The Nation December 17, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

DSS steps into oil workers strike NEWS

Page 7

•Fuel shortage hits Abuja

News Oyo House okays LG autonomy P6 Sports Keshi a failure, says Amodu P24 Business Govt budgets N4.357tr for 2015 P54

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3067 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

$1b ECA cash unaccounted for

10 Reps defect from parties

•VAT may go up From Nduka Chiejina and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

S $1 billion missing from the Excess Crude Account (ECA)? This is the question Finance commissioners have been battling to resolve since yesterday when the Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, disclosed that only $3.1 billion was left in the ECA. Yuguda did not say when the $1 billion was withdrawn or what it was spent on. Commissioners of Finance Forum Chairman Timothy Odaah said it was all news to them, adding that the matter Continued on page 4

N150.00

•From left: Lagos Commissioner for Economic Planning Mr Ben Akabueze; Governor Babatunde Fashola; All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Mr Akinwumi Ambode and Secretary to the Government Dr Oluranti Adebule at the public presentation of Lagos Development Plan 2012-1025 by Fashola in Lagos…yesterday. STORY ON PAGE 54

EN members of the House of Representatives yesterday defected from their political parties. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal announced the cross carpeting as the House settled for plenary. Five lawmakers from Ogun State moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). They are Babatunde Ogunola ( Ado-odo/Ota), Adekunle Adeyemi ( Ifo Ewekoro), Olumide Osoba (Abeokuta North/ Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: MARK’S SECURITY TEARGASSED TAMBUWAL, OTHERS, DPO ALLEGES P6

Oyegun: we’ve agreed on Buhari’s running mate APC to unveil VP nominee today From Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja

FTER more than 48 hours of consultations, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will today name his running mate. Gen. Buhari finalised the consultations with the APC leadership last night in Abuja. According to the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke briefly with reporters in Abuja at about 7pm, the party has reached an agreement with Buhari on his mate. But Odigie-Oyegun was silent on who had been chosen. The reporters’ short interaction with Odigie-Oyegun went as follows: Why is the announcement of the vice presidential candidate being delayed? It is not being delayed. The candidate will speak with you people. I have a feeling he will speak with you tomorrow. Is it the party or the candidate that will announce the choice? The party has consulted with the candidate and has reached an agreement and he will address you on it. The Nation learnt that after a two-day meeting in WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS Abuja, the Chairman of KIDNAPPED ON the seven-man committee APRIL 15 EVER

? RETURN?

Continued on page 4

•One of the injured pupils after gunmen attacked a school in the Northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar...yesterday.

Gunmen kill 145 school pupils

ST OR Y ON STOR ORY PAGE S 24 GES 2-4

•POLITICS P15 •SPORTS P24 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •LIFE P45 •FOREIGN P59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

Outrage as 145 •Obama, Cameron, other world leaders react

M •From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, Agriculture Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Special Adviser to the President on School Agricultural Programme, Hajiya Baraka Sani during the inauguration of Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Mr. John Udofa, Director of Credit Direct Limited; Mrs. Yemisi Edun,Director of Credit Direct Limited/Chief Financial Officer; Mr Akinwande Ademosu, Managing Director, Credit Direct Limited; and Mr Shiba Ghosh, Director Credit Direct Limited/Group Head, Retail Banking, FCMB at the inauguration of four Mobile Offices of Credit Direct Limited, a subsidiary of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Lagos.

•Chairman, United Capital Plc, Mr. Chika Mordi, flanked by the Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni and Company Secretary, Mr. Leo Okafor, at the Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the company in Lagos...yesterday.

• From left: Mrs Nkiruka Ogboruche; Chief Executive Officer, Dependable Securities Limited, Mr. Chinenyem Anyanwu; Chief Executive Officer, Teleworld Integrated Services Limited, Mr Timothy Ogboruche; and Partner, Kruxland Petrogas Nigeria Limited, Mr Trevor Akindele at the opening of Geek Plaza in Lagos.

ILITANTS from the Pakistani Taliban yesterday attacked an army-run children school - the Army Public School, in Peshawar, Northwest of Pakistan. They left in their trail 141- 131 pupils and nine staff members dead. The identities of four others were not disclosed. Many of the pupils, aged 16 and below, were the children of military personnel. All seven attackers have been killed according to reports as security forces intensified the search for undetonated booms the attackers may have left. The school is near a military complex in Peshawar, a city, close to the Afghan border. It has seen some of the worst of the violence during the Taliban insurgency in recent years. Scores of survivors, including 121 pupils and three teachers, were being treated in hospitals and frantic parents awaited news of their children in the wake of the attack said to be the deadliest ever by the Taliban in Pakistan. Shahzeb Jillani, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent in Karachi, the Pakistani capital, said the militants had been intent on killing as many students as possible - rather than taking hostages, as initially thought. Thousands of Pakistanis have been killed in militant violence in recent years - but the latest attack has caused unprecedented shock. A Taliban spokesman told BBC Urdu that the school may have been targeted in response to army operations. Hundreds of Taliban fighters have reportedly died in a recent military offensive in North Waziristan and the nearby Khyber area. The brutal attack may well be a watershed for a country long accused by the world of treating terrorists as strategic assets. Pakistan’s policy-makers struggling to come to grips with various shades of militants have often cited a “lack of consensus” and “large pockets of sympathy” for religious militants as a major stumbling-block. That accounted for the lukewarm political response when army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, launched what he called an indiscriminate operation earlier in the year against militant groups in Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt. “We will get them,” was his message, “be they Pakistani Taliban, Punjabi Taliban, al-Qaeda and affiliates, or most importantly, the dreaded Haqqani network. The indifference of the country’s political leadership may likely change following yesterday’s attack. More than 100 of the dead are children, a local official told Reuters news agency, although other sources say the number may be slightly smaller. The attack started at 10:00 local time (05:00 GMT). Mudassir Awan, a worker at the school, said he had seen six people scaling its walls. “We thought it must be the children playing some game,” he told Reuters. “But then we saw a lot of firearms with them.” Children who escaped from the school alleged the militants went from one classroom to another, shooting indiscriminately. One boy told reporters he had been with a group of 10 friends who tried to run away and hide. He was the only one to survive. Others described seeing pupils lying dead in the corridors. One local

•Journalists and activivists holding a canddle procession for the victims...yesterday.

•Mothers all....mourning their children....yesterday .

woman said her friend’s daughter had escaped because her clothing was covered in blood from those around her and she had lain pretending to be dead. A hospital doctor treating injured children said many had head and chest injuries. Irshadah Bibi, a woman who lost her 12-year-old son, was seen beating her face in grief, throwing herself against an ambulance. “O God, why did you snatch away my son?” AFP news agency quoted her as saying. “The government together with the army has started Zarb-e-Azb and it will continue until the terrorism is rooted out from our land. We also have had discussions with Afghanistan that they and we together fight this terrorism, and this fight will continue. No one should have any doubt about it.” These were the words of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in Peshawar, yesterday. Zarb-e-Azb is the name of the Pakistani military operation being carried out in North Waziristan. Also reacting, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said: “Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar. “It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings young children in their school. “My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain & offer our deepest condolences,” the Indian leader reacted in a series of tweeted statements. American President Barack Obama described the attack as horrific. He said: “The United States (US) condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s (yesterday) horrific

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

5 die in Pakistani school attack

•An injured boy being carried out for treatment...yesterday.

•Schoolgirls praying for their friends....yesterday.

attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones. “By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity. We stand with the people of Pakistan, and reiterate the commitment of the United States to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and to promote peace and stability in the region.” Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said the attack negated Islamic tenets. “The killing of innocent children is contrary to Islam,” he said. In his own reaction, German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said: “The cruel cowardice of taking children hostage and murdering them surpasses everything that Pakistan, which has been subjected to terrorism and violence for years, has known to date.” British Prime Minister, David Cameron said the attack was unbelievable and called yesterday a ‘Dark Tuesday’. Cameron said: “The scale of what has happened in Pakistan simply defies belief. It is a dark, dark day for humanity when something on this scale happens with no justification. There is not a belief system in the world that can justify such an act. “I think what this shows is the worldwide threat that is posed by this poisonous ideology of extremist Islamist terrorism. It is nothing to do with one of the world’s great religions - Islam, which is a religion of peace. This is a perversion.” Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai also condemned what she called an act of terror. Her words: “I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold-blooded act of

2007 •December 27: Former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto and 20 other people were killed in a suicide bombing and shooting attack in Rawalpindi. •October 18: Suicide bombing aimed at Bhutto killed some 150 people in Karachi during celebrations welcoming her home from self-exile. •July 3-11: An eight-day standoff between security forces and militants inside the compound of the Red Mosque, or Lal Masjid, killed 102 people. 2008 •September 20: A suicide bomber devastated the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad with a truck full of explosives, killing at least 54. •August 21: Suicide bombers blew themselves up at two gates of a weapons factory in the town of Wah, killing at least 67 people. 2009: •December 28: Bomb blast killed at least 44 at a Shiite procession in the southern city of Karachi. •December 7: Two bombs killed 48 at a market in the eastern city of Lahore, while a suicide bomber killed 10 people outside a Peshawar courthouse.

•October 9: A suicide car bomber hit a busy market area in Peshawar and killed 53. •May 27: A suicide car bomber targets police and intelligence offices in the eastern city of Lahore, killing about 30 people. •March 27: A suicide bomber demolishes a packed mosque near the northwestern town of Jamrud, killing about 50. •March 3: Gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore, wounding several of the players and killing six policemen and a driver. 2010 •November 5: A suicide bomber struck a Sunni Mosque in Darra Adam Khel in Northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 67 during Friday prayers. •September 1: A triple Taliban suicide attacked on a Shiite Muslim procession killed 65 in the southwestern city of Quetta. •July 9: Two suicide bombers killed 102 people in the Mohmand tribal region. •July 2: Suicide bombers attacked Pakistan's most revered Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 47 people. •May 29: Two militant squads armed

with hand grenades, suicide vests and assault rifles attacked two mosques of the Ahmadi minority sect in Lahore, killing 97. •March 13: Two suicide bombers targeting army vehicles in Lahore killed more than 55 people. •January 1: A suicide bomber drove a truckload of explosives into a volleyball field in Lakki Marwat district in the northwest, killing at least 97 people. 2011: • September 20: Militants kill at least 26 Shiites on a bus near the southern city of Quetta. •May 23: Pakistani commandos recaptured a major naval base from Taliban attackers who struck to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden in a U.S. raid. Militants destroyed two U.S.supplied surveillance aircraft and killed at least 10 personnel. •May 13: A pair of Taliban suicide bombers attacked paramilitary police recruits in Shabqadar, killing 80, also in retaliation for bin Laden's killing. 2012 •November 22: A Taliban suicide bomber struck a Shiite Muslim procession in the city of Rawalpindi, near Pakistan's capital, killing 23 people. •January 5: Taliban shot and kill 15

Pakistani frontier police after holding them hostage for more than a year. 2013 •September 22: A twin-suicide bomb blast in a Peshawar church killed at least a85 people. •August 17: Heavily armed Taliban fighters blast their way into a Pakistani air force base, leaving two security officers and nine insurgents dead. •June 22: Ten Foreign climbers killed by militants on Nanga Parbat, ninth highest mountain in world. •March 3: Explosion in Karachi killed 45 Shiites outside a mosque. - January. 10: Bombing in Shiite area of southern city of Quetta kills 81 people, wounded 120. 2014 •November. 2: Taliban suicide bomber killed 60 in attack on a paramilitary checkpoint close to the Wagah border crossing with India. •June 9: Ten gunmen disguised as police guards attacked a terminal at Pakistan's busiest airport with machine guns and a rocket launcher, killing 13 people during a five-hour siege. • 8 June: A suicide bomber in the country's southwest killed at least 23 Shiite pilgrims returning from Iran. •Courtesy of Associated Press

terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us. Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as

this. I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of

Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable. I, along with millions

of others around the world, mourn these children, my brothers and sisters - but we will never be defeated.”

A decade of attacks

Like Nigeria, like Pakistan

INCE July last year, when Boko Haram members stormed dormitories in a government boarding school in Mamudo, near Potiskum, Yobe State, in a gun and bomb attacks, killing 42 students, the militants have made raids on schools their pastime . On September 29, 2013, members of the out-of-control sect entered the male dormitory of the College of Agriculture, in Gujba, Yobe State, and killed fortyfour students and teachers. The gunmen opened fire on the students in their sleep. The militants went on the rampage again on February 26 at the Federal

College in Buni Yadi, near Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. They left on their trail 29 students dead. Their worst attack was in April, when Boko Haram fighters kidnapped 276 pupils from Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State. More than six months after the raid, 219 of the girls are still being held captives. On November 9, the militants struck with explosions in the early hours at the Government Comprehensive Senior Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State Nov 9 2014 Potiskum, Yobe State, when pupils were waiting for the principal’s daily address.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS $1b ECA cash unaccounted Continued from page 1

•Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (second left) during a visit to his Abuja residence...yesterday. With him (from left) are: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former APC chair Chief Bisi Akande.

Gunmen kill 145 in school attack

ALIBAN gunmen yesterday stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing no fewer than 145 people, mostly children. Pakistani officials declared a military operation to clear the school over. The overwhelming majority of the victims were students at the school, which instructs grades 1-10. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the assault and rushed to Peshawar to show his support for the victims. As darkness fell on the area, officials said they had cleared the school of militants. A Pakistani military spokesman, Asim Bajwa, said 141 people died in the attack — 132 children and nine staff members. He declared the opera-

tion over and said the area had been cleared. An additional 121 pupils and three staff members were injured. He said seven attackers, all wearing explosives vests, died in the assault. It was not immediately clear if the militants were all killed by the soldiers or whether they blew themselves up, he said. Bajwa described an assault that seemed designed purely to terrorise the children rather than take anyone hostage to further the militant group’s aims. “Their sole purpose, it seems, was to kill those innocent kids. That’s what they did,” he said. The horrific attack, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban, a Pakistani militant group trying to overthrow the government, sent dozens of wounded flooding into local hospitals as ter-

rified parents searched for their children “My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now,” wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he came to the hospital to collect the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah. “My son was my dream. My dream has been killed.” The attack began in the morning when the gunmen entered the school and started shooting at random. Army commandos quickly arrived at the scene and started exchanging fire with the gunmen. Students wearing green school uniforms could be seen fleeing the area on Pakistani television. Outside the school, two loud booms of unknown origin were heard coming from the scene in the early afternoon, as Pakistani troops battled with

the attackers. Armored personnel carriers were deployed around the school grounds, and a Pakistani military helicopter circled overhead. Pakistani television showed soldiers surrounding the area and pushing people back. Ambulances streamed from the area to local hospitals. The prime minister vowed that the country would not be cowed by the violence and that the military would continue with an aggressive operation launched in June to rout militants from the North Waziristan tribal area “The fight will continue. No one should have any doubt about it,” Sharif said. Bajwa said that 1,099 students and staff were registered at the school. It is part of a network of Continued on page 60

10 House members defect to various parties Continued from page 1

Obafemi- Owode/Odeda), Abiodun Abudu-Balogun (Ogun Waterside/Ijebu North /East) and Taofik Buraimoh ( Remo Federal Constituency). Four members moved from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). They are: Isau Mohammed (Adamawa) Ibrahim El Sudi, (Taraba,) Jagaba Adams, (Kaduna) Herman Hembe ( Benue).

The woman on the defection train, Aisha Ahmed Dahiru ( Adamawa) moved from the PDP to People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) However, there were sighs of relief yesterday as legislators and workers resumed work without being confronted by gun- welding and hooded security operatives. There was apprehension that armed operatives might invade the National Assembly complex again reminiscent of the event of Novem-

ber 20 when attempts were made to stop Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining entrance into the complex. The lawmakers were to converge for a special session to consider President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. Some lawmakers were seen scaling the NASS gate and tear-gassed by the police following the blockade of the gate. However, against all ex-

pectations, the National Assembly complex was devoid of external security operatives. The comprehensive stop and search conducted by hooded Department of State Services (DSS) was also nonexistent as the combined team of NASS Police personnel and Sergeant At Arm were seen conducting the searches. The contentious Petroleum Industry Bill and the state of emergency were not discussed yesterday.

would be discussed at next month’s FAAC meeting. “We were not in the know,” he said. When the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, first announced the government’s austerity measures a month ago, she stated that half of what was in the ECA would be withdrawn between then and January 2015, amounting to $2 billion. What is not clear now is if the Federal Government has started making the withdrawal without the knowledge of the state governments and what the money is being spent on. Before Yuguda made his announcement, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala had given a hint of the government’s next set of economic measures amid the excruciating fall in the price of crude oil, which has affected revenue. One of such plans is the possible increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). Addressing journalist after a brief visit with members of the Federal Account Allocation Committee in Abuja yesterday, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala hinted that “in the medium term we will also look at tax policy, issues like the VAT. You know governors already rose from their

last National Economic Council to say that they will like the VAT to be looked at.” The possible increase in VAT, she said, “is a matter which has to be taken to the National Assembly. But you know that if we are able to make a movement on the VAT, it will benefit the states more.” Under the existing law, a flat rate of five per cent is charged as VAT on non-essential goods and services. According to her, “the Federal Government only gets 15 per cent of the VAT but the states gets the rest. And we are desirous to see that they have a better time of it. So these are some of the issues that we put on the table and discussed.” Asked if the possible increase in VAT will not lead to further hardship on the masses, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala quick replied: “We are not increasing it yet. You know that the measures we already announced which would be announced in the budget tomorrow will have to do with some luxury surcharges that we are putting on and some of the longer or medium term measures that we put on the table we will look at because the National Assembly is also involved.” Continued on page 60

Oyegun: we’ve agreed on Buhari’s running mate Continued from page 1

of the party, Prince Tony Momoh, was mandated yesterday to meet with Gen. Buhari on the names of short-listed candidates. Other members of the panel are: Chief Bisi Akande (South-West); Sen. Chris Ngige (South-East); Sen. Danjuma Goje (North-East); Mr. Audu Ogbeh (North-Central); Chief Sam Sam Jaja (South-South); and Governor Abdulaziz Yari (Northwest). It was also learnt that the APC National Chairman called off a session with INEC on card-readers machine to have what a source described as “one –on-one frank talks” with Gen. Buhari at his residence on Udi Hill in Maitama District. Deputy National Chairman (North) Sen. Lawal Shuaib represented him at the INEC meeting. A source, who spoke in con-

fidence with our correspondent, said: “We raised a seven-man committee and locked them up in a room to give us three names from whom we shall pick a VP candidate. “When the committee reported back to us, we decided that Buhari and the National Chairman should give us a name.” Asked of the way out, the source added: “We have asked the APC National Chairman to visit Gen. Buhari again tonight (Tuesdaynight).” Another top source in the party said: “Gen. Buhari has been left to pick his running mate by the party and we are expecting his announcement early Wednesday. “But most of us want the choice to come from the South-West. The ball is in his court, based on indices available to him.”

2015 budget: Okonjo-Iweala begs Tambuwal, House leaders

HEAD of today’s laying of the 2015 budget on the table for National Assembly’s consideration, Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday pleaded with House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to facilitate the bill’s passage. There has been no love lost between the executive and the Speaker since he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tambuwal’s security guards have been withdrawn and he and some of the members were prevented from accessing the National Assembly complex on November 20. They were also tear gassed. In response to the police in-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

vasion and the declaration by Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba that he does not recognise Tambuwal as Speaker, the House has restricted policemen to the gate of the complex. A principal officer, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The Minister of Finance met with Tambuwal to solicit the support of the House for easy passage of the 2015 budget. “For about two hours, she begged the Speaker and other House leaders, including the chairmen of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, on the presentation of next year’s Appropriation Bill. “There is need to fast-track the budget in the overall interest of the country. The

Minister decided to by-pass the legal cold war between the Presidency and the House to make a strong case for the nation’s economy.” Another principal officer said: “Okonjo-Iweala briefed the session on some realistic projections surrounding the 2015 budget, including the $65 per barrel benchmark. “She spoke on the likely challenges the nation might face with the implementation of the 2015 budget and the plans put in place by her ministry to manage these shocks. “She marshaled her points in an emotional manner. “She came to plead with the House to put the survival of the economy above petty politics overshadowing the activities of the House. “The nation’s economy will be in dire straits if the row

over the plot to force the Speaker and others to vacate their seats festers. “I think, it is this kind of rapprochement that the nation needs. Tambuwal assured the Minister of the readiness of the House to facilitate the quick passage of the budget whenever it is presented or laid.” Notwithstanding the visit of the Minister, Tambuwal staved off the plot to force him to vacate his seat following House decision to stop the police from manning all the gates to the National Assembly Complex. Policemen have now been restricted to the entrance checkpoint, which is about two to three kilometres to the main gate of the National Assembly Complex. Instead, sergeants-at-arms

were directed to take over security in the National Assembly. Besides the security buildup, it was gathered that the rejection of an ex-parte application to sack Tambuwal by Justice Ahmed Mohammed put the anti-Speaker’s camp in disarray and the plot failed. Those behind the plot have also discovered that they could not muster the required number to force Tambuwal to vacate his seat because of issues over primaries, which had forced some members to defect from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to other parties. A source said: “We did not want a repeat of the invasion of the Assembly complex by the police. So, we haveprepared ahead to forestall any

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

attempt to use the police to force Tambuwal to vacate his seat. We took pre-emptive measures.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

Mark’s security detail teargassed Tambuwal, DPO alleges

HE Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly Police Station, Mr. James Ndachaba, has blamed the teargassing of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on the security detail attached to Senate President David Mark. Idachaba, a superintendent of police (SP), spoke while testifying before the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Senate Adhoc committee probing police invasion of the National Assem-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

bly on November 20. He, however, said the teargas at the National Assembly arcade came about when some persons attacked his men at the gate on that fateful day. However, other heads of security agencies at the National Assembly, could not corroborate Idachaba’s claim during cross examination. But the DPO insisted that he actually saw Mark’s security

detail, through television footage of the incident. The DPO’s allegation was contained in his written evidence before the committee. The following conversation ensued between the committee chairman and Ndachaba during cross examination: “Makarfi: You wrote in your written submission that it was one of the security details of Senate President, David Mark that fired teargas. Are you saying that it is not the policemen under your command that fired

the teargas? Ndachaba: With due respect sir, what I viewed on the screen shows that the police under my command dressed differently from those attached to the Senate President...... Makarfi (cuts in): I want you to be specific. Are you telling this committee that it is the security personnel of the senate president that fired the tear gas? Ndachaba: What I am saying is that the teargas took place when the senate president attempted to enter into the cham-

ber of the House of Representatives and there was a commotion which led to the injury of his aide-de-camp (ADC). Makarfi (cuts in again): Are you saying that the teargas was only fired at the entrance of the House of Representatives chambers? Are you saying teargas was not fired anywhere within the premises of the National Assembly before then? Ndachaba: I asserted in my report with you sir, where I wrote that teargas might have exploded when attempt was

Committee uncovers rot in aviation industry

Jonathan greets Buhari at 72

RESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari on his 72nd birthday anniversary. In a congratulatory letter addressed to the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate in next year’s presidential election, Jonathan prayed that God Almighty should grant him many more years of good health and personal fulfillment. “As you mark your 72nd birthday anniversary, I write, on behalf of my family, the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to extend warm felicitations to you. “I join your family, friends, and well-wishers to thank God for your life and to pray that He continues to guide, guard and prosper you even as He blesses you with many more years of abounding health and personal fulfillment,” Jonathan wrote. He wished General Buhari a very happy birthday.

2015: God ‘ll pull Nigeria through, says Kumuyi

HE General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, has urged Nigerians not to entertain fears about next year’s elections. He said: “God will pull the country through peacefully and successfully.” He spoke in statement yesterday through the church Secretary, Pastor U.J.J Asemota. The statement formally announced the church’s national retreat and monthly revival programmes with the theme, “Lifted Up to Higher Ground’ and Enrichment through God’s Visitation.” Pastor Kumuyi assured that God has a blueprint for the country, which transient events such as elections, which he said “election seasons can never obliterate.” He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ministry’s December Programme to plug into God’s Divine Master Plan and appropriate the best God has over the years prepared for mankind. He added that God has designed packages, through the annual camp meeting, because of the critical stage in the nation’s life “so that as many as are willing might enjoy sacred divine direction and intervention in their lives even as God’s Saints collectively pray for God to yet again, weigh-in in the affairs of the nation.” The retreat, which starts from tomorrow to December 21, will help the participants to operate on a higher spiritual frequency, especially as the nation and indeed the entire world is experiencing turmoil and uncertainties.

made to disarm a police officer at the entrance of the main gate. Makarfi: You are under oath. Here you have put in writing that teargas might have been exploded by one of the security details of the Senate President. Ndachaba: Very well sir, I was not physically there but I saw it on the video clips which was aired by a television station. My submission was based on information and the video clips that I saw. I saw it on the screen.

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

COMMITTEE on Aeronautical and Non-Aeronautical Charges in the aviation industry inaugurated five weeks ago by Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka has uncovered rot in the sector. Findings of the committee, which was chaired by Mr. Ahonsi Unuigbe, have been submitted to the minister in Abuja. The minister, on receiving the report, has appointed another panel, which would be chaired by the ministry’s permanent secretary, to consider the report before implementation. The findings, according to the Unuigbe panel, revealed that the aviation industry was being plagued by multiple charges. The committee also revealed that some airline operators were making profit through charges at the expense of the Federal Government and passengers. The committee chairman said: “For example, there are 50 different charges imposed by the three main Aviation Ministry parastatals, which are sometimes charged by the different agencies for the same services. “The imposition of both port charges, as well as cargo charges by FAAN on the same cargo is a good example of the charges.”. On passengers’ ticket charges, the committee revealed that the charges were arbitrary. Unuigbe explained that after the computation of passenger tickets for four domestic airlines, namely, Arik, Dana, Medview and First Nation, the analysis showed that an amount ranging from 40 per cent to 65 per cent of the airfare was hidden as fuel surcharge, also known as YQ. He said: “The computation of this fuel surcharge is unknown to both passengers and government alike. Equally, this cost element has been omitted by the airlines in the computation of both VAT and ticket sales charge, resulting in significant loss of revenue to the Federal Government. “There is a prevalence of inaccurate computation of statutory charges and non-remittance of charges collected from passengers to appropriate aviation authorities.” He also noted: “From the tickets analysed, some airline operators deliberately charge as high as nine per cent of Base fare as Ticket Sales Charge as against the statutory five per cent expected to be remitted to the government through Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

•Some suspected fake Boko Haram Commanders, Abubakar Yusuf,(left) Saleh Ibrahim, Abdullahi Saleh Mubarak Adamu PHOTO: Mustapha Maidugu paraded by Department of State Security Service (DSS) in Abuja... yesterday.

ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘Sahara Reporter’s story on Tinubu malicious, false’

human rights lawyer and activist, Olatunji Abayomi, has demanded a retraction of a report against his client, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He said the report entitled: Threat of perjury trial: How Jonathan Blackmailed Bola Tinubu before 2011 Presidential election, is not only false, but defamatory. “We demand a statement acknowledging your error of trying to damage our client’s reputation as well as a statement regretting the same.

By Joseph Jibueze

“Please this matter must be attended to immediately otherwise you run the risk of multiple civil suits all over the world in defence of our client, “Abayomi wrote. The lawyer said the report attempted to defame Tinubu’s reputation by spreading old, utterly false gossip in hope of wrongly destroying his prospects. Sahara Reporters, he said, failed to inquire diligently about Tinubu’s educational records to know that he was an

award-winning alumnus of the Chicago State University. Also, there was no charge at the Federal High Court numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/04/ 2011, nor was Tinubu tried or convicted. Besides, Abayomi noted that the United States Embassy, in its February 4, 2003 response to an inquiry by the Inspector-General of Police, stated that there is “no criminal arrest, records, wants or warrants for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” “If you had checked readily available records, you

would have found that he travels periodically to the United States. Had he been engaged in criminal wrongdoing, he would have been ineligible for entry into that country,” Abayomi wrote. Abayomi also recalled that the Code of Conduct charge against Tinubu was dismissed. “Sahara Reporters appears to have surrendered itself to propagate old allegations to serve the same old failing antagonists, who can find no serious grounds beyond their noisy interests,” lawyer added.

Mixed reactions trail Houses of Assembly’s votes on IXED reactions Reacting shortly after the trailed yesterday the approval of the autonomy bill, constitution amendment resolutions of some Oyo State President of NULGE

state Houses of Assembly on the Constitution 4th Alteration Bill (2014) forwarded to them by the National Assembly. Members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) praised Kogi and Oyo states over the passage of the local government autonomy bill, among others. In Port Harcourt, NULGE members also stormed the River State House of Assembly, clamouring for autonomy for councils. But this did not sway the legislators as they voted “no”. At its plenary, the Kogi State House of Assembly, for instance, voted in favour of local government autonomy among other sections of the amended constitution. The Assembly voted in favour of all sections forwarded to it for consideration and also insisted on the scrapping of the state Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) as part of the amendment. The House, which dissolved into a Committee of the

From James Azania, Lokoja, Tayo Johnson, Ibadan, Barnabas Manyam, Yola and Clarice Azuatalam Port Harcourt

Whole, became rancorous on getting to Section 197, which provides for the establishment of the SIEC. Few members held that the commission must stay. Members who were against the sustenance of the commission, among others, alluded to the duplication of functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It however refrained from voice votes and at the end only two members out of the 19 at plenary voted in favour of SIEC as they held that the commissions would not serve the interest of the people. Other clauses ratified by the House included New States and Boundary Adjustment, Police Reform and the Protection of Persons with Disabilities against Discrimination among many others.

The House Speaker, Alhaji Momoh Jimoh-Lawal, while introducing the bill, said the harmonised version was passed in October 2014, by the National Assembly in line with section 9(2) of the constitution. The Speaker, in his report on resumption from the Committee of Whole, said voting took on all the sections forwarded to the House for its consideration. He directed that the resolution of the House be forwarded to the National Assembly for necessary action. Speaking at the assembly complex shortly after the plenary sitting, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Tom Abutu praised the House for taking the bold step to be on the side of the people. The Oyo State House of Assembly also approved the local government autonomy bill as requested by the National Assembly.

Bayo Titilola-Sodo said the union “laud the most progressive step taking today by the members of the Oyo State legislature by counting themselves on the side of masses and on the part of history.” “I believe they have writing their name in gold in the heart of the masses. They have ignored the minority who are against the passage of the bill, they have shown that they can be entrusted with the destiny of our nation.” At its plenary presided over by the Speaker, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, the Adamawa House of Assembly unanimously agreed to all the amendments in a voice vote. The Speaker read out all the proposed amendment sequentially and the 15 members that were in attendance answered in the affirmative, saying “yes” while in return the speaker replied “the yes have it”. After the adoption, Fintiri said the House voted yes to all the amendments because it’s in line with its position and that of the larger people they represent.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS Health workers declare indefinite strike From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) congratulating the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun Kawu, after his swearing-in at Government House, Ilorin...yesterday.

Boko Haram: DSS defends Sheriff

HE Department of State Security (DSS) said yesterday that it had uncovered plots by certain persons to implicate the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, with the view to portraying him as a Boko Haram sponsor. The DSS accused Australian hostage negotiator Dr. Steven Davis of acting with the suspects in the bungled ceasefire talks between the Federal Government and the sect. Its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, paraded seven suspects in Abuja, for allegedly conniving with Davis to “make merchandise” of the Boko Haram insurgency through “concocted and fabricated” stories. The suspects are: Junaid Idrissa Khadi, Abubakar Yusuf (aka Baba Sani), Saleh Alhaji Ibrahim (Liman Ibrahim), Abdullahi Saleh (aka Babadale), Nurudeen Ibrahim, Mubarak Adamu (aka Molo) and Mustapha Maidugu (aka Musty or Small). Ogar said: “It is necessary to state here that Davis and his cohorts are among several other local and international groups, who are out to make merchandise of the Boko Haram insurgency through concocted and fabricated stories. “These subversive campaigns are also aimed at permeating and shaping political discourse as well as challenge the integrity of our national security and stir discontent among Nigerians and our esteemed allies in the war against terror.” According to the spokesperson, the discovery followed investigation on the activities of the Australian negotiator in the Boko Haram saga, particularly

•Agency indicts Australian negotiator, others From Gbade Ogunwale and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

his claims regarding the identities of sponsors of the sect. Davis had, a few months ago, insisted that Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, were some of the sponsors of the dreaded sect. Ogar continued: “Recall that on 29th August, 2014, one Steven Davis, an Australian selfstyled negotiator for the Boko Haram sect had alleged that Ali Modu Sheriff (senator) and Azubuike Ihejirika (Lt.Gen/rtd), former Governor of Borno State and former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) respectively were among chief sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. “Davis premised his ‘findings’ on discussions with several field commanders of the sect, who allegedly expressed willingness of the sect to negotiate with the Federal Government if Davis would spearhead such dialogue. To buttress this, he posted a photograph of himself taken in 2013 with some alleged sect members. “Based on the allegation, this Service initiated an indepth-investigation into the matter. Consequently, seven associates of Davis were arrested and it has been established that they were part of a wellorchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of government to end terrorism”. The DSS alleged that the suspects had confessed to conspir-

ing with Davis to implicate Sheriff, with monetary inducements. Ogar also said the suspects claimed that Davis single-handedly “conjured” the indictment of I h e j i r i k a , b a s e d on allegations that the military under the former COAS was responsible for his several failed attempts to make contact with the Presidency. The DSS also accused the Australian of assembling the suspects and presenting them to government negotiators as Boko Haram commanders, adding that the suspects also, at various times, posed with Davis on You Tube as some of the sect’s commanders. This, Ogar said, was aimed at misleading the Federal Government and compelling it to negotiate with the “fraudulent group”. Vowing to take appropriate action against the suspects, the DSS said: “We want to reiterate once more, that this Service is committed to bringing to justice all who sponsor or part a k e in the publication of subversive reports against this country. We shall not rest on our oars until our country is rid of all unwholesome activities”. But Isa Gusau, the media associate to Governor Kashim Shettima, in a statement yesterday, claimed that one of the suspects, Khadi, was first appointed by Sheriff in 2010 and he was retained by Shettima in 2011 on Sheriff’s request The statement said the state government was compelled to respond based on enquiries by

the media following the parade of Khadi by the DSS. Gusau said: “While it is not the tradition of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to join issues with security agencies as he holds each of them in high esteem, we are concerned about an insinuation concerning the status of Khadi, who was presented as an aide to Shettima. We don’t want to question the integrity of the security agency involved and hence cannot outrightly allege political motive to bring Shettima’s image to disrepute. “First, let it be noted that our clarification here is not intended to pronounce Khadi guilty of whatever reasons that led to his arrest. The clarification is simply to put the records in their proper perspective. “Khadi was a Special Adviser to Shettima following his appointment in 2013 on the insistence of exGovernor Ali Modu Sheriff, who at that time, had the listening ears of his successor, Governor Shettima. “It is important to note that Governor Kashim Shettima never found Khadi with any questionable character as at the time he was appointed. If at all Khadi had any questionable character, such can only be best known by those he first associated with before Shettima became a Governor in 2011 or perhaps, those that persistently recommended him to Shettima for reappointment.” The statement called on the security agency to accord the fairest hearing to Khadi, “as it should to every other Nigerian arrested for whatever reason.”

Jonathan: Nigeria not surprised by falling oil prices

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that Nigeria was not taken by surprise over falling oil prices. Rather, he said the country in the past three years, had implemented agricultural transformation to tackle any possible implication of the falling oil prices. Jonathan spoke at the official inauguration of the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and $100 million Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja. He noted that the implementation of the agricultural transformation agenda had led to the

•President launches $100m FAFIN, YEAP From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

production of 21 million metric tons of food in the past three years. The president said the Federal Government had earlier targeted to add 20 million metric tons of food by this year, adding that a nation that could not feed itself, was doomed. He said: “The agriculture sector is vital for the economy of Nigeria. The recent decline in the price of crude oil further underscores the necessity to rapidly diversify our economy away from dependency on crude oil.”

By producing adequate food in the country, he said Nigeria would save scarce foreign exchange, reduce dependence on food imports, while reviving rural areas and creating wealth for Nigerian farmers. Jonathan added that within the same period, Nigeria has created three million farm jobs, expressing confidence that the nation would soon surpass a target of 3.5 million farm jobs. He said: “Our food import bill declined from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N624 billion by December of 2013, and continues to decline. Our electronic wallet system, which allows us to reach

•Dr. Jonathan

farmers with subsidised seeds and fertilisers via mobile phones, has become the backbone of a more modern agricultural sector. Over 14 million farmers have received their subsidised farm inputs through the e-wallet system.

EALTH workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Union and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU), have declared an indefinite

strike. This followed the breakdown of talks between them and the Federal Government. The workers have been on a partial strike since November 12. The JOHESU President, Ayuba Wabba, who briefed reporters in Abuja yesterday, called his members to suspend all skeletal services and proceed on indefinite strike . Wabba said the union’s latest action was as a result of the government’s insensitivity to Nigerians’ plight. He accused the government of not taking them serious by refusing to attend a scheduled meeting last Monday, “thereby foreclosing the possibility of resolving the dispute.” Wabba said JOHESU decided to declare “a full blown strike by withdrawing its members that were rendering skeletal services in some hospitals.” His words: “We are compelled to direct our members to suspend all forms of skeletal and concessional services in all healthcare facilities and ensure total compliance with the strike action.” He also urged members to meet regularly at various branches for the enforcement of members’ right and liberties. Wabba said: “In the light of the foregoing, which is objectively verifiable, JOHESU has fulfilled all righteousness and our strike action is both legal and legitimate. The invocation of ‘no work, no pay’ by the Federal Government is totally flawed and holds no water, whatsoever.” He urged members of JOHESU to tighten their belt for what he called ‘long full battle until victory is achieved.’ Expressing the union’s frustration at resolving the issues, the workers’ leader said: “At the last meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU on November 19, government requested for 24 days to look into all our demands and consequently fixed another meeting for December 15. Disappointingly, at the meeting of Monday December, 15, key officials of Federal Ministry of Health, notably the minister, permanent secretary and directors, were conspicuously absent, thereby stalling the meeting. The group also accused the government of using the police to brutalise its members, an action JPHESU said was against universal industrial actions. Wabba, therefore, warned that if the personal attacks and threats continue, it might lead “to breakdown of law and order in our health institutions similar to that witnessed in ABUTH and other hospitals in the 1990s.”

Court stays proceedings in Tambuwal’s suit From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has stayed further proceedings indefinitely in the suit filed by House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Justice Ahmed Mohammed stayed proceedings after the appeal filed against his December 1 ruling was entered at the Court of Appeal; given appeal number, and the record of appeal transmitted from the High Court. Tambuwal sued after the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba ordered the withdrawal of his security aides. The suit challenged the decision and the threat by his former party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to declare his seat vacant. Shortly after Tambuwal filed the suit, some lawmakers, representing his constituents, applied to be joined as co-defendants in the suit. On November 28, Israel Olorundare (SAN) and Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) argued the two sets of applications filed by those seeking to join the suit. Olorundare argued the application by Chairmen of Kebbe and Tambuwal Local Governments in Sokoto State - Bala Konkani and Sambo Modo - while Onigbanjo argued the one by three members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly - Abdussamad Dasuki, Suleiman Hantsi, and Shuaibu Umar, representing Tambuwal East, Tambuwal West and Kebbe constituencies. Justice Mohammed refused the joinder applications on the ground that the interest they sought to protect had been effectively protected by the plaintiff with his institution of the suit. The parties seeking to join promptly appealed the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Abuja and applied that the trial court stays proceedings. Yesterday, the court was to hear the applications for stay of proceedings, when Olorundare informed the court that records of his appeal had been transmitted to the appellate court; appeal number given and that he had also filed an application before the Court of Appeal, seeking for stay of proceedings before the lower court. Other lawyers in the case, including Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) - for the plaintiff; Yunus Ustaz (SAN) - for the PDP; and Ade Okeanya-Inneh (SAN) - for the Attorney General and IGP; agreed with that the position of the law was that the lower court must stay proceedings once it is aware that an appeal filed against its decision was entered. Ustaz, however, disagreed with others on whether or not the case should be adjourned indefinitely. Ruling, Justice Mohammed agreed that the position of the law was that once an appeal is entered at the appellate court, the lower court must stay further actions in the case. “In view of the fact that the appeal has been entered in respect of the ruling delivered by this court on December 1, this case be and is hereby adjourned sine die pending the determination of the appeal,” the judge said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS Woman is Amosun’s running mate

•Head of Oil and Gas, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Antonio Ayodele (left); Council Manager, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Segun Ajayi presenting a gas cooking stove to the Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Amuwo Odofin Local Government and former Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Jola Ogunlusi, at the distribution of Eko Gas cylinders and accessories by the ministry at the council secretariat, Festac Town, Lagos, ...yesterday

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

BUSINESS management expert , Mrs. Yetunde Abosede Onanuga, is Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s running mate . Amosun, who formally presented her to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abeokuta described Mrs. Onanuga as a worthy team mate in the continued mission to rebuild the state. The governor expressed the confidence that by 2015, both of them and APC members “would be singing and dancing in victory” after the governorship election. DeputyGovernor Segun Adesegun has left APC for the Social Democratic Party(SDP), vowing to slug it out in 2015 with his boss, if given the SDP ticket. The 54-year-old Mrs Onanuga, an indigene of Ijebu - Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government, is married to Biodun Onanuga, an engineer, from Ijebu - Ode. She is a graduate of Business Administration of the Lagos State Polytechnic and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago - Iwoye, where she obtained a Masters degree (MBA) in Business Administration. She works with the Ministry of Environment, Lagos State. Mrs Onanuga said she had been nursing her political ambition in the last four years and promised to be loyal to her boss and the party.

Ondo Poly appeal dismissed From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

N industrial court sitting in Akure has dismissed an appeal of “stay of execution” filed by the management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) on the judgment involving 32 sacked workers. The court, had on September 30, ordered the reinstatement of 15 of the 32 sacked workers, noting that only the employment of the 15 academic staff had “statutory flavour”. The court said employment of the remaining 17 workers lacked “statutory flavour” and was only based on “master/servant relationship” with the institution. The polytechnic management, which was not satisfied with the ruling, returned to court to file a stay of execution before appealing the judgment. But Justice Anthony Ubaka said “stay of execution” could not be granted to the plaintiff because it was unmeritorious and against the order of the court. The complainants’ counsel, Gabriel Omotayo OmoEdu said the application of the defendant was dismissed for lack of merit. He said the remaining workers would proceed to the Court of Appeal.

