August 31, 2015

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Buhari’s, Jonathan’s men clash over probe NEWS Page 2

•Ex-ministers defend ex-president

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VOL. 10, NO. 3323 MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

APC: PDP’s mess must be cleared

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•PDP kicks as party lists loot

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: AUDU WINS KOGI APC TICKET P55 CHAMS ‘LOST N9.2B ON NATIONAL ID’ P32

N338b loans for Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, others CBN-backed cash ready for 27 states to pay workers

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ASH-STRAPPED workers who are being owed salaries are set to smile again, with the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – backed bailout loans for states.

Fourteen banks are disbursing N338 billion “to stimulate the economy”.

Kwara and Zamfara have received their loans and have begun the payment of salary arrears to workers.

A CBN source confirmed that the other states will get the cash this week.

A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows: Abia- N14.152b; Adamawa- N2.378b; Bauchi- N8.60b; Bayelsa – N1.285b; Benue – N28.013b; Borno – N7.680b; Cross River – N7.856b; Delta – N10.036b; Ebonyi – N4.063b; Edo – N3.167b; Ekiti – N9.604b; Enugu – 4.207b; Gombe – N16.459b; Imo – N26.806b; Katsina – N3.304b; Kebbi – N0.690b; Kogi – N50.842b; Kwara – N4.320b; Nasarawa – N8.317b; Niger – N4.306b; Ogun – N20.00b; Ondo – N14.686b; Osun – N34.988b; Oyo – N26.606b; Plateau – N5.357b; Sokoto – N10.093b and Zamfara – N10.020b.

The CBN last week announced that it had approved that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) lend money to requesting states to pay salary arrears owed their workers.

Some of the conditions for accessing the loan include: •resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing; •State House of Assembly consenting to the loan package; and •issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure timely repayment.

With the signing of the ISPO, “it is clear that the facility is not free as the states’ fi-

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

WHO GETS WHAT •Abia N14.152b •Adamawa N2.378b •Bauchi N8.60b •Bayelsa N1.285b •Benue N28.013b •Borno N7.680b •C/River N7.856b •Delta N10.036b •Ebonyi N4.063b •Edo N3.167b •Ekiti N9.604b •Enugu N4.207b •Gombe N16.459b •Imo N26.806b •Katsina N3.304b •Kebbi N0.690b •Kogi N50.842b •Kwara N4.320b •Nasarawa N8.317b •Niger N4.306b •Ogun N20.00b •Ondo N14.686b •Osun N34.988b •Oyo N26.606b •Plateau N5.357b •Sokoto N10.093b •Zamfara N10.020b Total: N338b nancial exposure to the banks becomes first line charges deducted from their monthly allocation”.

The CBN official explained that specific figContinued on page 2

•TILL DEA TH ...: The pilot, Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara, on his wedding day...last year DEATH

Air Force names crash victims

•PAGE 2

DSS nabs Boko Haram suspects in Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Plateau Operatives vow to frustrate sect’s activities

STORY ON PAGE 2

•SPORTS P15 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P39 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P56

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

NEWS Air Force names crash victims •Govt condole with families

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HE victims of the Nigerian Air Force plane which crashed on Saturday into a residential quarter at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna,have been named.

They are: Squadron Leader Adekunle Suara (pilot), wife of Wing Commander N. Hassan, wife of Wing Commander I. B. Musa, Warrant Officer Etim and Air Craft Woman Naomi Adekunle.

The ill-fated aircraft was Abuja-bound.

Squadron Leader Suara is survived by a young wife, who got married to him last year.

According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, President Muhammadu Buhari described the crash as colossal loss not only to the families but to the nation

•Mrs Hassana Musa

•Mrs N.S. Hassan

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

“The President spoke through the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, who was also the head of Federal Gov-

ernment delegation that visited the site of the crash and the families of the victims.

"The President extends his condolences on behalf of the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria over the unfortunate loss of the of-

•Naomi Adekunle

ficers and men whom he described as gentlemen and intelligent personnel whose loss could not be quantified especially now that their services are much-needed.

"The President prayed for the repose of their souls and

DSS nabs Boko Haram suspects in Lagos, others

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ETECTIVES have arrested 19 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Lagos, Enugu, Plateau, Kano and Gombe states.

The suspects were some of the commanders and frontline members of the sect who had played active roles in its bloody campaign, particularly in the Northeastern.

The suspects, who were arrested between July 8 and August 24, included those that coordinated and executed suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos. The Department of State Service (DSS) broke the news yesterday in a statement signed by its spokesman Tony Opiuyo.

One of the suspects, Usman Shuaibu (a.k.a Money), revealed that he coordinated the attacks with N500,000 which

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

was provided by his Amir, Isa Ali, the DSS said.

“Shuaibu claimed that the said Isa Ali has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz.

“Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

“Shuabu also admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the suicide attacks,” the statement added.

Another suspect, Ahmed Mohammed (a.k.a Abubakar) who the Service described as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert, confessed to having prepared the IEDs used for most of the suicide attacks in the Northeast.

He was also quoted by the DSS to have confessed that he prepared the IED strapped to the vests worn by a suicide bomber and his wives which they used in the recent Jos attacks.

Also in the net is Adamu Abdullahi (aka Babpa) who was said to have confessed that Usman Shuaibu motivated him to work closely with Ahmed Mohammed (aka Abubakar) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the said attacks.

Another of the suspects, Ibrahim Isa, reportedly con-

fessed that he carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.

Muttaqa Yusuf (aka Mohammed Sani/Mudtaka) was said to have named Aliyu, who is believed to be the notorious Aliyu Gombe of Sambisa forest, as the one who ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out at various locations in the Northeastern part of the country.

He was said to have confessed that he assisted Shuabu in planning and executing the said attacks.

Other suspects arrested in various parts of Lagos include: Bakura Modu, Mustapha Alli Jamneri, Abuyi Sherriff, Babangida Ali, Babangida Koloye, Abba Modu Sagma and Grema Abubakar, Tijani Bagudu, Baba Alhaji and AbContinued on page 58

Probe: Jonathan holds meeting with ex-ministers

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ORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has met with some members of his cabinet in a bid to defend his integrity.

He was said to have told the former ministers that he was “not a thief in office as being portrayed”.

He explained how he met President Muhammadu Buhari for 20 minutes on two issues.

They are: •advising Buhari against subjecting his person and former cabinet members to “media trial” on alleged corruption and; •why the Election Petition Tribunals in Rivers and Akwa Ibom should be allowed to work unhindered.

He deplored what he called

Corruption: Ex-ministers defend ex-president From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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OME former ministers in the immediate past administration yesterday protested against President Muhammadu Buhari’s style, following plans to probe the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

They accused Buhari’s administration of trying to discredit Jonathan’s government by labelling it as “corrupt” and “irresponsible”.

They said Jonathan’s administration did not encourage corruption, but fought it vigorously within the context of the rule of law and due process.

They urged the President to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner.

They said the Buhari administration should be fair to acknowledge Jonathan administration’s good deeds.

Continued on page 58 From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the involvement of the Department of State Security Service(DSS) on election-relat-

ed matters in the two states.

According to sources, the meeting was held at Jonathan’s Abuja home a few days ago.

It was gathered that about 15 former ministers (including two who were recalled from London) and some former security chiefs attended.

One of the former media aides in the Presidency attended the “strictly private” session to put issues in the correct perspective at the right time.

But the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is central to the allegations against Jonathan, was absent.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the session was “a frank and fact-finding” against the backdrop of plans by the Buhari administration to probe Jonathan’s tenure.

The source said: “The exPresident confided in the meeting that he was worried that the gains of his administration were being washed away daily by the allegations of corruption being reeled out by the government.

“He said he called the session to set the records straight and get facts because his administration was not enjoying any benefit of doubt among Nigerians, especially the media.

“At a point, Jonathan, in an emotional manner told the meeting that ‘I am not a thief in office as being portrayed.”

Another source said the former President asked all the ex-ministers to “brace for the probe ahead and keep their records intact to reply Buhari’s administration on issues being raised.

“The ex-ministers unanimously agreed that there were better sides of Jonathan’s administration than being painted as a tenure of graft.

“The key ministries, such as Works, Finance, Health, AviContinued on page 58

•Warrant Officer Etim

also prayed Almighty God to grant the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. " Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, who was also in the Presidential entourage, condoled with the families on

behalf of the Armed Forces and described the late officers as fine, loyal and patriotic gentlemen who died gallantly while serving their fatherland.

He said: “Though you are Continued on page 58

N338b loans for Ekiti, Oyo, others Continued from page 1

ures were attached to the facilities to be disbursed to the states is because “every state is to come up with its specific needs in order to access the facility from the commercial banks. They’re (states) working out what they need from the banks according to the conditions they reached with the banks”.

The decision to borrow money from commercial banks is sequel to the decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its June 29 meeting, requesting the CBN “in collaboration with other stakeholders to appraise and consider ways of liquidating the outstanding staff salaries owed by state and local governments.”

The Buhari administration announced a bailout package

for states to take care of the backlog of workers’ salaries and access funds for development through the rescheduling of their debts by banks with the CBN’s guarantee.

Eleven states have had their commercial debts to DMBs restructured with a proviso to pay 14.83 per cent of the value of their bonds which their commercial debts were converted to. Eleven others are also to have theirs restructured.

Debt Management Office (DMO) Director-General Abraham Nwankwo said “the restructuring was effected using a re-opening of the FGN-Bond issued on July 18, 2015 and maturing on July 18, 2034. The pricing was based on the yield to date of the bond at a 30-day average, Continued on page 58

Buhari can't ignore corrupt practices under Jonathan

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HE Presidency last night hinted why the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari won't turn a blind eye on the corrupt practices carried out under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The brazen theft of public assets and an almost empty treasury nearly stalled the new administration.

The Presidency asked the Association of Ex-Jonathan ministers, to do self-reflection on the sort of government they handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari.

By doing this, the Presidency said they should be able to determine for themselves if it would have been right for any incoming government to ignore the brazen theft of public assets, which is perhaps the first of its kind ever witnessed in Nigeria.

A statement by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the the President on Media and Publicity, said the earlier statements made that there was no witch hunt or malice against anyone in the pursuit of the county's stolen assets still stand.

According to him, the ongoing war against corruption

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

knows no friend nor foe.

He said: "There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country's former leaders, including Dr Jonathan Goodluck who he continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election.

"That singular action remains a feat that has earned the former president and Nigeria befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr Ban KiMoon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations who visited a week ago."

But he pointed out that the issue of fighting corruption by Buhari is non negotiable.

He said: "It is sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems which suffered destruction and severe denigration Continued on page 58

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NEWS Acting INEC chair, others for women’s forum •Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi welcoming the son of the late Adegoke Adelabu a.k.a 'PENKELEMES', Mr.Nurudeen Adelabu (left) when a delegation of the Posthumous Centenary Anniversary Planning Committee of the late Adegoke Adelabu visited him at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

With them is the Committee’s chairman, Oloye Abdulrasheed LekanAlabi.

Police cut governors’ security detail

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OVERNORS have lost a chunk of their security detail as a result of the reorganisation of the functions of police officers and men.

Police security attached to the governors has been reduced to a maximum of 62 men – which is a unit – according to Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase.

Hitherto some governors had 150 policemen to secure them.

Arase, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said the police were worried that too many of their officers and men were doing jobs other than their core police duties, yet they were being promoted.

“When these people now have to be deployed from these special assignments back to their core duties, they may have lost touch,” he said.

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I assure you that I will leave the police better than I met it at the end of my tenure next year According to him, that was behind the decision to withdrawal security from unauthorised persons who use police orderlies for personal aggrandisement rather than as a result of a real threat to their lives. Such people, he said, should find other ways to secure themselves.

He denied that policemen working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were recalled to undermine the anti-corruption crusade of the government.

According to him, policemen working in other agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS),

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NAPTIP, ICPC and others, who had stayed more than five years, were recalled to be replaced with another set, if necessary.

He said the EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde requested the retention of some of them because they were on special assignments, which, he said, he agreed to do.

The Police Service Commission said last week that a special squad would be deployed on the highways and airports to stop policemen doing illegal guard duties.

Arase said deployment of policemen for guard duties had ensured that of the about

305, 000 policemen engaged by the government, only about 150,000 were available for core duties.

He added that 40,000 policemen across ranks were due to attend promotion courses which he would ensure as soon as funding is available.

The recruitment of 10,000 policemen as announced by the Federal Government would have to wait till next year when there would be budget for it, Arase said adding that only the best hands would be recruited to ensuring that people of integrity are hired.

He expressed his determination to build a data base crime investigation with the support of a $10millon grant from a foreign country.

“I assure you that I will leave the police better than I met it at the end of my tenure next year,” he said.

NNPC, agency in talks on delivery of crude to refineries

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HE National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) has initiated discussion with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) on how to deliver crude to the refineries through the waterways.

The Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Danaladi Ibrahim, told reporters in Lokoja yesterday that formal discussions with the management of the NNPC on the proposal would begin this week.

Danaladi said NIWA was encouraged to initiate the proposal following the decision to stop the delivery of crude by trucks to the refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri.

He said the NIWA could deliver crude through barges to the refineries, describing the option as cheaper, safe and environment-friendly.

Ibrahim said NIWA also had the capacity to deliver refined products through inland waterways to all states, except Katsina and Kano.

He said the organisation had procured enough tugboats to drive the barges, which were of varying capaci-

ties from 300 to 800 tonnes.

The NIWA chief said the organisation had also procured 17 gunboats to guarantee the security of the facilities and personnel involved in the operation.

Ibrahim hoped the proposal would be considered by the NNPC, saying the organisation had taken steps to protect the banks of River Niger.

This is to prevent the dredged channel which was undertaken at a cost of N36 billion from being blocked.

The NIWA chief said the country would reap the benefits of the dredging, saying more companies were ready to use barges to move their products.

Ibrahim suggested the establishment of an inland waterways trust fund.

He said the fund would make it compulsory for stakeholders in the maritime sector to pay a certain percentage of their earnings for the development of inland waterways infrastructure.

Ibrahim said his vision was to unlock the potential of the sector in line with efforts of

the government to diversify the economy.

“Our prayer is that the Federal Government should muster the necessary political will to finance it while we provide adequate manpower,” he said.

He also spoke of plans to maintain waterways and develop the waterfront in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba and Warri through a public-private partnership arrangement.

•NNPC chief Ibe Kachikwu

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HE Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Hajia Amina Bala-Zakari will speak tomorrow at the 2nd edition of SheForumAfrica at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja.

Other speakers are publisher of Today’s Woman, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, founder/Director at The Contact Project, a global Enterprise, Jennifer K. Lynne and Vice President – Women in Politics Forum, Sharon Ikeazor. Others are Angela Ajala, an astute Educational Entrepreneur/Administrator; Aisha Attah, a Personal Development Consultant; Dr. Ify Monye, a Primary Healthcare and lifestyle medicine expert , Lola Adele-Oso, Executive Director of Act 4 Accountability UK, an African diaspora organisation, and Terri Pardonu – host of the popular ‘WE WOMAN’ radio talk show.

In a bold and novel demonstration of the commitment to bridge the generational knowledge gap, SheForumAfrica 2015 features a number of young panelists representative of various age brackets among them, Rinsola Abiola; Adaora Asala, the dynamic MD of Easy Taxi Nigeria, Lois Auta, Mandela Washington fellow and founder Ceedar Seed Foundation and Fatima Musa Aliyu.

Also in the line-up are Hajia Saudatu Mahdi of WRAPA, Dr. Christianah Kwabe, a GP with Asokoro General Hospital, Chioma Kanu, a gender exponent/Programme Manager, CISLAC; Laura Ajoiyi, a

Legal Practitioner, and Amina Salihu, foremost gender activist and Chairman Board of Trustees, HADIS Foundation.

The keynote presentation on the topic: “Being a Voice not an echo: Synergising for Sustainable Impact” will be delivered by frontline broadcast journalist, author/trainer, motivational speaker and life coach, Mrs Eugenia Abu. The maiden edition of SheForumAfrica held last year with participation from two countries.

According to conference host and founder of the Friendraiser Community, Inimfon Etuk, “the conversation this year across the Forum’s 4 Panels will reflect the road travelled by the average African woman, with a priority on demystifying persisting stereotypes that keep women at the bottom of the ladder, especially in the areas of health, basic education and the ability to function optimally in the enlarged entrepreneurial space”.

The theme for SheForumAfrica 2015 is “Risk the unusual – make it happen”.

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The conversation this year ... will reflect the road travelled by the average African woman, with a priority on demystifying persisting stereotypes that keep women at the bottom of the ladder, especially in the areas of health, basic education ...

Saraki for UN conference

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ENATE President Bukola Saraki will today lead the Nigerian delegation to participate in the fourth United Nations Conference of Parliamentary Heads holding at the organisation’s headquarters in New York, United States.

This year’s conference, which will be opened by the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, will feature presentation of reports and debate on “placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development.”

Other issues billed for debate include ‘Challenges facing Parliaments today’, ‘Parliamentary Oversight: challenges and opportunities ‘, while a bi-lateral meeting with Dr. Saraki is expected to be hosted by the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Mr. Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Inter Parliamen-

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tary Union (IPU) and selected Heads of Parliaments (GLOBE International Representation) are also expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference.

The Senate President is billed to address the session of the world forum on Wednesday September 2 and later hold a press conference immediately after the speech.

Saraki is accompanied on the trip by Senators Andy Uba, Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye.

Others on the entourage include Special Adviser to the Senate President on Economic Matters, Dr. Uchendu Okoye and Special Assistant on Public Partnerships.

The Senate president and his team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for New York on Saturday ahead of the conference which begins today and ends on Wednesday.

‘Frequent recess by lawmakers not unusual’

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HE National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) has said the frequency with which members of the National Assembly go on recess is not unusual and will not affect the enactment of laws.

Director-General of the institute, Dr Ladi Hamalai, said this at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja yesterday.

Hamalai, who was reacting to criticisms of the breaks by the lawmakers in the media, said, “unless you want that of

the 8th National Assembly to be different, I don’t see any problem“.

“You can’t stop plenary sessions because some members have to go on assignment abroad; some members take one or two weeks off to go on oversight visits.

“Maybe a committee of 30 in the House of Reps, for example, goes on oversight visits taking one, two weeks; do you stop plenary because of that? No! You can’t stop plenary because of that.

“So you will perpetually

have a situation where some members will be absent doing other assignments.

“I’m not saying that that is the only reason for absence of members; No! There may be other private reasons, genuine private reasons.

“In a nutshell what I’m saying is that the behaviour of legislators in the National Assembly is normal.“ According to her, it is the norm all over the world for lawmakers to go on recess.

Hamalai also said that in other climes it was acceptable

for legislators to use their mobile devices to register their presence at plenary as they “do not have to attend plenary always“.

“There is no parliament in the world where you have full attendance at plenary and committee meetings. In South Korea you can even vote using your mobile phone.

“They have a secure mobile platform for legislative work.

You can listen in to whatever is going on in the chambers and vote wherever you are,“ she said.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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NEWS

Leadership crisis: Ba There is a glimmer of hope that the leadership crisis rocking the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will soon end.

TOBA AGBOOLA writes that besides the judicial intervention being sought at the National Industrial Court (NIC), the two camps battling for the leadership have indicated interest to embrace a peaceful resolution.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola pointing to an object of interest during an inspection of ongoing projects at Osogbo High School...at the weekend. With him are: site engineer, Mr. Ogundele Adedamola and other officials.

•Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade (left); his wife, Dr Linda (second left); former Governor Liyel Imoike (second right) and his wife, Obioma, at a thanksgiving service organised in honour of Imoke at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Catholic Church, Kakum, Obudu, Cross River State.

•From left: Relationship Manager, Public Sector Group, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Olasupo Fagbola; the immediate past General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Tamunomieibi Dibi; FCMB's Retail Head, Lagos & Southwest Region, Funmilola Paseda; Executive Director, Institutional Banking, Mr. Olufemi Bakre and the new GOC, 81 Division, Maj-Gen Isidore Edet, at the pulling out of Maj-Gen Dibi...at the weekend.

•From left: General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Ms. Oyeronke Oyetunde; Co-founder, ONE Campaign International, Bono; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ikpoki and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, when a team of ONE Campaign International visited MTN Nigeria Corporate Head Office in Lagos...at the weekend.

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RISIS-WEARY Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) factions may soon close ranks. Embroiled in what many call “an avoidable rift”, the workers’ umbrella union has, in the past four months, operated at cross-purposes under factional leaderships.

The division in 23 of the 36 affiliated unions in the organised labour was triggered by sundry issues, including alleged corruption and electoral malpractices.

The botched election of March 12 that threw up Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero as factional presidents left the local chapters of the NLC in many states confused as to who the authentic leader is, thereby exposing the body to manipulation by external forces.

The state branches, which are the basic building blocks of trade unions, have been in disarray since the election.

But, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. National Industrial Court (NIC) President Babatunde Adejumo has advised the two factions to embrace peaceful reconciliation of their dispute.

Justice Adejumo’s counsel came on the heels of a legal suit, which came up for hearing before his court in Ikoyi, Lagos, between the two factions.

The suit stemmed from the 11th National Delegates Conference of the NLC in Abuja on March 12.

Loyalists of both camps, in their hundreds, stormed the court as early as 7am, jostling for space in the court room and within the premises.

Chief Gani Adetola Kaseem (SAN), Mrs. Aisha Aremu-Ogunlade and Ahmed Adetola Kaseem, among other lawyers, are in the legal team of the Wabba-led faction. Lawyers from the Enobong Etteh’s & Nnamonso Ekanem’s Chambers are holding brief for the Ajaero-led faction.

After listening to Wabba’s counsel, Justice Adejumo, in an admonition, urged the various unions to embrace mutual reconciliation rather than traversing court rooms for an intervention that would further widen the gulf among workers. He advocated an amicable and out-of-court settlement of the crisis.

The NIC president noted that the ordinary union members and the nation at large hold the labour movement in high esteem, given its historic role in the nation’s history.

He urged the lawyers representing the factions to join hands in resolving the lingering dispute, reminding them that a divided NLC would not bring anything good for its members.

Stressing the importance of labour in the development of a nation, Justice Adejumo said workers constitute the “engine-room of the economy”, adding that a united NLC is better off than a divided one.

Justice Adejumo described Issa Aremu, one of the 11 defendants served with originating sermons, as a tested and respected labour leader, who can use his wealth of experience to resolve the crisis.

He said: “With the likes of Com-

rade Issa Aremu and others who are respected labour leaders in Nigeria, reconciliation should not be ignored.”

The judge, however, warned that the court has the powers of conciliation in matters such as NLC’s internal dispute. These powers, he said, are contained in Section 20 of the NIC Act. According to him, it is an implied duty of the court, which may warrant it to appoint a Trustee for the NLC, urging the counsels to explore opportunities for reconciliation on a ‘no loser, no vanquish’ basis.

Before adjourning the case to October 8, Justice Adejumo stated that he gave the advice without prejudice to the case before his court.

Reacting to the development, the National President of the National Union Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Oladele Hunsu, commended the NIC President for his counsel for amicable reconciliation against litigation.

“We also acknowledge the spirited effort by the highly-respected labour veterans to reconcile both factions following the discredited 11th Delegates’ Conference and Special Delegates’ Conference of NLC respectively”, he said.

Noting that his union, where Aremu serves as the general secretary, supported the reconciliation option, he called on other labour leaders to take advantage of the admonition of the NIC President to unite and resolve all outstanding issues in order to forge a common front to defend the workers in the face of the harsh economic situation.

The Wabba led-camp had returned to the NIC, seeking among others, a declaration that the Special Delegates’ Conference of NLC, where Ajaero and others emerged officers of the Congress, was not organised by the NLC in line with the Constitution of the Congress in 2011 and should therefore be declared illegal, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

But, in the spirit of the out-of-court settlement, initiated by veteran unionists, led by the founding NLC President, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, the belief of concerned members is that the period of the adjournment will be used by the factions to find an enduring and a win-win solution to the problem.

Blackmailing and impersonation Events in the past may have further widened the gulf between the two factions. Despite the fact that the Ajaero-led group has expressed its disposition to reconciliation, the other faction under Wabba, has on several occasions accused the group of impersonation.

Wabba, in a recent statement, said the NLC headquarters took exception to the issuance of statements by the Ajaero faction on behalf of the Congress.

His words: “The attention of the Congress has been drawn to the serial impersonation by Comrades Joe Ajaero and Issa Aremu since they both lost their bids to be President and Deputy President of the NLC at the

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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NEWS

sis: Battle-weary NLC seeks out-of-court settlement

‘

The strength of the organised labour cannot be in fighting one another but in fighting a common enemy. A united NLC will move the economy of the country forward • The Labour House

rescheduled March 14, 2015 elections of Congress.”

Wabba explained what informed his reaction, citing a statement credited to Aremu, in which he called on the National Assembly to, in line with the economic realities, further reduce its N120 billion vote.

He stated: “While we had restrained the National Secretariat from publishing a disclaimer in the hope that common sense and sanity would eventually prevail on our comrades to stop this delusion, it has become clear to us and the entire labour movement that Comrades Ajaero and Aremu are determined to continue in their enterprise of impersonation as president and deputy president of the NLC. “It is for this reason that Comrade Aremu had continued to issue statements in which he continually purport himself to be the deputy president of Congress and on behalf of our revered organisation.

“One of such statements, and which was given wide publicity in at least four national dailies, contended that the alleged decision of the National Assembly to voluntarily cut its budget from N150 billion to N120 billion was “too token and not far-reaching enough.”

Wabba stressed that though they (Ajaero and Aremu) can issue statements or speak on behalf of their respective unions, being affiliates of the NLC, they have no right to issue statements or speak for the NLC. He said: “As general secretaries of their respective unions, that are affiliates of the NLC, we cannot stop Comrade Aremu of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria and Ajaero of the National Union of Electricity Employees, or any officer of an industrial union, from speaking on any national issues they feel strongly about.

“However, no affiliate, industrial union, or their officers, enjoy the liberty to issue statements in the name of the NLC, unless such an affiliate is expressly mandated to do so.”

He said all instances since Ajaero and Aremu lost their bids to be elected as president and deputy president are clear cases of impersonation.

“We had course to recently alert our international allies – Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU), International Trade Union

Ayuba backs reconciliation

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ABOUR’S factional President Ayuba Wabba has foreseen an early end to crisis rocking the workers’ umbrella union. Speaking with The Nation, Wabba confirmed the on-going reconciliation process. According to him, labour veterans who waded into the crisis have been working out a lasting resolution. He said the concerned leaders were making a headway.

Ayuba said: “We made the commitment that, for us, unity will be in our best interest because if we are to provide leadership

to workers, we must be able to reach out to them and then see how those issues are addressed, using our internal mechanisms for crisis resolution.

“We did this effectively at the level of the Central Working Committee (CWC) and a reconciliation committee, made up of the veterans and few NAC members was put in place. That committee has taken off and met twice.

They are making all necessary contacts to see how the other group can be brought in to address the issue.

“As you know, it takes two to tango. We are committed and we are doing everything possible to resolve the issue but the other party thinks otherwise. So, I don’t think we should be held responsible for that. From what the veterans and the committee told us, they are making new efforts and they are making a lot of headway. They are trying to convene another meeting and the process is ongoing. I think we have demonstrated the fact that we are ready for reconciliation and we are ready for

‘ •Wabba

a united house in the best interest of Nigerian workers”.

Ajaero’s camp waves the olive branch

T •Ajaero

HE Joe Ajaero faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has waved the olive branch, calling on the other faction for amicable resolution of the crisis.

Ajaero, who doubles as the General-Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said the only option for resolution of the leadership crisis was through genuine discussions and negotiations, and not litiga-

tions.

According to him, he has always made himself available to give an account of what transpired, expressing the hope that the peace committee and that of the veterans would ensure a united NLC. “I want peace in the NLC, but not the peace of the grave yard; I am ready for reconciliation and I will submit myself to any genuine reconciliatory move,” Ajaero said.

Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa) and International Labour Organisation (ILO), among other labour bodies – to discountenance with any correspondence from Comrades Joe Ajaero and Issa Aremu if it is purported to be on behalf of the NLC. “While Comrades Ajaero and Aremu pretend to be advocates of democracy, they have both become clear embarrassments, to themselves and unfortunately to the entire labour movement, since they lost the elections to become national officers of Congress.

“They have failed to show even an iota of democratic civility by approaching law courts if not satisfied with the process that produced the new leadership of the NLC on March 14, 2015. Instead, they have since then

been engaging in what are clear cases of obfuscation, blackmail and impersonation.”

According to Wabba, the NLC will soon engage the leadership of the National Assembly on the budget.

“For the avoidance of doubt, on the issue of the budget of the National Assembly, on which Comrade Aremu was reported to have issued a statement, we have since met with the National Assembly and we will similarly engage Mr. President on a range of national and labour-related issues, whenever we have an audience with him”, Wabba said.

In a swift reaction, Aremu lashed out on Wabba, whom he accused of wasting workers’ funds on litigation, pointing out that he should have taken debtor-governors to court over

the non-payment of salaries, if only to demonstrate his love for the NLC. According to him, Wabba should dissipate his energies and resources in tackling issues on workers’ welfare welfare and national development, instead of taking the Ajaero’s faction to court.

He said: “Governors who owe workers several months of salaries should have been taken to court of public opinion and international organisations instead of taking us to the NIC. “The court in its wisdom knows we are not impersonating; that we are the authentic representatives of the Congress and that we have more to talk about the ministerial appointments, the National Assembly and other issues of national importance.

•Oshiomhole

•Sunmonu

“We (labour leaders) have been together before, and by the grace of God, the issue will be settled since a reconciliation process has started.”

He said the strength of the organised labour cannot be in fighting one another but in fighting a common enemy, adding that a united NLC will critically move the economy of the country forward.

The NUTGTW scribe noted that labour veterans in the Sumonu-led committee have begun reconciliation moves to ensure that both parties work together as one organisation.

He added that the man-hour lost to litigation will not add to the growth of the economy, warning that division could be counter-productive.

Aremu, however, insisted that the on-going reconciliation must be based on the core values of the labour movement.

“A united NLC will be better positioned to critically address the nation’s challenges. Trade union must use the power of labour to fight for Nigerians”, he stressed.

The National President of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who doubles as the Deputy President of the Ayubaled camp, Alhaji Najim Yasin, also confirmed the on-going reconciliatory move.

“We believe that we should all come together and speak with one voice in the general interest of all Nigerian workers”, he said.

He expressed the hope that the reconciliation move will go a long way in ending the crisis, which he admitted, has polarised the body.

Yasin commended the workers and labour leaders for their understanding, assuring them that the NLC will come out of the crisis stronger.

Oshiomhole, ex-NLC leaders, factions meet over crisis Efforts at resolving the protracted crisis in the NLC continued in Abuja as Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other fromer labour leaders, including Sumonu, met with factional leaders.

The meeting, which was earlier scheduled for Benin City, the Edo State capital, was moved to the Federal Capital City (FCT).

Expectedly, Wabba and Ajaero, led their factions to the meeting with the committee of veterans.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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NEWS

APC: PDP mess must be cleared for better life

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has listed new instances of the alleged looting of the treasury by some officials of the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The party, in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: ‘’Those who would rather give comfort to the looters by dismissing the media exposure of looting cases as mere hell-raising should realise that no sane person can be silent in the face of what is unfolding as the worst cases of brazen stealing of public funds in Nigeria’s history.’’

The party’s statement reads: ‘’On August 16, 2015, we listed some instances of the breathtaking looting of the treasury by some officials of the immediate past administration. Today, we bring three more heart-rendering cases to the attention of Nigerians. We will not relent until closure has been brought to this issue,’’ it said, listing the new cases as: •A mind-shattering $2.2 billion-arms scandal.

•A $6.9 million-fraud by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Jonathan, committed under the guise of buying three mobile stages for the exPresident.

•A N2.5 billion-scam involving the renting of house boats. ‘’While those charged with handling these cases are finalising the details of bringing the suspects to justice, our immediate concern is the attempt by the PDP, under whose umbrella the looting took place, to blame the Buhari administration for the mess and then infer that things have been worse in Nigeria in the past three months under the APC-led Federal Government than in the 16 years under the PDP. This is totally provocative, shameless and uncharitable. ‘’They say we are yet to fulfil our campaign promises to Nigeria, but they have forgotten that if only the PDP/ Jonathan administration had not stolen Nigeria blind, there would have been more than enough money to give school children in Nigeria not just one but three meals a day and even pay N5,000 to 50 million most vulnerable Nigerians, not just the 25 million we promised in our manifesto,’’ APC said “Despite the almost daily discovery of cases of corruption under the Jonathan administration, the party assured Nigerians of better days ahead, as all its campaign promises will be kept because of the

APC lacks capacity to create, manage wealth, says PDP

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Muhammadu Buhari led administration lacked the capacity to create and manage wealth.

The opposition party said it has noted the deliberate resort to “diversionary blackmail” and “overused excuses” by the ruling party to shy away from providing answers to the salient issue of unprecedented damage done to the nation’s economy in its 90 days in office.

A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should hide its head in shame for poor performance in the last 90 days.

This, the PDP added, that had resulted in the sudden economic retrogression, “the worst ever experienced by the nation”, stressing that the APC and the Presidency had continued to grope and look for excuses.

The statement read: “Discerning minds were appalled that instead of providing answers to issues of economic retrogression, the Presidency and the APC have resorted to wild allegations and insults to attempt to cover their ineptitude and divert attention from their list of bogus promises which they have no intention to fulfill.

“The PDP has severally expressed its support for a holistic fight against corruption and we have challenged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute all corrupt persons irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations. We are therefore appalled that instead of getting serious with the challenges of governance, the APC is commitment and determination of President Buhari not only to cleaning the Augean Stable but also ensuring purposeful governance for the benefit of Nigerians. ‘’It is clear to Nigerians that the debilitating impact of 16 years of PDP’s misrule cannot be reversed in just three months. It is an obvious truth that it is always easier to destroy than to construct, but

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

bent on inventing excuse for its crass incompetence to create and manage wealth, to the detriment of the nation.

“We challenge the APC and the Presidency to be honest enough to respond to issues instead of resorting to propaganda.

Is the so-called mess clearing an answer for the adamant stance of the APC and President Buhari in running a government without a cabinet and precise fiscal policy direction, a strange totalitarian approach that have taken serious toll on the economy and the polity in general?

“Is it an answer to the resort to constitutional violations, abuse of financial regulations, halting of development projects and the pervading uncertainty that resulted in the retarding of domestic and foreign direct investments with attendant avoidable losses to Nigerians?

“What has the APC and the Presidency to say to the official report by the National Bureau of Statistics that while they are busy celebrating imaginary achievements, the economy is running aground with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunging with about 2.35 per cent, with job creation dropping by 69 percent under their watch?

“Are we not already experiencing the consequences of abuse of rules such as the foisting of foreign exchange transaction restrictions in violation of the the Foreign Exchange Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions Act, otherwise known as Decree No. 17 of 1995?”

nothing will stand in the way of the Buhari administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Nigerians and making our country to function again,’’ it said.

It said a major cog in the wheel of faster progress for the new Nigeria under President Buhari has been the discovery that the pot housing the commonwealth has been licked dry by the looters of yesterday,

hence the need to work meticulously to recover the looted funds and facilitate the delivery of good governance that will manifest in abundant jobs, strong economy and improved welfare and security for Nigerians.

APC said while the PDP, ever steeped in the pursuit of lies, presents the recently released data on job creation and economic growth as ‘clear sig-

nals’ that President Muhammadu Buhari was failing Nigerians, the disgraced party mischievously omitted the fact that those numbers were basically a manifestation of the disastrous final days of ex-President Jonathan’s failed economic policies. ‘’The PDP omitted the fact that these numbers measure job creation and economic growth for the second quarter of 2015, which covers April to June 2015, a period in which ex-President Jonathan was in office for two months while President Buhari was only just settling in to discover even more of the mess left for him to clear. No one in his or her right mind will hold someone more accountable for actions in just one month and exonerate another who was in the same office for two months. ‘’Since the PDP has become insular to global events, the APC will also like to educate the party that every country in the world is struggling to adjust to the effects of a global downturn at the moment.

Only very few countries, if any, are growing as fast as they did, in say two years ago. From China, India, Russia, South Africa, to Ghana, Malaysia and Brazil, every country is feeling the effects of a sustained slowdown in global growth. ‘’The APC will also like to categorically say that it supports the policies of the CBN in its quest to ensure greater transparency in the forex market and eliminate currency substitution in our economy.

The CBN’s policy to stop cash deposits of foreign currency is in line with global best practices and has led to a drastic reduction in BDC exchange rate for the Dollar.”

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

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ETIRED Archbishop of Lagos, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie yesterday said an end to insurgency within three months was possible if the right equipment was available.

He stated this at the Tamandu Barracks in Lagos, during the silver jubilee to mark the Priestly ordination of an Army Chaplain, Colonel Charles Ireogbu.

He however noted that there were factors to be considered if the service chiefs were expected to deliver on the insurgency deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Okogie said that aside equipment, training of the soldiers as well as determination and prayers could also end terrorism in the country.

“Three months will be possible provided the equipment is there and functioning, if the soldiers are well trained and ready to fight,’’ he said.

At the event was the General Officer Commanding, (GOC), 81 Division, Major General Isidore Edet, as well as other senior officers and men of the division.

In his remark, Iroegbu who said he was proud to be an army officer, said it was fulfilling for him to serve his country in that capacity.

Buhari consoles Adefuye’s family •Says ex-envoy was a patriot From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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•From left: Head of Ports Operation, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Suleiman Isa, Mr. Joseph Ajewole of the Trade and Exchange Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Abdullahi Usman of the CBN and Comptroller Aber Terseer Benjamin of the Nigeria Custom Service ICT Modernisation Department during the interaction on SON’se-certificate in Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

How adulterators are killing our business, by firm IGERIA Ball Point Pen Industries Plc, producers of BIC shaving stick, has lamented the large scale counterfeiting of its product by an Onitshabased company, Bendusco international Agency and D&K Industries limited.

The company’s National Sales Officer Mr Fatai Olashore, who is also the representative of BIC in Nigeria, said “Bendusco International Agency Ltd and D&K Industries have engaged in manufacturing, importing and selling of fake BIC Shaving sticks for over 12 years.” ”The search for the location of the factory where the ne-

‘Boko Haram can end in three months if...’

farious and illegal manufacturing of BIC Shaving sticks was carried out lasted for over six years from 2006 to 2012 when we discovered its first factory in Nwaziki street, Awada, Onitsha and sought the assistance of relevant agencies, such as Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which raided the factory and seized some equipment on September 26, 2012.“ He spoke in Lagos at the weekend against the background of the protest last week in Awka by Bendusco for the alleged “high handedness of officials of the SON” for seizing its products.

Leader of the protesters

Benjamin Nwizu during the protest recalled that “SON seized factory tools and machinery worth over N194 million” from its Lagos office and “locked up the place.”

The representative of BIC, who displayed the adulterated products, said “a raid led to the recovery of millions of fake, adulterated and substandard BIC shaving sticks.

This did not discourage the adulterator, who established two other illegal factories in Nsugbe Road in Onitsha and on the Onitsha-Owerri road with increased activities.”.

He recalled that in November 2014, “due to relentless efforts in getting rid of fake BIC

products from our markets coupled with the aggressiveness of SON in supporting the growth of local industries, two illegal industries operated by Bendusco were raided and closed by SON with the assistance of other relevant security agencies.”

The Nigerian Ball Point Pen Industries said it laid off employees because of the reduction, adding that adulterated products affect consumers’ life, health and money apart from undermining confidence in BIC shaving stick safety and effectiveness.

He said fake BIC sticks “cause rashes and bumps on the skin of unsuspecting users.”

Workers of BENDUSCO last week marched to the office of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), demanding for the sack of the Director-General and a director in the agency for fraudulent practices and frustration of indigenous companies in the state.

The protesters blocked the capital city of Awka, Anambra State with placards with different inscriptions.

