest gathering of water and development experts with countries around the world eager to showcase their commitment to water and sanitation issues.

This year, Nigeria has no

formal presence. Usually, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources will operate a booth for Nigeria to showcase the achievements of the country in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues and attract more global participation in that sector. Nigeria, however, operated no booth and in the absence of Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya maintained dominance at the conference.

But the leader of the team from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Ikpeawajo Reginald, who is the director, Dams and Reservoir Operations, said it was all to cut costs. “ The government is trying to streamline activities and cut costs. We are also trying to guard against frivolities of the past to ensure that only those who are really relevant to what is happening here are allowed to come

here,” he said.

Ikpeawajo said only the five officials with relevance to the conference travelled to Sweden. “Those of us here have specific roles and bearing on what is happening here. Even though we are not many, we will learn from the other participants how they have been able to solve their WASH issues and take ideas and recommendations home to Nigeria,” he said.

Boroh assures amnesty beneficiaries

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HE Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) yesterday explained the delay in payment of tuition and allowances of beneficiaries.

The PAP Coordinator, BrigGen. Paul Boroh, in a statement by his media aide, Dan Alabrah, said the delay was not intentional.

The statement reads: “Two weeks ago, the payment of the outstanding stipends, beginning with the month of May 2015, commenced. The process to clear the backlog of stipends is ongoing as the new Special Adviser/Coordinator is determined to offset all outstanding payments to all former agitators and beneficiaries in the programme. “ Following the completion of the in-house verification of claims, the Special Adviser has since signed and approved the payment of all outstanding tuition and allowances of the 3,074 beneficiaries in onshore and offshore educational institutions.

“Already, the tuition of 1,620 of the beneficiaries in Nigerian institutions has been paid just as they have all received their in-training allowances for May and June 2015.

“Similarly, the approval and documentation process for their 1,454 counterparts in offshore institutions have also been completed and sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which handles the foreign exchange transaction process.

“At the moment, the CBN in conjunction with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is processing the required cash backing to effect the necessary foreign exchange transaction for the offshore delegates. “

Cross River strengthens anti-crime outfit

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•Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade (right) handing over keys to one of several operational vehicles to chairman of security outfit, "Operation Skolombo" Brig.-Gen. Mannix Nyiam while the SSA, Mr. Jude Ngaji and others watch on in Calabar ... yesterday.

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MPRESSED with the philanthropic activities of the Dangote Foundation to improve human condition in Africa and the rest of the world, United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon yesterday in Abuja commended the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote and urged him not to relent because posterity will be kind to him.

Ki-Moon, who is on a twoday working visit to Nigeria, described the philanthropic activities of the Foundation as a ‘dedication to humanity’ that is commendable.

ROSS River State Government has restated its commitment to ensuring that the state remains a safe haven for tourism and busi-

ness.

Governor Ben Ayade spoke yesterday while presenting a fleet of brand new vehicles to a security outfit, known as “Operation Skolombo”. He urged security operatives to make Cross River “a state known for its elegance, because proper life style begins and stops in Calabar.”

Ayade said: “It could be recalled and recounted that of late, there has been incessant harassment of the public by little armed bandits and miscreants known as skolombo and there was need to terminate their operations before they got out of hand.”

“The vehicles are to ensure your activities are improved,” the governor said.

Chairman of Operation Skolombo, Brig. Gen. Mannis Nyiam, promised to ensure the state would witness improvement in security before the yuletide.

He lauded the governor for his kind gesture and pledged the outfit’s readiness to rid the state of miscreants.

United Nations hails Dangote’s philanthropy Speaking with the Nigeria’s Business and philanthropic leaders in Abuja at a meeting hosted by the Dangote Group yesterday, the UN secretary general said he was impressed by the contributions of Mr. Dangote appealed to other leaders to emulate him to make the world a better place.

“Let me thank Mr. Aliko Dangote, our host for bringing us together. I appreciate the strong support you have given me as a key member of

the Steering Committee of my Global Education First Initiative, and your dedication to humanity the Dangote Foundation.”

He said “Nigeria can spark the race to the top and demonstrate to the region, and to the world that a pathway to sustainable development is possible.”

In his remarks, Dangote said he owed his wealth to the society that has been kind to him.

Mr. Dangote, who expressed

disgust at the level of poverty in Nigeria, especially the fact that more than 60 percent of the population in the Northwest and Northeast were in severe poverty, lamented that it was only Nigeria that recorded economic growth without reduction in poverty.

He called on investors to join him in changing the lives of Nigerians and the African people and join hands with the United Nations to actualise its various social and economic reform programmes in Africa.

Mr Dangote said his Group was supporting the government in growing the real sector of the economy.

“The business community is very supportive of what government is doing and it is our hope that economic growth will recover very soon as a result of these measures,” he said.

He added: “I believe that supporting social and economic change through social investments and interventions that improve the lives of the

less fortunate is will make a positive difference in the growth of my nation.”

Speaking, Ms. Amina Muhammad, special advisor to the UN Scribe on Post 2015 Development Planning said the UN was collaborating with key stakeholders and the Nigerian Government to stake up it works in the country.

She however added that some of the gains of the UN efforts have been wiped out in the North East part of the country.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

Our grouse about INEC chair, by Afenifere, Mimiko

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HE Yoruba social-cultural group, Afenifere, and Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday explained why the acting Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari, must not be confirmed.

They noted that Mrs. Zakari, besides being a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, was also from the same geo-political zone with him.

Afenifere spoke through a communique issued after its monthly meeting at the home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

It was read by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.

The group said Mrs. Zakari’s affinity with Buhari would rob future elections of its credibility.

The communique reads: “The appointment of the acting chairman is known to be controversial. The president is urged to form a full-fledged government by appointing his ministers as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.

“There is no provision in the constitution to run the country as a sole administra-

‘It’s too early to criticise Buhari’

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HE Ekiti State Chapter of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has declared that it is too early for a section of Nigerians to criticise President Muhammadu Buhari, who is barely three months in office.

The body said Nigerians must support Buhari’s efforts to rid the country of corruption and clear the mess allegedly left behind by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

It, however, faulted the position of the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, who accused Buhari of ruling like a dictator and running a one-man show by not forming a cabinet since coming to power.

The state chairman of Afenifere, Chief Ibidapo Awojolu, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said Buhari has given the country the right direction and showed that “he possesses the ability to offer quality leadership”.

He maintained that the people of Ekiti State and the Yoruba were not opposed to Buhari, saying they remain important stakeholders in his administration and would never antagonise a government that was determined to take Nigeria out of the woods.

Awojolu said the impression created by Fasoranti was incorrect and not in tandem with expectations of majority of Nigerians, who were happy with Buhari’s vision in enthroning probity, accountability and transparency in governance.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

tor. Inclusiveness and consultation are necessary and vital ingredients of our democratic order.”

The group urged the president to set the necessary ma-

chinery in motion toward appointing an acceptable INEC Chairman.

It urged the president to remember that Kogi, Edo, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Ondo governorship elections are around the corner, adding that there “is no enough time for anybody

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

He said: “Criticising Buhari is premature and too early in the day. He is not up to three months in office. How can you be criticising somebody who has four years to spend in office and be assessing his performance within three months?

“The criticism is part of the inbuilt prejudice and antagonism they have against him, which started from the election period.

“The Yoruba are not against Buhari and we want to say that nobody either as a person or a group should make other Nigerians believe that the Yoruba are against President Buhari.”In Ekiti State, majority of the people are in support of President Buhari and what he (Fasoranti) wants the whole Nigerians to believe is that the Yoruba are against Buhari and this is not true.

“Buhari has performed creditably well in three months, we are not opposed to Buhari and Ekiti Afenifere with Senator Ayo Fasanmi as our leader will actively support the Federal Government under Buhari.

“The impression being created by the national leader should be corrected. We are not opposed to Buhari. This is our government and we will give him all the support he needs to turn around the fortunes of this great nation.” supervising the election to prepare”.

“The constitution is clear that the role of the president is to nominate the INEC Chairman in consultation with the Council of State and forward the name to the Senate for clearance.

“The constitution does not

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (right) with United Nations Special Representative for West Africa (UNOWA) Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas at the reception for the UN SecretaryGeneral Mr. Ban KiMoon's visit to Nigeria in Abuja...at the weekend.

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APC to Fayose: compensate traders before market rebuilding

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area has appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose to adequately compensate traders to be displaced by the planned reconstruction of the largest market in the city, the Erekesan.

It urged the Fayose administration to implement the reconstruction with human face and not cause hardship for the market men and women.

The party also called on the governor to tell the people how he wants to finance the

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

new market project to give them assurance that it would be completed in record time.

The Ado Ekiti APC Chairman, David Adigun, in a statement yesterday, said the immediate past administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi had conceived a new market to be financed from the N25 billion bond.

Adigun explained that the intent of the Fayemi government was to make the market

one of its legacy projects like Ikogosi Tourism resort, Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ayoba Government house, Moremi Olayinka Civic Centre and a host of others.

He said it is unfortunate that the people of Ado Ekiti are yet to know the circumstances that led to the fire that gutted the market in May “before various interest groups and stakeholders were coerced to accept and key into the project without the deserved consultation across board”.

Adigun said: “The circumstance and the mode at which the inferno at the market occurred still leaves sour taste in the psychic of many people.

“Tongues are wagging and people want to know the circumstance that led to it and if it is a mystery, it ought to have been unraveled by now especially when the unfortunate arson occurred while the state imposed citywide-curfew lasted.

“APC members want a special investigation constituted to get to the root of the unpleasant trending. “

Boroffice joins Ondo governorship race

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HE Senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Borrofice, has declared his intention to contest the Ondo State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The second term senator, who hails from Oka Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area, is the Asiwaju of Akokoland.

He defected from the Labour

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Party (LP) to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He is a chieftain of APC. Borrofice, who spoke on a private radio station, Adaba FM, yesterday, said Mimiko was not comfortable with his intention to contest the election.

He said the election would determine the future of the state.

The politician urged the people to support the APC, saying development would come to the state, if the party wins.

Boroffice added that his ambition was hinged on his determination to serve the people and ensure the state’s rapid development.

The senator, who noted that the Mimiko-led government has failed the people, said he was ready to serve with the

fear of God. “I am not in the race for any selfish reason,” the senator added.

Boroffice said he had drawn a blueprint for the state, which will guide his government, if he eventually emerges the next governor.

He assured that his government would focus on education, youth and rural development.

envisage the condition, where the president would either go to the INEC to either remove or appoint somebody in acting capacity, who has not been cleared by the Senate.

“He should ensure that he looked for a credible Nigerian, who he will nominate for

• Mimiko

the Council of State as the Chairman of INEC,” the Afenifere said.

Mimiko, who spoke at the meeting of Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly in Akure yesterday, condemned Mrs. Zakari’s appointment.

He said past electoral commission’s chairmen did not come from the same zone with the reigning president since the First Republic, saying the Buhari administration should not be an exception.

“Mrs. Zakari is a close relative of Mr. President. This has never happened in the history of the country. In the past, the independence of INEC is not in doubt. We are already concerned. The electoral body must not be partisan.”

IGP gets petition against unlawful detention

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PROPERTY manager in Ogun State, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase over his “unlawful arrest.”

Owoeye said in the petition that he was wrongly arrested over a clash between some hoodlums backed by some men in military uniform and some policemen on duty at OkeOre, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

In the petition addressed through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, “D” Department, Force Headquarters, he is seeking a proper investigation of the case to allow justice to be serviced.

The petition is entitled: “Unlawful deployment of army officers, invasion of private residence, breach of the peace, acts of brigandage, attempted murder and plot to frame up our clients for murder.”

The petitioner claimed he was arrested last Thursday fol-

lowing a violent face-off between some miscreants, including some people in military uniform and the policemen, who provided security for his officials who went to paste a notice of possession at Oke-Ore. It was reported that one person died in course of the clash and two among the policemen on duty were shot and sustained serious bullet wounds from the assailants.

The petitioner said he had earlier applied for and obtained police protection permit, copies of which he made available to reporters in his Sango office.

He added that it was gathered through investigation that the victim of the clash was hit by a service rifle.

Owoeye noted that his arrest was uncalled for as he was not armed and his residence was later invaded by the hoodlums and the men in military uniform.

He urged the IGP to probe the incident.

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ convention begins Sept 4

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EHOVAH’S Witnesses will begin their Southwest Conventions from September 4 to 6 at Assembly Halls located at Ibereko Village, Badagry, Lagos and along Idi-Iroko Road, Ota, in Ogun State.

Other locations hosting the convention in Lagos and Ogun states are Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Daluwon, along Mowe-Ofada Road, Ogun State and the one at Ajibona Village, Lekki, Lagos.

In a statement, the spokesman of the convention, Mr. Ademola Adeagbo, said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses from more than 1000 congregations around Lagos and Ogun states are already extending printed personal invitations to everyone in their neighbourhood”.

Adeagbo said the convention with the theme: “Imitate Jesus!” will focus on resources that will assist families to be stronger and more united.

Ibadan gears up for Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert

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LOBACOM’s music concert Slide n Bounce is set for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

It will hold at the Jogor Hall of Grace, Liberty Road.

Ibadan residents, who spoke about the event, were happy at the second coming of the show.

They noted that they had fun

during the 2013 edition hosted in the city and other locations.

This year’s edition, slated for Saturday, will parade the crème of the nation’s entertainment industry such as PSquare, MI, Wande Coal and Reekado Banks. Jimmy d Hypeman will anchor the show, while DJ Xgee will be the DJ.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

Ooni: Ruling houses intensify scheming T HE ruling houses in IleIfe, Osun State yesterday intensified scheming over selection of qualified princes to occupy Ooni’s throne.

They urged the town’s kingmakers to be guided by respect for tradition, equity and fair play in the selection of the monarch.

Some of the ruling houses pleaded with their members to unite with the aim of presenting formidable candidates.

The spokesperson of Ogboru Ruling House, Prince Adediran Adetipe, in an interview with reporters at a news conference in Ile-Ife, appealed to kingmakers to abide by their traditional ethics.

He urged the state government to assist the town’s traditional institution to ensure that the right person and ruling house emerged as the 51st Ooni.

The Ogboru ruling house is one of the four ruling houses expected to produce the successor to Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, who joined his ancestors last month.

The four ruling houses are the Ogboru, Osinkola, Lafogido and the Giesi.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Adetipe said the late Ooni “superintended over remarkable socio-economic transformation of the town and left behind a legacy of peace, stability, progress and unprecedented development in Ile-Ife and Yoruba race nation both at home and in the Diasporas”.

“His vision was extolled to the high heavens and there was the general acknowledgment that the sustenance of his legacies will be a very hard nut to crack,” he said.

Adetipe added that the Ogboru family has seven clans, including Molodo, Amodo, Alaka, Adejokun, Odogbon, Ooni/ Ilare and Olubuse/Olodo.

According to him, the Adetipe family from the Amodo clan has already submitted an expression of interest, by putting forward a generally accepted candidate to fill the vacant position.

The prince said Oba Sijuwade, in 1980, had an agreement with the Giesi ruling house to trade their turn for the throne.

But he added that the deal was not on behalf of the entire Og-

boru ruling house.

He noted that Sijuwade’s predecessor - Oba Adesoji Aderemi - was from the Osinkola ruling house.

Also yesterday, a top contender to the throne and a businessman, Prince Ramon Adegoke Adegoroye Adedoyin, enjoined members of the Giesi ruling house, under which he is contesting, to unite, present a credible and acceptable candidate to enable them produce the next Ooni.

Adedoyin, who spoke in an interview with reporters, advised the other contestants within the Giesi ruling house to unite and not see the contest as a door-die affair.

He noted that the exalted position has been eluding the ruling house since 1894.

The Ife prince said the law is very clear on the process of selection of a new Ooni, as stated in the 1957 declaration.

The prince noted that he was not desperate to be the next Ooni “as it is the Almighty God that installs kings”.

Also, one of the members of the Giesi, Prince Rotimi Elusan-

ya, in an interview, debunked statements credited to some people regarding Adedoyin’s eligibility.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, among the houses in the Giesi family is the Agbedegbede/Okerewe, where Prince Adedoyin comes from. The mother of Prince Adedoyin’s father, late Alhaji Saka Adedoyin, was Omiwenu, who was a princess of the Giesi Ruling House and this qualifies Adedoyin to contest.”

He wondered why some elders in the family would “start condemning everybody because they are interested in the stool or because they are presenting their children or they have interest in certain candidates”.

At another news conference in Osogbo, the state capital, Prince Kunle Adelowo, said the Giesi is set to produce the next Ooni.

According to him, it was the turn of the Giesi ruling house to produce the next Ooni going by the 1977 Oyo State Chieftaincy Declaration.

He said in the declaration, the order of rotation among the rul-

ing houses should be: Osinkola of late Oba Aderemi, Ogboru (Oba Sijuwade), Giesi (to produce the next Ooni) and Lafodigo to follow.

Adelowo vowed that the Giesi ruling house would resist any attempt to bypass the royal family.

He said that the ruling house contested the Ooni stool with Sijuwade in 1980, but lost.

He noted that Giesi produced Ooni last in the ancient town between 1880 and 1884.

The Director-General of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Prince Adesoji Isaac Fadehan, has joined the race for the vacant stool.

In a statement, Fadehan, from Giesi Ruling House, said the next Ooni must be an individual, who has the right to royalty by birth and lineage.

Police search for missing boy in Ondo From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Ondo State Police Command has started investigation into the disappearance of a four-yearold boy, Sunday Daniel, who was reportedly kidnapped from his mother’s shop in Akure on Monday.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said Daniel was declared missing by her mother after “she had made frantic efforts to find him, but to no avail”.

The boy was reported missing from her mother’s shop, where she sells alcoholic drinks at a motor park.

Ogodo said officers of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) were investigating the matter.

Udiroko Festival: Ewi urges subjects to embrace agric From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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ready to refer some community-based conflicts to them for resolution.

Mr. Mojeed Ekelojumati of Ijebu North Local Government Council, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, said the security meeting would promote effective policing and peaceful coexistence among the people.

HE Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has urged his subjects to embrace agriculture to prevent hunger, generate more jobs and boost food security.

Adejugbe, who spoke yesterday after the community •Oba Adejugbe held a prayer session as part of a week-long activity to mark this year’s Udiroko Festival, said agriculture used to be the mainstay of his kingdom’s economy.

He said Ado-Ekiti was renowned for yam production, but the momentum declined as youths and old people abandoned farming.

The monarch decried a situation in which the Ebiras now dominate yam production in his kingdom and indigenes no longer show interest in farming.

He said: “Only God knows what will happen should the Ebira farmers go on strike. Farming is our pride; it is our tradition, which we must not abandon.

“In those days, people did not suffer from hunger because there was plenty to eat and people participated timely in farming, but now, people are no longer interested in farming.

“It is better for all of us to go back to farming, make use of the land behind your house and cultivate the land. In those days, everything you need is at your backyard.”

Adejugbe explained that the Udiroko Festival marks the beginning of a new year in Ado traditional calendar, clarifying that the event had nothing to do with idol worshipping.

The traditional ruler said the festival was an opportunity for Ado sons and daughters to come together and deliberate on issues affecting their community.

According to him, many capital projects as the palace amphitheatre and the Faculty of Law building at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) resulted from Udiroko.

The monarch said the festival is another way to promote the rich cultural heritage of the community, offer prayers to the Almighty for witnessing another year and promote unity among indigenes and non-indigenes.

He was happy that his kingdom has grown in the last 20 years, which, he said, was made possible as a result of cooperation and unity among the indigenes.

Adejugbe urged his subjects to attend activities marking the festival, which will end on Saturday when the community’s New Year begins.

Maritime safety: Ambode seeks regional integration

‘Nobody can beat Ajimobi’s record’

•Cross-section of Hajj Pilgrims at the 2015 Oyo State Hajj Pilgrims farewell at Hajj Camp, Olodo, lbadan

Ogun council chiefs told to assist police

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OLICE Commissioner Abdulmajid Ali has urged the caretaker committee chairmen of 20 local government areas in Ogun State to assist the police in ridding their domains of kidnapping, cultism, ritual killings and land grabbers.

Ali spoke at his maiden security meeting with the chairmen in Eleweran, the

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday called for regional integration among countries within the Gulf of Guinea to protect the coastal areas and ensure safety of lives and facilities.

The governor, who spoke at the opening of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) Africa in Lagos, stressed that the maritime sector remained a critical factor in achieving economic prosperity for the region.

He said unless there was a regional collaboration in the region, the full benefit and opportunities that abound in the sector would not be achieved.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

command headquarters.

He said the police was determined to tackle kidnappers, land speculators, cultists and operators of unregistered vehicles.

Ali added that the police required the help of the council chiefs to succeed.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Ambode said Lagos, being the host city of the busiest port within the region, was concerned about the activities of criminal elements and the threats their activities posed to the region.

He added that the state government, as a responsible government, was ready to partner relevant government agencies and other concerned stakeholders to put an end to the challenge.

“Nigeria as a country with the largest economy in Africa must take the lead and launch a proactive measure to put a stop to these criminal activities as it is germane to our socio eco-

The police commissioner noted that the command had been proactive on many security challenges and would continue to tackle them as they arise to ensure adequate security of life and property.

He encouraged the chairmen to be more involved in community policing, stressing that the command was

nomic growth.

“We are aware of the strategic role Lagos State plays as harboring the largest port and maritime activities in the West African sub region. As a government, we are ready to partner and offer necessary support to put an end to this menace”, he said.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, enjoined participants and other resource persons at the conference to come up with useful suggestions and enduring measures that to stop the illicit activities of criminals in the maritime sub-sector.

The Chief of Naval Staff,

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, in his welcome address, said the Offshore Patrol Vessel conference for Africa, the second in the series, “is another platform created by stakeholders in the maritime industry to address the challenges and threats confronting the sector.

Ibas said Africa’s maritime domain is a strategic economic platform with enormous potentials.

He noted that these potentials have some threats, ranging from piracy, sea robbery, drug and human trafficking as well as worrisome pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft that have continued to challenge the smooth operation of lawful business operations in the sector.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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DON, Prof. Joseph Olowofela, has said the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi’s record as the first governor to be re-elected in the state cannot be erased.

Olowofela, who was the immediate past chairman of Ido Local Government Area, said he was convinced that Ajimobi was the true winner of the April 11 governorship election.

He added that the petition by the Accord Party candidate, Rashidi Ladoja, challenging his victory was an effort in futility.

He said: “A legal parlance says something cannot stand on nothing. Though I am not the judge, but from my observation during the election, Ajimobi won that election clearly.

“Therefore, Ladoja taking Ajimobi to court is an exercise in futility and as a result, Ajimobi will remain the governor in the state till 2019."

Olowofela, who compared Ajimobi to his predecessors said: “Ajimobi is a planner, manager of resources and courageous. On the account of this, he is also a go-getter, who believes he can turn Nigeria to become a better place by starting with Oyo State”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS Bayelsa to probe ex-Transport commissioner From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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HE Bayelsa State government is set to probe a former Transport Commissioner, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, it has been learnt.

Mrs Ebikake is among frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members opposed to the re-election of Governor SSeriake Dickson.

The former commissioner, who is coordinating an antiDickson group, the PDP Unity Group (PUG), was quoted to have said: “Dickson cannot be governor again.”

The PDP stalwart was removed from office, following his alleged closeness to the exPresident’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

She has been saying the PDP would lose the December 5 governorship election, if Dickson was fielded as its candidate.

Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.) hinted yesterday at a rally organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Dickson Support Movement (DSM), in Yenagoa, the state capital, that Mrs Ebikake might be probed.

The rally was organised to receive non-indigenes into the group.

But responding to comments

by Mrs Ebikake on Dickson’s alleged non-performance, Jonah said the former commissioner almost crippled a transportation scheme the government introduced to ease the movements of goods and services across the state.

He said: “This government tried to build a good transport system. We bought buses and taxis and gave to our people.

“The person who almost messed up the state’s transportation scheme is the one talking on television, criticising the governor. The time is not ripe yet. We shall open the books and reveal her activities.”

The deputy governor hailed non-indigenes for their peaceful conduct and disposition.

Akwa Ibom admits owing banks N64.5b

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HE Akwa Ibom State government has admitted owing commercial banks N64.5 billion.

This followed criticisms by civil rights organisations and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to make public the state’s debt profile.

Finance Commissioner Akan Okon addressed reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

He expressed the

Uyo

government’s desirability to convert the state’s debt to Federal Government bonds.

Okon said Akwa Ibom State was taking advantage of the opportunity the Federal Government offered to convert the N64.5 billion debt to bonds.

According to him, Emmanuel, being a financial expert, adopted the financial engineering method to free up more funds to finance de-

velopment and other basic services in the state.

Okon said: “Whereas Akwa Ibom State was paying N3.6 billion monthly to service its loans, going by the short-term instruments of such loans, the Federal Government bond, with long-term financing, will reduce the payment to a mere N300 million a month.

This will free about N3 billion for developmental projects. We wrote to the House of Assembly for ap-

proval and an enabling law on this arrangement.

“This is one of the requirements from the Debt Management Office (DMO) for the state to enjoy the approval of benefiting from the Federal Government bond facility.”

The commissioner said the debt repayment would last 20 years, adding that it would not choke the state’s financial system.

He dismissed the rumour that the government had

barred other commercial banks from operating its account.

Okon said all commercial banks were allowed to maintain the government’s account, adding that they would only maintain a single unit account that must be captured by the Pay Direct System (PDS).

Information and Communications Commissioner Aniekan Umanah restated Emmanuel’s commitment to completing ongoing projects.

Why Bayelsa suspended payment of gratuities, by Dickson

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has said the dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account forced him to suspend the payment of gratuity arrears he inherited from the former government.

The governor spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he swore in 22 newly appointed permanent secretaries.

Dickson urged the affected retirees to be patient with his administration, adding that the pension arrears would have been cleared but for the state’s dwindling revenue.

He said: “But by next year, we will unfold a process by which we will begin to pay off the long accumulated gratuity payment, because that is a very serious problem that this government inherited.

“We are very concerned about that. I like to ...call on those pensioners and members of the public service to bear with us.

“You are all aware that it was this government that started the N250 million monthly instalment payment. But it was when the economy took a dive for the worse that we stopped. So, that is a problem we acknowledge really exists. But we will work together to solve it.”

Dickson also swore in a Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Austin Adigio, to replace Chief Rufus Abadi, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Police arrest ‘notorious’ kidnapper, others in Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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From Kazeem Ibrahym,

HE Edo State Police Command has arrested a man it described as a notorious kidnapper, Amacauley Ikhuakpogba.

The suspect was reportedly arrested at Iguobazuwa, headquarters of Ovia Southwest Local Government Area.

He was said to have been arrested during a routine stop-andsearch.

Ikhuakpogba is said to have committed several kidnappings and robberies.

He was among 35 suspects the police paraded yesterday in Benin, the state capital.

The suspect told reporters that he carried out two kidnappings and eight robberies.

Ikhuakpogba said he collected N500,000 ransom from one of his victims.

Other suspects were said to have robbed, kidnapped, snatched cars and raped women.

A dropout from the Nigeria Military School, Hope Obasuyi, who had allegedly been posing as a soldier to rob residents, was also paraded.

The 27-year-old was arrested in Benin after a phone he allegedly stole was taken to a relative of the phone owner for unlocking.

He said he was kicked out of the military school in 1994 because he attended a party against the school’s rules.

The “soldier” said he used the extra military camouflage given to him to sew a uniform and pretended to be a soldier.

Obasuyi said he was a welder, adding that he sometimes used the uniform to get many facilities, especially mobile phones from people.

Items recovered from the suspects included five AK-47 rifles, 25 cut-to-size guns, four double-barrelled guns, four single-barrelled guns, three pump action guns, 52 live cartridges, three cars, one motorcycle and seven assorted mobile phones.

Police Commissioner Adegbuyi Samuel said the 35 suspects were among 117 arrested in July and August.

He said they would soon be charged to court.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor reconstituted the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, Hospitals Management Board, the Scholarships Board and the Post-Primary Schools’ Board.

He said the new permanent secretaries were appointed on merit and in recognition of their hard work and contributions to the public service.

Dickson described the selection that led to their appointments as fair and competitive.

Then governor said the appointments were devoid of political considerations, adding that they were in line with his administration’s policy of depoliticising the civil service.

He hailed the civil servants and some of their past leaders, including two former Heads of Service, Sir Fraser Okuoru and Dr Josephine Igodo, for their in-

novative contributions.

Dickson restated his administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare, especially in the payment of salaries and pension entitlements, despite the financial crisis rocking the state and the country.

The governor urged the new permanent secretaries to work with their commissioners to promote professionalism and improved service delivery.

He said: “It is my expectation and prayer that our civil service will also be reckoned with, the way people respect the public service in some older states.

“With what we have started in the ‘professionalisation’ and ‘depoliticisation’ of the public service since we came in and building on what others have done, I believe that with time, the Bayelsa State public service will be one of the best in Nigeria.

That is my wish for you all.”

The new permanent secretaries, who passed the promotion

examination conducted by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in June, 2014, are: Ebikipa Ebikake, John Egbe, Felix Odubo, Dr. Alice AtuwoAndekebi, Dr Wisdom Sawyer, Lady Grace Fiepere and Mrs Atonye Pekene.

Others are: Igunu Hosea Ebifanyo, Dr. Akpoku Inodu Nathaniel, Moses Dika, Amakiri Boumonyo Fredrick, Luka Obiri, Jackson Bidei, Japhet Bank, D. C. Ebiwari, Godspower Atoko, S. S. Burufegha and Simon Adomokeme.

Also sworn in as permanent secretaries are: Ere Efeke, Bolouikie Kingdom Yeri, OvieIzibe Victor and Mrs. Ebiere Igodo-Adeh.

The Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board has Charles Dorgu as Chairman.

Others are: Chief Iboro IgeIdaba (Executive Secretary), Ezekiel Gunn, Ms Stella Raine, Ebi Wodu, Mrs Kenisuomein

•Dickson

Walson, Ijebuode Agbaragu, Chief David Okolai Otietie and Gede Moses Doubeni.

Other members are: Smart Ayama, Comrade Tengi Ebiegberi, John Famokuma, Ere Efeke, Clive Ezekiel, Benson Diriyai, Ikierigha Lucky Jeremiah, Tamadu Abasi, Awudu Adike and Auditor Clinton Ikobho.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS Ijaw youths protest relocation of NLNG dockyard

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JAW youths, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, protested the relocation of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dockyard from Bonny, Rivers State, to Badagry in Lagos State.

The youths, under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, in the letter by their President, Udens Eradiri, and spokesman Eric Omare, said the dockyard was to be sited in the area where liquid gas is gathered and produced.

IYC said: “However, to our utmost dismay and which is most provocative, the investors recently announced that the dockyard would now be sited at Badagry in Lagos State.

“We reject this decision as it is not only unjust but also in fragrant violation of the Nigerian Oil

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

and Gas Industry Development Act, 2010, which requires that such facility be sited close to the area the facility is to service.

“It does not make any economic sense for a dockyard, which will service NLNG in Bonny, Rivers State, to be sited in Badagry, Lagos State. It is significant to note that this facility is one that would create a lot of jobs in the Niger Delta and partly address the problem of youth restiveness in the region.

“The excuse by the management of the NLNG, that it is the investors that wish to build the facility at Badagry, Lagos State, is weak and unacceptable. Investors have no power to violate Nigerian laws and decide where a facility should be located.”

Probe: Amaechi’s aide, council chairmen snub Omereji panel From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

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HE Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry has ordered former Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda, to appear before him on Friday to explain how the N4 billion agricultural loan acquired by the Chibuike Amaechi administration for farmers was disbursed.

The panel said the ex-commissioner would be arrested if he failed to appear before it.

Also summoned are: former local government chairmen and excommissioners through who the funds were allegedly disbursed.

Governor Nyesom Wike inaugurated the panel on June 19 to investigate the Amaechi administration for allegedly selling the state’s assets and other related matters.

The panel began sitting on Monday, following the failure of two court cases filed to stop the members from sitting.

The commission, on its first day, began hearing on how N2 billion of the N4 billion Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme’s fund was disbursed.

The panel’s agenda for the day reads: “The disbursement or use by the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture of N2 billion Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Funds.”

Permanent secretaries in the ministries of Agriculture and Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Atonye Tari-Okoye and Mrs. Cordelia Maurice Peterside, as well as a director in the Ministry of Agriculture, who served as chairman of Agriculture Loan Disbursement Committee, Chijioke Grant Amadi, testified before the panel on Monday.

Mrs Tari-Okoye denied any involvement in the disbursement.

She explained that although she was the permanent secretary in

‘Devil made me defile 10-year-old girl’

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67-YEAR-OLD grandfather, Felix Adebayo, has pleaded forgiveness for defiling a 10-year-old girl sent to him on an errand.

The incident occurred at Ubiane community, near Aviele in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Pa Felix, who was paraded at the police headquarters in Benin, said: “It was the devil that pushed him to defile the girl.”

Looking remorseful, the 67year-old man, who claimed to be a member of the Jehovah Witnesses, said he knew he had sinned against God. He said: “I am very sorry.

They should forgive me. It was the devil that made me to defile her.

“I have a wife and grandchildren. I am very sorry.”

Also paraded was 18-yearold Emmanuel Chukwuma, who allegedly sodomised three siblings at Ekenwan Barracks in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area.

His victims are between four, six and nine.

He was said to have committed the offence when the parents of the kids were away.

The suspect said he did not penetrate the siblings.

Chukwuma said: “I had sex with little children. Three of them are siblings.

I sodomised them. I went to

their house and told them to remove their pants but I did not penetrate.”

Another suspect, Nosakhare Omofomwan, 53, was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at a plantain plantation at Etete in Oredo Local Government Area.

•Scene of a Damaturu, Yobe State, suicide attack...yesterday

•Story on Page 57

Delta tribunal quashes Okowa’s, others’ applications T HE Chairman of Delta State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Justice Nasri Gunmi, yesterday quashed an application by the three respondents opposed to the admissibility of election documents tendered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Joined in the suit are: Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (first respondent); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (second respondent); INEC (third respondent); Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)the fifth respondent and Collation Officer, the fifth respondent.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, lawyer to the first to fifth respondents, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Damien Dodo (SAN), objected to the admissibility of two documents (witnesses’ statements on oath) tendered by Head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) at INEC’s office in Abuja.

The tribunal had issued a

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

subpoena, compelling INEC to tender documents used in the April 11 governorship election in Delta State.

Okowa’s lawyer, Dr Izinyon (SAN) objected to INEC’s tendering of the witnesses’ statements on oath.

The eminent lawyer argued that one of the documents (Exhibit P. 1) was different from what was being tendered.

Dr Izinyon also argued that Section 104(2) of the Evidence Act provides that a witness’s statement on oath should have an engraved stamp, signature and the designation of the officer and his name superimposed on the document.

The eminent lawyer averred that the document sought to be tendered did not have any of those marks.

He urged the tribunal not to admit the documents.

PDP’s counsel, Timothy Kehinde (SAN), aligned with

DR Izinyon’s submission.

The lawyer argued that Exhibit P.1 (a) was not listed and could not be tendered at that stage of the proceedings.

He said the document was not filed with the petition and was not pleaded.

Kehinde said the documents did not meet the requirements for certification, adding that the tribunal should “discountenance with the documents”.

INEC’s lawyer, Dodo (SAN), also aligned with the submissions of Dr Izinyon and Kehinde.

He said: “I wholly adopt the objections as canvassed by the first and second respondents. It is an issue of law and we are bound by the law, especially by the Supreme Court.”

But APC’s lawyer, Thompson Okpoko (SAN) said the documents by INEC were pleaded, adding that it was stated in Paragraph 4 of the petitioner’s reply to the first respondent’s reply of the petition.

The eminent lawyer argued that having done these, “I am at a loss as to how the respondents can claim they were taken by surprise. At the onset, we stated that we were going to rely on polling unit by polling units’ reports. We listed those documents. The object of pleadings is hereby satisfied. Both documents comply strictly with Section 104(2) of the Evidence Act.” On the contention that the documents ought to be frontloaded, Okpoko said: “That is not necessary, as the documents are in the custody of INEC, and INEC is a party to this suit.

“Can we now go to our opponent to sign the witnesses’ statements on oath?

We should be realistic.

When the person you have subpoenaed and is to come to court to present the documents, it needs not be frontloaded or listed. I humbly submit that these documents be admitted.”

Apologise to us or remain in PDP, APC tells Ndoma-Egba ROSS River State All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba to apologise to the party, if he wishes to defect to it.

The party was reacting yesterday in Abuja during a protest to APC’s National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Prince Hilliard Eta. It said Ndoma-Egba should apologise to APC members he allegedly persecuted in the runoff to the last general election and for asking the state to reject the party’s presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, and his change agenda.

Eta’s spokesman Bassey Okon said Ndoma-Egba should also mend fences with those he offended in the party and various local government areas.

The senator was directed withdraw the text message he reportedly sent out during the cam-

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Protest as APC members foreclose Ndoma-Egba’s defection

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OME Cross River State members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday protested the speculation that former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba will soon join the party.

The protesters, bearing placards with various messages at the party’s secretariat in Calabar, the state capital, said if Ndoma-Egba intended to join APC, he should follow due process.

Leading the protest, a caucus member of the party and former deputy governorship candidate, Elder David Okon said: “What you are seeing here is a subtle protest and it has to do with what APC members are hearing. This is politics. A lot of things can happen and those concerned are unaware of them.

“No member of the APC is averse to or does From Tony Akowe, Abuja

paign in which he urged the people not to vote for the APC. Ndoma-Egba, who lost in the Peoples Democratic Party

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

not want other Nigerians to cross over to the party.

The truth remains that you must follow due process. You have to register from the ward, to the state and the national levels.

“Going to join the party from the national or getting the appointment you so criticised or did not even work for, is what we oppose.

“I am a state caucus member of the party and a deputy governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The APC, as we have today, if not because of people like me, we would not have it. It is annoying that people in the saddle in the past 16 years just bring their plates to eat when the soup prepared by others is done. We are doing what is justifiable today.”

(PDP) primaries, was said to have concluded plans to join APC with some prominent PDP and Labour Party (LP) members.

Their defection is scheduled

to hold at a rally on September 26 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, the state capital.

Okon said: “Without prejudice to the right of Senator Ndoma-Egba to join any asso-

ciation, we, of the Forum of APC Chairmen in Cross River State, urge the former Senate Leader to go settle with APC members he vilified in Ikom Local Government Area, where he comes from, to have a soft landing in our party.”

He added: “If Ndoma-Egba, a self-acclaimed master of logic, forgot the words of legendary Nelson Mandela, that to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others, he has caused the arrest, detention and persecution of APC members in the state on trumped-up charges.

Then, he perhaps did not remember the wise counsel of the late Mandela that “After climbing a hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb”.

Eta thanked the chairmen for their visit and assured that the party would maintain an unwavering stand against impunity and corruption.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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NEWS

NDLEA confiscates 109.800kg of cannabis in Anambra •Declares drug baron wanted

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State has confiscated 109.800kg of cannabis from a warehouse at the Onitsha main market.

It declared a suspect, Uche Baron, said to own the warehouse wanted.

When the agency stormed the warehouse on August 20, Uche was not found but a suspect, Ugochukwu Chukwu, was arrested.

Parading the suspect yesterday, a Commander Sule Momodu, warned intending recruits to quit because Anambra was no longer safe for them.

According to Momodu,

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Chukwu, an in-law to Uche, had been in the business with him.

“We will charge this suspect to court because he has violated the law, and we believe the court will do justice when we present our evidence,” Momodu said.

The commander appealed to the people to come up with information that could lead to Baron’s arrest. “NDLEA can invade the main market, we have the resources and man-power to do so but they should oblige us with needed information that could lead to his arrest” Momodu said.

Firm hails Buhari’s TDF programme

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RGANISERS of Nigeria Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (NHTIC), Jonel Hospitality Consulting, has hailed the Federal Government for taking steps to float a Tourism Development Fund (TDF).

A statement by its Managing Partner, Brian Efa, said it was a welcome development.

“The tourism sector has the potential of becoming the highest employer of labour

By Medinat Kanabe

and can contribute up to 25 per cent of the GDP if fully harnessed. ‘‘The TDF, hopefully, will support projects that encourage three key streams: tourism investment, tourism product development and industry capacity building. ‘‘Tourism is vital to our economy and the TDF will, if fully implemented, support the industry,’’ he said.

Health insurance book for launch

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CHARTERED Insurer Bimbo Banjoko has written a book ‘Health Insurance Made Easy’ to fill the knowledge gaps in the practice of health insurance.

It is a 166-page book written to remove abuses and arbitrariness in bills and medical charges by providers who already provide care on a retainership basis to employers and employees.

Banjoko, Managing Director of Expatcare Health Limited, a HMO, explained that his interest in clearing all the grey areas, led him to a private research in 1990 and the subsequent practice of health insurance o in 1997 when he co-pioneered Clearline Int. Ltd. Banjoko studied for the Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London (ACII) at Glasgow Caledonian University (former Glasgow College of Technology), Scotland. He is also an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

He served on the Council of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) between 2009 to 2011.

Speaking on the book he said: It is “put together for ‘students’ of healthcare finance, health insurance and managed care for effective operations and modeling of contracts because managed care practice brings with it prospects of litigation, need for actuarial valuations and appropriate pricing mechanism.”

Ex-minister loses husband

•The late Grange

A

RETIRED Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr Jerry Grange is dead.

Dr Grange, who retired in 1995 after many years of distinguished service as an orthopaedic surgeon died on Monday in a hospital in Chicago, United States (U.S).

He was trained at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London in 1964.

The late surgeon qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and returned to the United Kingdom (UK) after working in Lagos for a couple of years.

He is survived by wife, Prof Adenike, three children and grandchildren.

•The cannabis recovered from the warehouse. INSET: Ugochukwu...yesterday

ACF worried over Igbo leaders’ silence on pro-Biafra calls

T

HE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is worried over the silence of Igbo leaders over pro-Biafra calls, saying the agitators were drumming for another war and secession.

Addressing a news conference ahead of its Annual General Assembly (AGA) holding in Kaduna today, Chairman of the National Executive Council (NEC), Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, described as worrisome, the renewed agitations for the creation of the state of Biafra.

He said: “ACF has observed the continued agitation by some Ndigbo elements for the creation of Biafra Republic. As you will recall, the issues of Biafra was settled in 1970 after the civil war.

“It is, therefore, sad that 45 years after, when Nigerians are now united, some elements are still drumming for another war and secession through ‘Radio Biafra’ and MASSOB activities.

“The agitators for this unholy division are in their safe abode outside Nigeria and the most painful of this agitation is the silence from the elders who experienced

We, therefore, ‘call upon Ndig-

bo leaders and groups to come out, not only to condemn, but to publicly dissociate themselves from this treason against the state

’

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

the bitter pill of the succession attempt, 30 months civil war, and who know the consequences of such a futile agitation.

“ACF expects Ndigbo leaders to condemn such agitations just as it condemned the Boko Haram insurgency.

We cannot afford to transit from one insurgency into another.

“We, therefore, call upon Ndigbo leaders and groups to come out, not only to condemn, but to publicly dissociate themselves from this treason against the state.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

12

NEWS

•The protesters... yesterday

Imo workers protest unpaid salaries

C

IVIL servants in Imo State yesterday marched on the streets to protest unpaid salaries and the alleged privitisation of government parastatals.

The aggrieved workers, dressed in black, displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Stop this greed and pay us our salaries”; “Stop this impunity, pay local government medical and health workers”; “Owelle, pay retired primary school teachers their outstanding gratuities from 1998 till date”; “Our children are dying of hunger”; “We say NO to Imo State House of Assembly passing a bill on privatising

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

state parastatals”.

The protest disrupted economic activities as the protesters barricaded major roads, before proceeding to the House of Assembly.

Speaker Acho Ihim dismissed the allegation as baseless.

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Austine Chilakpu and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Paul Akalazu, wondered

how the government expected the workers to survive the economic situation.