Deeper Life seeks credible polls as Kumuyi storms Ekiti T

HE Deeper Life Bible Church has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible general elections next year. The church advised politicians to play the game according to the rules and not to engage in any act to subvert the will of the electorate. The Ekiti State Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Jacob Asubiojo, made the appeal on Tuesday at a briefing on the forthcoming visit of the General Superintendent, Pastor William Kumuyi, to the state. Kumuyi is expected to arrive Ado-Ekiti on December 24 for a three-day crusade tagged “Extraordinary Encounter with the God of Miracles” at the Deeper Life camp ground in Ajebamidele. The state overseer said

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

participants would pray for Nigeria to overcome its socio-political problems. According to him, holy and honest living could help Nigerians overcome the corruption monster, which he described as more devouring than the Ebola virus. The church leader emphasised that the antidote against calamities and crises befalling the country could be found in the gospel. He stressed that the prevailing insecurity and insurgency in some parts of the country could be overcome with prayers and supplication to God. Asubiojo urged stakeholders to ensure the conduct

of a peaceful, transparent, free and fair election in 2015. Responding to questions from reporters, the cleric said the conduct of a transparent election would guarantee peace and prevent post-election crises. He urged Nigerians not to allow religious affiliation to becloud their sense of judgment as they elect candidates into various political offices stressing that the country needed God-fearing leaders. Asubiojo said: “INEC must be fair and keep to the rules that govern electoral process. Once there is fairness, openness and transparency, everybody will accept the outcome and there will be peace. “To help INEC and Nigerians, politicians too must obey the rules. They must not heat up the polity over elec-

tion if truly they are desirous of serving the people.” Speaking on the qualities a leader must possess to be able to deliver, the cleric added that “Nigeria has so many religions but these have not met the needs of the people. He added: “But with this programme, many Nigerians would have their lives changed and transformed for better, because for a society to produce good leaders who can transform a whole nation, such person must first be transformed. “What we believe in is prayer as weapons that can transform the lives of the people and not religion that had failed us as a nation. Our people must not continue in wretchedness and backwardness.”

SSS blames Total for oil workers’ strike

HE State Security Service (SSS) has blamed TOTAL oil company for the current strike by oil workers. The SSS addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja on the strike. Its spokesperson Marilyn Ogar said oil workers’ union had reported the dispute between it and TOTAL to the SSS. She urged both parties to rescind their decisions for the sake of the masses, who are the worst hit. Ms Ogar noted that strike by NUPENG and PENGASSAN was biting hard on Nigerians. She said: “In November, 2014, PENGASSAN wrote to the SSS to make a formal complaint about the transfer of Elo Victor Ogbonda to Lagos, from Port Harcourt, by TOTAL, after she was elected as a zonal executive of the union. “The transfer was seen as a design by TOTAL to frustrate her from performing her functions at the union’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.” Ms Ogar said the SSS summoned the Managing Director of TOTAL, Elizabeth Proust, on November 5, to resolve the dispute. She said the management of TOTAL agreed that Ogbonda would be re-instated and posted back to Port Harcourt and granted leave of absence for the period she

•Commuters stranded as fuel scarcity hits Edo, FCT From Faith Yahaya and John Ofikhenua, Abuja and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

would serve as an executive of PENGASSAN. Ms Ogar said PENGASSAN later informed the SSS that TOTAL had reneged on its promise to recall Ogbonda, adding that she was sacked. The SSS spokesperson explained that the service contacted TOTAL and was informed that the company would not go back on its sack order. She said: “All entreaties to the company failed, thus culminating in the current strike and the attendant scarcity.” She sympathised with Nigerians for the hardship they were facing, adding that the SSS would resolve the crisis. Ms Ogar said: “As we speak, the Service is meeting with the management of TOTAL with a view to addressing the contending issues. “We are urging all wellmeaning Nigerians, who have good relationship with Total, to ask the company not to allow this obviously inconsequential issue to bring hardship on Nigerians. We will not stand aloof and see Nigerians suffer.” Long queues of vehicles lined the roads yesterday in

many parts of Benin, the Edo State capital, and its environs. The strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had begun to take its toll on motorists and commuters in the capital city and its environs. At noon yesterday, filling stations in Benin, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega stations, were not selling petroleum products. None of them opened for business. This caused serious fuel scarcity and the emergence of black marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the petrol. The Chairman of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the Benin Depot, Mr. Douglas Iyiki, told our reporter that the union was not on strike. He said fuel supply to Benin depot was exhausted last Friday. According to him, only PENGASSAN and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) members are on strike. He said there was no scarcity but “perennial scarcity”. Managers at some of the filling stations told our reporter that they shut their stations because they were not expecting supply soon, following the PENGASSAN strike.

They said PENGASSAN needed to resolve issues with the government before filling stations could reopen. The price of a litre of petrol skyrocketed to between N150 and N200 in the black market. Following the scarcity of fuel, the cost of transportation in intercity and intra-city also went up, despite the upsurge in commuters as the Yuletide approaches. Most filling stations our reporter visited had long fuel queues. A civil servant, Aboki Danladi, said the strike was illtimed and would impact negatively on the masses. “The strike is very unfortunate; why are they going on strike at this critical time when Nigerians are trying to celebrate Christmas. He said: “This is not good for the masses. The trouble will be on the masses as usual.” The hardship worsened yesterday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). More filling stations shut down . In Kubwa, the largest satellite town in the FCT, our reporter found long queues at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station. The queues extended to the adjoining street, which hindered vehicular movement on the major expressway.

Ultimatum for budget committee By Oziegbe Okoeki

HE Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered the Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, headed by Mudashiru Obasa, to conclude work on the 2015 budget proposal by December 29. Speaking during the consideration of the second reading of the N489.6billion budget proposal, the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said the budget committee and other standing committees must complete their work before the said date. Obasa said issues affecting the budget would be ironed out during the budget defence by ministries and parastatals. He appealed to residents to pay their taxes regularly so that the government would have enough money to implement the budget. In his contribution, Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju/Lekki) said the budget was not clear on interest rate and the government’s loan repayment plans. “We need to know how much we owe contractors and the amount of money needed to pay outstanding liabilities,” he said. Yinka Ogundimu (Agege) said there was a need for general review of the budget proposal since there was a drop in the price of barrels of crude oil. The Deputy Speaker, Musibau Kolawole, urged the committee on budget and economic planning to look at the budget size due to the inflation rate. “It is a welfarist budget, but we should live within our means. The new method of the budget does not show the process of re-payment of loans as observed by Fatai Mojeed. The process should have been stated. We can cut the budget of some ministries for us to live within our means,” he said.

Oyo Assembly confirms CJ’s appointment From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Oyo State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Justice Munta Abimbola as the chief judge. Justice Abimbola was sworn-in as acting chief judge by Governor Abiola Ajimobi in August. The approval was made by the lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mrs. Monsurat Sumonu. Mrs. Sumonu confirmed the appointment after the House approved the report of the Committee on public petitions and judiciary, which screened the chief judge. Presenting the report, committee chairman Yisua Azeez said it was an easy task for the committee to ratify the appointment of the acting chief judge because of his antecedents and credentials. Justice Abimbola thanked the lawmakers, saying the judiciary would experience adequate and prompt reforms during his tenure.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

Tears at Service of Songs for Isiguzo

Ogun APC senatorial aspirant to reconcile with aspirants

ONG stretch of vehicles parked around the 311 Road, Festac Town with most of the passengers trooping to the A Close residence of The Nation’s Senior Crime Correspondent, the late Jude Isiguzo. Hanging on the walls and gates into the Close was the obituary announcement, which had a photograph he took at the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria’s (CRAN) annual seminar a few days before his death. Although the late Isiguzo had his trademark smile on, the look on the faces of his family members, colleagues, friends and well wishers, who walked into the canopies to have their seats, was devoid of happiness. The solemnity of the evening was later compounded at the commencement of the service, as the congregation, led by parishioners of the Holy Family Catholic Church, sang several dirges. The late Isiguzo’s wife, Gwendaline, dressed in black and looking forlorn, was held by two family members as she cried while ‘Jerusalem my happy home’ was being sung. The scriptural verses and hymns, which were delivered in turns, according to Rev. Harrison Okoli, the representative of the Parish Priest, Rev Simeon Irabor, was a call for the living to reflect on their lives. In his sermon taken from the book of Luke, Okoli admonished the people to direct their love to good because it breeds respect, love for oneself and obedience to God’s words.

Southwest’ll vote Jonathan in 2015, says Mimiko From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has expressed optimism that the Southwest will vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. According to him, it is irrelevant if the All Progressives Congress (APC) fields a Yoruba as its presidential running mate. He spoke at the Presidential Villa after the launching of the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN). He said that the Southwest voters are politically savvy enough to cast their votes based on issues instead of ethnic considerations. He said: “I am saying this with all sense of humility, of enlightenment especially in appreciation of issues of politics, in terms of long history of progressive political engagement, you give it to Southwest that they know their onions.” Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam decried the frequent cross-carpeting of politicians who lose their aspirations for elective offices.

•The widow, Gwendaline (second right), Mrs Okezu (left), the widow’s uncle Uchena Ikebuaku and her mother, Dr Jina Mba, at the wake...yesterday. PHOTO:SOLOMON ADEOLA By Precious Igbonwelundu and Tajudeen Adebanjo

He said that as human, the people must live in the image of God and do things to promote the good of others and enhance development. “We can accumulate wealth of the world and knowledge of ancient and modern, but it will be lacking in meaning and content if such accumulation is not channelled towards the good of others. “We have the capacity of igniting people to be able to able to do good by doing the best we can. Sometimes, attention is directed to those we presume to have and less attention to those we presume have nothing. “We should learn to extend hands of fellowship to others. Our mortal bodies will depart but the hand of friendship and love we establish in the hearts of others will never expire. We should promote our personal good and dig-

‘He has done his part and it is now left for us to do ours. We will remain with those he left behind ’ nity and by this, I do not mean being self-centred. “I mean you should accept yourself as God’s child and live as he has designed us to by loving your neighbour as yourself,’’ he said. At the service were The Nation Online Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin; Admin Manager Mrs. Folake Adeoye; State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Deji Elumoye; CRAN President, Chris Orji; Area E Police Commander, ACP Dan Okoro, who represented the

Commissioner of Police; Lagos Police spokesman, DSP Kenneth Nwosu and spokesman, Police Special Anti Fraud Unit (SFU), DSP Ngozi Nsitume-Agu, among others. Commiserating with the family, Otufodunrin said Isiguzo was a diligent worker, who took his job seriously and earned the nickname Olopa. He said as The Nation NUJ Chapel Chairman, the deceased provided exemplary leadership. He prayed that God will give his family the fortitude to bear the loss. For Elumoye, Isiguzo was a professional to the core, who was also up and doing as an NUJ executive. He said Isiguzo always gave the association reports of cordial relations between journalists and The Nation management, adding that the NUJ will miss his advice and experience. Orji described the deceased as a jovial and good man, who made immense

contribution to the growth of CRAN. To Okoro, Isiguzo was a complete gentleman, who stood tall among his equals. He said: “He was a compendium, a man who was straight and he stood tall among his equals. “I have interacted with him for so long and he had been with the police through thick and thin. “He contributed immensely to the relationship between the police and crime reporters. “He has done his part and it is now left for us to do ours. I want to use this opportunity to pledge that his family will not stand alone. We will remain with those he left behind.” Giving the vote of thanks, the deceased’s elder sister, Mrs. Juliana Okezu, thanked the speakers for their kind words, noting that their pains were relieved by the good words.

Timber lorry kills boy, 18, in Osun

TIMBER-LADEN lorry on Monday killed an 18-year-old boy, Elijah Omoloye, in IfeSouth Local Government Area of Osun State. Another person was reportedly killed in a fracas following the incident. The driver of the ill-fated lorry ran away but his conductor was apprehend-

• Another killed by mob From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo.

ed by an angry mob. An eye-witness said the mob beat the conductor to death in spite of the effort of the traditional ruler of Garage Olode, Oba David

Omisore, to rescue him. It was also gathered that mob became furious when the the people discovered that the conductor was allegedly drunk . A detachment of riot policemen was deployed to the area to secure law and

order. Police Public Relations Officer Mrs. Folashade Odoro confirmed the incident. According to her, those arrested in connection with the incident would be charged to court after investigation.

Kashamu: Obasanjo’s motive for writing book suspect

GUN State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate Prince Buruji Kashamu has challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to tell Nigerians his motives for writing open letters and his book My Watch. In a statement published as an advertorial in this newspaper, he accused the former president of playing to the gallery. The statement reads: “It is the season of electioneering. Politicians of all shades and character are up in arms against one another as the 2015 general elections inch closer. Some pseudo leaders and politicians with doubtful followership are bent on heating up the polity, just to score cheap political points, all because of their selfish interests.

By Wale Ajetunmobi

“They are conniving, devising and building unholy alliance along ethnic and religious lines. Most of them have never won elections in the polling booths since the advent of democracy in 1999. Yet, they want to continually call the shots. “One of them, a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, despite his aversion to intellectual engagements and discourse, has taken to writing. He started with some mischievous open letters. Now, he has hurriedly put together a book that can best be described in the words of Williams Shakespeare as “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. “But the questions dis-

cerning Nigerians should ask are: what are his motives of writing letters and the book? Why the sustained efforts? Has he just discovered his flair for writing or the power of the printed word? Why now? Being a former military Head of State and two-term democratically elected President, albeit in controversial circumstances, one would presume that with his age and experience, Obasanjo would have explored a more discreet channel of communication with the president, if he has anything to say and if there was no ulterior motive.” He accused Obasanjo of “open and mischievous criticisms of the Jonathan Administration” which, he said, “is drawing more sympathy for it, as one that is making a complete break with the past where impunity and lawlessness reigned”.

Kashamu added that Obasanjo’s conduct in and out of office does not support his claim of being “a law-abiding citizen. “It is on record that while in office as a democratically elected President, he disobeyed court judgments, even those of the Supreme Court, with reckless abandon. Apart from his disregard for many of the apex court’s decisions in respect of his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, he stubbornly withheld the allocations due to local governments in Lagos State until he left office in spite of a Supreme Court judgment to release the funds. Then, there was his interpretation of the apex court’s verdict on Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy suit, among others,” he said.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has initiated a reconciliatory parley with all aspirants in the district for smooth take off of the party’s campaign. Speaking at his country home in Iperu, Ikenna Local Government Area, Abiodun said it was important for the party to approach the election as a united family. He said: “Let me thank all of you for honouring the invitation to be here at a short notice and more importantly for your support during the primaries. I have called for this gathering to assure all our aspirants that this will not be a case of winner takes all. We will take care of everyone who contested and lost at our personal level and we will get the party to also compensate them. Having said this, as faithful party members, we need to go back to our local councils, wards and polling units to sell the manifesto of our party to the grassroots so that the people can see us as one united family prepared to sweep the polls from the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential elections.” A chieftain of the party, Tunde Oladunjoye, urged all members to see Abiodun as the project of the party and ensure his victory at the polls.

Akure explosion: Gas retailers allege intimidation From Damisi Ojo, Akure

IVE days after the gas explosion in Akure,the Ondo State Capital, members of the Liquefied Gas Retailers Association of Nigeria(LPGRAN) have raised the alarm over alleged harrassment by security agencies. In a protest letter entitled: “Appeal to Governor Mimiko on our deprivation from daily transaction”, the association urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to reverse his order on embargo placed on their business. According to its Chairman, Mondi Gbenga, Secretary, Gbadamosi Emmanuel and Public Relations Officer(PRO), Fayehun Taiwo, the gas plant that erupted at Arakale on Saturday night was not caused by gas retailer outlet to warrant the order by the state government to shut our shops. The group said: “The gas plant that exploded recently in Akure is owned by oneOlolade who is not a member or patron of our association. Immediately the governor passed the order,we have been prevented from our daily sales as security agents, including soldiers, policemen and officials of the Ministry of Physical and Urban Development are waging war against us.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

How to win war on terror, by Naval chief

HE Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin has urged the public to support the military in its war against terrorism. Admiral Jibrin made the call in Lagos at a seminar organised by the Defence Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DECAN) held at the headquarters, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Apapa. The CNS, who spoke through the Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliu, noted that the rise in public scrutiny of military operations is as a result of expansive and real time press coverage. Acknowledging the influence of the media in shaping public opinion, the CNS said the military and security agencies can no longer ignore the media’s role in presenting perspectives of what they do to make the country and secured. ‘This calls for synergy between the military and members of the press. This is even evident in our country today in the face of terrorist threats and attacks witnessed in recent times. Needless to say, winning the war on terror requires the collaboration of all stakeholders in the national security architecture. ‘The military and the media should collaborate to protect, promote and appreciate each other. We should see and cooperate with each other as partners in progress and co-stakeholders in national defence, peace and security matters.

•’Why US denied Nigeria military hardware’ By Precious Igbonwelundu

‘We could learn from the experiences of the Pakistan and Indian media in their coverage of security operations in both countries,’ said Admiral Jibrin. At the event were the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; representative of the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Colonel O.I. Irabor; representative of General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Maj.Gen. Tanmi Dibi, Brig.-Gen. Ismaila Rabiu; security expert, Dr. Onah Ekhomu; Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Colonel Tukur Gusau, former Director of Information, Navy, Commodore Olatunde Oladimeji (rtd), former Nigerian Army Information Director, Gen. Dabiri, among others. In his remark, the host, Rear Admiral Alade praised the association for choosing the topic ‘Terrorism and military reportage: implications for democracy and national security,’ urging reporters to always verify information before publishing. ‘I have a positive attachment with the association and I commend their reportage of the Lagos area. I urge you to continue with the good work of ensuring a fair and balance reportage of the military. Guest lecturer, Dr. Onah

Ekhomu said the country was fighting terrorism on several fronts, noting that the negative perception of Nigeria globally was propagated by the nation’s media. He said a lot of the negative impressions and perceptions of Nigeria in the world today was put there by the Nigerian media, adding that the media may not have created the negative circumstances propagated the negative perception. Using the Baga, Borno State incident as an example, Ekhomu explained that the reality on ground was in contrasts with the perception created by the media, noting that there was no massacre in the area. ‘The irony of Baga is that there was no massacre. The homes that were burnt in the fires set by the terrorists destroyed about 200 homes not 2000 plus homes as claimed. Kukawa Local Government can barely boast of 2000 homes. The outlandish claims of homes destroyed made by Human Rights Watch (HRW) were mistaken and did not have ground verification. ‘In its tradition of discipline and dignity, the Nigerian military conducted an inquiry led by Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngubane and promptly released the report of its findings. Only 35 persons were killed and not the 2000 plus that was widely reported. ‘The unfortunate consequence of this is that the US

government is relying on outlandish reporting to deny Nigeria military hardware that it needs to quickly conclude the war on terror,’ he said. Noting that the military does not have enough manpower, Ekhomu said it was impossible for all military troops to be deplored to fighting Boko Haram in the northeast, while other parts of the country also need security. Claiming that Boko Haram uses double layer weapon and engage in calibration, Ekhomu said the terrorists have about 15 years ago, stated the things they will do, which they are now unleashing. He advocated the need for toll free lines to enable people report threats, as a means of preventing terrorists attacks, adding that human rights abuses was between 15 and 18 thousand in the northeast. He advised the military to embed defence reporters in their patrols in order to have firsthand experience and better appreciate security operations. The security expert further urged the military to train reporters on bomb threats and how to detect IEDs, among others. In his welcome address, DECAN President Philip Nwosu said the theme was selected because it will enable the media understand the rudiment of reporting military and security agencies during insurgency.

Oil-producing state: Anambra suffers setback

BILL, which seeks to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act by including Anambra as one of the states making up the NDDC, suffered a setback yesterday at the Senate. The bill, entitled: “Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment, etc) Act CAP. N86 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2014”, was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South).

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

No sooner had Uba finished his lead debate on the bill than opposition was mounted by some of his colleagues. The senators said it would amount to injustice to include Anambra among the oil-producing states, adding that the dispute among the communities where the oil was said to have been discovered had not been settled. States laying claim to the oil are Kogi, Anambra and Enugu.

Christmas carol, cocktail today

EST Africa’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, Phase3 Telecom, will today hold its annual Christmas carol and cocktail at the Banquet Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. In a statement by its Head of Marketing Communications, Morayo Nwabufo explained that the event is to give thanks to God and celebrate with the firm’s clients and staff for a remarkable year. Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecom - Stanley Jegede said the occasion is to celebrate the firm’s vibrant and dedicated team as well as bonding with its clients that have remained faithful to the firm through the years. He said: “the Phase3 family is grateful to God and thank our clients, partners, stakeholders and well wishers for their trust in our capabilities and continuous patronage through the years.”He recalled that the firm recently marked its 11th year anniversary bagging both local and international awards.

Funeral for Pa Yesufu

HE death has occurred of Pa Festus Yesufu of Ikun-Akoko in Ondo State. He died on November 4. He was 100. The family said there would be a Christian wake tomorrow at his home, 8, Owanikun Street, opposite old Palace, Ikun-Akoko. The next day, there will be a service at the Trinity Anglican Church at 10am. Interment follows at his home. Guests will be entertained at the same venue.

Church holds crusade

HE Mountain of Deliverance International Gospel Church (Ori Oke Ilusile) will begin a three-day crusade from Friday till Sunday. It starts at 4pm daily. The crusade will hold at Arigbanwo Primary School, Arigbanwo, off Ofada Road/Junction, after Spot Bar, Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State. Its theme is: “Deliverance from incurable sickness” (Luke 4:40). The host, Pastor Emmanuel Ogbara, said God would heal the sick, adding that there would be deliverance, breakthrough, salvation, liberation, fulfilment, among others.

Nwobodo’son buried

HE body of Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, son of former governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, was interred yesterday. He was buried at the compound of his uncle, the late John Nwobodo, whose children gave approval.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Emmanuel Chukwuma, conducted a service at the St. Mathews Church, Amechi before the interment. Security was tightened at the funeral site, which was adjacent to Senator Nwobodo’s compound.

Court extends injunction From Chris Oji, Enugu •From left: Director, Naval Intelligence, Commodore T.T. Dakwat; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; Chief of Logistics, NN, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas and club captain, Dolphin Golf Club, during the FOC’s invitational golf tournament at the Navy Town, Ojo.

N Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice R. O. Odugu has extended an order it granted, restraining a governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ayogu Eze, from parading himself as the party’s candidate. Justice Odugu, who granted the application by the plaintiff/applicant, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is the governorship candidate recognised by the party, adjourned the case till December 22 for further hearing. The order also restrains the PDP from recognising or submitting any name other than that of Ugwuanyi as the governorship candidate.

2015: Igbo youths urged to act wisely From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

I •President, Women Arise and keynote Speaker Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (middle) with members of WAWA and students at a seminar in Lagos...yesterday.

GBO youths in Oyo State have been urged to play good roles in politics, as the general elections approach. Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, an International Law and Diplomacy expert from the University of Lagos, Chidi Emeaku, said 2015 was an opportunity for Igbo youths to make their voices heard and influence governance. The expert, delivering a lecture, titled: “Youth Participation in Politics and Good Governance”, at the inauguration of the Oyo State chapter of the Enugu State Youth Agenda, at Walan Hotel, Ibadan, said youths needed to choose between being indispensable and expendable.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Following the primaries, the battle line has been drawn in Rivers State. The stage is set for the battle for the Government House between the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Hon. Dakuku Peterside and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Chief Nyesom Wike. BISI OLANIYI examines factors that will shape what promises to be a proxy war between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Rivers gears up for upland, riverine proxy battle R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was making an indirect reference to the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, when he declared that no Ikwerre person will succeed him next year. The declaration by Amaechi, an Ikwerre from Ubima, is predicated on the fact that the governors that have governed the multiethnic state since 1999 are Ikwerres. Amaechi, who served as the Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, wants his successor to come from another ethnic group to ensure justice, equity and fairness. Wike is an Ikwerre from Rumueprikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. He was a twoterm Chairman of the council, the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011 and exChief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt. Wike has argued that he is constitutionally qualified to succeed his kinsman and that after all Amaechi is from Ikwerre North, while he is from Ikwerre South. The major electoral issue surrounding next year’s governorship election in Rivers State is the agitation by the people from the riverine communities for power shift. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, all the governors that have governed the state have been of the Ikwerre stock from the upland part of the state. Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia and Amaechi are from the upland part. Amaechi, Omehia and Wike are from the Rivers East Senatorial District, while the medical doctor-turned politician (Odili) is from Rivers West. Since the creation of Rivers state from the defunct Eastern Region on May 27, 1967, the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District has not produced governor. In other words, the zoning issue in Rivers is not just about senatorial zones; the upland/riverine dichotomy is also taken into cognizance. Rivers Southeast senatorial district consists of the four Ogoni LGAs of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, as well as Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo councils, which is currently being represented in the National Assembly by Senator Magnus Abe, who was a governorship aspirant within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The major stakeholders from the different ethnic nationalities in Rivers State, under the aegis of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders’ Council (RELEC), declared that the next Rivers governor must come from the riverine part of the state. They said the decision to insist on a riverine person becoming Rivers governor from May 29 next year was to ensure justice, equity and fairness, since Rivers governors since 1999 are from the upland part of the state. RELEC, through its Chairman, Chief Albert Horsfall, a former DirectorGeneral of the State Security Service (SSS), declared that never would an uplander become Rivers governor next year. The other leaders of RELEC are a former Rivers Governor, Chief Rufus Ada-George and the two members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers State, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas and Chief Ombo Isokariari, as well as the Chairman of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, which coordinates the activities of the 16 aggrieved PDP governorship as-

• Peterside

pirants, Prof. Israel Owate, among other eminent personalities. The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP in Rivers State, led by Chief Felix Obuah, on the other hand, has insisted that there would be no zoning in the state, especially of the governorship position, contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution. This position has been interpreted by discerning minds as part of the agenda to impose Wike on Rivers people. The argument of the Obuah-led PDP executives in the state is that they are jettisoning zoning to ensure that the most qualified and most competent person emerge as the party’s flag bearer. This, they argue, would assist the party to become victorious in next year’s general elections. RELEC, however, differs. It stated: “The next Governor of Rivers State must come from the riverine part. We are calling on all the leaders of political parties operating in Rivers State to field only candidates from the riverine part, on the basis of justice, equity and fairness. “We are seeing very strong signs of violence in Rivers State. All leaders of political parties operating in the state must sign an undertaking that their supporters and members of the political parties will not be involved in violence or killings. Anybody who refuses to sign will be seen as an enemy of Rivers State. We want peace in Rivers State before, during and after the 2015 general elections. “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should set up appropriate machinery to monitor electioneering processes, to ensure that the political parties’ leaders and members shun violence. Any aspirant or candidate who acts contrary to the undertaking to be signed, should

• Wike

be banned by INEC. Leaders of political parties must come to the understanding that they will abide by the rules of the game of politics.” The Rivers elders also reiterated that between 2002 and 2007, the levels of violence, killings, destruction of property were terrible, stressing that the wanton and unwarranted developments unleashed by political trends of that time, caused Rivers state physically, psychologically and materially enormous losses, from which the people of the state were still recovering from. The major stakeholders in Rivers state maintained that they could not shut their eyes or bury their heads in the sand and allow fresh violent development, cultism and militancy, which they insisted would obviously result to more killings and reprisal killings, destruction of valuable property and maiming of Rivers people. RELEC said: “We have begun to see signs and clear evidence of partisan killings in various places in Rivers State. The latest of which are the killings in the Orashi Region of Rivers State, Omoku precisely, caused by killing by one political party members and revenge by killing by members of the other party. This is a foretaste of what is to come, when the election proceedings fully gear up. “Politics is a game of wits, discussions and convincing people to vote for persons of your choice. It needs not be a battleground for killings, violence and destructions. As elders, we owe it a duty to nip in the bud, the inferno that is about to let loose in our beloved Rivers State. Let us not sleepwalk into another tragedy. Our resolve to intervene in good time will save our state and people the potential catastrophe which could befall Rivers State.

“The dimension of the catastrophe is multi-faceted. It will affect human lives -- the bulk of whom will be innocent citizens trying to go about their lives to earn a living. It may involve some of the gladiators, who while going all out in search of power and authority, may disregard the danger of some of their actions. But, such actions may cause consequences beyond their control and they themselves could become victims of the seeds that they have recklessly sown.” The Rivers elders also stated that as major stakeholders, regardless of their political, ethnic, religious and whatever consideration, they must continue to rise with one voice, against any form of violence and undertakings that defied the regular norms and traditions of conducting political affairs, which might result into violence. RELEC assured that it would continue to stand up for the values of decency, decorum, peace and love, thereby ensuring unity and paving the way for the development of the Niger Delta state. In contrast, the APC has tried to respect the call for zoning in the state. The earlier endorsed governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was on December 4, formally elected with 3,773 out of a total of 3,914 votes cast. He hails from Opobo, a riverine community and the headquarters of Opobo/ Nkoro LGA. The APC flag bearer who will be 44 on December 31 recently completed his doctoral programme at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). At the end of the APC primary, he vowed to continue to depend on God Almighty, in view of the allegation by the Rivers chairman of the PDP that he is a cultist. He also promised to make Rivers State greater.

‘The major electoral issue surrounding next year’s governorship election in Rivers State is the agitation by the people from the riverine communities for power shift. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, all the governors that have governed the state have been of the Ikwerre stock from the upland part of the state’

The Rivers APC’s governorship primary election took place at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, but was boycotted by another APC governorship contender, Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA and his supporters. The only governorship aspirant that contested the APC primary was Peterside, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and the representative of Andoni-Opobo/ Nkoro constituency. The Chairman of the APC’s Governorship Primary Election Committee, Austin Eweka, who was accompanied by other members from Abuja, noted that Amaechi and other members of the Rivers caucus of the APC had made their job easy, with their earlier endorsement of Peterside. Eweka said what Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and other leaders of the APC in Rivers State did was a new dimension in Nigeria’s political history. This, he said, would ensure peace and harmony among members of the party, while calling on other states to emulate Rivers APC. Eweka said he was so impressed with the way Amaechi handled the governorship endorsement, stressing that the NGF chairman had taken the APC to a new level. The representative of Ahoada WestOgba/Egbema/Ndoni constituency in the House of Representatives, Asita Honourable, moved a motion for the adoption of Peterside as the Rivers APC’s governorship candidate and was seconded by the party’s Chairman in Asari-Toru LGA of the state, Bere Samuel-Horsfall. Eweka then asked all the delegates to vote, with the result sheet presented to the governorship candidate, while Peterside later read a four-page acceptance speech. Amaechi declared at the venue of the APC’s governorship primary election that he and other leaders of the APC would work towards free and fair elections next year and would not be intimidated by the federal might, policemen or soldiers. The NGF chairman said: “We have shown that there can be another party in Rivers State. Last time, they (President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP) had 1.8 million votes in Rivers State; they should come and have it now. Those who make legitimate change impossible will make illegitimate change inevitable. “This is an opportunity to ensure that we do not suffer anymore. Vote for all the candidates of the APC during the 2015 elections. Peterside is the standard bearer of the APC, by the grace of God and your (delegates’) grace. We (Rivers APC’s caucus) sat and agreed to present Peterside. “Senator Magnus Abe is eminently qualified to be Rivers governor and I respect his intellect. He is a very intelligent man. There are two Nigerians I respect their intellect: Abe and Odein Ajumogobia (former Foreign Affairs Minister, who is a governorship aspirant of the PDP in Rivers State), but they will not allow Ajumogobia to win the primaries of the PDP. “My Deputy, Tele Ikuru, is experienced, also very intelligent, loyal and eminently qualified to be Rivers governor. With Ikuru as my deputy, I •Continued on page 16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

Wike, in his acceptance speech, dedicated the victory to God, saying he would work with other former aspirants to ensure victory for the PDP in 2015. He won in spite of the allegation that he is a member of the Ogboni secret society; which he strongly denies

‘

2015 calculations and zoning in Rivers

•Continued from page 15

never watched my back. Ikuru is also a man of due process and will always return money after committees’ jobs. “The Rivers West Senatorial District produced Dr. Peter Odili. I am from Rivers East. Equity demands that the governorship in 2015 should go to the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District. The caucus met and agreed that we should present Peterside. It does not mean that he is the most qualified. Let us support Peterside.” He also stated that the people of Rivers State had suffered enough from the hands of the Federal Government and must vote out President Jonathan in 2015, to bring about the much-desired change. The Rivers governor said: “Rivers State and its people are being attacked from all angles. Our oil wells are being taken. Soku oil wells were given to President Jonathan’s Bayelsa State, but we gave him the highest number of votes in 2011. Our 41 oil wells have been given to Abia State. “N12 billion was to be collected from Rivers State’s funds and to be given to Abia State, but I challenged it in court two weeks ago. You will not have another governor like me. The next governor may be better than me, but he will not be like me. It takes courage and grace of God to disagree with the President. The next governor should continue the battle. “We will fight with everything at our disposal to deliver the APC in 2015. I will do everything possible to support and fight for the APC. Please recommend the APC to all your friends. They said they will kill us with police during the 2015 elections and they will not allow me to move. That is where the battle will start from. Police and not military men should provide security during the 2015 elections.” Amaechi also disclosed that all the members of the Rivers House of Assembly, who supported him and intended to seek re-election, were given automatic tickets to vie, to compensate them for their loyalty, when attempts were made to impeach him, but they refused to sell out. The NGF chairman admonished the aspirants hurt by the decision to give the Rivers lawmakers automatic tickets to endure, stressing that 2019 is not too far and that there was the need to encourage and motivate the legislators who stood firm, in the face of intimidation and harassment. The Rivers governorship candidate of the APC, in his acceptance speech, stated that in the last seven years, Rivers State had made tremendous progress under Amaechi. Peterside said: “Despite the debilitating circumstances, impossible odds, enormous challenges and stormy political climate, our state have continued to march on in the path of prosperity. We have been counting our blessings by the grace and mercy of God and we will continue to depend on God. “I am humbled by this confidence you reposed in me and I accept this mandate with a keen sense of responsibility, knowing full well that I will be accountable to God, Rivers people and our great party. “I have had the privilege of political tutelage under our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and I have seen his passion for excellence and a new and better Rivers State. I have been challenged by this passion and believe that a greater Rivers State is possible, if we all join hands. “I will pursue the manifesto of our great party with all my youthful vigour, talent, your support and the guidance of our leaders. On my honour, I promise that I will not disappoint you. I believe in a united Rivers State and I will continue to work for that. In my character of service, we are going to create opportunities for all.” The governorship candidate, who is a former Rivers Commissioner for Works, also stated that the loyalty of Abe and Ikuru to the APC and Rivers State was unequivocal, describing them as men whose honour and integrity were worthy of emulation. RELEC described the election of Peterside as the APC’s governorship candidate as a step in the right direction, while admonishing the other political parties to emulate the ruling APC, thereby respecting the existing zoning formula, by placing emphasis on upland/riverine dichotomy. Wike, on December 8, at the playground of the

• Dr Jonathan

•Amaechi

‘The ruling APC in Rivers State also stated that the emergence of Wike as the standard bearer of the PDP was a source of joy to the APC, saying its job was half done. The Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, reiterated that members of the party had prayed and fasted for many months, for the two-term Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government council of Rivers State to emerge as the standard bearer of the PDP’ Community Secondary School, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, near the River State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), emerged as the governorship candidate of the PDP. Wike was declared winner with 1,083 out of the total votes cast of 1,108 by the delegates from 23 LGAs of the state. Of the 24 governorship aspirants that picked nomination and expression of intent forms, only six (Senator Lee Maeba, Ibinabo Micheal-West, Emmanuel Georgewill, Captain Sunday Nwankwo and Dembari Ben Dimkpa), including Wike, were present at the venue of the primary election. Dimkpa polled 21 votes; MichealWest had three votes, while Georgewill got just one vote. The elated former minister, in his acceptance speech, dedicated the victory to God, saying he would work with other former aspirants to ensure victory for the PDP in 2015. He won in spite of the allegation that he is a member of the Ogboni secret society, which he strongly denies. Wike said: “I am deeply humbled and elated by the electoral success at this state congress of our great party. It is unique and interesting that you have found me worthy to be entrusted with the enormous task of flying the party’s flag in 2015 in Rivers State. “I dedicate this victory to God Almighty, who made the victory possible. It is a victory for democracy. It is a victory for all of us, who have struggled day and night as foot soldiers of PDP in Rivers State. I hereby invite my follow contestants, as worthy gladiators, to join hands with us to move Rivers State forward. “At least, for the task of ensuring victory in Rivers State and the task of ensuring the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. In my honour, I extend the olive branch to all the combatants. We should work together to assiduously recover everything.” The 16 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants immediately rejected the emergence of Wike as the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers. The displeased governorship aspirants, under the aegis of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition and led by Prof. Israel Owate, described the PDP’s governorship primary election where Wike emerged as the party’s flag bearer as a show of shame.

Its spokesman, Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo, said: “We reject in its entirety the emergence of Wike as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State. We shall make our position known soonest. “All coalition partners should rest assured that we shall not concede our state to rogue politicians. We advise that you wait for the next action.” The ruling APC in Rivers State also stated that the emergence of Wike as the standard bearer of the PDP was a source of joy to the APC, saying its job was half done. The Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, reiterated that members of the party had prayed and fasted for many months, for the two-term Chairman of Obio/ Akpor Local Government council of Rivers State to emerge as the standard bearer of the PDP. The ruling APC said: “The emergence of Wike as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State is a source of joy to the APC. We have fasted and prayed that Wike should emerge. We are thankful to God, because our job is half done. “In a clear contest, with free and fair election allowed and a level-playing field guaranteed by INEC and the security agencies, the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, will roundly defeat Wike during the 2015 election. “Wike’s chicken has come home to roost. Picking PDP’s ticket is the end of part one of Wike’s troubles. Part two will be his humiliating defeat in February 2015, as Rivers people, with their votes, will never allow another Ikwerre (Wike) to take over from Governor Rotimi Amaechi, also an Ikwerre, in a multi-ethnic Rivers State.” The ruling APC also admonished the peaceloving people of Rivers State to continue to support the Amaechi’s administration and massively vote for Peterside and other candidates of the party, to bring about the much-desired change and move Nigeria forward.One of the twenty four governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, equally declared that the party’s governorship primary election in Rivers was designed to promote the agenda of the former minister of state for education. Princewill, who is also the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) in

Rivers State in 2007, noted that Wike might have won the battle without the other aspirants, but “let us see how he intends to win the war,” during the 2015 governorship election. He condemned the roles of the PDP’s leaderships at the state and national levels in the ugly incident, noting that Rivers people had been let down again. Princewill said: “The PDP governorship primaries held in Rivers State were designed to tell myself and other aspirants that the Ogoni and Ijaw aspirations were not just misplaced, they were irrelevant. It was designed to show us that the agenda for Wike was bigger than that for the rest of us and that in their scheme of things, we do not matter. The former Honourable Minister may have won the battle without us, but let us see how he intends to win the war. “The role of the party leadership in this ugly incident will never be forgotten and rightly so. From national to state level, Rivers people were let down again and again and again. Each and everyone of them who were behind it will pay for this. In this life, or the next, my prayer is that God’s judgement will never escape them, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. “Having seen the writing on the wall far, far back, we received calls from several political parties to pursue the option of running under the banner of one of the more viable ones, with a high quality Kalabari/Ogoni ticket, so as not to deny the people of the state, the real choice they deserve. Wike and Dakuku Peterside, two Amaechi boys, are not a choice, they are a smart imposition and Rivers people should be given the real option to reject them. “I have no reason to waste my valuable time appealing the primary, as the father of a gorilla is still a gorilla. PDP deserves Wike and I believe they should have him. If my judgment is right, Rivers people are more interested in the person, than the party. In 2015, they will show the world how fed up they are of the big political parties. My question is do I give them a different choice? What do I do? Since my mission is not for my benefit, let me ask those who I want to serve. Your wish is my command. To run or not to run? That is the question.” The governorship aspirant also stated that after a close examination, he had the following options: to join the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) or the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), accept the imposition and stay quiet in the party or quit politics altogether. He stressed that he had consulted his political associates and joining another political party was their overwhelming favourite and had even gone as far as mentioning the party he should join. Princewill said: “I am not just a politician, I am a mentor and an inspiration to many. So, my consultations will have to go far, far wider. I need to hear from friends, family and others as well. Besides, it comes with huge financial and personal sacrifice. Not just from me, but from my supporters. I am ready, if required, but are you? “Once again, let me remind all those who contributed financially to my politics, that if we go for option 3 and quit politics, all your contributions will be returned in full. I have not been given the opportunity of doing any real politicking yet. So, I have not spent any money from the campaign account.” The governorship aspirant also lauded his teeming supporters for their prayers and words of encouragement, while admonishing them not despair, stressing that the outcome of the primary election was inevitable and he saw it coming. Just like Princewill, almost all the aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants are set to dump the party, with most of them considering the ruling APC. President Jonathan is seeking re-election in 2015, while most of the leaders of the PDP are insinuating that Amaechi is fighting the President, allegedly in view of his intention to become Vice-President next year, which the NGF chairman denied. Only time will tell, who will be the next Rivers governor between Peterside and Wike, but it will surely be a battle between President Jonathan and Amaechi, to confirm who is really in charge of the hitherto volatile Niger Delta state.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

My dear fellow country men and women, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you to accept the nomination of my party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be its candidate and flag bearer in the 2015 presidential election. My nomination is not because I am better than any of the other contestants

‘

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is believed to have made a difference with the way and manner it organised its first presidential primary, which produced Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as its flag bearer in next year’s election. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, who witnessed the event, takes a look at what transpired at the shadow poll.

