The Nation December 03, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

President’s sack notice coming

NEWS

Page 4

•Senators fix Dec. 16

News DSS raids APC data centre again P5 Sports Minister pays Coach Keshi N14m P24 Business Naira’s fate won’t affect cement P53

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3051 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola addressing the audience during the handing over of firemen apparels and 34 new fire trucks built for the state government by W.S Darley of United States to the Fire Service at the State Fire Service Headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•INSIDE: POWER GENERATION DROPS TO 3,351MW P5 STALLION ON TOP 100 BUSINESSES LIST P53

Soyinka to Jonathan: you’re Nebuchadnezzar •SEE ALSO PAGES 2&3

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IG Abba ‘brutish’ Presidency: Prof. playing the ostrich By Joseph Jibueze

IGERIANS have been cast into a furnace, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka said yesterday. With a biblical allusion, the playwright stated his opinion on the state of the nation, likening President Goodluck Jonathan to the Babylonian autocrat, King Nebuchadnezzar. He said Nigerians had been cast into a “furnace” in the manner of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Unfortunately for the citizens, no divine miracle appears to be at hand for a last-minute rescue, Soyinka said. The three biblical characters, in the book of Daniel, were cast into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to an image made by the despotic king, but they were miraculousContinued on page 4

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

•Prof. Soyinka...yesterday

If shame belongs anywhere, it belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish adherence to conspiratorial, illegal and unconstitutional instructions – to undermine a democratic structure, and one – to make matters worse – convoked in response to an emergency of dire public concern

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33 policemen, six soldiers, 20 insurgents die in Yobe battle Poly registrar, family among victims

•SEE Scores killed in Konduga PAGE 4

•LIFE P13 •POLITICS P15 •SPORTS P24 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •FOREIGN P58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

The reign of impunity Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle) Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa (right), Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Abimbola Ashiru (left), Chairman, Apple and Pears, Habib Jaafar (2nd right) and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo (2nd left) at the inauguration of the Apple and Pears Refined Edible Oil and Soya Meal factory on the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expresway, Ogun State...yesterday.

After a criticical appraisal of the unfolding developments in the country, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka says the solution to the country’s problems will come at a price. He spoke yesterday at a press conference at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos. Below is the full text of his speech:

• L-R: Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI) Rasheed Ola Oluwa, Group Managing Director Lafarge Nigeria Ltd. Guillaume Roux, Chief Oladipo Olusegun Oshunkeye and Executive Director, Small Scale Entreprenue Mr. Waheed Olagunju at the Presidential Dinner with the Top 100 Companies in Nigeria at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa; PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN. Abuja.

•From left: Manager, Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR), Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Tola Oduyemi; Head of Human Resource Operations, Etisalat Nigeria, Yemi Faseun; Senior Project Officer, Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), Tonne Saheed; Director, Schools Administration Education District 3, Dr Yinka Ayandele and Principal, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior Secondary School, Ahmed Ajiboye during the 12th edition of the Etisalat Career Counseling Initiative in Lagos... at the weekend. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

•Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of DDB (left), Ikechi Odigbo, President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, President, Advertising Association of Ghana, Mr Joel Nattey, Vice President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Kayode Oluwasona at the 2014 Laif Awards in Lagos.

SHALL not insist that the historic/ biblical figure of Nebuchadnezzar is uniquely apt for the pivotal figure of the ‘democratic’ history in the making at this moment – for one thing, Nebu was a nation builder and a warrior. One could argue even more convincingly for the figure of Balthazar, his successor, or indeed Emperor Nero as reference point – you all remember him – the emperor who took to fiddling while Rome was burning. However you should easily recall why I opted for King Nebu –the figure that currently sits on the top of our political pile himself evoked it, albeit in a context that virtuously disclaimed any similarities, even tendencies. Perhaps he meant it at the time when he claimed: ‘I am no Nebuchadnezzar’. Perhaps not. One judges leaders on acts however, not pronouncements, which are often as reliable as electoral promises. King Nebu remains relevant – and not only for leadership. We, the citizens, are beginning to feel the heat. Without any claims to prophecy – unlike Shadrach and company, we wake up each morning to a sensation that we have been cast in the furnace together with those who at least committed the crime of dissent or criticism. No divine miracle appears to be at hand for a last-minute rescue. In desperation, one is reduced to hoping that the evocation of his own biblical reference point will resonate somewhere in the mind of one who is so ostentatiously humble and pious, kneels at the feet of a priest who could easily be mistaken for an office worker, and cultivate the high and holy company of acknowledged spokesmen of God. So, here goes. Gentlemen of the press, let’s not beat around the bush: the line has been drawn. The people must decide – whether to submit or resist. We may be no-count plebeians in the sight of the new-born patricians of Aso Rock and their apologists but – must we revert to the Abacharian status of glorified slaves? Of course, it is up to any people to decide. The praetorian guards have been let loose – to teach the rabble their place. The recent choice of a new leader for the Guard was clearly no accident, and this hitherto unknown enforcer, on Suleiman Abba, has wasted no time in inaugurating a season of brutish power. When a people’s elected emissaries are disenfranchised, cast out like vagrants and resort to scaling fences to engage in their designated functions, the people get the message. However, the choice is always there, and each choice comes at a cost. It is either we pay now, or pay later. The latest action of the supposed guardians of the law against the nation’s lawgivers is an unambiguous declaration of war against the people. I am glad that a commentator has referred to it as an attempted coup-de-tat. And it nearly worked. Legislators are not elected for their

athletic powers, and such endeavours should not be demanded of them. There are even presidents and prime ministers who were elected despite physical handicaps. The brain is where it matters, the vision and commitment to service. Our legislators however have been made to perform over and beyond the call of the Olympics. I don’t understand why some media have described their action as a show of shame – this is a very careless, easily misapplied designation. The act of scaling gates and walls to fulfill their duty by the people must be set down as their finest hour. They must be applauded, not derided. If shame belongs anywhere, it belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish adherence to conspiratorial, illegal, and unconstitutional instructions – to undermine a democratic structure, and one – to make matters worse – convoked in response to an emergency of dire public concern. What sticks to this policeman is worse than shame, it is infamy. Such a public servant deserves to be publicly pilloried, tried and meted a punishment that is appropriate to treasonable acts, if only to serve as a deterrent to others in positions of responsibility under the law. To demand less is to reduce ourselves below the status free citizens of a free nation. It means we endorse violence against our representatives that we are content to submit ourselves to the jackboots of named forced. It is to annunciate the era of the brute as the current fundamental modality of governance. For this latest outrage, one in an escalating series of impunity, the buck stops yet again at the presidency, and that incumbent, Goddluck Ebele Jonathan, continues to surprise us in ways that very few could have conjectured. Peaking at his own personalized example where he set the law of simply arithmetic on its head – I refer to the split in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and his ‘formal’ recognition of the minority will in a straightforward, peer election – democracy has been rendered meaningless where it should be most fervent exemplified. Nothing is more unworthy of leadership than to degrade a system by which one attains fulfillment, and this is what the nation has witnessed time and time again in various parts of the nation, the recent affront against the legislative chamber being only the most blatant and unconscionable. We know of course that this is not the first of its kind in the nation’s history, but precedents are not binding. Each leader selects his or her own model for emulation or avoidance, and that choice is certain indication of the true nature of such a leader, and a clue to the kind of conduct that a people can expect of him. It is a warning. His choices for the occupancy of crucial public positions – such as the protective arm of the nation-consti-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

•President Jonathan

• Prof Soyinka...yesterday

• IGP Abba

Fed Govt has given up on Chibok girls, says Soyinka

HE Federal Government appears to have given up on finding the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, pupils who were abducted by the Boko Haram sect on April 15, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka said yesterday. Speaking during a question and answer session at a media briefing in Lagos, Soyinka said: “I believe that the government has already given up on the Chibok girls. Nothing would make me happier than to find that I’m wrong; that maybe, there is, as we speak now, a covert operation to rescue them. That will make me immensely delighted. It will save many of us agonising days and nights. “We cannot as human beings allow ourselves to forget the stain on our being from the fact that we sent these children on errand. We sent them to that school on an errand and they never came back. If I send my child on an errand, and that child does not return, I know I cannot have peace of mind for the rest of my life. And these are our children. We sent them on an errand. “The government may forget, but we the people, must never allow ourselves to forget. And I sincerely hope that we’re wrong, that even as I speak here, precise actions are taking place to retrieve, recover those girls and cure them of the trauma they must be undergoing.” Soyinka faulted America’s reported refusal to give Nigeria Cobra Helicopters to help fight insurgency. According to him, the United States should stop making a mockery of the country by claiming to have provided relief materials. “That is not the issue at this critical moment of Nigeria,” Soyinka said. He added: “I want to appeal to the Americans to please stop laughing at us. Just stop ridiculing this nation. The government claims, according to a report, that it asked for Cobra helicopters. You and I, we’re just as concerned with the wellbeing of humanity, especially our people. “We believe people should have shelter, should have at least two meals a day, should not be displaced. But when the government of Jonathan asks for little weapons to destroy the enemy – let’s be very brutal about this – we’re in a situation of destroy or be destroyed, this is evident by now – so when they ask for weapons even for self-defence, I think the Americans should not boast that what they have done is to supply assistance to vulnerable and conflict-affected households, that they have contributed so many million dollars to health, water, and sanitary services, that they have contributed to the delivery of emergency relief supplies, protection activities

for women and children – all very laudable. Nobody is denying that – USAid food for peace, protection activities in affected areas, humanitarian assistance in neighbouring Chad, Niger, educational needs for boys and girls, etcetera. “These are necessities. I’m not underrating or belittling them. But this is not quite the response I expect to a situation of war. This nation is at war, and this nation is asking for certain forms of assistance. “If we cannot ourselves supply to vulnerable and conflict-affected households health, water and sanitary services, we don’t deserve to exist as a nation. “So, please, United States of America, could you please overlook the arithmetical deficiency of governance and stop giving an excuse to this government and the military for failing to protect us. “We tried to create, I hope, a situation where we do not have conflictaffected households, where we do not need emergency relief supplies; we want to stop the displacement of our humanity, etcetera. So, please just say that you will not supply arms to Nigeria and leave it at that.” Soyinka said Nigeria is fighting a just war against terror, which even the Pope acknowledged. On public officers who abuse their powers, Soyinka said: “We’ve seen it all before, and we know what became of those who presumed that they were the state when, in fact, they were no more than public servants.” Soyinka also condemned the action of the seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in Ekiti State who allegedly impeached their Speaker without forming a quorum. He said: “People are following their leaders. Arithmetic has been turned over on its head, even simple arithmetic which non-arithmetical individuals like myself have retained from kindergarten school; this place where we’re taught that three is superior to two if they’re the same material; that 17 is more than 16, and that 19 is more than seven. This is what we learnt in school. But it would seem as if the PDP, the ruling party, does not believe in it. “Perhaps, this is what bothers the Americans when they say they don’t trust their weaponry in the hands of Nigerian operators. They feel that maybe when they (Nigerians) want to calculate the distance where the rocket should travel, they might get their figures mixed up. Maybe that’s why they refuse to sell arms to Nigeria.”

tutes an even more immediate and constant public alert. The signals are ominous – for and beyond 2015. These, to state the obvious, are not ordinary times. The menace of Boko Haram hangs over the corporate entity called a nation and over individual, citizen or mere bird of passage. The cliché ‘heating up the polity’ may grate the ear-drums with its banality but I think that we have a right to demand of a leader not to stoke up the furnace in which events have cast its citizens. Every day records a new violation of our humanity. The atrocious targeting of the great mosque of Kano has rendered any lingering doubt of impending national imposition an invitation for collective suicide, preferably through piecemeal dismemberment. The theories of cause and effect can wait, or continue – it does not matter – the omniscient in such matters continue to pontificate, some of them blithely forgetting that they indeed contributed to policies that landed us in this brutal cleft. What does matter is an awareness that the nation is only part of a global eruption of fundamentalist delusions whose staple diet consists of destabilization and dehumanization – all summed up as an ideology of hate for the different. For the defiant. This should form the basis of understand-

count of his uniform, can stop an elected representative of a people, in this case a governor, from going about his legitimate duties or exercising his basic, elementary right as a citizen – as happened during the recent Ekiti elections – we do not need to guess what happens in a situation that calls for general mobilization, on which, needless to say, the good will and trust of all arms of governance depend in a crisis. This of course requires the capacity for forward thinking. The shambles that punctuated a presidential campaign visit at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State a few days ago merely underline the total alienation of President Jonathan from the reality that has engulfed the nation. Yes, political campaigns are part and parcel of the bloodline of the democratic process. We know that they never stop. However, that a national leader should go campaigning on the platform of ethnic support at a time when priorities dictate a united national engagement for survival, is a grotesque undertaking that was tragically rebuked in the massacre of worshippers and desecration of the Kano mosques, almost simultaneously with alienated gathering of selected crowned heads and journeymen at the OAU campus, a macabre echo of Balthazar’s feast.

ing by which an implacable enemy is confronted. And it should form the basis of leadership awareness. It should have led, by now, to national mobilization on an unprecedented scale, one that may even impinge, however temporarily, on those liberties that you and I consider non-negotiable in our rights as citizens. However, imagine, just imagine that today’s leadership were of such a cast of mind, one that makes demands of sacrifice from the citizens. The response would be outright rejection. And deservedly so, because any such motion would be distrusted. It would be seen as an act of insincerity, an opportunity to acquire even more powers for citizen enslavement. This is the price you pay for encroaching on the precincts and entitlement of others with whom you share a structure of authority. You lose the trust of the other legs of –in this case – a governance tripod. Every act, especially in abnormal circumstances, would be viewed with extreme suspicion, and the gates, open wide, without any strenuous effort on its part, to the triumphal progression of the enemy. That is the collateral damage that the abuse of power attracts to whatever should be a collaborative undertaking. Where governance has degenerated to such a level that any individual, on ac-

By Joseph Jibueze

Long before Nyanya, long before Chibok, long before the mildest of the now innumerable violations of our basic right to exist as free citizens, the march of a nation towards implosion has dominated the landscape, but an obsession the pettiness of power has obscured remedial vision and thus, the creative options constantly open to any prescient leadership. If Somalia was too far away as instruction, then surely Mali remains sufficiently close warning. With the invasion of Mali by al Qaeda and its clones and surrogates, we moved from mere portents, from mere distant rumblings, to the wake-up knock right against our gates- and yet leadership slumber remained unbroken. Mali was retrieved, a breathing space created, but it would appear that this was when complacency took over and snoring attained its highest pitch. The few waking moments have been spent on sterile, tawdry intrigues and consolidation on the marshes and quick sands of power. That failure in the aggressive destablisation of the enemy is the cross that the nation bears today- but we must concede that this gross dereliction applies not only to Nigeria but to her neighbours- indeed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - and the collective failure for concerted action.

Leadership counts however, and it was Nigeria that took the lead in that critical and timely mission that was spearheaded by France. The lesson of Mali was completely lost on complacent leadership however, leaving time and space for alien invaders to make common causes with the internal, unleashing destruction at will and dancing around a nation whose armed forces have acquitted themselves creditably on foreign missions. The architect of that initial policy of containment was the recently deceased Gbenga Ashiru, then a Foreign Minister, unceremoniously removed for the ends of premature politicking, before the logical development of that initiative. Now of course, the very manipulators of Ashiru’s removal are falling over one another to heap praise on the quality of his achievements of office, skirting – who can blame them!- the tawdry reasons for his removal from office. Petty, retaliatory calculations that placed the interests of the nation, the very security of its people in acute jeopardy from unfinished business. Ashiru’s presence in that position had become a fly in the palm wine of Balthasar’s Feast. Caution: no one dares predict that the plight of Nigerians would be any rosier had his ideas been pursued till the very end. The point is simply this – a process was interrupted, truncated without thought, petty politicking being made to override substance. I wrote Ashiru to commiserate with him and to bolster his morale. He replied in only two words: USE AND DUMP! Defend yourselves! This is what the perceptive have preached and groups like the so-called junior Task Force translated into action, the real heroes of the defence of the tattered “Nigerian sovereignty”, Among them, a hitherto unknown, a woman, has become one of the symbols of resistance, an ordinary woman turned extraordinary, one of the hunters who routed the diabolical hordes who appear to rout our military even before their appearance. Does it sound today as whimsical as it may have sounded to some when l urged the organisation of willing survivors of Boko Haram into local defence corps, their women especially, proposed that they be kitted out fully, and formally inducted as auxiliaries. Ladi, it would appear, needed no such urging from any direction. It was obvious to her, and others like her that it was futile to await salvation from a centre that is so selfobsessed with power that it no longer sees even the danger to its very existence. A people must defend itself. These are no ordinary times, and we have moved beyond orthodox solution. “Where two of three are gathered together…” I shall complete those words my own way- “they must anticipate, organize, obtaining or improvising the wherewithal as circumstances dictate. Fascism is the eternal enemy of freedom, and it comes both in internal and external forms. Today, it would be premature to claim that Suleiman Abba and the many incarnations of Shekau are cut from the same mould but, remember, we have been here before. Who can forget Sunday Adewusi, the original Robo-Cop! And so, consider this; the ripples from the fascistic eruption of a Suleiman Abba may actually result in far greater casualties and inhuman degradation of society than those so far recorded even at the hands of Shekarau and his cohorts. That is the real and present danger. This is why the call for vigilance is real and urgent, and a need to clip the wings of predatory bird before it devours society, they call becomes paramount. Beset by external and internal threat to liberty and dignity, abandoned internally by a do-it-yourself government on the one hand, and externally by (claimed) impediments from cynical allies – as we are made to believe in the media- let no one cry anarchy when the people respond to that historic cry of liberation, to which one leader after another – the most recent being the Emir of Kano and the Ulama leader, Yahaha Jingir – have felt moved to urge upon their people: “Citizens Defend yourselves!”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); with Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Top 100 businesses in Nigeria, at a dinner in Abuja… on Monday.

Senate to get Jonathan’s impeachment notice Dec 16

HE impeachment plan against President Goodluck Jonathan will be tabled on the floor of the Senate on December 16, a senator said yesterday. Senator Alkali Jajere (Yobe South) spoke after the Senate adjourned plenary till December 16 to enable lawmakers attend the primaries of their political parties. The senators backing the plan have listed 14 “impeachable offences” against the President. But Senator Ayogu Eze said yesterday that Jajere was “daydreaming” and that the impeachment plan would not see the light of day. Senator Sahaabi Yau ( Zamfara North) warned that the Senate could ill-afford the distraction associated with impeachment. Jajere, one of the senators to have endorsed the impeachment notice, is number four on the list of 63 senators supporting the plan. He said: “I have signed the impeachment notice because there are impeachable offences

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

against President Jonathan. “You are my colleagues and being a journalist who practised journalism for 27 years, I know these things are not new. “ In 2011, this Senate approved N240billion as subsidy fund but the same government spent N1.7trn, which is a clear breach of the constitution, clear breach of the Appropriation Act. “The business of government is to curtail excesses but this government has shown that it is incurably deficient in handling the situations in this country. “That government cannot say it wants to continue. The President should have even resigned without waiting for him to be impeached. “The duty of the legislature is to act as a check and balance because it is the most important symbol of democracy. “If you don’t have the legislature, you don’t have democracy because every other arm of government exists even when there is no democracy. It is only the legislature that makes a democ-

racy, a government. “As at last week, 63 of us had signed up for the impeachment. My signature was the fourth but I can confirm to you that we have 63 signatures but after the session today (yesterday), two people called me and told me that they want to sign. “One of them is an APC senator who was away campaigning because he is contesting the governorship election. The other is a PDP senator. “The impeachment issue is not just coming now. It is also a process that started early in the year but there was a hiccup but today, there are issues that have triggered the National Assembly to do what it should do. “No matter what the time, it is a three-legged issue. The National Assembly will now have to initiate the process and then, submit that process to the judiciary. “The judiciary will form a committee through the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN); the National Assembly will carry out the verification of the committee and conclude the remaining

process. “The National Assembly will soon conclude our own side and submit the notice to the judiciary. “As of today, the required signatures to initiate the impeachment notice had been obtained. ”Senate has adjourned to the 16th. By that date, the impeachment notice will be presented on the floor of the senate. “Before the end of today, I can assure you that the list will swell up to 70. “It is on the impeachment day that we need two-third of the members to carry out the exercise, but we need only one-third, which we already have, to initiate the process. “It is just a matter of one day sitting. We will just push it before the two chambers. But Ayogu Eze insisted that there was no impeachment notice in the Senate. The Enugu North lawmaker noted that impeachment of Jonathan was only in the imagination of those who were spreading the story. Continued on page 57

Yobe police spokesman feared killed in attack

HERE are conflicting reports as to the exact casualty figure of the Damaturu attack on Monday morning. A security source said the police PPRO,Nansel Chagwang, was among the officers killed. Also, Arab Umar, the registrar of the Yobe State Polytechnic, Gaidam and two of his male sons were killed by

•Poly registrar, family among victims From Duku Joel, Damaturu

the insurgents as they tried to escape to Potiskum in the heat of the attack. Some credible security sources maintained that the insurgents suffered heavy casualties but could not give a figure. But a source at the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospi-

tal told our correspondent that over 30 bodies of Boko Haram insurgents, 35 policemen, and six soldiers were brought to the mortuary. Bodies littered Damaturu, especially on Gujba road, the theatre of the attack. "Several civilians were also killed....I wish you can make it to the mortuary to see things

for yourself," he said. It was gathered that private residential buildings were not affected in the attack. People have been directed to remain indoors after the state government imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the town. Some of the insurgents were caught by residents early yesterday as they tried to escape the town, eyewitnesses said.

PHOTO: NAN

33 policemen, six soldiers, 20 insurgents die in Yobe battle •Troops kill 70 Boko Haram men in Konduga •Senate alarmed

LL was quiet yesterday in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, where troops repelled a major Boko Haram advancement. Thirty-three policemen and six soldiers died in the battle, it emerged yesterday. The sect members invaded the town from Gujba in the southeast axis at dawn, shooting and bombing their way up to the Government House where they faced a tough resistance from troops. But they hit the Police Mobile station in the town. Women suicide bombers simultaneously struck in a market in Maiduguri, the neighbouring Borno State capital. Damaturu is now under a 24hour curfew declared by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who was in Abuja on an official assignment at the time of the attack. Medical sources said bodies of 33 policemen, six soldiers and 20 members of Boko Haram were deposited at the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu. It was also gathered that 16 people died in the suicide attack in Maiduguri. The deaths from Monday’s attacks bring the toll to at least 245 people reported killed in a week of increasing violence in the North. Also yesterday, no fewer than 70 of Boko Haram fighters were killed as they attempted to take another Borno town, Konduga, according to a security source. Troops from 7 Division of the Army stopped the sect’s ad-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu, Abuja and Duku Joel, Damaturu

vance. The sect has been trying to take Konduga, 60 kilometres from Maiduguri, which they hope to use as a springboard to taking the Borno State capital. A leader of the Civilian JTF, the group of residents assisting the miliatry to fight the insurgents, said their men joined with the troops to repel the insurgents in a battle between Monday night and yesterday morning. He told reporters: ”Nobody can tell you the exact number of the insurgents killed but we have killed many of them while others escaped with bullet wounds. “Scores of the insurgents met their waterloo when they attempted to attack Konduga town. They came in Hilux vehicles and motorcycles.” In Abuja, Senate President David Mark raised the alarm over Monday’s failed attempt by Boko Haram to take over the Yobe State Government House. Mark spoke when Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) raised the issue of the daring attempt by Boko Haram insurgents. He described as “a new dimension” the attempt by the insurgents to capture the Government House. He said: “Ahmed, please you know I agreed with you that you will not raise the matter to a level where it will become controContinued on page 57

Jonathan is Nigeria’s Nebuchadnezzar, says Soyinka Nobel laureate playing the ostrich, says Presidency

Continued from page 1

ly rescued. Soyinka, at a media briefing at the Freedom Park in Lagos, with the theme: “King Neb-

uchadnezzar – the reign of impunity”, said Jonathan’s administration had become known for lawlessness. “You should easily recall why I opted for King Nebu – the figure that currently sits on the top of our political pile himself evoked it, albeit in a context that virtuously disclaimed any similarities, even tendencies. “Perhaps he meant it at the time when he claimed: ‘I am not Nebuchadnezzar’. Perhaps not. One judges leaders on acts, however, not pronouncements, which are often as reliable as electoral promises. “King Nebu remains relevant – and not only for leadership. We, the citizens, are beginning to feel the heat. We wake up each morning to a sensation that we have been cast into the furnace together with those who at least committed the crime of dissent

ONATHAN’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described Prof. Wole Soyinka’s allegations as ”sad and unfortunate”. The Presidency said it had observed that the close relationship between Soyinka and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has beclouded Soyinka’s or criticism,” he said House of Representatives members have been pilloried for scaling the National Assembly’s fence on November 20 when the police shut the gate and teargassed them. Soyinka said it was wrong for the media to describe their action as a “show of shame”. It was rather the lawmakers’ “finest moment”, he said. In his view, the police action is like a declaration of war on Nigerians. He criticised Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba for exercising what he called “brutish power”. According to the dramatist, it

contributions to national discourse. “Our eminent professor also sadly plays the ostrich as he failed to reprimand Governor Amaechi, who is the ‘national champion of impunity and official recklessness’. “The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan prides itself as the most liberal, keeping faith with adherence to rule

is left for Nigerians to either resist such abuse of power or accept it. “The people must decide – whether to submit or resist. We may be no-count plebeians in the sight of the new-born patricians of Aso Rock and their apologists, but must we revert to the Abacharian status of glorified slaves? Of course it is up to any people to decide,” Soyinka said. He described security agencies as “praetorian guards” let loose “to teach the rabble their place”. “The recent choice of a new leader for the Guard was clearly no accident, and this hitherto unknown enforcer, one Sule-

of law and tolerance,” Okupe added. He said Soyinka chose to ignore what he termed the immoral, indefensible and unlawful attitude of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal after his defection. He accused Soyinka of maligning Inspector General of Police Abba who, he said, only discharged his lawful duties.

iman Abba, has wasted no time in inaugurating a season of brutish power. “When a people’s elected emissaries are disenfranchised, cast out like vagrants and resort to scaling fences to engage in their designated functions, the people get the message. “However, the choice is always there, and each choice comes at a cost. It is either we pay now, or pay later. “This latest action of the supposed guardians of the law against the nation’s lawgivers is an unambiguous declaration of war against the people,” Soyinka said.

The frontline activist said the legislators were not elected for their athletic prowess, but they were made to perform over and above the call of the Olympics, which, to him, deserves praise. “I don’t understand why some media have described their action as a show of shame – this is a very careless, easily misapplied designation. “The act of scaling gates and walls to fulfill their duty by the people must be set down as their finest hour. They must be applauded, not derided. “If shame belongs anywhere, it belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish ad-

herence to conspiratorial, illegal, and unconstitutional instructions – to undermine a democratic structure, and one – to make matters worse – convoked in response to an emergency of dire public concern,” Soyinka said what sticks to Abba is worse than shame. According to him, it is infamy. Such a public servant, Soyinke said, deserves to be pilloried, tried and meted a punishment that is appropriate to treasonable acts, if only to serve as a deterrent to others in positions of responsibility under the law. “To demand less is to reduce ourselves below the status of free citizens of a free nation. It means we endorse violence against our representatives, that we are content to submit ourselves to the jackboots of naked force,” he said. Continued on page 57

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS Judge withdraws from suit against Tambuwal

Power supply drops to 3,351 megawatts

OWER supply from Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has dropped to 3,351 megawatts (MW), according to statistics from the Ministry of Power. The ministry said on its website yesterday that the statistics were derived from power generation and transmission as at November 30. This development came as the nation’s power generation has 28 days to accomplish its target of 5,000MW for the year. According to the data, 3,413.57MW was generated and the Transmission Company of Nigeria

•NERC predicts improvement next year From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

(TCN) evacuated 3,351MW to the electricity distribution companies. But the TCN could not wheel 62.56MW to the distribution companies. The data also showed a slide in power generation with 3,750.73MW generated as at November 19 dropping to 3,413.57MW as at November 30. Also, the wheel capacity of the TCN dropped from 3,671.47MW to 3,351MW in the period under review.

While the evacuation gap of November 19 was 79MW, it reduced to 62.56MW in the latest statistics. Speaking with The Nation, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC’s) Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, attributed the shortage of power supply to inadequate gas supply. He added: “Secondly, our network has been largely dilapidated. The lines that carry power from wherever substations to where it steps down, have to be in good condition of service before 24/7

electricity.” Amadi assured that there would be improvement in power generation by next year, since more gas would be available for the companies to fire power plants. He explained that the distribution companies would also record improvement because they would have access to investment capital from the Central Bank’s N213 billion power sector intervention fund. “We are expecting by the end of this year, additional 270SCUF to generate about 400MW, which could give us 4,500MW or even 5,000MW by year end,” the NERC boss said.

DSS raids APC’s data centre again •’It’s lawless, provocative’

LL Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday that agents of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) last Monday, carried out a second raid on the party’s data centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Describing the action as “the height of lawlessness and an orchestrated provocation”, the party said the “agency must urgently be called to order.” Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said: ‘’The raid by over 40 armed DSS officers, despite a court order restraining the service from such action, shows that the DSS considers itself to be above the laws of the land, and this is totally condemnable. ‘’Even under a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) government that has nothing, but contempt for constitutional order, the lack of respect for a court order by an institution of state, such as the DSS has plumbed the depth of anomie, and shows that our democracy is in clear and present danger from anarchists.’’ The party said the 40 armed DSS officers, who came with trucks, shoved the security men

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja •Mr Olaposi Fayemi; Esther Enemuwe; Chika Onuchukwu; Ebun Ilori; Atuche Chinedu - detained workers of APC Data Centre- after they were released by DSS... yesterday.

at the building aside and broke into the storage facility, where they carted away over 30 bags filled with the APC membership registration forms. It said the raid came on the same day it challenged the DSS to make public its findings after the first raid that was widely condemned within and outside the country. The statement also reads: ‘’It is sensible to conclude that the DSS’ second raid was its own crude reaction to the challenge we posed to it. Apparently yet to find any evidence of PVC cloning as alleged by the DSS, it is now quite desperate to manufacture evidence to justify its raids. “Or how else does one explain the claim by the service that its ‘findings’ will shock Nigerians,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

orin, the state capital. The professor of literature, who likened himself to a pediatrician, added that everybody had learnt his mistake from the saga. His words: “And you will find out that since all of those years, there hasn’t been any such crisis. No vice chancellor has come to face the kind of crisis I faced, because everybody has learnt their mistakes. “So, it is good that it happened. But it is regrettable that lives have been stagnated because of that. But again, the reversal has healed the

MTN targets varsity dons

Reps shift resumption to Dec 16

even at a time it is still in search of evidence? Is this how self-respecting intelligence agencies conduct their operations? ‘’It is curious that an institution of state will continue to act like an enforcement arm of the ruling party by constantly harassing the opposition. It is strange that an organisation that should be deploying its best staff to gather useful intelligence that can help the nation to win the anti-terrorism war is instead engaging in terrorising the opposition. ‘’It is time to call the DSS to order, and to remind those at the helms of affairs that while they may be having a free rein today, they will one day rue their actions at this critical time in our nation’s history.” APC said it was particularly

alarming that the DSS carried out its raid despite the November 26 order by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yenusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, restraining the service from further sealing off the data centre or taking further steps in connection with the property. The party said the moment Nigerians could no longer seek redress in court, “just because the law enforcement agencies have elevated themselves above the law, the country can as well bid good goodbye to constitutional order.” It blamed the prevailing atmosphere of lawlessness on the culture of impunity under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, wondering whether that was the legacy the president wanted to leave after his tenure.

UNILORIN 49: Ex-VC regrets action ORMER Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Prof Shuaib AbdulRaheem has expressed regret for sacking 49 lecturers of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) during his tenure as the institution’s vice chancellor. The Supreme Court reinstated the sacked lecturers in 2009 eight years after their sack from the institution. Prof. AbdulRaheem, who is also a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, spoke with reporters in Il-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

USTICE Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court withdrew yesterday from a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Abiodun Akinlade, seeking to, among others, declare Aminu Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC) as illegal. The judge announced his withdrawal when the case was mentioned yesterday. He hinged his decision on the fact that Tambuwal had written the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, seeking the reassignment of the suit to a new judge. Tambuwal had, in his letter, alleged that Justice Chukwu was likely to be bias in view of his earlier decision in a case involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akinlade, a former APC member, who defected to the PDP, is in the suit seeking a judicial interpretation of an earlier judgment by Justice Chukwu, where he held that there is no division in the PDP. The suit is intended to justify the PDP’s contention that there was no division in the party and that Tambuwal ‘s defection was illegal and a breach of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. When the case was called yesterday, the judge, upon an intervention by a lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) - who is representing Tambuwal in some other cases, said he was aware of the letter from the Speaker. Magaji, who said he was in court for a separate suit, drew the judge’s attention to the letter by Tambuwal. The judge acknowledged the existence of the letter and said the best thing for him to do, since a party in the suit had queried the court’s integrity, was for him to return the case file to the chief judge. He consequently ordered that the case file be returned to the chief judge for re-assignment to another judge. Tambuwal, had in his letter, noted that Justice Chukwu delivered a judgment in 2013 in the case of PDP and 12 others versus Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and four others, where he reached some conclusions, which other judges of the court have interpreted to the effect that there was no division in the PDP.

TN has unveiled a “surprise package that is targeted at university dons, as part of its “Season of Surprises”. It is inspired from its advert running on the country’s television stations, where some old students appreciated their former lecturer with a surprise birthday party. The reality of the advert is set to be brought alive as MTN is calling on Nigerian students in higher institutions of learning to nominate any of their professors who deserve a pleasant surprise. In this initiative tagged: ‘Surprise your Professor’, University students within the country are expected to make their nominations by texting (Sender’s Name – Twitter handle School – Professor – Department) to 5005, free. After scrutiny and deliberations via laid down criteria, some of the nominated professors will be selected to receive a pleasant surprise from MTN.

wounds and I hope it will help to heal the wounds by stopping people to refer to that and make them to look at the positive things that came out of that disagreement. “The issue of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is a past event. But of course, because it affected human beings, it will continue to recur. You know it is only the negative mind that only focuses on the negative things. Human beings live and learn every day. We had cause to disagree with those gentlemen not because it was personal, it was in defence of the institution to which we had sworn

to uphold its integrity. “If along the line something happened and some people had to be sacrificed momentarily, that was not borne out of my personal animosity or anger at them. It was because that was what the regulations of the university showed me at the time. “But the law of the land reversed that. So, one minus one is zero; they got one, we got one. In any case, they are back at work and they are still doing well. In fact, they found a more peaceable conducive environment for themselves to live together with others.

VP, Senate president, Speaker residences ready next year

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed has promised to complete the official residences of the Vice President, Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which were under construction in Abuja. The minister, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, noted that lack of funds had delayed the projects. But he vowed to ensure its completion before the expiration of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. The three projects, which were valued at over N30 billion, were 30 per cent completed. According to information obtained yesterday, the official residences of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives would cost N24 billion, while that of the vice president was valued at N6 billion.

HE House of Representatives has extended its resumption by two weeks. The House was due to resume today from its recess from October 28. However, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in a statement yesterday, said the new resumption date is December 16. According to him, the postponement was necessitated by the political party activities leading to primaries to be conducted by all political parties during the period. It reads: “This is to notify members of The House of Representatives that the resumption of the House from recess earlier scheduled for 3rd December, 2014 has been postponed. “The House will now resume on Tuesday December16, 2014 at 10am. “The Leadership of the House of Representatives took note of the adjustment in the calendar of the political parties and took the decision for the postponement to allow members of the House participate in the primaries of their political parties”. In a related development, the caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House has washed its hands off a list purported to have the signatures of lawmakers rooting for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan. In a statement by the leader of the opposition in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday, the caucus described the list as “fake.” A list of over 200 lawmakers from the House, including principal officers of the House from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were published in some online platforms as those who had signed for Jonathan’s impeachment. But Gbajabiamila said the real list would be made public soon. The statement reads: “The general public is hereby advised to disregard a fake impeachment list published by some online publicists for obvious sinister intentions. “None of our APC members in the House of Representatives is party to the fake impeachment list. “The authentic impeachment list would be published in due course and we urge our constituents across the country to be so guided,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS PDP chairmanship: Tukur loses bid to return

APC presidential primary: Panel screens Buhari, Atiku, others

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun the screening of its presidential aspirants ahead of its December 10 primary. Those screened by the committee, headed by the former All Nigeria Peoples Party’s National Chairman, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, were Publisher of Leadership, Sam Nda-Isaiah; Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Onu, who addressed reporters before the screening, said the committee would put the party’s and the country’s constitution as well as the 2010 Electoral Act into consideration in arriving at its decision. He said any of the aspirants, who failed to confirm with the relevant section of

•Gen Buhari...yesterday.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

the party’s and the country’s constitution and the Electoral Act, would be disqualified from the race. The party chieftain said: “We will be doing something that is novel in this country, because we really want to effect change. We want to produce a candidate that will effect the change; a candidate that will be able to address the problems confronting our nation. “So, in screening our aspirants, we will attach much importance to the manifesto of the party. We will sensitise the aspirants on the urgent need of the areas of security, the economy, job creation, foreign policy and corruption. “We believe that those who will be successful in this exercise will now be presented to our national convention that will be coming in the next few

•Atiku... yesterday.

days and a candidate will emerge from there. “It is only those we deem qualified that will emerge successful at the end of the exercise. By tomorrow, we will present certificates to those who scaled through the exercise.” Onu explained that the committee would extract some commitment from the aspirants to accept the outcome of the convention and work in harmony with whoever emerged as the party’s candidate. His words: “All aspirants will commit themselves to adhere strictly to the manifesto of the party should they become candidate and eventually, by the will of God, become president-elect and President of Nigeria. We as a party are not happy with the way the nation has be governed in the last 16 years. “Nigerians want change;

the APC was formed to effect that change and we believe that whosoever becomes our candidate and wins to become president must abide by our manifesto so that Nigerians will know that really, there has been a change.” “The time has come for another party to be tried so that if it doesn’t do well, you can change it. We believe that if the APC comes on board, we will do well so that we can stay for a long time. I think this is something that all Nigerians must do for the good of our country. “The constitution stipulates the qualification for someone to stand for election and the party has its own qualification. If you don’t meet that of the party and of the nation, you will stand disqualified. “If the committee decides that any aspirant is not qualified, such an aspirant has the right to appeal to the National Working Committee.”

•Kwankwaso... yesterday.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Also, former vice president, who was screened at about 4.00pm, said when elected as the party candidate, he was prepared to implement the party’s manifesto, which he has collapsed into his policy document for the country. He dismissed speculations that the policy document, which he launched a few days ago, would likely conflict with the manifesto, which the party said all aspirant would sign an undertaking to implement. He said: “I don’t think that you have read the whole policy document. It was all based on the manifesto of the party and there is nothing there that contradicts the manifesto of the party.” Asked how prepared he was for the primaries, he said: “Is there anybody more prepared than I am? I have been on the campaign trail for almost two months now

and I have virtually visited all states of this country with only about three left. I am set to go”. Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who was the second person to be screened by the committee, expressed confidence that he would emerge the party’s flag-bearer. Kwankwaso was full of praises for the committee and the leadership of the party for deciding to subject the aspirants to a free and fair primary election. He noted that the primary election would strengthen the party. He added that many people have joined the APC because of his presidential aspiration, adding that “they know me and I know them and I believe that my candidacy as the APC ticket will strengthen the party during the election. At least, 50 per cent of members of the PDP will vote for me, if I am the candidate of the party.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

•Tukur

ORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bamanga Tukur has lost in his bid to return. A Federal High Court in Abuja held yesterday that the procedure he (Tukur) adopted in wanting to have the court to return him to office was strange and unknown to law. Tukur, as a defendant in a suit brought before the court via an originating summons by a party member, Aliyu Gurin, had filed a counterclaim, urging the court to, among others, void his resignation and sack his successor, Adamu Mu’azu.

•Okorocha... yesterday.

Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso confident of winning party’s ticket P

RESIDENTIAL aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed their readiness for the party’s primary on December 10. Former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari said his moral was very high ahead of the primary. He spoke just as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said he would implement the manifesto of the party to the letter when elected as president. Speaking with reporters at about 6.20pm after appearing before the presidential screening committee at the party’s national secretariat, Buhari said after going round the country to address delegates, he was convinced that he would emerge the party’s candidate for the election. Asked about his impression about the screening, the former leader said he was satisfied with the conduct of the screening, adding that he was asked about the security situation in the country, the economy and other sectors and how he intends to approach them when elected.

•Court faults ex-chairman’s suit

“We also have people who are not in any party who will cross over to the APC if I become the candidate and will support the party in all other elections and not just the presidential election. “So, you can see that with this level of mobilisation, I have no doubt in my mind that our party is being strengthened even now because so many people are crossing over into the party across the country. I will continue to mobilise so that at the end of the day, the APC can win at the centre and even at the state and other levels. “Agreement or no agreement, once there is free, fair and transparent election, I believe that the aspirants will join whoever wins the primary election to ensure the success of that candidate. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who also appeared before the committee, did not speak to reporters after his screening.

He hinged his requests on the grounds that Mu’azu’s appointment was inconsistent with the provision of Section 45(1) and (2) of the party’s constitution. Tukur argued that his resignation was not in accordance with party’s constitution, which required a 30-day preresignation notice. Tukur added that even if he submitted a letter of resignation on January 15, during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, the letter did not comply with Section 47(5) of the party’s constitution. The section requires that a 30-day prior notice of such resignation should be given to the NEC by him. But in a judgment yesterday, Justice Evoh Chukwu held that it was strange and unknown to law for a defendant in a case to maintain a position that supported the plaintiff and against fellow defendants.

•Nda-Isaiah...yesterday.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Nda-Isaiah: why I want to be president From Tony Akowe, Abuja

LL Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) presidential aspirant Chief Sam Nda-Isaiah has explained why he joined the race for the Presidential Villa. He said he wanted to change the course of the country’s history, pledging to be harsh on corruption. Nda-Isaiah spoke with reporters shortly after being screened by the APC presidential screening committee. He argued that the only way to fight corruption was to be harsh on the menace, adding that the chief fighter of corruption should be the president himself. He said the body language of the president alone was enough to fight corruption. His words: “From your body language, people will decide whether to be corrupt or not. If your idea is to suspend the CBN governor for raising alarm about corruption, are you now surprised that there is corruption in the land? “I want to be president to change the course of history of this country. I did not leave what I was doing, which I was enjoying, to come and get harassed simply because I want to feel good about it.” He added: “I don’t believe that a president should come and tell us that he paid salaries or build roads or build boreholes. If you look at the issues that have changed the course of history of nations in this world, you will realise that big ideas changed the course of their history. It is not just coming to sit down and follow the normal course of events. “I have always said that when we take over in this country, we intend to unite the country as quickly as possible. Not the kind of unity you hear slogan about on television. But doing deliberate things to unite this country.” The aspirant said to unite the people, there must be justice and fairness, adding that “all crimes must be punished; no matter how long it takes and no matter who commits the crimes.” According to him, “there are so many murder cases we are told have been closed. No. We have to start running this country properly.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS ‘Ondo PDP exco has not resigned’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE Ebenezer Alabi-led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State said yesterday that it has not resigned. A statement by the PDP Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka, said: “It has come to our notice that there is a rumour that the PDP State Executive in Ondo State under the chairmanship of Ebenezer Alabi has resigned. “This is not true and indeed a mischief calculated to embarrass and destroy the party. Therefore, we want to reiterate most emphatically that the executive is still in office and not contemplating to resign. “Indeed, there is no reason, compelling or otherwise, that will dictate that course of action either now or in the immediate future. “We continue to remain focus in our commitment to the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and also to reinforce internal democracy in the Ondo State chapter.”

Obanikoro seeks special status for Lagos By Precious Igbonwelundu

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Musiliu Obanikoro, has called for a special status for Lagos State. He spoke yesterday while declaring his intention to contest the governorship election at the National Stadium, Surulere. The former Minister of State for Defence praised Governor Raji Fashola for his administration’s projects but noted that most beneficiaries were the rich and affluent. He said: “There is nowhere in the world a mega city manages its affairs without other tiers of government. I will meet with the Federal Government and the National Assembly to give Lagos a special status. “Security is very important in Lagos; if we plan to achieve a 24-hour economy, we must have 24-hour security. “The challenges ahead will not come easy. It is going to be stiff and tough but we are going to have a new Lagos where there will be leadership academy for our children, who will take over from us. “Let me appreciate Governor Babatunde Fashola for how he handled the affairs of Lagos in the past eight years. But the major beneficiaries of his eight years are the rich and affluent. “It is time for us to spend money on roads in Animasaun, Shomolu, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, IbejuLekki where the masses are.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (third left); Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Head of Service Sunday Owoeye (left); Director, National Military Strategy, National Defence College, Course 23, Commodore Abdul Ganiy Olabisi (fourth left); Brig. Gen. Joel Unnigbe (fourth right); Commodore Micheal Okonkwo (third right); Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf (second right) and Captain Muktar Abdulai, when a team from the Defence College visited the Government House, Osogbo...yesterday.

67 Ekiti prison inmates rearrested •Fayose seeks officers’ sack

IXTY-SEVEN inmates who escaped from the Federal Prisons, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Sunday, have been rearrested. Scores of gunmen stormed the Ado-Ekiti Prisons, detonated a bomb and launched an attack that lasted 45 minutes. Governor Ayo Fayose told reporters that over 300 inmates escaped. Police spokesman Victor Babayemi, who briefed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, said “the very notorious ones facing murder and robbery charges” were among those rearrested. Babayemi said the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Niyi Adedipe, a.k.a. Apase, and the state chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), Bayo Aderiye, a.k.a. Ojugo, did not escape. The spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, led a patrol team to a “notorious spot”, where 10 of the escapees were arrested after what he called a “serious exchange of gunfire”. He said the escapees were picked up in various parts of the state, noting that efforts were still on to apprehend those at large. Those rearrested are to be charged with jailbreak. “The CP led a team on Monday night to some of the hideouts and there was an exchange of gunfire. We had an intelligence report on where they were hiding. “At that notorious spot, 10 of them were rearrested but no life was lost. But I want to add that investigation continues,” Babayemi said, adding:

APC accuses Fayose’s aide of falsehood

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused the Special Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, of deliberate falsehood over criminal activities in the state. The party, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, slammed Olayinka for twisting a police report on a live programme on the state television. Fayose’s aide linked the APC with the crime and described Charles Ojo Ovwie, who was accused of masterminding crimes in the past, as an ally of APC leaders. The APC maintained that Ovwie was Fayose’s supporter during his first stint in power, saying Olayinka’s claim was to cast APC as a crime sponsor. The party said if the purported police report displayed on television was authored by the police, then Olayinka has exposed his boss as the man who ordered Ovwie to commit crimes in Ekiti State before he was arrested. The APC spokesman said Fayose’s aide misfired in the handling of his media propaganda by not recognising that several people had the purported police report. “Paragraph Five of the purported report From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

“Operation is still ongoing, the DPOs are still bringing their reports and we have also asked the prison authorities to give us the actual number of the escapees. “Some of them said they ran for cover to escape being hit by bullets. Apase and Ojugo did not leave the prison. They were not among the notorious ones rearrested. “The attackers opened the cell doors and told them to escape. It was not a natural occurrence; some people are behind the attack. We are investigating it to determine if there was any complici-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

that succinctly indicted Fayose as Charles Ovwie’s ally and benefactor. “The report allegedly written by former Commissioner of Police Sabo Ibrahim Ringim, dated April 2, 2010, linked Fayose directly with Charles Ovwie. “In the paragraph, the report said: “During the first tenure of Ayodele Fayose, Ovwie was appointed into the local government system to assist Fayose to carry out some dirty and unprintable acts. “Fayose was not relating with him directly but through Goke Olatunji, his personal assistant.” The APC spokesman said if the report was truly authored by the police, then reasonable people should know who Ovwie is and who his sponsors are. “If there was no crime during the Fayemi administration but a sudden upsurge in crime now that Fayose has assumed office, it means that Fayemi was not a promoter of crime and the Fayose administration crimefriendly.” Olayinka insisted the jail break was targeted at the Fayose administration to discredit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

ty.” Fayose has called for the transfer of all officers of the prison for their alleged negligence and dereliction of duty. The governor, during a visit to the facility, was angry with the officials for allegedly allowing inmates access to telephones and other electronic gadgets. “The way and manner the bloody attack of Sunday night was successfully carried out without much resistance suggested connivance,” he said. Fayose wondered why the prison authorities failed to use the tower at the facility. The Commissioner of Police has expressed the

Force’s readiness to assist the prison in strengthening security around the premises. Lakanu said it was apparent that the combatant men and arms squad unit of the prisons could not alone manage the security situation at the facility. Lakanu said the escapee inmates, who were picked up in various towns, such as Ido-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti, were being detained at various police stations across the state. The attack has affected court cases involving inmates at the Magistrate’s Courts and High Courts in the Ado-Ekiti Judicial Division.