“How can we survive without salary and if they slash our salary, we will not accept it”.

They urged the protesters to remain calm and not be intimidated by the antics of the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Calistus Ekenze, who they said had compiled list of absentee workers for necessary action.

The government called on the workers to be patriotic and avoid being tools in the

hands of some elements.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “One had expected labour leaders to appreciate the government’s efforts.

“They are expected to understand, knowing full well what the general situation is in the country.

“The fact remains that the government has, even without the much-expected bailout fund, paid the civil servants, teachers and local government

NDLEA arrests suspected drug trafficker

T

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abia State has arrested a 32year-old, Emmanuel Ogbonna, for alleged narcotic smuggling. He is also suspected to be behind the attacks on NDLEA officers at the Ariaria market in Aba. The agency declared another suspected kingpin, Luther King, wanted, promising a reward to anyone with useful information that

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

could lead to his arrest.

State Commander Mr. Dele Akingbade said: “The command arrested Emmanuel Ogbonna with 16 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 147kg.

The drug was concealed in the boot of his Toyota Camry, ATN 219 TP. “Preliminary investigations show that the drug dealers were in a hurry to resume illegal sales to make up for the loss incurred dur-

ing the raid of their hideout, Black Kingdom.

“Surveillance officers, acting on a tip-off, trailed the suspect to his hotel and after a long wait, tracked him down in his car.

“His attempts to run away were foiled and 16 bags of cannabis sativa weighing, 147kg, was found in his car.”

NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, assured Aba residents that the manhunt for drug dealers at the Ariaria market will con-

tinue until culprits are brought to justice.

His words: “Investigation into the Ariaria market drug incident has begun. Our manhunt for drug barons involved is yielding good result.

“My promise is that all kingpins shall be arrested, prosecuted and the notorious area known as Black Kingdom will be dislodged.

“NDLEA is committed to the protection of lives and property”.

Naval rating held for ‘shooting’ three in Lagos

A

RATING attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Ship BEECROFT has been detained for allegedly shooting three tipper drivers at the Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The unnamed personnel deployed as part of the team safeguarding the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline from vandals, was said to have been drunk on duty.

It was gathered that the rating shot indiscriminately, hitting Lanre Agbo and two others, who were immediately rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where one of them allegedly died on Tuesday.

A source, John Osita, claimed that the news of the dead of one of the victims triggered protests from other tipper drivers, who it was learnt went to the Ikorodu General Hospital as well as the Ipadoko Police Station in search

By Precious Igbonwelundu

of their colleagues.

He stated that another group also went to the naval base to protest.

He said: “They blocked everywhere and sang solidarity songs. They asked the naval personnel to leave their community.

“Some soldiers and mobile policemen were deployed in the area to quell the tension.

Angered by the action of the personnel, The Nation learnt that the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas that same Monday, ordered the arrest and detention of the personnel.

“He has also directed that an

immediate investigation be conducted and that the rating be severely disciplined if he is indicted.

“The three injured persons are in LUTH. I do not know if anyone died but I know that the navy is footing their bills and want them to recover quickly,” he said.

over thirty states in the country.

The company said in a statement released in Lagos that at least 10,000 well-trained and p r o f i c i e n t G l o Xchange agents will be added to its super-agency network in the next twelve months to deliver the much expected mobile money revolution in Nigeria.

The Glo Xchange Agents, Globacom explained, will operate from designated mobile money outlets such as kiosks, shops, pharmacies,

supermarkets and mega stores in strategic locations across the country.

These outlets will complement the over 160 Gloworld and Glozone shops, which are already o f f e r i n g G l o Xchange services to customers along with branches of all Globacom’s mobile money partners such as First Bank, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Zenith Bank.

Head of Mobile Money Financial Business in Globacom, Mr. Esaie

workers till June. The government had also repeatedly made its position known on some of the parastatals.

“For pensioners, their verification is about to end and once this is done, the government would act.

“The labour leaders are aware of these, yet, they forced workers to embark on a one-week strike, breaching the agreement reached with the government, even when they know that the bailout had not come.

Adefarakan joins race for Ooni •‘Ogboru royal ruling house should produce next monarch’

A

UNITED Kingdom based consultant in the Oil and Gas sector, Prince Adeagbo Adekemi Adefarakan of the Adefarakan dynasty, Ogboru Olubuse royal family house, has joined the race for the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife. The 47 years old prince is the great grandson of Ooni Olubuse the first. His late grandfather, Omoba Matthew Adeboye Adefarakan, was the prince before his demise during the time of Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. He also served as a Senator during the Tafawa Balewa’s regime and the first secretary of the Egbe Omo Odua.

Prince Adefarakan, who has since notified the kingmakers of his intention to vie for the exalted stool, said he is convinced that the Ogboru

Glo Xchange agents roll out operations on mobile money

A

FULLY integrated telecommunications operator, Globacom, has announced its readiness to roll out the first set of market-ready agents for its mobile money service, Glo Xchange.

This new development follows the successful launch last year of Glo Xchange, which is Nigeria’s first mobile money superagent network in the country. The launch was followed by a training programme for thousands of the agents in

“We are appealing to leaders of the organised labour to be patriotic and understanding, if their intention is to make the government pay salaries and pensions. They should follow developments across the country so that their actions won’t be misinterpreted.

“The state government will continue to collaborate with them to achieve the desired goal in the overall interest of the workers and the people of Imo”.

Diei, disclosed thatGlo Xchange was introduced to speed up financial inclusion in the country. It added that this will take cashless transactions and e-payments to the grassroots. With mobile money, he stated, the mobile phone users can make payments, do transfers, buy airtime, pay bills for example Dstv, GoTV, PHCN etc, pay expressway tolls and conduct any such financial transactions without cash exchange, but through the mobile phone.

ruling house would produce the next Ooni based on equity, stressing that of the four ruling houses in Ile –Ife, the Ogboru family has produced the least number of Ooni.

According to him, since the crystallisation of the ruling houses into four, the Ogboru family had produced only four Oonis, while the other three ruling houses: Lafogido; Giesi and Oshinkola had produced eight, seven and five Oonis respectively.

Prince Adefarakan, who noted that the interest being shown in the vacant stool by many princes is a welcome development, however said that he has the noble intention of turning Ile -Ife into a world class model modern city and focus on infrastructure development of the town if he his nominated and crowned the next Ooni.

Born in Ibadan on July 13,1968 to the late Prince Joseph Adeagbo Akanni Adefarakan , and princess Caroline Adeagbo Adefarakan, Prince Adefarakan is a devout Christian and a product of Ibadan Grammar School and The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He later travelled to Germany to study Electronics Communication and bagged a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Business Information Systems and completed his MBA with speciality in Oil and Gas from the University of Dundee, Scotland.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

Life

13

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761 and 08112662687

Osun: Tale of two anniversaries – SEE STORY ON PAGE 14

•Supplicants at River Osun

‘How to enrich culture contents of tourism’

– PAGE 15

British Council unveils art seasons – PAGE 49

14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Stakeholders in the culture sector can do more to celebrate Susanne Wenger’s centenary and the Osun-Osogbo Grove’s 10th anniversary as a World Heritage Site, writes FEMI MACAULAY, member of the Editorial Board, who was in Osogbo, Osun State, for the Osun-Osogbo Festival

Osun: Tale of two anniversaries

•A crowd of worshippers and tourists in Osun-Osogbo Grove

I

T was supposed to be a special celebration.

This year’s Osun-Osogbo Festival coincided with two striking anniversaries: the centenary of the late Austrian artist and Yoruba-culture champion, Susanne Wenger, who died in Osogbo, Osun State, in January 2009 at age 93; and the 10th anniversary of the Osun-Osogbo Grove’s recognition as a World Heritage Site.

Apart from the usual and commonplace display of festivity connected with the Osun-Osogbo Festival, the celebration did not sufficiently highlight the special conjuncture of the two anniversaries. What was billed as “Susanne Wenger’s Sacred Colloquium 2015" at the King’s palace in Osogbo featured a paper presented

by Yusuf Abdallahi Usman, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), to mark the anniversaries. Usman’s paper at the August 19 event organised by NCMM was titled “Late Madam Susanne Wenger and National Commission for Museums and Monuments as Springboards to the Development of Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and Enlistment as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Usman described Wenger as “a phenomenal woman of different interpretations.” He added: “She was a great artist, culturalist, spiritualist and naturalist, intellectual, researcher, philosopher and philanthropist who devoted her life to serving nature, culture and people. She championed the beautification, preservation, adoration, conservation and unification of nature and culture in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.”

But the event lacked the nature of a

•Virginal votary maid Arugba carrying the sacred calabash

colloquium. Much of the period was devoted to indigenous music and singing and dancing by different groups.

The presence of a representative of the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria reflected the significance of Wenger’s centenary. The young woman said when she arrived in the country some years ago the Osun-Osogbo Grove was among the first places she visited. She wore a gown made from gold-and-black Ankara fabric designed to mark Wenger’s death. The cloth carried a picture of Wenger and the inscription “Mama Susanne Wenger Iwinfunke – Celebration of Life – From July 4, 1915 – January 12, 2009.” Some locals, most of them women, were dressed in the same Ankara. In a cultural environment where important occasions are often marked by specially designed commemorative fabric known as aso ebi, it was strange that Wenger’s cente-

•Osun priestesss and devotees

•Osun devotees

nary did not generate such distinctive fabric.

The same anti-climatic atmosphere

marked the finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival in the Osun-Osogbo Grove on August 21. The river-side statue

of the Yoruba water goddess, Osun, in whose honour the festival is celebrated every year, was draped with a white cloth and decorated with palm fronds around its neck. There was a large crowd at the water front where many people engaged in supplications to the goddess. Many devotees wore signature white clothes. A group of devotees from America, Europe and Asia stood out in their white ceremonial dresses. A lot of people fetched water from the mystic River Osun in white containers for spiritual purposes. In the grove and its immediate environs, the ubiquitous water-filled containers demonstrated the power of faith. The ceremonies of worship involving the virginal votary maid, Arugba, who climactically emptied the contents of a sacred calabash into the river, underlined the spiritually charged activities in the grove.

•Continued on Page 15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

15

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘How to enrich culture contents of tourism’ Despite paucity of funds, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mrs Dayo Keshi, is determined to organise the yearly National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST). She speaks on the council’s plans to explore the wealth creation aspect of the festival and the celebration of NCAC’s 40th Anniversary, among other issues, with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

T

HE Federal Executives of Culture of the Federation (CEC) rose from a meeting in Abuja more determined to key into the economic diversification programme of President Buhari’s administration.

They resolved that there is the need to skew the yearly National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) programmes for effective involvement of local artistes in wealth creation instead of entertainment.

According to a communiqué, the culture executives approved seven competitive events for the festival and considered states, such as Edo that have not hosted the festival as possible hosts for NAFEST 2015.

Tentative date for the festival, which theme is: Our culture, our art, our wealth, is October 24 to November 1. The endorsement of Edo State by the executives was also informed by the fact that the state has an added advantage as the heart beat of cultural grandeur and royalty in Nigeria.

The competitive events are indigenous poetry and display (children participation), drama, traditional wrestling, traditional furnished apartment, traditional cuisines, essay writing and painting and drawing.

But, the executives in their respective reports lamented their challenges of dwindling approvals and late releases, collapse of state cultural infrastructure and security, especially in the Northeast geo-political zone. The reports also revealed the discovery of new cultural phenomena, such as caves, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and new festivals in Bauchi State.

In line with the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement in the face of dwindling revenue, culture executives were encouraged to explore partnership as a means of expanding their scope of relevance against the backdrop of dwindling budgetary approval.

It also resolved that the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) at the 40th anniversary should focus on promoting cultural industries and that states be encouraged to actively support the celebration both at zonal and national levels.

At an interactive session with Arts Editors in Lagos, Director-General, NCAC, Mrs Dayo Keshi, disclosed that the NCAC at 40 anniversary platform would be used to mainstream her vision of raising the bar in the promotion of the

•Mrs Keshi

CULTURE nation’s cultural heritage. She said the theme of the anniversary is Showcasing the inevitable role of culture in national development and economic diversification. The objective, according to her, is to showcase the economic value of the nation’s cultural industries as well as to redirect the attention of both the public and private investors to the numerous economic opportuni-

ties that exist in the sector.

“The 40th anniversary will also bring to fore the potentials of the council in managing and developing the nation’s rich cultural resources towards socio-economic development of the nation. It is also aimed at bringing the people closer to their cultural essence,” she said.

She continuing she said: “Until we begin to see the value of what can be generated, we will remain irrelevant. Nigeria’s cultural in-

dustry has products that are viable to the economy as each local government has what we can build the industry around. All these can empower grassroots. Nigeria today must build its future wealth on enterprise because there lies the growth.

The council’s 40th anniversary events, which will run from August 20 to December, will feature logo unveiling, AFAC Expo, school syllabus production, roundtable forum, children cultural fiesta, international and variety nite. The production of Prof Wole Soyinka’s play, Trial of Brother Jero will hold in some schools in Abuja.

She also disclosed that this year’s AFAC is an expanded version with 22 states and countries participating.

She noted that as part of efforts at empowering the grassroots, a national dome should be established in cities such as Lagos and Abuja as mall and marketing outlet for the sale of Nigerian arts and crafts products. The dome project, she said, should be private sector driven. She also suggested that more national festivals with specific cultural elements like masquerades, durbar and boat regatta should be held every 3months to provide more tourists attractions all year round instead of the once a year national festival. She said such national festivals like boat regatta will feature only coastal states that have the comparative advantage in the event.

“The proposed national festivals will not erase the old ones. The more we have the better for the development of our creative industry. We have the population to run it and can be held every three months. These festivals are part of how to make our cultural contents of tourism richer. It is also a view of what can be done to widen the scope,” she added.

Mrs Keshi said her long term vision include to grow and develop the cultural infrastructure to enhance the economic value of cultural industries, articulate clearly to the public, the framework for cultural industries to thrive, encourage grassroots participation in the development of cultural industry, embrace the bottom-up development and approach as it relates to crafts development in order to empower grassroots development, and sensitise the public and private sector on the economic values of our cultural industries.

Osun: Tale of two anniversaries •Continued from Page 14

Numerous brand promotion materials, mainly by the festival’s major sponsors, created a marketing atmosphere. The biggest corporate sponsors of the 2015 Osun-Osogbo Festival were telecom giant MTN; Nigerian Breweries, using one of the company’s beer brands, Goldberg; Grand Oak Limited, brewers of Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps and Kasapreko Limited, producers of Alomo Bitters.

But, again, apart from repetitive references to the 10th anniversary of the grove’s international endorsement in speeches, nothing uniquely celebrated its decade as a World Heritage Site. The Osun- Osogbo Grove is the site of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, which is a star tourist attraction and draws a high number of domestic and international visitors. Recognised for natural and cultural reasons, the Osun-Osogbo Grove is the second of two UNESCO-branded sites in Nigeria, coming after the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa State, which attained the distinction in 1999.

In May, there was news of a string of cultural activities abroad in celebration of Wenger’s centenary. “We are pleased to announce the exhibition schedule in the year of the 100th anniversary of Susanne Wenger at the Susanne Wenger Foundation in Krems and other locations,” said a programme released by the Austria-based organisation. “There will be shown oil paintings, batiks, drawings, photographs of the Sacred Groves and previously not seen works of art… On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Susanne Wenger, Doyin

Olosun and Sangodare Gbadegesin Ajala from ‘Susanne Wenger family’ will be present at the opening…There will be guided tours and workshops…The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication SUSANNE WENGER : Artist, Priestess, Adventuress…Special exhibition at the Nigerian Embassy, Vienna, Austria, September 28-30.”

There is news that a Nigerian publishing company, Grasshill Books, is promoting a new book on Wenger as a way of specially celebrating her in the country where she lived for nearly 60 years before her death. The book is expected to be released to mark the 2015 World Tourism Day on September 27. It is a testimony to Wenger’s cultural celebrity that the Nigerian government in 2008 honoured her with a decoration, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

A statement by the publisher said: “We are pleased to announce the publication of a new book, Alive In The Sacred Grove – Susanne Wenger from a Nigerian view, which will fill a vacuum that has existed for years.” The statement quoted the author, Femi Macaulay, as saying: “What I set out to do is unprecedented. In concept and execution, this new book on Susanne Wenger is unparalleled because it is written from a Nigerian perspective and with a Nige-

•Ataoja of Osogbo Oba Jimoh Oyetunji and his wives

rian flavour… At the time I discussed my plan with Wenger, she responded positively, saying, ‘I bless your work and your good intentions’.”

The publisher also quoted the author’s description of the work: “This unique well-researched Wenger portrait offers a fresh experience of her. It consists of an extensive up-to-

‘But, again, apart from repetitive references to the 10th anniversary of the grove’s international endorsement in speeches, nothing uniquely celebrated its decade as a World Heritage Site. The Osun- Osogbo Grove is the site of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, which is a star tourist attraction and draws a high number of domestic and international visitors’

date close-up profile and exclusive interviews that I had with her. It explores not only her extraordinary life but also her thinking on Yoruba culture and tradition, especially at the transitional stage of her life. It is enriched with expressive pictures of Wenger and some of her eye-catching sculptures in the grove, as well as other important images related to her gripping story. It is a modest way of paying a well-deserved tribute to a loyal vessel of Yoruba divinities; her legacy is undeniable. The book also beams the spotlight on the Osun-Osogbo Grove and the Osun-Osogbo Fesival.”

With Wenger’s centenary year and the 10th year of the Osun-Osogbo Grove as a World Heritage Site still unfolding, there is time to redeem the under-celebration.

16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

•Ugochukwu

D

ECKED in the army camouflage, Prophet Jacob Arogundade stood, posing for the cameras few metres away from the Military Hospital on Awolowo Way, Ikoyi, Lagos.

With Nigeria and British’s flags in hands along with other military and religious paraphernalia, Arogundade’s mien, could pass for a classical piece of art.

An octogenarian and a prophet, he has not seen that number of photographers before and was happy to be their model. As the cameras clicked away, he voiced his campaign, “I believe in one Nigeria and the unity of the world. That is why you would always see me with these flags. I am also protesting that Nigeria should treat those who have served this country better”.

He was oblivious of a picture of another former soldier that is also protesting his abandonment on display few blocks away at the Ember Creeks as part of activities marking this year’s World Photography Day. Scenes as Arogundade’s formed the trappings of this year’s edition.

Indeed, it was as if the paparazzi floodgates were unleashed on the city of Lagos when over 250 cameramen took to the streets with cameras in hand to commemorate of the day.

Since 2013, the day, which is held yearly on August 19, has been christened as World Photography Day Nigeria by Nigerian photographers who use the occasion to celebrate the sector.

“The World Photography Day Nigeria is a non-commercial venture, open to all photo lovers including photo-journalists and photo-enthusiasts,”Founder/Convener, World Photography Day Nigeria, Mr Yemi Royal, said.

With the theme, Creating a viable and unified photography industry, this year’s celebrations, according to Royal, began the previous Saturday with a football match between press and commercial photographers. He noted that the ‘photo walk’ was part of photographers’ campaigns for a better environment.

By 11a.m. that morning, the entourage had converged on the Freedom Park, from where they left for the Silverbird Galleria in Victo-

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Prophet Arogundade

• Photographers focusing on a photo drone at the event

Photographers mark their day in style Photographers from across the country converged on Lagos to mark this year’s World Photography Day. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

PHOTOGRAPHY ria Island (VI). From there, the train moved to Ember Creeks where photo-chat and exhibition held.

Besides discovering fresh and unique models and subject matters, like Arogundade, several interesting scenarios played out on their walk to the exhibition ground.

Not minding the curious and questionable looks of onlookers and road users, photographers of various ages took possession of sidewalks, streets, roads and bridges, snapping their hearts away.

Decked as if gunning for exclusive shots, the trees, houses, passers-by, vehicles, roads, bridges and lagoon of Lagos Island, VI and Ikoyi became the photographers’ subjects of interests.

They had the power of number on their side: and so they dared what they wouldn’t have done on other days. Besides, crossing the road indiscriminately, as if expecting that vehicles would wait for them, without asking questions or permissions, they focused their cameras on any object of interest and snapped to their hearts delights.

They didn’t even shake while taking snapshots of three military barracks on their route. But their constant clicking caught the attention of bystanders, and forced some to ask: “What is happening today?”

At first, afraid that the government had sent them, Ugochukwu, a street hawker, and

his counterparts were not particularly pleased with their actions.

“Don’t take my picture! What is this. Why so many photographers? What’s happening today?”

“We are celebratingWorld Photography Day in Nigeria. It is our day today! Please, can we take your picture?” Wome Uyeye, an on-air personality and documentary-photographer repliedin elation. Drawn in by the attention and her smile, he and his counterparts then posed for a shot or two. “When would we get the pictures?” they asked.

“Check Facebook!” The photographers replied.

It was their day and they siezed the occasion to make case for the sector.

The General Secretary, Lagos State Photographers Association of Nigeria (LASPPAN), Mr Yakubu Mohammed, urged the government to pay attention to the sector’s needs by investing in its key players “Photography is the eyes of the world; without it, the world would be blind.”

Ace artist and Head of Department of Photography, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Kunle Adeyemi, was of the opinion that pictures communicate more than a thousand words, saying: its importantance to mankind cannot be overemphasised. “A snapshot gives you what you can express with a thousand words; this is why today is very important to photographers and photo lovers across the world. Government should do more to develop the industry.”

On his part, Mr Royal said the World Pho-

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

tography Day Nigeria initiative was designed growing the sector. “Our mission is to engage, educate, empower and stimulate the photography community in Nigeria. Through this initiative, we are offering a new view of photography to a diverse audience of professionals, hobbyists and aspiring photographers, while focusing on satisfying and growing the love for the industry in Nigeria,” he said.

The stopover of ace football, Kanu Nwankwo, fondly called Papilo,who felicitated them on their day, was another interesting episode of the event. His visit to the train at the Silverbird Galleria came as a pleasant surprise, it was said.

“Papilo…papilo!” came the screams from the crowd as everyone scampered to get a shot or pose with him. Kanu, whose studio was one of the partners of the event, pledged support for the industry players, saying: “It feels great celebrating this day with photographers and lovers of photographyacross the world. Keep your dreams alive, one day, you’d achieve it.”

On their way to the bridge linking VI to Onikan, the group rescued a commercial bus driver from having his vehicle impounded by the officers of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS). The VIS officers and driver soon became models for the group. By the time the entourage reached Onikan, 11-year-old Kehinde, whose mother is also a photographer, became another model for some members of the train.

Some photographers held roadshows with participants as models. EncounteringProphet Arogundade on the last leg of the walk was the climax, some photographers said.”It tells us that Nigeria should do more for its past soldiers and citizens that have served the country in different capacity,” they said.

Others said receiving the gift voucher worth N10, 000 was what marked the highpoint of the day. The voucher for photography books, which was presented by Indigo, was given toabout 150 photographers, who attended the event.

The day ended with a parley with the industry key players, such as former Head of Department, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Sola Akeredolu; ace photo-artist, Uche Iroha and celebrity photographer, Seyi Body-Lawson.

‘Be tech-savvy photographers’

P

•Kanu

HOTOGRAPHERS have been urged to embrace technology to boost the sector.

They got the advice was made at the third edition of the Annual World Photography Day Nigeria, which has been celebrated made its debut in Nigeria since 2013.

With the theme: Creating a viable environment in the photography industry, experts urged photographers and photo enthusiasts at a photo-chat to mark the day to go beyond conventional methods of photography to the modern technology available to the sector.

Participants at the event spanned professional photographers, photo-journalists and photo enthusiasts.

Notable at the event was the support of ace footballer and owner of Papillo Studios, Kanu Nwankwo, who made an appearance at the event.

Kehinde Ayoola, who’s in charge of the studios, said: “Nwankwo is a lover of photography and he has various programmes to assist photographers towards becoming independent and owning their own equipment.”

However, participants also decried some of

By Suliat Abodunrin

PHOTOGRAPHY the challenges in the industry.

Celebrity Photographer and World-Class Film Producer, Seyi Body-Lawson urged participants to develop their skills, saying training is essential in understanding the current trends in the industry.

According to a lecturer with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Sola Akeredolu, “Finance to obtain latest equipment for better performance is a major problem and lack of exposure.” He added that mentorship was not available.

In addition, Charles Okolo, photographer with The Guardian, urged photographers to up their game. “People just say all you do is take photos; they don’t know what the content is all about.

You are not insured, yet you open yourselves to danger at the expense of your life. The Nigerian society is not photo-friendly, so you just try and play safe and do your job to the best of your abilities. Media Photographers need to be prop-

erly insured especially as they are sent to war zones and put their lives at risk,” he said.

The founder and convener of World Photography Day Nigeria, Mr Yemi Royal, called for the empowerment of photographers and private sector participation.

“Photographers are extremely important people; they tell and document history and change people’s mind-set with their camera. On the other hand, photography is a very expensive profession.

“They need to update your equipment; camera, lenses and other gears. Finance can be a hindrance in practising professional photography.

Hence, photographers need to speak with one voice. Also, private sector participation cannot be under-emphasised. They need to empower, support and invest in photography,” he asked.

This year’s edition also featured the exhibition of works by photographers, photo-journalists and photo-enthusiasts from across the country, including The Nation correspondent Evelyn Osagie, who showcased a picture on a protesting former soldier; Busola Ajayi and Jimoh Ena.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Complicating the peace •It’s time for the National Peace Committee to go

A

S its name may suggest, the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections has probably outlived its usefulness. The elections have been won and lost across the country. So why is the group still going about with a sense of relevance and giving the impression that it is busy making efforts to maintain peace in the polity?

In particular, the critical March 28 presidential election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is now history. Considering that the committee was constituted in response to palpable public fears about a possible eruption of disorder arising from the presidential election, the concrete reality of a Buhari presidency should imply closure for its business.

The committee has been useful as an agent of peace, especially in getting Buhari and then President Goodluck

‘The committee has been useful as an agent of peace, especially in getting Buhari and then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign an agreement to maintain the peace, irrespective of the result of the presidential poll. With that chapter over, it is puzzling that the committee seems to have promoted itself to another level of keeping the post-election peace’

Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign an agreement to maintain the peace, irrespective of the result of the presidential poll. With that chapter over, it is puzzling that the committee seems to have promoted itself to another level of keeping the post-election peace. An explanation by the group’s spokesman, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, concerning its meeting with President Buhari on August 11 is instructive: “We gave a bit of update about the relevance of the Peace Committee itself and how we can help to nurture what God has given to us.”

Curiously, the committee’s visit to Buhari came barely three days after Jonathan had paid him a secret visit, raising public suspicion of its motive. Kukah compounded this suspicion by what he said about Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, which many interpreted as proJonathan. Kukah said: “I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws everybody is innocent until proven guilty.” Certainly, the Buhari administration didn’t need such a lesson.

Also, the logic appeared to be corruptionfriendly.

Public criticism of this posture has been vigorous, and it is unlikely that the committee can regain popular confidence.

This development is further proof that the committee is no longer regarded as a vehicle for peace. Having lost its initial raison d’être, it should be put to a deserved rest.

Elongation of the committee’s life would mean a continuing association between the Buhari administration and its mem-

bers, which may have negative implications because some of them have been linked with suspected large-scale scams.

Furthermore, the committee’s variegated membership reflects various interests and tendencies, which are likely to create internal divisions outside the primary purpose for which it was started – preventing chaos in the aftermath of the 2015 presidential election.

Present at the meeting with Buhari were former military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Also in attendance were Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Priscilla Kuye, and Senator Ben Obi. Evidence of conflicting ideas among the committee’s members manifested when the Sultan of Sokoto said at a wellpublicised event after the meeting with Buhari: “It is our belief that all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and forfeited to government but also face jail sentences.” It is noteworthy that the Sultan didn’t sound like Bishop Kukah.

There is also the issue of nomenclature as Buhari reportedly referred to the committee as a council, which suggests an institutional capacity that it lacks and should not be invested with. In the final analysis, instead of complicating the peace, it is time for the committee to cease to exist.

Abandoned rail tracks

• It’s time to get the project back on track for commerce and ease of traffic on our roads T is such a pity that the Federal Government’s newly rehabilitated rail loop linking various oil tank farms at Apapa, Lagos, have been overtaken by thick bush months after rehabilitation. The project, handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has not been used since its completion in December last year, and it cost the Federal Government about N1.6billion. The tank farms, which involved laying of tracks into the farm yards, would have been used to haul petroleum products directly into the tank wagons.

Indeed, the tracks were even upgraded from 60 to 85 pounds to enable them withstand the expected increase in weight that will result from the direct haulage of petroleum products by rail. It is worthy to note that the rail tracks have been there since the colonial days. Oil Companies involved in the project included A-Z Petroleum, Oando Petroleum, Total Petroleum, Mobil, Eurafric Energy Ltd and Forte Oil. It is indeed unfortunate that the newly rehabilitated tracks have not been used despite the huge investment in it. This was a project conceptualised to ease movement of petroleum products from oil depots, and the NRC has repeatedly boasted that it has the capacity to move 900,000 litres of petrol at an equivalent of 30 trucks at once, and dedicated two big trains that can move 1.8

I

million litres of petrol (PMS) to the project. Sadly, months after all the sweet talks started, movement of PMS by rail has yet to commence.

The situation is not helped by a subtle disagreement between the NRC and oil marketers who are skeptical of the arrangement since rail haulage may mean a loss of investment on their hundreds of trucks on the roads. They also fear it would further lead to job losses on the part of tanker drivers. Furthermore, it means a renegotiation of the cost of petroleum products, as lifting by rail would possibly drive down the cost of haulage and the retail price. All of these concerns can be addressed; and none is sufficient to put on hold a project on which huge public funds had been spent.

The failure of the rail line and its sorry state after N1.6bn had been invested on it is another sad commentary on the way the country has been run. All over the world, railway is seen as a very important means of transportation of goods and humans which should be given priority attention by the government. Indeed, ours is one of the few backward countries where fuel is lifted by trucks.

The advantages which are being lost by such negligence include; one, many trucks (articulated vehicles) would have been taken off our roads if the project had been operational, thereby reducing carnage and traffic logjams on the roads, both in the cit-

ies and the highways, as well as ensuring longer life span for the roads.

The Buhari administration should therefore treat this rail line project as a matter of priority for its economic advantages, and ensure that it makes it come on stream without further delay.

Form the look of things, the NRC appears ready to commence operations on the tracks. The corporation said it had “gone ahead to do all the slidings for the major oil marketers and has acquired wagons which are to be used for the movement across the country”.

We urge the other stakeholders to cooperate with it so that it can commence lifting of products in earnest once discussions were concluded and all safety concerns resolved.

‘The failure of the rail line and its sorry state after N1.6bn had been invested on it is another sad commentary on the way the country has been run. All over the world, railway is seen as a very important means of transportation of goods and humans which should be given priority attention by the government.

Indeed, ours is one of the few backward countries where fuel is lifted by trucks’

Sultan’s call on Buhari to jail looters

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IR: The news stories in national newspapers on Sultan’s call to jail looters and seize their assets, published on August 18, 2015, made an interesting reading.

In the story, our respectable leader, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, said President Muhammadu Buhari “should send those who loot the treasury to jail”.

I also watched the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network news of August 17, 2015 and saw the Sultan making the same call.

To be honest with our Sultan, what he said at the Abuja Security Summit was what all Nigerians have been calling for: Jail the looters and punish the corrupt!

However, I am afraid that if President Buhari is to dig deeper, many traditional and religious leaders may be among those to be called to answer questions as some of them are now AGIP (any government in power).

There was a story published by an online newspaper, which said a prominent traditional ruler mounted pressures on the leadership of the Seventh House of Representatives to drop the probe of the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, over private jets’ saga, among others. If this allegation is true, then there is a problem.

There was also an allegation that former President Goodluck Jonathan approved sales of scrap helicopters to a certain northern traditional ruler at a ridiculous price. Jonathan also allegedly approved the allocation of an oil block to this same traditional ruler through a middleman. The deal was allegedly facilitated by the former petroleum minister.

The proceeds of the oil block were allegedly used to purchase a mansion located at Maitama District Abuja.

The traditional ruler also allegedly mounted pressure on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leadership to steer clear from the graft investigations in the petroleum industry and Diezani in particular.

Some traditional rulers have started creating Foundations, where politicians and public servants, particularly in the last administration, were coerced into donating money.

The Sultan’s clarion call is expedient because fighting corruption is beyond “show off” or “notice me.” Nobody should be spared in this fight against graft.

We are happy that Buhari is bent on “killing corruption before it kills Nigeria”.

• Aminu Abdulaziz, Zaria Road, Kano.

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager/Press Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The recent slap-on-thewrist punishment, as it were, handed down by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to the Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, after the Commission’s report of investigations into allegations of graft levelled against him by a PSC worker, Solomon Kaase, who petitioned the ICPC in May, 2015 over alleged moves by Okiro to swindle the PSC to the tune of N275m, is unacceptable and does not portray the seriousness towards the much taunted fight against graft in the country by the present administration.

The former Inspector General of Police was accused in May, 2015, of some hanky-panky in the management of the Commission’s fund. He was believed to have benefitted heavily from the behemoth of financial frauds and reckless spending that went into the failed re-election bid of the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in the March general elections. Okiro collected N350m on behalf of PSC, which money was meant for the training of 900 staff of the Commission for the election. But as it turned out, the actual number of officers and staff working with the Commission and who eventually underwent the training were 391 and not the 900 claimed

by Okiro. The following words of the Commission are quite instructive and revealing:”Investigation findings revealed that the commission bud-

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Okiro and ICPC’s bland verdict geted for training of 900 (members of) staff and to conduct training in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. However, the entire work force was not more that 391 and that is the figure actually trained in a programme held in Abuja only. The commission accepted the explanation that due process could not be adhered to strictly because of time constraint.”

Apparently, it would seem that the Commission overlooked the possible collateral effects of such fraudulent action our national psyche and its impact on the current fight against the scourge when it submitted that”Consequently, this Commission hereby directs as follows that the total balance of N133,413,845.99 from the N350,000,000 2015 election monitoring exercise domiciled within FCMB be remitted to the Federal Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No.1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc,”. It appears largely that Nta Ekpo and his Commission only concerned itself with the amount involved. Perhaps, the commission felt there was no point in pressing criminal charges against the retired police

boss since the amount involved does not fall within the usual billions of naira that thieving public office holders and politicians often steal from the nation’s treasury.

It is highly regrettable and unfortunate that the Commission took this unpopular stance. It needs to be reminded that corruption is a crime against humanity. And like the President himself admitted at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Conference, corruption is worse than human rights violation. It is completely of no moment that the amount of money stolen was meagre. Sometimes, it doesn’t necessarily have to do with financial misappropriation.

An abuse of office or power is of same consequence as stealing billions of naira. And if the Commission had viewed the PSC’ boss action in this light, it sure would have taken a more far reaching decision on the issue.

The agitating question then is: What could have informed this irrational decision by the Commission?

Indeed, the only answer that readily

Benue State University at it again

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IR: The policy of tasking the final year students of the Benue State University to pay N500 each before submitting their original West African Examination Council (WAEC) result, and that of the National Examination Council, is exploitation, duping and unfair rule upon the students.

At the time these students were seeking admission into the university, their original certificates, or rather, results, were yet to be released. The students were admitted based on their statements of result following their success in the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams and the socalled aptitude tests conducted by the school.

As the matter of necessity and transparency, I would like the school authorities to explain the collection of N500 per student just for the submission of original result. Was it the fault of these students that their certificates, or rather, their original results, were not ready at the time they applied for admission?

The school management should not punish the innocent students because they were not and are still not responsible for the approximately five-month strike that crippled the academic activities of the varsity recently.

Permit me to use this medium to call on the Students’ Union Government of the institution, under

the leadership of Bobby Bem Tarvershima, to rightly, and if possible, aggressively, kick against this exploitative policy.

However, I have known the ViceChancellor of the institution, Professor Charity Angya, as a mother, who always listens to the cry of her children (students) and takes action that puts smiles on their faces. I strongly believe that as soon as she gets this message, something would be quickly done to put a permanent halt to this illegal payment of N500 fee, all in the name of submission of the so-called original result.

• Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja.

comes to mind is that the Commission seems to be finding it extremely difficult to disentangle itself from the web of its former modus operandi under the last regime, which incidentally did not recognise stealing as corruption, a position the Commission publicly and regrettably aligned itself with. Little wonder, it practically went into a hibernation mode for the six years the regime lasted. Or was the Commission oblivious of the fact that the PSC Chairman’s action runs foul of Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act, 2010 (as amended), which elegantly states thus :”Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be

liable to imprisonment for five (5) years without option of fine.”?

There is an urgent need for the Commission to go beyond this method. It should exercise its prosecutorial powers against these pilferers just so it sets an example and serves a warning to other prospective public thieves. Whoever was indicted in that report should be made to face the music squarely, but certainly not this bland and dillydally verdict.

President Mohammadu Buhari must call for the review of this decision if he wants Nigerians to take his administration’s campaign against corruption seriously. In my view, this is a litmus test for Buhari.

Okiro and the indicted individuals, in addition to the return of the misappropriated fund, must be subjected to the instrumentality of the relevant laws of the land. Thankfully, the Commission appears to have carried out a thorough investigation into the allegation. Proving its case, therefore, won’t pose much challenge in court. But above all, it is important Mr. Nta Ekpo and his Commission to understand that crime without punishment breeds greater crimes and enthrones the culture of impunity.

• Okoro Gabriel, Esq., Lagos.

RE: Non-refund of my contribution to National Housing Fund (NHF)

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IR: Please, permit me to use your much esteemed tabloid to highlight the sufferings of retirees in Abia State, in the hands of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. It will surprise you to know that it takes upwards of 3 years for contributors to the scheme to get their refund from the Bank.

My name is Ogbonna Charles E. and I retired from the Abia State Civil Service with effect from 20 th December, 2012 and on the 24th of December, 2012, I submitted my application for refund with the completed forms which they issued to me attached, to the Umuahia Branch of the Bank.

Since then, I have been to the office not less than twenty times but to no avail. Also, since April this year, they have been telling me that

the approval for payment has come, that it is in the January, 2015 batch and that their Abuja Office will effect the payment but to my chagrin up till today, nothing has happened.

I am tired of waiting indefinitely.

Hence, I crave your indulgence, to assist me call on the bank to refund my contribution and the interest thereon, to enable me take care of some domestic needs, especially as pensions and gratuities are not being paid in Abia State.

My Mortgage Account No. is 100677058-0 and my Passbook No. is 02477823.

Thanks for being the finger God will use to cause them to pay me the refund.

• Ogbonna Charles E. ogbonna e134 @yahoo.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 26, 2015

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COMMENTS

Our Girls; Help for IDPs; V Agha & Ogie Alakija: 80 Not Out; Reverse School failure; Tax NASS pls

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UR Girls are still missing since April 15 th 2014 and we continue to pray that the ongoing assault will yield the twin results of the extermination of Boko Tony Haram and the release of Marinho Our Girls who must unfortunately have suffered severe physical and environmental deprivations, torture, perhaps sexual harassment and psychological trauma. All these have resulted in severe Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTMS) requiring an army of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists for Our Girls and the many victims and Internally Displaced Persons everywhere. The Nigerian government/ Victims Support Fund must employ 100-200 clinical psychologists and psychiatrists for the next one to two years to identify those at risk of depression, suicide or even murder to add to those psychologists recruited by the Red Cross. So apart from the physical care that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is coming to inspect, we must implement the needed psychological care. We must anticipate the mind problems of these vulnerable children, youth and adults.

The ISIS factor is a dreadful addition to the Boko Haram mix. There is ‘talk of talks’ with Boko Haram. In any coming negotiation who will mediate between such vicious villains and families of innocent victims numbering about 20,000+ dead added to the agonies and deprivations of 3-4million Internally Displaced Persons? After every fight there is talk.

Nigeria must win the war before the talk.

There is catastrophic systemic failure in education, attested to by repeated abysmal examination results. Perhaps it is inadequate to only analyse WAEC results after 6 years of school.

Public release on the notice board and publication in STATE SCHOOL EXAM MONITORING REPORTS of the end-ofschool-year promotion examinations class by class, set by set, JS1-SS3 should be an immediate requirement of all schools in Nigeria. This information compressed into School Ranking Tables is the minimum documentation of schools and the right of Parents. The ANNUAL CLASS PROMOTION EXAM

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O discerning practitioner or observer of socio-political activities in Nigeria will, consciously, discountenance the unfettered contributions of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who is presently the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese. When it was not fashionable to be seen to counter the draconian policies and programmes of the then dreaded General Sani Abacha junta, Bishop Kukah and his fellow civil society activists were on the rampage waging a war of nerves against the maximum leader and his apologists.

Bishop Kukah’s belief in and commitment to the Nigerian Project is better understood in the context of his being a highly-visible Catholic cleric who is not encumbered by some people’s notion that he should be seen but not heard. It is on record that this commitment to foster peace and harmony among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic or tribal and religious configuration, drove his resolve to convene the National Peace Committee as a vehicle to ensure peaceful and violencefree elections before, during and after the last electioneering exercise.

When this body of eminent Nigerians met President Muhammadu Buhari recently, it did not do so at the behest of any person either in or out of government, supposedly on account of the ongoing probes or rumours of probes. Unfortunately, that visit has suddenly become controversial. What may have prompted the rash of ill comments from some quarters about the mission and agenda of the Committee, is the reported opinion canvassed by Bishop Kukah that the current anti-graft crusade should be conducted within a backdrop of the Constitution and the Rule of Law and not on a monarchical set up that ensures that the

RESULTS are a neglected Monitoring And Evaluation, M&E, tool for studying education, classroom quality and teacher performance and need much more publicity by School Management. PTAs should demand such information to target intervention for improvements by the end of the following year. This M&E OF ANNUAL CLASS PROMOTION EXAM RESULTS will identify the causes and the countermeasures against the repeated mass failure in WAEC. Life goes on in spite of Boko Haram. It is appropriate to pay tribute to this season’s 80 year- olds including Mr Vincent Agha- Gregorian, prominent Quantity Surveyor with Qu-Ess Partnership, intellectual giant, squashaficionado and mentor to many including me. Mr Ogie Alakija is also 80, distinguished captain of business, life-long sportsman with keen leadership role as a Captain in cricket, squash and tennis culminating in a leadership role as Trustee in Ibadan Recreation Club. He also took on a major but quiet philanthropic role helping many in business and the NGO world where he was Chairman of Educare Trust and a major supporter of youth activities and funder of its building project ‘The A-Z Hall’ –The Alakija to Zard Hall, named for our major donorsMr Ogie Alakija and Chief Raymond Zard. They joined Mr SPA Ajibade, distinguished lawyer and silent guide of the youth, Professor Ayo Banjo-Mr Education, Chief Joop Berkhout- Mr Book, in the presence of Chief Akin Delano, distinguished lawyer and a host of ‘party faithful’-. They join Mr Bode Emanuel, business giant and Educare Trust Patron who was 80 years earlier this year along with Chief FRA Marinho also an Educare Trust Distinguished Member. Congratulations Sirs. Live long, live well and live healthy. President Buhari’s instruction that the Police Recruitment of 10,000 must not be an excuse for ‘extortion’ should also include the new ‘stop and search’ that has replaced the checkpoint but appears just as corruption-prone. The uniform, FRSC and police, and the hand up to ‘stop and park’ are everywhere but where you need them –where there is a traffic jam or accident!

Every state is bigger than 50 countries and the leadership should act responsibly aiming to make a difference to the citizenry as suggested even by Ban Ki-Moon. Financial extortion is an occupation of an occupying force, not a democratically elected government. The population of Nigeria is

nowhere near the touted 160 million, probably nearer 120 million, even though the Census figures are part of the CORRUPTION that Buhari must eliminate. The true Census figures are the basis of the elusive ‘True FEDERALISM’ of which FISCAL Federalism is a major part. Recently, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin arranged with Ambassador T A O Otunla a conference/workshop on ‘Federal Opulence and State Indigence-A case for Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria’. True federalism may still be elusive but ‘True State-ism’ is possible. Besides President Buhari in Abuja, we want ‘State Statesmen’ in every state.