2015: APC scales first hurdle T

HE hullabaloo about who becomes the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election was put to rest last week, after the party’s Third National Convention and presidential primary, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The election was contested by former Head of State General Mohammadu Buhari, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and the publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah. Buhari who emerged after the keenly-contested shadow election was humble in victory, saying it the triumph of democracy. The process leading to his emergence had been adjudged the most transparent electoral exercise in recent times. From every indication, the election was purely a family affair and the contestants behaved in like manner, displaying the spirit of sportsmanship and believing that they have a common cause to change the direction of the rudderless ship of the country heading for the cliff. Right from the moment when delegates started arriving the venue that fateful Wednesday, around 9 am, till the evening when the event finally got underway, an atmosphere of friendship and conviviality pervaded. This is in spite of the fact that delegates had to wait for long before accreditation finally started at 3 pm. The law enforcement agents went about their job with the same spirit. Observers believe kudos must be given to Lagosians, delegates and others visitors alike who showed the highest form of discipline during the exercise. By the time the voting started in the wee hours of Thursday, precisely by 1.20 am, it was obvious that the carnival-like event will remain evergreen in the minds of the delegates, particularly those from North, who were thrilled by the Lagosbased entertainers like Tony Tetuila, Nice and Seyi Law. Similarly, the delegates from the Lagos axis were mesmerised by display of artistic splendour showcased at to the venue by the northern delegates. The comperes, which included Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Tony One Week and Desmond Elliot, put up a good performance that brought laughter and smiles on the faces of all those present. This helped to relax frail nerves. At the end of the day, it was described as one of the most organised political carnival in the country in recent times. The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, through his huge sense of humour and unassailable wit, melted the heart of the most hardened contestant. The message was clear: that this was not a time to make claim for personal victory, but a victory for all Nigerians in a battle to reclaim the lost glory. Similarly, the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said in his address that the APC convention was unique and that it suggests that history was about to be made in the country. His clarion call was for all participants to rise to the occasion, to assist the country to come up a redeemer who will make personal sacrifices to liberate the country from the yolk of poor leadership. He said: ‘’Many of us had attended political conventions before, but this is different. It is different because I can feel the hand of history upon all of us, guiding us to accomplish something vital for our nation. In this period of compound crisis, we are not here just to hold this convention; we are here to seek a captain that will rescue Nigeria. ‘’If you listen carefully and closely you will hear something unique and inspiring; it is the voice of change. It is his voice that led you to join this party. It is the voice that made you to become a delegate to this party. It is this voice that will lead us to victory in the election in 2015. It is the voice

of the people in the cities, towns and in the villages. ‘’It is the voice of the young and the old; it is the voice of north, south, east and west. It is the voice of Christians and Muslims alike. It is the voice that calls for a new day and a better Nigeria than what we have had in the last 15 years. It is your voice and your determination and it is my voice too. It is the voice of our children singing of their hope, singing of their dreams and telling us what about the future.’’ While announcing the result, the Chairman of the National Planning Committee of the convention and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the convention was historic and keenly contested. He added that it was a victory for democracy and that it would go a long way to show the world that the APC was capable of getting it right, because its members are so determined. Buhari said while making his remark after receiving the insignia of the authority as the APC flag bearer: “I wish to commend the Lagos State Government and steadfast in hosting this convention. There was a time Lagos was devoid of the beautiful ambience. Today, Lagos is the cleanest and a safe place in Nigeria. This is due to the leadership and the preference given to it by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, the two governors since 1999. They are team of professionals to this wonderful transformation that Nigerians are proud of. The architect of this convention must be commended; it is a testimony to the fact that democracy as a concept that is greater than the interest of the individual in a free and functional political system. “What has just happened is not about winning or losing, but about the triumph of liberty, freedom of choice of association, which is the hallmark of democracy. To my fellow contestants, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, I wish to thank you all for the keenly contested primary we just had. We have to ensure that our party is democratic and send our message to Nigerians voters in the coming election. I congratulate you all on the success of your respective campaign. I extend my greetings to you all in accepting the outcome of this convention and agreeing to support my presidential nomination. I salute you all in the coming days and how we shall confront the challenge ahead. My particular thanks and gratitude go to the delegates, the governors from travelling far and wide, through this vast and particular hostile environment to come here and dutifully participate in this exercise. “My dear fellow country men and women, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you to accept the nomination of my party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be its candidate and flag bearer in the 2015 presidential election. My nomination is not because I am better than any of the other contestants. But, we should all prepare to join hands together to rescue our dear country Nigeria from those who have led us into the current state of insecurity, poverty, sectarian divide and hopelessness among our people. “I stand before you today, to ask that you join me, in a common cause. This cause is not the personal fulfilment of one man. This common cause is nothing but the love for our nation and the concern for its present condition and I resolve to make things better for Nigeria. What I say today is for all Nigeria, Christians and Mus-

• Gen. Buhari

lims, southern and northern, rich and poor, young and old, men and women, we are all citizen of Nigeria. There is no divide line among us; we are going to work as one together. My choice and the choice of my colleagues is to make progress together, preserving the nation’s future, is a sacred obligation to all of us in this great party. Leaders should be committed to fulfil this obligation; otherwise they have no business being leaders. The current administration does not believe in this obligation, by their action they are leading us to calamity. At any international conference, the Nigerian delegation is usually among the largest, but at the same time the least respected. But, in the political influence, we are among the weakest. To us at home, we continue to live in a situation where the Power Holding Company seems only to have the power to hold us in darkness. Shall we continue in a situation that our 250 daughters have been abducted and the government has failed to rescue them or provide credible information about the steps they are taking? Shall we live in a nation where several people were put to death in search of job in a stadium and yet no one has taken the responsibility for the tragedy? Shall we live in a nation where the ranks of the poor swell and their poverty increase where a few people enjoy unprecedented wealth? My answers to these questions are no, no and no. It is time to close these demeaning spectra in our nation history. I ask that you join the effort not for me, but to establish a better nation for all of us. I understand and accept the hard challenge ahead. When all is said and done, let it be written that Mohammadu Buhari gave it all for this nation. “I want to make these five pledges about the government you will elect next February: We will govern Nigeria honestly, in accordance with the constitution. We will strive to secure the country and efficiently manage our economy. We will strive to attack poverty through good economic growth and attacking corruption through impartial application of the law. We will tolerate no religion, regional, ethnic or gender bias in our government. “We will use the best Nigerians for the right jobs. Our government will equally stand for the cause of the common man whether you are a Christian from Bayelsa State or Muslim from Kaduna State. You are first and foremost a Nigerian in my eyes. I shall treat equally as my peo-

‘Buhari who emerged after the keenly-contested shadow election was humble in victory, saying it the triumph of democracy. The process leading to his emergence had been adjudged the most transparent electoral exercise in recent times’

ple, as my family, brother and my sisters. There can be no genuine love in our country without meeting all these people in our diversity.’’ The Speaker House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal commended the delegates for leaving their comfort zones to be at the convention. “I commend you for coming to this venue, to conduct, one of the most desirable and commendable efforts in ensuring that democracy continues to prosper in Nigeria. By coming together, of the membership of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) to form the APC which has never happened in the history of Nigeria, I must commend the leadership of both parties for the great sacrifice. ‘’Today, we are going to present to Nigerians and I believe the most credible alternative to what we have in Abuja today. We have here those who are interested in the co-existence of Nigeria and to support whoever emerges from tonight activities by voting out the incompetent, malfunctioning and maladministration that we have in Abuja today. ‘’That sacrifice from Nigerians is desirable for us to continue to enjoy lasting peace in Nigeria. It is desirable for us to continue to have a Nigeria that we call our own. What we are witnessing today, a situation whereby some parts of Nigeria are being taken over by Boko Haram insurgents is regrettable. The APC by the grace of God will arrest that situation almost immediately we come to office,’’ he said. Chief Ogbonnaya Onu said: “History is being made in our dear country; for 15 years one political party has been governing our great nation. For 15 years, we have seen that the problem they inherited, which they have not been able to solve. For 15 years, you have seen that Nigeria is suffering tremendously. The time for change has come and the APC is forum which Nigerians will use for that change. “Nigeria, change is on the way; all those who have suffered tremendously on insecurity in our country, there is great hope that with the APC government; we will be able to secure our great country. Our economy has been doing so poorly; we produce crude oil and the 6th largest producer in the world and yet we import most of the petroleum products we use in our country. We are exporting jobs leaving our young men and women unemployed. The young in Nigeria, I can assure you that hope is on the way,’’ he said. Chief Audu Ogbe said: “We thank those of you who are joining us and in particular Senator Barnbas Gamade. I will like to ask some few questions. Who among us are so blind that they cannot see disaster coming? Who is so deaf that to the bombs which occur daily, blowing up our people, while like Pharaoh we wake and sleep in Abuja saying it is not yet time to end the insurrection? Who is not or conscious that cannot see the faith of our very future? Who is so sick of mind that he or she cannot see the biggest threat facing us as a people? ‘’Over 50 per cent of our youth have no job; there are no roads; there are no accommodation, electricity and other basic things to drive the economy have been grounded by leadership that lack the vision. We have become a nation of consumers, importing everything from biscuit to tomatoes paste, honey, tissue paper, exercise books and other basic things all in the name of being a consumer nation. The demand for the dollar is so higher that the naira is getting weaker and weaker. It is obvious that disaster is staring us in the face and it is to prevent this disaster that all of us are here.” APC National Women leader, Hajia Ramatu Tijani said: “I want to commend our fellow women who have come here because we believe in our great party. The path before us at this convention is to assure Nigerians and the world that we are different. We want to show that we believe in the government of one-manone-vote.” Commending the outcome of the polls, Atiku congratulated Buhari, noting that he will put in his best to ensure that the party wins the next year election. He said: ‘’I am very confident that you will provide the needed leadership to this country. I have no doubt that you will work with dedicated and qualified Nigerians to protect our citizens, improve our economy, create jobs, improve education, reform governance and fight corruption.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

POLITICS Civil war hero Brig-Gen. Godwin Alabi-Isama reflects on the book written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ‘My Watch’, and contends that the former leader reeled out a tissue of lies.

‘APC ‘ll rule next year’ By Musa Odoshimokhe

L My grouse about Obasanjo,

by Alabi-Isama I

’M gravely pained to be trading words with General Olusegun Obasanjo once again on the history of Nigeria-Biafra War. He is an elder and a former ruler who, ordinarily, should be treated with utmost respect. But, how can one genuinely respect an old man who tells lies like a badly raised child? Obasanjo has obviously not recovered from the shock inflicted on him by my book, The Tragedy of Victory, in which I exposed the tissues of lies in his civil war memoir, My Command. It is said that a lie may travel for a thousand miles, but it takes just one step of truth to catch up with it. I’m alive to stand up to him on the lies he has told on the war because I was a major participant in it. I kept records. With facts and figures at my finger tips, I have debunked Obasanjo’s lies in part three of my book, consisting of 165 pages, 69 pictures, strategies and tactics, maps and documents. This was the same Obasanjo who published a fake Federal Government gazette that I was found guilty by the Army when I was never tried. I have proved that Obasanjo was an incompetent commander. I have proved that he was a wily and cunning fellow, and an incredible opportunist, who reaped where he did not sow. I have proved that he was an ingrate and a hypocrite. More importantly, I have proved that he was a coward, who ran away from the war front to go and look for phantom ammunition. Rather than respond to my claims the way a gallant officer should, he has now responded like a motor-park tout, impugning my person and questioning my ethnic lineage. I never said I was from Ibadan. I only schooled there. General Obasanjo, this bolekaja style is so demeaning. You live in a glass house. So, stop throwing stones. We, who have facts, pictures and documents, meticulously kept over the years, can tell the whole world one or two things about you. Have a look at this attached picture at your wedding to your first wife, Remi. When the photographer wanted to take the picture of the bride and groom and their parents, you said a few things about your parents, which I still remember. It was only Remi’s mother that took the picture with us. Please, don’t mess with the memory of my dear parents. You know my mother, an Ilorin woman, and you also saw her at the war front. She told me who my father was and she spoke his language, and took me to his home town when he died. I went to primary school in Owu. So, I know your family very well. You should be honest enough to tell the world the story of the man who was your father. I told you and wrote in my book that any person who does not appreciate the efforts of women has had no good mother. Please, don’t go beyond military tactics and strategies when dealing with me. You say in volume three of your book My Watch that I could be in bed with a woman while radioing my commander that I was in pursuit of rebels. Hundreds of thousands of those who have read my book The Tragedy of Victory—a six hundred and seventy-page book, 39 military strategies and tactics, maps and documents - will call you a liar. I am so surprised and even embarrassed that a man of your status is still trading in gutter rumours. An elder with a filthy mind, a leader who lacks wisdom of age, does not deserve any respect. I’m the same Godwin Alabi-Isama

• Gen. Obasanjo

• Gen. Alabi-Isama

that commanded the troops that liberated today’s Cross River State in thirty days of battle from Calabar to Obubra with no single casualty. This is the same Alabi-Isama that advanced 480 kilometres in 30 days from Calabar to Port Harcourt, liberating today’s Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa States with 35,000 men and women with 15000 on logistics, building roads and pontoons, with 8 men and 2 officers as my casualties. Obasanjo ordered the attack of Ohoba, a mere 24 miles from Owerri, in one hour of battle, more than 1000 Nigerian soldiers were dead. Obasanjo claims that when I once played squash with him, I cheated. This incredible liar has forgotten that there were witnesses to that game. Those witnesses are still alive, and they remember what really happened. I played squash with him once in my life. He could not make a point because I was not one of his

‘You should be honest enough to tell the world the story of the man who was your father. I told you and wrote in my book that any person who does not appreciate the efforts of women has had no good mother. Please, don’t go beyond military tactics and strategies when dealing with me’

sycophants who would allow him to win a game just to massage his huge ego. Look, General Obasanjo, there was no way you could have beaten me in any game. You do not have the physique and agility to do that. Apart from being a popular sports man and soccer captain in Ibadan Boys High School, I was Sports Officer in the Nigerian Army, playing games from soccer to tennis, athletics etc. You never played any games at school let alone in the Army. If you had been diligent at your physical exercises as we were taught to be, your protruding tummy would not have become a butt of joke to many officers and men of the Army. General Obasanjo may try, but he cannot deny the evidence of the civil war tragic history. While he got over a thousand soldiers killed at Ohoba, myself, Alani Akinrinade, and the brilliant and hardworking Pincer Team of Ola Oni, Iluyomade, Isemede, S.S. Tomoye, Salawu, Okwarobo, Sunny Tuoyo, etc. did a better job at the Third Marine Commando. I have stated how it was done in ‘The Tragedy of Victory’, by writing to set the Civil War records straight. Obasanjo says I only wanted to make money, that was why I wrote my book, after all, I was broke. I thank Obasanjo for unwittingly giving credit that I did not steal money in the Army. I believe that this country, Nigeria ought to know by now all the crooks parading themselves as saints. Now, I know why Obasanjo was surprised at my financial successes abroad, and then sent his wife, Stella, of blessed memory, to me. She was my guest in Houston Texas for a week. We have video and pictures of the visit with witnesses like Jack Gonsoulin, Rod Anthony, and Tom Britton. I challenge Obasanjo to a debate on military tactics and strategies on the Nigerian Civil War. He wrote about his team. Who were they? George Innih went the wrong way to Arochukwu when Akinrinade needed reinforcement for the final battle to capture Uli Ihiala airport. Akinrinade told him that he would shoot George Innih anytime he showed up. Where was Obasanjo’s fake Apollo Battalion that operated behind enemy lines, when he could not capture Ohoba? When Akinrinade called him that Biafra troops had surrendered to him and the Pincer team, Obasanjo, who was coming from a party, got lost looking for them, as he did not know where to go and did not know the way to Amichi. I am not qualified to comment on Obasanjo’s political achievements, if any, for this country. The people and posterity will do that. There is no President in this country that he has not condemned. Haba! He always thinks that he has the preserve of knowledge on how to rule this country. Did the country move forward when he was Head of State or President? He destroyed the heart of the national security. We can see the result today. He destroyed education in many ways. We see the result today. He destroyed a lot of other things. As for how he has treated his family shabbily, his wife and children have openly made their comments. Those comments are in public domain today and forever, even though Obasanjo cleverly brushes them aside in his current book. I implore Obasanjo to stop lying before he dies.

AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Hon. Olabisi Adebajo has said that the party will rule the country next year, urging Nigerians to endure the misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre. She said the opposition has a developmental agenda that will return Nigeria to its past glory. Adebajo, a member of the State Executive Committee, said in a statement that the APC will bring relief to the country, if its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is elected in next year’s election. She added:” The APC, formed by an alliance of multiple parties in 2013, is a party of the future. The future is nearer than we imagine. The party is on the side of the common man. Apart from governance and policy, the APC strives to bring out talents and untapped opportunities that are available to Nigerians. “The PDP, on the other hand, has a track record, not only in their failed politics, but also in their approach to all facets of governance. Pride, arrogance and greed describe its driving force is. How else would you describe a party that has such unilateral policies and extreme laissez-faire attitude to policy formulation and implementation? “Their ineffective leadership may have cost the parents and siblings of the Chibok girls a lifetime of heartache and pain. How could a government be so wrapped up in their ego that they refuse to see past their own needs, at the cost of saving the innocent girls into slavery? “When foreign aid came to Nigeria to assist in the rescue operation, they could not provide the incentive. The US government offered spy drones and thermal technology, which are critical to modern warfare, to capture Osama bin Laden. The chances of rescue at that point were more difficult than they would have been, had they accepted the assistance earlier. Consequently, the insurgency of ‘Boko Haram’ has proven victorious in this matter. Adebajo also criticised the Federal Government for the economic deprivation of Nigerians. She said: “As for failed economic policies, the numbers speak for themselves. Seven out of 10 Nigerians are living in poverty. All PDP aspirants will have to contend with the failed policies of this government, or simply distant themselves from the President to save face.

APC candidate denies murder charge

LL Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives in Ifako/Ijaye Constituency, Lagos State, Dr Elijah Olu Adewale has denied that he had no hand in the murder of a bus conductor, Oludotun Onabanjo. The politician said that his foes decided to link him with the incident to deny him victory at the recent primaries. Adewale thanked delegates for the confidence reposed in him, promising to live up to live up to expectation, if elected as a legislator. He recalled that on December 30, 1985, when he was in the Nigeria Police, he was charged for manslaughter, following the death of Onabanjo. Adewale said he was discharged and acquitted of the case by Justice O.O Obadina of the High Court of Lagos State. The APC chieftain wondered why detractors would want to make a political capital out of a matter that was properly prosecuted and for which he had been acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction. Reading from a certified copy of the judgement, he quoted the judge as follows: “It seems to me the prosecution has not been able to establish a high degree of negligence in handling the gun or in the use of it at all, by the accused to sustain a charge of manslaughter. The whole evidence led by and relied upon by the prosecution is purely circumstantial and is far short of the standard required by law to ground a conviction. In the circumstances, it is my view that the prosecution has failed woefully to prove its cae against the accused within the standard required by Section 137 of the Evidence Act. Accordingly, the accused is entitled to an acquittal and is hereby discharged and acquitted.” Giving a background to the matter, Adewale, who at the time of the incident was a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “On the day, he had taken his sister to Ojota to board a vehicle to Ife, and had came out of the car to see that his sister crossed the road safely when suddenly, a conductor operating from a bus gave him a hard • Adewale kick to the face and he was monetarily blinded.

Aspirant congratulates Ambode

ORMER Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants Tayo Ayinde has congratulated the winner of the primaries, Akinwunmi Ambode, on his victory. In a statement by his media manager, Peter Ajayi, the aspirant said Ambode’s “rigorous campaign activities, hard work and popularity have been rewarded with landslide victory. As an APC loyalist, the victory of one of us, is victory for all. I shall continue to work for the interest of our party.” Ayinde commended delegates, observers and the party leadership for their commitment, stressing that the stakeholders have done the party proud. He said: “Our party is democratic and one big family. Our collective purpose has been, and will always be, to serve the interest of our people.” Ayinde expressed gratitude to the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for providing an enabling environment and level-playing field for aspirants, adding that he is a mentor and role model. He promised to support the candidate to achieve victory at the poll. Ayinde added: “I thank all APC members. The journey has just begun. The next task is winning the 2015 elections and all hands must be on deck to • Ambode achieve this.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Time to stanch the waste

•GEMS4 is a good response to heavy post-harvest losses in tomato. But it has to be replicated in other agricultural value chains OR a sector known for annual postharvest loss of some 50 percent, the offer by the Department for International Development (DFID)-funded Growth and Employment in States (GEMS4) Project, to help overhaul the tomato value chain, is certainly long overdue. GEMS4 recently took the first important step in this regard when it hosted a workshop for stakeholders in the tomato value chain. The workshop covered the broad areas of primary handling operations from farm to processing centres, improvement and expansion of support services like structuring farmers’ organisations, improving technical and managerial skills, agricultural extension and training, storage and transportation. To start with, it has been 11 months since the National Tomato Technical Working Group (NTTWG) was inaugurated by the then Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. NTTWG, a child of necessity, came in response to the problems of the tomato production sub sector, the result of which the nation currently expends N16 billion on imports. It must, therefore, come as refreshing that the promise of that initial step by the CBN is on the verge of being realised with development partners picking up the gauntlet. With Nigeria ranking second in Africa, coming only behind Egypt, and placing 13th in the world in tomato production, the offer speaks to the recognition of the country’s potential as the leading producer of the commodity. But then, the other half of the picture is that the nation currently consumes 2.3

million metric tonnes of tomato paste out of which it produces 1.8 million metric tonnes. Unfortunately, half of this output is lost between the farm gate and the market, the result of which the treasury is forced to shell out N16 billion on tomato imports alone. Admittedly, the problem of post-harvest losses is not exclusive to the tomato value chain. It replicates in cassava, maize as indeed other agricultural products. It starts from the harvest field, right up to the farm gate up until the products’ final destination – the market. The underlying factors range from the virtual absence of critical infrastructure like transportation, power, and storage/ marketing facilities; to lack of know-how on methods of preservation. Aside being a window into the state of the nation’s underdevelopment, it is a major source of the crushing poverty among the farming population. At the continental level, annual postharvest losses is reckoned to be in excess of $4 billion. That is why the attempt to address the challenges must necessarily be multi-pronged involving both the private and the public sectors. It comes basically to putting money into the value chain to make the sector truly a business; i.e. bringing to bear the fruits of technology into the handling, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of the commodity. It starts with equipping farmers with basic handling and storage skills to minimise farm losses; provision of cheap and efficient transportation system to move perishable products to the market in record time and, the ancillary infrastruc-

ture to preserve them in safe hygienic states and at minimal costs to the farmers from which point those who need them – whether as industrial inputs or as food – can access them. This is where the offer of help comes as critical and important. We are aware that the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a private firm – African Exchange Holdings – to build 800 warehouses across the country to mitigate post-harvest losses. The step, in addition to the existing grain silos scattered across states of the federation under the Federal Government’s strategic grains reserve, is certainly a move in the right direction. However, the real challenge lies in acquiring and retaining greater processing capacity for the bulk of our agricultural products. We remain convinced that acquiring a greater processing capacity isn’t just the surest way to guarantee stable incomes for our farmers and food security in the long run; it is the sustainable path to national development.

‘Acquiring a greater processing capacity isn’t just the surest way to guarantee stable incomes for our farmers and food security in the long run; it is the sustainable path to national development’

Stove scam? •Is the N9.2 billion budgeted for energy-saving stoves and Wonderbags well-spent?

HE announcement that the Federal Government is to spend N9.2 billion on clean-cook stoves and Wonderbags for Nigeria’s rural women, as part of its National Clean Cooking Scheme (NCCS), throws up several conflicting responses. On the surface, it appears a welcome intervention in the lives of a much-neglected segment of the populace; and a long-overdue step in reducing desertification, global warming and disease. On the other hand, however, it is at best, a blatant attempt to curry votes in the forthcoming general election; and at worst, a slush fund to be used in purchasing votes in the polls. Perhaps the first bone of contention has to do with the manner in which it was conceived. How did the Federal Government arrive at the conclusion that the purchase of 750,000 clean-cook stoves and 18,000 Wonderbags is the most pressing need confronting rural women at the present time? Such a decision obviously requires the input of those it is meant to benefit; yet

‘It is at best, a blatant attempt to curry votes in the forthcoming general election; and at worst, a slush fund to be used in purchasing votes in the polls’

there is no evidence that any need assessment surveys were conducted among rural women anywhere in the country. Which rural women’s groups and nongovernmental organizations were contacted by officials of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs? What recommendations and suggestions did rural women or their representatives make? Such questions make the scheme reminiscent of the attempt to make 10 million mobile phones available to farmers in January 2013, which was criticised for its opacity and lack of consideration for the actual needs of peasant farmers. If indeed rural women were not fully consulted on the clean stove initiative, then the scheme smacks of the arrogant paternalism of a Federal Government which thinks it knows more about those it purports to govern than they know about themselves. Then, there is the issue of whether the initiative was properly thought out. What kind of fuel will the clean-cook stoves be using? How is it to be sourced, and by whom? Even though the stoves themselves are to be distributed without charge, will the fuel also be free? What happens when stoves are damaged? On what basis will the stoves and Wonderbags be delivered, given the fact that different geographical zones will have different but competing requirements? The clean-cook stoves are to be locally assembled; it is assumed that the Wonderbags will be imported. Both are to be delivered in 12 weeks. Such projections assume superlative efficiencies

which are unheard of in the Nigerian environment. What is the guarantee that this timeline will be met, and what are the sanctions in the almost-certain case of failure? It is particularly noteworthy that the period just happens to coincide with that of the elections, thereby giving rise to the question of whether it is actually being deployed as an electoral bribe, a more sophisticated version of the “stomach infrastructure” strategy that was so successfully used in Ekiti State in June. In the particular case of Wonderbags, it is surprising that the Federal Government has chosen not to replicate the successful experience of South Africa, where costs were kept down by working with a multinational company which elected to distribute it for free upon purchase of specific products. In the Nigerian case, it appears to be a wholly government-owned scheme, with all the risks of administrative inefficiency, sleaze, rampant corruption, impunity and ultimate failure. In addition to the many unanswered questions surrounding the clean-cook stoves and Wonderbags, there is the fact that their use will not address the fundamental issues that have stared the country’s rural women in the face for so long: stable electricity, cheap and affordable kerosene, cottage industries and smallscale enterprises, the construction of good roads. It is only when these developments occur, in conjunction with one another, that the lot of the long-suffering rural women will truly improve.

Doyin Okupe’s ‘Jesus’

IR: If not for the fact that the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been pocketed by the Jonathan administration, a ‘fatwa’ would have been issued by the Christian community against Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe for his blasphemous statement that ‘President Jonathan is like Jesus Christ’. I have a feeling that Okupe could not have been speaking the mind of President Jonathan. This is a President that has tamely shown respect for religious leaders over the years, albeit for political advantages; a President quick to invite religious leaders with huge follower-ship to Aso Rock for Presidential breakfasts meetings followed by group photographs. Again, I have a feeling that the President will not personally renounce this statement. He would most likely shrug it off wishing it will fizzle out of public discourse just the way he seems to wish the issue of Chibok girls will become history. Perhaps, Okupe is speaking the mind of the President, after all. Students of Nigeria’s political history will recall the systematic attempt by the Jonathan’s camp to mystify the President and immortalize him, when he has not even clocked 60 years of age. It started with the 2011 elections, when the name Azikiwe suddenly crept in from nowhere, to the middle name of erstwhile President Jonathan. The signal then was that Jonathan was like the Great Zik of Africa, that Jonathan was his offshoot, and the inheritor and torch bearer of his political legacies and empire. Later, the amorphous group – Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) placed an unimaginative advertisement on national television networks where President Jonathan is compared to President Barack Obama, late President Nelson Mandela, and former Singaporean President, Lee Kuan Yew. As if that is not enough, he is now likened to Jesus- indicating that it is no longer fitting to compare him with mere mortals, dead or alive but the Saviour and Messiah! Maybe Okupe wanted to say that Jonathan is a good follower, disciple of Jesus, and wants to be Christ-like. Even if we give the Presidential spokesman an undeserved benefit of doubt due to, maybe an improbable slip of tongue, the truth is that Jonathan has been an unimpressive disciple of Jesus Christ. The messiah fought for the poor and fed the hungry in thousands; but under Jonathan, the poor has become poorer while a minister spent billions of naira to hire private jets with public funds for official and unofficial assignments. Another squandered N255m to purchase two armoured cars. The Biblical saviour drove traders out of the temple, but Nigeria has become a nest of thieves and Aso rock has become the abode of brief-case contractors, mindless profiteers, middlemen, and mafias. Such is the tragedy of a nation that produces crude petrol, exports it abroad, and imports it as refined fuel through middlemen, selling to citizens at cut-throat prices. Under the very nose of the ‘Jesus’ of Nigeria, teenage girls were kidnapped in broad daylight and married off to blood thirsty extremists, and the only response from Jonathanians and other apologists, is to place giant #BringBackJonathan billboards around the country’s capital – a sadistic mockery of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Maybe Okupe was misquoted; maybe he meant to say that Jonathan is like the Biblical Judas who squandered ‘good luck’ and betrayed the hopes of the Nigerians. •Babatope Babalobi, Lagos

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 17, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: While I most heartily congratulate and rejoice with retired General Muhammadu Buhari and his teeming supporters on his emergence as standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in next year’s presidential election. It truly takes a politician with the heart of a lion, the wisdom of a tortoise and the unassailable courage of a tiger to go into political contest with tried and tested political gladiators of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s standing. Let me draw attention to a few critical issues as we approach February 2015. The biggest hurdle before Buhari was never the APC presidential primaries. No political party desirous of genuine change can afford to turn its back against a huge political asset of his standing. Seriousminded parties with clear-cut programmes or manifesto equally require credible and competent candidates to deliver on their campaign

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Buhari: Beyond the presidential ticket promises. And the man Buhari undoubtedly has what any party requires to go into any electoral contest unmatched. I certainly have my fears. My biggest concern as we go into next year’s polls is the Nigerian Police and other security agencies that are billed to be part of the exercise. The police as presently constituted is sure to further break the hearts of Nigerians. As presently constituted, the institution cannot guarantee free, fair, credible and transparent elections. The Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has repeatedly told whoever

that cares to listen that he owes allegiance to President Jonathan and the PDP and not the Nigerian nation. The whole world has come to know where he stands, what he represents and what his mission is. He is sure to make rubbish of former IGP Tafa Balogun’s unenviable records. He is sure to use his men to rig the forthcoming election. If a sitting IGP can summarily recall the security detail of the number four citizen as well as lockout federal lawmakers out of their chambers, such a man is capable of doing anything, no matter how nasty, to please his boss.

My Watch: Open letter to Obasanjo

IR: Whilst growing up as a youth, I witnessed the practical manifestation of the Biblical story of Joseph, who left prison for the palace. Your trajectory was similar to that of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela; moving from prison to become democratically elected president. But unlike Joseph and Mandela who supervised progressive Egyptian and South African economies respectively, your achievements after eight years in office were below par. When I heard of your autobiography My Watch, like Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom, I was confident it would profile life lessons – which Nigeria could benefit from. That it would bring reflective solutions to the current problems facing the country, particularly the threat of division. Your autobiography has been very controversial, and is proving harmful to the unity of Nigeria. First, you degrade and insult the office of the president – something you would never tolerate during your tenure. Then you went ahead to fault different patriotic individuals; even comparing the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka to a “Guniea Fowl (Aparo) hunter”. Thank God for the quick counter by the retired Brig-general Alabi-Isama - this re-

vealed some of your weaknesses as an army officer, Nigerian president and statesman. Please sir, permit me to remind you that your democratic government suffered from authoritarian hangover. You were a democratic-dictator. We know how you monopolised virtually some vital sectors of our economy. Infact, I was shocked when I discovered that your democratic malpractices were as a result of your erroneous understanding of the nature of true democracy. In the “Elements of Democracy” as co-edited by you, you had asserted that “Democracy as practiced in the West may not suit our peculiar circumstances and needs. As such, our conceptualization of democracy must take due cognizance of our lived reality…” Allow me to use this opportunity to correct your misconception. The principles of true democracy are the same everywhere. Any of such adjustment is anti-democratic and authoritarian. I am sorry to say, but your version of democracy is pseudo-democratic. You have been unable to transform yourself to embrace democratic praxis and attitude. Sir, no one can give what he doesn’t have. You failed as the president of

Nigeria, and still fail at the level of a statesman. How can you condemn the presidency when you failed during your time on that seat? You say corruption? For God’s sake, your government was beset of it. It is crystal clear that whatever pieces of advice you would proffer will prove detrimental to the success of Nigeria in the long run. And like Plato’s allegory of the cave, you may feel you know all about good governance – only to end up discovering how terribly wrong you’ve been. At 77, a respected man’s words and actions are regarded as insightful – forming landmarks to the progress of an individual or the bond and growth of a society. Our own 77year-old retired leader and statesman must not say and act differently. Please help us unify Nigeria, and not scatter it. Please leave with us a country of great worth – bonded in love and unity - when you finally go to give an account of your life and leadership to the Creator. Many are your followers and disciples in Nigeria, please don’t lead them astray. This is what God expects of you. Sir, think about it. •Prince Ifoh, Lagos, Nigeria.

Secondly, the Professor Attaihiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appears ill-prepared to deliver anything close to credible election exercise. This can be gleaned from the embarrassingly shoddy manner it handled the Permanent Voter Card distribution exercise. The opposition has to sit up to ensure that INEC isn’t compromised this time around. Thirdly, those bent on scuttling

Buhari’s presidential ambition have found partnership in a number of wishy-washy media platforms operated by media mercantile and quacks. The publications are all meant to reduce him to nothing. To weaken him. To distract him from focusing on his programme of action. To Buhari, be rest assured that countless other Nigerians are daily countering such false publications with very insightful and brilliant articles. That you are loved and appreciated by the masses isn’t an issue for debate. They see you as the man ordained to liberate Nigeria and Nigerians from the firm grip of clueless, incompetent and corrupt leadership as presently constituted. So, expect the powers that be to fight hard to ensure you aren’t elected. •Abdullahi Yunusa, Imane, Kogi State.

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Tompolo’s armada

IR: The news of the recent acquisition by Tompolo’s Company, Global West Vessel Service of seven war vessels, is extremely disturbing and destabilizing. Given the volatile nature of Warri/Benin Rivers Area and the overbearing violence of the Ijaw against the Itsekiri in particular, this is a sinister and dangerous development. There is no provision in Nigerian Law that permits the engagement of private persons and outfits to carry arms and engage in security operations in Nigerian waters. This duty is the exclusive responsibility of the Nigerian Navy. Section 3 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A 20 of the 2004 Laws of Nigeria provides as follows: “(3) The Armed Forces shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and such other duties as the National Assembly may, from time to time, prescribe or direct by an Act. (4) Notwithstanding the generality of the provisions of subsection (3) of this section – (a) The Navy shall, in particular, be further charged with – (i) enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of all customs, laws, including anti-bunkering, fishery and immigration laws of Nigeria at sea;

(ii) enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of national and international maritime laws ascribed or acceded to by Nigeria; (iii) making of charts and coordinating of all national hydrographic surveys; and (iv) promoting, coordinating and enforcing safety regulations in the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria.” It is therefore clear that when it comes to the use of armed force and military type of operations in Nigerian waters, (internal, territorial and High seas), it is the Navy and in certain circumstances, in combination with the Air Force, that has authority and jurisdiction to operate armed vessels in our waters. Therefore the present situation in which Government Ekpemupolo has been allowed to bring in a naval fleet into the Western Delta area of Nigeria constitutes not only a threat to peace in that area, but also a blatant illegality. In the circumstances, it is the duty of the Naval authorities to seize and confiscate the illegally imported naval ships. Nigeria cannot have two naval establishments at the same time. Tompolo’s Armada is a threat to the peace of Nigeria. • Prof. Itse Sagay, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

COMMENTS

Our Girls; FERMA failure; Social Media Awards; A Political Party Corruption Index for Jonathan vs Buhari

UR Girls are still missing since April 15 denying families of the joy of the holiday season. FERMA must try to overcome its growing Tony reputation for sleeping Marinho during the year and only waking up like Father Xmas –once a year-to declare ‘zero tolerance for potholes for Yuletide and New Year travellers’. Are we idiot children to be given ‘pothole filling’ as an annual gift? We all know that end of year budgets are used to steal money from contractors, contracts and government. Shame. FERMA should apologise to the millions who have lost time, money, tyres, vehicles and limbs and even lives in the potholes FERMA could not fill for 11 months. Be assured that very little pothole filling has taken place on the Lagos-Ibadan road. The massive traffic jam this last Saturday caused a marked traffic diversion to the Abeokuta/Papalanto Road and Abeokuta/ Agege Expressway both mislabelled as their condition makes them in a good position to compete for the ‘Road with a 1000 potholes’ Prize. In the UK, government pays compensation to pothole accident victims and replaces their tyres etcetera. What exactly does FERMA do for the rest of the year apart from recruit Sure-P black shirts in Lagos and drive state officials off ‘abandoned for lack of funds’ federal roads? FERMA is not a good advert for the Federal Might! Hurray for the First Social Media Awards held recently in Lagos. It is a good step in the right direction and draws attention to the massive failure of the majority of companies and corporations and even the media to pay much more attention to influencing society and the lives of citizens through social media messages than currently done. For years we have been fighting for a larger space in the media for life skill messaging which has less than 1one percent of total media space in contrast to the commercial

N recent times, the activities of the Nigerian Police have generated intense debate. Different opinions ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous have been canvassed on what a model Police Force should look like. Though it is difficult to know exactly where the pendulum of public opinion fully swings, the fact remains that due to the nature of their job, the police are only to be seen rather than being heard. It is in this vein that this column is constrained to look at the issue of the police and the society. The public and the police exist as one. They are dependent on one another. The constitutional roles and the workings of the police as an organisation specialised in the overall peace and security interest of the public cannot be over emphasised. In spite of the often-held misconception by some members of the public who see the police as a compulsive interloper, there is a symbiotic link between the police and the larger society. As British Home Secretary between January 26, 1828 and November 22, 1830, Sir Robert Peel, who is globally regarded as the father of the modern professional police force, established the Metropolitan Police Force for London based at Scotland Yard, in 1829. The 1,000 constables who form the nucleus of today’s British Police, were affectionately nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ or, somewhat less affectionately, ‘Peelers’. Although unpopular at first, they proved very successful in cutting crime in London. As a result, by 1857, all cities in the United Kingdom were obliged to follow suit and form their own police forces. Still adored today as the father of modern policing, Peel developed the Peelian Principles which defined the ethical requirements police officers must follow to be effective. He once made a famous quote detailing the inseparability of the police from the larger

message which takes up 99% of advert space but does not affect or save life. The Ebola media triumph should be studied and replicated for many diseases including typhoid and life threatening conditions in same way Ebola was defeated through the media. Speaking politics, the primaries seem superficially to have been the most successful in history. But did the delegates vote or were they pushed or ordered? We have no idea how much of Nigeria’s money changed hands in the direction of the delegates and how much godfatherism and godmotherism went on. The Lagos State PDP figures are touted as tainted with an overflow of 50+votes miscounted or mysteriously included. However even if 50 or 60 votes were legally added to the protestor or subtracted from the winner, would that change the outcome? With the outcome of both the PDP and APC primaries throwing up incumbent Jonathan and past military leader Buhari, the discerning voters of Nigeria have the opportunity to choose between the ‘questionable consistency of delivery’ of the PDP since 1999 to 2015 and the opportunity for change thrown up by the APC/Buhari ticket. The voters are asking if Nigeria can endure another four years of PDP-style control and another four years of high internationally measured corruption? The new improved Buhari on the other hand, still has questions to answer on the malicious warped North-South wealth distribution when he was running PTF. Will such a man, who was unfair over PTF funds, be fair with the country’s budget? Has he learnt any lessons and can he run the country fairly? APC mysteriously touts the ‘holier than thou’ anti-corruption card and the APC perceived record of outdoing the PDP in service delivery and good governance. However the APC is by no means a white lily of anti-corruption and needs to massively improve on its anti-corruption activities, with some believed to own massive assets from governance. The overbearing exercise of ‘posts and position power’ has seen the Senate and Reps and governorship positions populated by the chosen family and loyalists. There is a big debate in the minds of voters about party corruption. Where do PDP, APC et cetera stand on the Political Party

Corruption Index? The truth is that most in the South are frightened at the prospect of negative growth expected under another northern government at the federal level as northern governments are known for their ‘North is superior policies and practices’. Nigerians know that the any southern in the government will be the usual ‘yes’ and AGIP, Any Government In Power, men and women who are infamous for looking the other way and asking no questions while others suck the life out of Nigeria. The electorate will vote as it is necessary to keep democracy running against the threat of a military take-over. The progressive states will have an advantage if they first stop party corruption immediately and ‘divert’ all incoming revenues towards honest budgetary spending. This spending should be on pothole filling- ‘Make straight our path’, textbook distributing –‘books now, buildings later’, school upgrading, salary and pension paying - ‘a labourer is worthy of his hire’, bridge repairing, scholarship giving, sports supporting, Boy Scout etcetera supporting programme all added to the planned stomach politics. The people’s happiness is dependent on both stomach and development. Everyone, politician and pauper, voter and violent politician, has a stomach. Why should it only be politicians who have a full and potbellied stomach and rosy cheeks when even the potholes remain unfilled?

‘Everyone, politician and pauper, voter and violent politician, has a stomach. Why should it only be politicians who have a full and potbellied stomach and rosy cheeks when even the potholes remain unfilled?’