Ogun: PDP, INEC to recognise congresses By Joseph Jibueze

HE Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee from recognising or accepting as valid any primaries for next year’s election except those conducted with the Ad Hoc ward delegates list. Justice Okon Abang, who made the order, also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting as valid any such primaries or publishing any list other than the Ad Hoc Ward delegate list prepared by the Adebayo Dayo-led executive. The judge granted an exparte applicant by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, allowing them to serve the alleged contemnors with the motion on notice for committal outside Lagos. Justice Abang directed PDP and INEC to ensure that the primaries in Ogun State scheduled to hold on December 6, 7 and 8 are conducted only with the Ad Hoc Ward delegate list. The plaintiffs are alleging that the respondents had been attempting to remove them from office, despite two Federal High Court judgments affirming the legality of their positions. Justice Abang, on Monday, warned that he would not tolerate any disobedience of his orders by anybody. He said he would compel former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel to appear before him, if they fail to appear before him on December 15. Other alleged contemnors in the proceedings are the PDP, Dave Salako and INEC.

Aregbesola, INEC fault Omisore’s procedure of tendering documents

OUNSEL to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have disagreed with the procedure adopted by counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in tendering the ballot papers used at the August 9 governorship election. The defence counsel disagreed with Omisore and the PDP, who are challenging the re-election of Aregbesola be-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

fore the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led election petition tribunal. Based on the application of the petitioners, the tribunal issued a subpoena duces tecum (to produce documents) on the INEC to produce the original ballot papers used for the election and which INEC produced on Monday. At the resumed hearing yesterday, the petitioners’ counsel, Alex Izinyon,

sought to tender the ballot papers through “a forensic expert witness”, Pius Bakare, by asking him to open the sacks containing the ballot papers. But Aregbesola’s counsel Akin Olujinmi said the witness could not even look at the documents because he is not an INEC official. He said the INEC official who was directed to produce the document ought to be called to identify the document he had produced. Similar arguments were

canvassed by APC’s counsel Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and INEC counsel Ayotunde Ogunleye, who argued that the procedure of the petitioners was unknown in law. They argued that the petitioners’ counsel failed to use the subpoena duces tecum ad testificandum, to direct the INEC officials to produce the document and give evidence on them. The tribunal’s members intervened and asked respondents to allow the witness to look at them and tender

through him. However, another argument ensued when the respondent’s counsel insisted that if the witness would be allowed to tender them, the sacks containing the ballot papers must be opened to allow them see the contents. Sequel to the insistence, the tribunal intervened again and suggested that to avoid wasting time, the respondents should take the sacks as they were and raise any objection they have.

In objecting to the admissibility of the sacks of the ballot papers however, Olujinmi, Osinbajo and Ogunleye canvassed that if the documents are indeed ballot papers as claimed, the witness was not competent to tender them. They argued that the petition had never told the court that the witness was the maker of the documents, adding that since he was not the maker or the person in custody of the documents, he could not tender them.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES Ogun Speaker, deputy return •D1 Adeneye loses From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

GUN State House of Assembly Speaker, Prince Suraj Adekunmbi (Yewa North), his Deputy, Tola Banjo (Ijebu- Ode) and 11 others loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday returned unopposed in their constituencies. Adekunmbi, Banjo and others are to contest for the House of Assembly election in forthcoming general elections slated for next year. At the OGD/Asuji Hall where the party primaries was conducted for the Yewa North constituency, Adekunmbi, who represents the area polled 188 votes of the 189 expected vote to clinch the ticket. Adekunmbi was announced the winner by the returning officer, Kayode Sangolade. In Odogbolu constituency, Amosun’s Special Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs, Adebowale Ojuri, floored ace broadcaster and journalist, Dayo Adeneye (D1) to pick the ticket. In Ijebu- Ode state constituency, Banjo emerged the candidate. Other winners are Hon Ojodu Olayowola (Abeokuta North), Victor Fasanya ( Abeokuta South1), Israel Jolaosho (Ewekoro), Edunjobi Babatunde (Yewa South), Mafe Adeyinka (Sagamu1) and Samuel Solarin (Sagamu11). Also among the Amosun’s loyalists that were returned include Aina Akinpelu (Ado-Odo/Ota1), Akanbi Bankole (Ado Odo/Ota11), Kunle Oluomo (Ifo1) and Olusola Sonuga (Ikenne).

All Progressive Congress (APC) members at the Ibadan North Consituency II during House of Asembly Primary Election at Cultural Center Mokola Hill, Ibadan, Oyo State capital PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

N Edo State, the election was devoid of violence as the Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, who personally monitored the primaries vowed to arrest anyone found engaging in violence. Two persons who were reportedly found with live cartridges were arrested at Oregbeni quarters close to Western Boys High where the primaries for IkpobaOkha constituency was conducted. In Oredo East, Osagboivo Iyoha secured 93 votes to emerge the party’s candidate, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chris Okaeben won the primaries for Oredo West.

Winners emerge in Ondo

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Former State Commissioner for the Niger Delta Development Commission, Henry Okhuorobo won the Ikpoba-Okha ticket, former chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Crosby Eribo emerged candidate in Egor while Okunbor Nosa won in Orhionmwon North. Others who won were Festus Edughele (Esan South East) Justine Okolobo (Igueben) Gani Audu (Estako West 1) and Yakubu Gowon (Etsako West 11). Of all the incumbent APC lawmakers, three failed to secure the

party’s ticket for next year’s election. The lawmakers are Hon Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West), Hon Mike Ohio-Ezomon (Owan West) and Oloruntoba Bamidele (AkokoEdo 1). Hon Aghedo secured 140 votes and lost the ticket to Godwin Abienomon, who got 155 votes; Ohio-Ezomon came third by securing 52 votes. The winner, Ojo Afein got 155 votes. Emmanuel Agbaje defeated Bamidele with 120 votes. Lawmakers who won the tickets are Bright Osayande (Ovia North East 11) Elizabeth Ativie (Uhunmwode) Kabiru Adjoto

HE primaries in Sokoto state did not hold in Kebbe Local Government due to the disagreement on who succeeds House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from the Tambuwal/ Kebbe federal constituency. The battle was stiff between immediate past Chairman of Kebbe Local Government, Bala Kokane and current member and brother to the National Security Adviser, Abdulsamad Ibrahim Dasuki. Kokane, it was gathered after his resignation for the House of Representatives seat was resolved based on consensus to replace Speaker Tambawal while Dasuki should retain his membership in the state assembly. But Dasuki did not honour the consensus reached, insisting that he was gunning for the House of Representatives. It was further gathered that Dasuki skimmed to influence some stalwarts who turned against Kokane whose supporters vowed not to compromise.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

A source who refused to be mentioned said: “We are behind Kokane come rains come sunshine. It is the turn of Kebbe people. For the past 12 years, Tambawal has been producing both Senate and Representatives from the federal constituency. Now that Speaker Tambawal is vying for governorship in the state, we deem it right to replace him with somebody from Kebbe which has not produced a representative more than once since 1999,” he explained. A former Principal at the Federal Government College Sokoto now retired, Garba Bello Yabo was unanimously voted to fill in the only seat for Yabo. Speaking to reporters on field to monitor the exercise, chairman of Yabo local government, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Shamaki said: “we are most fortunate that the aspirant is a popular person who is desired by delegates to emerge unopposed.” In Bodinga North, the contest was

(Akoko-Edo 11) Folly Ogedengbe (Owan East) Sunday Osazemwinde (Ovia North East 1) and Deputy Speaker Victor Edoror (Esan Central). Election did not however, hold in Orhionmwon South. Youth Leader Osakpamwan Eriyo described the primaries as a good omen for the party ahead of the general elections. Chairman of Akugbe Venture, Tony Kabaka, said the APC had proven critics wrong that candidates would be imposed. He praised the leadership for providing a level playing field for popular candidates to emerge.

Delta holds peaceful primaries

Tambuwal’s replacement stalls primaries in Kebbe

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

HE primaries was hitch-free in Ondo State yesterday as delegates elected their candidates through an open ballot system. Delegates were screened by security operatives and electoral officers. The Akure Area Commander of the Akure metropolis, ACP Edward Ajogun, who moved around the voting centres expressed satisfaction on the security arrangement at various venues. He also praised members for comporting themselves with decorum. In Akure South Constituency 1, Wale Alake polled 73 votes, Festus Aregbesola had 87 votes while Kunle Omobomi scored 12 votes. Aregbesola was declared winner. In Akure South Constituency 11, Mr. Sunday Olajide was elected. In Ondo West 1,the Returning Officer, Titiloye Charles said Otunba Bola Fisayo Polled 101 votes against Awosika Olanrewaju 16 votes to become the candidate. Akintunde Folajimi polled 76 votes to beat Adewale Williams who scored 72 votes in Ondo West 11. In Idanre constituency, Smart Omatadowa won, while Omolafe Adetarami and Segun Lemo declared winners for Okitipupa 1 and 11 respectively. Other winners from Akoko Division are Akoko North East - Muyiwa Ogunyemi; Akoko Southwest 1 - Dr O. Kazeem; Akoko Southwest 11 Olufemi Felemu Gud;, Akoko Northwest 1 - Jamiu Sulaiman Maito and Akoko Northwest 11 - Musa Babatunde. Results from other remaining constituencies were being awaited as at press time. The State APC Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke who also monitored the exercise said the election was conducted peacefully in all the 26 constituencies. According to him, the presence of security personnel was to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Seven lawmakers get tickets in Edo

•Tambuwal

unopposed for Abubakar Magaji. Aminu Bala slugged it out with Tukur Bala to emerge victorious in Bodinga South.. However, with the exception of few local governments where consensus could not be reached, other aspirants had smooth sail. At Shinhiri ward in Tambuwal Local Government, Sule Hantsin Romo picked one of the two seats by consensus.

LECTIONS in the 29 constituencies in Delta State were peaceful. Although, reports had it that the exercise was still ongoing in some constituencies as at the time of filing the report, aspirants and delegates were said to have conducted themselves in an orderly manner in most places. The two constituencies of Isoko South were concluded by 2pm. While the incumbent of Isoko constituency 1, Chief Benjamin Okiemute, was returned as candidate unopposed, Ferguson Onwho won the ticket for constituency II. Speaking about his preparedness to face the real election into the state’s House of Assembly next year, Onwho said he was sure it would run in his favour because the people of his constituency had been yearning for change. According to him, “everybody is already tired of the man who is there right now, the people in the constituency are generally tired of the same thing and now the wind of change is blowing,” he said.

Politicians, others hail peaceful conduct of PDP primaries in Enugu

HERE has been jubilation across Enugu State following the successes recorded during last Saturday’s primaries which threw up 24 candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general elections. Leading political figures and observer groups in the state have continued to commend the state chapter of the party over the peaceful conduct of the primaries in the twenty four state constituencies. The pioneer chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, Chief C.OC Egumgbe, hailed the primaries as “very orderly, peaceful and successful” saying that “it was one of the finest of such exercises” he had ever witnessed in the state. He also said that he was satisfied that all constitutional

requirements were met. The Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF) hail the leadership of the party for the maturity and orderliness demonstrated by party members during the exercise. In a statement by its President, Nebechi Ugo, the group noted that the primaries went without any ugly incident in all the 17 local government areas, adding that it was remarkable that none of the results obtained from them was being disputed. The Centre for Leadership and Democracy Studies (CLDS), Enugu State said it observed that the primaries were conducted peacefully across the state and that ”all due constitutional processes and procedures were fully followed” by

the party officials who conducted the exercise. Results released by the State party secretariat indicated that 16 old members won the nod to contest for a second term while eight will be contesting for the first time. Among the old members seeking a return to the Assembly include the House leader, S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye, his deputy, John Ukuta as well as Hons. Iloabuchi Aniagu (Nkanu West), Edward Ubosi (Enugu East Urban), Joseph Agbo Ugwumba (Enugu East Rural), Emeka Ogbuabor (Isi-Uzo) and Nelson Uduji (Awgu South. Others are John-Bull Nwagu (Udi North), Mathias Ekweremadu (Aninri), Donatus Uzogbado (Oji River), Cecilia Ezeilo (Ezeagu), Lydia Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu (Nsukka West),

Chinedu Nwamba (Nsukka East), Mathew Ugwueze (Igbo-Eze South), Ikechukwu Ezeugwu (Udenu)n and Tony Ogidi (Igbo-Eze North II). The new entrants comprise Paul Nnajiofor (Nkanu East), Phillip Nnamani (Enugu North), Obinna Okenwa (Enugu South Urban), Mary Onyinye Ugwu (Enugu South Rural), Chukwuka Eneh (Udi South), James Akadu (Igbo-Etiti West), Ugo Ezeani (Igbo-Etiti East and Ethel Ugwuanyi (Igbo-Eze North I) The State party chairman, Chief Ikeje Asogwa thanked the members for the peaceful and orderly manner they conducted during the exercise and enjoined them to do the same during the other primaries slated for this weekend.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

Ajimobi, Mukthar, Alege condemn Ekiti impasse

Residents protest demolition by police

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Austin Alege, have condemned the spate of impeachment of speakers by minority lawmakers. They said it was a bad omen for the nation’s democracy. The personalities, who spoke at the 60th anniversary of the Ibadan Bar, frowned at the “impeachment” of the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, by minor-

ity members. Justice Mukhtar, who was represented by Justice Ogwuta Nwali, described the development as an affront on the constitution. Alege decried police invasion of the National Assembly and the locking out of the members of the House of Representatives. He said such an act was an unnecessary interference in the activities of the legislature. The NBA President took a swipe at the lawmakers for scaling the fence. Ajimobi said there was the need for politicians to abide by the rules of the game in

the interest of Nigerians. The governor condemned the use of the military during elections, saying this was unknown in the history of democracy all over the world. “As a governor sworn to an oath of allegiance to uphold the constitution, I bear a responsibility to respect the law and the constitution and to express my displeasure whenever the law or the constitution is being violated. “This is a duty that every citizen must not shy away from, if we want this democracy to endure and thrive.

“The Ibadan Bar has come a long way with unparallel achievements in the advocacy of respect for human rights, good governance and corruptionfree society. “It is against this background that I wish to state that this Bar cannot afford to keep aloof in the face of numerous challenges bedeviling our nation. “Loss of life and property to insurgency must not elude the attention of this Bar. Rape on democracy and democratic norms are issues that the Ibadan Bar must lspeak against in the polity.’’

Synagogue: Court to hear application to stop inquest

USTICE Lateefat Okunnu will today start the hearing of an application seeking to stop the coroner inquest into the September 12 building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations. About 115 persons, most of who were South Africans, died in the incident. The founder, Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B. Joshua, had asked the court to stop further sitting of the coroner’s inquest into the building collapse. The application filed through Joshua’s lawyer Olalekan Ojo has led to

By Adebisi Onanuga

the suspension of the sitting of the coroner since November 22. It was consequent upon the urgency attached to the application that its hearing was fixed for today. Joshua, in the application, had asked the court to declare that the invitation to appear as a witness before the coroner was a breach of his right to fair hearing, as no case had been established against him. Ojo, therefore, urged the court to order the coroner, Magistrate O.A. Komolafe, to suspend further proceedings, pending when Justice

Okunnu would either uphold or reject his prayers. Arguing the application before Justice Okunnu at its last sitting, Ojo said: “My Lord, we are also saying that the court should suspend further proceedings, pending the time when my Lord, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, will give her ruling. “My Lord has fixed the matter for December 3 and with utmost respect to my Lord, she is an eminent judge that could even deliver the ruling on that day.” In his response, Magistrate Komolafe had then said he was not obliged to stop the inquest because

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

CORES of residents of Badagry, Lagos State, besieged yesterday the office of the governor in Alausa over an alleged renege of promise made by Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to intervene in the demolition of 1,500 houses by the police. The protesters’ leader, Charles Adu, in a statement, said in January, residents of Atiporome, Araromi Ale and Muwo Phase II communities in Badagry marched on the House of Assembly over the illegal demolition of their houses. Adu said Ikuforiji promised that the commissioner of police would be summoned and justice served. The protesters, who barricaded the main entrance to Fashola’s office, said they would remain there, until their demands were met. They said the land allotted to the police was different and was atAgemowo\Agelado. The residents lamented that most of them were undergoing hardship. They appealed to Fashola to intervene in the matter.

OAU students attack colleague From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

he was yet to be served with any court process. Komolafe had warned that nobody should create the impression that the coroner’s court was a trial court. “The point I want to make is that, that fellow, whoever, he is, he is not above the laws of the land and he dare not try it. "What I am saying is that Joshua should respect himself and not drag the law of the land into the mud." He had then cautioned Joshua against pitching himself against the law. The coroner had also then adjourned sitting till December 3.

TUDENTS of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, attacked yesterday another student, Raphael, also known as Akuma. It was gathered that Akuma allegedly attacked another student, David, when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the institution last week. The students accused Akuma of being the leader of a cult group. The situation degenerated when the aggrieved students stormed the examination hall at the Humanities Blocks to “arrest” Akuma, who was said to be spending an extra year. It was a serious battle between the police and the students, who insisted that Akuma must be brought to Awolowo Hall for punishment. The Dean of Students Affairs, Mrs. Yinka Durosinmi, came into Awolowo Hall but the students booed the dean and her entourage, until they left in anger. They gave Akuma 50 lashes of the belt at the Awolowo Hall. He was later moved to Mozambique, Angola, Moremi, ETF, Fajuyi, Akintola and Alumni halls, where he also received 10 lashes in each hall. But there was confusion when Akuma fainted while receiving his “punishment”. He was, however, revived, when water was poured on him.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS ‘APC ‘ll defeat PDP in Abia’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

N All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Abia State, Chief Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, has expressed confidence that the party will sweep away what he described as 16 years of bad leadership by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He told reporters at the APC national secretariat in Abuja that the party would ameliorate the suffering of the people and change the face of the state. Anyim said he was aware of the work to be done to restore the state’s glory. Said he: “When you look at the education sector, you will realise that something has to be done in line with the APC policy on education. Infrastructural development is at its lowest ebb. I assure our people that Abia State will change for better.” Reacting to insinuations that there was no opposition in Abia, the aspirant said: “If opposition party does not exist in Abia State, why are they afraid of the opposition? What you tell a blind man is that there is no oil in the soup, not that there is no pepper or salt. “The change in Abia State is naturally inspired because they have not done well and people are desiring a change. People are looking for that change. It comes naturally. So, we don’t care about what they think they knew before and what they think they used to do before, not this time.” Saying the problems of Abia State have not been addressed, Anyim said: “I know that visionlessness is the real problem. So, once we have a leader with a vision, he will deliver good governance to the people because what they (PDP) have done in the last 16 years is the much they can offer. I don’t think they can do better than that.”

Voters urged to shun violence

HE Abia State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Ngozi Uduma, has urged Nigerians, irrespective of political leanings, to eschew violence during the elections. She said it was through the avoidance of violence that credible leaders could be elected. Speaking at Bende Local Government secretariat at a one-day voter education programme for Abia North Senatorial District, Mrs. Uduma said credible, free

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

and fair elections could not be conducted in a chaotic atmosphere. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Jacob Jatau, represented by the Head of Voter Education, Edwin Enabor, said his office had put measures in place, such as the introduction of customised ballot papers, the card reader use of Permanent Voter Card (PVC), the e-result transmission, among others, to guarantee hitchfree elections.

Church holds programme

HE Royal House of Wisdom Ministry (7th day) aka Wisdom of God will, tomorrow, begin a four-day annual programme, tagged: “No more famine in the land”. The programme, to end on Sunday, will hold at the church auditorium, 7, Duru Avenue, Owode Elede bus stop, Mile 12, Lagos with the theme: “God’s Mercy” . The host, Pastor Elvis Nna, said: “This programme is a reflection of God’s kindness

•Pastor Nna

towards us and his willingness to help, forgive and care for us at all times.”

Scientist loses wife RESEARCH scientist and academic at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Dr. Brian Onwumere, has lost his wife, Mrs. Agatha Brian Onwumere. Her remains will be interred on Saturday at her home town, Asaga Arochukwu in Abia State. The interment will be preceded by a requiem mass at St. Theresa Catholic Parish,

Amankwu, Arochukwu. Mrs. Onwumere died at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, after a protracted illness. She was a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and was doing her post graduate studies before her demise. The deceased is survived by her husband, four children and relations.

•From left: Elumoye, Odifa and Jimoh during the visit ...yesterday PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Lagos NUJ condoles with The Nation over Isiguzo’s death •MD: his death, a great loss to the profession •Editor: a nice guy gone

ANY were in tears again yesterday as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, commiserated with The Nation over the death of Crime Correspondent Jude Isiguzo. Isiguzo, 43, died last Saturday in Lagos after a brief illness. Chairman of Lagos NUJ Deji Elumoye led the team that was received by Deputy Editor (News) Mr Adeniyi Adesina, who led them to meet Editor Gbenga Omotoso and Managing Director/Editor-in-chief Mr Victor Ifijeh at the Lagos headquarters of this newspaper. Elumoye said Isiguzo was nominated as one of the 37 journalists to participate in the (NUJ)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) capacity-building workshop slated for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, next week. But death has robbed Isiguzo, who was chairman of The Nation chapter of the NUJ, the opportunity. Others on the NUJ delegation were Vice-Chairman,

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Babatunde Jimoh; Assistant Secretary, Odifa Alfred; Treasurer, Kehinde Ajayi and Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, Chairman, NAWOJ, Lagos chapter. A visibly depressed Elumoye, who presented a condolence letter to The Nation management, said the late Isiguzo was passionate about his job and union activities. “The Nation chapel as a result of his activities is one of the chapels the council relies on always. We never had issues with The Nation’s management. He always said positive things about the management at our congresses. It is sad to lose him (Isiguzo) at this time,” he said. Elumoye said the council had opened a condolence register for the deceased at its Ikeja secretariat. He led his team to sign the condolence register at The Nation headquarters. “We are here to share in your pains; we pray that things like this will not happen again. Issue of sudden death will be a thing of the

past,” he prayed. He promised that the council would do its duty to the deceased’s widow, Gwendaline and participate in the funeral. Omotoso thanked the council for the thoughtful initiative to visit the company. He described the late Isiguzo as a reporter who knew his beat. “It is so sad that we lost him; a nice guy is gone. We got a letter from his doctor last week seeking extension of his leave for two weeks and the request was granted automatically. “We never envisaged it was that serious, otherwise we would have raised a team to visit him and see if he was well attended to,” he said. The editor urged journalists to always take time out for medical check-ups, saying the profession is tasking. He likened the human body to a car engine that can develop fault at anytime if not well managed. He thanked God for the comments people made about the late Isiguzo. “What people said about Jude was amazing. He was dutiful, well-behaved, considerate and ever willing to help.

Court orders APC to recognise Okonkwo as Abia chair

N Abia State High Court has ordered the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to recognise Fabian Okonkwo, a lawyer, as the chairman of the party in Abia State. The court, in a notice of contempt dated December 1, said the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-

Oyegun, must obey its order issued since October 27, compelling him to recognise and work with the Okonkwo-led executive. Justice Obisike Oji issued an interim injunction which, among others, restrained the national chairman and the APC, its agents, servants, representatives and/ or workmen, “from in any

Okeke said: “The effect is still haunting the education sector. “Primary school teachers, who retired during that period and even after, were not paid their pension and gratuity. Most of the lucky surviving retirees are still suffering the effect of that neglect by the councils. The salaries of the teachers and the pension funds were diverted to other areas, leav-

ing the teachers to wallow in penury for years. This resulted in deaths.” The NUT boss listed the effect of the proposed scrapping of the state, local government joint account as non-payment of salaries of primary school teachers, non-remittance of 7.5 per cent counterpart contributions from councils to the pension funds of the primary school teachers na-

way or manner stopping, excluding, precluding or preventing the Okonkwo-led Executive Committee from participating in the primaries for the selection of candidates for the general elections or in any way deny or deprive them the rights and privileges of their offices.” In a contempt notice (Form 48) by the same court on De-

Don’t scrap state, local govt joint account, Imo teachers plead

HE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Imo State has condemned the proposed scrapping of the state, local government joint account. It said it would spell doom for the education sector. The union Chairman, Dr. Cletus Uchenna Okeke, who briefed reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, recalled that there was a near total collapse of primary

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

education between 1990 and 1994 when primary schools came under the local governments, despite the increase of federal allocations to the councils from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. Recounting the ordeals of teachers during the period, he said the situation resulted in strikes by teachers, which he noted almost crippled primary education.

I’m so proud that he was one of us. The question remains why this man? We seek solace in the scripture that admonishes us that in all things, we should give thanks to God,” he said. Elumoye, while presenting the condolence letter to Mr. Ifijeh, prayed God to grant the management, staff and the deceased’s family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Mr. Ifijeh described Isiguzo’s death as very sad. “His death is a great loss to the profession. I pray that this does not happen here again and in other media establishments,” he said. The managing director recalled how the late Isiguzo came out of leave to join The Nation’s management to receive visiting Lagos Commissioner of Police Mr Kayode Aderanti on November 13. “I said ‘you were supposed to be on leave,’ he replied that ‘these are my people.’ Anytime any member of the staff is having issue with the police, he resolved it. “As the NUJ chairman, he always sought advice before taking any major step. We had a cordial relationship,” Ifijeh said.

tionwide and industrial actions. Said he: “It is on this premise that we demand that the state, local government joint account be maintained. But if the account must be scrapped, the responsibility for the payment of the salaries of primary school teachers should be transferred to the state government, in conformity with the Supreme Court judgment.”

cember 1, titled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order,” Chief Odigie-Oyegun was warned to “take notice that unless you obey and give effect to the directions contained in this order endorsed herewith, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.” Okonkwo said yesterday in a statement: “Every effort to get the national chairman to obey the court injunction has not yielded the desired result. Even the counsel to the plaintiff has written to him, urging him to allow the Fabian Okonkwo-led executive to participate in the primaries, but he has rebuffed his pleas. “As at today (December 2), we have not received expression-of-interest and nomination forms for Abia aspirants. Any primary outside the only exco is a nullity.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

Arewa to Jonathan: field Wike and lose Rivers

HE Southsouth and Southeast chapters of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have warned President Goodluck Jonathan that he will lose Rivers State if he allows the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to field the former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, as the

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

party’s governorship candidate in next year’s election. The zones’ ACF Coordinator Musa Saidu said the Presidency and PDP’s national executive were not being fair to Rivers State coastal residents for giving Wike, an upland man, the governor-

ship ticket. He recalled that Dr Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi, all upland men, had led the state for almost 16 years. Saidu worked with Wike in 2011 for Amaechi Campaign Organisation. While Wike was the director-general, Saidu represented the civil

society committee, a position he used to mobilise votes from northerners in the state for the PDP. But yesterday in Port Harcourt, the staunch PDP member and chairman of northerners in Rivers State, stressed that fielding Wike was tantamount to “injustice and unfairness to the riverine

23 college workers abducted in Rivers

WENTY-three workers of the Federal College of Education (FCE) (Technical) at Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been kidnapped. One of them is presumed dead in the kidnappers’ den. The Provost, Dr. Bassey Ubong, spoke yesterday at

Jonathan’s re-election non-negotiable, says IYC From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

EMBERS of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) have said the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in 2015 is certain. The youth spoke at the first economic/ empowerment, security and peace summit, organised by the Eastern zone of the council, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Through their Zonal Chairman Peter Igbifa, the youth promised to support Jonathan to realise his second term re-election. They also promised to support Ijaw governorship aspirants in other states. IYC said: “This address is incomplete without stating unequivocally that the IYC, Eastern Zone, is strongly in support of the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term. “His re-election is a project that is not negotiable as we have put our collective machinery in place to ensure we give him our maximum support. Our support is also extended to all Ijaw aspirants in states inhabited by the Ijaw in the country.” The youth also unveiled the blueprint to boost their relationship with multinational companies in their area. Igbifa blamed the government, companies operating in the zone and former IYC leaders for the violence and unhealthy relationship between the companies and the youth. The zonal chairman said the blueprint would change the frosty relationship between them and the companies. He said: “Today, youths in the Eastern zone have resolved to chart a cause for themselves and take the road less travelled through this summit. “Today, we are seeing reasons to embrace dialogue and peaceful cohesion in addressing critical issues that affect youths and people of Ijaw ethnic extractions.”

•Provost seeks Fed Govt’s help From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

the permanent site of the institution in Omoku when he hosted Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. The minister was at the college on an impact assessment visit. Shekarau, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie and other personalities, inaugurated the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) microteaching centre of the college. Omoku hosts Nigeria’s largest land-based crude oil deposit, with many multi-national firms and oil servicing

companies operating in the community. FCE (Technical) is a degreeawarding institution in the area, which began academic activities in 1988/’99 at the temporary site in Omoku. Ubong said: “Certainly, we have challenges. These include funding in the main. Our most critical problem is insecurity. Between 2010 and now, 23 of our workers and some of their family relations were kidnapped. One person is presumed dead since he did not come out with the two other persons with him. “We, therefore, appeal to you (Education Minister) for four things: full perimeter fencing of Campus 2 (perma-

nent site). Our students are frequently attacked and robbed of their valuables. We need federal might to end kidnapping in Omoku community. “We need financial support to enable us develop an Entrepreneurial Village on Campus 2. This will be highly appreciated, as this will be used by the students, workers and the community as well as financial support to commercialise some of our research outputs, such as windmill for power generation, innovative motor vehicle water level indicator and battery water production. The first two are TETFund-sponsored research projects that have been successfully concluded.”

people of this state”. He added: “Wike cannot deliver Rivers State to the PDP.” The coordinator urged the Presidency and the PDP national executive committee to review their position on Wike. Saidu said: “PDP will lose Rivers State, if they fail to produce a riverine candidate.” He noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had done justice to Rivers residents by choosing Dr Dakuku Peterside from the coastal town of Opobo. According to him, it was expected of the PDP to follow suit by fielding a candidate from the coastal area. Saidu warned that “you don’t expect us, the northerners, to vote for APC governorship candidate from riverine and then turn round to vote for Jonathan, when the Presidency and PDP have refused to do the right thing”. He urged the President to “listen to the elders of Rivers State, led by his (Jonathan’s) former boss at the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), Chief Albert Horsfallb by asking Wike to drop his ambition to save PDP from disgrace”.

•From left: An activist, Prof. Hauwa Biu; Vice Chairman, Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs Ajoke Muhammed; Chief Executive Officer, MMF, Mrs Aisha Oyebode and wife of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mrs Mariam Uwais, at a workshop on Developing Sustainable Humanitarian Response Mechanism for Nigeria in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Bayelsa intervenes in Agip, community crisis

HE Bayelsa State government has promised to resolve the crisis between the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its host communities. It was learnt yesterday that Governor Seriake Dickson met with representatives of the company and its three host communities of Ewoama, Okpoama and Twon Brass on Brass Island. A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the meeting was held at

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

the Government House in Yenagoa. Dickson said the government intervened on a number of issues bordering on crude oil production output and other challenges the company was facing. The governor said issues on Agip’s broken down power plant, which had been supplying electricity to the three communities, were also discussed. He urged the company to

consider using local content to repair some of its facilities. Dickson was confident that indigenous technicians could fix the company’s facilities, adding that Agip should build their potential by using them constantly. According to him, outages on Brass Island had been a recurrent issue during executive council meetings. He insisted that lack of electricity was hampering socioeconomic activities in the area. The governor hailed Agip for the provision of power to

Brass Island for the last 20 years. The governor explained that the company had promised to provide generators to serve as a stopgap measure, pending repairs on the broken down gas turbine power plant. Agip’s Public Affairs Divisional Manager Deineiruo Dan-Jumbo said the generators became faulty five years ago. But he said the company had been unable to get the manufacturers to repair the plant.

Delta: Obuh’s group unveils economic blueprint From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

MID growing anxiety over the downward slide in the price of crude oil in the international market, a Delta State political pressure group, Delta Successor Initiative (DSI), has unveiled strategies on how a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sir Tony Chuks Obuh, will create non-oil wealth and open up the economic frontiers.

Beneficiaries hail senator’s free health programme

ENEFICIARIES of Senator Bode Ola’s free health programme in Ekiti Central have described it as a life saver. They noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart’s health programme had prevented several ailments from worsening into live-threatening diseases. The beneficiaries, comprising the aged and youths from Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Ijero and Efon local government areas in the senatorial district, noted that the senatorial aspirant had always given his constituents people-oriented programmes, especially when he was in the Senate some years back. They said the programme was the continuation of his masses-driven disposition to his constituents. A member of the medical team, Mr Henry Age, said high blood pressure, diabetes, eye problems and malaria were the most common ailments among the beneficiaries. The pharmacist said the programme was a good health intervention for the people. He advised the public to always key into free health opportunities brought to them and ensure regular medical check-ups. The monarchs of beneficiary towns also hailed the programme, adding that it would further improve public health delivery. Ola, who visited the venues of the programme, reaffirmed his commitment to the wellbeing of his constituents. He promised to also complement the Ayo Fayose administration’s agenda for the progress of Ekiti State residents. Also, a chieftain of PDP, Adewale Adeyanju hailed the senator for his good gestures both in the past and now, saying he remains a role model for many youths in Ekiti.

PDP leaders, 52 others defect to APC in Amaechi’s town •Defectors: we’re happy with APC governorship candidate’s choice

EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ubima, the home town of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, led by Mr. Emmanuel Hejirika and 52 party supporters in the area, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. Hejirika, who was Nyesom Wike’s contact man in the

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

ward, said he defected to APC with his supporters because his ward, which is under Ikwerre Local Government Area, had become APC ward, even at the local government level. The defectors burnt the caps and T-shirts with Wike’s portraits at yesterday’s ward

sensitisation rally in Ubima. They said the choice of APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, encouraged them to defect. Hejirika noted that the defection to APC showed that the PDP was dead in the ward. He said: “Ubima now has a one-party system. If I and some of my leaders with our supporters, who are the

livewire of the PDP in the area, have left for good, then the party is dead. We are here today because we are happy with the choice of APC governorship candidate in the state.” APC leader in the ward Mr. Control Asobi said the party had a large space to accommodate them. The party leader promised to ensure that they were

treated as stakeholders. He said: “I am glad and I know that the party will be happy with you for making a wise decision. Before now, I had always said that we had only one party in this ward because I now know that with your number, you cannot win an election here. You are welcome. You will be treated as every other member of APC.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

Life

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

Text only: 08023058761

‘Any writer worth his salt and has true value is by nature political’

Wanted! Visionary leaders – Page 14

Alluring but risky trillion dollars art business – Page 47

Amaechi: Nigerians are too docile – Page 49

•Prof Larson

Things Fall Apart ‘‘Things sold out in America’ Call him a ‘diehard fan of the late Prof Chinua Achebe’, you may not be wrong. Emeritus Professor of African Literature Charles Larson, a pioneer in African literature in the Western world, believes the late Achebe should have won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Since 49 years ago when he taught his first African Writer class at the University of Colorado, Larson has become an inspiration to African writers across the world. His research and interactions with the writers led to his innovative work, The Ordeal of the African Writer. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE when he visited Nigeria, Larson recounts his travails as an African literature advocate, his first visit to the country few weeks ago and his encounter with the late Achebe’s books and more.

F the late Chinua Achebe were alive, he would have been 84 last month. His book, Arrow of God, clocked 50 this year and the event was celebrated wide world. What

INTERVIEW is your opinion about the book and the writer? They say that 100,000 copies of Things Fall Apart are sold every year in the US. He has more readers

in the US than he has in Nigeria – more copies are sold in the US than they are in Nigeria. I think it’s his most accomplished

– CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

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

• From left: Niger State Deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto and former Mozambique President Chissano •Mallam Denja presenting copies of the Writers’ Series to Governor Aliyu

Wanted! Visionary leaders •Niger establishes agency to cater for books and intellectual property Not even a blast in nearby Kontagora could dampen the mood of the literary giants gathered in Minna, the Niger State capital. There were songs, drama, dance and speeches at this year’s edition of the MBA International Literary Colloquium. A keynote speaker and former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, touched on the continent’s need for visionary and people-oriented leadership. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

IGER State was agog with literary and intellectual activities that have become a yearly ritual at the MBA International Literary Colloquium held in its capital, Minna. The theme was Leadership and national development. The colloquium has grown into a veritable platform where writers, scholars, politicians, public office holders and students talk about the place of good and proactive leadership and literature on the continent’s political and economic growth. This year’s edition had former President of Mozambique and Chairman, Forum for Former African Heads of State and Government, Joaquim Alberto Chissano; and public commentator and Professor of Literature at the Carlton University, Canada Pius Adesanmi, as keynote speakers. Prof Pius spoke on the first day, which focused on Literature. On the second day, former President Chissano spoke on Leadership and National Development. The colloquium, the fourth on the series, has hosted renowned scholars, such as Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Atukwei Okhai of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Prof Kofi Anyidoho, Odia Ofeimum as keynote speakers. Last year, the organisers focused on creativity, youth and national development, while unveiling the MBA Bookhawker Scheme. At this year’s event, the organisers unveiled two projects that would help in promoting the arts, particularly creative writing in the state. Akin to a celebrator dishing out gifts to his guests, Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, signed into law the bill establishing the Niger State Book and other Intellectual Resources Development Agency, hitherto known as the Niger State Book Development Agency. According to the State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Adamu Usman, after deliberations and interactions the bill was passed with stakeholders. On the same day, the Nigeria Writers’ Series was also presented. The series, which is a product of the N9million grant from the governor

COLLOQUIUM to the national executive of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), was geared towards promoting creative writing. It featured the works of 10 writers selected from across the country. Praising the governor’s reports, ANA Vice President Mallam Denja Abdullahi said, the moves would impact on creative writing and subsequently on the reading culture of the young. The colloquium, which was part of activities marking the birthday of the governor, kicked off and ended with an evening of literary festivities. As if foretelling what was to come, writers, through their works, warned on the need for peace, while expressing that the masses were tired of insurgencies and killings in the country. Saddid Dzukogi’s poem Songs of horror from his Sunbeams and Shadows collection, which was dedicated to the late Kofi Awoonor, evoked a feeling of gloom in the audience. One could feel the harsh tug of the evening breeze as he read:”The poet’s gut fled in suspended terror…lodging in the nest of horror the wineglass is broken and bullets are now beats of music that swim through heart of man…” Two days later, amid the intellectual festivities of the MBA festival came the heartrending news of the bomb blast at the Federal College of Education Library in Kotangora some kilometres away where a woman suicide bomber was said to have rushed towards the library, detonated a bomb. Moved by the news the governor condemned the act, saying it was dastardly and indeed condemnable. Calling for calm, he urged that Nigerians, especially community leaders, be security conscious, saying this would go a long way to curb the insurgencies. He said: “I have received a bad birthday gift. A female suicide bomber was rushing to enter the auditorium where the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination was taking place when her bomb

• From left: Mbajiogu,Umaisha and Prof Nwoye

exploded. I was told they were two. The other one is still alive and is in the hospital. Soon, we would be able to find out who sent them. We must be more vigilant; let us confront our common enemy, the insurgents, but remain focused and determined in the effort towards building the country to its greater heights. No matter what evil perpetrators do, they will not succeed in eroding peace and collective development aspiration of Nigerians.” Former President Chissano said Africa is in want of visionary, thought-driven and peopleoriented leaders. Although the continent has the means to achieve greatness and take the continent to the next level, he, however, lamented that for so long, it has lacked the right kind of leaders to achieve this dream. According to him, proactive leadership would take immediate action to solve challenges facing the nation, such as insurgencies. He named civil unrest a result of leadership failure, saying leaders should seek to eradicate poverty, which, he said, a “single major threat to security and youth restiveness”. He said: “Poverty eradication should be at the centre of policies for social and economic transformation and development. Leadership for development is anticipating and addressing potential trouble sports and not waiting until it is too late. Early warning demands early action. We need thought leaders: visionary leadership that would lead the nation towards the adequate diversification of the economy giving priority to correct use of renewable resources and development of capacities for provision of services by the nationals. Discontent and popular uprising may be part of leadership’s failure to deliver or lack of participation and respect for human right.” Although Nigeria is one of the nine countries that have surpassed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agricultural target of six per cent, Chissano urged, leaders to go beyond exporting commodities to exporting processed goods, saying they must prioritise agriculture and technological development. Platforms as the colloquium, he said, would

not only providea meeting place of ideas but its constructive deliberations can change the mind-sets of leaders.He, however, observed that “the notion of leadership and national development is easy to discern in the literary world, but very complicated in the real world”. On his part, Prof Adesanmi, who spoke on the theme, Post-Centenary Nigeria: New literatures, new leaders, new nation, likened literature’s role in national development to fire, saying is able to ignite a change in mind of society. In his view, from the days of Soyinka to the present, the literati has played a major role nation-building, adding that the onus is on it to weave up new narratives that would serve as compass for good governance and national development in the country. “Literature, indeed, has the miraculous power to forge the essence and the spirit of a nation – and of a nation-state depending on the level of legitimacy and hegemony it acquires across time. The Peruvian Nobel Laureate, Mario Vargas Llosa, in a 1967 lecture agrees on the centrality of literature to the soul of nation and nation state in his essay,Literature is Fire. “Long before ANA National thought of the prophylactic powers of literary imagination, long before the conveners of this edition of the MBA International Literary Colloquium thought of a theme, which connects literature to imaginaries of leadership and nationhood, generations of writers before us have imagined the connections between literature and project nationhood,” Adesanmi said. The colloquium also featured writers from within and outside the country, including Prof Unoma Azuah; Editor-In-Chief, Newsday, Sumaila Umaisha; ANA Vice President, Mallam Denja Abdullahi; former ANA Vice President, Prof May Ifeoma Nwoye; awardwinning playwright, Isaac Ogezi; Mr Chiedu Ezeanah, NLNG Prize for Literature finalists, Friday John Abba and Chijioke AmuNnadi, among others.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

There is a sharp contrast in the contest for the governorship tickets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba and Benue states. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the issues that will to shape the contest in the two states.

Battle for APC tickets in Taraba, Benue N

EXT year’s general elections promise to be an epic battle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Being the first general elections since the formation of the APC, it is more or less a battle for supremacy for both parties. In the North East state of Taraba and the North central state of Benue particularly, the opposition stands a good chance, for the first time since the return to civilian rule in 1999, of taking over the two states. This however depends largely on the calibre of candidates that flies its flag in the various elective positions. The die is cast, as the APC is set for tomorrow’s governorship primaries in the two states. In Taraba, there is no contest as such, as Senator Aisha Alhassan, is fast emerging as the consensus candidate of the party for the governorship position. Observers say there are only three genuine governorship aspirants in the state this time around; with two of them coming from the ruling PDP and the third one being the sole contender from the APC, Alhassan.

Easy ride for Alhassan in Taraba But, the APC has the upper hand, in the sense that it is facing the governorship contest as a united entity. While the APC, which has settled for Senator Alhassan as its candidate is already strategising on how to take over the state, the PDP on the other hand is still enmeshed in internal crisis over who succeeds the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai. Alhassan made a foray into the political scene in 2011, when she contested for the Senate. She floored two political heavyweights in the person of former Governor Jolly Nyame and the then sitting Senator, Anthony Manzo, to clinch the seat. Alhasssan is an amazon of sorts and a lady of many firsts. For example, she was the first female to occupy the Office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Taraba State. She is also the first female politician to contest and beat two men in an election for the senatorial seat, which she now occupies. Now, she is on the verge of becoming the first female to vie for the office of the governor of the state. Given what she has done in the last three and half years to uplift the living conditions of her constituents, she may be on the threshold of making history once again. Alhassan comes from a family with a sound political background and appear to enjoy the support of the womenfolk and the youths. Her father was elected into the Federal House of Representatives in 1959 under the defunct Northern Peoples Congress (NPC).

ernorship ticket for the forthcoming election. They are: the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Emmanuel Jime; retired Permanent Secretary, Akanga Audu; and the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prof. Steven Ugba.

Jime

• Alhassan

Audu Audu, a former Permanent Secretary who served the current administration of Governor Suswan, is perceived as competent and qualified to govern. The big-time farmer who is also from the MINDA’s axis, equally served former Governor Akume. But, critics say age is no longer on his side and that he may be a hard sell for the party during the election.

Ugba • Ugba

• Ortom

‘Alhassan comes from a family with a sound political background and appear to enjoy the support of the womenfolk and the youths. Her father was elected into the Federal House of Representatives in 1959 under the defunct Northern Peoples Congress (NPC)’

Zoning in Benue In Benue State, Governor Gabriel Suswam will be handing over the mantle of leadership to another person come May 2015, having spent the maximum constitutional two terms of eight years in office. Whoever will take over from Suswam will be expected to carry the people’s hopes for improved welfare and security. A kind of zoning arrangement has been in place over time in the state, even though it has mainly been among the two Tiv-dominated, hugely population zones of Benue North East and Benue North West. There is a growing recognition nevertheless that Benue South should be given the chance, since the two Tiv-speaking zones have governed in the persons of Senator George Akume (1999-2007) and Suswam (2007 till date). Benue South is largely Idoma. But, the only obstacle to the Benue South agitation is the governorship aspiration of a Tiv sub-tribe, which also feels they have been alienated. This feeling is based on the fact that of the five families that make up the Tiv lineage, the Masev, Ihiarev, Nongov, collectively known as the MINDA, have not produced a governor of the state since its creation in 1976. The other four members of the Tiv family have ruled the

• Jime

Given the circumstances surrounding the race for the APC ticket in the state, Jime who has become more or less the rallying point for the party in Benue State in recent times perhaps has the brightest chance in the contest. Barring any last minute political realignment in the fold, he looks set to get the ticket. This is because he appears to be the most sellable candidate for the party in next year’s governorship contest. This could be gleaned from the massive support he enjoys from party members and the generality of the people in the state, who see him as a symbol of their yearnings and aspirations for change. For instance, he was surrounded by die-hard supporters three weeks ago when he arrived Makurdi, the Benue State capital, to pick up his nomination form. A former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and two-time member of the House of Representative, Jime only recently defected from the PDP to the APC and he is viewed as the likely candidate of the party. Jime, who hails from Makurdi in the MINDA area, has promised to bring policies that would bring the majority of the people out of poverty, if he becomes governor.

• Waku

state and so there is sympathy among the Tiv population for the MINDA to succeed Suswam before power could rotate Benue South. Besides zoning, other factors expected to shape the emergence of the next governor of Benue State are political experience and educational background.

Three-horse race The APC’s chances in Benue this time around are fairly bright. Though Benue has been governed by the PDP since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the APC has been making incursions into the state over the years. So far, only three persons are contesting for the party’s gov-

As a former governorship candidate of one of the legacy parties that formed the APC, Ugba equally has a good chance of picking the ticket. He gave incumbent Governor Suswan a good fight during the the last election in 2011 and by even by pursuing his petition to the Supreme Court. But, observers say he may have lost the passion and drive for the contest, following his longdrawn out battle with Suswan. For instance, such observers argue that his presence when Jime collected his nomination form suggests that he might step down for the latter in the very last minute.

Others The former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who has just transferred allegiance to the APC, may be a surprise beneficiary of the party’s governorship ticket. Ortom switched loyalty at the last minute, when he realized that his aspirations within his former party, the PDP, were under threat. A grassroots politician, Dr. Ortom enjoyed wide support within the party and outside and therefore, stands a better chance of becoming the flag bearer of PDP in the state. He possessed the kind of charisma that is highly valued in political circles and his popularity cut across all the three senatorial districts of the state. Even before now, he has always enjoyed the support from the opposition. Many have argued that he knows the job description better than other aspirants, having been an industrialist, entrepreneur and a farmer by extension.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

‘

RACE TO 2015

• Ajimobi

• Alao-Akala

In the PDP, it is a fierce battle. No fewer than 11 aspirants are in the race. They are Adebayo Alao-Akala, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Isaac Babalola, Taoheed Adedoja, Soji Adejumo, Ayo Adeseun and Femi Babalola. Others are Kehinde Olaosebikan, Teslim Folarin, Oluseyi Makinde and Azeez Adeduntan

‘

• Babalola

• Ladoja

Oyo State governorship aspirants are warming up for primaries. For Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it may be a coronation. For the Accord Party (PDP) leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, it may be a walk over. BISI OLADELE writes on the battle for tickets.