And President Buhari can reduce the State-Federal conflicts over inland waterways, interstate roads, railways, schools and also the double taxation imbroglio which needs urgent attention by new Federal Inland Revenue Service boss, Mr Babatunde Fowler, from Lagos State where he raised massive some say near extortionist taxes only to have a large chunk diverted to politics and political profiteering, helping the Buhari election train. Mr Fowler must practice the principle that ‘A LITTLE FROM A LOT IS BETTER THAN A LOT FROM A FEW’ and he must start by insisting that NASS members pay their full taxes with no political exemptions. NASS HAS HAD A ‘LEGALLY ILLEGAL’ TAX HOLIDAY.

‘The population of Nigeria is nowhere near the touted 160 million, probably nearer 120 million, even though the Census figures are part of the CORRUPTION that Buhari must eliminate. The true Census figures are the basis of the elusive ‘True FEDERALISM’ of which FISCAL Federalism is a major part… True federalism may still be elusive but ‘True State-ism’ is possible.Besides President Buhari in Abuja, we want ‘State Statesmen’ in every state.’

Kukah’s probe homily President’s word is inviolate. Bishop Kukah opined that while the war against corruption and economic pillaging is in full steam, care should be taken to ensure that due process is not set aside in the bid to play to the gallery and leave the duties of state to go fallow.

It is pertinent to mention that the preponderance of informed opinions on the on-going wide probes in the country is that the formation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Advisory Committee headed by Professor Itse Sagay, may be both extra-judicial and unconstitutional. The argument is that it goes against the grain of the need to investigate and prosecute proven cases of corruption by constitutionally-recognised bodies which should be strengthened and fundamentallyrestructured to confront the ogre of corruption and corruptive activities in the country.

Therefore, Bishop Kukah’s views about the ongoing cacophony of innuendoes and insinuations of highfalutin corruption and graft, is that it may actually distract the President’s focus from doing what he was elected to do in the first instance. He said, inter alia: “Everybody knows that things are not the way they ought to be. We are just trying to encourage people that let’s get on with this business of fixing this country. Let’s get to the business of realising the change that we dreamt of. And also, most importantly, let’s get down with the business of co-operating with God so that Nigeria can move forward...I think that is what ordinary Nigerians are expecting. This is what they voted for.

‘We must avoid the vilification and demonisation of those who, out of their patriotic zeal, are contributing to the pool of ideas that will move the country up the ladder of progress.’

The truth of the matter is that time is not on our side. Our responsibility is to encourage politicians to do what they were elected to do.”

This and other pan-Nigerian views expressed by Bishop Kukah, are not patronising or tongue-in-cheek but a timely homily delivered in the national interest and not one constructed in the warped imagination of his (and by extension, the National Peace Committee) traducers, who are finding “solution” to corruption and graft through witch-hunting, mediaprosecution and trial by ordeal. After all, Bishop Kukah has an inalienable right to hold personal views or opinion on any subject as far as it does not impinge on those of other people.

That he is a priest does not detract from the primary fact that he is also a concerned Nigerian committed to the welfare of its citizens.

Some people have maintained that the main focus and thrust of the muchhyped probes and rumours of probes are directed against the former administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan. This is the more reason why the President will do well to diffuse the gathering storm of the rehearsed persecutions and witch-hunts and face actual governance. He should also offset his campaign promises without necessarily, wittingly or unwittingly, fuelling any distractions and its attendant media razzmatazz as we are now witnessing. The kernel of Bishop Kukah’s homily is that real focus and attention should be placed on pressing national issues that need urgent and holistic solutions. And there are several issues begging for attention.

Quite understandably, the president is doing his outmost best to stamp out terrorism in the Northeast of the country. The recent appointment of new Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser have, indeed, upped the ante in the war against the Boko Haram terrorists who have virtually paralysed the socio-economic well-

being of that part of the country. But the president needs to do more to convince Nigerians that they did not make a wrong choice on March 28, 2015 when they trooped out to cast their votes for him at the presidential election.

One particular area that readily comes to mind is the area of infrastructures including roads, schools, hospitals and all that. For instance, nothing seems to be happening anymore on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which reconstruction work has suddenly stopped. Besides, most of our hospitals have remained, if I may borrow from the late General Sani Abacha’s coup day broadcast on December 31, 1983, “mere consulting clinics”. Nowadays, people go to hospitals, especially government hospitals, not for succour or any healing, but simply to go and die. As for schools, the whole thing has gone from bad to worse as pupils and students now study under terribly unbearable conditions fit only for animals. I can go on and on.

While Nigeria is not running or operating a Saudi Arabia-type of “democracy” where the King is virtually infallible and a “political island”, President Buhari and his party, the APC, as well as his advisers, should imbibe the virtue of assimilating or adapting the positive contributions that will provide a reservoir or pool of alternatives but useful advice necessary in driving his nascent administration to success.

Therefore, the current virulent and bileful riposte by the president’s men smacks of a deliberate leakage of what transpired between the President and the National Peace Committee at the recent meeting held at the Villa. This is what has triggered the laughable and ill-conceived demonstrations to Aso Rock Villa and other public places. The spontaneity of the reactions to the views expressed by Bishop Kukah by some

Dele Agekameh interested members of the Nigerian public, appeared programmed and sponsored to convey a populist rejection of those pan-Nigeria opinions and suggestions raised by the erudite cleric, as they were not in sync with those held by some interested parties who are in favour of ‘mob justice’.

It is imperative that Nigerians should be spared a resurgence of the orgy of “solidarity marches” that defined and characterised the Abacha despotic years which some concerned Nigerians believed was not indicative of the junta’s popularity rating.

And if these “million-man marches” are being sponsored with tax payers’ money, then corruption, by other means, is at play.

The truth is that all patriotic Nigerians should endeavour to contribute viable ideas that will move the country towards the realisation of corruption-free governance, sustainable development and the equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy. We must avoid the vilification and demonisation of those who, out of their patriotic zeal, are contributing to the pool of ideas that will move the country up the ladder of progress.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

COMMENTS ‘Somebody that has the ears of Father Kukah, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and other responsible/respectable people in the National Peace Council should please tell these people to distance themselves from associating with the likes of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and other controversial members of the council, to salvage what remains of their integrity in the eyes of discerning Nigerians. Where were the likes of Father Kukah, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, etc, when Jonathan’s men and women were stealing Nigeria dry? Why did they fail to tell them to “follow due process” in committing their atrocities then? — Musa Shuaibu Karshi •Buhari For Segun Gbadegesin I belong to the school of thought that advocates that those who have crippled the economy of this country should be brought to book - whether military or civilian. - From Comr. Onuoha Francis, Owerri. ‘’But the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and Brimstone which is the second Death.’’ Revelation 21:8. - Anonymous.

Please tell Mr President to set up special court for corruption because the judiciary is too corrupt. The people concerned have started lobbying the judges and the traditional rulers. Anonymous.

Many thanks for your analytical article on Anti-Corruption Matters. I opted for a probe down to our independence and the late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. Now I submit to your superior argument in limiting the ongoing probe to the recent past and using the lessons learnt to build a future corrupt-free Nigeria. - From Dr Jones Utuk, Uyo. Re: Anti-corruption matters. Prof. Ben Nwabueze seems not to be patriotically consistent. It will be recalled that the Professor headed the team that recommended the confusing hydra-headed Unitary Constitution under the military. He also led the committee that recommended the National Conference for Jonathan’s administration and ‘ran away’ when it was being debated. Like Gbadegesin rightly stated: “The finger that commits a crime will suffer the penalty.”

If ex-President Good Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was satisfied with what he inherited in the Presidency (stealing and corruption) that was his Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ‘family affair.’, there is ‘A time to kill, and a time to heal;’(Eccl.3:3a). God has sent President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to kill corruption and official stealing before they kill NigeriaDetterent. Let those who feel cheated now seek justice at the Judiciary-the third arm of government . Carry on PMB, the international community is with your administration. - From Ladipo O. David, Gwagwalada.

As a time is ‘for everything’ so also is a time to start a clean-up. Buhari has the right to determine that time as the President - whether 1914, 1960, 1985, or 2011. No Nwabueze nor Kukah, nor Obasanjo, nor Peace Committee, nor ethnic or religious group should direct the President when that time should be. Buhari wants to redirect Nigeria from this route to hell. The penchant for colouring the truth in Nigeria according to person, place or religion will destroy us. Is truth divided? If somebody is proved to have committed a crime why can’t our leaders have the courage to agree that such persons face punishment? This elite restlessness about the anti- corruption policy of this govt shows really the true beneficiaries of the status quo. - Anonymous.

Thank you for that piece titled: Anti-corruption matters. Leave Prof Nwabueze alone, one million SANs cannot stop Buhari against the treasury looters. Let anybody says whatever he likes. PDP ruled us for 16 years and Nwabueze did not advise Jonathan to probe PDP regimes of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua. Buhari must not listen to any ethnic group, because I see no reason people are saying it is against their ethnic group alone. PDP must be ashamed of themselves and keep their mouth shut. In the history of Nigeria, no government has ruined the economy of Nigeria like the PDP. I stand to be corrected! Thanks. - From Elder Isaiah O. Fakunle Gbadegesin, thanks for enlightening the readers of the necessity of PMB’s insistence of

fighting corruption. PMB is not interested in crucifying ex-President. I feel sorry that our renowned Professor thinks otherwise. Let us all show patriotism in building a new Nigeria. - From Femi Ayoola, Isale Aaje, Ipetumodu, Osun State.

I want to appreciate the writer of ‘Where are they now?(II)’. Don’t relent in writing with your magic pen. Continue digging dip. Any discovery I will send to you. PDP has sentenced this nation to death; now that God has delivered his people, He said have no mercy on them.

We all have to be praying for Baba Buhari.From Dr Theo Wilson.

For Gbenga Omotoso Omotoso, how did you omit Ayo Oritsejafor, your signature piece, “Where are they now?”; Ayo’s ascension to the presidency of the Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N) utterly diminished Christendom. Phew! Anonymous.

They need to be prosecute them for their wrong doing in last administration. They are behind Nigeria problems. From Gordon Chika Nnorom Your piece reminds us of the Scripture that says ,”A time for every purpose under heaven “…”A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.”(Eccl.3:1,5b). Nigeria’s politicians are self-focused. Hence, they do not know what and when to embrace per time.

However,the list topped by an 85-year-old greedy fellow, left out the ever-relevant “Villa’s Chief Priest” from Warri, and head of delegation to Jerusalem, who virtually sold CAN to PDP. They ALL deserve to be remembered as they gradually withdraw themselves into oblivion. Long live Nigeria! Anonymous.

Within this article, it is mentioned that my old columnist at Guardian newspaper is up for hire. It is a pity that most of us his readers have shifted our interest and love to the ever-robust THE NATION.We expect the “changed”Abati to establish a newspaper after departing Villa and continue to enlighten the world on “ the mis-understood will-power of Jonathan”; or he goes back to the stable of The Guardian. He has almost become a dark spot in Nigerian journalism. Good luck. From L. O. David, Gwawalada, Abuja.

Why is it that THE NATION never speak against the APC? From Gbolahan.

They deserve to be remembered, especially my ex-gov Gabriel Suswan from Benue State.

From Joseph, Benue State.

I have always craved for someone who would follow up on our men in power and after! Please keep up the good work. From Olumuyiwa Gam-Ikon.

Great job. Wish you expand the article to others like Pastor Oritsejafor. From Bode Benson.

I should ask after the co-ordinating minister of the Economy under president Jonathan?

What about the best governor in Nigeria, Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. The man many awarding organisations in Nigeria adjudged the best governor, not by what he actual did for Deltans, but how much he was willing to pay for several awards he received?

Some said he had gone to China for deserved rest. Please when you see him, tell him Deltans are waiting for him to refund of the billions he allegedly paid for the various contracts that were never started. From Young Francis You need to do a book on the title: where are GEJ’s men/women foot sojas?2009-2015. Anonymous.

But it seems you have forgotten or afraid of Yakubu Jang,son of Jonah Jang, who allegedly has properties in almost every street of Jos. The only school drop out turned billionaire in Jos… From Mr. Dalong, Jos. In your piece titled: Re: No hiding place refers.

You mistakenly wrote “as happened in the cases of Charles Taylor and Laurent Gbagbo of Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively “. It should read Cote d’Ivoire instead of Sierra

Leone. Please. From L. O. David. Gwagwalada, Abuja.

You have said it all. It is a great lesson to learn and think twice whenever you find yourself in position of authority. The PDP members thought they have power to rule us for 60 years. But God disgraced them all. If I were God, I would not allow some PDP senators who are against a democratic government and the actualisation of June 12 enjoy the number four citizen of Nigeria for eight years. Psalm 1:4. Thanks. From Elder Isaiah. O. Fakunle.

All the atrocities mentioned by you except Dr Akinwumi Adesina, teach us to remember the future while we have the opportunity to hold positions today. You forgot to mention the tortoise, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the garrulous, Maku! They are all around. They cannot talk, now. From Lanre Oseni.

When some people are on seat of power, they tend to forget they will one day, but now, where are there? Their country is hot for them now. Anonymous.

I really enjoy the piece titled: Where are they now? From Yemi Giwa For Olatunji Dare I’m an unknown fan of yours over the years.

Your article touches many informed citizens.

What is the way out? The Judiciary should check the excesses of the National Assembly once the masses who elected them have objections. We should set a limit to their earnings in relation to what obtains in other areas. Also, the legislators should be part-time instead of full time with excess recess without performance, thereby raping our treasury. We should look at ways of putting all these in the constitution, which is to be reviewed. From Mudi A. Gold It is very unfortunate that our lawmakers are yet to agree to cut their jumbo pay in spite of Nigerians’call for their reduction. It seems that the lawmakers were in National Assembly for their selfish interests and not that of Nigerians who voted for them. Nigerians should recall them if they refuse to reduce their pay. Nigeria needs to develop rapidly with the resources. The few people in National Assembly are wasting the money meant for infrastructural development. ‘Stomach infrastructure’ is not in our agenda for change. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia.

The National Assembly members’pay is really outrageous. Nigerians have to urgently move en mass to Abuja and chase the ‘thieves’ away. Labour should lead the protest, but are they bothered to embark on such? We are doomed. Anonymous.

Re: Quis custodiet ipso custodes? Bravo Prof.

Dare. It’s a pity that as Nigerians are celebrating the dawn of a new era,the “polio-ticians”, the political contractors with ‘forged invoices ‘at the National Assembly have refused to see reasons with us. They still smile home with the world top-most remunerations, little work. Both the Federal and state governments are struggling to pay salaries, even N18,000 minimum wage is almost impossible. Yet, they feel unconcerned. After winning elections, our politicians should undergo a basic course in Political Economy. As for the refractory ‘guardians’ and law-breaking law-makers, they are part of our problems instead of helping to proffer lasting solutions. Judiciary in collaboration with the law enforcement agents should be up to the task. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is dead - RIP. We are now running away from corruption to permanent collective treasury looters called National Assembly. Buhari needs our persistent prayers. From Ladipo O. David. Gwagwalada, Abuja.

I like to commend the innovation of The Nation cover page carrying the photograph of Navy’s destruction of illegal refineries in Port Harcourt. Please continue to carry President

• Kukah Buhari’s achievement in this corner piece daily in your paper. I love the innovation. God bless The Nation.

For Kunle Abimbola Re: Kukah cooking poisonous broth (Republican Ripples, The Nation, August 18) I was really disappointed with Rev. Father Matthew Kukah’s statement. There is no place in the Bible that says you should leave a thief with his stolen goods. Likewise, it is not a sin collecting it back, while the thief faces the law.

Common and elite theft are all the same in the eyes of the law. — Yahaya Halidu, Kaduna, +2348103765713 I commend your expose in Kukah cooking poisonous broth — explosive and hits the nail on the head. As a Catholic, I used to hold Kukah in high esteem. Sadly, he has diminished in stature by justifying corruption. I truly appreciate your write-up — Barrister Iyasere Florence, +2348080788418 That was brilliant — your piece on “Kukah cooking poisonous broth”. The Kukah Show is the unmasking of a masquerade — and a rather scheming media manipulator! Perhaps editors will begin to show more discretion in giving platform to all kinds of characters, some of them phonies. Kukah’s unmasking as a sophist apologist for corruption is straight from the Book of Revelation. — Dr. Bisi Olawunmi, +2348033647571 Somebody that has the ears of Father Kukah, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and other responsible/respectable people in the National Peace Council should please tell these people to distance themselves from associating with the likes of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and other controversial members of the council, to salvage what remains of their integrity in the eyes of discerning Nigerians. Where were the likes of Father Kukah, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, etc, when Jonathan’s men and women were stealing Nigeria dry? Why did they fail to tell them to “follow due process” in committing their atrocities then? — Musa Shuaibu Karshi, +234811855811.

You stood on higher tower to view things around Nigerian and, at the end, you saw everything. The National Peace Council wants to continue with its mandate of peace. So, let Father Kukah extend his peace crusade to past governments; and let everyone that pinched money from both federal and state governments step out to EFCC for confession; and after, let them all return all they have stolen. Then, there will be peace. — Richard Tyotsugh, Abuja, +2348078749725.

Thank you so much for this clinical analysis of our National Peace Council visit to President Muhammadu Buhari. I asked myself: what manner of elders are these? But God has used you to address the issue. — Henry, Awka, +2349053534936 An excellent take, your signature piece, “Kukah cooking poisonous broth”. It was easily an excellent read. Tell you what: noticeably, Bishop Hassan Kukah has morphed into a twisted chimera, since he was made secretary of the misbegotten Oputa Panel, authored by the avuncular narcissist! But the erudite and mischievous clergyman, with his geeky back flips, makes me suspect Christianity as a huge specious fraud. Next, Bishop Kukah could as well harangue the hoi polloi for murmuring that the epic emoluments of the buccaneers, pretending to be legislators, are oppressive and obscene, in the context of the Nigerian famished desert of Biblical privation. More, chances are that Bishop Kukah may not have heard of the altruistic feat of Cardinal Sin, the resolute Archbishop of Manila, who sided with the insufferable Filipino people, under the yoke of the Marcos couple. — Eghosa Imade, +2348066572500

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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Touching Lives entries still on, says Airtel

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WO weeks after the launch of Touching Lives Season 2, leading telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has said entry is still open for wellmeaning Nigerians to nominate beneficiaries in the revolutionary CSR intervention, until August 27 when entries will close.

During the launch of the programme in Lagos, the telecoms company said entries can be submitted via SMS, phone calls to the short code 947 or via emails to: touchinglives@ng.airtel.com.

It also noted that nomination letters not more than 1000 words can also be submitted at Airtel showrooms, shops and dealers outlets across the country, adding that interested people can also go to Airtel Facebook page and Airtel CSR/Touching Lives web page for further information.

According to Airtel Nigeria, disadvantaged persons, groups or communities in any part of the country who need help can be nominated

by Nigerians while call for entry lasts.

Its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said the telco rolled out the second edition of the revolutionary programme based on the monumental successes recorded with the first edition.

According to him, Airtel went the length and breadth of the country, last year, scouting for people who needed help and for causes to support, noting that “the journey yielded great results as we touched the lives of many Nigerians.

He also noted that the Airtel Touching Lives initiative marks a significant milestone in the company’s history of CSR interventions just as it perfectly aligns with the telco’s vision of connecting Nigerians to their dreams, enriching lives, uplifting people and creating prosperity for the people and communities we serve.

“At Airtel, we believe that for us to be a great company we must be a good company and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the people we serve, “he said.

Airtel Touching Lives Season One featured 26 emotion-evoking stories, which brought to limelight the commitment and kindheartedness of Airtel in uplifting the conditions of underprivileged people across the Nigerian society.

‘It is regrettable that the damaging consequences of the Ecowas CET policy on the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Nigeria were not considered despite our desperate attempts to draw attention to this. This policy undoubtedly spells doom for the local industry as imported medicines will become far cheaper than locally produced ones’ Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG MAN), Mr. Okey Akpa

Ecobank ordered to pay Skye Bank N629m APG

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COBANK Plc has been ordered to make good its obligation under the Advance Payment Guarantee No ENG/PH/GO394A as security for the release of the sum N629 million to Skye Bank Plc. This order was handed down by the Bankers Committee which told Ecobank that the terms of the APG “was binding while No. 2 APG was unilateral and not binding. Therefore, it was not enforceable.”

Skye Bank’s decision to call in the APG, the Bankers Committee noted “was called within its validity period, there is no provision in place for

From Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor, Abuja

extension of the guarantee.”

Skye Bank had reported Ecobank to the Bankers Committee claiming that “Ecobank had blatantly refused to hounour its terms under the guarantee as their customer had delivered only 222 generating sets out of the total number leaving a short fall of 532 generating sets valued at N442, 317, 150. 00. It is therefore apparent that Ecobank Plc was in breach of its obligation and does not desire to remedy the situation.”

Skye Bank had argued that on November 25, 2010, on the application of its customer, Messrs Teasons Power Product Company Limited, it relied on an Ecobank APG No ENG/PH/ GO394A as security for the release of the sum N629, 280, 000.00 to their customer, PASimons Fabrications Limited for a sub-contract to supply and install 754 generating sets with installation materials in various local government areas of the country.

However, Ecobank in its defence had argued that “prior to Skye Bank’s demand for payment, by a letter dated February 3, 2011, Teasons had

discharged Ecobank of liabilities up to N200million based on utilisation on the work plan between Teasons and the customer. By the terms of the APG No. 1, “Ecobank’s liability reduced in proportion to the extent of work done.”

Skye Bank therefore, called on the sub-committee to compel Ecobank Ltd to make good its obligation under the guarantee and refund Skye Bank the sum of N442, 317, 150.00 .

Ecobank said: “The APG expired on May 24, 2011.

“However, prior to the expiration of the APG, Skye bank vide it’s letter dated May

11, 2011 made a demand on Ecobank for payment of the guaranteed sum on the ground of failure of the customer to perform the contract. The customer thereafter formally requested that Ecobank should extend the validity of the APG to accommodate the competition of the contract.

“Five months after the issuance of the supplemental Guarantee APG No. 2 and silence from Skye Bank on its demand dated May 11, 2011 on APG No. 1 having received APG No. 2, Skye Bank mischievously sought to make a further demand on APG No. 1 by a letter dated November 16, 2011.”

In response, Ecobank issued its letter dated December 8, 2011 wherein it stated that it was not liable to Skye Bank on the said APG No. 1 as claimed

by Skye Bank, as APG No.1 had been superseded by APG No. 2 which expired on June 26, 2011.

Ecobank argued that “it would appear that Skye Bank forgot to make a demand on APG No. 2 and decided to feign ignorance of APG 2 and sought to revert to APG No. 1 which had ceased to exist.”

The bank alleged that “Skye Bank’s contention that it did not receive the APG No. 2 since it did not affect and did not seek confirmation as baseless as lack of confirmation by Ecobank did not affect validity of the guarantee, it was just added comfort.”

‘Falling oil price ‘ll worsen Nigeria’s economic woes’

By Akinola Ajibade •From left: Deputy Director, Research/Head, Malaria Research Programme, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMIR), Yaba, Dr. Awolola Samson, Marketing Director, Mortein RB, West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili and Senior Programme Officer for Global Fund, Malaria Project NMEP, Dr. Ekweremadu Diwe during Mortein ‘Own a Community’ conference in Lagos.

Fed Govt intervenes in Agip, Arco feud

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ESOLUTION of the conflict between the local arm of the Italian oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and an indigenous oil service company, Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company, a subsidiary of Arco Group, over the maintenance of the OB-OB/Kwale/Ebocha gas plant contract, is in sight as the Presidency has intervened to restore peace, it was learnt.

The project is owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Agip (NNPC/Agip) Joint Venture (JV).

The case was brought before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over

by Justice Lambo Akambi, a few months ago. Also the immediate past administra-

TSA: Depositors to get higher interest - P26

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

tion tried to resolve the feud, and the Port Harcourt zone of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), had threatened to embark on strike, all aimed at seeing an end to the prolonged dispute, yet the case remained unresolved.

A source at the Petroleum Resources Ministry told The Nation in confidence that current intervention by the Presidency will yield result and will not only save the emerging Nigerian content from collapse but also the nation’s oil industry.

The Agip-Arco faceoff started when Agip refused to

renew an interim contract for Arco for the maintenance of the OB-OB/Kwale/Ebocha gas plant turbines. Arco had been a sub-contractor to the project since 2006, when the Board of the NNPC awarded a five year contract ending in 2011 to the duo of the then Nuovo Pignone, now GE, and Arco as the local technical partner.

On expiration of the 2006/ 2011 contract, another fiveyear contract was being processed after the necessary tender process. But pending conclusion of the tender, an interim or stop-gap maintenance contract is expected to be awarded to the contractor on site, which is Arco/GE or Arco as the local technical partner. The essence of the interim contract is to keep the gas plants under proper

Ambode increases RBBRF funding rate to 12.41% - P 38

maintenance. However, after inconclusive discussions on the tender for the stop-gap contract by GE and Arco with the JV Partners, the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) an arm of NNPC and NAOC (NAPIMS/NAOC), NAPIMS asked GE and Arco to individually submit quotes.

NAPIMS found Arco’s quote lower than GE’s, it was learnt.

However, Agip reportedly awarded the contract to a Nigeria-based Italian-managed company called Plantgeria Company Limited without regards to due process and Nigerian Content but Agip said Plantgeria offered the best commercial bid of US$10million per annum as against Arco’s US$37million per annum.

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HE fall in the international prices of crude oil to $40 per barrel last week would further affect Nigeria that is grappling with paucity of fund due to the glut in the oil market, former President, Nigerian Chapter, International Association of Energy Economics (IAEE), Prof Adeola Akinisiju has said.

He said the country would further experience paucity of funds as the prices of crude oil plummet further.

He said the Federal Government is finding it difficult to curb crude oil theft,pipeline vandalism an other untoward practices that made the country lost several billions of naira.

He said: ‘’ The oil price has peaked in recent times as it went up to over $50 per barrel.

“At that point in time, the government, and operators were praying that the price should rise further to enable the country generate revenue for fiscal project. But this has failed to come to pass, as the prices dropped again,” he said.

Success stories of Nigerian forex traders - P 39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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TSA: Depositors to get higher interest D

EPOSITORS are to get more interest on their deposits in banks when the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy by the Federal Government and some state government begins, Managing Director, Meristem Wealth Management, Sulaiman Adedokun, has said.

The TSA is a unified structure of government bank account enabling consolidation and optimal utilisation of government cash resources. It is a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time.

The Federal Government has ordered each and every Federal Government ministry, department or agency to start paying into a TSA for all government revenues, incomes and other receipts. According to the directive, this measure is specifically to promote transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Adedokun said although the TSA

Stories by Collins Nweze

is going to hurt banks, making less deposits available to them for onlending to customers, depositors should expect a windfall from the policy. He said: “When government earnings are gathered in one single account, there will be many things to work out, especially funding of certain sectors of the economy. But that is on the logistics part of it. The actual impact of this is the crowd out effects from the banking sector because the interest will go up, as banks go on looking for more deposits”.

He said the era of cheap funds from ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs) enjoyed by the banks are over.

“They will have to look for other sources of deposits. That pushes the interest rate up, and that is where the money market fund will enjoy because you will now have rates that you can negotiate better with the bank,” he explained.

“And again, with this, we have a better declaration of Nigeria funds.

There has been general apprehension that with oil price declining, the economy is doomed. But the

recovery we will be getting, if pursued effectively, will cushion the impact of the oil price fall.”

Adedokun added that states may get better allocation under the TSA regime because leakages will be blocked.

For him, it is either government increases its revenues base, or blocks the cost of operation.

“Blocking the leakages increases the margin of fund available to the states. We do not expect the oil price to go up significantly in the next three to five years because there is nothing showing that pattern. The change that has come to the global oil sector is a permanent change. It is a technology-driven change.

Don’t forget that with that change, oil will eventually become something that is not of so much value because of new discoveries,” he said.

Adedokun said his company has just concluded a N1 billion offer for Money Market Fund and Equity Market Fund which investors keyed into. He said the money market fund is for investors that want to pursue capital growth and earn steady income while the Equity Market Mutual

Fund are for investors who can take risk and have their eyes on the long term.

Adedokun said: “As an organisation, we want to drive value for our clients. We want to reach out to people that will be part of our success story. The Meristem Money Market Fund is for investors who are interested in a steady stream of income at money market rates while preserving the value of their investment, while the Meristem Equity Market Fund is aimed at investors who have a long term investment perspective”.

For those that invested in the money market fund, the company will channel their money into deposits in banks, treasury bills, commercial paper, and bonds while

the equity market fund is for stocks.

He added that the money market fund’s objective is to seek current income and stability of principal by investing in a select portfolio of short term money market securities, while the Equity market fund’s objective is to seek long term capital appreciation through investment in equity securities with a focus on a portfolio of stocks listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Adedokun explained that the equity market fund is for all classes of investors that are willing to take more risk for returns on investment while the money market fund is also ideal for all classes of investors that value liquidity and security of assets.

PayPal acquires mobile payment start-up Modest

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AYPAL, a global payment firm, has announced its first acquisition since it split from eBay. Pal said it has acquired mobile payment start-up Modest, which will allow consumers to make purchases in apps by giving merchants the ability to provide buy-buttons for their products.

This is what PayPal calls contextual commerce, and the company is betting on this becoming the new frontier for commerce, said senior vice president and global

head of merchant and next-generation commerce at PayPal Bill Ready in a statement.

“For consumers it will mean seamless, simpler and safer ways to buy the things they want, anywhere they discover them,” he said. Modest was founded in 2012

by Harper Reed, who served as chief technology officer for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012, and Dylan Richard, who was lead engineer for the campaign.

FCMB launches ‘Quick Recharge’ for airtime purchase

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• From left: Chief Compliance Officer, Access Bank Plc, Mr Pattison Boleigha; Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr U. A. Obot and Founder/Managing Director, DataPro Limited, Abimbola Adeseyoju, during the 2015 Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) award.

GTBank’s second quarter non-interest income drops • Operating expenses up eight per cent

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UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc recorded a drop in its non-interest income in its second quarter 2015 earnings.

Analysts at FBN Capital, an investment and research firm, said the bank’s non-interest income dropped to seven per cent yearon-year from 26 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Non-interest income comes from service and penalty charges and, to a much less extent, from asset sales and property leasing. Unlike interest income, this income is largely unaffected by economic and financial market cycles and is usually not controlled by law or regulation.

However, GT Bank’s result for the second quarter showed that profit before tax and profit after tax grew by 20 per cent year-onyear and 34 per cent year-on-year to N30.5 billion and N27.4 billion

respectively.

Although profit before provisions advanced by 10 per cent to N55.8 billion, the double-digit growth on the PBT line was mainly driven by 40 per cent decline in loan loss provision to N2.4 billion and an operating expenses growth of eight per cent year-on-year.

“Further up the profit and loss, both revenue lines contributed to pre-provision profits. However, funding income which grew by 11 per cent was the stronger of the two. In contrast, the non-interest income line grew by seven per cent year-on-year, visibly weaker than the 26 per cent year-on-year growth that we saw in first quarter of 2015,” it said.

“Lower effective tax rate of 12 per cent against 17.6 per cent second quarter of last year and N666 million on the other comprehensive income line (OCI), PAT growth came in faster at 34 per cent year-

on-year, compared with the 20 per cent year-on-year growth on the PBT line. Sequentially, PBT declined by seven per cent quarteron-quarter due to an 11 per cent quarter-on-quarter reduction in pre-provision profits”.

Although the lender’s funding income grew by five per cent quarter-on-quarter, 36 per cent quarteron-quarter decline in the non-interest income was the major driver behind the decline in profit before provisions.

Compared with our estimates, while PBT was came in five per cent ahead of our N29.1 billion forecast, PAT beat by 15 per cent mainly because the bank’s actual effective tax rate of 12 per cent was 500 basis points lower than tax rate forecast.

“A positive surprise on the OCI line also contributed to the variance. On an annualised basis, GT Bank’s first half PBT of N63.1 billion is tracking slightly ahead of management’s full year PBT guidance of N120 billion and consensus’ forecast of N122 billion,” it said.

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has unveiled a self-service, Quick Recharge, which allows its customers to top-up their mobile phones on any Global System for Mobile (GSM) networks.

The service enables customers to recharge their GSM phones directly from their FCMB account by simply dialling a dedicated code and within seconds the customer’s phone is credited with the value of airtime purchased. This eliminates the delays and other challenges that could come with buying and use of physical re-

charge cards or PINS. In a statement, the bank explained that the Quick Recharge service can work on all mobile devices, including low end phones, smart phones and tablets. There is also no need for its customers to register on the platform as they all have been preregistered to enjoy the service.

The bank pointed out that the benefits of the service includes, instant top-up anywhere and anytime in the country and it is available on the existing GSM networks (MTN,Airtel,Glo and Etisalat) in the country.

Skye Bank empowers youths

S

KYE Bank Plc has concluded its financial training for the youth. It was designed to empower them with the necessary entrepreneurial and financial planning skills.

According to a statement issued by the bank, the Sustainability and Consumer Protection Department, which anchored the training, said the programmes were based on the ongoing Financial Literacy Mentoring and Skye Financial literacy seminar initiatives of the bank.

It said Government Day Secondary School, Wuse 2, Abuja, was adopted for the mentoring programme where the training developed by Junior Achievement of Nigeria (JAN) was administered to the students over the course of the 2014/2015 academic session. A total of 84 contact hours were devoted to delivering the 7modules training to all the students in the six arms of the school.

“The Skye Financial Literacy Seminar series was conceived on the strength of studies which

showed financial literacy as an important component of sound financial decision making. The objective of the seminar series is to help participating students acquire the necessary financial knowledge and develop corresponding financial intelligence that will be useful for their lives’ journey. The seminar has taken place in Lagos, Ibadan, Calabar, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa with a total of 208 contacts hours invested in teaching over 7000 students across 52 schools”, the statement explained.

According to the bank, the lecture focuses on money, how to make,manage and multiply money as well as the role of banks and other financial institutions in the management and multiplication of money.

Phoebestar Royalty Schools, Osogbo, has been adopted by the bank for the next round of Ongoing Financial Literacy Mentoring while the Skye Financial Literacy Seminar series would be focusing on the Southwest states.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

27

MONEY Many commercial banks are deepening their vehicle finance drive, launching new products and signing pacts with leading automobile firms. From Stanbic IBTC Bank, Access Bank, Skye Bank and others, vehicle financing is the next way to empower consumers, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

A

BIODUN Orebiyi, a civil servant based in Lagos, has always dreamt of driving a new car popularly called ‘tear rubber’. But his poor cash flow keeps denying him that pleasure. When he visited the Auto Loan Unit of his bank, he was bluntly told to forget the idea and go for a fairlyused car (Tokunbo).

All efforts to get the bank to approve the loan were futile because his salary was not sufficient to keep the vehicle in good condition and repay the loan. Orebiyi’s assurances that he has other sources of income fell on deaf ears.

This is the plight of many Nigerians who are tired of driving used cars but lack the resources to buy a new one. The thirst for secondhand cars is linked to poor income streams and low Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Besides, Tokunbo cars, despite the multiplicity of challenges they pose, are adjudged better than not having a car at all.

Constant breakdowns and the attendant visits to the mechanic take a huge toll on the pockets of those using Tokunbo cars. It also means that the vehicle owner usually has to jettison more productive activities while awaiting the vehicle’s repair; and for those who rely on the vehicles for livelihood or business, such frequent breakdowns translate to loss of time and revenues.

Under a partnership scheme unveiled in Lagos involving Coscharis Motors Limited, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Access Bank, fimamce will be provided for the acquisition of new cars by interested Nigerians, whether unit or fleet buyers, on concessionary terms.

These include a competitive interest rate, payment by instalment and flexible repayment period, simple documentation, speedy approvals and a minimum of 90 percent finance on the value of the vehicle. The scheme covers a wide range of brands under the Coscharis stable. Coscharis Motors distributes brands such as Ford, BMW, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, MINI, Joylong and MG, among others.

Coscharis said the uniqueness of the financing scheme, which runs for an initial period of 12 months and renewable for another year, is that the customer will contribute a minimum of 10 per cent of the cost of the vehicle while the participating bank will provide the balance.

According to the company, the scheme thus frees the customer from the difficult task of raising a lump sum, which may run into several millions of naira. In addition, the monthly repayment period is spread over four years, depending on the customer’s preference, which does not only eases the burden of repayment, but ultimately determines the actual amount for repayment monthly.

It said the package also includes free vehicle registration, maintenance and service support as well as vehicle recovery and emergency assistance.For the vehicles financed, comprehensive insurance has been negotiated at a concession and payment made easy for the clients.

He explained that the common denominator in this partnership is its potential to accelerate economic empowerment and self-actualisation. “The enthusiasm displayed by the partners at the MoU signing ceremony in Lagos was not misplaced; with the potential to increase the number of new vehicles plying Nigerian roads, economic activities are expected to proceed more efficiently, with the attendant job and wealth creation,” the firm said.

Banks’ dive into auto loans

• GMD Access Bank Plc Herbert Wigwe

Coscharis Group Managing Director, Josiah Samuel, said: “The need for the collaboration was informed by some key factors: many corporate Nigerian workers, including the small and medium enterprises, want new vehicles from Coscharis but have inadequate financial capacity to effect outright payment; and most of the SMEs buy fairly used vehicles to run their businesses in order not to drain their working capital.” Implementing the initiative alone, he stated, would have required considerable capital outlay by Coscharis as well as an extensive lead time. The involvement of Access and Stanbic IBTC banks to perform the financing role has solved the challenge.

The Coscharis chief added that the finance scheme, in offering Nigerians a competitive source of finance to buy new cars, would boost patronage of automobiles, enhance the social status and quality of life of Nigerians, create employment opportunities for many and drive economic development.

“What makes this scheme enticing is the fact that it brings within the reach of Nigerians the ownership of brand new and affordable cars, which will in turn enhance economic productivity, protect life and ensure peace of mind, especially against the backdrop of the high fatality rate associated with rickety vehicles plying Nigerian roads.”

Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC

• CEO Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha

Bank, Obinnia Abajue, said it dovetails into the bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic development as well as building a sustainable environment for people and businesses. He said the main motivation for the deal was to bring the acquisition of new cars within the reach of more Nigerians, with the multiplier effect on social status and economic wellbeing.

“This partnership is unique in being the first time two financial institutions will be partnering with a leading automobile company, Coscharis Motors, to empower people by making the acquisition of new vehicles of choice stressfree. A dedicated team of experienced professionals from our Vehicle and Asset Finance unit is available round the clock to deliver to Coscharis Motors and its customer’s excellent service and professional advice, in line with the terms of the partnership,” said Abajue.

With Nigeria’s positive economic outlook and further growth of the middle class, Abajue said Stanbic IBTC Bank will continue to strengthen its position as the preferred destination for vehicle and asset acquisition financing, including the leasing of assets.

He said: “We set out with a clear objective to make the acquisition of assets for qualifying businesses and individuals easy and without undue pressure. Also, individuals and corporate organisations are able to acquire or lease assets

through the Stanbic IBTC Bank Vehicle and Asset Finance product across a tenor of between six to 60 months.

“We remain confident that our strategy of building relationships in the automobile marketplace will continue to deliver long-term value to customers and partners, with its attendant positive impact on Nigeria’s economic development. Our partnership with Coscharis Motors is testament to our commitment to the development of Nigeria’s automobile industry.”

Attracting banks that understand the import of such initiatives and are willing to undertake the risks involved, illustrate the length to which Nigerian banks are willing to go in supporting individuals and businesses. For instance, Stanbic IBTC Bank recently financed the acquisition of Tata buses by Southdrift Investment Limited for operation under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme of the Lagos State government.

The bank’s aim, according to the Head of Business Banking, Mr. Lloyd Onaghinon, is to engender an efficient transport system in the state and across Nigeria, adding that Stanbic IBTC Bank offers short- to medium-term vehicle and asset finance (VAF) facility to qualified customers as well as non-customers. The bank is committed to supporting the BRT scheme and there are other similar requests that are in process. The offer is extended to operators in

‘Coscharis said the uniqueness of the financing scheme, which runs for an initial period of 12 months and renewable for another year, is that the customer will contribute a minimum of 10 per cent of the cost of the vehicle while the participating bank will provide the balance’

the agriculture, manufacturing, transportation sectors, and other businesses, for the acquisition of moveable assets such as vehicles for personal or commercial use on competitive and flexible repayment terms.

Similarly, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited (Cat Financial), an indirect subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., a few years ago launched a partnership in which the bank provides a range of financial services to the Mantrac Unatrac Group of Caterpillar dealerships in Nigeria and other markets across Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sierra Leone. A similar collaboration subsists with Tata Africa Services and John Deere Financial, a division of United States-based John Deere, one of the leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and heavy equipment globally.

The bank obviously understands that the major pillars of economic growth and development are infrastructure and transportation.

When critical infrastructure in the form of power, transportation and communication are in place, this stimulates efficiency in economic activity and consequently, drives productivity. In the long run, it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders. In an environment where perceived risk of funding certain projects is very high and where banks and financial institutions would rather fund shortterm projects, it is especially commendable that the Stanbic IBTC Bank and Access Bank have chosen to play a pivotal role in revamping Nigeria’s transport industry via the funding of new cars and other equipment.

Skye Bank Plc has partnered RT Briscoe by providing financing for the Ford brand of cars for people who may not have the bulk cash needed to purchase such cars.

Under the arrangement, the bank will provide 70 per cent of the cost of the car to its existing and prospective customers during the sixmonth promo organised by RT Briscoe. The customer contributes 30 per cent of the cost.

The special arrangement is to complement RT Briscoe’s attractive incentives for aspiring car owners in commemoration of its 10th year anniversary as Ford auto dealers in Nigeria.

According to a statement, the financing window is available to as many Nigerians who earn a regular income, including business owners with viable and thriving businesses under its Skye Auto finance scheme.

“All a prospective buyer needs do is make his or her choice from any RT Briscoe outlet and visit any Skye Bank branch with the purchase invoice, 30 per cent of the purchase price and evidence of income,” the bank explained.

It further said customers who purchase Ford vehicles during the promo period through the bank will enjoy some exclusive benefits such as discounted vehicle prices, two per cent interest rate discount on loans granted for vehicle acquisition, and four-year free labour service on such cars.

Other benefits include free car delivery on purchase, three-year warranty, eligibility to win another Ford vehicle in a raffle draw, among others.

Skye Bank has an auto loan scheme for its customers through which such customers can buy a wide range of vehicles after paying their equity contribution of 30 per cent, leaving the bank to provide the balance of 70 per cent.

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Audit committees to undergo annual evaluation P

UBLIC limited liability companies would soon be required to conduct annual evaluation of the individual members of their audit committee, according to new rules being proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The audit committee is a statutory body that is empowered by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) to scrutinise the management and independent audit reports of a company. The audit committee comprises of equal number of appointees by the board of directors and shareholders at their annual general meeting.

A draft amendment to the rules on the audit committee mainly focuses on the institution of annual evaluation and independence of audit committee members. According to the new rules, the annual evaluation will

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

now be used as criteria for future eligibility for re-election as member of the audit committee.

Public companies would now compulsorily be required to put in place a mechanism for the annual performance evaluation of their audit committee and the individual members of such committees.

The performance evaluation system would include criteria and key performance indicators and targets for the audit committee as well as for the individual members of such committee. Besides, the performance evaluation of the audit committee and the individual members shall be independent.

“The performance evaluation of the Audit Committee and the Indi-

vidual members shall be used as part of the criteria for determining eligibility for annual re-election,” according to the draft.

Also, every existing audit member would have to successfully scale through annual performance evaluation that includes key performance indicators and targets set by the company in order to be eligible for reelection.