The Police and the society society: “The police are the public and the public are the police”. A truism that is as natural as the legend of the egg and the chicken. The Nigeria Police is a dynamic organisation with a clear constitutional mandate to ensure a safe, secure and orderly society by serving the community in accordance with extant laws of the country. Its responsibilities to the society include: Protection of life and property; preservation of peace, security and stability; preventing the commission of offences and misdemeanours as the focal point of the new approach to effective policing; detecting and apprehending offenders and their accomplices; assisting people in distress; in legal circumstances; providing security; monitoring and protection during elections and other national events, among others. In performing these roles, the Nigeria Police and its personnel are expected to exhibit flexibility. This goes with the expectation that the rank and file should be openminded at all times; be adaptive to changing patterns of policing, psychology and tolerate differing opinions and standpoints. Its personnel must exhibit leadership. That is, the rank and file is expected to be consistent and approachable while being committed to and inspiring the organisational values in others. They must demonstrate integrity, which simply means, they should act with honesty and respect for the right to fair hearing and due process for all while maintaining confidentiality and respect for those they deal with on day-to-day basis. Furthermore, the officers and men are expected to demonstrate moral strength, courage and behave hon-

‘The symbiotic link between the society and the Nigeria Police calls for a reappraisal because it seems the new genre of the political class has been creating dire situations designed to alienate and practically destroy the natural bond between the two segments’

ourably and impartially, at all times. Other expected qualities include the display of professionalism. What this means is that they should not shift responsibility but be accountable to superiors and constituted authority, honestly, openly and consistently, while continually striving for excellence. This, they can achieve, through respect. Therefore, members of the Nigeria Police are expected to realise, embrace and respect the inherent diversity in languages, religions, cultures, lore and mores of Nigerian communities with no iota of bias. They must also have a sense of appreciation. Policemen are also expected to value other opinions whether dissenting or complementary, while appreciating and acknowledging the efforts of others. In all of these, what the police need most is support. Apart from support by the public, officers and men should endeavour to recognise and reward the service and sacrifices of others through promoting professionalism and career development. This support comes in the form of synergy between the police and the community where they operate. This is necessary because the average policeman should always tap from his catchment community in the areas of community policing such as information sourcing and sharing, volunteer services and so on, while maintaining confidentiality of sources. Above all, it is pertinent to note that the police cannot exist in isolation because the public justifies the existence of the police in the first instance, just as the public cannot prosper in chaos or the absence of law and order. It is the performance of this onerous duty by the police that sometimes brings them into bad reckoning in the minds of some people who probably do so after perpetrating or getting involved in certain heinous and prima-facie crimes and misdemeanours. Generally, the average Nigerian

views and interacts with members of the police force with measured suspicion and concealed distrust. In many instances, many people think the policeman or woman is an extra-terrestrial being with a clear agenda to make life difficult for people. This mindset is responsible for many Nigerians hoarding useful and essential information from the police, a behaviour that is responsible for non-resolution of many crimes especially murders, assassinations and other killings in the country. The reluctance of people to volunteer useful information, except, probably, for pecuniary purposes, has become bottle necks in solving an array of knotty criminal cases over the decades. It is also of prime concern that the Nigerian public, particularly the political class, is in the habit of heaping praises and encomiums on the police when its actions favour them and demonising it when its actions do not favour them. It is good to note that under the new dispensation, the leadership of the police is opening up new vistas for working cooperation with the larger public in the areas of developing joint initiatives to target crime and criminality within the society by creating and supporting information and resource sharing. In doing this, policemen are expected to form active partnership with research and training institutions/organisations. They can also involve more people outside the force, such as volunteers, who will help in crime prevention and community policing. Recently, the police hierarchy established human rights desks in all police formations nationwide. It was followed last week with the release of the code of conduct for human rights in the police. This is in tandem with the reformative process and the new orientation geared towards transforming the operational and psychological make-up of the police, especially in the area of maintaining law and order as a prelude to a peaceful election season in 2015.

Dele Agekameh Therefore, those who are currently trying to drive a wedge between the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian public, by skewing information and cooking up non-existent scenarios capable of bringing the police to public ridicule and odium, must seriously have a rethink. The public should be wary of those who seek to indoctrinate it with Goebellian propaganda designed to rubbish the police. Now that the political parties’ primaries are over and the candidates for the 2015 elections are known, the police should be mindful of those who are determined to use the instrumentality of the force either to cling to office or assume power at all costs. The symbiotic link between the society and the Nigeria Police calls for a reappraisal because it seems the new genre of the political class has been creating dire situations designed to alienate and practically destroy the natural bond between the two segments. Perhaps, we should introspectively ask: Why is the Nigeria Police, the same organisation that has excelled in the various United Nations’ peacekeeping missions in other countries, being constantly vilified by a segment of the society? This is germane because apart from reflecting and mirroring the society, the success or failure of the Nigeria Police will certainly have a catastrophic cum collateral damage on the larger society.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

COMMENTS ‘I have read your article in the back page of The Nation putting GEJ and the General side by side for an issue-based campaign, but I want to tell Nigerians that President Jonathan has nothing else to offer than unfufilled promises and signs of incompetence. Please check the three words in the Generals open letter to his party delegates. Corruption, insecurity and the fall of our great economy. All these three factors have not been addressed by President Jonathan for the past six years in office and yet he wants re-election. Lets forget about President Jonathan as he can never keep to his words, the General’s word is his bond, he is the solution to Nigeria’s problems at this cross-road. God bless Nigeria’

•Jonathan

For Segun Gbadegesin Good writeup but it must be noted that President Jonathan’s government is six years old and not four years. So, one may ask whether six years serial failures of no motion but deaths and violence unprecedented and monumental corruption can be further endured for another four years. From Ade, Abuja I have read your article in the back page of The Nation putting GEJ and the General side by side for an issue-based campaign, but I want to tell Nigerians that President Jonathan has nothing else to offer than unfufilled promises and signs of incompetence. Please check the three words in the Generals open letter to his party delegates. Corruption, insecurity and the fall of our great economy. All these three factors have not been addressed by President Jonathan for the past six years in office and yet he wants re-election. Lets forget about President Jonathan as he can never keep to his words, the General’s

WO candidates have finally emerged to run for the governorship of Adamawa State in the forthcoming 2015 elections. Let’s face it, the difference between Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APCs, candidate, Senator Bindowo Jibrilla is same as six and half-a-dozen, to many people who are awaiting the governorship contest of the state. I am one of them. And I am awaiting this contest sincerely eagerly. On a personal note, whoever wins, to me, is very likely to remain approachable and accessible. Perhaps it is the reason why several people have called me to ask which among the two politicians is my choice for governor. Indeed I have known both men from home and seen them play big Abuja politics. I have known Nuhu since our secondary school days when he was at Aliyu Mustapha while I went to Murtala College, even though he was two years ahead of me in class. I have written so much about Nuhu, with scathing remarks sometimes and supporting commentaries at others. Bindowo has been a benefactor, for me, in several ways. When I started a newspaper in Abuja, he had offered me a very centrally located office at the Central Business District. Ordinarily the office would have cost me a fortune, which perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to afford. But he let me and the staff sit

‘It is important for Adamawa people to make an informed choice without recourse to sentiments and other primordial inclinations. That wonderful state has suffered utter neglect. It has been raped brutalized and subjugated to the whims and caprices of selfcentred people in and out of the military’

word is his bond, he is the solution to Nigeria’s problems at this cross-road. God bless Nigeria. From Kings, Port-Harcourt It is good to have people like you. Your writing on issues at stake is marvelous. Thanks. From Ibrahim,Kano. If Governor Shema actually made the comment credited to him,too bad.Thats politics with bitterness in its crudest form.He needs to apologise publicly the same way he made the remarks,except if his denial for making the comment could as well mean showing of remorse for such unfortunate statement.That way,he can still be pardoned all the same.It really takes a leader or public figure with a large heart to accept his mistakes and apologise publicly. From Emmanuel Egwu Re: “Decision 2015: Issues at stake.” At last, the two Presidential candidates of two major political parties, APC and PDP, have finally been picked by their repective parties. The next line of actions is the commencement of issues based electioneering campaings that will make them sell their programmes to the electorate and make the usual pledges and promises of what they will do. But at a time when there is misgovernance and we yearn for a change, it is expected that the APC will not feel

shy to address the mistakes committed by the PDP in the areas of economy, security and corruption that has become a fish bone now hanging. in the throat of the nation and requiring a good, disciplined and competent leader to remove. As the PDP had woeflly failed to perform for the past 14 years, one expects that Nigerians will be looking up to the APC candidate General Buhari, for good leadership and improved security of lives and property, especially for the people in the North who, I am sure, have suffered in the hands of Boko Haram who continues to kill innocent souls daily like rats for the past three years. So, the year 2015 is a year of decisionn and I hope the electorate will make a wise decision devoid of manipulations from the ruling party. From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye For Olatunji Dare On implosion that never was; I congratulate both Governor Fashola SAN and Senator Tinubu. For Tinubu, his task is beyond Lagos, for he must ensure that with assistance from other leaders in other parts of Nigeria, Buhari as presidential candidate, Fashola as his vice, Ngige as Senate president and Amechi

Adamawa: Between Ribadu and Bindowo By Abdulrazaque BelloBarkindo there gratis. There is nothing I can do, therefore, to repay him for the kind gesture. So you can call me whatever name you like after reading this piece, but the truth here is an inescapable thing. It will be foolhardy to mortgage the future of our children on the altar of personal friendship or even self-aggrandizement, if you like. I know from their tone that some of the people who are calling me to inquire where I stand are doing so for more than altruistic reasons. I even smell mischief in others. But as I always tell friends, my vote can only do so much just as my opinion is but a drop in the ocean. I have retained a vehement passion though for my state to play catch-up. Adamawa State was created in 1991 but it has not risen beyond the hamlet that it was before that epoch. Most other states created along with it like Jigawa, Zamfara and Nasarawa, to catch the rhyming scheme bug, have grown to become municipalities, at least larger than the localities that surround them. But Adamawa has refused to develop. I have searched for a cause of the problems of Adamawa State, the constitutional laboratory of Nigeria, here, there and everywhere, since the start of democracy in 1999. And I have found no reason at all except the influence of rapacious godfathers who would not let the people benefit from their hard days sweat. I have also set forth to develop a survey on the way forward preceding this election that awaits the people. The wise answers to my questionnaires have been very few and far between. Some give hope high enough to wave and smile at angels there above and some bring as much depression as a Goth funeral. However, this matter is beyond Barkindo’s little wishes. It is about the people

ofAdamawa State who have lagged behind in dividends of democracy, stomach infrastructure and the general uplift of the human development index, when compared to other parts of the country. It is about the thousands of civil servants who have, month after month, been walking to their offices because they have been denied their transport fares and their wages. It is about the universal human suffrage. It is also not a question of what party ideology would do the magic. In the case of the two contestants, when it comes to party affinities, I would say that Nuhu and Bindowo just played the reality TV show, “wife-swap.” Nuhu was presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011 which metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress, APC, when Bindowo contested and won his senatorial seat on the platform of the PDP. It is therefore irrelevant for the people of Adamawa to put the two candidates in any party hour glass. Both are Muslims so, leave religion out of it. Both are Fulbes, whether half, quarter or simply by birth place. Both can also not be judged by the vehicle that brought them to this race as some things are better left unexposed. Indeed, APC, by all indications, is only “PDPlight”, if it were to be a drink. However there are three compelling issues that Adamawa must reconsider when choosing a governor. They are corruption, insecurity and god-fatherism. The corrupt public officials who operated along with Nyako to corner the states resources and deny workers their legitimate earnings must be tackled. Today they populate both parties in search of cover but we know from Nuhus background and antecedents that there is no hiding place for them, should he become governor. Bindowo on the other hand may be too encumbered by his political IOUs that he may find fighting corruption a little too obstructive because of the preponderance of the Nyako community in

•Ambode

as Petroleum minister, President Jonathan is sent to Otuoke by road from Aso Rock. From Victor Nwaugo, Aba, Abia state Re-The implosion that never was. I do think the earlier pronouncement of Mr Akin Ambode by Asiwaju and Oba Akiolu was a leakage of a question paper. However, it ended well, having allowed the primaries to have taken place. I do not see any joy the PDP would derive from an envisaged implosion in APC. Head or tail, both would have competed at the battlefield. Let the Asiwaju and company put their house in order henceforth by stopping imposition of any candidate for peace to reign and democracy to thrive. From Lanre Oseni. The implosion I don’t pray PDP take over Lagos, because if they do ? May God help the people of the state. They are another set of human beings. I am not saying APC are saints but I will rather vote for a pick-pocket than vote for an armed robber that operates without fear of anybody. From Idris the APC today. In security, Senator Bindowo is a serving senator whose action against insurgency that has bedeviled his constituency has not been vociferous. He may be close to Senate President David Mark and the Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau but their disposition to stopping the killings in the north-east have been less than impressive and have therefore constituted more of a liability to Bindowos security credentials than assets. In clear text, Nuhu Ribadu, a former AIG and one time anticorruption czar who approaches every assignment with a no-defeat-no surrender mindset is more favourably disposed to winning the war on corruption and halting the senseless killings that currently pervade the north east, than his APC counterpart. Besides, Adamawa State is in dire need of a paradigm shift, which Ribadu aptly represents. Moreover, at his acceptance speech, Nuhu talked about delivering a new Adamawa State, and that renewal is everything Adamawa people require, and they eagerly, like me await the investiture of Malam Nuhu Ribadu as their governor. It is important for Adamawa people to make an informed choice without recourse to sentiments and other primordial inclinations. That wonderful state has suffered utter neglect. It has been raped brutalized and subjugated to the whims and caprices of self-centred people in and out of the military. God fathers have taken their share of it and left nothing for the people. Bad politics has taken its toll on it and left no room for development. Injustice has pervaded it and beaten fairplay to the back burners. It is time to give the state its new dawn and look elsewhere for salvation. There is also the disequilibrium in the zoning arrangement. For a start, the northern part of Adamawa has produced all the states elected governors except Murtala Nyako who hails from the southern part of the state. So if the zoning arrangement, which is not exclusive to any one party, is to be followed in the interest of fairness, justice and equity, the central zone where Nuhu comes from should produce the next governor. Bindowo is ebullient, young and ambitious, he can still get the governorship after honing his fangs, but for now, we need a governor who can win the hydra-headed battle against graft, insurgency and tribalism. •Bello-Barkindo writes from Abuja

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

AFRICA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (AYC)

Keshi should move on - Amodu

Garba expects T solid outing

ECHNICAL Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and former Super Eagles coach, Amodu Shuaibu has described out-ofcontract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi as a failure, and says the 'Big Boss' has no business continuing as the Super Eagles coach. Amodu says he believes any other coach that fails to qualify his country for a major tournament mustn't remain. "As a coach you are as good as your last game. If as at when they asked me to take over from him and I reckoned that it would affect my reputation if I failed, I expect any professional coach to assume the same position now, which is referring to Keshi. "So he alone will decide whether he has a reputation or not. If he has a reputation, he should walk out of the job but if he doesn't, he should stay like a begger," Amodu said to SL10.ng. The former BCC Lions of Gboko coach also referred to Samson Siasia, who failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and was sacked, and says that precedent must be followed with Keshi also. "We all know that Keshi has failed," Amodu continued. "To keep him is a bad precedent because when Siasia failed, we told the whole country that he failed and he should go, and not even Goodluck Jonathan could save him. And so if we want to live within those standards, we know what to do and this is my personal opinion."

•Garba

NFF set to build from scratch

Odegbami laments dwindling fortunes of school sport By Samson Uwada

in 2015 Yobo denies South Africa link

• Keshi

Siasia to drop more home-based players

600 youngsters storm Eaglets' screening • Coach mum on performance of foreign-based players From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

Tennis: Mcleod set to take on seniors • Siasia

Bassey, Ojo-Oba, Uchegbulam appointed CAF instructors NTTF President’s Cup serves off and Dolphins will be involved in Africa next year.

• Mcleod

• Amuneke

• Bassey

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

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

Group urges NASS on Devt Planning, Project Bill By Busola Adesunloye

LUB Ikeja (BCI) has urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill to solve the problems of infrastructure deficit in the country. The club has also called on the three tiers of government to make life more meaningful for Nigerians by investing on basic infrastructure that would boost industrial development. Its President, Mr. Saulaiman Tella, who spoke at the 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the club, said: “We are worried over the recent World Bank estimate that African Governments face infrastructural investment deficit of $93billion yearly, and, therefore, called for the quick passage of the Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill before NASS as the Bill when signed into law will make it mandatory for every government in Nigeria to continue the implementation of projects initiated by the past administrations. “The Bill when signed into law will also make development planning compulsory for all tiers of government in the country.” According to Tella, the BCI has presented position papers on how government should make life meaningful for the citizenly by ensuring that they provide basic infrastructure in all parts of the country. “The multiplier effects of availability of infrastructural facilities will be enormous as manufacturers in the sector of the economy would have an enabling environment to be used in the developmental efforts thereby keeping their factories running,” he said.

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

NSE may downgrade Lafarge Africa from high-priced stocks’ list T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) may review the inclusion of Lafarge Africa Plc within the top-ranking “highpriced stocks” list following the steep depreciation of share price of the cement company. The NSE had in April included Lafarge Africa as one of the specially designated stocks known as high-priced stock. The “high-priced stocks”, according to the NSE categorization, are stocks with share prices of N100 and above and regular and predetermined level of activities. In 2012, the NSE had alongside the introduction of market making introduced a pilot programme under which stockbrokers could move prices of “high priced stocks” with 10,000 shares as against the general operating rule of 50,000 shares for the movement of share prices of other stocks. There are 13 stocks categorised as “high-priced stocks” including Dangote Cement Plc, Guinness Plc, Mobil Plc, Nestle Plc, Nige-

By Taofik Salako

rian Breweries Plc, SIM Capital Fund, Skye Shelter Fund, Nigerian Energy Sector Fund (NESF), Total Nigeria Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Forte Oil Plc, SevenUp Bottling Company and Lafarge Africa. While setting out the criteria for the “high-priced stocks”, head, market surveillance, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Abimbola Babalola had outlined that the benchmark price of N100 and liquidity are the two considerations for inclusion within the category. Lafarge Africa has since fallen below the N100 benchmark price, the only stock below the benchmark price among the “high-priced stocks”. It opened yesterday at N72 per share. Lafarge Africa is the worst-performing cement stock so far this year with a year-to-date price depreciation of 37.39 per cent at the opening of the market yesterday. Dangote Cement, which opened yesterday at N160, carried average year-

to-date return of -26.94 per cent while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) placed third with 21.11 per cent. Ashaka Cement, which is a target of mandatory tender offer (MTO) by Lafarge Africa, is the only cement stock with positive return with 17.20 per cent. A source in the know of the review process for the “high-priced stocks” said the Exchange would not hesitate to remove any stock that falls short of the criteria for the group. According to the source, the Exchange will want to maintain the integrity of the ranking process for the “high-priced stocks” as the privilege of low-volume price movement is directly attached to meeting the criteria. Lafarge Africa had traded at a high of N136.73 per share, but it has failed to sustain the momentum as it grappled with shadow struggles for market control. Lafarge Africa is currently offering 261.58 million or-

dinary shares and N1.85 billion as equity and cash consideration for the take-over of the 41.39 per cent equity stake held by minority shareholders in Ashaka Cement Plc. Following the consolidation of Lafarge’s businesses in Nigeria and South Africa into Lafarge Africa, Lafarge Africa had acquired 58.61 per cent majority equity stake in Ashaka Cement. The majority equity stake was previously held by Lafarge Nigeria (UK) Limited. The acquisition was done through a block trade at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Now, Lafarge Africa is seeking to acquire the remaining 41.39 per cent equity stake held by other shareholders in Ashakacem in furtherance of the consolidation of Lafarge’s businesses. A tender document showed that Lafarge Africa would be offering 57 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in exchange for 202 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of Ashakacem. In addition, Lafarge Africa will pay N2 for every acquired Ashakacem’s share.

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 EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-0.2958 -206.9 -242.1 -156 -1.9179 -238 -40.472

•From left:Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga and representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr Patrick Kormawa during the launching/sensitisation programme on Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) in Lagos.

Minority shareholders hold 927.009 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in Ashakacem, representing 41.39 per cent of the cement company’s total outstanding shares. The tender offer is expected to close by 5pm on Friday January 16, 2015. The decline in Lafarge Africa has also overshadowed the valuation. Ashakacem’s share price has been stable at N24.60 per share with a market capitalisation of N55.09 billion. Lafarge Africa dropped by 98 kobo to N72 per share with a market value of N216.12 billion. The MTO was triggered by the transfer of 58.61 per cent majority equity stake in Ashaka Cement previously held by Lafarge Nigeria (UK) Limited. Section 131 of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and Rule 445 of SEC make it mandatory for any institution or person that acquires at least 30 per cent of a company to make an MTO to other minority shareholders. Lafarge had on July 9, 2014 received shareholders’ approval to consolidate its cement businesses in Nigeria and combine these with South African operations to create a leading sub-Saharan building materials giant to be known as Lafarge Africa Plc. The consolidation was done by transferring Lafarge’s assets in South Africa and Nigeria to Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc. Under the transaction, Lafarge Group transferred its direct and indirect shareholdings in Lafarge South Africa Holding Limited of 72.4 per cent and its equity stakes in three other cement companies in Nigeria-United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited, 35 per cent, Ashaka Cement Plc, 58.61 per cent and Atlas Cement Company Limited, 100 per cent to Lafarge Wapco for a cash consideration of $200 million and the issuance of some 1.4 billion Lafarge Africa shares to the Lafarge Group.

Govt needs N900b to develop infrastructure, says minister

T least ,an average annual expenditure of about N900billion is required by the Federal Government to develop the road sector. This will adequately support economic growth at current rates and meet the vision 20:20:20, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has said. The minister who stated this during the Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies (AES)

By Ambrose Nnaji

Excellence Club fifth Annual Chief Executives Dinner/ Award’s Nite in Lagos also said the government needed to invest on construction of at least 14,000km of new roads annually for the next seven years. Again, it will also have to routinely maintain and rehabilitate the existing national network of roads. Speaking on the theme:

“Challenges of infrastructure development and funding”, he said the Federal Government plans to involve the private sector in the development of the Golden Triangle Supper-Highway, which, according to him, will link the commercial and industrial cities of Calabar, Port Harcourt, Kano and Lagos. This, he said, provides avenue that would speed up economic activity in the country

Lagos Water Corp, retirees in FRC to begin audit quality showdown over N1b pension inspection of banks liabilities - P 26 - P34

as well as create job opportunities for many Nigerians. According to him, the government has adopted the approach to identify and work with the project partners and investors at an early stage through a competitive process. He said the government plans to undertake the project through a robust public private partnership initiative to be led by the private sector

adding that it is working continuously to embrace the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme in the development of infrastructure in the country. Onolememen agreed that physical infrastructure, such as roads, houses; power and water are essential for the growth of the economy but, however, noted that Nigeria has a large deficit adding that the infrastructure deficit exists in almost every sector.

Rising above life challenges - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

FRC to begin audit quality inspection of banks T HE Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) will in the first quarter of next year, begins audit quality of banks, its Chief Executive Officer, Jim Obazee, has said. Obazee, who spoke at the weekend during a three-day media retreat in Lagos, said the time had come to hold auditors more accountable for their works. He said the Council would pay more attention to the quality of work done by audit firms and their executives for quoted and nonquoted companies, particularly those considered as being of national importance. Speaking on the theme: ‘Financial reporting regulation: Issues and challenges,’ Obazee said auditing standards are high-profile issues in the light of recent events globally, and national surprises. “Auditing standards are a highprofile issue in the light of recent events globally and obvious national surprises. Auditors play a crucial role in ensuring that financial statements can be relied upon by users. “Given current international trends and the critical role that auditors have, it seems desirable to embrace some degree of changes being considered internationally, might be required in the Nigerian

Stories by Collins Nweze

space,” he said. The FRC helmsman, said he wants professionals to be more careful while doing their jobs, as they risk personal liability for misbehavior. He explained that in line with the FRC enabling Act, where an audit firm qualifies a report, it must be accompanied “with detailed explanations for such qualifications within 30 days from the date of such qualification. Such reports shall not be announced to the public until all accounting issues relating to the reports are resolved by the Council”. Obazee said the FRC’s bid to undertake audit of banks was in line with the desire of the body to become a member of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR), explaining that this will be a booster to the capacity of the Council to monitor audit quality. He said: “The first phase of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards in Nigeria, has started producing enhanced perception for Nigeria, adding that the FRC is currently carrying out IFRS readiness test for entities in the second phase- (Other Public Interest entities including Not-for-

Profit Organisations)”. Obazee explained that part of FRC’s role in this year, would be to carry out audit quality inspection in banks and other publicly quoted companies, stressing that there is urgent need to check what the internal auditors are doing at all times. “We are to look at who is checking the checker (internal auditors). This will be done through the external auditors, but there are international audit control rules that will be followed,” he said. He explained that the FRC is a unified independent regulatory body for accounting, auditing, actuarial, valuation and corporate governance practices in both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. He said the body will address institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance and enforcement of standards, as well as the development of robust arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with financial reporting standards in the country. He said the implementation of the FRC Act was expected to lead to increased management credibility, more long-term investments, lower cost of capital, improved access to new capital and higher share values.

• From left: Chairman, Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBIN), Pattison Boleigha; Director of Banking and Payments System, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ‘Dipo Fatokun and Chairman, Nigeria electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) and Head, Shared Services, CBN, Chidi Umeano, at the end of year forum of NeFF in Lagos.

Sterling Bank targets 700 ATMs by year-end

TERLING Bank is planning to increase its Auto-mated Teller Machines (ATMs) from 585 units to 700 by year-end. In a statement, the bank said it is taking the decision to ensure ease of transaction by customers in the coming year, and also cushion the effect of the perceived reintroduction of the ATM charge of N65 on Remote-on-Us Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions on its customers. Besides, the bank said that it would start the 2015 financial year with 5,000 Point of Sales (POS) terminals. The bank said it is increasing the ATMs galleries in response to its customers requests nationwide. It said the ATMs will be located in strategic places, while a robust infrastructure to support the expan-

sion has also been put in place. Remote-on-Us transaction occurs when a cardholder goes to the ATM of a bank other than his or her own bank to make a withdrawal. The cardholder will be charged N65 after making three withdrawals from such ATMs within a given month. The bank where his or her account is domiciled will be responsible for the payment of the charge of N65 for the first three withdrawals from another bank’s ATM. The Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola, said that Sterling Bank has commenced aggressive roll out of ATMs nationwide. “We have almost doubled our ATM count between December last year and September 2014. We started the year with 300 ATMs, but

aimed to close the year with about 700. This would involve additional deployments at existing locations, partner locations and ATM galleries.” He noted that beyond cash withdrawals, customers could confirm their account balances, do transfers (inter and intra bank), pay bills such as electricity and DSTV and buy airtime at the Bank’s ATMs. “As a financial institution poised to enrich lives, Sterling Bank will continue to maintain high quality ATM services by supporting the inter-operability of the payment system in the country. We will continue to deploy more ATMs to promote the cashless policy of the CBN and ensure that our customers are provided with enough platforms to transact their financial transactions,” he stressed.

“For investors and lenders, better disclosure provides more relevant information for making sound investment decisions and risk assessment respectively. This is especially so because merchants do not have a country,” he said. He said the National Code of Corporate Governance will be operational in the first quarter of 2015, adding that this will strengthen the compliance with Section 44 (3) of the FRC Act, and enhance the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment and arouse greater

interest from local investors. He said the required platform for the implementation of internal systems/Information systems control with independent attestation, in accordance with Section 7 of the FRC Act, shall also be laid. “We are also confident that the much awaited IFRS Academy shall at the last commence its operation. The implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) by Governmental Funds shall be a priority,” he said.

AfDB to invest $12.7m in private equity firm THE Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $12.73 million equity investment in the African compartment of the Moringa Private Equity Fund. Moringa will invest in scalable, replicable agroforestry projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The Fund will invest in projects that combine plantation forestry (producing biomass, fuel wood, or timber) with agricultural elements (producing staple food crops for local markets and/or niche export crops) to capture most of the value chain. The Fund will also be associated with a grant-based Technical Assistance Facility. Sponsored by La Compagnie Benjamin de Rothschild (CBR), and ONF International (ONFI), the international subsidiary of the French Office National des Forêts, the Fund will benefit from CBR back-office and investment platform, while ONFI contributes agroforestry technical expertise and regional presence in the Fund’s targeted geographies. The Moringa investment strategy is well aligned with the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2013 to 2022), focusing on inclusive green growth as the pathway to sustainable development and creating broad-based prosperity, as well as the Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan, which aims to make investments to reduce the

continent’s vulnerability to climate change. This strategic fit will allow the bank to provide a significant boost to Moringa’s operations via its high public profile, sector expertise and network across the African continent. Agroforestry generates a strong and diversified platform for the development of forestry sector businesses, whilst also paying attention to the need for agricultural production. Smallholders benefit from an income diversification supported by an investor with a long time horizon. The Fund will drive better land management, higher and more sustainable income for local populations, and a positive environmental impact on carbon storage, soil/water management and biodiversity. By investing in sustainable agroforestry solutions, the Fund will assist Governments in meeting their adaptation and mitigation targets. The AfDB will provide an equity investment of up to $12.73 million to an African-based vehicle, which has been established for investments located in Sub-Saharan Africa. The bank’s investment brings its total commitments to Moringa to about $85 million and, as the first investor from the continent, it provides further validation of the fund’s African strategy and prospects as the fund enters the final fundraising phase.

PwC faults bill seeking compulsory listing on NSE

BILL known as Private Companies Conversion and Listing Bill, 2013 is undergoing legislative proceedings at the National Assembly, Head of Tax at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, Taiwo Oyedele, has said. In an emailed report, the tax expert said the Bill seeks to compel private companies to convert to public companies by becoming listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The thresholds for the mandatory conversion are shareholders fund in excess of N40 billion turnover or total assets of N80 billion, he explained. He said compelling private companies to list their securities contradicts extant laws such as Section 25 of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act which states unequivocally that “no person who owns, whether wholly or in part, the capital of any enterprise shall be compelled by law to surrender his interest in the capital to any other person”. Oyedele said that on face value,

the Bill looks like a good initiative but a careful analysis suggests otherwise. “Nigeria with a Gross Domestic Product of $510 billion is the largest economy in Africa but the country’s capital market with a total capitalisation of about $80 billion is dwarfed by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with market capitalisation of over $1 trillion as at the end of last year. South Africa did not achieve this by forcing private companies to list but rather through impeccable regulatory enforcement. The country is ranked first in the world in terms of regulation of securities exchanges in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Survey for 2013 to 2014,” he said. He said a private company that meets any of the thresholds must be converted to a public company and be listed on the NSE within 12 months. According to the Bill, the conversion is aimed at promoting growth for both the company and the capital market.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

MONEY

Banks’ ranking in MSMEs’ financing Many banks are not lending to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs’) sector because of poor margins and risks involved. Some banks are, however, taking lending to the subsector seriously now. A survey by KPMG Nigeria and Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University, says FirstBank, GTBank and United Bank for Africa are keading lenders to MSMEs for both deposit transaction and lending, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

LOBALLY, access to finance is a critical factor in the growth and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs’) sector. This has prompted many banks to make lending to the subsector a priority. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also encouraging banks to lend to the sector, prompting it to earmark N220 billion to it. The role of MSME in economic development prompted KPMG Nigeria and Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University to conduct a survey that highlighted banks’ performance in the subsector. Partner and Head, Management Consulting at KPMG Nigeria, Bisi Lamikanra, said the survey which polled over 3,000 entrepreneurs, 18 banks and government/multilateral agencies reflects both the SMEs and banks’ perspectives on the primary issues affecting the growth of this critical sector. The survey, conducted between November last year and March this year highlighted key roles of banks in the sector. For the survey, this simple question was asked: Which bank(s) do you carry out transactions with? Thirty-six per cent of the respondents picked FirstBank; 22 per cent picked GTBank; 19 per cent went for United Bank for Africa; 18 per cent chose Ecobank; 15 per cent picked Diamond Bank while 14 per cent went for Access Bank. When the respondents were asked: Which bank(s) do you now or have in past obtained a loan? They responded in this order. Twentysix per cent of the respondents said they obtained their loans from FirstBank; 10 per cent said they got theirs from United Bank for Africa; Ecobank got 10 per cent; GTBank eight per cent; Diamond got seven per cent while Zenith got seven per cent. Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bamkole, said the finding suggests that there is scope for banks to improve on their relationships with MSMEs, particularly on deepening their understanding of the various segments/subsegments. He explained that in terms of ease of doing business, the study revealed that about 50 per cent of MSMEs do not find it easy to access relevant services from their banks. This could be due to banks not having specialised MSME relationship managers at branches, preferring to rely on retail relationship managers to serve MSMEs. He said: “The survey revealed that only about five Nigerian banks have SME business managers in their branches, however, focusing largely on financial targets (revenue, deposits and loans), instead of developing products that address the needs of MSMEs. “Among alternate sources of funds for MSMEs, Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) are not necessarily preferred by the MSMEs. The study also revealed that only two per cent of MSMEs have obtained loans from a development bank such as NEXIM, Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture among others either directly or through some other bank.”

Govt’s role The government and banks brainstorm on initiatives which will encourage banks to lend to this segment. Banks, therefore, need to intensify their engagement with the government to improve the business environment necessary for facilitating bank lending to the MSMEs. One government initiative that could be beneficial to banks and the MSME segment is its participation in risk sharing facilities. Bamkole said Nigeria must support the sector if she intends to be one of the top 20 economies of the world by 2020, according to Vision 20:2020, the nation’s economic blueprint. However, the development of MSMEs in Nigeria and their contributions to the economy are hampered by the fact that access to finance still constitutes a major obstacle to growth. He explained that for over a decade, the firm had been supporting SMEs, adding that access to finance is critical to SMEs’ success

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

• CEO FirstBank Bisi Onasanya

bank, had given SMEs finance in the last four years.” Shobo said SMEs in Nigeria have to grow; because that is the only way the economy can grow because the subsector is the key driver of any economy. “So, it must grow and that is why we are doing the national conference and after that, we are going to have regional conferences. After that, we are going to have industry specific conferences to make sure that we take the SMEs to another level,” he said. He said experience in SMEs financing is what separates the lender from others.“We have the most SMEs; we have had them for a long time; we understand their needs better than anybody else and clearly that informed the way we approach them. The SMEs, most other banks don’t even focus on them. We have relationship managers who focused on them. We have products that support SME operators that do not have collateral, which a lot of other banks don’t have. I think what we haven’t done well in the past is the capacity building and that is where we want to focus on now. As I said earlier, we like double the other banks in terms of support to SMEs,” he said. He said the bank listens to SMEs to know their problems and address them. “We are the number one SMEs’ bank in Nigeria, but we do not want to stop there. We want to create value for our SMEs. In listening to them, survey and focus discussions and all that, we found out that capacity is a big problem. When I say capacity, I mean being able to develop proposals which banks can finance or, indeed, which anybody can put money to finance for them. A lot of people have dreams on what they like to do, but how do I actualise those dreams? You find out that a lot of SMEs cannot do that successfully. That is one,” he said.

CBN policy on SMEs

• GTB CEO Segun Agbaje

• UBA CEO Philips Oduoza

and that it has evoked passion, debate and in extreme cases, frustration. He said: “Of the six broad constraints that limit the growth of SMEs in Nigeria, lack of access to finance has drawn more venom especially from SMEs than any other.” He said the majority of the financial institutions claim that lending to SMEs is risky and that some of these SMEs are not ready for the rigours that go with access to finance. According to him, while it may be fair to acknowledge that this position is somehow true, from the lens of an enterprise development agent, this is an opportunity in waiting. He asked: “Why is there no concerted effort to de-risk the sector? Why are the financial institutions constantly introducing banking products and outpacing each other in branding their institution as SME focused bank rather than understanding the SMEs and deepening their absorptive capacity to access capital? Why are we not coming up with policies that favour those supporting the sector? Analysts say over the years, traditional sources of financing for MSMEs have revolved around personal savings, loans from friends and family, and other informal

sources. This scenario presents a conundrum as the impact of these sources of funding altogether represents only a fraction of the available potential when banks and the government become major contributors of MSMEs financing.

SMEs in Nigeria FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to providing cheap and long-term funding for the subsector. Its Executive Director, Retail Banking South, Mr. Gbenga Shobo, said SMEs remain the engine of growth for the economy creating millions of jobs for the population. He, however, reiterated the need to create successful SMEs that would help the economy achieve its full potential. He spoke during the bank’s maiden edition of its SME Conference titled: “SMEConnect”. He said: “Definitely, there is a lot of large buzzword right now as a lot of banks are saying they want to do SMEs finance. But we have been relatively successful in financing SMEs. A recent survey showed that FirstBank, more than double than any other

‘Thirty-six per cent of the respondents picked FirstBank; 22 per cent picked GTBank; 19 per cent went for United Bank for Africa; 18 per cent chose Ecobank; 15 per cent picked Diamond Bank while 14 per cent went for Access Bank’

The CBN has set up guidelines for the management of the N220 billion MSMEs fund it launched last year to support SMEs’ financing. The CBN said the fund will be managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) while it will commence the management of the fund pending the establishment/appointment of the SPV or Managing Agent (MA). It said a large number of un-served and under-served clients are in the MSME subsector, stressing that to address the funding requirements of this critical segment of the economy, 80:20 ratio for on-lending to micro enterprises and SMEs has been designed. The CBN said women’s access to financial services should increase by 15 per cent yearly to eliminate gender disparity. It also said to achieve this, 60 per cent, that is, N132 billion of the fund, had been earmarked for providing financial services to women. The regulator said in operating the fund, special consideration would be given to institutions that will provide financial services to graduates of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs). Also, the Senior Manager at KPMG Nigeria, Adetorera Banjo, said the survey, with theme: ‘Strengthening access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria’, identified the three top challenges facing MSMEs as: non- conducive enabling environment (80 per cent), inconsistent government policies (56 per cent) and lack of access to finance/ capital (45 per cent). Besides poor infrastructure and financing constraints, taxation, corruption and regulatory bottlenecks are other issues that impede growth in the MSME segment. For instance, India imposes indirect taxes on transit of goods from one state to the other within the country; the government has made effort to introduce a uniform pan-India tax on goods and services long bureaucracy and political compulsions have not let that happen so far. Many of these problems are faced by MSMEs in developed economies as well, albeit in different order of severity than their emerging markets counterparts. These challenges also vary by region, sector and size of the firm.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

We may consider value-added acquisitions, says FBN Holdings

BN Holdings Plc, the holding company for First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) and its former subsidiaries, may consider acquiring other Nigerian and non-Nigerian assets that strategically fit into the holding company's business and have high potential to add values and increase returns to stakeholders. Head of finance, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Oyewale Ariyibi, in an interactive media session with select senior journalists, said while the group has no immediate plan for acquisitions, it will consider opportunities that will enhance the group's performance and further strengthen its business profile. FBN Holdings had recently made a string of acquisitions including International Commercial Bank (ICB) West Africa, Oasis Insurance and Kakawa Discount House Limited. FBN Life Assurance Limited, an insurance subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, had acquired about 4.63 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of Oasis Insurance from the previous core investorsOasis Group Limited and MetroWest Investments Limited. The sale transferred the majority 71.2 per cent equity stake in Oasis Insurance to FBN Life Assurance. Oasis is quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). With the acquisition of 71.2 per cent, FBN Life had also launched a mandatory take-over bid to the remaining shareholders of Oasis insurance in line with section 131 of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and Rule 445 of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)'s Rules and Regulations. With operations in Guinea, Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, ICB provides First Bank with a strong geographic platform for growth and an established customer base across the mid-corporate, small and medium enterprises (SME) and retail segments that complement the bank's existing strategy in Nigeria. ICB has over 600 employees and 120,000 customer accounts spread across these four markets. ICB also operates in markets with major investments in key growth sectors on the continent, most notably the major mining industries that are prevalent in Guinea and Ghana and emerging in Sierra Leone as well as positioned for the commercial operations in the emerging oil and gas opportunities in Ghana and Guinea. It should be noted that First Bank had in 2011 acquired BIC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, starting its progressive and case by case approach

•Our stock the best for good returns Stories by Taofik Salako

to inorganic growth opportunities. Since acquiring BIC, the bank has successfully managed an integration process that has incorporated BIC into First Bank's operations while delivering short term improvements in financial performance as well. Ariyibi noted that the focus in the immediate term will be on the integration of the acquired assets to ensure the group derives maximal benefits from the assets pointing out that the group is optimistic that it would start reaping immediate benefits from the acquisitions given their strategic fit into its existing businesses. According to him, the acquisitions were part of the strategic plans of the group aimed at complementing existing businesses and strengthen the group's leadership. The acquisition of ICB will enable the group to integrate banking services across West Africa and further support businesses across the region. The acquisition of Kakawa Discount House offered a unique blend of fixed-income origination and distribution which fit into the group's business and allow it to increase the size and diversity of products offering. The acquisition of Oasis Insurance brought the retail insurance to complement the group's leadership in life insurance, giving the group higher penetration. "Between now and 2016, we do not have plan to acquire, we will focus on integration of the acquired assets to get benefits from them. But if our strategic and business development unit sees any asset that will be a strategic fit, then it will go through the entire gamut of review process, if it would add value to the business and stakeholders, then we may consider that," Ariyibi said. He said FBN Holdings has been able to moderate the adverse impact of regulatory headwinds through increased internal efficiency, pointing out that the third quarter earnings of the bank underlined the improvements in its operational efficiency. Citing earnings headlines, he added that the third quarter earnings reaffirmed First Bank's position not only as the largest and biggest bank in terms of network and assets, but the strongest supporter and financier of the productive sector. Key extracts of the nine-month re-

port of FBN Holdings for the period ended September 30, 2014 showed improvements in the group's top-line and pre-tax profit, although net profit remained suppressed by higher tax provisions. Group profit before tax rose to N73.75 billion in third quarter 2014 as against N70.07 billion recorded in comparable period of 2013. The bottom-line performance was driven by appreciable improvement in the topline. The group's core commercial banking activities picked up considerably during the period with interest income rising from N239.16 billion in September 2013 to N255.72 billion by September 2014. Net interest income rose to N176.49 billion in 2014 as against N172.43 billion in 2013. Further analysis of the top-line showed growths across the segments. Fees and commissions incomes rose from N44.05 billion to N51.22 billion while foreign exchange income increased from N5.05 billion to N17.16 billion. With 65 per cent increase in income tax expenses from N10.99 billion to N18.12 billion, net profit after tax was slightly depressed at N55.63 billion in September 2014 compared with N59.09 billion recorded in corresponding period of 2013. The group's balance sheet size built up to N4.19 trillion in September 2014 compared with N3.87 trillion recorded as total assets in December 2013. Shareholders' funds also rose from its 2013 yearend position of N471.78 billion to

close September 2014 at N493.67 billion. He said FBN Holdings has returned the best dividend growth over the past five years with a cumulative annual growth rate of 16 per cent for dividend payout over the past five years. "What we do is to ensure we sweat the capital and ensure we get adequate returns. If you look at our results from 2010 to 2014, in terms of dividend payment payout, we have paid 10, 60 kobo, 80 kobo, 100 kobo and 110 kobo in the last five years. If you look at that, that gives a cumulative annual growth rate of 16 per cent dividend payout, there is no other company that can boast of this on the stock exchange and we are progressing on this," Ariyibi said. He pointed out that the high returns on FBN Holdings' stock and the facts of its history and operations as the leading bank make investment in the company like investment in a fixedincome instrument with equity upside, assuring that investors will always get good returns from the bank. On the relative undervaluation of the company's stock relative to other financial services companies, he explained that a section of the previous Pension Reform Act that prevented pension fund administrators (PFAs) from investing in new companies that have not made profit and declare dividend in at least three of the last five years was misinterpreted to include newly formed holding company such as FBN Holdings and dissuaded PFAs,

which are the largest Nigerian institutional investors, from investing in the company's stock. The constrained liquidity orchestrated by this reduced the market dynamic of the stock and limit its uptrend. He however noted that with the emergence of the new Pension Act 2014 and removal of the inhibiting section, FBN Holdings will be the toast of the PFAs once the National Pension Commission release its new guideline for pension investment, which is expected by the month-end or January 2015. Ariyibi said the group's First Bank has imbibed all the existing and upcoming regulatory changes and it's better position to sustain compliance with regulatory benchmarks including the upcoming increase in capital adequacy ratio for systemically important international commercial banks to 16 per cent by April 2015, as against 15 per cent for other international commercial banks not deemed as systemically important banks. According to him, as the banking sector transits from Basel 1 to Basel 11, First Bank is well positioned to meet the requirements and has no challenge whatsoever with capital adequacy ratio. He also allayed fears of possible spike in non-performing loans as a result of loans to oil sector, which has been rattled by decline in crude price, noting that First Bank's loans are well structured to mitigate against nonperformance.