The PDP, it is believed, would also want to field an Ibadan man to benefit from the population advantage. For instance, voters from Ibadan South West and Ibadan North local governments are more than those of the five local governments in Ogbomoso. Having lost the election once, largely due to credibility factor, the party may want to look elsewhere for another candidate, particularly of Ibadan origin, to give Ajimobi and Ladoja a good fight.

Folarin

• Folarin

HE preparation started two years ago, barely 18 months after Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi assumed the reins. After Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala were defeated by Ajimobi in a keenly contested election in 2011, the gladiators and their supporters returned to the drawing board. But, it has not been rosy for the three of them. Some of their followers have defected to other parties for better relevance. Some even left for the Labour Party (LP) where they are now firing salvos at their leaders. The APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the LP are the leading parties and the three leaders are the ones calling the shots. This week, they will know their fate at the primaries.

APC Some courageous politicians have picked governorship forms to challenge Ajimobi in the battle for the ticket. They include the son of the former governor, the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, Dr Ayo Adesina, and Adebayo Shittu, a lawyer. Adesina is a United Kingdom-based professional. Shittu is an Ibadan-based lawyer. Adesina is unknown in Oyo State politics, unlike his late father. He is also not known to have built any strong political structure that can assist him during the shadow poll. Shittu has been a politician since the Second Republic. He was a member of the old Oyo State House of Assembly, representing Saki, his home town. He was also a commissioner in the Ladoja Administration between 2003 and 2007. He contested the governorship election on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 and lost to Ajimobi. The performance was woeful. He joined the APC at its inception. The odds against Shittu are many. He hails from Oke-Ogun and his political structure is not look strong enough to win the ticket. Major political parties are interested in fielding Ibadan indigenes. To them, Ibadan has a high voting population.

• Makinde

• Oyelese

• Shittu

Oyo primaries: Ajimobi, Akala, Ladoja to know fate Ajimobi is the candidate to beat. The odds favour him over other contenders, owing to his experience and political standing. He is well positioned to pick the APC ticket. He became a senator under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003. He was the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007. many believed that he won the 2007 poll. Ajimobi wields the power of incumbency. he is also a performing governor. Despite the fact that some party chieftains have issues with him in some areas, Ajimobi will pick the ticket.

Accord Party Only the leader of the party, Senator

Rashidi Ladoja, is in the race. Investigation at the secretariat of the party in Ibadan revealed that no other party member has signified interest in the position.

PDP In the PDP, it is a fierce battle. No fewer than 11 aspirants are in the race. They are Adebayo Alao-Akala, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Isaac Babalola, Taoheed Adedoja, Soji Adejumo, Ayo Adeseun and Femi Babalola. Others are Kehinde Olaosebikan, Teslim Folarin, Oluseyi Makinde and Azeez Adeduntan. Former Minister of Power Elder Wole Oyelese has withdrawn from the race. A source said he may vie for the

Oyo Central Senatorial ticket. However, the major contenders among the 11 aspirants are just three: Alao-Akala, Folarin and Makinde.

Akala Alao-Akala still commands huge following in the party. Except in Oyo zone where his fortune has plummeted since 2011, the Ogbomoso-born politician is still popular in Oke-Ogun and some parts of Ibadan. He also possesses the financial capacity required for the contest. But, there are at least, two odds against him. Akala is not an Ibadan man. This factor is strong for winning the governorship election. Two Ibadan men-Ajomobi and Ladoja– are more likely to emerge as candidates.

The former Senate Leader is believed to be favoured by the Presidency. He controls the state executive committee of the party. He is widely connected in Abuja. Although he was elected as senator twice, Folarin’s popularity is not strong enough to win the race that involves Ladoja and Ajimobi. But, he is still standing tall in the race for the PDP ticket and observers believe he will pick it.

Makinde He is a young and promising politician. Makinde entered the race for Agodi Government House in 2012. He has strengthened his structure, particularly in Ibadan, his place of birth. He sometimes oils the wheel of the party. The engineer is seen as the face of a new generation politicians by many people. But, it is doubtful, if he will get the ticket. He may be a candidate of the future. he is hardworking, focused and committed to the party. He may be a candidate of the future. It is doubtful, if party leaders in Ibadanland are willing to support his candidacy. They feel that he has not acquired enough experience and political weight like Alao-Akala and Folarin. He cannot be ignored. But, the race may be tough for him. It is believed that others are likely to queue behind any of the three that eventually picks the ticket.

APC chieftain Sutton joins Lagos governorship race

T a time people are saying that the number of persons vying for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for Lagos State is unwieldy, another aspirant has joined the race. He is Dr. Abayomi Sutton from Badagry, Lagos West District. The interesting aspect is that Sutton has been living abroad for over two decades and returned to Nigeria recently specifically to contest the governorship. “I am in the race to continue with the good work of the incumbent governor; to create a better environment for Lagosians to live, work and enjoy,” he told reporters at a press conference at the weekend. The aspirant does not believe that he is disadvantaged in the race because he

By Raymond Mordi

has been living abroad. He said: “I was born and bred in Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos. I schooled in Lagos. I visit home at least five times a year. I have identified the services that needs improvement; I have met with stakeholders in Lagos State, including the youths. I can feel the needs and aspirations of the communities because I am part and parcel of them.” Sutton said he is not aware that the former governor of Lagos and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has endorsed any of the aspirants. “It’s just a rumour that is flying about the state. As far as I know, we had a meeting with Asiwaju in his house and he confirmed to all the aspirants that nobody has been en-

dorsed,” he said. He is also not bothered by the zoning of the governorship to Lagos East by the APC authorities. “Again, it is a rumour that the governorship has been zoned to the East senatorial district. As far as I am concerned and as far as the APC is concerned, there is going to be a level-playing field for all the aspirants to contest the primaries,” he added. Sutton believes all the aspirants have a good vision and that they have something good for Lagosians. He insists however that he is the best because of the approach he is going to adopt in governance. His words: “The approach is what I call a bottom-up approach, whereby the community and Lagosians at large will tell me how

they want to be governed. The people will be involved in the running of the government. They will be involved in terms of community development. What I mean by a bottom-up approach is that I will have a stakeholders’ meeting with members of different communities, to find out what they need. “Why I’m doing that? This is because what they need in Ikeja is different from what they need in Ijora; what they need in Ijora is different from what they need in Ikoyi; what they need in Ikoyi is different from what they need in Yaba. So, every local government will have a stakeholders’ group that will be part of the governance. We are providing the services for the people, so they have to be part of the government.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

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I have never set out to advertently obfuscate my audience. Nor have I deliberately set out to deposit my audience in a portmanteau. It is just that I put my nose to the grindstone. I am inebriated in my aqua of self immolation. And when you do this over a period of time, it comes like the rattle of a gun

RACE TO 2015 The controversy stirred by the recent Ebonyi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress for the election of delegates for the House of Assembly primaries has not abated. Governor Martin Elechi has called for its cancellation. But, stakeholders have insisted that it was free and fair. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE writes on the push for reconciliation in the chapter.

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‘Why I want to go to Senate’ All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon is the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The senatorial aspirant spoke with SEGUN AJIBOYE on his ambition and other national issues.

Ebonyi: Elechi, stakeholders I bicker over PDP congress

HE primaries for the House of Assembly aspirants under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has become an eye opener to politicians and observers. A few hours to the primaries, Governor Martin Elechi suddenly acted as the Publicity Secretary of the PDP announcing that the primaries scheduled to hold across the country on November 29 would not hold in the state as it had been cancelled. The Acting Chairman, Chief Onwe Joseph Onwe, was on the federal government owned Unity FM, announcing that the primaries would hold, urging members to participate in the exercise, a development that put to question when the governor turned the spokesman of the party. Uncertain as to how much the people believed the governor, the state government saw the monthly cleanup exercise a ploy to thwart the exercise, announcing that any person or persons caught outside before 10.00 am would be dealt with. About 85 people, most of them suspected to have gone out to participate in the PDP primaries, were arrested. Around 10.00am, Ebonyi PDP faithful moved to the party secretariat along the Abakaliki/ Enugu Expressway, only to find the place barricade with imported thugs on guard. The situation was solved when they were told to go to another venue, Pinnacle Hotels, a stone throw from the PDP secretariat where the five-man team sent by the National Working Committee (NWC) were seated with the materials for the election intact. The team was led by Senator Ben Collin Ndu as Chairman, Hajia Yela, member, Rt. Hon. Simon Dogari, San Mohammed Aminu, Alhaji Aliyu Bindawa, member/secretary. The sight of the panel brewed instantaneous jubilation in the camp of those who had waited to have the election conducted whereas those who were believed to have preferred to have it cancelled on the account that they would lose should they go ahead with the primaries saw it as frustration. Many observers of the trend saw it as an implicit boycott of the governor’s camp from the exercise as it was suggested that it was more honourable to stage such boycott than to participate in the election that they were sure of utter defeat. The turnout at the venue was unprecedented in the records of political gathering in the state. Apart from those who had come to participate in the exercise, observers turned to be more in numbers, just like a crowd that could have made a better mega rally for President Goodluck Jonathan in Ebonyi State. The situation created the problem of crowd control hence the security was beefed up with armoured personnel carrier stationed at the entrance to the venue. So, the PDP team set to work, with observers, journalists, the police, the SSS, INEC seated while the materials were shared. After receiving their material, the officers guarded by security men zoomed off to their various units where the elections held. At the various units, the elections went on successfully without hitches as was at-

• Elechi

• Anyim

tested to by the observers and news newsmen who monitored the exercise. Surprisingly, Elechi is said to be agitating that the peacefully congresses which graduated to the last Saturday’s exercise should be set aside. This brings to clear question as to where the governor wants to lead the state. The election was conducted with his knowledge, only for the governor to turn back, asking for its cancellation, because Ebonyi people no longer want to be led by the nose, but to elect their people of choice than endorsement by one person. It was also out of this highhandedness that the wife of a governorship aspirant, Senator Ofia Nwali, and 27 other council officers were sacked because they opposed the imposition of candidates by the governor. Already, new coordinators have been appointed and sworn in by the governor without having them screen by the state house of assembly, like a case of lawlessness. The problem arising from a situation where the governor said he had recognition for Mr. Blaise Orji as the Speaker of the House of Assembly against the elected Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, whose sin is that he insisted that the governor should duly account for the expenditure of N16.5 billion Bond he borrowed from the Nigerian Stock Exchange before seeking for another N15 billion Bond at the twilight of this administration. Ebonyi people are by the day becom-

ing more disappointed with these turn of events, more so as even executive council members lawmakers are forced to sign documents for the purpose of giving teeth to impunity, a development that is worsened with the sight of many unfinished projects. The recount has put to question certain acts and schemes that had all along been left asleep. Stakeholders are at a loss as to how the Ofurekpe water scheme embarked upon by the Elechi Administration at its inception in 2007 flew from the estimated cost of one billion naira (NIb) to N7.8b. Even as one could accept that there could be cases of variations, how could it be that even with such differentials, there is no hope of drinking water from the scheme till the end of this administration as nothing again is being done on the project to justify such expenditure of the Ebonyi people’s fund? The Governor had on the floor of the 24-member Ebonyi State House of Assembly apologised for his failed promise that our people would drink water from the scheme last year. Is someone taking his people for a ride? A multi-million naira rice parboiling machine meant for the none-functional billion naira rice mills is still missing without any admissible account but deceit that the machine is on the high seas sailing towards the Nigerian shores. Can the ship arrive before May 29, 2015 or shall we continue in the rigmarole (ashi ashi)? For what reason was the Abakaliki/ Enugu expressway which the Federal Government awarded to the renowned SETRACO construction firm has a section of it terminated and re-awarded by a state government that cries of porosity of funds. Now the project has been abandoned. Is anybody playing games? The NIGERCEM, Nkalagu, the foremost cement manufacturing firm in the south East geo-political zone of Nigeria was at least operational during the previous administration of Dr. Sam OminyinEgwu but went moribund shortly after Chief Elechi took over as the governor of the state. Those who laboured to rehabilitate the firm have been unreservedly frustrated and traditional rulers who welcomed them have been dethroned by the incumbent administration. What could be the reasons for these but the veiled economic and political interests of the government whose allies and siblings are believed to be the directors and benefactors of the death of the NIGERCEM? M&J Construction firm has handled about half of the contracts awarded to local contactors since the inception of this administration. A reveal of those who own the company would explain why shoddy jobs could have been granted certificates of completion and the poor tax payers’ money released to them. Worst still, the demand of N15billion from the Nigerian Stock Exchange by the Elechi-led administration has thrown spanners into the wheels of the state polity degenerating to alleged impeachments and counter impeachment in the state House of Assembly, merely because some persons including the Speaker of the House have call on the executive arm of the government to explain how the first Bond of N16.5 billion was spent without any evident success in the execution of the projects it was tied to. Does anybody want to further mortgage the state?

S the governor aware of your senatorial ambition? It would be an act of irresponsibility for the Chief of Staff to the Governor to enter a very sensitive race like that of the Senate without informing his principal. In fact, that would be political suicide and that would be putting it mildly. To answer your question epigrammatically and succinctly, I will say yes, Mr. Governor is aware that I am in the race. But of course, you know Mr. Governor, he is forged in the furnace of democracy, he is forged in the furnace of popular participation in the electoral process. So, being a chief of staff, not withstanding, he is giving a level playing field to all those who are interested in the senate race. And for that matter, any of the seats is thrown open. Only the people will decide. There is a long list of aspirants gunning for the office. What makes you feel you have the edge? I am quick to say and quick to admit that my brother, Hon. Samson Osagie has discharged his parliamentary responsibilities quite resoundingly. There is no doubt about that. Having admitted that, but let me also say that my parliamentary pedigree is copiously in the public domain for the people to appreciate. 12 years of my work in parliament, people will bear testimony that I have used the parliament as an instrument of social engineering. I have no doubt at all that the people will decide. In any case, given my very rich background, I am a robot in the hands of God. What were your achievements in the House of Representatives to give the courage to go for a higher post? I had many projects attracted to my constituency. One, I drew the attention of the Federal Government, using available tools of the budget provision to ensure that lots of solar street lights were put in my constituency. I attracted the renovation and reconstruction of primary and secondary schools in my constituency. Beyond that, I brought about the provision of industrial boreholes in my constituency. It will interest you to know that it was, flowing from my historical motion drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the very perilous and precarious state of Ore-Benin-Lagos road that the president gave the then Works minister a marching order to come and look at the state of that road, following which hurried attempts were made to fix the road. The point I am making here is that I dint concentrate attention on my constituency, which is Oredo federal constituency. I saw myself as a global player. Your colleagues saw you more as a comedian when you were in the House. Do you intend to continue with the trend, if you are elected into the Senate? The oxymoron in this observation is that sometimes when I hear people laugh themselves into a state of coca oral in reaction to my speech, whereas they are amused by my communication, I myself get amused as to why they are laughing. At times, I say to myself it is either something is wrong with me or something is wrong with my audience. But, like I have always posited, I have never set out to advertently obfuscate my audience. Nor have I deliberately set out to deposit my audience in a portmanteau. It is just that I put my nose to the grindstone. I am inebriated in my aqua of self immolation. And when you do this over a period of time, it comes like the rattle of a gun. So if you ask whether I am deliberately setting out to do that, I would say except I do not talk any longer. But parliament is a place where you must talk. So, it comes out like the rattle of a gun. Some of your critics say you are not really comminucating... You see, it is just that we are lazy these days. Like I said, it is just that people are not putting their ears to the grindstone. The question that should be asked is ‘are my oracular oration figments of my imaginations?’ Are they not subjects of literary studies? So, it is for people to rise up from the intellectual laziness and have the willingness to improve their grave matter. For example, I say to people that 50 percent of what people call my verbal armory come from newspapers. Interestingly, the media is the sources of my metal strength. For the past 20 years, I have read nothing less than seven newspapers on daily basis. And when I read them, my wife says to me ‘are you preparing for exam?’ There is hardly any columnist in a national newspaper that I don’t know. I can recall with nostalgia, great debates that put columnists at antipodal dialectical directions at each point in time. And every day, I get nothing less than seven new words or phrases from writers. I go for my dictionary to get the meaning of such words. Do you speak in this manner at home? I speak Benin at home. Why did you face legal battles during your time in the House? The fact that I see myself as a global player by my share contributions on the floor of parliament is not attenuated by the court case I had. Let us not forget that in a political race, various political parties have their interests. And my major political opponent at that time said, rightly or wrongly, that my election did not meet legal integrity test. Of course, he has legal and constitutional right to do that. And so, he went to court, got victory at the tribunal and I got victory at the Court of Appeal. Those are normal political attestations. How would you describe your experience as a lawmaker and a chief of staff to a governor? The two are quite different, especially coming from a parliamentary background. Let me bring into focus here, I had done eight years in the state House of Assembly. So, it was 12 years of my life in the parliament before I had the rare priviledge to be appointed by the governor to come and serve as a chief of staff. In parliament, you have a latitudinarian canvas to titillate and titivate the solar plexus on national questions. • Obaiagbon

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Democracy in Nigeria

Costly negligence •Bickering between Police and DSS over prosecution of Nyanya bomb blast suspect, shows government's latitude in the fight against terrorism

OSTLY schizophrenia -- that appears what the Goodluck Jonathan government suffers, in its attitude to terrorism. In one breath, it goes as far as securing the extradition of a terror suspect. But to nail the case in court, its security agencies obstruct themselves. Against Islamist terrorism that has killed and maimed thousands of innocent Nigerians, no government can afford to project such culpable split mentality and laxity. Yet, that appears the matter in the case of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the suspected mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bombing in Abuja, in which no fewer than 70 Nigerians perished; and scores of others maimed. On November 24, noticing the PoliceDSS dingdong, which had produced no witness against the accused person, even after many court appearances, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, terminated the case "for want of diligent prosecution". He acquitted the accused person. From media reports, the Police arraigned Ogwuche on a two-count charge of terrorism, asking the DSS to release to it the suspect. But the DSS reportedly demurred, insisting that since it had the suspect and investigated the case, the Police should withdraw its case, thus allowing DSS to file "a proper" charge. All pleas by Justice Ademola, to the two security arms to amicably resolve their differences for the case to proceed fell on deaf ears -- until the termination of November 24, which the judge probably used as some shock therapy. Indeed, things got to a head when the accused started suing for his fundamental human rights -- and why not? -- when the rigmarole was stalling a trial; yet the ac-

cused (presumed innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven otherwise in court) was in detention. The hearing for the enforcement of Ogwuche's human rights is fixed for later this month. The Police have, however, reacted with a bombast rippling with sophistry, denying it ever arraigned Ogwuche on any charge. "For the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences," Police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, and acting commissioner of Police (CP) declared in a release. "Moreover, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the Police could not have happened as the Police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody." So, Justice Ademola made up the story, the observation in his own court, that there was a dingdong? He also, out of judicial whim, terminated the case, for no logical reason? The Police, however, admitted that it was only involved in getting Ogwuche extradited from the Sudan, which it crowed it was able to do through its Interpol sources. Perhaps the DSS too would come out with its own back-slapping rhetoric, its face creasing into some contemptuous benevolence, that it does the Nigerian people -innocent victims of terrorism both security arms are paid to avert -- a favour by deigning to drag a terror suspect to court; and reserves the right to secure conviction? Shame on both the Police and DSS for this culpable negligence. Even more so on the Police, for its insensitive bombast. Regrettably though, it is too glaring a manifestation of the wilful, if not outright fatal, distraction of the state under President Goodluck Jonathan. That a case of

this significance is managed so shabbily is a pointer to the manner the terrorism war is being executed by the federal government. The Police never sniff any intelligence, except when it is partisan. They flee from Boko Haram terror, only to swoop on Parliament, alleging some comical "hoodlums" where there are none. The DSS too appears largely quiet until it lands the partisan duty of invading a rival political party's facility, in what is reminiscent of the US Watergate scandal that consigned President Richard Nixon to historic odium. Even IGP Suleiman Abba, in the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal case, would misapply his office and defend his stance before a committee of Parliament in combative ignorance. The Police and DSS must get serious on the Ogwuche affair. Citizen Ogwuche, though accused of terror, is entitled to fair and speedy trial. That is his right under the law. Nigerians who died in terror attacks have a right to justice. That is the only way citizens can be convinced that the government takes its job seriously.

‘Shame on both the Police and DSS for this culpable negligence. Regrettably though, it is too glaring a manifestation of the wilful, if not outright fatal, distraction of the state under President Goodluck Jonathan’

Big scandal •Whatever excuses it gives, NDIC has not done enough to return funds to depositors of failed banks, even after 25 years

HE scandalous revelation that about N25 billion depositors’ fund, recovered from 48 failed banks in the past 25 years, is yet to be claimed by customers, is quite confounding. Such obfuscating adventure can only happen in this country. No better managed clime can fathom such exploitative dereliction of statutory duty. Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Managing Director, National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), at a recent sensitisation programme for stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, declared through Bello Shittu, a deputy director of the corporation: “We are worried about depositors whose monies are trapped in banks and they have refused to file their claims. As an organisation, we have been asking those concerned to access us but many have refused. In the last 25 years, we have had cause to liquidate 48 banks; and we have paid over N102 billion to depositors, both insured and uninsured. Yet, we still have N25 billion waiting for depositors to collect.’’ Of the N25 billion yet to be claimed, in-

‘NDIC must endeavour to meet up with its strategic mandate of protecting depositors; and stabilizing the nation’s financial system’

sured amount reportedly is in excess of N5 billion while uninsured amount is in excess of N20 billion. The foregoing situation is akin to damning cases in the capital market, where of billions of Naira worth of dividends remain unclaimed. In our view, the authorities have not shown sufficient concern about how the investing public can access these dividends. We are aware that Nigerians are not that buoyant that they would abandon whatever token they had in these failed banks. Since Nigerians are not Father Christmas, we believe that the problem at hand is failure on the part of NDIC to rise up to its statutory duties, particularly on measures to promote early refund of trapped funds. We are disturbed that the corporation, 26 years after it was established by the NDIC Decree 22 of 1988 (now NDIC Act No. 16, 2006), has not made appreciable impact on aggrieved bank customers; and even the banking public -- most of whom are not even aware of its role. The corporation, to the few with scant knowledge of its role, is deemed to have failed to provide effective supervisory role necessary to detect early distress signs in banks; and to bring such under timely control. We know of reported NDIC statistics showing its lagging approach to issues. For instance, of the total insured deposits of N17.873 billion of 48 deposit money banks (DMBs), in liquidation since 1994, a paltry cumulative sum of N6.682 bil-

lion had been paid to 528,204 insured depositors as at December 31, 2012. Similarly, a cumulative sum of N2.50 billion had been paid to depositors of the 103 microfinance banks (MFBs) which were closed in 2010. We equally know that the corporation uses abandoned bank accounts, among others, as alibi for delay in refund of trapped bank money. NDIC appears to wring its hands in abject surrender to customers reportedly deaf to its calls, even if the matter is about their hard-earned money. But we want the corporation to tell us what has happened to addresses and even phone numbers, including next-of-kin contacts, through which these customers could be reached? What efforts have the corporation made to get to them? How easy is the process of filing for refund? Could it be that the corporation cannot afford the budget demands of sending mails or even calling up these people to come for their money? What has happened to the accruable interest on this money? We demand that the corporation should be more altruistic in the discharge of its duties. Henceforth, the NDIC must endeavour to meet up with its strategic mandate of protecting depositors; be seen to be effectively contributing to the safety of people’s funds and stabilising the nation’s financial system.

IR: In Nigeria, despite the several hiccups in our current democratic expedition, it is gladdening that we’ve had 16 years of uninterrupted democratic experience. This, in itself, is quite significant in view of the fact that previous efforts at entrenching democracy in the polity were either aborted mid-way or simply emerged dead on arrival. Now that democracy is gradually being entrenched in the nation’s polity, it is the precise time to encourage certain tendencies that would further help in consolidating democratic principles and values in the country. One of such tendencies is institution building. A good number of the crisis being currently experienced in the system is a reflection of the faulty nature of democratic institutions in the country. Non adherence to the principle of internal democracy is partially responsible for the stalemates heating up the polity. Rather than adopt arbitrary rules in the way they are run, political party need to tilt toward institutionalizing their modus operandi. One of the distinguishing features of democracy is its participatory nature. Therefore, any system that encourages ‘powerful’ individuals within a political framework to hijack party structure and operation is far from being democratic. For democracy to really overcome its teething stage in the country, political parties must take effort to promote participatory democracy. Also of equal significance is the necessity for a clear-cut separation of powers, as affirmed by the constitution, between the executive and other arms of government. Fortunately, there seems to be a relative measure of independence in the way the legislative arms across the country now carry out their functions. This is against the backdrop of what used to be the trend in the early years of the current political dispensation. However, there is still much to be done in ensuring that every arm of government operates independently and interdependently in accordance with the spirit of the constitution. Since legislatures are elected representatives of the people, it is important that they truly provide the checks and balances needed to guarantee transparency and accountability in the system. Any attempt by the two arms (i.e executive and legislature) to deliberately short-change the people, aside being a betrayal of trust would be fundamentally injurious to the system. • Kazeem Olalekan Israel, Ibadan, Oyo State.

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 3, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: What is the problem of Nigeria? I ask assuming we agree that Nigeria is not where it should be in the comity of nations. Giant of Africa, land of milk and honey, haven of opportunities; that is definitely not what Nigeria of today is. Believe it or not, we are a long way from home, we have drifted, we are lost, and unless and until we find our problem, we shall not find our bearing. We are where we are, dying, stinking, wasted, not only because our colonial masters set us on the wrong foot, orchestrating a nation that was bound to fail, as they did in other places like Rwanda; we are falling, our oil economy unsustainable, our Naira once touted to be the standard for African trade now deregulated, the integrity of our

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Nigeria’s greatest problem perimeter threatened as insurgency is insurmountable. We have an undiagnosed threat – the National Assembly (NASS). If you believe that our problem is corruption in unthinkable places; that our Constitution is inadequate, antique, and skewed; if you believe that our judicial process is unpardonably slow; that our law enforcement is nonexistent; if you believe that our executive is

not accountable; that our legislature is outright irresponsible, scaling fences in the bid to secure their paunches; then you agree with me that our problem is fundamental. Take corruption. What happened to Oduahgate? What happened to the $20 billion NNPC funds which then Sanusi Lamido Sanusi called our attention to? What happened to subsidies and Police pensions? Are the investigations still alive?

Where are the reports? I bet they are gathering dust somewhere beneath schemes to appropriate more subventions to our sacred parasites now themselves agitating for immunity while bemoaning the executive’s misuse of same... It would indeed seem to the attentive mind that the true intent and purpose of NASS behinddoors interventions in corruption

It’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities

IR: This day, December 3, has been set aside annually for the observance of the International Day of persons with disabilities as proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. Its observance seeks to promote understanding of disability issues and to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. We appreciate the National Assembly for harmonization, adoption and passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill for the third time since the advent of this democratic era. The bill provides for the prohibition of discrimination and harmful practices against persons with disabilities. It also provides for rights to health, education, participation in political activities and National Commission for persons with disabilities. We acknowledge states that have enacted disability laws like Plateau, Bauchi, Ekiti and Lagos. These states have made robust provisions for the protection of their citizens

with disabilities from cruel and harmful practices. But very important is the criminalization of discrimination on grounds of disability which is a critical factor in the daily lives of citizens with disabilities. We are worried that Nigerian banks claim to promote financial inclusion but exclude Nigerians with disabilities. Participation of citizens with disabilities in banking activities is becoming limited due to lack of access to banking halls and services. We are also concerned that eligible Nigerians with disabilities may not participate in the 2015 general elections due to limited provisions for PWDs in the Electoral Act even as amended. INEC has capitalized on it to deny PWDs access to participation in the electoral process. Efforts to compel INEC to enhance effective participation of PWDs in the electoral process have been unsuccessful due to absence of enabling legal framework. Finally, we are also worried that the Boko Haram insurgency has raised more persons with disabilities than we can think or imagine. Whenever a bomb drops, after the casualties, the rest are those who might have lost a part of their body. Yet, the National Information Cen-

tre hardly informs Nigerians about the number of persons disabled as a result of the attacks. Those that survive the attacks that are disabled are on their own due government neglect. We call on the President to use this year’s observance to sign the disability bill into law so as to reduce the challenge of living with disability in Nigeria. Government at all levels should take appropriate steps to enhance access to justice for citizens with disabilities. This is achievable through removal of institutional, environmental and attitudinal barriers that hinder access to Police Stations,

court premises, Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres and the cost of justice. The Central Bank should also take necessary measures to ensure citizens with disabilities have access to financial institutions in the spirit of financial inclusion campaign. Widening the poverty level of Nigerians with disabilities due to minimal access to banking halls and services is a classical example of how not to promote financial inclusion and poverty reduction, as disability causes poverty and poverty causes disability. David O. Anyaele Ikeja, Lagos,

matters is not farfetched: sharing the loot! Otherwise, NASS, being representatives of the people would not keep from them live transmissions of these probes; otherwise, the matter would not be dead on arrival, and thrown under the carpet; otherwise, there would be reportable results... But then, how does one expect NASS to be anti-corruption when their salaries are themselves corrupt? When they would rather starve Nigerians of subsidies that shrink their own bogus allowances? When they only serve themselves: their interests, their pockets, their election as governors of their home states, or perpetual election as Representatives? Why, I ask, is there not term limits for them?- David Mark, for one, has become a veteran, yet the battlefront in the Northeast is devoid of their esteemed veteran selves or presence... We have a Constitution that is not harsh on corruption. We have a constitution that does not compel office holders to perform, to execute worthwhile projects and leave behind sustainable policies. We have a constitution that does not stipulate a national development plan and consequently leaves us at the mercy of the officeholder, inadvertently allowing abandonment and wasteful repetition of projects, oftentimes white elephants. Whose duty is it to make laws, to amend the constitution, to strengthen the constitution? Your guess is as good as mine! • Ayk Fowosire, Sagamu

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Time to let Keshi go

IR: I wish to strongly appeal to the NFF to simply allow coach Keshi to go, for his benefits and for the general interests of our football. Keshi’s coaching skills had become obsolete, he has no clear game plan for any match, and he lacks the ability to properly read games. He needs refresher courses, while the coaching job should be given to a world class coach(foreign or local) who can take our football to the next level.

Bringing him back was a great mistake as his sack would have sent the message that no poor performance will be tolerated. The boys would have raised their game to secure the qualification, to safeguard their positions in the team and to impress the new coach. But alas, that didn’t happen. Keshi was brought back, and the disaster of not qualifying was sealed. Also, coach Keshi put his personal ego above national interest. Without holding brief for any player who

might have offended the coach, I think national interest and how good a player is should play great part in inviting him. Obagoal was “hot”, Ike Uche was “shooting” and in Iheanacho is a “great potential”, yet they are all not qualified for Keshi’s team. So, Keshi should go with his moderate achievements, while Nigeria recruits a world class coach. • Fatai Abisodun, Ore Ondo State

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

COMMENTS

‘Our Girls’; DSTV/Multichoice: Keep Euronews; OBJ; No to IMF/WB: Naira up, political salaries down! ‘

UR Girls’ are still missing since April 15. This is a tragedy that will not go away until there is closure. It is very unfortunate that Multichoice is Tony removing Euronews Marinho from Channel 414 of its very expensive, N12,000/month cable bouquet. This is typical and unfair. Euronews gives a world overview especially about the EU countries with up to date science, arts, sport and political content. It is not biased towards the US or the UK. The daily Rendez-vous, ACT social responsibility adverts and ‘No Comment’ videos give visual insight into many issues. Just today we saw the ice festival and Musica, Futuris and Space. Multichoice is once again behaving arbitrarily. We have paid for that channel and Multichoice is therefore in breach of contract! Euronews like Chinese stations, 409 and 415 and the Indian station 413 give us ‘channel jumpers’ and for those who go through 20 or more channels in a night, a rich menu of knowledge. I protest in the strongest possible terms the removal of Euronews from the DStv KU Africa band and urge reinstatement. Africa must know what is going on in the EU. It is Euronews which gives widest coverage to migrants fleeing Africa and winding up drowned at Lampedusa and other islands. Keep Euronews! How will we learn about the rising National Front anti-black sentiment in the EU without Euronews? Do not misunderstand me. Euronews is a global channel and if Multichoice/DStv is to remove it then it should also remove BBC, CNN and Sky News and Aljazzera as being irrelevant to Africa, abi? There are Nigerians in every EU country. Or does Multichoice think we are too stupid to appreciate Euronews in Africa? Obasanjo has attracted attack dogs. Of course the main problem is not the quality of his comments but the question ‘what did he do when he held absolute power?’ Yes, he got our ‘foreign debt’ cut massively. The goodwill he had should

HE expiration of the emergency rule in the three northeast states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe on November 20, and the seemingly foot-dragging by both Houses of the National Assembly to assent to a further extension of the state of emergency currently in the three states, has thrown the government into a quandary. If at the end of this logjam, the emergency is finally approved by the National Assembly, it would be the third time the President would be extending the emergency since the outbreak of the festering Boko Haram crisis in the country in 2009. The first state of emergency was declared by the President on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. This was later extended for another six months in November, 2013 and again renewed for a further six months in May, lasting till Thursday, November 20. After 18 months, it is yet unclear if the emergency has had any serious impact on the security situation in the affected areas beyond the numerous checkpoints now dotting the landscape in the North-east of the country. In recent times, rather than improve, the security situation in the theatre of war seems to be deteriorating to such an extent that the terrorists now control an expanse of land across the three states. They seem to have grown from a roving band of criminals - using guerrilla tactics to inflict pains on innocent people as well as confronting security agents who are mostly taken unawares - to become a formidable force that takes on the security agents, sack villages and declare such conquered areas as part of a utopian Islamic Caliphate, which they intend to create.

have impacted on the railways which lurched from the Canadians, Indians and Chinese. Only now is the Jonathan government finally ‘growing’ the railways perhaps on the railway blueprint designed by late Engineer CSO Akande for the Obasanjo regime? Obasanjo stopped the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway approved World Bank funded road contractor, cancelling the contract, forcing Nigeria to pay an undisclosed ‘Breach-of-Contract’ fine in the millions of dollars. The rest as they say is history, bad go-slow history. Obasanjo threatened to complete the East-West Road and the Second Niger Bridge as political bait. Obasanjo’s politics and election outcomes are political science’s Machiavellian masterpieces. Obasanjo and Jonathan, like all Presidents, except Yar’Adua who allocated land for the Lekki Bridge, share a hatred for Lagos State unleashing stunting fiscal and physical obstacles including withholding N10 billion and approvals for development and unleashing dogs of war, ministers of the federal republic, and the ‘new improved’ Black Shirts of SureP on Lagos. Hitler also had Black Shirts and Brown Shirts, remember? Last week this column discussed austerity measures associated with the fall in oil prices and decreased sales of oil and gross mismanagement of the economy with a skewed ‘Salary and Perks’ structure in favour of a greedy overpaid political class and civil service. Obasanjo has reached similar conclusions. I repeat the key points even as we ‘congratulate’ our first female OPEC President Diezani Alison–Madueke. Do you remember when the National Assembly (NASS) insulted the coordinating minister of the economy for insisting on a budget at $73 per barrel benchmark? Now oil is $73 and may fall to $60/barrel. Nigeria should reduce the pump price now. Perhaps an apology is in order but unlikely as even the Inspector General of Police (IGP) exposed himself as someone with cheap values and strong political leanings as he refuses to ‘recognise’ the Speaker. Warning -South Africa plans to add 6-9 Gigawatts of nuclear power and to export nuclear technology to Africa by 2030. This will cost up to $90b. Nigeria’s nuclear plant is due in 2020. Please site it right in Central Business District in Abuja next to NASS, so politicians will be forced to fear for their

own lives. Nuclear and corruption are explosive. Ask, as a tropical nation where is solar energy? We are now monitoring gas flaring by satellite tracking. Kudos to this government for initiating a ‘Clean Cooking Scheme’ with distribution of one million gas stoves just as the Indonesians did. Now we also want a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) backed ‘$5billion Solar Scheme’ to allow 2-5 year one percent loans for cutting edge, 2014 Solar Schemes. And why is the IMF as usual happy to support CBN’s increase in MPR to 13% and fall in naira value? The UK, USA and the EU dropped their interest rates to near zero so all citizens could access funds to stimulate growth. Abroad monetary policy is ‘help the citizen’ In Nigeria it is ‘screw or eliminate the citizen’ as a serious economic strategy. Politicians from across parties must cut salaries by 75% and go part-time with sitting allowances. Constituency projects must be scrapped. Let us make fiscal responsibility an election question? America and the UK did not devalue their currency. Why are the IMF, ‘International Mortician’s Fund’ and ‘Woe Bank’ delighted at naira devaluation? There are alternatives. Someone should tell them that reviving the economy is about assisting all hard-working human beings in Nigeria with low interest loans and not mere economic number-crunching and selective loans to targeted industries.

‘Why is the IMF as usual happy to support CBN’s increase in MPR to 13% and fall in naira value? The UK, USA and the EU dropped their interest rates to near zero so all citizens could access funds to stimulate growth. Abroad monetary policy is ‘help the citizen’ In Nigeria it is ‘screw or eliminate the citizen’ as a serious economic strategy’

Terrorism: Nigeria at crossroads – 1 With the anticipated fourth state of emergency in place, the time has come for the federal government to find a lasting solution to this problem of terrorism, a problem that has accounted for the loss of thousands of lives, the displacement of many, while hundreds of schools and churches have been destroyed, with the economy of the affected areas lying prostrate. This is why many people think the emergency rule may not bring the desired result after all. Many are, therefore, advocating for a total war to be declared by the government on the terrorists as a way of uprooting them from Nigerian soil. But the government seems to be handicapped by extraneous political considerations or the lack of political will which may have prevented it from declaring an all out war on the terrorists. Such a declaration could make life uncomfortable for the governors, the legislators, the local government administrations and all that, in the affected areas. It is doubtful if such a request would sail through in a divided and fragmented National Assembly such as we have in place at the moment. Besides, it remains to be seen whether this constantly renewed emergency which has already spanned 18 months, would bring an end to the menace of these terrorists at the end of the day. Much of the job needs to be done by the military with the support of the government and the people. However, with dwindling oil-based revenue, the money may no longer

‘The DIA, an agency that is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of gathering intelligence across our borders, has been caught napping while all manner of criminals are infiltrating our borders at will and roaming about in the country, killing and maiming people indiscriminately’

be there to properly support the military and deal decisively with the terrorists. Equally telling is the fact that the country is currently being confronted by the ugly spectre of a demoralised military as illustrated by the ineffectiveness so far displayed by the soldiers drafted to the battle-front to fight Boko Haram. The problem with the military include: lack of adequate fire power to effectively confront and contain the terrorists, non-release and nonpayment of duty allowances to the troops, insubordination and indiscipline among the troops, as well as cowardice and desertion, among others. The morale of the troops seems to be at the lowest ebb, which is why some time ago, a case of mutiny was recorded when some soldiers attached to the newly created 7th Division of the Nigerian Army based in Maiduguri, a division created out of expediency to take on the terrorists operating in the north-eastern axis of the country - allegedly turned their guns on the General Officer Commanding, GOC who reportedly escaped death by the whiskers. What we are witnessing is a situation where the terrorists who seem to be operating under the influence of an inexplicable murderous spell, are ready to die and kill as many people as they possibly could, while our soldiers either don’t want to engage the terrorists or often vote with their feet at the sight of the rampaging terrorists. This way, the terrorists have often effortlessly captured towns and villages as well as huge cache of arms abandoned by fleeing soldiers. In certain instances, some military formations have been laid bare for terrorists to overrun because soldiers claim their officers had asked them to pull out. Though some of these anomalies are currently subjects of investigation by the Army hierarchy, they have nonetheless engaged the attention of military analysts who are of the opinion that the Army should

possibly embark on the recruitment of fearless, able-bodied men to boost its manpower needs. Their contention is that most of the soldiers recruited in the last few years may have signed up mainly for the sole purpose of eking out a living, especially as they got recruited in peace time without weighing the possibility that a war of the magnitude of the current one could break out. In the alternative, some analysts say, the Civil Defence Corps, who are supposedly well-trained, could be converted from their sleeping mode into an effective fighting force to be incorporated into the Army. The fact remains that soldiers may not want to be seen as incompetent; otherwise, the Army may need to fall back on the old, retired soldiers who are still active and may be willing to participate in the war. As it is now, there are no two ways about it: it doesn’t seem that the 7th Division of the Army alone can cope with this war. There may be need for the creation of several task forces, each with independent commanders to take care of specific sectors with a strict warning never to yield an inch of Nigerian soil to the terrorists. Besides, as this column has advocated in the past, there is the need for somebody of high competence to coordinate this war. By this, I mean a Coordinating Minister for the war. In Israel, there is a Minister of Intelligence; the Americans have a Director of Intelligence, but here in Nigeria, all we have right now is a coordinating spokesman in the person of Mike Omeri, whose duty is just to speak turenchi everyday and no more. Also, our Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, as presently constituted, is comatose, or perhaps, even as dead as dodo. The DIA, an agency that is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of gathering intelligence across our borders, has been caught napping while all manner of criminals are infiltrating

Dele Agekameh our borders at will and roaming about in the country, killing and maiming people indiscriminately. The Boko Haram war has, so far, defied any solution, just as the terrorists have remained defiant. From all indications, that band of gangsters is determined to prove a point through their signature mark of ceaseless brigandage and bloodletting. At a time people thought some respite had been achieved because of the lull in their bombing campaigns. But then, the terrorists swiftly swooped on the premises of Ashaka Cement Factory, located in Ashaka town, Gombe State. After a staccato of gunshots, during which a few people were killed, they exited the premises with some vehicles fully loaded with explosive materials and disappeared into thin air. What followed was a resurgence of their bombing campaign all over the place. At the last count, many states and cities in the northern part of the country including Kano (last Friday), Maiduguri, Potiskum had been hit by suicide bombers. From the sudden resurgence of these bombings, it is apparent that Boko Haram has perfected its strategies to get replenishment for its war arsenal by conducting raids on possible weapon locations. Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

COMMENTS ‘I have never seen, even in a millitary regime, where police are interpreting the law when the Constitution is very clear to everybody. The Inspector-General does not understand the implication of what he said when he said the matter was in the court of law, and still went ahead and said he did not recognise Tambuwal as the Speaker. We are not in a Banana Republic where laws are not obeyed. The action of the IG shows that he does not know the Constitution. IG and his backers should know that Nigeria is bigger than them. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos’

•Jonathan

For Olatunji Dare Dare, I always enjoy your piece but I will rather adopt sidon look, according to the great Cicero. If you want to enjoy being alive, please, adopt the sidon look and talk less approach. Anonymous Seriously, I feel uncomfortable and unhappy with the situation; the police are being used to terrorise opposition. Inasmuchas I am against our honourables climbing the fence, I know they had to take the last option available to save their job, because minority in Nigeria always have their way. For instance, the Governors’ Forum where 17 governors elected a chairman, seven Assembly members in Ekiti impeached the Speaker, recently. All these actions had the protection of the police controlled by the presidency. I want to advise the presidency to caution the police and allow fair play. From Demola Martins President Jonathan is being consumed by his unpopularity at home and abroad. International gang-up against his fight against Boko Haram and now against our economy will compound anti-Jonathan sentiments. It is typical of him to think that recourse to police state is the answer. From Chris Ugi Uncle Dare, I commend you for your piece. I think the only solution to this problem is to take our destiny in our hands as every institution has collapsed. As a nation, we cannot be proud of security. All has been destroyed by selfish politics. From Abubakarr, Lagos. Anyone who understands the constitutional framework as it pertains to the office of the President and the Inspector General of Police knows that the Police would not violate the legislature unless on direct order of the President. The tragedy, however, is that every act of presidential impunity is one extra nail on the coffin of our collective demise as a democracy. I said this during former President Obasanjo’s administration. The monstrosity we see today is the generational offspring of its precursors. The worst is yet to be seen. From U.N. Udechukwu, SAN. On the making of police state, President Jonathan should beware, the police should beware. They have not coped with Boko Haram. When they upset the apple cart, they cannot cope with the people’s wrath. Let former President Campaore and Burkina-Faso be their latest lesson. It is possible here. From Henny ,Awka Security agencies should not take sides in the coming elections, against the wish of the electorate and opposition parties, but to carry everybody along in order not to truncate the democratic process. Every party should be given equal treatment, ditto their aspirants and candidates. From Gordon Chika Nnorom It is, indeed, sad that the Nigerian

state is being run like a private firm. The earlier the trend is stopped the better before the situation degenerates into anarchy. Anonymous For Segun Gbadegesin “The Face of Pseudo Democracy” Good and courageous piece. At least, let’s sustain the intellectual battle against this lame duck, clueless and despotic government. From Gabriel, Abuja. Why our leaders turn the country and state upside down. Those in power have money, food, cars, houses etc. If you are in PDP they like you, if you are not, you will be hated. Have they forgotten that what one sows one shall reap. Thank God their children are there to receive double because after a father is a son. Anonymous What joy does a dead man derive to be told that his murderer was found in a sack cloth and ashes? Of what benefit is a pair of lens to an already blind man? Obviously, President Jonathan has no new blood to inject into the polity and governance. He loves the paraphernalia of the office as opposed to its associated burdens. It was some sort of baptism into humdrum susceptibility of the low caste. In a manner of speaking, the police were on a Red Cross charity-grade mission to give the butterfly who fancied himself a bird a beneficial reality check. President Jonathan has become a dog in a manger, not only to Nigerians but also PDP, fighting dirty to maintain the status quo. Does one wonder why he was endorsed by PDP with glaring abysmally low performance? Does one wonder why he has politicised and ethicised all the national institutions funded by taxpayers’ money and introduced religion into the political space? Anthe Federal Government does not remember them for laudable duties but the ones that bring shame and ridicule like the House of Representatives’ issue. Anonymous Re-The face of a pseudo democracy. The brazen abuse of the rule of law and broken due process by IG and co was/ is condemnable! However, all existing political parties need to work in unison to save the current democracy. I noted that, all of them are not transparent, are impure, have self interest, do not love the mass of Nigerians. The journalists, too, need to write on problems and suggest solutions on social, cultural, religious, economic and international issues. Only through those, can they save this democracy since the politicians benefit 80 percent in this dispensation! Are CPs of all state governments not acting same scripts of IG Suleiman Abba. Everybody’s objective analyses of issues will save us from pseudo-democracy. From Lanre Oseni. Good write up, keep it up. Advise the IG to remember people like Tafa Balogun, Hafiz Ringim and co. Where are they now. Anonymous It is a very bad omen for security agents to take sides against the lawmakers over Tambuwal’s defection to APC. Afterall, it is not a crime for

Tambuwal to defect. Cross-carpeting is allowed in our Constitution. Why must Tambuwal’s defection generate heat in some quarters? From Gordon Chika Nnorom Re:”The face of a pseudo democracy.” In a very good democratic setting, the rule of law must be at play. Clamping down on opposition party during elections must not be an exercise that a ruling party will adopt to dominate the political landscape, in order to intimidate the electorate to rig election and subvert the will of the people in the opposition statesThese are the scenarios we are witnessing today. About two weeks ago, we saw how the National Assembly was recklessly invaded by the Police who have chosen fabrication of lies as part of their method to justify their disgraceful actions. The masses are really suffering; the impoverishment of the larger population is at a boiling point. Kidnapping, militancy and terrorism keep on increasing daily with heavy loss of lives being recorded. There is also a down turn in the economy due to the high rate of insecurity. Yet, these do not bother the ruling party. Government can force its way into the data office of APC, vandalise their computers and offer flimsy excuses. This type of excessive use of power is a sign of anarchy that can descend on the country if care is not taken. We need divine intervention so that the grace of Allah will abide and disgrace will disappear. From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye Segun, you’ve said its exactly the way it is. To say more is to lie. Wrong doesn’t become right because it is done by a kinsman. I know I shall be here when this barbarity going around comes around - when these sowers of the seeds of anarchy reap the fruits of their destructive labour. Anonymous “The face of a pseudo democracy” would not be complete until it includes the rascally nature of the opposition and their pseudo progressivism. Until then, it remains a piece of biased writing and the stuff of propaganda. From Kuteyi R.R, Ondo. For Gbenga Omotoso Inspector-General Suleiman Abba is a courageous fine officer. And to confirm this let him lead his obedient men with tear gas to the forbidden Sambisa smaller gate, Borno State. From Obeya Onyema, Makurdi. Suleiman Abba is acting a script of his desperate paymasters. This is just a litmus test of what will befall the nation in 2015.The Police boss is working for the PDP period. Be prepared for a tragic ‘election’ in 2015. From Comrade Sati Tanko, Jos. Abba is PDP-IG. I see no reason why people are getting mad about the current state of police and NASS. “A sheep that makes friends with a dog, must act to produce bad product.” Let him not recognise the Speaker; the case is in court. From Sani Jibo, Katsina. We are back to the old and dark

•Tambuwal

days of military rule. Everybody should be prepared for the challenge ahead. However, it’s unfortunate that such is happening in a regime we expected so much from. From Mr Fatimilehin Sunday. To think that the IGP is a “lawyer” displaying such level of ignorance of the law and provisions of the Constitution, is baffling. The NBA should disown him and strike his name out of its register. He is a disgrace to their noble profession. From Dr.Cy.Nwanodi, PortHarcourt, Rivers State. Haba Abba! My sincere opinion and reaction to your publication is that if Mr. President cannot stop the IG and the police’s show of shame on the National Assembly matter, by sacking the IG to prove that he had no hand in the matter, he should resign immediately for gross incompetence before it is too late. From Tunde, Ibadan Barricade of the gate does not justify the scaling of the fence by the ‘honourable’ members of the National Assembly. Two wrongs never make a right. If these men would live by the name honourable, what they should have done was to address the press at the gate, drawing attention of Nigerians to the said dishonorable act of the Nigeria Police, and leave us to judge. By breaking the gate and disobeying the Senate President’s order of closure of the National Assembly, and a member rough handling him, has made the members no better than the police. God save Nigerian leaders. Can we repose any confidence in our lawmakers and the law enforcement agents? From Olalere Segun, Ibadan. I have never seen even in a millitary regime where police are interpreting the law when the Constitution is very clear to everybody. The Inspector-General does not understand the implication of what he said when he said the matter was in the court of law, and still went ahead and said he did not recognise Tambuwal as the Speaker. We are not in a Banana Republic where laws are not obeyed. The action of the IG shows that he does not know the Constitution. IG and his backers should know that Nigeria is bigger than them. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos. IG Sulaiman Abba, by every standard, is partisan, and having gone contrary to the ethics of his job, should resign. From Uche Okonkwo Phd The IG is partisan. He should be fired for undermining our democratic institutions. May God save Nigeria! Anonymous Abba is simply acting President Jonathan’s script but he (Jonathan) should know the time is up for him. Whether he likes it or not, we shall vote him out. He has failed us. We voted for him not PDP. From Emeka. Awka

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

Marketplace to enthrone value proposition in SMEs By Tonia Diyan

HE dearth of value proposition, service and excellence and due diligence have been a source of worry to business owners and promoters in the country. To address these lapses, Business Fellowship of the Fountain of Life Church has organised the annual marketplace. In its second edition, with Coming Together to Make a Difference as its theme, it will feature tested and proven professionals in various fields in the public and private sectors of the economy. The event is billed for December 7 and 8 at the Fountain Garden, Lagos. The event will play host to over 100 exhibitors and the focus would be on three main elements namely service level, excellence and value proposition, said Media Cordinator of the group, Mrs. Nkechi AliBalogun. According to her, there would be side attractions such as children’s annual end of year party and a talent hunt for young and budding singers. The winner of the talent hunt shall be signed on by a record label. There are other exciting freebies such as a return ticket to Dubai, donated by church members.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL 40.472

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government. -Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

FAO provides $495m for national food safety policy T HE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has provided $495 million to support the implementation of the National Food Safety policy. Its Representative in Nigeria, Ms Louise Setshwaelo who spoke on Strengthening Nigeria National Food Control System and Safety at a workshop in Abuja said the aim was to reduce incidences of food borne illnesses and strengthen consumer confidence and greater contribution of food trade to economic development. She said: “It is within this

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

framework that FAO and the government have decided to support the implementation of the National Food Policy on Food Safety. “Through the project being launched today, a total of $495 million has been provided by FAO to support the efforts of government.” She said the national food control system was an area where improvement was needed to ensure the safety

of food throughout the value chain. Ms Setshwaelo underscored the need for an updated regulatory framework in place to facilitate enforcement of food safety, hygiene and quality standards. She said FAO had been working with relevant institutions to improve on food quality as a means to improve public health and promote economic development.