Any public company that violates any provision of the rules and regulations on audit committee shall be liable to a penalty of not less than N100,000 and a further sum of not more than N5,000 for every day of default.

Besides, the new draft stipulates that a prospective member of the audit committee of a public company shall be independent.

The descriptive definition of inde-

pendence, according to the rules, includes that the prospective member must not be a substantial shareholder of the company. His direct and indirect shareholding must not exceed 0.1 per cent of the company’s paid up capital. The prospective member must also not be a representative of a shareholder that has the ability to control or significantly influence management and such prospective member must not have been employed by the company or the group of which it currently forms part, or has served in any executive capacity in the company or group for the preceding three financial years.

To vouch for the member’s independence, the person must not be a member of the immediate family of an individual who is, or has been in any of the past three financial years, employed by the company or the group in an executive capacity and the

prospective member must not be a professional advisor to the company or the group, other than in a capacity of a director.

The audit committee nominee must also not be a significant supplier to or customer of the company or group or has any significant contractual relationship with the company or group. The person must be free from any business or other relationship which could materially interfere with the capacity to act in an independent manner.

The amendment also bars a partner or an executive of the company’s statutory audit firm, internal audit firm, legal or other consulting firm that has material association with the company. Such a nominee must not be a partner or an executive of any such firm in the past three financial years preceding the election.

RainDance withdraws IPO over adverse market

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•From left: Mr. Tunde Karim, Director, Nigerian Ropes Plc; Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock

Exchange (NSE); Mr. Joao Pereira, Managing Director, Nigerian Ropes Plc and Mr. Krishnamurthi Ramakrishmnan, Director, Nigerian Ropes Plc during the ceremonial beating of the closing gong at the Exchange on Monday.

GTBank declares N7.35b interim dividend

T

HE board of directors of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Nigeria’s most capitalised bank, has earmarked N7.35 billion as interim cash dividends to shareholders. In the dividend recommendation, shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 25 kobo. Earnings per share had grown by 22 per cent from N1.55 to N1.88.

The dividend recommendation was one of the highlights of the first-half audited earnings report of the bank. The six-month report for the period ended June 30, 2015 showed that gross earnings increased by 15 per cent to N152.99 billion in first half 2015 as against N132.98 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2014. Profit after tax rose by 21 per cent to N53.37 billion in 2015 as against N44.01 billion in 2014. The growth in bottom-line was driven by interest and other operating income.

Interest income grew by 12 per cent to N80.11 billion, while the investment and other operating income contributed an increase of 18 per cent, rising to N38.02 billion from N32.30 billion.

Growth of loans and advances was however moderated as it only grew by one per cent to N1.299 trillion from N1.281 trillion. The bank’s deposits grew by five per cent from N1.649 trillion to N1.725 trillion. Shareholders’ funds also

increased marginally from N374.33 billion to N384.99 billion. Total assets increased by eight per cent from N2.355 trillion to N2.544 trillion.

Managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Segun Agbaje, had after the first quarter earnings report, said the major focus for the bank going forward is to strengthen market positions with distinctive customer propositions in chosen segments in order to deliver long-term sustainable and efficient growth as well as strong shareholder returns.

He noted that as a financial institution with a bias for industry leadership, exceptional service delivery and innovation, GTBank has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in Nigeria in 1990.

Now, the bank presently employs over 10,000 peoples in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

GTBank earlier this year distributed N44.15 billion as final dividend, representing a dividend per share of N1.50 kobo. Total dividend per share for 2014 stood at N1.75 as against N1.70 paid for the 2013 business year. It had paid interim dividend per share of 25 kobo. This brought total payout to N51.5 billion for the 2014 business year as against N50.03 billion in 2013.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts for the year ended

December 31, 2014 showed that GTBank grew its top-line by 15 per cent with gross earnings of N278.52 billion in 2014 compared with N242.67 billion in 2013. Profit before tax rose by nine per cent from N107.09 billion to N116.39 billion.

Profit after tax grew by 10 per cent from N90.02 billion to N98.69 billion. Earnings per share consequently rose by 10 per cent to N3.47 in 2014 as against N3.17 in 2013.

Balance sheet analysis showed that deposits base expanded by 14

per cent to N1.65 trillion in 2014 compared with N1.44 trillion in 2013. Shareholders’ funds also rose by 13 per cent from N332.35 billion to N374.33 billion. Total balance sheet size rose by 12.4 per cent from N2.10 trillion in 2013 to N2.36 trillion in 2014.

GTBank also continued to maintain disciplined and prudent approach to loan growth as the proportion of non-performing loans to total loans dropped from 3.58 per cent in 2013 to 3.15 per cent in 2014.

AINDANCE Technologies Inc, a maker of gene-based tools to detect cancer and inherited diseases, said it planned to withdraw its initial public offering due to adverse “market conditions.”

The move by RainDance, which filed for an IPO of up to $60 million in February, comes on the day of a sell-off in global equities following a slump in Chinese stocks.

Reuters reported that other companies that have decided against going public this year include Expro Oilfield Services, S1 BioPharma and casual dining chain J Alexander’s LLC. “With last week’s mayhem and today’s drop you can expect IPO activity to grind to a complete halt,” said Jay Ritter, IPO expert and professor at the University of Florida.

“The IPO market is always hyper sensitive to market movements; and you can expect it to dry up when it falls.”

It was not clear from RainDance’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission if the company would consider an IPO again.

(1.usa.gov/1JNS5zq) Companies may consider repricing their offering in current market conditions if they don’t want to pull back their listing plans, said Francis Gaskins, president of research firm IPO Desktop Premium.

There are no companies expected to make their U.S. debut next week, IPOScoop.com reported on Monday.

Massachusetts-based RainDance, whose top investors include GE Ventures, Acadia Woods Partners, Quaker BioVentures and Northgate Capital, had planned to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol “RAIN.” The company’s revenue almost doubled to $30.6 million in 2014.

UBA endows N53m finance professorial chair

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has resuscitated the UBA Professorial Chair of Finance at the University of Lagos with an endowment sum of the N52.9 million.

A cheque to this effect was presented to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Rahaman Bello, and members of the institution’s governing council at the weekend in Lagos by Mr. Phillips Oduoza, group managing director of UBA. Oduoza, who led other executive management members to the school, said UBA is committed to the promotion of a globally competitive educational system in the country.

According to him, the bank has seen that there is a huge gap in the fund-

ing of educational system in the country and has decided to support in the provision of qualitative education as it strongly believes that a well trained and educated manpower is important to the growth and development of the nation.

He assured that the bank will continue to promote research and innovation in the Nigerian educational system, to boost man-power development and called on other banks, companies, institutions and individuals to emulate the UBA gesture.

“As first line beneficiaries of quality manpower, to support the pursuit of research and education in all Nigerian universities, private sector endowments will result in the creation of centers of excellence in differ-

ent Nigerian universities, improving the quality of graduates, decision making and leadership in the society. Government alone cannot make this happen,” Oduoza said.

In his remarks, Bello praised UBA for resuscitating the chair despite the economic meltdown in the country, noting that the bank had in 1972 established the foremost chair in the university, the UBA Chair of Finance with an endowment.

According to him, it is worthy to note that the first financial institution to show its presence on campus and to support academic excellence in the university was UBA as it started awarding scholarships to students in the faculty of business administration as far back as 1969/1970 academic session.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE

ABC of Ooni’s selection, enthronement

Ekiti communities protest power outage PAGES 32-33

Church cleans up communities PAGES 32-33

Patient needs N6m for kidney transplant PAGES 35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT As the world awaits the emergence of a new Ooni, BISI OLADELE examines the traditional, political and spiritual processes involved in the selection of a new king for the cradle of the Yoruba.

in the selection and enthronement of a new Ooni?

The process A new Ooni is usually selected from among the four ruling hous-

es in Ife. Rotation among the four ruling houses came to stay since about 120 years ago after, at least, 46 Oonis had reigned.

The four ruling houses are Og-

W

HEN the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, joined his ancestors on July 28, this year, not a few people worried less about the pains which his demise brought to his immediate family but focused more on how the town would find a good or even better successor.

Clearly, the worry is not limited to observers and indigenes because kingmakers, it is believed, will be under intense pressure to throw up an acceptable candidate for the revered stool.

Aside the town being the cradle of the Yoruba race and the throne highly revered from the time immemorial, the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi brought more honour to the throne through his pedigree while his reign lasted.

Oba Aderemi, who reigned from 1930 to 1980, was at a time the Governor of Western Nigeria. He worked closely with the then colonial government as well as the administration of Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola whose administrations succeeded that of the colonial masters after independence in 1960.

Aside being elite, his position as Governor and participation in the government of Western Nigerian Government afforded Oba Aderemi the opportunity to relate with the British Government directly. He was really distinguished and influential. Hence, Oba Aderemi was highly honoured within and outside Ile-Ife. Largely, Aderemi can be described as the architect of the immense modern honour accorded the Ooni’s throne.

So, when Oba Sijuwade was chosen to succeed him in 1980, indigenes and most observers heaved a sigh of relief, believing that he was capable of sustaining the honour and even lift it higher within and outside Nigeria.

Oba Sijuwade did not disappoint many. In addition to sustaining the honour of the stool, the late king brought immense social and political glamour and influence to the stool of the Ooni.

Being a socialite prince and businessman, who was well connected to top government functionaries in both civilian and military regimes, Oba Sijuwade succeeded in maintaining the honour of the stool throughout his 35 years reign.

He also brought some reforms to the town, including promotion of first-class chiefs to obas and modernisation of many traditional rites and festivals which had hitherto tainted Ile-Ife as a town of endless traditional sacrifices.

Now that Sijuwade has passed on, what processes are involved

•Main gate to the Oduduwa Shrine

•A natural map of Africa within the Oduduwa Shrine; it was later decorated to be highlighted to visitors and tourists. The map confirms the belief among locals that IleIfe is the cradle of the entire Africa and, perhaps the world.

•An effigy of Oduduwa within the shrine; the progenitor holds a suspended chain with which he was said to descend to the earth according to the Ifa folklore.

boru, Giesi, Lafogido and Osinkola. Rotation took firm roots since 1894 when Oba Adelekan (Olubuse 1) mounted the throne. Oba Adelekan hailed from Ogboru Ruling House.

He was succeeded by Oba Ademiluyi (Ajagun) who hailed from Lafogido. Then, Aderemi succeeded the Ajagun. Aderemi hailed from the Osinkola family.

Rotation as the first factor guiding selection of a new Ooni was reemphasised in the 1977 and 1980 government gazettes.

According to the gazettes, the four ruling houses are arranged in the following order: Osinkola (then ruling), Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido. Clearly, the arrangement took cognisance of the then incumbent Ooni, Oba Aderemi, who hailed from Osinkola House.

The gazette, however, stated that in the event of the death of an incumbent, the next houses on the line should produce the next Ooni but that the second next can produce the king if the candidate of the immediate next ruling house is not acceptable.

The 1976 gazette stated: “That the normal successor to this chieftaincy through the male line of the ruling house can devolve on the female line only if none of the candidates presented through the male line of the ruling house concerned is suitable and if the candidate presented through the female line possesses the necessary qualification and is acceptable to the kingmakers, otherwise selection is made from the family of the next ruling house.”

Going by the gazette, Giesi is expected to produce Oba Sijuwade’s successor, failure of which to produce a suitable candidate will allow Lafogido to do so.

The ruling houses will screen aspirants within each house. An expression of interest form has since been designed by the Giesi family for aspirants.

The houses will screen all aspirants to authenticate their origin and that of their wives after which those who scaled through would be presented to the kingmakers.

The kingmakers’ stage There are two key kingmakers in Ile-Ife. They are the Obalufe, who is the head of the right inner chiefs (Otun Ife) and Lowa, who is the head of the left inner chiefs (Osi Ife). The Otun chiefs are the heads of each of

A new Ooni is usually selected from among the four ruling houses in Ife. Rotation among the four ruling houses came to stay since about 120 years ago after, at least, 46 Oonis had reigned...The four ruling houses are Ogboru, Giesi, Lafogido and Osinkola. Rotation took firm roots since 1894 when Oba Adelekan (Olubuse 1) mounted the throne. Oba Adelekan hailed from Ogboru Ruling House...He was succeeded by Oba Ademiluyi (Ajagun) who hailed from Lafogido.

Then, Aderemi succeeded the Ajagun. Aderemi hailed from the Osinkola family the six original quarters that combined to make Ile-Ife. They are the Obalufe, Obajio, Obaloran, Obalaaye, Akogun and Waasin. Lately, two others appear in the group Jagunosin and Ejesi.

Osi Ife includes Lowa, Jaaran, Aguro, Arode, Isanire, Laadin and

•Ogun Shrine where Ooni and his subjects perform rites during Olojo Festival, the trees on the shrine were cut down as a mark of the death of Oba Sijuwade.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

31

SOUTHWEST REPORT

How Ooni is selected, enthroned Lowa Ate. Erebese has since joined them.

Though Obalufe and Lowa are the major kingmakers, they choose in consultation with other chiefs in the two groups.

The kingmakers will re-screen the aspirants before presenting them to the Ifa diviners to determine the most suitable candidate for the throne. The kingmakers have the role of announcing the preferred aspirant who immediately becomes the candidate.

Government approval stage The candidate will be presented to the Osun State Government for approval. If there are important reasons why the candidate should not be coronated, the state government would hold meetings with the kingmakers and find a way out.

Otherwise, factors such as strong court cases filed by those who feel cheated among aspirants or ruling houses as well as mass protests against the candidate may hinder government’s approval.

Modern political influence At both the kingmakers’ and government’s approval stages, it is believed that political influence of

aspirants will play a major role. The position of Ooni is huge, even in wielding political influence in the entire state and Nigeria.

Therefore, it is believed that the government may not sit down and watch any aspirant that can upset the political system enthroned as the new king. But it is not clear if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at both the state and federal levels will wield its influence to determine who mounts the throne next.

Though many observers opined that only political and monetary influence will determine who wears the crown next, a source close to the kingmakers insisted that Ifa divination will be the strongest factor to throw up t h e new Ooni.

Pre-coronation traditional rites First in the set of rites is to install him as Sooko, if he is not one yet.

A Sooko is a distinguished prince or princess. Distinguished men and women in the four ruling houses are installed as Sookos.

After being made Sooko, traditional rites would be performed for the new Ooni-to-be in 201 shrines, according to sources within the traditional chiefs group. But it is not clear if the full rites will be performed for the new Ooni-to-be in the face of modernity.

His first port of call is the Iledi. The Iledi Ooni is made up of traditional Ogbonis who are in regular consultation with the Ooni. They regularly reveal the mind

•The late Sijuwade

of the gods to the king on issues in the town. They are full traditionalists and the Ooni is regarded as their head.

They used to function as the Supreme Court before modernity brought judicial institutions as an element of democracy.

The candidate gets initiated into the Iledi within one week after which he moves to the shrines of gods and deities.

The period of pre-coronation rites will see the candidate introduced to at least, all the major gods and deities, including the Oodua and Obatala. The rites are performed at their shrines. He would be taught the dos and don’ts of the Ooni and would be made to take oaths that he

would be loyal to the cause of IleIfe in all circumstances. He would pledge not to betray the people and customs of the town and seek its progress and well-being at all times.

One of the reasons, according to a reliable source, is to enable him to understand the importance of each festival and deity because he will become the head of all the deities the moment he is crowned the Ooni.

The knowledge will also help him to resist pressure of issuing draconian rules against worshippers of the gods or customs known with them.

The period of completing the traditional rites is referred to as Ilofi. It lasts for about three months.

The coronation After the candidate has received blessings in all the major shrines, he would take a journey to Oke-Ora; a small remote community along Ife-Ilesa Road, where the Onpetu Ido will crown him. The Onpetu was the only king that surrendered his crown to Oduduwa and his warriors on conquering Ile-Ife and its environs at inception.

Then, the public coronation ceremony will hold on the day chosen by the kingmakers, most possibly at Enuwa Square opposite the palace. He receives the staff of office during the ceremony.

Thereafter, he will be entitled to wear the Are, a unique crown said to be only available in Ile-Ife. It was learnt that Oduduwa sometimes wore Are apart from beaded crown during his reign. But the Are is worn only occasionally. It symbolises the Oduduwa authority and is believed to carry some spiritual powers. It is believed across Ife that anyone that the Ooni curses with the Are is doomed.

The Ooni wears Are only once in a year. He wears it during the Olojo Festival, the most popular festival in the town.

Ogun community protests land loss to grabbers

By Basirat Braimah

SYMPATHISERS who heard the ordeal of Toke Odusile and Rokibat Oyetunji could not help burst into tears, asking why the authorities had left the community at the mercy of land grabbers, notoriously called Omo Oniles.

Five-year-old Toke and her neighbour, Rokibat, 3, were both living peacefully with their parents in a sleepy community called Ipetoro/Lowa in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State until December 3, this year when they were faced with forcible eviction from their home.

Both Rokibat and Toke’s were sent on an errand when suddenly they started hearing gun shots in their community, followed by unusual sounds and they were left with no other choice than to scamper for safety.

Toko turned back; unfortunately for her, she headed towards a wrong direction where she ran into a group of hoodlums preparing bonfire and this heightened her fears.

Miraculously, both children escaped the attack but ran into the fire and were partially burnt; they were hospitalised for months.

Toke and Rokibat were not the only ones who have witnessed the menace of suspected land grabbers at such a tender age. Four-year-old Aliat Sobajo also encountered this dastardly act. She was unlucky as she was killed by her assailants in the presence of her parents.

Biodun Ore, 45, was not left out as he became a victim of forcible eviction when his wife needed him most. The expectant woman was in labour and preparing for hospital when the hoodlums struck.

The husband escaped through the window with his wife but did not get to the hospital before both ran into the enemies. The woman was kidnapped but Biodun escaped.

She was later released and delivered near a neighbouring community where she now resides. Strangely, her husband saw the baby for the first time on August 10.

Those were some of the gory scenes in the Ipetoro/Lowa town that has produced dignitaries such as former Ayangburen of Ikorodu land, Oba Samusideen Oyefusi; Oba of Ikorodu Kabiru Shotobi and a Professor of Geological Sciences with the Federal University of Technology Kure (FUTA), among others.

According to history, this community owned by Ipetoro/ Lowa family was of three branches namely the Isanmolus, Orelades and Oluwatos and all had enjoyed peaceful co- existence until Wednesday, December 3, this year when suddenly there was invasion of suspected land grabbers and people began to run helter skelter.

At the end of the day, many of them, including children and women, were forced to relocate to “nowhere” for the past eight months.

Many, it was gathered, had died while others have resigned to fate. A good example is their traditional head that is currently undergoing treatment due to the Continued on page 36

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Ekiti communities protest power outage Two communities in Ekiti State-Aramoko and Erioerupted in wild protests penultimate week as residents, led by their traditional rulers, took to the highway to protest a six-month power outage.

ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

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ESIDENTS of Aramoko-Ekiti and Erio-Ekiti, both in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State showed their fury penultimate week over a six-month blackout occasioned by their disconnection from power source by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

They took to the streets as early as 6:30 a.m., marching around and singing war songs against the electricity company for “throwing them into darkness longer than necessary”.

The major highway that traversed the two neighbouring communities,

private motorists, commercial drivers, commuters and vehicles belonging to government and private organisations bore the brunt of the riot.

They were held up in traffic for nearly four hours as the irate indigenes of the towns prevented vehicular movement; causing a massive gridlock that spanned several kilometres.

Aramoko is a nodal town and a major junction when a traveller intends to reach Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, from cities such as Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Ife and Ilesa.

It is the headquarters of Ekiti West Lo-

• Olusola (right) chatting with Oba Adeyemi and Princess Ojo during the protest cal Government Area and one can connect other towns such as Ijero, Ipoti, Ikoro, Okemesi, Ido, Erijiyan and Ikogosi, where the famous warm spring is located.

Erio, on the other hand, is the immediate town before and after Aramoko, depending on which direction you are coming from and it is famous as the site of the Mountain of Mercy (Ori Oke Aanu) which draws millions of people for prayer programmes every year.

Like many other communities in Ekiti State, Aramoko and Erio have been having issues with the BEDC which led to attacks on officials of the company, violent pro-

tests and vandalism of company’s vehicles and power installations.

Communities which had altercations with the BEDC in the recent past included Ifaki, Oye, Emure, Ijan, Iyin, Ikere, and some parts of Ado. That of Ifaki was dramatic as the youth of the town staged a violent protest which was halted by the intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose.

Out of the N6 million allegedly owed

by Ifaki community, Fayose assisted it by paying N5 million after which he warned other communities to always ensure that

their citizens pay their electricity bills as power generation and distribution had been privatised.

Ikere, believed to be the second largest town in the state, was thrown into darkness for over one month after the youth of the community attacked members of staff of BEDC whom they accused of bringing ‘crazy’ bills without providing electricity.

The town was subsequently disconnected by officials of the electricity company but the feud was resolved following the intervention of the state government, security agencies, community leaders and other interest groups.

At Aramoko, the protest was led by the Alara, Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi while that of Erio was led by the Regent, Princess Adejoke Aladetoyinbo Ojo. The Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola, vis-

‘Invest in agriculture’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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•Some of the Participants

Lagos to clamp down on safety defaulters

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HE Lagos State Government has stepped up its efforts to ensure residents imbibe safety culture in their homes and places of work. In the circumstances, therefore, the government will embark on massive awareness campaigns to residents of the grassroots in a bid to sensitise them on safety regulations of the state, which are aimed at securing lives and properties.

The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Board, Mrs Dominga Odebunmi, said event centres, entertainment outfits and night clubs that do not comply with safety measures of the state would be shut down. All corporate offices and event centres operating in Lagos, she said, have been notified to have multiple entry and exit doors in their facilities to ensure safety of their workers and customers.

Odebunmi said the board would come down hard on any business outfit that flouts the safety measures, stressing that the enforcement of the Lagos Safety Law was not to stifle commercial activities but to prevent needless loss of lives as a result of human negligence.

By Wale Ajetunmobi

The D-G spoke during the monthly Lagos Safety Walk organised by Safety Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (SAEF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), with the theme: Keep Fit, Live Healthy.

Odebunmi said: “The recent government clampdown on a few hotels, night clubs and event centres is making owners of many business outfits to know that there are no more excuses.

They are aware that, henceforth, Lagos State government will not tolerate any firm or outfit that brings the public to their own vicinity without ensuring their safety.

“This starts by making sure that there is no single entry-and-exit door to a place. There must be, at least, two to four entries and exits, depending on the size of the outfit.”

The D-G said there was need to always carry out safety risk assessment at every organisation that could host large number of people at the same time, noting that such a task would keep the business and the people safe.

She also cautioned people on the wrong use of safety colours, which she said could lead to confusion when there is an emergency. She advised managements of public and private organisa-

tions to ensure that use of safety colours conformed to international standards.

While praising the Lagos State government for supporting the activation of the board since its inception, Odebunmi called on the Federal Government to sign into law the National Safety Bill passed by the 7th National Assembly.

She said: “We are proud that the Federal Government pushed the National Assembly to pass the National Safety Bill before the last general elections. But, we are pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill into law. Given that the President is a man that puts his pen where his word is, we are optimistic that, before the end of the year, he would sign the bill into law.”

The SAEF Executive Director, Mr Jamiu Badmos, said the monthly road exercise was informed by the need to make people live longer. He said the work-out was to check the growing cases of death from diabetes and high blood pressure among workers, noting that the NGO has the belief that periodic aerobics could prevent needless loss of lives.

“A lot of people have various health challenges, including diabetes, excess fat and high blood pressure. We be-

lieve that exercise plays a key role in correcting all these diseases common among the people. This is why we introduced the safety walk in Nigeria, starting from Lagos to other parts of the country. At the end of the day, we can live longer like our forefathers,” he said. The Principal Consultant, Zub Chord Technical Venture, Mr Shamsideen Kadiri, said the event also had the objective to increase safety awareness at the grassroots, observing that the NGO would not relent in educating every citizen about isolating hazards in their communities.

He said the NGO would continue to partner with the board, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other emergency response bodies to ensure the country is rid of preventable accidents in homes and at work places.

Former Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager at Exxon Mobil, Mr Kofi Sego, said the NGO would ensure that people imbibe safety culture, adding that the signing of National Safety Bill into law would increase enforcement and prevent loss of lives and property to needless accidents.

Some workers, who participated in the nine-kilometre walk included staff of various public and private organisations.

•Protesters at Aramoko Roundabout

ORRIED by the country’s continued dependence on imported foods despite the abundance of arable land, the Chairman of ODS Global Investment Farms and Company, Alhaji Olaniyi Salami has advised Nigerians to invest in agriculture as crude oil and gas could no longer be major revenue earner for the country.

Alhaji Salami spoke during the facility tour of 50 acres of farm land acquired by his company at Onigambari, Ibadan/Ijebu Ode Road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The investor, who decried a situation whereby the country would continue to spend huge sums to import food items despite the availability of vast arable land and enough manpower necessary for self-sufficiency in food production, also observed that importation of food was one of the factors that depleted the country’s foreign reserves and should be discouraged.

“My company decided to embark on large-scale farming to assist the government in its effort at attaining self-sufficiency in food production and industrial raw materials. The farm, when operational, would embark on food processing and would also create employment for many people,” he said.

Salami ,who emphasised the need to harness agriculture to boost food production and less dependence on food importation, also enjoined government at all levels to give priority attention to agriculture sector and appoint competent individuals to man the Ministry of Agriculture.

•Salami

ited the two communities in the heat of the protest and appealed to the irate demonstrators to give peace a chance and allow government to mediate in the crisis.

Olusola, alongside the Alara and the Regent went to the spots where roads were barricaded and urged the protesters to allow free flow of traffic.

The protesters accused the BEDC of “illegal disconnection from the

national grid” without their knowledge and also accused it of bringing bills on electricity they never used.

They wondered why the BEDC kept on distributing bills on electricity it did not supply and which the residents did not use. They accused the officials of being the agents of complicity in vandalism of transformers in the their communities.

One of the protesters, Mrs. Sarah Ojo said: “Despite lack of electricity in our town, we still pay N2, 000 monthly as electricity bills and later they would come to disconnect our light.

“There was a time we enjoyed the light

only two days in a whole month and after then, no light again and they have turned this place to “kingdom of darkness”.

“We later discovered that the N2, 000 we paid to them was pocketed by their officials. We later discovered that it was the BEDC officials that disconnected our cables from the transformers.

“They are robbers who reap where they did not sow; we do not owe them anything.

In fact, we don’t want to be connected with Ekiti again; we want to be connected with Osun.”

Another protester, Tope Olajide said: “We are tired of this hardship. Just imagine, we have no light, no water and we have government that watches while these things happen to us.

“If Fayose does not do anything as soon as possible, we are marching on to the Government House in Ado-Ekiti because we installed him with our votes and he must find solution to our problems.

“In fact, the protest won’t stop today; we are coming out again tomorrow and next tomorrow until they find solution to this problem because we cannot bear it any longer.

“We have about seven transformers in Aramoko alone and none of them has cables on it currently. We suspected that they were vandalised by BEDC engineers because somebody who is not an expert cannot go to the transformer to remove something from it.”

The Alara said his subjects have been suffering, saying the community is tired of paying for services not rendered by the electricity company. He said the officials of the

company dumped bills in his palace when his subjects rejected them.

Oba Adeyemi said: “The BEDC has not done well by disconnecting us without our knowledge. This unjust treatment is part of the insults and injuries we are suffering in the hands of the BEDC. “Our request is direct: Fayose’s administration did it before, he connected us to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), and we were enjoying it. We want him to return us to IBEDC. In terms of payment, we are among the communities that pay our bills.

“The BEDC is cheating us. When they give us electricity for five minutes, they would have five hours in their record.

“We discovered that they haven’t got measuring rod in this area but they said they have a pool where they take the records from where they distribute the bills.

“How can we pay for services not rendered? That is one of the problems we have with them.

“We never had light at all for over five months now and we didn’t know when the entire community was disconnected. We are far to the source of power and we want you to intervene because we have been suffering.

“We have bought 10 cables and arrested robbers and vandals who are now in prison. We are tired of paying Continued on page 36

Church cleans up communities MINDFUL of the maxim that cleanliness is next to Godliness, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints penultimate Saturday went to the streets of Lagos and other areas in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to clean up filthy environments. This they did for three hours each day.

The cleaning exercise was in commemoration of the annual “All Africa Helping Hands Community Service Project.”

The exercise, which held simultaneously in other countries of West Africa, was carried out in conjunction with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The theme for this year’s project was “Hand in Hand, Serving the Community.”

The starting point of the clean-up exercise in Lagos was Awori Street, off Capitol, Orile-Agege, where over 20,000 members of the church and its partners converged, armed with work tools before going to different areas of the state.

The members engaged in clearing of blocked drainage systems, tree planting, building bridges, beautification of sites, painting and renovating public buildings and cutting over-

The members engaged in clearing of blocked drainage systems, tree planting, building bridges, beautification of sites, painting and renovating public buildings and cutting overgrown grasses in markets and public places

By Nneka Nwaneri

grown grasses in markets and public places. The service will be extended to orphanage homes and the prisons.

The project was carried out simultaneously in the FCT, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Jos, Kwara; Kaduna, Plateau and River states and 30 African coun-

tries.

The immediate past Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LAWMA, Mr Ola Oresanya praised the church for articulating their faith and belief by eradicating contagious diseases and solving immediate problems facing communities.

Describing the partnership between the church and the waste managers as fruitful one, Oresanya thanked the church for donating labour and time to service of humanity.

Some of the areas which benefitted from the project include the Oba’s Palace and Town Hall in Ondo, the Akure State capital and the king’s palace in Ile-Ife and Abeokuta; clearing and cleaning of Ipata Market, Ilorin East Local Government Area; painting and clearing of the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan.

In Ijebu-Ode, the Outpatient and Children Emergency Units of Ijebu-Ode General Hospital were repainted, its surroundings cleared, trees were planted in the premises, medical equipment such as litmus, stethoscopes and sphygmomanometer were donated and abandoned patients were reached out to.

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SOUTHWEST REPORT N20 million for Ekiti artisans From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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KITI State Government has earmarked N20 million as soft loans for artisans, just as it declared August 6 as Artisans’ Day to appreciate their contributions to the development of the state.

Also, the state government will soon set up a board to promote the activities of artisans in various fields and incorporate them into its developmental plan.

Governor Ayo Fayose, who stated this during a meeting he had with artisans in Ado-Ekiti said the role of artisans could not be over-emphasised.

Fayose said the initial seed money for the soft loans would be N10 million and that the remaining sum would be added later.

He added that each artisan would be entitled to a maximum of N50, 000 and that they would be given two weeks grace before they begin weekly repayment of N1, 000.

The President of Ekiti Artisans Association, Mr J.O. Adu, praised Governor Fayose for his support to his members, even as he requested further assistance. This is just as the organised labour in Ekiti State has appreciated Governor Fayose for his love for workers.

Ondo 2016: ‘Pick woman as APC candidate’ From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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N ex-Women Leader of the Defunct Action Congress (AC) in Ondo State, Mrs. Kehinde Adeniran has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to give necessary support for a woman to emerge as the party candidate for next year’s governorship election. Adeniran made the appeal during her inauguration as the Woman Leader of the Coalition of APC Support Group in Akure, the state capital. Former State Assembly aspirant from Akure North State Constituency, Mr. Leye Akinola emerged as the Coordinator of the group, while she will be assisted by ex-caretaker chairman of Ose Local Government Area, Afolabi Mabogunje.

Mrs Adeniran maintained that women in the party are fully ready to compete with the men for the party ticket.

According to her, APC women in the state are intellectuals and mobilisers who can also win elections for the party.

The APC chieftain said women have always been driving force during campaigns, saying they are worthy of both governorship and deputy governorship positions come next year’s election.

Akinola, however, assured leaders and members of the party of total victory in next year’s gubernatorial election.

He also promised to begin mobilisation and massive membership drive for the APC so as to increase its profile.

Akinola, who said the group, has done it in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, stressed that the coalition of APC support group will boost the chances of the party to form the next government.

Expert recommends mental test for leaders From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

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N expert in Psychiatry, Mr. Oye Gureje has said that Nigerian politicians should be subjected to serious medical examination while aspiring for any political office in order to address the stagnant growth of the country.

He spoke while delivering the award winners’ lecture of the Nigerian National Merit Award entitled “Hubris, Humility and the Humongous Lessons of the Brain” at the University of Ibadan.

According to him, affordable and adequate health care is still largely unavailable for mental and behavioural disorders in the country, adding that “policy attention to mental health remains grossly inadequate as health policy makers at all levels ignore the fact that mental well-being, mental health, mental capital and freedom from mental disorder are essential components of health that are necessary ingredients for national development.”

Mr. Gureje, a Professor of Psychiatry, observed that the country does not have any institutionalised support mechanism for sustained health research. He said: “It is embarrassing that South Africa, for example; a country that our rebased economy has recently beaten to the second place in Africa, provides a fertile ground for cutting-edge health research supported by the government of the country through its medical research council and other institutions.”

Revealing that persons who have mental challenges and had received treatment and recovered from their illness may be fit for leadership position, he, however, said “unfortunately, poverty and the allure of ‘stomach infrastructure’ may not always allow people to make the right judgment.

Group laments insecurity in Oshodi

Council distributes GCE forms to students

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ETERMINED to encourage those indigenous to Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to further their education, it has distributed the General Certificate of Examination (GCE) forms to over 100 deserving students of the council.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Executive Secretary of the council, Hon. Bola Badmus-Olujobi assured that both the council and Lagos State Government are committed to providing quality education for all children of school age, even as she advised the students to be studious, obedient and respectful at all times.

Noting that the council, in its wisdom purchased the forms to be given to the recipients free, she said the students were randomly drawn from different wards of the council for fairness and even representation.

Expressing her worries that results of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the General Certificate Examination (GCE) in recent time reveal great decline in the standard of the education sector, the council chief maintained that “it has manifested in the quality of our graduates that are churned out yearly from our universities and other institutions of higher learning. There is no need to argue that urgent steps need to be taken to reverse the trend.”

Hon. Badmus-Olujobi stated that the presentation of the GCE forms to the beneficiaries was a manifestation of the council’s commitment to improve standard of education, provide

By Emma Udodinma

opportunities for brilliant but indigent students to access quality education and generally to improve the educational content of the local government.

Promising that the council will organise first-rate preparatory classes for GCE candidates and recipients of the council’s gesture, the council chief advised the beneficiaries to take their studies serious and comply with all rules and regulations governing all examinations. She further urged the students to “read your books and be committed to your academic careers so that you would excel in all your examinations.”

Continuing, she said: “It’s natural that in an environment such as ours, students should be encouraged to realise their potential. Parents of some of the beneficiaries could not afford the cost of the GCE forms; and these are brilliant students. So, I think it’s necessary for the local government to help them. That informed our dis-

tribution of the forms to deserving students.”

In a chat with Southwest Report after the event, Hon. Badmus-Olujobi said she is worried by the continued decline in education standard which results from students’ lack of interest in reading books, saying that the council is willing to set up coaching centres where students would be taught the art of reading and writing.

On how to tackle the falling standard of education, the council chief advocated an encouragement of reading culture and enforcement of literary appreciation for all students, irrespective of their chosen areas of study as a way of inculcating in them the reading culture.

“If children are encouraged to have interest in books and reading right from their formative years all through their primary, secondary and tertiary education years, our schools, especially the universities would produce quality graduates who will, in turn, help the country in her quest for socio-economic and technological

Ogun tackles maternal A RESIDENT of Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State Mrs Blessing Andrew from Kogi State h a s r e counte d how a quick medical intervention saved her and her unborn baby.

Mrs Andrew said about a year ago, Mrs Id-

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GROUP of residents and business owners in Oshodi and its environs has urged security agencies to do more in providing security, especially by curtailing hoodlums who have turned that high density area of Lagos to a theatre of violence.

The group, Oshodi Peace Movement (OPM), which consists of traders and residents helping security agencies in promoting peace and orderliness in the area, urged the Commissioner of Police and authorities of other relevant agencies to keep vigil as crimes perpetrated in Eyin-Irin area of Oshodi, which falls under the Onigbongbo Local Government Area, has recently been in the increase.

“We are calling the attention of the security agencies to the various crimes by a group that call itself Ko si Oga (No leader) and has continued to wreak havoc in our neighbourhood.

“We have identified some of them, although we understand that the security agencies have also been on the trail of their cohorts,” the group spokesman, Mr. Waheed Olaosebikan, said in a statement made available to newsmen.

Continuing, the statement said: “Although some of the hoodlums have been arrested, the Oshodi Peace Movement established five years ago, said the crimes have not abated because the leaders of the group are yet to be arrested.

“Various security agencies have been raiding this area but much has not been done to arrest the main culprits whom we have identified by their names and aliases which include: (Spider, One Naira, Gbenga Fowosere, Eba, Kango, Inspector, Baba Oba and Emi Esu).

Until these people are arrested, we cannot have rest of mind here in our neighbourhood.”

•Hon. Badmus-Olujobi (fifth left); Deputy Executive Secretary, Babatunde Saliu Aregbe (sixth left), Information Officer of the council, Mrs. Rosemary Uneanya (second right), some council officials and some of the beneficiaries at the event.

•Some women receiving pieces of advice on child care

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

owu Ajiboye, a Surveillance Supervisor with the primary health care centre took her off the street of Ilaro on a Thursday afternoon and took her to the state hospital, Ilaro.

Upon examination, it was discovered that she had started manifesting signs of onset of Eclampsia. She was monitored, treated and had safe delivery.

According to health experts, pre-eclampsia is pregnancy condition that presents itself during the second trimester - about 20 weeks of pregnancy, with symptoms of high blood pressure and protein in urine.

It is one of t h e

leading causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria and since its cause remains largely unknown, it exact its toll more on pre-eclamptic women in rural settings because of the unpredictable nature of the condition as well as ignorance and delay in seeking prompt and appropriate medical care.

Blessing told Southwest Report that her problem began when her husband, a staff of the Dangote Cement Manufacturing Company in Ibese, Ogun State, lost his job about four months into her pregnancy.

She said her husband, being the major source of the family’s income, the daily bout of anxiety that seized her with regard to how the family could cope without means of livelihood, brought about the high blood pressure and then the hypertension.

According to her, she never knew she was already having a life-threatening health challenge until the community health workers discovered her

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

Patient needs N6m for kidney transplant From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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•Some of the beneficiaries

development,” she said.

While decrying the prevalence of examination malpractices in Nigerian schools, which, she said, resulted from students’ lack of interest in books and reading, Hon. Badmus-Olujobi, who was the Deputy Speaker of the Seventh Lagos State House of Assembly said lack of solid foundation in the area of reading and having interest in books has adversely affected the standard of education in our country, even as she said the remedy lay on government making literary appreciation an integral part of the school curriculum to give a fresh direction to the issue of reviving or rekindling the reading culture in our students and among Nigerians.

She said: “This hue and cry about the falling standard of education which results from lack of interest in books and reading would be in the thrash can of history if government and the relevant agency and stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of moulding our future leaders should see it as an urgent challenge to redirect the mindset of our students by blocking all loopholes that make

examination fraud to thrive, through serious emphasis on reading as part of our culture and the provision of books for students’ use.”

Hon. Badmus-Olujobi hinted that should the passion for reading is sustained, students would excel in any field of study, be it the arts, economics, technical or scientific. She therefore urged government to urgently embark on fundamental reforms of our education system which touches on curriculum, teaching and learning.

She advised parents to monitor their children’s’ activities and the kind of friends they keep.

She said: “It is the duty of every parent to ensure that their children imbibe reading as culture. They should sit down with their children to read with and for them. It is unfortunate that these days most parents don’t spend quality time with their children to monitor their academic progress. The craze for materialism tend on the part of parents tends to trivialize the important parental function of bringing up children the right way.

mortality and intervened by encouraging her to seek appropriate health care.

Mrs Andrew is one of the 11 women who benefited from the one year Pilot CLIP trial in Yewa South, ImekoAfon, Remo North and Sagamu local govetnment areas and who also praised the project as it entered the definitive CLIP trial, which is its third phase.

CLIP is a clinical study in Ogun State that seeks to prevent neonatal and maternal deaths during pregnancy and it is being executed by the Centre for Research in Reproductive Health in collaboration with the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the state government support from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

The chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Olatunde Okewole, whose office also played a collaborative role in the project, said successful implementation of CLIP would go a long way towards reducing maternal and infant mortality.

Okewole also praised Governor Ibikunle Amosun for what he described as his “untiring efforts at uplifting the health care delivery service in the state,” saying the “enabling environment and other plausible logistics provided contributed to the progresses recorded.

He said: “CLIP is an international intervention project for Pre Eclampsia/Eclampsia which is being undertaken to test the hypothesis of implementing a community-based package of care for reducing pregnant women with hypertensive disorder.

“It is also targeted at reducing death of pregnant women and improving pregnancy outcome in Ogun State.

“In this connection, successful implementation of CLIP is therefore a strategy at achieving reduction of maternal and infant mortality as it formed part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) components to improve health care delivery.”

“Some parents do not care the kind of fiends their children keep. Some do not care about how their children spend their leisure time and the periods they watch television. These days, children are much more interested in watching television even late into the night and surfing on the net. There seems to be lack of parental guide on the kind of film to watch and what periods to do certain things. In such situation, it is logical that less and less time is being devoted to the book and reading.”

“Government, parents, teachers and all stakeholders in education should take decisive steps to ensure that the future of the country is not populated by semi-illiterate individuals who will definitely impinge on the country’s quest for development,” She also advised government not to leave the provision of books to the parents alone but should provide schools and students with books on a regular basis, even as she said government should establish libraries in every primary and secondary schools and stock them with the relevant books.

Chieftain donates building to party

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CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Chief Femi Adekanmbi, has donated a multi-million Naira storey-building in Owo town for the use of members of the party.

Adekanmbi explained that the building, which has been equipped with modern facilities, would enhance the mobilisation and membership drive of the state chapter of the PDP. He said: “Recent developments in the state have shown that the PDP is increasing in membership, commitment and activities, especially in the Northern Senatorial District.

“The least that a supportive leader can do for his party at this time is to ensure that this spirit is encouraged.”

To this end, the politician said he thought it right to provide a rallying point that will be convenient for meetings, planning, grassroots mobilisation, coordinating and other forms of administrative responsibilities of officers of the party.

He said the facility will further encourage the spread and appreciation of the party in the state, especially in the Northern Senatorial District.

He said: “Recent activities in the state had shown that warring factions have resolved their differences and have decided to work together to build the party, hence our philanthropic gesture would make the party to continue to grow stronger in all seasons and weather.”

He noted that there are still more efforts to be made to further boost the acceptability of the party ahead of the state governorship election next year.

He urged that the party should be re-launched with adequate facilities in an atmosphere conducive enough to ensure great success.

INCE 2006 when 48-year-old Femi Emmanuel was diagnosed of diabetes and kidney disease, life has not been the same.

The graduate of Quantity Surveying from the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke is currently grappling with such life- •Emmanuel threatening ailment.

Narrating his ordeal to Southwest Report in his residence at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, where he is currently recuperating, Emmanuel recounted how the sickness began in 2006 when he was diagnosed of having diabetes before he was later informed that he had also developed symptoms of kidney disease.

Mr. Emmanuel, a father of two whose condition has completely deteriorated as a result of the ailment, has become a regular visitor to several hospitals, healing homes and religious centres, explained that apart from the initial financial •Emmanuel (Before) commitments he made at the onset of the illness, he later became weak and unable to do his surveying job. Being cash strapped, he had to depend on people’s goodwill as members of his family, friends and public-spirited individuals; including the former Ondo State Commissioner for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education, Mrs. Margret Akinsuroju, who he said has made series of financial contributions on his poor health.

He further explained that in the quest for solution to his health challenge, he was directed to visit Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre in Ondo Continued on page 36

Church to assist the poor From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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EGULAR succour would soon be coming the way of widows, orphans and other less-privileged members of the seedy and ancient community of Igbo Olori Ota, in Ado/Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

A century-old church in the community-African Church, Nigeria, said it has concluded plans to have “special collections” in monetary form from its members on a regular basis in aid of the widows and other lessprivileged persons not only in its fold but also for others in the missionary environment.