IOSCO publishes regulatory framework for ETFs

HE International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has published its final report on Principles for the Regulation of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) as part of efforts to tighten regulations for the fast-growing segment of the capital market. The new regulatory framework contains nine principles intended to guide the regulation of ETFs and foster industry best practices. There is only one ETF- the NewGold Exchange Traded Fund on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. IOSCO underscored the importance of effective regulation for ETFs pointing out that investors’ interest in ETFs has increased worldwide as evidenced by the sharp increase in funds invested in these types of products. According to IOSCO, assets managed under ETF structures totaled almost $1.9 trillion at the end of January 2013, representing some seven per cent of the global mutual fund market. “This dynamic growth in ETFs has gradually attracted the attention of regulators, concerned about the potential impact of ETFs on investors and on the broader marketplace, as the industry has continued to evolve through diversification and the launch of new innovative products,” IOSCO noted. The global body of securities

regulators noted that the final report on ETF was a result of numerous consultations among IOSCO’s member regulators and their repeated engagements with representatives of the global ETF industry. “As such, it reflects a shared consensus within the regulatory community as to how the regulation of ETFs should be approached. Taking into account the comments expressed during the consultation process, IOSCO has focused its final recommendations on features that are specific to ETFs. The principles address ETFs that are organised as Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and do not apply to other, non-CIS, Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs),” IOSCO stated. It outlined that the report was structured into two main sections with the first section detailing ETF classification and relevant disclosures for investors, including principles intended to clearly differentiate ETFs from other non-CIS ETPs, as well as from other CIS. According to IOSCO, it is important that investors are able to appreciate both the similarities and differences of ETFs with other competing products, as well as the way ETFs achieve their investment objective and the quality of their performance typically vis-à-vis a reference index.

•From left: Director-General (DG), Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Mr Remi Ogunmefun; DG, FIIRO, Dr Gloria Elemo; and DG, BPE Benjamin Dikki at the end of year’s workshop for some journalists in Lagos.

Vitafoam to decide dividend payment tomorrow

HAREHOLDERS of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc would by the weekend know the amount to be distributed to them as cash dividends for the immediate past business year as directors of the foam-manufacturing company meet tomorrow. The board meeting, scheduled for Lagos, will consider the financial and operational reports of the foam-manufacturing company. One of the top agenda for the meeting is consideration of the appropriate dividend to be recommended for payment to shareholders. At the meeting, the board will consider and approve the audited financial statements of the company for the year ended September 30, 2014. While the details of the earnings are still not available, there are strong indications that the company will sustain its unbroken dividend payment record. The meeting will also consider the date, time and venue for the annual general meeting as well as closure and payment dates for the dividend recommendation. Vitafoam Nigeria has almost predictable pattern. It has been holding its annual general meeting around

Ikeja, within the vicinity of its head office. It has also retained its dividend payment rate, in spite of stunted earnings. For the past four consecutive years, the company has distributed annually N246 million as cash dividends to shareholders. Usually, shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 30 kobo for the business year. Audited report and accounts of Vitafoam Nigeria for the year ended September 30, 2013 had indicated that sales rose by 12.8 per cent but pre and post tax profits dropped by 22.5 per cent and 18.2 per cent. The largest growth on the profit and loss accounts remains finance expenses, which rose by about 40 per cent. With basic earnings per share dropping from 61 kobo to 50 kobo, the retention of the 30 kobo dividend payout cut dividend cover from 2.03 times to 1.67 times. This downtrend is also evident in the underlying returns and profitability of the company. Group’s total sales closed 2013 at N16.34 billion compared with N14.48 billion recorded in 2012. Cost of sales however rose by 16.4 per cent from N9.34 billion to N10.87 billion. Gross

profit thus inched up by 6.3 per cent from N5.14 billion to N5.47 billion. Total operating expenses rose by 9.8 per cent to N4.34 billion as against N3.95 billion in previous year. Distribution cost had increased from N945.19 million in 2012 to N955.83 million in 2013 while administrative expenses rose from N3.0 billion to N3.38 billion. Non-core business income increased by 13 per cent from N146 million to N165 million. However, finance expenses jumped by 39.7 per cent to N661 million as against N473 million in previous year. With these, profit before tax dropped by 22.5 per cent from N813 million to N630 million. After taxes, net profit dropped by 18.2 per cent to N410 million in 2013 compared with N502 million in 2012. Underlying ratios showed similar outlook. Gross profit margin dropped to 33.5 per cent as against 35.5 per cent in 2012. Profit before tax margin also dipped to 3.9 per cent compared with 5.6 per cent in previous year. Average return on total assets declined from 7.9 per cent to 6.3 per cent while average return on equity dropped from 17.2 per cent to 13.2 per cent.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

PAGE 29

To make the rural areas in Lagos more accessible, the Ministry of Rural Development is working on over 700 earth roads across the state, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

•A street being graded

Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities

INSIDE

N line with its mission to enhance the quality of life, human capital and productivity of the rural populace for sustainable development, the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development has embarked on major repairs of roads across the state. The projects involve the grading of earth roads and using laterite to make them accessible and opening up others. Work on the projects is ongoing in most of the local government areas, and more rural communities will be reached in the shortest possible time, according to the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi.

Students’ donations lift indigent pupils PAGE 30

It is the belief of the ministry that provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure through opening of feeder roads will help drive development in the rural areas. Last week, a team from the ministry, led by Ojelabi, inspected some of the roads undergoing upgrading. Also on the team were the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Dupe Ileyemi; Deputy Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs Gbemisola Rufai and Director of Accounts, Mrs Olabisi Boco, among others.

Some of the streets inspected were Adoff Road in Iba; Alhaji Kareem, Funsho Bakare, Akanni Ogundare, Orelope Street, Olubiyi, Ogunwoyo, Arowolade, Abuja Layout Zone (all in Ojo Local Government Area); Amosu-Igboro Road in Ijanikin, OutAwori Local Council Development Area; Paul Ajose Street, Agric Isalu Road, Samuel Ekundayo Road (in Badagry), Esepe Road and Magbon Road (in Olurunda LCDA), among others. Hon. Ojelabi said the government’s intention is to make the rural roads

Cancer scourge… MicCom Foundation to the rescue PAGE 34

motorable which, in turn, will ease movement and open them up for commercial activities. “It is the intention of the state government to make sure that most of our roads are made motorable. We know we have over 9,000 roads in Lagos State, and there’s no way we can embark on total construction of all the roads. “So, what we’re doing is to take the inner roads and make them motorable. As we speak, work is going on in not less than 700 roads

across the state, and if you remove that number from 9,000, you will see that we still have a long way to go,” Ojelabi said. Besides, he said major construction is also ongoing on about 300 roads, adding that the grading of the earth roads is more of a palliative measure until major construction begins. “While the construction is going on in other areas, we want to see what we can do to provide some palliatives in terms of the existing roads to make them motorable. “That is why we have embarked

Seven-year-old Boluwatife needs help to stay alive PAGES 36

•Continued on page 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities •Continued from page 29 on massive grading of earth roads across the state. We’re matching what we’re doing with the resources at the disposal of the government. So far, we have reached quite a significant number of communities across the state. “We’re focusing on the rural roads where we cannot afford to do a total construction of their roads for now, pending when we’ll come back and have the roads constructed. This is just a palliative measure to make sure that their roads are made motorable,” Ojelabi said. During the inspection of work on Abuja Layout Zone, it was observed that some homes channelled their waste water to the roads. The commissioner, who was displeased with that development, summoned the Chairman of Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Udegbunam Elias. Addressing Elias, he said: “This should not be allowed to happen. As the CDA chairman, you are supposed to address problems like this and ensure that houses do not discharge their water wastes on roads that are undergoing construction. If all of us key into government’s projects and maintain them, the society will be better.” Elias thanked the ministry for the roads upgrade. “We will ensure that this discharge of waste water is stopped,” he promised. Some traders, old women and children and commercial motorcycle operators were excited at the ministry’s

•Hon Ojelabi (middle), Alhaji Adio (left), Mrs Ileyemi (third right), Mrs Rufai and Mrs Boco

work. A woman was heard saying: “Thank you for helping us so that water will not carry us away.” The commissioner also warned them against pouring used water or waste on the graded roads. A community leader, Alhaji Adio Igboro, said he thought the state had forgotten his street which is named after his great grandfather. “We’re happy that the government remembered us,” he said. Ojelabi said: “All of us have to be involved. If we continue to discharge our waste water on the road, no amount of quality job that is done by the contractor or the state government will make the road to last. So, all of us should try as much as possible to key into this project to make these roads much more better for us. “If you build a house, and know full well that you are expected to have

‘What we’re doing is to take the inner roads and make them motorable. As we speak, work is going on in not less than 700 roads across the state, and if you remove that number from 9,000, you will see that we still have a long way to go. Major construction work is also ongoing on no fewer than 300 roads’ a soak-away, for God’s sake, try as much as possible to have a very solid one where you can discharge your water waste into other than on the road. “Even when the road is constructed

and you discharge your water on it, it can’t last. So, people should be aware that even asphalt is not waterfriendly. “Let us imbibe the mindset that it is our money that is being put on these

•Laterite on Amosu Igboro

roads. All of us must come on board and take ownership and ensure that the roads are maintained,” Ojelabi said. The commissioner said the 300 roads being constructed are primarily handled by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. “At the same time, Ministry of Rural Development is also doing some road construction through our engineering department. We’ve worked on roads in Agbado-Okeodo, IfakoIjaiye, in Ibeju-Lekki and some other areas. “What we’re doing is to complement what the Ministry of Works is currently doing to make sure that we bring some sort of succour to areas that are equally expecting similar construction,” Ojelabi said. Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) in Badagry Local Government Area, Mr Kuponu

Christiana Akinjide Foundation in partnership with the Ibadan International School has donated uniforms, textbooks a privileged students. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

Students’ donations lift indigent pupils

HE IDC Primary School, Olunloyo, Ibadan was filled to capacity. It was the venue of the event where Christiana Akinjide Foundation in partnership with Ibadan International School recently donated uniforms, textbooks and other writing materials to primary school pupils. The pupils were not at the event alone. Their parents, guardians and friends were present to witness the event, even as the pupils were thrilled by the gifts given to them. Most of the parents at the ceremony lauded the benevolence exhibited by the foundation and its partner. This is more so as majority of them could not afford the needed sets of books for their children’s academic careers. They could not afford the luxury of procuring different kinds of textbooks, exercise books, mathematical sets, new school uniforms and other writing materials for their children. So, when they were invited to witness the donation of the materials to their children, they did not hesitate to attend. And so were the management and staff of the schools. The children could not hide their joyous feelings as they trooped out of their classrooms in large number to welcome their visitors and benefactors. Christiana Foundation named after the late wife of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) was established two years ago to alleviate the suffering of the society’s poor.

•Pupils collecting items

Mrs Omonike Akinjide, wife of the son of Chief Akinjide, Yomi, is managing the foundation that aims at changing lives and giving hope to the hopeless. So, when they chose to donate the items to children of the IDC Primary School, Olunloyo Ibadan, the goal was to give freedom to the next generation. Christiana Foundation, according to Mrs Akinjide, was established to give a lift to schools, especially the young people within the school system, to improve the quality of the school system and support educational institutions, primary and secondary

•Mrs Ige

schools and other educational institutions. Mrs Akinjide said: “We want to support educational institutions, we want to support the teachers in their teaching careers and we want to support the child in learning. “So, whatever the child needs to learn we want to provide it. Whatever the teacher needs to be able to communicate effectively with the child, we want to provide as well. “So far, we have given whiteboards, we have given books and book shelves. You know we have discussed with the teachers and we have found out what their

needs are and we have come with that vision to provide everything. Currently, we have about 10 schools that we have covered in our donation scheme and when we leave this school, we are going to two other schools. “We are going to St. Peters in Ejioku as well as another secondary school where we need to build a library. I think the teachers are doing their best and schools are smaking their best efforts. There is an improvement. There is always an increase in enrolment, the teachers are encouraged. They key into the vision and they want to be part

of it. “I think the key objective is to be able to get a primary six child to be able to communicate effectively in the English Language. One thing we try to push is reading. “So, we bring story books in. We try and encourage the teachers to read story books to young children. We partnered with parent-teacher association; we made them understand how important reading is. When the child goes home, you don’t just tell him to fetch water to help with household chores but get the child to read because there is only so much the teacher can do in

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT Free eye treatment for Ogun communities Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

terite on Amosu Igboro Road ready for grading

Ebenezer, praised the government on the roads repairs and grading. “I am very much happy. If there is another word to use other than happy, I will use it. When I got here this morning and saw the work going on, in fact, I was impressed. “It gives me courage to tell people that the government we’re having in Lagos State is one we can rely upon; that we can work together with. So, I am happy, and I wish it will continue like that. “I thank Governor Fashola; I thank Hon. Ojelabi and every member of his team in the rural family. I say well done to them and more grease to their elbow. “We’ve been suffering for a long time. The students cannot go to school because the roads are very bad. You see some falling into dirty water. Even people going to the market suffered a lot, but with the work being

•A grader working on a street in Badagry

done, we can now move freely and easily,” he said. The Ministry of Rural Development was created at the inception of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in July, 1999 as a consequence of its desire and commitment to develop the rural communities and make it attractive for rural dwellers in order to reduce rural-urban migration. It is one of the ministries through which the state’s policies, programmes and projects on rural development are initiated and implemented. It started as a department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and later became the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI). Since its establishment, the ministry has embarked on projects that have improved the living conditions of the rural dwellers.

‘I am very much happy. If there is another word to use other than happy, I will use it. When I got here this morning and saw the work going on, in fact, I was impressed...It gives me courage to tell people that the government we’re having in Lagos State is one we can rely upon. We’ve been suffering for a long time. The students cannot go to school because the roads are very bad. You see some falling into dirty water. Even people going to the market suffered a lot, but with the work being done, we can now move freely and easily’

s, textbooks and other writing materials to primary school pupils in Ibadan through the efforts of

•Mrs Akinjide

•Miss Nnana

the class; it has to go beyond the classroom.” While she called on well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to give a lift to the pupils, Mrs Akinjide praised the students and staff of Ibadan International School for partnering with the foundation in order to bring succour to children’s education. She further explained that Ibadan International School is the primary donor and has donated uniforms for over 400 pupils, bought all the educational materials and gave the parents renewed hope.

“That is why we are looking for wealthy schools that will partner with us. As you know, there are wealthy people in this country, so we are looking forward to getting willing partnerships to help these children,” she said. The items donated, it was learnt, were primarily procured by the students of Ibadan International School from the pocket money they received from ther parents just to help the less fortunate children in the society. The Principal, Ibadan International School, Mrs Motunrayo Ige,

‘When we leave home every morning and see kids around, it’s not pleasing to us. Okay, we have the advantage, of course we get to school every morning, getting everything we need. Seeing them out, we feel they can achieve much if they have that privilege. So, we should continue to give them as much as we can. And we believe there is more joy in giving than in receiving’ who praised the children’s generosity, estimated the cost of the items at over N700, 000. Mrs Ige said the reason the school is partnering with Christiana Foundation was that “we believe in education and education is the right for all our children, education is the future of our nation. “We believe in helping children who are not as fortunate as our own children in our own school. It was our children who actually raised the whole money. It wasn’t their parents. Every year, we sponsor a

project in our local community. This year, we partnered with Christiana Foundation. In the past, we have built classrooms; we have sunk boreholes just to help children who are the future of the nation. The donation today is worth approximately N700, 000. “It is voluntary and the children enjoy doing it because they know they are giving something back to other children who may not be as fortunate as they are,” she said. Alluding to the claim, the President of Ibadan International School Students’ Council, Miss Esther Nnana, explained how they were motivated to contribute to help the less fortunate children. She said: “When we leave home every morning and see kids around, it’s not pleasing to us. Okay, we have the advantage; of course we get to school every morning, getting everything we need. Just because our parents are giving us everything we need. “Seeing them out, we feel they can achieve much if they have that privilege. So, we should continue to give them as much as we can. And we believe there is more joy in giving than in receiving.” The Head teacher of IDC School, Olunloyo, Ibadan, Mrs Lawal Odunayo, expressed her appreciation for the love they had for the children. She said: “We are indeed very happy and grateful because the gesture showed that there are still some organisations that are very fond of public primary schools.” The Head teacher, who assured of judicious use of the materials, said the materials donated will definitely impart knowledge to the pupils “because many parents are not able to buy textbooks for their children. Now that these textbooks are donated to them, they will help the pupils in their reading skills.”

HE MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) arm of the telecom service provider, has begun the execution of the second phase of its Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme (MTNF EyeRIS), in Ogun State, even as Governor Ibikunle Amosun praised it for the initiative. No fewer than 6,000 patients are expected to benefit from the free eye care and corrective surgeries of the MTNF EyeRIS. The first phase began some months back. Some of the beneficiaries had free surgery for cataract while others received reading glasses to treat presbyopia and medications for various ocular diseases. At the inauguration of the programme at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Amosun said: “Early detection can prevent blindness or any other eye diseases,” adding that the MTNF is complementing the administration’s war against blindness. Amosun, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Olaokun Soyinka, said MTN’s intervention attested to the bond of partnership between the state government and the telecom service provider. Amosun said: “This intervention further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Ogun State Government and MTN Foundation in our shared value of assisting the under-privileged in the society.” Some of the beneficiaries praised the MTN Foundation and the state government for giving them the opportunity to regain their sight. Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, said no fewer than 6,000 people are expected to be screened for cataracts and other ocular diseases in Ogun State and its environs. He noted that the project, which enjoys the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Health, is being implemented in partnership with the Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness (EFCPB) and in collaboration with ministries of health of beneficiary states. According to him, many cases of blindness and visual impairment in the country are preventable, as the foundation had, in the past one year, been actively engaged in the war to eradicate visual disabilities. “Since its launch in April last year, a total of 33,364 patients in six states have been treated for cataracts and other ocular diseases.” Okoro said the foundation intends to contribute towards increasing the cataracts surgical rate from 0.1% to 0.7% in the selected states, as this is in consonance with the World Health Organisation’s Vision 2020 Right to Sight Initiative. Mr Okoro further said MTN Foundation currently has 341 project sites across the six geo-political zones of the country, disclosing that it has spent over N10 billion on social projects in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. He said: “Aside from the three major portfolios, the foundation also proactively responds to national emergencies, providing millions of Naira worth of urgent relief materials to victims of such occurrences. “In the first phase of the MTNF EyeRIS project, Osun, Niger, Delta, Abia, Sokoto and Jigawa states benefitted from the intervention through eye screenings and surgeries as well as the provision of eye glasses and drug packs for the beneficiaries.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

HEN next you see Lagos State fire fighters, your imagination may likely take a flight. Gone, perhaps forever, are the navy blue jacket overall for which they have been known while on duty. What residents of Lagos would be seeing are men of the Fire Service adorning professional apparels – a black fire-proof jacket and pair of trousers with yellow stripes, hand gloves, yellow fire boots and helmets. The new apparels are an integral part of a bouquet of modern fire fighting equipment and protective gears procured by the state government to strengthen their capacity to safeguard their lives while combating fire, and improve their capacity to protect the property of residents. Unveiling the tools and kits at an impressive ceremony attended by members of the state executive council, members of the body of permanent secretaries, traditional rulers, chiefs of related agencies, experts in fire and security matters, residents and representatives of non-governmental organisations, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said: “Retooling the Fire Service is, in part, a fulfilment of the responsibility of the government to protect lives and property of her residents.” He said with the equipment, it becomes easier for the fire men to combat fire and save more lives than they hitherto do without necessarily endangering their lives. Fashola said the government would not only continue to improve the standard of the existing 15 fire stations, but will also open new ones, and ensure that many more areas are covered to reduce the stress of residents and improve on the response capacity to fire emergencies. He said already a total of 570 young men and women, 10 from each of the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas have been trained to respond to emergencies. They will work in concert with the State Emergency Management Agency in the case of emergencies in any of the council areas. Praying that government would have no frequent need for the vehicles, Governor Fashola, who acknowledged that accidents must happen no matter how careful people are, appealed to residents that when such occasions arise, they should not only grant access to the

•Fashola (cutting the tape) flanked on Fadipe (left) and Oyinlomo-Danmole (right). With them are from right: Commissioner for Special Duties Dr. Wale Ahmed and former Lagos Deputy Governor Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu and General Manager, LASEMA, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu (1st left)

•The fire fighters in their new uniforms with oxygen tank

New fire-fighting equipment for Lagos By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

fire men or other first emergency service personnel but should also stay away from the scene of the crisis. He said: “We will continue to appeal that whenever this happens, and we pray it will not be frequent, you must help them. You must assist them to get to the point of crisis. These are highly trained, wellequipped fire fighting personnel. But if we block the access to where the fire incident is, it would obstruct their job.” This could be achieved by citizens not crowding at the scene of fire and by maintaining and protecting street signs in their localities to direct first emergency responders to the point of crisis. Fashola, who also listed other superstructures already in place to include street signs and the emergency lines: 112 and 767, said government made the lines toll-free to open access for people to call responders’ attention to scene of emergencies whether or not they have air time on their phones. “Your ability to give correct direction and clear the road of all encumbrances may make the whole difference. It may be the key to the golden hour when timely help may

make the difference in the lives of anyone in distress,” he said. He said the reason he has refused to grant approval for multi-storey buildings was the absence of capacity to cope with emergencies associated with such, adding that with the acquisition of the equipment, such delays may be a thing of the past. Earlier, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Mohammed Oyinlomo Danmole said the equipment, which were built to the state’s specification, were ordered to address challenges of combating fire outbreaks in the state. The state, he said, set out to match the speed of megacity development and its attendant risks with motivated fire service personnel who are equipped with state-of-the-art firefighting equipment customised for our terrain. He said the state got a tested and trusted manufacturer with long standing history, Messrs W.S Darley of Itasca Illinois, a firm that has been in business since 1908, as fire fighting/equipment manufacturer for United States military and over 100 countries. Part of the government’s agreement with the firm included a full package purchase of these purpose-

built fire fighting trucks, maintenance of all equipment and a comprehensive training of its firemen. He said: “We have taken delivery of 34 items namely 15 Dragon Pumper, which has been renamed Rapid Eagle: a Fire Tanker built on current model Ford F650 chassis, with built-in capacity for 3,400 litres of water, poly-water tank and 100 litres of foam tank, integral with water tank; 15 Snow Dragon, also renamed The Fire Eagle: a Fire Tanker built on current Spartan chassis with built-in capacity for 4,500 litres of water, poly-water tank and 100 litres of foam tank, integral with water tank. “Others are two Aerial Telescopic Turn-table Ladder, built on current Spartan chassis mounted with extruded aluminium Aerial body and turn-table ladder with a capacity for 1,350 litres of poly-water tank and 450 litres capacity foam tank, integral with water tank and two mobile maintenance vehicles fitted with welding tools and gadgets to resuscitate any damaged trucks within 24 hours.” He said all the fire trucks are fitted with storage tanks for water, foam and compressed air. “The new fire trucks will make use of the latest auto Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) designed

to reduce the volume of water needed to fight fire,” he said. Some of the benefits of this latest system, he said, are the ability to reduce property damage by putting the fire out faster, ability to reduce water and smoke damage through the use of blanket of foam over smouldering materials which helps reduce smoke emissions and ability to improve fire fighters’ safety as it keeps them away from the flames and heat due to the discharge distance caused by the air-powered propulsion. The lighter hose lines, Danmole added also creates less fatigue for fire fighters during operations. In addition to the hardware, government also procured personal protective clothing which comprises 500 fire-proof suit, 500 safety helmets, 500 safety boots and 500 hand gloves. Also included as part of the training, Danmole stated, is a pilot programme on contemporary fire service operation, using one of the existing fire stations as a model and replicating it in other stations across the state. The state has also embarked on the rehabilitation and upgrading of 225 old fire hydrants in the Lagos metropolis and the installation of 50 new ones to link the mini/mi-

•Some of the new trucks

cro-water works. Danmole said aside from the 15 state-owned stations, there are nine Federal Government-owned stations that are not functioning as they ought to, adding that efforts by the state government to take over the stations have not been successful. “For instance, places such as Surulere, Oyingbo and Lagos Island where federal fire stations are located need functional fire stations, but these are not available. Therefore, as a reliable government, Lagos cannot allow its citizens to be subjected to

such dangerous situation.” He said the project that gulped 16 million Dollars was funded by the American Exim Bank, with the state government paying 15 per cent of the transaction. He said the manufacturer; W.S Darley began the project in 2011, while Messrs Targee Fire, the consultant trainers, has already began training of its local personnel on how to handle the equipment. Danmole added that, the purchase of the equipment was not done on

shelf, but customised to meet the needs of the terrain of the state. “To ensure that we get maximum advantage of the equipment, we gave out contract not only for the supply of the equipment, but also for the maintenance and training of our personnel and so far, 150 of our men have benefitted in the first batch of the training,” he said. The Fire Eagle is fitted with aerial ladder with the rotation capacity of 360 degrees and an illumination lamp designed to provide light for easy movement of the vehicle and

ing, overloading, wrong overtaking, making and receiving phone calls while driving and other forms of distraction are major causes of road accidents. He appealed to commercial drivers’ union to amplify their efforts in monitoring activities of their members in order to ensure safety of lives and properties during the Yuletide period and beyond. He also

said the unions should ensure that no alcoholic joint exists within the garages. Comrade Rahmon appealed to those who trade on the highways to leave and look for a safer place, adding that the highways are accidentprone. Treasurer, Allied Truck Transporters’ Association of Nigeria (ATTAN), Mr Adeniyi Ayeni urged to both fed-

eral and state governments to regulate the system of commercial vehicle operations. He said the rate men of traffic management agencies extort money from transporters is too high. He also said lack of genuine spare parts contributes to high rate of crashes on our road. Present at the event were The Ogun State Sector Commander of FRSC, CC

the personnel in the course of duty, especially where electricity may have been disrupted. “The ladder can get up to between 18th to 20th floor storey buildings, with 360 degrees rotational ability,” Danmole said. He said while each of the Fire Eagles has the capacity to accommodate 3,000 litres of water and foam, the Rapid Eagle have capacity for 2, 000 litres of water and foam each. The Chief Operating Officer of W.S Darley, Mr David Darley praised the Lagos State Government for its determination to equip its fire service adequately. He said the firm will continue to collaborate with the government in maximising the potential of the equipment, even as he assured of adequate servicing and training of personnel to ensure effective deployment of the machines. Darley said Lagos State is the first government in Africa to have patronised the firm, adding that the equipment his firm supplied could rank as one of the best in the world. The Chief Officer, Targee Fire, Mr. Edward Dorley Wright, who led the training team, explained that the equipment were fitted with modern tools and computers that are capable of making the task of fire fighting more effective. Wright maintained that the training would last for one year, while the life span of the equipment may last for more than 10 years if there is proper servicing. He said: “Our aim is to help Lagos State with expertise and training. There is nothing like the equipment in the entire Africa. They are modern both in technology and operation and we are determined to help the government to keep them in top shape for a very long time to come.” The Director of the Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe praised the government for the investment in the department. He said the investment was morale booster for his men. He assured the government that officers and men of the service would continue to make the state proud. The Lagos State Fire Service became fully operational on August 31, 1972 with a three-man crew of fire fighters headed by an expatriate Chief Fire Officer named Sir Allan Flemming. Currently, the state’s Fire Service personnel strength stands at over 150. The service operates 13 Fire Stations, with two newly completed

UNILAG holds health week By Sampson Unamka

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held its Health Week. The event, which took place between Monday and Wednesday penultimate week, aimed at educating the university’s community on some important health issues. It addressed some negative attitudes of some members of the community on health issues to engender positive behavioural change. In her opening remarks, Director of Medical Services, University of Lagos Dr. Ramota Apampa, said the event was in line with the medical centre’s vision to provide effective, appropriate and accessible comprehensive health care to members of the institution, the community and beyond. She said the outfit had opened a platform for members to be well informed about their health and appreciate the relevance of the medical centre in the community. “Since the beginning of the celebration in 2012, we have experienced success in a number of our performances as we have been positively criticised and encouraged as well. Our promises have been to save lives and enhance professionalism,” she said. Continuing, Mrs Apanpa said the programme had made positive impact on the community, adding that such impact included sensitisation of the community and beyond towards proactive health behaviour. “We also provide free expert medical services to the community and beyond during the health week such as: voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS and diabetics, among others. “These are particularly for people who do not have access to health care. For example, taxi drivers, food vendors who find it difficult to get free access to medical care,” Apampa said. She further said Health Week Magazine which contains articles that provide the general public tips on healthy living, are also distributed. She advised the community to take part in subsequent exercises. Prof Akin Osibogun of the Community Health, UUNILAG and Consultant Public Health Physician/Epidemiologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), delivered a lecture, titled “Re-emerging Communicable Diseases-Stopping the Spread”.

‘Keep our roads accident-free this season’

HE Ota Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Assistant Corps Commander, Sunday Omafu, has advised motorists to imbibe the culture of defensive driving, urging them to avoid aggression. He spoke during the Command’s Ember Months’ Campaign, at Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, Ota, Ogun State, tagged “Road safety is a shared responsibility; it depends on you and me”. He said the FRSC was established to address road crashes which had become a social problem with their attendant miseries to the people. According to him, many have been killed or maimed while several others have become unproductive. He said researches have shown that the most potent antidote to these avoidable crashes is ‘attitudinal change’, appealing to Nigerians to double their efforts at being safety conscious. “To tackle this ugly trend, individuals’ responsibilities must be involved,” he said. Omafu said all road users have a great role to play to guarantee safety on our roads. “Drivers should stop reckless driving and avoid turning their ve-

By Olalekan Ayeni

hicles to ‘weapons of mass destruction’. They should use them carefully and courteously on the road.” Pedestrians, he said, should desist from acts capable of endangering their lives, while motorcyclists should stop competing for the right of way with drivers. He urged road users to develop the habit of self-respect as doing that would make the roads safer. The Principal Road Traffic Officer (RTO), Ota Branch of the Vehicle Inspection Department (VIO), Commander Osukoya Paul Kehinde, appealed to motorists to always ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on a journey, urging them to maintain utmost discipline while driving. He said the only obstacle on the roads during ember months is the attitude of road users, noting that ember months are like other months (January - August). “There is nothing wrong with the days or months, but the individual’s attitudes need to be changed to end crashes on our roads during the ember months. All road users must change their attitudes by mastering traffic rules and regulations. Osukoya also urged motorists to

•From left: Osukoya, Adetunji, Rahmon, Ogungbemide, Omafu and Adebayo at the event follow due process of obtaining drivers’ licence, saying drivers’ licence is the only certificate that qualifies one as a driver. “The consequence of obtaining drivers’ licence through the backdoor, according to him, is incessant crashes. Because such person would not undergo the normal training and he/she would lack adequate knowledge of road/traffic signs,”

he said. He urged the agencies responsible for issuing drivers’ licence such as Board of Internal Revenue, FRSC and VIO to be strict in the issuance of drivers’ licence. Mr. Osukoya said it is a serious offence on the part of any motorist who drives using fake drivers’ licence. Such a person will not only be punished but will also risk a jail term.

The Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Comrade Rotimi Rahmon, also urged motorists to ensure compliance with road safety rules and regulations for their own interest and those of other road users. He said the incessant crashes on the roads result from negligence on the part of motorists, adding that drinking and driving, over-speed-

•Some of the commercial drivers, Okada riders and tricyclists at the event Adegoke Adetunji, zonal Public Education/Enlightenment Officer, ACC Olusegun Ogungbemide, Public Relations Officer, Sango Branch of National Union of Petroleum and Gas (NUPENG), Comrade Adebayo Hassan, Managing Director, Skiddo Foods Limited, Mrs Julia Shinaba, Executive Vice-Chairman, Missak Agency International Limited, Mr Jackie A. Kassim, representative of

Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Ota Zonal Command, Comrade Salako Solomon, Coordinator, Isaka/Igbala Special Marshal and Partnership, Chief Samuel Ajayi and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ibiok Monday. Others present were Secretary of ATTAN, Mudashiru Taiwo and Secretary of ACCOMORAN, Miss Kafila Kehinde.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Group sensitises public on HIV/AIDS I N line with the United Nations directive that December 1 each year be set aside to recognise and celebrate survivors/People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has commemorated this year’s World AIDS Day in Lagos. The theme for commemoration was: “Closing the gap” in HIV education, prevention, care and PLWHA. It was aimed at getting the number of people living with HIV and AIDS down to zero. Not only that the group held programmes to sensitise residents on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, it also distributed materials that could help curtail the spread. The group distributed items, such as condoms, ribbons and other prevention tools. Nigerians were also encouraged to go for tests to know their status. Prior to the community advocacy, the various support groups under APIN, organised a workshop on ways to project awareness of the disease and how they could pool strategies towards getting the government’s attention and other action plans. They were there to show their solidarity in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Some of the advocacy groups included NEPHWAN,

•Members of the support group after the meeting By Nneka Nwaneri

SMEDAN; representative of Police Hospital Falomo, LASUTH, NIMR, LUTH, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency and other support groups. They advocated against stigmatisation, prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. In a message, Executive Officer of United Nations AIDS Day, Mikel Sidibe said this year’s edition of World AIDS Day is the 26th since its inception in 1988 and the commemoration provides stakeholders the opportunity to review successes achieved across all regions, even as he said it served as a reminder to the public that HIV has not been eliminated regardless of scientific advances made in HIV treatment and prevention.

‘This year’s edition of World AIDS Day is the 26th since its inception in 1988 and the commemoration provides stakeholders the opportunity to review successes achieved across all regions, even as he said it served as a reminder to the public that HIV has not been eliminated regardless of scientific advances made in HIV treatment and prevention. There is still hope of reducing the disease down to zero’ He added that there was still hope of reducing the disease down to zero. Chief Research Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Dr Dan Onwujekwe, said the World

AIDS Day has served as a platform for where global policy makers, donor agencies, development partners and programme managers converge to address the gaps to achieve universal access to care and treat-

ment. The workshop featured a presentation of the history of the Red Ribbon which symbolises care and concern. It is an insignia that enkindles support for the community. Among issues discussed at the workshop were practical policies to motivate PLH and the way forward despite their status and brainstorming on how they can create opportunities for those with the ailment and address the issue of poverty and stigma. The group noted that the health insurance scheme had not been helpful to people living with the virus. It therefore urged the government to build capacity, implement and bring to fruition policies at the national level.

Statistics from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) show that cancer accounts for more deaths worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. It has killed many Nigerians this year. In 2012, it killed a leading light and wife of the founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, Prince Tunde Ponnle, who has now started a foundation to rescue people from the scourge, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue

OR decades, they were partners. They helped the poor, contributed to education and were active in church development. But on October 29, 2012, death parted them. Olufunke, an engineer and Princess, left Tunde, also an engineer, to face the challenges of life alone. No thanks to endometrial cancer, the Prince Tunde Ponnle, founder MicCom Cables and Wires and MicCom Gold and Resort, has had to live painfully in the last two years without a woman who contributed to making him what he is. The good news, however, is that Mrs Ponnle’s death made her husband learn more about cancer. He has realised that cancer kills more people worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. He also found out that when detected early, cancer could be beaten. He equally discovered that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase among Nigerians. Worse still, he got to know that 10 people die from cancer ever hour and yet only a few African countries were sufficiently funding cancer control programmes. It also became known to him that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various types of cancer annually and this may increase given the World Health Organisation (WHO) projection that about 84 million people may die worldwide as a result of one form of cancer or the other in 2015. These discoveries made Ponnle to consult with his children and the result is the MicCom Cancer Foundation (MCCF). The Ibokun Road, Ada, Osun State-based foundation is out to help women fight breast cancer and also help men who may have prostate cancer. The foundation chose these two types of cancer because statistics show that they are the most prevalent among Nigerians.

•The late Mrs Ponnle •MicCom

The centre has solid professional either as technical experts or full-time members of staff. One of the technical experts behind it is Professor A. Akinsola, a Professor of Internal Medicine & Consultant Nephrologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has wide based skills and capacity in programme coordination and administration. Also supporting the centre technically is Dr K.T. Ijadunola, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has proven expertise in communication, health education, promotion and programme management and execution. There is also Dr. A.A Salako, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Urologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A urologist with special interest in screening and management of benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancers, he has also been involved in community surveys.

The centre also has the technical backing of Dr. K.O Ajenifuja, a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has ample experience in community screening and treatment of cervical cancer. He has been part of a similar programme in India Last but not the least is Dr O.A Esimai, an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who coordinates the well women clinic which provides awareness and screening services for breast and cervical cancer. The foundation runs a Cancer Preventive and Treatment Centre at its secretariat. The centre focuses on providing screening, counseling services and other support for treatment of early stage of cancer. The centre has the capacity to ensure adequate information management that will enable academic institutions conduct research into these cancers. “The data being generated will also

be made available to the concerned government parastals either for evaluation and/or research purpose. The programme managers assisted by assistant programme manager and programmes assistant provide services. The foundation links up with secondary and tertiary health institutions in identified target communities in Nigeria (the OAUTHC Ile-Ife at inception) to facilitate access to management and quality care of patients with established lesions. There is a plan to support and invest in the capacity development of the institution will be in the form of equipment (Laboratory, Radiology) and capacity building in diagnosis and treatment and facilitation of treatment of early lesions through a cost sharing strategy between stakeholders,” the centre said. The foundation said it would continually mount advocacy and awareness campaign in Osun State, the neigbouring states and ultimately throughout the country.

“This will be done through various media – radio and television, print-media and visits to community leaders. This has commenced in earnest in the first month of the Foundation’ operation through visits to tradition rulers of the 6 communities identified namely Ada, Ororuwo, Iragbiji, Aagba, Iree, and Eripa. The Foundation has created awareness through media (radio and television) programme in the form of radio jingles and lectures on ‘the Cancers and their prevention’ on the radio. Other advocacy will include sourcing for increased national, regional and international investment in the prevention and management of breast, cervical and prostate cancers in Nigeria,” the centre said. It is also taking serious partnership with hospitals, development partners and government parastals. In the area of capacity building, the centre is focusing on human, infrastructural and institutional capacity building.

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Continuous medical education training for doctors

NDIA’S Apollo Hospitals Group, one of the world’s largest integrated healthcare providers, has held a two-day Continuous Medical Education (CME) training session in Lagos and Benin-City respectively. The training was to improve the medical competence of Nigerian health professionals. The training featured three topical issues in surgical procedures in knee replacement, amendment of heart failure and management of post-renal transplant conducted by Senior Consultant and joint replacement Surgeon, Dr Muhammed Sehar; Senior Cardiology Consultant Surgeon, Dr Sunil Modi and Senior Kidney Transplantation Consultant Surgeon, Dr Vijaya Rajakumari respectively. They all came from Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi India. Dr Modi said heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by abnormalities of left ventricular function and neuro-humoral regulation, accompanied by effort intolerance, fluid retention and reduced longevity. He explained that heart failure is not a disease, even as he added that diseases such as high blood pressure,

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

heart attack, diabetics, infection of the heart muscles and rheumatism could trigger failure of the heart. Dr Modi said hypertension is the number one silent killer of mankind because of its most common symptom which is “no symptom,” and the most common reason which “is no reason.” “Treating heart failure helps to relieve symptoms, helps to reduce exacerbations and helps to improve survival,” he said. He blamed the seemingly helpless situation on lack of awareness. While giving a critical insight into kidney transplant among patients, Dr Rajakumari explained that 50 per cent of patients were either diabetic or hypertensive. Her words: “If you look at these adults, the other 50 per cent will either be chronic nephritis or nephropathies. Lupus erythematosus is most common in children, some of whom are born with small kidneys. That is when they develop kidney failure.” Dr Oluwabusuyi Abu, one of the participants at the CME training, expressed satisfaction with the session and thanked the organisers for the ini-

•Dr Sehar addresses participants at the programme

tiative. He said: “I give kudos to Apollo Hospitals and Diamond Helix for this initiative. The session was well organised and the speakers were right on point. Within this short while, I have learnt a lot from the three different speakers who talked about issues related to our medical practice. They included knee replacement, amendment of heart failure as well as management of post-renal transplant. The three speakers did very well and I am very happy about that.” Another participant, Dr Gertrude

Ogunkeye, said she learnt a lot from the programme, adding that she is in a better position to talk to all adults she knows to, at least, go for medical check-up once a month. Continuing, she said: “Make sure you are not hypertensive, make sure your kidneys are working well and whatever problems you have found, follow them with the doctor’s advice totally and carefully. Also, as a paediatrician, my job is to educate the mothers about taking care of their children’s health because a lot of problems that manifest in adults also mani-

fest in the children.” Expressing her satisfaction for being part of the event, Dr Margret Uduma said: “I am going to review all the information I got here today. I am going to make sure I don’t forget any of them and I am going to put them into practice. I would also like to continue to educate myself medically.” General Manager, Marketing and Strategic Business for Apollo Hospitals Delhi Mr Raj Raina assured that the hospitals would provide observer programmes for Nigerian doctors.