Mrs Setshwaelo said food security was at the centre of FAO’s mandate, adding that access to adequate safe and nutritious food was a fundamental human right. The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, said there was no other greater frontier to enforce food safety than a patriotic commitment and will of both leaders and followers. He said it was wrong to

blame the government at the centre when things go wrong, noting that it was a collective responsibility to make the nation great. Awute said though food safety was an international phenomena, the ministry was taking it as a matter of public health. Awute recalled that in 2007, a total of 90,000 cases of food poisoning was recorded across 56 tertiary health institutions about 200,000 cases of dyrgorr. He said: “Food control system is therefore necessary to protect consumer.”

Stakeholders urge support for ISO 260 By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

•From left: Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Mrs Gloria Elemo, representative of the Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Manasseh Gwaza, Director-General, Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Ageny (NNMDA), Dr. Tamunoubomi Okujago and Director, Ministry of Health, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, at the 2014 Herbfest in lagos.

IFC invests $80m in Edo State’s Azura IPP

NTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has signed agreements to provide $80 million of debt financing to Azura Power West Africa Limited for the Azura-Edo independent power project (IPP), a 450 megawatts (Mw) gas-fired power plant. The IFC, in conjunction with other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), also mobilised additional $212.5 million for the project. The project, according to IFC, will strengthen Nigeria’s gas-to-power value chain and deliver much-needed electricity to almost 14 million residential consumers in the country. The Azura-Edo IPP, IFC stated, consists of the construction, operation and maintenance of a 450Mw gasfired open-cycle power plant located in Edo State, Nigeria. It also includes the construction of a short 330kV transmission line and an under-

•Mobilises $212m from other DFIs By Emeka Ugwuanyi

ground gas pipeline spur connecting the power plant to the country’s main gas trunk line. The project has been developed by a consortium of investors led by Amaya Capital Limited, a principal investment firm focused on energy projects in West Africa. The other shareholders are American Capital Energy and Infrastructure, the Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund 2, Aldwych International Limited, Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2 LLC, and the Asset & Resource Management Company Limited. The Co-founder of Amaya Capital, Mr. Sundeep Bahanda and the Managing Director of the Azura-Edo IPP, Dr. David Ladipo, said in a joint statement: “The completion of the financing is a ma-

jor milestone in our project development timeline. We have been working very closely with our financing partners over the past few years and today’s signing reflects all the tireless work put in by all the financiers and our advisors. “ IFC is providing $50 million in debt for its own account, and $30 million of subordinated debt, for a total of $80 million. IFC is also mobilizing $212.5 million, of which $177.5 million has been jointly raised with Dutch DFI Nederlandse FinancieringsMaatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), in long-term financing from a pool of eight development finance institutions. IFC acted as co-Lead Arranger with FMO for the senior DFI tranche of the financing. The balance of debt financing is being provided by international commercial lenders, co-

‘Nigerian banks are grossly NSE defers implementation of market volatility measure undervalued’ - P37 - P 28

arranged by Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and guaranteed by the World Bank and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is administering a local currency facility provided from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Power and Airline Intervention Fund through the Bank of Industry. Standard Chartered Bank is the Global Lead Arranger for the project. “This project is a cornerstone of the World Bank Group’s Energy Business Plan for Nigeria to support the country’s extensive energy reform programme,” said Bernie Sheahan, Director for Infrastructure at IFC. “The World Bank Group’s substantial involvement in the Azura-Edo power project is a clear confirmation of our commitment to help the Federal Government of Nigeria develop a sustainable gas-topower sector.”

O ensure that Nigeria is not left out in the march for global standardisation, there is an urgent need for operators to embrace the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 260 being promoted by the Standards Organsation of Nigeria (SON). This, they argued would not only grow business but place the country on global business scene. Director, Research and Curriculum, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mrs. Folusho Samuel, believes that the war against fake goods would receive a boost if Federal Government leverages the recent re-appointment of Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, for another four years, to support the implementations of International Standards Organisation (ISO) 260 requirements in the country. Samuel stated this at a forum organised by National Mirror Committee ISO 260 on Human Resources Management held at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Lagos. She urged the government to urgently support SON in the war against fake goods. Samuel who chaired the five-day roundtable noted that fake and counterfeit products did not only pose danger to the economy and President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic Transformation Agenda but also to human lives. According to him, the products could cause problem to human lives.

The booming Tokunbo cars trade - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

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Banks deposit N368b with CBN to meet policy demand

ANKS have deposited N368 billion with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in fulfilment of the requirement of the 20 per cent cash reserve ratio (CRR). The CBN raised the CRR on private sector deposits from 15 to 20 per cent last week. CRR is a portion of banks’ deposits kept with the CBN to enable it effectively manage liquidity. The deposit brings total sterilised private sector funds to N1.47 trillion, which is 9.72 per cent of total banking deposits and 8.87 per cent of money supply. The total private sector deposits now stand at N7.38 trillion. A consultancy firm, Financial Derivactives Company (FDC) Lim-

Stories by Collins Nweze

ited, said the additional CRR was expected to push up interbank rates by about 200 basis points in the short term. Its Managing Director, Bismarck Rewane, said: “Borrowing costs will rise and banking sector profitability is set to take a hit as net interest margins diminish further.” A comparison of core regulations across key banking systems in subSaharan Africa revealed that the banks operate under some of the toughest regulations which have led to decline in earnings. Report from Renaissance Capital (RenCap,) an investment and research firm, said Nigeria’s blended

CRR, at 31 per cent, is almost three times that of Ghana, at 11 per cent, and six times those of Kenya and Rwanda, at 5.25 per cent and five per cent, respectively. The minimum Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is 15 per cent for international banks (10 per cent for local banks), compared with 10 per cent in Ghana, 14.5 per cent in Kenya, and 15 per cent in Rwanda. “We expect the SIB rules in Nigeria to indicate a minimum CAR of 15 per cent for SIBs, with tier 2 capital capped at 25 per cent of total qualifying capital. Above the 15 per cent, SIBs will be required to maintain a one per cent capital buffer that comprises entirely of tier 1 capital, which will raise the minimum CAR for SIBs

to 16 per cent. The first set of identified SIBs include: FirstBank, Zenith, UBA, GTBank, Access, Ecobank Nigeria, Diamond and Skye Bank,” it said. The minimum capital requirement is $150 million for local banks and $310 million for international banks in Nigeria, compared with $15 million in Ghana and $11 million in Kenya. Basically, the lower end of the absolute minimum capital requirement for commercial banks in Nigeria is 10 times more than the minimum for the next closest country, Ghana. According to RenCap, other regulatory constraints the Nigerian banks face include AMCON-introduced levy following its acquisition

of non-performing loans from the banks. Last year, a reduction in commission on turnover was announced. This is a fee charged to retail banking clients on transactions, and the measure is very much oriented towards consumer protection. The permissible fee was initially reduced to 0.3 per cent of total monthly debit transactions, from the previous 0.5 per cent, with a timeline of reducing the cap further to 0.2 per cent in the year and 0.1 per cent in 2015, before finally abolishing it in 2016. The lower commission on turnover has had a negative impact on non-interest revenue across the sector.

Private equity firms raise $3.3b

• From left: Out-going Vice Chancellor, Delta State University Prof. Eric Arubayi; Executive Director, Southsouth and Southeast, Ecobank Nigeria Kingsley Umadia; Area Manager, Delta South Chinedu Okonkwo and Area Manager, Delta Central Emmanuel Duku, at the hand over of a multi million naira female hostel complex to the university by the bank in Abraka, Delta State.

Credit bureaux patronage rises by 25%, says operator T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy mandating banks to use at least two credit bureaux for credit approvals has boosted patronage by over 25 per cent, Managing Director of CRC Credit Bureau Ltd Tunde Popoola has said. He said since the policy became effective, banks have seen showing interest in what is going on between them and the credit bureaux. According to him, this has also shown how committed the CBN is to making sure that there is success for credit bureau operations. He said: “It has been very significant, I must tell you. Since August last year, we got to daily threshold of usage that we have not had for a long time. That showed us that banks take the policy very seriously. So, that has led to significant improvement in relationship between us. We now have banks showing interest in collecting data, updating data. Even the ease with which they submit data now has increased. Every bank should submit data not later

than five days after month-end. The numbers of institutions that are submitting data now have increased tremendously. It cannot be less than 25 per cent increase in the number of institutions and volume of transactions.” He said the competition in the sector was healthy. “As you know, lenders are known. It is a market that everyone knows. What we are trying to do is focus in the formal market, which are the regulated segment of the market, which are commercial banks, merchant banks, the leasing companies, microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions. So, the competition has been very keen around that area. So, we are competing for all these institutions. “But the issue has been how innovative you been as a credit bureau. Can these people be able to access your platform? How long does it take them to be able to download information from your platform? What

is the level of your relationship management? How easy is it for them to reach you, or for you to reach them? “And again, the quality of your report and depth of information they get from your platform, which have to do with the quantum of information you have and the number of institutions that are submitting information to you. “These are what constitute competitive edge for us at CRC. For us, we have a much more robust credit information report that is rounded and comprehensive.” According to Popoola, the company has produced significant products to support our customers. He said: “We have prided ourselves as the market leader, and we are focusing on thoughtful leadership. We want to be in the mind of everybody. We have moved from just collecting information from regulated entities to non-formal sectors. So, you se some level of patronage from corporative societies, pharmaceutical companies, among others.”

RNST & Young has estimated that Africa focused Private Equity (PE) firms raised $3.3 billion last year, FBN Capital, a management consultancy, has said. It said Nigeria would be the leading destination of those funds, adding greater opportunities and rewards lie in PE. FBN Capital said the findings of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that an average household has 5.7 people, adding that Nigeria has 23.4 million people in the middle class, an equivalent of almost 14 per cent of the population. According to the report, consumption by households ranges from between $23 and $115 per day. The study showed that the middle class population had increased six-fold since 2000, indicating a redistribution of wealth amounting to more than just “trickle-down”. According ot the study: “Many investors have bought into the story of the emerging middle class. Marriott of the U.S bought South Africa’s Protea Hospitality Group, which has several properties across Nigeria. Local e-commerce companies such as Jumia and Konga are expanding rapidly on the back of foreign investment. “Shopping malls are the most visible examples of this investment. Market research for the

Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja identified 68,000 households within its target consumer area spending at least $150,000 per year on consumables. This would place them well above the middle class range.” However, FBN Capital said the story is at odds with the generally disappointing results of listed consumer goods companies in first quarter of and second quarter of 2014. “Their sales growth has slowed markedly. We have also bought into the story and suggest that the listed companies, unlike the many which are privately owned, may not be targeting the best domestic market. The listed companies account for no more than five per cent of this segment of the economy in sales terms,” it said. Globally, money committed to private equity funds but yet uninvested – stands at a record $1.19 trillion, up from $1.08 trillion at the end of last year and comfortably above the pre-crisis peak. This suggests that a lot of money will be chasing the best investments, pushing up prices and potentially forcing some funds to make do with less attractive opportunities.This unspent cash looms at a time when private equity funds are already being forced to pay historically high prices for companies.

Africa’s GDP to exceed $2.6tr by 2020, says Visa chief

OUNTRY Manager for Visa in West Africa Ade Ashaye has said Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $1.9 trillion is expected to exceed $2.6 trillion by 2020. He said it was expected that buoyant economic growth would continue for the foreseeable future, adding that it is likely that the African economy will achieve a growth rate approaching 5.5 per cent this year. Ashaye, who spoke after the release of its second annual Visa Africa Integration Index, said the report measures the degree of economic integration within key trade corridors of sub-Saharan Africa, namely West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. The purpose of the Index, he said, was to better understand and to help facilitate economic growth from greater cross-border interaction and economic openness. Together with its partners, Visa touches 500 million people in Africa.

He said: “Since the launch of the Visa Africa Integration Index in 2013, the African economy has extended its best period of economic growth on record by delivering growth of 4.8 per cent in 2013. Our objective was to construct an index for a number of selected sub-Saharan African countries to measure their global and regional integration.” The Index, he said, was built from country-level macroeconomic data, and a wealth of proprietary data drawn from Visa in sub-Saharan Africa, that sum to more than four million observations measured across 19 elements. The final output are economic integration scores at the country and regional levels measured on a semi-annual basis for 20112013 period. “We want to better understand Africa to help unleash the enormous growth potential in electronic payments on the continent, now the heart of the developing world,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

MONEY To protect customers and enhance confidence in the banking sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), introduced the Bank Verification Number (BVN). The exercise, which involves capturing customers’ physiological attributes, such as, fingerprint, signature, among others, needs the collaboration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to succeed, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Getting Bank Verification Number right

ECURITY is key in banking. This prompted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce the centralised biometric identification system known as Bank Verification Number (BVN). But the success of the project, launched in February, will largely depend on how stakeholders, especially, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) collaborate with the CBN. CBN’s Deputy Director, Banking Supervision, Kelvin Ibedu, said the BVN project will be enhanced if there is harmonious implementation strategy with the NIMC. He spoke at the second National Credit Reporting conference in Lagos, lamenting that CBN is working at cross-purposes with NIMC will not solve the identity crisis facing the country. He said striking a convergence in what the CBN is doing with BVN and what NIMC is doing is key in achieving a sustainable identity management system for the country. He said: “The CBN cannot wait for NIMC to do the work alone, even as the apex bank alone cannot achieve the desired result. The challenge is how do we marry the two processes? At what point do we reconcile both parties? We need to align with the Identity Management as convergence remains key in achieving the desired result.” Ibedu said the BVN would help deepen the credit system because the benefit of having a unique identifier among all bank customers that registered cannot be over-emphasised. He said the CBN’s mandate directing DMBs to enroll 40 per cent of their customers on the BVN platform by December 31, and 70 per cent by March 30, next year still stands. He said the apex bank will monitor lenders to ensure compliance adding that the regulator will not be quick to fix deadline for the entire exercise.

Banks step up campaign

Findings have shown that banks have raised their communication and enlightenment programmes about the programme, advising their customers to comply. An emailed note by Diamond Bank to its customers read: “We are pleased to inform you that you can now register for your Bank Verification Number (BVN) at Diamond Bank as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This involves the issuance of a series of numbers (BVN) that uniquely identifies each customer in the Nigerian banking industry. “The purpose of this exercise is to further improve financial service delivery by protecting you against identity theft, minimising your exposure to fraudulent transactions and increasing your accessibility to credit facilities and other financial services.” The lender listed branches where customers could be enrolled. Similar message also came from GTBank to its customers, explaining that BVN is an initiative of the CBN to give customers a unique number that could be verified across the banking industry.

NIBSS’ position Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Ade Shonubi, said to ensure an efficient implementation of the sceheme, a phased rollout approach was being adopted beginning in Lagos. He explained that biometric data capture machines had been deployed in about 1000 bank branches in Lagos while till date, over 16,000 BVNs had been issued. He added that 10,000 enrolment sets would be deployed across 5,000 bank branches nation-wide at full roll out. He said bank customers in Lagos were already enrolling to get their BVN. He said servers in banks’ headquarter have been configured, deployed and tested,

with their workers trained to carry out the enrolment and verification of customers. Shonubi said BVN enables each individual to have an identification within the financial system and gives each customer maximum protection and security of transactions. There is no enrolment deadline for the public yet. He said: “In many advanced countries, biometric technologies have been used to analyse human characteristics as an enhanced form of authentication for realtime security processes. Biometrics refers to identifying an individual based on physiological or behavioral attributes – fingerprint, signature among others. The customers unique BVN is accepted as a means of identification across all banks. “The BVN became exigent following the increasing incidents of compromise on conventional security systems like password and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of bank customers which has led to loss of funds. There is therefore, a high demand for greater security for access to sensitive or personal information in the banking system.”

Enrolment

Shonubi said the enrolment process is simple and easy. According to him, bank customers are expected to walk into any branch of their bank, fill and submit the BVN Enrolment Form and also do data capturing (such as fingerprint, facial image and others). He said an acknowledgment slip with the transaction identity is issued to the customer. Within 24 hours, the system confirms the application, the BVN is generated, and SMS is sent to the customer. He said a customer could only enroll once, while his BVN will be linked to all his bank accounts across the country. “The BVN solution is to ensure accountability, protect bank customers’ account from unauthorised access, reduce exposure to fraud, check identity theft, enhance credit advancement to Bank customers, and also encourage financial inclusion,” he said. He said the initiative would address issues such as identity theft and ensure that bank accounts are protected from unauthorised access, thus reducing exposure to fraud. It will also promote a safe and sound financial system in the country, especially as it will keep records of suspected fraudulent individuals in the banking system. NIBSS said: “It will make life and banking operations easy for bank customers as BVN is accepted as a means of identification across all banks in Nigeria. This will improve speed of service and reduce queues in banking halls. “At the point of enrolment, individuals would be required to submit an acceptable means of identification, and update their information at the bank branch physically. “Customers of banks will be required to enroll within a fixed period after which they shall no longer be able to operate their bank accounts.”

Benefits to customers

Biometric Project Manager at NIBSS, Oluseyi Adenmosun, said the sceheme

• Central Bank of Nigeria Headquaters in Abuja.

gives a unique identity that could be verified across the banking industry making it easier for customers’ bank accounts to be protected from unauthorised access. The manager added that the purpose of the project is to use biometric information as a means of first identifying and verifying all individuals that have account (s) in any Nigerian bank and consequently, as a means of authenticating customer’s identity at point of transactions. Adenmosun said the BVN would also provide a uniform industrially accepted unique identity for customers and authenticate transactions without the use of cards using only biometric features and PIN.

Enrolment requirements

A statement from NIBSS explained that a unique ID number shall be issued to every bank customer at enrolment and linked to every account that the customer has in all Nigerian banks. Individuals are required to submit an acceptable means of identification for enrolment. Also, customers are required to enroll within a fixed period after which they shall no longer be able to operate their bank accounts. “The customer’s all 10 fingers and facial image are captured making it possible for individuals performing banking transactions like applying for loans to identify themselves using their biometric features which will be matched against information in the central database at NIBSS,” it said. Also, update of customer information is done at their bank branches physically while lenders are prompted during account opening and credit check if a customer has been blacklisted by any lender. The BVN and unique features of an individual shall be used in conjunction with a PIN on a point of transaction. Adenmosun said though there was no perfect system, the essence of technology and safety measures was to frustrate

‘The CBN cannot wait for NIMC to do the work alone. The apex bank alone cannot achieve the desired result either. The challenge is how do we marry the two processes? At what point do we reconcile both parties? We need to align with Identity Management as convergence remains key in achieving the desired result’

fraudsters. He said the scheme would make it extremely difficult for the fraud perpetrators to succeed. “It will not eliminate fraud, but it will cut it to the barest minimum. The biometrics cannot be easily stolen because it is based on once. Once the system captures it, (it is stored and cannot be compromised) because it is based on fingerprints,” he said. Adenmosun said though the chip and pin technology was deployed in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS), they could be compromised, but the BVN makes that extremely difficult. He explained that for corporate accounts, the account signatories BVNs would be captured. “In corporate accounts, it is only the signatory to the accounts that are captured, not directors of the company. The directors are not functional users of the accounts, and will not be captured. “The whole idea of fraud mitigation is to provide special anti-fraud system for banks. It is going to handshake with the BVN project, so that every suspicious account is flagged off. So, we expect that every functional account will have a BVN, and if an account that is used for fraud does not have a corresponding BVN, then the concerned bank will face the full wrath of the law. That means the bank is allowing an account without BVN to run. That’s how we can track owners of fraudulent accounts. “If you don’t have a BVN and the antifraud system throws up your account as a suspect, then that bank is also aiding and abetting you. Because the truth of it is that we can only mitigate, we can’t stop fraud people will try. And when they try, the account they are trying with, has already been enrolled in the BVN, we will know. And those kinds of accounts would have been stored in what we call a watch list,” he added. He said that for every enrollment, the system will have a watch list where suspected reported accounts, relative to BVN, will be stored. “For every enrolment, the system will check the watch list and enquire if such BVN on a watch list. If it is, it will alert the account officer,” he said. He said the technology makes it easier for banks to know which account holder is on the watch list and take extra precautions in handling transactions emanating from such accounts. NIBSS provides the infrastructure for automated processing, settlement of payments and fund transfer instructions between banks, discount houses and card companies across the country. The firm is owned by licensed banks in Nigeria, and the CBN. Discount houses operating in Nigeria also hold substantial shares.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS ‘Skye Bank could create better values from Mainstreet Bank acquisition’

‘Nigerian banks are grossly undervalued’ F N

IGERIAN banks are grossly undervalued and currently present good opportunities for large strategic and minority investors to buy undervalued assets, Exotix, a major global finance and investment company has said. In its latest valuation report on the Nigerian banking system, Exotix indicated that the market value of the Nigerian banking system is substantially below the intrinsic value of the banks. The report was coordinated by Kato Mukuru, Partner and Head of Equity Research at Exotix Partners LLP and Ronak Ghadia, a chartered financial analyst. Exotix is a major global finance and investment company with considerable imprints in world and Africa’s commercial centres. It coordinates its global operations through five major offices in London, New York, Lagos, Dubai and Nairobi. According to the report, Nigerian banking assets should end this year at around $155 billion, some 29 per cent of nation’s Gross Do-

mestic Products (GDP) and subsequently grow to $212 billion, some 34 per cent of GDP, by 2019. With this backdrop, the question we ask is how much would you pay today for US$212bn of banking assets in Nigeria by 2019? “Whilst most equity investors are rarely gifted with the benefit of time and have passive mandates, surely the current structure of the value split in Nigeria has opened up a very rare opportunity for strategic investors or other global and regional banks to buy controlling shareholdings in some of the $74 billion of banking assets that are currently being valued at $6.7 billion. To this end, we have seen some smart money come in recently, but there is much more on the sidelines,” the report stated. Analysts noted that fair value estimate of the Nigerian banking system is 46 per cent higher than the current market value of the banking system at $17.4 billion. Analysts outlined that what is interesting about this conclusion is not only that fair value estimate is 46 per cent higher, but how this

valuation is currently being split. “The market is telling us that: the $36 billion of Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank assets are worth $7.9 billion, the$45 billion of First Bank and United Bank for Africa assets are worth $2.8 billion and the $74 billion of all other banking assets are worth $6.7 billion,” the report stated. Analysts indicated that the valuations appeared to suggest that the market is not ready to believe in the convergence of asset shares with profit shares. “This value gap shows that the equity market is clearly not ready to pay up for this transfer of value and hence its decision to back the two leading franchises. This is the reason why valuations in Nigeria between GTB and Zenith and the rest of the banks have not converged, even when the outlook is more positive. The market is telling us that a more positive outlook for Nigeria does not mean a change in the profit contributions, just more for the better banks. And since the last crisis, the market has been broadly correct,” Exotix noted.

•From Left: Carl Franklin, Chief Investors Relations Officer, Dangote Industries; Bode Makanjuola, CEO Caverton Offshore Support Group; Nonye Rajis-Okpara, MFR, Nigeria's High Commissioner to Singapore; Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mrs. Laurence do Rego, Group Executive Director, Finance; Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and Anders Kristiansson, Country Chief Financial Officer, Lafarge Africa at the NSE Asia Roadshow in Singapore

NSE woos Asian investors to Nigerian market

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has embarked on a roadshow to major Asian economic centres to highlight the potential of the Nigerian investment industry and woo investors to the Nigerian capital market. The roadshow, which started on Monday, will run all through this week and will take NSE and major quoted companies and operators to Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing. Chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, said the main objective of the roadshow was to develop partnerships and improve deal flow into the Nigerian capital market. According to him, the roadshow is part of the NSE’s drive to increase participation by Asian investors in the Nigerian capital market. “The event will highlight the robustness of our capital market as well as showcase The Exchange and its listed companies and market

operators. In each destination, participants will have the opportunity to interact with the major institutional investors and fund managers, and explore business opportunities,” Onyema said. He added that the roadshow themed “Investing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange: Investing, Partnerships & Governance”, will bring together African focused investors and fund managers to discuss ways to strategically position themselves, develop partnerships and expand into Nigeria in order to grow and gain competitive edge in the region’s high growth market. He pointed out that the meeting will explore the role of governance in facilitating trade and investment for businesses, and share insights on doing business successfully in Nigeria. Executive Director, business development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna Jalo-

Waziri, said the Exchange was delighted to tell its story to the dynamic Asian market. “We are all familiar with major Asian direct investment into Nigeria, but our initial engagement with the Asian market also indicates considerable appetite for portfolio investment into our capital market, and we look forward to meeting their major financial institutions and corporates face to face,” Jalo-Waziri said. According to him, with many people still unaware of Nigeria’s economic potential, the first challenge is to confront and overcome the perceptions that exist in the minds of some people outside Nigeria. “Asia has a considerable pool of investible finds looking for attractive opportunities and we need to inform their investors of the opportunities available in the Nigerian stock market,” Jalo-Waziri said.

INANCIAL and investment analysts across a broad spectrum of leading Nigerian and international investment companies have said the recent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited by Skye Bank Plc holds significant positive prospects for the bank. The analysts said the acquisition has placed Skye Bank as a bank to watch given the immense potential and synergies that the bank could extract from the acquisition to further entrench its commercial banking operations and extended its branch network. According to analysts, the acquisition could significantly impact on the performance of the bank and further reconfigure the Nigerian banking with expectations that Skye Bank, which has already been designated as one of Nigeria’s eight systemically important banks, will move on to the topmost rank of the banking industry. Skye Bank is expected to move the ladder up in all measurable indices - size, spread, strength, resistance, profitability and returns. Ahead of the November 4 deadline, Skye Bank had on October 31 paid the 80 per cent balance for the full acquisition of the entire issued shares of Mainstreet Bank to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), thus making Skye Bank the new owner of Mainstreet Bank. It had earlier on October 9 paid the mandatory deposit of 20 per cent for the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank. The payment of the 80 per cent balance to AMCON wholly fulfilled the terms of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement earlier signed by both AMCON and Skye Bank and now put the latter in ownership of Mainstreet Bank. Analysts were unanimous that with detailed and seamless execution of post-acquisition integration, there would be considerable values from the acquisition in terms of Skye Bank’s reach and assets as the bank leapfrogs on the back of this to become one of the biggest and largest banks in the country in terms of branch network. Kato Mukuru, Partner and Head of Equity Research at Exotix Partners LLP, said the deal was a major positive step for Skye Bank. According to him, while it may be too early to fully review the financial impact of the transaction, there is no doubt that the acquisition represented a major leap for Skye Bank. “While we do not have enough detail on the transaction to comment on the financial impact, but I can safely say that this deal is nothing short of transformational for Skye Bank and if executed well, it could put them in a position to enter the elite group of tier 1 banks,” said Mukuru. Exotix is a major global finance and investment company with considerable imprints in world and Africa’s commercial centres. It coordinates its global operations through five major offices in London, New York, Lagos, Dubai and Nairobi. “Scale is critical to banking in Nigeria and we all know that this acquisition fills a major regional gap the North, in Skye Bank’s current distribution,” said Mukuru. Head of research and intelligence at BGL Plc, Mr. Femi Ademola, said the acquisition could enhance the performance of Skye Bank noting that there are substantial values and synergies that could come in terms of spread and reach and deposit assets. “I think the acquisition is very positive for Skye Bank Plc,” Ademola said. According to him, “the acquisition will improve the Skye Bank’s capital adequacy and liquidity ratios since most of the Mainstreet Bank’s assets are invested in very liquid assets. Consequently, it is expected that the acquisition will also help to boost the Skye Bank’s profitability, going

forward”. Group head, research, Lead Capital Plc, Sadiq Waziri, said the most significant gains to Skye Bank would come in terms of the expanded branch network and the resultant increase in customers, particularly savings and current account depositors, which are the cheapest form of deposits. “Mainstreet Bank was formally Afribank, which was established in 1959; the bank is endowed with a lot physical assets - properties in prime areas, which Skye Bank would benefit from,” Waziri said. Head, Trade Execution, Securities Africa Financial Limited, Akinkunmi Popoola, pointed out that the bigger branch network would enable Skye Bank to mobilize more low cost deposits and enhance its lending capacity, which will translate to improvement in loandeposit ratio as the bank can rely more on its own deposits to grant loans to its customers. “This is helpful at a time like this when liquidity of banks generally is threatened by the raising of Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) on public funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” Popoola said. “Investors and shareholders should expect to see value creation in form of capital appreciation and improved dividend because ultimately the bigger Skye Bank should be able to post decent profit going forward. The banking sector will also benefit as the development is expected to emphasize the banking sector as the preferred sector by prospective investors,” Popoola said. The benefit, he said, will also spread to the larger Nigerian capital market in terms of trading activity and capitalisation. Head, Research and Investment Advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Sewa Wusu, said the acquisition would improve the operational performance of the bank and would create better returns to shareholders in form of enhanced dividend and capital appreciation. According to him, the acquisition, operationally, is a game-changer for Skye Bank given the possible synergies and the impact on the balance sheet and profitability of the bank while it would also increase the bank’s market position in the banking industry and at the stock market. Analysts have said the potential impact will be big on Skye Bank’s reach and assets. Mainstreet Bank has nine subsidiaries and a large distribution network comprising of 201 branches across 35 out of 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It equally has nine cash Centres and 205 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Skye Bank, with dominant operations in the Southwest, is also banking on Mainstreet Bank to deepen its penetration of the South-East and South-South regions where it is currently less represented. Some 26 per cent or 54 branches of Mainstreet Bank’s network are located in the two regions. These two regions also accounted for 28 per cent of Mainstreet Bank’s over 1.9 million customers, second only to Lagos with 37 per cent. With smooth and seamless integration, Skye Bank will be able to make valuable in-roads into these two regions without the need to incur huge expenditure while the acquisition would bring valuable concurrence and synergies from the mutual focus areas of commercial and retail banking of the two entities in a larger Skye Bank. Skye Bank focuses on retail and commercial banking, also the main focus areas of Mainstreet Bank. Latest audited report and accounts of Mainstreet Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that retail and commercial banking contributed 78 per cent, 36 percent, and 18 per cent of total deposits, total loans and profit before tax respectively.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

INSIDE

HERE were hustle and bustle of commercial activities in a bubbly densely populated community. There were brisk movements of pedestrians. Awkward movement of commercial motorcycles and other activities have returned to Born Photo-Iyana Asuni-Idi-Arere, an Ibadan neighbourhood troubled by a violent attack last week. The community was attacked by hoodlums in a battle of supremacy last week during which over 15 shops were burnt, some looted and many vehicles vandalised. The attack lasted about two hours as residents ran for safety from the scene of the attack. But while normal activities have returned, victims of the attack have commenced efforts to rebuild their shops while calling for help from the government and philanthropic Nigerians and organisations. They also recalled the day of horror in a chat with our correspondents. Mrs Falilat Rasheed, 38, is a tailor whose shop was burnt in the attack. The shop was reduced to rubbles after the attack. She recalled that the area had been attacked on Friday with minor impact but that the Sunday attack left sore memories for shop owners and residents in the area. Her words: “I have two sewing machines, a freezer with which I sell soft drinks and few other items. They were all burnt down with the shop. I could not salvage any of the items. “They actually started on Friday around 4:00 p.m. They stole my stocks – drinks and other items. We thought it was all over. “That day, I was cutting a piece of cloth when I suddenly noticed people running helter-skelter. They said the hoodlums were on rampage. “As if that was not enough, at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, they re-surfaced in large number and were armed with dangerous weapons. I ran for my dear life, just as many others did. They threw fire on our line of shops. It started burning. We couldn’t rescue anything. As the shops were burning, fire fighters arrived but the hoodlums turned them back. “Later, the police came, threw tear gas on them and they fled. Then, sympathisers came to help us quench the fire, even though the shops had been fully burnt.” She put her lost at N100,000. Another victim, Mr Dauda Ajani is a welder. His shop was also razed down by the hoodlums. He said: “I have been here for over 10 years. This violence sometimes happens but they never destroyed properties as they did this time. They

Senator donates security vans to police PAGE 30

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

PAGE 29

Penultimate week, some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital boiled. Hoodlums descended on some areas, killing and maiming people, even as they destroyed properties. BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON captured the moods of some of the survivors who pleaded with government and public-spirited individuals to come to their aid.

•Some properties destroyed during the mayhem

Victims, residents recall day of horror in Ibadan could fight and threaten but they never destroyed our shops like this. “I was not in the shop on that sad day. They said the hoodlums came at 9:00 a.m. I just heard that they were fighting. By the time I got here at 9:45 a.m, my shop had been burnt completely.

“We reached out for water to quench the fire but did not succeed. They burnt my welding generator, my hammer, uniform and photos of previous works. I didn’t even meet them. They had gone. I only met some sympathisers. They said the boys threw broken

Ondo community pleads for good roads PAGE 32

bottles to them while making efforts to quench the fire. “On sighting the burning shop, I broke down in tears. I was sad, distraught, disheartened. This is my only source of income. I never leant any other type of vocation in my life. He said he lost some money which he

SON sets new bus standards for schools PAGES 34

said he borrowed from a co-operative society. “I actually borrowed the money for the generator from a co-operative society. I lost about N400, 000.” On how he has been surviving,

•Continued on page 31

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

•The security vans donated to the police

Senator donates security vans to police D

ETERMINED to ensure that the Ondo State Police Command guarantee crime-free society, the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Boluwaji Kunlere has donated 13 new Hilux security vans worth several millions of Naira to the State Police Command. The vehicles are equipped with security appliances to enhance the security of lives and property in the six local government areas that make up senatorial district. The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke who described the initiative as first of its kind in the state and Nigeria, praised the Senator for the gesture. The vehicles, which are in the custody of the State Police Command, would soon be handed over to each of the 13 Divisional Police formations in the Ondo South Senatorial District. These formations include Ile Oluji and Okegbo in Ileoluji/Okegbo Local Government Area; Ore, Araromi Obu and Odigbo in Odigbo Local Government Area ;Irele, Ajagba and Akotogbo in Irele Local Government Area; Igbekebo in Eseodo Local Government Area; Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area; Okitipupa, Ilutitun and Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area. The two riverside areas have the support of the Naval Base. Speaking with reporters in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area on what informed the priority attention he accorded to security in his 2014 constituency project; Senator Kunlere noted that the security of lives and property in the Ondo South Senatorial District and Nigeria should not be left in the hands of government alone. He said: “We appeal to individuals and corporate organisations that are in position to support the efforts of the police, the State Security Services (SSS), Civil Defence Corps and others to do so in order to tackle the security situation in the country. “There are several ways we can help the security operatives. If people cannot buy vehicles or motorcycles to support the security operatives, they should be able to give information about criminals who hibernated around our villages, towns and cities.” It would be recalled that Senator Kunlere was once a victim of several attacks while contesting the Senatorial Seat of the Ondo South District in 2011. In one of the attacks, the Senator’s wife, Mrs. Oluwafemi Kunlere sustained fracture of the neck and was hospitalised for several months. Apart from the attack on the person and family of Senator Kunlere, Ondo State which hitherto was adjudged the most peaceful Niger Delta State is gradually becoming haven for robbers and kidnappers. Senator Kunlere said the initiative to boost security in Ondo South dawned on him when, in one of the communities, the police was out to

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

arrest some criminals. He said before they came with the only one vehicle they had, some kidnappers had kidnapped an aged mother of one-time Chairman of the State’s Sports Council. Kunlere said: “I felt bad and reasoned that if the police were with spare vehicles; it would have been possible for them to pursue the kidnappers and possibly arrest them. “Besides, no fewer than five to eight families have suffered similar fate in the hands of kidnappers in the Ondo South Senatorial District and the only way this spate of kidnapping, robbery and other criminalities could be curtailed in the area is to lend a helping hand to support the security operatives in the district. The lawmaker pointed out that as a Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, “my concern for empowerment in Ondo South is holistic and not parochial. He further maintained that all sectors must benefit from his empowerment programme because he is representing the people of Ondo South Senatorial District. Kunlere said: “Security of lives and properties is not an issue of where and what you belong. “In my first year in office as Senator (2012), I empowered no fewer than 289 people across board in the Ondo Senatorial district. “At least five people from each of the 66 wards enjoyed the privilege of taking either sewing machine, motorcycle, electricity generating set with clipper, deep freezer, grinding machine and hair dryer home that day. “This is aside from the leaders of

the party in the six local government areas who went home with their own cars. No fewer than 330 students; five from each of the 66 wards that make up the six local government areas of Ondo South got a bursary relief of N20,000 each.” Kunlere noted that he took a holistic view of the zone’s empowerment project to ensure that whatever programme he embarks upon is spread across board for the benefit of all. To him, the only way his impact could be felt and be remembered now and in the future is to execute tangible projects which are verifiable; not intangible projects that could be denied tomorrow. Among the tangible things Senator Kunlere embarked upon are building of blocks of classrooms in most rural areas where access to quality classrooms are not available for students. He listed such schools to include Local Authority School Umoboro in Ode Aye, St. Paul’s Ikoya, Local Authority Primary School Gboroye Ode Irele, Local Authority Primary School Ode Ugbo, Primary School Agbala Obineyin in Ilaje. Others are Primary School Agadagba Obon in Ese-Odo, Baptist Day School Ira Ilutitun, St. Pius Primary School Igbotako, Local Authority Primary School Temidire Odigbo, St. Georges Ile Oluji; Primary School Erinje, Local Authority School Abojinpa, Local Authority School Labosipo, St. Phillip Oniparaga, Local Authority School Onisere Olorunsogo, Erekiti Community Grammar School and Comprehensive Grammar School Ode Irele. All the schools have at least a block of six or four classrooms. They are verifiable projects.

•Senator Kunlere

Schools such as Community Grammar School Ore, Community Grammar School Atijere in Ilaje, Zion Pepe and Community Grammar School Igbotako a town hall for each of them is underway. All of the schools have a block of six or four or three classrooms with basic modern facilities respectively and are already is use. Other schools which their contractors had not reported to sites are also captured in the 2014 budget. The Senator disclosed that the first computer centre for Igbotako Community Grammer School and Lubokun Grammer School has been established. Kunlere said the contract for the road design from Araromi Seaside in Ilaje Local Government Area to Lekki in Lagos State has been awarded,

stressing that when completed; people will be able to live in Ondo State and work in Lagos State because the road will witness less gridlock. He also said the road linking Lagos through Ilaje was one of the many verifiable projects by anyone who cares to know how their Senator has represented them in the Senate in the past two years. On employment, Senator Kunlere revealed that many people from his senatorial district had joined the police, the state security service beside regular employments in the civil services, government parastatals and agencies. A resident of the area told our correspondent that Senator Kunlere has executed projects in many areas in Ondo State more than previous Senators who had represented the district.

Colleagues mark anniversary of Iyayi’s death

•The late Prof. Iyayi

EMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA) chapter, said they would continue to mourn the death of its former President, Prof Festus Iyayi. According to its Chairman, Dr Busuyi Mekusi, the institution marked the one year anniversary of the renowned academic because of his pragmatism and leadership qualities during his life time that elevated ASUU. It would be recalled that the late ASUU leader died in November last year, in a motor accident on his way to Kano to participate in the National Congress of the Union as part of the efforts to resolve the then crisis between the union and the Federal Government. Mekusi said the union would continue to treasure the beliefs the deceased nurtured when he was alive. It noted that even though a year is gone since the ASUU leader lost his life in the cause of the struggle; mem-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

bers of the union are still missing him. His words: “We remember today our dogged comrade who died due to the recklessness in our country a year ago. While we still await the attainment of justice in this regard, we will continue to treasure the seed of ideology he nurtured. “As we mark the first anniversary of his death, we hope our leaders will be more committed to quality of education in the country, as all lovers of democratic initiatives sustain the quest to make education accessible to all.” He urged government at all levels to be more committed towards promotion of education in the country, adding that it is a cause the late Iyayi died for. The ASUU Chairman said public lectures and other programmes were organised by the union to mark the first anniversary of Iyayi’s death.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Ibadan violence: Victims, residents recall day of horror •Continued from page 29 Mr Ajani said only God has been taking care of him through friends and relations. He appealed to the government and Nigerians to come to his aid. On what he requires as assistance, he said: “All we want is to have our shops repaired. We need instruments to work.” Funke Olaniyan. 50, is another victim. In her shop, grinding machine and two freezers were in her shop. They all went in flames when her shop was torched. She put her loss at N350, 000. “I burst into tears when I came here that morning. I don’t know where to start from again. I just need help now,” she said. Others include Mrs Fausat Amusat, 40, a retailer; Mrs Ishau Aminat, 29, a hairdresser; Mrs Toyin Hammed, 25 who sells eggs and Hafeez Oyeniyi, 32, who had his commercial motorcycle burnt. Mobile policemen are still stationed in the neighbourhood with two armoured personnel carriers (APC) at different locations. Meanwhile, major political parties in the state have been trading blames over the violence. While the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord and Labour Party of sponsoring hoodlums to cause mayhem in affected areas with a view to discredit Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. The washed their hands of the violence. The Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, made the allegation while briefing reporters on the state of the crisis in Ibadan. Oke, who condemned the pockets of violence and described them as “totally unacceptable and appalling,” recalled that the governor had traversed 32 local government areas across the state in an official visit with a plan to round it off in Ibadan South West Local Government when opposition parties attempted to discredit the exercise by sponsoring the mayhem to score political points. He said the warm reception and tumultuous crowds that welcomed Ajimobi in all the local government areas he visited, the councils jolted the opposition, which made them embark on sponsoring the violence. “The Friday, November 21, violent and unprovoked attacks on our people at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan and the ones recorded at Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idi-Arere and environs on Sunday November 23, as well as the mayhem which ravaged Idi-Ikan, Opoyiosa and environs on Tuesday, November 25 are a clear manifesta-

‘On sighting the burning shop, I broke down in tears. I was sad, distraught, disheartened. This is my only source of income. I never leant any other type of vocation in my life. He said he lost some money which he said he borrowed from a co-operative society...I actually borrowed the money for the generator from a co-operative society. I lost about N400, 000’ tion of the script which the opposition elements in the state had prepared for implementation with a view to creating a tense atmosphere ahead of the 2015 general elections and discrediting the ruling party which has received global applause for stamping out lawlessness, brigandage and indecent practices from the state since we came into power in May, 2011,” Oke said. The APC specifically alleged that the hoodlums working for the PDP and led by one Ekugbemi caused a breach of peace on Friday while the gang also later engaged another political gang led by one “Omo Alhaja” in a supremacy battle which led to the destruction of property and harassment of innocent residents. The party alleged further: “In all of this, we wonder how the opposition elements in the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party and the Labour Party have been able to unite and organise themselves towards forming a formidable team of alarmists who dish out details of these ugly events even shortly before the attackers would commence their nefarious activities. “If not that they are the sponsors, how would street urchins and political thugs be carrying out attacks on the one hand and the opposition parties would be reporting it live in such a way to implicate some identified members of the APC even without any concrete evidence to prove their alleged involvement.”

•Left and right: Some of the vehicles destroyed during the mayhem

•Dauda

But the opposition parties denied the allegation. They urged the APC government to look inward for the sponsors of the violence. In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Kehinde Salawu, the party distanced itself from the claim by the APC, asking how it could be indicted of causing violence perpetrated by the ruling party, which aspirants continued to demonstrate desperation, leading to violent clashes across the state capital. “It is sad that rather than take responsibility for the destruction of property and waste of innocent lives being witnessed in Ibadan in the last few days as a result of APC’s desperation ahead of the 2015 general elections, the party has chosen to shift blames. “How and where did the PDP perpetrate the vioence in Ibadan? Can the APC, a Janjaweed party that is living on borrowed times, authenticate

•Another of the victims

this demonic and baseless claim? Much as we will not like to dignify a party that has already been rejected by the people of Oyo State by reacting to its tissue of lies, which it is known for across the country, we state unequivocally that the PDP is committed to the peace and well-being of the people of Oyo State. And we warn the APC to desist from tarnishing our party’s image and focus on how to salvage its crumbling house,” the PDP said. Also in a reaction, the Labour Party,

in a statement by its Director, Media and Strategy, Taiwo Ibrahim, said: “The APC should look inward concerning the latest rounds of violence and disturbances in the city of Ibadan. Two of their lawmakers recently engaged in bloodletting and fought dirty. Are we the ones behind it? Reports at Oke-Ado showed that one of their thugs engaged an okada man and this snowballed into further attack on police. Anyway, police is in the know of all that transpired and we need not say more.”