Beside the monetary assistance, the prospective beneficiaries would also receive gift items as well as entrepreneurial trainings in soap and cream-making, among others to enable some of them to be productive and have modicum sources of income of their own.

Igbo Olori Ota is home to the imposing St Michael Bethel Cathedral, the seat of the newly created Awori Central Diocese of the African Church (Nigeria). It is believed to have been built in 1904, and situates few metres away from the Palace of the Olota of Ota. The Bishop of Awori Central Diocese, Rev. Ade Fagbayi, who was enthroned on Sunday as the Pioneer Bishop by the Primate of African Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Emmanuel Josiah Udofia, unfolded this agenda at the Cathedral in commemoration of the maiden anniversary of the diocese.

Fagbayi, who noted that Christians should impact on the society positively, said early church grew steadily because of love and care shown to people in their missionary areas.

“Charity begins at home for the people in the household of God; but that does not mean we should close our eyes to the needy in the society and our neighbourhood.

“We still have to help others and give beyond the shores of the church, to reach the widows, young unemployed graduates and other less-privileged persons.

“The society and the church are symbolically related; to a reasonable extent, they are inseparable. Church members live within the society and members of the same society attend the church.

“So, it becomes imperative on us to demonstrate the virtues of love, charity, holiness and truthfulness which characterised the early church and enhanced their steady growth,” Fagbayi said.

The Bishop, however, rued the proliferation of churches in the society, saying it has only had “little impact on morals and good character” of Christians.

According to him, Nigerian Christians must guard against losing the saltiness in them as the “hope of a better society, to a large extent, rests on the church.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

36

SOUTHWEST REPORT Ekiti communities protest power outage

Patient needs N6m for kidney transplant

Continued on from page 32-33

Continued on page 36 town, where he was diagnosed of kidney-related ailment.

He added that medical and diagnostic examinations were later carried out through what he referred to as Paediatric Echo Cardiograph and some drug prescriptions.

Emmanuel said the drugs which were very expensive could not give him permanent respite as the problem resurfaced again few months after leaving the hospital.

He added that upon his return to the hospital, he was referred to a specialised hospital in India for further medical attention.

His words: “After a short respite, precisely one month after leaving the hospital, I developed the same symptoms again, but this time, it became more severe.

I quickly rushed back to the same hospital, where I was later referred to an India hospital for further medical attention.

“What I need now is assistance from public-spirited individuals for the treatment in India. I appeal to religious bodies, non-governmental organisations, politicians, government, private and corporate organisations to assist me, so that I will be able to come back alive.

“The treatment in India will cost $8, 000. This is too much for me and my family as we have exhausted all we had treating the ailment here. $ 8,000 is too much a burden for me to carry after exhausting all savings and donations received from public-spirited individuals.”

The father of two appeals to well-meaning Nigerians to assist him financially so as to save his life.

There was a medical report issued by the management of Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre and dated June 26, 2015 which authenticated his claim indicated that the patient was diagnosed of Down syndrome and kidney disease.

“To Whom It May Concern, Medical Report” Re: Femi Emmanuel Aged 48.

The Report reads in part: “Clinical assessment showed that Emmanuel has features consistent with Down Syndrome and Echo Cardiograph revealed Ventricular Septal defect which has resulted in repeated hospital admission.

“Femi Emmanuel requires further evaluation in a centre with facilities for cardiac surgery to correct the kidney abnormality and genetic studies to evaluate his chromosomal abnormality.

“This letter therefore serves as an introduction of the patient for assistance that will facilitate other evaluation abroad.”

Emmanuel, who is currently experiencing excruciating pain as he could neither walk nor sit without being aided by somebody, therefore, appeals for urgent financial assistance to enable him to undergo the surgery in India and subsequently regain his life again.

Anyone willing to assist this father of two can do so by paying such donation into the account opened in the name of Femi Emmanuel. Account Number 2087414938 Zenith Bank Ore town to facilitate his medical trip to India.

•Akpabio (middle), Ojota Unit Commander, Ganiu Taiwo Hamzat (right) and Lagos Sector Head of Operations, Michael Olapade

FRSC prosecutes traffic offenders

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reiterated its commitment to arrest and prosecute any inter-state commercial drivers who do not state the actual number of passengers on board in the passengers’ manifest.

The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commander, Nseobong Charles Akpabio stated this while briefing reporters on the ongoing “Operation Scorpion” at Ojota Lagos.

One of the drivers of Chisco Transport Nigeria Limited, Mr ThankGod Opetu, was arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others over non-passengers’ list documentation.

Akpabio said Opetu’s prosecution follows his failure to record the actual number of passengers in his bus into the passengers’ manifest sheet. He noted that he recorded only 11 out of the 40 passengers on board.

The FRSC chief said the Corps mandated all interstate transporters to always write their passengers’ identities in the manifest sheets to make it easy to locate their families in case of road crashes.

“Transporters have been mandated to ensure the identity, such as names, addresses and telephone numbers of passengers on board their buses are properly documented before leaving the park,” he said.

Akpabio said he (Opetu) having breached the order informed his arrest and prosecution, along with no few-

By Olalekan Ayeni er than 23 tanker/trailer drivers who were charged for reckless driving, fake driver’s licence, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres and unlatched containers.

Their arrests, he said, were in line with the ongoing operation scorpion exercise organised by the Corps over a month ago to checkmate impunity of the truck/tanker drivers which causes road crashes across the country.

Akpabio said the continuous exercise is focusing on drivers’ licence violation, overloading, unhooked containers, lane indiscipline and rickety vehicles.

He said the Corps, through the operation, has been able to apprehend no fewer than 823 vehicles with their drivers prosecuted while some have also been jailed. He said the Corps would no longer tolerate any undisciplined behaviour, especially driving with worn-out tyres and fake driver’s licences. Any driver caught would be prosecuted while his vehicle would be impounded.

Opetu, in his response said the additional passengers in the bus were rescued at a robbery point along Okene Road around 2:30 a.m.

for services not rendered. Do they have the moral right to keep on distributing bills now?

“They have brought and dumped bills in my palace, armed robbers are on the prowl and this has caused businesses and other activities to be paralysed.”

While thanking the governor for promptly stepping into the problem, Erio Regent, Princess Ojo, said her subjects want power supply to the community removed from BEDC and joined with IBEDC. She said: ”Erio, Aramoko and Ido were linked together but to our surprise, we discovered that they had solved the problem of Ido. We want to be removed from BEDC.” According to the Deputy Governor, the state government and the affected communities would set up a committee consisting of various stakeholders to look into the problem.

A meeting was held later in the day at the Deputy Governor’s office to find a way to resolve the crisis. It comprised government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders and officials of BEDC. But the Chief State Head of BEDC in charge of Ondo and Ekiti states, Ernest Edgar claimed that consumers in Aramoko and Erio owe the company over N132 million in electricity bills.

He revealed that the communities had incurred N74 million since BEDC took over.

Edgar said in a statement: “As a company at the end of the value chain of the power business; BEDC is expected to pay fully for the energy it receives from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and to remain in business, every community is expected to pay fully for every kilowatts of energy that’s consumed.

“We are constrained by the fact that what is given to BEDC as allocation from the National Grid for the four states of coverage is just nine per cent of total generation in the country which is grossly inadequate.

Community protests land loss to grabbers Continued from page 31

shock of the incident; having understood that his subjects and residents were scattered all over based on circumstances beyond their control.

On penultimate Monday, several months after, some of the displaced residents returned to the community only to discover that most of their properties had been encroached upon and vandalised by the assailants.

Same day, some of the victims protested the activities of the land grabbers on their father’s land, urging both the Ogun State and the Federal Governments to bail them out.

The protesters included men, women and children and all were with placards on which several inscriptions were written. They sang solidarity songs and their case is akin to those of victims of Boko Haram who became strangers in their own land.

Also penultimate Monday, Biodun

Our case is peculiar in the sense that there were no internal crises because many of us are learned. Only God knows where the land grabbers came from. The most painful aspect of this incident is that our children have not attended school for the past eight months while the artisans among us have their jobs put on hold and the family has taken to begging as a way of survival simply because of lawlessness in Nigeria Ore, was able to reunite with his baby who was christened in his absence.

The residents claimed the suspected land grabbers were led by a member of the zone’s O’odua Peoples’ Congress Dauda Olawale popularly

•Members of the community protesting

called ‘’Authority’’ and since that day, the land had been under turmoil but Olawale dismissed the allegation, saying he had no portion in Ipetoro/Lowa land: ‘’Ipetoro/Lowa is in Gagamu while I hail from Oshun State. How come I am taking possession of another person’s land when I am not in the position to do so? ‘’ he queried.

Spokesperson for Ipetoro/Lowa family, Jamiu Bamgbelu, said he gathered the assailants had been sending threat messages to the displaced victims during their eight months’ in exile.

According to him, some unknown faces stormed the community on that fateful Wednesday with dangerous weapons and forced residents out of their land. ‘’Our case is peculiar in the sense that there were no internal crises because many of us are learned. Only God knows where the land grabbers came from. The most painful aspect of

this incident is that our children have not attended school for the past eight months while the artisans among us have their jobs put on hold and the family has taken to begging as a way of survival simply because of lawlessness in Nigeria,” he said.

He claimed that all efforts made to register their plight with the police in both Lagos and Ogun states failed as the leader of the suspected land grabbers have allegedly bought them over.

On Tuesday last week, the assailants reportedly stormed the town again, killing three and injuring six others.

Jamiu appealed to the InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase and Governor Ibikunle Amosun to come to their aid.

“How long can we continue like this? Our Baale has lost his health and is unwilling to come home as a result of the activities of the land grabbers. We appeal to our governor Ibikunle Amosun and IGP to help us. Both can do their findings about us and hold us responsible in case we are culpable. All we want is peace for the sake of our children,” he pleaded.

The Vice-Chairman of the Ipetoro Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Fred Okorowo said the place had been peaceful until the crisis of December 3, last year and since then; things had not been the same.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Olujobi, denied knowledge of Tuesday incident, but added that the force was not unaware of the lingering crisis. He assured that the police were doing everything possible to end it soon.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Shareholders get N3.22b dividend as PZ Cussons records N6.6b profit

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HAREHOLDERS of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc would receive a total of N3.22 billion as cash dividends for the immediate past business year as the conglomerate showed early gains of its restructuring exercise.

The board of directors of PZ Cussons Nigeria has recommended distribution of N2.42 billion as final cash dividend, bringing total cash payout for the year to N3.22 billion.

The company had earlier this year distributed N794 million as interim cash dividend.

Shareholders on the register of the conglomerate as at close of business on September 14, 2015 will receive a final dividend per share of 61 kobo in addition to earlier interim dividend per share of 20 kobo, representing a total dividend per share of 81 kobo. The final dividend will become payable on September 30, 2015.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of PZ Cussons Nigeria for the year ended May 31, 2015 showed that total sales rose marginally from N72.90 billion in 2014 to N73.12 billion in 2015. The company’s top-line cost of sales dropped by 1.9 per cent to N52.67 billion in

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

2015 as against N53.71 billion in 204.

However, operating expenses increased by 7.1 per cent from N12.89 billion to N13.8 billion.

The company also came under pressure from financing costs, which rose by 215.4 per cent from N141.05 million to N444.86 million. Consequently, profit before tax slipped by 5.66 percent from N6.95 billion to N6.56 billion. Profit after tax also declined by 10.7 per cent to N4.6 billion compared with N5.1 billion in the previous year. Earnings per share dropped by 11.72 per cent to N1.03 as against N1.16 in 2014. The conglomerate’s net assets meanwhile inched up 2.67 per cent from N42.54 billion in 2014 to N43.67 billion.

PZ Cussons Nigeria had started on major corporate restructuring aimed at streamlining its operations and curtailing costs. It earlier this year filed for regulatory approval to combine two of its wholly owned subsidiaries - PZ Power and PZ Tower with the parent company. The business combination would be effected through a scheme of arrangement.

In a regulatory filing, the group stated that the corporate restructuring would simplify its structure and operations, thereby leading to reduction in administrative costs while simultaneously improving operational efficiency.

PZ Cussons, the United Kingdombased parent company that holds 69.77 per cent in the Nigerian company, has focused attention on its Nigerian subsidiary with a view to strengthening the company as the hub of its West African operations.

PZ Cussons Nigeria has invested not less than $130 million in strengthening and expanding its business operations in Nigeria.

During a recent visit and tour of part of Nigerian operations by members of board of directors of the PZ Cussons, Chairman, PZ Cussons, United Kingdom, Richard Harvey, said the conglomerate sees more exciting opportunities in Nigeria and it is committed to long-term development of its Nigerian business.

According to him, PZ Cussons has continued to invest in the capacity of its Nigerian business in demonstration of its commitment to sustain its Nigerian business as a major plank

of the global operations of PZ Cussons.

He said PZ Cussons’s bouquet of products from household items to electronic appliances is in growing demand and the group looks toward its Nigerian business as a major contributor to global performance.

“We are more excited about the opportunities now than we have been for a very long time,” Harvey said.

He pointed out that Nigeria contributes about 55 per cent of the group’s global turnover while the refrigerator business contributed about 30 per cent to PZ Cussons Nigeria’s turnover, which approximately gave the Nigerian refrigerator business some 17 per cent of global sales.

Harvey in company of other directors toured the newly remodeled refrigerator manufacturing plant in Ilupeju, Lagos.

According to him, the additional refrigerator production line, which was formally commissioned during the visit, was meant to rapidly expand the distribution of cooling products In Nigeria and Ghana and to keep the company in good stead to meet anticipated continuous increase in demand.

Harvey said the conglomerate will continue to prospect for opportunities to increase its business in Nigeria citing the recent multi-billion investment in palm oil processing plant and refinery.

According to him, the biggest new business line-‘Mamador’, being produced from the brand new refinery at Ikorodu, Lagos, has gotten off to instant success with the company selling every bit of its production.

“We get a series of developments we want to do but as you will expect I am not able to share those secrets with you now,” Harvey said.

He however ruled out possible capital issue in the nearest future noting that PZ Cussons has sufficient capital base to internally fund its growth initiatives.

He assured Nigerian shareholders that the conglomerate has been positioned for improved performance and returns while affirming the commitment of the foreign core investor to mutually beneficial relationship with its Nigerian shareholders.

“They are investing in the right company,” Harvey quipped when asked about his message to Nigerian shareholders.

Deap Capital Management appoints new chief executive

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HE board of directors of Deap Capital Management

and Trust Plc, an investment firm quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has appointed Mr. Jacob Esan as the company’s new managing director and chief executive officer.

The appointment of Esan, the company stated, was part of the company’s efforts to return to profitability. Esan’s appointment was based on the consensus of the company’s board of directors, which is chaired by Dr. Adelani Oniwinde. Other members of the board include Muhammad Aliyu who is the Vice-Chairman, William Odudu and Cecilia Maduekwe.

The company, in a statement, noted that to his appointment, Esan was the executive director, investment banking and public sector with responsibility for business origination as well as designing and implementing the growth strategy based on the vision of the company.

Deap Capital’s shareholders had earlier this month at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting in Lagos elected new members for the Board.

The mandate for the Board was to return the company to profitability and the statement explained that as part of plans to achieve the goal, the shareholders had mandated the Board to negotiate with individual creditors and secure agreements for the conversion of non-bank debts to ordinary shares of company at a price to be determined by the directors and agreed with the creditors.

“The directors are also to restructure any part of the existing non-bank debts of the company that the creditors are unwilling to convert into ordinary shares in the company, into restructured deposits to be repaid out of the future cash flow of the company over a maximum period of three years starting from January 2019,” the statement said.

The non-bank debts of the com-

pany, which was incorporated in June 2002 and commenced business that same month, stood at N2.46bn as of June 30, 2014, the statement said.

The statement added that the directors were further authorised to initiate and conclude discussions and negotiations with prospective investors to recapitalise the company through the raising of additional equity.

The board was also authorised to raise additional capital when deemed necessary through public offering, special or private placement, rights issue or other methods, through issuance of shares, global depository receipts, convertibles or non-convertibles, medium term notes, bonds and or any other instruments.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications, Mr. Sola Oni; Chief Executive Officer, Anabel Group, Dr. Nicholas Okoye; and Communications and Public Relations Manager, Anabel Group ,Mrs. Chika Nnodu, during Anabel’s interactive press session in Lagos.

Stock market recession threatens firms’ recapitalisation plans

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NVESTORS might decide to buy from the secondary market rather than picking up their rights or participate in new issues as continuing decline in share prices at the secondary market has created huge discounts against new issue prices.

Companies that had recently launched bids to raise new capital have demurred from furthering the issuance process as share prices continued to fall below intrinsic fundamental values.

After losing N283 billion last week, Nigerian equities started this week with a loss of N228 billion in the fivehour trading session. Average decline stood at 2.22 per cent as relatively higher losses by 46 stocks, including market’s largest stocks, overwhelmed modest gains by nine stocks. The opening downtrend pushed the negative average year-to-date return at the Nigerian stock market to -15.71 per cent.

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, which recently submitted application for regulatory approval to raise N30.25 billion through a proposed rights issue, opened yesterday below the proposed offer price. Flour Mills plans to offer 1.09 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N27.50 per share. The flour-miller opened yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) N26.32 per share.

Another company, May and Baker Nigeria Plc, which had announced plan to float a rights issue, opened

yesterday at N1.24 per share, a price the promoters of the issue considered to be below the intrinsic value of the company.

RT Briscoe, which has struggled with huge financial leverage and sought to restructure its balance sheet through equity issue, has slumped to 55 kobo.

A management source in one of the prospective issuers said they were reconsidering their new issue plan and would likely opt for private placement on concerns that the company might not get the right value for its shares through the open offer and investors might shun the issue.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, the holding company for Stanbic IBTC Bank and other subsidiaries, which has filed for approval to raise N20.4 billion from its shareholders, is also trading below the proposed offer price. A regulatory filing indicated that Stanbic IBTC Holdings would be issuing 800 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N25.50 per share. The rights issue will be pre-allotted to shareholders in the book of the company on the basis of two new ordinary shares for every 25 ordinary shares. Stanbic IBTC opened yesterday at N18 per share.

Skye Bank Plc, which plans to raise about N30 billion in new equity funds in the third quarter, is trading at a low of N1.94 per share, implying that the bank might need to issue more shares to raise required equity funds. Skye Bank already has 13.88 billion ordi-

nary shares as issued paid up capital.

Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the bank would be raising some N30 billion tier 1 capital, referring to new equity funds, in the third quarter. While Skye Bank is still finalizing the details of the equity issue, there are indications that the supplementary issue will include an element of rights issue.

Sterling Bank Plc, which had raised some N19 billion new equity funds through special placement late last year, and Wema Bank Plc, are also said to be considering further capital raising. Wema Bank Plc also plans to raise $100 million in tier II capital.

Companies that had floated new issues in recent period largely fell below their offer targets. All the companies are also trading below their offer price, putting subscribers to the issues in losses. Access Bank, which had offered about 7.63 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.90 to existing shareholders, recorded 79.4 per cent success rate. The bank raised N42 billion as against its offer target of N53 billion. Access Bank’s share price opened yesterday at N4.47 per share, 35.2 per cent below the January 2015 offer price.

The current rule at the NSE allows price movement on a company undertaking new issue on the principle that a free market must be allowed to discover the current price through interplay of demand and supply.

The below-the-market offer price implies that shareholders who may

wish to renounce their rights would not be able to trade the renounced shares at the NSE. Given the usual appreciable discount on rights, shareholders are allowed to trade their renounced rights at the secondary market to take the premium.

The availability of the shares of the companies at the secondary market might dissuade investors that might have sought to take advantage of preallotted shares to increase their shareholdings.

Market analysts said the T+3 clearing schedule which delivers transaction by the third day after the transaction day also makes secondary market attractive to investors given that new issues would still have to undergo allotment process, which takes at least four weeks.

Market analysts said with the market, the success of the new issues might depend on the commitments of major shareholders, especially core investors who might take advantage of the new issues to increase their shareholdings.

Most analysts agreed that the recession has significantly undervalued several stocks, which may tend to portray fundamental valuation as costly.

Regulatory filings and investment banking data obtained by The Nation earlier this year had shown that the new issue market might be more active in the second half with not less than eight companies planning to raise funds.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

38

THE NATION

BUSINESS PENSION

Bayelsa, Bauchi, Oyo, others yet to remit pension •Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Niger lead CPS

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WENTY-THREE state governments out of the 36 states in the country including Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, and Edo states are yet to begin the remittance of pension contributions into the Retirement Savings Account (RSAs) of their employees as at the end of the first quarter of this year, The Nation has learnt.

They are also yet to start funding of their Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund Accounts (RBBRF) and yet to provide Group Life Insurance for their employees as required under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the Pension Reform Law, 2014.

This means that employees of these states may not get their pension benefits as and when due after retirement and are not insured.

Other states that have not remitted contributions, funded RBBRF nor provide Group Life for their employees are Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kebbi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.

This was contained in the Na-

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

tional Pension Commission (PenCom) First Quarter Report on ‘Level of Compliance with the CPS

by State Governments’.

According to the report, only Lagos, Osun, Niger and Rivers are fully compliant with the law as they have remitted pension contribution, funded their RBBRF and insured their employees.

Balance in RBBRF account of state governments as at January this year shows that Lagos State had remitted N10 billion, while Ogun, Niger and Rivers had remitted N1.43billion N9.10billion and N3.10 billion respectively into their RBBRF as at the end of the quarter under review.

The report further showed that while six state governments have begun the funding of their RBBRF into RSAs account, only eight out of the 36 states had commenced remittance of contributions into the RSAs of their employees as at the period under review.

The report noted that 26 state governments have enacted laws on the

CPS, while the remaining 10 were yet to pass their bills into law.

Imo State is yet to begin remittance of pension contributions too however, Imo State University is currently implementing the CPS under the auspices of the PRA 2014.

The state is yet to fund the RBBRF and yet to provide Group Life Insurance for its employees.

Jigawa State has however transferred pension assets to six PFAs for management while Kano State is yet to transfer its pension assets.

The report however clarified that Jigawa and Kano states did not implement Group Life Insurance Scheme because they are currently implementing the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme, which does not require the institution of Group Life policies for employees.

Section 4 of the PRA 2014 states that every employee to whom the act applies shall maintain an RSA in his name with any PFA of his choice.

The employer shall deduct at source the monthly contribution of the employee and not later than seven working days from the day

•Bayelsa State Gov. Seriake Dickson

•Oyo State Gov. Abiola Ajimobi

the employee is paid his salary, remit an amount comprising the employee’s and employer’s contributions to the Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) specified by the PFA of the employee.

The PRA states further that any employer that fails to deduct or remit the contributions within the time stipulated shall in addition to making the remittance already due,

be liable to a penalty to be stipulated by the Commission.

The penalty shall not be less than two per cent of the total contribution that remains unpaid for each month or part of each month the default continues and the amount of the penalty shall be recoverable as a debt owed to the employee’s retirement savings account as the case may be.

Ambode increases RBBRF funding rate to 12.41%

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•Gov. Ambode

AGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has directed that funding rate for Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund Accounts (RBBRF) of retirees be increased to 12.41 per cent from five per cent.

Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mrs Folashade Onanuga made this known in Lagos.

According to her, actuarial consultants appointed by the state government to value pension liabilities owed retirees of the state had stated that the funding rate should be 12.41 per cent.

She said with this development, the problem of inadequate funding has been addressed.

According to her, this will ensure that there will always be funds to

use to pay the terminal entitlements of the retirees.

She explained that the state has consistently funded the RBBRF with an amount equal to five per cent of the total monthly personnel cost of the stste’s active workers.

According to her, this is the funding rate stated in the Pension Reform Law. She stressed that this is aside the mandatory monthly contributory pension scheme contributions remitted directly into RSAs account.

She added that parastatals have been directed to henceforth ensure that contributions of their employees are credited into their RSA. She said: “LASPEC will give reports to the governor on quarterly basis on the performance of parastatals of government. The po-

Premium chief urges retirees to plan for retirement

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MPLOYEES in the country need to plan their retirement to avoid disaster for the retirees and the society, Managing Director, Premium Pension Limited, Wilson Ideva has said.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, he said there is need for in-depth planning, mental and psychological conditioning of the retiring worker to equip him to seamlessly adjust to a different kind of life after decades of service to society.

He said: “The consequences of lack of understanding of the basic requirements for a happy life in retirement and associated ill-preparedness for disaster both for the retiree and the society and consequently give the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) a bad name and erode the initial gains.

“The onus falls on the Bureaux of Pensions and the pension operators to run preparatory programmes for workers, especially those on the verge

of retirement.”

He said economically, socially and psychologically, stable retirees are the most effective advertisement for the CPS. He called for synergy of all stakeholders in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to ensure that the gains of the industry in the past decade are sustained.

“Partnership of relevant government institutions, especially the Bureaux of Pension and the pension operators in the country is the sine qua non for sustaining the current gains of the scheme and even expanding its scope and proliferating its inherent opportunities “There is also the need to prioritise awareness creation along with the importance and workings of the CPS,” he said.

To ensure that many more workers are covered by the pension scheme, Ideva advised that government should to plan to expand and or rede-

sition of the governor is that retirees from ministries, local governments, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), TEPO or parastatals have served in the state and as such must be given the same treatment.

“The governor has also promised that budgetary provisions to systematically clear outstanding pension shortfall.”

The National Pension Commission has said Contributory Pension Scheme was aimed at putting smiles on the faces of those who had laboured to serve the country.

Mrs Grace Uzoro of PenCom who made this known in Lagos, said the commission is happy with the Lagos State government for being at the forefront of championing the scheme.

She said Lagos State has made Nigeria proud as the government is a government of action in terms of retirees’ welfare.

Uzoro urged other state governments to emulate Lagos State to ensure their employees retire with peace of mind.

She said: “The desire of the Contributory Pension Scheme is to ensure that people who laboured to serve their country are happy and financially empowered after retirement.

“Lagos State has worked very closely with PenCom. The government has always been consultative and listening to advice.

“The state has made Nigeria proud and we call on other state governors to take a cue from what the Lagos State has done.”

Pensioners face tax returns, fines under saving revolution

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•Ideva

fine its programmes even as it relates to requirements of participants, beneficiaries and key actors as the case may be.

He noted that expanding the CPS to the informal sector of the economy as permitted by the Pension Reform Act 2014 requires some measure of creativity and professionalism on the part of key actors to make it work.

ENS of thousands of pensioners could be forced to fill in tax returns for the first time or face fines under the government’s “savings revolution”, leading accountants and savings experts have warned.

They said from April next year people may be required to declare when the interest they earn from their savings exceeds £1,000 for a basic rate taxpayer or £500 for a higher rate taxpayer.

Pensioners with even modest savings could unwittingly be cut out and face fines and even prosecution by HMRC if they fail to act and declare the income, they suggested.

Patricia Mock, a tax director at Deloitte, said: “This could particularly hit pensioners, people who are basic rate taxpayers who in the past far haven’t needed to file a tax return. There is going to be a massive

communications exercise, it will be very difficult.”

HMRC denied the claims and said that there is “no question whatsoever of savers having to complete tax returns”. It said it is looking at a “range of options” to make it easier for savers to report income but that this “definitely won’t include filling in tax returns”.

In his Budget earlier this year, George Osborne announced plans to ensure that 95 per cent of savers equivalent to 17 million people - will no longer have to pay tax on their savings.

Under the new Personal Savings Allowance, higher-rate taxpayers will be able to earn up to £500 from bank accounts taxfree. Basic-rate taxpayers will no longer pay tax on the first £1,000 they earn from bank accounts.

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SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

The increase in global demand for sesame seed as a health food has turned the highly domestic consumption item into an important export commodity.

This has opened a vista of opportunities for Nigerians to earn good income from cultivation and exportation of the seed, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Behold! The seed of ‘immortality’ S

ESAME seeds are a money spin ner worldwide. They are proc essed and used in numerous ways. In most areas of the world, the seeds are produced for cooking oil, used as confectionary topping and as condiments in baked products. They impart unique taste and textural features when included in baked products. Sesame is rich in calcium and high in antioxidants and other healthful features. Due to the presence of potent antioxidant, sesame seeds are known as “the seed of immortality”. Sesame oil is also used as conveyor for medical injections, just as it is essential in the cosmetics industry. Many cosmetics compositions include sesame oil because of its antioxidant properties.

Many international food and cosmetics companies buy sesame seeds from Nigeria and other countries, thus making many exporters of the product earn hard currency smile to the banks.

The largest importers of the product are the European Union (EU), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate(UAE), Kuwait , India, China and Pacific Rim countries, United States and Canada . Described as a short duration crop grown through-

out the year, sesame seed has a low water requirement.

The National President, National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria (NSAAN), Mr. Sherrif Balogun, said sesame seeds farming provides opportunity for new entrants, who cannot afford enough money to explore before going into export proper. This is because with a little investment as low as N81, 000, a farmer can start growing the crop on a small scale.

Out of this, N16, 500 will go for land preparation, N20, 400 for imputs, N22,000 for field operations and N15,000 for harvest operation. All things being equal, he said, a profit margin of N80,000 can be realised from the N160, 000 invested.

According to Balogun, an enabling environment has been provided, which include land, sufficient rain and the incentives offered by higher global market prices.

But exporting requires more money. One needs at least N15 million for a container load of sesame seeds . Profit varies, between three and 10 per cent of the invested capital .

To meet the demands of international buyers, however, he said

sesame seeds need to meet demand purity and consumer safety standards.

To achieve this, exporters have to work with farmers with proven track records of producing commodities for export.

Besides, prospective exporters have to be educated in safety management processes for minimising fungus and aflatoxin levels, and be educated about the importance of complying with sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS).

Buyers and processors are expected to have their samples certified by Nigeria’s regulatory body, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and by internationally accredited laboratories to meet the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures required for exporting.

Right now, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC) has identified sesame seed, as a product that would penetrate new international markets and increase foreign exchange earnings if able to meet European and US health and safety standards.

NSAAN is ready to work with NEPC to build the capacity of small and medium-size enterprises to im-

plement SPS standards, guidelines and recommendations as means to improve their human, animal and plant health status and ability to gain or maintain access to markets.

Balogun advised farmers and exporters to store the seeds in clean, dry and moisture proof area, free from insects, pests and rodents.

Prospective exporters need documents such as invoice, certificate of origin, shipping bill, bill of laden, letter of credit, phytosanitary certificate, GLOBALGAP certification, health certificate and organic certification. Exporters prefer organic sesame from farmers for export to buyers overseas. To them, it is very profitable if the local sesame crop meets organic and other high-quality standards.

However, according to Balogun, the price of sesame seeds varies according to variety, month of procurement, season to season, capacity of container and distance covered.

Exporters can source the commodity from states such as Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Katsina, Plateau, Yobe and Cross River.

Between 2011 and 2012, Nigerian farmers cultivated 92.3 million and

96.2 million hectares of land to produce 179.6 thousand and 188.9 thousand tonnes of sesame seeds, respectively.

On the average, exporters realised N43.7 million by selling them overseas during the fourth quarter of 2013. Hence, it was the fourth most important non-oil export items in that quarter.

NSAAN works with a network of local trainers to share information with the farmers on how to prepare the soil, space their plantings, and harvest and handle the produce.

Improved seeds are guaranteed to produce higher yields, be more drought resistant, and have shorter maturity cycles. Under normal circumstances, the heavy rains give way to good crops, promising farmers a successful harvest. Farmers have recorded achievement after being empowered with new farming skills and applying quality and improved seeds of sesame.

To Balogun, encouraging more Nigerians to get involved in sesame farming will help to get a lot of people out of poverty as many people will benefit out of modern sesame farming and use the benefits to change their livelihoods.

Success stories of Nigerian forex traders The just concluded second Lagos Forex Expo & Conference, which held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos brought together the industry’s most respected speakers and drew international exhibitors, sponsors and participants under one roof. DANIEL ESSIET spoke with successful professional traders to uncover what it really takes to make a living in the markets.

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HE international retail Forex industry is spreading to Nigeria with newly established brokerages gaining ground in Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve centre. Most of them showed up at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, venue of this year’s forex expo, appealing to diverse audiences. They included professionals, entrepreneurs, long time stock traders, equities and forex, and those curious about Forex.

The forum was designed to expose Nigerians to opportunities that exist for those, who want to make a living from it. One of the traders, who participated at the forum was Bade Ajidahun Afioluwa Training & IT Officer from City Prime fx. His entrepreneurial personality encouraged him to try out new businesses. He was carried away by the story that forex trading was a get-rich–quick business. He, therefore, did not hesitate to invest huge sum of money in it.

But he lost so much money. It was a period of high for people around him, who made money from forex trading and low for him. He, however, realised his errors and felt he needed to learn as much as he could to master the trade. He made contact with global forex traders, a firm which introduced him to better tricks of trading, using online platforms. This worked for him and he made a huge success from it.

Moreover, after recording the success, many of his friends and family members began to entrust their money with him in Forex trading. He then employed a strategy, which has continued to be profitable for him over the past three years.

His strategy simply is to extract profits from up and down trends, resulting in a consistent stream of

profits. He has kept going because he kept improving. For him, forex trading was a kind of entrepreneurship, which meant tough times and struggling to make ends meet.

His greatest strength is seeing an opportunity in every challenge, and finding solutions where others would give up.

He trades only when the timing is right for a trade and when the odds are on his side. The strategy incurs less losing trades, therefore, preserving his capital and keeping consistent profit gains. He has gone from a poor start five years ago to having many clients and generating N800,000 from trading for himself and others.

He has been coaching traders and has continued to develop seminar and training programmes on trading psychology for the investment industry, and individual traders.

Senior Sales Executive, ICM trader, Mr Benjamin Ilesanmi Ajimoko, said success in Forex trading depends on one’s mindset and psychology – how one thinks and feels about the market and how one reacts to it.

He said a lot of people come into the market with unrealistic expectations, thinking they are going to turn $500 into thousands of dollars in a week. According to him, they create a mindset that pressures them want to make money quickly and as such trade emotionally, losing money in the process.

While it is very important to have an effective and uncomplicated trading strategy, Ajimoko said it is even more important to manage emotions around your trades, adding that one needs both to experience long-term success in trading.

Ajimoko said prospective traders need to understand is that trading is

•Owobamirin

•Ajimoko

a discipline. It is a long-term game of probabilities, one will win some trades, and lose on some, but as long as one is disciplined enough to stick to a trading strategy, not being emotionally attached to losses, one would make more winning trades than losing trades and net a profit.

Head of Training Department, Black Global, Mr Chinedu Onuoha, said his trading method is definitely not a get-rich-quick method that promises 1000 per cent returns a year.

The important thing to him is how sustainable the strategy is. For him, there is no point for a trading strategy

•Mrs Ezeako

•Afioluwa

to be winning this week, and losing next week .

For him, it is depressing and emotionally disturbing to trade that way. That’s why he settled down on trading strategy where he consistently made profits, at least 10 per cent profit on the capital.

He currently focuses on one particular trait common in winners: patience, enough to wait for the right timing. Onuoha said what he has succeed in achieving by this, is to reduce losses as a trader. The other thing is not to sell the dream of instant riches. Though, it is a

•Onuoha

booming trade, he said such dream has turned into a nightmare because it is not realistic.

He trades a multitude of financial markets, including futures, equities, commodities, and currency markets with a global macro strategy.

Mrs Blessing Ezeako is also a trader with Lite Forex. She started trading as a business opportunity and it has become a full time job, whic she loves.

For her, forex is not a get rich quick business. Education for her is the core of everything in trading. A major goal, she has accomplished is, achieving personal profit target. She didn‘t have any luck at the beginning until she changed her outlook. Despite all the setbacks and monetary losses, which she suffered, she was determined to make Forex trading a success.

She attended training where she learnt lessons on trend trading, trading psychology and strict money management that have propelled her to where she is in today.

Sales Account Manager, OBFX Global Markets, Mayowa Owobamirin, who trades binary options, said the method guarantee the best possible financial prospect. Owobamirin said he has been able to maximise profits with binary options trading. According to him, binary options trading is simple, and provides the trader best experience. To trade forex, one n eeds a debit card and an Internet connection can become a trader. Almost anybody can sign up to an online investing platform from home such as UFC Markets, InterTrader Direct, ETX Capital or IG, with as little as $100.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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BUSINESS AFRICA Shoreham Airshow crash: Vintage jet restrictions announced

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IGNIFICANT restrictions on vintage jets in air shows have been imposed after the Shoreham crash, the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) aviation regulator has announced.

The Civil Aviation Authority said they would be “limited to flypasts”, which meant “high-energy aerobatics” would not be permitted in displays over land.

At least 11 people died after a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to the A27 in West Sussex on Saturday.

The death toll is expected to rise as parts of the plane are removed.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also said that all Hawker Hunter aircraft had been grounded until further notice.

The regulator added that it would

be conducting “additional risk assessments on all forthcoming civil air displays”.

In a statement, the authority stressed that individual display pilots were only granted approval to fly “following a thorough test of their abilities”.

Andrew Hill, the pilot of the crashed jet, has been put in medically-induced coma after being pulled from the wreckage.

The 51-year-old from Sandon, near Buntingford in Hertfordshire, suffered multiple injuries and is in a critical condition.

In a statement, his family said they were “devastated and deeply saddened” by the loss of life and sent “prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected”.

Barloworld enhances business via ARLOWORLD Equipment, a cloud solution subsidiary of the Barloworld

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Group, realised the need to transform its business operations to maintain competitive edge.

With its diverse operations, including technical service centres, warehouses across multiple locations, fractured data and equipment, the firm reiterated its determination to transform its 12-year-old IT backend system to maintain pace with digital demands.

Barloworld Equipment has therefore partnered with Britehouse, SAP partner that recommended a hosted CRM solution, SAP Cloud4Customer, to improve the planning and execution of sales, as well as bring service, marketing and e-commerce operations into the fold.

“We opted for SAP Cloud4Customer because it appeared not only to be able to solve our ongoing synchronisation issues, by providing online and offline transaction capability, but also provided us with a number of new options, including a full view of our many operations,” said Barloworld Equipment e-process manager, Andrew Kerr.

Barloworld Equipment is the first African customer to implement SAP Cloud4Customer and now has a single platform that delivers consolidated data management with mobility capabilities and provides real-time flow of information. The project team developed a proof of concept system within two weeks and had six months to implement

the entire new solution.

“This project illustrates that Barloworld Equipment really comprehends that, in a highly competitive marketplace, a compelling and sustainable customer experience is built on information and end-toend business integration. It also demonstrates that cloud-based solutions enable Barloworld Equipment to deliver these capabilities fast and flexibly,” said Ashley Boag, director of cloud at SAP Africa.

“The information fuelling insights leading to added value for Barloworld Equipment’s customers and, simultaneously, more efficient and flexible business processes, comes from many different sources; SAP’s cloud solutions like SAP Cloud4Customer are ideally suited to providing the integration and collaboration that enables Barloworld to retain its leadership position across Africa.”

Said Barloworld Equipment general manager: sales and supply chain, Lloyd Thomas: “This was the fastest SAP implementation with enterprise-wide impact with which I have been involved.”

The result was a backend system that met current demands and created opportunities for future innovation. This successful turnaround is also testimony that updating legacy systems is simple, can be completed without major disruption and in record time, even on a decentralised and highly customised IT backend.

Omo 100gram pack campaign enters Awka

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HEN Omo Door-to-Door campaign landed in Awka, Anambra State, last week, it gained even newer fans. This happened after the leading detergent entered into, and won the ‘Ultimate Showdown’; a washing competition between the Brand Ambassador, Chioma and a 25-year-old resident of Amawbia community, Amaka Chidiebere to demonstrate the efficacy of the new, pocket-friendly 100 gram Omo Fast Action.

Omo, a trusted household detergent, has continued to deliver effective results by removing stains every time it is put to wash test.

The hand washing powder has been going around the country to wash off some of Nigeria’s biggest brands.

This time, Nollywood actress and Omo Brand Ambassador, Chioma Akpotha went visiting the residents of 40 households in Ngozika Estate, Awka, Anambra State, who showed surprise as Akpotha offered at no cost, the new and best value 100 gram packs of Omo Fast Action Detergent in the latest instalment of Unilever Nigeria’s Omo Door-toDoor Campaign, assuring them of

its power against stain.

One of the beneficiaries, Emeka Moneme, expressed that, “My family and I have been using Omo for as long as I can remember. It is the most effective stain remover we have tried, and the Fast Action 100 gram pack will offer even greater value. My wife is happy that we can make extra savings and get more for less.”

Commenting on the Omo Doorto-Door Campaign, Brand Manager, Omo, Sarah Adoki described it as a unique way of connecting with existing and prospective customers, noting that Unilever Nigeria would continue to meet Nigerians’ demands for top quality and affordable consumer goods.

Adoki disclosed, “Omo is a brand that has been a part of many Nigerian homes. It is so much a part of their lives, that it is already being substituted as the name for all detergents at retail points. This tells you how much Omo has become a part of everyday life.”

She concluded, “We listen to our consumers, which is why with just N50, you can get so much detergent powder at a best value.”

African assets tumble as commodity slump hurts bonds, currencies

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FRICAN assets tumbled amid the global markets rout on concern China’s economy is slowing and as commodities fell to a 16year low.

Eight of the world’s 10 worst performing currencies as of 12:27 p.m. in London were African, with Zambia’s kwacha and South Africa’s rand falling to new lows against the dollar. Nigeria’s Eurobonds soared to record highs, while Ghana’s dollar yields rose above 10.5 percent for the first time since December.

“It’s crazy right now,” Stephen Bailey-Smith, head of Africa strategy at Standard Bank Group Ltd., said by phone from London. “Everyone’s putting on a helmet and just hoping to get through the day. African Eurobonds have been hit harder than average because they’re perceived as being more commodity-dependent.”

More than one quarter of sub-Saharan Africa’s exports go to China, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Beijing’s devaluation of the yuan last week heightened concern that slowing growth will depress prices of commodities from oil to copper, with

Brent crude falling below $45 a barrel for the first time since March 2009 on Monday.

Zambia, which derives almost 70 percent of export earnings from copper, saw its currency drop as much as 4.6 percent to 8.58 per dollar before paring losses to trade 2.1 percent weaker at 8.38 by 1:10 p.m. in the capital, Lusaka, still a record low on a closing basis. Copper tumbled 2.4 percent to $4,935 per metric ton, the lowest since July 2009.

The southern African nation’s government said it would be futile to try and stop the rout by selling dollars in the currency market.

“You cannot intervene in a currency market or the speculators will take you to the cleaners,” Deputy Finance Minister Christopher Mvunga said by phone from Lusaka. “That’s suicidal if you do that.”

Nigeria and Angola, Africa’s biggest oil producers, may be forced to abandon efforts to sustain their currencies amid the turmoil, according to London-based advisory firm Capital Economics Ltd. Forward prices for the naira widened

even as the spot price, which has been mostly flat since the start of March amid central bank curbs on trading, was unchanged at 199.05 per dollar. Sixmonth non-deliverable forwards, which indicate traders’ expectations for the interbank price in that period, jumped 2.3 percent to 242 per dollar, the highest since March 27. One-month forwards surged 3.6 percent, the most since February 10, to 214.

The Nigerian central bank’s spokesman, Ibrahim Mu’azu, didn’t answer Bloomberg’s calls to his mobile.

“Falling commodity prices have dealt a heavy blow to many currencies in sub-Saharan Africa,” Capital Economics analysts including John Ashbourne said in a note. “This general weakness comes despite central bank efforts to support ailing currencies, which we doubt will be successful.”

Yields on a $1 billion Eurobond due in August 2023 for Ghana, which exports gold and oil, climbed 32 basis points to 10.54 percent, the highest on a closing basis since December 16. Rates on Nigeria’s $500 million of debt due in July 2023 climbed 24 basis points to 8.26 percent, a record.