Addressing reporters after the protest, the leader of the group, Mr. Benjamin Nwizu, alleged that his life was being threatened by officials of SON for refusing to offer bribe.

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has described the late Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, as a patriot whose contributions to the interest of Nigeria were considerable.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said he was shocked by the death of the diplomat.

Buhari, who spoke on telephone on Saturday with the wife of the late envoy, who is still in the United States, recalled that the late Ambassador Adefuye had contributed immensely to making his official engagement in the United States of America fruitful and successful.

He noted that Mr. Adefuye was in attendance at all his engagements during the July official visit to the U.S. President Buhari maintained that he was proud to encounter such an ardently patriotic diplomat, who put higher national interest above partisan loyalty.

He called on Nigerian leaders to emulate his fine virtues.

He prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest in peace, and give his family the fortitude to bear the great and irreparable loss of a noted public officer.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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APC faults Fayose’s ‘tax burden’ on Ekiti

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KITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted a new regime of taxes and levies imposed on residents by Governor Ayo Fayose.

The party, which said the new taxes and levies would make life unbearable for the residents, added that imposition of higher taxes on Ekiti people was contrary to the electoral promises made to them by Fayose before the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

The governor, APC said, pledged to execute policies to make life easier for the electorate.

Fayose had while featuring on his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, on Friday announced a series of new taxes payable by private schools, business owners, house developers, traders, butchers, corporate organisations and other segment of the population.

The governor said the new taxes and levies were sacrifices people must offer to assist his administration to meet their yearnings following the shortfall in the allocations received from the

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Federation Account, which, he said, could only pay workers’ salaries.

Reacting to the new regime of taxes and levies, the APC, in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said Fayose, by his action, had shown that he was not a friend of the common man as he claimed to be.

Olatunbosun regretted that 10 months on, what Ekiti people saw was a reversal of fortunes under “an administration that has made deceit and lies as official policies of administration”.

He said Fayose had allegedly turned Ekiti people to puns in a political chess game, regretting that the people with prospects for success in their calling had been turned into “babies without reason”.

Olatunbosun said: “What we have experienced in the hands of Governor Fayose is turning Ekiti people to babies without reason. He believes Ekiti people have no capacity for reasoning or that they have short memories and incapable of knowing their rights or that

they can easily be incapacitated to insist on their rights.

“This we have seen in his reckless breaking of promises to the people in the last 10 months of his administration after running down his opponent’s life-lifting policies with the promise that Ekiti people’s lives would be better under his administration, if voted into power.

“Fayose promised market women freedom to ply their trade anywhere they wished, saying he would not bother them with taxes or chase them with the environmental task force.”

He added: “But today, Fayose is not only chasing them away from their trading points, he is also destroying their wares, including pepper and tomatoes, and imposing unbearable taxes that the traders cannot afford if they are to make any profit while market women are also being dislodged from their stalls and heavy fees imposed on them to acquire stalls in the new market he is planning to build.

“How much does a poor pepper and tomatoes seller makes that the governor is

asking them to pay the magnitude of taxes he is imposing on them?

“As we speak, he is planning to force uniform to be supplied by the government on commercial motorcyclists at a fee while also planning to be collecting taxes from the okada operators, who he promised free reign during his campaigns, the same way he wants to be collecting tax on each cow slaughtered a day by butchers, who cry out over low daily sales.

“Unfortunately, it is the children of these same poor people that Fayose has imposed education levies and examination fees in both primary and secondary schools on the excuse that it is those that don’t pay for their education that fail in their examinations and we wonder whether Yoruba people that didn’t pay for their education during Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education days didn’t pass their examinations or whether beneficiaries of that free education are now failures in their communities.”

Olatunbosun, who described the governor’s action

as “callous and reckless”, said breaking promises made to the electorate did not portray the governor as possessing the needed integrity to take Ekiti to greater heights.

The APC spokesman said rather than build on the policies of the immediate past administration aimed at giving economic empowerment to the people, Fayose not only cancelled them, but is now adding to their burden.

He regretted that the beneficiaries of the economic empowerment initiatives of the immediate past administration had been left in the lurch while those promised by Fayose during electioneering campaign had been fooled and made to wait for Manna that might not come.

Olatunbosun added: “Fayose, while vilifying Governor Kayode Fayemi for paying what he (Fayose) called a ‘pittance’ of N5,000 to Ekiti elderly people, promised during his campaigns to increase their monthly pay to N10,000 while also promising youths thousands of jobs and asked them to submit their application letters at his campaign office at his Spotless Hotel.

“Today, Fayose has cancelled the social security scheme for the elderly and the poor elderly people that cherished Fayemi’s gesture to ensure their sustenance now live on charity and some in hopelessness.

“The application letters he asked youths to write and submit at his campaign office are now common wrappers with groundnut sellers on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, thus creating double tragedy for Ekiti youths.

“For instance, the youth engaged in commercial agriculture production receiving sponsorship by Fayemi’s administration have been sent packing, same with thousands of youths in volunteer corps and hundreds of youths engaged in traffic management.

“Youth entrepreneurial and apprenticeship scheme by Fayemi that could make youths employers of labour has also been cancelled by Fayose and in their place, he introduced stomach infrastructure that gives a measure of rice and three-month-old fowls to Ekiti people every Christmas.”

Osunkeye marks 75th birthday Sept 7

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•From left: Sales Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc Mr. Adewale Arikawe; One million naira winner of the Peak Reach for Millions Promo, Amaka Nweke and Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc Mr. Rahul Colaco, at the presentation of prizes in Enugu...at the weekend.

OARDROOM guru and Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International Chief Olusegun Oladipo Osunkeye will on Monday, September 7, mark his 75th Birthday with a holy communion service at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The service, according to a statement by Intermedia Communications Company, would start by 10am.

The statement said members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, top government functionaries, the academia, the clergy and other well-wishers would attend the event.

Dignitaries expected include Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Nicholas Okoh; Anglican Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan Most Rev. (Prof.) Abiodun Akinde; industrialist and cofounder of Egba Science Education Foundation, Chief Olatunde

Abudu, among many other captains of industry.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, will lead royal fathers to the event.

Osunkeye is former chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, the International Chamber of Commerce, Pilot Securities, as well as volunteer mentor and consultant to Nigerian youths through FATE Foundation.

He is also a past-president of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Glaxosmithkline.

Osunkeye is known to have supervised the establishment of Nestlé’s N12 billion plant at the Sagamu Interchange as well as the N70 billion 2.5 metric tonnes latest production line of Lafarge WAPCO, Ewekoro, among others.

47 princes from four ruling houses in race for Ooni

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O fewer than 47 aspirants have indicated interest in the contest for Ooni of Ife’s throne, it was learnt at the weekend.

The late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, passed away on July 28. He was 85.

The mourning of the monarch ended last weekend, clearing the way for aspirants to register their intention officially.

From across the four ruling houses, over 47 princes have signified their intention to succeed Sijuwade.

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

Of the lot, 35 princes have submitted intention letters from the Giesi ruling house alone.

The ruling house is expected to produce the next Ooni, according to a government gazette.

But 11 princes from the ruling house have been shortlisted from the 35 pushing for the stool.

Among those shortlisted

Youths urge kingmakers to consider tradition

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GROUP, The Cradle Youths, has urged Ife kingmakers to consider the tradition of the ancient town in installing the next Ooni.

In a statement by its co-ordinator, Mr. Kunle Elusayo, the Ife-based group described as an abomination an attempt to pick a prince that has been conferred with a chieftaincy title.

The statement reads: “As a prince, it is an abomination to offer and receive any chieftaincy title, regardless of the prestige and ovation associated with such a title. A prince is a prospective king. Being a prince places one at a vintage position ahead of any chieftaincy title and such cannot be

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

compromised.

“Only those who are not princes are given chieftaincy titles and chiefs are not qualified to be Ooni of Ife. Princes are never conferred with chieftaincy titles. Once a prince, always a prince. This is a popular Yoruba custom.

“It is, therefore, odd to see chiefs coming out to say they want to be Ooni, which is impossible. Their declaration of intention is in the first place an embarrassment to our tradition.”

•11 make Giesi ruling house’s shortlist From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan and Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

are Princes Aderemi Adeniran, Alani Adelowo, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Taye Ogunleye, Adegboyega Ologbenla and Gbadegesin Ologbenla.

Others are Princes Adetunji Adeyemi Ogunwusi, Bankola Ojulalayo Adediwura, Adegboyega Adediran, Olajide Adejoba, and Adetona Sikiru Ayedun.

However, names of the proprietor of the Oduduwa University, Prince Rahman Adedoyin, and the DirectorGeneral of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Prince Soji Fadehan are not listed.

It was gathered that 35 princes from the ruling house initially showed interest in contesting the stool.

But to increase the chances of the ruling house, a committee was set up to work on

the list of contestants.

It was learnt that the ruling house held a meeting at the weekend at the family’s compound on Agbedede lane in Ile-Ife to screen the contestants.

After the meeting yesterday, the report of the Selection Screening Committee was submitted to Prince Modupe Fadehan, the family head of Giesi.

A source at the meeting said the screening was fair.

Preferring not to be named, the source said: “Well, that is a good development for us and we are sure that a good man will be picked as the Ooni. This is the normal process and we know it won’t cause any disaffection.

“The normal thing is that the ruling house will send names of qualified candidates to the kingmakers. For instance, the Ogboru family sent 14 names out of which the late Oba Sijuwade emerged.”

It was not clear if the kingmakers had narrowed the

contest down to only the Giesi Ruling House, which last produced an Ooni over a century ago, when Derin Ologbenla ruled the town.

In the Lafogido ruling house, no fewer than 10 princes are interested in the stool with at least one each from Osinkola and Ogboru ruling houses.

Another source from Lafogido ruling house, who preferred anonymity, said that the ruling house had not adopted any aspirant.

According to him, a meeting of the committee of the entire ruling house, which comprises eight royal families, is slated for today where aspirants are also expected to appear.

Intention forms have been designed and some aspirants have picked the forms.

Sources in Ile Oodua, the Ooni’s palace, said letters requesting submission of names of qualified candidates from the kingmakers may be sent out to ruling houses this week.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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NEWS Jobi-Fele’s wife dies at 69 From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE wife of the late business mogul and industrialist, Chief Mohammed Jobi-Fele, yesterday died at the age of 69.

Mrs. Nafisat Jobi-Fele died after a brief illness and her remains had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

The deceased, a businesswoman, was buried at her home in Ikare-Akoko after prayers led by the Chief Imam of Akoko.

She was until her death a community leader in Ikare Akoko.

In a statement by Mr. Oladapo Jobi-Fele, the family said the deceased would be missed for her generosity and philanthropy.

The deceased’s husband was until his death a business icon and philanthropist, who contributed immensely to the development of Ondo State.

Jobi-Fele, a foremost industrialist, died in March, 2011.

Seven die in Oyo-Ogbomoso road crash

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EVEN people were killed yesterday when a commercial bus and an articulated vehicle ran into each other on the OgbomosoOyo road.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that many other occupants of the bus sustained injuries.

A witness, who gave his name as Tayo, told NAN that

the accident happened when an Ilorin-bound commercial bus overtook a Sport Utility Vehicle and tried to manoeuvre its way back to its lane but failed.

“When I got to the accident scene some moments after it occurred, people were assisting the accident victims,” he said.

He said that the driver of the

bus did not sustain any injury.

NAN gathered that six people died on the spot while another victim died on the way to the hospital.

Spokesman of the Oyo Police Command Mr. Addekunle Ajisebutu said he had not been briefed by the divisional police officers in Oyo town and Ogbomoso.

Also yesterday, a truck car-

rying 33,000 litres of fuel was said to have somersaulted ýin the Taki area of Ogbomoso and emptied its contents in a gutter.

According to another witness, who preferred anonymity, many people rushed to the scene to scoop fuel.ý Security men were said to have been despatched to the scene to prevent any casualty.

Ondo alleges plan to attack Mimiko

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NDO State government has alleged plans by the state’s “enemies” to embark on “massive propaganda” against Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his administration.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in a statement in Akure yesterday, said the state government had uncovered the “planned attack”, which, he claimed, has been scripted to begin with a series of petitions against Mimiko and his administration.

Akinmade said the plan followed “several failed attempts by adversaries to indict the governor through petitions written against him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)”.

He alleged that a meeting was held at Abuja in the house of a prominent Ondo politician, where a lawyer was assigned to write frivolous petitions against Mimiko using framed-up allegations, especially as it concerned the State Oil Produc-

ing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The commissioner said the “lawyer is expected to begin his assignment with a petition against the governor in what the meeting said should be another framed up allegations on the spending of funds allocated to the agency”.

He said a meeting also took place at the Lagos Airport hotel a few days ago, where lawyers and rights activists were recruited for a massive campaign against Mimiko on radio, television, social media and newspapers .

Describing the plans as “mere shadow chasing that will fail like the previous ones”, Akinmade said Mimiko has become the subject of attack because of his role as a rallying point for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akinmade said: “Mimiko, who is no doubt one of the most credible conscience of the PDP in this country and a reliable rallying-point for members of the party, will not be distracted by anybody or group who are out on political vendetta.”

Ogungbangbe is Owaloko-elect From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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INGMAKERS have elected Prince Akeem Benjamin Ogungbangbe as the Owaloko-elect of Iloko-Ijesha in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State.

The kingmakers, who were made up of high chiefs, warrant chiefs and other reputable members of the royal class at the weekend, elected Ogungbangbe after two years of Oba Oladele Olashore’s demise.

Ogungbangbe, who polled 11 votes out of the 13 votes cast, emerged victorious and was declared winner of the election in line with the traditions of the kingdom.

Confirming Ogungbangbe’s victory, the Chairman, Iloko Traditional Council and Kingmakers, High Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, said there were 11 regular kingmakers and four warrant chiefs, purposely appointed by the government to elect a new Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa.

He explained that of the 15 kingmakers,13 participated and voted for the candidates of their choices.

The other two, he added, “absconded for reasons best known to them”.

He said: “The four ruling houses were duly notified to submit one or two candidates each in accordance with the dictates of Iloko Chieftaincy Declaration. But eventually, seven candidates were presented and their names were submitted.

“Prince Akeem Benjamin Ogungbangbe of Ajagbusi-Ekun Ruling House won the election with 11 votes by defeating other six candidates.”

He adjudged the election process as peaceful, transparent, credible, free and fair.

Ogunsanya said the community was only waiting for the final announcement from the state government in consonance with the procedures taken by the kingmakers.

•From left: The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, 40th Annual General Meeting of the Pharmacological Conference, Mr Caleb Mpyet; President, Pharmacological Society of Nigeria, Prof. Sebastian Nwosu; and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Nanbam Bupwatela, at the 40th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the society in Jos...at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

We ’ll form next govt in Ondo, says APC

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NDO State All Progressives Congress (APC), at the weekend, indicated its readiness to mobilise the people ahead of 2016 governorship election to ensure it form the next government.

Its spokesman, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, said this at a “thank-you dinner” hosted by the state’s Coordinator of Buhari Vanguard, Mr. Kayode Fakuyi, for members in Akure.

Adesanya urged the group to complete the change revolution by joining forces with the party’s leadership to install the next government in Ondo State

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

in 2016.

He said: “I am proud of you as worthy ambassadors of change. The regime of deceit and propaganda in government is gradually winding up in Ondo State. You must join forces with us to win the next governorship election.

“By the grace of God, the people of Ondo State, who the Mimiko-led government has impoverished and subjected to untold hardship, will be rescued by APC.” Fakuyi assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari would “uphold the spir-

it of fairness to all geo-political zones as he continues to steer the ship of the country in the direction of change”.

He added: “It is time for good governance and your support is needed for the government to succeed. Some leaders have been holding meetings and assemblies on Yoruba and Southern agenda. But should any agenda be bigger than our collective agenda for good governance?

“They call it strategic agenda, but there is nothing strategic about it. It is just the agenda of a few to blackmail and rubbish the government of Mr. President. We must frustrate

their shenanigans.

“They promoted Southern agenda under Dr. Jonathan for about six years. Please ask them the development it brought to our state. Even in Otuoke, I read in the papers that water is still a scarce commodity. Permit me to use this medium to call on our caring president to help the people of Otuoke with safe pipe-borne water.

“Mr. President remains a trusted leader and I can assure you that Mr. President will be fair to all zones. There is no alternative to change and I urge you and all Nigerians to continually support our President.”

Ekiti disburses N144m vehicle/housing loans to teachers

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KITI State government has disbursed N144 million as vehicle and housing loans to 712 teaching and non-teaching workers.

Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Toyin Ojo, who said this in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, added that N63 million of the amount was disbursed as car loans to 257 teaching and nonteaching personnel according to their grade levels.

He explained that the vehicle loans range from N250, 000 to N1million for benefitting teachers on Grade Levels

•Govt vows to demolish illegal structures From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

7 to 16. Junior non-teaching staff from Grade Levels 1 to 6 received N70, 000.

Ojo said the balance of N81million was disbursed as first and second tranche of housing loans to 455 teaching and non-teaching workers.

He noted that Governor Ayo Fayose had last month approved N119 million as car loans to 623 workers despite of the prevailing paucity of

funds.

The commissioner explained that the gesture would reduce the burden of obtaining bank loans with its attendant high interest rate.

He assured that the exercise would be continuous, saying interested teachers would benefit from the schemes.

The state government has served a notice to demolish all ‘illegal attachments’ to shops in markets in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Commissioner for Lands,

Housing and Urban Development, Taelolu Otitoju, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti during the official opening of five blocks of four lock-up shops at the Oja Bisi market in Ado-Ekiti.

He said the illegal extensions to the shops without approval and erection of kiosks under power lines were unwholesome and constitute grave danger to the people.

Princess Adebisi Aderonke pledged on behalf of the other market women to comply with the rules and regulations in the agreement signed with the state government.

Ambode hails ex-GOC 81 Division Dibi for successful career

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AGOS Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend hailed the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Tamunomiebi Dibi, for maintaining peace in the state.

He spoke at a reception held in the general’s honour at the Army Officers’ Mess,

Marina, for a successful career in the Army.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Ibirunke Shodeinde, Ambode noted the relative peace and security enjoyed in the state under the retired general.

Describing Dibi as a principled, calm and committed of-

ficer, the governor stated that the retired general always answered his phone calls despite the time of the day, and always rose to the occasion to ensure security and safety of lives and property.

Dibi, who was pulled out after spending the mandatory 35 years in service, told reporters he had no regrets and no

enemies.

He urged military officers to leave a legacy for their subordinates, as well as make positive impacts on the Nigerian Army.

He said: “To my officers, you must be strong and leave some legacies behind to those who are following you.

“Although I am retired, but

I am not tired. I pledge to continue to keep the Nigerian flag high. Also, other serving military personnel must continue to be loyal.

“As I am being pulled out today, my thoughts are still with the Nigerian Army and the Infantry in particular.

“I, therefore, urge you all to remain loyal, diligent, moti-

vated and disciplined so as to get the best out of the Nigerian Army.”

At the pulling out ceremony were his successor at 81 Division, Major General Isidore Edet; the Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Enwo and other senior military officers.

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CITYBEATS

‘We can’t live together anymore’

Aunt burns niece with pressing iron for ‘sleeping’ with landlady’s son

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•Police detain victim

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16-YEAR-OLD girl, Bimpe Badmus, has been burnt with a hot pressing iron, allegedly by her aunt who accused her of sleeping with their landlady’s son.

The incident occurred on Ogunjirin Street, Ketu on the outskirts of Lagos.

The Nation learnt that Miss Badmus’ aunt sought assistance of two friends, Khadijah and Iya Daniel, to hold her hands and legs before using the iron to burn her on several parts of her body.

Miss Badmus was said to have confessed sleeping with the landlady’s son.

An eyewitness said the girl was severely beaten and chased out of the house.

He said: “They all live in the same compound. It was Khadijah that told Bimpe’s aunt that she was sleeping with the landlady’s son.

Khadijah brought the hot iron from her room and gave it to Miss Badmus’ aunt while she and Iya Daniel held her neck. It was when they chased her out that the neighbours rescued her.

“The annoying thing is that it is not as if these married women are clean. I don’t know why they did that to her. It was when residents couldn’t stand the horrible situation that they took them

By Basirat Braimah

to Ketu Police Station.”

Mr Fatai, who claims to be Miss Badmus’ distant brother, said: “When I got to the police station to see Bimpe, I was sad because the sight was horrible. My sister (Bimpe) was writhing in pains and when I asked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to release her for treatment, he refused. I asked the aunt if she was under a spell to have gone this far because it won’t stop her from having an affair. This is cruel.”

The landlady’s son’s elder sister, Tope Abimbola, said: “Even before they were taken to the police station, she was in pain. I thought she was going to die. I quickly went to a nearby pharmacy to get an ointment to relief her of the pains. It is really painful. She has been admitted at the General Hospital, Ikeja and she is responding to treatment,” he said.

Khadijah’s husband, Jimoh, said his wife had been problematic.

When The Nation visited the police station on Tuesday and asked the DPO why the girl was still being kept despite her condition, the officer declined comment. He walked the reporter out of the premises.

•Miss Badmus

Eye witnesses, neighbours and on-lookers were stunned when the DPO said he did not care if his reactions are published in the newspaper.

But, Bimpe denied sleeping with the landlady’s son. ”He has never slept with me. I am really in pains. I

can’t even go home because I don’t know what will happen. While they tortured me, they kept asking so many questions. I pray God heals me fast,” she said.

Lagos police spokesperson Patricia Amadin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspects had been arrested and will be charged to court.

MIDDLE-AGED woman, Patience Enahoro, has pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her five-year-old marriage to her husband, Julius, over false acusation.

The petitioner, a fashion designer, said their marriage sailed into troubled water in 2011 when her husband accused her of engaging in extra-marital affairs.

“He has never caught me with another man but whenever I returned late from shop, he says all sort of things,” she said.

Mrs Enahoro said her husband secretly followed her to her shop to see the number of men she talked to on her way.

She said: “There was a time I returned from the shop and he accused me of prostituting because I greeted a man on my way to work; I kept wondering how he knew the person I greeted that morning.

“He sent me out of his house and said he didn’t want me and that he wasn’t ready for marriage. After I spent seven-months in my brother’s place, he asked for forgiveness and I came back to him in 2013.”

She further said that three months after she returned, he accused her of fornicating.

“When I moved back to his house, his sisters insisted that I should go to our village for sacrifice but I declined going to the village because I didn’t

By Basirat Braimah

fornicate with any other man.

I even swore with a Bible. As if everything he has done wasn’t enough, my husband said he saw me in a hotel with another man and that made me to park out of his house. I can’t continue to live with a man who doesn’t trust his wife; we can’t even live together anymore,” Mrs Enahoro said.

The respondent, Mr Julius Enahoro, said the misunderstanding started during courtship and it was because his wife returned home late from work.

He said his wife was fond of receiving phone calls at night and whenever he complained, she wouldn’t listen.

“Whenever I scold her for returning home late, she abused me. She doesn’t want to see me with any of my relations and I have told her brothers on several occasions. I once packed her things out of the house but later had a deep thought and took her back ,” he said.

Enahoro said when she left; he tried so many efforts to reconcile with her but her brother beat him.

“Her family is not in support of our union. I don’t trust her anymore and we can’t live together. I also want her out of my life,” he said.

The Court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams adjourned till October 20.

Court dissolves 22-year-old union

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N Agege Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved the 18year-old union between Mr and Mrs Nurudeen Lawal.

The Court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, ruled that the parties ceased to be husband and wife and free to go their separate ways.

The petitioner, Mrs Mariam Lawal, had sought the dissolution of her marriage over the long separation between them.

“We have been separated for seven years but whenever he sees me in public, he embarrasses me in the presence of my friends, especially the opposite sex. Despite the fact that he had married another woman, he doesn’t want to see me with another man. There was a time he assaulted a male friend and tore his clothes. He is very troublesome and I need free-

By Basirat Braimah

dom,” she said.

The mother of two said she has been paying the schools fees of her daughter who lives with her. The boy lives with his father.

Lawal, 48, said they were separated for five years and not seven years.

He said his daughter, who lives with his wife, was not going to school.

But the petitioner presented her daughter’s school receipts and reports cards.

Williams further ruled that the children’s education and medical expenses should be the parties’ responsibility and ordered the respondent to pay N5,000 monthly for his daughter’s upkeep.

The union produced two children aged 12 and 17.

Council poll: Aspirant denies quitting race

A •Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule (second left), Head of Service, Mrs Shade Jaji (left), Executive Secretary, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area Princess Adunni Oyefusi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr Toyin Onisarotu during the monthly environmental sanitiation at Ikorodu at the weekend.

Ex-Lagos council boss loses father

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ORMER Chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Abiodun Mafe has lost his father.

The deceased, Alhaji Moshood Mafe Mayeleke, died last Friday and was buried the same day according to Islamic rites.

The late Mayaleke’s remains were interred at Porogun near Ita-Osu in IjebuOde, Ogun State.

Before his demise, he was a community and a religious

leader.

Aged 96, the late Mayeleke was a successful businessman and commanded respects from the community.

According to his son, Alhaji Mafe, the deceased was a devout Muslim, disciplinarian and very accommodating.

Mafe said the Eight-day Fidau (Prayer) will hold on Thursday at Itayo Street, Porogun, Ita-Osu, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

“We’ve lost a loving father; a shrewd businessman. I will deeply miss his words of ad-

We’ve lost a loving father; a shrewd businessman. I will deeply miss his words of advice vice,” he said.

The late Mayeleke was survived by children, grand children and great grand children.

•The late Mayeleke

CHAIRMANSHIP aspirant at the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos, Babatunde Okeyomi, has denied quitting the race.

He described as rumours the news that he has opted out of the race.

According to a statement signed by Okeyomi, (aka Carry-Go), the news was a figment of the imagination of those behind it.

Addressing his supporters at Alakuko, the aspirant said he is well prepared for the job, adding that as a loyal and committed party member, he will not waiver in his commitment to ensure that his party wins the chairmanship seat in the area.

He said: “Our respected party leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, had advised me, and other aspir-

ants to avoid acrimonies and quarrels in our quest for any elective office, and I stand by that admonition.

“As a loyal party member, and one who has invested so much into the development of Ojokoro community, I will always abide by the rules and regulations of our party; I won’t disappoint any of you, as I have mapped out my winning strategies, including getting the endorsement of our highly-respected party.”

Some of the youths said their supports for Okeyomi were borne out of their conviction that he has good plans for the council.

One of the youths, Kehinde Joseph, described Okeyomi as a “visionary and humane politician, who has been empowering us over the years; we will resist the imposition of any unpopular person.”

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

NASS jumbo pay • The problem is not the basic salary but the magical allowances

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PRESSURE group, the Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT), has perhaps raised the most profound query over National Assembly’s (NASS) hefty pay.

“From 1999 to 2003, he earned N6million a year, from which he paid his aides,” MNTT quoted a South West senator, in the first senate of the present dispensation. “What fortune has befallen Nigeria, that made N6 million a year for each senator, from 1999 to 2003, become N48 million a year, which is now N4 million a month, as disclosed by the RMAFC chairman?”

The body, chaired by Chief Areoye Oyebola, former editor of the defunct Daily Times, was reacting to a claim by Elias Ebam, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which constitutional role was to fix salaries and emoluments of political office holders.

What has happened between 1999 and now — NASS has got more opaque and progressively brazen in helping itself to the common wealth it is constitutionally charged to guard and fairly appropriate?

And RMAFC, progressively defanged, it could only wring its hands and point, near sotto voce, to an all-powerful culprit, NASS? To be fair, the public has been trenchant from the very beginning. But it would appear Nigerians could only bark, not bite. And horrors of horrors: by exclusively passing its own budget, and proceeding to share the pork among its members as it deemed fit, NASS is guilty of incestuous budgeting.

That, indeed, does great violence to the doctrine of separation of powers; and its twin, checks-and-balances, on which presidentialism is anchored; and on which constitutionally robust platform

NASS earned its over-sight function.

It is therefore a condemnable case of wilful oversight, for NASS, by its opaque budgeting, to brazenly corner a mighty chunk of the common wealth, leaving the people, its electoral masters, to wallow in poverty. That is absolutely unacceptable.

But even now, nobody appears sure of any fact — so near-impregnable is NASS’s fiscal opacity — beyond the jumbo yearly NASS budget of N150 billion, since 2010. Premium Times, an online newspaper claims, after an investigation, that the 360 members of the House of Representatives gross a yearly N6.58 billion, in salaries and allowances. The corresponding figure for the 109-member Senate is N2.14 billion.

From the RMAFC, however, there is no definitive figure, not on the extant basic salary, not on allowances, only a plaintive moan from Mr. Ebam, that no NASS member should earn more than N1million a month, at the end of its current review. That certainly is not good enough. How could the RMAFC have been so remiss in its constitutional duty of over-seeing the pay of public office holders, elected and appointed?

Mr. Ebam pleads poor funding; and argues RMAFC should be financially autonomous, by charging its funds to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. He also calls for power to enforce its recommendations. That is not unreasonable, though the call for charge into the Consolidated Fund smells like some fiscal empire building, which should not be necessary, had there been good faith all round. Anyway, whatever help RMAFC needs, to ensure sanity in public holders’ salaries, it should get. But the practicability of any radical amendment to the extant law appears dim, since NASS would be crucial

to the process, since its forte is law-making.

Whatever it takes, the Buhari Presidency should do all it could to aid RMAFC right all the wrongs, in this lopsided salary scandal. NASS, for its public image and brand equity, should also cooperate. And if it doesn’t, the courts should weigh in to pronounce on any constitutional grey areas.

In the final analysis, what to focus on is not the basic salaries, per se, but those magical allowances, which appear unconscionably loaded. More transparency in executive procedures would instantly cut out the ever-recurring sleaze in legislative over-sight functions, which make many a legislator hanker after “juicy committees”. More on the executive: it must also drastically cut down on the perks of ministers and allied presidential appointees. It is no use roasting elected legislators, but letting presidential appointees wallow in their own unearned luxuries.

Government is to serve but not to be served. The earlier this ethos is imbibed, the better Nigerian governments would maximally utilise scarce resources, ensure economic growth, and deliver development and ultimate prosperity.

‘Whatever it takes, the Buhari Presidency should do all it could to aid RMAFC right all the wrongs, in this lopsided salary scandal. NASS, for its public image and brand equity, should also cooperate. And if it doesn’t, the courts should weigh in to pronounce on any constitutional grey areas’

TETFund’s request

• The Federal Government should scrutinise its proposal before taking a decision on it

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HOULD the two per cent education tax levied on the assessable profit of businesses operating in Nigeria to finance the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) be increased? This question has become relevant in light of recent hints by the executive secretary of the fund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, that such a measure may be in the works.

According to Bogoro, the Federal Ministry of Education has sent comprehensive plans to the Presidency in which a rise in the education tax was recommended. The increase could raise the tax to anything between three per cent and four per cent of company profits, and it is apparently in response to mounting pressure on TETFund to increase the scope and depth of its intervention in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

‘TETFund and the benefitting institutions need to do more to ensure that they make full use of what is currently available before demanding more. TETFund must redouble its efforts to publicise the availability of infrastructural development and research funds; the tertiary institutions must retool their systems, procedures and processes to enable them to better utilise the fund’s services’

In a country undergoing deep spending cuts due to revenue shortfalls stemming from steep declines in the price of crude oil, it is obvious that increased efforts must be made to maximise the generation of internal revenues. An increase in the education tax is in line with this trend, especially given the fact that it is targetted at providing vital funding for tertiary institutions which have long struggled with the challenges of decrepit infrastructure, inadequate equipment and decreased research output.

TETFund’s past achievements in this regard are a clear demonstration of the impact of its interventions on the Nigerian tertiary education system. Federal and state-owned universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country provide incontrovertible evidence of TETFund involvement, particularly administrative buildings, laboratories, libraries, vehicles and research grants, most of which are being put to beneficial use.

However, the proposed increase leaves far too many questions unanswered. Was corporate Nigeria consulted on the decision to raise the education tax? To what extent has TETFund’s income been properly accounted for? How well have TETFund finances been utilised by the benefitting institutions? Such questions speak to the vital necessity of ensuring that taxes of this kind are not levied for their own sake. The country is witness to the mess made of the pensions of civil servants and retired soldiers; repeated acts of misappropriation have made billionaires of a few individuals while

Failure is not an option IR: ‘’Failure is not an option for us. We will not contemplate it’’. These were the words of President Muhammadu Buhari at the United States Institute for Peace in Washington DC during his four-day visit on the invitation of President Obama. Nigeria is not in the best of times. This is no longer news. All the sectors of the country’s economy are in a state of near-collapse. This calls for great concern by both the governing party and the opposition party because our common goal should be to sacrifice for the future and future generation of Nigerians.

Here is food for thought for everyone: exchange rate is N241 to $1; the rate of unemployment is over 23 per cent; foreign and domestic debt is over $10 billion; rate of inflation is about 10 per cent; rate of poverty is over 70 per cent. How do Nigerians survive these poor economic indices? Most companies are already downsizing in addition to the millions of unemployed youths roaming the streets on a daily basis. Nigeria’s economy continues to be import-dependent with the manufacturing sector struggling to come back to life.

The National Assembly must cooperate with the President and avoid any attempt at playing politics with the lives of Nigerians in carrying out their duties. This is not to say that they should abandon their constitutional responsibilities of checking the executive arm of government. But they must support the Buhari administration in his change agenda so that he can succeed. The National Assembly must work for the good of Nigerians and in the interest of vulnerable populations.

Putting the people first should be the watchword of every public office holder and politician.

Members of the 8th National Assembly, both the lower and upper chambers must work on and pass bills that will directly impact the lives of poor Nigerians who are having a hard time on account of the poor state of the country’s economy. They cannot afford to fail Nigerians again. Nigerians deserve bills aimed at alleviating their sufferings and improving their standard of living.

Bills such as the Expansion of NHIS bill; Deficit reduction bill; Balanced budget bill; Jobs creation bill; Child’s right bill; Disability bill; Elderly and Pensioners bill, among others, should be worked on and passed speedily and without delay.

Nigeria would have moved closer to achieving its potential if public office holders had been responsible and spent our common wealth judiciously. Now is the time for politicians to come up with plans and actions to meet the needs of the Nigerian people.

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pensioners have died without receiving their entitlements.

Although it cannot be said with any certainty that TETFund has similarly become a cesspool of corrupt enrichment, there appear to be certain anomalies • Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola is the author which seem to indicate that its funds may not have been put to optimum use, in of ‘’Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: Winding Road from Country to Naspite of its extensive interventions.

In November 2014, the then Minister of tion’’ Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, announced that N7.8 billion, amounting to more than 70 per cent of the N10.052 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM billion in research funds domiciled in Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief TETFund, had not been touched. If pubVictor Ifijeh lic tertiary institutions have been unable • Editor • Executive Director to make use of the funds currently availGbenga Omotoso (Finance & Administration) able to them under a two per cent educa- •Chairman, Editorial Ade Odunewu Board tion tax regime, what is the guarantee that Sam Omatseye • Gen. Manager they will be able to do so if the tax rises to •General Editor (Training and Development) Adekunle Ade-Adeleye three per cent or four per cent?

Soji Omotunde Then there is the issue of exactly what •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •General Manager (Abuja Press) TETFund money is expended on, such as Kehinde Olowu Editor the N27 billion which has been spent on •Managing Northern Operation Yusuf Alli overseas education. It is difficult to jus•AGM (PH Press) •Managing Editor tify such a policy when it would clearly Tunde Olasogba Waheed Odusile have been better to use such funds to re•Advert Manager •Deputy Editor habilitate indigenous institutions and Lawal Ogienagbon Robinson Osirike thereby expand their capacity to train stu- •Deputy Editor (News) •IT/Pre-Press Manager Adeniyi Adesina dents locally.

TETFund and the benefitting institu- •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager tions need to do more to ensure that they Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi make full use of what is currently avail- •Group Political Editor able before demanding more. TETFund Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel must redouble its efforts to publicise the •Group Business Editor John Unachukwu Simeon Ebulu availability of infrastructural develop• Manager (Admin) ment and research funds; the tertiary in- •Group Sports Editor Folake Adeoye Ade Ojeikere stitutions must retool their systems, pro•Acting Manager (sales) cedures and processes to enable them to •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni better utilise the fund’s services.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The latest appointment of persons released by the presidency on Thursday, August 27, 2015 into principal positions to serve in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration- in another world would not generate any furore. Think about it - the success or failure of any president hinges on the strength, capability of people appointed to cabinet positions - to fly with the president’s vision.

Personages whose track record he is familiar with, people he can trust, that he only needs to tell his expectations and not tell what to do. The other president, many still say failed to discharge his responsibilities to the citizens - largely due to the fact that he peopled his administration with folks who saw public offices as a gateway to feed, make history, were ineffective, largely insecure, most without vision, hence many team members under them did not have the drive, were not motivated correctly to pursue national goals and they advised the president wrongly so as to protect their nest eggs.

What is not in doubt with this president - is the qualification of the persons appointed by Mr. President, they are big picture players with track records that are undeniable. It can be deduced therefore that flowing with the vision of the president might not only be easy but it may perhaps be accepted, put to use, make it work and value added to the president’s vision.

At the president’s present age - he needs visionaries on his team to lighten his burden. People committed to give a first-rate service always, know that output matters more than input, solution providers and not pessimists, who can carry out tough assignments and not patronise him.

The disquieting picture, on the other hand - is that the president’s first and second appointments - it would appear shows a positive discrimination for the north over the other regions - a very dangerous trend.

Coalition made this president, President, and side stepping balance and equality for one-sidedness will absolutely rock the Nigerian boat which almost keeled over, under the stewardship of the other party and president.

While I do not believe in mollification for its sake, it is only natural

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

Mr. President, Nigeria na we own in a democracy that groups which coalesced to pave the way for the electoral victory of this president need be appointed into offices, of course on merit.

Non-partisan interpreters, like this writer, who caught the bug of, and threw his hat in the ring for ‘change’ is becoming worried and hopes that this president will not veer off course from the path of nationalism. Dispiritedly - I don’t see how appointing folks from one region more than the others will give

us a semblance of unity or even unify us towards national statehood.

As usual, many are drawing attention to these developments - some for good reasons, others who celebrate talks about cessation of state have been given an open cheque by Buhari to go on a frenzied pitch and chortle as they are eternally habituated to.

Even though it is the president’s call to pick his team, ‘teaming’ will only work for the benefit of state if teams are not left in the “storming”

stage of development. And to get a “performing,” team in a complex country like ours, President Buhari need not only consult widely to get people with impeccable character who will be committed to the national cause, but also people who will be accepted by most Nigerians.

Think about it, yet again- perception is everything. And I don’t see how people will perceive that the president is fair, thus far, with appointments of mainly northerners into federal positions. Who knows -

there might be a balance in the last batch.

As a people, we have not yet evolved and are not mature enough to the level where appointments can be tilted towards a region. The ideal is to have persons appointed on merit, regardless of the location.

Regrettably, Nigeria is still a developing country with a developing people who have all failed to work with the ideal. That’s our bane unfortunately.

It is now left for the APC and President Buhari to assure Nigerians that we aren’t going back to the days when the politics of nothingness was a party policy and to give Nigerians a democracy of inclusiveness because Nigeria, ‘na we own,’ not, ‘dem own.’

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• Simon Abah, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Special status for Lagos right thing to do IR: Lagos is presently experiencing such phenomenal population explosion that it is being projected to be the 3rd largest megacity in the world. Many are of the view that despite the 10 million figure declared by the National Population Commission in the last census exercise, the city’s best possible population is 40 million.Whereas the annual population growth in the developing world is 3% and Nigeria’s is 2.7% that of Lagos stands at a stunning 8% and is likely to accelerate.

The Lagos transformation project requires an enormous financial force to build and upgrade infrastructural facilities in the state in the next 15 years far beyond the capacity of the state government. This, then, is the significance of the call for the state to be accorded a special status by the Federal Government. Lagos, with over 138,000 workers (representing various ethnic groups) in its employment, apart from the Federal Government, remains the greatest employer of labour in the country.