Rotary to strengthen family values

RRANGEMENTS have been concluded to flag off this year’s edition of Family Week of the Rotary District 9110. It will hold from December 9 to15 at the Lekki-African Beach Resort. The Rotary Family Day was set up to celebrate Rotarian families and their

Mr Jonathan Nzekwe (left), Mrs Amaka Enekwuwa (third left), Rev. Hezekiah Osundeyi (middle), Rev. Chuks Ihunyere (fifth left); Mrs Roasemary A. Uneanya (fourth right); Mr Godson Adim (third right); Mr Echezona Ani (second right), Mr Emma Njoku (right) and other members of the Adult Harvest Planning Committee of All Saints Anglican Church, FESTAC Town, Lagos, cutting the 2014 harvest cake.

By Nneka Nwaneri

spouses and also to reward and celebrate its dead members, in a bid to develop good rapport with outsiders; increase membership and build family bonds. The event will feature activities such as visit to the orphanage homes and other less-privileged people. In a chat with the Chairman of the Family Week programme, Mrs Omotunde Lawson, she gave a rundown of activities of the event and the reasons the group set aside a day for its families. “During that weekend, we will form a formidable team and increase our family bonds. “We will make donations to the motherless babies’ home and have a party with the less-privileged, after which we will head out to the resort for a novelty match between our parents. The event will climax with a dinner on that Friday. “It promises to be fun-filled with indoor and outdoor games, a family luncheon on Saturday and an award ceremony where there will be a raffle draw. “Items to be won include two airline tickets; gifts ranging from DSTV, a weekend getaway for couples at Golden Tulip Hotel FESTAC Town and a treat at fitness centres.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

SON sets new bus standards for schools I

N line with its effort to reduce the rate of casualties involving mostly school children, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has developed new standards/rules or guidelines for school owners with regard to the kind of buses schools across the country would use in conveying students to and from school. The Ota Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Assistant Corps Commander Sunday Omafu, revealed this at the public enlightenment campaign organised by the command for proprietors of private schools. He said the standards were set in a bid to reduce the number of casualties involving school children due to lack of standard school buses. He said: “The guidelines have become necessary in order to satisfy the urgent need or demand for minimum requirements for school bus operation in Nigeria. “The guidelines were ratified by the Technical Committee for School Bus Standards with reference to national and international regulations and guideline as well as inputs from relevant stakeholders across the country.” He said the guidelines for school bus operation specify operational and personnel requirements for operating school bus services in Nigeria. He said a school bus is a large vehicle that takes students to and from school or on school-related trips. School bus drivers are persons who are professionally trained to operate school buses, while school bus assistant, according to him, is a qualified or licensed driver that acts as assistant to conduct the students on the school bus. School bus operator, he said, is an entrepreneur who acquires an approved school bus type and engages in the business of conveying students to and from school. Operators’ permits, according to him, are documents which certify the technical and managerial competence of an

By Olalekan Ayeni

entrepreneur to operate a school bus. On types of school bus, he said there are many types which include types A, B, C, D and E, which the SON approves. Type A bus accommodates 18 people, including the driver and his assistant. Type B, he said, is an extended capacity bus that accommodates 22 people including the driver and his assistant, while type C accommodates 28 people, including the driver and his assistant, type D bus accommodates 35 people, including the driver and his assistant. The school owners are at liberty of choosing any of the types of buses enumerated above that suits their needs. Omafu said: “The school buses are to be uniformly coloured and the exterior is to have a yellow background with two white stripes three centimetres spaced by two centimetres, running from the bonnet upwards across the roof down the back end. “The exterior must have the name of the school, the logo, serialised code on both sides and at the front view of the bus and must be conspicuously marked ‘school bus’ above the wind screen close to the roof. On requirements for drivers and assistants, he said the professional school bus drivers must be medically fit, pass alcohol/drug test, pass mental health and acuity test and must have no criminal record or indictment or jail terms, he must have a minimum of five years driving experience, junior school certificate (JSS3) or trade test II certificate as minimum academic qualification, he must possess a valid National driver’s license, operating license/ permit which must be valid for three years and must not be transferable. The in-service training/on the job programmes, such as knowledge of routes and child psychology, semi-

•Sample of the approved bus

‘The guidelines have become necessary in order to satisfy the urgent need or demand for minimum requirements for school bus operation in Nigeria. The guidelines were ratified by the Technical Committee for School Bus Standards with reference to national and international regulations and guideline as well as inputs from relevant stakeholders across the country’ nars, workshops or conferences must always be organised for school drivers and assistants. “Mandatory rest period must be encouraged among the drivers and assistants; which might be between beginning of classes and the time the students will be conveyed back to their various homes,” he said. Omafu said the school bus operator must acquire a comprehensive insurance that will cover both the buses and the occupants of the vehicle from a registered insurance

company by National Insurance Commission. School bus operators with up to five vehicles in its fleet must establish a safety unit and appoint a qualified safety manager to head the unit, to ensure drivers, assistants and parents are educated on safety measures to be observed while pupils board and alight from a school bus. Any public investor interested in school bus operation is advised to acquire appropriate bus type and enter into contract agreement with school proprietors for this purpose

and must, however, comply with the provisions of these guidelines. The Nigeria Industrial Standard, according to him, has said any bus intended for use as school bus in Nigeria must meet the stipulated interior, exterior and mechanical standards. Omafu advised school owners to start working on the guidelines to avoid arrest when enforcement of the guidelines begins. The Unit’s Head, Desk Information Officer, ARC Adebola Babalola and Staff Officer, Public Enlightenment Department, ARC Temitope Ogundimu, enjoined parents/ school owners to always ensure the safety of their children/wards right from home and school. A representative of Golden Flourishland School, Iyesi Ota, Mrs Akinwande Funmilola, urged the FRSC to stress this sensitisation exercise to the National Association of Proprietors of Nigeria (NAPPS), to ensure compliance. While Mr Isiaka Ayinde from Jacobs High School, Ifo, appealed to government to make roads motorable, noting that no school or parents wish to be carrying children in rickety vehicles.

Osun NUT faction rejects union’s election By Sina Fadare

•From left: Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufill Prima Food Limited, Mr Tope Asiwaju; head boy, Surulere Senior High School, Giwa Shamsondeen; Project Manager, Lagos State Empowerment and Resources Network, Mr Bisi Awoyomi and Principal, Surulere Senior High School, Mrs Aina Asanat Olatunbosun, during the donation of Science equipment to Surulere Senior High School by Prima Food, Makers of Indomie, in Lagos.

FACTION of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Osun State has rejected the recently conducted election of the union, saying it was illegal and amounts to a contempt of court. The election was allegedly conducted regardless of a court injunction obtained by the Parent- Teacher Associations (PTA) and Justice Now Foundation (JNF), restraining the ousted Saka Adesiyan-led union from conducting it. A source said the bailiff of the court had gone to serve the leadership of the union with the injunction, but some thugs, allegedly sponsored by the “unity faction” of the union attacked him, torn his cloth and smashed his phone. Due to the alleged crisis that heralded the election, the police, the source said, arrested Comrade Lere Olawuyi who was acting as the union’s chairman as at the time of the election and Comrade Wakili Amuda who emerged the new chairman. They were later granted bail. The union was reported to have been polarised along “progressive and unity” camps as far back as 2009. A leader of one of the progressive faction and a Chairmanship candidate at the election, Comrade Adeyemi Francis said the election was against all the procedure of the union’s constitution in conducting polls. He said: “The election was illegal. On November 25, we had an opening session in Ife and expected that the election would be held on November 26, only to be informed later in the day through a text message that the election would be held by 7:00am same day without taking those living afar into consideration. According to him, the election was done without accreditation and all the required procedures, adding that the case filed by JNF and PTA, is still pending in court and would come up tomorrow. However, the man at the centre of the controversy, Saka Adesiyan insisted that there is no crisis or polarisation in the NUT, especially in Ile-Ife where the election was held. When contacted, Olawuyi also said he would like to reserve his comment on the matter because it is an issue before the court.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

SON sets new bus standards for schools I

By Olalekan Ayeni

•Sample of the approved bus

Osun NUT faction rejects union’s election By Sina Fadare

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

•The abode of the vandals

For residents living around the Majidun River axis of Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering was a thriving business until the Nigerian Navy launched an offensive against the criminals to salvage the country’s economy, reports PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU.

Navy’s operation AWATSE dislodges oil thieves ‘I am happy to note that the command B has done well in curbing acts of piracy, EFORE the Nigerian Navy (NN) launched an operation codenamed A WATSE in Ikorodu, Lagos State, to stamp out the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves, the criminals had always had it rosy. Instances abound where officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police had traded blames of conspiracy with the vandals leading to supremacy tussle between both agencies, which The Nation had earlier reported. According to residents, especially those living around the Majidun River axis of Ikorodu, the vandals appeared untouchable despite their nefarious activities which they alleged were perpetrated regardless of the presence of the security agencies. They also alleged that they carried out their acts in connivance with those in the employ of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Hitherto, 2.4 million barrels of petroleum products were stolen every month which represented about 67 per cent of the overall oil production in a month. The trend caused frequent scarcity of pe-

oil theft and pipeline vandalism in its area of responsibility. Let me therefore reiterate the NN’s plan to continue to pursue its mandate to stamp out any form of illegalities. I commend all officers and men involved in the ongoing Op AWATSE in Ikorodu, the gains of the operat’ troleum products. The unbridled activities of the vandals cause negative effects on the country’s economy, the vandals had continued to wax stronger. Sensing the dangers the activities of the vandals posed to the country, whose sole economy depends on crude oil exportation, the Nigerian Navy, in October, decided to not only lay in wait for the oil thieves on the high seas as they have always done but also to take the

battle to the creeks which are their dens. Thus, with the permission of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, the Western Naval Command (WNC) under the flagship of the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, on October 5, took the vandals by surprise. It was an encounter in which no fewer than 10, 000 petroleum prod-

•From left: The Sector Head, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ojodu, Assistant Corps Commander (ACC), Ibrahim Abdulraheem, Surulere Unit Commander, ACC Olawunmi Oyeniyi, Acting General Zonal Co-ordinator, Mr Toyin Kadiku and Ikeja Unit Head of Operations, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi at the special prayer for the remembrance of road accident victims, held at Ansar-Ur-Deen Central Mosque, Ojodu, Lagos.

•Rear Admiral Alade

ucts-laden kegs were recovered from the oil thieves. About 50 suspects were also arrested the same day. As the personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT led by its Commander, Commodore Daniel Ikoli continued combing the nook and cranny of Ikorodu, over 100, 000 petroleum-laden kegs were recovered and handed over to the Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC) and NNPC while the arrested suspects were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution. With the recorded drop in crude oil theft from 2.4 million to about 800, 000 barrels per day, the NN believes its effort of ridding the country of economic saboteurs was yielding positive results. At the recent bi-annual inspection of units and facilities under his command, Rear Admiral Alade stated that the WNC has, in line with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff’s zerotolerance on crude oil theft, placed a premium on its operational flexibility. He reiterated the need to sustain its high level of readiness to balance capabilities, use limited resources and pay attention to details, just as he assured of the sustenance of Operation AWATSE. “I am happy to note that the command has done well in curbing acts of piracy, oil theft and pipeline vandalism in its area of responsibility. Let me therefore reiterate the NN’s plan to continue to pursue its mandate to stamp out any form of illegalities. I commend all officers and men involved in the ongoing Op AWATSE in Ikorodu, the gains of the operation are well acknowledged,” Alade said. However, the navy’s feat in this area did not come without resistance as the displaced vandals, aggrieved that their means of livelihood was being blocked, decided to pick up arms to resist their ‘enemies’. One of such instances was last week’s attack on naval personnel on regular patrol at Abule Oba, which resulted in the death of four suspected vandals, including a kingpin identified as BlackBerry. The kingpin, according to residents of Ikorodu, has amassed enormous wealth and investments from the act, with which he would have lived com-

fortably the rest of his life if he had quit vandalism. It was alleged that aside owning a computer training school, BlackBerry also owned landed properties in Lekki, a highbrow area of the state, among others. During an aerial survey at the weekend onboard NN Agusta 08 helicopter led by Commodore Ikoli, The Nation observed that all adjourning streams and canals to the Majidun River have been polluted. Also, clusters of kegs were seen in batches hidden in greeneries; while some lay fallow in boats which were not manned. Contrary to believes that vandals were petty thieves who stole small quantities of petroleum products in order to put food on their tables, it was gathered that their activities are well co-ordinated with boats readily available to move the products to standby customers who load them in tankers and other vehicles for shipping. The illegal activity, residents attest, was rife in the locality, with many young people wilfully subscribing to the business because it fetches quick wealth. Confirming The Nation’s earlier report of Police and NSCDC connivance in pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering, the residents alleged that these agencies usually turned blind eyes to the activities after collecting bribes from the criminals. “At times, they even provide escorts to the vandals and informed them whenever a combined taskforce was to raid the area. That is why you usually see them (Police and NSCDC) fighting and killing themselves in Ikorodu. They leave what they are supposed to do and join forces with criminals. “Before now, it (vandalism) was a normal business around here. There was hardly a house you will go to and not find kegs laden with petroleum products. Those of us who refused to join the practice preferred to keep quiet then because even the security agents were involved. “I am happy with what the Navy is doing and I hope they will continue. It will not stop immediately. The vandals have gone into hiding but if the Navy rests on its oars, they will come back,” some source who spoke in confidence said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

INEC sensitises electorate on 2015 polls •Continued from page 35 Those who successfully registered in 2011 need not register again because what they need is the permanent voter’s card from INEC,” he said. Mr Adeyemi urged the people to go to where they registered in 2011 to request and collect their permanent voters’ cards, even as he said they should go with the temporary voters’ card, give it to the distribution officer who ensures that the person signs, thumb prints and collects the PVC. The exercise lasted from Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. In the Oriade Council area, Mr Adeyemi revealed that there are areas, especially in Kirikiri that have problems. He specifically said nine areas in Kirikiri have problems and would only witness fresh registration of voters as against collection of the PVCs. He also disclosed that registration centre in Kirikiri will be at Dr Lukas Memorial High School. For Agboju/Amuwo, the registration centre will be at Agboju Secondary School while registration centre in Ijegun will take place at Ijegun-Egba Primary School, even as he said registration of voters in Irede and Ibeshe, two riverside communities will be at Local Authority Primary School Irede and Local Authority Primary School Ibeshe respectively. Those living in Satellite will register at Satellite Primary School, he said. Commenting on the stakeholders’ meeting on the continuous voters’ registration, the Ovori of Ibeshe, Oba Gausu Alani Rasaki said the meeting aimed at letting the people know what to do and how to go about ex-

•Some of the stakeholders at the meeting

ercising their franchise. The royal father said one of the duties of traditional rulers is to organise their subjects in such a manner that would enable them to participate actively in any process that will enhance the well-being of the society, even as he said “there is no way you can separate royal fathers from the scheme of things. This, he said, is because they play fatherly roles on how to deliver the benefits of democracy to the people at the grassroots. We know our subjects and what they want. We are in a better position to talk to them for peace to reign. “They people’s needs are simply good roads to evacuate their farm produce. Residents of the riverside communities need quality health

care, among other needs.” Contributing, the Council Manager, Mrs Florence Omotunde Peters said the programme was organised for people in this council area to know what is expected of them in terms of registration and collection of the permanent voters’ cards. As a result of rumours concerning the date for the exercise, we deemed it fit to put the records straight with regard to when exactly the exercise will hold. She noted that the people of Oriade LCDA are politically vibrant, even as she advised them and other Nigerians to remain politically active and wise in casting their votes so that the right people will be in government for the well-being of all Nigerians.

‘The essence of the stakeholders’ meeting was to appeal to every Nigerian to contribute to the success of the electoral process in the country by participating in the continuous registration exercise which will enable them to vote for their choice candidates in 2015 general elections, Those who were not able to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) which was concluded in some local government areas on Monday should visit the headquarters of their various local governments to collect them’

Ilaje monarchs in leadership tussle

HE traditional council of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has been engulfed in leadership crisis as some monarchs in the oil-rich communities have disowned the secretary of the council, Oba Obafemi Ogbaro. A statement signed by six of the monarchs said they were all members of the same council but denied that Ogbaro, who is also the Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro was their secretary. The signatories to the statement included the Olubo of Obenla, Oba Andrew Ikuesan, Alagho of Odo-nla, Oba Elias Ikuomola, the Olikan of Etikan, Oba Adedoyin Oyetakin, Odede of Igbo-Igunrin, Oba Philip Kalejaye, Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo and the Molokun of Atijere, Oba Adeoye Edema. Reacting to the development, Ogbaro said the argument of the monarchs was null and void as the issue of secretary of Ilaje Traditional Council has been concluded. He said the posts of chairman and secretary rotates between Ugbo and other kingdoms in Ilaje, adding that the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Lawrence Omowole from Mahin land is currently the chairman. He said he was appointed by the two paramount rulers in Ilaje, the Amapetu and the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, who were never signatories to the statement. Ogbaro said Alagbo had served as the secretary of the council for three terms, adding that Olugbo nominated him during one of the meetings of the council. He, however, said the new chair-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

man, the Amapetu decided to pick the secretary to work with him, adding that this would soon be settled. Ogbaro said: “The action of the monarchs does not hold water. The document that we send to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was signed by the Amapetu as chairman, Olugbo as a paramount ruler and myself as the secretary and the two paramount rulers

never disclaimed me, the people are only aggrieved. “Why are they discrediting me for saying that the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and Mr. Governor are doing fine. It means some of them have been bought over to discredit me. We never held any meeting where it was agreed that I should be discredited. The document they are branding about doesn’t have any basis since the two paramount rul-

ers did not sign.” However, the statement by the monarchs said whatever opinion expressed by Ogbaro on behalf of the council in any publication did not represent their views. The monarchs said: “The secretary of the Ilaje Traditional Council is His Royal Majesty (HRM), Oba Elias Ikuomola the Alagho of Odonla. The Chairman is His Imperial Majesty, Oba L. A. A. Omowole the Amapetu of Mahin.”

Experts urge Fed Govt to improve health sector

HE Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has called on the Federal Government to invest in the health sector, even as they urged it to consolidate the gains of the fight against the deadly Ebola virus disease by strengthening medical laboratory infrastructure in the country. The association noted that if the government should show the same commitment it exhibited towards containing the deadly disease to the health sector, services in the health sector would improve. The President of AMLSN, Dr. Godswill Okara stated this at a briefing in Akure, the Ondo State capital during the association’s one-week Golden Jubilee Annual Scientific Conference. The theme of the conference was “Enhancing Health Care Practice through Science: the Key to the Cure.” He said Nigerian scientists could not embark on research in order to develop vaccines just because the sector lacked proper concentration from the government, adding that the country has become preoccupied with importation of vaccines. “As the world grapples with the outbreak of Ebola Virus disease, medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria should rise to the occasion through research and vaccine development against the disease,” he said. Okara noted that it took the quick intervention of laboratory scientists to determine the cause of death of Patrick Sawyer, the index Ebola case in Nigeria.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

The AMLSN President said: “The doctrine of professional supremacy is as evil as the doctrine of racial supremacy. Professional understanding is not something that we will find ready-made; it must be created by the fact of contact. “We must commit ourselves positively and actively to the ideal of professional integration not only in the health sector, but also across all professional sectors in Nigeria. “The society and humanity which professionals are trained and licensed to serve will certainly be better served through such integration,” Dr. Okara said. He called on the Federal and state governments to establish departments of medical laboratory services in their ministries of health in order to give effect to the fight against ailments like Ebola and stimulate the development of vaccines against such diseases. “Unhealthy rivalry is unacceptable. The sky is big enough for stars. You do not need to pull down somebody in order to rise,” he said. In his remarks, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, said his government was committed to improving medical laboratory services in the state. According to him, his administration has invested heavily in the provision of health care for the people, such as the mother and child hospitals.

Task force arrests timber-laden trucks From Damisi Ojo, Akure

EN of the Special Squad of the Ondo State Joint Task Force on Forestry Matters have arrested some suspects who allegedly hauled illegal flitch sawn planks worth about N1.5 million in two trucks. According to sources, the trucks were allegedly hired by the men to ferry the illegal planks out of the state for sale before they were apprehended by operatives of JTF of the State Ministry of Natural Resources. According to the Director of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the ministry, Mr Joseph Ojumu, the arrest was made at Ogbese town in Akure North Local Government Area as the trucks were coming from Owo in Owo Local Government Area following a tipoff that the trucks were laden with planks suspected to be flitches which have been banned by the Ondo State Government. The JTF Director revealed that one of the trucks has registration number DBT292XA while the second truck has no number. They were impounded at the ministry’s headquarter in Alagbaka Akure for subsequent prosecution. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Tunde Atere said the state has zero-tolerance for any illegality on forestry produce and allied services of the ministry. He expressed displeasure over the development, noting that ”despite the regulatory measures which government has put in place, yet these unscrupulous elements are not deterred.” The commissioner promised that the suspects would be prosecuted.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

NSE defers implementation of market volatility measure

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has suspended the implementation of a new rule that would empower it to; in the first instance of extraordinary market volatility, halt trading at the secondary market and in the event of continuing extreme volatility, close down the market for the day. The Rule 170, known as “Trading Halts Due to Extraordinary Market Volatility”, was supposed to take effect yesterday but the NSE stated that it has suspended the implementation of the new rule until further notice. The new rule empowers NSE to halt trading in all securities for 30 minutes in the event of five per cent market-wide decline as indicated by the All Share Index (ASI). The NSE’s circuit breakers will be triggered immediately once the ASI

Stories by Taofik Salako

declined by five per cent. According to the rule, the market will be closed for the day if at the resumption of the 30-minute break, the, market witness further decline of five per cent. The NSE currently has a 10 per cent single-stock circuit breaker, which limits the daily allowable change in the price of any equity to 10 per cent. The ASI-based market-wide circuit breaker will operate in addition to the single stock limit. In the throes of the market recession in 2008, the market had declined by more than nine per cent in a day. “If a market move occurs after 10.15am and any time up to and including 13.45 pm, the Exchange shall halt trading in all stocks for 30 minutes. The Exchange shall not halt

trading if a significant market move occurs after 13.45 pm. The Exchange shall halt and reopen trading based on a significant market move only once per trading day,” the rule stated. According to the rule, if following the reopening of trading after a significant market move halt, the All Share Index moves further by a minimum of five per cent below its closing value on the immediately preceding trading day, during any trading day the Exchange will halt all trading for the remainder of the day. The last traded price in any security prior to the closing of the market shall be deemed the closing price in such security for the day. In a supporting note to the rule, head, legal and regulation, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Tinuade Awe, said that the new rule was necessi-

tated by the recent bearish trends in the market and the need to provide for an orderly and efficient market. According to her, the NSE believes that the trade-halt rule is relevant, meaningful and effective in today’s high-speed electronic securities markets. “Given the highly-automated nature of today’s markets and improvements in connectivity, the Exchange believes that a trading halt of 30 minutes would be sufficient to allow market participants an opportunity to assess a serious market decline and express their trading interest, with relatively little disruption to the market. Management is of the view that should the market decline by a further five per cent after an initial index circuit breaker trigger of per cent, for a total of 10 per cent; the market should be

closed for the day. A 10 per cent market-wide move is highly unusual in this market, and time should be given for the market to recollect itself before opening the next day,” Awe stated. She pointed out that the new rule seeks to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments and improve the mechanism of a free and open market as well as protect investors and the public interest. She said the NSE expected that triggering of the index circuit breakers will be a relatively rare, event that will address severe market declines and enable stabilization in the market and in view of the short duration of their intervention, the circuit breakers should still be able to accomplish their goal.

Nigeria LNG commends Berger Paints on local content

HE Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has lauded the commitment of Berger Paints Plc to local production of quality products and implementation of the Local Content Act. In line with the Local Content policy, the NLNG had awarded a contract for the manufacture and supply of coatings to Berger Paints Nigeria Plc for two new NLNG carriers to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea. The management of Nigeria LNG paid a visit to Berger Paints Nigeria Plc in Ikeja, Lagos to monitor the implementation of the Local Content Act. Head, shipping and knowledge transfer, Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited, Mr. Henry Agbodjan said, commended the commitment of Berger Paints to local production of globally competitive paints. “I am very pleased with the quantum of investments in terms of equipments Berger Paints has deployed in ensuring the manufacture of paints and coatings locally, and in compliance with global standards such that their products are at par with those produced by KCC in Korea which will be used by Hyundai Heavy Industries in the coating of two new NLNG vessels,” Agbodjan said after a factory tour for the inspection of the products to be shipped to Korea for painting of the ships. In his remarks, managing director, Berger Paints Plc, Mr Tor Nygard, said the company has con-

tinued to demonstrate its support for the implementation of local content policy. “We are glad to be partners with NLNG in delivering the Nigeria Content Act and we will like to let you know that since the discussions on the participation in delivering the local content act in Nigeria started, we have taken steps to demonstrate our commitment to the act by scaling up the standards of our operations and products,” Nygard said. He assured that Berger Paints would enhance its production capacity and performance going by the ongoing upgrade to full automation of its production facility in a bid to improve its offering. He added that the automation will have major positive impacts on production volume, costs, product quality and turnaround time, reiterating that Berger Paints is committed to delivering global quality to Nigerians at affordable prices. Berger Paints is using the net proceeds of its recent rights issue to fully automate its paint manufacturing plant, which will make the company the first to own such plant in Africa. Berger Paints had raised N543 million through a rights issue. It recently distributed N202.9 million as cash dividends for the 2013 business year, representing a dividend per share of 70 kobo. Audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that profit after tax increased by 30.9

•From left: Mr. Henry Agbodjan, Head of Shipping and knowledge transfer for Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Tor Nygard, Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Jagdale, Head of Manufacturing and Mr. Jatin Madan, all of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, during a factory tour of Berger Paints by the Nigeria LNG Limited in the implementation of the Local Content Act in Lagos.

per cent to N251 million as against N192 million recorded in 2012. Profit before tax rose to N356 million in 2013, showing an increase of 25 per cent compared with N284 million in 2012.Turnover rose to N2.7 billion in 2013 compared with a turnover N2.5 billion recorded in 2012.

Cadbury Nigeria eyes larger market share with new MD

ADBURY Nigeria Plc hopes to consolidate its market share and tap into other expanding markets in West Africa with the appointment of a new managing director. Cadbury Nigeria has appointed Roy Naaman as its new managing director, with effect from January 1, 2015. He will succeed Emil Moskofian, who leaves the company to explore opportunities outside Mondelçz International, Cadbury Nigeria’s parent company. Cadbury Nigeria stated that Naaman as a highly experienced brand professional would lead the snacks group’s expansion in West Africa and deliver consistent and strong profit to shareholders. “In Roy, we are very pleased to gain a highly experienced leader, with a strong track record in driving sustained and profitable growth. In his previous role, Roy was instrumental in spurring business expansion in southern Africa and the Caucasus. He is a most valuable addition to our company,” Romeo Lacerda, President, Markets, Eastern

Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mondelçz International, said in a company statement. He noted that Emil Moskofian’s commitment and leadership have made a valuable contribution to the success of Cadbury Nigeria over the last few years including commendable strides and solid achievements in sales volume, profitability and point-of-sales coverage, as well as brand innovation, compliance and control. Naaman joins Mondelçz International from the Diplomat Group, a global distribution company representing leading brands. With a Bachelor of Arts in business, majoring in finance, Naaman has held a number of positions in the Diplomat Group in several countries, including Georgia, and most recently as a General Manager of its largest market. He joins Cadbury Nigeria 1st January, 2015. Mondelçz International, a global snacks powerhouse, holds 74.99 per

cent equity stake in Cadbury Nigeria, the remaining 25.01 per cent shares are held by a diverse group of Nigerian individual and institutional investors. Cadbury Nigeria has a cocoa processing factory located in Ondo town, 275km from Lagos, with a capacity of 12,500tons per year, processing cocoa beans into a range of intermediate products including cocoa butter, cocoa liquor and cocoa powder for export and local customers. Mondelçz International Inc is a global snacking powerhouse, with total revenue of $35 billion in 2013. Mondelçz International is ranked within the Standard and Poor’s 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Creating delicious moments of joy in 165 countries, Mondelçz International is a world leader in chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, coffee and powdered beverages, with billion-dollar brands such as Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate, Jacobs coffee, Oreo, LU and Nabisco biscuits, Tang powdered beverages and Trident gum.

Managing Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard, said the report was indicative of continuing improvements in the company’s operations, characterised by huge investments in product innovation.

He noted that in spite of the local infrastructure challenges affecting real sector performance, especially power, the company was able to record growth of 7.75 per cent and 30.9 per cent in revenues and profitability respectively.

Stockbrokers woo new members

HE Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has stepped up its membership drive with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Laurel Ventures. Under the MOU, Laurel Ventures would deploy its technical and professional knowledge to mobilize over 150,000 potential applicants for the institute’s Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment and Associates Chartered Stockbrokers professional certification. By the MOU, Laurel Ventures would train over 150,000 young Nigerians annually and present them to CIS for certification as a prelude to launching the young Nigerians into the financial world. This is expected to assist in actualizing the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and Savings. The long term plan is to develop young entrepreneurs. The institute would recognize Laurel Ventures as a non-exclusive representative with associated benefits of agreed discount for its efforts among others. The beneficiaries would also create financial planning houses for the operators in the entire financial market and the government sector.

Managing director, Laurel Ventures, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, commended the institute for the bold initiative aimed at creating job opportunities for young Nigerians. Vice president, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Dapo Adekoje advised all the companies that have signed MOU to mobilize young Nigerians to make a career in the financial market to take advantage of the unique marketing opportunities provided by this training programme. President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Albert Okumagba had earlier said that the ultimate objective of launching the young Nigerians to this new professional opportunity was to provide the much needed back up staff for all operators within the ambit of the financial market including insurance, pension fund operators and other categories. Laurel ventures specializes in professional consultancy services. The company also creates opportunities for business, advancing corporate goals and engages in general trading. The CIS is saddled with the duty of determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by those who aspire to become professionals

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS P ENSION

Pension investment funds nearing $7b

•From left: Mr. Hussain; Hon. Commissioner for Establishments, Training & Pensions; Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC’s) Executive Director, Finance & Investment, Dr. Adekunle Wright and Executive Director,Technical, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, during the 14th Retirement Bond Certificate presentation ceremony in Lagos.

LASPEC pays N1.7b to 319 retirees

HE Lagos State government has paid N1.79 billion to 319 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The government said it is its way of expressing appreciation to workers who retired from the state public service after serving the State for 35 years. Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Rotimi Adekunle Hussein who spoke while presenting retirement bond certificate to the retirees during the 14th batch of Retirement Bond Certificate presentation ceremony held in Lagos, said the government remained committed to making pensioners happy. He assured the retirees that the total value on the bond which represents the past service benefits accrued to each beneficiary has already been remitted into their respective Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) with the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). He noted that this is in addition to the 7.5 per cent employees’ deductions and 7.5 per cent employer’s counterpart monthly contributions regularly remitted to their RSA accounts since inception of the scheme.

Hussein further disclosed that the commission had earlier in August and September paid 221 retirees the sum of N923.7 million at the 12th and 13th batch of Retirement Bond Certificate presentation. He said as at the 13thBond Certificate presentation, the government had paid N21.1billion retirees being their past service benefits prior to the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme in April, 2007. He said the ceremony is specially designed by the state government to celebrate and express appreciation to these retirees for showing great commitment and dedication to the service of the state while still in service. He said: “The ceremony is regularly done in fulfillment of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) administration’s uncompromising commitment at ensuring that every worker who retires from the state public service gets his or her retirement benefits with relative ease. “Lagos State has continued to wax stronger in the administration of the CPS in Nigeria. Just in July this year, the concerted efforts of the state government at improving the standard

of living of its retirees was recognised and appreciated by President Goodluck Jonathan with the presentation of a gold trophy award. The state was presented the award in Ahuja during the tenth year anniversary of the establishment of the CPS in Nigeria, for emerging the best out of the 36 states of the federation in the adoption and full implementation of the CPS in accordance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004. “It is indeed gratifying to emphasise that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in Lagos State has not only justified its leadership position among the states of the federation in the provision of developmental projects and dividends of democracy to Lagosians over the years, it has also continued to stamp its authority on the administration of the CPS in the country.” The LASPEC boss added that with presentation therefore, the state has, within the limited resources available been able to pay a total sum of N28.9 billion to 5,530 retirees, a feat that is yet to be matched by any state in the federation.

NTARIO Teachers’ Pension Plan and Public Sector Pen sion Investment Board are nearing a $7 billion deal for Canadian satellite company Telesat Holdings Inc. after months of delays and discussion breakdowns, Bloomberg has reported. Under the terms being discussed, the funds will acquire Loral Space & Communications Inc. (LORL), a publicly traded shell company that owns 63 per cent of Telesat, for about $85 a share, or $2.6 billion, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private information. While a deal could be announced next month, talks may fall apart again given the parties’ inability to reach an agreement in the past, the people said. The pension funds are planning to wind up with equal ownership and voting stakes in Telesat, the people said. PSP, which currently holds about 67 per cent of the voting rights and 37 per cent of the equity in Telesat, would increase its owner-

ship to 50 per cent and reduce its voting rights, while Ontario Teachers’ would control the other half of the company. Telesat has been on and off the block for years. Loral and PSP, which already owns 37 per cent of Telesat, called off a sale effort in 2011, after offers from bidders including EchoStar Corp. and Carlyle Group LP fell short of expectations. Talks started again this year before stalling in June because Mark Rachesky, Loral’s largest shareholder, couldn’t agree with PSP on a price to sell the company, failing to bridge an equity gap of about $100 million, people said then. Three-way talks between Loral, PSP and Ontario Teachers’ restarted last month after Ontario Teachers’ and PSP raised their offer, the people said, leading to renewed negotiations. Representatives for Loral, Ontario Teachers’ and PSP declined to comment.

‘Lagos budget is pensioners’ budget’

HE valedictory budget pre sented by Lagos State gover nor, Babatunde Fashola last month will solve most of the state parastatals and agencies pensioners lingering problems, Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase has said. Oguntuase who described the budget as pensioner’s budget while speaking in Lagos said the pensioners whose problems mostly rose from the old pension scheme will soon have cause to smile. Speaking on pension arrears being owed pensioners of local government and Water Corporation, she said the problem will soon be resolved. She said: “There is no doubt we have issue with few parastatals and we are taking it on board. We are going to pay each parastatals on its own merit. Before we were going to lump them together but we dis-

•Fashola

covered that their cases are different from each other. “What the executive council has asked us to do is to take them one after the other.

Guinea takes CSR to primary schools

UINEA Insurance is com mitted to continually en courage academic and moral excellence from the grassroots through its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) initiative (CSR), its Managing Director, Polycarp Didam, has said. He spoke during the company’s second phase of its 2014 CSR initiative tagged “Engaging Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” in Lagos. The schools, Fadeyi Primary School, Lagos Mainland Local Government (LMLG) Primary School and Onayade Community Primary School received educational materials ranging from note books, biros, school bags, among others. Didam said 45 pupils won the special prize for excelling in academics, sports, morals, neatness, punctuality and creativity. He further explained that 41 academic and non-academic staff were appreciated for their astute presence of mind, high probity and dogged embrace of positive, organised teaching character and outlook, despite the

•From left: Didam, Taiwo&Kehinde Ajeigbe of LMLG Primary School, Fadeyi, Team Lead, Corporate Services, Ufot Hanson, Ag. Group Lead, Marketing,Mojisola Adegboye Wole Fayemi, Group Lead, Technical& Team Lead, Private Sector Marketing,Yinka Adebiyi during the presentation of special prizes to pupils at the school premises in Fadeyi, Lagos.

numerous setbacks caused by lack of adequate infrastructural facilities in the schools. They also, received packaged prized gifts, each containing: note pads, t-shirts and key holders. On the whole, notebooks and biros were distributed across-board to all pupils of the three

schools. Didam said this is in consonance with its CSR initiatives aimed at offering new lease of life to educational institutions at the bottom of the pyramid noting that the youths are tommorrow’s leaders.

In appreciation, the Head teachers of Fadeyi Primary School, Lagos Mainland Local Government (LMLG) Primary School and Onayade Community Primary School including Messrs. Muritala Seidat Abosede, Shobande Benedicta Ekundayo and Ezeoke

Philomena Ikwuoma respectively expressed gratitude for the company’s compassionate support which according to them, would greatly encourage both the pupils, academic and non-academic staff alike to strive for the very best at all times.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Many entrepreneurs are veering into the used cars business. Though it is import-dependent, the venture is paying well despite the government’s decision to increase duty on used cars, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

The booming Tokunbo cars trade T

HE used-car market is enjoying a relatively good run. Buyers are opting for lessexpensive used vehicles because of the present economic reality. Though the government says the economy is doing well, with consistent growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), analysts say this has not translated to good life for the citizenry. With this situation, not many can afford new cars because of the high costs, making the business used car to flourish. Many entrepreneurs are profiting from it. One of them is the Chief Executive, Livier Global Concept Nigeria Limited, Mr Oliver Adokwu. He has over a decade experience in the car industry. After an apprenticeship under his uncle, he started with two cars. Today, he runs a thriving firm in Lagos, selling used cars. As people’s salaries have gone up and the standard of living has increased, Adokwu said Nigerians were ready to go hungry to buy cars. He sees opportunities in used

cars following high prices and increased demand for luxury cars caused in part by high tariffs on imported new vehicles. According to him, the secondhand car business thrives due to increasing incomes and people’s aspiration to keep up with the Joneses. Also, consumers are searching out deals and are still shying away from high-pricesd vehicles in a weaker economy. As a result, dealership in usedcar operations are seeing higher profits, stronger prices and more returns on investment. It has been an exciting experience selling some of the world’s leading auto brands. He buys used cars from Benin Republic and the firm’s target market is middle class customers. He tried to sell cheap cars, the average selling price is in the region of N700,000 and above. Despite the growing popularity of online platforms on which people can sell and buy cars, Adokwu believes his business is

not under threat. This is because his clients want to see what they buy before paying and they have come to see him as highly dependable. To meet demands, Adokwu’s strategy is grabbing low-milleage vehicles, noting that they command the highest prices on the used-car market. Playing well in the used-car arena, Adokwu sells entry-level small and midsize cars which fall into the affordable price levels for more conservative-conscious consumers. Generally, the lingering economic woes make for a tough automotive market, used or new. At the moment, the local auto market has not picked up, helping people sucha as Adokwu to make brisk business. He remains optimistic though significant challenges are still out there. One of the challenges is that 80 per cent of used cars are not what people expect. Another is corruption at the ports.

Adokwu said a lot of them sell vehicles from Benin Republic because there are a lot of thefts in the ports and customers want cars that have most of the key components intact. Aside from that, increasing number of Nigerians don’t want to use public transport which is chaotic and highly unoraganised. This is encouraging more dealers to go into used cars business. His strategy is selling near-new clean cars of between three and four years old. The most important lesson he has learnt in the car business is to treat customers with respect. He advised entrepreneurs to have good relationships with consumers and that entrepreneurs should exercise caution and be honest in their dealings. He said unstable government policies on cars create an atmosphere of uncertainty that is not positive, and a level of frustration. The industry does not have a comprehensive and systematic used car evaluation system. At the moment, used cars are priced according to

•Adokwu

each dealer’s evaluation, without applying any objective process or standard. The lack of a used car after-sales service system is also having an influence on consumer confidence within the used-car marketplace, causing a delay in proper development. But Adokwu has had to make changes to provide customers with reassurance after purchasing used cars.

What is the best way to tackle youth unemployment and close the growing income gap? Two United Kingdom-based mentors say it is by establishing start-up hubs. They have packaged an innovative scheme to offer fresh graduates and students support to start their own businesses, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

‘Entrepreneurship is cure for unemployment’

OUNDER, Meridian Entrepreneurs Society, Mariam Tijani; Committee Member, Mrs Kafayat Ajuwon, and two young mentors, know that a lot of young entrepreneurs have ideas but don’t have the capital to execute their dreams. Notwithstanding, they are ready to inspire a new generation of Nigerians. The society, according to Mrs Tijani, is working on a project to assist fresh graduates and students to get their own businesses off the ground. She said the society would provide an attractive package of intensive business start-up support for students and graduates launching their own businesses. The programme will provide new businesses with dedicated incubator space where budding entrepreneurs could benefit from help and advice from the project team, socialise and share ideas with other new start-ups. Participants, she said, would also benefit from workshops which would equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their businesses and would also give them the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs. Grant funding is also available, alongside further training, mentoring from industry experts and career guidance. According to her, an innovation incubator, which will be launched soon will provide a complete sup-

port environment to stimulate and foster innovative entrepreneurial projects in the nation’s youth. She said the hub is a critical step to promoting creativity and entrepreneurship stressing the role of young Nigerians in overall economic activity. She is optimistic that the project would make a huge impact and stimulate a new movement towards sustainable growth and economic development. She reiterated the commitment of the society to building a diverse partnership network with businesses, universities, technology companies and various institutions in order to identify, encourage and support business initiatives at the early stages development of startups. Committee member, Mrs Ajuwon said the hub will mark a great beginning in youth development and innovation. According to her, the hub will provide an effective vehicle in channelling youth creativity and building an entrepreneurial talent capital in Lagos. The hub will specifically look at helping the youth and start-up firms navigate the challenge of early stage development with a suite of services that help identify and remove bottlenecks and allow future entrepreneurs maintain their focus and move forward. She said funding is vital to the development of small enterprises,

adding that supporting graduates to develop and start small businesses which in turn will create jobs are ways of addressing rising youth unemployment in the country. According to her, to solve the problem, the have devised an online portal that would serve as a digital platform for young Nigerians to upload their ideas and meet prospective funders. She said the platform will give entrepreneurs more access to capital, adding that money paired with mentorship could turn ideas into flourishing businesses. Mrs Ajuwon said there is a real appetite for starting a business among young people and as such, they need an environment that highlights self-employment and new venture creation as a career option.

•Mrs Ajuwon

•Tijani

She said there is a shortage of good, practical advice aimed at young entrepreneurs who consider starting a business as a career path. Mrs Ajuwon said the society will organise regular networking events, enabling entrepreneurs to meet potential investors and advisors. She said the hub will provide room for promising entrepreneurs to nurture their ideas on premise. The facility focuses on pushing young businesses forward and offers operational support and guidance, where required. With high rate of unemployment, she said universities should be act-

ing as business incubators and going the extra mile to set up enabling ecosystems for entrepreneurship to thrive in. To promote this, she said the society is launching a nationwide tour of universities to drive entrepreneurial initiative for on-campus, incubation, adding that enterprisecreation needs to be nurtured and given the right opportunities on the campuses. She said the society’s chapters will be created on campuses and members helped to study and work in an entrepreneurial atmosphere, where they seek guidance and learn from one another.

‘The hub will provide room for promising entrepreneurs to nurture their ideas on premise. The facility focusses on pushing young businesses forward and offers operational support and guidance, where required’ •Participants at this year’s Global Mentoring Walk for women organised by Idea Builders in Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL SAA changes flight schedule

OUTH African Airways (SAA) has announced revolutionary changes to SAA Voyager positioning it as the frequent flyer programme of choice on the African continent. The changes are in line with the airline’s Long-Term Turnaround Strategy (LTTS). SAA Voyager is a key element of the SAA Group’s customer value proposition and aligns with SAA’s Vision of Africa’s leading world-class airline. “In terms of the strategy, our key deliverables for the Voyager programme are non-negotiable. Immediate interventions were required to improve our customer value proposition to ensure customer retention in the highly competitive domestic, regional (Africa) and international market,” said Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA Acting Chief

Executive. The programme changes which, for the most part, will come into effect on February 1, 2015, focus on our enhanced customer value proposition. “Our members have spoken, experts and analysts have commented, and we have listened,” said Suretha Cruse, SAA Executive Customer Loyalty at the launch event of the Re5 campaign. The Re5 campaign is anchored on five key programme changes. It has been designed to respond to Voyager members’ feedback; the objectives of the airline’s LTTS; and in alignment with SAA Voyager’s aspiration to become Africa’s leading world-class loyalty programme (SAA Voyager’s Vision).

Missing baggage tops air passengers’ complaints

HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) has identified missing baggage aboard foreign carriers as the major complaints lodged with it for resolution by Nigerians in the last two years. Apart from missing luggage, overbooking of flights, denied boarding, mishandled/misrouted baggage as well as pilferage also featured prominently among complaints lodged by passengers. Disclosing this, NCAA’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, said its Directorate of Consumer Protection has resolved over 55,000 complaints from passengers in the last two years. The NCAA said some of the passengers’complaints were roll over cases resolved alongside the figures for the period under review. The spokesman of the regulatory authority, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, put the

figures for 2013 at 15,839. He said 13,954 of the complaints were received from international airlines operations, while 382 complaints were received from 65,368 domestic airline operations. He said the bulk of complaints from passengers were in the categories of overbooking of flights, denied boarding, mishandled/ misrouted baggage, baggage pilferage and discourtesy of airline staff. The resolution, according to Ndubuoke, swas achieved through the extensive training of Consumer Protection Officers who monitored flight operations at the various airports. The NCAA personnel, he said, were trained to handle airline receipting processing, mediation and resolution of complaints from aggrieved passengers.

Egypt expanding Suez Canal to raise revenue H OPES are rising that a $4billion project to widen the Suez Canal will provide Egypt with a boost in construction activity, while also significantly raising revenue in the longer term, Global Arab Network reports. The Suez Canal brings in around $5billion in revenue annually and has evolved into one of the world’s most strategically important international trade conduits since it opened almost 150 years ago. Today, the waterway is still the quickest sea route between Europe and Asia. Egypt’s challenging economic environment has led officials to refocus their efforts on expanding and upgrading the canal. Estimates suggest that revenue from the waterway could increase to $13.5billion once the work is completed, although some aspects of the project, including its location, have come under criticism. Egypt’s army will coordinate the work on the initiative, known as the Suez Canal Corridor Development Project, which was

launched on August 5 by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. The initiative will involve 35km of dry digging and 37km of “expansion and deepening”, according to Mohab Mamish, the head of the Suez Canal Authority. This will see the canal’s waterway widened, creating a much longer stretch of “dual carriageway” where ships can pass more easily. The expansion should lead to increased efficiency as well as a reduction in the maximum waiting time from 11 to three hours. The number of passing ships that can be handled daily will almost double to 97. Various press reports have said the forecast time scale for the expansion has been reduced from five years to three years and eventually to an unlikely 12 months. The project is being part funded by investment certificates issued by the authority and cash will also be raised from floating shares and loans from Egyptian banks. Egypt’s economy has struggled in

recent years, weighed down by lower growth and a widening budget deficit. Foreign reserves have also come under severe pressure. The gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to rise by just 2.3 per cent in 2014, while the budget deficit has reached 14 per cent of GDP. The army has been set the target of digging 1m cu metres daily as part of the bid to complete the work within 11 months and introduce trial runs of vessels in the new stream within a year. A total of 12m cu metres were dug in the first fortnight, according to a statement from the military. However, while work on the expansion is gaining momentum, aspects of the project have also elicited concerns. Haitham Awad, an engineering professor at Alexandria University, questioned the decision to put the new route so close to the existing canal, telling regional press that the presence of groundwater, which has already disrupted digging, would increase costs.

NAMA to begin 24-hour services

HE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is to commence 24 hour air navigation services at its remote stations across the country The 24-hour service is part of efforts to improve air traffic services to customers of the airspace agency The Managing Director NAMA Ibrahim Abdusalam made this known in Enugu during the 32nd Annual General Meeting/election of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE). The NAMA boss said the proposal for the 24-hour air navigation services take-off has been endorsed by government. Abdusalam said the management of the airspace agency was working hard to bring on board multilateration , the latest air navigation technology for the Niger Delta region. He also spoke of plans to begin

voice network for the coverage of the nation’s airspace. According to the NAMA boss, the voice network will be used to provide training for staff. Abdusalam said the aeronautical information services project is on cause adding that issues surrounding its take off is being resolved with the contractors handling the project. He said tests on the project had been carried in addition to training of personnel. He announced that middle cadre staff would be trained on the job in some major airports in order to acquire experience for effective services . He cautioned workers of the airspace agency to desist from creating division in the system through unpatriotic Union activities .