• From left: General Manager, Pearl Universal Impex Ltd, Mr. Nimit Jain; Director, Pearl Universal Impex Ltd, Mr. Pranshu Goel; Governor Bello; Mr. Jain; Consultant and Public Relations Officer to Pearl Universal Impex Ltd, Mr. Jibril Bokani Usman; Agronomist, Mr. Ramanathan Srinivasan; District Head of Luma, Alhaji Isa M. Damisa during the visit.

Pearl Universal Impex invests $100m in government areas of the state, each MAJOR importer of rice in the country, Pearl Universal rice cultivation with paddy processing capacity of 150, 000 tons per annum.

Impex, has invested over

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$100million into the cultivation of 7, 500 hectares of rice farm and construction of two rice mills in Niger State.

Receiving Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello at the farms, its Chairman, Mr. Pulkit Jain, said the firm would create 4, 000 direct jobs and 20, 000 indirect jobs through their out grower scheme.

Jain said the company intends to farm rice three times a year on the land. “We have some challenges, such as the bad road here. But we’re bringing $2 million of our own money to invest in the road, bringing the total of the entire

By Chikodi Okereocha

project to $100 million,” he said.

Jain explained that the company has been a major importer of rice in the country in the past, with imports of 350,000 metric tonnes of rice yearly, but chose to invest in cultivation and milling of scientifically tested, high yielding varieties of rice in order to achieve the Federal Government’s target of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.

He added that the company is also about to set up integrated rice mills with parboiling and drying facilities in Borgu and Bida local

“We will also support the out grower farmers in Niger State by providing them with technical know-how, improved seeds, fertiliser and pesticides and subsequently procure high quality paddy from them to feed 100 per cent capacity of the rice mills,” he announced.

Jain said to underline its commitment, the company last June started a pilot scheme to determine the variety of rice most suitable to the region on a 500 hectares of land in Saminaka, a community situated around Swashi Dam in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

South Africa’s state giants hobble economy

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HE state-run corporations that have shaped South Africa’s economy and been part of its every day life for nearly a century are mostly in a state of collapse, threatening to crush already weak growth.

Economists estimate that underperformance and inefficiency in state-owned firms ranging from power utility Eskom to South African Airways (SAA) to the postal service is lopping two to three percentage points off yearly growth.

“If we do all the calculations, most probably a lot of the missing growth in the economy is because state companies are not working,” said William Gumede, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand School of

Governance.

Johannesburg resident Gertrude Nduna would agree.

Her fledgling online perfume shop is facing ruin due to late deliveries by the South African Post Office, whose slogan is “We Deliver, Whatever It Takes”, but which is tipping into financial failure.

“It is ruining my business and my reputation but I cannot afford to use private couriers,” Nduna said, lamenting her reliance on a postal service that ran out of money for fuel for its delivery vans this month.

Telecommunications minister Siyabonga Cwele has called it “an aircraft in urgent need of a pilot”.

It is losing 100 million rand a

month due to poor financial management, despite a 1 billion rand ($77.34 million) loan guarantee from the state.

State-owned companies, which account for about 20 percent of all capital investment, have arguably always been a drain on state resources.

They have underpinned the economy since the 1920s when enterprises such as Eskom and the South African Iron and Steel Corporation were set up to provide infrastructure, basic materials and services after the First World War. By the late 1980s, the government directly or indirectly owned almost 40 percent of the industrial sector, greater than that in any country outside the communist bloc.

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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Osun State All Progressives Congress, Kunle Oyatomi, in this interview with ADESOJI ADENIYI, speaks on the financial situation of the state and other issues.

Oyatomi: Osun’s financial crisis not because of Aregbesola’s recklessness T ‘

HE All Progressives Congress-led government is being accused of mis-managing the state resources and civil servants are being owed salaries. What is your comment on this accusation?

It’s a pity you did not indicate who made the allegation. The only consistent adversary of the APC that has been trumpeting this fallacy is the PDP. One thing that that party has become notorious for in Osun, is its incorrigible disposition to telling lies about APC government in general and Governor Aregbesola in particular.

The salary crisis in Osun State is not as a result of financial mismanagement. Enough information to that effect is in the public domain. There was a Federal Government systemic failure, due to unprecedented corruption of the Jonathan-led PDP government in Abuja. The level of the PDP’s kleptomania in Abuja is unknown in the history of Nigeria. The effect on the whole country is also unprecedented in terms of poverty, collapse of state governments and the inability of the majority of the states to pay workers’ salaries in the country. Osun, being one of the states, with the least advantage (what people called poor) was adversely affected by this systemic failure. Therefore, to put the crisis at the doorstep of the state government is bad. Also the so-called ‘financial mismanagement’ statement is the most uncharitable and disingenuous placement of blame.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is alleging that the state government is being economical with the truth on the state of finance of Osun. How correct is this?

Nigerians are beginning to develop a culture of believing falsehood before they try to find out what the facts are. And the proponent of this terrible culture is the PDP, especially the Osun State chapter. This is what has happened in reference to the allegation you

The salary crisis in Osun State is not as a result of financial mismanagement. Enough information to that effect is in the public domain. There was a Federal Government systemic failure, due to unprecedented corruption of the Jonathan-led PDP government in Abuja

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refer to. Gullible people have already bought into the PDP lies on this subject and they have become so blinded by it that they become impervious and incapable of appreciating the voluminous facts, figures and true explanation of this situation, comprehensively presented by the Governor himself at the inauguration ceremony of the 6th State House of Assembly since June 2nd, 2015. Even as you know this, scant publicity was given to what Aregbesola said, so the public is underinformed and misinformed at the same time. This is because those who have the responsibility to publicise the truth have done so selectively, while they have given copious space to the fallacies of the PDP. Only those who decided to find out what the truth is are not deceived by this unfortunate phenomenon. We would have thought that if the PDP were so sure of its facts and figures, it would have either gone to court or petition the EFCC with whatever kind of ‘facts and figures’, it has fabricated. Like they were disgraced at the tribunal, the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court of the land over the lies and fallacies it propagated on the governorship election of August 9, 2014, exactly a year ago, the PDP and its surrogates in the civil society and the judiciary will also be disgraced in court and the EFCC. The Osun financial crisis is beyond the state because it is a national

disaster caused by the PDP, not the APC. Many of the state government’s projects have been described by the PDP as avenues to siphon resources. How can you prove the PDP wrong?

It is not our business to prove the PDP wrong. It is the business of PDP to go to court and prove that we had done something wrong.

Anyway, if any group of people wish to know the truth of this matter, all roads leading to the state of Osun are open and doors to the relevant institutions on the so-called ‘misplaced projects’, can come and find out the truth and Osun government will readily open the books for them. Our priority is not the PDP’s priority and we are not accountable to that party. We are only accountable to the good people of Osun and the governor has done fantastic job of explaining the whole situation of things to the good people of the state and majority of our people believed him. So we cannot toe the PDP’s priority list which made them failed the people, having stayed in power for 90 months without responsibility. That’s why the Osun people emphatically voted APC again in the last gubernatorial election, to renew its mandate for another four years. It is the belief and trust of the people in Aregbesola and what he is doing that gave him victory in the last election as well as the massive support they gave the APC during the presiden-

•Oyatomi tial election six months ago. However, we cannot stop those who are thrilled by the PDP lies from enjoying themselves deviously.

The recommendations of the House of Assembly’s seven-man committee on the petition of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede did not go down well with the PDP, which more or less sees it as witch hunting “a courageous judge,” fighting and defending the rights of the people of the state.

APC is not in power to please the PDP. We are not in power either to listen to stupid talks of people who need psychological help. To properly locate the mentality of the PDP in Osun, we would advise people who are interested in development in the State to watch closely how the case of this Judge, her petition and the PDP’s support for her, will turn out.

Fortunately, the EFCC has come in. The National Judicial Council has been invited.

Aregbesola has made his presentation? in response to the Judge’s allegations. The Judge has refused to defend her worthless petition before the Assembly, and the Assembly has thrown out the petition. She even thinks she is above the summons of the EFCC.

‘We challenge APC to publish Osun’s debt ‘ The Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party in Osun State, Alhaji Bola Ajao, in this interview with ADESOJI ADENIYI, speaks about the petition written by Justice Folaranmi Oloyede calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

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HE All Progressives Congress is accusing the Peoples Democratic Party of raising false alarm on the financial situation of the state?

Is it false alarm that workers in the service of Osun State government are being owed unprecedented eight months salaries? Is it false alarm that many grandiose projects in the state are in the state of abandonment? And the reason is not far from financial insolvency. Is it false alarm that Osun State government under the watch of Ogbeni Aregbesola cannot meet sundry financial obligations? It is sad that our school system has gone comatose as school children could not write first, second and third term as well as their annual promotion examinations.

Osun is among the states owing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and as such the 2015 results of our children are being threatened to be seized. Is it false alarm that right now, Osun is in Abuja with cap in hand in a gesture (akin to the IMF loan) that would further impoverish the Osun people for the next 20 years payback time. Is it false alarm that Ogbeni Aregbesola confessed, admitted and proclaimed Osun to be in a quagmire? As for the issue of sympathy with workers; for PDP whose parents, children, wives, husbands and relatives are in this category of people it can only be taken for granted that the sympathy is sincere and genuine. Like in one of the songs of the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, “The uprising in Osun is enough to bring out the worst in Osun workers”, rather than being instigated by any extraneous influence.

How true is the belief of some people that the PDP is not an alternative ?to the APCled government in the state?

This belief is neither here nor there. However, to properly situate this, it is thinkable to assume that this belief is borne out of the

frustrations, disappointment and non performance arising from the current misgovernance in Osun State. It is also fathomable to hold that this opinion can only be that of APC apologists feeling equally disenchanted, but prefers a no-option situation. In any event, this is far from it. PDP had once ruled Osun for about eight years and there was industrial harmony. There were landmark achievements such as Osun State University, a branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, here in Osogbo the Osun State capital, NTA Osogbo, NTA Ile-ife, Gold FM ILESA, Federal High Court, Osogbo etc, etc whereas for barely four years of the APC rulership of Osun State, all we get is a quagmire. The difference is clear. As there is no constitutional provision for independent candidacy yet, it can only stand to reason that for a rational political decision, the PDP is the way to go.

The APC says the figures you post as the total loan is not real and that it is done with mischief and to deliberately mislead the people. What is your reaction to this?

It is often said that you don’t cry over split milk. Mark it, nobody can take away anything from us as eminent stakeholders in the Osun project. As patriots, we have come to the public domain to intimate them of the gagartuan debt burden imposed on Osun people by the APC government in the excess of N400 billion, which includes loans from all manner of banks, bonds, Sukuk, all sorts of project finance conditionalities etc .This debt burden is nothing but an outcome of profligacy. We challenge the Aregbesola-led APC government of Osun State to publish a blow-by-blow account of Osun State’s debt profile and the exposures would commence from there.

The seven-man committee set up by the state House of Assembly to look into the petition

•Ajao

The uprising in Osun is enough to bring out the worst in Osun workers”, rather than being instigated by any extraneous influence of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede has made its recommendations, part of which include sanctioning the judge for betrayal of her oath of judicial conduct? What do you feel about this?

Like they clandestinely held on to, he who asserts must prove. They need to come to the fore with that part of the judicial oath she contravened. As a judicial officer, did she not swear on

oath to uphold, defend and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is the constitution not being trampled upon in this instance. Are they suggesting that everyone should fold his or her arm until there is a revolution or an Osun Spring. Her judicial diplomacy (misconstrued as activism) should rather be encouraged, commended and embraced as it is intended to help navigate the socio economic waters justiceably. In the public domain the following questions are begging for answers. a) why is the other political party (PDP) not represented in the panel b) in tandem with the principles of natural justice, why was Aregbesola’s response not made available to the petitioner? c) Why was Aregbesola not invited to the house to debate this matter with Justice Oloyede. However, we would advise that they rather concentrate on the message and not the messenger. Any attempt to embark on a voyage of punitive measures may lead us to another of Fela’s songs ‘when trouble sleep yanga go wake am.’

Some of the chieftains of your party are alleged to be behind violence in many parts of the state lately; are your not concerned about these allegations?

There is need for verifiable evidence and record of this. Was it the PDP that unleashed terror on the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in concert with the hapless Osun retirees protesting the non payment of their lawful entitlements on the streets of Osogbo.

Was it the PDP that harassed, beat and injured innocent newspaper readers in the Gbodofon area of Osogbo. Was it the PDP that intimidated harassed and chaced away discussants at the summit recently held in the state with the legitimate intent to proffer solutions, options and opipions to the myriad of issues confronting us in Osun state. This propaganda, I must tell you has overstayed its welcome.

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POLITICS

THE NATION WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2015

ended a long time ago. Who voted and who did ‘notThevoteelection does not matter. The constitution does not give the option on federal character. Therefore, it is mandatory ’

In this piece, Special Adviser to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Media Affairs Tahav Agerzua contends that President Muhammadu Buhari should be weary of advice that is tainted with partisanship because those behind them may not be acting in good faith.

Tsav’s, Moro’s advice to Buhari tainted by partisanship

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HE MEDIA have carried reports credited to Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and Comrade Abba Moro claiming to advise President Muhammadu Buhari not to interfere with the election petition tribunals in the country, particularly in Benue State, in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members.

The two gentlemen are both apologists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was roundly rejected by Nigerians in the last general elections.

Having lost at the polls, members of that party, including the gentlemen mentioned, have forlorn hope that they might reclaim the governorship position in the state through the back door.

It is instructive that none of them has contested the glaring fact that their party lost that election at the polls.

Their baseless hope is predicated on the quicksand that Governor Samuel Ortom might be declared unfit for the office on account of alleged irregularities that characterized his nomination in the APC, although they are not members of that party.

They had hoped that the case instituted by some aggrieved APC governorship aspirants might turn out to their advantage but that hope was lost when President Buhari spearheaded its withdrawal.

As the APC leader, the President had the responsibility to ensure the party’s cohesiveness as one united family poised to deliver the needed change.

Before his intervention, Governor Ortom had prepared a ROCKSOLID defence through his lawyers who were also equal to the task to prove that he was validly nominated having met all the requirements of his party.

A curious twist in the case was the fact that he had not been joined as a party and it was only after his swearing in that an application was made to effect that, giving rise to a contentious Constitutional matter about his immunity which the court was yet to resolve before the matter was withdrawn.

Hit by the withdrawal bombshell and the realisation that the Benue PDP governorship candidate’s case would collapse like a pack of cards

•President Buhari at the tribunal because he lacks locus, that party’s propagandists and apologists, led by the duo, have gone to town with fabrications about undue influence either from the Presidency or through pecuniary means by Governor Ortom.

Both grounds are untenable.

President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of honor for which he was elected, has neither need nor inclination to influence the Benue State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Many judgments of the Supreme Court on nomination of candidates have already sounded the death knell for the PDP case such that no

As the APC leader, the President had the responsibility to ensure the party’s cohesiveness as one united family poised to deliver the needed change

one needs to waste time seeking an intervention to save Governor Ortom.

These apologists know this.

The major objective of their current media campaign is to set the stage for a blame game that will surely ensue as the PDP’s defeat at the Benue State Governorship Election Tribunal is as inevitable as it is irrevocable.

Most people in Benue State are conversant with the divine intervention that has brought Governor Ortom to his present position.

He is most conscious of this and the fact that the God who has brought him thus far is able to preserve, protect and sustain him to be able to fulfill his calling.

The governor who has not appeared before the tribunal in person does not and has not sought to know or meet any of the judges with the aim of influencing them.

His faith in God and the judiciary do not accommodate attempts to bribe judges.

One had expected that Comrade Moro would be sober, having found time to reflect after leaving office as minister in whose time a recruitment exercise into the immigration service turned into a major tragedy.

That he would offer an explanation to Nigerians why he extorted money from applicants and organised the death of many of them.

One had expected too that he would announce whether he had purged himself of gunrunning inclinations for which he was once apprehended and charged to court.

For Alhaji Tsav, it has become common knowledge that once a Benue State Governor fails to patronize him by way of giving him an appointment or engaging his nebulous services he embarks on a smear campaign against such a person.

These antics service his selfish interests.

No wonder, the Abuja-based Benue Young Lawyers Initiative for Peace and Justice has urged President Buhari to terminate his appointment as a member of the Public Complaints Commission for partisanship and partiality.

The President may also do well to disregard the so-called advice from Comrade Moro and Alhaji Tsav because it is tainted by partisanship.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) members protesting against former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba's plans to join the party in Calabar, capital of Cross River State.

‘Buhari should implement National Conference report’

A

member of the 2014 National Conference, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the reports of the conference.

He said it will make the country better.

He told The Nation that the report will advance the change the administration is projecting, noting that the delegates to the conference were some of the brightest minds in the country.

He said: ‘’As a matter of fact, we reach all decisions taken by consensus and if your own view was not popular, believe me, people will shout you down. The issue of revenue was exhaustively tackled and most of the delegates supported the final draft. This is also tied to the allocation of special fund to the insurgency areas. ‘’It is a national fund, which must take care of areas with problem of emergency. So, any government that picks up the document for implementation will be on the pathway to success. That is why it is important for the administration to look into the reports as a matter of urgency.”

Uwazurike said the conference examined issues that bedeviled the fiscal policy of government and suggested that the Office of Chief Accountant of Federation be split into two for efficiency.

He added: ‘’We recommended the splitting of the office into two to include the Chief Accountant of the Federation and the Chief Accountant for the Federation. ‘’In fact, it is matter of nomenclature; one is actually the Minister of Justice, who sits in the executive council and works with Mr. President. The other accountant general who cannot be fired by Mr. President, his job is to protect the people in matters relating to financial regulations.’’ ‘’We also talked about the imbalance in the states composition in the country, why would we have six states in some zones and five in others, we agreed that we must level it

By Musa Odoshimokhe

up. And believe me, there are so many minorities in the North who want their own state.’’

Uwazurike maintained that the interaction among the delegates was cordial, stressing that they are still maintaining close contact.

He added: ‘’I know of one of us, who is a state governor now. We have those who are in the House and we agreed that, whatever it takes, lets still maintain that cordiality.’’

The rights activist said the government should adhere to the federal character structure in its appointment, noting that appointment made so far was lopsided. He said: ‘’If you ask me whether President Buhari has followed federal character in all the appointment made so far, I will not agree. He has not made any attempt and there is no explanation beyond that what he is doing is based on merit. ‘’But, the constitution, in its wisdom, talks about the federal character. The primary function of the government is the welfare and security of the people, whether federal or state. And in all appointments, they must follow the federal character.’’

Uwazurike said nobody in the country should be victimise for whatever role they play during the last election, adding that the constitution clearly allows freedom of interaction including the decision to cast vote for any candidate of their choice.

He stressed: ‘’The moment Buhari was declared President-elect, President Goodluck Jonathan assigned the Defence House to him as his office. In order words, he had stopped being a party man. He has become the President-elect of Nigeria. The election ended a long time ago. Who voted and who did not vote does not matter. The constitution does not give the option on federal character. Therefore, it is mandatory. The Igbo are not happy about the appointments so far.’’

Bayelsa youths back Sylva for governor

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GBAMA youths have unfolded plans to mobilise support for the governorship ambition of Chief Timpreye Sylva in Bayelsa State.

In a statement by the President of Bayelsa Youth Leaders Movement, Mr. Governor Kuku, the youths described the former governor as the best man for the job.

“We believe that Chief Timipre Sylva has experience in the public and private sectors. His deep knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of our Federal Government place him in a vantage position to provide desirable leadership for Bayelsa State,” Kuku said.

The youths promised to campaign for power shift, adding that Governor Seriake Dickson has failed to live to expectation.

Kuku extolled the qualities of the former governor, saying that he is a competent administrator.

He said: “Chief Timipre Sylva is a pride to Bayelsa State and Nigeria. He is one with extra-ordinary flames of passion for the development of the less privileged people in the society. He is an icon of democracy, justice, accountability and development.

Kuku urged traditional ruklers Specifically, they urged the traditional rulers and community

•Sylva leaders to encourage Sylva to contest for the governor.

He said: “Our ultimate goal, no matter where we stand on the political spectrum, is the uplifting of the state and the political, economic, cultural and social well-being of our people. Sylva’s emergence will foster unity and progress in Bayelsa State.”

Also, a group, the Niger Delta People’s Movement, urged the people to take their destiny in their hands by joining the vehicle of change.

The group said, if merit is the creterion, Sylva is the best man for the job.

In a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital, the group’s spokesperson, Ibifuro Tatua said: “Sylva will protect the people’s right to sustainable economic development, quality education, job creation, improved healthcare services and poverty alleviation through empowerment programmes.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

48

SHOWBIZ

Toyin Aimakhu reverts to Ms

Now Muzik signee begins with sexy photos

By Adeola Ogunlade

By Jane Kolade

I

I

T is always sad to see another Nollywood marriage bite the dust, this time in the home of Yoruba actress Toyin Aimakhu.

After a series of rumours about the eminent crash of her marriage, the Auchi, Edo state born actress, who previously used to go by the name Toyin Aimakhu –Johnson on instagram recently made an about face by deleting all her husband’s photos from her page, and reverting to her maiden name.

Saying that she is now “Miss Aimakhu”.

The actress, who was heavily pregnant at her 2013 wedding to actor Adeniyi Johnson, which held at the Oriental hotel, is yet to hear the patter of tiny feet in their home,

• Toyin Aimakhu

prior to the recent breakup rumour.

The crash of the barely two-yearold marriage seems to have set tongues wagging as fans decried

the inability of many actors to keep their marriages. The marriage had been bedeviled by rumours of Adeniyi’s philandering.

F her upcoming single is as good as her looks, then new Now Music signee, Toni Tones is an artiste to watch out for.

Cool sexy promo pictures best describe the collection the singer has just put out in anticipation of her new single, Hey Boy. In the photos, Toni Tones turns on sex appeal wearing a black long sleeve leotard while showing off her incredibly toned and banging body.

“Hey Boy is completely different from the norm and industry insiders have called it ‘sensational’ and ‘a guaranteed hit,” she said.

Rocking a flowing straight hair in the photos, Toni Tones gives pouts with sexy pink lips.

I feel like an upcoming artiste, says Sound Sultan

Censors’ Board gets police aid against illegal film operators

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HE police in Akure, Ondo State, have warned that those who flout the rules guiding the distribution and exhibition of film and video works would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The police decry threat to some officers of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in Akure by illegal film operators.

• Patricia Bala

Area Commander, ACP Dan Okoro while receiving top officials of the Board on factfinding mission over the threats to some of its operatives in Akure, expressed displeasure with the actions of some individuals who stand against federal officials carrying out their lawful duties.

The team had approached the police to intervene in the illegal activities of some movie industry stake-holders who constitute themselves into stumbling blocks to the activities of the regulatory agency.

Okoro said the police would step in to investigate the alleged threat to life and assault on operatives of the Board in Akure.

The top police officer maintained that it is unfortunate that some players in the movie industry operate without due regard to law and engage in wanton piracy and illegal peddling of unwholesome products.

This, he stressed, not only paints the industry in bad light but robs those who put in so much energy to produce such intellectual works, of the benefits of their endeavour.

On the NFVCB delegation were Cornel Agim, Director of Operations, Tunde Hassan, Deputy Director and SA to the Director General, Terry Odeh, Deputy Director and South-West Zonal Coordinator, Oyadiran Alonge, Deputy Director and Head of Centre, Ibadan, Effiong Ewang, head of legal services, Ganiyu, head of the special police unit attached to the Board and Oluremi Akanni, Head of Centre, Akure.

• Toni Tones

• Sound Sultan

M

USIC artiste Sound Sultan has revealed why he never gets tired of watching himself on TV or hearing his songs on radio, saying the habit enables him to find fault with his previous works, in order to do better.

The Naija Ninja crooner revealed this about himself during a radio interview on The Beat 97.9 FM, Ibadan, ahead of last weekend’s Star Music Trek show which held at Trans Amusement Park, Samonda.

He said to Afternoon Show host, Lolu: “I

have this permanent reset button. I never feel satisfied with my work and I feel like an upcoming artiste every time I hear my music on the radio or I see it on TV. I can never get tired of seeing myself on TV.” Sponsored by Star lager beer, the Ibadan leg of Star Musc Trek also featured performances by Chidinma, Presh, Wizkid, May D, Wande Coal, Pasuma, Young Grey C, Sunkanmi, Pepenazi, Base One, DJ Xclusive, and DJ Nana among others.

The previous weekend, MI who was among the lineup in Benin, premieres his Bullion Van video before the over 20,000 fans at the concert.

The star-studded video is the third single off his critically acclaimed album The Chairman.

The premiere, which made up part of his performance at the Star Music Trek got the crowd excited, as they got to see Choc Boi Nation stars Ice Prince and Victoria Kimani star alongside The Chairman. The video also saw the famous Monkey Suit make yet another appearance after appearing in the Monkey and Bad Belle videos.

Other stars who featured in the video are R u n t o w n , P h y n o , Stormrex, Gerrarahia viral video actor Francis Odega, Jesse Jagz, DJ Lambo, DJ Caise, Loose Kaynon, Koker and several others.

93 Days: Filmmakers narrate complexity of Ebola in new movie

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S many seem to be oblivious of how destructive Ebola disease could have been on affected communities, 93 Days, a new film by Bolanle Austen-Peters, Dotun Olakunri, Steve Gukas and Pemon Rami captures the sacrifice made by a few for the continued existence of many.

The filmmakers’ attempt to jolt the imagination of the viewers is very apt. They ask; “What happens when the most lethal and contagious disease known to man arrives in a megacity of over 20 million people?”the answer is provided in 93 Days, through the true-life story of men and women who risked their lives and made sacrifices to save others from the consequences of the outbreak of the highly dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.

Directed by Steve Gukas, and produced by Bolanle AustenPeters, Dotun Olakunri, Steve Gukas and Pemon Rami, the story demonstrates the bravery of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh and her colleagues from their encounter with the late American-Liberian, Patrick

Sawyer who was the index case of the Ebola Virus Disease.

The compelling human story of dedication, sacrifice, resilience and survival relays how the deceased ensured that the right medical procedures were in place to stop the spread of the disease in the country.

During the period, they not only prevented a national catastrophe and international contagion, but also left a permanent mark on the society and solidified their legacy as courageous Nigerians amid continuous support from the Lagos State Government, Federal Government, World Health Organisation (WHO), MSF and other organisations.

“We recognise that we have to tell our own stories... Also recognise that hardly ever are all the stars aligned to allow Nigeria and Nigerians shine on the international scene.Our role is to celebrate our heroes and Nigeria on the global scene,” said Bolanle Austen-Peters.

The filmmakers say they cast local and international cast to

ensure excellent quality and international exposure.

“Our aim is to create a feature film that will resonate with many people across the world,

• Cast of 93 Days

particularly in Nigeria and its subregion. At its core, 93 Days is a tale of common humanity and just how much we can achieve when we stand united,” they stated.

The project is a co-production between Michel Angelo Production, Bolanle Austen-Peters Production (BAP) and Native FilmWorks.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

49

The Midweek Magazine

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

British Council unveils art seasons

HE British Council has unveiled a new United Kingdom (UK)/Nigerian art season in Lagos. It unveiled the year-long cultural season, tagged: UK/Nigeria 2015–16, at a reception that hosted the creative community in its office.

The event drew a large crowd of partners, sponsors and young entrepreneurs from Nigeria and the UK, including officials of the British High Commission.

The season, which will run from next month till April next year, is meant to celebrate the various genres of arts and entertainment across in the United Kingdom and Nigeria,according to the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

Guests at the event included: Bolanle Olukanni; author and founder of Ake Arts and Book Festival, Lola Shoneyin; Kemi Lala Akindoju; Tope Oshin; ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Tunde Sotimirin.

Also present were officials of the British High Commission and the British Council including Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Simon Shercliff; British Council, Country Director, Nigeria, Connie Price and Director Arts Nigeria, British Council,Ojoma Ochai.

According to Price, UK/Nigeria 2015–16 is a major season of arts in Nigeriafocused on creating access to art, new digital work, innovation, art in public spaces and working with young people; in addition todeveloping skills and capacity across the creative industries.

Price said: “Both our countries are renowned for the breadth of our cultures and for our dynamic creative industries so it is fitting to come together to initiate new collaborations.

UK/NG 2015–16 is the biggest ever season of arts work by the British Council in Nigeria.

We aim to foster cultural exchange as well as the flow of ideas and develop stronger relationships between people, institutions and governments across Nigeria and the UK.”

By Evelyn Osagie

CELEBRATION British Council Communications Manager (Arts), Adedamola Mogaji added that the UK/ Nigeria 2015–16 will be creating new connections in arts, education, innovation, trade and investment. “UK/Nigeria 2015–16 is aimed at building new audiences, creating new collaborations and strengthening relationships between the UK and Nigeria.It is also “Programmed in association with a host of partners, it features more than 30 projects and over 80 events in art, fashion, design, theatre, dance, music, literature and film throughout Nigeria and showcases of Nigerian arts and creative industries in the UK. Partnerships between Nigerian and British artists, institutions and organisations will be at the heart of the season,” she said.

According to the Council, some of the key season events will include work created by leading British Company Candoco Dance with a cast of disabled and non-disabled dancers from Nigeria and the UK; work in the North of the country around theatre and conflict; projects designed to boost the creative industries in Abuja and Calabar; an Inter-Ministerial Conference; the return of Lagos Theatre Festival; and a residency Interwoven: Go Woman Go! by British artist Laura Aldridge in Abuja and Lagos.

Others guests at the event included DJ Sosse, who hosted the guests to a night of delightful music, KPeace, Nigerian Idol Season 5 winner, who treated the guests to his brand of Fuji infused music; Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Australia; Arnold Jackson, from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Abuja; Chioma Udeh, Founder, AFRIFF; Mrs Funmilayo Balogun, Permanent Secretary and Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, and others.

•Kelechi Amadi Obi and other guests

•Wana Wana

A vote for humanity

UNODC trains anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups officials

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HE United Nations on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has trained some officials of anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs).

According to the agency, UNODC Country Representative Koli Kuoma, represented by the Project Officer, Mrs Horsheth Virk, the training was to assist states in dealing with corruption, adding that participants would understand the international instrument that is available to them that will help them in their respective agencies to fight this scourge of corruption.

She said the training was also to ensure that people know about United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to which Nigeria is a signatory, while urging participants to make a content use of the training so that they will be able to disseminate and actualise the knowledge that is given form the training.

The training, which was funded by the European Union (EU) in Lagos, had in attendance officials from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Police, in Lagos to build integrity and reduce corruption in the country.

"We expect agencies to work together to implement the UNCAC recommendations which include better data collection systems, drafting new legislation, immunities and obstruction of justice, anti-corruption institutions, pending bills and powers of the Attorney-General," she said.

Associate Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Conference Support Section, UNODC, Sophie Meingast noted that corruption attacks the efficiency and legitimacy of the institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law and fairly applying market rules.

"On a purely financial level the effect of corruption is huge with US $ 1 trillion paid in bribes each year. The total cost of corruption is estimated as equaling more than 5 per cent of the global gross domestic product (US$ 2.6 trillion). Corruption accounts for 10 per cent of the total cost of doing business globally and some countries have lost up to 20 per cent of

POEM The Dawn is Dawn

By Nneka Nwaneri

By Olatunde Odebiyi

DONATION

DEVELOPMENT

HE Rotary Club of Featac Town has embarked on various projects to kickstart activities for its new year The club hosted its District Governor Otunba Bola Onabadejo. On his visit, its members presented some of their completed projects to the governor.

The President of Festac Town Club, Alexander Geonlebedum, said the club visited and donated gifts items to Liz Torrey Home for the Mentally Challenged located in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. The visitation and donation, which has become a yearly ritual of thee club, he said, is one of the projects embarked on by the club.

The gift items included 100 litres of premium motor spirit, disinfectants, tubers of yams, mosquito beta, medicines and antiseptics.

The home was founded by an American, the late Miss Elizabeth Torrey.

During the trip, The Nation learnt that a baby identified as Anna Paul who was spotted there was abandoned at the altar of one of the parishes of the Catholic Church in the vicinity.

Also, four computers and three printers were donated to Coker Senior Secondary School as well as cheques presented to families of deceased Rotarians to help with the upbringing of their children.

President of Festac Town Club, Alexander Geonlebedum said the gestures were borne from the club’s economic and community development service projects which costs more than N700,000.

He listed 14 projects to be embarked upon this year to include taking and treating three hole in the heart babies in India; presenting hospitals with incubators as well as peace resolution talks within their community.

Onabadejo, who expressed satisfaction with all, lauded the club for availing themselves as gifts to the world and impacting on the future of the young ones.

their internal revenues to corruption. Previous academic studies have suggested that a 1 per cent increase in the corruption level reduces the growth rate by about 0.72 per cent.

But the intangible costs of corruption are much more significant. Corruption in key rule of law institutions such as the judiciary, police and prison services reduces the legitimacy of government and consequently has an impact on the willingness of citizens to play by the rules," she said.

Assistant Director ICPC, Raheem Adesina said the corporation of the agencies in the fight against corruption was crucial, saying Nigeria needs to take practical steps to ensure that the recommendations of UNCAC are carried out because it will strengthen the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

He noted that Nigeria lacks protection in reporting crime and that this would hinder the future generations from venturing into crime related cases because protection is not there.

"Nigeria does not have protection for law enforcement officials neither does it have protection for those reporting crime. We do not have adequate laws to protect them and this is affecting cases, because these people are harassed or killed because they gave witness, this would prevent others from venturing into such. This is a serious gap which has to be filled because it prevents the fight against computation. Some of our cases are lost because we do not have laws that protect those involved," he said.

He said there was need for a law to address the embezzlement in private and pub lic sector, saying people should be held accountable if they have properties or belongings that are above their income. There should be a law to address this, he said.

He added that it is essential for the stakeholders, the anti-corruption agencies, the civil society, the government and those involved in the fight against corruption to come together and harmonise these efforts with the development partners to ensure that the UNCAC recommendations were implemented.

•Deputy British High commisioner to Nigeria, Simon Shercliff

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(To the late Ooni of Ife)

By Akinola Iwilade

January 01, 1930, A new dawn is dawn, As nature fared well, So the journey triumphed, Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, Custodian of the Source, Bridge of the Yoruba race, Bridge for national unity, Olojo Ooni, Oduduwa Ooni, Omo Adereti, Omo Ifasesin, Omo Olubuse eri Ogun, Olofin Oduduwa, Iku Baba Yeye, Iku Alase, Igbakeji Orisa, Orisa gbogbo Oba Yoruba, Oba Olori Ade, Jingbinni bi Ate Akun, The Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, Bi eba de ile, Ki eki ile, Bi eba de ona, Ki eki ero ona, Eki Obafemi Awolowo, Eki Adekunle Ajasin, Eki Adekunle Fajuyi, Eki Uncle Bola Ige, Eki gbogbo, Ife Oye, Ti ojumo ti n mo wa, Kabiyesi, Arole Oduduwa, Odigba o, The dawn is dawn!

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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The Midweek Magazine Enugu airport gets tourism information desk

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

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N furtherance of its campaign for the promotion of domestic tourism, the management of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in partnership with Viko Group of Companies Limited has opened yet another tourism information desk at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State to boost passengers easy access to information on flights time, hotels and tourists sites in the country.

Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Uwechue Mbanfeo said that the NTDC’s information desk is part of the corporation’s efforts towards promoting domestic tourism.

She recalled that the corporation’s collaboration with Viko Group of Companies Limited had earlier commissioned four information desks at airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Calabar and now Enugu. She also noted that Enugu State is one of the tourism friendly states and a major tourism hub in Nigeria.

“Enugu State is a place to visit and a destination of choice for tourists of various inclinations. Enugu and Nsukka towns present tourism infrastructure for cultural, eco-tourism, sporting, business and conferences. The following facilities are prominent; The Nike Lake Resort, Enugu Polo Amusement Park, Enugu Zoological Garden, Nsukka Zoological Garden, Hotel Presidential, Ezeagu Tour• ist Complex, Dugudu Lakes and Ajali Owa Sandy Stream among others,” she said.

She noted that “Nigeria has been solely dependent on the oil sector for many years.

Nigerians are not encouraged to visit the various attractions from North to South, East to West to experience what God Almighty has endowed Nigerians with and we want Nigerians to take their life styles seriously, knowing that one’s health depends on leisure which is part of tourism. This is one of the things that promotes longevity of life.

“Tourism is sustainable and a necessity in economy building and not a luxury,” she added.

Mrs. Mbanefo however called for greater support from both private and government to promote domestic tourism activities in Nigeria in order to move away from total dependence on oil and create jobs for the teeming youth, alleviate poverty and reduce urban migration.

•From left: Debelu II; Mgbemene; Mrs Mbanefo and Kanu at the opening ceremony

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

TOURISM CEO of Viko Group of Companies Mr. Lucky Kanu, said: “This information desk features a travel information portal for tourists with information on the aviation industry, ‘real time’ flight information can be personalized with alarm sent to customers phones as reminders of their scheduled flight time.”

He noted that the portal is opened to provide information about attractions in Nigeria that are not known to tourists. “We are promoting domestic tourism in the country in order to increase revenue generation for the

country, opening for job opportunities for our teeming unemployed youth”, he said.

Kanu expressed his willingness and determination to collaborate with the NTDC to create job opportunities and will work on the existing partnership with NTDC to open more information desks in all major airports in Nigeria. He stated that “passengers can browse for free and view tourists sites, tourists activities, products, hotels, car hire services, events and festivals. Also they can make enquiries and book excursion trips to schools and holiday sightseeing within the country at no cost at all”.

Kanu said the significance of the desk is much in terms of benefits as it would provide information on passengers’ flight with

‘Enugu State is a place to visit and a destination of choice for tourists of various inclinations. Enugu and Nsukka towns present tourism infrastructure for cultural, eco-tourism, sporting, business and conferences. The following facilities are prominent; The Nike Lake Resort, Enugu Polo Amusement Park, Enugu Zoological Garden, Nsukka Zoological Garden, Hotel Presidential, Ezeagu Tourist Complex, Dugudu Lakes and Ajali Owa Sandy Stream’

‘Your legacy, love live on’

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EW weeks ago, residents of OkeAyo/Ora and its surrounding areas in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State celebrated the life and times of Mrs. Maria Oderounke Afolabi, who died recently.

Mama’s death was like a shock to many people, family members, well wishers and others who benefited from her large heart.

Though she died at the age of 95, as a Christian faithful, they all took solace in the fact that she left indelible footprints in the minds of the people, and as such, she was celebrated for many days in death during her funeral rites.

Mrs. Afolabi was born to the family of Abatan Akande and Mrs Binuyo Agbeke Eleja Abatan of Ile Ologede Okeayo/Ora in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State in 1920. Her parents were believers in traditional religion and hence spent her early years as one of them. She did not have the opportunity of attending a formal educational institution because of her background. Mama did not know her father as he died before she was born. She was solely brought up by her mother. Mama got married to her heartthrob, the then young Mr. Paul Abodunrin Ajagbe Afolabi in 1942.

The marriage was blessed with six children (four females and two males).

Mama was a traditionalist who got converted to Christianity as soon as she got married. Despite the fact that she did not have formal educational , she learnt to read the bible. She was very active in church and attended many organised conferences in

•The late Maria Oderounke

By Jacob Afolabi

TRIBUTE several places like Egbe, Eruku and Ponyan (all in Kogi State), Omu-aran, Oke ode (Kwara State) and Kafancha in Kaduna State. She participated actively in sanctuary keeping and was a vibrant member of the women’s

Fellowship. As a result of her active participation in church activities, she was installed as the Women Leader (Iya Ijo).

Mama was very articulate in reporting the proceedings of events at meetings and conferences.

In spite of her low economic fortunes, Mama was always willing to contribute her quota to the development of the church, an activity she encouraged her children to also cherish.

Mama was an enterprising individual who believed in hard work to make a living.

When she was very young, her mates were going to serve as house maids in Lagos but she weighed the options and opted for a palm oil trade which entailed trekking from the village in Kwara State to such places as Ikirun and Iragbiji in Osun State.

She joined her mother in selling dried fish before she got married. After her marriage, it became apparent that she could no longer engage in the palm oil trade. Then, she learnt the art of pottery from Mrs. Jinatu Ajoke Dopemu (Iya Baale Adekola), which made her a well known potter. This took care of her family’s immediate needs.

When Mama became old and was no longer strong enough to continue with the pottery job, she kept herself active in petty trades which she did until the cold hands of death took her.

Mama was generous to a fault. She was always ready to assist the people in need not minding the inconvenience she might go through thereafter. Whenever Mama got to know about the needs of any individual, she

ease. “This will further create more awareness and increased traffic for the airport,” he said.

The manager of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr. Mgbemene Ijiako commended the synergy between NTDC and Viko Limited which has resulted to the establishment of the NTDC Information Desk in Enugu International Airport, Enugu State.

He said, “on behalf of the federal republic of Nigeria, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, I commission this Tourism Information Desk to the glory of God.” His Royal Highness Dr. Eze Chukwu Debelu II of Ibagwa Aka Nsukka, who was in attendance, described the information desk as a significant link for tourism promotion.

“What• Israel gets from tourism is more than what Nigeria gets from oil. But I pray as we open our eyes to grow the sector, we will harness the endowment for our good,” he noted.

It will be recalled that tourism information desks have been opened at other airports such as Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, Ikeja, General Aviation Terminal, Ikeja, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar. would render assistance sometimes in the form of loans, which she often never got back or outright gift. She assisted many in paying their children’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Joint Admission Examination Board (JAMB) fees, thereby assisting them to fulfill some level of employment requirements.

She gave raw food items to some people who needed them. Mama often gave cooked food to people that couldn’t afford any meals before going to bed, irrespective of their religions, tribes, or towns. After Juma’at prayers on Fridays, it was a common practice for Muslims to visit Mama and she was always giving them whatever she could afford in cash and kind.

“Mama is survived by her husband, beautiful children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchild, nephews and nieces.

“Mama, you lived a fulfilled life, always providing succour not just to your children, but all humanity within your reach. The qualities of honesty, faith in God, discipline, simplicity and service to mankind are the indelible prints you left behind and we are proud of these virtues.

As we walk through the journey of life, we remember you everyday of our lives as our steadfast Matriarch, who loved us more than life itself. You rose to be more than we can be. We are forever grateful for the opportunity to be called your children. Your legacy and love live on...

“We will continue to celebrate you because as the biblical passage says, “then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccle 12: 7). Those holy words give us comfort and keep the sweet memories of you ever green.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

CYAN’S ORB

Stardom calls as SOO Live The Dream makes its debut

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ALENTED young Nigerians in local communities, dreaming of becoming superstars someday, may soon have their dreams brought to reality. SOO Live The Dream is new music talent hunt project poised to offer youngsters in local communities a platform to bring their musical talents to the spotlight.

But its debutedition is targeted at giving life to the aspirations of music-oriented youths not from Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency of Edo State, you may have to wait some years,according toits organisers.

The project is named after the acronym of the brain behind it, the Honourable Member representing Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun (SOO). It is powered by Ogun and driven by Dihoo Records Ltd. Stating that the objective of SOO Live The Dreamdebutedition is to empower youths from his constituency, Ogun, a lawyer,said the project aims at identifying budding talents in singing and music production. Ata preevent media parley in Edo State,he noted that one of the promises he made to his constituency is to empower the youths, saying SOO Live The Dreamis one of the platforms that will be used to launch the careers of the next Africa’s superstars, especially form his constituency.

“One of the sectors that have really shown some inspiring growth in Nigeria is the entertainment industry, and the youths are the energy behind this sector that not only brings recognition and honour to the country but also adds a lot of value to the economy. SOO Live The Dreamis promoting gainful and socially accepted enterprise among the youth population of Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, and to jumpstart the careers of music-oriented members within the target population,” he said.