Ironically, many of the states in the country with lesser population and infrastructural needs receive same monthly federal allocation as Lagos.

The special position of Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, and indeed West Africa, has

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its peculiar infrastructural challenges. Its sheer human density driven by an increasing population due to endless survival and economic driven immigration, its ports and waterways, its border with Benin Republic, its high concentration of banks, industries, companies, and other commercial enterprises makes it a very complex state to govern. Being the lens through which the whole world views the country, granting a special status to Lagos remains the best possible way to drive Nigeria’s development as Lagos is the country’s most industrialized city with needs that align with its growth.

No nation grows by treating the needs of its golden geese with discomfiture since the future growth of the country’s economy is tied to the development of Lagos which hosts over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s industrial hub, over 65 per cent of its financial nucleus and over 75 per cent of its active workforce. With each day, the population and needs of Lagos continue to increase to reflect this important role. As the economic capital of Nigeria, Lagos has been the first port of call for eager millions of youths from all parts of the country who long for means of survival from the uncertainties of a struggling economy like ours.

Presently, it is obvious that the

monthly allocation it receives from the Federation Account as well as its internally generated revenue is not enough to meet the developmental needs of the state. Regrettably, the Federal government’s inability to discharge its infrastructural responsibilities to Lagos, over the years, has further worsened the situation.

When the FCT was moved from Lagos to Abuja, there was a subsisting agreement that the city would not be abandoned. Indeed, the Late General Murtala Mohammed acknowledged the onerous nature of the responsibility of leaving Lagos alone to deal with the burden of infrastructure the FG was leaving behind then, bearing in mind that if Lagos hadn’t been the federal capital, it probably would not have been having these problems.

However, successive federal administrations have refused to take a cue from countries which relocated their national capitals without abandoning infrastructural development of the former capitals. It is now time for Nigeria to imitate Germany, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia and Tanzania, which, after relocating their capitals, did not hold back developmental programmes targeted at the former capitals Lagos State government, in the last fifteen years, has invested a huge

amount of money on infrastructural development, especially construction of drainages, durable roads, beautification and restoration of parks to forestall the negative impact of flooding, erosion and other environmental hazards. However, these efforts are not enough for obvious reasons.

Today, Lagos does about 9,000 metric tons of refuse daily, more than what the whole of Ghana is generating. The branch networks that some banks have in Lagos outstrip what they have in the whole country. A recent study reveals that over twenty five thousand people from across the world move into Lagos for various reasons on a daily basis. The number of heavy duty trucks and other vehicles that ply Lagos roads on a daily basis is quite alarming. Same goes for the number of pupils in its public schools as well as those that daily visit its hospitals. Consequently, the state spends more on infrastructural upgrading and provision of other basic life necessities than any state in the country.

The need to accord Lagos a special status is a non-political project. It is the right thing to do!

• Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

COMMENTS

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OME of the things said and done on Oduduwa’s platform injure the reputation of the Yoruba ancestral father figure. Also abbreviated as Odudua or Oòdua, his name continues to suffer as a result of exploitation by opportunists and self-projected cultural ambassadors.

A striking instance of this reduction by association was the August 21 ego-serving entrance by the National Coordinator of the Oo’dua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, at the finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival in the Osun-Osogbo Grove, Osun State. When Adams arrived with his circle of exuberant followers, they caused quite a stir.

Whip-wielding noisemakers disruptively created a path for Adams as he approached the sacred River Osun to announce his presence. He witnessed the unruliness of his men and encouraged it by his silence. The unflattering drama was performed on Oduduwa’s platform. His group was listed among “Partners” on the cover of the festival programme; the others were MTN, Goldberg, Seaman’s Royale, IOD, Kasapreko Alomo Bitters. The group’s emblem bore his name, suggesting that Gani Adams is OPC and OPC is Gani Adams.

Two days later, a newspaper report quoted him in an interview where he commented on the wall between him and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu: “We had some people who left our group because he was financing them to break it; they couldn’t break it, so they left. We continued to address the issue; even in the media, people were asking what I had with Tinubu, but they couldn’t find any reason. I decided that if I didn’t tell the whole world, my life and integrity would be at stake.” He continued: “That was one of the reasons that I decided that if Tinubu goes to A, I will go to B. Somebody who has been working to block my progress for the past seven years; if I support him to be in power, he will do worse. Even though he is supporting the right candidate, I will go for the wrong candidate.”

This expressed irrational hostility helps to situate Adams’ politics as bereft of any progressive content. Considering the recently achieved political dominance of the APC at the federal level with its popular change mantra, his unapologetic opposition defines him as an anti-change supporter and promoter.

Interestingly, Adams also said about Tinubu: “When I asked around, people told me what he was hammering on was he (Adams) attacked us during the election. Did I use thugs to attack him? Is there any report in any police station that the OPC attacked the APC because of the Peoples Democratic Party?”

It is unclear whether Adams had a memory challenge or whether he decided to challenge his memory. The incident of March 16 is still fresh enough. On that day, OPC stood for Operation Public Chaos as the self-identified defender and promoter of Yoruba interests demonstrated that it had not only sold its soul for filthy lucre but also lost its collective mind. Members of Adams’ OPC faction took their militancy to heights that mirrored a disturbing depth of degeneration.

In an unprecedented demonstration of desperation ahead

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N 1 st October 1968, the then Prime Minister of Singapore, the late Sir Lee Kuan Yew launched the “Keep Singapore Clean Campaign” programme. The aim was to make Singapore the cleanest and greenest city in the region by addressing the problem of inconsiderate littering. It also sought to instil in Singaporeans the importance of keeping their homes and public places clean. Two decades after the launch of the campaign, the tiny island-nation did not only emerge as the cleanest in the region, but on the global map as one of the cleanest and neatest cities in the world. Till date, Singapore has consistently remained among the 10 top neatest cities on the globe.

The recent initiative to keep Sokoto clean by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who made a pledge of One Million Naira to the cleanest street in Sokoto should be a welcome development and something worthy of emulation by his coGovernors in Nigeria. Waste management has become a serious challenge which many developing nations have not given a proper attention despite it hazardous implications. In the case of Nigeria, it’s a phenomenon as even the capital city of our nation is not immune or can boast of proper waste management and refuse collection method.

Campaigns are meant to have a long term impact. However, human errors, wrong judgement or a lack of foresight during the introduction of campaigns can sometimes lead to failures or even disasters. For example, in 1958 the new China launched the Four Pests Campaign in a bid to eliminate rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows. The sparrows were targeted because they ate the farmers’ grain seeds. In a short time, millions of Chinese were mobilised for the campaign.

Sparrows, as well as other birds, were shot, with their nests and eggs destroyed. Soon, the Chinese government realised that, besides eating grains, sparrows were also natural predators to many insects. It was too late then. By 1960, rice farms in China were swarmed by locusts, leading to the Great Chinese famine in which millions died of starvation.

Singapore had launched over 200 campaigns in the seventies and eighties. Many of these campaigns have had positive

‘While lauding the foresight of Tambuwal’s administration to make Sokoto a clean city, it is imperative for his administration to evolve and broaden the programme by making “Greening” of the city part of the “Cleaning” campaign just as the Singapore model’

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Bad PR for Oduduwa of the general elections, the group terrorised Lagos in the name of a political protest. A report at the time said: “The two pamphlets distributed by the protesters had 7 reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan must continue in office and 7 reasons why Prof Attahiru Jega, the INEC boss, must go on terminal leave and be replaced with a credible administrator before the elections.”

It was a message of force by forceful messengers. According to a report: “The protesters got traffic stuck for hours, smashed cars, harassed motorists and disrupted business in many parts of the city. They destroyed banners and campaign billboards of All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates.”

Who was behind the bedlam? A subsequent eye-opening disclaimer said: “We, the members of the National Coordinating Council of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, the highest ruling body of the organisation, wish to disassociate ourselves from the shameful, destructive, violent and reactionary activities of the Gani Adams-led team which occurred in Lagos today.” The statement added: “What was witnessed in Lagos was the highest level of political violence sponsored and funded by certain elements in the Jonathan government.”

From all appearances, the protesters were fuelled by reported multi-billion naira oil pipelines protection contracts controversially awarded by the Jonathan administration to a selection of militant and pro-militancy groups, most likely to influence their support for Jonathan’s reelection ambition. There were certainly enough pocket-related reasons to be overexcited. The movement from pipelines protection to public chaos was a sign of a chaotic group headed by perhaps a chronically convoluted character.

It is a point to ponder that today Adams is crying about the same contract that made him laugh and possibly fuelled his group’s destructive manifestation on that day. He is paying the price for the politicisation of contracts. In July, Adams

was among three controversial contractors who held a meeting to consider how to get the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay the money it allegedly owed them in respect of a three-month oil pipeline security deal that took effect from March 16 in the Southwest and some parts of the Niger Delta. Dr Frederick Fasehun and General Shoot-at-Sight also attended the meeting. According to Adams: “About 4,000 workers were engaged by our companies – New Age Security Company owned by Dr. Fasehun; Galaxy Security Outfit Nigeria Limited owned by General Shoot-at-Sight and Donyx Global Concept Nigeria Limited owned by me.”

Politics remains in the picture, considering that the political figure who influenced the award of the contracts while he was in power, former President Jonathan, failed to get a second term in office. With President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle, there was no way his promise of change would not have changed things for the contractors. The non-renewal of the contracts after they expired was logical and reflected the public mood. It is interesting to note that although rivalry between Adams and Fasehun split the OPC, the two factional leaders are joined or conjoined by what may be described as “the whiff of money”. Again, the drama is connected with Oduduwa’s platform.

When a contractor’s cheese has been moved, particularly if it’s a large chunk of cheese, expect contractor confusion.

Adams reflected such confusion by what he said in another interview: “All I’m saying is that government can merge the community residents and law enforcement agents to police the neighbourhood.” What Adams meant was that militiamen, euphemistically described as “community residents”, should be allowed to operate side by side with the official security agents. Despite the obvious absurdity of the imagined combination of forces, Adams couldn’t see the nonsense of downgrading the normal security agencies in favour of militiamen. He couldn’t recognise the irrationality of enriching militia leaders to the detriment of the empowerment of the country’s security personnel.

Adams is also the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival which the organisers describe as being “at the forefront of the promotion and cultural revival of Yoruba Tradition and Culture.” His involvement in this project looks like a ploy to reinforce his performance on Oduduwa’s platform. The reality is: The PR isn’t working.

‘Some of the things said and done on Oduduwa’s platform injure the reputation of the Yoruba ancestral father figure. Also abbreviated as Odudua or Oòdua, his name continues to suffer as a result of exploitation by opportunists and self-projected cultural ambassadors.’

Tambuwal’s campaign to keep Sokoto clean

By Ibrahim Muye Yahaya effects. They include: water-saving, speak mandarin campaign, Greening Singapore, keep Singapore clean campaign, public health campaign, wash your hand, antidrug, Breastfeeding, safe water, anti-spiting, anti-smoking, anti-littering and keep Singapore crime free.

The Keep Sokoto Clean scheme will require intensive usage of media and campaigns in other to achieve its goals.

Sometimes, a campaign represents an era, and some of its posters go on to become iconic representations that are even remembered after decades. The masses should be educated to know the merits of living in a clean environment and also to make them recognize why it really matters to their health.

But this could only be possible with the support of citizens whose cooperation with the government is very essential to make the environment clean, safe and fresh.

The government should use posters and banners in major languages to be displayed in public places such as shops, markets, restaurants, offices, factories, community centres, motor parks and public notice boards. Mini-posters, stick-up strips, leaflets, pamphlets and car-bumper stickers should also be distributed with the Clean Sokoto campaign slogan. In addition to the distribution of collaterals, various public and education activities should be organised in major languages.

These include talks and lectures by health officials, inspections and spot checks by government officials, rallies, exhibitions and estate cleaning exercises by the residents.

The cleanest offices, streets, estates, shopping complex, restaurants, markets, government buildings and schools should be rewarded. The information should be announced publicly, highlighting both the cleanest and the dirtiest. Not only would the offenders be branded as litterbugs; film clips and photographs of dirty premises, streets or people caught in the act of littering should be shown and broadcast in the mass media.

Besides the use of social pressure, the Keep Sokoto Clean campaign should not only be rewarding as promised; the governor should lead the campaign alongside top government functionaries as did by the late Sir Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore in order to give the scheme prominence. In order to enforce the campaign, specific amounts of fine should be used as a way to control the offenders. The state

environmental agency and other stakeholders should from time to time send officers on patrol to counsel members of the public against littering and its consequences.

The government must empower the unit saddled with the responsibility of implementing the scheme with adequate budgetary allocation, technical and logistic support. There should be adequate provision of waste roll-off containers at vulnerable streets, refuse carts, development of proper sewage systems and drainages. In other to enforce the scheme, laws need to be enacted to make it compulsory for all commercial and public offices to have refuse disposal bags and containers at their business and operations premises. The collection of refuse and waste for proper disposal by the concerned authorities at least twice or once in a week should be timely in other to avoid pollution of the environment. With recycling technology, waste collected in the city can be successfully recycled for economic benefit.

To ensure that good habits are cultivated from a young age, children and students should be special target groups of the campaign and teachers should be involved to remind students not to litter the environment. The cities of Calgary, Luxemburg, Zurich, Adelaide, Freiburg, Singapore, Kobe, Stockholm, Vienna and Oslo which are today ranked as the cleanliest cities in the world didn’t just wake up in a day and achieved the status. The idea was initiated, nurtured and sustained just as Governor Tambuwal has indicated his willingness and zeal to make Sokoto a clean city. It is an undeniable fact that a cleaner city would lead to a more pleasant life, safe drinking water, low level of diseases and pollution, thus creating the necessary social conditions for higher economic growth through industry and tourism. The administration should place more importance on educating and enlightening the citizens on the need to be more conscious and thoughtful about their actions in relation to cleanliness.

The Keep Sokoto Clean initiative if well implemented, nurtured and sustained would have a positive impact on the city throughout the coming years. While lauding the foresight of Tambuwal’s administration to make Sokoto a clean city, it is imperative for his administration to evolve and broaden the programme by making “Greening” of the city part of the “Cleaning” campaign just as the Singapore model.

• Yahaya wrote in from Kado-Estate, Abuja

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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COMMENTS

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LL things being equal, a new salary and allowances structure for public officers in the country will come into effect in a matter of weeks now. The new regime which will see to the downward review of the current takings of national assembly members and sundry public officers is dictated by the desire to align them to the nation’s subsisting economic and political realities.

The Chairman of the Revenue, Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam said last week after meeting President Buhari that the new slashed pay structure would be released in September. According to him, “we are presently reviewing the subsisting remuneration package and it is going to reflect the socio-economic realities of today.

We expect that before the end of next month it will be ready” The disclosure by the RMFAC boss should not come as a surprise. Before now, especially since the coming on stream of the current administration, agitations have been rife for the slashing of the salaries and allowances earned by our law makers. The widely held belief has been that their pay packages were out of tune with subsisting economic realities. And with the slide in the price of oil in the face of the increasing inability of state governments to pay workers’ salaries and allowances, it became obvious that something had to give way.

There was also this rush to cut salaries by some governors both for themselves and their political appointees. The pressure became such that the commission had little option than to set up a committee for the same purpose which outcome is the reduced salary structure that is expected to be unfolded soon.

Against this background, there is everything to expect that the new pay structure is a foregone reality. What is still left to conjecture is the percentage of the previous pay that will be affected by the cut. For now, there seems little anybody can do since the commission is constitutionally charged with the fixing of such remunerations. So it is not an issue the national assembly or other public officers have a choice over.

But beyond the powers of the RMFAC to fix wages, its rationale in arriving at the previous wage structure cannot pass without some scathing remarks. This is because, the very reasons it is offering for the cut have always been there. What had been lacking

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Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Pay cut for public officers was a proper understanding of the situation when the previous bloated regime was being approved. Fluctuations in oil price are nothing new as our governments have had to contend with them overtime. Also the changes in patterns of oil production and serious efforts of some advanced countries to find alternatives have never ceased. So at the time the previous structure was being worked out, such realities should not have escaped a serious regulatory body. After all, in each of our yearly budgets, such changes are usually anticipated and provided for in terms of lower benchmarks. In other words, it is not enough for the commission to raise its hands up with the impression that the fluctuations in oil prices were beyond it when it was fixing the previous regime. If it failed to anticipate such changes, it has itself to blame.

That such remunerations are being reviewed now is an admission that something was not got right by the commission in its previous undertaking. The current downturn of the economy consequent upon the fall of oil in the international market could be a factor. Persistent outcry from the larger public on what is generally regarded as the outlandish pay of law makers when considered against the living conditions of our people is cited as another reason.

There is also the body language of the current administration that appears not to admit of financial wastages as another possible reason why the commission had to hasten action in this regard so as not to incur the wrath of the powers that be. All these may have combined in facilitating the new pay regime. The rationale is that the monies that

URING the time of Mr. Godwin Omene, the first MD of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan was initiated and developed by GTZ and this provided a very comprehensive plan of how the region can be developed across various sectors. A lot of effort went into developing that plan and even today it is still relevant for the proper development of the region. Rather than use the plan to develop the region it was used as an excuse to agitate for more funds which were then diverted into private pockets. Slowly the NDDC budget got captured by political and other vested interests.

As the budgets increased over the years, the value of the projects started to blow up. The use of variations to existing projects went out of control. For instance, a contract originally awarded at N3.39 billion to ROUDO NIG. LTD for Sandfilling and Shore protection of Ogu Town ended up costing N8, 133 billion, a whopping 230% increment.

Construction of Isielu-Okaigbene Idungboko road awarded to JID CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD for N2.35 billion ended up at N3.73 billion, increased by 160%. Construction of (the same?) Isielu-Okaigbene Idungboko road was also awarded to INTER-BAU CONSTRUCTION NIG. LTD for N585 million and ended up at N3.67 billion, an increase of 620%. Construction of Ikot Ukap Ndiya internal roads in Nsit Ubium LGA awarded to OSMOSERVE GLOBAL LTD for N1.2 billion ended up at N2.86 billion, an increase of 235%. This is just the tip of the iceberg of hundreds of projects varied in this manner. One key factor connecting these projects is that they tend to be large infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, shoreline protection, canalization and dredging.

Since inception NDDC has had about N2.2 trillion budgeted of which about N1.4 trillion has been received. As of 2008 the Commission had awarded just over 2,500 projects which rose sharply to 6,000 projects by 2013 and now 8,000 projects in 2015 based on recent comments in the press by the last Chairman of the Board, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw.

According to him, the Commission needs about N1 trillion to complete outstanding projects. The Chairman revealed that the total projects outstanding is now at 8,000 projects worth N1 trillion and about N800 billion is needed to clear outstanding liabilities. So what happened to the almost N350 billion received between 2011 and 2015?

There are various mechanisms used to defraud the Commission and siphon the funds afore-mentioned. If the network of corrupt officers at the Commission are not removed and the mechanisms documented here are not dismantled, whoever President Muhammadu Buhari brings into the NDDC to replace the existing Board is likely to fall into the ‘bear trap’ of corrupt practices that have been ingrained into the fabric of the Commission’s administrative systems.

would be saved from the cut would be meaningfully deployed to other sectors of the economy to catalyze development. You cannot fault such an argument, it would seem.

It is one thing to come out with a reduced pay package for public officers but a different kettle of fish for whatever savings that will accrue from it to make substantial difference in the total funds available to the government. You may well find out that such cuts will have the net effect of further impoverishing the lawmakers and thereby laying them susceptible to dipping their hands into public funds. It is better you are not exposed to good living than after being exposed to good life, the source of sustaining it is suddenly cut off. That may turn out as the unintended outcome of the coming reduction. That is the main issue to watch.

But then, the salaries and allowances of the lawmakers and other public officers are not the real sources of the wealth some of them are known to be parading about. Much of the illegal monies they make come from unseen sources. And from those unseen sources, a lot of monies do change hands. A lot of smart stealing has been going on in the exercise of oversight functions and may continue unless adequate measures are taken to police such areas. That is in part why you hear of the scramble for juicy committee positions and other strategic assignments.

There is nothing juicy about any position except the high prospects they offer for stealing. So we may be arming the legislators to resort to self- help if we come out with a regime of remunerations that they

can barely survive on.

With the wage reduction and plugging of all loopholes for stealing public funds, we may have gone to great lengths to chart a new course for probity and accountability in public offices. But that is not all. We are yet to find answers to the huge security votes at the beckon and call of presidents and governors.

Much of the drain in our public coffers is recorded in this area. It is not surprising the high number of former governors that are facing serious charges of financial impropriety. Armed with immunity, they line their insatiable pockets until they are full to the brim. The kind of funds associated with former governors in and out of office has become a serious scandal. Something urgent must be done about the way governors use security votes.

These are the real issues to worry about. So what difference does any cut in the salaries and allowances of a governor make when he can from under his table spend billions of Naira without a hoot. There may have been some cogent reasons for providing for such votes. But in our own circumstance, such reasons are often exploited for very selfserving ends.

More importantly, something must be done about the prohibitive cost of running elections in this country. The financial demands on politicians during elections have to be checked. So if we succeed in making the lawmakers live within their means, something must be done to exorcise the idea of demanding money from them by the electorate before exercising their civic obligations. There has to be an overall attitudinal change for the new pay regime to serve its desired purpose.

‘With the wage reduction and plugging of all loopholes for stealing public funds, we may have gone to great lengths to chart a new course for probity and accountability in public offices. But that is not all’

Corruption and NDDC

By Julia Hanson 1. Budget Fraud: The problems starts at the budget process where a lot of fake projects are smuggled into the project by special interest groups that include the Executives, Board members, National Assembly NDDC committee members, the Presidency, State Governors and assorted politicians and connected businessmen.

2. Hidden Budget Execution: Sometime around 2004 the National Assembly complained that the Commission was repeating projects in its budgets. Whenever NDDC budgets are approved by the National Assembly it contains funds for visible and ‘invisible’ projects. Off balance sheet spreadsheets are used to maintain a schedule of hidden budget heads and the management of this spreadsheet and the scheduling of projects to be paid through this fund is a key aspect of the fraud at the Commission.

3. Procurement Fraud: The whole ‘due process’ is a fallacy at NDDC. The Procurement Unit has perfected the creation of award letters to the highest bidders. You cannot get an award letter without parting with some money. All the paperwork is faked and in most cases where there is urgency driven by Executive demand there is no paperwork at all.

There are no publications and even when they do publish, the process is rigged in favour of their preferred contractors.

Contracts are shared amongst the Executives with their Special Assistants acting as agents to solicit desperate businessmen who pay 15% of the face value of these contracts and the Procurement Unit prepares the paperwork for the favoured contractor.

4. Project Design and Project Monitoring Fraud: This is especially grave and works by inflating the quantities required in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) for large-scale infrastructure projects. For instance the BoQ may specify that a canal be dredged to 10 metres depth and this is used to price the contract but in reality the contractor will only dredge the channel to 5 metres depth and the excess funds are shared. This type of fraud is used across road construction, shoreline protection and canalization projects. A famous case is the East-West Expressway between Warri and Port Harcourt where the Ministry of Niger Delta had to redesign the road due to bad design by the NDDC. The irony is that a careful review of the BoQs always reveals the over-specified quantities and the responsible staff members. The Project monitoring process is badly compromised which is why most roads built by NDDC last for no more than 9 to 15 months before they are washed away by the elements. As

such we suffer collective lack of infrastructure and loss of our common wealth.

5. Financial Management and Reporting: At the heart of the fraud at NDDC is the misrepresentation of payments and how they are presented in the accounts for external auditors. The Directorate of Finance & Supply keeps a very close lid on information maintained within its SAGE software to the point where SAGE is kept in a separate network and accessed by very few persons within the Directorate, ostensibly to keep out hackers. The Directorate abets the ongoing looting of the Commission by making questionable payments to favoured contractors who are acting in cahoots with the Executives, prioritising scheduling of payments to contractors who are willing to pay for the ‘service’, hiding of questionable payments within other legitimate transactions and more. Contractors who are not connected wait years for payment for completed works whilst fraudulent payments get prioritised and expressly processed.

6. Documentation Fraud: During major contract award periods it is standard practice to move the procurement team into hotel accommodation where they can perfect the paperwork in connivance with favoured contractors and produce the documents for at least 3 companies who submit responses to the tenders; the winning company is simply supplying all the ‘competition’ required to fool any external review of the procurement process. The Memos raised during the project monitoring process are also suspect because the word of the field engineer who inspects the project and signs off the field report is what is used to justify the payment certificates raised. Most of the contents of these field reports will not stand rigorous analysis by independent engineering assessors.

With about 8,000 projects outstanding and N1 trillion outstanding liabilities, the Commission cannot afford to award any more projects and rather should be focused over the next 4 years on clearing up existing liabilities and sending staff and contractors who have misappropriated public funds to the justice system for prosecution. Perhaps we need an AMCON-like management for the NDDC to clean up the place and institute deep reforms before new project awards can be commenced.

• Hanson, a public affairs analyst and activist wrote in from Lagos.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE CEO

JOBS

‘Naira devaluation, oil price crash, others take toll on economy’

Intervention funds, SMEs boost job creation - P. 35 News Brief ‘Blame managers for corruption’ CORRUPTION will not be so endemic without the collaboration of professional managers, a former Group Managing Director of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited Sir Remi Omotoso has said.

–Page 26

‘Manufacturers depend on private power’ DESPITE the improvement in power supply from the national grid, manufacturers are still hugely dependent on personal electricity generation, it was learnt.

–Page 26

NIMASA,NSPMCpartner on seafarers’ certification THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has introduced new Seafarer’s Medical Certification Documents in compliance with requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1998 as amended.

–Page 26

- P. 37

Pay bailout fund into workers’ accounts, CBN orders banks T O ensure that its bail out to states is used to offset outstanding workers’ salaries, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) involved in negotiations with state governments, to pay the money into the salary accounts of the workers.

The DMBs are not expected to hand the bailout cash to the state governments. A CBN source at the weekend who pleaded anonymity said: “The bailout recently approved for state governments by the CBN can only be used to offset workers’ salary arrears and nothing else.

“DMBs have been instructed to transfer the money to individual workers accounts only. The bank will not pay contractors or

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor), Abuja

any other person that is not on the government’s staff payroll.”

The CBN source added that the condition for the bailout was strictly for the settlement of workers salary arrears, as a result, it was factored into the conditionalities of the bailout that “states will use it to pay only the salary backlog”.

One state that has taken the right step towards harmonising its payroll system is Kaduna State, which the CBN official said, has “embarked on a verification exercise to sieve out ghost workers. So, it is af-

ter all states interested in benefiting from the bailout do that and know exactly the real number of workers they owe salary arrears that they can come forward to seek intervention from the bailout fund”.

This condition, it was further learnt, has thrown some state governments into a dilemma because they cannot access more than what is required to settle the backlog of salary arrears which have been a source of embarrassment to many state governments.

To guard against sharp practices, in accessing the bailout, the sources said: “Banks will have to do their own assessment to see how much the states actually need before releasing the funds. It won’t be far-

fetched to see a state that maybe need only N20 million to offset the backlog of salaries asking for N100 million. So, the banks have to check to make sure they are not giving too much to the state governments.

“The CBN will monitor the negotiations between the state governments and their banks as well as the processes leading up to the eventual release of the bailout to deserving state governments in order to ensure that all parties involved keep to the terms and conditions of the bailout.”

The Nation was also told that the CBN “will take part in the negotiations between the banks and state governments to make sure that they are given good interest rate. I can’t

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

8.4%

Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending

15.87%

Savings rate

3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

• From Left: Head, Sales and Marketing, Vitapur Nigeria Ltd, Mr Yemi Mofikoya; Managing Director, Mr Akin Oladiran; Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Nigeria Institute of Architects, Mr Ladi Lewis and Technical Consultant to Vitapur, Mr Sarel Nel at the Archibuilt Exhibition in Abuja.

say how much it will be, but we will make sure it’s at least below normal commercial rates”.

On what the repayment plan will be for the state governments, the CBN official said: “The repayment plan will be based on how much each state is asking. But the repayment could be spread to up to 20 years. Don’t forget that some of these states are already indebted, so we have to find a way to make sure that this additional loan will not be too heavy on them.”

The CBN official noted that so far, only two states have accessed the bailout “because so far they are the only ones that have met all the requirements. These requirements include that the states’ Executive Councils and their Houses of Assemblies must agree to the bailout’’.

“You know some states are yet to appoint commissioners so their executive council is not complete. So they can’t apply until they constitute their State Executive Council.

“The amount each state can access from the bailout, the source said, would have to be worked out between the state governments and their banks.

“It is between the two of them. We have no say in it, and also, all DMBs are allowed to take part in it. It’s an open opportunity for all of them,” the soyurce added.

The CBN official said the bailout money “is not free money, and to make sure that it is paid back, the CBN appealed to DMBs to loan states the money and the states made to issue Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) which is more like a first line charge. After FAAC, before any state accessing this loan gets its share, the agreed sum for servicing the loan will be deducted. That’s the essence of the ISPO”.

Why petroleum investment is low,

by Mobil boss M

OBIL Oil has identified the refusal of banks to give loans to fund critical and sustainable projects, growing cost of operation in the petroleum sector and high exchange rate as factors responsible for the low investment in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Its Managing Director, Mr Tunji Oyebanji, said investment in the sector has dwindled in recent times, following the refusal of local and international financial institutions to expedite actions on loan requests from operators in the oil and gas industry.

Oyebanji, who spoke on the sideline of an oil and gas forum in Lagos recently, said banks were careful of advanc-

By Akinola Ajibade

ing credits for certain oil and gas projects, after appraising the situations in the petroleum industry vis-à-vis the capacity of operators to fulfil their debt obligation.

He said: “With exchange rate of naira to dollar reaching N230 at a time before it came down to N198 per dollar, it is obvious that local operators would find it difficult to operate in the country. The cost of procuring machineries abroad for projects that are going to be executed in the country is high and unsustainable. Banks compounded the

woes of operators by not giving them the required facilities or credits. The adverse effect of these problems on industry is absence of new investments.”

He said major oil marketers were battling with huge interest rates charged on the loans they collected to finance the importation of petroleum products into the country.

He attributed the rise in cost of subsidies paid to importers of fuel to interest rates, adding that the non-payment of subsidies is affecting their operations.

“We (oil marketers) have not been paid subsidies in the past

few months. Besides, banks are going to add their interest to the money we collected from them. Is that sustainable? We know that if we fail to continue in business, operations in the downstream segment of the industry are going to be affected,” he said.

He said product adulteration is another problem besetting the operation of marketers, adding that there are cases where some Nigerians adulterate petrol by mixing it with kerosene, arguing that the development is affecting their business.

According to him, there are cases of adulterated petrol in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and other states in the country.

• Oyebanji

He said the only way to have a fixed price regime in the industry is when a team is set up to enforce it.

He said marketers were selling prices of petroleum products are at different prices, arguing that the idea does not augur well with the industry.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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BUSINESS NEWS Expert seeks restructuring of livestock industry

A

CONSULTANT to the World Bank, Prof Abel Ogunwale, has urged the restructuring of the livestock industry in a sustainable and competitive manner that will lead to economic growth.

Ogunwale, who is of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, said the industry needs a major policy shift targeted at small farmers and those engaged in commercial livestock agriculture.

He urged the government to improve access to fund in order to encourage farmers to move from small-scale to large-scale farming. He said favourable government policies were needed to support animal-husbandry enterprises so they can have sufficient capital and engage in technology transfer.

While there have been focus on improving crop production, Ogunwale said the government should direct its action to strength-

T

By Daniel Essiet

ening animal health systems and the whole livestock value chain. This, according to him, would lead to sustained income of farmers as well as improving general nutrition for animal products.

He urged the government to support the livestock and veterinary services to procure vaccines and enable farmers access to better animal health services.

In the absence of financial resources and technical expertise, he said the sector has not experienced growth, while the operating condition has remained challenging for farmers.

Farms, he said, should be restructured so that productivity and quality could be improved.

He called for support for research in livestock production that would lead to an improvement in quality and productivity, while increasing the income of farmers.

‘Production firms must conform to ISO’

HE Commercial Direc tor, Grand Oak Lim ited, Mr. Fatai Odusile, has said it is important for corporate organisations in the food and beverage production company to ensure that product categories are certified with International Standard Organisation (ISO).

He spoke against the backdrop of non-conformity to the ISO in the spirit drinks market. “No other sales and marketing organisation of spirits in Nigeria is ISO certified as I speak, none,” he said.

Odusile said complying with this standard confirms that the company’s system and procedures are in conformity with what obtains globally and that the output of such systems is of good quality that consumers can trust for use or consumption.

“It is important due to what we call global standardisation.

What is ISO? ISO means International Organisation for Standardisation and the essence of ISO is to confirm that

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

the company’s system and procedures are in conformity with what obtains globally,” he said.

Odusile said the ISO certification of Grand Oak is a confirmation of its system, procedures and the output of such system, which are the brands, are in conformity with global standards all over the world.

“That’s the importance of it,” he said.

He said: “The implication is that the products are of worldclass quality. Two, that the system is trusted; and three that whatever we are doing complies with what is obtainable anywhere in the world. But, most importantly, that we cannot afford to drop low in our quality, we cannot afford to lower our standard, because every year the SON will come to confirm that the qualities are okay. So, that’s the importance, we cannot afford to lower our standard; we cannot afford to drop the ball.”

Volatility in interbank market ‘ll continue, says Afrinvest chief

T

HE fluctuating global oil price has affected equity prices in Nigeria and investors are advised to thread the path of caution in their investment preferences.

An Investment Analyst with Afrinvest West Africa Plc, Robert Omotunde, said local investors are not sure of anything in the fixed income market and predicted that volatility in the interbank market will continue until there is some respite.

Foreign investors are on the sideline on the equities market while local investors are taking centre stage.

The situation calls for caution for players in the equities market, he added.

Omotunde who spoke in Lagos also said the stable movement of stocks in the capital market could be attributed to the macroeconomic environment of the

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

country which calls for cautious investment choices.

Speaking on the macroeconomic environment, DirectorGeneral, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, regretted what he called insufficient signal to investors as to the policy direction of the administration.

“President Muhammadu Buhari needs to spell out his economic policies in such matters as in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), 2015 budget, Common External Tariff (CET), reforms in the powers sector among others.

Governance is not only about politicians or those in government but the private sector need to know what is going on in the economy and how to key into government policies. Unfortunately as it stands people are just guessing and not sure of anything.”

• From left: Chairman, Juli Pharmacy Plc, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Omotoso and Dr Uwaga at the event.

‘Blame managers for corruption’

C

ORRUPTION will not be so endemic without the collaboration of professional managers, a former Group Managing Director of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited Sir Remi Omotoso has said.

He spoke at a lecture titled: The role of professional managers in driving real change in Nigeria during the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) Awards, Fellows and Spouses’Day/Luncheon in Lagos.

According to him, poor management of resources has been the bane of development.

“Between 1999 and now, Nigeria made trillions of dollars, enough to make it one of the richest countries of the world and with enviable potential.

“Unfortunately, a tiny but extremely power group, through corruption and impunity, cornered more than 90 per cent of the commonwealth while poverty contin-

By Joseph Jibueze

ues to rage the land,” he said.

Omotoso continued: “Many professional managers have been, over time, facilitators and collaborators in fostering the evils that are responsible for the rot and woes of our nation, particularly on the issues of corruption, inequity, cover-ups, wasteful spending, abandonment of projects, substandard performance of contract jobs, over and under valuation of assets and other such deeds and collaborations unbecoming of our professional ethics, values and standards.”

To him, no project can be designed, evaluated, bidded for an d contracted out for execution without the involvement of professional managers.

“How come Nigerian contracts, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, are among the most outrageously expensive in the world? Why should constructing a kilometre of road in Nigeria

cost about N1billion whereas it would cost about $ 350 million in some other places in environment of similar charac teristics with our own?

“How come our roads, despite the high cost, collapse after a few years of use? Were they designed in the first instance to fail so that new contracts can be awarded to repair or rebuild them? What about those abandoned projects, over 12,500 of them scattered all over the place in Nigeria and worth over N12 trillion?”

Omotoso said Nigerians voted the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity, adding that it will be unfair to expect him to single-handedly effect the changes Nigeria needs.

The president, he said, requires various institutions and all Nigerians to buy into the prevailing mood of change.

On what role professional managers should play, he said: “Our number one role is that

of admission that we have performed abysmally in the area of in tegrity, probity, accountability and professionalism.

“Many of us both in the public and private sector have made ourselves tools in the hands of politicians, businessmen of dubious characters, foreign and local, for looting the wealth of our coun try. In the process, we have helped ourselves, too, to acquire assets beyond our legitimate means.

“Professional Managers must re-orientate themselves and re-affirm their faith and adherence to their professional standards and ethics,” he said.

No fewer than 117 members were conferred with Fellows, while five were inducted as Life Members.

NIM President/Chairman of Council Dr Nelson Uwaga urged the new fellows to see it as a call to higher responsibility and service to the nation.

‘Manufacturers dependent on private power’

D

ESPITE the improvement in power supply from the national grid, manufacturers are still hugely dependent on personal electricity generation, it was learnt.

The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, told The Nation that though there is an impressive improvement in the level of power generation across the country, most the manufacturers still generate 60 per cent of their power requirements and sometimes get 40 per cent from

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the public supply (the national grid).

He noted that the multinational companies and large indigenous manufacturers, such as Dangote, are permanently switched to their private power generators because the confidence level has not reached the point of switching to public supply.

He said: “There is improvement even across the country. I also heard that people in diesel business are already complaining that it is no longer business

as usual. I think there is a lot of improvement. However, many of our members are still 60 per cent dependent on generators and 40 per cent on supply from the national grid, which is good.

But there are some big consumers that are permanently switched to their own power generating plants. All the multinational companies and the Dangotes of this world, they don’t rely on public power supply from day one. Those ones are still outside the grid. A lot of them use natural gas. Industrial areas, such as Ikeja and

Ogba, they key into the gas pipeline for fuel to power their generators for electricity generation. But I think the smaller companies’reliance on generators has dropped.“ The LCCI chief said he didn’t foresee the manufacturers switching permanently to the national grid soon because the confidence has not reached that level. ‘’The confidence level of packing up our generators for public supply, we are not yet there but the good thing is that there is a great deal of improvement,’’ Yusuf added.

NIMASA, NSPMC partner on new seafarers’medic HE Nigerian Maritime all facets of maritime operaAdministration and tions”. certification documents Safety Agency In compliance with other

T

(NIMASA) has introduced new Seafarer’s Medical Certification Documents in compliance with requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1998 as amended.

Presenting the documents to stakeholders in Lagos, its Acting Director-General (DG), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, said better compliance is one of the key areas in which the agency plays its

role of domesticating International Maritime Laws and Conventions that help to keep maritime activities and the marine environment safe, its Head, Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka explained in a statement at the weekend.

Represented by Director, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards Department, Vincent Udoye, an engineer, Jauro said the new documents on certification are more secure as they are printed with

better security features in collaboration with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Cooperation (NSPMC) to ensure that Medical Certificates of fitness for seafarers in Nigeria are authentic and in line with international standards.

Accordingly, the DG further assured all stakeholders in the sector “that NIMASA as an Agency of the government will continue to strive to meet the needs of the sector through better administration of safety standards in

international maritime laws to which Nigeria is a party, notably the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS ’74) and the Search and Rescue (SAR) 1978 Conventions, among others, the Agency has also implemented measures, such as procurement of patrol boats, ambulances and priority operational vehicles in addition to facilitating capacity building of human resources towards the successful implementation of these conventions.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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ISSUES Nigeria has banned frozen chicken import. The move has provided local producers with an opportunity to gain a bigger market share, but it has also presented stakeholders with some challenges, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

• Frozen chicken

Poultry still troubled despite T import curbs

HE ban on frozen chicken imports would have been a boom to local producers, allowing them to enlarge their market share and boost sales. But, so far, the policy has proven successful only in boosting domestic output. The problem is partly the mismatch between the high demand for poultry products, the productive capacity of the local industry and the harsh operating realities.