150 benefit from community relief package

O fewer than 150 persons have benefited from Zakat and Sadaqat (Z and S) Foundation’s community relief package at its Oshodi/ Isolo branch. The event was held at the three areas covered by the branch Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo. According to the Coordinator, Mallam Habideen Nasiru, the gesture aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of members of the community. “We are giving relief packages to people in our various communities. The aim is to impact on the community by bringing joy to the people. Islam is not only restricted to delivering lectures in the mosques or on the streets; it is also interested in how peace and unity would reign in our communities,” he said. Mallam Nasiru said the gesture would go a long way in reducing crime in the community. “It will go a long way in solving one or two problems of the people in the community, thereby, engendering sanity and reduction of crime rates. We distributed bags of rice, clothes and spaghetti. About 150 people benefited from the community relief programme,” he said. He called on government at all levels to always remember to give back to the people and evolve robust welfare programmes for the aged and unemployed. “The government should always take care of the needs of the people without waiting for periods of election before giving out derica of rice and litters of kerosene to the

‘We are giving relief packages to people in our various communities. The aim is to impact on the community by bringing joy to the people. Islam is not only restricted to delivering lectures in the mosque or on the streets; it is also interested in how peace and unity would reign in our communities...It will go a long way in solving one or two problems of the people in the community thereby engendering sanity and reduction of crime rates. We distributed bags of rice, clothes and spaghetti. About 150 people benefited from the community relief programme’

•From left: Church/Public Relations Manager, Bible Society of Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Sanusi; General Secretary, Dare Ajiboye and Deputy Manager, Church/Public Relations Manager Benjamin Mordi, at a briefing to introduce the Bura and Idoma Bibles in Lagos.

By Amidu Arije

people,” he said. One of the beneficiaries, Mr Femi Ayodeji thanked the organisers for the gesture. “I am very grateful to the organisers of the programme for the gesture. I was not expecting this. I was at home before a friend came to tell me about the programme. On getting there, I was given a bag of rice and other things. I am very excited with this,” he said.

•Mr Adedayo Yemitan (left); Adebayo Shabi, Council Manager, Mushin Local Government Mr Rasaq Oladeji and Chief environmental Health officer at the inspection of a damaged drainage channel at Owhin Strret, Mushin

Remain focused, cleric advises Nigerians

HE Archbishop of Riye Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Revd Luke Odubanjo, has advised Nigerians to remain focused on God to surmount the myriad of challenges the country is experiencing. He also urged parents to bring up their children according to God’s precepts to have a happy and healthy family. Revd Odubanjo spoke during a homily at the solemnisation of the matrimony between Mr. Oladipupo Oluwaseun Oyenola and his wife, former Miss Olaoluwapo Titilope Akinwale held at the Revd Mellor

Memorial Methodist Church Nigeria Cathedral, Sagamu and Remo Ogun State. Archbishop Odubanjo stressed the need for the couple to sustain the love between them. He urged them to imbibe the sterling qualities of their parents. The cleric cautioned the parents against any undue interference in the couple’s marriage. On the state of the nation, Archbishop Odubanjo warned the politicians and the electorate, against voting based on “bread and butter”, but to rather vote for very credible, re-

spectable aspirants that would cater for their well-being. Archbishop Odubanjo also warned those in authority, especially the politicians against selfish, incessant and flagrant abuse of power and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the innocent poor masses that voted them into power. The cleric therefore urged the electorate to assist the leaders through genuine, constructive criticisms and suggestions on how to move the society forward. While congratulating the couple, he enjoined them to guard jealously

against any breakdown of the marriage. The Lay President-elect of the church and one-time Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adelana Odutola, advised the couple to uphold the sanctity of the wedlock. Eminent personalities that attended the event included the representative of the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria the Archbishop of Abuja, Most Revd. Job Uche, Bishop, Remo Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Michael

Olusina Fape, the Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Lay President-Elect, Diocese of Remo, Methodist Church Nigeria, Mr. Adelana Odutola and his wife, Ranti, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Bishop Diocese of Ikorodu, Rt. Revd Olumuyiwa Odejayi, Bishop, Diocese of Aiyedun Ekiti, Rt. Revd Ola Osunsina, the Baba Ijo and the Iya Ijo General of the Diocese of Remo Methodist Church Nigeria, CEO, Mike’O’ Carpets Limited and Sir Michael Olusegun Odunaiya, among others.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Lagos Girls Guide celebrates 95th anniversary

HE Nigerian Girls Guide, Lagos branch has celebrated its 95th Anniversary. Formed in 1919 in the heart of Lagos, with a few members, it has grown like an oak. Its membership comprises Peeping Brownies (three to five-year olds); Brownies (six to 10 years); Girl Guides (11 to 16 years); Rangers (18 years to 25 years); Guilders (Adult Leaders) - 25 years and above and Commissioners 30 years and above. The association gathered penultimate Saturday at The Apostolic Church Convention Ground, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos to celebrate its 95th anniversary. It was also a day to celebrate the Brownies’ Day. The ground was agog as children and their tutors alighted from various posh cars and buses, matched to the open field for the celebrations. They were full of life and well prepared for the occasion. The Chief Host was the Lagos State Commissioner for The Nigerian Girl Guide Association, Mrs Blessing Adophy-Akee. She radiated joy. According to her, the association is celebrating the 95th anniversary because of the numerous achievements it has achieved.

•From right: Ms Thompson; Mrs Aluko; Mrs Adolphy-Akee and Chairman, Trefoil Guides, Lagos State, Princess Sidiquat Disu with some members of the Girl Guide. PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID By Amidu Arije and Omolara Ogunwale

“The Mission of Girl Guiding for over 95 years had been achieved by providing our members with high quality leadership training and giving them the opportunity to make a difference in their community,” she said. Mrs Adophy-Akee said the association’s programmes have impacted positively on the lives of the girls. “We try through our training, methods and membership to reach as many girls and young women to achieve our vision using our educa-

tional programmes,” she said. She boasted that girls that belong to the association from inception have been doing wonderfully well in their academic pursuits through their tutelage. “We have been carrying these children along in our activities, academically our girls are doing very well, we are very happy,” she said. She thanked the Lagos State Government for her supportive role in the academic development of the children but still want government at all levels to do more. “The government has been trying supporting us, but we still want them to do more, we thank God the case of

child trafficking has been reduce drastically; Lagos State government is really trying on this they don’t take it easy with anybody found on this act,” she said. The Ogun State Commissioner of the association, Mrs Juliana Aluko, called on the government to monitor the girl child education. She called for more support for the association in its efforts to ensure their education is effective. “The government should encourage the people in charge of the girl child education, they should encourage us financially for us to be able to train these children in the right way,” she said.

•Mrs Efunnuga

The National Trainer of the Association, Mrs Kike Thompson, said the training of the girls was hard but the association over the years had taken it upon itself to ensure they are giving the proper tutelage. She decried the state of moral decadence among Nigerian girls. “Training the girl has not being an east task but we are ready to take up the task because it is a necessity, you are aware of the moral decadence in the society, the girls are no more what they use to be in those days, we have to correct these situation because it is one of the missions of the association to develop the girl child to the fullest,” she said

Seven-year-old Boluwatife Idowu has a life-threatening ailment which requires urgent medical attention. SEUN AKIOYE reports that, stranded on the isolated Tongeji Island, Boluwatife’s father asks for help to save his son’s life.

Seven-year-old Boluwatife needs help to stay alive

T was about 5: 00 p.m. but the sun still shone brightly out of the azure sky over Tongeji Island. About five children of different ages played under the shake of a large tree shaded from the scourging sun. About 20 metres from the playing children, another one sat alone and isolated. Seven-year-old Boluwatife Idowu is no ordinary child. At the age of seven, he was no taller than a feet and his physical outlook seemed, at first sight, outlandish. His clean-shaven head is large and uneven and had sunk into where his neck would have been. He has big white eyes which seemed to pack all of the world’s sadness in them. His clean shaven head had a single thick vein running down from the middle into his forehead and his nose, though large, had tiny nostrils. His mouth was opened as he could not breathe through his nose. His teeth are tiny and scattered and their growth left a lot of space on the gum but they are strong. It was the only thing that reminds one of what his real age is. His torso consists of a tiny chest and a bloated stomach with navel so long that it touched the bench he sat on. His legs had no life in them. When one touches, they seemed to boast no bones. They were flat and not straight as every healthy leg should be. For the reason that he was sitting all day, his buttocks had flattened and, according to his parent, had sores on it. When much attention was focused on him, he began to cry. Though born premature, according to his father, Rogers, Boluwatife was not born with this defect or it didn’t show until he was six months old. “It was six months when his mother was feeding him that the food went the wrong way and he started coughing then he died. I was not around then but when I returned home, I saw his lifeless body. I began to pray and his uncle performed the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him. He woke up, but that was the beginning of his problem.” Rogers said he had spent about N2 million treating the disease with repeated visits to many specialist hospitals, mainly in Benin Republic. He claimed it has ruined his canoe building business and rendered him wretched. According to him, different diagnoses and prescriptions were made on his condition but the one which seems to resonate more is a test which indicates his brain is full of water. Despite repeated diagnosis, however, Boluwatife’s situation continues to deteriorate. Tongeji Island where Boluwatife lives is an isolated island in the remotest part of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. Though, a Nigerian territory, the island is closer to Benin Republic than Nigeria. The people who inhabit the island are mainly Egun, with their closest relatives in Whekan Topa, a sleepy community which borders Benin Republic. There are no roads to Tongeji as it is only accessible by water. The cottage hospital on the island is dilapidated and has no medical equipment. Nurses are rotated every week on the island and since the hospital has fallen apart, it has been converted into a hostel for visitors and teachers on the island. Armed with a picture of Boluwatife, The Nation sought the opinions of doctors in Lagos about the condition or the illness affecting Boluwatife.

According to Dr. Tolu Shonaike of P&G Medical Centre, new Oko Oba, Lagos, there are two possible conditions Boluwatife may be suffering from. “The parents would have to bring him to Nigeria for urgent medical diagnosis. But from what you have described, there are two possible conditions. It could be Muscular Dystrophy which is a genetic mutation or Hydrocephalus. But they need to bring him in and let a paediatrician do a proper examination on him. His chance of survival depends on that,” he said. Mayoclinic.org, a medical website explains that “muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.” The website also informs that while there are many different kinds of the disease, the most common symptoms are usually during childhood, especially among boys. The complications associated with this disease include; inability to walk, breathing problems, curved spine, heart problems and swallowing problems. Boluwatife has all these symptoms. “But if the claim by Rogers that a test had indicated Boluwatife’s brain is filled with water, then medical opinion may be looking at another condition called hydrocephalus,” Shonaike said. Another online portal www.hopkinsmedicine.org explains that “Paediatric hydrocephalus is the accumulation of spinal fluid inside the brain, also known as ‘water on the brain.’ This can be a very dangerous condition, as the normal production and recycling of spinal fluid throughout the neurological system is disrupted.” According to the website, Hydrocephalus is usually discovered in a child when the head begins to swell and enlarge, even as early as six months. If the condition of Boluwatife is hydrocephalus, Shonaike said he would have to undergo surgery to conduct a shunt which will divert the water from the head to the heart for onward circulation throughout the body. “He will need to come down here and his parents will need a lot of money,” he said.

•Boluwatife Idowu

“I need Nigerians to help me. I do not have any money again. My work is ruined and I am desperate. This boy is suffering and I feel for him. I am appealing to public-spirited Nigerians to help me treat him because I don’t know what to do again,” Rogers said. To help Boluwatife, please contact his father on 08082015891 or 07068403661.

Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue •Continued from page 34 “With respect to human capacity building, it will provide fellowship awards for short stay of experts to acquire skills for management of these three focal cancers in institutes with such expertise. We will also invest in training and building capacity of local experts to be able to manage these lesions in many medical centres all over Nigeria. With respect to infrastructural and institutional capacity building, MCCF shall invest in installation of equipment and production of materials that will enable our various partners at all levels to conduct health education in order to create awareness about cancer prevention, screen and ensure early

diagnosis of cancer and effectively manage all referred cases,” it said. But how will the centre be sustained? It explains: “MCCF is planned to be an ongoing concern. It will therefore strongly invest in partnership and institution capacity building. Also it shall create an environment that can support continued research and academic affiliation that will enable the foundation continue to generate the needed evidence for policy development and review for cancer prevention and management in the country. It shall start small, but evolve to be a major cancer centre in the future.”The foundation also encourages volunteerism among health care providers locally, nationally and in Diaspora. It

will campaign against predisposing lifestyle practices that have been linked to cancer such as: smoking, excessive alcohol intake, exposure to carcinogenic product, multiple sexual partners, early exposure to sex and unprotected sexual intercourse are to be emphasized. It will also champion the need for regular medical checkups, monthly self breast examination, need for healthy diet, regular exercise, prevention of obesity. The screening services available at the centre include: histopathology of pap smears, mammography, ultrasonographic examinations, breast biopsy, PSA determination, digital rectal examination and clinical breast examination.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

SEC clears Skye Bank's Mainstreet Bank acquisition

ECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) has no objection against the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited by Skye Bank Plc, clearing the way for Skye Bank to complete the acquisition process and begin integration of the acquired bank. After regulatory review, SEC, the apex capital market regulator which also has the sole jurisdictional authority on mergers and acquisitions, has given"No Objection" consent to the acquisition. The "No Objection" consent implies that SEC had reviewed the entire acquisition transaction and found that it duly complied with extant laws, rules and regulations and best practices. In a reversed case, any objection by SEC must be rectified before the closure of the transaction. In the event of irreconcilable objection, SEC is statutorily empowered to stop the transaction. 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

•Issues “No Objection" to acquisition Stories by Taofik Salako

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. Regulatory filing obtained by The Nation showed that SEC had issued a "No Objection" letter to the Skye Bank's Mainstreet Bank acquisition. Regulatory sources and major parties to the transaction confirmed the clearance. Sequel to the clearance, Greenwich Trust Limited, a broker-dealer member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which is acting as professional adviser to Skye Bank, has notified the Exchange that the bank will now move on to complete the post-acquisition process. The clearance came on the heels of favourable analysts' review of the transaction. Financial and investment analysts across a broad spectrum of leading Nigerian and international investment companies said the acquisition holds significant positive prospects. 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. 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 companies 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 depos-, its and enhance its lending capacity, which will translate to improvement in loan-deposit 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.

AXA completes Mansard Insurance acquisition •Mansard acquires PFA

XA, the world’s largest in surance company, has com pleted the acquisition of majority equity stake in Mansard Insurance Plc. The completion of the acquisition came as Mansard Insurance also acquired a majority equity stake in a pension fund administrator (PFA). AXA bought 77 per cent majority equity stake in Mansard Insurance Plc, in a major market-entry push that promises to profoundly impact the Nigerian insurance industry. AXA already has a substantial presence in Africa including Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal and Algeria. Regulatory sources said the acquisition was completed last week with the transfer of the ownership stake to AXA. AXA took over the 77 per cent equity stake held by Assur Africa Holding Limited (AAH), the core investor that had purchased the former Guaranty Trust Bank insurance subsidiary. GTBank had sold its insurance subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc, in compliance with regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). AXA had entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Assur Africa Holdings, which holds the 77 per cent equity stake in Mansard. AAH is made up of Development Partners International (UK), Africinvest Inc (Tunisia), Netherlands Development Finance Company (Holland), German Investment Corporation (Germany), French Development Finance Company (France) and ASPV Limited. However, the acquisition would only result in the change of beneficial ownership of the 77 per cent equity stake in Mansard Insurance while the legal ownership of the shares remains. The change of majority core investor in Mansard Insurance came as the insurance company begins the completion process for the acquisition of majority equity stake in a PFA. Mansard Insurance would be acquiring 60 per cent of the issued and paid up share capital of Penman Pensions Limited. Mansard has already obtained regulatory approvals from National Pension Commission

(Pencom), National Insurance Commission (Naicom) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it has also notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). With the regulatory approval, there are indications that the insurance company would complete the acquisition transaction in the next few days. Mansard Insurance plans to operate the PFA independently as a subsidiary in the pension sector, the same strategy it had used in earlier acquisition of a health management organisation (HMO). Mansard Insurance had in 2013 acquired the entire issued share capital of Procare Health Plan Nigeria Limited as it sought to consolidate its health insurance business. In a statement on its website, AXA stated that the acquisition of a majority stake in Mansard Insurance would further strengthen its presence in Africa. It will also, at this entry point, become the fourth largest insurance player in Nigeria. Deputy chief executive officer, AXA, Denis Duverne, said the acquisition is a unique opportunity for AXA to enter the largest African economy with leading positions in all business lines and to get exposure to the fast-growing Nigerian retail insurance market. “AXA will benefit locally from the knowledge of an experienced and successful management team and from a profitable platform. Thus, this transaction represents a further step in our acceleration strategy, which is at the heart of our Ambition AXA plan, and is in line with our belief that insurance is instrumental to foster economic development, by providing communities with protection and risk management expertise,” Duverne said. AXA noted that Mansard is the fourth largest insurance provider in Nigeria with operations in both property and casualty and life and savings, pointing out that Mansard is well established in commercial lines, which represents nearly two thirds of its revenues, and has been developing successfully its retail business over the past three years.

•From right: Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Benjamin Dikki, presenting a document for handing over of Stallion Property and Development Company (SPDC) to the Chairman, NNPC Pension Fund Limited (PFL), Dr Dan Efebo, in Abuja.

NASD OTC reaches N653b capitalisation

HE total market value of com panies quoted on the NASD Plc, an over-the-counter (OTC) market, has risen to N653 billion, according to latest market valuation of the stocks. The NASD OTC was launched on July 1 and opened for trading the following day. Formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, NASD OTC is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an over-thecounter (OTC) trading platform for unquoted securities; including equities and bonds. According to the opening values for the OTC market this week, the total value of the 19 companies on the market stands at about N653 billion. Major companies on the NASD included Dufil Prima Foods Plc, the manufacturer of Indomie Noodles; Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria Plc, manufacturer of Peak Milk brand; Industrial & General Insurance Plc, Central Securities Clearing System Plc, the clearing and depository arm of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Jaiz Bank Plc, the Islamic bank. Other stocks included Acorn Pe-

troleum Plc, Arm Life Plc, Afriland Properties Plc, BGL Plc, Consolidated Breweries Plc, Food Concepts Plc, Geo-Fluids Plc, Golden Capital Plc, Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc, Partnership Investment Company Plc, Resourcery Plc, Riggs Ventures West Africa Plc, Swap Technologies & Telecomms Plc and Trustbond Mortgage Bank Plc. Three months after it hit the N1 billion mark total values of trades last September, NASD last week announced that it has recorded more than N2 billion trades value. According to NASD, the mark is a cumulative effect of and increasing preference investors have for transparency and Participating Institutions recognition of the liquidity the market affords. “This number is significant because it represents deals that hitherto would not have been captured by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), tax authorities, economic planners and analysts. The NASD OTC market is therefore creating an opportunity for both institutional and individual investors

to accept and use the same data and get a clearer perspective of our investment terrain,” the NASD stated. NASD said it recognised the indispensable contributions of participating institutions, registrars, custodians and all other operators who have started the development of this market noting that while some operators contributed directly by trading through the system, others have been invaluable in testing, fine tuning and advertising the market. “We appreciate all players in the OTC market and look forward to more liquidity and transparency in the OTC market in Nigeria,” NASD stated Earlier, NASD Plc and CSCS had devised an alternative dematerialisation system that allows investors to deposit their physical share certificates with the CSCS in exchange for a tradable digital account. Dematerialisation is the conversion of a physical certificate into a digital account balance at the CSCS, much like the conversion of a physical cash note to a bank account balance.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS PENSION

•Gov. Babatunde Fashola

Retirees of Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC)are seeking payment of their pension benefits more than four years after leaving the service. The senior citizens lamented that they are in pains as the effects of the economic downturn bite harder, OMOBOLA TOLUKUSIMO reports.

ND of the year usually signals the Yule tide season and for many, it is time to celebrate. But for about 200 retirees of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC), it is another time to recount their moment of anguish and years of sufferings and hunger. This is owing to the non-payment of over N1 billion pension benefits for over four years by the management of LWC, headed by the Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Shayo Holloway. The senior citizens acting under the aegis of Lagos Water Corporation Association of Retirees, lamented that having served for the mandatory 35 years before retirement, they are under the Contributory Pension Scheme of the Pension Reform Act 2004 and as repealed by Pension Act, 2014. According to the retirees, their sufferings have reached a climax that their children are now being driven out of schools due to nonpayment of school fees. They lamented that their landlords have ejected some of them from their houses while many of them have suffered deterioration in their health conditions and are on their sick beds. Other have died, the group added. While they worked, the management of the corporation deducted the 7.5 per cent employee contribution from their salary but did not remit regularly to their Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) as and when due, neither did they remit the 7.5 per cent expected of them as employers. Sunday Oladele who retired in 2010 after 35 years of service at the LWC said he does not know how much he is being owed. According to him, he has not received any pension benefits since he retired. Recounting his ordeal, he said he has relocated to his village while his wife and children have been scattered around the country. He said he lives from hands to mouth, gradually turing into a destitute. He urged the state government to intervene so that he could get his benefits and discharge his responsibilities as a responsible father. Another retiree, Patrick Ademoyegun, said he is yet to receive his retirement benefits from the government. Ademoyegun who retired as a principal staff from the water corporation in January this year after serving for 35 years said his fear now is that he may eventually not get get any benefit because LWC did remit his contribution to his PFA. He said: “When the state joined the CPS in 2007, most of us were afraid of joining the new scheme because of the insincerity of our management. I was forced to join when they said they will not pay my salary unless I register with a PFA.

•Holloway

•Oladele

•Ogunwande

Lagos Water Corp retirees demand N1b pension liabilities’ payment “After I joined the new scheme, I discovered that the management was deducting the 7.5 per cent contribution from my salary but were not remitting as and when due. The worst part of it is that they did not contribute the 7.5 per cent required as my employer.” Ademoyegun also urged the state government to pay him immediately because he was employed by the state and not LWC. Secretary to the group, James Ogunwande, who retired in February 1, 2012 as a higher executive officer said he was one of the Corporation’s pension desk officers while in service. He said the retirees had to quickly form an association when it became clear that the current leadership of the coropration did not have any plan to pay them. He said: “Presently, I live in a church following my eviction from the house I was living by my landlord due to my inability to pay. My children can no longer go to school and are living with my relations.” The group’s Chairman, Leo Onayemi, lamented that several meetings had been held with the LWC management, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and the Lagos State House of Assembly. He said: “We informed them of our predicament and the need for them to intervene. “Our GMD does not have the interest of the workers at heart especially retirees because he does not remit pension contribution to PFAs. “We joined the CPS immediately the state joined in 2007. But the management has been fast in deducting our money but does not remit. The GMD has been at the helms of affairs since 14 years ago. We have exploited all means that we know to appeal to him to remit our contributions. But he keeps telling us lies that the Corporation does not have money. On the average, every month, we make over N60 million so why can’t he pay is our pension? “When the House of Assembly asked him why we have not been paid, he said he wanted to increase water tariff before he can pay us.” Onayemi said it is criminal for the GMD to deduct pension contribution from workers’ salaries and not remit same to the respective PFAs. He insisted that it is against the Pension Reform Act 2004 as repealed by the 2014 Pension Act. In a petition written by the association to the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, the group stated that it has become pertinent to notify the governor that since the enactment of the New Pension Reform Law, the management of the corporation has never complied with the guidelines that specify the conditions for an early payment of the retirees while toying with the life of retirees that have used the better part of their life to serve the state. “The retired staff of LWC wish to draw your attention to the luke-warm approach of the management towards the actualisation of the New Reform Pension Law, promulgated by the Federal Government in the 2004, primarily to soften or correct anomalies suspected in the old pen-

sion law. “We retired statutorily under the Pension Law enacted in 2004, but Lagos State Government joined the scheme in 2007 with the slogan ‘Pay As You Go’. We believe that it is the best alternative to the old pension law which will ease the suffering of retirees. “It is however disappointing that the action of the LWC management has not been encouraging towards meeting with the payment of retirees. To buttress our points, the payment of the monthly deduction to the PFA had not been regular. It also defied section 41(1-4) and other relevant sections under the disguise that there is no money by the management. “We have made several efforts to let the management of the corporation to see reason to our plight but it has not yielded any positive result. In addition, we organised an interactive family meeting with the management team, chaired by the GMD to know our fate on the issue at stake. It is very sad and painful to state that the organisation has no concrete or specific plan or provision to support the new scheme for its retirees and serving staff. The revelation weakened both the retired and serving staff. We are at the edge of divine intervention. “Observation from other Ministries, Departments, Local Government and Agencies in Lagos State, indicate regular remission of bonds and other contributory deductions to respective PFA and they are also able to cope with the payment of retirees by direct deduction “Option’. “We are agitating for the payment of the benefit and entitlement, 35 per cent time value or coupon rate due to affected retirees is to be paid, 45 per cent to serve as dispensation to cushion the effect of arbitrary delay. Payment of interest that might have accrued to affected pensioners as a result of non-remittance of deduction.” In addition, he said it has been observed that LWC lacks financial capacity to shoulder the retirees’ benefits and burdens. “In order to save them and encourage the serving staff to have hope and a joyful end of their journey, we hereby appeal to the state for financial aid. We also suggest direct deduction from the subvention and other benefit due to LWC from the state government. “This is to be remitted directly to the PFA; we strongly implore your office to officially intervene by rescuing us from the depth of hunger and starvation that have resulted to untimely death as a result of financial slavery,” he added. Reacting to claims made by the retirees in an interview with The Nation, Mr. Holloway said it is not true that management is not concerned or not working to pay the retirees their pension benefits. He noted that if money was physically deducted and not remitted and is misused or mis-appropriated for something else, then one can understand their agitation. “But the truth of the matter, in a nutshell is that our operational expenditure far exceeds available funds on a monthly basis. So what we have

been doing at the first line of the monthly expenditure is that we ensure we are able to meet salaries of staff. We make various deductions on paper to arrive at the net. “To be able to generate more funds to pay pension, we are through the state government, addressing the issue of low tariff. Today, what we charge for water is unsustainable. The tarrifF was set over 15 years ago and we are charging the equivalent of 50 koko per litre. In other words, we are charging N50 per cubic metre which is N50 for five drums of 200 litre capacity each. “This is not sustainable and the government has agreed that our tarrif is low, and that is currently being reviewed by the regulatory commission. We are also trying to improve on our collection efficiency whereby we can be more efficient in revenue collection. We have been able to pay some pensioners from the old pension scheme from the available resources that we have but we need government’s intervention in this case of retirees under the new scheme to assist us to offset the liabilities.” The GMD, however, sought the understanding of the retirees, adding that the corporation needed about N6billion to run its operation successfully but has been managing the little funds available to it. “One of the strategy we want to pursue is that people pay for water consumed. We are still talking to the government to assist us. I will be meeting with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget tomorrow to discuss and try to resolve this issue. LWC is not the only agency that owes its staff pension. There are other agencies with challenges and we are taking it to the state government. “The key thing is that we need to improve on our collection efficiency. Our tarrif needs to be reviewed. We are not happy that pensions are not being paid and it is not as if we have the money somewhere and do not want to pay. If we have the money today, we will not hesitate to make the payment. We will keep talking to the State Government and I assure the retirees that they will soon be paid.” Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, told The Nation that the pensioners, whose problems mostly rose from the old pension scheme, would soon smile. She said the retirees would soon be paid their pension arrears. “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 discovered 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. We have taken on pensioners of Water Corporation and the matter will soon be resolved. We are not leaving them to their fate. We do hope that the problems will be solved with the State’s 2015 budget presented by the Governor, Babatunde Fashola,” she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Imagine a visually impaired man running a $700, 000 business! This is the story of Ayo Awe, who rose to become a successful entreprenuer. Awe’s success story, as captured by DANIEL ESSIET, serves as an inspiration to others that, there is ability in disability.

Rising above life’s challenges A

T a young age, Ayo Awe was diagnosed of a visual condition capable of leading to the loss of his sight. Subsequently, he received several treatments to correct it; but it was to no avail as the condition of the eyes deteriorated faster than expected, and was finally certified to be permanently visually impaired. Downcast and distraught, Awe braced, determined not to surrender to this vissicitude of life. And as he battled to adjust to this lifechanging experience with faith in God, he made up his mind to get quality education. For him, this was the only way to liberate himself from poverty and become relevant in the world. After sailing through his primary and secondary school education in Lagos in flying colours, fortune shone on him as he got a scholarship to study Economics at the University of Texas, Houston,United States (US) in 2002. Moving to the US turned out to have other advantages as well. The low-stress environment and the government’s support for the visually impaired persons, enabled him to cope with high-quality education challenges faced by freshers. He graduated in flying colours and

•Awe

enrolled for a Masters in Information Technology (IT) at the University of Texas, Dallas. Keeping an open mind, maintaining an up-

beat attitude, Awe saw himself through his programme and became a certified IT professional with eight international certifications in Enterprise Solutions and other areas. After a stinct with various organisations, which further sharpened his knowledge and gave a boost to his market value, he began to dream of starting his own business. He started AlphaGRC consultancy- firm that provides specialised IT services in SAP security and audit space with $5, 000. Even though physically challenged, as chief executive officer, Awe leads the group, its global vision and develops key strategies, policies and systems, while being a role model for the company’s culture. Today, the business is worth $700,000 with branches in United Kingdom and Nigeria. He has eight people in his employ. Awe’s success story is a testimony to his belief that “adversity cannot stop anyone from achieving his goals.” Consequently, he has also set up a FoundationTimeless Vision Foundation (TVF), a charity organisation that promotes awareness, provide hope and improve standards of living for blind people struggling to survive in the society. Through all of his projects, Awe continues to

The increasing demand for natural honey and its by products has made bee keeping the new fad for young, aspiring entreprenuers, writes DANIEL ESSIET.

Making money from bee-keeping

EE keeping is a lucrative business. This is a result of the demand for pure honey, believed to be efficacious in curing ailments, such as cardiovascular diseases, heart problems, high blood pressure, and cancer. As demand has increased, there are more opportunities for people to take advantage of it. At the head of the campaign to get more farmers to embrace bee keeping is Ayodele Salako, an Ibadan-based apiculturist/ apitherapist. He said he had been smiling to the bank since he discovered there was more money in keeping bees that repairing air conditioners- his profession by training. Initially, he started the business from Lagos. He later moved to Ibadan to acquire more lands. Today, bee keeping has made him a celebrity and boosted his income through the treatment of ailments using honey. He started with two hives. At the moment, he has over 30 hives and this monthly revenue is on the rescue. He is so enthused with the business because he sees more profit coming as he acquire more hives. A lot of people he has trained has gone to set up large number of hives. The result is bountiful harvests that have contributed significantly to improve livelihoods of most rural communities around Lagos and the South-west. But it is simple to start. With N10, 000, one can acquire one hive and make up to N40,000 after the harvest of honey. Those able to start with N100, 000 can go into the

• Bee keepers at work.

production of, beeswax, pollen, propolis, bee venom, royal jelly, bee colonies, bee brood, queen bees, and package bees among others. That Salako is one of the most successful beekeepers in Oyo State is partly due to the fact that he uses honey to treat ailments .The competitive edge that provides Salako with is so great that even honey producers got in touch with him to offer medical help. This enables him to make money from treatments and this has catapulted him from the position of a low-paid, run-of-themill beekeeper to one of the most successful beekeepers with people interest in his techniques. Very few are aware that bee farming could be integrated into crop farming to increase crop yields. For this reason, he is mounting a campaign to get more Nigerians to take to bee farming. He is determined to draw farmers to the neglected bee farming as results will support the adoption of beekeeping along the crop production system. With increasing honey laundry, his strategy is the production of quality honey and other value added beehive products. Right now, he is facing some challenges which include bushfires/wildfires running through beefarms On the average, a farmer can position an hive at an appropriate point and harvest the honey after four months. For a farmer to practise a commercially viable

inspire hope, ignite hope, and make it happen for the visually impaired. “At TVF, our core belief is that blindness should never be a stumbling block to any man’s dreams. TVF’s immediate, short-term focus is primarily directed at benefiting the visually impaired community in Nigeria. In the near future, TVF is committed to expanding the scope of service to other developing African nations,” he added. Awe is working to give people with visual disabilities access to business opportunities. Through the foundation, he helps the blind access new technologies and expose physical challenged Nigerians to peers of different abilities, building respect for people with special needs and a more inclusive society. He has been an ambassador, educating the public about what it’s like to struggle with blindness, while delivering a message of hope for people living with visual impairment. His ability to communicate his feelings and positive outlook on life has touched thousands of peoples’ lives. Awe is determined to lead by example, has very high personal standards for himself artistically, academically and socially, and is an exemplary role model for young people striving to overcome challenges in their lives. His words: “Our biggest problem is not that the world is full of disabled people but the fact that the world is overwhelmingly full of more abled people who choose to do nothing about it. Our vision is to see a Nigeria where blindness won’t be a stumbling block for any blind person to achieve his/her dream.’’

‘Govt failing businesses’

T •Salako

apiculture, the advice is that one starts with a least 10 hives. A standard hive has two compartments with lower part meant for the queen bee and the upper one housing the worker bees. If well catered for the hives can last for many years. Most of the farmers keep bees for their by products such, as honey or wax, but Salako has found fortunes in extracting bee venom to treat certain aliments. According to him, the venom has numerous medicinal values and can be answer to many of the current paradox ailments that seem to be having no immediate answer . Salako listed some of the ailments that could be combated with bee venom to include headache, insomnia, osteoarthritis, fractures, inflammation, high blood pressure, skin problems, back pain, infertility in women, eye problems, wounds that have refused to go for about three years. To enable him administer treatments, he attended a training in apitherapy which takes up to three years.

HE President, Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Prince Saviour Iche, has come down hard on the Federal Government, blaming her for not helping small businesses get off the ground. Addressing the Association’s exhibition and awards in Lagos, Iche said the government, through financial institutions, have broken its promises to small businesses and entrepreneurs, neglecting their crucial role as drivers of economic change. Instead of the government making it easier for these businesses to trade with the necessary infrastructure, he said there were increasing regulations stifling growth. Claiming that the real entrepreneurs are neglected, Iche said,those who are not entrepreneurs are getting government’s support. Iche said the government needs to do more to support young entrepreneurs and future job creators, adding that access to finance is still as one of the biggest obstacles on the road to success. He maintained that the government should figure out ways to put more capital in the hands of entrepreneurs to drive economic growth, broaden the tax base, and create jobs. He, however, praised thE efforts of the Federal Government to support enterprise development through the SME fund. The Centre Manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) Business Support Centre, Matori, Lagos, Mr. Yinka Fisher, said the organisation assists entrepreneurs to develop skills to set up and run their ‘mini companies’. He explained that SMEDAN is determined to support entrepreneurs reach their potential, adding that the confidence and aspiration their programme generates, helps them to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the nation. President, Association of Small business Owners of Nigeria(ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola reiterated the importance of entrepreneurship in tackling increasing unemployment. During the ceremony, the association recognised some SMEs which are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the economy. Others which got awards wereTelevision Continental (TVC) - the best electronic station for SMEs reporting while The Nation got the one for print media.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

BUSINESS VIEWPOINT

‘Nigeria’s fiscal austerity is a moral armament’ O

F all the policy options at the disposal of the Federal Government in re sponse to the recent slump in the price of crude oil, fiscal austerity is the most morally justified. It is also the least risky option. But as with all economic policies, there are countervailing arguments. So, we can decide to maintain fiscal deficit at the same level. Or find some reasons to widen the gap between government’s revenue and expenditure. This would be in the hope of financing the fiscal deficit by issuing bonds (debt capital) or increasing money supply through quantitative easing (printing money). Raising the level of debt at a time of dwindling revenue is both unrealistic and problematic. The debt finance would be more expensive. Investors would be swayed to buy the bonds only if they offer higher risk premiums. But then the higher cost of raising the financing also comes with two additional problems. One involves the reputational damage to the government as the market would perceive the pricey issuances as junk bonds. The other problem is that such bonds, being sovereign issuances, would invariably set very high benchmarks for corporate bonds. Nigerian banks and other private sector issuers would have to pay higher costs for raising debt capital in the international capital market. In the end, this option would be too costly; not only for government, but also for the private sector. If the government therefore ditches debt capital financing for quantitative easing, as has been suggested in some quarters, the implications would also be dire. There would be no escape from the consequences; the inflationary expectations that would greet the policy would be self-fulfilling. Out through the window would go price stability which has been achieved by this Administration through monetary policy. Not only would this affect affordability by the citizens, the ensuing inflationary outlook would deter private capital flows and investment in the country. Quantitative easing might have become very appealing because of its effect in stimulating the United States (U.S.) economy to growth since the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009. But there is a fundamental difference in the structural composition of the Nigerian economy and that of the United States. Besides, while the U.S. Federal Reserve’s QE diffused volatility risks around the world, similar policy in Nigeria would mainly localize the risks as we don’t have the reach of the U.S. economy. To underscore the fact that the success of quantitative easing is not beyond question, the policy has produced in Japan the very opposite of its accomplishment in the U.S. The Japanese economy has returned into a recession, making a monkey out of the Abenomics mantra. The reason why Nigeria would pursue either of the two policies of raising debt capital

By Roberts Orya

or printing money, as opposed to fiscal retrenchment, is to create a false impression that no serious adjustment is necessary in response to lower revenue by the government on account of the fallen oil prices. This is completely out of nature with the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. In the past five years, the government has been very pragmatic and honest in implementing needed reforms in the country. The Administration has backed the necessary tough choices that policymakers have made in maintaining healthy macroeconomic variables. Examples include tight monetary policy, reforms in the banking industry and tighter regulation of the capital market. The administration has also made a shift with regard to public debt. At the time of above-$100-a-barrel oil price, the fiscal regime had opted for consolidation, to slow down the rate of growth of public debt. External borrowing was tied to infrastructural projects, an example being the $1 billion Eurobond that was successfully issued in 2013. While the Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME) and Honourable Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has assured of government’s commitments to development of infrastructure, the strategy is not and cannot be to fuel public debt at an inauspicious time as we are in. Instead of that, and rightly so, Dr. OkonjoIweala has announced spending cuts in the areas that will not hurt the economy – international travels and consolidation of some government agencies whose functions seem to overlap as recommended by the Stephen Oronsaye Report. This will be complemented by raising more tax revenue. The best scenario of raising public debt to fund infrastructural projects under the ensuing fiscal head wind is that future generation of Nigerians will have the benefits of the infrastructure and also the burden of repayment of the loans. However, a different proposition that is morally unassailable is to fund infrastructure without also bequeathing a debt overhang on the future generation. Yes, whereas the response of the U.S. economy to quantitative easing has been positive so far, fiscal austerity in much of the Eurozone has perpetuated weak economic performance. While the U.S. economy is now growing at above 3 per cent annualized, Europe continues to have a combination of mediocre growth and economic contraction. Italy has just fallen into tripledeep recession. As a result of these, fiscal austerity has become an orphan. But the jury is out on what the outcome of QE in the Eurozone would be, and whether the U.S. will face a painful adjustment with the end of QE3. Even then, there are fundamental differences between Europe — where austerity

measures have proved to make matters worse before possible improvement — and Nigeria — where austerity measures are expected to help in managing external shock and also help intensify structural transformation of the economy. Europe introduced fiscal austerity when and where public debt had reached unsustainable levels, almost equal to or exceeding the gross domestic product (GDP). But the level of Nigeria’s public debt is sustainable, well under 40 percent of GDP ceiling. As a result of the financial crisis and the public debt crisis, southern Europe especially had plunged into a recession. But GDP growth has been very solid in Nigeria. Even with the cuts in the GDP growth projections as a result of the fallen oil prices, Nigeria will grow at above 5 per cent this 2014 and in 2015. Again, because austerity measures in troubled Southern European countries were imposed by their senior partners in the Eurozone and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the standard conditionalities for the financing left policymakers in the countries no legroom for manoeuver. But the austerity measures that have recently been declared in Nigeria are not an external imposition. The Government has a lot of headroom in applying the policy. Therefore, spending cuts have been applied to areas that are in the least likely to constrain growth. Nigeria’s austerity measures are not just a belt-tightening framework. It is an opportunity to improve fiscal management and widen the tax net. Following the recent rebasing of the Nigerian GDP, the economy became 89 per cent bigger than the previous size. But as a result, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio became much smaller, magnifying the problem of low tax base. Right away, tax on luxury goods has been announced. In that one stroke, the tax will help government to generate additional revenue and at the same time help in redistributing income. When the new tax on luxury properties are viewed alongside the areas that the government wants to cut expenditures, it becomes apparent that the initial responses of the administration are decidedly pro-poor; the cuts are unlikely to hurt the middle class and less fortunate Nigerians. These initial steps should assure the generality of Nigerians that the government is very mindful of protecting our economic interests if and when additional measures touch areas that are likely to have wider reach. As has been acknowledged, every crisis presents an opportunity. Lower oil prices may not change in a hurry. Indeed, the CME, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, has said the government takes the view that lower oil prices are most likely to remain permanent. In that case, the structural transformation that has gained pace under this administration, as attested by the GDP rebasing, will now intensify. The main reason why very adverse

• Orya

conditions are not immediately expected in Nigeria (and may never become a reality) is because the Nigerian GDP growth is led by the non-oil sectors. Oil revenue will hurt government revenue. But the economy can adjust and cope with that. Growth in services, agriculture and manufacturing will remain on track and will help create jobs. Even within the oil and gas sector, we are seeing a structural transformation at play. The implementation of the power sector reform has suddenly increased domestic demand for gas. The thermal power stations – existing and those coming on stream – have made gas a local commodity. Similarly, I foresee the situation whereby the Nigerian oil will essentially serve the domestic market. Industrial activities have begun to grow and will likely reach a tipping point in a few years, transforming Nigeria into an industrial hub. At that time, the price of oil will matter very little for Nigeria. Indeed, higher oil price at that time would hurt us because most of Nigeria’s oil would be sold locally. The country would be more concerned about increasing the oil reserves so that Nigeria’s oil would continue to be available to fuel its economic growth. At such a time, we would look back to this Administration and appreciate the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as being well-appointed. Implementation of non-oil growth dimension of the Transformation Agenda has been the pre-occupation of NEXIM Bank in the last five years. It will remain so. • Orya is the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