Billed for September17 to 20, he said,SOO Live The Dream Talent Huntwill be introduc-

From Cyan Frank-Hanachor

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•Hon Ogun (left) and others at the event

By Evelyn Osagie

TALENT HUNT ing an array of innovations that would give participants a chance of a lifetime to kickstart their careers. “Auditions for SOO Live The Dream™ will take place on September17and 18, by 8 a.m. During the auditions, it will be at the discretion of the judges to choose 20 candidates who will go on to the next level of selection, called the ‘performance screening’.

Unlike other talent hunt shows where the winner takes all, he added that, SOO Live The Dream wouldbe affording the 20 contestants an opportunity to attend a one-day seminar, where heavy industry players will coach them on the business of being a recording artiste, music promotions and legal frameworks free of charge.

Saddled with the task of complimenting and criticising the contestants in their search for true talent is panel of judges,comprising

Muyiwa Asenuga a.k.a Nomoreloss, Sydney Shocker, Monique D Vibes and Elcee McEdwards.

Interested participants,the organisers say, can pick up free entry forms from any of the designated collection centers, such as Ubiaja Post office; Uromi Post Office; Hon. Barr.

Sergius Ogun Secretariat, 67 Market Road, Ubiaja; 19, Mission Rd, Kuddy Ranky, Opp. 1KD Supermarket, Uromi; 52, Old Agbor Rd, After Iyere Plaza, Uromi; and Cooperative Fast Food Restaurant, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma; Auchi Poly, Esan Students Meeting Ground, Opp. Man-O-War Base and Unicafe Business Centre, Shop 1, University of Benin (UNIBEN)Shopping Center, Main Gate.

They can also download the entry form from the SOO Live The Dream website at http:// soolivethedream.com/. “The completed entry forms are to be submitted at the form collection and submission point nearest to the intending contestant. The form Collection Points are:

‘We are partnering with the artist to show we have great art works around. There will be peace no peace in the face of crises. It is also to show that we can live together in spite of the religious differences.

The theme of the exhibition is very appropriate at this time in the nation/s history’ •Osinowo

Osinowo makes case for peace

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HERE could not have been a better time than now to organise an art exhibition that promotes peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

The partnership between IBEJI Foundation, Forum for Islamic Welfare and Education, and Halal Art Gallerieo is bringing forth such an appropriate and timely platform for the promotion of peace.

And as part of its efforts at projecting Islamic advocacy for peaceful co-existence in the society through art, the three groups are organising a solo art exhibition by Ridwan Osinowo titled: Peace: the Sower and the Envoy.

The exhibition, which will open on August 30 at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, will feature exclusively over 40 Islamic art works aimed at correcting erroneous notion that Islam promotes violence, as being seemingly propagated by insurgents.

The exhibition which will run till September 6 will also witness an inter-faith forum that will feature clerics as guest speakers on the closing date. The forum is to engage speakers and audience from both Islam and Christianity and other concerned faithful.

Guests expected at the opening include

In league for better schools (III)

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

VISUAL ART Deputy Governor of Lagos State Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Chairman, Bi-Courtney Mr. B.O.B. Babalakin and royal father of the occasion is Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, among other notable members of Nigerian community as well as diplomats from various countries.

Each of artwork on display symbolizes a seed of peace; the Sower is Almighty God while individual member of the society is the envoy that is expected to walk the noble course. Titles of the individual art pieces were mostly generated from verses of the Qur’an and sayings of Prophet Muhammad which form the foundation of Islam as a religion of peace. Majority of the works were rendered in beautiful Arabic calligraphy while the rest range from abstract and stylist paintings.

Speaking at the preview session, CEO of IBEJI Foundation (Ismail Bolaji Ebiti Jamaah in Islam) Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti said arts in Nigeria is an emerging enterprise, which requires viable sponsors. He said there is

need to do more in awareness creation for the arts to grow especially in its appreciation. He noted that the greatest way to save and invest in arts is to buy collectors’ item which appreciates with time.

On the collaboration, he said: “We are partnering with the artist to show we have great art works around. There will be peace no peace in the face of crises. It is also to show that we can live together in spite of the religious differences. The theme of the exhibition is very appropriate at this time in the nation/s history.”

One unique trait of the exhibition is the introduction of aluminium composite panel (ACP), HDF board, sublimation plate and sublimation printing technique with which Osinowo experimented to execute most of the art pieces. Osinowo richly used mirror gold, silver and bronze variants of ACP together with transparent Perspex and sublimation printing technique for rendition of Arabic calligraphy in both flat and three dimensional (3D) forms. Features a combination of these media in art exhibition is unprecedented in the history of Nigerian contemporary art. Among works for display include Messenger of peace, Peaceful coexistence, Togetherness and Selflessness.

Until now, the Yaba College of Technology trained artist has participated in several secular and Islamic exhibitions in Lagos, Abuja and Saudi Arabia. Many of his masterpieces adorn public places and private homes in Nigeria and abroad.

ALWAYS correct people when they ask what part of the country I came from. At my answer, they rush in with,” Hah,you’re Edo!” I stare at them fixedly in the eye and say,” Please...! Please, no! I’m from Edo State but that doesn’t make me an Edo! I’m from the best part of the state – Edo North! I’m from Sabongidda – Ora in Owan West Local Government Area!”

They listen bemusedly at I give this brief history of my birth-place. My kids have learnt that their mum always insists on the very definite place she hails from! I’m proud of my part of the country because unlike most, I spent what after the couple of years I’ve spent on earth; I call the “best years of my life growing up!”

Unashamedly, I’m an “authentic” Ora girl with “all the trimmings!” “Unashamedly”, because in this day and age of laying claims to being progressive and modern, some have neglected to identify with their roots or even know their villages!

I had the pleasure of living in Ora for about six years as a teenager and I connected with her in a way that even years after,I’m yet to discover a place that seems as perfect as my simple village to the north of Edo State!

It’s a small village with simple-minded people who mostly live off the land, farming and hunting without the encumbrance of driving through congested, bad roads, keeping business appointments, dressing to the dictates of fashion and living the “good” life!

My people, the Ora people, are honest, hardworking, God-fearing and disciplined; carrying out their farming with dignity (not soliciting for help and walking around with woebegone expressions on their faces like the world owed them a hand-out!).We pride ourselves on our self-sufficiency bolstered by a simple life devoid of all pretensions.

I also grew up in Benin-City, in a part of the town that I love to remember because it was a small community of modest, well-built houses for “middle-class” families who lived a quiet, orderly life which seems to have disappeared with the advent of affluence as a yardstick for living.

I grew up close to the the University of Benin, Ekenwan campus, off the very busy – at least by Benin’s standard - Ekenwan road and I knew years later from living in the unplanned, overcrowded suburbs of Lagos, that it would be difficult if not impossible to recreate the same ambience as they effortlessly did in the Benin of the ‘70’s!

I’ve been back to Benin a couple of times since then and each time, my heart shook for the decaying, almost non-existent structures, abject poverty and economic hardship I noticed among the people. My “ancient” state looked slovenly, like an old hag; all mud houses off the trunk roads(I don’t want to get stoned, now!),with the infernal, rich, red - earth coating of the Benin, very “dry” season!

It hurt me so much but I knew the only change that could come to the State was one the people with little education, those who worked long and hard hours in the sun, those whose parents hadn’t any sort of influence or affluence, those who’d never believed in themselves simply because no-one had ever told them the power they possessed to effect a change - those were the ones who’d bring about a turnaround in the affairs of the State!

My wonderful, talkative, “pidgin” English speaking, intelligent people, who discovered innovation from utilizing their piddling resources to make a name for themselves in our nation, before the other parts of the country caught on to the meaning of the word, those who’d been believing for a life-line, stood under the hot sun committed to turning the tides in a dramatic and telling victory for a man who’d held the nation spell-bound by his selfless service, commitment and drive to ensure that the government who was supposed to watch over the welfare of her citizenry, toed the line of the “tethered” to ensure the masses, those of us who didn’t have “connections” and were poor, got a fair deal and lived above the poverty line!

He stood out in his professed commitment to serve and time and time again, called the government to check on its operations in the downstream oil sector. His Excellency, Adams Oshiomhole,in my humble estimation lived up to the billing of the labour leaders that represented our interests before him – those who stood eyeball to eyeball with the government of the day without a care for his personal safety or comfort,to ensure the masses they represented,got a fair deal!

Email: scionofpapyrus@gmail.com.

Tel: 08134283539

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

52

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO NEWS

•From left: Wife of former Governor, Cross River State, Mrs Onari Duke; Governor Ben Ayade; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; his wife Dolapo at the 10th Memorial Lecture for Justice P.O. Bassey in Calabar.

‘NGA’ll execute its programmes’

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ESPITE the scarcity of funds, the management of National Gallery of Art (NGA) has resolved to keep faith with the implementation of its progammes and activities, which were initiated to promote the visual art subsector.

The gallery will also push the Art Embellishment and Artist Royalty Act through at the National Assembly.

NGA’s Director-General, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, who spoke with Arts Editors in Lagos, said: “If enacted the act will make it mandatory for every public building and bridges in Nigeria to have some kind of embellishment especially art works with a percentage of the construction cost set aside for this purpose.’

He said apart from the money that would be made avalable to the artists to access through the sale of their works, to make them sit up and bring out the best in them.

“With Artist Royalty entrenched in the Act, if an artist sells his work to somebody and that person resells it, a percentage of it will go to the artist or his/her family. This is a residual income that will benefit artists just like the royalty that performing artists enjoy for the playing of their musical works in any medium,” he noted.

Three years ago, an Act aimed at promoting embellishment and artist royalty could not go beyond the first reading at the Seventh National Assembly. But, Muku assured that the NGA is hoping to reopen the bill through private sponsorship. “This is a dream we are hoping to realise with this eighth Assembly,” he added.

Leading the programmes is the proposed Abuja Biennial, which has been in the works since 2013. Also, on the priority

Ozolua Uhakheme (Assistant Editor Arts)

PROJECT list of NGA is a proposed-bill to repeal and reenact the Act that set up the agency over 20 years ago. According to Muku Abuja Biennial is an event, which the agency would continue to push for as it has a lot of economic benefits for Nigeria.

“The Abuja Biennial is a programme we are committed to, both for its economic benefits to the country generally and the artists in particular,” Muku said.

“For 14 days, renowned artists from Nigeria, Africa, the Diaspora and the world would gather in Abuja to showcase the best of the best of the their works with art collectors, art dealers and art

‘With Artist Royalty entrenched in the Act, if an artist sells his work to somebody and that person resells it, a percentage of it will go to the artist or his/her family. This is a residual income that will benefit artists just like the royalty that performing artists enjoy for the playing of their musical works in any medium’

•Muku

lovers buying these works.” Earlier scheduled for this year, the event has been rescheduled to hold in 2017.

The decision to initiate the event, he said, was informed by the experience of

NGA’s participation at similar events within Africa and overseas.

He cited the Dak’Art in Dakar, Senegal as an example of a biennale that inspired the event. “Having participated in the Dakar Biennale almost from inception, we discovered that they have been able to make good money from organising the event compared to what they spend. We are hoping to do the same by getting the private sector fully involved and other key stakeholders,” he said, adding that the biennale would start even on a low key.

Reacting to questions on how publicprivate partnership (PPP) can drive the gallery’s events, Muku said: “We are open to the input of the private sector. In fact, the coming in of Art Galleries Association of Nigeria (AGAN) was meant to promote government’s policy of publicprivate partnership (PPP) which was used to run the now rested Art Expo, Lagos.

He did not fail to s the economic viability of the Abuja Biennale, saying: “The Abuja Biennial is an art market that will bring together artists, art and culture administrators, art collectors/connoisseurs, political leaders and administrators, tourists and tourism practitioners. It is so named to identify with the world standard as every biennial is named after its host city. Abuja being the capital city of Nigeria is chosen for its economic vantage position and is keying into Mr. President’s vision of diversifying the economy.”

Other events of the gallery include Nupe Art Conference/Exhibition, Art of Friendship, Children Funfair, Children Funfair, Art Fair and National Visual Arts Competition.

He, however, blamed the inability to host the National Visual Arts Symposium and the distinguished lecture series last year on logistics, hoping that they would take place this year.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

53

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fed Govt owes PFAs N35b pension contribution, says NLC

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HE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yes terday accused the Federal Government of contravening the Pension Reforms Act by failing to remit its contributions and deductions from workers’ salaries to the various Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

The workers also took a swipe at the new Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for calling for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, saying it was unfortunate that the GMD has not read the lips of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking during the opening of the National Leadership Retreat of the Congress

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

in Calabar, its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the government has failed to remit about N35billion contributory pension to the various PFAs. He said the Congress has written to President Buhari to direct all affected ministries, agencies (MDAs) and parastatals, to immediately remit these funds without further delay to the PFAs. He said: “Comrades would recall that we were persuaded to move away from the defined benefit scheme, which was operational in the entire public service of the federation, to the new contributory scheme, in which the workers also contribute part of their monthly salary

to fund the new scheme, because of the unviable funding of the old scheme.

“Eleven years into the operation of this new scheme, and with last year’s review of the Pension Reform Act, it has only recently come to our attention that even the Federal Government is not keeping to the letters of this contributory pension scheme, as it has so far failed to remit the contributions of both itself as an employer and the deductions from employees salaries – both totalling N35 billion, to the respective PFAs.’’ He added: “We have written to President Buhari to draw his attention to this illegality, and requested him to direct the affected ministries, agencies and parastatals, to immediately remit these

funds without further delay to the respective PFAs. “During our last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja earlier this month, we received reports about a number of states being in default in the payment and remittances of workers pension deductions, and the mandatory employers’ deductions, which is referred to as matching fund.

“NEC had already mandated the Congress leadership to mobilise workers to ensure that the arrears of workers’ salaries, allowances and pensions are cleared by the affected state governments. The Federal Government cannot afford to be listed as among the debtor bodies. It has to lead this exercise by sheer force of example.”

WAMCO chief urges good nutrition for kids’ brain devt

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RIESLANDCAMPINA WAMCO Nigeria Plc has stressed the need for proper nutrition for children, especially in the first five years, to facilitate their brain development.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Colaco who spoke during the firm’s 10th Annual Nutrition Seminar with Physical growth and brain development of the Nigerian child: The challenge of our time as its theme reiterated the company’s commitment to nourishing Nigeria with quality dairy nutrition; part of which includes providing adequate up to date researched information on child nutrition.

Hesaid: “FrieslandCampina invests huge funds in research and development of quality and affordable products to cater for the various needs of the consumer. So we are confident of our support to healthcare practitioners in ensuring proper child nutrition.”

Declaring the forum open, wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, said lack of awareness by mothers on what adequate nutrition is and the significance of nutrition in the first five years of a child’s life.

She urged healthcare practitioners to “use the opportunity of the Nutrition Seminar organised by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria to fashion out new strategies, and new

perspectives alongside the sharing of current knowledge on ways to improve the nutritional well-begin of the Nigerian child.”

Renowned Professor of Pediatrics and President Pediatrics Association of Nigeria, Adebiyi Olowu; and Dr Anne Schaafsma, Senior Scientist, Global Nutrition D e v e l o p m e n t , FrieslandCampina Innovation Centre, The Netherlands were lead speakers on the occasion.

Research papers on the importance of nutrition for the optimum brain development of a child were presented. According to them, brain development and the mental health of a child are essential and should never be neglected.

The first five years of development of a child is crucial and represents the period the child significantly needs essential nutrients that support overall brain development, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the submitted.

The speakers noted that children whose diet lack important fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been found to be at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, unipolar depression and aggressive hostility. When infants are fed with the appropriate food essentials, they become smarter, faster and happier.

NNPC seeks one more year for PIB’s review

• From left: Divisional Head, Retail Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Olu Akanmu; Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mr. Joshua Nggada; the winner of N5million at the grand finale of the Lagos & Southwest Regional draw of FCMB Millionaire Promo, Mr. Nkem Egwuonwu; Executive Director, Business Development of FCMB, Mr. Adam Nuru and Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Yemisi Edun, during the cheque presentation to the winners in Lagos….yesterday.

‘Nigeria spends N16b yearly importing tomatoes’

T

HE Federal Govern ment yesterday said Nigeria spends N16 billion yearly on importing tomatoes.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, who puts the country’s domestic demand for tomatoes at 2.3 million tonnes, said the country only produces 1.8 million tonnes yearly.

Echono, who spoke at a workshop on “Development and application of post-harvest handling model for horticural Crops” in Abuja, added that 750, 000 tonnes of tomatoes is lost to post-harvest.

He said: “Horticultural

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

crops, because of their delicate nature face tremendous postharvest challenges. In Nigeria, specifically, tomatoes has the highest priorities with domestic demand of 2.3 million tonnes of fresh production annually, national production of 1.8 million tonnes, waste of over 750, 000 tonnes and an import bill of N16 billion to make up for shortfall in local production.

“Post-harvest losses have been estimated to range between five and 20 per cent for grains; 20 per cent for fish and as high as between 50 and 60 per cent for tubers, fruits and vegetables.”

Mr. Echono, who was represented by the Director, Agribusiness and Market Development, Engr. Jatto Ohiare, said N717 million is spent by the country in importing citrus.

Echono said the horticultural sector is faced with problem of processing and post-harvest handling, adding that 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost yearly.

He added that government is working with private sector to tackle post-harvest challenges.

He said: “Citrus has national production of 3.48 million tonnes, contributing about 29.71 per cent of the world’s production and 81.93

per cent of Africa’s total output. However, 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost annually as waste while an annual import of N717 million has been recorded.

“The government of Nigeria among other activities and in partnership with the private sector is tackling this through the establishment of the Staple Crop Processing Zones where horticultural crops processing plants are being built and associated clusters of producers identified and assisted with necessary inputs/infrastructures.

“The establishment of two export crop handling, preservation and conditioning centres.”

T

HE Group Managing Director, Nigerian Na tional Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said a lot of engagement is required to address all the issues in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), following the changes in the oil and gas environment.

According to him, the staterun oil firm would need at least one year to review the legislation before getting it back on track.

He said: “PIB is a serious affair, it is an essential piece of legislation but as we all know, a lot of engagement is required to address all the issues because the oil and gas environment has changed.

“There are issues of cost, with oil going down to $40 per barrel, the PIB cannot be the same.”

The bill has been pending in the National Assembly over the last seven years.

Its Group General Man-

T

• Eyes 6,000Mw this year From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

watts (Mw) of electricity by the end of the year.

Amadi, who spoke with reporters yesterday during a two-day workshop by NERC to present a template for effective project management to the electricity industry performance management officers in Abuja, said the meeting would provide the opportunity to present the performance management officials a template designed by NERC

and a consultant.

He said the template being given to the performance officers would enable them to learn how to deliver on projects in good time.

He said: “This meeting is for us to meet with our stakeholders to show them the template we have designed with consultants to enable them deliver on time and effectively.

“We want to increase our capacity. There is a possibility of ending this year with

over 6000Mw or close to that” Amadi, however, identified corruption, poor budgeting as the problems bedeviling the electricity sector.

According to him, prior to 2010, the sector suffered the problem of modelling, but from 2010 to date, it has faced management problems.

He said the problem was mostly caused by corruption, adding that inefficient budget cycle have made it difficult for effective delivery of projects within a target time frame in the sector.

ager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a statement explained the GMD spoke while chairing a special session on the proposed law at the ongoing 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja.

The session had Legal and regulatory framework of the petroleum industry in Nigeria: Review of existing Laws and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as its theme.

He described the bill as an essential legislation which must be approached with all seriousness and thoroughness.

On what the Federal Government intends to do with the draft legislation, Dr. Kachikwu said the PIB has come to stay, though it would require some time to perfect the draft.

Customs redeploys five comptrollers

NERC denies abolishing meter fixed charge HE Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commis sion (NERC), has denied abolishing fixed charge on electricity consumers’ meters in the country.

Its Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi said the fixed charge cannot be removed with executive fiat.

He said: “Fixed charge has not been removed. A regulator does not remove something by executive fiat. It has to go through a process.’’

He said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is working out a template for generating over 6,000mega-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T

HE Acting Comptrol ler-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Dr. John Atte, yesterday, approved the redeployment of five Customs comptrollers.

Its Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, in a statement listed the redeployed officers as Amade Abdul from Zone A Headquarters, to Federal Operation, Unit A; Azarema Ahmed, Modernisation, to Port Harcourt Area 1 and Madusu Sani from Customs Training College, Ikeja, to Seme border.

The others are Kuffidan

Garba, deployed from Port Harcourt Area 1 to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters, and Ndalati Garba, from Seme to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters.

The statement said the redeployment was part of the new resolve to tighten border security and pursue vigorously the achievement of this year’s revenue target.

Atte, the statement added, advised the officers to take over their new positions immediately and re-sharpen the service apparatus for maximum productivity

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-08-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-08-15

Equities lose N113b as FBN Holdings, others make premium board

T

HE market value of quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) fell below its psychological point of N10 trillion to N9.90 trillion yesterday, bringing total loss in the past two days to N341 billion. The sustained recession took the shine off the much-expected launching of the premium board and the associated premium index of the NSE. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the NSE slumped to N9.90 trillion from its opening value of N10.013 trillion, underlining the widespread losses that saw more than five losses against every gain.

The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based benchmark index at the stock market, declined by 1.39 per cent from 29,214.13 points to close at 28,807.00 points.

The sustained depression further worsened the nega-

tive simple average year-todate return to -16.88 per cent, or inflation-adjusted return of -26.08 per cent. There were 33 losers against six gainers. All other group indices, with the exception of the insurance and alternative securities market’s indices, also closed in the negative. The newly introduced NSE Premium Board Index dropped by 0.74 per cent.

Three companies- FBN Holdings Plc, Dangote Cement and Zenith Bank were yesterday moved to the newly created premium board, a platform for companies with large capitalization, good corporate governance and liquidity.

Chief executive officer, FBN Holdings Plc, Mallam Bello Maccido, said the listing of FBN Holdings among the maiden stocks on the premium board underscored the historic adherence of the group to high corporate gov-

ernance standards.

He said FBN Holdings had gone through the stringent requirements for the qualification for the premium board, adding that the recognition would hopefully impact on the share price of the group and enhance shareholders’ returns.

Maccido reiterated the commitment of the financial services holding group to upholding highest corporate governance as enshrined in various regulatory codes with a view to enhancing overall investors’ perception and development of the Nigerian market.

Group managing director, Zenith Bank, Mr. Peter Amangbo, said the bank was proud to be part of the historic launching of the premium board, assuring that Zenith Bank would continue to strive to meet post-listing requirements.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-08-15

THE N

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

GTBank CEO seeks 10 per cent devaluation of naira

N

IGERIA needs to devalue the naira as falling oil prices and the global markets takes toll on the stability of exchange rate, Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Segun Agbaje, has said.

“There’s only one way the currency can go. As a country, we have to make the difficult decision. At the current oil price and with what’s happening in the world, we’ll have to deal with some measure of devaluation.

“A devaluation of about 10 percent against the dollar would be enough for the naira to “settle,” he told Bloomberg.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)introduced curbs on currency trading after the naira fell to a record low of 206.32 per dollar on

Fortis MFB gets national licence

T

By Collins Nweze

February 12. That stabilised the unit at an average of N198.94 since the start of March and left it overvalued, according to investors including Ashmore Group Plc and Aberdeen Asset Management Plc. In June, the regulator also stopped importers of 41 items including furniture and textiles from accessing official foreign-exchange markets in a further bid to prop up the currency.

Agbaje said local bond yields may rise by 100 to 200 basis points as the government boosts its borrowing to make up for a shortfall in oil revenues, which make up about two-thirds of state revenue. He didn’t specify a time fame for the potential market movements. Av-

•Agbaje

erage naira government bond yields were 15.7 per cent on Aug. 24, the highest among 31 emerging markets tracked by Bloomberg.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted national microfinance banking license to Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc. Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc is considered the largest microfinance bank in Abuja and the Northcentral Region.

Its Chairman Mr. Felix Achibiri in a statement, said the bank is poised to replicate its successes nationwide having dominated the microfinance landscape in Abuja and the Northcentral states of the country for a while.

“With a national banking license Fortis will be driving the CBN’s financial inclusion programme across the country by providing financial services to all the states of the federation.

“Fortis’ success story over the years will be replicated nationwide and we will also through the use of technology bring banking to the door step of all Nigerians particularly those at the

From Nduka Chiejina

base of the economic pyramid who are either underserved, underbanked or out rightly disenfranchised by the conventional financial service providers,” he said.

To achieve this new national objective, Achibiri said the bank has partnered and deepened relationships with multilateral institutions and companies, government agencies and non-governmental organisations that share its vision.

He said: “In order to deepen penetration and bring flexible solutions to our customers, we kept fresh our relationships with FMO of Netherlands, Symbiotics of South Africa, African Development Bank, Bank of Industry, Triodos Bank – Netherlands, USAID, TOTAL E&P, Shelter Afrique, Equator Capital, Cyrano Capital and a host of others still at different stages of discussions and engagements.”

Fowler pledges partnership to grow tax revenue

T

HE Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, has pledged to partner with relevant stakeholders to boost tax revenue and improve tax administration.

A statement endorsed by Assistant Director, Communications & Servicom Department, Nneka Ifekwuna, expalined that the chair spoke when he took over the mantle of leadership from the outgoing Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Sunday Ogungbesan at the Revenue House, Abuja.

“The new change of leadership at FIRS is predicated on the resolve of the Presidency to ensure maximum increase in tax revenue as the era of absolute dependence on oil proceeds was over,” Fowler was quoted to have said.

•Acting FIRS chief takes seat From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

He also said the FIRS must take the lead in tax revenue collection and be ready to share information and ideas with the States Board of Internal Revenue (SBIR) in order to take tax administration in the country to another level.

This, he said cannot be achieved without a robust partnership and collaboration of all stakeholders within and outside the system, stressing that they must build a synergy for a healthy exchange of information between FIRS and SBIR. He said the antidote to the economic illness was for the FIRS to raise revenue accruing from tax collection to “record highs” so that government programmes

would be well funded.

This synergy he added “will produce the best form of revenue generation in the FIRS and the states in general as well as ensuring that over dependency on oil revenue becomes a thing of the past.”

The new FIRS chief assured that his vision and mission “is neither to alter the existing management organogram structure in FIRS nor lay-off management staff from their duty posts, but to take FIRS as well as the nation’s tax system to an enviable height.”

Before handing over to Fowler, Ogungbesan had solicited cooperation as the FIRS shared a similar vision with Fowler.

Ogungbesan said: “The Chairman needs the support of all staff to succeed in the business of raising revenue and we must not loss sight to satisfy the government.’’

•Fowler (right) with Ogungbesan during the hand over in Abuja... yeserday.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.2457 1.3572 0.7762 1.1739

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2393 1.3572 0.7637 1.1739

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

FIDELITYBK

1.20

1.26

0.06

COSTAIN

0.57

0.59

0.02

FIDSON

3.21

3.30

0.09

STANBIC

18.00

18.20

0.20

LEARNAFRCA

0.99

1.00

0.01

ACCESS

4.47

4.50

0.03

LOSERS AS AT 25-08-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

CAVERTON PAINTCOM OANDO INTBREW JBERGER PZ NB ETRANZACT IKEJAHOTEL BERGER DANGFLOUR PORTPAINT

3.99 1.20 10.12 18.45 43.31 26.93 118.00 3.25 2.85 8.77 2.90 3.94

C/PRICE 3.61 1.14 9.90 17.53 41.15 25.59 112.12 3.09 2.71 8.34 2.76 3.75

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE -0.38 --0.06 -0.52 -0.92 -2.16 -1.34 -5.88 0.16 -0.14 -0.43 -0.14 -0.19

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 25-08-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

57

NEWS Assembly begins probe of Wamakko

Protesters submit petition to Ban Ki-Moon

T

HE Sokoto State House of Assembly said yesterday that its probe of the state’s finances was to ensure that due process was followed in the utilisation of funds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly had directed the government to furnish it with details of finances and expenditure from January to August.

The probe will cover the tenure of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who handed over to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on May 29.

Alhaji Malami Galadanchi, who chairs the Committee on Public Accounts, told NAN that the probe “is to examine expenditures, state of revenues, financial statements and the beneficiaries of such.

“Our aim is to ensure that the actualisation and principles of the expenditures being utilised by the executive are in the right order, and to make sure that due process is complied with.”

Police retirees protest PENCOM, housing funds From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

S

CORES of police retirees under the aegis of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON), yesterday protested the perceived injustice meted out to them by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), National Housing Fund and National Health Insurance Scheme.

The retired officers, who marched on the major streets of Ilorin, started the protest at the Government Day Secondary School (GSS) roundabout and moved to PENCOM and National Housing Funds offices, House of Assembly, Government House and the police headquarters.

The placard-carrying retirees urged the authorities to “either redress this injustice or refund the balance of our money being managed by pension fund administrators.”

APC adopts candidate From James Azania, Lokoja

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Kogi Central said yesterday that it had adopted Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar as its candidate for the November 21 governorship election.

Sanusi, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), was reportedly adopted at a meeting in Okene last Friday. It was presided over

by Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare.

His adoption, members of the caucus said, was based on his grassroots mobilisation disposition and his moral and financial commitment to the APC at the zonal and state chapters.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

C

•National President, Association of Waterwell Drilling Reg Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Mr Michael Ade (second left) greeting Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Water Resources Mr Gabriel Oguntola after a meeting in Ibadan. With them are AWDROP’s National Vice President, Mr Dayo Opeyemi (left) and General Manager, Oyo Rural Water Supply Agency. Dr Taiwo Tahiru.

Six dead in suicide bombers’ attacks in Damaturu T WO teenage suicide bombers yesterday killed six persons, including themselves, at two locations in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

The first attack, which occurred at the entrance of the Damaturu Central Terminus, was triggered off by a girl believed to be about 14 years and the second at the Pompomari axis of the Damaturu Ring-road Bypass, involving a boy of about the same age.

The first attack claimed five, including the bomber, while in the second, according to an eyewitness, the suicide bomber detonated the bomb after he escaped from passengers, who wanted to hand him over to the military on the suspicion that he was carrying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Mani Gambo, a local security personnel at the terminus, said the female suicide bomber ran close to a vehicle carrying passengers before deto-

•22 injured •Gaidam sad

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

nating the IEDs. He said: “We saw the girl.

As I was about to screen her, she ran away towards a car, which was coming out of the terminus. Then I heard a loud bang. I was thrown on the ground. It was later I saw the mutilated body of the girl.”

Musa Abdul, who was in the same tricycle with the boy-suicide bomber, said: “I saw the boy when he boarded our keke NAPEP. I was not comfortable with him.

“I asked him where he was going and he answered that he was going to Tasha (terminus). I asked him what he wanted to do at the place or where he was travelling to, because he did not carry bag. But he couldn’t give me a satisfacto-

ry answer. I then held him and surprisingly, I discovered he was carrying a bomb around his waist. I then held his two hands and told the other passengers to alight.

“I told the driver of the keke NAPEP to make a U-turn so that we could go to the nearest military checkpoint. But the boy escaped and started running. Then we heard a loud bang. That was how he killed himself.”

Police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin confirmed the incidents.

He said they were working to fish out the sponsors of suicide attacks.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Musa Idi Jidawa, also confirmed the death of six peo-

ple, including the suicide bombers, saying about 22 persons were injured.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam expressed sadness at the attacks.

He sympathised with the deceased’s families.

In a statement by Abdullahi Bego, his spokesman, the governor said: “I’m heartbroken. I mourn with the families of the victims of these callous, senseless and condemnable attacks.”

He prayed Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant repose to the souls of the dead and a quick recovery to the injured.

The statement said: “The governor has directed that the injured be treated free at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital.

“In line with the governor’s directive, SEMA officials are supporting the victims.

“Governor Gaidam urges people to continue in the tradition of vigilance, prayer and support to security agencies as they move to rid our state of violence.”

8,700 troops to battle Boko Haram

M

EMBER-countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) are to deploy 8,700 troops in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

The Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in statement in Abuja yesterday that the decision arose from a meeting of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Ndjamena, Chad, recently to finalise arrangements for the deployment.

He said resolutions from the meeting reinforced President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to his security

chiefs to end the insurgency in three months.

The statement said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, led other defence chiefs to the meeting aimed at eliminating insurgency in the region.

“Olonisakin visited Chad Republic where he joined other regional military chiefs to deliberate on an agreement to accelerate the deployment of the 8,700 strong force.

“The Chiefs of Defence Staff from the LCBC member-countries met in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad Republic and finalised

details of deployment of the joint force.

“Gen. Olonisakin has been working round the clock towards actualising the presidential directive to end Boko Haram terrorism within three months.”

It said the meeting discussed modalities for the deployment of joint force in two command posts in Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Officers seconded to the MNJTF in N’Djamena were ordered to report to their post, as operation at the Force Headquarters has begun.

•Col. Abubakar

“Present at the meeting were the Chiefs of Defence Staff from the LCBC membercountries, MNJTF Commander and other senior military delegates,” the statement said.

LCBC member-countries are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

14 women die in boat mishaps in Niger

B

OAT disasters have claimed the lives of 14 women in two villages in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

A family at Dan Gunu village lost 11 women in a boat mishap on River Sarkin Pawa. Three others from Guni village died in a similar accident on River Guni.

The disasters reportedly occurred when the villagers

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

were returning from farm on Monday about 6pm.

Sources said the women had gone to harvest groundnuts in company of two men.

The Nation learnt that there was a windy shower, which over-powered the men paddling the two boats. The men survived the accident.

Some of the victims were identified as Munau, Wara, Fiddausi, Zainab, Najaatu, Ikilima, Fatima, Ladidi, Balaraba and Hafsat.

It was learnt that while the villagers at Dan–Gunu village were mourning their beloved ones, a report of a similar accident came from Guni, a neighbouring village, which said that three people died in a boat mishap.

The lawmaker repre-

senting Niger East, Senator David Umaru, in a condolence message to the affected villages, described the mishaps as shocking and unfortunate.

He decried lack of good roads and bridges in the senatorial district, saying: “This has shown the need for the immediate take-off of the Hydro-electric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC).”

ONCERNED citizens of Plateau State have taken the opportunity of the visit of the Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, to protest killings in the state.

The protest, held in Abuja, was targeted at drawing the attention of the UN secretary-general to the alleged killings of indigenes by Fulani herdsmen, especially the carnage in Barkin Ladi, which led to the death of over 20 Berom.

The protesters, who were at the Unity Gate and Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja where Ki-Moon was lodged, got his attention and presented their petition to him in the presence of foreign reporters, who were in the entourage of the UN secretary-general.

They displayed banners, which contained thoughtprovoking inscriptions, such as “How many more do we have to bury?” The banners also bore the photographs of the victims.

A copy of the petition, which was later made available to reporters, was read by the group’s spokesperson, Mrs. Kate Pam: “We bring you greetings from the traumatised men, women and children of Plateau State. Permit me, sir, to give a summary of the nightmare our lives have become in the last decade.

‘Kogi awaiting Audu’s return’ From James Azania, Lokoja

A

N organisation, the Kogi State Liberation Group (KSLG), has said the aspiration of the people to have Prince Audu Abubakar as their next governor has the backing of 325,990 of its members, cutting across the three senatorial districts.

At a news conference organised by the body in Lokoja yesterday, its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Odaudu, said their resolve to support the ex-governor was borne out of their conviction that he would reduce poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness.

He said the doggedness and courage exhibited by Audu contributed to the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) ascendancy to power at the centre.

Audu, Odaudu said, had a strategic plan to liberate Kogi from comatose and transform it into a commercial hub.

He added: “Our candidate is determined to ensure that the welfare of the civil servants is prioritised.

“By our findings, the state is known to be rich in human and natural resources, but is the poorest in terms of maximisation and utilisation of the abundant potential.

“It bleeds our heart to see a state so rich in mineral resources, yet remains underdeveloped.

“Audu is a man whose legacies remain unbeaten since he left Lugard House in 2003.”

58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

NEWS •Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Zone 6 Tunde Ogunsakin (third right) and Air Commodore O.R. Philip (fourth right) who led the management team of the Nigeria Airforce 207 Mobility Group to Ogunsakin’s office in Calabar …yesterday.

With them are members of their teams.

19 Defence, Service chiefs to face arms deals panel Continued from page 4

Marshal Adesola Amosu, raised some issues but he was overruled.”

Responding to a question, a military source said: “Some former ministers of defence interfered with arms purchase but a few others were sidelined.

The immediate past Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, complained at a point to Jonathan that he was not fully in the picture of things.”

It was also learnt that the scope of the assignment might involve international collaboration following the need to question five Israelis.

Another source added: “These Israelis were central to the facilitation of the purchase of the arms for the military in any part of the world. But they left Nigeria before the general election when the signs were clear that President Buhari was likely to win the poll.

“They came for legitimate arms business but they got entrenched in the Nigerian system.

They are all well-known in the nation’s security network. The panel may invite them for interaction.

“Besides the Israelis, some South Africans and Russians will be contacted. We know their embassies will cooperate with the panel.”

As at press time, the panel might look into the list of the administrations of five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers and eight former Ministers of Defence.

The Chiefs of Defence Staff from 2007 to 2015 are: the late Lt.-Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi (2007-2008); Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike(2008-2010); Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (20102012); Admiral Ola Ibrahim(2012-2014); and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh(2014-2015).

As for the Nigerian Army, those to be under searchlight are Lt.-Gen. Luka Yusuf (20072008), Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman

Dambazzau (2008-2010), Lt.Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika(20102014) and Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (January 2014-July 2015).

In the Nigerian Navy, the investigation will cover the following past Chiefs of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral G.T. Adekeye(2005-2008); Vice Admiral I.I. Ibrahim(2008-2010); Vice Admiral O.S. Ibrahim(2010-2012); Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba(2012-2013); and Vice Admiral U.O. Jibrin(2013-2015).

For the Air Force, the scope of the probe will affect the tenures of the following officers and their teams. They include Air Marshal Paul Dike(2006-2008); Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin(2008-2010); Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar(2010-2012); Air Marshal Alex Badeh(2012-2014) and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu(20142015).

The National Security Advisers from 2007 to 2014 are: Gen. Aliyu Gusau; the late Gen. Owoye Azazi; Gen. Sarki Mukhtar; and Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The Ministers of Defence within the time frame of the panel are: Yayale Ahmed(20072008); Shettima Mustapha(20982009); Godwin Abbe(20092010); Adetokunbo Kayode(2010-2011); Bello Haliru Mohammed(2011-2012); Erelu Olusola Obada(2012-2013) ; Gen. Aliyu Gusau (2013-2015) and Musiliu Obanikoro(20122014).

Police to enforce withdrawal of security from VIPs Continued from page 4

quired support and encouragement to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.

The chairman warned that the commission would not hesitate to discipline any police officer who flouts the presidential directive by hanging onto these VIPs’ for pecuniary gains.

(NAN)

‘Diaspora Nigerians remitted $20b in 2014’ Continued from page 4

social intervention schemes to make no fewer than 110 million extremely poor Nigerians to participate in the new Nigeria.

According to him, the experience and exposure of Nigerians abroad would be tapped to building a thriving economy as done by other nations.

He pointed out that India,

Japan, China and Korea attained global status following the contributions of their nationals abroad.

The President said the administration was convinced that the nationals abroad could participate in the change agenda with their 15 million population with about four million in U.S. and Canada and about one million in London.

He said: “Besides, the fi-

nancial remittances from Nigerians abroad have well reached an estimate of over $20 billion in 2014.

“With the potential of such huge populations abroad and attendant financial muscle, no government can actually totally ignore such persons.”

He said the place to start was to develop a reliable data of Nigerian citizens abroad using the Embassies and missions.

The President said the proposed Diaspora Commission if signed into law would open a new chapter and create the platform for engaging Nigerians abroad and allowing their expertise to permeate the country.

Urging Nigerians in diaspora to be good ambassadors in their host countries, he assured that the government would ensure that their rights were protected.

‘No federal lawmaker should earn more than N1m’ Continued from page 4

huge disappointment with the way Nigeria’s oil industry has been run since he left office as Petroleum Minister and Military Head of State.

He said he was convinced that if the development of the country’s domestic refining capacity and petroleum products distribution network had kept pace with national demand, there would not have been any need for the huge subsidies being paid to importers.

“They allowed the infrastructure to collapse so that their cronies can steal by bringing in refined products from overseas,” Buhari said.

The President urged the chairman and members of the RMAFC, who availed him of their view on the vexed issued of petroleum subsidy payments, to go “back to the drawing board” and come up with more humane proposals to rescue ordinary Nigerians from the “wicked manipulation” of the country’s oil industry by corrupt operators.

Buhari also warned that severe sanctions will be visited on any individual or or-

ganisation that violates the directive on the payment of all national revenue into the Federation Account.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other MDAs which previously relied on the laws establishing them to retain all or part of revenues collected by them, did so illegally and must now comply with the Constitution by paying all revenues to the Federation Account.

Buhari also chided the RMAFC for approving excessive remunerations for some political office holders and urged the commission to seek a proper interpretation of its powers and address the public outcry against the unreasonably high payments.

Mbam disowned media reports of the salaries and remuneration running into several millions of naira being paid to National Assembly members.

According to some of the reports, the federal lawmakers are earning as much as N4 million every month.

But Mbam said that no

member of the National Assembly should receive more than N1 million as salary going by the calculations of the Commission which have been published on its website.

He said “We have done a lot in informing the general public on the true position of the renumeration packages.

“First and foremost, it is on our website. It is clearly written there and we have had course to publish these renumeration packages severally in many national dailies.

“We have also had interactions with press at different fora where we explained what the commission had determined.

“What we read on the pages of newspapers is not known to the Commission because there is no member of the National Assembly, based on what we determined, that should earn up to N1million per month.

“We are currently reviewing the subsisting renumeration packages and it is going to reflect the socio-economic realities of today.”

He said the foremost challenge of the Commission is

improper funding and that it deserves financial autonomy so that it can benefit from the advantage of federal government’s first line charge.

Mbam also demanded for powers of enforcement and sanction for the RMAFC to enable it fully implement its mandate to fix the salaries and emoluments of allý elected and appointed public officials, including in the judiciary, at all tiers of government.

He said: “One of the challenges is that the commission is not properly funded and we are saying that we expect that the Commission should be one of the agencies of government that should have financial autonomy. The best way to do that is to include it as one of the agencies that will benefit from first line charge.

“The second is to give the Commission the power of enforcement. They should review the Act establishing the Commission so that it can have power of enforcement and sanctions on any of the defaulting Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”

UN to adopt SDGs Sept 21 Continued from page 4

poverty eradication, climate change issues and their impact, human resource development, provision of quality infrastructure and social amenities.

Others are provision of sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, inclusive education, achieve gender equality and empower all and women girls as well as ensuring healthy lives for all at all ages.

Mrs. Al-Zubair said the SDGs would also seek to promote save and habitable environments, provision of

“affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’’.

The SDGs, she added, would also seek to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition through agriculture and reduce inequality within and among countries.

The aide said other goals would promote peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice, combat desertification and halt biodiversity.

“Furthermore, the SDGs will strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the local partnership for sustainable development,’’ said Mrs. Al-Zubair

She also set a development agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari, with the management and development of human resources as a priority.

Al-Zubair explained that the development of human resources, most especially women and girls, was key to driving national development goals.

She also recommended the strengthening of “inclusive governance’’ and better a clarity of the funding and expenditure of the three tiers as adopted by the president to provide good governance.

Besides, Al-Zubair advised

Buhari to provide basic functional social amenities and infrastructure to enhance the lives of citizens.

The aide also urged the president to curb corruption by plugging all the “leaking pipes’’ and improve security.

According to her, Nigeria has crisis in the education sector in spite of the huge investments made by the government and development partners over years.

While attributing the challenge to lack of genuine commitment, facilities and infrastructure, she called for a new approach to achieve desirable results.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

59

FOREIGN NEWS

Asia’s richest man loses $13b in China crash

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INCE Chinese stocks peaked in June, shares of Wang Jinalin's publicly traded companies have tumbled in Hong Kong and Shenzhen -eroding his personal wealth.

He lost a whopping $3.6 billion in just the past two trading sessions -- roughly a third of his total losses this summer.