Indeed, the mood in the industry is lukewarm. Smuggling continues; high feed costs and red tape threaten growth. The sector that could have turned out to be a huge asset for the growth of the national economy remains a todler.

While the international community may see Nigeria as a fading import market for chicken, stakeholders see the inability of the domestic poultry industry to respond adequately to expanding demand for poultry products, as opening up a market for smuggling.Nigeria is losing about $2.7billion (about N399.4billion) yearly in revenue to smuggling of poultry products, the Poultry Association of Nigeria, has said.

The President of the association, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said at the Nigeria Poultry Summit that local production of chicken has fallen short of the demand for the product, thereby creating an avenue for smuggling.

According to Oduntan, while the local demand for frozen chicken is above two million metric tonnes yearly, Nigerian farm-

ers produce 300,000 metric tonnes, leaving a wide gap of more than 1.7 million metric tonnes."Out of this figure, smuggled chicken accounts for 1.2 million metric tonnes annually," he said.

The industry still appears unprotected, a state of affairs that is being exploited by smugglers. Oduntan said smuggled chicken and rising costs of production are forcing local poultry producers to shed a bigger chunk of the chicken industry. The local poultry industry, experts maintained, has seen the demise of some of smaller poultry producers. In the last couple of years, some of small producers have either gone under, or scaled down production.

According to the PAN President, though the ban on import is supposed to boost pro-

duction, yields are lower, and the viability of poultry is reduced by its high production costs and increased chicken imports.

To this end, Oduntan said local producers must be committed to increasing output and supplying fresh chicken to limit the import of chicken. While local producers are making efforts to produce more chicken, he said the industry is bewildered by the negative impacts of higher input costs, especially maize, soya, power, labour and fuel.

Feed costs The high price of feed raw materials is an issue everywhere. Since the high feed costs are felt throughout the industry, operators have found the business less competitive.

Feed is the single biggest input cost, making

The supply of corn is not adequate to meet expanding feed use, and restrictions on corn imports "could combine to constrain growth in both the poultry and egg industries, raising production costs and consumer prices and slowing consumption.

‘

’

up 60 to 70 per cent of total input costs. Inputs and costs have presented the poultry industry with huge challenges, he said, highlighting the fluctuations in feed ingredients prices.

For the Vice- President (Agriculture), Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Mr. Stephen Oludipupo, the sector is not moving forward as it battles soaring feed costs and rising electricity bills. He believes if poultry and egg production are sustained, growth in demand for corn and soybean meal is likely to outpace gains in domestic production.

Farmers like him also complained that the supply of corn is not adequate to meet expanding feed use, and restrictions on corn imports could combine to constrain growth in both the poultry and egg industries, raising production costs and consumer prices, thereby slowing consumption. The same thing is said about soybean meal, which the industry cannot guarantee local surpluses and ready availability.

Currently, the poultry industry accounts for about a third of local maize consumption and almost all the soya consumption in the country, its sustainability and future development are also in danger. This scenario represents an "industry in distress" as acknowledged by experts who are considering measures that help producers to re• Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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ISSUES •Continued from page 27

main in business.

The concern is that Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a major importer of soymeal, thanks to the country's surging poultry production, boosting feed demand. The layer industry is also expanding rapidly as it is able to provide a relatively cheap protein source compared to other sources of protein. However, poultry feed manufacturers are also finding a ready growth market in livestock, for which production of suitable rations is increasing at an accelerated pace to meet the demand .This has resulted in a shift in demand of soymeal by feed millers from the traditional poultry farmers.

The increased demand for soymeal is driving feed mills beyond their typical origin and supplies also suffer from consistency in quality.

Already, like the Chairman,Lagos Chairman,Dr Dotun Agbojo once disclosed, local operators have demanded permission to import soybean meal, to help them deal with the impending competition of cheaper smuggled chicken. Producers think this will help the poultry industry to get cheaper raw material and reduce its cost of production, which is three times the cost of production of imported ones.

He said corn supply was important because the commodity was the main material used in poultry feed, which currently consumes 90 percent of national corn production.

However, as he said, it is not only feed prices that present challenges to producers. The sector now faces a number of issues and difficulties including water, food, electricity and other major problems. As a result, the economic efficiency of local producers does not compare as well as their technical efficiency, largely due to higher production costs. Therefore, the industry is struggling to remain competitive.

Many farmers have abandoned commercial poultry production because it was uncompetitive, and instead focus on other things. In addition to the challenges posed by the various pathogenic diseases, the farmers also face the problem for low capital. Unfortunately, lack of financial support and incentive packages for players in the industry has, over the years, led to the gradual collapse of the industry and the retrenchment of a large number of employees in it. Due to the high-risk nature of poultry farming, many commercial banks shied away from giving loans to operators in the industry.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) Foreign direct investment (FDI) has, so far, not been a major factor in the development of poultry sector. But to watchers the nation's competitive, and potentially large industry offers investment opportunities in input activities, such as breeding, medicines, feed, and equipment, as well as vertical integration and processing. While the country permits FDI in these activities, investments are constrained by market and policy uncertainty, poor power and transport infrastructure, and high taxes on processed food.

Capital and infrastructure for future production is a concern. Very little investment in infrastructure has been made in the last 10 years because of poor returns, restricted access to credit because of the economic situation, the difficulties in obtaining planning permission and the new requirements for environmental permits. Currently, the poultry business is still kept by smallholders.

The poultry production system is a mix of family businesses and commercial operations, from the small- to large-scale with varying degrees of modern technology. This has clear implications for rising demand for poultry meat.

Bird flu There have been four more outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Nigeria.

The outbreaks were of the H5N1 subtype, and all four involved layers of different ages between 20 and 60 weeks.

There were 668 deaths from the disease out of a susceptible population of 3600. The remaining birds were destroyed to prevent the disease spreading. The disease report to the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) commented that the one farm and three backyard operations involved displayed poor biosecurity. Help from the side of the government and other investment institutions, is all that is needed by them for ensuring health growth and development conditions for the domesticated animals.

Power Meanwhile, as far as poultry farmers are concerned, a more reliable supply of electric-

•Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny S. T. Echono.

• Oladipupo

•Dr Oduntan

Poultry still troubled despite import curbs ity is needed if food security is to be truly enhanced. Some frozen food traders in IjoraOlopa, Lagos, lost approximately N10 million worth of product to spoilage in late May, following a electric grid blackout compounded by a scarcity of petrol to power backup generators.

Inefficient supply chain A major concern is the inefficient supply chain in handling poultry production and distribution is another of those sob stories which still poses a big question mark on management skills.

Oduntan said cold chains , a crucial part of the supply chain infrastructure in poultry production is not sufficient to support massive production. His concern is that not only is the industry lacking in the issue of storage facilities but other vehicles such as refrigerated vehicles. For him, the cold chain is essential. This is because it is the conduit for the flow of poultry products.

He is not alone sharing this concern. Other stakeholders believe the cold chain segment plays a critical role in the poultry supply chain.

Most of the domestic poultry business is in chilled product, but freezing is necessary for longer journeys. Stakeholders believe the industry operators of cold chain transportation need to pay close attention to market trends and best practices as continuous temperature monitoring is also of growing importance to the industry. Many farmers have complained that the industry doesn't have the capacity to facilitate smooth movement of poultry products from the farms to supply points.

While there are marginal investment in infrastructure, not so much have been recorded to make specialised chick delivery vehicles commonplace. These differences in infrastructure and logistics performance translate into real costs for supply chains. To overcome these constraints, government intervention is required, for instance, to build infrastructure such as roads, which need to be improved to allow heavy feed trucks and chicken transporters move around easily in rural areas.

Day-old chicks and broiler producers The industry's challenges also include lack of large quantities of day-old chicks and broiler producers or even farmers who could move into poultry. Though the number of broilers slaughtered and poultry meat produced have increased, the industry does not produce sufficient quantities to satisfy demand, with the shortfall addressed through imports.

Opportunities for sector expansion There are various opportunities available to commercial poultry producers, and chief among these are production of further processed products, expansion of broiler breeding facilities to meet hatching egg requirements.As foreign nationals are not involved in production, partnerships between current medium-size producers and foreign companies with access to capital and technology are the way forward.

‘

"

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There are good opportunities for the poultry industry, which Oduntan summarised as the growing demand for foods and those produced to higher welfare standards, as well as cost savings.

The business environment Watchers have expressed concern that the once flourishing small-scale poultry industry has over the past two decades undergone a severe deterioration as a result of fortunes that have diverted the industry from near self-sufficiency to a net importer of poultry products.

The market has followed a steep and uncontrolled influx of cheap poultry meat from subsidised poultry producers from advanced countries. A multiplicity of factors have accounted for the decline and mortalities of the domestic poultry industry. These include unfair competition from subsidised smuggled poultry from advanced countries, unfavourable and indifferent government’s policy direction, escalating costs of production, inefficient methods of production, lack of funds and credit, inadequate knowledge in poultry management, lack of information needs on the part of smallscale poultry farmers, inadequate access to market, lack of processing facilities, and high rates of perishability. The business environment for the poultry industry has been challenging in recent years. For Oladipupo, if the challenges are overcome and poultry production and industry are enhanced, the industry has the potential of employing more people and thereby helping to reduce the problem of unemployment in the country.

Watchers believe if Nigeria creates a more friendly business environment, the poultry industry will grow and attract more investment.

Technical training and assistance for farmers More specifically, poultry producers face multiple challenges such as inefficient feeding practices and low quality of baby chickens-the two key inputs that together represent a large percent of their costs.

Another issue is disease management, which are critical to the sustainability of the industry.

To address a lot of issues, stakeholders canvassed training programmes to provide awareness to the famers on various diseases, health conditions, strategies and techniques to ensure the quality of poultry products and for the better health of the chickens, ducks and other domesticated animals.

Training and mentoring on poultry production and business are also needed. Small poultry farmers need the services of specialist extension officers who are continually assessed and up-skilled. Gaining market access is a common problem. The poultry sector has lost a lot in profits over the years. This loss is primarily due to the fact that local SMEs lack formal training on farm management and struggle to stay profitable.

Prospects for change The outlook for the future is unclear. The

Except there is a development plan for the poultry sector to boost production of chickens and eggs, the import ban on frozen chicken meat may not achieve its goal

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Many farmers have complained that the " industry doesn't have the capacity to facilitate smooth movement of poultry products from the farms to supply points. While there are marginal investment in infrastructure, not so much have been recorded to make specialised chick delivery vehicles commonplace

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plight of the poultry industry comes to the fore with regular cries for help from the industry, followed by regular promises from the government and answered with regular accusations of insufficient government support. The solution lies in the hands of the government.The other issue is that watchers are not anticipating any major industry investments in the short-term, given the country's economic situation. A lot of farms are facing challenges due to limited access to bank credit and operating funds. For farmers, food security will be put at risk if the chicken business is not well funded.

The one thing that might change this picture again could be future developments. To observers, except there is a development plan for the poultry sector to boost production of chickens and eggs, the import ban on frozen chicken meat may not achieve its goal. Oladipupo urged the government to provide incentives for poultry farmers, such as support for those who import poultry feed and other inputs, so that those items can be obtained at affordable prices. He wants commercial banks encouraged to give favourable responses to the funding of the poultry industry by devising innovative products to meet the needs of poultry farmers. For him, there is a compelling need for such interventions to restore the vibrancy of the poultry industry and create jobs, which will also help realise the government's dream of reducing the rate of unemployment. There is need to work with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and farmers in the poultry sector to strengthen their technical skills, increase profitability, and expand access to markets. The government needs to build the capacity of local poultry companies and poultry farmers, address industry-wide challenges, such as lack of veterinarian skills and bio-security standards, low production efficiency, and limited farm management skills.

For sure, the ban calls for further action and reaction. On the whole , producers in the poultry industry are welcoming a government ban on poultry products imports. The ban was imposed following ongoing concerns about potential health threats.Farmers say, the ban will boost business for local poultry producers by giving them an increased foothold in the local market.Poultry farmers had been advocating for a ban to protect the local industry .

They say the ban will support hard working small holder farmers. They also say the ban is good news for small and medium enterprises and will provide more job opportunities in the community. They said the ban is a step forward in the right direction towards improving policies that will protect local produce and increase trade

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

29

Taxation

Refund procedure for Value Added Tax (VAT)

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SALIENT feature of the VAT system is its ability and promptness in making refunds as and when due.

Refund here does not necessarily mean direct cash payment as further explained in paragraph 4 below. The Value Added Tax Act Cap V1 LFN 2004 (as amended) permits a taxable person to claim refund of the excess tax, in the event of input tax exceeding output tax. Refund is also available for VAT paid on zero-rated goods and services. The FIRS is empowered to set the guidelines and requirements for VAT refund from time to time.

The right to claim VAT refund It is the right of the VATable person to demand for a VAT refund where the input tax genuinely exceeds the output tax for a transaction period. VATable persons by their roles are agents of the FIRS in the administration of VAT and the FIRS is obliged to make timely refund to them in the course of their agency roles.

How to apply for VAT refund.

The VATable person must first fill the VAT return form 002, duly completed and submitted to the relevant tax office and the form must clearly and correctly indicate that it is excess of input tax over output tax, to warrant any refund.

Nature of Refund.

VAT refund can be claimed in any of these ways; i.) by credit method, or ii.) by direct cash refund method; or iii.) by both methods in (i) & (ii) above.

Credit method This is carried out with the use of VAT form 002, which contains the calculation of total output tax and input tax and deduction thereof. Where output tax equals input tax, no tax is payable or refundable and where output tax exceeds input tax, the tax difference is remittable to government.

Where the output tax is less than the input tax, the excess of input tax must be refunded. Here, the taxable person may decide to set off the balance resulting in his favor against the output tax in subsequent month by making the outstanding input tax in the previous month as the first charge in the current month output tax. This is a popular VAT refund approach in many VAT system and is encouraged by the FIRS since it saves time and unnecessary paperwork.

Direct Cash method It is reasonable to expect that output tax will always exceed input tax. However, There are some companies whose input tax are perpetually in excess of output tax, such a company cannot reasonably be per-

By Michael Olulenu

suaded to engage in future set –off by means of credit because the need for refund is repetitive and could be so for an extended period. It is for this category of companies that regular cash refund may be necessary.

Who is qualified for refund?

Refund may be demanded by a registered vatable person in respect of its excess input tax. It follows that only registered vatable person can make refund claim.

How soon can refund be obtained?

Normally, all relevant document for VAT transaction will be verified before a refund can be made. The Service shall decide on who is eligible for refund subject to its refund rules and conditions. The refund shall be made within 90 days of the decision of the Service on the eligibility for the refund. The earlier the underlying documents are available for VAT audit, the quicker the refund process.

Document verification All evidences of payments in respect of input tax must be kept for verification purpose before a refund can be made, while all source documents relating to the transaction in refund application must be kept and made available for inspection.

The following document shall be produced for VAT audit: • related monthly VAT return form 002, input tax invoices, sales invoices, notices of import and original proof of tax payment on imports;

• export documents, notices of export and proof of realization of export; and • other relevant document needed to back up refund claim.

Refund procedure All claims for refund, irrespective of the mode of refund, must be subjected to verification by the VAT auditor. It is therefore important to stress that all tax invoices are to be scrupulously kept for at least a full year before they are stored away. Unless a vatable person indicates in writing his preference for direct cash refund, the FIRS will safely presume a refund by the credit approach.

The VAT auditor’ report of findings is the acid test in processing any VAT refund through the FIRS internal processing channels.

Refund Account In order to minimize delays in the refund process, especially for direct cash, a dedicated account has been opened by the Accountant-General of the Federation from which payment of all successful refund are to be made to applicants.

Refund Offence Stiff penalties are provided in the law for offences that may be committed in the course of requesting for refund. Examples of such offences include among others: • Using false documents to make refund claim; • Issuing false tax invoice, with the intention to procure unmerited refund; • Resisting VAT auditor from the verification exercise or supplying false or misleading information.

• Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Mr. Babatunde Fowler (right) taking over from Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan, at the Revenue House, Abuja.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

31

MONEYLINK

Banking security: CBN controls credit receipts by banks

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has attributed delays in crediting beneficiary banks in online cash transfers to the need to ascertain the integrity of transactions. There is always a 20-minute or more gap between the time online transactions are approved and when the beneficiary bank gets credit.

CBN Director, Banking and Payments System Department, ‘Dipo Fatokun who disclosed this during the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) BiMonthly Forum held in Lagos, at the weekend, said the apex bank put the time control because it wants the account holder to get alert first, before crediting the beneficiary.

The CBN director said the regulator is taking strategic steps to ensure that the level of fraud arising from e-payment transactions are reduced to the barest minimum.

He said the Payments System Vi-

Stories by Collins Nweze

sion 2020 launched in 2013, was meant to achieve the reorganisation of the National Payments Governance Structure and encourage more people to embrace e-payment transactions.

Fatokun, who was represented by the CBN Deputy Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Musa Jimoh, said the project identified agriculture, smart cities, health, transportation, hotels, entertainment, government flow, education and Consumer Bill Payment as well as direct debits as focus areas.

However, Fatokun explained that the absence of a unique identifier in the banking industry has negative consequences on the growth of e-payments and that the need to resolve the challenge that prompted the CBN, in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee to launch the

Bank Verification Number (BVN) project. The project, he said, will help build confidence of customers on the e-payment channels and enhance integrity of transactions.

“The BVN initiative is aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system by uniquely identifying all bank customers and acts as a stop-gap, prior to the full implementation of the National Identity Card system,” he said.

Also, the CBN mandated all banks, switches and processors to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCIDSS) and subsequently conducted an oversight on compliance which showed that most banks had been certified.

He said the certification lasts for one year and banks are currently at various levels of re-certification. He explained that PCIDSS is a global compliance standard for any entity

that stores, transmits or processes card payment data.

The apex bank, Fatokun said, also directed banks to set up systems that will enable the automatic refund of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) dispense errors to customers. The regulator has also issued guidelines for card issuance and usage meant to provide minimum standards and requirements for the issuance and usage of payment cards in the country.

“Its implementation enables issuing banks, other financial institution, processors and cards schemes upgrade and maintain their card operations to ensure optimum security, efficiency, cost effectiveness and customer friendliness,” he said.

The platform, he added, also serves as a tool for banks and other financial institutions to assess their card issuance portfolio and ensures that consumers that carry Nigerian -issued cards operate within ac-

ceptable standards.

“From a regulatory perspective; the CBN acknowledges that less than optimal, inefficient or poorly designed systems will ultimately have a negative impact on systemic stability, economic development and growth. It has therefore consciously pursued the growth of a payments system that is safe, efficient, cost effective and reliable,” he said.

He said payment systems have moved from the backroom to the boardroom of organisations given its strategic importance in today’s globalised world. He said a wellfunctioning payment system plays significant role in supporting the economy.

He explained that such significance prompted the apex bank to promote a payment system where the underserved and non-served are integrated into formal financial services sector.

FirstBank drives savings with MeFirst cards

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IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited has introduced the MeFirst prepaid card designed for teenagers between the ages of 13 to 17 years (MeFirst Account holders), to enable them enhance their savings culture.

In a statement, the lender said the product also gives the teenagers money management opportunities. It said card is to be preloaded by parents/guardians and it has a quarterly spending limit of N50,000.

“This is flexible and can be set to suit the preference of the caregivers. In view of the savvy nature of teenagers and to create diversified choices, the MeFirst prepaid card comes in five

design options to suit different peculiar tastes; it is acceptable worldwide, can be used on all electronic platforms carrying the Visa logo and comes at a discounted cost compared with other prepaid cards,” it said.

The bank’s Head of Consumer Banking Products, Adebimpe Ihekuna, said the product was developed to encourage teenagers to be familiar with the essence of banking and know that they have a right start to chart a healthy financial future. “The MeFirst Card is one of the numerous ways FirstBank ensures that children and young adults are empowered with sound financial education” she further asserted.

Ambode praises CITN president, urges revenue diversification

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AGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has congratulated the new Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) President, Dr. Olateju Somorin and called for the identification and development of multiple sources of revenues to enhance economic development.

Speaking at the investiture of Somorin, who is the 12th President of CITN, the governor said the drop in oil revenues underscores the need for states to have multiple means of generating income.

Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, said the current economic situation in the country requires greater commitment and contribution from all stakeholders.

He charged all stakeholders to uphold professional ethics and best practices in the tax industry. “Your professional advice and input in the implementation of the various reforms

aimed at repositioning the economy on the path of sustainable growth is more than ever before, critical to the achievement of the overall objectives of the present administration,” he said.

Somorin in her five points agenda said the institute will not only broaden the membership base but would continue to empower institutions of higher learning to achieve quality education.

Olateju, who is now the CITN second female President, added that she will collaborate on joint workshops with other professional bodies and find ways of moving the economy forward.

She was also installed as the 4th and first female President of the West Africa Union of Tax Institute (WAUTI) .She promised to encourage the formation of professional tax institutes in countries where they do not exist; cooperate with other bodies to ensure the effective take off of World Tax Forum and to ensure the realisation of the aims and objectives of WAUTI as contained in Article 3 of its constitution.

Sterling Bank holds capacity building for journalists

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TERLING Bank Plc at the weekend facilitated a training programme for financial journalists. The programme was aimed at enhancing the participants’ understanding of key developments in the economy.

Jurgen Hecker, a financial expert and media trainer from France and Bismarck Rewane, a renowned economist, presented papers during the event. Topics covered include sovereign debt, bond market operations, exchange and interest rates dynamics.

The bank in a statement signed by the Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola said the training programme was facilitated to equip financial journalists in the country with current

trends in the global financial world to serve as reference when analysing issues affecting the economy.

“We all know the importance of qualitative reporting and accurate in-depth analysis of economic issues especially developments in the banking sector. For this to happen, there is a need to equip the journalists- reporters and editors alike with adequate understanding of economic developments,” he said.

The bank said the choice of Hecker and Rewane was based on their rich experience in financial journalism and the economy respectively.

Jurgen Hecker is a journalist and media trainer currently working at the Agence France Presse (AFP), an international news agency.

•From left: Vice Chairman, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Tony Aletor; Managing Director, Eddie Efekoha, and the Chairman, Dr. Obi Ralph Ekezie, at the 20th Annual General meeting of the company held in Lagos.

CIBN urges bankers to get better skills

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HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has urged banks, financial institutions and their employees to improve on their skills by taking advantage of various qualifying examinations offered by the institute.

CIBN President/Chairman of Council, Mrs Debola Osibogun, disclosed this during at the CIBN Graduates Induction and Prize Awards Day in Lagos.

The induction, an annual ceremony of the Institute is the forum where student members who have completed their examinations and fulfilled all other conditions set by the Governing Council, are formally admitted into full professional membership of the institute.

A total of 1,003 members were admitted into various categories of membership – 276 student members into Associateship category (ACIB), 20 graduates of the Chartered Banker/MBA Programme into the Associateship of the institute, 679 student members who have passed the Microfinance Certification Programme and fulfilled all the necessary conditions for admission as Microfinance Certified Bankers (MCIB) and 28 members who completed the Certificate in Banking (CIB).

“I want to heartily congratulate all our inductees today. Your hard

work and resilience have yielded very good result and no doubt, it will be a catalyst to greater heights for you in your chosen careers”, she said.

At the event, certificates of appreciation were presented to financial institutions that have made giant strides at encouraging their employees to sit for the various qualifying examinations of the institute, as part of their corporate strategy to enhance competency and human capacity development in the banking industry.

These institutions have produced not less than five inductees each at this ceremony. They are; First Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Microcred MicroFinance Bank, NPF MicroFinance Bank, and Peace MicroFinance Bank.

Osibogun was pleased that that Nigeria produced the highest number of graduates worldwide at the 2014/2015 Chartered Banker/ MBA programme graduation ceremony in July in Bangor, United Kingdom. The institute was pronounced as the most valuable partner of the programme. The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and Heritage Banking Company Limited produced the highest number of graduates.

•Mrs Osibogun

“This is a demonstration of their commitment to improve professionalism in the banking industry and the implementation of Competency Framework”, she said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers Committee had developed a competency framework for the banking industry as part of effort to promote, standardise, and sustain skills and competency development in the industry.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

EQUITIES

UACN mulls new strategic investors, additional capital

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HE board of UAC of Nigeria (UACN) is considering offering special equity stakes to strategic investors and raising new capital through equity and debt issues as part of a comprehensive growth plan aimed at strengthening the capital base of the conglomerate and increase investments in its subsidiaries.

A regulatory filing at the weekend indicated that UACN is proposing to undertake two private placements to strategic investors while also raising capital through rights issue to existing shareholders and an unspecified new issue to the general investing public.

In a formal notification of the impending transactions to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company stated that it has been con-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

sidering certain proposals and options which will be subject to agreeing substantive terms and shareholders’ approval.

According to the conglomerate, the additional capital would be used for business expansion and further development of the company and its subsidiaries.

The Nation’s check indicated that UACN might raise as much as N40 billion in the multi-level capital issue.

Besides, the board of the conglomerate is also considering new equity funds through a rights issue to existing shareholders. The proposed capital raising will be presented to the shareholders for approval at the forth-

coming annual general meeting of the company on September 23.

Shareholders are expected to approve several resolutions including one that empowers the board to raise N20 billion through any means of capital raising and another resolution that mandates the board to offer some 160.07 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 12 shares held as at the closure date.

In a major strategic move, the conglomerate is seeking to undertake a private placement of 230 million convertible non-redeemable preference shares of 50 kobo each to pre-identified investors at a price of N45 per share.

In another private place-

ment, the board is proposing a private placement of 100 million convertible non-redeemable preference shares of 50 kobo each to pre-identified investors at a price of N50 per share.

Under the proposed terms of private placement, the preference shares shall be convertible to ordinary shares within five years on terms to be agreed by the directors. The preference shares holders would not be entitled to dividends but they would be entitled to any distribution of assets and they can attend general meeting and vote as well.

According to the proposed terms of the rights issue, rights that were unsubscribed would be allotted and sold to other investors.

To facilitate the new capital

issue, shareholders are expected to increase the conglomerate’s authorized share capital from N1 billion divided into 2.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to N1.7 billion, consisting of 3.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each and 400 million preference shares of 50 kobo each.

UACN’s share price dropped by 3.60 per cent to N33.40 per share at the weekend as the board of the conglomerate advises shareholders to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s shares until a further announcement is made.

Nigeria’s oldest surviving business, UACN started business in Nigeria in 1879, well ahead of the 1914 amalgamation that created the current Nigerian nation. A large group of several active com-

panies spreading through manufacturing, services, logistics and real estate sectors of the Nigerian economy, the UACN Group includes four quoted subsidiaries-CAP Plc, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc, Livestock Feeds and Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc; in addition to the parent company, UACN. UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust is a subsidiary of UPDC. UACN acquired Livestock Feeds and Portland Paints in 2013. Other members of the group included UAC Foods Limited, UAC Restaurants Limited, MDS Logistics Plc, Warm Spring Waters Nigeria Limited, Grand Cereals Limited, and Unico CPFA Limited. Listed in 1974, UACN is owned by some 190,000 shareholders.

SEC to support indigent students

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•From Left: Director-General, Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC),Ikeja, Juliet Chukas-Onaeko; Deputy Director and Training Manager, ISTC, Mr. Gideon Dakahap, Commercial Attache, Consulate-General, Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos, Rene Siebenhaar, Director-General, Nigerian- German Business Association (NGBA) Jennifer Anoyika and the Coordinator, Technical Teachers, Technical school, City of Fulda, Germany, Karl- Heinz ketteler, during the graduation ceremony of apprentices trained in technical facility management of the ongoing German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria in Lagos...on Friday.

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has offered to support indigenous and indigent residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 50 e-readers tablets to make leaning easier and affordable for the less privilege in the FCT. Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, made the promise when he received members of the FCT Scholarship Board in his office in Abuja.

He noted that his predecessor Ms Arunma Oteh had made a similar commitment before she left office, he however will see to the actualisation of the promise. Gwarzo said the SEC was serious about educating Nigerians from all walks of life on investor education to deepen interest in stock market activities in the country.

He also assured members of the FCT scholarship board that the SEC will endow a doctorate chair in a university in atopic that will be relevant to capital market appreciation. Beyond endowing a doctorate chair in a university Gwarzo also stated

that the SEC will see where and how to intervene in the FCT scholarship programme to assist indigent children from primary to tertiary institutions.

E-reader is a digital library where all the texts of subjects approved for scholarly education will be loaded on an iPad or kindle for ease of learning.

In her address, the leader of the FCT Scholarship Board delegation, Mrs Naomi Biki, Director Admin and Finance Education Secretariat of the FCT said their visit to the SEC was “to remind SEC that the former DG promised them 50 e-readers so be the new DG should make good the pledge of 50 e-readers and possibly go beyond.”

She lamented that paucity of funds was militating against the board achieving its objective, but inspite of the lack of funds, the board had so far assisted 70,000 children who have benefited from scholarship assistance from primary to tertiary institutions.

She disclosed that N255 million was budgeted for the board in the last fiscal year but only got N150 million from an actual projection of N600 million.

We lost N9.2b on national identity project, says Chams

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HAMS Plc, a leading indigenous information and communication technology company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has said it lost N9.2 billion on its investments on the national identity project that was awarded to it.

In a statement in Lagos, Chams said it was shutting down Ikeja ChamsCity digital Mall, due to lack of use of its digital citizen registration and mass enrolments infrastructure.

Chief service officer, Chams Plc, Mr. Ola Olasiyan, said the company lost N9.2 billion on ChamsCity, ChamsSwitch and CardCentre operations and have decided to close down loss makers tied to the concession on the national identity project.

According to him, other business process outsourcing services offered at the digital mall that includes contact centre services, computer

•Closes digital mall based testing, pre-qualification employee tests and staff training, will now be offered

by ChamsCity from its new location in Victoria Island, Lagos.

It would be recalled that ChamsCity was built in 2009 after its parent company, Chams Plc got a concession agreement from the Federal Government under the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to deliver the national identity project for the country.

ChamsCity malls in Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Port Harcourt were established as Nigeria’s pioneer digital mall to provide enormous capital-intensive resources which will accelerate citizen enrolment and registration for National identity management system and for large scale data management in a conducive, serene, and secured en-

vironment.

“We have remained resilient, and have taken learning from the frustration of our concession on the national identity management project. With the success recorded on the ongoing Bank Verification Number (BVN) Project and a good number of other Identity-related projects that Chams is working on, we now see a clearer, more-timely and potentially large opportunity to help transform the identity management sector of the economy. Hence our decision to refocus our efforts and investments by streamlining ChamsCity,” Olasiyan said.

The company noted that closure of Ikeja ChamsCity digital mall in Lagos means that all four ChamsCity facilities situated in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and Benin have now been dis-

solved without serving the primary purpose of their establishment.

Relocated from their former expansive premises, the Ikeja ChamsCity which is being relocated to Victoria Island and the Abuja, ChamsCity now focuses on contact centre services, computer-based testing, examination and training, among other business process outsourcing services.

Olasiyan pointed out that as an integral part of Chams, ChamsCity will continue to provide an enabling platform for institutions who wish to conduct online classes and entrance tests and regular examinations, as well as large corporations seeking contact centre services, conducting pre-qualification employee tests and staff training using modern ICT tools.

Chams had doubled its pretax profit in 2014 as the information and communication technology company

continued to strengthen its income and profitability.

Key performance indices of the company showed appreciable improvements in overall performance outlook during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Turnover rose from N3.44 billion in 2013 to N4.12 billion in 2014. While gross profit slipped from N1.85 billion to N1.55 billion on the back of higher cost of sales, the company reduced operating expenses to boost the midline. Operating profit rose to N392.3 million in 2014 compared with N320.2 million in 2013.

Profit before tax jumped by 144.9 per cent from N106.92 million to N261.81 million.

Profit after taxes also rose by 48.8 per cent from N188.46 million to N280.43 million.

The positive earnings also strengthened the company’s balance sheet. Total assets improved from N10.72 billion in 2013 to N12.09 billion in 2014 while shareholders’

funds increased from N4.68 billion to N5.92 billion.

The improved performance encouraged the board of the company to recommend distribution of N93.92 million as cash dividends, representing a dividend per share of 2.0 kobo.

The latest audited report appeared to underline increasing profitability of the company’s operations. Audited report and accounts of Chams for the year ended December 31, 2013 had shown that turnover rose by 21.3 per cent from N2.84 billion in 2012 to N3.44 billion in 2013. Profit after tax rose by 115.3 per cent to N188.5 million as against N87.5 million in the previous year. The company’s net bottom-line was boosted by tax gain of N81.54 million.

Total assets grew by 22.9 per cent to N10.7 billion compared to N8.7 billion.

Shareholders’ funds improved from N4.5 billion to N4.7 billion.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

33

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

Kari urges professionalism among brokers •NICON restrategises OMMISSIONER for Insurance, Mohammed Kari has urged insurance brokers to take the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari seriously and be professional in their practice.

Kari, who said this known at the August edition of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Members’ Evening sponsored

by NICON Insurance Plc in Lagos, called on the brokers not to allow themselves to be used by money bags, who sponsor broking licences in order to engage in unprofessional acts.

He noted that the insurance profession is the most ridiculed, maligned and disrespected profession in the country.

He condemned a situation where insurance practitioners recognise other professions than their own profession, advising them not to allow other professions dictate to them.

President Muhammad Buhari, Kari said, has introduced a subject, which every broker should take seriously by asking where do we go from here in view of the issue of our profession. “Do we want to continue to become ruled over by some money bags, who always sponsor our licence? They employ and fire us at will and make

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Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

us do things that are not professional?” he asked.

NCRIB President, Ayodapo Shoderu said NCRIB is looking forward to strengthening the provisions of the law that made NCRIB registration a pre-condition to licensing by NAICOM, among other things.

According to him, the step will further enhance professionalism and buoy the image of the industry. On national issues and brokers concerns, Shoderu said barely two weeks ago, the pendulum of disaster swung again into the aviation industry where six persons including a pilot were dead and other passengers on board sustained injury of various magnitude in the ill-fated Sikosky 76 helicopter owned by Bristow Helicopter Nigeria Limited.

He said: “There is need for the leadership of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as a matter of urgency to ensure that crashes of aircraft in Nigeria becomes a thing of the past.

“They should also ensure that no airline operator is allowed to operate without adequate insurance cover, which will guarantee that in case of any unfortunate incident, the bereaved

•From left: Kari; Shoderu and Samuel at the event

families will have something to fall back on.

“On our part as insurance brokers, we have taken our awareness campaign to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). We have had meeting with the representative of the association and a further meeting is to be rescheduled for a later date, not only with AON, but other professional bodies in the industry to ensure that the mechanism of risk-taking provided by law is strictly adhered to, in order to avoid double tragedies for the families of victims.”

Shoderu also called on the government to throw its federal might behind the entrenchment of insurance policies not only in aviation industry, but in other sectors. He said there are almost six compulsory insurance policies that have been highlighted by the regulator, noting that they need government’s support and backing to enforce them.

He was optimistic that the incumbent administration will not tolerate corruption of any sort as avoidance of compulsory insurances is high level of corruption, which must be included in the ongoing fight against corruption.

He disclosed that the sale of fake insurance certificates, especially third party motor insurance, is still a thriving business across the country.

The Managing Director, NICON Insurance Limited, Bayode Samuel said the company has begun radical structural and human rebranding exercises with the intent of placing the company on a balanced pedestal.

He said they have paid a total claim of over N138.11 million, made up of N50.98 million in general business and N87.13 million in life and pensions businesses from January to date.

The company, according to him, engaged highly cerebral staff to drive our new strategic direction and

LASACO ‘s premium grows by 13.4%

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ASACO Assurance Plc has achieved a growth of 13.4 per cent in gross premium income from N 4.98 billion in 2013 to N 5.63 billion in 2014.

The Company’s investment income also grew from N309 million in 2013 to N515 million in 2014. Similarly, profit before tax (PBT) grew by 27 per cent from N412 million to N525 million.

The Shareholders’ fund increased by nine per cent in 2014 from N5.9 billion to N6.4 billion and the total asset grew by six per cent from N13.4 billion to N14.2 billion.

The Chairman, Mr. Ashim Oyekan said the company was able to achieve the growth despite the continued global economic and financial crisis in the business environment, which undoubtedly affected the general performance of insurance companies.

He added that the growth in investment income is a reflection of the effort

at restructuring the company’s growing investment portfolio in order to achieve good returns on investments.

On the company’s future outlook, he said: “We have positioned ourselves for a better future in terms of profitability and market share. We have reverted to a composite company with effect from December 16, 2014, following the approval of all regulatory authorities. The composite structure is expected to improve our operational efficiency, reduce cost, and streamline the structure for better service delivery.

“The on-line retail payment system has been fully integrated and commissioned. We have also channeled our efforts to ensuring an increased social media presence and engagement, which hopefully will increase our visibility.

“In a continued effort towards our brand rejuvenation, we are focused

on the theme “Brand and Service Alignment” in 2015. This is geared towards ensuring that our brand attributes align with our service delivery, we have launched a call centre, which interface with the insuring public. The brand communication campaign is expected to prepare us for improved performance, especially in retail and micro insurance businesses.

“Aside the significant policy changes, the Nigerian insurance industry during the period, experienced stiffer competition with the entrance of foreign operators / global players, consolidations and mergers; divestments of banks from insurance and Bancassurance.”

He said consequently, there is an intense competition between these operators and existing Nigerian players. Hence, it is pertinent that we strive to position ourselves in the increasingly competitive environment.

He said the strict enforcement of “No Premium, No Cover” directive of NAICOM improved the general health of the industry, adding that the policy resulted in some loss of income from customers, who had to adjust their cover contracts to enable affordability rather than full protection.

He noted that they believe there will be more positive effects in the long run.

“Also, the current resolve by NAICOM to combat unregulated business acquisition costs will drastically help to improve the returns on investments to all stakeholders in the Insurance industry as a result of its impact of reducing operating costs.

“We have resolved, as a company, to be a leader of the vanguard of operators, supporting all the efforts of the regulators to bring positive changes to the Industry by abiding strictly with all regulations and directives introduced,” he said.

We have full insurance cover for crash helicopter, says Bristow

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RISTOW Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited has said its crashed Helicopter, Bristow Sirkorsky S-76, had insurance policies as stipulated by the Nigeria Civil Avition Authority (NCAA) and international aviation bodies.. The Helicopter crashed into Lagos Lagoon earlier this month.

Bristow Public Relations Officer, Cornelius Onuora, who made this known in an exclusive interview with The Nation, said the company is a law abiding entity and will continue to comply with Nigerian laws and requirements.

He confirmed that the insurance was arranged by Scib Nigeria and Company Limited, adding that the programme is written by a panel of local underwriters and offshore reinsurers.

Leadway Executive Director, General Business, Adetola Adegbayi said

thecompany fully insured its aircraft and liabilities that may result from flight operations.

She said unlike passenger airlines where a strict liability amount is stated by the international convention (Montreal) as adopted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act 2006, private aircraft operators enter into contracts with those they carry and the value of compensation in the event of an accident is usually governed by such contracts.

She said such contracts are confidential in nature and it is only when the liabilities have been adjusted that an insurer would know what compensation would go to each deceased family and injured persons.

As a result, she said, they are unable to confirm any value of individual compensation. She assured that the insurance firm was in business to

pay claims and “we would definitely settle the claims as they are adjusted, whether for the aircraft or to the beneficiaries of the departed souls or the injured persons involved”.

She said: “It is noteworthy that the overall liability value that a commercial aviator must obtain depends on the weight of each of their aircrafts in operation, the number of seats, the type of operations that they run whether private charter services or open passenger airline services and their flight routes whether domestic or international.

“In practice, commercial aviators are given to purchase combined single liability (CSL) limits of between US$200 million and US$750 million to US$1billion depending on their routes. These values are usually far in excess of whatever overall passenger liability compensation value may be

as other matters (such as other ground liabilities, fortuitous damages to other public properties and surrounding infrastructure are taken into consideration,” she said.