Govt vows to decongest Manila’s ports

HE government expects operations at Manila’s ports to be back to normal by early next year, but notes that there is a need to expand capacity to accommodate an expected increase in transactions in the coming years. “My purview is to solve the problem and hopefully by January or February, this is all over,” Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras told reporters during the Manila Ports Forum. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told reporters in the same event the conditions at the ports have been improving and are expected to continue. While there were more containers coming in than empty containers being shipped out from the ports during the January to October period, he said the situation has been reversed this month. “There are more containers being taken out so that means there is re-

duction on empty containers starting November. That’s a very big step to the solution,” he said. Even as more empty containers are being removed from the ports, congestion remains, given an abnormal increase in the volume of imports. Almendras said while the government initially expected the congestion at the ports to be resolved by November with shipments for Christmas usually arriving in October, there has been an abnormal increase in volume of imports, particularly for construction materials, this month. “We are seeing significant increase of importation of construction materials. We are seeing, and even the ports outside are telling us, some of them are reporting 20 percent increase in the volume of cargo coming in for construction and capital goods,” he said.

•First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan (right) receiving her National e-ID Card from the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chris Onyemenam, at the State House, Abuja.

China’s manufacturing growth slows again

HINA’S factory activity slowed by more than expected in November, highlighting how a cooling economy is impacting its vast manufacturing sector. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dipped to 50.3 in November from October’s 50.8, closer to the 50 point mark that separates growth from contraction. It was below the 50.6 level expected by economists. Rising costs and falling demand were blamed for the downturn in activity. Meanwhile, a private survey from from HSBC showed that growth in Chinese factories in November stalled as output shrank for the first

time in six months. The final HSBC/Markit manufacturing PMI slipped to a six-month low of 50 in November, down from 50.4 in October. The reading was unchanged from a preliminary “flash” finding released earlier this month. Output fell to 49.6, which was the worst reading since May. “Muted growth in new work,” led companies to hold back production, HSBC/Markit said. Growth in the world’s second largest economy fell to 7.3% in the third quarter, which was the slowest pace since the global financial crisis. The risk that China might miss its official growth target of 7.5% this year for the first time in 15 years is growing

because economic data is weaker than expected, economists said. A struggling property market, uneven export growth and cooling domestic demand and investment are some of the major factors weighing on overall growth. Alaistair Chan, economist at Moody’s Analytics, said he had expected the slowdown in manufacturing and was a “little more pessimistic” than the market for two reasons. “Firstly, there are signs the recent export boom is fading. Meanwhile, the housing market and related sectors such as steel and cement manufacturing, remains in a slump,” Mr Chan said.

U.S. added another 200,000 jobs in November

HE economy has settled nicely into hiring grove since the early spring, adding more than 238,000 jobs a month and putting the U.S. on a path to produce the strongest employment gains in 15 years. What’s still missing, however, is a big uptick in wages that typically occurs when the unemployment rate shrinks quickly, or the occasional huge job gain in the 350,000-plus

range, the telltale sign of an economy in full-blown recovery mode. Wall Street is expecting more of the same when the November employment report is released on Friday. Economists polled by MarketWatch forecast a net increase of 230,000 jobs. Other monthly reports on auto sales, manufacturing and construction are also projected to show decent gains that underscore the improvement in

the economy since a shockingly weak first quarter. Steady as she goes isn’t a bad thing. The unemployment rate has shrunk rapidly over the past year and it’s likely to fall another notch to 5.7% from 5.8%, bringing it down to the lowest level since mid-2008. And hourly wages are likely to continue to rise at a 2% annual rate as they have done over the past four years.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

SHOWBIZ Unilag student emerges Airtel One Mic regional champion

KSB loses APC ticket

•Says ‘I won’t defect from party’ •Elliot wins, Adeneye loses By Victor Akande

HILE colleagues of Desmond Elliot, rolled out the drums for the star actor who, yesterday, scaled through the All Progressive Party (APC) primaries, as aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, other entertainers were consoling notable singer, Kenny Saint Best (KSB), for losing the ticket to represent Ikeja Constituency 1. Both entertainers had vied under the All Progressive Party (APC). Although Elliot, who was contesting in Surulere Constituency 1, became unopposed after the incumbent, Kabir Lawal, stepped down for him, KSB, on the other hand, lost to Folajimi Lai Mohammad, son of notable politician, Lai Mohammed. KSB, who came second to Mohammed in the election, was said to be very disappointed by the turnout, leaving observers to wonder if she will continue as party member. The singer, in a chat with The Nation, said she has no intention to defect from the party, as she believes there will be other opportunities

• Kenny Saint Brown

for her. She said people had speculated that she will defect because her brothers are known to be staunch members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to the entertainer, there are other positions in the executive arm of the Lagos State Government where she can fit in. Also in Ogun State, co-presenter of Primetime Africa, Dayo Adeneye, aka D1, lost the APC ticket to represent Odogbolu Constituency in the

Ogun State House of Assembly. The on-air-personality lost to Governor Ibikunle Amosun's former Special Assistant (SA) on Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Adebowale Ojuri. The singer is one of the several entertainers who have shown interest in politics within the last few months. Others are 9ice, Kate Henshaw, Bob Manuel-Udokwu, Ejike Methuselah, Tony Tetuila, Kenneth Okonkwo and Muma Gee.

200-level student of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Olatunji Oladotun Alade, has emerged winner of the Lagos regional finals of Airtel One Mic, a music talent-hunt competition for tertiary institutions organised by Airtel Nigeria. Popularly known as Dotman, the artiste held off very strong challenge from five other zonal finalists in the keenly contested regional final held at the Beverly International Events Centre, Bariga, Lagos, to win the star prize, a brand new KIA Picanto. In addition to the star prize, he was also rewarded with a full artiste makeover and recording deal with ID Cabasa’s Coded Tunes. The contestants for the Lagos regional finals were drawn from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University and the University of Lagos, after an intra-school competition that produced two representatives for each school to make up the six final contestants. For over two hours, the six finalists vied on the stage with their lyrics

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

and creativity under the scrutiny of the trio of music producers: ID Cabasa, Reminisce and Vector Tha Viper, who were the judges on the day. The judges finally reached a unanimous decision in favour of Unilag’s Dotman whose skills outshone the others. Congratulating the winner, Airtel’s Regional Operations Director for Lagos, Mr. Femi Oshinlaja, acknowledged the performance of all participants and noted specially the performance of the overall winner. The highly elated Dotman, who could not contain his emotions, expressed his appreciation to Airtel Nigeria for providing the youth a platform to achieve their dreams. “I am overwhelmed with joy today for emerging winner of Airtel’s One Mic project. I thank Airtel Nigeria for this initiative. It is an encouragement that will inspire me to the peak of my music career. I am very much grateful to Airtel,” he said.

KSA, K1, others to perform at Toyin Adegbola’s 30 years on stage By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

•Toyin Adegbola

HREE music icons; King Sunny Ade, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and Saheed Osupa, have been billed to perform at a ceremony organised to celebrate Toyin Adegbola, a.k.a Ajoke Asewo, on her 30 years as an actress. Slated for December 7, 2014, in Oshogbo, Osun State, the actress, alongside friends and colleagues, will before the event, pay a courtesy visit to the House of Assembly, where she is a member, on Thursday December 4. It was also revealed that, the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and some monarchs in the state, are expected to grace the occasion. When asked if her fans will have access to the venue, the actress said: “All my fans are highly welcome, but they have to get the visa to come and the only visa to attend is by buying the prescribed Ankara or Lace cloth”. Adegbola who described her acting career has most fulfilling, became popular for the film, Asewo to re Mecca.

Empress Njama marks birthday with less privileged

OLLYWOOD actress, Empress Njama, last Sunday marked her birthday in style at The Druz Garden, Maitama, Abuja, with over a 1000 less privileged children. The actress, who runs a private company, House of Empress (HOE), said she has nursed the desire to reach out to the less privileged from childhood. “It all comes from the love I have for kids; this is something I like to do and my mum is not surprised that I am doing it today. I have always had a passion for kids. It’s like we are a big family; my mum is the mother of us all and I am their aunty

By Ovwe Medeme

and big sister,” she said. Explaining further, Empress said, her love for kids started when she when, as a little girl, she told her mum she wanted to spend her birthday with kids and the family ended up having a lavish Christmas party. “You have not given until you give to someone who can’t repay you; a lot of us don’t understand what charity is all about but with so very little we can put smiles on the faces of these kids; we need to make these kids know that we need and love them,” the actress admonished. The event witnessed dance, fash-

ion and catwalk competition, a novelty match between the kids and celebrities and presentation of gifts, including food items to the children and their orphanages. Highpoint of the evening was when This Year crooner, Jaywon, stormed the event to thrill the kids. Also present at the event were celebrities including actors and musicians like Fred Amata, Charles Inogie, Oghenekaro and Benson Okonkwo. Empress’ mother, Mrs. Njama, was also present at the event. The kids were drawn from Hope for Survival Orphanage and Treasure Orphanage among others.

•L-R Director, Lagos Region, Airtel, Femi Oshinlaja; ID Cabassa; the winner Airtel One Mic Lagos regional finals, Olatunji Oladotun Alade, a.k.a, Dotman

TV presenter, Ariyike Akinbobola to fete less privileged

V presenter, Ariyike Akinbobola, is set to hold a charity festival with the theme: Celebrating The Girl Child & Encouraging Female Leaders. The festival, according to the presenter, will bring together more than 15 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to benefit from donations made to the less privileged on Sunday, December 7, at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos. “For this year’s charity party, the NGOs and their beneficiaries are expected to come and create awareness for their charities, receive donations and also get to party with everyone. There will be musical performances, fashion show and lots more. You can donate clothes, provisions and other valuable things. Also, this year, we will be taking cash donations,” Akinbobola stated. In December 2013, Akinbobola

•Ariyike By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

organised her first annual Charity Christmas party, where donations from friends, family and brands were made to nine charity organisations.

MultiChoice unveils new HD decoder By Ovwe Medeme

• Empress flanked by guests at the occasion

ULTICHOICE Nigeria, last week, held the launch of its first HD single view decoder, an innovative device, which delivers HD signals and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound accessible to DStv subscribers. The DStv HD decoder, according to the management of MultiChoice, will replace the existing standard definition single view decoder. “The launch bears testament to our continued investment in technology to ensure DStv delivers the best television experience in Africa. The DStv HD decoder will ensure that more subscribers will have access to DStv’s HD channel offering. High definition creates a far superior television viewing experience, in terms of picture quality and the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound adds a new dimension to the audio experience. The DStv HD Decoder will open up a new world for many DStv subscribers,” said John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria. Ugbe further revealed that the DStv HD Decoder’s user interface is similar to the DStv Explora. Most functions can be performed from DStv Central, accessed through the blue DStv button on the remote control. This user interface makes for easier navigation through the HD menus and helps customers discover great DStv content available via multiple search options directly from the remote control.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

DISCOURSE

Development and road metaphor: An extrapolative theoretical analysis of Nigeria’s foreign policy

Conclusion of a paper delivered by Dr. Dapo Thomas at an international conference organised by the Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, from November 9-12. Continued from Monday ANDELA’S image as an enigmatic and charismatic leader helped in improv ing the perception – image of South Africa. In actual fact, Mandela’s image soared in a way that his activities as a person and as the President of South Africa greatly boosted the foreign policy of South Africa. It was Mandela’s personality that was providing direction for the South Africa state relations and this was evident in the choice of South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup. This was seen as a compensation for Mandela’s long incarceration by apartheid South Africa. The Mandela period acted as a catalyst for South Africa’s aspiration for regional leadership. Conversely, at the time South Africa’s profile was soaring, Nigeria’s image was declining. The Abacha government exhibited a high degree of creative capacity for evil and maladministration in a manner that was complete opposite of what Mandela was doing in South Africa. While a Mandela was steadfastly striding towards deleting the negative image cast upon the country during the apartheid era, a Sani Abacha was putting Nigeria on the world map for all that was not noble. Abacha’s tyranny would also cause the Nigerian economy to nosedive and thus reduced considerably Nigeria’s ability to compete actively with a South Africa whose economy was in an upward swing. Wright and Okolo captured it this way: With a larger and more diversified economic base than Nigeria, South Africa has attracted significant interest from international investors, and it has negotiated special assistance from the EU… It also is the most likely nation to reach the status of a newly industrialising country; furthermore, the Southern African Development Community appears to be a better regional economic vehicle for South Africa than ECOWAS is for Nigeria. The charisma and legitimacy of Nelson Mandela contrasted markedly with the international ostracism of Abacha, and South Africa’s triumphal assertiveness within the Commonwealth coincides with Nigeria’s ignominious exclusion…

A Prognosis of policy deficits

Nigerian Foreign Policy is full of motion but there is no progress (movement) to show for it. The signs of vibrancy it showed after independence faded into insignificance not quite long after take off. In his assessment of Nigeria foreign policy between 1966 and 1999, Abegunrin believed that Balewa’s prompting of Nigeria’s unprecedented intervention in the Zimbabwean debacle showed how ineffectual Nigeria’s foreign policy was. Between AguiyiIronsi and Yakubu Gowon, Abegunrin declared: Their initiatives, most especially Gowon’s, on key issues projected an impressive image. Though, it is true that Gowon’s decolonization policy had some weaknesses, generally, Gowon’s foreign policy was fairly progressive and dynamic. The success of the leader’s personal diplomacy, for instance, ensured, inter alia, that Nigeria’s stature was raised on the continent, regional and global levels. Indeed, it was General Gowon who prepared the foundation for the Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo Administration’s aggressive, dynamic, and nationalistic foreign policy. However, Alaba Ogunsanwo explained that Nigeria’s foreign policy between 1979 and 1983 witnessed a series of foreign policy initiatives, near success and outright disasters. He commended the Shagari administration for committing itself to the struggle for decolonization in Southern Africa but was of the opinion that Nigeria’s foreign policy was no longer as flamboyant, dynamic and aggressive as it was in the past. In analyzing Nigeria’s foreign policy in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, some scholars argue that the underlying weakness in Nigeria’s foreign policy since independence became especially noticeable in the 1990s. Julius Ihonvbere summarized their arguments: [They contend] that a neocolonial, underdeveloped, dependent, foreign dominated, distorted, disarticulated, politically unstable, debt-ridden and crisisridden, social formation cannot provide credible leadership or operate a viable, credible, respectable and consistent foreign policy. It is contended that Nigeria, in spite of its vast human and material resources, cannot make claim to leadership in Africa as long as it is characterized by mindless corruption, mass poverty, grass inequality, mismanagement waste, and social, political, and economic tension, contradictions, and conflicts. Thus to this group…

Nigeria’s assumed “Power” ‘Influence” and “Credibility” are merely rhetoric propaganda, and “issue –based” diplomacy rather than evidence of any credible, viable, and consistent basis of foreign policy. Abegunrin maintained that “since independence in 1960, Nigerian governments have often taken the lead in Africa and pursued foreign policies commensurate with the countries perceived stature.” He stated further: In this sense, the country gained status in the international community, which at times translated into real influence… After he won the presidential election in February 1999 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obasanjo went on a global goodwill tour to call the attention of the western and other industrialized nations to the Nigerian situation and economic plight. In his submission on Nigeria’s foreign policy when Obasanjo took over as Nigeria’s new civilian President in 1999, Abegunrin’s view was that Obasanjo inherited a failed state, ruined by the preceding fifteen years of rule by greed, corrupt, authoritarian, and rogue military dictators. He further contended that having Babangida and Abacha asleaders was the worst thing to have happened to Nigeria as a nation because these two ruined Nigerian foreign relations. He remarked: They turned the country into a rogue state and Pariah. The Western-proclaimed giant of Africa was turned into a grant with clay feet. It was in the face of this situation that Obasanjo found himself… In essence, he had to start from scratch to turn around the outside world’s image of the country and prove to them that Nigeria could be giant of Africa again.

Conclusion/recommendations It is not all car somersaults that result in tragedy. In some cases, victims of the somersault may lose their lives. Some may end up with disability. Others may end up with minor injuries. Like most roads in Nigeria, policy making at both the domestic and external environments, is full of potholes, gullies and craters. On several occasions, as analysed earlier, Nigeria had found itself in some messy circumstances as a result of some terrible decisions and actions it took on sensitive international issues. When a motorist cannot avoid the potholes and craters on the roads, he goes into them with caution. This is the mistake Nigeria has been making. Our policy making is done in a manner that throws caution to the winds. We bump into potholes, gullies and craters because we have failed to observe necessary initiation rites during our policy rituals, and the god(s) of the roads, express their anger by lying in ambush for our policy makers’ convoy to suffer “cult carnage” for their policy indiscretion. Because the state is an indestructible entity, no matter the severity of the accident, it cannot die in the process. The worse case scenario is that it would end up with some disability or minor injuries. The Nigerian state has remained unscathed physically because it enjoys the “immortal status” that all states enjoy otherwise our many policy fatalities would have resulted in the untimely death of the nation. To avoid driving the nation to a near-death situation, our policy conduct should move from being a circus to being a serious business statecraft. First, Nigeria’s foreign policy is not scaffolded on any national vision that can enjoy the support of all the citizens. It is a misconception to equate national interest with national vision. The subjectivity and the conceptual indistinction of national interest reduces its chances of being equated with national vision. Political leaders and policy elite can at anytime manipulate national interest (which is what has been happening over the years), but a national vision is inelastic: it is a projected image of what the country should be in the future, the role it should play in the international system, the model and examples it should set in global politics, the strategic pursuit of a nation’s ambition and aspirations within the global political milieu, and the pro-

motion of enduring values both at the domestic level and the external world. More fundamentally of course, is the fact that such vision must conform with the nation’s historic ideals as espoused by the nation’s founding fathers in their declaratory speeches on the attainment of independence. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s vision for Nigeria in world affairs was articulated in a speech he delivered in Nigera’s Parliament in September 1957: …the eyes of the world are now upon us. We have many friends and well-wishers, but let us not forget that we also have enemies and that while our friends will delight in our success, our enemies would rejoice at our failures. Sometime ago, I said in this House that Nigeria can exert a great influence in the affairs of the world if she is united, and none if she is not. This country has a great future…Nigeria will one day rank among the most powerful states in the world. Chief Obafemi Awolowo echoed a similar sentiment in his address titled “Philosophy for Independent Nigeria” delivered to Nigerian students at Conway Hall, London on 3rd of September, 1961: The influence which a nation exerts, the respect which it enjoys, and the prestige accorded to it on the world scene, depend on two important factors: the size of its wealth and the caliber of its leadership. Granting an incorruptible, courageous, public-spirited, enlightened and dynamic leadership, the wealth of a nation is the fountain of its strength. The bigger the wealth, and the more equitable its distribution among the factors and agencies which have helped to produce it, the greater the out-flow of the nation’s influence and power. The position of Nnamdi Azikiwe was not different. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to respect the human dignity in his inaugural address as the First African Governor-General of Nigeria on November 16, 1960: The challenge of Nigeria…is the need to revive the stature of man in Africa and restore the dignity of man in the world… Under no circumstance shall we accept the idea that the black race is inferior to any other race. No matter where the spurious doctrine may prevail, it may be in Lodwar or Sharpeville or Decatur, we shall never admit that we are an inferior race… We cannot concede that it is in our national interest to fraternise with such nations which practise race prejudice… In fact, we must regard it as a mark of disrespect and an unfriendly act if any country with whom we have friendly relations indulges in race prejudice in any shape or form, no matter how it may be legally cloaked. A national vision envisaged by these leaders was one predicated on unity, incorruptible and dynamic leadership and respect for human dignity around the world. However, Nigeria seems to have lost the pace for sustaining this vision. The political leaders who were supposed to be the bastion of this vision were the ones threatening the disintegration of the nation with their divisive tactics, tendencies and activities. Both the military and political leaderships had been more engrossed with the consolidation of power through acrimonious political contestation. Nigeria’s foreign policy had therefore suffered serious breakdowns in the hands of both leaderships. The Nigerian state had been slowed down by unnecessary distractions which took its focus and concentration away from the serious business of governance. The country had at different stages struggled to contend with and contain volatile domestic crises and international embarrassments. There was the Civil War, the Dimka Coup which killed Murtala Mohammed who was trying to inject some doses of dynamism into the nation’s foreign policy, the Maitasine riots during Shagari’s administration; the death penalty of the Buhari administration for drug traffickers, the annulment of June 12 election result by Babangida and the crisis that followed it, the killing of nine Ogoni leaders, by the Abacha regime, the death of M.K.O. Abiola during Abdulsalam Abubakar regime and the fuel crisis under Jonathan. These are domestic

‘A national vision envisaged by these leaders was one predicated on unity, incorruptible and dynamic leadership and respect for human dignity around the world. However, Nigeria seems to have lost the pace for sustaining this vision. The political leaders who were supposed to be the bastion of this vision were the ones threatening the disintegration of the nation with their divisive tactics, tendencies and activities’

• Dr. Thomas

distractions which stood as obstructions to Nigeria’s progress in the external world. It explains why South Africa which became liberated in 1994 after many years of being treated as a Pariah state by the world, can treat Nigeria with contempt. The return of the seized $15m to Nigeria by the South African government after the initial diplomatic ridicule Nigeria was subjected to showed how low we have fallen in our external relations. The influence of political leaders on Nigeria’s foreign policy was responsible for the ineffectiveness and docility of the various institutions that should have played active role in the formulation and implementation of the country‘s foreign policy. The bureaucracy that was meant to coordinate and manage our external relations had been sidelined thus preventing institutional strategic approach to foreign policy implementation. The Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the foreign missions have been converted into political structures with government meddling in their affairs and above all, discountenancing their advice for political expediency. This attitude of our leaders suggests that they lack the political discipline, moral character and the diplomatic maturity to allow the Nation’s foreign policy to function according to the institutional framework establishing it. It is the leaders themselves who determine what strategic objectives should stand as national interest. As stated earlier, there is no national vision to drive the country’s foreign policy and even if the country endeavours to come up with one, the leaders do not seem to have the passion for the nation to drive the vision. Though leaders are not debarred from having their own strategic approach to the pursuit of the nation’s foreign policy, they should not, under the guise of national interest, promote their personal interests. In addition, they (political leaders) are allowed to come up with initiatives of their own, but only as complementary extension of the national interest. Nigeria’s competitive spirit is waning. The nation no longer possesses the resilience to sustain the dynamism and intensity of its foreign policy of the 1960s, 1970s and part of 1980s. In a system that is auto-driven, a country should maintain its speed with high level concentration otherwise little distractions are capable of slowing down the pace of its development. In an anarchical environment where every nation struggles to achieve their strategic objectives and national interests, pragmatism, realism, determination, resilience and a bit of aggression, are what a country needs to be able to compete intensely with other equally ambitious and aggressive nations. The foreign policy of a nation should be pursued with consistency, candour and aggression. Besides, the intellectual input in Nigeria’s foreign policy has declined considerably. The political content of the policy is more than its intellectual packaging. The intellectuals driving the policy in all its ramifications should be given the freedom to express themselves about a policy that may likely somersault or result in deficit for the nation. The political and intellectual elite should work in harmony in order to realize the aspirations of the nation without compromising its principles and values. It is instructive to conclude that Nigeria’s foreign policy can only be stimulated by a construct that is strong enough to absorb its inadequacies and still achieve its strategic objectives without compromising the nation’s human ethical properties. Political expediency should not be allowed to override the guiding philosophy and sanctity of the nation’s foreign policy.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

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

Nigerian Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Onyema says though the art industry is worth over $3 trillion, with a yearly $30 billion turnover, investing in it is not as good as investing in property, land, bonds, equities or precious metals. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

• Mrs Aino Oni-Okpako, Sehinde Odimayo and Sammy Olagbaju

Alluring but risky trillion dollars art business

HE guests at the 10th Ben Enwonwu lecture titled: Arts as an alternative investment, held at the Taraba/ Rufkatu Hall of the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, were at home with the topic. So, also was the guest speaker, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, who was conscious of the expectations of the mixed audience- artists, investors, collectors, stock brokers, auctioneers, gallery owners, among others. Onyema said art is no longer appreciated for its aesthetic value and the expression of its lofty ideals as it is more than ever before, considered an investment. He said the amount paid for certain art pieces have attracted global attention. As an object of investment, art has become, particularly alluring. He cited Ben Enwonwu’s Seven wooden sculpture sold for £361,250 and Mystery for £300,000 and Edward Munch’s The Scream for nearly $120 million as examples of some of such art pieces. Art, according to him, has become the new hip, musthave investment. He said art as an investment has an increasing demand, coupled with an absolutely limited supply, and the ability to survive the economic downturn. “Art as an asset is in a class all of its own. As assets are grouped together based on the characteristics of their underlying companies, art is grouped based on the period in which it was made, the artist (whether they are living or dead), style and medium. Art acts as an asset because it is owned and holds monetary value, and it can be exchanged for such a value. The main attraction and the prime reason for the resurgence of art as an investment is its low correlation with other financial assets,” he added. He however cautioned that putting money into art is not as straightforward as investing in property, land, bonds, equities or precious metals, such as gold. Onyema listed nine characteristics of arts that make it a high risk investment. He said: “•Art is a heterogeneous product, artworks are unique, •Loyalty to an artist is low, and the perceived value of the product very much depends on an art dealer’s taste, •There is a lot of competitive pressure in the industry, and barriers to entry are high due to high fixed costs. •Costs of exiting the industry are also high, as it is difficult to liquidate assets. •There is a mutual interdependency between firms, dealers and art fund managers. (The big three auction houses–Christies, Sotheby’s, Philips –are said to be price-makers and not price-takers.)

LECTURE •The art industry tends to compete on uniqueness of artwork, not on price. •The price of art within art markets is affected by uniqueness of product (the work of art), limited supply of works by the artist, production and sales costs, the market, and the macroeconomic environment. •The issue of value is often subjective, because of its heterogeneous nature and •There is an inelastic supply for art, since most tradable art is trapped in private collections.” He noted that despite the emergence of new products such as securitisation of artwork, structuring of private art collections into funds and other collective schemes, art financing–extending credit using art collections as collateral and art financing that guarantees minimum sales prices at auction, in practice, perfect knowledge of market never exist. “The art market can be characterised as highly uncertain, and knowledge is scarce. The imperfections in the market, thus, become a tool of competition,” he said. According to Onyema, the dividend from art is the enjoyment the collector gets from it because it does not pay dividend. “But you find increase in valuation of art over a time. It is the equivalent of what you get as dividend in stock market. Investing in art is very risky and volatile. And there are many things that go into what make people collect art,” he said. Onyema pledged the support of NSE for the establishment of an Art Fund, noting however, that the exchange is not the platform for its establishment because it cannot be quoted on the exchange. He said some of the advantages of the fund include that it allows access to art expertise, insider knowledge of the art market, low transaction costs if you are an investor in the fund, due diligence services, good advisory services, and the potential for higher returns. However, he identified liquidity, pricing, performance, costs, track records and conflict of interests as some of the disadvantages. He observed that participating in art fund

•Mr Onyema

gives access to co-investment and adds diversification to a portfolio. “But due to the high volatility of art’s value, it is necessary to invest over a longer period to adequately hedge. “•Understand international factors affecting art such as exchange rate movements,

‘Art as an asset is in a class all of its own. As assets are grouped together based on the characteristics of their underlying companies, art is grouped based on the period in which it was made, the artist (whether they are living or dead), style and medium’

cultural factors affecting art and market preferences. •Rising demand for artworks and increasing prices are driven by increasing global wealth. •Artwork in the lower price categories react negatively to economic slowdown –demand drops while supplies increase, thus forcing selling. •Artworks in the top price categories hold up well during weak economic environments. •Art prices tend to have a positive correlation with inflation. •When the stock market is in a downturn the art market booms –investor appetite shifts to tangible investments,” he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

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

• Mrs Aino Oni-Okpako, Sehinde Odimayo and Sammy Olagbaju

Alluring but risky trillion dollars art business

•Mr Onyema

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Things Fall Apart sold out in America’ •Continued from Page 13

novel. Now, this may sound like there is an inconsistency here and some may ask such as: “How can Things Fall Apart said to be “the great African novel” and Arrow of God is Achebe’s major novel?” I am talking of a major novel in the sense that it is a more complex novel than anything he wrote. It’s still politically relevant, especially to Africa today where leaders have stayed in power forever because Ezeulu is a dictator who is constantly in conflict with even his own people and family – he doesn’t want to hear what they have to say, which is typical of African governments. It is a novel that deals with issues, such as negotiation, transparency, and above all, listening to the opposition or the other side. It is the novel that academics would teach because it has a detailed characterisation, the plot, the issues are more complex and the language is richer than his other novels. And it probably leads to better discussions in class than Things Fall Apart because it is more subtle. But sadly I think it has been overlooked in favour of Things Fall Apart; and that is the essence of all those conferences across the world to try to make it more visible than it has been. It means one would also have to change the attitude of academics who teach. Although set in the past, it should be taught in schools looking at the situation today while examining its key issues. When did you first read Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God? I didn’t know anything about Nigeria before I visited the country in 1962, so, I got myself Achebe’s novels and read Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease in the summer of 1962. After reading them, I thought I had read something extraordinarily different, rich, imaginative and original, unlike anything I had ever read before. I fell in love with African literature and decided I was going to go for my PhD in African Literature. And later, within months that Arrow of God was published in England in 1964, I bought it in CMS bookstore in Onitsha in the summer and read it the next day. Where were you working at the time? I was teaching as a Peace Corps volunteer at the Anglican Boys Secondary School, in the then Eastern Nigeria on the East of Onitsha about 12 miles away and about seven miles from Ogidi where the late Chinua Achebe grew up. I taught there for two years between 1962 and 1964. And I used to drive through there all the time to go to Onitsha to buy produce, go to the bank and the Post Office. When you were driving through Ogidi to Onitsha, did you connect the place to Achebe? No. I was told that he had grown up there but I didn’t know which house was his family’s house. He told me much later that all the time that I went to Onitsha, I was always driving past his house. Aside 1962, what other time did you come back to the country? I have been to Nigeria about five times since I taught here for just short trips – and that is not so often and given the fact that that was 50 years ago. Reading Achebe’s books made me decide that this was such an exciting literature that I wanted to spend the rest of my life working with it; and that was why I kept coming back to Africa all the time. After that first visit to Nigeria, my interest in African literature grew. When I went back I didn’t just write about Nigerian Literature, I wrote about all

• •Prof Larson and Dr Wale Okediran

INTERVIEW other literatures across the continent. I became more interested in this aspect of literature and for about 40 years, I’ve worked to get the books of Africans in print in the US. I had a lot to do with seeing that universities in the US and in the West started teaching African literature. This led to my teaching African literature for 47 years in American University, Washington DC, US;I retired in 2011. In fact, I was the first to teach African Literature in the US. I was the only person who taught The African Writer, African-American literature and Third World literature, for years. And some people believe it is the first course ever taught on African Literature anywhere in the world. And what year was that? That was in 1965. There were no courses taught at that time. What was the experience like in those early days of teaching African literature in the US? It was really hard at the beginning because they were resisting all those changes. They didn’t want African writers, Latin American writers and Asian writers taught in American schools. But realising there was something very important here that needed to be written about, I was just excited about reading Achebe and others who were beginning to publish; and wrote my thesis in African Literature. It was also hard because the people who were teaching hadn’t read the writers, so they said: “Who’s going to monitor what you are teaching?” The thesis was probably the first in the US in African Literature ever written on African writers. Several places that I was interested in didn’t want me to do that. They said the literature was not significant enough. But I was determined until finally, I found a school that would let me do it. I found some departments – not English Department – that recognised the value of this – the African Studies Programme at the University of Colorado. They taught courses in African History, African Anthropology, African Sociol-

Thought Pyramid opens new centre

HE new Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja will open on December 4 at 5pm with a grand exhibition tagged New conversation modern and contemporary art. The new centre provides facilities such as art library, gift shop and an artist-in residence studio. It is part of activities to celebrate its unique history and contributions towards furthering meaningful dialogue in Nigerian art. The exhibition is aimed at exploring ideas about history, creativity, power, identity and artistry and will also be creating room for ‘new conversation’ in the dis-

Stories by Toyin Olasinde

GALLERY course of Nigerian and African art. The exhibition will showcase the works of top artists such as African most celebrated modernist Ben Enwonwu, world-acclaimed printer maker, painter and sculptor, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Susanne Wenger, Ben Osawe, Muraina Oyelami, Jimoh Buraimoh and Kolade Oshinowo. Others are Rufus Ogundele, Erhabor Emokpae, Twin Seven Seven, Amos Odion and Bisi Fakeye.

ogy, African Music, but they didn’t have a course on African Literature. So, they hired me when they learned that I was teaching that. They were growing all of these areas. I was using Achebe’s novels, three Ngugi’s novels, three of Ayikwei Armah’s, three of Camara Laye’s that were in print at the time; and those are the ones I can remember now. And after a while, the English Departments realised that they should be teaching this stuff in the English Department instead of all the other departments. So that was the fight; it took about 10 years to get that worked out. You had the same thing here then. When I taught in Nigeria for those two years – I taught seniors for the schools’ certificate examination – there were no African writers on the syllabus, but Thomas Hardy and Victorian poets and so on. You may have inherited that from the British, but you didn’t change when you had independence. It took several years before Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was put on the schools’ certificate examination and, then, it was only that novel. It took a long time before your own schools’ system started teaching African Literature. Was that what inspired your book, The Ordeal of the African Writer? Yes. A school of thought holds that Achebe is the father of African Literature, what is your take on it? Absolutely! That was what I was saying in so many words. And this is because of two things. He wrote a truly African novel and changed people’s attitude about Africa – he changed Africans’ attitudes about their past. That is major. But the second thing is the African Writers Series – he picked all those titles to be published. You could call him a “Midwife of African Literature”. He birthed all those books and there wouldn’t have been many of those writers in print and many would never have been published if Achebe hadn’t edited that series. Achebe is the father of African Literature. But Soyinka is a major intellect from Africa. He is much more theoretical and wrote those

HE National Gallery of Art (NGA) holds a funfair for children on Saturday, December 6 at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. The fair tagged, Rainbow Art Children Expression, with the theme, Unlocking Creativity-Christmas through the eyes of the child is geared towards stimulating values, identifying talents, motivating parents to love art and encouraging young ones to choose art as a career. It will feature seven segments: Art competition, Folktale, Face painting, Hat making, Bead making, Head tying and Cartoon characters. Each category has specific tasks for the children to bring out their innate talents. In the Art competition, participants will produce art works from a given theme in a competitive environment. This in turn will expose their level of creativity, engender the spirit of competi-

wonderful plays and wonderful poems but later in life. he tended to write theoretical things about Africa. And many of those statements he made got Africans upset just as Achebe’s book, There was a Country. Some critics say Achebe’s books, although critical of Nigerian politics, were more ethnic-driven than Nigerian-driven? Well, some were, like the last book he published, There was A Country, was very controversial because he had sort of held that information in the whole time, waiting to come out. And I respect that opinion. But if there was any writer critical of what is going on in this country, it is Soyinka. And remember Soyinka was in prison for two years, censored and exiled at some point. And they are not the only ones -African writers all over the continent have passed through lots of difficult situations, even Ngugi was in prison for two years, because they criticised the powers in their countries. Black writers often didn’t get published and if they did get publish, their books were censored and got burnt. Could this be the reason some literary critics are advocating art for art sake? I don’t like art for art sake or for beauty. I think it is fine for poetry. The novel and drama by nature are about the realities of life; and usually it’s about the things that are not working in life; personal, family and state tragedies. Let me say this, any writer who is worth his salt and has true value is by nature political, not just in Africa, but in Asia, Latin America and the United States. The great writers have been critical and political in one sense or another. Maybe African writers have been more critical and political than others because they’ve been fighting terrible government for so long that they have been super critical of that. Now in the West, in the US, there have been plenty of people who have criticised various American presidents, government. We supposedly have a democracy and capitalism but it’s… I won’t even get into that. Plenty of writers are just as critical but the advantage is they don’t get censored or put in jail or go into exile. Art should be critical of what is happening in a culture because it is the criticism of the culture that is going to provoke change, particularly in countries that do not have freedom of the press, the writers write critical things knowing that they may end up in prison and some of them have been killed, like the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was a fabulous writer. Sozaboy was a magnificent novel, and Abacha killed him. It is really sad because I thought he was brilliant. What is your position of Achebe not getting the Nobel Prize till his death? Oh, that is a real can of worms. The committee that makes those decisions is very obscure – nobody quite knows how those decisions are made. But what is known is that one person on the committee of about one dozen of people doesn’t like the writer that one person can prevent the award from being given to somebody. And probably something like that happened to Achebe. We know it happened to Graham Green who should have got it. And it was notorious that one person, whom they even identified at one time, didn’t like Green’s works – so that’s all it took. Of course, Achebe should have had that award. Soyinka had and he deserved it. But Achebe should have had it also. I am just speculating that there might have been one person who didn’t like his work.

Gallery holds Children’s Funfair December 6

tion and generate perceptual appeal. Other attractions include selected cultural performances from some of the 45 participating schools, Puppet theater performances, Magic Time and Fun Cartoon characters. The funfair is supported by Skye Bank Plc, Setraco Nigeria Ltd., Pepsi and Indomie. According to the Director, Educational Services, Dr. Evelyn Otaigbe, the event seeks to engage the mind of the child in more ways than one. “Children learn more through play and we believe these festivals like Eid- elKabir, Easter, Christmas and Eid-el- Malud would be great opportunities to interactively engage our children’s minds with a reflection on lessons about the season.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

The Midweek Magazine Amaechi: Nigerians are too docile

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has blamed the growing insecurity in the country on poverty. He said if the government runs an economy that allows for the realisation of peoples’ aspirations, there would be less crime. The governor, however noted that Nigerians were not holding their leaders accountable as most pressure groups have become appendages of the ruling government. He spoke on Poisonous Gas: The crude politics of oil in Africa at this year’s Ake Art and Book Festival in Abeokuta on Saturday, urging Nigerians to always ask questions. “Unfortunately, institutions like the police, army and the state security services have become personalised to the extent that they now serve the man in power. In fact, there is no institutions to effect the rule of law in Nigeria,” he said. He added that the only viable option for Nigerians is to ask questions and hold their leaders accountable because there are no effective institutions that can act as check and balance. According to him, the only enforcement of rule of law lies in the hands of the people. Reacting to question on why oil producing states, such as Rivers have not challenged the Federal Government over the negative impact of oil exploration, Amaechi said all Nigerians would share in the blame. He recalled that the late Yar Adua did well by putting pressure on oil companies to redress the consequences of oil exploration on the environment. Amaechi blamed the

• Patrick Okigbo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Lola Shoneyin Stories by Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

FESTIVAL failure of the present administration to follow up on what Yar Adua did on corruption. “Once you compromise with the oil com-

panies, you will lack the morale right to enforce the laws. That is the situation in the oil sector. Unfortunately, Nigeria does not have the accurate data on the consequences of these pollution problems. Not even the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). On environmental problems what has Nigerians done? We have not been able to ask questions,” he said.

On true fiscal federalism, he said: “If every administration manages the nation’s resources well, I will not mind whose hands the resources are.” He noted that the local government councils lack the human and financial capacity to develop the nation’s primary education, which is very critical to laying solid foundation for educational development.”

Mabati Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature makes its debut

NEW Mabati Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature was unveiled at the Ake Art & Books Festival held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The prize is to recognise writing in African languages and encouraging translation from, between and into African languages. The inaugural prize award will hold October next. Director of Mabati Rolling Mills, Kenya, Sarit Shah said: “Supporting literature and literacy is crucial to the development of a thriving culture, and Mabati Rolling Mills is proud to provide financial support for the foundation of a new venture in African language publishing. The new prize for

Kiswahili Literature seeks to reward East African writers, artists and thinkers who, through their work, encourage literacy at all levels of East African society. We believe it is vital to reconnect the world of ideas with the practical world of business and commerce, and to do so with relevance to the communities which have been pivotal to success of our business in East Africa for over 50 years.” Director of International Initiatives at Cornell University’s Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs, Laurie Damiani, said the office “is pleased to cosponsor this exciting new initiative, Under the leadership of Vice Provost Fredrik

Echoes of World Wars

OETHE Institut, Nigeria in collaboration with Alliance Francaise Nigeria has held a forum in Lagos on the two World Wars. It was held at the Terra Kulture on Victoria Island, Lagos to draw Nigerians attention to the need for peace. The speakers were historian, Emeka Keazor, a journalist from Benin Republic, Macus Boni Teiga and German journalist, Jorg Theis. Director of Goethe Institut, MarcAndre’ Schmachtel said: “Remembrance is staged to bring back the memory of the lost loved ones, and tell the story to the new generation, not only as story but to make them know the implication of war in a country. War is not palatable neither is it funny to experience. It’s terrible, horrible and never is it what any country pray to experience.” Keazor described the 20th century war as a stupid and useless war, which has no good impact on Nigerians rather than great loss. He noted that it was a war that nobody was right or wrong. “It was just a waste of life not minding the people with good minds-set and great vision for the country’s upliftment”. According to him, “Armistice Day was a time to make sure in our generation this does not happen again”. He said the forum was not about the death of the First World War, who may indeed have passed from living memory, but the second world war and subsequent wars for which memories are still very much alive. However I still take the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of my fore-fathers. Keazor told Nigerians that ‘war is not fun, war is not Rambo, war is not like a film or a

By Toyin Olasinde

MEMORIAL

‘Remembrance is staged to bring back the memory of the lost loved ones... Armistice Day was a time to reflect on the meaning of service and sacrifice to make sure in our generation this does not happen again’ movie, rather war is suffering, war is pain, war is mother loosing children, war is poverty and pain. “There is nothing like fine war Nigerians should not be brainwashed by political leaders to cause conflicts. “The government should at all times remember the implication of the actions they take at all time,” Keazor added. Marcus Boni said: “In order for world war not to reoccur there is need for history to continuously be told to generations on the effects of war on a country and not to forget our cultures. “It is important to write our own history, so that new generations could have opportunity to learn from it and know the experience of the past.”

Logevall, we have taken steps to expand our robust array of international opportunities for the Cornell community and to provide additional avenues to deepen their understanding of our diverse global society. It is an honour to be part of an effort that promotes vibrant literary traditions and encourages meaningful interaction between the peoples of East Africa.” Board Member Ngugi Wa Thiong’o said that “the Mabati-Cornell prize is a major intervention in the struggle for writing in African languages, for their place and visibility in the global sun of literary imagination. Prizes have generally been used to drown African Literature in African

languages under a Europhone flood. With the Mabati-Cornell prize the dreams of Diop, A.C. Jordan, Obi Wali and others are very much alive. I hope that this prize becomes an invitation for other African languages to do the same and much more.” The co-founder Mukoma Wa Ngugi said that the “prize recognizes that all languages are created equal and no one language should thrive at the expense of the other. But beyond that recognition, the Prize sets a historical precedent for African philanthropy by Africans and shows that African philanthropy can and should be at the center of African cultural production.”

NewsDirect holds anniversary lecture

GUN State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun will lead top government functionaries to the fourth anniversary lecture/ award ceremony of Nigerian NewsDirect today at Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos. Others expected at the lecture are former Aviation Minister Mr Femi Fani-Kayode the keynote speaker, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga and Managing Director/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NPDHC) Mr James Olotu. The theme of the anniversary lecture is Dwindling Oil Revenue: Roles of infrastructure and security in fast-tracking economic growth and sustenance of democracy. Individuals, institutions, government officials will be honoured during the event in recognition of their contributions to economy. According to the Chairman of the Award Committee, Mr. Ayo Fadimu, the preparation for this year’s anniversary started early to meet guests’ expectation. “We decided to hold the fourth anniversary lecture/award at Eko Hotel &Suites for the comfort of our award recipients and other invited guests”, he said. The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Nigerian NewDirect, Mr. Samuel Ibiyemi noted that the difference of this year’s award from the previous ones is that governors, ministers and top industry players started confirmation of participation very early. This, he said, encouraged the committee to relocate the venue from Renaissance Hotel at Ikeja to Grandball Hall of Eko

By Toyin Olasinde

LECTURE

‘We decided to hold the fourth anniversary lecture/award at Eko Hotel &Suites for the comfort of our award recipients and other invited guests’ Hotel in Victoria Island to accommodate all guests of political leaders that will brainstorm on the theme of the lecture.. “This event will be a place for them to brainstorm on how to contribute more to the Nigerian economy,” he said. The NewsDirect boss added: “This is part of Nigerian NewsDirect’ s corporate social responsibility programme designed to assist and encourage our leaders to be steadfast and dedicate resources to boost investment in infrastructure.” He said the lecture would also enable both leaders in the private and public sectors to recommend best form of collaboration that will encourage direct investment in infrastructures so that challenges of insecurity will become a thing of the past. “This will also enhance transportation of agric products from the rural areas to the market centres,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

In the past 10 years, Terra Kulture in Lagos has been a leading gallery, with over 80 per cent of renowned artistes. It has also impacted positively on performing artistes, writers, fashion designers and Nollywood stars. In this article, its founder, Mrs BOLANLE AUSTEN-PETERS, writes on the journey so far.

Terra Kulture: Celebrating a decade of excellence

ERRA Kulture, Lagos, is an educational and recreational private sector organisation set up in 2003 to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts and culture. It commenced operations in 2004. Today, Terra Kulture is a resounding success recognised as a major cultural hub in Nigeria for expatriates, students, Hollywood and Nollywood stars, artists and members of the diplomatic corps. When Terra Kulture started, the founder Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters was supported by Mr. Tayo Aderinokun the late Managing Director/Founder of GTBank. Terra Kulture has positioned itself as the leading gallery in Nigeria with over 80 per cent of the major and young artists having exhibited at its gallery. The gallery has exhibited artists such as Kolade Oshinowo, Abiodun Olaku, Bruce Onobrakeya, Ablade Glover, Abayomi Barber, Olu Amoda, Sam Ovraiti, Alex Nwokolo, Ndidi Dike, Olu Ajayi, Sam Ebohon, Lekan Onabanjo, Defactory studio, Iponri studio, Guild of professional fine artists of Nigeria, Diseye Tantua and Segun Aiyesan . It has successfully changed the face of the art practice in Nigeria in the 10 years of its existence, professionalising the art business and promoting cultural heritage. It also started an art Auction House in 2009 with the late Aderinokun having raised the idea. Terra Kulture auction has grown to become one of the leading auction houses in Nigeria, stimulating activities and growth in the secondary art market with hundreds of works sold, boosting the growth in the primary market. The auction house has also helped in valuation of works and promoting price stability. In 2006, Mrs. Austen-Peters initiated the Theatre @ Terra project ignite growth in the theatre

•

• Terra Kulture

ANNIVERSARY industry. Today, Theatre @ Terra is the only consistent theatre house in Nigeria with live plays every Sunday and with renowned Nigerian thespians that include Segun Adefila, Joke Silva, Wole Oguntokun, Kenneth Uphopho, Nick Monu, Sefi Atta, Uche Nwokedi and Gbenga Yussuf. Terra Kulture has also played a major role in the literary art with its bookstore promoting hundreds of Nigerian books and organizing book reading sessions to help promote reading culture in Nigeria. The centre has hosted writers such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie, Sefi Atta, Tony Kan, Lola Shoneyin, among others. Terra Kulture, reading room and, virtual office has been part of the success stories of many companies which started small at Terra Kulture but grew to own their own office spaces. It has also supported the ambitions of many people who have studied for many local and international exams at Terra Kulture Terra Kulture has played host to most of the foremost primary and secondary schools in Lagos who over the years have consistently visited the centre on excursions to learn more about Nigerian art and culture. Terra Kulture has also conducted cultural orientation programs for some embassies and foreign missions in Nigeria, teaching them about our culture, way of life and language. Nigerian fashion has also enjoyed the Terra Kulture touch with award winning brands like Ituen Basi, Tae and many more having been promoted at Terra Kulture. It has also played

• Mrs Austen-Peters

host to numerous fashion shows and fashion label launch. Of recent Terra Kulture has ventured into the promotion of Nigerian movies. Its introduction of Nigerian movies to the corporate world through corporate private screenings has revolutionalised movie promotion in Nigeria, thereby bringing Nollywood to the fore front of corporate entertainment. In its 10 years of existence Terra Kulture has organised over two hundred art exhibitions,

seven art auctions, ninety plays, sixty book readings and over ten thousand adults and children have attended its language classes and excursions. In association with Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions, Terra Kulture raised the bar in the theatre industry with the production of SARO the Musical last year, a production which enjoyed numerous accolades and reviews from international media houses including the BBC and SKY News and has since produced five additional plays despite the lack of infrastructure to support such. A proudly Nigerian organisation, Terra Kulture has been in the forefront of the promotion of Nigerian art and culture, developing talents and creating employment in the sector with the employment of over 60 staff and the creation of over 150 additional ancillary jobs on a monthly basis through its theatre and arts products. Some of its staff have grown to become experts in art and culture matter, travelling to various countries for work and professional development. This has positioned them to be leaders in the industry and has helped in making Terra Kulture a truly professional art centre. Despite the difficult business environment Terra Kulture has continued to excel in all aspect of the arts, a sector that is heavily funded by the government and grants all over the world but that suffers neglect in Nigeria. Terra Kulture has been passionately encouraging investments in the arts and cultural sector, building capacity and also discovering and developing talents. With the visionary leadership of the founder Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Terra Kulture continues to attract local and international attention and accolades, standing out as model in the art business helping drive growth in the sector. In celebrating 10 years of innovation and value add, Access Bank is partnering with Terrakulture in promoting its programmes through its sponsorship of the anniversary celebrations and Saro the Musical 2 coming up between December 24 and28 . This is consistent with Access Bank’s commitment to the promotion of Arts and Culture and women owned businesses. With a decade of outstanding service to Nigeria, and now with the backing of Access Bank, Terra Kulture is well-positioned as the cultural hub of Nigeria and truly the Cultural Centre. •Mrs Austen-Peters is the proprietor of Terra Kulture

Beyond alcohol, benefits of drinking beer From Kole Omotosho

CONFERENCE

• Prof Omotosho

ET me commence this contribution to this historical conference on Beer and the Healthy Lifestyle by expressing my gratitude to organisers of this symposium, for the invitation to chair and speak at this occasion. I am particularly gratified that that at last the Nigerian beer drinkard (as the Nigerian writer would have put it) is being served by a Nigerian conference. Beer has been an important component of a healthy life style in human history for over four thousand years. It continues to be.