Wanda Dalian Commercial Properties plummeted 38% since June 12, slashing nearly $9 billion off the value of Wang's stake;

Wanda Cinema Line fell by 36%, for a loss of $4.2 billion; and Wanda Hotel Development shares plunged by 49%, wiping another $60 million away, according to an analysis of stock exchange data and filings by CNNMoney.

Wang recently overtook Hong Kong billionaire Li KaShing as Asia's richest man, according to a ranking released last week by the Hurun Report. The report estimated Wang was worth $42.6 billion.

Even before the crash, Wanda Cinema was in hot water, experiencing volatile price swings and even a trading suspension for about two months. The cinema and commercial property firms both debuted on the market in the past year, boosting Wang's wealth.

Wang spent 16 years as a soldier before achieving billionaire status by amassing an empire as founder of the Dalian Wanda Group, a conglomerate that operates in real estate and entertainment.

France train shooting: Attack 'was well prepared'

• Jianlin

Europe must open up to migrants-UN expert

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UROPEAN leaders should do more to open up and help migrants instead of using language that dismisses their rights, a UN expert on migrant rights has said.

Talking about “marauders” and “swarms” was an unsubtle way of dismissing their legitimacy, said Francois Crepeau.

European countries should open official channels and their labour markets to migrants because building fences would not stop them coming, he said.

On Monday, a record number of refugees crossed into Hungary from Serbia.

A total of 2,093 migrants, the highest ever daily total, crossed the border near the town of Roszke, a police state-

ment quoted by AFP news agency said.

Hungary, a European Union member, is erecting a fence to keep out the migrants, with 110km (68 miles) of the 175km fence now in place.

Many of those reaching Hungary are Syrians and Afghans who cross from Turkey to Greece and then make their way northwards.

Lesvos is one of the Greek islands that has been overwhelmed by those arriving, often packed on to flimsy vessels.

Greece’s coastguard said on Monday that it had recovered the bodies of two migrants who drowned when their boat sank, while another five were still missing.

More than 33,000 people have landed on Lesvos this month and face “squalid” conditions because of shortages, Amnesty International has said.

Mr Crepeau, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, called on the EU to create a “coherent and comprehensive migration policy”, making “mobility its central asset”.

“Let’s not pretend that what the EU and its member states are doing is working. Migration is here to stay,” he said in a statement.

“Building fences, using tear gas and other forms of violence against migrants and asylum seekers, detention, withholding access to basics

such as shelter, food or water and using threatening language or hateful speech will not stop migrants from coming, or trying to come, to Europe.”

There was also an urgent need to create a resettlement programme for 1.5m to 2m refugees, like Syrians and Eritreans, over the next five years, he added.

The UN expert urged Europe to regain control of its borders from the smugglers by offering official channels to enter Europe.

“Opening up the regular labour markets through smart visas allowing people to come to look for work and incentivise them to return if they don’t find the job in ques-

tion would allow for a much better regulated and controlled official labour market,” he said.

He cautioned that such measures should be supported with sanctions against employers who exploit migrants in “underground labour markets” - a proposal being considered in England and Wales.

However, Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU’s commissioner for migrants, has promised a war against smugglers and vowed that migrants who travel to EU countries for economic reasons will be returned.

“The ones who are in need of international protection, they will have it. It is our duty,” he told the BBC.

Ben Carson blasts Black Lives Matter

• Carson

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ETIRED black neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson and Repulican Party Presidental aspitant in next year’s American race has berated the notion of disrupt-

ing the speeches of Bernie Sanders in the run up to the race.

The idea that disrupting and protesting Bernie Sanders speeches will change what is wrong in America is lunacy," he, wrote in an op-ed published by USA Today. "The 'BlackLivesMatter' movement is focused on the wrong targets, to the detriment of blacks who would like to see real change and to the benefit of its powerful white liberal funders using the attacks on Sanders for political purposes that mean nothing for the problems that face our community."

"The notion that some lives might matter less than others is meant to enrage," the retired neurosurgeon continued.

"That anger is distracting us from what matters most. We're right to be angry, but we have to stay smart."

Carson's critique comes on the heels of several tense confrontations between Black Lives Matter activists and Democratic candidates, including Sanders, ex-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Earlier this month, Black Lives Matter activists disrupted Sanders' speech in Seattle.

Two days later, they planned to disrupt Clinton's speech in Keene, N.H., but were stopped by the Secret Service. Instead, they met privately with Clinton after the event, press-

ing her about how she plans to address the tensions between white police officers and black communities - and asked what she would do to change American "hearts and minds" about black lives.

If Carson's response to Black Lives Matter and his position on the root of race inequity in the job market sounds familiar, it's because Sanders has been beating a similar drum for weeks at his campaign events, where he has repeatedly stressed the importance of economic equality in minority communities.

"I have talked over and over and over again that 51 percent of African-American kids are unemployed or underemployed," Sanders told report-

ers in New Hampshire on Monday. "You think that's an important issue? I do."

In the op-ed, Carson recalled his experience growing up in Detroit: I grew up in neighbourhoods most Americans were told to never drive through. I saw bullets, drugs and death in the same places I played tag and ball with my friends. Both of my older cousins died on the streets where I lived. I thought that was my destiny. But my mother didn't. She changed all of that. She saved my brother and me from being killed on those streets with nothing but a library card. My mother knew what the problems were and she shielded me and my brother from them.

Saudi Arabia executes 175 people in a year - Amnesty

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T least 175 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia in the past year after unfair trials lacking basic safeguards, Amnesty International says.

A new report alleges the Gulf kingdom's "faulty justice system facilitates judicial executions on a mass scale".

In many cases, it adds, defendants are denied access to a lawyer and in some they are convicted on the basis of "confessions" obtained under torture.

Those killed include juvenile offenders and people with mental disabilities.

Saudi Arabia adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, and applies the death penalty to a number of crimes not considered the "most serious" under international norms. They include drug offences, apostasy, heresy and witchcraft.

Amnesty's report says that

between January 1985 and June 2015, at least 2,208 people were executed in Saudi Arabia.

Almost half of those put to death were foreign nationals, many of whom the human rights group says were denied adequate translation assistance at trial and were made to sign documents - including confessions - which they did not understand.

In the first six months of 2015 at least 102 people were executed - compared with 90 in all of 2014 - an average of more than one execution every two days. Most were beheaded, but some were shot by firing squad.

The report says that Saudi Arabia's Sharia-based justice system lacks a criminal code, leaving definitions of crimes and punishments vague and widely open to interpretation.

Judges are also given the power to use their discretion in sentencing, "leading to vast discrepancies and in some

cases arbitrary rulings", it adds.

The report also alleges that death sentences are often imposed after "unfair and summary proceedings which are sometimes held in secret".

In one case from August 2014, two sets of brothers from

the same extended family were executed after being convicted of receiving large quantities of hashish.

Amnesty says the men complained that they had been tortured during interrogation, including with beatings and sleep deprivation, in order to

extract false confessions.

"Sentencing hundreds of people to death after deeply flawed legal proceedings is utterly shameful," Said Boumedouha, acting director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa programme, said in a statement.

Ukrainian filmmaker bags 20 years in Russian court

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HE court in the southern city of Rostov-onDon said Oleg Sentsov had set up a terror cell in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed last year, and was plotting attacks. He will serve time in a maximum-security prison.

Such lengthy prison sentences are rare in Russia even for politically tainted trials.

The 39-year-old Crimean native was tried along with Crimean activist Alexander Kolchenko, who was sen-

tenced to 10 years in prison.

As the judge wrapped up the session, the two men smiled and began to sing the Ukrainian national anthem.

"Glory to Ukraine," Sentsov said at the end, to which someone in the courtroom gave the traditional response: "Glory to the heroes."

Sentsov was a vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 annexation of the Black Sea peninsula. Critics have dismissed his prosecution by Russia as retaliation for his pro-Ukrainian position.

"The whole trial was designed to send a message. It played into Russia's propaganda war against Ukraine and was redolent of Stalinist-era show trials of dissidents," said Heather McGill of Amnesty International.

The international rights group, whose representatives observed the trial, said it was "rife with irregularities, including shocking revelations about the use of torture and other ill treatment to extract testimony."

AN attempted attack by a heavily armed man on a train in France last week was premeditated and well prepared, according to a French prosecutor.

Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25, was carrying 270 bullets for his assault rifle and a bottle of petrol, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters on Tuesday.

The Moroccan's phone showed that he had watched a jihadist video shortly before launching the attack, Mr Molins added.

He was overpowered by passengers on the Thalys train on Friday. No-one died.

Three Americans and one Briton who tackled the gunman were awarded medals for their bravery.

"Ayoub El-Khazzani had watched YouTube audio files whilst already on the Thalys train in which an individual called on the faithful to fight and take up arms in the name of the Prophet [Muhammad]," Mr Molins told a news conference.

He said a formal terrorism investigation had been opened, adding that other European authorities had passed on information about the suspect's travels and links to radical Islam.

Nelson Mandela grandson freed on bail after rape charge A South African court has granted bail to one of Nelson Mandela's grandsons who has been charged with raping a 15year-old girl earlier this month.

His lawyers said he did not want to be tried as a "Mandela" but as a "normal person". He cannot be named until he formally pleads to the charge.

Mr Mandela achieved global fame for his role in fighting white minority rule.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994, and died in 2013 at the age of 91.

The 24-year old is accused of raping the teenager in the toilets of a bar in Johannesburg.

His bail was set at $535 (£340) and he was ordered to surrender his passport.

During the hearing, his lawyers disputed the age of his accuser, arguing that she was 16 and that sex was consensual, AFP news agency reports.

Under South African law, sex with someone under 16 is classed as rape whether consensual or not.

The family of South Africa's first black president have found themselves constantly in the public spotlight.

Just three months ago, another of his grandsons, Mandla Mandela, was given a suspended sentence after being convicted of assault, following an attack on a teacher after a road rage incident.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

60

CITYBEATS

Two injured, three buses burnt in tanker fire

•A towing vehicle trying to lift the burnt tanker...yesterday

•John...yesterday

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ESIDENTS of Babalosa in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos woke up abruptly on Tuesday midnight as the shout of fire rent the air.

A tanker laden with 30,000 litres of fuel fell behind the popular Awolowo Market, spilling its content.

Two persons, including the tanker driver were injured.

Three buses burnt.

Many trooped out with various liquid substances to put out the fire.

The Nation learnt that OdiOlowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary Rasaq Ajala, who was among the people that came to the scene called the Lagos State Fire Fighters. He was joined by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin Constituency, Olayiwola Olawale, few minutes past 1am.

The injured tanker driver immediately fled the scene.

An eyewitness, Emmanuel Okeke, said the driver was over speeding without taking cognisance of the deep potholes along the road.

According to Okeke, the incident happened at 12 midnight.

He wondered how the driver could be speeding knowing that the road is riddled with potholes .

Another eyewitness, Ademola Adegoke said: “The tanker driver escaped through smashed windscreen and sustained injuries. When the fire started around midnight. We alerted the residents in the neighbourhood and also called the fire station for

•John’s injured arm

•A cross-section of sympathisers...yesterday

By Idayat Bello

help. The fire fighters arrived the scene around 1am.

The buses were given out to the owners on higher purchase. Government intervention is urgently needed on this road.

“This market would have been burnt to ashes if not for the timely intervention of street boys. We, the street boys were the ones that tried to subdue the fire before the arrival of the fire fighters.”

Okeke commended the prompt response of men of the fire fighters.

“The Lagos State Fire Service really tried their best in quenching the fire. It was after three hours that they were able to put out the fire but they really tried to save lives and property from the fire,” he said.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We were unable to sleep since the incident happened because the fire started in front of our house and there is a filling station beside our house. A trader was frying something beside the road when the tanker fell; it’s likely that the fire ignited the spilled fuel.”

She urged government to ban roadside traders at midnight to ensure safety of lives and property.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Micheal Akindele, applauded the Divisional Police Officers of Mushin and Idi-Oro for providing adequate security while the fire lasted.

He said: “We arrived the scene 10 minutes after get-

•Akindele (left); Olawale (middle); Ajala (right) and the two DPOs sharing jokes after the rescue operation PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

‘ We were unable to sleep since the incident happened because the fire started in front of our house and there is a filling station beside our house. A trader was frying something beside the road when the tanker fell... ting the alert. Aside the policemen, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were also at the scene to assist.

“We are now in the process of cleaning the drainage

’

to forestall further ignition.

I must also commend Ajala and Olawale for their prompt arrival at the scene.

The street boys in this area have been cooperative. This is what we say about democracy. It is good for participatory development. It is a

wonderful cooperation among all towards emergency response. Thank God no life was lost.”

The owner of one of the burnt commercial buses, Saheed, said he bought the bus not quite long.

He said: “I have not concluded the payment of the bus. It was given to me on higher purchase. The balance to be paid is N600,000 and it will be due by December. Where will I get money to offset the balance? I have called the person that leased the vehicle to me to come and see the damage done to the bus. The bus registration number is APP 859 LJ.” Another owner Saheed (a.k.a Sanjay), urged the police to help fish out the tanker driver so as to get compensation for their loss.

Amid tears, Joshua John, the owner of the third bus, said that he still have N1.5

million to balance on the bus. He sustained injury on his left arm while trying to salvage his bus.

Residents, however, attributed the incessant accident at Babalosa to the bad portions on the road.

They pleaded with government to fix the road.

“An accident occurred at this spot three months ago which claimed some lives.

This road is in a deplorable state, we need urgent government’s intervention. The continuous dumping of stones on this road is among the causes of the accident.

The road has been in a deplorable state under Fashola’s administration,” one of them told The Nation.

The Nation learnt that a member of the House of Representatives Dauda Kako-Are has promised to assist the owners of the buses.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

CITYBEATS

Publisher arraigned for ‘adultery’ report against bank chief

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HE Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) yesterday arraigned the publisher of Best of Nollywood magazine, Mr Seun Oloketuyi at the Federal High Court in Lagos over a story that Fidelity Bank Managing Director Nnamdi Okonkwo impregnated a staff.

He was accused of publishing the report on his website - www.naijahottestgist.com.

Oloketuyi, who is the organiser of the yearly Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), was arraigned on a twocount charge.

Count One reads in part: “That you, Seun Oloketuyi on or about June, 2015 did knowingly or intentionally send a message and other matters by means of computer systems or network on one Nnamdi Okonkwo the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing him annoyance, insult and ill-will on www.naijahottestgist.com.”

In Count Two, Oloketuyi

By Joseph Jibueze

was accused of publishing “defamatory matters” against Okonkwo “with malice” while knowing that the information was false.

Prosecution counsel Olakanmi Omisope, said the alleged offence contravened Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38.

Oloketuyi pleaded not guilty.

The story claimed that Okonkwo impregnated the bank’s “top marketer” known as Justina, which resulted in her husband, Ben, leaving their matrimonial home. The story also claimed that Okonkwo took responsibility for the children’s welfare and schooling.

Oloketuyi had apologised and retracted the story via www.bestofnollywood.tv, saying: “Naijahottestgist hereby apologises to the Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the management of Fidelity Bank Plc over

a story published on www.Naijahottestgist.com on June 18 and titled “Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo breaks Justina's home, impregnates her”, where we had erroneously alleged that Mr Okonkwo was having an extra marital affair with Mrs Justina, the Head of Marketing team of the bank.

“Regrettably, Naijahottestgist has discovered that the story wasn’t true as there was never a time Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo indulged in an extra marital affair with the said staff member, Justina.

“We hereby tender our unreserved apology to Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo and the entire management of Fedelity Bank Plc. “Similarly, we hereby retract the story and appeal to all bloggers and news site that might have copied the story from Naijahottestgist to remove the story with immediate effect.”

Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to September 1.

Police warn NURTW members against HE Lagos State Police She said: “In a bid to make violence Command and the Digood its promise to chase out

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rectorate of State Service yesterday warned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) against creating chaos in the state over leadership crisis.

The warning came on the premise that leadership of the union had been sacked by the national body.

At a meeting with NURTW Lagos Chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, the security chiefs urged those trying to cause trouble to have a rethink.

Owoseni, who was represented by Mr Babatunde Kokumo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said: “The command is not interested in the affairs of the union. Our main preoccupation is to maintain law and order, so, we are ready to deal with anybody trying to cause confusion in the state. Your

By Basirat Braimah

union is very important to us in that we need information from you to combat crimes.

We are focusing on intelligence gathering; hence we need your support.”

Agbede described as rumour the dissolution of state councils by the national body.

“This is to inform you that all the zonal, state councils, branches and unit executives remain intact. l am using this opportunity to tell you to disregard the rumour,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police said it arrested 14 suspected cult members for allegedly terrorising Mushin residence.

The command’s spokesperson, Patricia Amadin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), in a statement said the suspects were arrested on Monday at Mushin Area of Lagos.

armed robbers and cultists from the state, the command has smashed a notorious robbery/cultist group. This group has continuously unleashed terror on the residents of Mushin and Idi-Oro Areas of Lagos.”

According the statement, the command swooped in on the gang and 14 members were arrested following a tip off.

It stated that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, urged the people of Lagos to be calm and continue to furnish the police with useful information.

Owoseni also warned all cult members and robbers to desist, saying the police would employ all legal means to deal with them, their sponsors and benefactors.

He added that unless the group desists from its nefarious activities, there shall be no hiding place for them.

CAN calls for stern laws against noise pollution

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HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos Island chapter, has called on the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to impose stern law against noise pollution in the state.

“The state should promulgate a law banishing the use of horn speakers, big or small or whatever may constitute to noise pollution in our environment. Ultimatum should be given to places of worship using it to have it removed; and LASEPA should be

empowered to go to all the nook and cranny of the state to have it removed,” said a statement signed by the Chairman, CAN, Lagos Island chapter, Ven Olu Adeyi and secretary Deacon Semeton Wusu.

CAN, the statement said, would partner the government in enforcing these laws in the state.

The group commended government’s action and stance on environmental and noise pollution, pledging its support to the cause.

Trader arraigned for alleged forgery 37-YEAR-OLD trader, Chukwuma Nwankwo, accused of manufacturing fake products has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

Nwankwo, a resident of Amoo Street, Agege, Lagos, is being tried for alleged forgery.

Prosecuting Sergeant Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 17 at Balogun Street, Agege, Lagos.

He said Nwankwo fraudulently presented himself to be the manufacturer and owner of Alteco PTE Limited, with the intent to defraud the original owner of

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the company.

“The accused was producing fake superglue, using the forged trademark, design and logo of Alteco, the original manufacturer of the superglue.

“The complainant had earlier received series of complaints from users that his product was no longer effective, unknown to him that there was an impostor,” he said.

Olatunde said the complainant, however, saw the fake product in a store and pretended to be interested in selling the product, and got the address of the accused from the store owner.

“The complainant with some policemen traced the address of the accused and

caught him with cartons of the fake products,” he said.

The prosecutor alleged that the accused, by his actions, had deceived the public into believing that the product was the same as the original.

“And at the moment, several of such fake products are in the market nationwide,” he said.

He said the offence contravened Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which prescribes a 14- year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Aka Bashorun granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in like sum.

Bashorun adjourned the case till September 15.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

62

NEWS

Alleged N1tr diversion: Senate insists on probe of EFCC

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HE Senate said yesterday that the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, over alleged diversion of N1 trillion recovered fraud funds would begin as scheduled today.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, stated this in an interview with reporters in Abuja.

Anyanwu said that the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus which asked the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee to drop the investigation of the EFCC boss, said it was irrelevant since the committee is only answerable to the Senate as an institution.

The panel chairman said that the EFCC is just one out of about 10 petitions the committee planned to investigate.

He described the statement by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which claimed that the time was not right for such a high profile investigation to have emanated out of misinformation.

Anyanwu said that Akpabio, having realised that he misunderstood the thrust of the investigation before he issued the press statement had called to express his sorry.

The committee, he said, is guided by the Senate Standing Rules and the 1999 Constitution to invite anybody when the matter arises.

Anyanwu also ruled out the insinuation that the Senate might be on vendetta mission against Lamorde for the investigation of the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Bukola Saraki.

Asked his reaction as a PDP senator to PDP senate caucus, kicking against Lamorde’s invitation, Anyanwu said: “As the Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, I am answerable to the Senate in the first instance. Two, this Committee attends to every petition that come from the public.

“The invitation to the EFCC boss is one of those petitions and the petitioner is going to appear before the Committee.

If you look at the press statement by the Minority Leader of the party, Senator Akpabio, it was a misinformation.

“There was an amendment of a motion at the floor of the Senate where the CBN Governor was to be invited with the EFCC boss regarding money laundering and all that.

“But we stood it down. So, there was a misinformation.

So, he thought that it was the same issue. But this is a petition against the person of the EFCC boss.”

On whether the misinformation has been sorted with Akpabio said “He (Akpabio) called and he felt sorry about that. It is a press statement he made. So there is no misunderstanding.”

Asked whether his Committee will go ahead with the probe, he said, “Of course, this is a standing committee of the Senate. It is not only EFCC boss that was invited. There are other petitions and we have invited the petitioners and those that petitioned against.

“We have FIRS, Comptroller General of Customs that is also coming tomorrow. So, I

•No plot against anti-graft agency, says Saraki From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

don’t know why this should be an issue.

“We are guided by the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution to invite anybody when the matter arises.”

On the statement by EFCC spokesperson who said the Senate did not follow due process in inviting the EFCC Chairman, he said: “No, that is not correct. There are ways petitions can come to the Senate. A petitioner can write straight to the Senate President and the President would minute to the appropriate committee that is involved.”

On what the committee will do if the EFCC Chairman fails to turn up for the probe, he said, “I cannot conclude now because I’m pre-empting what is not available yet until tomorrow if he doesn’t come.

“He is not summoned, this is an invitation. There is a difference between summoning and invitation.

“There is a petition before the Committee and we have just invited the petitioner to come and substantiate his petition before the Committee.

“It is after the petitioner must have come that we will now invite the person petitioned against.

“Before we invite anybody, we normally send a copy of the petition to the person that is petitioned against so that the person will have a first-hand information about why he is invited by the Committee. That is what we have done and that is the normal procedure.”

Asked if the Senate is divided over the investigation, he said, “There is no divided house. It is just a misinformation. At least somebody can be misinformed and when you get the accurate information instead of going back to counter, you will look like a problem. “ On whether the committee is on a vendetta mission against Lamorde, Anyanwu said: “There are many ways the Senate can operate: At the plenary, committee and the constituency. We are on vacation. A committee like Ethics and Privileges, we have a lot of petitions and now that we are on recess, each member agreed to spend their time to work. And we have to turn in the report of this petitions at the floor of the Senate for the consideration of the entire Senate.

“We have so many petitions, up to 10 petitions. This is the summary of petitions received so far. That of EFCC is one of them and FIRS and so many of them. There is no situation that because we are on recess we cannot sit.

“Two, the issue of invitation of Senate President’s wife has nothing to do with our job. It is not on that basis (motion) that we are inviting the EFCC boss.

“This committee is a fact-finding committee. Our job is: every petition that comes to this committee must be treated.

“There is one implication. If somebody says there is a petition against the EFCC boss, the person is a Nigerian. He has the right and as long as he will come before the committee to substantiate the petition, we must take it serious.

“Because if you don’t take it up, what you will hear is that

people will say probably we have been settled that is why we didn’t bring up the matter.

It’s only a mere allegation. We cannot convict anybody, we are not a law court.”

Meanwhile Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki , has described a publication that he is behind a smear campaign to discredit the EFCC boss as totally false and unfounded.

A statement by his Special Assistant, Mr. Bamikole Omisore entitled: “I have no plot against EFCC” said that the publication is part of calculated attempt to damage the image of the Senate President.

The statement reads in part, “The attention of the media office of the President of the Senate, Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a publication alleging that the Senate President hired one Uboh to smear the integrity of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

“It is pertinent and with all sense of responsibility and commitment to state unequivocally that the story is far from the truth. A fabricated story that cannot sell to dent the image of Senator Saraki.

“The general public is fully aware that the said online platform which published the false story has been an agent of me-

dia attack on the person of the Senate President and that all allegations made by the online platform against him have fallen flat on their face as bare lies, concocted with malicious intention.

“To set the record straight, nobody can rightfully claim that Senator Saraki engaged the services of the petitioner or any other person for that matter.

“There are about four different petitions from individuals, groups and corporate organisations written against the EFCC and submitted to the Senate.

“Most of these petitions are dated 27/07/2015 and 31/07/ 2015 while some bother on issues between 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“There are petitions that are directly written and received by the Senate while in some, the petition was written to the President and the Senate was copied.

“Further to the above, EFCC is not the only government agency that has petition against it pending before the Senate.

“There are pending petitions against the CG Custom, FIRS and NPA, amongst others. Is it also Senator Saraki that hired or engaged people to do this?

What evidence does Sahara reporters have that links Senator

Saraki to all these petitions before the Senate?

“The Senate President has no relationship whatsoever with Mr Uboh in any capacity or in the course of his emergence as Senate President. If anybody has any proof of a relationship between Senator Saraki and the said Mr. Uboh, let him or her say it now.

“Our Investigation showed that Uboh’s petition has been in public domain since 2013 and that the details have been reported in national newspapers as well as cited in court proceedings. The Senate President could not have said to have hired any one to write a petition for him as he has no issue to sort out with any individual, group of people or an organisation.

“Therefore, any insinuation that Senator Saraki is attempting to prevent EFCC from carrying out its constitutional responsibility is a hoax and an imagination of the writer.

“Let it be known that the idea of people using the media to intimidate or blackmail the Senate to prevent it from performing its constitutional and legislative duties will be resisted and as such, meet stiff opposition expressed through lawful means. Senator Saraki is not the same as the Senate or National Assembly as an institution.

“Imputing sentiment into the

legitimate working of any government institution would not augur well for our development and democratic process”.

Also speaking on the insinuation, Senator Ighoyota Amori (Delta Central) said that the Senate is acting on its constitutional capacity to probe any issue.

Amori said: “They are unrelated. The senate acted within their constitutional function. It has nothing to do with Saraki wife invitation (an exercise that was politically motivated). I belong to the PDP caucus in the senate and our position is that since that invitation failed to sail through in the floor earlier the committee should apply caution and suspend the invitation for now.”

Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South) said: “That insinuation of a vendetta is laughable. Is it a Senator that wrote the Petition? Or are you expecting the Senate not to investigate such serious allegation? My brother every Nigerians has right to write to the Senate and all issues will be taken very serious without bias by this 8th Senate.

“We have keyed in totally to the anti corruption fight as being led by PMB. The parties involve just need to proof their facts and the Senate will make appropriate recommendations to be executed or not by the Executive.”

Navy arrests 80 vessels in 18 months •Destroys 1,610 oil thieves equipment

D

ESPITE inadequacies in its platforms, the Nigerian Navy (NN) said yesterday that over 80 vessels have been arrested in the last 18 months. Also, 1,610 illegal refineries, oil barges, wooden boats and auxiliary equipment have been destroyed.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command (ENW), Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, spoke at the second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) conference for African countries, held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

It was organised by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas in conjunction with International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC).

Presenting a paper themed ‘‘Nigeria’s contribution to maritime security in West Africa’, Babalola said the Navy in order to create deterrence for criminality at sea, has deployed ships and boats on routine maritime patrol, which have arrested suspects and handed them over to relevant local law enforcement agencies.

“For instance, from January last year till date, the NN has effected arrest of 80 vessels and their crew, destroyed over 200 illegal refineries, 58 oil barges, 93 large wooden boats and 1,259 auxiliary equipment.

“The suspects were handed over to prosecuting agencies for investigation and prosecution. This is important for repression of illicit activities at sea and restoration of the rule of law and ocean governance.’’

Earlier in his welcome address, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas reiterated the NN’s relent-

•From left; Vice Admiral Ette-Ibas, Ismaila, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule and Director Navy, Defence Ministry, Alkani Abduraman at the conference...yesterday.

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

By Precious Igbonwelundu

lessness in the fight against oil theft and other maritime crimes, adding that in executing its role, the force has continued to re engineer its processes and procedures to be able to deliver effective maritime security to the nation.

Reiterating that Africa’s maritime domain remains strategic with enormous potentials that have been persistently challenged by a myriad of threats, Ibas noted that the threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic wellbeing of member nations.

He stated that Africa’s maritime domain remains strategic with enormous potentials that have been persistently challenged by a myriad of threats including piracy, sea robbery, human trafficking, oil theft and illegal bunkering.

Ibas said these threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic wellbeing of member countries, noting the need for the enthronement of

constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security architecture. ‘‘Achieving such structure would however remain a mirage against half-hearted efforts. Accordingly, Africa needs to be committed in embracing core attributes such as elimination of sea blindness, sincerity of purpose, strength of character and, above all, the will of all member states and stakeholders to effectively cooperate and collaborate for enduring maritime security,’’ he said.

The CNS urged African maritime stakeholders to reminisce on the imperatives of improving on attainments and achievements, adding that collective efforts should go beyond the rhetoric of commerce to modalities for integrating extant Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of defence, Aliyu Ismaila noted the necessity to step up surveillance activities along the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) to allow safe movement of goods, services and passengers in the entire region.

He urged member nations to

cooperate and collaborate in intelligence sharing for better protection of maritime resources, adding that no nation can do it alone.

For Nigeria, Ismaila maintained that the need to cooperate and share maritime intelligence was not contestable, giving the nation’s reliance on the maritime sector for its resources.

He decried the general lack of enthusiasm among member nations to develop and facilitate information sharing through naval systems and surveillance infrastructure, noting that it has limited the capacity for collaboration among maritime stakeholders. ‘‘This state of affairs has created a capability gap in nations’ ability to properly monitor and safeguard the sea areas on the continent. Because the hugh seas are our common heritage, no agency or nation has the capability or capacity to achieve unilateral Maritime Domain Awareness. ‘‘This is moreso, as maritime criminals are highly mobile, thus making crime itself very fluid and non-territorial,’’ he said.

63

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

SPORT EXTRA BATTLE OF DAR ES SALAAM

Supporters demand sack of Rangers bosses ANGERS supporters club led by national president, Ibuchukwu Nwodo, have called on the Enugu State Government to sack the management of the club led by Paul Chibuzor with immediate effect.

Nwodo, who led over 100 members of the supporters club based in Enugu to the state house of assembly with a protest letter, which was presented to the house leader for Youth and Sports, Nelson Uduji, calling for the removal of the general manager.

The protesters Carried placards with various inscriptions like “Our ‘Gburugburu’ please save our dear Rangers from impending relegation”, “Eight whole years with much money. No Trophy!! No achievement”, “The cries of supporters, the cries of Igbos, Change of the Management”, “Govt. Please invite EFCC to probe Mr. Paul Chibuzor-led management.”, “Rangers the known pride of Igbos has lost their pride in this management”, “Mr. Paul Chibuzor has frustrated the Rangers board and supporters club.”; “Is Rangers a family business?,” amongst others.

The national president said, “The reason for our action today is very clear as we have

Eagles get full house R A

LL 23 players invited into the Super Eagles from the domestic league trained yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium, with Coach Sunday Oliseh dishing out instructions.

But, FC IfeanyiUbah star, Bright Onyedikachi watched the training from the sidelines as he is nursing what an official described as a “minor knock”.

Fresh call-up Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United) enjoyed extra support as his club

• Saviour

AFRICAN GAMES

Saviour keeps Nigeria waiting

N

IGERIA is desperately waiting on Belgian club, KV Oostende over the release of newly transferred Godwin Saviour for next month’s African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia has delayed the announcement of his final squad for the AG because he wants to confirm whether or not Saviour would be released

by KVO for the competition.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sent an invitation letter on Monday requesting that KVO release the exciting forward for the AG football event.

AfricanFootball.com gathered that the player wants to be part of the Games, but unfortunately it is not on the inter-

national football calendar and so it will be down to KV Oostende to decide on whether or not to release him.

Only last week, Saviour, 19, completed his move to KVO after he passed his medical.

AfricanFootball.com also learnt that the Belgian club is now processing the player’s work permit and this could be another reason why they may not let him go.

boss Danladi Isaac watched the training alongside Lobi vicechairman, Dominic Iorfa.

The Eagles are expected to play a test game tomorrow morning, officials further disclosed.

Taiwo debuts in Finland

N

IGERIA defender, Taye Taiwo debuted for his new club HJK Helsinki of Finland on Monday as they drew 1-1 at home with HIFK. The former Olympique Marseille defender was on from start to finish for the top team.

He joined the team till end of the season with an option to extend the contract a year. It was the defender’s first competitive game in 16 months.

The club sport director, Tuomo Saarnio has said the club is excited to have landed the player.

“We are really happy that we got such a player like Taiwo.

He has an interesting track record having played for some of Europe’s top clubs,” Saarnio told the club website.

Aaron Samuel’s CSKA Moscow move off

N

IGERIA international, Aaron Samuel’s proposed move to CSKA Moscow has collapsed, Allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

For more than eight months, the GuangzhouR&Fstriker’sintermediary, the Chinese club and Ro-

man Babaev, sporting director of CSKA Moscow, were locked in talks as regards to the player moving to the Russian Premier League.

But those discussions have not led to Aaron Samuel penning a deal with CSKA Moscow after the interested club failed to meet

his asking price of five million euros.

It is thought that the leadership of the Muscovites finally threw in the towel because they were frustrated with the antics of Guangzhou R&F, who were not consistent during negotiations.

come to realise that Rangers is not doing well not because of lack of right calibre of players or coaches, but lack of effective management hence, our call for a complete overhaul of the

management team. We have been assured by the house leader, Hon. Nelson Uduji of quick action, while our letter has also been deposited with the state FA.”

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Alli backs Okagbare for 200metres’ glory

T

ECHNICAL manager of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Yussuf Alli yesterday said that Africa’s queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare will bounce back in the women 200m event which begins today at the main bowl of Beijing National Stadium popularly called Bird Nest.

Okagbare was tipped by bookmakers and athletic buffs to win a medal in the women 100m on Monday, but she failed to climb the podium.

Another chance for Okagbare to make a podium appearance presents itself today when the heat of the women 200m start.

She will run in heat three, lane four.

Alli a former captain of Team Nigeria said the athletics world was shocked that Okagbare did not medal in the 100m.

“That is history now, in track and field many things change in a split second, she has put Monday race behind her and she is focused on doing well in the 200m. She has what it takes to win a medal in the event, she won a bronze medal at the Moscow 200m edition of the World Championships. She has been doing well consistently in the

• Okagbare 200m, I am positive she will win a medal,’’ said Alli the national record holder in long jump.

Also today, Tosin Oke will compete in Group A of the men Triple Jump.Meanwhile, Patience Okon George failed to make the final of the women 400m as she finished fourth in the heat two of the semi-final in 50.76 sec.

Also, Tega Odele failed to advance to the next round of the men 200m as he finished sixth in 20.49 sec.

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3318

‘The population of Nigeria is nowhere near the touted 160 million, probably nearer 120 million, even though the Census figures are part of the CORRUPTION that Buhari must eliminate. The true Census figures are the basis of the elusive ‘True FEDERALISM’ of which FISCAL Federalism is a major part…’

TONY MARINHO

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Mathew Hassan Kukah, is, of course, not the only person to have apparently pooh-poohed President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of war on corruption. Chieftains of the erstwhile ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), notably its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, and the Governor of Ekiti State and probably the most unrelenting detractor of Buhari’s person, Ayodele Fayose, have all poured scorn on the president’s declared anti-corruption crusade. None, however, not even Professor Ben Nwabueze’s statement on behalf of a rather nondescript organisation, the Igbo Leaders of Thought, has attracted as much public opprobrium as the bishop’s.

The bishop has been blaming the media for misrepresenting the interview he granted the media at Aso Villa after an audience the president granted members of the National Peace Committee on August 11. The NPC is led by former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, with the bishop as the coordinator.

Kukah, according to the media, had expressed concern in his interview about the president becoming too obsessed with the fight against alleged corruption by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration at the expense of governance for which, he said, the president had been elected.

It is unfortunate, the bishop has said in several subsequent media interviews, that his concern has been distorted to mean he was trying to defend the former president from being probed by his successor. Nothing, he has been saying, could be further from the truth.

“We were,” he said in an interview with Sahara TV on August 16, “interested in saying that our role is not to run anybody’s errands. Our role is basically to give encouragement to our politicians on behalf of Nigerians. That we had free and fair elections and Nigerians want to see a new dawn in place.” The earlier version of the story on the bishop’s remarks at Aso Villa, had quoted him as saying his committee had been sent to President Buhari by Jonathan to plead on his behalf.

However, it seems, at least to me, that the bishop’s attempts at clarification have only made matters worse. From all indications it is true, as he has said, that the former president never sent the committee to plead on his behalf. Indeed in all the meetings the committee has had with all the stakeholders before, during and after the last elections – stakeholders like the presidential candidates, the leadership of the political parties and of the National Assembly - there is evidence to prove that the issue of probing the former president was never even raised, never mind being discussed.

Bishop Kukah can therefore have only himself, and not the media, to blame for the widespread impression that his committee was on the former president’s errand, the simple reason being that his negative remarks about Buhari’s war on corruption were simply gratuitous in the circumstance.

He was, of course, entitled to express his view that the president’s war looks like the

RIPPLES

BUHARI WITCH-HUNTING OUR MEMBERS–PDP

WITCH-HUNTING ?... That means your PARTY is full of WITCHES

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Attacks on Buhari’s war on corruption – The case of Kukah

•Bishop Kukah

persecution of his predecessor. However, the timing and the venue of his remark, not to talk of the fact that he was the coordinator, indeed creator, of the committee, can only create the impression that their main mission that day was to intercede on the former president’s behalf. To make his remarks even more suspicious, some of the committee members who had attended only few or even none of its previous meetings, notably, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), were all in attendance.

Then, of course, there were some of his rather untoward and unhelpful remarks like “Nigerians must be appreciative of what President Jonathan did…even if he stole all the money in the world” and “This is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws everybody is innocent until proven guilty,” which he made in his Channels TV interview.

As a priest and an intellectual, Bishop Kukah knows that his role is to tell truth to power. It also requires that he tells truth to friends. Both require uncommon courage.

Sadly, in recent years his courage to tell truth to power and to friends, a virtue for which he had become justly famous, seems to have

largely deserted him, apparently because he has become too close with those in power.

The most glaring evidence of this was nine years ago when, in a lengthy interview with Weekly Trust (July 22, 2006), he defended President Olusegun Obasanjo’s inglorious Third Term agenda by dismissing it as a non-issue.

The third term, he said, was “a useless conversation, a waste of energies and I think it is nothing other than that. And it does not merit the attention.” He then went on to condemn those critical of Obasanjo’s agenda as “political eunuchs who could not do anything when General Abacha was around.” Worse, he even denied that times were hard under Obasanjo.

“People”, he said, “keep saying to me people are dying and things are getting worse. And I say it is not true … Things are getting better and it could get even better than they are.”

If as a Reverend Father, Kukah tried to defend power nine years ago, this time as a bishop he has tried to defend a friend who, though no longer president, remains powerful by virtue alone that he had been in government for the last 16 years. And in both instances, my hunch is that he has tried to defend them essentially because they are fellow Christians, who he sees as battling for their faith.

As in Obasanjo’s case, Jonathan’s case too is simply indefensible. However, Jonathan’s case is far worse, even if only a fraction of the revelations of monumental corruption under his watch the public has been inundated with of recent is true.

Bad as Jonathan’s case is, it is not really surprising that the bishop would try to defend his friend. As Dr Ebenezer Obadare, a Nigerian teaching Sociology at Kansas University, US, pointed out five years ago in an article in The Guardian (May 21, 2010), Kukah tried to canonise the man in an article in the same newspaper (May 13, 2010) and in a lecture earlier on in Calabar. Kukah’s paper was captioned “The Patience of Jonathan,” an apparent play on the president’s name and his wife’s. Obadare coun-

HARDBALL

W

HAT is one to make of news of water scarcity in Otuoke, a community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State whose claim to fame is that former President Goodluck Jonathan hails from there? With Jonathan’s influence in his power years, a federal university and a teaching hospital materialised on his hometown’s soil, but the lack of potable water takes the shine off these.

A report quoted Emmanuel Agede, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the area: “You will not believe it that here in Otuoke, we use water from an unused soak-away pit dug near our lodge, for washing clothes and bathing. For cooking and drinking, we buy sachet water; life is very difficult here; we spend the bulk of our monthly allowances on water for survival.”

The reason for this scandalous situation, reportedly offered by the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Otuoke, Mr. Elijah Ateki, shifted the blame. It is unclear whether he did so innocently. “Otuoke community depends on rivers and now that all the rivers are polluted by oil, it is difficult for us

tered with “The impatience of Father Kukah.”

In his article, which was less than a month after Jonathan succeeded his predecessor, following his death, Kukah argued that the man’s rise in politics “defied logic and anyone who attempts to explain it is tempting the gods.” In the earlier lecture in Calabar he had said, among other things, that “With the swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan, something has happened in Nigeria that may not happen again in the next 200 years.”

Obadare’s article dismissed Kukah as engaging in unhelpful myth-making. This provoked an angry counter-reaction from Kukah in The Guardian of June 2 which, in turn, provoked a counter-reaction from Obadare in the same newspaper on June 7.

Personally, I thought Obadare won the debate on the facts and logic of the issue.

But this is besides my point in referring to the sparring between the priest and the academic, which is that five years on it is now crystal clear that Kukah was too impatient to canonise his friend as the best president Nigeria would ever have.

Kukah’s attempt to defend Jonathan is clearly self-imposed probably to defend his position of five years ago. Whatever it is, his defence has seriously dented the image of the NCP which it deservedly earned for the good work it did in helping to bring about this year’s peaceful election.

Penultimate Tuesday, August 18, The PUNCH published a scathing editorial on the NPC which must have resonated well with most Nigerians. The NCP, “which has the likes of Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto; Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria; John Onaiyekan and Nicholas Okoh (both clergymen),” the newspaper said, “has become a distraction, a veritable platform for making excuses for tainted former public office holders.”

As such it urged the committee be disbanded and even wondered why President Buhari had received its members in the first place.

I do not share The PUNCH’s position that it is a useless distraction. However, its use as a camouflage by its coordinator for his personal view, which seems to have been dictated more by religious camaraderie with his friend than by fact and reason, has damaged it badly.

Kukah, as priest and an intellectual, knows all too well that corruption, like all vices, knows no tribe or religion. Hopefully, the anger in the land from men and women of all faiths about his defence of the former president has taught him a lesson that it is wrong to use one’s reputation to defend what is patently indefensible.

Next week, God willing, I’ll take up Professor Nwabueze’s case and publish the reactions I received over last week’s piece.

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

For Jonathan, charity doesn’t begin at home to get potable water,” Ateki was quoted as saying. His explanation was simply simplistic.

It is relevant to take a look at Jonathan’s profile as the community’s most famous son. Jonathan was president for five years (2010–2015) and vicepresident for three years (2007–2010). In Bayelsa State, he was deputy governor (1999-2005) and then governor (2005-2007). So, for 16 years Jonathan was in power at various levels, but failed to provide potable water for residents of his village.

By extension, he also failed to do so at the state and federal levels, considering the revealing statistics that over half of the country’s 160 million population lack access to pipe-borne water.

Jonathan’s failure to use the leadership positions he enjoyed to better the life of people in his immediate community and the country at large is probably a reflection of his poverty of ideas and anti-people thinking.

This is the same character that spent public funds as if they were meant to be employed solely for self-aggrandisement and the pursuit of personal glory. It is generally agreed that the amount he sank into his doomed presidential re-election campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections contributed in no small measure to the ruin of the country’s treasury.

Against the background of the water problem, it may be said that Jonathan didn’t give a damn whether the people were thirsty or whether they could quench their thirst with drinkable water.

Jonathan himself was so thirsty for power that he focused on his own thirst to the detriment of the country. In the process, he rubbished the saying: Charity begins at home. To employ gardening metaphor, Jonathan failed to water the plant he was elected to tend. He was a lousy gardener.

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