She stressed that non-provision of specific information does not in any way suggest that the underwriter wants to short changed the victims.

“With the type of CSL limits that commercial aviators purchase, it is implausible, in fact, impossible that any insurer would want to short pay any victim.

“Insurance enables entrepreneurship to thrive, enables and sustains individual wealth no matter what happens and contributes to overall wealth of the nation.”

Adegbayi noted that Leadway, on its part, has consistently shown examples by paying over N11billion in claims for 2014.

roadmap to reposition our company.

“Prior to its privatisation, NICON was the flagship of the industry. The position was incontestable until the blueprint to privatise some government establishments in the country came into force. At that time, NICON enjoyed an unparalleled market environment devoid of stress and strain.

“However, privatisation came with a lot of changes, which drastically upturned the flow of events. The monopoly on Federal Government insurances was broken. The insuring public had wide choices to make in the insurance market. The relaxed mood of the company, therefore, had to be awoken. It was then the real challenges of competing in the insurance market began,” he said.

Samuel stressed that the company has the backing of professional associations just like it is fraternising with brokers and desires to sustain the fellowship.

Insurers gather for fun at CIIN picnic

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ITHOUT recourse to the usual underwriting business of insurance, insurers had a fun-filled day at the 2015 annual Insurance sector picnic organised by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).

The picnic was held at Eleko Beach, on the Lagos- Epe Express Road with over 4,000 picnickers in attendance. The event featured a variety of activities such as the Brazilian fantastico as picnickers displayed costumes and danced to the music from hundreds of loud speakers in the beach sheds.

CIIN President, Lady Isioma Chukuma with some council members, urged the picnickers to have a fun-filled day, declaring that it was a day dedicated for enjoyment.

At the children’s corner, members of the Professional Insurance Ladies’ Association (PILA) were on hand to take care of the little tots, sharing love with them and giving them gift packs as a mark of love.

WAPIC chief resigns

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APIC Insurance Plc held a send-forth party in honour of its outgone Chief Executive Officer, Ashish Desai , who indicated his intention to resign. His tenure would expire early next year.

Desai would be returning to South Africa to join his family and pursue his business interests. The send-forth party, which was well attended by staff of the company, held at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos.

Desai spoke proudly of the contributions that have been made and the strong foundation laid for future success of Wapic.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

34

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

‘Facebook has billion users in one day’

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OR the first time over a billion people used Facebook on a single day, according to company founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The “milestone” was reached, when “one in seven people on Earth used Facebook to connect with their friends and family”, he said in a post.

Facebook has nearly 1.5 billion users who log in at least once a month, but this was the most in a single day.

The company gained its billionth

user in October 2012.

It was founded in 2004 by Mr Zuckerberg while he was a Harvard student.

In his post, he predicted that Facebook’s reach would continue to grow.

“This was the first time we reached this milestone, and it’s just the beginning of connecting the whole world,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote.

In July, Facebook claimed that over

half of the world’s online users visited the site at least once a month.

It was only back in October 2012 when Facebook first announced it had one billion users using the site at least once a month - and now, just under three years later, the site has managed to pull in that many in a single day.

The question is how can it continue to grow? Surely it will plateau at some point, right? Yes - but we’re a

long way off that.

I’ve just come back from Facebook’s headquarters in California to discuss some of the projects in the pipeline.

On the wall, a map of the world highlighted countries with lots of Facebook users.

Sure, the US, Europe and India are almost at peak Facebook. But there are huge gaps - Africa, much of Asia, some of Latin America. That’s where Facebook is focused on now.

Second-quarter UK growth steady at 0.7%

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MAGE caption A rise in oil and gas production boosted United Kingdom(UK) GDP in the second quarter.

UK economic growth for the second quarter of the year was unrevised at 0.7 per cent, official figures have shown.

The initial figure released in July was boosted by a sharp rise in oil and gas production.

As expected, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) made no change to the reading for the three months to June.

It was higher than the 0.4 per cent growth recorded for the first quarter of the year.

Net trade boosted GDP by one percentage point in the second quarter the biggest contribution from trade in four years - as exports jumped.

Economists have said the boost to trade might be temporary, because the persistent strength of sterling is making British goods more expensive abroad, while turmoil in Chinese financial markets has increased uncertainty about the global outlook.

Business investment rose 2.9 per cent compared with the first three months of 2015 - the highest figure in a year.

Samuel Tombs, senior UK economist at Capital Economics, said the figure “put paid to the idea that uncertainty about the general election would weigh on capital expenditure”.

Household spending increased by 0.7 per cent, but was lower than the 0.9 per cent rise in the first quarter.

Weak inflation, low interest rates and a strong pound have helped to keep consumer sentiment buoyant.

The UK economy expanded by three per cent last year in its best result since 2006. The Bank of England expects the same momentum to be maintained this year, forecasting 2.8 per cent growth.

“With growth in households’ real incomes set to remain supported by low inflation, building wage growth and strong job creation, we continue to think that the economic recovery will sustain its current pace in the second half of 2015,” Mr Tombs said.

US GDP for the second quarter was revised sharply higher at an annualised rate of 3.7 per cent, up from the first estimate of 2.3 per cent.

Growth of 0.6 per cent in the first three months of the year was not revised.

Brazil’s economy enters recession BRAZIL has entered recession after official figures showed the country’s economy contracted by 1.9 per cent between April and June, compared with the previous three months.

Compared with a year earlier, the economy shrank by 2.6 per cent, the government’s statistical agency said.

Analysts had expected a contraction, but the number was worse than expected. The country, the seventh largest economy in the world, has seen economic growth fall sharply in recent years.

This is due in part to low commodity prices and sluggish global growth. Higher interest rates have also affected consumer spending, an important element of Brazil’s economy.

In the second quarter, household spending fell by 2.1 per cent compared with the previous three months. The biggest falls came in the industrial sector, where construction output fell 8.4 per cent.

Transport, storage, postal services, financial services and insurance all saw falls in output.

Fed officials seek rate hikes despite market swings

• From left: Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Mr. Hecker Jurgen, renowned financial journalist based in France and lead speaker speaker at a training by Sterling Bank for financial journalists and Mr. Yemi Adebomi, Group Head, General Internal Services, Sterling Bank, during a courtesy visit by Jurgen to Sterling Bank Towers in Lagos… at the weekend.

Prosecutor seeks to summon Murdoch in Deutsche Bank trial

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UNICH prosecutors requested that 30 additional witnesses including Rupert Murdoch, publisher Friede Springer and Axel Springer (SPRGn.DE) Chief Executive Mathias Doepfner be summoned in a trial against Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) executives.

Munich prosecutors are pursuing criminal allegations against current and former Deutsche Bank executives in the wake of a civil suit brought by the heirs of deceased media magnate

C

Leo Kirch.

Prosecutors have accused the executives of misleading the court about the bank’s role in connection with the collapse of the Kirch media empire in 2002.

They want to establish whether Deutsche Bank sought a mandate to restructure and sell parts of the Kirch empire and now want to question executives at rival media companies, prosecutors said.

Defense lawyers have until September 22 to respond to the request, after which the court will decide whether

to summon the additional witnesses.

Leo Kirch, who died in 2011, blamed former Deutsche Bank chairman Rolf Breuer for triggering his group’s downfall by questioning its creditworthiness in a 2002 television interview. Deutsche Bank and former board members deny wrongdoing.

The accusation set off one of Germany’s most acrimonious corporate disputes. Deutsche Bank settled a civil suit in February 2014 in a deal costing about 925 million euros ($1.04 billion).

Shanghai shares end week almost 8% lower as to return when the grown-ups HINESE shares ended the markets recover going are back from their holidays. Well, week almost eight per cent

lower after volatile trading that started on Monday with shock losses and spread fear to global markets.

On Friday, the mainland’s benchmark Shanghai Composite closed up 4.8 per cent at 3,232 points.

China’s second bourse, the Shenzhen Composite, closed up 5.4 per cent to 1,846 points, but ended the week 9.4 per cent lower.

Other stock markets in Asia also continued their rebound, helped by a strong finish for US shares.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 closed up three per cent at 19,136 points, but the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong reversed earlier gains to close down

one per cent. The Hang Seng ended the week 3.6 per cent lower - its sixth consecutive weekly fall.

Dominic Chan, analyst at GF Securities in Hong Kong, said: “Investor confidence remains shaky. Some took profit as they think the rally is not sustainable.”

Angus Nicholson, an IG Markets analyst, said investors remained concerned about China and when the Federal Reserve will raise US interest rates. In London, the FTSE 100 also turned negative, after initially rising, to be down slightly at 6,186 points.

Some argue, it is a typical August market flap, and calm was always

maybe. But this episode is a reminder of how important China is to the global economy and of the fact that it is slowing down.

The rest of us really do need China to achieve a smooth transition to a slower and more sustainable growth rate. Two figures to underline the need for more moderate growth: the average over the last three decades was 10 per cent, and investment has been more than 45per cent of national income, or GDP, every year since 2009.

The rise in Tokyo extended the previous day’s recovery for Asia’s largest stock market after its sharp losses earlier this week.

TWO top Federal Reserve officials who have pressed for interest rate hikes said a spate of violent swings in financial markets won’t knock the United States’ economy off its feet.

“The U.S. outlook still looks very good,” St. Louis Fed President James Bullard told Bloomberg in an interview from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where central bankers from around the world are converging for a yearly meeting.

Global stock market volatility has sowed doubts over when the Fed will raise interest rates, particularly since the chief of the New York Fed, who is a close advisor to Fed Chair Janet Yellen, on Wednesday said the case for a September hike now appeared less compelling.

But Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said the volatility has not changed her view that the U.S. economy was ready for a modest increase in interest rates.

“I want to take the time I have between now and the September meeting to evaluate all the economic information that’s come in, including recent volatility in markets and the reasons behind that,” Mester said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “But it hasn’t so far changed my basic outlook that the U.S. economy is solid and it could support an increase in interest rates.”

Bullard, who last month said economic data had boosted the case for a September rate hike, noted that the Fed doesn’t like to change policy when markets are volatile, a Bloomberg reporter said, citing Bullard’s comments made offcamera following an interview.

“The key question for the committee is how much would you want to change the outlook based on the volatility we’ve seen over the last 10 days,” Bullard said. “And I think the answer to that is going to be not very much.”

Lead China jitters, globalisation bode ill for Fed’s inflation goal

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ILD swings in world financial markets this week have shown how events in China can potentially disrupt the Federal Reserve’s carefully scripted policy plans. The turmoil, triggered by a rout in Chinese markets, also flagged a broader risk that the U.S. central bank may struggle to meet its inflation target until the rest of the world plays along.

As they try to nudge U.S. interest rates away from zero, policymakers might have to rethink a basic assumption that solid economic growth and

swelling payrolls at home are enough to do the job even as the world’s second-largest economy stutters.

“The years when China could keep on growing and pump things up – that’s over. So you look around the world and ask who can take up the slack, and really the answer is nobody,” said Kevin Logan, chief U.S. economist at HSBC Securities, in New York.

“I don’t see how it’s possible that inflation will be picking up in the United States. We’re just going to have a stronger dollar, falling com-

modity prices, growth prospects that aren’t that good, more competition from imports in the U.S. market so that labor won’t have any bargaining power and wages won’t be going up.”

Only days ago, Fed officials had appeared ready to push interest rates higher in September based on a sense of “reasonable confidence” that inflation would rise to the central bank’s 2 percent target.

Now, they are admitting things got more complicated after a rollercoaster week in financial mar-

kets caused by fears that China’s gradual slowdown could turn into a crash landing.

New York Fed President William Dudley said on Wednesday that the prospect of a September rate hike “seems less compelling” than it was only weeks ago, even if he warned about overreacting to “short-term” market moves.

Global central bankers meeting this week at the annual Federal Reserve retreat in mountainous Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are likely to focus on recent market turbulence, the diver-

gence between the world’s two biggest economies and the question what is driving inflation in the postcrisis world.

The recent market swoons follow a series of other shocks - crashing oil prices, weakness in Europe, the constant deflation threat in Japan - that have held down inflation globally.

Up to now Fed officials have argued those problems would have only a passing effect on U.S. prices, even as they kept pushing the timeline for reaching their inflation goal further into the future.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• Entrepreneurs at work.

Last week, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its latest Job creation and employment generation survey. In second quarter of this year, according to the data, 141,400 jobs were created - 51,100 in the formal sector, 83,900 and 6,400 in the informal and public sectors. Analysts have attributed the jobs statistics to contributions from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention funds in key sectors of the economy, and rising commitment of banks to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) funding, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Intervention funds, SMEs boost job creation

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HE implementation of the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (CACS), N300 billion Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) and N200 billion Small and Medium Enterprises Restructuring and Refinancing Facility (SMERRF) is boosting job opportunities.

Also helping to create jobs is banks’ commitment to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) especially by giving loans to small businesses who remain the major employer of labour in the country.

Head, Markets at FBN Capital, Olubunmi Ashaolu, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report indicated that the real sector is where the bulk of the jobs and that the intervention funds are the catalysts needed to boost job opportunities in the economy.

He said the bureau’s report focuses on 18 sectors, of which education emerges again as the leading source of new formal-sector jobs in second quarter of this year accounting for 34 per cent. Manufacturing, agriculture, and accommodation and food services contributed 15.2 per cent, 15 per cent

and 9.2 per cent to the total respectively. Business expansion, a new skill requirement and the filling of a vacancy emerge as the three principal reasons for hiring.

“We see that senior management positions accounted for five per cent of formal-sector jobs generated.

This trend was marked in the hospitality and retail industries. Bluecollar jobs accounted for over 30 per cent of the total,” Head of Markets at FBN Capital said.

Ashaolu described the formal or real sector as consisting of establishments with 10 or more employees, and is based on a sample of 5,000 firms across the 36 states of the federation.

The CBN under Godwin Emefiele believes that supporting key sectors of the economy via funding from the N700 billion intervention fund and other facilities extended to SMEs are critical in fixing Nigeria’s unemployment quagmire.

Banks have recognised that proper use of the intervention funds will create significant growth potential for the economy and trigger increased job opportunities for the youths. Both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and banks now see the funds as a viable means of build-

ing sustainable wealth and keeping the unemployed off the streets.

For Emefiele, the funds are seen as a game changer in tackling the Nigeria’s job challenges. The CBN had in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to establish the CACS in 2009. The CACS was meant to finance agricultural value chain from input supply to marketing. The scheme commenced operations on April 23, 2009 with the approval of the Federal Government.

The CACS was meant to fast-track the development of the agricultural value sector of the economy through the provision of credit facilities at a single digit interest rate to large-scale commercial farmers.

The N300 PAIF was meant to facilitate intervention in the transport sector. It was meant to provide long term financing that would stimulate private sector participation in the sector.

The CBN said the Fund provided the banks a window to finance power sector projects as well as restructure and refinance outstanding facilities in the aviation sector on a long-term basis of 10 to 15 years at a concessionary interest rate of seven per cent.

It said the PAIF helped in relieving the banks of the burden of nonperforming loans on their balance sheets and improved the credit rating of the beneficiary institutions, thereby providing them access to additional funds for their operations.

As at September 30, 2013, the sum of N109.3 billion was disbursed to 21 companies, by 11 banks. The fund, has among others, financed the construction of 125-kilometre gas to power pipeline and the generation of about 800 megawatt (Mw) of power mostly by manufacturing companies principally to guarantee stable and reliable power supply and to free the national grid to other users.

These, it said, would help ensure a reduction in credit defaults in the sector and harness the entrepreneurial skills in the youth and young graduates. The CBN said, it shall through its Anchor-Lending Programme, provide grants and SMES loans to graduates who develop interest in agribusiness. The regulator pledged support for Federal Government’s national development agenda and the objective of growing the economy through new jobs and SMEs. “We affirm our com-

mitment to financial deepening of the economy, improving financial access to key sectors of the economy, innovative solutions for the critical finance of generation, distribution and transmission in power sector, provide finance for SMEs, as well as the agriculture sector and jobs for the youths,” Emefiele said.

Executive Director, Ovie Brume Foundation, Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, said a lot of graduates that are being churned out are not suitable for the jobs that are currently available, adding that it is important that Nigeria’s educational systems are structured in a way that people that are coming out are able to fill spaces that are available.

On entrepreneurship, Mrs. Akin-Jimoh said the available jobs are not enough to cater for the graduates churned out yearly. “So, it is even better, where people are not coming out and be looking for white collar jobs. They come out with skills that enable them start their own businesses. So, instead •Continued on Page 36

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

JOBS

Intervention funds, SMEs boost job creation •Continued from page 35

the society where they operate are some of the factors affecting today’s youths.

Wigwe, who was represented by the Executive Director, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu disclosed that the lender has a team that drives and adds value to SMEs in the country.

of looking for a job, one can be a job creator. We need people to think more along the line of creating jobs, rather than seeking jobs,” she said.

Banks key into projects At Skye Bank, Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Bank of Industry (BoI), Heritage Bank, among others, there is a new drive to get SMEs off the ground and keep them running.

The BoI recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ecobank Nigeria to provide loans at low interest loan to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sub-sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, while speaking at the event in Lagos said Ecobank and nine other banks in the country were selected based on their support to the SMEs, adding that the low interest rate will heighten activities in the sub-sector.

He said the BoI and SME-friendly banks will collaborate to provide long-term loans to qualified SMEs based on its risk acceptance criteria set by BoI. The Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, explained that the selection of Ecobank by BoI was in recognition

Stakeholders speak

• Emefiele

• Otiti

of the massive support the bank has offered the sub-sector overtime. He observed that the support has won the Ecobank several awards and recognitions in recent times.

Okpanachi further assured that Ecobank will continue to partner other agencies to develop the subsector.

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe has

reiterated the bank’s commitment financial empowerment for SMEs and the youths in Africa.

Speaking at the Africa Sustainable CEO Business Roundtable held in Lagos, the bank chief who discussed how the lender is financing youth entrepreneurs and SMEs in the continent, said traditional problems such as access to finance, environment and the right knowledge on

Michael Obi, an entrepreneur based in Lagos, stated that SMEs subsector has the capacity to create two-thirds of the jobs needed to tackle unemployment, making the subsector more significant. He said the subsector holds the ace to taming unemployment in the country and, as such, must be made active if the unemployment rate, which is put at 28 per cent of adults between the ages of 18 and 60, is to drop.

But he put a caveat: “Nigeria must tackle the challenges of infrastructure, especially power and roads, to create new SMEs or keep existing ones in business. There is also the need to create access to market and provide capacity, especially in keeping company financial records.

The CBN defines SMEs according to asset base and number of employees. The criteria are an asset base of between N5 million and N500 million, and a staff strength of 11 to 300 employees.

The Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan Atlantic University, Peter Bankole, said if a country wants to develop, it must start taking SMEs’ lending seriously. He said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey conducted last year showed that the SMEs sector will continue to play a dominant role in job creation in the economy.

Bankole said the challenge remains that the majority of SMEs are micro, stressing that the government was trying to move as many as possible from micro to small businesses because that will give better multiplier effects for the economy and create jobs.

The General Manager, IBM Africa, Taiwo Otiti, said the SMEs tools help entrepreneurs manage their businesses properly, and in the process, making it attractive for banks to grant them loans and subsequently create jobs. He said SMEs remain the engine of growth for the economy, adding that they are the largest employer of labour within the economy. He said that when the SMEs businesses are run well, they will have the capacity to employ more people. “Part of the SMEs teaching is how to package their businesses to attract bank loans making it easier for them to create jobs,” he said.

EMPOWERMENT CLINIC

Wriggling out of unemployment with your CV (II) L

AST week, we said many graduates are searching for jobs without success because they are ignorant about how to package their curriculum vitae (CV). We added that your CV has a persuasive purpose and it is basically an advertisement. We said as such, you must be clear on what the employer is looking for and what you have to offer before you begin your CV. In writing your CV, you need to organise your thinking such that you will be able to see some new connections between what you have done and what the employer is looking for. You need not confine yourself to work-related accomplishments. Therefore, base your composition on your entire life accomplishments. The essence of this is to cover all the talents you bring to the market place. If you are making a career change or are a young person and new to the job market, you are going to be especially creative in getting across what makes you stand out.

One important part of the planning process is to decide which CV format fits your needs best.

Do not automatically assume that a traditional format will work best for you.

Segmentation There are three types of CVs, and these are chronological, functional and combined chronological functional. The most effective one is the combined chronological functional CV that takes care of the combined deficiencies of chronological and functional CVs. A great CV has two sections. In the first section, you make assertions about your abilities, qualities and achievements. The second section, the evidence section, is where you back up your assertions with evidence that you actually did what you said you did.

This is where you list and describe the jobs you have held, your education, etc. Most CVs contain the evidence section without assertions. The assertions section usually has two or three sections.

that is really catching is the best.

One format is:

By Goke Ilesanmi

In all of them, your job is to assert that you are the best candidate for the job. You start by naming your intended job. This may be in a separate Objective section, or may be woven into the second section, the Summary. If you are making a change to a new field, or are a young person not fully established in a career, start with a separate Objective section.

Assertions Section (A) Objective Targeting your CV requires that you should be completely clear about your career direction. The way to demonstrate your clarity of direction is to make the first major topic of your CV be your objective section. Suppose the owner of a newspaper house puts an advert in the paper looking for an experienced sales person. Then later, the company receives 800 CVs. The applicants have different backgrounds.

The recruiting person has no way of knowing whether any of them is really interested in selling the company’s product. He or she remembers they have all applied for a job they do not really want. He or she knows that many of the CVs received are from people who are just casting their seeds to the winds.

Then, he or she comes across a CV in the pile that starts with the following: “OBJECTIVE: To work as a sales person in a reputable media organisation where an extraordinary record of exceeding sales target and excellent customer relations would be needed.”

Magnetic effect This will automatically attract his or her attention. It works well because the prospective employer is smart enough to know that someone who wants to do exactly what he or she is offering will be much more likely to succeed than someone who does not. And, he or she

(the applicant) will probably be a lot more pleasant to work with as well. Also, this candidate has done a good job of establishing why he or she is the best candidate in the first sentence. It is noteworthy that even when people are clever enough to have an objective, they often make the mistake of composing a selfish objective such as, “To work as X in an organisation where I can hone my skills….” The employer is interested in hiring you for what you can do for him or her, not for fulfilling your personal goals and agenda.

To write your objective, therefore, you first of all decide on a specific job title for your objective. Go back to your list of answers to the question, How can I demonstrate that I am the best candidate? as suggested earlier. What are the two or three qualities, abilities or achievements that would make a candidate stand out as truly exceptional for that specific job?

Understanding The person in the above example understands that the prospective employer would be very much interested in candidates having the ability to exceed sales targets, generate new accounts and effectively relate with customers. Therefore, he or she makes that the very first and convincing point of the CV. Ensure that the objective is to the point.

Experts such as Nicholas Lore, an international career management coach say it is better to avoid fluffy phrases which are obvious or do not mean anything, such as, “Allowing the ability to enhance potential and utilise experience in new challenges.” The objective may be broad and still somewhat be vague in some cases, e.g. “A senior-level management position in the banking industry”.

Effectiveness Having an objective statement

“OBJECTIVE: An X position in an organisation where Y and Z would be needed.” X refers to the name of the position you are looking for. Y and Z are the most unique qualities, abilities or achievements that will really make you stand out from a crowd of applicants. The research previously done, to find out what is most important to the employer will provide the information to fill in Y and Z. If you are actually not sure of the type of job you are looking for, adapt your CV to each type of job you apply for. There is nothing wrong with having several different CVs, each with a different objective, specifically composed for a different type of position. This is so because you are only writing an advertising copy, not your life story that is objectively fixed.

Annex You may or may not need to use a separate Objective section if you are looking for a job in your present field. You may just include your Objective in your Summary section. The point of using an Objective is to create a specific psychological response in the mind of the reader. If you are making a career change or are a young person, you want the employer to immediately focus on where you are going, rather than where you have been. If you are looking for another job in your present field, it is more important to stress your qualities, achievements and abilities first.

The following are a few examples of the separate objective section: • A mid-level position in the insurance industry where a background in public relations would be needed.

• An English language teaching position where a special ability to motivate and communicate effectively with students would be re-

•GOKE ILESANMI quired.

(B) The summary part The Summary (of qualifications) segment consists of several concise statements that focus the reader’s attention on the most important qualities, achievements and abilities you have to offer. Those qualities should be the most compelling demonstration of why you should be employed at the expense of other candidates. We will continue next week.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated here for details.

GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.

Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425 Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

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THE CEO For an economy such as Nigeria’s that depends on crude oil for its sustenance, these are bad times. The situation has been worsened by the devaluation of the naira. But hope is not lost as President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on the process of economic restoration. The Managing Director/ CEO, Neo Media & Marketing, Mr. Ehi Braimah, says the second half of the year holds a better outlook for the economy. He says marketing communications agencies should be innovative to overcome budget cuts during economic slowdowns. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI met him.

T

HE first half of this year has not been very encouraging for the industry. Factors such as the general elections, oil price drop, among others, are believed to have affected businesses generally. What is the impact on the marketing communication sector?

Every industry is affected and not just our industry. Look at the devaluation of the country’s currency- the naira, it is a big issue.

When your reserve depletes, the external reserve is depleted and you need to devalue your currency.

Secondly,the revenue from oil dropped by 50 per cent and that has had a terrible impact on the economy. You know, once your major source of income is from oil practically, your economy revolves around oil income, so if you are losing 50 per cent of your business, it only means that you cannot pretend things are normal. It can no longer be business as usual. Then we also had a crisis- the elections, which slowed down businesses, as people were waiting for the outcome of the elections before knowing what to do. Also, don’t forget that there were all kinds of predictions about Nigeria falling apart and, indeed, there was capital flight too. So taking together all these issues- uncertainty, drop in naira value and revenue from oil in the first six months of this year, no meaningful business has taken place. We are actually now looking at the second half the year.

What are the implications of states owing workers’ salaries ?

I do not have the information but from what we have read in the papers, we understand that the economy is in a bad shape and that is to be expected knowing how government could no longer pay salaries before the bailout by President Muhammadu Buhari. So, that can only be expected if you mismanage your resources,your economy. With the income Nigeria has made from oil in the last six years, I am surprised that government could not pay their workers when we all knew that most of the time they devote between 70 and 80 per cent to recurrent expenditure probably next to nothing to capital expenses. The governors owe Nigerians explanations why they could not pay their workers because they collect money from Abuja every month. So, what did they do with all the money? Some of them were launching ambitious projects that were unrealistic like building airports. For me, they just mismanaged their resources. That is why they went bankrupt and could not pay workers and stop blaming it on drop in oil revenue.

If you plan for the rainy day, then you will know that because you were making money in boom time it doesn’t mean you will not save for the rainy day. Every business circle experience boom and down time. So, you must also anticipate that one day it will not just be the same story of increased revenue from oil every month. It’s been very tough for us this year and we have also lost some businesses on account of the economy that has refused to pick up since January. We want to believe that the second half of the year things will be a lot better. There were lots of borrowing by the federal and state governments. That is part of the problem that made me asked what they did with all the money. They had

‘Naira devaluation, oil price crash, others take toll on economy’

• Braimah

money from the excess crude account apart from their monthly allocation. What did they do with all these money running into billions of naira every month? On top of that, they were still borrowing money and floating bonds and taking loans. The other day, I was listening to the chairman of the governor’s forum saying some of that money they borrowed that their

PHOTO: ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

tenure is stressed as much as 20 years. So you just borrow for generations unborn to come and pay?

It doesn’t make sense. I understand some governor left some money in the treasury in this difficult time such governors were so prudent they had a lot of development in their states and they still left some money behind in the treasury. I think such governors should be

congratulated and honoured if you ask me, believe me, because they were very prudent managers of resources.

So how do you think foreign investors will react to these indicators? Does it portray a very good business confidence in the economy?

Nigeria, any day, is still a great business destination and a lot of

‘It’s been very tough for us this year and we have also lost some businesses on account of the economy that has refused to pick up since January. We want to believe that the second half of the year things will be a lot better’

investors outside Nigeria still want to come here but the signals that received prior to this have been very discouraging. You know if you take the issues of security, corporate governance, transparency, and others, most investors won’t want to come here. Take the case of Richard Branson for instance. He said he wanted to invest in this economy but he was frustrated out and that he will never come here again. So, there are a lot of other investors who have put in money in this economy and they want to take the money out. Before the elections, there were lot of capital flight and we had stories like people now •Continued on page 38

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THE CEO

‘Naira devaluation, oil price crash, others take toll on economy’ •Continued from page 37

looking the direction of Ghana, South Africa, Kenya for investments purpose when there were so much of uncertainty here. I will not blame this people who wanted to take their money out. We believe now that we have a new government and there should be a deliberate attempt to woo investors to come into Nigeria because the country still presents a great opportunity for investment.

When there is lull in the economy, companies are known to cut down on their marketing communications’ budget. Has that been the case this year?

That is true. We were also having problem, some of the clients we were working for also had to cut budget or cancel outrightly some of the project they used to do with us because what we do is basically public relations. When the economy is bad, the first place to go to is marketing budget to trim it down. I can assure you that a lot of companies did that this year but that is not to say, most of the companies in the first quarter experienced negative growth. It will always be like that. I want to look at it as a period of temporary setback and the elections were largely a setback. Most people were not sure of the outcome of the election and you cannot plan; you don’t want to stick out your neck but am looking at the second half of the year becoming much more dynamic. I think we should look at the brighter side and I think as we begin to settle down and the politicians are beginning to get their acts together, the economy will bounce back fully.

The president appears not to be in a haste to appoint ministers. The National Assembly too has its battles. Where does these lead to?

Well the president has told us that there is so much mess. He needs to clear them and he is not in a hurry to appoint some of government officials. I think yes the momentum is slightly slowing down; I think we should still give him benefits of the doubt.

These are still early days. I know Mr. President means well for this country. So, it is too early to say we are so much in a hurry. Nigerians are very impatient people. They want to see the president get to the seat today and appoint ministers tomorrow. Yes, we are in a hurry I agree but at the same time the president has his own style and his methods and we must concede that to him. Let us begin to expect that there is going to be a complete turnaround of the situation in terms of the economy, the opportunities for Nigerians, for investors so that we move from what I will call unacceptable state of affairs. The economy is slowing down, workers are not being paid fully their salaries arrears, nobody knows what is happening, inflation is also going on, cost of borrowing money is also going up, the dollar today is about N226.

It is unacceptable because about six month ago we still bought dollar in the black market in this country for about N170. So now we have to pay more and it is likely to go higher so we have a crisis and that is the truth.

Let us look at the industry generally we have PR, we have advertising, we have media, we have experiential marketing. It is said that out of this sectoral groups under the marketing industry, PR industry is not fully exploiting it’s great opportunities in marketing. How has PR fared in marketing communication?

Well, I will let you know that the PR industry is growing and the practitioners are also warming up to that challenges that you have just identified. There is a knowledge gap obviously, there is a practice gap and I think we have responded to that by having the Public Relations Consultant Association of Nigeria which is an association of practitioners, consultants, consulting aspects of the practice aspect of PR. We believe that through that forum, we will begin to engage one another; we will develop the potential to build the industry for the practitioners. I can assure you that as I speak to you now, so many organisations locally are beginning to engage PR firms whether from corporate communications or to help them to promote their brands and marketing communication campaign but like I said during the last election period most, of the politicians also work with a lot of the PR people on a consultancy basis in terms of delivering their key messages, helping them to

• Braimah

‘These days, you don’t just create facts for your brands you create what you now call fanatics and very good way we now do that now is to identify people that will own that experience on behalf of the brand in terms of music influencers, you can use as ambassador to reach your consumers that is also an emerging trend’

• Braimah

engage with the media and all of that. Most of those things also happened, I believe that with more training, with more engagements, the industry can only grow. PR industry has a lot of potentials like I said we are gradually coming up.

One of the major challenges the industry

PHOTOS: ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

is having is statistics. No statistics to ascertain the worth of the industry financially.

So what are the challenges towards getting to this direction?

It is an area we have identified in terms of the PR campaign. We are having different committees working and I want to assure

you that the president is actually working around the clock to make sure we do things properly. We actually know the value of that business, the industry in Nigeria in terms of billings even the rating of the agencies we want to know who is doing what and the kind of business that we are doing. So it is a process that is continuous and I believe if we get it right the industry, the practitioner will be better for it.

So many clients are looking towards experiential marketing. They say through evaluation, experiential marketing delivers more impact than some other areas of communication. How do you react to this?

It is not peculiar to Nigeria. I think all over the world, the brands budget on top brands are moving from above-the-line to belowthe-line but that is not to say traditional advertising communication platform is no longer or losing its relevant. It is just that you have to move with the times. The trend now is the consumers are beginning to dictate how their product should be given to them. Secondly, they want to jointly own the experience, so our technology is playing a big role in that transition. So, the truth of the matter is we want to engage with consumers, consumers want to experience the brands in all its dimensions. So it is no longer enough to just put your brands on the shelve, the consumers want to be properly engaged to know the full benefits of that brand. Why should I buy your brand instead of buying the other brands? So through that experience, it could be creating events, live events. For example, the consumer becomes connected emotionally with your brand so, that way, the brand gets the patronage from consumers. The tendency now is to look for those channels where you can connect your brand with your consumer and then you create an experience that is a memorable for them to make them to always come back. Advertising is not sufficient. When you run a campaign on television, radio, you are just informing me but if I experience the brand first hand in terms of direct engagement. When the consumer responds then it is like two way traffic. So you have what is called activation platform where the brand and the consumers interact, it is like a emotional space. We are actually now doing what we call emotional marketing where as the functional benefits has been communicated through the normal advertising but the emotional path is through experiential marketing. So I think that trend is what is beginning to gain attraction; even when defining event marketing the simple definition I always give “it is the design and implementation of an event and then you manage the media below-the-line activities so you are actually engaging with the consumers directly whether through the sense of smell, touch, the five senses, so you give an awesome experience and then the consumer feels he is a part of your space now, now the consumer are now becoming a part of the space, now there are no longer there to receive information, they want to be part of your total marketing experience for that brand.

Can you share your views on experiential marketing and the purpose of its conference?

The experiential marketing summits hold every year in the U.S and this year it was held in San Francisco from May 11 to 13. We had practitioners in the industry from all over the world coming to attend and the idea is to share knowledge, review case studies from different organisations. All of these were shared and the results were very interesting. These days, you don’t just create facts for your brands you create what you now call fanatics and very good way we now do that now is to identify people that will own that experience on behalf of the brand in terms of music influencers, you can use as ambassador to reach your consumers that is also an emerging trend. We are also beginning to do things like that in Nigeria because you engage where the consumers live or work or shop, you take the activities to them in those places, you engage them. It is called channel marketing. Where they shop, you meet them there; where they live, you will meet them there; where they work, you meet them there. So it is an experience through engagement. That way, like I said, there is an emotional connection and I think at the summit, we had a lot of case studies, opportunities to network, opportunity to collaborate, opportunity to have new resources to learn about new trends.

39

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

BUSINESS

MOTORING

The 2016 model Range Rover Sport brings customers more choices when it comes to performance and technology. Additionally, Land Rover’s most dynamic model gains a new variant in the Range Rover Sport HST, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Range Rover Sport HST: Unique chassis, higher performance

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HE HST enhances the high performance Range Rover Sport driving experience, thanks to its up-rated 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine that produces 280kW and 450Nm – 30kW more than the current supercharged V6 model. Unique chassis settings and bespoke design features complement its higher performance.

The bold new Range Rover Sport HST is identified by its unique exterior design – with a striking black theme – and interior enhancements, all of which give the high performance luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) a distinctive and dynamic appearance.

The HST is fitted with Stealth Pack lamps front and rear, which feature non-reflective surrounds and combine with a Santorini Black contrast roof and a new spoiler to give the luxury SUV a purposeful profile.Distinctive21-inch alloy wheels feature an exclusive dark satin grey finish, highlighting the up-rated 20-inch brake discs and eye-catching red brake callipers. Larger 22inch Stealth alloy wheels are available as an option.

The bonnet and front wing vents, grille and fog lamp bezels - all feature a glossy black finish, echoed by the ‘Range Rover’ lettering on the leading edge of the bonnet and rear tailgate. Sculpted body-coloured lower door panels and additional vent detailing on the bumpers are also fitted.

In common with other Dynamic Range Rover Sport variants, the HST wears a red Sport badge at the rear, complemented by unique HST badging on the front wing vents.

Unique chassis settings deliver an even more focused driving experience and sharper responses, without compromising the vehicle’s trademark comfort and refinement.

Detail changes to the suspension reduce body roll and deliver enhanced agility.

To highlight the HST’s high performance capabilities, Land Rover’s engineers have devised a unique Terrain Response set-up for the vehicle. It features a Dynamic mode that optimises the suspension, Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and other electronic systems to suit on-road driving. This feature provides more controlled electronic damping and a more responsive throttle pedal, while enhancing gearshifts and steering response to match the change in vehicle character.

Inside, the HST is finished with a duo tone seats trimmed in luxurious Oxford Leather.

In combination with a contrast fascia, allEbony door trims and centre console and standard Ebony headlining, they create a unique environment. The high quality leather upholstery is available in four Ebony/colour combinations, along with an allEbony option.

Bespoke HST badging on the dashboard, carpet mats and the TFT instrument panel highlight the luxury model’s high performance focus. The sporty cues extend to Nobleplated paddle shift gear levers on the steering wheel and distinctive bright ‘Sports’ pedals, while the aluminium interior trim features a textured ‘Sports’ finish.

Upgrades across the range The Range Rover Sport line-up continues to offer breadth of capability, with dynamic on-road capabilities and Land Rover’s renowned off-road abilities. Customers wishing to take their Range Rover Sport off beaten track can now do so with more confidence, with the availability of Land Rover’s innovative All Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) system, on all SDV8 variants.

Dubbed ‘cruise control for off road’, this system lets drivers set a speed with which they are comfortable – ranging from 1.8km/ h to 30km/h – while they only need to provide steering input. The vehicle’s systems will optimise traction and drivetrain settings, allowing for effortless progress on difficult terrain.

ATPC joins host of new and improved convenience features that also come to other models in the line-up. These include a new, improved Surround Camera System that utilises a high-resolution camera for crisper graphics and enhanced clarity. This also introduces Rear Junction View, which uses the Surround Camera System to significantly improve rearward visibility when revers-

•Range Rover Sport HST

•Interior of the car

ing out of parking spots. An integrated washer jet for the rear camera ensures clarity at all times and in all conditions.

The new Gesture Tailgate provides handsfree access to the luggage area. Sensors in the rear bumper let customers use their feet to gesture and open the rear tailgate. Placement of the sensors allows this to be achieved from either side of the vehicle when approaching from the kerbside.

Further automation includes Automatic Access Height. While previously controlled manually, the new system automatically lowers the vehicle once parked. Depending on conditions the system will lower the vehicle by as much as 50mm, for improved entry, exit and loading items in the rear.

Customers will also benefit from an increased range of personalisation options and an extended range of accessories. The Range

Rover Sport will be available with three new paint options, and a total of seven interior colour-ways. Extended leather is now an option, and HSE, HST and SVR models will be fitted with climate seats as standard. A new Carbon Fibre Pack is also available, offering a sporty finish on side vents, tailgate trim, door mirror covers, a front grille surround, and fog lamp bezels, with bonnet vents finished in high-gloss lacquer.

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MOTORING

Hyundai unveils C Grand Santa Fe T

HE newly introduced Hyundai Grand Santa Fe might as well be the most attractive crossover yet given the enormous progress the South Korean automaker has infused in terms of design, build quality and engineering.

Emerging from a total makeover, the new Grand Santa Fe according to Hyundai Motor Company replaces its predecessor - Vera Cruz, but essentially remains the same Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), except that it fulfils the criteria for a typical 6-seater SUV commonly referred to as ‘Captain’s Chair.’

The Grand Santa Fe is 225mm longer than the regular Santa Fe, incorporating an extended 100mm wheelbase with higher and wider dimensions, which incidentally gives the Grand Santa Fe a deserving place in the entire large crossover/SUV market.