My particular interest in beer and other beverages such as palm wine and grape wine began long ago, as a boy sent by my grandfather to harvest the juice of the palm tree which had been cut down and laid horizontal for easy collection. Later travels and further immersion in lifestyles led to particular passion for the ultimate relationship between alcohol and beer. Each area of human manipulation and invention contains an abiding puzzle. With car making it is always to invent a car that would, like the horse that inspired the automobile, move itself without a rider. The invention of automatic transmission brought that day forward. Today self-driving cars are being tested and we might have soon self-driving cars competing with life horses on the race course! In the field of aeroplanes, it would be the one that would fly without a pilot. Today, drones fly past birds to do what they need to do. What then is the abiding puzzle in the case of beer brewing? Before I go into this I want to quote some of the major ways that Beer and Beer Brewing has enriched the languages and cultures of the world. “It was the accepted practice in ancient Babylonia 4000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, the period was called the ‘honey moon’ – or what we know today as the honey moon.”

“Before thermometers were invented, brewers would dip a thump or finger into the mix to find the right temperature for adding yeast. Too cold, and the yeast would not grow. Too hot, and the yeast would die. This thumb in the beer is where we get the phrase ‘rule of thumb’.” “In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So, in Old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settled down. It’s where we get the phrase mind your p’s and q’s!” “Beer, we are told, was the reason the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. It’s clear from the Mayflower’s log that the crew did not want to waste beer looking for a better site. The log goes on to state that the passengers were hasted ashore and made to drink water so that the seamen might have the more beer.” “After consuming a bucket or even two of a vibrant brew they called ‘aul’ or ‘ale’, the Vikings would head fearlessly into battle often without armour or even shirts. In fact, the term ‘berserk’ means ‘bare shirt’ in Norse, and eventually took on the meaning of their wild battles.” “In 1740 Admiral Vernon of the British fleet decided to water-down the navy’s rum. Needless to say, the sailors were not too pleased and called Admiral Vernon Old Grog, after the stiff wool grogram coats he wore. The term ‘grog’ soon began to mean watered down drink itself. When you were drunk on this grog, you were ‘groggy’, a word still in use today.” I remember that one particular brand of beer

Becks had been so domesticated that when my Uncle called for his Abeke I knew where to go and bring her! Now to go back to that abiding puzzle mentioned in the case of the automobile and aeroplane industries, which is still to be resolved in the industry of brewing of beer. What is the correct alcoholic content to make beer the best beer can be? Whoever can discover that formula would have done in beer brewing what the automobile and aeroplane industries have done for the pleasure car and the aircraft? Brewers have reduced the alcohol content drastically to create Beer Lite. At other times brewers have increased the alcohol content to hasten intake and effective inebriation! And there has been non-alcoholic beer as well. In the rest of this presentation I wish to look at the health benefits of each one of these versions of beer: the non-alcoholic, the lite and the high alcoholic content. But let me sound a note of warning. All cultures preach one particular central virtue over and above every other virtue. In the Yoruba culture it is possible to state categorically that moderation, iwotunwosi, the washing of the left hand and of the right hand, is the singular pillar of existence as contained in the Ifa Divination poems “highly valued by the Yoruba as the guardian of Yoruba culture, the wisdom of the ages and the teachings of the ancestors and the divinities.” In terms of drink, “to drink moderately is to drink within the limits set by your health, the society in which you live and your obli•Continued on page 52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Osundare: A paragon of excellence

ANTO Nomini Nullum Par Elogium - Of this great man, no praise is adequate. The headstone of Niccolò Machiavelli’s tomb, in Florence, Italy, had this alluring epitaph etched into it only years after his demise. Niccolò is not alone in the tribe of beings marked for distinction only after their death. It took the shrewd sagacity of the Ikemba of Nnewi to aptly label Chief Obafemi Awolowo as ‘the best president Nigeria never had’. What was meant to be a mere entry in a condolence register has become an axiomatic post-humus endorsement of what should have been but never was. For the patriarch of astronomy, Galileo, who observed the farthest shore of stars and meteors, planets and comets from the antediluvian coast of the 15th century, long before man conceived it probable to explore the galaxies and celestial bodies; recognition, reception and respect were not bequeathed to him until he transited to the world beyond. Not until the late 1920s, did Thoreau, the foremost American polymath, philosopher and poet, reputed to be the protagonist of the American renaissance era, get the recognition he deserves. Ostensibly, it is the unsavoury propensity of man to brush off the accomplishment of achievers and luminaries till they shuffle off this mortal coil. Then, we engage the services of professional mourners and garner obligatory dirge composers, who lament profusely and sing the praises of the deceased to high heavens. Perhaps, this was what made Jorge Luis Borges to reckon that “a writer should have another lifetime to see if he’s appreciated.” Borges’ declaration is, however, of very limited application to the nub of this piece, Professor Oluwaniyi Osundare, whose assorted and polygonal literary odysseys have been overwhelmingly greeted by the adulations, adorations and exaltations of every stratum of the society. For Prof. Osundare, another life is unnecessary, reincarnation is uncalled for and re-embodiment is unwarranted for him to have a shufti to clearly see how much the world appreciates his colossal and monumental contributions to literature and society. While it is biblically noted and contemporarily evidenced that ‘a prophet has no honour amongst his own people’, the Nigerian State has obtained exoneration from this fell-swoop indictment by slating the 4th of December, 2014, as the day to further amplify the thunderous encomiums which have thus far been deservedly showered on this master of artistic imagery, don of efficacious satire, doyen of English Literature and patriot extraordinaire, by the conferment of the National Merit Award on him. Dennis Brutus, the South African poet of renown, must have had Professor Osundare in mind when he stringed these lines; ‘A troubadour, I traverse all my land; exploring all her wideflung parts with zest; probing in motion sweeter far than rest; her secret thickets with amorous hand.’ Born under the cascading shadow of the Olosunta Hills in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in the 40s, sparkling like a flawless effervescent diamond at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti in the 60s; transcending records and expectations at University of Ibadan in the early 70s; shinning like a thousand stars at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, again in the 70s and scaling the Doctorate Degree huddle at York University, Canada with regal ease in 1979, he is indeed a troubadour who has traversed the globe, manifesting unparalleled quality and excellence in his enthralling exhibition of matchless intellectual assiduity. His calling is to write, his profession is to teach, his passion is to lit societal darkness with the piercing beam of his tongue, and his vocation is to --smoke out talents untapped and strap up potentialities unharnessed. Of smouldering embers fanned to blazing light, I am one. Straddling between the options of Geography, English Language and Law in various Universities across the nation, as a young man in dire need of bearing, Professor

From left: Ambassador of Philippines to Nigeria, Alex Lamadrid; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Schrodiner Nigeria Limited, Igwebuike Ijeoma; Director- General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo ; Deputy Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Wale Adeniyi; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Reworth Integrated Services Limited Innocent Mbonu and Managing Director, Merk & Brands Limited Stanley Ijeoma during the Nigerian International Wine Festival in Abuja where Mrs Mbanefo launched palm wine for export.

• Prof Osundare From Wole Olanipekun

TRIBUTE Osundare came in like a seasoned sailor, and gently steered me towards the cape of legal practice. Before then, he had initiated and inducted me into the writing ‘club’, right from our school days. He knows the way I write, and can even sniff the fragrance of my compositions. Behind me, he would deny what does not emanate from my tabloid, even if same has been widely credited to me. To mark his 60th Birthday in 2007, he insisted that I should deliver the epoch-making on an otherwise alien (to me) topic, to wit, “The Role of Literature in the Cultural and Socio-Political Development of Nigeria: Niyi Osundare as a Case Study.” With laurels, including the prestigious commonwealth poetry prize, the Fonlon/Nichols Award for “excellence in literary creativity combined with significant contributions to Human Rights in Africa”, and the ANA award for poetry adorning his treasure chest, Egbon is indisputably a leading light in the world of arts and literature. His over ten published volumes of poetry, two books of selected poems, four plays, a book of essays, and numerous articles on contemporary sociopolitical issues, make him one of the most fecund writers in this generation. To Professor Osundare, ‘to utter is to alter’; and he has been resiliently consistent in his lofty quest to posi-

‘From the ‘Songs of the market place’ to the eye of the earth’ transcending into Not my business’etc., Prof. Osundare has conscientiously and creatively enforced the truth content that must be the immutable nucleus of poetic orchestrations. His capacity for intellectualism is unassailable, his logic is impeccable, his scholarly depth is undeniable, and his unrepentant commitment to an egalitarian qua free society is non-negotiable. His words are a confluence of Native speech and syntax; and a phenomenal capacity to evoke images in the minds of even the most unperceptive’

tively alter the skewed dynamics of our national construct from the regime of the saber wielders to the dispensation of the ‘agbada’ wearers. He haunted the military regimes with his timely and fearless censures. As a result, government agents conscripted his students to spy on him whilst he was lecturing at the University of Ibadan. It took five open letters to the Obasanjo regime, to steer the hornet’s nest of the then quasidemocratic regime. Osundare’s diligence in candour, obsession for truth, and fixation for probity is better captured in the words of Barry Cornwall in his essay titled the Genius of Shakespeare, where he enthused; “Governments and systems change; codes of law, theories philosophical, arts in war, demonstrations in physics. Everything perishes except truth, and the worship of truth, and poetry which is its enduring language.” From the ‘Songs of the market place’ to ‘the eye of the earth’ transcending into ‘Not my business’etc., Prof. Osundare has conscientiously and creatively enforced the truth content that must be the immutable nucleus of poetic orchestrations. His capacity for intellectualism is unassailable, his logic is impeccable, his scholarly depth is undeniable, and his unrepentant commitment to an egalitarian qua free society is non-negotiable. His words are a confluence of Native speech and syntax; and a phenomenal capacity to evoke images in the minds of even the most unperceptive. The siamese nature of this literary colossus’ professionalism and patriotism cannot be described more aptly than he has done. Hear him: “You cannot keep quiet about the situation in the kind of countries we find ourselves in, in Africa. When you wake up and there is no running water, when you have a massive power outage for days and nights, no food on the table, no hospital for the sick, no peace of mind; when the image of the ruler you see everywhere is that of a dictator with a gun in his hand; and, on the international level, when you live in a world in which your continent is consigned to the margin, a world in which the colour of your skin is a constant disadvantage, everywhere you go – then there is no other way than to write about this, in an attempt to change the situation for the better.” No doubt, when Professor Osundare speaks, he speaks for the love of the nation; when he writes; he writes from the bowels of his compassion for humanity and when he agitates, he agitates for the emancipation of the weak and downtrodden. Although, his path as a poet is littered with confetti of encomiums and his career has been a catalogue of heroic achievements, dazzling in content and oozing in fulfilment, the Nigerian National Merit Award is unique in several ways. First, the award is a testimony that Osundare, unlike most ‘prophets’, is honoured in his land. Second, in a country where the phylum of qualitative awards is gradually fading and thinning out; in a nation where people exchange brown envelopes for recognition; in a society where the honour to be bestowed on a person is directly proportional to his net worth, this Award has interjected the downward trend by eschewing sentiments to honour an achiever, a trail blazer. By section 1(1) of the Nigerian National Merit Award Act, the award would only be conferred on “deserving citizens of Nigeria for intellectual and academic attainments that contribute to national endeavours in science, technology, medicine, the humanities, arts and culture and any other field of human endeavour whatsoever.” Truly, Osundare personifies these statutory requirements, as his impact transcends multidisciplinary areas of humanities, arts, culture and other fields of human endeavour. He conjugates art and philosophy. He is indeed deserving of this honour as he adds another feather to his already swarming cap. Niyi Osundare is unassailably a Professor with bountiful curriculum vitae. On this note, both the Federal Government and the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award must be sincerely commended for their abiding faith and respect for the letters, contents and spirit of the Act, by naming Osundare as the winner of the Award for this year, notwithstanding his biting criticisms of government’s actions and inactions. Indeed, Tanto Nomini Nullum Par Elogium - Of this great man (Osundare), no praise is adequate. Hearty congratulations, my dear ‘Egbon’, hero, guide, counsellor and role model. In ‘A dialogue of drums’, Osundare enthusiastically enthused that he hails from a line of drummers and understands the language of the leather. Today, he has to dance to the melodious symphony of the drums of merit, distinction and true national recognition. • Chief Olanipekun is former President, Nigeria Bar Association

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Mrs Stella Ebelu was a spinster when she tested positive to HIV 20 years ago. Now married, the mother of five , tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA how she has been coping as a person living with HIV/AIDS.

OW did it all start? I am Stella Ibianujulu Ebelu, 37 years old, living with HIV since 1994. I am at the moment a treatment support specialist. I read Hotel Management and Catering. I became infected with HIV through blood transfusion. I am a mother of five children, three boys and two girls and all of them are negative, that is, none of them is living with HIV. I had a growth on the back of my neck. I went to the hospital and after many tests and screening I was told I will need to undergo surgery to remove the tumor. And I will equally need blood for the surgical intervention. Then I was single. My people were told and my brother volunteered to donate blood for me. He is now late. The operation was done and I was discharged. After six months I started feeling sick. I developed herpes and I was taken back to the hospital. Screenings and other tests were conducted. There and then, I was screened for HIV and I turned out positive. My world collapsed like a pack of cards. I didn’t know what to do or make out of my life. As a single lady many thoughts crossed my mind and I became worried on how to carry on with my life. The hospital intervened by counseling me. The drugs introduced to me then, were highly expensive. I then relocated to Enugu, and started living with the determination to live and survive. How to go about my life not infecting others, as well as live without coming down with AIDS were utmost on my mind. There and then, a trader-man from Kafanchan showed interest in me. And said he wanted to marry me. Before we could go far in whatever existed between us, I told him about my HIV status. He doubted me and said that was a huge ploy by me to discourage him. He said he will not give up on me that he genuinely loves me. And said that he will only believe me if we both go for testing and screening in a hospital. I agreed. After the screening, the results indicated that he is negative and I am HIV positive. So, I asked him what the next step would be, and to my surprise, he said he will go ahead with his plan to marry me. I asked him why; he said I am truthful and that he loved me and can trust me with his life, because if a woman could not hide such a secret from a man that is welloff then the woman must not be given up. I saw through him, his sincerity and genuine love. So, I took him to my people. They welcomed him and asked him if he knew my status. He answered them in the affirmative. And that was how we commenced steps to marriage. As Christians, we wanted to do church wedding so we informed my pastor. My pastor said we should go for some screenings such as for hepatitis, blood type, Rhesus and HIV. We both did series of screening; the results were all negative, except mine that turned

•Continued from page 50

gations towards your family and friends: this means 1 – 3 drinks a day for most men. Women are more sensitive to alcohols, so they are advised to drink less than men: 1 – 2 drinks a day.” This amounts to a quarter litre glass having between 4 and 5 per cent alcohol 10g by volume. This approximates to beer lite. Alcohol and the natural raw materials from which beer is brewed are good to drink and are also good for the health. They are not health risks when taken moderately. Foods and drinks consumed by human beings contain both bad fat and good fat. When alcohol is consumed there is an increase of good fat. This is the fat that the body can easily convert to energy. Bad fat has a habit of sitting at the neck or at the guts or anywhere else that would give it space. Alcohol does not contain this bad type of fat. There is also medical evidence that alcohol consumption has a blood thinning effect and this leads to the reduction of the tendency of blood to form clots. As we know now blood clots prevent the flow of blood to the heart and the brain thus causing massive heart attacks. It is also true that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the inflammation of the inner linings of the nerves as well as a lower level of insulin resistance. Any alcohol, whether sourced from beer or wine or any other beverage, protects the heart. How much and how often must be governed by the rules of moderation spelt out earlier. The consumption of beer with a meal is considered a better way rather than

• Mr and Mrs Ebelu and family

‘To be HIV- positive is not end of life INTERVIEW positive for HIV. He told my fiancée what he would be doing with a HIV woman, knowing he is the only son. My fiancé insisted he wanted me and no other lady. My pastor put his feet down that the marriage can’t hold, more so in his church. So, I and my fiancé settled for traditional wedding. As fate would have it, there were crisis at Jigawa that spread to Kafanchan so we decided to settle in Abuja. I enrolled for antenatal care at Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja; the drugs were not free then. Nurses and counselors really supported me. Then there was the introduction of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCTH). PMTCT is a top priority for PEPFAR, an international body that provided antiretrovirals (ARVs). In 2002, we had our first baby. I was resolute not to become a burden to my people, the nation or anybody. I took responsibility for my health by accessing the drugs and using them. I did not miss my antenatal clinic days. There were phases in the drug policy- from being expensive, to being subsidised and totally free. Because I was taking my drugs and kept to good diet and nutrition, my viral load really came down and I was able to deliver my children through birth canal (normal delivery) not through cesarean section (CS). And I breast

fed them each for six months, no water, herbal drinks or baby food, just breast milk only. How did you survive the stigma and discrimination associated with breastfeeding? I suffered an intimidating stigma and discrimination at its highest peak. When I was single and confirmed HIV positive, my stepmother used to humiliate me. She will not associate with me or use anything with me in the house. If I used a cup to drink, she will either throw it away or restrict me to just that cup alone. She said the water in the kitchen pot will be infected if I used same. She will tell our neighbours not to play with me or didn’t they know my status. Many women will take away their children inside and tell them not to play with me. My friends in the neighbourhood abandoned me. At a stage I just summoned courage and decided to live my life. So, when I got married, and stopped breastfeeding my first baby at six month, I was naturally afraid of what people will say and actually people raised eyebrow. In fact, when we travelled to my husband’s place, his people were asking me why I stopped breastfeeding the child at six month, thinking I was wicked. But my husband will stand for me. He will tell them that he did not want me to suffer myself that six months were enough to breast feed. I can say boldly that

my husband is my backbone. He supports me. So, with time people knew my pattern of breastfeeding for just six months. Some guessed reasons why. But all my five children, the last born, a male, is two years and does not have HIV. What do you do for a living? I have acquired experience and can share with others that being positive is not the end of life. I now counsel women, especially pregnant women. I visit them at home, encourage them. It is a delight when you see a pregnant woman move from fear to fulfilment, in terms of taking her drugs, to save delivery and producing negative baby. What message do you have for the society? The misconception people have about HIV/ AIDS is high. HIV is not a deadly sickness. One must do the right things for it not to move to AIDS stage. Just like managing High Blood Pressure from turning to stroke. I want to thank the government for providing the drugs for free. Positive people should be strong and forget what people are saying that can lead to stigma or discrimination. Let us mind what God says about us. His word is final. I will encourage all women to always check for their status and access treatment once positive. I could have five HIV Negative children because I know my status and accessed treatment. Many pregnant women should go to traditional birth attendants (TBAs) who don’t even know their HIV status or how to go about treating and caring for them. That is the first step, the second thing is to accept the reality of your status and thirdly, follow it up with adequate treatment. There are mentoring mothers, counselors and treatment support specialists in our hospitals nationwide to help you out cope with the status and the pregnancy, who will help out with their experiences. What advice do you have for Nigerians? The world has moved on in the area of HIV/AIDS. And Nigerians should update themselves on HIV/AIDS. And for men out there, they should emulate my husband. Support your wife, your family. What will you gain if you mess up your home by pushing out your wife and children? It is the way you package yourself and your home that will determine how others will relate with your family. If that man had chosen to throw me out, today I won’t be this happy because that aspect of my life will ever be there. And probably won’t be able to save all these lives am saving. Society at large should stop stigmatising but rather support positive people. And for positive people, nutrition is very good in the fight against HIV. Eat well balanced nutrition, HIV does not select food, like diabetes, ARV is toxoid and a lot of fluid is required, i.e eight cups of water in a day, rest and don’t compromise your treatment. Avoid alcohol, smoking, herbal concoction and live a productive life.

Beyond alcohol, benefits of drinking beer drinking on an empty stomach. Specifically, there are some illnesses and diseases which can be prevented, minimised or completely prevented by the consumption of alcohol. Some of these are Diabetes Mellitus, weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) as a result of the increase in blood of oestrogen associated with alcohol consumption in women. Others are Dementias which is the decline of cognitive ability with the advance of age. Parkinson’s disease, Gallstones and Kidney stones are other illnesses. These illnesses and diseases are helped by the presence of flaveroid and silicon, minerals present in beer. Moderate consumption of alcohol creates a feeling of well-being, reducing stress and tension. Moderate consumption of beer for health effects: Beer drinking can make a positive contribution to a healthy diet because of its wholesome raw materials used in brewing beer. These natural raw materials are cereals, hops, yeast and water. There are soluble fibres derivable from the cell walls of barley which are good for human health. All these natural materials contain antioxidants, vitamins especially of the B variation, silicon and fibre. Beer generally on the average is 93 per cent water. As a result beer is a thirst quencher of the first order with low alcohol. Research on alcohol-free beer has shown that these ben-

efits are also present as well. This would mean that it is not only beer that has alcohol content that gives these benefits. So, beyond alcohol, the potential beneficial effects of the natural ingredients of beer are likely to apply to non-alcoholic beer. Going further on barley’s soluble fibre, two glasses of beer contains in average 10% of the recommended daily intake of soluble fibre. Some beers can provide up to 30% of this food item. Fibre slows down digestion and absorption of food and reduces cholesterol levels. Cholesterol as we all know or should know helps the risks of heart disease. People who drink beer have protection from bacterium helicobacter pylori, a bacterium known to cause the majority of stomach ulcers and may be a risk of stomach cancer. Depending on style and process of brewing antioxidants present in beer from malt (barley) and hops as ingredients can be high or low. It is generally believed that antioxidants may play a role in the protection against cancer through their action against free radicals. Antioxidants also inhibit blood clotting. Vitamins and Minerals: Present in beer and various forms of vitamin B: macin, riboflavin (vitamin B2) pyroduxine (vitamin B6) folate (vitamin B9) and cabolamin (vitamin B12). Some of the minerals present in beer are high

potassium, low sodium, low calcium and rich magnesium which protects against gall stones and kidney stones formation. Silicon intake is associated with healthy bones. Hops: Small quantities of the flower from hops are used to preserve beer as well as to flavour it. Beer is the only dietary source of hops and flavonoids found in hops helps to fight cancer. Beer does not contain fat or cholesterol and it is low in free sugar. Any calories which beer contain, comes from the alcohol content. And as mentioned earlier research into non-alcoholic beer shows that the benefits derivable from beer with alcohol are also found in beer without alcohol. I would like to bring these comments to a close by quoting a poem that should be familiar to all of us. It is the sum total of what I have been saying in the last so many minutes: “I am not scared of goblins or ghouls and things that go bump in the night Werewolves and bats and witches and such do not give me much of a fright. But there is this one thing that scares me to death and only this one thing I fear. And that’s to open my fridge at night and find that I’m all out of beer!” •Prof. Omotosho is a Professor of Drama at the Department of Drama, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

BUSINESS EXTRA Stallion Group in Top 100 Businesses list

ULTINATIONAL conglomerate, Stal lion Group was honoured yesterday by President Dr Goodluck Jonathan as one of the top companies that have contributed immensely to the economic development of the country. The Top 100 Business list, which is the first in the history of the country, was a brainchild of President Jonathan. Stallion was ranked within the top 15 companies and was one of the only two high ranked conglomerates along with Dangote Group. Stallion was listed among the highest ranked companies in Nigeria that included multinational oil giants including ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, TotalEni Agip/ Saipem and CNOOC Oil. Others include MTN, Zenith Bank and FirstBank. The award presentation ceremony, which was held in Abuja, is aimed at encouraging high performing companies to further contribute to the economy in more significant ways. The award, the first in Nigeria, took into account the taxes paid, the employment generated, corporate social responsibility and the companies’ turnover. Speaking at the dinner for recipients, President Jonathan said: “The companies are the frontiers of our economy and will help the

country achieve the Top 10 economy in the world status.” Also speaking at the occasion, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga said: “The Top 100 companies account for 20 per cent of Nigeria $510 million Gross Domestic Product (GDP).” He said the country adopted similar criteria as Fortune 500 in the United States in selecting the top businesses, adding that it made it very objective and verifiable. He said: “We want to make it absolutely clear that it has integrity.” He expressed pride at the achievement of the selected companies, stressing that it is investors that create jobs, wealth, facilitate economic growth and generate income for the government. Promoted by multi billionaire Sunil Vaswani, Stallion is a multi business conglomerate with a 45-year history in Nigeria and presence in 18 countries engaging in commodities, industries, automobile assembly, agriculture, mining, steel, plastics, petrochemicals, packaging, IT/automation, real estate, shipping and banking. Stallion’s top ranking and recognition heralds its strong position as a well-entrenched conglomerate in the privileged company of multinational oil majors and leading banking and telecom companies.

Naira’s devaluation ‘won’t affect cement cost’, says govt

HE Federal Govern ment yesterday said the devaluation of the national currency will not increase the price of cement. The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who spoke at the Housing Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on Enabling Land Finance and Concession for Affordable Housing Delivery in Abuja also said the government was considering ways of developing local building materials that will be affordable to all. She said the government entered into dialogue with Dangote Cement before the announcement of the price reduction was made. She said: “Dangote Cement will not increase the price of its cement as a result of stresses that we are experiencing in the economy; the price will be sustained for now.” Dr. Okojo-Iweala said Dangote has promised to sustain the new price as it will help to reduce inflation in the cost of building materials. She described the housing sector as one with huge potential that will assist in driving the nation’s economy. In her remarks, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akon Eyakenyi said the workshop was organised as a pre-summit towards ensuring the success of the forthcoming Nigeria Housing and construction exposition scheduled for January next year. She said the objective of the summit is to provide an

• Mrs Okonjo-Iweala From Bukola Amusan and Kehinde Ore, Abuja

opportunity for key stakeholders and partners in the building and construction industry to brainstorm and agree on the concessions and waivers that will be provided by the private and public sectors to enable access to affordable housing by all. She said: “Affordable housing cannot be achieved without a drastic reduction in the cost of housing construction and other associated costs which will invariably determine the selling price.” She however called for paradigm reduction in the cost of housing construction in order to promote access to affordable homes to the vulnerable segment of the national population. She said the objective of the pre-summit is to present a platform for key players and stakeholders in the private and public sector of the economy.

• From left: Managing Director, UBA Europe, Ebele Ogbue; Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, UBA, Charles Aigbe; and Fiona Bruce of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) at the Annual Banker Awards in London where UBA won Bank of the Year in Africa and other country awards for Senegal, Gabon, Cote D’Ivorie and Sierra Leone.

Fed Govt to stop unnecessary importaton

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he has directed the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to work with other relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) towards increasing local production of goods and services in order to substitute unnecessary imports. To this end, he ordered the MDAs to execute a comprehensive investment and trade agenda. He gave the directives at the first Presidential Dinner for Top 100 Businesses in Nigeria held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja. According to him, the falling oil prices at the international market is a strong signal that the country could no longer rely on one commodity as a foreign exchange earner. He said: “We can no longer continue to export raw materials. We must produce what we consume and consume what we produce. We must diversify our economy, even though we know no one nation is an island. “In pursuit of this noble objective, I have directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to work with the Central Bank of Ni-

• Directs MDAs to execute comprehensive investment, trade programme From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

geria in the execution of a comprehensive investment and trade agenda to create local production to substitute unnecessary imports with our local goods. “This is to ensure that our country becomes self-reliant and to cut down on imports which drain foreign exchange. This is a game changer because it will reposition us globally and rapidly boost our foreign reserves. “The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the CBN are already working with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to cut down import of petroleum products. “They are also working with the Ministry of Agriculture to cut down import of food products, and with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to cut down imports of metal related products. “This will be one of our boldest initiatives to finally make our country

self-sufficient. “I’m confident that if we are able to produce in Nigeria most of what we consume today, the bulk of investments required to make this happen will surely come from the top 100 companies.” Commending the top 100 companies, led by ExxonMobil, for their “significant contributions” to employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction, he described them as the heartbeats of the economy. He said: “You are shining stars, the central component of our economy. It is companies like yours that bring government’s economic policies to life. “This is because you are in the trenches everyday, investing, expanding and ensuring that your businesses keep working. The entire nation and I are very proud of you. “Although you may all seem different at a glance, there is something inherently common to you all:

“You are all truly Nigerian, your achievements have been remarkable. “You have shown boldness and vision in enterprise and confidence in this country. “Through your investments, you have contributed significantly to employment generation, wealth creation and our overall economic development. “As the top 100, you represent the very best of corporate Nigeria, besides your entrepreneurial success. “We celebrate you today because your investments in Nigeria is an investment in the Nigerian people. Every naira you spent locally is one more Nigerian to drive this economy. “Each job you create is one more job to support a family. Each expansion plan you approve is one more project to support future generations of Nigerians.” Jonathan also acknowledged the contributions of millions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which provide the supply chains, operational logistics and distribution networks to the larger enterprises.

Solid minerals can replace oil, says minister

INISTER of Mines and Steel Develop ment, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada has said the much expected diversification of the economy from oil could be made possible with solid minerals deposit that are available in every state of the federation. In his opening remarks during the three-day professional development training workshop for mining engineers in Jos, yesterday, Sada who was represented by the Director of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Department, Mr. Patrick Ojeka said: “The training is in line with President Goodluck

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda which is aimed at diversifying the nations economy. “The solid mineral can complement and even do better than other revenue source for the country if fully harnessed. That is why this training is apt and timely too because the nation’s revenue is dwindling and there is need to look at the solid mineral for alternative. “I have, therefore, no doubt in my mind that the professional training is in the interest of the present admin-

istration and in the interest of professionals who need to update their knowledge and acquire new skills. “It will also help improve mineral processing methods as participants are trained to acquire and improve on the necessary techniques. This will definitely add value to the economy of the country.” The training which was organised by the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) had as its theme, “Preparation of Bankable Mining Feasibility Study Report.” Acting Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University who represented state governor

Jonah Jang,Prof Stephen Mallo, described the event as a welcome development. He also appealed to the organisers of the training to consider training people at the lower level, unskilled people who are involved in mining activities. The training consultant, Prof Ibrahim Garba said Nigeria has failed to make impact in the area of mining due to poor knowledge. He, however, expressed hope that through such refresher and knowledge-updating trainings, the sector will find its footing again as a major stay of the country’s economy.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 02-12-14

DAILY SUMMARY SUMMARY AS AS AT AT 02--12-14 25-07-14 DAILY

SEC approves Oando’s N49b rights issue

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given final approval to the N49 billion rights issue by Oando Plc, paving the way for the integrated energy group to open application list for the supplementary issue. Oando yesterday confirmed that the apex capital market regulator has given its final approval to the offer documents. The final approval had led to the suspension of the initial opening of application list for the issue. Oando is offering 2.217 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N22 per share to existing shareholders in its book as at July 25, 2014 on the basis of one new share for every four shares held as at the qualification date. In a statement signed by head, corporate communication, Oando Plc, Ainojie Irune, the energy noted that

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

the offering documents for the proposed rights issue were duly approved and cleared by the SEC ahead of the signing ceremony on Thursday, November 13, 2014. According to the company, the documents executed at the signing ceremony were subsequently filed with the SEC and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) following which the SEC’s formal confirmation of the registration of the rights issue shares and approval for the offer to open has been received. Oando stated that it has duly informed the NSE, which had earlier given its approval, of the final approval and confirmation of registration of the right issue by SEC noting that all shareholders will be notified of the acceptance period

for the rights issue. In similar issuance, Oando had in 2013 raised about N55.2 billion from a rights issue, slightly above the initial target of N54.6 billion. The company had issued 4.548 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N12 per share between December 2012 and February 2013 with the intention of raising N54.6 billion. Allotment approved by SEC however showed that Oando succeeded in raising N55.2 billion, which many had said indicated the high level of investors’ confidence in the company. Third quarter report of Oando indicated that the company optimized its bottom-line performance as significant improvements in top and midline costs moderated decline in turnover and returned higher earnings to shareholders.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

MONEYLINK Fidelity Bank mulls SMEs conference

NDIC: Govt needs N59.5tr to fix housing

HE Federal Government needs N59.5 trillion to fix the 17 million housing deficit in the country, Head, Special Insured Institutions Department at the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Joshua Etopidiok has said. The NDIC executive who spoke at the corporation’s annual workshop held in Katsina State, said the country is faced with myriads of challenges foremost of which is inadequate habitable houses for the population, especially the middle and lower income earners. He said the money needed to fix the housing deficit was estimated by the World Bank and that the sum will be needed to close the funding gap in the subsector. Etopidiok said the country’s mortgage sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is es-

Stories by Collins Nweze

timated at one per cent compared to 29 per cent and 25 per cent in South Africa and Malaysia respectively. He said the paucity of adequate housing has been linked to inadequate funding of the infrastructure necessary for housing such as motorable roads, water supply, power as well as inconsistency in land policies. He said: “Infrastructural deficit raises the question of how speedily we can accommodate Nigeria’s growing population.” He said addressing the identified mortgage deficit requires a multifaceted approach, especially in the area of funding. “In Nigeria, efforts made in this direction include the creation of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, National Housing Fund Scheme and the

licencing of 82 Primary Mortgage Banks. “Another step taken by the government is the creation of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) last year to bridge the funding gap of residential mortgages by promoting the availability and affordability of good housing through increased access to liquidity and long term funds in the mortgage market.” He said new recapitalisation requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pegs capital bases for mortgage institutions for those who wish to operate nationwide at N5 billion while those wishing to operate in a state were given N2.5 billion minimum capital base. Also, under the new guidelines, PMBs would only be allowed to per from duties such as mortgage finance, real estate construction fi-

nance, accepting of savings and time deposits and acceptance of mortgage-focused demand deposits. He said the NMRC was established with $300 million initial capital to refinance mortgages created by eligible mortgage lenders, develop the market by standardising mortgage practices, and develop the secondary mortgage market as well as deepen the capital market. The NMRC, he added, is a private sector-driven company with the purpose of bridging the funding gap of residential mortgages, and promoting the availability and affordability of good housing to working Nigerians. This is achieved by providing mortgage lending banks with increased access to liquidity and longer term funds in the mortgage market.

CBN steps up support to lift naira to target band T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday got the naira close higher for the second time since it was devalued a week ago. This was achieved after the CBN stepped up interventions to support the currency, which still ended below the bank’s new target range. With oil prices staying persistently weak around five-year lows, the CBN a week ago, devalued the currency by eight per cent in a bid to halt a decline in foreign reserves. The apex bank has been struggling to keep the naira within its new band of 160 to 176 to the dollar. The naira closed at 181 to the dollar, up 1.7 per cent from Monday’s close after recovering from a new record low of 187.55 in early trade. Dollar sales by oil companies also supported the naira and dealers said

the local currency could gain further as oil companies sell more dollars to fund local obligations. But trade could be volatile and the CBN could still struggle to keep the currency in its new target range if the oil price continues to fall, analysts said. The naira has lost 12.3 per cent versus the dollar this year as the falling oil price weighed on the already shaky finances of the country. Reflecting investors’ concerns, Nigeria’s share index fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, by 1.1 per cent, and the most liquid three-year bond yield rose to 13.63 per cent, up 55 basis points as investors sold off debt. In the currency market, the central bank came in three times to support

Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 2,237.65 1.39 1,710.65 1,092.63 115.26 121.16 1,117.51 1.2147 1.2858 0.7802 1.0972

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

C/PRICE 4.35 19.99 1.47 3.58 0.68 5.00 29.00 0.51 0.62 398.00 17.56

O/PRICE

COSTAIN 1.06 DIAMONDBNK 6.00 NESTLE 840.02 STANBIC 30.74 DANGFLOUR 30.74 DANGSUGAR 6.63 NAHCO 4.87 CAVERTON 3.68 ETERNA 3.29 LIVESTOCK 2.55 MAYBAKER 1.70 UBCAP 1.71 RTBRISCOE 0.89

C/PRICE 0.96 5.70 798.10 29.21 29.21 6.30 4.63 3.50 3.13 2.43 1.62 1.63 0.85

price has fallen by around 40 per cent since June, Nigeria’s forex reserves were down to $36.8 billion by November 28, from $44.6 billion a year ago.

DATA BANK RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 17/11/2014 10/11/2014 06/11/2014

1,116.70 1.2072 1.2858 0.7666 1.0972

CHANGE 0.35 1.19 0.07 0.17 0.03 0.19 0.95 0.01 0.01 3.00 0.06

LOSERS AS AT 02-12-14

SYMBOL

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Bid Price

GAINERS AS AT 02-12-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE CUSTODYINS 4.00 OANDO 18.80 LEARNAFRCA 1.40 MANSARD 3.41 WAPIC 0.65 UBA 4.81 PZ 28.05 COURTVILLE 0.50 NEM 0.61 SEPLAT 395.00 ETI 17.50

the naira, dealers said and the most it has intervened since the devaluation, even as some banks were also buying naira ahead of a Treasury Bill auction today and oil companies were active. Chinese oil major, Addax sold $4.5 million, while Exxon Mobil’s $36 million and Saipem of Italy’s $15 million sales on Monday hit the market on yesterday. “We expect the naira to strengthen further ... if the central bank continues to intervene this way ... coupled with the market expecting large dollar sales from (state-owned oil company) NNPC,” one dealer said. The CBN’s firepower to defend the naira is limited, however. As the oil

IDELITY Bank said it has concluded plans to hold a national conference on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The event which holds in Lagos next week in Lagos will have the likes of Alhaji Aliko, Nike Ogunlesi, Frank Nneji, among others share their success stories to operators of SMEs in the country. Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos ahead of the event, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo said the event remains part of the lender’s efforts to increase its support to SMEs adding that in the last three years, the bank has increased its focus on the subsector. He said: “We see this sector as a critical agent of economic development and transformation in Nigeria. It is also in line with the federal government’s National Economic Development Programme (NEDP) that was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan earlier this year. No economy can ignore the SMEs.” He said research had shown that in most economies, SMEs accounts for about 75 per cent of businesses. According to him, the bank had taken a different approach in managing SMEs. He said: “We do not only bank SMEs, we have put together a team of tested people to run our own brand of SME business. We have a group that all they do for this bank is to bank SMEs. “Banking SMEs is not just to take their monies and give it to them when they need it. We have a multi-faceted approach to SME. “We have a managed SME team that experts to guide SME operators in book-keeping, general accounting, and what these does is that it improves capacity in a manner that the SMEs would be able to weather the challenges associated with their kind of business.”

CHANGE -0.10 -0.30 -41.92 -1.53 -1.53 -0.31 -0.33 -0.18 -0.16 -0.12 -0.08 -0.08 -0.04

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$79.98

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES December 2, 2014

$37b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

16.5%

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

US Dollar

164

165

Pounds Sterling

258.2344

259.809

Euro

204.2948

205.5405

Swiss Franc

169.8074

170.8428

Yen

1.3924

1.4009

CFA

0.2868

0.3068

235.4875

236.9234

Yuan/Renminbi

26.7114

26.8752

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

11-11-14 Rate (%)

Rate (%) 12-11-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

43.7054

43.9719

11.94

12.18

SDR

240.1288

241.593

13.08

13.33

14.03

14.17

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Dec. 2, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

9.85

T-bills - 182

9.98

T-bills - 364

Bond - 3yrs

12.61

Bond - 5yrs

12.77

Bond - 7yrs

12.73

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS 33 policemen, six soldiers, 20 insurgents die in Yobe battle Continued from page 4

versial. “Let me just tell you why I allowed you it is because of the fact that insurgents are attacking left, right, front and back in Northeast but that of yesterday (Monday) was because they were able to get to the Government House, which gave it a new dimension. “It has nothing to do with state of emergency, please do not make any statement that is controversial.” Lawan, under Order 43, asked for the indulgence of the Senate and the leave of the Senate President, to explain Monday’s Boko Haram onslaught. He said: “I spoke with you (Mark) this morning on the need

for me, on behalf of my colleagues from Yobe State, to make a personal explanation on what happened in Damaturu, Yobe State capital yesterday (Monday.) “Mr. President, I will like to formally inform this Senate that Damaturu was attacked by insurgents from about 5am on Monday and the military or the armed forces, battled the insurgents and controlled the situation. “So many lives were lost but at this moment, we cannot determine the exact number of the dead and so many were also wounded and, of course, psychologically, hundreds of thousands of Yobeians and even other Nigerians are traumatised for that incident.

“Mr. President, I want to say this, that a war is not won by the name of the operation; a war is won by the operators of the operation that operate in the theatre of war. “Our soldiers were determined to fight the insurgents. They fought very gallantly and exhibited valour and they did that because they have motivation, not because there was any state of emergency existing. “Mr. President, the significance of what happened in Damaturu yesterday (Monday) should not be lost on us. “I believe that we can win this war, if we all come together, get the proper leadership, support the leadership across all the three tiers of government and across all the political parties.

“I believe that this war is winnable and I believe that if we do the right thing, we’ll see the right result that we saw yesterday.” Mark added that he allowed Lawan to speak because the dimension the attack took was really frightening. “I was in touch with the governor, Ibrahim Geidam, for most of the time and we were all very worried and because of the magnitude of what had happened in the last few days, bomb blasts in Kano, the attack in Borno, the bomb blast in Borno and the incident that took place in Damaturu. “Because they have been raised on the floor here, it is only proper that we observe one minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives,” Mark said.

hood. “If they are serious, they should bring it to the floor. It is not something that should be reported in the papers alone, they should bring it to the floor; we are waiting. “They are not more than three or four people going about with the impeachment story. “To me, Jajere is a story teller. We are waiting for him and his

other signatories who are more spirits than human beings in the Senate. “And let me put it to him and his other signatories that if they think that they can intimidate the President out of power or PDP out of power they are just day dreaming because the man will contest the 2015 elections and, going by realities on the ground, he will win. So the earlier they

realise this, the better for them.” Senator Yau described the planned impeachment as not only a distraction but a waste of resources and energy. “Maybe some people are doing it underground but nobody has contacted me on the issue. “For now it is a rumour. The process is cumbersome, even if there is need for that; how are we going to finish it?”

Senate to get Jonathan’s impeachment notice Dec 16 Continued from page 4

Eze said: “There is no impeachment notice in the Senate. “It is in the imagination of those who are writing about it and we challenge anybody who thinks that he can impeach the President to meet us on the floor. “We challenge anybody who is interested and who thinks he has the vote to impeach the President to meet us on the floor. “We don’t want any distraction at this period when the country is going through election and we have serious challenges. “If it is a joke, it is a joke carried too far. I have been very present in the chamber since I got here in 2007. “If anything is happening in that chamber, I will know but I can tell you, there is nothing like that (impeachment.) “What is annoying is that some people sneak around and incite journalists to write false-

Jalingo High Court suspends probe of former acting governor

HIGH Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State,

has ordered the state government to immediately halt its plan to probe the tenure of the immediate past Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, pending the determination of the substantive suit brought before it on the issue. The ruling was sequel to an action brought before it by Umar against the Taraba State government’s recent decision to probe the administration of the former Acting Governor. The government had set up a 13-member Contracts and Policies Verification committee with Dr Phillip Duwe as chairman, for the purpose of probing the tenure of the former acting governor from its inception in October 2012 up to the time it left office last month. Following the setting up of the Committee, the former Acting Government went to court to seek an order restraining the committee from going ahead with the

proposed probe pending the determination of the substantive suit. In a preliminary ruling on the matter, Justice F.B Andetur restrained the committee or security agents acting on its behalf or on behalf of its chairman and secretary from inviting , summoning or compelling the former Acting Governor to appear before them or from carrying on with the terms of reference of the committee until the hearing and determination of the substantive application on the matter. Alhaji Umar became Acting Governor of Taraba State in October 2012 following a plane crash involving Governor Danbaba Suntai, the governor. He was in that position until November 21, 2014, when the Supreme Court invalidated the October 2012 impeachment of Suntai’s Deputy Alhaji Sanni Danladi, by the Taraba State House of Assembly, and ordered that he be sworn in as acting governor in place Umar.

Jonathan is Nigeria’s Nebuchadnezzar, says Soyinka Continued from page 4

Soyinka said for this latest act in an escalating series of impunity, the buck stops with President Jonathan, who he said has degraded a system by which he “attained fulfillment”. The Professor said Boko Haram could have been dealt with through a national mobilisation of the citizens on an unprecedented scale, even if certain liberties are

curtailed. But such unity of purpose and sacrifice, he said, would be hard to achieve as the response would be outright rejection because “any such notion would be distrusted and be seen as an act of insincerity, an opportunity to acquire even more powers for citizen enslavement.” Soyinka said the time had come for Nigerians to defend them-

selves. Referring to the female Civilian Joint Task Force member, he said: “Ladi, it would appear, needed no such urging from any direction. “It was obvious to her, and others like her, that it was futile to await salvation from a centre that is so self-obsessed with power that it no longer sees even the danger to its very existence. A people must defend itself,” he said.

On America’s reported refusal to supply Nigeria Cobra Helicopters, Soyinka said the US should stop making a mockery of the country. “America should stop laughing at us. Just say you will not supply arms to Nigeria and stop there,” he said. Soyinka, however, urged America to overlook the “arithmetic failings” of the Peoples

Democratic Party-led government, referring to the “impeachment” of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker by seven PDP lawmakers and Jonathan’s endorsement of “losers” in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) election. He said it was possible that America felt the Nigerian government’s lack of mathematic knowledge meant they could not operate the fighter jets.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Iraq resolves oil dispute with Kurds

Al-shabab kills 36 in Kenyan quarry attack

•President replaces security chiefs

UNMEN have massacred dozens of Kenyan workers in an attack on a stone quarry in the northern town of Mandera near the Somali border. The attack was carried out in the early hours of yesterday while the victims were sleeping in their tents. "We have lost 36 people, but there are others missing," a police official said on the condition of anonymity, adding, "We don't know whether they were taken by the attackers." The quarry attack comes hours after at least one person was killed and 12 wounded after gunmen hurled grenades and fired into a bar in the town of Wajir near the border with Somalia. Somalia's al-Shabab group claimed responsibility for the attack, pledging to be uncompromising and launch more assaults. Kenyan officials have drawn a parallel between the attacks and a deadly assault carried out last month

Mexicans protest against president

ROTESTERS in Mexico clashed with police following a largely peaceful rally in support of 43 students who went missing in September. The demonstrators expressed their anger over the handling of the case by President Enrique Pena Nieto. The president’s popularity rating has dropped to its lowest point since he took office two years ago. The students disappeared after clashing with police in the town of Iguala on 26 September. The case has shocked Mexicans as allegations of police collusion with drug gangs surfaced during the investigation into their disappearance. In October, Mexico’s attorney general ordered the arrest of Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca. Anger and frustration Many of the protesters carried placards calling for the president to step down, says the BBC’s Will Grant in Mexico City. In Guerrero state, where the students disappeared, they set cars on fire and smashed windows, our correspondent adds.