Oil price fall: ‘OPEC won’t cut output’

• Nigerian Petroleum Resources Minister and OPEC President, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke

RUDE oil dropped to the lowest level in more than five years after the United Arab Emirates said the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) won’t rein in production in response to the slump. OPEC will refrain from curbing output even if prices fall as low as $40 a barrel, U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail Al-Mazrouei said. Prices have slipped about 20 per cent since OPEC decided against cutting production to tackle the glut at a Nov. 27 meeting. The group has pumped more than its output target of 30 million barrels a day for the last six months. Futures are poised to fall below half

where they were six months ago, according to a Bloomberg survey. Oil slid into a bear market this year amid the highest U.S. production in three decades and slowing growth in global consumption. “The elements that brought us down this far haven’t changed,” John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC, a New Yorkbased hedge fund that focuses on energy, said by phone. “The move lower should extend downward. The bottom of this move isn’t in sight yet.” Brent for January settlement slipped 79 cents, or 1.3 percent, to end the session at $61.06 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. It was the lowest close since July 2009. The grade has fallen 45 per cent in 2014. Volume was four per cent above the 100day average. The North Sea oil closed at a $5.15 a barrel premium to WTI, the most in six weeks. The European benchmark will slide to as low as $50 a barrel in 2015, according to the median in a Bloomberg survey of 17 analysts, down from the $115.71 a barrel high for the year on June 19. The grade has already collapsed 47 per cent since then and needs to fall further before producers clear the current glut, said five out of six respondents who gave a reason. OPEC will stand by its decision not to cut output, the U.A.E.’s Al-Mazrouei told Bloomberg at a conference in Dubai. The group will wait at least three months before considering an emergency meeting to discuss output again, he said. “We are not going to change our minds because the prices went to $60 or to $40,” Mazrouei said. “The market will stabilise

itself.” OPEC pumped 30.05 million barrels a day in November, according to data from analysts and media organisations compiled by the group in a report Dec. 10. That’s 1.73 million barrels a day more crude than the world needs from the exporters in the first quarter, according to its own estimates. “We have a global supply glut and economic conditions in Europe and China continue to worsen so prices will remain under pressure,” Gene McGillian, a senior analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut, said by phone. “I don’t know where the bottom will be.” The group decided last month to keep output unchanged to protect OPEC’s market share, even if it has a negative effect on crude prices, the official Kuwait News Agency reported yesterday, citing Oil Minister Ali al-Omair. “We’ve got an epic battle of the wills,” Stephen Schork, president of Schork Group Inc., a consulting group in Villanova, Pennsylvania, said by phone. “The Saudis, Kuwaitis and the rest of that bloc are showing no sign of backing down.” An increase of about six million barrels a day in non-OPEC supply, from countries including the U.S. and Russia, together with speculation in oil markets, triggered the recent drop in prices, OPEC Secretary-General Abdalla El-Badri said yesterday at the Dubai conference. “It’s not logical nor fair to ask OPEC to reduce their production and not ask the other producers to stop their expected

growth in supply,” Mazrouei said yesterday on Twitter. The U.S. pumped 9.12 million barrels a day in the period week Dec. 5, the most in weekly Energy Information Administration started in 1983. The gain came as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unlocked supplies from shale formations including the Eagle Ford in Texas and the Bakken in North Dakota. “It appears at least that OPEC is willing to let things sink until the other side bails,” Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts, said by phone. Futures gained earlier on signs that Libyan and Nigerian output will decline. Libya declared force majeure, which excuses a supplier from meeting its delivery commitments because of events beyond its control, at the ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, NOC said in a statement on its website Dec. 13. Output will be halted at some oil fields because of armed clashes nearby, it said. Nigerian oil workers’ unions Pengassan and Nupeng, who are demanding changes to the country’s oil industry, instructed members to stop all work at facilities including oil platforms and export terminals. Libya and Nigeria together produced 2.76 million barrels a day of crude oil last month, according to Bloomberg estimates. The African countries were among eight OPEC members who supported an output cut on Nov. 27, according to five people briefed on the meeting.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

170TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

rior to the inauguration/swearing - in - ceremony of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE, three (3) and a half year (29th May, 2011) for the second (2nd) term in office as the Chief Executive Officer in Kano State nobody would have imagined that, the three (3) playful terminologies used by him in the Hausa Language - "Wuju - Wuju", "Mahaha", "Jan - Baki", etc. whenever he chooses to digress in delivering most of his truthful and down - to - earth speeches will come to translate into the infrastructural/physical development realities currently on the ground among several others. "Wuju - Wuju" is presently a prominent, road constructed over the conduit drainage facility that accommodates the undisturbed flow of the Jakara/Kwarin Gogau Rivers. "Mahaha" is currently a Comprehensive Sport Complex constructed for the first time in Kano State. "Jan - Baki" is presently a Senior Government Girls' Boarding Secondary School functionally utilized by converting the under - utilized psychiatric hospital at Yadakunya. So the story continues details of which are beyond this medium to tell. Noteworthy, however is the fact that, the Kano State Executive Council of the present administration progressively approved the execution of over 4,450 memoranda at an average rate of twenty five (25) per sitting in its previous one hundred and seventy eight (178) sittings. This feat/trend ensures the commendable achievements recorded in the positive transformation of Kano State along with the lives of its citizenry for the better. The sectoral approach in accordance with a comprehensive and well directed Development Plan in the execution of Government Services transparently and prudently by MDAs explains the unparalleled good performance generally. Progressively and committed to complete the initiated good works across all sectors, the State Executive Council held its one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting on Friday 12th December, 2014 (20th Safar, 1436AH). Thirty (30) memoranda from nine (9) MDAs were tabled for deliberation of which Council approved sixteen (16) for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Two Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifteen Naira, Sixty One Kobo (N1,856,214,215.61) covering thirteen (13) projects while the remaining three (3) were on policies issues as follows; 1. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR Typical of the present administration, majority eleven (11) of the sixteen (16) memoranda approved for execution during the one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting by the State Executive Council are related to the Empowerment Sector. Provision of empowerment to ensure self actualization/self reliance is among the most prominent priorities of this administration. Beneficiaries of this policy are incomparable in number to those that benefitted under any Administration/Government at State or National Level. Examples that cut across all segments of the society abound inherent in schemes/projects/programmes, etc. executed by majority of the MDAs in the State. Such include the following and more; o Provision of Access to Professional/Academic Education locally and abroad. o Provision of Access to Training for Employable Skills Acquisition. o Capacity Building to Serving Civil Servants. o Provision of Support to the Needy, etc. In this vein, the eleven (11) memoranda approved for execution under the Empowerment Sector at the one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting are presented under four (4) sub - headings - viz; provision of access to professional/academic education; capacity building to serving civil servants; provision of access to training for employable skills acquisition and provision of support to the needy as follows; a) Provision of Access to Professional/Academic Education:i. Council approved the release of the sum of N1,409,100.00 to enable two (2) Deputy Directors (Accounts) from the Kano State Scholarship Board travel to Sudan so as to physically effect payment of allowances to some Kano State Indigenous MBBS/Pharmacy Students sponsored for studies in various Universities in Sudan. The details presented were considered as endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. ii. Currently, 934nos Kano State Indigenous Secondary Schools Students are on exchange programme studying in other States. Details were presented which Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N3,670,000.00 requested by the Ministry of Education which was endorsed by Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable transporting the students back to their various schools accordingly. b) Provision of Access to Capacity Building for Serving Civil Servants:i. Continuing Medical Education (CME) is mandatory as emphasized by the Medi-

cal and DentalCouncil of Nigeria (MDCN). This instigated the Ministry of Health to submit a request, which was endorsed by Office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration and approval for the release of the sum of N827,084.00 to enable three hundred (300) Doctors from across five (5) professional fields (cardiology, orthopedic, vascular, surgery and nephrology) attend the joint Continuing Medical Education (CME) proRabi’u Musa Kwankawaso gramme in fulfillment of some of the criteria for renewal of medical doctor's license which was organized by the State Hospitals Management Board in conjunction with Apollo Hospitals Group, India and Forest Health Services. Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. ii. Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 as financial support to the State Chapter of Nigerian Civil Service Union for holding its sixty fifth (65th) National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in the State. iii. A third (3rd) reminder from the Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), as endorsed by the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture, was considered as Council approved and mandated the Secretary to the State Government to process the procurement and allocation of two (2) units of Volkswagen (Golf) vehicles as official/operational vehicles to the ARTV to improve the quality of services delivered. c) Provision of Access to Training for Employable Skills Acquisition:i. The year 2014 National Junior Engineers and Scientists (JETS) competition is currently ongoing in Abuja. Council approved the release of the sum of N436,000.00 to the Ministry of Education to enable Kano State Contingent participate in the activity. ii. Council noted with appreciation the deployment/posting of 1,130nos of the sixth (6th) Batch Trainees from the Kano State Corporate Security Institute to various Government Organs. Continuing, Council also approved the recruitment of 1,100nos (600nos male and 500nos female) more at the one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting. iii. Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N10,880,000.00 to enable the conduct of six (6) weeks intensive training on Metal Work, Carpentry, Tailoring, POP, Building, Computer to the One hundred and thirty six (136) of the fourth (4th) batch graduates of the Kiru Reformatory Institute (KRIK) by the ITF. d) Provision of Support to the Needy:i. The Kano Pillars Football Club proposed for a football tour to the United Kingdom (UK). To enable two (2) Executive Officers travel to UK (the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sport and Culture and the Chairman Entrepreneurship) to make necessary arrangements, Council approved the release of the sum of N1,534,300.00 to enable payment of Estacode, Air Tickets and Visa. The trip is to last for the three (3) days. ii. The Hajj Affairs Tribunal submitted its report for the year 2014 which was endorsed by the Office of the Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments. Essentially, the Tribunal emphasized its appreciation of the cooperation/Support it received from the State Pilgrims' Welfare Board in the discharge of its responsibilities. Council noted the presentation of the Report with appreciation. 2. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENANCE Performance of the present administration in the State under the Infrastructural Development and Maintenance Sector requires no emphasis as the commendable trend is portrayed glaringly across the State in the execution of essentially required physical developmental projects for the positive upliftment of the lives of the citizenry for the better. Such include; o Construction of roads and related structures:- Many new roads (including the 5KM roads in the 44 Local Governments Council Areas LGCAs) were constructed. - Many existing roads were renovated/expanded (such as Zaria Road; Sheikh Ja'afar Road; Hadejia Road; Gwarzo Road; etc.) - Three (3) flyover bridges under construction at Silver Jubilee - Kofar Nassarawa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014 Roundabout; Ibrahim Taiwo Radio Kano and Triumph Publishing Company to Tafawa Balewa Road. - Many pedestrian cross over bridges constructed at (Aminu Kano School of Islamic Legal Studies; Bayero University, Kano Old Site; Sa'adatu Rimi College of Education; etc.). - Several major roads in the Municipality of the State had their pedestrian walkways provided with garden interlock tiling. - Street lighting provided along all categories of roads in the Metropolis as well as the 5KM roads constructed in each of the 44 Local Government Council Areas of the State. - Construction of proper conduit drainage plus road on the Jakara/Kwarin Gogau Rivers, etc. o Construction/renovation/maintenance of public buildings/facilities:- The Audu Bako and Gidan Murtala Government Secretariat Complexes renovated comprehensively. - Majority of the Government owned Hospitals and Health Facilities renovated to befitting status and provided with required equipment/materials/consumables. - Many unused/under - utilized Government owned buildings/facilities converted to use as viable schools (University and Secondary Schools). - The Government House and the Cabinet Office were comprehensively renovated. o Provision/construction of affordable residential housing:- The affordable housing units constructed at Amana, Bandirawo and Kwankwasiyya Cities are accessible to the citizenry in the State. o Provision of Potable Water:- Long distances are covered with lengths of 1000MM, 600MM and 40MM ductile iron pipes to transport treated water from the various water treatment plants to locations of demand - examples are Challawa to Gwaron Dutse; Watari to Miltara; Kafin Chiri to Sumaila; Tamburawa to Hotoro; Gezawa Joda to Yan' Kaba; etc. for a distance of over 200 KM. - Provision of the necessarily required chemicals in the water treatment processes such as alum. - Maintenance of steady supply of the electrical energy required at the water treatment plants across the State by the provision of serviceable standby electricity generators with adequate supply of the fuel needed. - Properly maintenance of the harnessed water resource base (Dams and Rivers), etc. o Establishment of Independent Hydroelectricity Project:- Initiation of the Independent Hydroelectricity Projects at Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams to generate a total of 35 MW. Characteristic of the present administration, the Kano State Executive Council continued with the copious physical developmental trend during its one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting. Three (3) prominent memoranda were approved for execution under the infrastructural development/maintenance sector as follows; a) Request for Funds to Enable Provision/Installation of Street Lighting on the 5KM Dual Carriage Way in all 44 Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) Headquarters of Kano State:This request was submitted by the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport for consideration by Council. Specifically, the identified Sub - Contractor for the project submitted a Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) on the provision of street lighting to eight (8) Local Governments at which the 5KM Roads Network have crash barriers at the cost of N1,227,888,076.31 which was requested for release. Council considered and approved the release of the requested sum to facilitate the execution of the project on Contract Basis to be supervised by the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. b) Request for Funds for the Installation of New Street Lights at Kwankwasiyya City:Kwankwaiyya City is among the three (3) newly established Cities under the Urban renewal policy of the present administration. The other two (2) are Amana and Bandirawo Cities. The Kano State Taskforce Committee on the Installation/Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights submitted a Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) for the project to the tune of N317,387,206.30 which was requested for release as endorsed by the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the stated sum for the commitment. c) Request for Funds to Enable Provision of 110MM PVC Water Pipeline Reticulation from Kanwa to Daburau Towns in Madobi Local Government Council Area:Reportedly, the Daburau Self Help Group in Madobi Local Government complained of acute shortage of potable water supply caused by the damage to the existing water supply pipeline as a result of the ongoing road construction project in the area. Relatedly, the State Water Board assessed/surveyed the area and estimated the project of providing a new 110MM PVC Water Pipeline from Kanwa to Daburau Tows to the tune of N13,178,425.00 which was requested for release. Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

43 3. THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR Dissemination of correct and reliable information is the mainstay of the information/ communication sector especially as it relates to Government activities under the present administration which adamantly upholds transparency. The sector is carried along in all Government activities as the State Executive Council approved the execution of one (1) memorandum under the Information/Communication Sector at its one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Four (4) Executive Officers from the Kano State Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture Attend the Forty Fifth (45th) Meeting of the National Council on Information in Abuja (15th 16th December, 2014):The Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture alerted Council, through contents of this memorandum that, the Ministry received an invitation to attend the cited meeting for which Council was requested to approve release of the sum of N365,000.00. Four (4) Executive Officers are earmarked for the trip on which details on the financial implications were presented for consideration. They include the following; o The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture. o The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture. o The Director Information. o The Director Public Enlightenment. Council noted, considered and approved as requested. 4. THE EDUCATION SECTOR The phase of the transformation trend towards the positive development of Kano State for the better is cardinally set by achievements recorded under the education sector by the present administration. All aspects and ramifications at every level of education are continually improved under the humane policy of providing education free of charge in the State along the lines of which Council approved the execution of one (1) more memorandum under the Education Sector at its one hundred and seventy ninth (179th) sitting. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of the 2015 Internal Examinations (Placement; Qualifying and Tahfeez/Tajweed) by the KERD and AIED):Cognizant of the free education policy of the present administration, the Ministry of Education submitted the cited request for consideration by Council. Five (5) cardinal notations were presented on the issue along with four (4) specific prayers forwarded for consideration and approval for execution which include the following; i. Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N83,816,800.00 to sponsor 104,771 candidatesat N800.00 for the BECE or placement examinations conducted by the KERD. ii. Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N63,211,200.00 to sponsor 79,014 candidates at N800.00 for the qualifying examinations (QE) conducted by the KERD. iii. Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N16,325,600.00 to sponsor 16,084 candidates at N800.00 for the BECE/Tahfeez Examination conducted by the AIED. iv. Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N11,261,600.00 to sponsor 14,077 candidates for the qualifying/tahfeez examination conducted by the AIED. Total = N174,615,200.00. Council acknowledged the presentation of the memorandum, considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N150,000,000.00 for the stated commitment. UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 179TH EXCO SITTING 1. APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION Council noted the successful conduct of the APC Presidential Primary Election on Wednesday 10th of December, 2014 at Teslim Stadium Surulere, Lagos in which Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Rtd. emerged as the winner, Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE the runner - up, Atiku Abubakar third (3rd) position, Rochas Okorocha as the fourth (4th) and Sam Nda Isaiah fifth (5th). Council prays for the divine support of the Almighty Allah to the APC Presidential candidate's victory in the year 2015 General Election. 2. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI'U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE Council witnessed the presentation of two (2) awards to the Governor as follows; i. An Honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy (PhD) on Educational Leadership by Sultan Zainal Abidin University, (UNISZA) Malaysia. ii. An Award of Excellence by the Kano State sponsored students (Batch 502) studying in Malaysia. The awards were presented by the State Head of Civil Service who ably represented the His Excellencythe Governor at the occasion in Malaysia. Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports andCulture www.kn.gov.ng/new

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS

Thierry Henry: I won’t consider Arsenal return

HIERRY Henry says he is excited with his new role as a pundit – and returning to Arsenal as a player was never really an option. The former Arsenal, Barcelona

•Henry

and France star has announced his retirement from football and will join Sky Sports as a football expert and ambassador for the start of 2015. While he admitted it was not

an easy decision to call time on his playing days, he is now keen to offer his insight on the game. "We all loved the first Rocky, but I don’t know about the last one. I had one comeback at Arsenal and I guess it was enough." “It’s hard to leave the game you love behind,” he said. “But I’m at peace with what I’ve done in the game; I’ve got no regrets. “I still think I can give a lot to the game. I’m retiring and I’m not yet involved in any team so, in the meantime, why not give back to the game on TV and make people understand some stuff they don’t understand? “The job of an analyst is to put your message across and make people understand how the game is. It will be our job to try to make sure we can bring the game closer to people at home.” Henry - who left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007 – ended his playing career at New York Red Bulls, despite rumours he would make a second return to the Emirates. But the 37-year-old says that wasn’t an option, despite his love for Arsenal. The Sky Sports football pundits can't wait for Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to join the team, “You never leave Arsenal Football Club. Everyone wants to know about the playing side but we didn’t talk too much about that,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

Life

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

Text only: 08023058761

‘I did my best at NAFEST competition’ – Page 47

When creative minds missed Mr. President – Page 48

‘This oasis must bloom the desert’ – Page 49

Mission to stop child abuse – SEE STORY ON PAGE 46

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

T was a bright and sunny Wednesday morning. The no fewer that 100 school children sat under a canopy, wearing yellow-coloured T-shirts with the inscription: “Say No To Child Abuse/ Assault”. The, messages touched some of them personally. Others, they were there because they were invited. It was interesting watching them asked questions such as “What is child abuse?” “How can a child be abused”? “What is assault”. Setting the tone for the day, some of the convener, Mrs Bukola Afolabi-Ogunyeye, chairperson of Morna International Children Foundation (MICF), said “for a better Nigeria, we must focus on the children because there are many wolves out there taking their innocence for granted.” Mrs Afolabi-Ogunyeye, a trained facilitator against child sexual abuse, a member of National Children Advocate Centre in the United States, (U. S.) and an author , address “Every child is born innocent. They are born to be loved, to be protected, to learn and to grow. This maxim thus makes the matter of child sexuality a medical and moral concern. Thus, at no time has any society taken the issue of child abuse, assault or molestation lightly. In the extreme, it is a criminal case”. For the children with ages ranging from five to 13 to learn and share with their peers how to escape the male violence there, especially men that want to abuse them. They also had a rally against all forms of child molestation.

Real life encounters For a few minutes in an enclosed setting, some of the children were encouraged to share their stories with this reporter. Starting from Nkechi, 9, (not real name), she said it was her maternal uncle, that defiled her many times before he eventually relocated. She said she was afraid to tell her parents or anybody because she was always alone with him. Whenever she returned from school every day then, adding she said he began by always telling her how beautiful she is adding that she could always confide in him. Next were Kayode and Bola (9), were caught playing with their genitals inside the school bus. During a counselling, Kayode in tears said he learnt sex from watching pornography movies. He said, his parents watched those movies while he sat in without being asked to leave. Kemi, 5, said she was sexually abused by their Security Guard severally. “He told me not to tell anybody that he was only playing with me and that I must not tell anybody. But one day, I told my mummy and the guard was sacked by our landlord”. These are just three of the stories as the other children were too shy to speak with a stranger. Many parents who had earlier been asked to allow their children tell their stories

•Some placard-carrying children

Mission to stop child abuse No fewer than 100 pupils converged on Abednego Montessori School in Ketu on the outshirts of Lagos, for a summit organised by the Morna International Children’s Foundation (MICF) in partnership with Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) to commemorate the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse (WDfPCA), some of the children relived their experience. JOKE KUJENYA reports. ADVOCACY declined because of what they called the ‘shame’. Mrs. Afolabi-Ogunyeye noted that some of the cases were not often properly handled, adding that in the case of Kemi, she had counselled her and the girl seems to be doing well. She added: “Kemi is always very curious, paying rapt attention each time instructions were being passed to them in their school. I got to know her when she was in Basic 6 and I had asked all of them to close their eyes while inquiring if any of them had ever been sexually abused or still being abused. That was how they all began to open up to me and I gained their confidence”. Mrs Afolabi-Ogunyeye noted “Physical

abuse occurs when a guardian or caretaker allows or inflicts non-accidental physical injury that causes a substantial risk to the child’s physical well-being and health. “This is why a day as this was dedicated to the creation of awareness about child abuse with focus, more on sexual abuse. “She said in 14 years ago, the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) launched the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse (WDfPCA ) to alert governments and civil society organisations (CSOs) across the world to play active roles in respecting Articles 19 and 34 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which uphold their right to live a life free of violence and abuse, including sexual abuse and exploitation.

“Sadly, cases of child abuse still abound being perpetuated by ‘mad men’ in every place. This is why we have taken our 19 days campaign to churches, mosques and schools to Ikosi and Ketu all within Ikorodu environs and in Lagos State”, she said. MICF vice chairman, Mr Peter Pamisi said his organisation became involved in the 19 days campaign to show the need for a world where children are respected and protected from abuse. He said that was why his group nurturing and empowering children on their fundamental human rights. Mrs Afolabi-Ogunyeye urged the children not to allow anyone to touch their buttocks or cases them in secret, asking them to report such activities to their parents.

Artists cart away N5m cash prize

RASMUS Onyishi, has emerged winner of first place prize of the African Artists Foundation and Nigerian Breweries’ National Art Competitions. Onyishi got a cash prise of N2 million, while Modupe Fadugba won the outstanding concept prize of N1 million. Paul Mbah walked home with the cash prize of N1 million for outstanding production of the competition. Two finalists Nkechi Edubedike and Amarachi Okafor got N500,000 each. Venue of the prize presentation and exhibition was the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. But following deliberations, the organisers of the competition decided to raise the cash prize and introduced a special jurors’ prize due to the level of outstanding works produced this year. At the grand finale, a judging panel of distinguished arts professionals, led by Prof. El Anatsui, deliberated for eight hours before they finally selected the three winners. Inaugurated in 2008 with the theme, Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit, the NAC has experienced very exciting and colourful journey. This year’s theme, “Interventions”, examined how contemporary art serves as a catalyst for positive social change; engaging artists to think about their involvement in the social, political, and cultural framework of

By Chinasa Ekekwe

VISUAL ART the society that they live in. With a focus on the processes of artistic creation, artists were asked to submit a proposal of their works. After hundreds of entries, twelve finalists were invited to take part in a week-long artists’ retreat in Lagos where workshops by leading arts professionals gave finalists the opportunity to flesh out the conceptual threads of their proposal. Finalists were also given a stipend for the production of their artworks. As contemporary art is inherently an avenue for audiences to analyze and begin a dialogue about issues relevant to their present day, artists were asked to create art pieces that will spark public discourse and make a difference in their local communities. Some of the works displayed included; Lines, Patches and Pathos by Erasmus Onyishi which explores the irony between facts and representation. It addresses how refuse such as plastic waste is often used to create works of art. Other works includes: Mat-Matics by Emmanuel Dudu, The People’s Algorithm and The Butterfly Effect by Modupeola Fadugba, The Quiet Light Within by Nkechi Ebubedike, The T’Eye’meline by Paul Mbah and others.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•From left: Onifade Adeniyi, South-West Marketing Executive; Musa Bashir Usman, Head Corporate Communications, both of Peugeot Nigeria; Mrs Folaka Soyinka, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Mr Erick Maydieu, and Mrs. Lola Shoneyin, Event Host at the 2014 Ake Arts and Book Festival in Abeokuta.

OW would you rate a book festival that featured Nigerians such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Wole Soyinka, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi? And what would be your expectations from such interactions that also attracted literati from across the globe for 5 days? Expectedly, the corporate bodies that supported the annual festival were leading players in the economy. One of them was foremost Nigerian automobile brand Peugeot was among top supporters of the organisers of 2014 edition of Ake Arts and book Festival through the provision of executive shuttle services for the concluded event in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The second edition of the Books festival

HE recently concluded 28th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2014 with the theme Celebrating Nigeria @ 100: The Role of Culture as a Vehicle for National Unity held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital may have come and gone, but many Nigerians will not forget the festival in a hurry. Of the 14,259 participants and spectators that attended the seven-day festival, a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil of Twelve Apostles College, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Miss Chinaza Igwe had more than unforgettable experience. She represented Ebonyi State in the National Children’s Essay Writing Competition for SSS1-3 on the topic My Role as Culture Ambassador in the 21st Century. She beat representatives from six other states to emerge overall best in the competition. Igwe said her English Language teacher at the college prepared her for the challenge noting that she was nervous during the essay writing competition. “My teacher kept on teaching us on how to write essays on different topics. But in the hall during the essay writing, I was nervous at the beginning. I was nervous because of the expectation from my school principal and teachers as well as classmates. So, I decided to do my best,” she said. The SS3 pupil who also won the National Green Essay competition held in Abeokuta last September, said she dedicated the award to God and her class teacher. This year’s festival was declared open by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and grand patron of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) ably represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo. In the march past, 18 states and the FCT showcased the best of their acrobatics, dance

Peugeot backs Ake Festival FESTIVAL brought many African writers to celebrate African talents in literature, arts, theatre, music, dance and drama. The level of support and participation of private organisations, government functionaries, institutions and individuals in the campaign for reading culture in Nigeria through workshops, public readings and book festivals obviously accentuated the theme of the event - Bridges and Pathways. Regional Director, Peugoet Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Mr.Erick Maydieu, noted that the need for the promotion of

knowledge acquisition informed its support for the festival and arts in all of its genres. “We have provided the services of different range of our executive cars to help in the provision of shuttle services to participants at the festival and also to help provide seamless movement for the organisers of the event and all of their premium quests and partners”, he added. Part of the activities which gave colour to the six-day days event included varieties of cultural, artistic and literary events. Some of these were woven around readings, master classes, workshops, performances

and talks delivered by both Nigerian and international authors, thinkers, poets, filmmakers, actors, artists and academics. Many schools in Abeokuta were visited by writers such as Yejide Kinlanko who read from her novel, Daughters who walk this path, a stage play, film showings, musical concert, and a comprehensive book fair which pupils, publishers and book buyers took advantage of. Discussions at this year’s festival touched on important issues such as the public and individual perception of nationhood and how freedom of expression in Africa could be established. More targeted themes such as women’s rights and child literacy were also addressed, as a way of examining how the arts can contribute to development in these areas.

‘I did my best at NAFEST competition’ By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

COMPETITION and costumes accompanied by various musical renditions. The festival as its tradition showcased competitive and non-competitive events. The competitive events included: Children’s essay writing competition, children’s drawing/painting competition on Celebrating Nigerian Unity @ 100, traditional children’s Storytelling, Ebonyi State got the first position. For the Traditional Wrestling (Intermediate Category 55kg – 65kg) Competition of NAFEST 2014, the first position went to Niger State. In the traditional furnished apartment event in which the states showcased the best of indigenous architectural designs and techniques, Bauchi State clinched the first position; while in the arts and crafts exhibition, Ebonyi State won the first position. For the Traditional Dance music (Stage and DVD Presentation) event the first position went to Akwa Ibom State. The area of cuisine was not left out as the Traditional Cuisine event saw Ebonyi State clinch the first position. Some special awards were also given such as: Best costumed state - Delta, Ebonyi, Benue and Taraba States; largest Contingent – Niger State (130 participants), Minister’s golden gong – Ebonyi State (for most impressive entry at NAFEST 2014), most consistent state at NAFEST went to Katsina State. NAFEST is designed to serve as a veritable

• Governor Martin Elechi receiving NAFEST 2014 overall Presidential winning Gong from to Ebonyi State by Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation represented by Director General/CEO National Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Dayo Keshi.

index for cultural exchange, marketing and promotion and as a forum for the exchange of ideas. It has over the years evolved as a creativity fair that unites the nation through various manifestations of the rich and diverse cul-

tures of Nigerians as well as become a veritable instrument for the actualisation of government’s development objectives through the instrumentality of our rich and diverse cultural heritage.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

They are, arguably, the best. Their professions have etched Nigeria on the world map. Their sector is worth billions. It is Nigeria’s Creative industry. Its members would not forget in a hurry the night President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan treated the industry’s bigwigs to an evening of exhibitions, music, performances at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. It was also one full of reflection and deliberations on how to develop country through creative endeavours. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME and EVELYN OSAGIE were there.

•From left: Dr Okonjo-Iweala, Bruce Onobrakpeya and a guest at the evening

When creative minds missed Mr. President

MAGINE a room full of stars. Imagine the glitz and paroxysm of emotions at a fête for stars. That was the feeling that evening when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan brought together under one “large roof” the choicest of the country’s Creative Industry. Although the night has come and gone, but its frills and thrills would not be easily forgotten many in industry have said. Tagged: An Evening with President Goodluck Jonathan, the epoch-making event was meant to celebrate members of the Creative Industry, which includes creative writing, film, music, visual arts, photography, in the past 100 years. Men and women of “the arts” thronged the Banquet Hall of the impressive Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, with pride written all over their faces. It was their night of glory for putting Nigeria on the world map. And so they came exquisitely dressed for the occasion – some wore outfits that made loud statements for their art forms. Art works of different generation of artists welcomed guests to the event, powered by Zenith Bank. There were comedy, dance and musical performances by artistes, such as Onyeka Onwenu, Asa, Timi Dakolo, Omawumi, Sunny Nneji, Cobhams, Lara George. The audience also watched documentaries chronicling the history of the diverse art forms in Nigeria, such as music, visual arts, literature, film, etc. With the theme, Creativity Moving Nigeria, the peace songs by an all-star-cast led by King Sunny Ade - along with Kate Henshaw, Chinedu Ikedieze (alias Aki) and Osita Iheme (alias Pawpaw), Zaaki Azzay, Segun Arinze, Rita Dominic and Waje – helped set the pace for the evening. The night was meant for revelries turned out to be one of sober reflections and deliberations as the creative community called for the implementation of the National Endowment for the Arts and building of structures to enhance the growth of the industry. Since they were meeting with Nigeria’s “Number One Citizen”, most of its members said they came with lots of expectations and questions for Mr President, who was later represented by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke. This change in the event, the minister said, was not deliberate; but for an unpleasant event that occurred few hours before, they would have had him to themselves for the whole night – a feat which was not so easy to achieve given his tight schedules and

EVENT theirs as well. He praised the achievements of the creative community, saying “truly, the Nigerian creative community has positioned itself as the primus interpares amongst the different socio-economic platforms of this nation”. Duke said: “Mr President has asked me to express his appreciation to the creative community... as we define our country’s position in the comity of nations. That while we sit back in our comfort zones, these gathering of stars whom are gathered in this room tonight, by their creativity, by their innate talent, with which nature and God has endowed them, have continued to win hearts and minds for Nigeria. Sadly, only a few hours ago, a few of us and indeed the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, began to make our way to this venue. We heard the unfortunate incident in Kano that shattered the peace of the nation. Tonight the peace of our nation has been shattered. Tonight the bloods of our compatriots are flowing. People went out in Kano today to pray in supplication to God to bring peace to this country but so many of them never returned home. As we commemorate 100 years of our nation; as we look at the achievements from the years of our forbearers until today, as we commemorate this evening to the legacy and achievements of our creative industry, our heads are bowed, our eyes are bloodied by the spirit of this nation... “Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who is already in the building... to pay compliments to the sweat of our creative community, says to tell you he will join us in the course of the evening because for him as a leader of the biggest black nation on the surface of the earth, the challenge of insecurity, the challenge of insurgency is one that breaks his heart and he sees the futility of trying to divide this country. He sits tonight reflecting on the events of the last few hours.” While expressing hope over the country’s future in the 100 years, Duke said that Nigerians, particularly the creative industry, have a role play in ensuring peace and unity ensue. “When will insurgency stop being the defining element of Nigeria? When men and women in the creative industry and community are exercising and exploiting their innate talents and creativity to advance the frontiers of our achievement. So we must all stand up against the insurgency, we will move this nation forward to ensure the transformation we desire and ensure that our children and our children’s children will find a

• Duke wonderful country to live in,” he said. The creative community brought the teething issues inhibiting the growth of the industry to the fore, while calling for better framework and endowments that would enhance the progress of the industry and its players. Each sector of the industry came chronicling its contributions to the industry’s growth. Renowned artists, Bruce Onobrakpeya said Nigeria’s arts were the first things to put Nigeria on the world map, saying “the socalled “primitive art” were ahead of their time and influence artists like Picasso”. He, therefore, called for the implementation of the National Endowment for the Arts to empower the artists. He said: “The occasion therefore gives me another opportunity to plead with Mr President to look into two areas which need urgent attention to facilitate the growth. The first is the implementation of the National Endowment for the Arts, which include social welfare for the artists and grants to empower them to take care of their various associations and carry out projects. Art workshops initiated by NGOs will be enhanced if they also become beneficiary of the National Endowment. The second is the building of infrastructures to help showcase artistic products. Top on the list is the National Gallery of Modern Art. This is in fact long overdue. There is also the need for Artists’ village and indeed Artists’ communities within the various estates being developed in our cities.” While praising President Jonathan’s support to the film industry by way of grants and towards the hosting of his association’s 2014 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Remi Raji, sought further conversation with the government on the ways and means of building structures and institutions for the benefit of Nigerian writing and Nigerian writers. According to him, Nigerian writers had

won all possible international literary awards available in the world – such as the Orange Prize, the Man Booker, Caine Prize, the Fonlon-Nichols, and the Nobel Prize for Literature. Raji said: “As we salute you for being Nigeria’s number one Nollywood fan, we, the body of authors, in close associations with publishers, librarians, editors and booksellers, and other groups with interests in literacies, would also like to open a conversation on how to support the creative industry further, on how to support the Book industry, on how to support ANA as the largest body of writers on the African continent, indeed, on how to build enduring structures and institutions for the generality of our country’s creative industry. You have been a supporter of Nigerian literature; the Bring Back the Book project, which has been very dear to you, is a mine of ideas in which ANA is most pleased and interested. He urged members of the creative industry, particularly writers, to renew commitment to the cause of healing this nation of the malaise called “Insurgency”. “As artists, and artistes, we must heal by our creativities: we must continue to paint it; we must continue to sculpt it; we must dramatise it; we must continue to compose and score it; yes, and for Memory, we must write it. Admit it or not, paint it, perform it, act it, install it, weave it or sing it, it must still be written about. “The centrality of writing for a nation for historical and scientific purposes cannot be overemphasised. It is for these reasons among others, that this occasion becomes a good opportunity to reinvent our interest as a nation in the book and the knowledge industry. We must bring back the book to end the incendiary of ignorance in the land. We must, at the insistence of our resolve, continue to lend our voice to the call to bring back the book, bring back all our beauties to end the pockets of uglinesses around,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘This oasis must bloom the desert’ This year’s Nigerian National Merit award recipient, Prof Niyi Osundare’s acceptance speech at the ceremony in Abuja.

F all the prizes and awards that have come my way in my nearly 40 years of professional and creative career, the one whose bestowal brought us all together today has a more special resonance and unusual gravitas to it than I could ever have anticipated. From near and far, the congratulatory messages pouring in in the past one week have concentrated not only on the lucky winner of the 2014 Nigerian National Merit Award, but also on the timing of the award and the country which is responsible for its bestowal. I cannot disclose many of the messages in full without sounding gross or boringly immodest, neither can I keep silent about them without denying myself a rare opportunity to share something useful with my compatriots, and without depriving my country of a chance to hear one or two things about itself. For nearly all these messages say something to this effect: We are happy that this award is coming at a time like this in the history of your country; oh, Nigeria got this right; the existence of this kind of award shows that not all is lost in Nigeria. One writer, a professor of political science and perspicacious columnist for one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, disclosed how “uplifting and therapeutic” it was for him to learn about this year’s award. Waxing lyrical and eloquently metaphorical, he added: “In a clime where good news is in short supply, (the news of the award) comes as refreshing drops of water, massaging parched throats”. A stellar US-based Nigerian professor of philosophy renowned for his cerebral, unsparing evisceration of the African anomy, called to say that the award indicates that Nigeria is still capable of doing some things right. An old student of mine, now an insightful columnist for a prominent Nigerian daily, exhales, almost carthically, oh, what a breath of fresh air!. A younger colleague from the Department of English, University of Ibadan, declared in a telephone conversation whose sheer energy nearly blew up the Nigerian network grid: “Sir, I’m happy for you and happy for myself; now it means we younger fellows have something to look up to”. Students in my undergraduate poetry class in the Department of English, University of New Orleans, burst into spontaneous applause upon hearing the news, exactly the same way some of my professor colleagues in the same department reacted a few days later. Some of these students and colleagues tell me with an almost filial candor and concern, something to this effect: this is good news, Niyi; better, happier than what has been coming out of Nigeria in recent times. And, never one to miss a good chance to tell Nigeria his mind, the doyen of Nigeria’s oped journalism, avowedly now at home abroad, declares with telling acuity: ‘Amid the gloom that has encircled and now threatens to choke Nigeria, this award has largely been spared the corruption that rules the land. It is a reassuring testament that Nigeria can still be true to its highest ideals’. A don from the Communication and Language Arts Department, University of Ibadan, famous for his relentless excoriation of verbal and stylistic infelicities in Nigerian writing, enthused over the phone: with this award, I know there is still hope for Nigeria.... . . Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have cited all these episodes not in aid of some megalomaniacal confesionalism. I am

•Osundare From Niyi Osundare

AWARD not the first person to receive this award, nor am I going to be the last. Worthier people, many of them my teachers and professional predecessors, have walked this path before, and I have them to thank for blazing a worthy trail. The purpose of this narrative is to show how people from different climes, different persuasions, and different stations of life perceive the Nigerian National Merit Award vis-à-vis the nation that has created it as its National Order of Distinction. For the NNOM is larger than any awardee; the light which issues from its beacon transcends the turbulent expanse of Nigeria’s territorial waters. What I deduce from my experience since the official announcement of this year’s award is an overwhelming yearning for the NNOM as an Order faithful to its mission; a Centre of Excellence given free rein and empowered in all legitimate ways to carry out its institutional functions not only as regards the recognition of merit and reward for it, but also the cultivation and encouragement of these attributes in Nigeria’s intellectual culture. To the best of my knowledge, the NNMA remains to date, about the only Nigerian Order of grave national importance relatively insulated from Nigeria’s typical political contamination, a national institution with relatively formidable ramparts against the rampaging monsters of mediocrity and intellectual mendacity. We owe it as a bounden duty to ourselves and to our future to help it in the maintenance of its measure of integrity. We must keep supremely hallowed that tradition of the First Thursday of December every year as has been the practice since 1979 when the maiden edition of the NNMA was bestowed on Chinua Achebe, one of Nigeria’s, nay the world’s most famous writers.

One of those numerous well-wishers in the past week described the NNOM as an “oasis” in the Nigerian desert. It must be a vital part of NNOM’s mission to transform, by its own sterling example, that desert into a blooming landscape and productive humanscape. Urgently needed in this regard is the kind of robust, consistent endowment befitting its status as the nation’s intellectual and creative reference point/powerhouse jealously protected from of all manner of interference and sordid meddling. But as that ancient Yoruba adage goes, Idelorun ite n’idelorun eye (The peace of the nest determines the peace of the bird). Without a nest called Nigeria, there would be no bird called NNOM. These, no doubt, are dangerously hard times for Nigeria. They are also times which call for the best and boldest in all of us: leaders who follow by leading conscientiously, and followers who lead by following responsibly, with a keen eye on their rights as HUMAN beings. We have a country to build, a future to anticipate, a dream to honour. Now time for homages and acknowledgements. I remember with the tenderest gratitude today that day in January 1953 when my father, AriyoosuAguntasoolo Osundare of blessed memory, woke me up and said quietly to my mother, Fasimia: Omo oyaju yanu daadaa; aamo’we. Mo nmu lo si sukuru (This boy looks precocious; he will know book. I’m taking him to school). Tall and sprightly like a regal warrior, father led the way while I broke into a rapid cater to keep up his pace. That morning’s journey landed me in Primary One B at St. Luke’s School, Iro, Ikere Ekiti, with my first teacher as Mr. G.O. Asake. It turned out to be the first toddling steps of a long-distance run that would take me to all the continents of the world. The Nigeria I grew up in gave me the education which quickened my pace, the kind of culture that priced mind over money, and endowed character with a prime place in the pantheon of virtues. Farmer-born, peasant-bred, I learnt all so early the dignity of labour and the importance of integrity. These have remained the vital chapters in my book of life, my compass through life’s tempestuous voyage. To my wife, Adekemi Olugbenke, and our children, Moyo, Osuntola, and Bayonle, I say thank you for bearing the brunt of my hectic academic and creative calling, and for helping me stay true to my moral and political principles over the years... .. I am eternally grateful to all my teachers, some of whom are present here today as NNOM laureates: through their worthy examples, I have come to respect teaching as the noblest profession in the world, and to regard my students as my best teachers.. . . . And finally I commend Nigeria for establishing the Nigerian National Order of Merit, and the NNOM for striving all these years to safeguard the survival of that Merit and sustain the integrity and relevance of the culture of the mind.