The Grand Santa Fe indeed feels more at home in the city owing to its sophisticated style and dynamic attitude – thanks to Hyundai engineering design characteristics.

Hyundai Grand Santa Fe SUV would no doubt appeal to very many drivers that appreciate details and novelty like the three split-folding

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

seats in the second row and fullyfolding seats in the third row yet with a total of 634litres of boot space behind the second row of seats.

The six-seater Hyundai Grand Santa Fe is indeed ideal for the large family. It comes equipped with ample knee and leg room with enough room for three adults in the rear and one kid in the third row.

The seats themselves are more shapely and supportive than in the previous Santa Fe, with very good bolstering on the bottom cushion that’s not overly firm.

Couple with these is storage for small items in the glove-box and console, as well as for drinks in the door pockets and dual cup holders with plenty of configurations in case one is transporting cargo.

The Santa Fe’s rear seats also fold down as a trio or individually, and flatly, to free up more space while the front passenger seat folds flat too, for carrying very long objects.

Hyundai’s Grand however offer loads of striking features such as rear packing assist, auto light control cooling glove box, integrated memory seat, cruise control, full auto air-conditioning and rear air

•Hyundai Grand Santa Fe

conditioning.

In addition are full leather upholstery, a premium six speakers virtual surround sound system, driver/passenger side and curtain air bags, smart key with button start and sun roof/ roof rack with motor driven power steer and anti lock brake system.

For easier boot access, the rear loading height has been lowered by 18mm with an optional power tailgate feature and a remote-folding function for the second-row seats.

All seats including the power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support are supportive and

comfortable. The full-length panoramic sunroof adds to the sense of roominess in the cabin. Meanwhile, the rear privacy glass and blinds makes it less claustrophobic for second and third-row passengers.

The exterior poses some notable differences too. At the front, there is a new four-bar radiator grille, premium-style fog lamps and a wide skid plate. The sides pose wider rear quarter glass, different 19-inch alloys and enhanced wing mirrors while the rear features a new dual muffler, restyled rear combination lamps and new rear bumper skid plate.

Powered by a 3.3-litre V6 engine which produces 270 hp and 318 Nm of torque, the Grand Santa Fe has one of the smoothest engines on the market with a six-speed automatic transmission.

As for safety, the Grand Santa Fe offers Electronic Stability Control (ESC), driver/passenger side and curtain airbags for maximum defense against injury. Depowered driver and passenger airbags minimize injuries from frontal impact while side curtain airbags ensure that your passengers are protected from side impact.

•Mrs Usman (fifth left) and members of the PAN Nigeria Limited Board of Directors led by the company’s Chairman, Alhaji Munir Ja’afar (sixth right) during the visit in Kaduna.

Kaduna partners PAN in youth empowerment

K

ADUNA State government has partnered PAN Nigeria Limited in the area of youth empowerment.

The state governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai said this when the board of PAN Nigeria Limited paid him a visit at his office.

The governor informed the team that his administration is committed to the development of

the youth through skills acquisition programmes, and explained that the state is currently partnering capacity building organisations, such as PAN Learning Center (PLC) to train youths in automotive repair skills.

The governor, who was represented by the state Chief of Staff, Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, said government will help in the ad-

vocacy for the legislation of the new automotive policy introduced last year by the Federal Government to ensure its sustenance and positive impact to the Nigerian auto industry.

He promised that the state would patronise Peugeot products as long as the products are competitive in terms of cost effectiveness and superior value

Toyota to restart production in China

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OYOTA Motor Corporation said it will restart production at China plants that were shut after explosions in the city of Tianjin.

Workers at two lines in the Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area were expected to return last Thursday and start preparation to begin production on Friday, Toyota said in an emailed statement.

Employees at the Xiqing line also were to begin operations.

Production has been shut at Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Corporation, the Japanese carmaker’s local affiliate, since the August 12 blasts at a chemical storage site in the northern Chinese port city. The explosions killed at least 123 people and injured 67 Toyota workers who live in the area. About 4,700 Toyota and Lexus vehicles

were also damaged.

The automaker said decisions about working overtime or extra shifts to recover lost production will be made as it continues to assess the state of its facilities. Toyota said it can’t estimate lost output at this stage.

Toyota said it doesn’t expect sales to be “significantly affected” as they have “certain amount of inventory.”

for money which are part of the principles of the new administration’s policy.Earlier in his speech, PAN Nigeria Limited Managing Director Alhaji Ibrahim, took time to reel out the history of PAN, its status then and now in the Nigeria’s auto market Boyi said it was painful to see the company that was thriving

as the leading indigenous auto company both in terms of sales and employment opportunities, now strives to regain its position.

The implication of which according to the him, led to privatisation and so many job cuts from the initial over 4,000 workforce in the early 80s, to about 300 now on its payroll.

Volkswagen to spend $343m on South African factory revamp

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ERMAN carmaker Volkswagen plans to spend 4.5 billion rand ($343 million) to upgrade its factory in South Africa and improve its supplier base, it has said.

Most of the money would be used to revamp its factory in Uitenhage in Eastern Cape province to produce new models, Thomas Schaefer, head of Volkswagen’s South African unit, said.

VW has been pushing for greater

scale under Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn’s eight-year reign, propelled by adding brands and factories and roaring sales in China.

VW is the second-biggest auto maker by sales in South Africa after Toyota. Its vehicles are sold domestically as well as exported to the rest of Africa.

Other manufacturers in the country include Ford Motor Corporation, BMW and General Motors.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

42

SHOWBIZ

Tonto Dikeh completes wedding rites

S

• L-R:- John Ugbe, MD, MultiChoice Nigeria; Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Manager, AfricaMagic West Africa and filmmaker Zeb Ejiro during the launch of AfricaMagic Original Blockbuster Festival

Eight movies make Africa Magic’s September festival I N what portends a relief from fear of pirates, eight Nollywood filmmakers have produced movies exclusively for the popular Africa Magic channel on DStv. The productions, which would not go through the usual distribution framework, are made for television, and will feature on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv 151) every weekend throughout September, 2015, with the first title scheduled to show on Saturday, September 5 at 22:15 CAT. There are strong indications that Multichoice is expanding its synergy with the Nigerian movie industry with the blockbuster movies, having just unveiled a television series, Do-Good, staring Kate Henshaw and Basorge Tariah Jr. In September, lovers of entertainment will be treated to a month of exclusive new movies featuring the biggest Nollywood stars as Africa Magic kicks off its Original Blockbuster Festival, which the company

says is in line with its mission of providing entertainment for Africa

by Africans.

The eight films which were unveiled at the Landmark Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Friday include Red Card by Zik Zulu; Carpe Diem by Desmond Elliot; Love Struc by Obi Emelonye; Amiabl by Stanlee Ohikhuare; Merciful by Zeb Ejiro; Dowry Man by Desmond Elliot; After the I Dos by illian Amah; and Subterfuge.

The films feature popular faces such as Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Patrick Doyle, Ini Edo, Monalisa Chinda, A.Y Makun, Bimbo Akintola, Chidi Mokeme, Nonso Diobi and Ufoma McDermott among others.

Speaking at the event, Regional Director, M-Net (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “Africa

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunakanmi

culture after this event you can now move in with him as a family. Am super proud of his confidence, am super proud of his courage, believe me he heard a lot of trash but stood firm and believed in his God and cut off anyone who spoken ill of me.

Now that’s a real man.

One reason I will forever love respect and serve him with my life,” she added.

Although the actress just changed second to Churchill's, she claimed she has long been married to her man without people knowing.

Dikeh in the wedding pictures wore a cream off shoulder top, gold George wrapper and gold Gele (head-tie), completed with coral beads. Churchill on the other hand wore a matching cream and gold top with see through sleeves, trousers and matching cap.

• Tonto Dikeh and her hubby

Why marijuana marijuana Why should be be legalised, legalised, should

by Seun Seun Kuti Kuti by

Singer Easy Lizzy, partner plan free summer classes

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PCOMING singer and event planner, Taiwo Elizabeth Olapeju, aka Eazy Lizzy is fulfilling hjer other dreams in life, through a free summer programme for youths in three local government areas of Lagos State.

The project, The Community Initiative for Child Education is in partnership with Hon Ayo Adesanya, the initiator of the programme.

Speaking to The Nation, Easy Lizzy revealed that the organisation is set for a seminar tagged, Security Challenges of the Nigerian Child in Recent Times, noting that the program will run in three locations including Nathan Primary School, 24 Nathan Street, Surulere, on September 1, 2015; Alimosho LGA African Church Nursery and Primary School, Mosan, on September 2, 2015; and Isolo LCDA Secretariat, Osolo way, Isolo, on September 3, 2015.

Eazy Lizzy is a dynamic and compassionate young lady who has an abiding love for disadvantaged youths, especially girls. She recently added youth education and empowerment to her schedule of duties as an entertainer.

She revealed that from its humble beginnings, nine years ago, with 45 students at Nathan Primary school, Surulere, the non-profit organization has grown to giving free summer coaching services to over one thousand youths in three locations in Lagos.

The founder; Hon Adesanya, is a self confessed lover of children who started the summer program with the aim of keeping young people engaged during the holidays, and keeping them out of danger.

Magic remains at the forefront of not only showcasing quality indigenous entertainment for Africa and the rest of the world, but also in developing world class content. Our Original Blockbusters initiative is part of our ongoing investment drive in the Nigerian film and television industry, and we have partnered with renowned actors, directors and producers to give our viewers a truly memorable September.”

She said “Nollywood remains at the centre of entertainment not just in Nigeria, but across West Africa and indeed the rest of the continent.

Our relationship with the finest talents in the film and television industry not only ensures that our viewers are continuously spoilt for choice, but also ensures that the industry continues the rapid development for which it is renowned for.”

HE caught many unawares when few weeks ago, photos of her court wedding was released on the social media. And to show that she and her spouse have the support of their parents, controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, last Saturday, sealed her marriage to Oladunni Churchill, in a glamorous traditional wedding, held at her parents' home in Rumukwuta, Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A private event attended by a select few, pictures taken at the event show wine carrying and bride price ceremonies, with Dikeh and Churchill looking stunning.

An excited Dikeh said on Instagram: "God has been faithful, Court wedding- Done, IntroductionDone.”

In a recent post, she stated: “My best friend paid my dowry and I traditionally now belong to him. In my

A •Lizzy

By Jane Kolade

According to Adesanya, “Nine years ago, a young child in my vicinity died in an accident due to unsupervised play during the holidays, and that deeply affected me. I believed that the boy died because he was not supervised because his mother was away at work. Had he been in school, it would not have happened,” he said.

Commenting on the challenges he faced as a young, unemployed graduate, just starting a non-profit organisation, he said, “We started with volunteers because we could not afford to pay quality graduate teachers. I had to buy chalk from my pocket, and also had to arrange to watch the infant siblings of our students, as some parents made it clear that it was the only condition under which they would release their teenage children who were responsible for taking care of their younger siblings in the absence of their parents.”

FRO beat singer, Seun Kuti, has said that the Nigerian government was ill advised to ban the use of marijuana, believing that the decision is a carryover of colonial law.

According to the artiste, “There are doctors and scientists who believe that marijuana should be legalised. There are also lawyers, judges, and politicians who believe that the war on drugs is a false war. That is actually a war on the poor people all over the world, because poor people and rich people use drugs to be sane.

But you will find that here, people are in jail more for drug use.”

Going further, he said, “We as Africans had no reason to ban marijuana. It was done out of the U.S. lobby, forcing our governments to ban the drug. I don’t think that the Nigerian government has ever carried out any independent research on marijuana.

One of the biggest markets in the world for marijuana in the world is Israel (which is a more religious country than Nigeria). But they understand the benefits… especially the economic benefits. So much wealth can be generated from it, but that is another issue entirely.”

Seun, a father of one, says that he does not believe in marriage for the simple reason that it is a power game. “It is a thing of ego, of domination and submission. I think humanity is gradually mov-

•Kuti

By Jane Kolade

ing away from it from the number of marriages that don’t even work. In the ones that work, someone has to submit, someone has to give up who they are for the other person for it to work; especially the women, if no one agrees to do that, the marriage won’t work. Women are more independent,” he said.

The singer, who studied Popular Music and Sound Technology at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, going further with his thoughts of marriage, and

women’s liberation said that his grandmother Mrs. Funmilayo Kuti, a foremost nationalist and feminist did not have a great relationship with her husband after she became independent. “My father told me that when his father died, his mother told him she and her husband had not been speaking for 10 years, even though they lived in the same house… staying together because of the children.

My grandfather was a reverend, so divorce was not an option. Not like Chris Oyakhilome, or Chris Okotie that divorced, they swore an oath to God, and still broke the oath.”

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MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE

• A court in session

Excessive delays in the regular courts have necessitated the call for the establishment of special courts to try corrupt public officers. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines what the nation stands to benefit from the innovation.

Anti-graft war: A case for special court T

HE anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari requires a judicial system that will accelerate the trial of corruption cases. Eminent jurists have warned that excessive delays in trying high profile corruption cases can frustrate and undermine the credibility of the government’s commitment to anti-corruption and fuel the culture of impunity. They contend that that the establishment of special courts to handle corruption and related cases will buttress the seriousness of the government in its campaign against corrupt practices.

The reason special courts are being proposed is the failure of the court system to facilitate prompt prosecution of suspects. Judges in the regular courts are fond of questionable long adjournments, frivolous injunctions and undue emphasis on technicalities that detract from the essence of corruption trials. The sad commentaries trailing Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC’s) efforts in prosecuting corruption cases justify the demand for special courts manned by judges with iron cast will to bring the corrupt to justice and fence off deliberate hindrances stalling quick, diligent and successful prosecution of public officers and other prominent Nigerians docked for corruption.

It is public knowledge that the EFCC is yet to seek superior court orders to overturn dubious perpetual injunctions against the prosecution of many former governors who ruled between 1999 and 2007 accused of money laundering and frauds running into billions of naira. No tangible result had been achieved in prosecuting them. Worse still, most of them are not just freely enjoying their loot, a lot of them are occupying other political offices particularly in the legislature making laws for the people they had short changed.

It was the helpless situation of the EFCC that prompted the Commission’s chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde to make a case for the establishment of special courts to prosecute corrupt persons as a way of facilitating the anti-corruption war.

He maintained that the anti-graft agencies are bugged down by the slow process in the regular courts.

To get it done, Lamorde suggested the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to make provision for special courts to handle corruption-

related cases and bring the culprits to book.

“Some relevant laws in the Nigerian Constitution needed to be amended before the adoption of an action plan towards the fight against corruption. The challenge my colleagues and I are facing, especially in the EFCC and ICPC, is issue of prosecution of corruption and economic and financiall crime cases in regular courts”, he stated.

A former boss of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri, alleged that some senior lawyers were frustrating the fight against corruption by stalling the prosecution of their clients docked by the anti-graft agency. She lamented the activities of such lawyers, who, according to her, fraudulently obtained money from their clients under the guise of delivering same as bribe to officers of the commission to kill cases under investigation. She said the lawyers most often exploit the weakness of the judiciary by filing frivolous applications to frustrate the trial of suspects for corruption and money laundering.

Constitutional lawyer Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) said the establishment of special courts is the best option for the present administration that has zero tolerance for corruption. According to him, the special court will accelerate and give a sharper bite to prosecution of corruption cases in the country.

Sagay noted that corruption cases linger for such a long time that there is little hope of timely justice both for plaintiffs and defendants. The purpose of trying a corrupt person in order to serve as deterrent to others is lost as the case drags for long while the suspect facing serious charges of corruption is left to strut about and use proceeds of such crime to thwart the judicial process.

“No doubt, the country needs special courts but it cannot be achieved overnight. It requires Constitutional amendment to give it legal backing. The executive has to send a Bill to the National Assembly for their consideration and

approval. It will take between six months and one year to pass the bill”, he stated.

The Head of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption explained that there are alternatives that could be used pending when the special courts would come on stream.

According to him, government can create criminal law division and identify particular judicial officers who have the capacity, integrity, courage and knowledge to do justice without fear or favour.

“Pending the time the special court will get legal backing, government will put in place other alternatives to ensure quick dispensation of corruption cases so that the objective of this administration to fight corruption headlong will be achieved”, Sagay said.

Supporting the call for the establishment of special courts, a lawyer/human rights activist, Mr Monday Ubani said it will enhance President Buhari’s anti-graft war. He said if established, the courts will add fillip to the expeditious trial of corruption and related cases that have for long been suffering due to a combination of several factors such as court congestion and the complicity of some unscrupulous members of the bench and the bar to scuttle high profile corruption cases.

Ubani observed that the general lethargy, sabotage and scant commitment of the judicial system are the major reasons many Nigerians believe the anti-graft war is deceptive and not working. He believed the proposed special courts to be established by the Buhari administration to handle corruption and other related cases will buttress the seriousness of the government’s resolve to confront corruption.

Apart from setting up special courts, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, called on government to introduce socio-economic policies that would discourage corruption among the people. For instance, government should ensure judges and

corruption cases, like other cases linger for a long time that there is little hope of timely dispensation of justice

civil servants are well enumerated, job opportunities for school leavers and social welfare programme for the unemployed.

A Kaduna based lawyer, Mukhtar Modibo endorsed special courts because the nation’s judiciary as operated today cannot bring speedy justice to corruption offenders. He observed that corruption cases, like other cases linger for a long time that there is little hope of timely dispensation of justice. Prosecution of corruption cases involving high profile suspects are frustrated due to frivolous applications, questionable injunctions and long adjournments granted by the judges.

He said the courts if established would facilitate the work of the anti-corruption agency. The EFCC, according to him has 1,500 cases pending in various courts across the country; seventy-five per cent of these cases involve high profile persons whose cases have been pending for more than seven years. He suggested that the courts should be established in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

Modibo noted that the courts are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cases before them which is responsible for slow adjudication process that is brazenly exploited by suspects. According to him, it is not enough to put in place special courts for corruption. The authority should ensure judges of proven integrity are appointed to preside over them. Otherwise, the objective for setting them up, which is to quicken administration of justice will be defeated, he added.

Special courts in other clime Specialised law enforcement bodies dedicated to the fight against corruption have been established in several European countries. They often focus on middle and high-level corruption offences and corruption related acts committed by high- ranking public officials. Investigators and prosecutors are usually specialised in corruption and financial crimes and have access to special investigative techniques.

Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania have all adopted specialised law enforcement bodies as part of their efforts to curb corruption and end • Continued on page 44

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THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2015

It is over for PDP in Ondo, if you look at ‘Ondo town where the governor hails from, you will know that PDP is no more popular

POLITICS

’

In this piece, Lagos lawyer Wahab Shittu urges President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a cabinet that will assist him in the implementation of his manifesto.

Buhari and the search for credible ministers

U

NDER normal circumstances, no one would have expected the search for credible cabinet ministers by the Buhari administration to have generated this level of controversy in our country, but then these are unusual times.

Opinions of course vary on the seeming delay in constituting the cabinet by the Buhari administration but I prefer not to join issues with either side of the divide but would rather prefer to focus my searchlight on factors that should guide the President in constituting a cabinet of credible ministers that would deliver on good governance. I am convinced in taking the debate on this direction given the fact that the President had assured that the cabinet would be constituted in September this year and this in my view is just around the corner, I would therefore prefer to give the President the benefit of the doubt and sue for greater understanding on the part of the populace.

The President came into office with a clear agenda on anti-corruption, security, economy and infrastructure.

Clearly, only those who could deliver on these agenda need be considered.

Therefore, one fundamental factor that cannot be compromised in the constitution of the cabinet is the issue of competence, character and capacity. One is convinced that persons who are willing to key into the change agenda of the administration are required to drive the process.

Secondly, it is important to enlist the services of persons with impeccable track records and antecedents.

These include persons with credibility who are not lacking in integrity, honesty and ethical dealings in all their private and official transactions.

It is clear that persons in this category cannot be found on the platform of political parties alone, the belief being that such credible people are scattered across political parties, professional groupings, private organisations and in all strata of the Nigerian

society including outside the shores of Nigeria. The search for these elements must therefore cover the entire field believing that the Nigerian project is a collective enterprise requiring the services of the best hands wherever such talents may be found.

It is this realization that can deliver on the quality outcomes required by the change agenda.

The other issue that should be noted is that these talents abound in all the geo-political zones of the country and no particular geo-political zone has a monopoly of these human resources. Consequently, the searchlight to discover these best hands must be extensive, balanced and reflect the type of federal character that would give every entity within the Nigerian federation a sense of belonging. This will be in furtherance of the President’s commitment at his inauguration when he said ‘I belong to nobody and I belong to everybody’. The President should walk the talk on this fervent commitment of cohesiveness and all-inclusiveness which he made on national television.

I agree with the President’s promise not to appoint persons who are ‘hostages’ and heavily compromised as ministers in that the President cannot afford to be polluted by persons who do not have his record of discipline, integrity and incorruptibility.

Luckily, his Vice-President, Professor YemiOsinbajo (SAN) is already of that orientation and pedigree. The few appointments the President had so far made also agree with his credentials of high integrity and ethical standards. The tempo must be sus-

tained throughout the cabinet. Persons with the right attitude are required since attitude is everything.

It would also seem that the President would require a balanced mix of politicians and technocrats in constituting the cabinet focusing mainly on knowledge, experience, exposure and integrity. This is not the time to give jobs to the ‘boys’ but time to allow appointments to reflect overall national interests.

It is important to note that these are unusual times. Times such as these require the services of great thinkers, people of foresights who can think ahead of time and who are gifted not only with the power of ideas but also the power of action and those with abilities to galvanize the power of action and ideas in to evolving result oriented policies for the transformation of the society. More than ever before, these are men and women required now to take our country to the next level.

Taking the country to the next level require persons who could see beyond the day’s crisis and who are imbued with vision, the indispensable quality of leadership. This vision should transcend national borders with local and international influence.

The country also requires persons who can be trusted to manage the destiny of the country and its vast resources. Persons who though may be talented but are unreliable and untrustworthy are not required in the service of our country at this period and may not be required for a long time to come rather we need persons who place emphasis on values and motivation.

We need leaders who are statesmen and who are able to rise above primordial sentiments in building a great and prosperous country

the culture of impunity that permeates these countries. The results achieved are varied.

Few countries have also established specialised anti-corruption courts.

They have jurisdiction over the offences investigated and prosecuted by special anti-corruption bodies.

These are far less common than specialised law enforcement.

In Bulgaria, a specialised court and prosecution office for organised crime became operational in 2012.

The court deal with crimes committed by organised criminal groups, including corruption-related crimes.

Special court departments were established in Croatia in 2008. These courts have subject matter and territorial jurisdiction of criminal cases. They only hear middle and high-level corruption and organised crime related cases. The judges in the special department have more experience of working on complex cases. They are appointed through the annual schedule by the court president, based on the opinion of the Council of Judges. They also have to pass through a security check. According to Amnesty International, special judges receive higher salaries and are recruited from amongst the most experienced criminal law judges.

In Slovakia, the Specialised Criminal Court was created in 2009. The

main rationale for establishing the court was to build the capacity of the judicial system to deal with complicated criminal cases that are often also of great economic and social significance. The specialised criminal court in Slovakia is a court of first instance positioned at the same level as regional courts. Its decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court. It has jurisdiction over criminal matters and it adjudicates on the following offences: fraud and corruption in public procurement, abuse of power, acceptance of a bribe, economic crimes and crimes against property, indirect corruption, creation and promotion of criminal or terrorist groups, crimes committed by criminal or terrorist groups and deliberate killings.

The analysis of corruption related judgments, according to Transparency International report on Slovakia, shows a steep increase in the number of convictions after the establishment of the court –from 25 per cent in 2005 to 75 per cent in 2011. The court is perceived as independent and very professional. Financial as well as human resources are considered to be sufficient and the educational background of judges and the staff is also said to be adequate.

For Advocates of anti-corruption courts laid emphasis on training on complex issues related to corruption and economic crimes.

Depending on the circumstances and given the atmosphere of relative insecurity under which we found ourselves presently, we also require persons who have strong political skills to cope with conflicting requirements of multiple constituents. We need to realize that Nigeria is highly diversified country with several tendencies, beliefs and consciousness.

Only persons who by their actions and pronouncements are capable of taking advantage of these tendencies in building a cohesive and unified country are required at this critical point in time. We do not need people who are parochial, narrow minded, divisive and shortsighted at the helm of affairs. We need leaders who are statesmen and who are able to rise above primordial sentiments in building a great and prosperous country.

We need persons of great influence and with capacity to priotize responsibilities based on self-discipline as ministers.

We can also not underestimate the need to enlist the services of persons

APC ’ll win Ondo, says Aregbesola’s aide

Anti-graft war: A case for special court • Continued from page 43

•President Buhari

imbued with problem solving skills.

There is the urgent need to fix the economy, fix infrastructure, fix insecurity, fix corruption and raise living standards. Only those with problem solving skills and can think outside the box need come on board to address these challenges.

We also need men and women of deep compassion who understand the human element. I mean persons that understand the most appreciable asset is people and know how to develop them including persons who have value for people, commitment to people, integrity with people, standard for people and influence over people. We do not need people who do not value human lives and do not give a damn about basic human needs as ministers.

We need persons who are decent, patriotic and hardworking as ministers. It is important that such ministers are assigned portfolios relevant to their knowledge, expertise and exposure.

We need persons who understand the workings of democracy and are willing to abide by the fundamentals of the democratic tradition. Persons who are democrats are required since they will operate in a democratic setting. Consequently, we need persons who are schooled on the theory of constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, transparency and accountability, rights and freedom of others, separation of powers and good governance.

Finally, we need persons who have a sense of duty and are ready to make sacrifices even at the expense of their personal comfort in making the country great and prosperous.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest and most quotable American Presidents ‘The worthiness of life is deep-rooted in sacrifice to mankind. If one dies in the process, he becomes a martyr’.

We need men and women who could make sacrifice. I mean real sacrifice.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

•Ilori

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Bola Ilori, has spoken on how the party could win next year governorship election.

Ilori, who is a former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Environmental Sanitation, said for the APC to defeat PDP candidate, the party must allow free and fair primary to hold among the aspirants.

Ilori said at a ceremony where he was honoured as for the leader of APC in Ondo West/East Federal Constituency by stakeholders.

It was attended by a member of the APC Board of Trustee, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mrs Folake Omojuwa, Captain, Ademola Ariyo, APC Chairman Ondo East and Mr. Ola Inukan.

The APC leader said they have started the mobilising new members for the party and the reconciliation of factions.

His words, “I am very sure Mimiko will not produce his own successor. Anyway, there is no third time and we are set for the election.

“For us winning the Presidential election in the state is a sign that we have good structures in the state. By this, we are serving the governor quit notice that our party is ready to take over.

“We are getting more people on our side on everyday, we are winning the traditional institution, winning the social institution and we are active and ready.

“The momentum of change is heavy in Ondo and for that we are quite sure that we are set to win.

“It is over for PDP in Ondo, if you look at Ondo town where the governor hails from, you will know that PDP is no more popular.

‘Why I want to succeed Oshiomhole’

A

LECTURER in the Law Faculty of the University of Calabar, Adaze Emwanta, has said his decision to contest next year’s governorship election in Edo State is to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Emwanta told reporters in Benin City, the state capital, that the change agenda of President Mohammadu

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Buhari could be replicated in the state with renewed hope for the people.

Emwanta noted that politics was no longer a game of age and number, but expertise, experience, exposure and economics of expendiency.

He said poverty of ideas was no longer an acceptable reason to justify poor performance.

Emwanta, who was silent on the political party he hoped to contest the election, said he would soon unveil his ten testaments of hope He said: “I am eminently qualified and intellectually capable to govern the State.

Benin City is now reputed for lawlessness and deplorable inner-city roads.”

“I will quickly arrest the dearth of industries and critical infrastructures across the State.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2015

NEWS

Adelabu’s day of honour here The Aare Alaasa of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi and Chairman, Adegoke Adelabu Post-Humous Centenary Birthday Celebration Planning Committee, extols the virtues of the foremost nationalist and politician, the late Chief Adelabu, and his progressive ideals, which made his life colourful and evergreen. His centenary will be celebrated on September 3.

N

IGERIA’s first Federal Minister of Social Services and Natural Resources (at age 39 in 1954), the first African Manager of the United Africa Company (UAC) (at age 21 in 1936), first Chairman the old of Ibadan District Council (now comprising II LGAS) in 1954, former first National Vice – President of the now defunct NCNC political party, former Leader of Opposition in the old Western Region House of Assembly and Leader of the NCNC Western Delegation to the 1957 Constitutional Conference in London, UK, the late Alhaji (Honourable) Adegoke Adelabu (alias Penkelemesi) would have been 100 years old, come Thursday, 3rd September 2015, had he not died in a road accident at Ode Remo (present Ogun State) on 25th March, 1958, at the age of 43 years.

Adelabu was a meteor, prodigy, wordsmith, orator, ebullient politician and nationalist of no mean order. He was a detrabilised Nigerian who strove for Nigeria and Africa’s emancipation, unity and prosperity.

Early this year, the Adegoke Adelabu Family of Oke Oluokun, Kudeti Area of Ibadan, Oyo State met and resolved to celebrate their patriarch. The family thereafter appointed me the chairman of the Post Human Centenary Birthday Planning Committee, with a grandson of the late age, Mr. Yinka Adelabu, a mass communication graduate of the University of Lagos and older brother of a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, as the Secretary.

With the kind consent of the Adelabu Family, I proposed former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, as the Grand Patron of the Adegoke Adelabu Foundation. On the day we took our proposal to Chief Obasanjo in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home, he not only graciously accepted to be the Grand Patron, but announced to the whole world that the late “Lion of the West”, Adegoke Adelabu was his political role model. Among the virtues of Adelabu that Chief Obasanjo praised that day was Adelabu’s wholehearted commitment to Nigeria and Africa’s freedom, unity and prosperity.

For the 3rd September, 2015 centenary programme, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is the Chief Host, Kabiyesi the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Royal Father of the Day, Yeye ODUA H.I.D. Awolowo is Mother of the Day, Professor Mark Nwagwu of Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, Guest Speaker, the Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, some State Governors, Nigeria’s former permanent Representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, other VIPS across Nigeria, as guests.

Among our objectives is to bring Adelabu’s patriotism, commitment to merit and egalitarianism to the fore for today’s politicians to imbibe.

Adegoke Adelabu was born to Ibadan parents at the family house at Oke Oluokun, Kudeti Area of Ibadan, Oyo State on 3rd September, 1915. He attended St David’s CMS, Kudeti, Ibadan (1925 – 1929); CMS Central School, Mapo, Ibadan (1930) Government College, Ibadan (1931 – 1935) Higher College, Yaba, Lagos (1936) Adelabu earned accelerated (double) promotions on three occasions at Elementary, Primary and Secondary School levels, yet he never came second in any examination, but first at all times.

In his book, “Africa in Ebullition”, published in 1952, with the foreword by his political leader, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Adelabu espouses some of his thoughts and vision. Here are some.

National Unity The crux of the problem of unity is that sacrifices, great sacrifices, must be made by individuals, by groups, by tribes, by bodies, by classes and by regions in order to usher in that unity which will secure for us freedom and independence.

It is not that we too, do not love our tribe, religion, class and region.

But we love Nigeria more. We hereby implore all partisans and regionists to join us in the Great Adventure. The stake is well worth in the sacrifice.

Sacred Duty Any sentimental appeal to my Oduduwan ancestry or subtle attempt to exploit my religious susceptibilities is doomed to failure.

Christians, heathens and atheists

will always have my political confidence, respect and support. No sectional loyalty or group interest will ever deter me, for a moment, from my sacred duty to my Motherland. I will live, work, strive, think, write, fight and die for Nigeria, the whole of Nigeria, and not any confounded portion of it. If genuine nationalists of other tribes and regions will adopt my philosophy of self-sacrifice, our difficulties will melt into thin air.

Career Opportunities I want a career open to talent. I want opportunities based on merit.

I want the son of the Jukun farmer in Benue Province, the son of the Fulani herdsman in Sokoto, the son of a cocoa plantation labourer in Ibadan, the son of a railway porter at Enugu as well as the second sons of their Highnesses the ‘Emir of Katsina, the Ooni of Ife and the Obi of Onitsha to stand equal chance of succeeding Dr. Mellanby as the next Principal of Ibadan University College. Such as a career is open to talent in America. Such as career is open to talent in England. Such as career is open to talent in Germany.

We shall labour without respite until such a career is open to talent in our own Nigeria.

Agriculture Nigeria is, and will for ever remain, a predominantly agricultural country. If education is the foundation of freedom, then, agriculture is the lifeblood of Nigerian livelihood. Whatever other side-shows and subsidiary industries we may develop, they will remain just useful adjuncts to our mainly Agrarian Economy. The present methods of Nigerian agricultural production are medieval, wasteful, unprogressive and intolerably laborious. It is a desecration of the sacred human personality for men to be called upon to endure manual drudgery and physical exertion that would be considered cruel to beasts of burden in our vaunted technological age.

Our plan of reform in agricultural technique must have nothing of half-heartedness, piece-meal installments, superficial palliatives or unimaginative tinkering about the fringes about it. It must be a complete and fundamental overhaul; a daring and far-reaching

•The late Adelabu

orientation. A Niger/Benue Valley Authority, on the lines of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States of America, should be set up. It should be an independent, self-contained, semi-commercial public utility undertaking with wide statutory powers and adequate financial resources.

A People’s Constitution Our first, our foremost and our immediate task on the attainment of National Independence will be to call a Constituent Assembly, charged with the supreme task of drafting, debating and finally approving a Constitutional Organic Instrument for the governance of our free country.

Within its framework shall be laid down in broad general outlines, powers and rights. Meanwhile, an Interim Caretaker Government will take office in order to carry on the essential services during the transitional period of constitution making. It will be a coalition setup for obvious conveniences.

Fundamental Principles These are four in number; Unabridged Sovereignty, Political Democracy, Financial Autonomy and Federal Supremacy. They are the bedrock of Constitutional Government, the minimum data of Representative Institutions, the attribute of responsible Self Government and the popular manifestations of selfdetermination. In their absence you get tyrannical oppressions, irresponsible dictatorship, despotic rule, Imperial bondage, absolute monarchy, feudal chieftaincies and oligarchical ruling-castes of vested interest.

Political Democracy This means the guarantee of basic human rights like the rights of free

speech, freedom of association and or worship, free choice of livelihood, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and security of person and of estate. It means the written guarantee of constitutional privileges. It connotes at least Universal Adult Suffrage and direct election to popular assemblies. It rules out totalitarian regimentation and implies representative institutions. It guarantees social security to the people by making them the law.

Financial Autonomy This denotes that the country shall be economical selfsupporting, that taxation shall run parallel to representation, that funds for the public service shall be voted by popularly elected assemblies and that the government shall be free from economic domination by a foreign power from without or by monopolistic private interest or financial oligarchies from within.

Service to the silent millions Who and where are the Silent Millions? They are all in all, and they are everywhere. But first, I will tell you who they are not. They are not the All-powerful One, the Big Ten, the Influential Hundreds, the Thundering Thousands, the Clamorous Hundreds of Thousands, the Vocal few. They are the teeming hordes, the dense crowd, the sweating masses. The mute multitude, the dump assemblage, the timid rank and file, humanity in aggregate.

Parties and Ideologies There is so much loose talk these past few years in the press, the pulpit and public gallery of this or that Nigerian Political Party that I am constrained to ask, “Have we any genuine Political Parties in Nigeria today?” My answer is an unqualified No. A political party, as is popularly misconceived, is not an agglomeration of person.

That is a crowd. And it is not a crowd acting together. That may be a club or a society. A club or a society does not earn the name of a political party on the strength of its following, the publication, adoption, and possession of a programme, the amount of publicity it receives in the press or by other vehicles of propaganda, its success at the polls, or even the successful implementation of its programme.

All these it may do, and yet it would not merit the name of a political party.

To hear more and discover the genius called Adegoke Adelabu who came ahead of his time, Thursday, 3rd September, 2015 is the day in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Congress meeting in Akure: The grapes are sour A senior citizen in Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan, criticises members of the Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Congress’ position on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war.

I

was amused to see the report and picture of the nebulous body called Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Congress in some national papers of 26th August, 2015. This fire brigade, self–serving organization exposes much of the Nigerian character; when we are having things our way we laugh and relax. When things are slipping- by, we cry foul. Going by the screaming headlines reporting the outcome of the meeting – “Anti-graft war, lopsided appointment; Gbonigi, Ekwueme, Clark, others slam Buhari,” the Conferees deserve some pity.

The crux of their grouse are political and senior management appointments hitherto made by the Buhari administration, observing that these appointments have not being fair (to whom they did not tell us), and asking Buhari to respect the configuration of the Nigerian polity. Pray, when did the concept of Southern Nigeria Assembly start?

Obviously many things escaped the knowledge or memory of the par-

ticipants especially those from the South West. Have we, in the West, forgotten so easily our misfortune of the last five years when the federal government administered the country as if our Region was not part of it?

I have written on two occasion drawing attention of Nigerians to the apparent imbalance if not outright discrimination in the appointments to first and secondary levels of political positions and most importantly to executive and management positions in the MDAs especially the Agencies. I told Nigerians that vital government positions in these sectors were lopsided in favour of the South South and South East. I even posted the figures as follows – South South and South East. I even posted the figures as follows – South South and South East and 70% North Central, North West and North East about 25 to 27% and South West just about 2%.

Was there a Southern Assembly called to pontificate on this during those unfortunate years? Did anybody in the Northern zone gang together

to accuse the South South and South East of foisting themselves on the Nigerian nation? Where were these dogooders in Akure when the almighty Ayim Pius Ayim stood like a rock of Gibraltar against Yoruba interest? Are our Yoruba leaders aware that public service appointments notably in the Ministry of Power and its agencies and indeed many other MDAs were still being rushed almost hours before the new administration took over? Did the Federal Character Commission blink an eye to these infractions?

There are many more questions to answer.

Looking at the photograph in one of the papers of 26th August 2015, I observed that Bishop Gbonigi is a “fish out of water”. A fish rightly belongs to water, but when it is on dry ground it becomes and uncomfortable being indeed! The revered Bishop known for transparency and total commitment to equity and fairness shares very little with the likes of Edwin Clark, the super godfather of the last administration and all it’s stood for. A pontiff of no mean order, he bestrew the Nigerian political administrative and economic firmament for close to 5 years. A colossus

who shared fundamentals of life with Asari Dokubo including resource control and power conscription, he did not let go throughout the last 5 years.

Most politicians of the South South and the South East regularly echoed these positions. One may asked, what is their grouse today? Indeed the grapes are sour!

Reading through the information contained in the write up, there are familiar names like Dr. Kunle Olajide, Chief Bode Ajewole, Chief Ebenezer Babatola and Prof. Olu Agbi, among others. For obvious reasons I don’t want to make any remark about these, but sufficient to say that the situation in Nigeria deserves a deep study. As for Kunle, my close associate and collaborator in Ekiti State, I wish he was not drafted to such a forum. Now to talk the fact, how many appointments has Buhari made to start making the inappropriate accusation of lopsidedness or unfairness?

I don’t remember in all my years when ‘Southern Nigerian Assembly’ took a sustainable position regarding the administration of Nigerian nation state. The involvement of the Ondo State Governor is not surprising. It is pursuance of his new found love –

struggling for leadership in Nigeria.

While I wish him goodluck in this legitimate pursuit, I want to remind the aggressive governor that he is a Westerner, a Yoruba man before he becomes anything or everything later.

I remember in the late 50’s and early 60’s that on the rare occasion that Azikiwe and Awolowo struck a deal on how to confront what they called the ‘Feudal North,’ the joint position usually changed barely 24 hours after the misguided accord. This was usually because the leader from the Eastern Region would not opt for collaboration with what was yesterday a feudal North, ‘in the national interest.’ Was Awolowo naïve all this time? At first he was trusting and later on he stood his ground for principles which he followed faithfully throughout his political career. In fairness to Azikiwe, he was more pragmatic and realistic to know that Nigeria can never be ruled successfully with political affiliations horizontally but vertically.