British officials condemn China over Hong Kong

RITISH lawmakers have condemned China for blocking a parliamentary fact-finding trip to Hong Kong. The Chinese government has prevented representatives of Britain’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee from going to Hong Kong as tensions rise over ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations there. Committee Chairman Richard Ottaway said yesterday the Chinese decision amounts to an attack on the people of the free world. He said China was failing to act like a responsible member of the Group of 20. Former foreign secretary Malcom Rifkind told Parliament that China’s actions violate its agreement with Britain for the 1997 handover of the former colony. They spoke at an emergency debate in Parliament called to deal with the deteriorating relations between the two countries.

•Scene of the Kenyan Quarry blast where Al-Shabab killed 36 yesterday. by al-Shabab fighters who are based in Somalia, when 28 people were executed in an ambush on a bus in the town of Mandera near the Somali border. Kenya currently has over 3,000 soldiers stationed in southern Somalia, where they have been battling al-Shabab. The country sent troops into Somalia in late 2011, after the militant group carried out a series of raids inside Kenya. Kenya has beefed up security along its border with Somalia since it dispatched soldiers over its border into the conflict-plagued country last October to chase al-Shabab militants, which it accuses of being behind the kidnapping of several foreigners on its territory.

However, al-Shabab has denied involvement in the kidnappings. Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta has replaced his interior minister and police chief following a massacre by Islamist group alShabab. The president asked Kenyans to unite, and said: "We will not flinch in war against terrorists." Kenya's police chief David Kimayo stood down, while Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku was dismissed. The group attacked the workers around midnight on Monday while they were asleep in tents at the quarry in Kormey, 15km (9 miles) from the north-eastern town of Mandera. Non-Muslim workers were shot dead after being separated from the

PHOTO: PRESS-TV

Muslims. "This is a war against Kenya and Kenyans," Mr Kenyatta said on national TV on Monday. "It is a war that every one of us must fight." The militants attacked the workers as they lay sleeping in their tents He said Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku had been fired, and he nominated an opposition politician and former army general, Joseph Nkaissery, as his replacement. The president also announced that he had accepted Mr Kimaiyo's wish to retire. Correspondents say both Mr Kimaiyo and Mr Lenku have been under pressure to resign amid growing concern over security in Kenya following a spate of attacks.

Colombian general resigns over abduction

OLOMBIAN General Ruben Dario Alzate, released by Farc rebels on Sunday, has resigned from the armed forces. Gen Alzate and two companions were abducted while travelling by boat in a remote jungle two weeks ago. President Juan Manuel Santos had demanded an explanation from the armed forces about how the general came to be kidnapped. Gen Alzate admitted that he had breached security measures. Gen Alzate was taken by Farc rebels in a jungle area of Choco province, where the 34th division of the Farc is known to be active. He was dressed in civilian clothes while travelling along the Atrato river by boat. “Out of love and respect for our military institution, which has been affected by this incident, I’ve asked the

Speculation about what such a highranking officer was doing without support and in civilian clothes in such a dangerous area has been rife. According to the soldier who piloted Gen Alzate’s boat, the general had ordered him to travel downriver. The soldier said that he warned the general, who was accompanied only by a corporal, Jorge Rodriguez, and a lawyer, Gloria Urrego, that they were getting dangerously far from their base in the town of Quibdo. The general gave orders for the boat to dock at the small village of Las Mercedes, where Gen Alzate, Cpl Rodriguez and Ms Urrego disembarked, the soldier said. In the village the three were surprised by Farc rebels who searched them and took them away, the soldier recounted. The soldier said that he fled in the boat and raised the alarm in Quibdo.

IS leader’s wife detained in Lebanon

EBANESE security forces have detained a wife and son of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi near the border with Syria, the army says. The pair, whose names were not given, were picked up by military intelligence after entering Lebanon 10 days ago. The al-Safir newspaper reported that Baghdadi’s wife was being questioned at the Lebanese defence ministry. In June, Baghdadi was named the

national government to retire me from active service,” he said in a media conference. President Santos accepted the general’s resignation, saying: “The general went out as a good military man, he went out with honour.” Gen Alzate regretted having ignored military protocol, but said he was moved by his wish to help the region’s poor communities. He said he had been working in a project to install power generators on the Atrato river. He said that he decided to wear civilian clothes because many residents mistrust the authorities. Hours after news of the abduction emerged last month, the president demanded on Twitter (in Spanish) that the minister of defence and the chief of the armed forces “explain why Gen Alzate broke all security protocols and was dressed as a civilian in a red zone”.

leader of the “caliphate” created by IS in the parts of Syria and Iraq it controls. Last month, the group denied reports that he had been killed or injured in an air strike by US-led forces near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. It released an audio recording purportedly of Baghdadi in which he said the caliphate was expanding and called for “volcanoes of jihad” to erupt. Describing them as “a valuable catch”, al-Safir said that, in coordination with foreign intelligence services, the IS leader’s wife and son

were detained at a border crossing near the town of Arsal while trying to enter Lebanon from Syria with forged papers. IS and al-Nusra Front are holding about 20 Lebanese soldiers hostage They were currently being held for interrogation at the defence ministry’s headquarters in al-Yarza, in the hills overlooking Beirut, it added. A security source told the AFP news agency that the woman was a Syrian citizen and that her son was eight or nine years old.

Dozens escape from Haitian jail

HIRTY-FOUR detainees have escaped from a prison in the Haitian city of Saint Marc, 100km (60 miles) north of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The inmates crawled through a window after sawing through its metal bars. Police said so far only four of the fugitives, all of whom were awaiting trial, had been captured. All five guards on duty at the time of the escape have been detained on suspicion of helping them flee, officials said.

The jail break comes less than three months after more than 300 prisoners escaped from a prison in Croixdes-Bouquets, on the outskirts of the capital. Police searched vehicles and set up check points to try and capture the fugitives Haiti’s prisons are notoriously overcrowded and violent. Because of the slow pace of the country’s justice system many people spend years in jail before their case comes to trial.

RAQ’S central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north have reached an agreement that resolves a longrunning dispute over oil exports and budget payments. Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari said 550,000 barrels per day of oil would be sent to the Iraqi oil ministry. In return, the Kurds will receive their 17% share of the national budget. They had threatened to boycott Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s new unity government over the dispute. Mr Abadi’s administration was formed with the backing of Iraq’s various ethnic, religious and political factions in September to deal with the crisis caused by the seizure by Islamic State (IS) militants of large parts of the country’s north and west. For more than a year, the government in Baghdad has withheld budget payments to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in retaliation for its efforts to export oil unilaterally to Turkey. The KRG said it needed the money to meet its growing security needs, pay public sector employees and fund infrastructure projects. Tuesday’s agreement stipulates that the KRG will export 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from its fields around the city of Irbil through its pipeline to Turkey, where it will be handed over to the Iraqi national State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO). A further 300,000 bpd will also be exported from oil fields surrounding the disputed city of Kirkuk, which Kurdish Peshmerga forces have controlled since the Iraqi army withdrew in June. In exchange, the Kurds will receive their 17% share of the national budget, which in 2013 was worth about $12bn (£7.6bn), plus an additional $1bn in instalments to help pay the salaries of and equip Peshmerga fighting IS militants alongside the Iraqi army.

HK: Occupy Central urges protesters to retreat

HE co-founders of the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong have repeated their call for protesters to retreat. Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming also said they would turn themselves in to police on Wednesday. Occupy Central initially led the prodemocracy protests, but has receded as students continued with demonstrations. Student leader Joshua Wong has begun a hunger strike to demand talks with the Hong Kong authorities over the movement’s ideas for political reforms. Occupy and the students want China to scrap its plans to screen candidates for the 2017 election for the territory’s leadership. They want the Hong Kong government to renegotiate the arrangement with Beijing. If anyone hadn’t noticed already, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests are running out of energy and options. Benny Tai’s announcement, actually planned for some time, simply confirms it. After two long months, the movement has achieved nothing in the way of concessions from Hong Kong’s own government, let alone China’s. The cold wintry weather has arrived. Public support is ebbing away as the numbers at the damp protest sites dwindle further. The police are strengthening their resolve. So the risk - of arrest or injury - for those who remain is rising. China was never going to give in to public protest but, if nothing else, it has been forced to take note. It now knows it risks losing a whole generation in Hong Kong. The barricades will eventually come down, through force or fatigue. The big question then is what next.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

PDP stakeholders police Adamawa primaries’ results

ETERMINED to protect the outcome of last Saturday’s House of Assembly primaries, stakeholders from Adamawa State yesterday escorted the Election Committee Chairman, Tim Ihemadu, to the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to submit the results. They offered to police the results so that they would not be doctored by some chieftains of the party who lost at the primaries. But it was learnt last night that the PDP Appeal Committee was under pressure from some forces to annul the results. The Adamawa PDP stakeholders, who kept vigil at Ihemadu’s hotel, arrived at PDP’s secretariat at 8.30am yesterday. Ihemadu was called by the collation officers at 9am to submit the results.

From Yusuf Alli and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

The results were in an ash colour box with a sticker, “Adamawa State”. Addressing reporters after the submission, Adamawa State PDP’s Organising Secretary Abdullahi Adamu said: “It is true that some people are trying to doctor the results of the election of the House of Assembly primaries of Adamawa State. But, thank God, the result sheets they came to the party’s national secretariat with, indicating that they had conducted the election, are not authentic. “We escorted the results to the secretariat to avoid any form of manipulation and the collating officers have certified that the results we came in with are authentic. “They have accepted the results and, right now, we are waiting for the photocopy of the report because we are tak-

ing it back to the people of Adamawa so that they will be sure of what we did.” On those who tried to tamper with the outcome of the primaries, he said: “Adamawa people know the kind of people we are fighting with. They are the ones that tampered with the delegates’ list and they are the same people that wrote the names of the candidates from 25 House of Assembly’s constituencies that we have in the state and brought the list to the national secretariat. But we rejected it. “Those who tampered with the delegates’ list also came with the fake results.” Adamu was optimistic that PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) would use the results submitted. He added: “We have followed the process of submission and we are sure that the same process is applicable in all the states. We hope, how-

ever, that the results will not be altered at the end of the day. “We are satisfied that the real results were escorted here and we are praying that the NWC will go with what was submitted. If they truly need the success of the PDP in Adamawa State, let them allow the will of the people to prevail. “We are praying that the NWC does not tamper with any of the lists brought because we want the PDP to win the election. That is what we are after in Adamawa State.” One of the collating officers, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that the results were authentic. He said: “All things being equal, the results submitted by the committee today are what the party will use because it is authentic.” But there was pressure last night on Adamawa PDP Ap-

Adamawa primaries: ‘Ngilari’s agents placed us on house arrest’

EW hours after submitting its report, the Adamawa State House of Assembly’s Primaries Election Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said some agents of Governor Bala Ngilari allegedly “practically kidnapped and placed the team under house arrest from last Saturday morning till Monday afternoon”. It said the committee members were not allowed to play any role in the primaries. But a party source said the committee was setting the stage for the cancellation of the results. The panel, which narrated the ordeal of its members in a report to PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu, said its members were “held in isolation from any official except those allowed by the governor and his agents”. The report, which was dated December 1, was signed by the committee’s Chairman Tim Ihemadu and the Secretary Mrs Victoria Nyam-Isha. The report reads: “On arrival at the Government House and after waiting for 30 minutes, we were ushered into a room where we saw the governor in company of the Commissioner of Police, the Director SSS, the suspended Chairman of the PDP, Chief Joel Madaki, and the suspended Secretary, A. T. Shehu, and other officials. “After introduction, the governor confronted us with a document, which was a court order stating that the primaries in Adamawa must be conducted with the old three-delegate list and not with the list submitted by Sen. Bala Adamu’s Congress Committee. The governor also informed us that the court order had reinstated Chief Joel Madaki and A. T. Shehu as chairman and secretary of PDP in Adamawa State. The governor insisted that he could not guarantee our security or safety, if we did not comply with the court order and conduct the primaries in accordance with same. “The Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee, Tim Ihemadu, asked if

The governor insisted that he ‘could not guarantee our security or safety, if we did not comply with the court order and conduct the primaries in accordance with same. From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

the court order had been served on the National Secretariat of PDP in Abuja, to which there was no clear answer. “At the end of the session, the committee was taken to a hotel, owned by the governor, called MUNA Hotel. No sooner had the committee members settled in their rooms than thugs, (led by two prominent chieftains) invaded the hotel, surrounded it and accompanied the two leaders into our rooms. “They demanded that we must conduct the primaries, using the old delegates’ list and recognise Madaki and Shehu as leaders of the party. The members unanimously explained that the committee could only work with materials and officials handed over to them by the national secretariat and that we had no mandate to accept materials or officials. The explanation drew even more crowd. Some of the thugs began to physically molest the committee members, including insults in the presence of policemen and party officials.“ The panel also explained that it was barred from conducting the primaries on a neutral ground at the secretariat or at a similar venue. It added: “We then received a delegation from the governor, led by some elders, who claimed to be on a mission to rescue us from the hotel to the safety of the Presidential Lodge at the Government House. “At the Presidential Lodge, we were surprised to see thugs walking freely, through the security of policemen, into the lodge and into our rooms. At a stage, all the members were huddled

’

into the chairman’s suite thoroughly frightened for our lives. We passed the night under such horrible conditions. “On Sunday, November 30, we demanded to leave the lodge to perform our duty on a neutral ground at the secretariat or any neutral venue. We appealed to security agencies to rescue us from the siege but without success. “However, the police later agreed to escort us into waiting vehicles. But at that stage, thugs invaded our rooms in the presence of some party leaders and forced us to surrender election materials to Madaki, Shehu, the State Organising Secretary, Mr. Prambe and other officials. The only material not collected was the three-delegates’ list given to us by the national secretariat for the conduct of the election.” The panel said the results of the primaries were collated by the governor’s agents. It alleged that members were allegedly forced to sign the results of the primaries. The report added: “At this stage, the threat was so visible and our fears so real that we had to send distress text messages to some leaders in the state, which we believe were forwarded to leaders of our party and some security agencies. “By Sunday evening, we were again compelled to begin receiving results in our heavily barricaded Presidential Lodge. Our movements were severely restricted and monitored by thugs and security agencies and we were not allowed any access outside the Presidential Lodge except during periodic visits to the Governor’s Lodge. We were held in strict isolation from officials except those al-

•Ngilari

lowed by the governor and his agents. “On Monday morning, when all the results had been collated by the governor’s agents, we were ordered to sign the result sheets, which we resisted, and ordered to brief the press, which we did, highlighting our difficulty. At around 1.30 pm, we were escorted to the airport by security agents and officials of the government. “We boarded a chartered plane, escorted by security agents and some government officials to Abuja. At Abuja, the government convoy trailed us to our destination but we escaped from the convoy to prepare this special letter to the National Chairman. “Throughout our ordeal in Adamawa State, we could not brief the full Executive of the party. “We did not use the premises or offices of the party. “We did not see or address the aspirants in the election. “We were not allowed to play any role in the so-called election that followed. “We were not allowed to leave our rooms at the PresidentialLodge except to visit the governor under heavy escort. “We were constantly threatened, abused, harassed and even physically molested by thugs, the suspended PDP state chairman, suspended PDP State Secretary, the PDP State Organising Secretary and other agents of the governor. “We were practically kidnapped and held under house arrest from Saturday morning till Monday afternoon.”

peal Committee to annul the results of the Assembly primaries. Members of the committee are: Nura Babayo, Hajara Umar and Ukpabi Hillary. The committee, which ought to have sat in Yola yesterday, was still being awaited. A source said: “The Appeal Committee is under tremendous pressure to annul the results of the House of Assembly primaries. “As I am talking to you, the Appeal Committee members have not been to

Yola. But we learnt they are being railroaded to annul the results. “Some stakeholders had engineered some petitions to reverse the outcome of the primaries. This means we will go back afresh to conduct other primaries. “The reality is that the PDP may lose Adamawa State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), going by the way influential chieftains and forces at the Presidency are trying to impose their candidates on the party.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

60 \

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Four ‘traffickers’ held with N374m drugs

‘Allegation of arms importation through Seme untrue’ By Joseph Jibueze

•Okafor with some of the drugs...yesterday

•Obi with drug...yesterday

•NDLEA backs law’s review for stiffer penalties

OUR suspected drug traffickers - a mother of seven and three men - have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The drugs weighing 41.625 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of over N374,625,000 comprise 36.675 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 4.95 kilogrammes of cocaine. The substances were concealed in security lamps, silicon sealants, foodstuff and luggage. Lagos Airport Commander, NDLEA , Hamza Umar said Obi John Chuk-

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

wuenyem (48) was caught with 21.695 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden inside his bag; Gilbert Kelvin (37) with 9.980 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside solar security lamps; Deborah Ifeoma (40) with five kilogrammes of methamphetamine packed inside foodstuff and Okafor Michael (44), with 4.95 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden inside silicon sealants. Umar said Okafor was coming from Sao Paulo in Brazil; the others were trying to smuggle methamphetamine to South Africa where they reside. Obi, who lives in South

Africa with his three children, said he was lured into drug trafficking on his birthday. “I struggle to feed my family by selling foodstuff. Now, the business is near-moribund. A friend met me on my birthday and introduced me into drug trafficking. He promised to pay me 15,000 South Africa rand. My children are out of school because of my inability to pay tuition fee. This is the first time I would deal in drugs and I regret everything. I pray to be out of this problem” he said. Gilbert, who also lives in South Africa where he imports and exports phones and clothes, said he has five children from three

• Deborah

•Gilbert

women, adding: “My business is grounded and I now live from hand to mouth. My South African friend for over ten years gave me solar lamps where the drug was found. He used to assist me financially and he also promised to pay my children’s school fees.” Deborah, who lives in South Africa with her family, said: “I take care of my seven children from selling foodstuffs. I came to Nigeria to buy foodstuffs like melon, vegetables and other local spices. I approached a man in South Africa for financial assistance to enable me expand my business. He called me that somebody would give me some food items for him. When I got to the airport, NDLEA officers detected methamphetamine in the package given to me by the man. This was how I found myself in this situ-

ation”. Meanwhile, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade has endorsed plans to amend the NDLEA Act for stiffer penalties and easier forfeiture of illegal drug proceeds. The proposed review is part of efforts to reposition the NDLEA for enhanced performance and greater productivity. The planned for amendment is expected to cover penalty for offences and asset forfeiture. Giade said: “The focus of the NDLEA is a positive change towards an intelligence-led counter narcotics agency. In line with this paradigm shift, we are putting in place processes and mechanisms to propel operational efficiency.” He reiterated his call for more support in the agency’s fight against illicit drugs.

Our homes were illegally demolished, residents claim •Govt’s intervention sought on police action

CORES of residents from Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday stormed the Governor’s Office at Alausa, Ikeja, over the alleged failure to intervene in the alleged demolition of their houses by the police. Their chairman, Charles Adu recalled that in January, the residents of Atiporome, Araromi Ale and Muwo Phase II protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly over the alleged illegal demolition of their houses. He said Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji promised the residents that the Commissioner of Police would be summoned to ensure that they got justice. The protesters, who barricaded the main entrance of the governor’s office because no government official came out to address them, vowed to remain there until their demands were addressed. Their letter reads: “On January 10, 2014, while addressing the three communities, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji promised to summon the Lagos State Commissioner of Police with a view to finding out why the illegal demolition was carried out. “We are disappointed that over eleven months after

By Oziegbe Okoeki

our visit, we are yet to hear from the House nor from any other government official, including the governor to tell us why our hardearned resources channelled into providing ourselves and our children shelter should be illegally demolished while the matter is still a subject of litigation at the Badagry High Court. “We view this posture of the Lagos State Government as a total abdication of its oath of office to make laws for the protection of lives and property of all Lagosians in any event.” The residents explained that the land allotted to the Police is in Agemowo\ Agelado, another community. They lamented that majority of the residents were now living under trees, in churches, mosques and motor parks, adding that they were facing hardships, while some of them who could not bear the tough situation had died. While calling on the government to come to their aid, the residents appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to set up a panel to investigate why the police left their allotted land for theirs. The police action, they claimed, breached the law.

ICENCED agents at Seme have denied reports of illegal importation of arms and ammunition through the border. They urged security agencies to investigate the alarm raised by the Director-General of the National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE), Mr Osita Okereke, over illegal arms importation through the border. A licenced agent based at the border, Chief Sam Madubuike (Oji Ofor), the Managing Director, Sam Express Cargoes Limited, said the allegations were baseless. Speaking with reporters at his Agbara, Ogun State country home, Madubuike said stakeholders would not rest until the matter is investigated. “At Seme here, there are over 10 security agencies that partake in the physical examination of every truck coming into Nigeria from Cotonou, the Republic of Benin. Even before the trucks come in, they are transloaded from containers into trucks from their seaports enroute Seme Border. When they now arrive Seme Border, the consignments are again transloaded from Benin trucks into Nigerian trucks in the open at the Atlas Park. “The trucks then pass through the fixed scanner before coming to the physical examination bay at Ashipa where all security agencies partake in the physical examinations before the trucks are certified to leave,” he said. He said if indeed the taskforce had been monitoring the suspected 10 trucks of ammunition for three months without alerting the Department of State Security (DSS), the police or other security agencies, it should be called to account for the trucks’ whereabouts. “You don’t call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. About three months ago, the task force members approached the stakeholders assembly asking us to be paying N10,000 per truck, in form of plea, a demand we turned down. “Suddenly, they mounted an illegal checkpoint, initially near Ministry of Works before they moved to their new base at Chef Gardens near Gwaji, Badagry, where they now park trailers, demanding N10,000 from each of them or their tyres are deflated until the owner pays. “They even rented policemen from border patrol units to guard them, claiming that they were empowered by the Presidency. If trained personnel cannot detect as many as 10 trucks alleged to be carrying arms and ammunition into Nigeria, is it those that have no gadgets and formal training that will detect it?” He asked.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

2014 COPA LAGOS

Maiden inter-club netball competition holds in Lagos

We ‘ll give Nigerians another T Christmas gift, says Ejor • Names 18-man provisional squad• Camp opens today

HEAD of the 2014 Copa Lagos, head coach of the Super Sand Eagles, Audu Adamu Ejor has said his team is aiming to win this year's Beach Soccer Championship to present Nigerians another Christmas gift. The annual four-nation tournament which kicks-off between December 12-14, will feature three other African countries continent defending champions Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast at the Lagos' Atlantic. Expecting a tough contest against the African teams, Ejor, said the fans will enjoy another FULL SQUAD LIST 1. Abdul Isah - Kaduna United 2. Isiaka Olawale Dolphins [Captain], 3. Okemmiri Ogbonnaya Abia Warriors, 4. Victor Tale - Confluence Beach team, 5. Abu Azeez Warri Wolves. 6. Emeka Ogbonna - Leads United FC of Lagos, 7. Oladipo Olalekan Owibeseb Beach team, 8. Emma Ohweferia Owibeseb Beach team, 9. Babatunde Badmus Owibeseb Beach team, 10. Atiku Sulaimon - Owibeseb Beach team, 11. Musa Najare - Lobi Stars, 12. Isah Danladi - Sharks FC. 13. Wasiu Akinbitan Badagry Beach team, 14. Abutu Adofu - Confluence Beach team, 15. Samuel Kuchili - Plateau United, 16. Idris Ahmed of Mighty Jets, 17. Wasiu Jomih - Kwara Academy, 18. Ehiabhi Festus Bridge Boys of Lagos.

spectacular display this time as they hope to successfully retain the title for the fourth time in a row. Ejor as popularly called applauded the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and believes this edition will be with a difference for the Super Sand Eagles. "I'm happy that another opportunity is here for us to give Nigerians another Christmas gift. "It will be tough no doubt be-

cause of the other African teams that will be involved in the competition. But as the best in Africa, we will prove ourselves again as champions. "I'm excited with the great support and attention we are getting from the Ministry of Sports and the NFF. I believe that will spur us. There are few new faces as well as our best legs, though we won't have enough time to check out others." Meanwhile, Nigeria's Beach soccer senior national team has released a provisional list of 18

I want to play for Bayern Munich — Eduok

OLPHINS’ winger Emem Eduok says he will be “over the moon” if he ever gets a chance to strut his stuff at German champions Bayern Munich. Eduok was one of the brightest sparks in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last season, netting 20 goals for Dolphins. He entered Nigerian football Hall of Fame when he scored all six goals as Dolphins thrashed Nembe City 6-0 in an NPFL game at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt on October 22. Eduok went on to score 24 goals in all competitions last season and it now seems an inevitability that he will be moving to foreign climes in the nearest future. “If I am to be honest, I don’t think I will be playing for Dolphins next season. I have been receiving offers from a lot of

• Eduok with FA Cup MVP award recently

clubs from different countries,” Eduok told supersport.com. The winger then revealed that he would relish an opportunity to wear the colours of 24-time German champions Bayern Munich. “I love Bayern Munich. I love the football they play under (Pep) Guardiola and I am a big fan of German football. I will be over the moon to get a chance to play for the club. “Of course, I have not received any offer from them (Bayern) but as a young man, I have always wanted to play for the club. “Right now, I don’t know where I will play my football next season and I will leave that in the hands of God,” he said. Meanwhile, Dolphins have announced that they will not block any potential foreign switch for Eduok. Stanley Eguma, manager of the club, said Eduok is a “special player who will not be held back as he looks to take his career to the next level.” “Personally, I think Eduok has achieved all he possibly can in the Nigerian league and is set to play in Europe. He is a very hard working player who is so disciplined. “Dolphins as a club is not known for holding on to players who want to leave but we will only allow the players to go if everything is right. “Abduljeleel Ajagun (now with Greek club Panathinikos), Chidi Osuchukwu and Aaron Samuel are just some former Dolphins players who are doing well abroad. “If the conditions are right, it will be same with Emem. He is a special player who will not be held back as he looks to take his career to the next level,” he said.

players for this year's Copa Lagos. On the list is legendary captain Olawale Isiaka and all-time record goal scorer Abu Azeez are among other familiar faces for the coveted entertaining beach event. Sharks' goalkeeper Isah Danladi and Lobi Stars' Musa Najare, who replaced Ikechukwu Ibenegbu that will be absent for personal reasons, dominated the team of new invitees. The Super Sand-Eagles, Wednesday will begin an intensive one-week training activities at the usual base in Badagry with the 18-man team will vie for their places in the final squad list of 10 for the tournament. Nigeria is the most successful team at the Championship winning in all three editions since inception in 2011, while Abu Azeez holds the record highest goal of 11.

• Adamu

Chicago Fire signs Igboananike

WEDISH/NIGERIAN striker Kennedy Igboananike has signed for MLS side Chicago Fire. Igboananike, who scored 22 goals in 63 games for AIK in Sweden over the past two seasons, had been pursued by a number of clubs of late, having been linked previously to English, French and Spanish clubs. “Kennedy is a dynamic goal scorer with a track record of producing,” Fire head coach Frank Yallop was quoted as saying in a statement. “He’s young and exciting, a player with incredible pace, and we look forward to adding him to our roster to bolster our attack.”

the team – when they won a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics – losing 0-1 to an Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi inspired Argentina team and says he hopes to get a better team than he did six years ago. “We had a very good team in 2008 but we are looking to build a much more comprehensive team this time. Mikel and Taiye Taiwo were not in that team and maybe it would have been better if they were, but now we are looking at making things more comprehensive. We want to build a bet-

ter team with players that will be readily available for the Super Eagles,” he told sl10.ng. But despite having the ambition of building a superior team to that of 2008, Siasia is not setting any targets yet, as he says he needs to have a team before thinking of any targets. “We just started and we don’t even have a team yet, so I’m not thinking of any targets yet. We need to get a team yet and when we do I will tell you my targets. But like I said, we want to build a very strong team,” Siasia concluded.

We believe it is important to empower our young girls with these key skills that come through playing competitive team sports.” “The club now has over 40 members and it is a mix of netball veterans and those that are completely new to the sport. BNB offers women an opportunity to learn and play netball on a regular basis. “Netball is the sport of choice for women in most Commonwealth countries and we feel that the same should be true for Nigeria. It is a great way to empower women with a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie that is enjoyed through competitive team sports.” She hinted that the organisation is greatly encouraged by the recently established Nigeria Netball Federation (NNF) which will give all future netball clubs in Nigeria a platform on which to build on and take the sport on to an international level.”

AMBROSE TRANSFER FEE

Garba Lawal: $70,000 is not property of Babayaro

HE General Manager of Kaduna United, Garba Lawal, has provided an update on the missing US$70,000 transfer fees supposed to be credited to the club for the sale of Nigeria international Efe Ambrose to MS Ashdod in 2010. There is documentary evidence showing that the ex chairman of Kaduna United, Sabo Babayaro, attempted to collect the money belonging to the State Government by instructing the Israeli club to transfer the funds to a personal account instead of a corporate domiciliary account. Earlier, the former media officer of Kaduna United, Suleiman Mohammed, had confided to allnigeriasoccer.com that the money was wired to Sabo Babayaro, but a document purportedly from FIFA has punctured that argument, if we are to believe it hook, line and sinker. “The $70,000 is not the property of Sabo Babayaro. If they (MS Ashdod) gave him the money, they are wasting their time, ” Garba Lawal told allnigeriasoccer.com in a telephone conversation. “I have been in touch with NFF Secretary General, Musa Ahmadu and I sent the domiciliary account details of Kaduna United to him, so I am waiting to know the current situation.” The retired Nigeria international continued : “Sabo Babayaro is wasting his time if he wants the money to be paid to him. He is not in charge of Kaduna United, it is not his team. He refused to give Ashdod the correct account detail and they refused to pay to an indi-

• Lawal vidual.” “When I joined Kaduna United, players did not have personal bank accounts. Each time they want to pay salaries, they rent a hotel, call your name and you take your money. “Every player must have his own bank account. It is unfortunate Babayaro ran the club the way he did because of his selfish interest. “It is just a matter of time, things will change whether I remain at the club or not.” Based on the judgement from Fifa, Kaduna United ought to have received a credit transaction alert of US$70,000 on or before November 27, but there is still no movement in the account as at the time of this report. There are questions to be answered... Where did the money disappear to? After Celtic paid Ashdod $2.3m for the purchase of Efe Ambrose, why was the transfer fee plus sell - on clause figure not remitted?

Akpon’s hat-trick seals victory for Arsenal U-21

Siasia to build formidable team ATIONAL U-23 coach, Samson Siasia has told sl10.ng of his plans to build a more ‘comprehensive’ team for Nigeria ahead of the 2015 All Africa Games and 2016 Olympic Games. The ‘Dream Team’ as the U23’s are called, have been screening players in Abuja in preparation for the qualifiers for their competitions, and Siasia says he is looking at building a very comprehensive team. The former Super Eagles’ coach has previously handled

HE first inter-club netball competition in the country is scheduled to hold in Lagos this weekend. The match organised by Bringing Back Netball (BNB), an organisation that is at the centre of popularising the game in the country will feature BNB and the Abuja Netball All-Stars. It will hold at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Hall, Yaba, Lagos. In a chat with NationSport, the president of the organisation, Abimbola Smith, said the objective is to empower more women with a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie that is enjoyed through competitive team sports, adding: ““BNB’s passion for netball encapsulates a desire to introduce netball to girls from the age of eight and above so that they are given the same opportunities to develop characteristics such as sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork as benefitted by boys who play football and basketball.

• Siasia

NGLO Nigerian Arsenal youth forward Chuba Akpom was the hero for Arsenal Under21 as his hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 win over Brighton. Akpom who is an integral member of the Arsenal first team with one senior appearance to his name this season, gave manager Arsene Wenger food for thought with the manner in which he scored his treble. The 19 year old tapped in

his first, lobbed the goalkepper for his second and his third came via the spot as he walked home with the match ball. Arsenal's other goal was scored by Glen Kamara after nine minutes; an unstoppable looping shot from 18 yards. In the game ex-Nigeria Under-20 invitee Semi Ajayi and Alex Iwobi, the nephew to former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha, were on for 90 minutes for the Gunners Under-21.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES

Nollywood star picks ticket in Lagos •Lai Mohammed’s son, Deputy Speaker, other winners emerge

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole casting his vote during the All Progressives Congress House of Assembly primaries at the Azama Primary School, Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area...yesterday

N incumbent lawmaker who is doing a second term, Kabiru Lawal stepped down yesterday for a Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot in Surulere I constituency, Lagos State. Lawal said he stepped down for the actor based on directive from the party’s leadership. At Agege constituency, I, incumbent lawmaker, Mudashiru Obasa won the contest . In Agege II, the incumbent, Yinka Ogundimu was victorious. Rasheed Makinde defeated the incumbent lawmaker, Ipoola Omisore and immediate past chairman of Ifako Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Benjamin Olabinjo to clinch the ticket for Ifako/Ijaiye II constituency. Other results are Apapa I;

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Mojisola Lawal scored 100 votes to defeat the incumbent, Mufutau Egberongbe, who scored 49 votes. Abiodun Tobun of Epe 1 and Yishawu Gbolahan of Eti Osa II are the only two lawmakers not facing any challenge. They returned unopposed. In Ikeja I constituency, the son of the National Publicity Secretary, Folajinmi Jubril Mohammed won with 220 votes beating immediate past chairman of Ikeja who got five votes. Incumbent lawmaker from Amuwo Odofin 1, Sultan Adeniji-Adele won. His counterpart from AmuwoOdofin 2, Akinola-Hassan Ramotalahi lost. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, Apapa 2 constituency defeated his opponent with 181 votes to six.

Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Mushin 1 won in her constituency. Amid violence that trailed the primaries in Lagos Mainland I, incumbent lawmaker, Prince Bashir Oloto lost out. Sobur Olayiwola Olawale won Mushin II seat with 118 votes. Saka Fafunmi won in Ifako Ijaiye I with 116 votes beating Kayode Aremo, who scored 59 votes; Moshood Oshun won in Lagos Mainland II. At Alimosho I, it was a landslide win for incumbent lawmaker Bisi Yusuf. He polled 695 votes to beat Larry Kuye, who had nine and koiki, who polled II vote. Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo who is already doing a 4th term won in Ajeromi-Ifelodun I, while Segun Olulade the Assembly spokesman also won in Epe II constituency.

Oyo: Only six incumbent lawmakers‘ll re-contest

•One of the winners, Hon. Olusegun Olaleye being carried by his supporters at the Ibadan North Consituency (2) at the Cultural Center, Mokola Hill, Ibadan...yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

MONG the 18 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, only six of them won in yesterday’s primaries. The election was peacefully conducted across the 32 constituencies. The elections showed that only Olusegun Olaleye (Ibadan North 11); Segun Ajanaku (Ibadan South West 11); Kehinde Subair (Ibadan South West 1); Waliu Ganiyu (Atiba); Akeem Oladipo (Ibadan North West) and James Oyeniran (Oluyole) emerged victorious. While Sikiru Alli of Ibadan South East 11 and Michael Adeyemo of Ibarapa East were defeated by other aspirants, the Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu is eyeing the Senate. Five other lawmakers are as-

From Bisi Oladele, Bode Durojaiye and Tayo Johnson

piring to contest for the House of Representatives. They are Wahab Oladejo (Ido); Ibrahim Bolomope (Egbeda); Akeem Adeyemi (Atiba); Temitope Olatoye (Lagelu) and Abiodun Adigun-Ahmed. The lawmaker representing Iseyin Constituency, Hon. Fatai Salam, did not re-contest. The party, in a statement, lauded its members for the peaceful conduct of the primaries which produced candidates for each of the 32 state constituencies. The statement, issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, attributed the success of the exercise to the priority given to internal democracy in the party and the

desire to convince the world on the readiness of the broom party to drive the desirous change in the country. “We have had many party primaries and congresses in the past in Oyo State conducted by other political parties in which residents would usually bear the brunt as a result of violence and witch-hunting in the hands of thugs sponsored by different camps. But in our own case, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility was sustained throughout the state,” Sadare said In her remark, the national officer of APC, Halima Joda, who monitored the election at Ibadan North East Local Government, expressed her satisfaction, stating that the election was free, fair and credible.

Election riggers to go, says Oshiomhole

•Members jubilating after the announcement of result for Okuta/Yashikira Constituency in PHOTO: NAN Kosubosu, Baruten Local Government of Kwara State...yesterday.

•Delegates queue to cast their votes in Gombe ...yesterday

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole says election riggers do not fit into the “Change” slogan of the All Progressives Congress and will be excused from the party. The Governor described the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the House of Assembly in Edo State as peaceful and transparent. He urged whoever not comfortable with the transparent and peaceful primaries and still prefers the old methods of ballot box snatching to excuse himself from the ranks of the APC. Speaking after casting his ballot as a delegate at the Azama Primary School, Jattu, Oshiomhole said: “I will be surprised if anybody who had participated in this transparent

election decides to leave simply because he didn’t win. If such people want to leave, we will escort them out because it means they cannot fit into the logic and philosophy of “Change”. “The ‘Change’ we talk about is not just to change and replace the Federal Government of PDP, we also want to change the habit, the language of our political design and practice whereby people use guns rather than ballot papers.” Expressing satisfaction with the primaries, he said: “everybody is smiling because they all know that whatever happens, only one person is going to emerge and because this is a party affair, there is really no loser. All the candidates are

•A delegate voting at Ikorodu, Lagos State...yesterday.

APC candidates. The winner will be the APC candidate, so there are no losers if we believe in the principles of intraparty democracy. “The beautiful thing here is that as the Governor of the state, this is my own constituency, this is my own ward and I didn’t have to call people to step down for one particular person to emerge because I think that if a man cannot win a primary election on his own, then how can he expect to win a popular election and if I decree and use or misuse my office to impose somebody at the level of the primaries, during the popular election in February, will I have the power to impose that person on the electorate?”

PHOTO: NAN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9 NO.3,3051

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘The DIA, an agency that is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of gathering intelligence across our borders, has been caught napping while all manner of criminals are infiltrating our borders at will and roaming about in the country, killing and maiming people indiscriminately’ DELE AGEKAMEH

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

People and Politics

VEN for a city that must have gotten used to terrorists’ attacks since the Boko Haram sect took up arms against Nigeria, last Friday’s multiple suicide bombing and machine gun attack on the worshippers at Kano’s famous Grand Mosque, next to the Emir’s Palace, must have come as a most devastating shock to many Nigerians. So far between 50 and over 100 people are said to have been killed in the attack. Many more have been injured, several of them critically. The Grand Mosque attack, which bears the hallmark of Boko Haram, was hardly the most daring. Certainly it was not as daring as the almost simultaneous terror attack on no less than 12 farflung targets in the city, which occurred on January 20, 2012 and in which over 150 lives were reportedly lost. The Friday attack was even less daring than that by armed men riding motorcycles on the motorcade of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, exactly a year to the month of the 2012 multiple attack on the city and which was apparently aimed at assassinating the then elderly emir. The attackers failed in their objective, but they succeeded in killing four people, including the Emir’s driver and two of his bodyguards, one of who tried to shield the emir from the gunshots. Several more were wounded. What has made the Friday attack shocking even if less daring than at least the two in question, was its vicinity, so sacred and close to the Emir’s palace, and its timing, so soon after the new Emir, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi, called on Muslims during a Friday sermon in the same mosque to rise up and defend themselves against terrorism in the face of the apparent failure of the security forces to deal with Boko Haram’s insurgency. “These people,” he reportedly said during the sermon earlier this month, “when they attack towns, they kill boys and enslave girls … People must stand resolute. They should acquire what they can to defend themselves. People must not wait for soldiers to protect them.” If the Emir was quoted correctly, it was an unwise thing for him to have said because, given Boko Haram’s past response to such threats, it was like waiving a red flag before a bull. Actually, worse; with a bull you knew what you were dealing with, whereas with the Boko Haram phenomenon, no one knows for sure, at least not anymore. No doubt Boko Haram terror is real. But then so also has been its manipulation by politicians and even religious leaders for selfish considerations and self aggrandisement. And, farfetched as it may seem, it is not so outrageous to suspect our security outfits of being more interested in manipulating it for regime security than in helping to bring it to an end. The reader may recall that not long ago, our Department of State Security (DSS) stirred a minor media controversy when, without any concrete evidence it seemed, its boss wrote a memo to President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing the outspoken Col. Dangiwa Umar, Rtd, of being a sponsor of Boko Haram. The retired colonel escaped censor only because he enjoyed the rare privilege of being close enough to the presidency to have an opportunity to defend himself, which he apparently did successfully. At least he was never detained, much less tried.

RIPPLES

Falling Oil Prices: PREPARE FOR HARDSHIP–Expert warns Nigerians

Which HARDSHIP? The NEWS should have been ‘PREPARE FOR MORE HARDSHIP

By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

The manipulation of Boko Haram

•Dr. Jonathan

When the Emir of Kano called on Muslims to rise and defend themselves against Boko Haram, it was not only like waiving a red flag before a bull. It was also like asking people to help themselves to justice. Last Friday, the worshippers at the Grand Mosque did just that when they overpowered the machine gun-wielding attackers and, instead of handing them over to the authorities, lynched them. That may have satisfied the public’s desire for instant justice, but it also foreclosed any hope that the attackers could have helped to unearth those behind the attack. Unhelpful as it was, however, the lynching was a manifestation of widespread public disenchantment at the capacity and the willingness of the authorities to end the Boko Haram insurgency. This disenchantment is bound to be reinforced by the way the case of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya motor park bombing in Abuja, was discharged by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 24 for “lack of diligent prosecution.” Since then, the Nigeria Police and the SSS have engaged each other in an embarrassing blame game over the bungling. The authorities and their sympathisers have often argued that Boko Haram was, and remains, a manifestation of the statement by senior opposition elements that they would make the country ungovernable over their loss of the 2011 presidential election. However, logical as the argument sounds, it conveniently overlooks the fact that the sect’s

IMI Agbaje, the hoped-for electoral golden boy of Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has caught the bragging bug, even before landing the Lagos PDP gubernatorial ticket. Somewhat, Agbaje reminds Hardball of the global boxing order, before the Klitchko brothers. In that classical age, with titans like the Incomparable Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Smoking Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvellous Marvin Haggler and the Detroit Hitman, Tommy Hearns, boxing, especially the heavyweight class, was the near-exclusive preserve of men of colour. So, if any white slugger as much as showed the most elementary of promises, he was suddenly hyped as the “Latest White Hope”, a not-so-disguised racial antipathy in sports. But before you could bawl White, the latest white hope was clobbered black-and-blue by the usual nemesis, leaving the White press on the lookout for next White hope! But that was before the emergence of the Russian duo, Brothers Klitchko. Back to Lagos politics, where the PDP has received hopeless gubernatorial and other electoral whupping these past 16 years. Will Jimi prove the Klitchko? Or yet another hope turned mirage? That is in the belly of time.

violence predated the current administration. It also ignores the fact that members of the sect have absolutely no respect for anyone who does not share their ideology. More significantly, the argument ignores the fact that it is the prerogative of those in power to use all the resources at their disposal to expose and punish anyone who seeks to undermine the state and it is therefore a copout to blame the opposition for the failure of those in authority to do their job properly. So far they have woefully failed to do so in bringing an end to the Boko Haram insurgency. Instead, they and their sympathisers have resorted to blaming a section of this country’s leadership, both secular and cleric, of not speaking out loud enough in condemnation of the sect. This, to begin with, is of course not true. Long before the Emir of Kano spoke up against the Boko Haram terror, many leading secular and religious leaders had spoken up against it. Many, including the famous Sheikh Ja’afar, the benefactor of Boko Haram’s founder, Muhammadu Yusuf, who later fell out with his religious godson over what he said was his wayward philosophy, have paid with their lives. But even if it is true that some leaders have not spoken out loud enough against Boko Haram, of what use have all the loud condemnations of the sect been beyond creating a show of sympathy? At any rate, how can mere condemnations be a substitute for having a credible policy for dealing with the violence? When President Jonathan spoke in September at the High Level Meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York on the issue of global terrorism, he highlighted the terrible cost Boko Harm has exacted from our country. “The costs,” he said, “are high: over 13,000 people have been killed, whole communities razed, and hundreds of persons kidnapped, the most prominent being the mindless kidnap of our innocent daughters from Chibok Secondary School, in Northeast Nigeria.” In his short and eloquent speech, he listed what his government had done to deal with the insurgency. These, he said, were his Presidential

HARDBALL Jimi catches the bug What is not, however, is that Agbaje has caught the PDP bragging bug. Not so long ago, a PDP national chairman bragged that his party would rule Nigeria for the next 60 years. Then after: maybe a power century, a millennium — or even power till kingdom come, forever and ever, Amen? Well, shortly after, the bragger-in-chief disappeared in the PDP maelstrom; and not so long after, the PDP humpty-dumpty came crashing, at the tail end of Bamanga Tukur’s tenure. Agbaje seems unaware of the very recent history. He told The Punch that if he got the ticket, PDP would win: and not for four year, or even eight, but no less than 16 years! Sure, 16 years is far shorter than 60. Besides, if the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-Action Congress (AC)-Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-All Progressives Congress (APC) continuum could rule Lagos for 16 years, why not PDP, particularly with Agbaje, its new progressive golden boy on the saddle, to kickstart the Lagos PDP golden age? Why not, indeed? Still, what might have inspired Agbaje’s bragging? In the absence of previous state

Initiative for the Northeast (PINE) aimed at providing immediate relief for victims of the insurgency and “fast-tracking infrastructural development in the region”, the $ 1 billion Victims Support Fund, which he said had already raised half the target sum, and his administration’s support for the Safe School Initiative, a project of Mr. Gordon Brown, a former British Prime Minister. Clearly missing from his list was any mention of his administration’s policy of engagement with the real Boko Haram to negotiate an end to the insurgency. He mentioned none because he had none since the man himself has repeatedly said the sect lacked the faces and names to engage with. Suddenly in October, the authorities announced to the world that they had discovered faces and names behind the sect to negotiate with and had indeed agreed to a truce. Coming at a time when the sect seemed to have progressed from guerrilla tactics to seizing and holding territory, the announcement looked like a bit of a stretch. Still most people were willing to believe it because it offered a huge relief to a public so hungry for peace and security in the land. Sadly the relief turned out to be short-lived when Boko Haram announced on November 1 that it never agreed to any ceasefire with anyone. So instead of relief, the announcement began to elicit widespread cynicism about its motive; the President, it seemed, needed a big “October Surprise” as he prepared to formally announce his worst kept secret - his decision all along to seek re-election next year. Since the failed October Surprise, Boko Haram has escalated its terror and hardly a week has passed without news of its bombings and seizing of territories. Last Friday’s Kano Grand Mosque attack was merely the most shocking in recent months. Predictably, the President has asked the National Assembly to renew his emergency powers for the third time since May 2013 to deal with the situation. The National Assembly seems reluctant to do so for the good reason that the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states has only made matters worse instead of better. Besides, the extension is bound to spill over into next year’s elections. Even then a renewal seems inevitable if only because, bad as things are at the moment, it is not difficult to imagine how they can get a lot worse without the state of emergency. As a friend of the Jonathan presidency, Col. Umar has been pleading with the National Assembly to oblige the president. In a recent interview in The Guardian (November 29), in which he made the plea, he said: “We cannot afford to politicise the problem.” The retired colonel couldn’t be more right. The problem with his plea, however, is that he seems to have directed it away from the greatest culprit – the Jonathan presidency - in the politicisation and manipulation of Boko Haram for narrow objectives.

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above record, superlative performance by the Jonathan Presidency at the federal level? A superlative and verifiable PDP special programme for Lagos as a former federal capital and enduring economic hub? A solid manifesto that clearly demonstrates the state opposition could do the job better? Hardly any — except, of course, the alltoo-familiar language of power, no matter how obtuse! But, not unlike the PDP national experience, a short while after Agbaje’s boast, humpty-dumpty appears to have hit Lagos PDP. Yomi Finnih, famed medic and Lagos PDP long-standing member, led some PPD supporters to ditch the party. What is more? That was done as President Jonathan was visiting, the point a jubilant Governor Babatunde Fashola merrily rubbed in! Well, politicians moving to-and-fro could well be Nigeria’s peculiar pre-election ritual, a tale, in Shakespeare-speak, of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Still, if Jimi Agbaje is bringing new thinking into the Lagos PDP, he gains nothing by just catching the bug of powertalk without rigour. Winning elections takes more than open sesame of wishful thinking — and bragging!

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