The last five years taught us a lasting lesson. The Nigerian nation is a collection of nationalities and therefore of interests. Its administration must reflect this for us to survive and to male a mark on the continent.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

NATION SPORT

Pirlo: I expected Italy call up A

NDREA Pirlo says he expects a call up to the Italy team for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers and hopes that it is not his last.

Pirlo had been expected to end his international career after Euro 2016, he remains part of Antonio Conte's side and has been included for the upcoming matches against Malta and Bulgaria.

Despite a poor start to life in America, the 36-year-old midfielder says he had anticipated the call up from his former Juventus coach.

"Earlier this week he had phoned me to warn me that I would be called up," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Against Malta and Bulgaria we have two important matches.

"I had hoped I would be included and I hope to have other opportunities.

These are big games because we still have to play

Bayern loan Coman from Juventus

•Mane

Koeman stands firm over Mane, Wanyama futures

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ONALD Koeman has once again issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama following Southampton's 3-0 Premier League win over Norwich City.

Wanyama was absent from Sunday's game at St Mary's Stadium, with Koeman confirming beforehand that the midfielder was not "mentally and physically good enough to play" as speculation of a move to Tottenham persists.

Mane, who is still reportedly a target for Manchester United, played a starring role in the victory by setting up Graziano Pelle for the opening goal after Norwich had seen Steven Whittaker sent off and then supplied the service for Dusan Tadic to score the first of his two goals as Southampton recorded a maiden league success of the season.

Koeman has previously stressed neither player will leave before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, and the

•Wanyama

Dutchman was quick to reiterate that point after his side's dominant performance.

"The goal before half-time (by Pelle) broke the game open, and I'm very happy about how we played in the second half - there was lots of pressing and we created some great chances," Koeman said.

"Mane is the type of player who makes a difference, he's an important player for us and one we won't sell.

"Victor Wanyama is a key player and for him the answer is the same as for Sadio. They will stay at Southampton, I'm 100 per cent sure about that."

Southampton have been linked with a move for Celtic centre-back Virgil van Dijk and Koeman is keen to bolster his defence in the final days of the window.

He added: "We need another centre-back and we're working hard to bring in a new player in that position."

to qualify."

The ex-Juve star reflected on his old team's start to the season, admitting he did not expect them to lose their opener against Udinese, but feels they will do well in subsequent games.

"I didn't think that Juve could lose to Udinese. But the Italian league is difficult, there are pitfalls in every game. But I believe that they are still the best team.

"I think they will win against Roma because they are the champion, although Roma has strengthened a lot and are trying to reach the level of Juventus.

"It will certainly be a balanced game and nice to see."

Pirlo admitted that things are not going smoothly for his new side who have won only one of their last six games.

J •Pirlo

UVENTUS winger, Kingsley Coman has left the Serie A champions to join

Bundesliga holders, Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal.

Bayern will pay a loan fee reaching •15million for Coman and also have the option to make the move permanent for •21m at any time up until April 30, 2017.

The 19-year-old France Under-21 international made 22 appearances for Juventus in all competitions last term after joining on a Bosman deal from Paris Saint-Germain.

His solitary goal in Italian football came in a 6-1 Coppa Italia win over Verona last season.

Coman follows Arturo Vidal to Bayern after the Chile midfielder completed his own move from Juventus last month.

"I'm looking forward to Munich and playing for FC Bayern,” commented Coman.

"I want to take the next step in my career here and play my part in two successful years for FC Bayern."

James Rodriguez's quality impossible to deny - Benitez

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AFA Benitez has lauded James Rodriguez's talent following the Real Madrid attacker's audacious strikes as they defeated Real Betis 5-0 on Saturday.

James, 24, was the star of the show for the Blancos, scoring Madrid's second of the night with an unorthodox free kick from an acute angle and adding the side's fourth with an acrobatic bicycle kick.

Benitez discussed James' quality, Cristiano Ronaldo not scoring for consecutive games and the quality of goals scored by last season's La Liga runners up - with Gareth Bale bagging an impressive double and Karim Benzema finishing off a fine team move with his head.

"James has been catching up with the rest of the team's fitness, his quality is undeniable," he told reporters. "Everybody knows the kid can play. There's no debate about it.

"You do the best to score spectacular goals, so I am content with what was scored today, but I generally don't care how the ball gets put in the back of the net.

"Cristiano was the one with the most shots on goal - if the team continues to generate chances, he will score soon enough."

•Rodriguez

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

BUSINESS EXTRA

Opposition criticises South Africa’s $100b nuclear plan

S

OUTH Africa’s plans to build new nuclear plants costing as much as $100 billion are encountering mounting opposition from within the government and ruling party over the project’s affordability.

While Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson insists contracts to build new reactors will be awarded by the end of March, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and National Treasury have sounded warnings that the country may be unable to afford the cost.

Labour unions that support the ANC and opposition parties have voiced similar concerns.

“However you look at it, the eco-

nomic and the financial implications look dire,” Anthony Butler, a Politics professor at the University of Cape Town, said by phone. “It’s very hard to see how the deal can go through. What’s most likely to happen is there will be some attempt to fudge the issue, say the package as a whole is unaffordable and it would be necessary to move ahead one plant at a time.”

President Jacob Zuma’s government plans to add 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power to the national grid and wants the first of as many as eight reactors to be operational by 2023 to address power shortages that have led to rolling blackouts and are hobbling growth. While the

government has declined to reveal the likely cost because the contracts are still being negotiated, the price tag estimates range from $37 billion to $100 billion.

In a policy paper published on August 18, the ANC called for a “full, transparent and thorough cost-benefit analysis of nuclear power.” The document, which will be discussed at the party’s policy review conference in October, urged the government to consider using more hydro-power and electricity generated from gas.

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said he wouldn’t sign off on the nuclear power deal if it was unaffordable, and won’t be swayed

by political meddling. The Treasury has only recently been invited to discuss financing options and it was too early to make any pronouncements, the Johannesburgbased newspaper cited him as saying.

“We have a very clear budgetary process, when it gets to that point, you will hear from us,” Nene said in Johannesburg. “Anything that comes in, we will evaluate it.”

In February, Nene pledged to keep total debt levels below 48 percent of gross domestic product over the next three years to help avoid further credit-rating cuts following

Bailout: AfriHeritage, others urge states to focus more on IGR

E

• From left: National President, Nigerian Licence Customs Agents Prince Olayinwola Shittu; Dr. Odumodu and President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Dr. Frank Udemgba Jacobs, during the seminar in Lagos.

SON, Customs partner on e-certificates •To reduce substandard product to 10 per cent by December

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is partnering the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the integration of its SONCAP Form M and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) into the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) platform to boost international trade.

The move, according to SON’s Director-General/Chief Executive,Dr Joseph Odumodu, will remove corruption from the system.

He spoke the workshop titled: ‘Trade facilitation via automation of SON’s services’ in Lagos.

He said the agency would reduce the level of sub-standard products to10 per cent by the end of the year from the 40 per cent, adding that it was 80 per cent in 2011 before the introduction of the revised SONCAP certificate.

He said the initiative was in line with the change mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari as the marketplace is shrinking due to the changing globalised world, adding that the country must key into the fast lane or see its economy would be affected.

He said: “Indeed, germane and apt towards our renewed vigour to put in place a system that works for the overall benefits of all stakeholders – the government, importers, exporters, diplomatic community, operators in the nation’s industrial and commercial sectors, among others.

“The integration of SON’s systems and certificates into NICIS is indeed to primarily drive home our organisation’s service delivery capabilities.

“Some of the benefits of the integration, among many are: providing easy access to information on

By Toba Agboola and Ajose Sehindemi

products regulated by SON as consignees can confirm if a product is regulated by SON through any online platform – Computer, Tablet and handheld devices.”

He added that what SON had done on the development of trade portal and NICIS covered the following critical areas - converting all SON certifications and certificates to electronic format, online transmission of certificate to trade portal/NICIS by consignee for Form ‘M’ and PAAR consignment processing at the comfort of the person’s office, eliminating direct contact like visits to SON office for certification processing.

“The NICIS platform is also a collaborative environment for government agencies,e-government to share in real-time information for national security, national planning and the compilation of national statistics, provide collaborative inspection with participation of NCS and other government agencies to facilitate Integrated Release Order,” he stated.

He said it is also to prepare the country for the African Union backed Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by 2017 for all African countries that would increase trade facilitation as there will be no barriers to trade across the continent with free movement of goods,people and activities allowed.

“The free trade zone for Africa is because there is less than three per cent of World trade in Africa,with African states doing only 10 per cent intra-trade among themselves

with others done with foreign countries,” he said.

Odumodu said for Nigeria to benefit from the expected increase in trade facilitation, it would entail ensuring that Nigerian industrialists, importers and operators in both organised private sector and public institutions carry out their transactions smoothly and successfully through mainly deploying the instrumentality of Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), which allows businesses to be transacted electronically.

two downgrades last year.

“It appears the National Treasury have only been included in the nuclear build program planning process at a very late stage and don’t appear to have been consulted about the cost implications,” David Maynier, finance spokesman for the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said by phone from Cape Town.”

“I just don’t possibly see how the deal can be concluded this financial year and comply with all the regulations concerning procurement without the necessary homework being done.

XPERTS at the African Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage) have urged state governments to pay attention to more ways of generating revenue rather than running to the Federal Government for bailouts.

They said not doing so could crowd out the real sector, thereby worsening the unemployment situation in the country.

The Executive Director (ED) of the institution, Dr. Ifediora Amobi and two Associate Fellows, Dr. Chukwuma Agu and Mr. Stanley Ukeje, gave the advice at the development policy seminar.

Amobi noted that to manage the cash crunch in Nigeria, state governments must go beyond aggressive drive for internal generated revenue (IGR) from businesses and individuals, who are already being taxed by the combined impact of naira devaluation, rising inflation, and fuel scarcity.

In his presentation titled, “State government insolvency”, the ED bemoaned the situation where 78 per cent of the states rely solely on the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for 80 per cent of their revenue, adding that 40 per cent of the states are insolvent – high risk of defaults and rescheduling.

He observed that in the past one year, the FAAC revenue pool shrunk by 45 percent to ¦ 409.3 billion last June, correlating strongly with a similar percentage fall in oil prices to $45 per barrel over the same period.

He disclosed that negative impact of lower oil prices and the resultant collapse in oil revenues available for the federation to share had made some states to be at the mercy of the Federal Government for workers’salaries.

He added that it would be good to ask why the revenue from the centre could be sustained, how to resolve the cash crunch and whether bailouts

are sustainable.

“Whereas the Federal Government has been able to augment its own share of the revenues with domestic and external borrowings to fund recurrent expenditure, states have not been so lucky and they are making tough choices between paying workers’ salaries, servicing existing debt obligations and executing capital projects, among other pressing financial needs,” he noted.

Agu of the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, observed that mismanagement of bailout might spell doom because of the mono product nature of the economy.

He added that borrowing and squandering same on consumables, poor understanding by state actors, unsecured funds, inflationary pressures, mopping up and fiscal pressure were what could pose serious challenges.

Ukeje observed that debt would continue to grow if budget deficits continus to rise,surplus liquidity remains in the banking system, requiring monetary policy response and the financial market remains shallow.

He counselled that borrowing from concessional sources should be emphasised, especially in external debt, adding that debt sustainability should be maintained at well below the 40 per cent of benchmark and share of external debt should be below 15 per cent.

Stakeholders at the Forum agreed that states would need to do more in generating funds without negatively impacting the poor to fulfill their campaign promises.

The Forum was attended by representatives of the Debt Management Office (DMO), the five state governments in the south east, the civil society groups and the academic community.

Kenyan fishing town swaps boats for mangroves, mariculture

A

SLIGHT breeze makes the afternoon humidity bearable as Kibibi Mramba and 19 others plant tiny mangrove shoots along a creek in the Kenyan coastal town of Kilifi.

For the past five years, members of the Mtongani Self Help Group have been acting as volunteer forest guards, restoring mangroves along the Kilifi Creek, some 75 km (46.6 miles) from Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city.

They also maintain four tidal fish ponds nearby, which help them conserve local marine life and make a living as climate change impacts bite and fish catches on the open sea shrink.

“I am educating my children from the proceeds I get from planting these mangroves, and selling the prawns and fish we farm,” said Mramba.

According to the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), coastal mangrove forests are among the world’s most important wetland ecosystems, providing crucial habitat for wildlife and fish, slowing coral reef sedimentation, and protecting coastlines from severe weather events.

But they are also being destroyed at an alarming rate. Over the past 50 years, around one-third of the world’s original mangrove forests have been lost to unsustainable wood harvesting, pollution, unfettered development, flooding, erosion and sedimentation, says KMFRI. With aid from Slovakia, channeled through the Kilifi-based Kwetu Training Centre for Sustainable Development, the Mtongani group has replanted more than 15,000 mangrove trees since it

formed in 2010.

Members also work with the Kenya Forest Service to stop illegal loggers. “The cutting has reduced since [loggers] know now even a woman can arrest them,” said Mramba.

According to James Kairu, a principal scientist at KMFRI, the destruction of Kenya’s mangroves is a major factor in the struggles of the country’s fishing communities.

Fish breed in mangroves before moving to live in coral reefs. Kairu said over-exploitation of fisheries, the felling of mangroves and rising global temperatures have put pressure on the mangrove and coral ecosystem, harming fish populations.

The villagers of Kilifi, who mostly depend on fishing for their income, have seen a drastic drop in fish numbers over the last few years.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

CITYBEATS T HE Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with the stateowned sanitation outfit - Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade - arrested 109 people for crossing the highway at the weekend.

Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Commander Tunji Disu, said the operation was carried out to ensure the use of the pedestrian bridges by residents.

According to him, the enforcement will prevent loss of lives on highways and enhance traffic free-flow.

Of the 109, Disu said 102 are men and seven women.

According to Disu, the offenders were arrested for crossing the expressway at Ketu Bus-Stop along LagosIkorodu Road on Friday and Saturday.

He said: “The special operation was necessitated following increasing loss of lives on the highways.

“This operation is a continuous one. We are saddled with the responsibility to instil discipline to preserve lives and property. This is why we can’t fold our arms while many lives are being lost for not

RRS, KAI arrest 109 for highway crossing •Some of the people arrested

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

using the pedestrian bridges.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said he wants a safer Lagos.

“This act of indiscipline will not be allowed in the state any longer. If traffic is allowed to flow freely, the

menace of in-traffic robbery cases will become a thing of the past,” he said.

One of the motorists plying the route, Mrs Remi Fagboungbo, lauded the development.

She urged the operatives not to relent in making sure peo-

ple‘s attitude to the use of pedestrian bridge change.

“The overhead bridge is built to protect our lives. I wonder why people refuse to climb it. In recent time, a commercial bus driver knocked down a young man on this highway when he

wanted to cross. This exercise must continue because it will help a lot in reducing deaths on the highway and allow free-flow of traffic”, she said.

Another commuter, Mr Alonge Ajasa, thanked the governor for acting on time to curb the act of indiscipline.

“This is indeed the change we all need at this moment.

This exercise will in turn be beneficial to the citizenry if it continues this way. Our governor has really done well to prevent loss of lives on our highways as well as to ease vehicular movements,” Ajasa said.

Council sponsors 50 for WAEC exams

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•From right: Managing Director Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited Alhaji AbdulHamid Solate; Operations Manager Alhaji Dhulkifli Adewunmi; Spiritual Guides Ustadh Sheriffdeen Ahmad and Ustadh Sa’eed Salman during a seminar for pilgrims at the University of Lagos Mosque auditorium, Akoka, Lagos... yesterday

FERMA warns against obstructing Apapa port canals

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HE Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has warned that illegal structures on drainage channels in Apapa/Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, could cause flooding.

Mr Shakunle Oyekunle, a representative of the agency spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the weekend when he visited the ongoing rehabilitation sites on the Apapa/Tin Can Island Port section of Apapa/Oshodi Expressway.

He said the illegal structures will block the waterways, cause flooding and constant degeneration of the dual-carriage road.

Oyekunle said the agency decided to address the root cause of flooding along the axis due to predictions of heavy rainfall and flooding by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

He said: “We tried to locate the problem and we discovered that most of the cross drains along this section is silted as a result of illegal structures built on the other end of the road occupied by sand dealers.

“The sand dealers are occupying those places illegally; the area where the major surface water on the road is supposed to flow straight into the canal is being hampered by these people. Their

activities are destroying most of the Federal Government infrastructure, including roads on this axis, and we cannot allow it to continue because the two major ports in the country are here.

“We will continue to carry out constant de-silting of the drains and rehabilitation work to make the roads good and stop traffic congestion.”

He said the surface and underground drainage chan-

nels on both carriageways will be cleared regularly to avert flooding.

According to him, the agency will liaise with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on how to evacuate the illegal occupants.

Oyekunle assured that FERMA will restore all the critical sections on the highway after the drains had been cleaned up, lamentng that water had destroyed the road

pavement.

He expressed happiness that the ongoing Apapa Trailer Park project was nearing completion as it addresses the challenge of indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles.

He observed that indiscriminate parking of vehicles could also aggravate flooding and road degeneration.

•The Oladele road and drainage constructed

by IkosiIsheri Local Council Development Area, Ketu, Lagos.

HE Isolo Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary, Jubril Olusegun, has presented 50 General Certificate of Education (GCE) forms to pupils in the area.

Olusegun said the gesture was part of the council’s social responsibility to equip the youths for the future.

He promised to organise coaching class for them.

“When one has education, he has everything. I know this is going to be a plus for their parents and our council. I assure there will be a follow-up after their examinations for those who perform excellently,” he said.

He appealed to the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a golden opportunity to pursue their life-time dream, urging them to be serious with their studies.

The Council Manager, Mr Kehinde Yusuf, said the gesture was aimed at reducing the number of social miscreants in the community.

“The issuance of GCE forms has always been part of the council’s activ-

By Basirat Braimah

‘When one has education, he has everything.

I know this is going to be a plus for their parents...’ ities but presently, there will be extensive coaching to ensure they succeed,” he said.

The Head of Education Department, Mrs Olajumoke Akinyemi, said five pupils were randomly chosen from each ward.

“I feel elated to be part of those helping these pupils.

When you train a child, you train a nation. People should assist the less-privileged pupils, who are willing to study. Those selected should also make use of this opportunity,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Olowode Funsho, thanked the council for relieving her parents the burden of purchasing the form.

Council organises workshop HE Odi-Olowo/Ojufor teachers woye Local Council

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Development Area has organised a two-day training workshop for teachers in its domain. The training followed the presentation free General Certificate of Education (GCE) forms to pupils in the area.

The council’s Executive Secretary, Rasaq Ajala, said the workshop was in fulfilment of the promises made in making education the bedrock of his administration.

Tagged the 21st century skills for classroom management, Ajala said the programme will ensure that teachers are equipped with 21st Century teaching techniques to enhance their productivity in shunning out pupils who will be good ambassadors and great scholars.

He said his administration was poised to change the negative perception of youths of the area from every form of hooliganism and cultism.

The facilitator of the workshop, Mrs Bisola Toriola, said: “Acquiring ‘the skills’ otherwise called ‘manipulatives” or “hands on”, would ensure that the teachers’ job is half way done.”

Pupils, she said, will comprehend any subject taught faster.

According to her, “the placement of hands on the table, using cardboards and scissors to cut and create, arrest the students’ attention.

Learning to do it yourself will also bring out the ideas and creativity, thereby making learning interesting and educating”.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

54

NEWS Reps back Buhari’s appointments From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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•Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (middle), Zonal Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Hajiya Hadiza Abu-Lawal (left) and others when she visited the Governor in his office

Abia to partner NITP to restore master plan From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

THE government of Abia State will partner the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to restore the master plan of major cities.

Representing Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Governor Ude Okochukwu, at the annual luncheon of the group in Aba, said the administration was committed to restoring and improving infrastructural development.

Okochukwu noted that more than half of the 17 councils were situated in the urban areas, saying without proper planning of Aba and Umuahia, and developing towns such as Arochukwu, Ohafia, Uzoakoli, Ikwuano, Ugwunagbo and Ukwa, government’s quest of achieving its five-pillar programmes would be a mirage.

Speaker Martins Azubuike, who was also the chairman, noted that Abia was experiencing environmental degradation through non-proactive town planning.

Azubuike, represented by his Chief of Staff, Godwin Iroegbu, however expressed delight that the present administration would tackle the problem.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Nelson Nwaosu, said the choice of this year’s theme – “Improving the quality of life of Abians through physical planning” was apt as cities were known to be engines of growth and centres of innovation for nations and states.

He emphasised that the physical, social and economic development of Abia would be enhanced when the physical planning and management of the cities are handled by professionals.

Obey Fed Govt’s directive, NCCE warns Alvan Ikoku lecturers

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HE National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has cautioned the striking lecturers of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the reversal of the institution from a University of Education to a College of Education.

The commission urged the lecturers to desist from actions that could be inimical to the good of the institution.

The lecturers went on strike after the Federal Government directed that the four colleges of education that were upgraded to universities of education be reversed to their previous status.

NCCE’s Executive Secretary Prof Joshua Monday re-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

futed insinuations that the directive was influenced by any person or group. He maintained that resisting the directive would do the institution no good.

His words: “The decision to reverse the four colleges of education to their former status was not influenced by any person or group, but was taken by the President in his wisdom.

“We are here to put the records straight. Alvan Ikoku is one of the oldest colleges of education. It has been running as a degree awardingcollege, in affiliation with other institutions, but was recently upgraded to a university of education.

“Earlier in the month,

there was a new directive that the conversion be put on hold. It was expected that the directive will stir up emotions but one thing is certain that the federal government has spoken and the institution, whether as a university or college of education, belongs to the federal government, and everybody is expected to obey.

“The Vice Chancellors were invited and told the implication of the directive – the VC’s position had been scrapped while the Deputy Vice Chancellors were authorised to take over as Provosts.

“We know the directive was received with mixed feelings but no one should oppose it. Anyone still parading as a VC or manipulating the workers is not doing the

institution any good”.

But staff and students have vowed to resist the directive until it is reversed.

The lecturers, who have grounded academic activities, prevented the reinstated Provost, Dr. Blessing Ijeoma, from entering her office.

They insisted that the institution remained a university, irrespective of the President’s directive.

The college gate was barricaded with the college bus and a banner, with inscriptions: “Welcome to Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, farewell to Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri”; “We want a Vice Chancellor, we reject a Provost; “Forward ever, backward never! We can never go back to Egypt”, hung at the other side.

Dangote opens skill acquisition centre in Kogi

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O bridge skill gap in the technical sub-sector of the economy, the Pan African Conglomerate, Dangote Group has inaugurated an Automation Skills Development Centre, valued at N160 million, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

Speaking at the inauguration at the weekend, President of the Dangote Group,

Aliko Dangote, said the stateof-the-art centre would support the development initiatives of the state government in technical skills acquisition.

“The Dangote Automation Skills Development Centre will revive and develop technical skills in the country, as well provide jobs for the youths.”

Alhaji Dangote, represented by the Managing Di-

•Some youths at the training centre... at the weekend

rector of the Obajana Cement Plant, Mr. J.V. Gungune, said the centre became necessary following the Federal Government’s prioritisation of technical skills development and empowerment for Nigerian Youths.

Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and Executive Director in the Dangote Group, Mansur Ahmed said the

project, when completed, would make Nigerian youths employable and self-employed at the same time.

Lead Consultant and CEO of the Skill-Up TVET Limited, Afolabi Imoukhuede, assured the people that the project would be completed in November.

He said it would be a modern centre that will be a reference point across Africa.

HE House of Representatives has supported the President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest appointments. The lawmakers said President Buhari considered competence and vibrancy of the individuals before appointment.

Chairman ad hoc committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sani Zorro hailed the appointment of the President’s National Assembly liaison officers, noting that their legislative experience would serve the country well.

His words: “We welcome with joy, news of the appointments of Senator Ita Enang and Kawu Sumaila as Senior Special Assistants to the President on the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Without doubt, their records, competence and vibrancy were what Mr. President considered in entrusting them with these delicate assignments.

“The President should discountenance these unwarranted criticisms because he has not done anything illegal or untoward to warrant such. His predecessors drew their personal staff and aides from the people they trusted.

“In the last dispensation, the commanding heights of the economy were dominated by a section of the country, talk of treasury, budget, oil and gas, works, among others.

“The President has not breached any part of the 1999 Constitution in appointing his aides; Buhari is methodical in his appointment, he cannot compromise and he will only appoint people with integrity, not looters”.

40-man team for Turkey trade mission From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HE government of Abia State has concluded plans to sponsor a 40-man delegation of the Abia business community on a trade mission to Turkey.

Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chijioke Nwakodo, spoke while addressing a seven-man delegation of investors from Turkey.

Nwakodo said the government would equip the leather and garment industry with the necessary exposures that would enhance the industry.

He assured the investors of government’s readiness to partner them to develop an industrial city, Diaspora village in leather and garment in any area of their choice.

Team leader and Chairman of Konsaid-Konya businessmen and Industrialists Association, Mr. Abdullah Basci said they were in the state to interact with the government.

He said the group would invest in Abia to develop an industrial city, leather and garment industries, stressing that such village would benefit the partnering states.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

NEWS Dangote builds N160m skill centre in Kogi

Flood submerges seven communities

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EVEN communities were yesterday flooded in Demsa and Numan local government areas of Adamawa State, following a heavy flow of water from the Kiri dam.

Kiri dam is in Guyuk Local Government. The dam, from the Gongola River, is about 30 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide.

The Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Alhaji Haruna Furo, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

He said most of the affected villages were Bilachi, Bali, Mbongado, Dwam Sabo and Kabawa in Demsa area, while Imburu, Hayin Gada and Gbalang were affected in Numan Local Government.

“The state emergency team and top government officials have visited some of the affected communities.

“We are going to resettle them in secure and conducive rescue camps,” Furo said.

He said the government had started making contact with relief organisations for response and rescue mission.

Furo confirmed that nobody died, but thousands were rendered homeless.

Mr. Lumsun Dili, the member representing Demsa Constituency in the House of Assembly, who was among officials that visited the affected areas, said over 12,000 people were affected in Demsa area.

He told NAN that thousands of farmland, houses and domestic animals were submerged and lost in the flood.

From Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

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HE Dangote Group is building an automation skill development centre valued at N160million in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

A statement by the group in Abuja at the weekend said the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, told the government and people of Kogi State that “the stateof-the-art centre is meant to support the development initiatives of the government.”

He said it would revive and develop technical skills, as well as provide jobs for youths.

Dangote, who was repre•Leader of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Umar Gulani (right), handing over to the sented by the Managing Direccontractor, Mr. Kopshak Gomwalk, the contractual documents for the hostel project at the groundbreaking ceremony and tor of the Obajana Cement handing over of the site in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State... at the weekend. With him is the Executive Plant, Mr. J.V. Gungune, said Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Al-Hassan Barde (left).

PHOTO: NAN such centre became necessary in view of the fact that “the Federal Government under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has prioritised technical skill develexpressed satisfaction at the opment and empowerment for RINCE Abubakar outcome of the primaries and youths.”

Audu yesterday thanked everybody, saying emerged the All Proment and urged them to supFrom James Azania, Lokoja a lot had been achieved from gressives Congress (APC) canport the winner, “who the process.

Baptists meet didate for the November 21 emerged from a free, fair and He said: “I have realised began. Voting started at 8pm transparent election.” governorship election.

HE monthly Executhat the age of Methuselah He defeated 27 aspirants in and ended at 5am yesterday.

Audu praised the Elector- cannot be compared with the tive Committee meeta keenly- contested primary Counting of votes was con- al Committee members for ing of the Itesiwaju wisdom of Solomon. With cluded about 11am. election. their transparency. He promThere were 3,458 dele- ised not to disappoint the this man (Bello), in the next Baptist Association holds toAudu led by 1,109 votes, folfour years, the party and day at 6:30pm at Araba Baplowed by Yahaya Bello (Fair- gates, with 3,044 screened and party.

Kogi State have nothing to tist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos. plus), who polled 703. Senator accredited for the primary The APC standard-bearer fear.”

It will be presided over by Abatemi Usman came third election under a seven-man hailed other aspirants for Bello said the election was the moderator, Rev. Gbenga Electoral Committee led by their “large heartedness” with 400 votes.

The primaries at the Con- Kaduna State Governor Na- and his closest rival for his transparent, free and fair. He Ojo of Araba Baptist Church promised that they would and consultant, Rev. A.P. fluence Stadium, Lokoja start- sir El-Rufai. doggedness and commit- close ranks in the interest of Oyeyemi of First Baptist The governor hailed the ment. ed at noon on Saturday when the party.

Church, Itire, Lagos. the accreditation of delegates aspirants for their commitEmbracing Bello, Audu Issues affecting the association and member-churches will be discussed.

Kogi 2015: Audu emerges APC candidate

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•El-Rufai to PDP: pack your load

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Bisichi killing is political, say Hausa

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HE Hausa community at Bisichi village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State has alleged that it is being persecuted by itsBerom hosts because it did not vote for the candidate of the PeoFrom Duku Joel, Damaturu ple’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Gynag Pwajok.

HE lawmaker repreIt made the allegation in Jos senting Yobe South, yesterday while speaking on Senator Muhammad the recent violence in Bisichi, Hassan, has donated relief which claimed several lives. materials and cash worth In a paper by the traditionN2million to flood victims al leader, Sarki Ibrahim Isa and at Ngelzarma in Fune Lo- the Imam, Mal. Hussaini Mucal Government Area of hammad Abubakar, the comYobe State. munity said the recent attacks The items are bags of were connected to the last genrice, millet, guinea corn, eral election. salt, sugar, cartons of milk, Isah said: “The Berom arvegetable oil, palm oil, ound Bisichi have threatened bags of beans and cartons to deal with us if they find out of spaggetti. that we did not vote for the Others items include PDP and its governorship canblankets, mattresses, mats, didate. wrappers, cotton yards, “After the poll, there have kitchen plates, cups and been attempts to attack us beclothing materials. cause their Berom kinsman did The presentation was not win the governorship elecdone under tight security at tion. The Berom believe we the palace of the emir of are the cause of their man’s Ngelzarma and other community leaders.

Senator Hassan told reporters that he was sad by the havoc caused by the IFTY-SIX persons flood, saying the people were killed at the could not be neglected by weekend at Badu viltheir representatives in the government, hence his vis- lage in Nganzai Local Governit to present a token to amel- ment Area of Borno State by gunmen suspected to be Boko iorate their suffering.

His words: “It was a very Haram members.

Badu is located 68km from sad event that happened in Maiduguri, the capital. The resNgelzarman and other idents are farmers and herdstowns. This was as a result of the flood disaster, which men.

Governor Kashim Shettima affected many houses.

Many buildings collapsed. announced the attack on Saturday when he hosted the parIt was really sad.” ents of the abducted Chibok

Yobe flood victims get succour

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•Berom: they want to take over our land From Yusufu Idegu, Jos

defeat.

“The Bisichi community experienced attacks in the past, the recent one being that of August 11 when gunmen surrounded the community, killed two persons and injured four, including an officer with the Special Task Force code-named: ‘Operation Safe Haven’.

“Between July 30 and August 10 three people were declared missing. The bodies

of two persons were recovered by the police and ‘Operation Safe Haven’. On August 11, the Berom militia surrounded our community, which led to the killing of Ikirmata Musa Bilyaminu and Shuaibu Aminu. Three people are on admission at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.” The Hausa community urged Governor Simon Bako Lalong and security agents to protect them from political persecution by the Berom.

The Berom youth leader,

Mark Pam Bot, denied the allegation, describing it as an attempt by the Hausa-Fulani to cover their agenda of taking over Berom land.

He said: “Our grandparents accommodated the Hausa-Fulani for over a century and we are still accommodating them.

“But the people we are hosting are attempting to drive us away from our ancestral land and take it over.

They are planning to do so through ethnic cleansing of the Berom.”

Body of 65-year-old recovered from well

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HE body of a 65-year-old man, Mr. Dele Ogundeyi, was at the weekend recovered from a well on the Aperan Way in OmuAran, Kwara State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogundeyi was a retired secretary of Offa Local Government Liaison Office.

The deceased, who hailed from Ile-Nla compound in Omu-Aran, was declared missing about

11am on Saturday, according to a relation, Mr. Abdulkareem, prompting a search by his family.

He said the search party traced the deceased to a site on the Aperan Way where his body was found inside a well about 4pm.

Abdulkareem said the well was located in front of an uncompleted building and a farmland belonging to the deceased.

56 villagers killed in Boko Haram attack

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From Duku Joel, Damaturu

girls in Maiduguri.

He said: “As President Muhammadu Buhari directed me to address you on the abduction of your daughters in April last year by Boko Haram, the security agencies hurriedly briefed me on another insurgents’ attack at Badu village, where 56 people were killed. Houses were torched.

This is madness. The President asked me to commiser-

ate with everyone of you. He said you should be patient.

“This Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast is not based on either religion or ethnicity. It is a total madness of massive killings and destruction of people’s property.

“I have set up an emergency committee to go to the village tomorrow (Sunday) to give relief assistance to the affected people.”

A military source said:

•Governor Shettima “One of the villages in Borno north was attacked by the insurgents while fleeing the Lake Chad Basin areas at the weekend.”

Ortom to reverse federal neglect From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has pledged to tackle the neglect of a section of the state in the federal civil service and recruitment into military and paramilitary organisations.

He spoke yesterday at the funeral of the late Mrs. Kwaghngu Victoria Atsaga at Mbakuha in Ushongo Local Government.

The governor said the arrest of those in possession of illegal weapons would begin tomorrow, as the amnesty period he declared would end today.

He said his strategy for addressing neglect included the setting up of a committee of retired police commissioners to mobilise indigenes for the next recruitment into the police as well as making contacts with those in charge of the organisations.

Ortom said security was his greatest concern, adding that he would be fulfilled if he secured life and property.

He said those who could not approach the government directly could submit illegal weapons in their possession to the clergy and traditional rulers, who would hand them over to the Amnesty Committee.

The governor promised to revive vigilance groups to assist security agencies in curbing crimes.

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FOREIGN NEWS Thai police charge man ‘linked to Erawan blast’

Al-Jazeera trial: U.S. expresses dismay

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HE US has said it is “deeply disappointed and concerned” at the three-year jail sentences passed in Egypt on three alJazeera journalists.

Echoing criticism from the UK, Canada and Australia, the US state department urged Egypt to “redress the verdict”.

The reporters, CanadianEgyptian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste, were convicted of “spreading false news”.

Mr Greste was deported to Australia this year and was tried in absentia.

State department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement: “We urge the government of Egypt to take all available measures to redress this verdict, which undermines the very freedom of expression necessary for sta-

bility and development.

“The freedom of the press to investigate, report, and comment - even when its perspective is unpopular or disputed - is fundamental to any free society and essential to democratic development.”

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said she was “dismayed” by the sentences.

Ms Bishop said she had spoken with Mr Greste and would “continue to pursue all diplomatic avenue with my Egyptian counterpart” to clear Mr Greste’s name.

On Sunday, Mr Greste said again that he was innocent.

“There was never any evidence to confirm any of the allegations against us,” he said.

“We will continue to fight this, using any available means open to us. This is a matter of natural justice.”

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•Baher Mohamed.

•Mohamed Fahmy

The UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Tobias Ellwood said: “I am deeply concerned by the sentences handed down today against journalists in Egypt.

“These sentences will undermine confidence in Egypt’s progress towards strong long-term stability based on implementing the rights granted by the Egyptian constitution.”

•Peter Greste

Canada demanded Mr Fahmy’s “full and immediate release”.

Mr Fahmy’s lawyer, Amal Clooney, called on Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to issue a pardon to the journalists.

The three journalists are accused of aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood group but they strenuously deny the allegations.

PHOTOS: AFP

They were originally sentenced in July 2014, with Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy receiving seven years and Mr Mohamed getting 10 years.

But their convictions were overturned in January this year and they were freed in February to await retrial.

Mr Greste’s lawyer, Chris Flynn, said the men’s re-trial “was a sham and was miscarried at every step”.

Malaysia: Former PM support Razak’s ouster

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ORMER Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has called on protesters on the streets of Kuala Lumpur to “remove” the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“To remove him, the people must show people’s power,” he said as he joined the protests for a second day running, undeterred by a heavy police presence.

Protesters are angered by a $700m (£455m) payment made to Mr Najib’s bank account from unnamed foreign donors.

The prime minister denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Mahathir said it was untenable for the current prime minister to continue in his position.

Media caption The BBC’s Jennifer Pak says protesters fear the truth will not come out “There’s no more rule of law.

The only way for the people to get back to the old system is for them to remove this prime minister,” he said. “We must remove this prime minister.”

Mr Mahathir led Malaysia from 1981-2003. A former ally of the prime minister, he has since become a fierce critic of Mr Najib.

Police estimated 25,000 people participated in Saturday’s demonstration, while Bersih the pro-democracy group behind the rally - said 200,000 took part at the peak.

“Those who wear this yellow attire... want to discredit our good name, scribble black coal on Malaysia’s face to the outside world,’’ national news agency Bernama quoted Mr Najib as saying.

The main accusation against the prime minister is that he took $700m from the indebted 1MDB state investment fund, which he established in 2009 to try to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub.

Cabinet ministers have said the money transfers were “political donations” from unidentified Middle Eastern sources, and that there was nothing improper. No further details have been given.

• The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund was established under Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009 to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy.

•Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad (middle) leading protesters yesterday against Prime Minister Rasaq.PHOTO: Reuters

Huge gas discovery off Egyptian coast

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ITALIAN energy group Eni says it has found one of the world’s largest natural gas fields off Egypt’s coast.

The company said the area was 1,450m (4,757 feet) beneath the surface and covered 100 sq km (60 sq miles).

It could hold as much as 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, or 5.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent, Eni said.

The company says that the Zohr field “could become one of the world’s largest natural-gas finds” and help meet Egypt’s gas needs for decades.

“This historic discovery will be able to transform the energy

scenario of Egypt,” said Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni. Eni, which has full concession rights to the area, is the biggest foreign energy firm in Africa.

In June, it signed an energy exploration deal with Egypt’s oil ministry worth $2bn (£1.5bn) allowing the company to explore in Sinai, the Gulf of Suez, the Mediterranean and areas in the Nile Delta.

Eni’s find follows other significant gas discoveries in the Mediterranean in recent years, including by Egypt’s neighbour Israel.

Israeli soldier arrests boy with broken arm

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AN Israeli soldier holds down a Palestinian boy during a protest in the West Bank on Friday.

Images of an armed Israeli soldier trying to arrest an 11year-old Palestinian boy with a broken arm in the West Bank went viral on social media over the weekend.

The images show the soldier putting a headlock on the child while women pull on the soldier’s back, trying to free the boy.

The altercation took place during a weekly protest Friday organized by Palestinian activists against settlement construction in the village of

•An Israeli soldier holds down a Palestinian boy during a protest in the West Bank on Friday.

PHOTO: Getty Images

Nabi Saleh in the West Bank.

Bassem Tamimi, the boy’s father, told CNN that he was present at the time.

“This is very difficult for any father or mother to see their son or daughter in that way, being violently attacked,” said Tamimi.

Tamimi is a Palestinian activist and was one of the organizers of the demonstration.

The Israeli army defended

its actions, saying that people in the crowd had thrown rocks at the soldiers.

“The forces decided to detain one of the Palestinians identified hurling rocks,” an Israeli army spokeswoman told CNN. The army said the commander at the scene halted the arrest to avoid an escalation of the situation.

Tamimi told CNN that his

wife and daughter were trying to free his son and clashed with the soldier, as the video appeared to show.

Some residents of Nabi Saleh have been staging protests for years against Israel’s settlement policy.

Sometimes the protests turn violent, with Palestinian youths throwing stones and Israeli soldiers firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

OLICE in Bangkok have charged a man in connection with the bomb attack that killed 20 people in the Thai capital nearly two weeks ago.

Officers say the suspect, who was charged with illegal possession of weapons, was involved in the attack.

However, they say he is not the man seen on CCTV footage leaving a bag at the Erawan Shrine before the explosion.

The bomb tore through the crowded shrine on 17 August, injuring more than 100, mostly tourists.

The man, who was described as a 28-year-old foreigner by police, was arrested in Nong Jok on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday.

Thai army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr said the man had so far not co-operated with investigators.

“We have to conduct further interrogations and make him better understand so he will be more co-operative while we have to be careful not to violate the suspect’s rights,” he told the AFP news agency on Sunday.

The man’s nationality has not been confirmed but local reports suggest he could be from Turkey. Police said they found a large number of forged Turkish passports at his apartment.

Image caption The suspect was arrested at an apartment block in a Bangkok suburb Bomb-making materials also discovered in the property included ball bearings and piping, similar to what was used in the shrine attack, police said.

Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said the man “is a culprit in the same network” as those behind the blast.

But national police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang downplayed any suggestion that the suspect was connected to terrorism.

“He is a foreigner, but it’s unlikely he is an international terrorist. It’s a personal feud,” Mr Somyot told a televised news conference.

“He got angry on behalf of his friends and family members,” he added without elaborating.

Meanwhile, Thai police have faced criticism for an image of a suicide bomb vest that was shown on television during the national broadcast announcing the suspect’s arrest on Saturday.

The image caused a stir on social media and police later said it had nothing to do with the bombing or the suspect.

Thailand’s ruling military accused broadcast media of inserting the erroneous picture.

Image caption Police said the suspect was not the man in a previously released photofit A reward of one million Thai baht ($28,000; £18,000) has been offered for information related to the Erawan Shrine attack.

Police released a photofit of the man seen leaving a bag at the site shortly before the blast, showing the suspect with dark hair and glasses.

Officials said at the time of the attack that they suspected it had been planned a month or more in advance and involved at least 10 people.

The shrine is a popular destination for Chinese and Thai tourists.

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FOREIGN NEWS South Sudan: Clashes continue after cease-fire

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•People stand at the site of a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen’s capital Sanaa...yesterday.

PHOTO: Reuters

Saudi-led coalition air strike kills 36 Yemenis

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N air strike by warplanes from a Saudiled coalition, which said it targeted a bomb-making factory, killed 36 civilians working at a bottling plant in the northern Yemeni province of Hajjah on Sunday, residents said.

In another air raid on the capital Sanaa, residents said four civilians were killed when a bomb hit their house near a military base in the south of the city.

The attacks were the latest in an air campaign launched in March by an alliance made up mainly of Gulf Arab states in support of the exiled government in its fight against Houthi forces allied to Iran.

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri denied the strike had hit a civilian target, saying it was a

location used by the Houthis to make improvised explosive devices and to train African migrants whom they had forced to take up arms.

He accused the Houthis of using African migrants, stuck in Yemen after arriving by sea before the war in the hope of crossing the Saudi border and finding work in the oil producer, as cannon fodder in dangerous border operations.

Human rights group Amnesty International said in a report this month that the coalition bombing campaign had left a “bloody trail of civilian death” which could amount to war crimes.

Air strikes killed 65 people in the frontline city of Taiz last Friday, most of them civilians, and the bombing of a milk factory in Western Yemen in July

killed 65 people including 10 children.

More than 4,300 people have been killed in five months of war in Yemen while disease and suffering in the already impoverished country have spread.

Militias and army units loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, currently taking refuge in Saudi Arabia, have made significant advances toward the Houthi-controlled capital in the last two months but the group remains ensconced in Yemen’s north and casualties mount in nationwide combat every day.

Also on Sunday, a bomb exploded near the vacated U.S. Embassy in Sanaa and unknown gunmen shot and killed a senior security official in the southern port city of Aden.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - the deadliest branch of the global militant organization - has been attacking the Yemeni state and plotting against Western targets for years.

A powerful bomb detonated in front of a gate on the wall surrounding the embassy around midnight yesterday but claimed no casualties, residents and officials said.

The United States and other Western countries closed their missions in Yemen in February as the political feud between the Houthis and the Hadi government led to war.

The Houthi-run state news agency Saba quoted a security official calling it a “terrorist and criminal act”.

Japan military law changes draw protests

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HOUSANDS of people have protested outside of Japan’s parliament against new legislation that would allow the military to deploy overseas.

The changes would allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two. The legislation has already been passed by Japan’s lower house and is expected to be endorsed by the upper chamber.

Under its constitution, Japan is barred from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.

But a reinterpretation of the law will now allow “collective self-defence” - using force to defend allies under attack.

Police are lining the streets and telling protesters to move along in an attempt to minimise disruption in the capital’s centre.

Despite the wet weather conditions, tens of thousands

•Japan’s post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in PHOTO:AFP cases of self-defence.

of protesters poured out onto the streets demanding that their pacifist constitution be protected and calling for the prime minister to step down.

The streets were lined with police vans but given how unprecedented it is for the Japanese to be so vocal, there was never any fear that things would get out of hand.

These demonstrations have been taking place all summer, mainly led by stu-

dents and young people who say they wish to protect Japan’s pacifist constitution.

They are often accused of being apolitical and apathetic but it appears they have woken up and are refusing to be silenced.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the changes are necessary to protect Japan, but polls show many Japanese oppose them.

The plan was criticised at a

recent memorial ceremony commemorating the dropping of a US atomic bomb in August 1945 on the city of Nagasaki, which killed 70,000 people.

One survivor of the attack, 86-year-old Sumiteru Taniguchi, said he could not accept Mr Abe’s new legislation.

Mr Abe has previously said that the change would not lead to involvement in foreign wars.

OVERNMENt troops on Sunday attacked a village in volatile Unity state on the first day of a cease-fire that both sides have pledged to implement, according to a rebel-appointed official in South Sudan’s war-ravaged Unity state.

The attack on the village in Mayendit County followed attacks on two other villages in the same area Saturday night, John Riek, who coordinates relief activities in an opposition-held part of southern Unity state, told The Associated Press on Sunday.

He said government troops were burning houses and looting livestock on Sunday, and that he himself had to hide in a swamp to escape the violence.

AP could not independently verify his claims.

Military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said he was unable to verify reports of clashes. Rebel spokesperson James Gatdet Dak said he has not received reports of new clashes. The two sides accused each other of instigating clashes in Upper Nile state yesterday.

Southern Unity has witnessed chaotic violence between the two sides in recent months following a government offensive against rebel forces. Doctors Without Borders said last week it treated 50 people including women and children for gunshot wounds in the town of Leer over the past month.

South Sudan’s war began in December 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar.

Kiir on Wednesday signed a compromise peace agreement, including the ceasefire, following mediation by the leaders of neighboring countries and with U.N. backing. Machar had signed the same document earlier in Ethiopia.

Before signing it, Kiir called the agreement flawed, citing many reservations.

Rebels have since said those reservations indicate Kiir is not committed to implementing the entire agreement.

The U.S. has said it will press sanctions against those who violate the accord.

Turkey PM forms election government

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URKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend approved the makeup of the provisional government that will run the country until November 1 elections, including for the first time proKurdish MPs. “Our president... approved the interim cabinet formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr Davutoglu,” the presidency said in a statement after a nearly one-hour meeting between Erdogan and Premier Ahmet Davutoglu.

The two pro-Kurdish lawmakers are from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), marking the first time a Kurdish party has been represented in the government.

The newly appointed cabinet will not have to undergo a vote of confidence in parliament, as required in the constitution. The president’s approval is considered enough for interim governments.

Erdogan called new elections after Davutoglu — whose ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its overall majority in parliament in June polls — failed to form a coalition government with the opposition.

He appointed Davutoglu to form an interim “election government” which according to the constitution must be made up of all parties represented in parliament.

It is the first time in modern Turkish history that postelection talks on forming a coalition government have failed.

The cabinet spots are divided up according to the parties’ share of seats in parliament — with 11 going to AKP, five to the secondplaced Republican People’s Party (CHP) and three a piece to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a

meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara on August 12, 2015 Opposition parties have refused to take part in the interim government, making the HDP — which the government accuses of being a political front for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — and the AKP major partners in the new cabinet.

Ali Haydar Konca will act as EU affairs minister and Muslum Dogan as development minister, Davutoglu said in a press announcement. Both are lawmakers from the HDP. In a deviation from the party line, MHP lawmaker Tugrul Turkes, son of party founder Alparslan Turkes, accepted an invitation serve as deputy prime minister in a move denounced by the faction’s leadership.

Davutoglu had to appoint nonpartisan figures to fill the seats snubbed by the opposition parties.

Selami Altinok, former Istanbul police chief, was appointed interior minister and foreign ministry undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu as new foreign minister.

Speaking to his party’s provincial heads earlier Friday, Davutoglu said: “We will work just like a fouryear government as we are heading toward November 1.”

The election comes at a time of escalating violence between Turkish security forces and Kurdish militants which has for now killed off hopes of ending the threedecade insurgency.

•Davutoglu

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

NEWS DSS nabs Boko Haram suspects Continued from page 2

bas Ibrahim, Adam Wakil Abdul Jilbe and Mohammed Usman.

Ibrahim Audu was arrested in Enugu; Ibrahim Haruna was arrested in Gombe, Mal Ali Mohamodu was arrested in Kano.

The DSS said the terrorists have decided to spread to other parts of the country as a result of the pressure being put on them in their core areas of strength in the Northeast.

“Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman Shuaibu (Money) and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect.

“Money and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the ar-

rest.

“Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and, in fact, other parts of the country.

“The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has, however, helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area. However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects.”

“Drawing from the above, the DSS reiterates its avowed determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country.

“Citizens and residents are, therefore, called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and other relevant security agencies,” the DSS stated.

Air Force names victims of Kaduna plane crash Continued from page 2

gone, your memories will be with us for a very long time to come”.

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft, with call sign NAF030, crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna shortly after take-off.

The highlight of the condolence visit was the observance of a one-minute silence in honour of the departed colleagues and visits to the individual families of the victims.

Some of those on the entourage were the GOC 1 Division, Maj Gen Adeniyi Oyebade, Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna, AVM Alkali Mamu, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Acad-

Continued from page 2

caution that any response must not be abusive. The President personally appointed a former Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, to sign any statement on cabinet issues.

It was learnt that some of the ex-Ministers asked Jonathan what he actually discussed with Buhari.

“The President said he raised two issues with President Buhari within 20 minutes. This border on the need to avoid media trial on any allegation of corruption being looked into. He said he told Buhari that his image and members of his cabinet were being dragged in the mud. He said even in law, an accused person is deemed innocent until proven guilty.

“Jonathan also said he asked Buhari to leave the Election Petition Tribunals in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states to do their work instead of the hounding of some INEC officials and politicians by DSS.”

N338b loans for Ekiti, Oyo, others Continued from page 2

resulting in a transaction yield of 14.83 per cent.”The impact of the restructured states’ commercial debts to domestic bonds, he said, is that “management operations will include: monthly

debt service burden will drop by a minimum of 55 per cent and a maximum of 97 per cent, among the 11; and interest rate savings for the 11 states ranging from 3 per cent to 9 per cent per annum.”

thanked the delegation.

Wing Commander Musa and Hassan said the visit by the top brass team had given them encouragement and courage to raise the children their wives left. They pledged their unrelenting effort to move the NAF and the Nigeria military forward.

Speaking with reporters after inspecting the scene of the crash, the Permanent Secretary said: “We have lost very able officers and their families and we want to on behalf of the Federal Government extend our condolences to all of them and pray for the repose of their souls.

“With the passion and zeal the president came in with, you will appreciate that he is

doing everything possible to address some of these challenges of security in the country. The Nigerian Army, Air force and Navy are all one and he is doing all his best to reposition them to meet global standards.”

He appealed to Nigerians to give Buhari the needed support to move the country forward, saying: “This incident is something that is from God and we should accept it as such, all we can do is pray that when our time come, we die in peace.”

Wife of Wing Commander Hassan left behind four young kids, the eldest is not up to 10.

As at the time of the visit, the children were busy playing around the compound.

Buhari can't ignore corrupt practices under Jonathan Continued from page 2

Probe: Jonathan holds meeting with ex-ministers ation, Education and even Petroleum Resources were mandated to produce lists of achievements.

“Some of the ex-ministers lamented that the Permanent Secretaries proving to Buhari as holier-than-thou were part of the Jonathan administration and they even made input into the handover notes.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “Jonathan and the ex-ministers admitted that the administration might have some issues to clear in the management of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“But they said the situation was not as bad in the oil sector as being alleged.”

A third source said: “I think we should expect some fireworks in the next few days.

The meeting resolved to reach out to the public in the same equal weight the allegations of corruption will be released by the Buhari administration.

“But there was a word of

emy, Maj Gen MT Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Communications, Defence Headquarters and other senior officers on the entourage of the Federal Government delegation.

The owner of the house on which the chopper crashed, Lt. Col. Grema, narrated how he escaped death.

He told the delegation that: “I came out of my house few minutes before the aircraft fell on my bore hole. I had not quite shut the door to my house when I heard the noise arising from the crash.”

As at the time of the visit, condolence registers had been opened in the victim’s houses, while some family members were still in shock. The young wife of the deceased pilot,

•President Buhari

under the last administration.

"President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender. No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the economy when all they handed over to him, at best,was a tottering economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process.

"Things have become wors-

ened by the continuing fall of oil prices, which is expected to fall even further with the imminent full return of Iran to the market. All he has been doing while around is to put things together, organising to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our relationships with neighbours and the world."

Wondering what the former

ministers are afraid of, he queried if they have become a new trade union overnight.

He said: "Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serves Nigeria's best interests.

"President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers."

Corruption: Ex-ministers defend ex-president Continued from page 2

They challenged the administration and the APC to publish the details of the hand over notes they received.

The former cabinet members made their feelings known in a statement signed on their behalf by the ex-National Planning minister Dr Abubakar Suleiman.

The statement reads: “We, the ministers who served under the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning the integrity of its individual members.

“While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of the Jonathan administration to be ill-intentioned, unduly partisan and in bad faith.

“The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development of our beloved nation.

“We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities.

“The improvements that have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security, and in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan administration.”

The former ministers faulted Buhari administration and the APC for rating the Jonathan administration as corrupt.

The statement added: “Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the

public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption, rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process.

“For the benefit of those who may have forgotten so soon, it was the Jonathan administration that got rid of the fraud in fertiliser subsidies, which had plagued the country for decades. This helped to unleash a revolution in agricultural production and productivity.

“It was also the Jonathan administration that supported the institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages. These included the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), in addition to the biometric registration of civil servants and pensioners which saved the country over N100 billion paid to ghost workers and ghost pensioners.”

They also listed the cleansing of the oil sector , the tarring of 25, 000 kilometres of roads and alleged robust multinational response to Boko Haram insurgency as the highpoints of Jonathan’s achievements in office.

The statement said: “To ensure greater transparency and integrity in the oil and gas sector, the Jonathan administration ordered investigations and put mechanisms in place to check the theft of Nigeria’s crude oil.

“It was also under the Jonathan administration that a Nigerian Content policy was introduced, which opened up that sector to Nigerians in a manner that was not previously the case. “ It was also the Jonathan administration that mobilised and secured the support of our neighbouring countries to ensure a robust multinational response to the menace of terrorism and insurgency, resulting

in notable advancements in the fight against terror. President Jonathan personally initiated the collaboration that led to these advancements and ensured that Nigeria provided the needed financial support for the Multinational Joint Task Force.

“It was the Jonathan administration that repaired and rehabilitated over 25, 000 kilometres of our nation’s roads.

Nigeria also became a profitable and preferred investmentfriendly destination. It was under President Jonathan, for example, that Nigeria’s electric power sector became more competitive and attractive to local and foreign investments.

“The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime. Women’s rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also respected.

“In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive governance and encouraged all stakeholders, including the private sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.”

On electoral process, the former ministers said the “chief beneficiaries of Jonathan’s reforms are the most vociferous today.”

The statement said: “It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today in condemning President Jonathan and his team.

“Perhaps the new administration and the APC would be sincere enough to publish the details of the handover notes they received.

“In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan

administration. No administration can be either completely bad or completely good.

President Jonathan’s achievements in moving this country to greater heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to build on these achievements.

“We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and nonpartisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a political witch-hunt.”

Although they asked the President to continue with the ongoing probe of the administration of Jonathan, they said it must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God. The statement said: “The various lies and fabrications being peddled by some selfappointed spokespersons of the administration may entertain the unwary, but such sensationalism may achieve the unintended effect of de-marketing our country within the international community. “ All such persons playing to the gallery for whatever gains should be called to order. The name-calling of members of the Jonathan administration and the trial by news media should also stop.

“We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God. “We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past administration wears off, reason will prevail.

“But we are constrained to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration, and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to rubbish that legacy, are unrelenting in their usual deployment of blackmail, persecution, and similar tactics. “

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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NEWS

Bayelsa PDP members seek removal of acting chair

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HEAD of the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the crisis rocking the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened.

Most of the party’s aggrieved chieftains yesterday called for the removal of Acting Chairman, Chief Serena Spiff-Dokubo, before the primary.

The party’s stalwarts, who formed a splinter group, the PDP Unity Group (PUG), were said to have insisted that Spiff-Dokubo was not qualified to hold the position.

Many stalwarts, former political office holders and the party’s former Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd), have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PUG is against the reelection of Governor Seriake Dickson.

Its supporters comprise mainly of the governor’s former aides, who were sacked in controversial circumstances and other party leaders who are not disposed to Dickson’s second term bid.

It was gathered that a meeting organised recently at the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital, to resolve the impasse between the PUG and Dickson ended in a deadlock.

PUG members, led by their Coordinator, Mrs, Marie

‘Our structures are intact’

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AYELSA State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied a report that more of its members are planning to defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

A socio-political movement, Bayelsa Great House, was reported at the weekend to have said the party’s former chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd), who recently defected to the APC, was wooing other key stalwarts to join him.

But in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, PDP Secretary Keku Godspower said the claim was false since PDP’s leadership and members were behind Governor Seriake Dickson and were committed to his re-election.

Godspower said Inokoba did not have the From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Ebikake, were said to have rebuffed Dickson’s appeals to sheathe their sword.

Mrs Ebikake and her group reportedly argued that SpiffDokubo hails from a different zone (Bayelsa East) from Inokoba’s Bayelsa Central, contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

Besides, they were said to have stressed that SpiffDokubo, despite parading himself as the acting chairman, is also an employee in the state’s Judicial Service Commission, against the party’s law.

Signs that the meeting ended in fiasco emerged yes-

political strength to swing the support of PDP members for the APC. The PDP secretary described the former chairman and other defectors as selfish, who engaged in anti-party activities for some time.

He said: “We wish to state categorically that contrary to a newspaper report, no member of the Bayelsa State Working Committee (SWC) or the purported non-working committee and our members across the state were considering leaving the party. “We want to make it clear that contrary to the propaganda, all the organs of the party at all levels are intact and are fully behind the re-election of Governor Dickson. Inokoba and his phantom Bayelsa Great House are political charlatans who will be disgraced in due time.”

terday, following the decision of the group to send a petition to PDP’s acting national chairman, demanding SpiffDokubo’s immediate removal.

Copies of the letter by Mrs Ebikake and PUG’s Secretary, Bokolo Bonsome, were sent to the acting chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and the party’s Southsouth vicechairman.

The letter said the appointment of Spiff-Dokubo was illegal and null from the beginning.

Quoting from Article 14.5 of PDP’s constitution, PUG posited that Spiff-Dokubo should not have been appointed the acting chairman.

The Article says: “Where a

vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the committee shall appoint a substitute from the zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of an election to fill the vacancy.”

PUG letter reads: “By the current subsisting zoning arrangement of party offices in Bayelsa State, the state chairmanship’s position is zoned to Bayelsa Central Senatorial District while the State Deputy Chairmanship position is zoned to Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

“The occupants of these positions, until recently, are: Col. Sam Inokoba (retd.)

(Bayelsa Central) Chairman and the Deputy Chairman was Chief Nyanayo Tubo

Columnist kidnapped in Port Harcourt

(Bayelsa East).

“Before the unilateral and arbitrary appointment of Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, we have it on good authority that Governor Dickson forced Chief Nyanayo Tubo to resign from his position as Deputy Chairman to contest election into the House of Assembly, an election he lost scandalously to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate.

“The subsequent replacement of Dokubo-Spiff is considered an illegal and unilateral imposition on the Bayelsa East Senatorial District as it clearly ultra vires the provision of Article 14.5 of the constitution of the PDP. “Consequent upon the above and being guided by the provisions of our party’s constitution, we state that the nomination of a candidate to replace ...Inokoba (retd.) can only be validly conducted by the party’s stakeholders from the Bayelsa Central.

“This submission is premised on the fact that the chairmanship position is zoned to the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. Furthermore, the office of the Deputy Chairman, which is originally zoned to and occupied by somebody from the Bayelsa East, can only be validly replaced by a nominee among the stakeholders of that senatorial district.”

S

Uyo

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HE Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO) to stay action on the government’s request for debt restructuring until the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices ad Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies conduct a forensic and thorough audit of the state’s finances from May 29, 2007 to May 28, 2015, and issue a certificate of clean financial health.

APC noted that nothing justified the state to owe after receiving over N3 trillion from the Federation Account n the last eight years.

The party stated its position yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Ita Awak.

It accused Governor Udom Emmanuel and his Finance Commissioner, Mr Akan Okon, of being economical with the truth on the government’s claim that the state’s debt to commercial banks was N64.5 billion.

APC alleged that the state was owing over N500 billion and not N64.5 billion, as claimed by the state government.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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•Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva displaying his certificate after he was conferred with the traditional title of Ajana I of Okpoama Kingdom by King Ebitimi Emmanuel Banigo, Okpo The XXI, Amanyanabo of Okpoama Kingdom...at the weekend. Sylva is the first son of Okpoama Kingdom to get the honorary title.

PDP’s petition baseless, says Magnus Abe ENATOR Magnus Abe has described as baseless and a cheap attempt to mislead President Muhammadu Buhari and the public, a petition by the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in the state.

Abe said the petition was calculated to ridicule the Army and paint it in bad light the office of the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS).

In a counter-petition to President Buhari, the senator said the tribunal hearing his petition and other All Progressives Congress

From Kazeem Ibrahym,

Wike, Amaechi disagree on corruption, witch-hunt

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

A COLUMNIST with Vanguard, Donu Kogbara, has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Her abductors reportedly stormed her home in Nkpogu, Port Harcourt, in a CRV car amid gunshots.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke in confidence for security reasons, told our reporter that the abductors left with the columnist to an unknown place.

The hoodlums, it was learnt last night, had not contacted the writer’s family for ransom.

Police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the abduction.

He said the police command was trailing the abductors, adding that Kogbara would soon be rescued.

‘Stay action Akwa Ibom debt’

By Seun Akioye

(APC) candidates issued a subpoena directing the Chief of Army Staff (or any of his designated officers) and the director of the DSS (or any of his designated worker) to appear before the tribunal and give evidence on what they witnessed during the National Assembly election, as the agencies that provided security during the election.

This, he said, was against the impression created by the PDP in a petition to President Buhari that the Army and the DSS had been politicised and was used in favour of the APC candi-

dates in the election tribunal.

Abe said it was mischievous and unreasonable for anybody, to “cast baseless aspersion on these gallant officers of the Army and the DSS”.

The senator noted that it would have been foolhardy for the Chief of Army Staff and the director of the DSS to refuse to comply with the orders of the tribunal.

He said such a refusal would have been a crime because it is punishable with criminal contempt against the culprit.

Abe wondered why the PDP did not show in its petition that the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, was also subpoenaed.

The senator said this showed an unholy alliance between the PDP and the REC. He said: “It is on record that despite numerous applications and solicitation to the REC for the release of election materials purportedly used by INEC, she has consistently refused to release the documents to us in order to frustrate and jeopardise our chances to prove our cases before the election tribunal.”

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have disagreed on the governor’s anti-corruption crusade and the alleged witch-hunt of his predecessor.

Amaechi said Wike, who was his former Chief of Staff and director-general of his campaign organisation in 2011, had been releasing government’s documents to show that his predecessor was corrupt.

But the former governor insisted that he did not like stealing.

Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, alleged that Amaechi was corrupt.

Amaechi, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said he would not appear before the judicial commission of enquiry Wike inaugurated to investigate his administration in the last 18 months.

The former governor described the panel as illegal.

But Inko-Tariah said: “It is laughable that Amaechi will call illegal a panel that has already been declared lawful by a court of law. This means, as at when he questioned its proprietary in court, he thought the court would declare it illegal but was shamed. This is no media trial and the government will not be embroiled in any war of attrition (with Amaechi).

“He (ex-governor) should defend himself, just as Dr. Peter Odili (ex-Rivers governor) did during the Justice Kayode Esho’s panel.

Media trial will not vindicate him (Amaechi), as the sentiment he is trying to whip up has failed.

‘You can’t win with ethnic card’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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GROUP, Bayelsa Patriots (BP), has told Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and a former governor, Diepreye Alamieyesigha, that they cannot win the December 5 governorship election by playing the ethnic card.

The group addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja “on recent happenings in Bayelsa State”.

Its leader Chief Preye Alaowei said the warning became necessary, following what he called unguarded statements by Dickson and Alamieyesigha in the media.

Alaowei noted that Bayelsa Patriots, as a group of concerned Bayelsa State residents, has urged security agencies to hold Dickson and Alamieyesigha responsible, should something go wrong during the election.

He said: “These two ethnic jingoists should be told that playing ethnic cards will never give them victory in the governorship election.

“The Nigerian electorate, especially the Bayelsans, are now wiser.

They know those who are really committed to their welfare.

“We would have applauded these two men, if they had focused on issues that matter most to Bayelsans rather than manipulating the people and employing ethnic sentiments to win an election.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

AFRICAN GAMES

Siasia drops Akande S

• Akande

HOOTING Stars firstchoice goalkeeper Abiodun Akande has been dropped for the African Games football event and his place taken by Jimoh Lucky Abdullahi from amateur club, 36 Lion of Lagos, AfricanFootball.com reports.

Akande has for several months been the cover for Rangers shot stopper Emmanuel Daniel, but he has now been asked to leave the team’s training camp in Abuja.

It was gathered that Lucky Abdullahi, who joined the team four days ago, will now be the third goalkeeper for the AAG.

"There is going to be one big surprise when the list of players to the African Games is made public - Shooting Stars goalkeeper Abiodun Akande has been dropped to the surprise of everyone in camp. The other players couldn't believe their eyes when he left the camp," the source told AfricanFootball.com.

The goalkeepers for the Games are Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers), Yusuf Mohammed (Pillars) and Jimoh Lucky Abdullahi (36 Lion Lagos).

Akande is back in Ibadan now, but wasn't available for selection for a NPFL week 26 game yesterday.

Ikpeba, Nwosu, others for GTB Football Camp

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ORMER Super Eagles’ stars Victor Ikpeba, Henry Nwosu, Mutiu Adepoju, Yisa Sofoluwe, and Waidi Akanni as well as ExSuper Falcons goalie, Anne Chiejinne will handle proceedings at the annual football development programme sponsored by Guaranty Trust Bank PLC tagged Camp GTB which begins today in Ibadan.

The clinic is scheduled to hold between August 31 to September 7 and as a residential camp, it is designed to train and develop outstanding footballing talents discov-

By Olalekan Okusan ered from GTBank sponsored youth football leagues; Principals’ and Masters’ Cups.

This year’s camp will hold at The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, with 40 participants selected from the GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup, GTBank-Ogun State Principals Cup and GTBank Masters’ Cup competitions.

The ultimate goal of this programme is to sharpen and cultivate the football skills of identified talents drawing on the experience of top football

Victor Ezeji retires FTER 19 exciting years in the domestic league, former Nigerian international Victor Ezeji has brought the curtain down on his glittering career.

Ezeji became not only as a distinguished professional, but also the most decorated domestic player with laurels in his trophy cabinet from the league and cup competitions.

Interestingly, Ezeji, who graduated from the University of Port Harcourt with a degree in Accountancy, is one of the few footballers, who successfully combined education with professional football.

After winning the 2007 CocaCola FA Cup, when he became the first player to win the top scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, Ezeji headed for Tunisian side, Club Africain, in 2008 and returned to the country to continue his career, in 2009.

“Ezeji will address the media on his retirement and plans for a testimonial in September. We’re

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• Ezeji proud of his career as he has since become a role model to up-andcoming players in the Glo Premier League. Ezeji’s achievements are rare in the modern era, Ojeikere Aikhoje, who heads Sports PR firm, MatchRoom Sports, stated.

Ezeji played for top sides like Eagle Cement (now Dolphins), Sharks, Enyimba and Sunshine Stars.

Lagos Sports Commission gets first DG

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HE newly-formed Lagos State Sports Commission has its

RESULTS

Globacom League Sharks 0-0 Enyimba Wikki 2- 1 Sunshine Ifeanyi 1 - 0 Bayelsa 3SC 2 - 0 Abia Taraba 1 - 0 Pillars Elkanemi 2 - 2 Rangers Heartland 1 - 0 Wolves Giwa 2 - 0 Lobi Dolphins 2 - 0 Akwa Nasarawa 3 - 0 Kwara England - Premier League Southampton 3 - 0 Norwich Swansea 2 - 1 Man Utd Italy - Serie A Roma 2 - 1 Juventus Spain - Liga BBVA Eibar 2 - 0 Bilbao

coaches. The lead coaches for this year’s camp GTBank are Ikpeba and Nwosu and they will be supported by Adepoju, Sofoluwe, Chiejinee, and Akanni.

The 40 players selected will be taken through extensive training sessions on strategy, tactics and conditioning.

They will also be given the opportunity to interact with coaches and mentors on and off the pitch. It is expected that their completion of the session would help fine-tune their skills and make them more attractive to clubs and academies as the camp will be open to scouts and coaches in search for young talents.

According to Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director/CEO of GTBank, “the Bank remains a big supporter of sports, as a vehicle to mentor students and develop their talents. He also reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to the promotion of youth sports development.

He said that this year’s competition would again provide the students a platform to showcase their skills and further bolster the rekindled faith of Nigerians in home grown talents.”

first Director General (DG).

He is Ayodele Agbesanwa and his appointment is with immediate effect.

Before his appointment, Agbesanwa, was the Director News, Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja. He is a social scientist, broadcaster and administrator. He also has vast experience in the art of managing human and material resources.

Agbesanwa held various posts at LTV before becoming the Director, News of the foremost television station. He was formerly the Director, Current Affairs (2005- 2009), Manager News and Current Affairs (2000- 2005) and Controller Documentation (19962000).

Zamalek eyes Junior Ajayi

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GYPTIAN champions, Zamalek have stepped up their pursuit of Nigeria Under 23 striker, Junior Ajayi.

Owner of 36 Lion, Liameed Gaffar, who represents Junior Ajayi, informed AfricanFootball.com Zamalek are now leading the chase for the promising striker.

“Zamalek are now the most serious club after Junior, but we will have to wait and see how things play out after the African Games,” Gaffar disclosed.

Emmanuel Amuneke famously featured for Zamalek before he headed to Europe.

Gaffar and the player have already discussed with Tunisian clubs Esperance and CS Sfaxien over a transfer, but both moves eventually hit the rocks.

“Tunisia would have been one big step towards Junior moving to Europe, but we could not eventually agree on a contract with both Esperance and Sfaxien,” he said.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘With the wage reduction and plugging of all loopholes for stealing public funds, we may have gone to great lengths to chart a new course for probity and accountability in public offices. But that is not all’

EMEKA OMEIHE

VOL 10 NO 3323

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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OMETIMES when Bukola Saraki sports his agbada, he bears resemblance to Chief Eleyinmi in the familiar but now defunct Village Headmaster television series. Saraki, like Eleyinmi, wraps a certain mystique around his hands. So he hides them inside the voluminous sleeves.

But he lacks two vital qualities associated with Chief Eleyinmi. The Village Headmaster thespian does not wear suits. Two, he projects a Rabelaisian sense of humour and effusive candour that titillate his audience in spite of the actor’s patrician peccadillos.

Eleyinmi drinks his tea or water or wine by grabbing the spoon or glass under the protection of the fabric. Saraki does not. Saraki also wears the western suit that exposes and takes away the sanctity of the hand.

It is quirks like these that made me write a cover over a decade ago in Sunday Concord on political fashion. If Saraki was a factor in those years, he might have played a prominent part in the cast. Unlike Eleyinmi, however, Saraki does not make you laugh.

He did not make anyone laugh when he hid, in the name of ambition, in a nondescript car in the National Assembly in the wee hours in order to be Senate president.

He did not amuse when he made an impolitic quote defending men of his class about not taxing the Nigerian jet set. So, by his reckoning, we should not have special taxes for jet owners. He did not amuse when he abandoned his party and supped with the enemy, again in the name of ambition.

Absence of principles can be amusing, but the former kwara State chief does not know how to suck us out of our sulks.

He did not amuse when he rebuffed his party leadership by not conceding any of its demands in the spoils of Senate office.

He might have amused us, though, when he slid his way onto the prayer ground with President Muhammadu Buhari during the recent Muslim festivities, and allowed the impression to pass that he had somehow won over the chief. But it was not a laugh he wanted credit for because it was against him.

It recalls what playwright and Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett designated as “a laugh laughing at itself.” It was not an Eleyinmi moment though. It was more of a Baba Sala episode, a rip-roaring farce.

He did not get much of an attention from the President in that holy hour. He probably lost it.

Even Eleyinmi, for all his sweet obnoxiousness, never played the obsequious role.

He was a chief who knew his limits and was funny any time he bowed to the calm and chastening rhetoric of the king. He betrayed the innocence of a boy caught in a prank.

But our own pretended Eleyinmi does not know how to play that innocence. Rather than admit a wrong, and eat his humble pie

RIPPLES IGP STOPS POLICE CHECKPOINTS–News

Oga, CHECKPOINTS still dey... go to LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY at NIGHT

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Not yet Eleyinmi

•Saraki

in public, he has engaged in a contradictory drama. He is begging and fighting simulta-

neously. He waited for House Speaker Dogarra to bow to party pressure before he realised that the legislature had its limits. He has sent emissaries to beg the President and also to beg the Lion of Bourdillon. I am not aware how sincere and how effective these odysseys of humility will be. But it is significant that the man who thought he had subverted decency in the name of power still remembers how to bow.

At the same time, he is taking a battle to the head of the EFFC. His perception management of this matter leaves much to be desired. Not long ago, the EFCC held his wife for questioning over corruption charges. It clearly rankled his skin deep enough for him to show his hands and deliver a fist-

ful to Lamorde, the EFCC boss. So, wielding the power of the Senate, he is going after the man in charge of corruption by throwing charges of corruption at him. The merit or demerit of the case is beyond me at this point, in spite of what news reports have said about the petitioner’s pedigree.

But the whole drama of his fighting and begging after acting as the Eleyinmi of Nigerian politics must sicken even him. He is now surrounded by the hyenas of his ambition. He wanted to be a giant. He thought he had attained the status, and then he looks like the characters in Wole Soyinka’s Nobel Prize-wining play, A Play of Giants. It is farce that leads downhill. In his play Macbeth, Shakespeare describes it as “vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself.”

Edmund Burke, the master theorist of conservatism, who saw power and penned ruminations on it, including about the French like Robespierre, Danton and the little general Napoleon, wrote: “The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.”

While he battles to stay afloat in what is a looming morass, Saraki has to consider another man of power, Federick Douglas of the abolition era of slavery in the United States.

Power is about negotiation in a spirit of reciprocity. He must consider what to give, and he must not look like the giants of Soyinka’s play. Hence Douglas noted, “power concedes nothing without a demand.” The other side asked, but he did not give. If he is not careful, he will be given away. He should read Professor Niyi Osundare’s poem on him and his likes, especially the line, “wind vane politicians with multiple tongues…”

AMBODE, AGBAJE AND ALL THAT

T

HE Appeal Court ruled in the past week that the PDP had no case against the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode as governor of Lagos. When I heard the news, I asked myself, why did Jimi Agbaje put himself through all these? It is still a question for which I have no answer. He put himself in the centre of an inglorious storm. At one time, he defended Jonathan and came short of calling his rule revolutionary. What does he think now with that regime’s corruption stories unravelling?

He also became a militant, mouthing rhetoric, defending the perpetration of turbulence in the Niger Delta should Jonathan lose. It was because of tongues like his that some are praising Jonathan as a hero for conceding what he lost: the people’s choice. He also became a royalist of subversion and anti-royalist in the same

breath. A royalist of subversion when he promised to install an Eze Ndigbo as a ploy to divide Lagosians along ethnic lines. He was anti-royalist when called for the punishment of his own king, the Oba of Lagos. He fell into farce when he asked Nigerians to compare who was more handsome between Jonathan and Buhari.

Is this Agbaje going to make a pirouette to the side of truth again? Even though he joined the Southwest rearguard of reaction, the fuddy-duddies who wined and dined with the Otuoke fellow?

It’s obvious to all now that he was no match for the man who beat him.

Governance is not about foppish razzmatazz and punctilious lies. Well, the coast is now clear for Governor Ambode to voyage ahead. And President Buhari should also join him in the all-too-important task

HARDBALL

H

ARDBALL should have aptly tagged this piece: “The great Nigerian hustle”. But true to be told, it is not a Hardball original. It is a timeless line lifted from Time magazine. It was way back in 1994 in an edition reviewing the USA ’94 World Cup tournament.

Time had spotlighted football super-powers – Brazil, Argentina, Italy, among others.

In highlighting Nigeria the reigning African champions, the journal described the Super Eagles’ quest for the World trophy in that memorable but unflattering line, “The great Nigerian hustle.”

Scalding as that line was, you couldn’t fault it. Then as it has remained now (save for few months of sanity), Nigeria’s football, especially its administration, was one great hustle. It was a game of chance, hit or miss. It was devoid of much thought. Players were like wild berries which were dispersed around the world by some ‘explosive mechanism’. At the advent of every tournament, they were gathered, not unlike wild fruits and assembled for contest.

More troubling, however, to the likes of Time magazine was that Nigeria would hope to win tournaments against teams and countries which had prepared methodically.

This immortal line comes to mind again

•Ambode

of taking Lagos to the next level. Ambode, a methodical, no-frills persona, is now poised to make us forget the episode of the turncoat campaigns. The courts have their uses.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

FIFA: OUK for president; ha, ha, ha! as a result of the current clamour by some acolytes of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) for him to join the race for the presidency of the world soccer ruling body – FIFA. OUK was a two-term governor of Abia State, a contractor, businessman and football enthusiast.

But most remarkably, OUK represents the quintessence of “the great Nigerian hustle”. We speak of that devil-may-care derring-do; that knack to seek to get results anyhow; that desultory, immethodical mode to seek to solve algebraic problems by bypassing equations and formulas.

How else would one assess the ongoing noisy insistence on OUK vying for FIFA presidency if not an enactment of the good old hustle? FIFA and its current president, Mr. Sepp Blatter, is currently wracked by serious allegations of fraudulent activities. The world body is going through a phase of selfcleansing; the great football house is attempting a rebirth. How then does OUK come into this picture if not to woo opprobrium upon Nigeria?

Is OUK remotely qualified for this job?

Not by any chance. As governor of a wretched state in Nigeria, he shoveled state funds

into running a football club (Enyimba FC of Aba) with the sole aim of garnering cheap popularity and massaging an excessively large ego.

Thus this man spent millions of dollars over eight years to bankroll a football club in a state that lacked basic sporting facilities; a state that lacked basic existential amenities; that was scourged by poverty. He would misplace priorities by committing scarce funds to playing football for eight years.

Today, some fellas are taking a disgraceful Nigerian joke all the way to the world stage in Switzerland. An awkward league of supporters including former President Ibrahim Babangida, octogenarian politician, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, tarred CAF executive, Amos Adamu, former footballer, John Fashanu and sports promoter, Felix Awogu.

Taking the joke even farther, one impetuous supporter said he is the “crazy outsider” FIFA needs. Well, before any ‘crazy’ move is made, let it not be neglected that OUK has a small issue with the anti-graft agency, EFCC. FIFA won’t need that now.

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