Jude Isiguzo: Good night By Samuel Alao

TRIBUTE

T about 12:25pm on Saturday, November 29, I got a call from a colleague, Tunji Sanniowo. I wanted to give him the usual pleasantries, but he would not want any of it, rather to confirm or inform me of the death of my brother, senior colleague, and a precious friend, Jude Isiguzo, the crime correspondent of The Nation newspapers. “Olopa done die,” he said. Which Olopa? I queried. Jude now, he reaffirmed. I said, IG? No lailai! I said it as if he would not die in 90 years time. It was really unimaginable. I immediately reminded him that, Jude was on leave and that he travelled to the United Kingdom (UK), but Sanniowo said I should reconfirm because some people used Jude’s photo on their BBM. Bewildered and unsettled, I scrolled to Tunde Bishi’s number, another colleague, who could probably confirm the story, but the network would not go through. I again tried The Nation daily editor’s P.A’s number, Idris Akinpelu, the response was ‘no network coverage’. Enraged this time, blasting Nigeria network provider, I waited for another five minutes and dialed another close colleague of Jude, Joseph Udeh, alas! He picked the call. “Baba how far? Happy weekend,” I greeted him. His response was shocking, for 20 seconds he was silent. “Prof as he would call me,” Jude done die o, naso we see am…….” Visibly shaken, reminisces of my five years relationship with my Oga, brother, friend and colleague encapsulate my entire memory. My first encounter with him was in March 2009, when he came to the advert department. As a new employee then, I was fascinated by the way he spoke; it was a very unique quality that attracted all to him. Mrs. Vera Chidi-Maha sent me to buy him a bottle of water, when I came back he was talking to me as if he knew me for a long time. I was not surprised, because of the way he mingled with people. Jude isiguzo was one in a million. A rare Igbo man, an example of what human being should be. We would argue over political matters and other sundry issues. He was a perfect social man. We never saw him get angry, so accommodating and enviable personality. To qualify his worth is attempt to measure up the water in an ocean. He lived an exemplary life, always very supportive to the younger generation. It is with painful heart I join others to say, may his gentle soul rest in peace.

‘ One of those numerous well-wishers in the past week described the NNOM as an “oasis” in the Nigerian desert. It must be a vital part of NNOM’s mission to transform, by its own sterling example, that desert into a blooming landscape and productive humanscape’

Bayelsa hosts peace-culture pageant

HIS year’s Miss Niger- Delta peace Cultural pageant will hold on Saturday at Gabriel Okora Cultural Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The pageant, which is in its 14th edition, will feature 22 contestants from nine states of Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo Bayelsa State, Imo and Abia. According to the organisers, the contestants are already in camp in preparation for the grand finale on Saturday. The peace/cultural pageant, which started in 1999 has produced 13 beauty queens, who are using their posi-

By Evelyn Osagie

CONTEST tions and offices as role models of change. The pageants post-event pet project activities, according to the organisers, are carried out with the noble objective of promoting peace, socio-cultural integration, reorientation of values, skills development, empowerment and sustainable development.

The event, according to them, is not just about fanfare of crowning beauty queens, but one with a purpose that has brought about positive transformation, especially among the youths in the region. This year’s edition, the organisers say, hopes to attract the crème de le crème in the society and will feature side attractions and appearances like Harrysong, Gordons, Jaywon, Lady IB, and indigenous-cultural and music performances to showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage.

•The late Isiguzo

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

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

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Bongos Ikwue, Angela Christie for Ibom Carol Night

FTER setting a new Guinness world record as the largest assembly of 9,300 carol singers on December 26, 2008, and 9,999 choristers in 2011, Akwa Ibom State government is celebrating yet another Carol Night on December 20 at the new Ibom International Stadium in Uyo, AKwa-Ibom State capital. Leading the choir for the night is the quartets, Soweto Spiritual Singers of South Africa; the Chorale Devine de Merveilles from the Republic of Congo; the National Choir of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis; the Winneba International Youth Choir from Ghana and the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO). Also expected to perform at the carol night are AKSG Choir, Ibom Orchestra, Unity Brass Band, Bongos Ikwue and Angela Christie-renowned American Gospel Music Saxophonist, the Voices of Jamaica Choir and the Harmonious Chorale from Ghana. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah said the “9,999 Carol Night, apart from being a record-breaking gathering of Carol Singers, has become a major source of spiritual tourism that attracts pilgrims from around the world.” The event, according to him, “gives the Christian community and general public a compelling need to be in the city of Uyo to celebrate Christmas and honour the birth of Jesus Christ.” He stated that the event, which is the creation of the Akpabio administration, and coordinated by the Akwa Ibom State Directorate of Protocols, was inspired by the Governor’s desire to gather people from every Church organization, hamlet and village from across the State to share in the joy of Christmas by singing praises to the Almighty God. According to him, since its inception in 2008, “the Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Night has enjoyed the benevolence, involvement, support and passion of Governor Akpabio, and has

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

CELEBRATION also served as avenue for the promotion of spiritual growth, peaceful co-existence among ethnic, religious and cultural groups in the State, in an evening of praise, worship, love and unity”. Mr. Umanah added that apart from boosting the tourism potentials of Akwa Ibom, the Carol Night, which has maintained its unique theme and tradition, has evolved with new ideas and concepts on yearly basis. The tourism potential of the carol, he noted “has been enhanced by a rapidly growing international reputation and acceptance of the State.” With a blend of unique vocal and digital rendition of medley and lyrics as well as a repertoire of colourful visual decoration, dance, costumes and lighting, the Umannah noted that “the ambience in and around the event venue often engender bliss and spiritual awakening.” A unique feature added to this year’s 9,999 Carol Night, according to Mr. Umanah, is “special performance by Quartets from each of the choirs from different countries who have performed at the six past editions of the Carol Night. Mr Umanah who said this year’s edition which will feature the Catholic Bishop, Cardinal John Onaiyekan as the officiating Minister, will equally have internationally renowned gospel artistes such as Don Moen, Panam Percy Paul, Nathaniel Bassey, as well as Aity Dennis, ElMafrex, Freke Umoh Linda Etukudoh, Buchi, Mosaic and Patience Esekhile, ministering in songs. He disclosed that the AKSG Choir, Ibom Orchestra, Unity Brass Band, Bongos Ikwue and Angela Christie -renowned American Gospel Music Saxophonist will be part of the event, adding that with the Christmas Carol Night,

•PHOTOS BY ADEJO DAVID

Governor Akpabio has created a compelling spotlight on the City of Uyo while celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and complementing the Uncommon Transformation programme of the State Government. Commending the Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Mr. Aniekpeno Mkanang and members of his team for a robust and hitch-free preparations for the event, the Commissioner said this

year’s edition will be live on major networks like the DSTV 199, African Magic, NTA, AIT, TBN, Channels, STV, CTV and AKBC, and implored those who have planned to be physically present at the Carol Night, especially first timers, to find time to visit other places of interest in Akwa Ibom, as, according to him, destination Akwa Ibom story has become a reality.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

SHOWBIZ

• Maikori, Kuti and Bello-Osagie

Chocolate City deal excites Femi Kuti

OPULAR music label, Chocolate City, yesterday, unveiled Afro Beat legend, Femi Kuti, as its latest addition. Kuti, who was accompanied by his lawyer, Samuel Salako of Olajide Oyewole LLP, was received by notable Nigerian businessman and chairman of the music label, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie and the outfit’s CEO, Mr. Audu Maikori at the latter’s home in Ikoyi, Lagos. The musician, who had earlier announced the partnership via Twitter appeared excited to enter a management deal with a Nigerian company for the first time. He said: “I have never had a management contract in Nigeria because I have been very disappointed with the way things are done. I have had a lot of bad experiences here. But when I met these people, I realised that not only are they enthusiastic, they are also sincere.” He said although many people wonder why he had to enter a management contract with a label that is run by young men, he feels it would amount to arrogance and insensitivity on his part, not to allow the guys, whom he descsribed as young but vibrant, to run his affairs. “When Chocolate City came, asking to manage me, I got a lot of calls from people saying they are too young and that I am too big for them. My training doesn’t allow me to be arrogant or pompous – although sometimes people see me like that, but it is the seriousness with which I take of my profession that makes me look arrogant, because I am always very focused; trying to produce the best of the music that I can produce. But then, I did my investigations about the label and discovered that indeed, they are quite young, but very vibrant. When I met them, I also realised they had done a lot of research about me,” he said. He pointed out that although the guys are enthusiastic and sincere about the deal, his lawyers “gave them a little bit of stress; ensuring that the contract was tight and ofcourse in my favour.” He added: “Ever since I

By Victor Akande

signed that contract, I have not regretted it. I see them as an extended family of my life, I see them as my brothers and sisters and when I met their chairman, he impressed me as well. I just want to say that I will put in 100 percent of my time to make sure that I give you the best of my music.” No doubt, the deal with Kuti is a big one for the profile of the music label, which Maikori, also a lawyer and believes is in tandem with his company’s vision for cultural promotion “Mr. Kuti has been celebrated internationally, may be much more than he has been celebrated locally, and there is need for us to bring this culture back home, because this is where he started from. We have done so much in terms of promoting Nigerian culture and the creative industry has done much in promoting the culture of Nigeria, whether you talk of Nollywood or the music industry, there is really no greater ambassadors than these set of people.” He noted that although it is a business partnership, the synergy is more of a passion than “naira and kobo’. “Working with Femi, to us, is also a manifestation of what passion can do. He has been on stage; he has won awards, he has travelled round the world. Recently at the Black Podium event which took place at Intercontinental Hotel, he was on stage for about two and half hours; playing non-stop. And I think these are the things that make us excited about him and the future of this industry, because it’s not just about entertainment, it also about creating jobs for people. He has a band that takes about 26 people, not to talk about the ancilliary values that he creates,” enthused Maikori. In recent times, Kuti has done a lot of shows with younger artistes. Apart from a duet with Wizkid on the latter’s Jaiye Jaiye single, the multiple Grammy Awardnominee had also done collaborations with D’banj, Omawumi, Victoria Kimani, Buffalo Soulja, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Fally Ipupa and several other young Af-

rican artistes on the One/DO Agric Project, a project staged in support of the slogan of African Union for 2014, a period declared as year of Agriculture and food security. Another person who is excited about the artiste’s new deal with Chocolate City is Bello-Osagie. To him; “We are celebrating two things: On one hand, it is to celebrate the young men at Chocolate City who are doing an excellent job in the promoting music in our country and who in many senses have become role models to what young people are doing outside the conventional industries such as law, engineering and medicine.” Bello-Osagie, who was recently listed by Forbes as the 40th richest man in Africa, also congratulated Maikori for having Kuti on board the label. He noted that his excitement about what the young label owner and his team are doing was what made him to accept to be the Chairman, “notwithstanding my wife’s views that it is not good for my brand to be associated with music.” Congratulating Kuti, whom he described as one of Africa’s greatest musicians, he said there was no reason why a Nigerian should not win the Grammy award someday. Revealing that his earlier ambition was to become a pop star, BelloOsagie said he had been driven by that passion for music, that he oftens encourages young artistes. “During my time as chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), part of my desire to give back to the music community, as Fela had encouraged us, was to encourage young Nigerian artistes to become the pop star that people like us could not be, and that was why if you recall (referring to Kuti) as chairman of UBA, I invited you to come and perform for the UBA management. So, having you now come around as second generation of the Kutis and the BelloOsagies, and working with Chocolate City, it makes me very elated. It is a bigger world; it’s a more global world right now and I believe that the ambitions should be global,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fed Govt to present N4.357tr. budget today

HE Federal Govern ment will today present to the National Assembly a budget estimate of N4, 357.96 trillion for the 2015 fiscal year. The budget proposal has been reduced from N4,661trillion earlier proposed by the Federal Government to N4,357.96 trillion, a reduction of about 7.5 per cent. The dwindling oil price in the international market has been blamed for the reduction of the budget figure. Capital expenditure is fixed at N627.16 billion, down from N1,208.37 trillion earlier proposed. Recurrent (non debt) expenditure is N2,622.42 trillion, kerosene subsidy is put at N91.03 billion. The subsidy for other petroleum products, including PMS, is not stated. The oil benchmark is now $65 per barrel. In the revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) with oil benchmark of $78pb, the 2015 budget estimate is N4.817 trillion, in the second MTEF submitted to the Senate with oil benchmark of $73pb, the budget estimate was N4.7 trillion before the government finally settled for oil benchmark of $65pb with budget proposal of N4.4 trillion. The revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF) by President Goodluck Jonathan, was forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives for approval.

• Jonathan asks Senate to allow Okonjo-Iweala to lay budget • Capital budget reduced to N627.16b • Recurrent to gulp N2.6 tr • Oil benchmark now$65pb • Kerosene subsidy N91.03b From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Jonathan, in a memo entitled “Re: 2015 budget” and dated 12 December 2014, asked the Senate to grant the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 11am today to enable her lay the 2015 budget estimate. The President said, “In consonance with the provision of Section 81 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I write to request that the Distinguished Senate grant the Honourable Minister of Finance the slot of 11.00am to enable her lay before you the 2015 Budget Estimates. “I am cognizant of the fact that the budget estimates are being presented before the passage of the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). “This is due to the extraordinary global circumstances that confronted us in the latter quarter of the 2014 fiscal year. “As you know, the first MTEF with a budget benchmark of $78 a barrel was submitted to the National Assembly on 30th September, 2014 and discussion on the MTEF and budget construction based on those estimated

began with the relevant committees of the National Assembly. “ However, shortly after the first submission, oil prices began to fall precipitously leading to a revision of the oil benchmark price in the MTEF to $73 per barrel which was resubmitted to the National Assembly on 18th November, 2014. “Following this, the decision of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at their meeting in Vienna on 27th November, 2014 not to cut production to support the price led to further precipitous fall in the oil price to below $70 per barrel. “This led, one more time to another downward revision of the benchmark price to $65 per barrel and a revised MTEF which was again submitted to you on 2nd December, 2014, “The uncertainty surrounding the global price of crude oil and its continuous fall has occasioned delays in both the submission of a final MTEF and budget estimates, and we thus request your kind consideration of both of these items together in view of our national budget calendar. “We would like to confirm that having submitted these budget estimates, we are not proposing further revision of

the oil benchmark price. Though prices continue to be extremely volatile at present and to trend further downwards, there are indications, based on the price intelligence we have at this time, that prices may range between US$65 - US$70 a barrel in 2015. “Nevertheless, we would like to emphasise that there is no iron clad guarantee where oil prices are concerned due to numerous underlying global geo-political factors that are outside our control and unpredictable. Should prices fall below the range, the country would have to make further adjustments. “We hope that despite these circumstances, the Distinguished Senators will give kind and due consideration to the budget estimates in sufficient time for us to implement the 2015 budget starting early next year.” The document shows that N150 billion is for National Assembly; N73 billion is for National Judicial Council (NJC); N72.18 billion is for Universal Basic Education (UBE); N62 billion is for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); N50.96 billion is for transfer to NDDC; N2.50 billion is for Public Complaints Commis-

sion while N1.50 billion is for Human Rights Commission. For debt servicing, Federal Government proposed N894.61 billion for domestic debt while N48.39 billion is for foreign debt; N91.03 billion was proposed for payment of subsidy on kerosene. The sum of N591.02 billion is expected from 13 per cent derivation as Federal Government share of the oil revenue. For the recurrent expenditure (non-debt), Federal Government proposed N1.801 trillion for personnel costs; N216.56 billion for overheads; N228.81 billion for CRF pensions and N376.05 billion is for other Service Wide Votes. On the capital expenditure, N380.70 was proposed for MDA’s capital projects against N1.135 trillion in 2014; N144.42 billion for capital expenditure in statutory transfers against N150.6d5 for 2014; while N102.03 billion is for SURE-P capital projects. The fiscal deficit for 2015 was put at N755 billion against N993.68 billion for 2014 GDP pegged is N95,843 for 2015 against N80.222 for 2014 fiscal year. On the expected revenue for the 2015 fiscal year, Federal Government is to real-

ise N4.357 trillion and additional N102.50 billion is expected from SURE-P (raising the total revenue to N4.460 trillion for the 2015 fiscal year) out of N6.061 trillion net federation account distributable for the 2015 fiscal year. On the revenue side, N2.075 trillion is expected from net non-oil after costs and deductions for 2015 while net oil revenue is put at N3.955 trillion after costs, deductions and derivation. Additional N20 billion revenue is expected from sales of government property; N10 billion from privatisation proceeds; N75 billion from the Federal Government’s share of signature bonus; N80 billion from sharing from stabilisation fund account and N570 billion from domestic borrowing. Foreign borrowing is ruled out. The government also fixed the estimate for the Subsidy Re-Investment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) at N102.03 billion down from N267.17 budgeted for the programme in 2014. Jonathan also submitted the Nigeria Communications Commission 2015 Budget for the consideration and approval of the Senate. There was a mild protest at the House of Representatives on the recommendation of the President that the Minister of Finance should lay the budget estimate on the table. But on the speaker’s appeal, the members agreed.

Deziani emerges gas forum’s president

ARELY three weeks af ter her election as the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been appointed President of the Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). She is the first woman to be so appointed by the body, according to a statement of the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ohi Alegbe. The appointment was announced earlier yesterday in Doha, Qatar, at the ongoing

•From left: Representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, Representative of Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Breweries, Mrs. Ethel Emma-Uche, Education Secretary , Surulere LGEA, Mrs. Yetunde Fatope , Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability Manager NB, Mrs. Emete Tonukari, and Special Adviser to the Government on School project , Mr. Laolu Akanni, during the Commissioning and Handover of Adisa Bashua Primary School, Surulere Lagos

Fashola unveils Lagos State Development Plan

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday said the state will be a model megacity by 2025. The governor who spoke during the public presentation of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 20122025 said the state government has set a modest target to be the best model megacity in Africa by 2025, adding that the population of the state could be turned to asset. According to Fashola, Lagos Vision/Mission by 2025 is for the state to be Africa’s Model Megacity and global economic

By Alvin Afadama

and financial hub that is safe, secure functional and productive achieved through poverty eradication and sustainable economic growth via infrastructural renewal and development. The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ben Akabueze said the management of the state’s resources is predicated on well thought programmes, plans and policies across the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) , adding that

the need to harmonise and institutionalise all these programmes, plans and policies necessitated the development of a comprehensive LSDP. He said the LSDP builds upon previous long-term strategic planning exercises such as the project wheel [2009] and Vision 20:2020 [2009]. It also takes account of previous strategic documents such as the Ten Point Agenda[TPA], and the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy [LASEEDS] He said the purpose of the LSDP is to provide overall

direction for the growth and development of the state adding that it provides a framework through which all sectors of the economy, public, private and civil society could direct their energies and contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people in the state. According to him, the LSDP is built on four development pillars he identified as economic, infrastructure, social and environment adding that these pillars rest on cross cutting issues of governance, finance, gender and social inclusion.

From John Ofikhenua , Abuja

16th Ministerial Conference of the GECF. Alison-Madueke who could not attend the meeting because of her involvement in ongoing negotiations to end oil workers’ strike was represented at the meeting by the Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, His Excellency Shuaibu A. Ahmed. The GECF is an inter-governmental organisation established in Tehran, Iran, in 2001, to serve as a platform to promote the exchange of experience, views, information and coordination in global gas exploration and production trends.

World Bank okays $6.3m for PCBs’ eradication

HE World Bank has set aside $6.3million for Ni geria’s Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) management project to aid in its effort to significantly reduce and eventually eliminate its use and sources of contamination from the environment. The bank said it has already approved $2.27million for the take off of the campaign. Its Task Team Lead PCBs Project, Joseph Akpokodje who spoke in Abuja at the flag off of the national awareness campaign on the harmful effects of PCBs said the bank will focus on the power sector in order to eradicate PCBs. Mr. Akpokodje added that the project which started in 2012 will end next year. The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

said PCBs is one of the classes of hazardous chemicals referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) identified by the United Nations Environment Programme as highly toxic. Represented by Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Yomi Ladepo, the minister said Nigeria was never known to produce PCBs but imported a good deal of PCBs containing equipment such as transformers, capacitors, ballasts, paint and hydraulic fluid additives in the late 1940s and early 1980s. “The consequence of this action has left our country with a considerable quantity of PCBs that must be managed,” she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

MONEYLINK

Bankers’ Committee: 100 firms get 75% of bank loans

HE Bankers’ Committee has said only about 100 firms in the country account for more than 75 per cent of bank loans in the country. The committee, which met in Calabar at the weekend, regretted the skew in the distribution of credit facilities in the country and called for more loans to facilitate rapid growth in power, agriculture and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who attended the meeting, said lending to the real sector would trigger the diversification of the economy. The Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank and the Chairman, sub-Committee, Economic Development, Sustainability and Gender, Mrs. Bola Adesola has urged banks to

Overnight interbank rate hits 80%

Stories by Collins Nweze

develop clear and actionable strategies and programmes to drive real sector growth, sustain the economic development initiative of the Bankers’ Committee. Speaking at the meeting, she said doing so would douse the heightened apprehension of the Nigerian public regarding the strategic policy direction and the viability of the economy in view of the falling price of oil. She said diversification of the economy has since commenced, and that the committee has outlined strategies that would facilitate the financing of the real sector and infrastructure development in the country. According to her, developments in the foreign exchange market are temporary and reiterated the need to forestall the speculative attack

•Emefiele on the naira exchange value. She said the theme of the retreat “Financing Real Sector Growth in Nigeria” suggests clearly a deliberate attempt to craft an all-encompassing strategic architecture towards realising inclusive growth and job creation through financing the real sector. The bankers expressed full conviction in the fact that the long term success of the banking sector lies in the growth of the real sectors.

Eczellon Capital unveils $250m equity fund

CZELLON Capital, an invest ment bank, has launched a $250 million private equity fund to enable fund projects in power, real estate, infrastructure, oil & gas and other key sectors of the economy. Its Chief Executive Officer, Diekola Onaolapo said the fund will be managed by Eczellon International, with activities overseen by an Investment Committee that has Professor Florin Vasvari, a non-executive director of the company, as one of its members. The fund raising is expected to close by the fourth quarter of next year with first close occurring in second quarter. The

fund will be administered in tranches over a two-year period. He explained that the fund will be for identified investment opportunities and already identified transactions in energy, infrastructure and a few other high growth sectors. According to him, the fund will be invested in unlisted enterprises with high capital growth potentials over the medium to long-term period of three to five years. He said the company has already assisted local companies in securing over $140 million committed capital this year and wants to expand access to finance for its focus sectors in the coming years, by launching new

fund. Onaolapo said he believes that both small and large companies have capacity to bring the needed development in key sectors of the economy. He said the firm seeks to contribute to the alleviation of socio-economic deficits in Africa by providing needed solutions to businesses and governments, in areas of suitable financing and expert advice. “Our goal is to aid the proliferation of global growth companies across Africa and to support governments in achieving the developmental objectives of their mandates.

HE overnight lending rate yesterday spiked further by 20 percentage points on to 80 per cent following drop in liquidity on large naira cash withdrawal by the state-owned energy company. “The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) withdrew more cash from the system today (yesterday), hitting hard on some banks, which have to resort to borrowing heavily from other banks to cover their position,” one dealer told Reuters. NNPC last week sold about $300 billion to some lenders as part of its usual month-end dollar sales and put the naira proceeds into its account with the central bank. The cost of borrowing among banks has oscillated between a high of 70 percent and a low of 14 percent since last month, when the central bank

hiked the cash reserve requirement (CRR) on private sector deposits with commercial lenders to 20 per cent from 15 per cent. Meanwhile, the CBN intervened on the interbank market on to propup the naira, but the local unit still closed down one per cent owing to strong dollar demand, traders said. The local currency closed at 180.50 to the dollar, compared with 178.70 a dollar on the previous day. Dealers said dollar demand remains strong from offshore funds selling down their equity holdings. “The amount of dollars sold by the central bank was not sufficient to support the naira,” one dealer said. The local currency is seen trading around the 180 level until the end of the year, baring any major measure by the central bank, dealers said.

Skye Bank, MoneyGram partner on outbound service

KYE Bank Plc has extended its relationship with MoneyGram by launching an outbound remittance service in the country. A statement said with the launch of the product, customers and other Nigerians can now send money to their family members and wards abroad. Nigeria was a receive- only country and consumers could only receive funds sent from abroad through the MoneyGram money transfer service. According to Skye Bank, the partnership is significant to both MoneyGram and Skye Bank business, because it enables customers to send funds from Nigeria to family and friends around the globe in naira at all the bank branches which can then be picked up by the ben-

eficiary in the currency of the receiving country. The MoneyGram outbound service is available across all the bank’s branches in the country. Prompt and efficient MoneyGram transfer services can also be accessed in its 50 money transfer centres across its network including key locations such as Niger House, Marina Lagos; Benin, Ibadan and Enugu. MoneyGram is focused on growing its presence in Africa through strategic relationships with agents like Skye Bank. Outbound remittances are a very important part of economic growth and financial inclusion in Nigeria and across Africa, and we look forward to supporting the country’s development.

DATA BANK AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONT INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME LEGACY FUND NIG INTNL DEBT FUND (NIDF)

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,720.45 1,093.13 112.24 121.16 1.67 1.05 143.11 0.78 1,933.58

151.27 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,720.45 1,092.42 111.60 120.30 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,923.63

GAINERS AS AT 17-12-14

SYMBOL ETRANZACT AIRSERVICE OMOSAVBNK 7UP IKEJAHOTEL FIDELITYBK NESTLE DIAMONDBNK GUINNESS

O/PRICE 2.67 1.72 0.70 153.85 4.00 1.43 775.00 4.97 117.00

C/PRICE 2.80 1.80 0.73 159.00 4.06 1.45 783.00 5.00 117.00

CHANGE 0.13 0.08 0.03 5.15 4.06 0.02 8.00 0.03 0.07

LOSERS AS AT 17-12-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

REDSTAREX NPFMCRFBK UBCAP UBN SEPLAT WEMABANK VITAFOAM NEM NEIMETH PORTPAINT CHAMPION SKYEBANK UBA

4.00 0.85 1.60 7.60 295.00 1.01 3.86 0.61 0.82 4.52 6.59 2.30 3.80

C/PRICE 3.61 0.77 1.52 7.22 280.25 0.96 3.67 0.58 0.78 4.30 6.27 2.19 3.62

CHANGE 0.39 0.08 0.08 0.38 14.75 0.05 0.19 0.03 0.04 0.22 0.32 0.11 0.18

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 10/12/2014 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) Money Supply (M2)

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$36.8b

US Dollar

167

168

$68.12

Pounds Sterling

261.9395

263.508

Euro

206.2617

207.4968

171.546

172.5732

Yen

1.3838

1.3921

CFA

0.2944

0.3144

242.3484

243.7996

Yuan/Renminbi

27.1505

27.314

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES December 10, 2014

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

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

16.5%

Swiss Franc

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

11-11-14 Rate (%)

Rate (%) 12-11-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

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. 8, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

13.65

T-bills - 182

13.88

T-bills - 364

13.65

Bond - 3yrs

13.81

Bond - 5yrs

13.85

Bond - 7yrs

13.83

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Maid, driver ‘kill’ lawyer

‘I bought human head in Cotonou for N12,500’

SUSPECTED human parts’ merchant, Olorunto Dipe (35), has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). He reportedly confessed that he bought a human head for N12,500 from Cotonou, Benin Republic, with intention to sell it for N20,000. A police source said the suspect was arrested by a SARS decoy team led by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), at Ajibawo in Atan-Ota, Ogun State, on October 22. Olorunto said: “It was one Asiwaju at Ado Odo-Ota in Ogun State, who asked me to bring a human head. He said he would use it to cure me of leprosy. I went to Cotonou and bought it for N12,500 with intention of selling it for N20,000 to him. I was arrested with the head as I wanted to go and deliver it.” Asiwaju was arrested and granted bail when he denied knowing Olorunto.

•Police: we’ll get fleeing suspects

NOTABLE lawyer and insurance practitioner, Mrs Ola Adeola, has been killed in her Lekki, Lagos home. She is the daughter of a former Chief Justice of Ogun State, Justice Ebenezer Craig. The slain lawyer was allegedly killed Sunday night by her driver and house maid at her 108, Omisore Lane, Oniru Estate home. Her throat was slashed, a source told The Nation. Both the driver and housemaid were said to have disappeared, while the victim’s corpse has been deposited at a morgue. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident.

‘

It was one Asiwaju at Ado Odo-Ota in Ogun State who asked me to bring a human head. He said he would use it to cure me of leprosy ... I was arrested with the head as I wanted to go and deliver it By Ebele Boniface

’

Olorunto is lamenting that Asiwaju denied him. He said: “If I am released, I will stop dealing in human heads. Please tell the police to forgive me; I will not do it again.”

Residents praised over PVC

A •The suspect with the human skull ... yesterday

Man jailed 63 years for N4.9m fraud

USTICE Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos High Court sentenced yesterday Segun Bright to 63 years imprisonment for defrauding 40 of people of N4.9million. She passed the sentence after Bright pleaded guilty. Bright was sentenced to three years imprisonment on

By Adebisi Onanuga

each of the 21-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The sentence will run concurrently for three years. EFCC counsel Mr Emmanuel Jackson told the court that Bright swindled

more than 40 people through a fraudulent investment scheme. Jackson said the convict, through his company, Wexford Global Resources Ltd, committed the offence between 2008 and 2010 in Lagos. He said Bright collected between N10, 000 and N615,

000 from people with the promise to re-invest the funds for high returns. Jackson said following complaints received by EFCC, the convict was arrested and charged to court. He said the offence contravened Sections 383 (1) and (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Tinubu to youths: Be productive

ENATOR Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central District in the Senate has urged youths to be productive. The senator, who spoke yesterday at the 2014 Musical Youth Fiesta in Lagos, called on the youths to help their communities. She said the focus of the fiesta, among others, is to bring together youths and teach

By Amidu Arije and Safiyyah Abdur-Razaq

them how to become future leaders. “We teach them how to be leaders of tomorrow and how they can be productive to their environment,” she said. The Musical Youth Fiesta is an interdenominational gospel concert/competition featuring youth choirs and groups from different de-

By Ebele Boniface

He, however, said two persons had been arrested in connection with the matter. “The report is true and I can confirm to you that we are fully on it. We have arrested two persons and they are in police custody as investigations kicks off fullswing on the orders of the commissioner of police. “In fact, following his order, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba on Lagos Minland,” Nwosu told The Nation. He added: “The police are on their toes to arrest two fleeing suspects in connection to the case and the commissioner has mandated us to get everyone involved arrested for prosecution.”

nominations. The theme of this year’s fiesta is “perfect love.” The choirs that performed at the fiesta focused on the need for unity in Nigeria. Senator Tinubu urged parents to enrol their children for the event to help build them for a better tomorrow. “This event brings together youths from various church choirs in Lagos State

to compete against one another in a lively and friendly atmosphere, after which the best performing choir will emerge. The event serves as a veritable platform for the youth to pull their collective resources and talents together to help set the pace and chart a way forward for other youths in the country,” she said.

COMMUNITY leader at Ota in the AdoOdo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Femi Ajayi, has praised residents for trooping out to collect the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), despite the inherent challenges. Ajayi, who was also once a leader of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state, made this remark in Ota while addressing youths in the community who thronged his office to lament their inability to collect the PVCs during the period earmarked for the exercise by the Independ-

ent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said their grievance showed that they were ready to play their civic roles in the forthcoming 2015 elections. Ajayi, who condemned INEC for a shoddy job, pledged that nobody of voting age would be denied of his or her right to vote. The community leader, who was full of praises to the people for appreciating the importance of the exercise, said the people had expressed the fact that that they were adequately prepared to elect their choice representatives in the coming elections.

Ex-CIBN chief, others honoured

FORMER Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Oyo State and currently, the Chairman/Chief Executive, FFP Global Investment Resources Limited, Alhaji Abiola Alli has been honoured. He was honoured alongside six distinguished professionals by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Oyo State branch. The award, which was in

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

recognition of their excellent professional service in the state, took place at the Ibadan Civic Centre yesterday during the Investiture of the 4th Chairman of APBN, Gbenga Ilori and induction of its new executive council members in the state. Other award recipients are: Alhaji R.M Ajao, Vincent Agha, Joseph Okedele, Folu Bademosi and Prince Oyebade Fatai.

FOREIGN NEWS

Kerry, EU meets over Palestinian occupation

S Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet the chief Palestinian negotiator in London over moves to set a timetable for an end to the Israeli occupation. He is expected to urge Saeb Erekat not to push for a UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution calling for Israel to leave the occupied territories by November 2016. A separate draft would set a two-year deadline for a final peace treaty. Israel has sought reassurances from the US that it would veto both resolutions. After meeting Mr Kerry in Rome on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he saw no reason why Washington would not “stand by its position for the past 47 years that a solution to the conflict will

be achieved through negotiations”. Direct peace talks brokered by the US collapsed in April. After his visit to Rome, Mr Kerry travelled to Paris to discuss developments with his counterparts from the UK, Germany and France. Several European parliaments have called on their governments to recognise a Palestinian state He then flew to London for Tuesday’s talks with Mr Erekat and a delegation from the Arab League, including its secretary general Nabil alArabi, and the representative of the Middle East Quartet, Tony Blair. Jordan circulated the Palestinian-drafted resolution last month, and Palestinian officials said they would push for a UN vote.

The Palestinian representative at the UN, Riyad Mansour, has said the draft might be submitted on Wednesday and could be put to a vote as soon as 24 hours later. However, Jordan’s representative Dina Kawar has said she is not expecting any developments this week. Another draft resolution, being formulated by France, would call for a return to negotiations on a final peace treaty to achieve a two-state solution to the conflict within two years. It does not mention an Israeli withdrawal, but does lay out some of the parameters of a permanent deal, including using the ceasefire lines which separated Israel and the West Bank before the 1967 Six Day War as the basis for those of a future Palestinian state.

HE Federal High Court yesterday sentenced a 35 year-old Pakistani, Bukhari Ahmed, to 10 years imprisonment for importing 13 kilograms of Heroines. He was arrested by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on February 10, 2012 at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos, on his arrival from Pakistan. He conspired with Benjamin Okereke and Chukwudi Okereke, both at large, to import the banned narcotic. He was tried before Justice John Tsoho on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the illegal drug. The offence contravenes Section 14 (b) and 11 (a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. NDLEA said Ahmed was arrested during inward clearance of a Qatar Airline flight from Pakistan. His lawyer, Victor Abana,

Pakistani jailed 10 years for heroine trafficking By Joseph Jibueze

urged the court to temper justice with mercy because the convict is a foreigner, a first offender, and a father of three. Justice Tsoho held that the convict had in his confessional statement, stated that he was arrested on his third trip to Nigeria on the illicit business. The judge said had he not being arrested, he would have continued in the business to the detriment of Nigerians. He sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment, and ordered that the seized drug be destroyed if there is no appeal within 90 days The NDLEA yesterday also arraigned a businessman, John Obi, before Justice Tsoho for allegedly attempting to unlawfully export 21.695

kilograms of methamphetamine to South Africa. The accused, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, was arrested with the banned substance on November 16 during the outward clearing of Arik Airline flight to South Africa. Abu said the offence contravened section 11(b) of NDLEA Act Cap. 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Obi pleaded not guilty to the charge. His lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara urged the court to grant him bail. The court granted the accused bail for N2 million, with one surety, who must be a Lagos resident and must swear to an affidavit of means. The judge ordered that Obi be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending his meeting the bail conditions.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS Commotion at Kebbi Assembly From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

HERE was commotion yesterday at the Kebbi House of Assembly as impeached Speaker Aminu Musa Habibu Jega returned to his seat after securing an ex parte motion from a High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Justice Ismaila Haruna of the Kebbi High Court, at the weekend, ordered the Assembly to maintain the status quo via the motion ex parte. The ex parte motion also favoured Deputy Speaker Garba Bena; Majority Leader Aliyu Mera and Chief Whip Bello Relisco, as they would return with Jega. The imbroglio started two weeks ago when the affected officers defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their action, it was learnt, did not go down well with the state government, which is under the PDP. The state government allegedly ordered their impeachment. Following the “impeachment”, Hassan Shallah Gwandu and Jafar Mohammed were appointed Speaker and Deputy Speaker to run the Assembly. The Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General in the Ministry of Justice, Aminu Usman said: “We have not been served with that ex parte motion and we don’t even know from which court this motion was obtained and who the judge was. “So, you can understand that if at all there was such a sitting, then we are not represented.” The solicitor-general said the state government would challenge Jega’s return because “we don’t know what he told the court”. Usman said the former Speaker allegedly hid the mace from the Assembly.

Jonathan appoints five judges for FCT From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

HE National Judicial Council (NJC) said yesterday President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of five new judges for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja. The NJC, in a statement by its Acting Director (Information), Soji Oye, said the President’s approval of the appointment followed its recommendation. The new judges are from Taraba, Gombe, Ebonyi, Enugu and AkwaIbom states. They are: Muawiyah Baba Idris (Taraba); Bello Kawu (Gombe); Udukwu Umar (Ebonyi); Ogbonnaya Kezieh Nwamaka (Enugu) and Anriete Okon Ebang (Akwa Ibom). Oye said: “They (judges) will be sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and NJC Chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on December 18, at 11am at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

‘Buhari’s emergence his birthday gift’

POLITICAL support group, the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), has said the emergence of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the All Progressives Congress (APC} presidential candidate is his 72nd birthday gift. Gen. Buhari’s 72nd birthday holds today. A statement the BSGC’s Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Ayo Fatola, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said God would turn the birthday gift into Gen. Buhari’s first step to the presidential election’s victory next February 14. He hailed the APC for organising an exemplary primary, whose result was acceptable to all the aspirants. Fatola urged APC leaders to unite into a formidable force that would conduct a strong campaign to sell the party’s candidate to the electorate.

Fulani herdsmen kill five in Benue community

T least, five persons have been reportedly killed and several villages razed in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State when suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked the area. The latest attack, it was gathered,

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

rendered many villagers homeless. Schools and churches were closed to avert further destruction of life and property. The member representing Agatu

State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Alhaji Sule Audu, told reporters that the attack occurred on Sunday. Audu said his people were preparing to go to church when the attackers invaded the community and un-

leashed mayhem on its residents. The lawmaker said several houses in the communities, including Adeka and Olegadeje villages, were razed. He added that farmlands and other property were destroyed in the attack.

•Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Reverend, James Olusola Odedeji (second left), Chairman Board of Governors, Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye School, Festac Lagos, Mrs. Adenike Brown Okudoh (left), Member Board of Governors, Ven. Adekunle George (third left), Archbishop of Festac, Venerable Tunde Owoeye (second right) and Venerable Tunde Owoeye, during the Carol of Nine Lessons and formal inauguration of Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Secondary School in Festac, Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

Refund our N4b, says Ahmed

Kogi council chiefs flout court order

•Kwara to establish IPP in 2015

HE Kwara State Government has urged the Federal Government to refund N4 billion the outstanding debt it is owing the state for its intervention on Federal road projects. The state also rued the drop on the Federal allocations to the tiers of government in the country. It noted that the development was having a debilitating effect on the running of government. Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede said: “The State Executive Council (Exco) also called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, refund all the money owed the state government from the implementation of federal projects. “The council also noted the drop in the federal allocations to all tiers of government and emphasised the need for the Federal Government to release N4 billion outstanding from the state government’s intervention in Ilesa Baruba-Kosubosu Road, Baruten Local Government Area, by the previous administration so that this money can be devolved towards other pressing projects for the benefit of the people of the state.” Dr Akorede added that the council also approved the establishment of Kwara State Agency for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to manage the funds provided by the state

From James Azania, Lokoja

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

government. He said: “The agency, when established, will also run the N750 million micro-credit for which over 48,000 businesses have benefitted already, including the N2 billion the state government recently accessed from the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN). “The governor also emphasiSed the need to promote youth empowerment through entrepreneurship so that youths in the state will have the required training and mindset to engage themselves and others. “The major decision of the council was the approval for the establishment of a body to run small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state. You will recall that the state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CBN to access N2 billion from the N320 billion Micro Small Medium Enterprises Development Funds (MSMEDF), which was launched by the by bank. “Sequel to that development, there is need for the establishment of an agency to serve as the special vehicle for the effective participation of the state in the programme became imperative.” The government promised to establish an Independent Power Project (IPP) next year in the northern part of the state. Ahmed spoke at the launch of the rehabilitation work on the 32.8

N •Ahmed

kilometre Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara Road in Baruten Local Government Area. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the governor said the power plant would generate 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity and “power industrial clusters and essential services, thus freeing up energy for homes and businesses in a manner that enhances the welfare of our people and stimulates job creation”. On the Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara Road project, he said it would cost about N1.5 billion, adding that the project would subsequently be extended to Kenu and Okuta to cover that flank of the local government. Ahmed said the state was taking advantage of the dry season to grade about 500 kilometres of roads throughout the state, including the Ilesha-Baruba-Gbereberu and the Bode More roads in Baruten Local Government.

•Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State chapter, Alhaji Roqueeb Adeniji (middle) unveiling Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s runningmate for next year’s election, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga at the party’s stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta...yesterday. With them is Amosun

INE days after a court order invalidated the election of local government chairmen in Kogi State, the council chairmen have refused to vacate office. A Kogi State High Court, sitting in Koto-Karfe, last Monday nullified the May 4, 2013 local government election because of alleged improper composition of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC). The court declared its activities null and void. Our reporter learnt that the council chairmen had continued to run the affairs in the 21 local government areas in defiance to the court order. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had sued the state government, KOSIEC and others. The party faulted the composition of KOSIEC and the subsequent conduct of the local government election by the agency, whose former chairman was also alleged to be a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Hajia Zainab Okino, maintained that the situation remained so because the government filed a stay of execution against the court order. She said: “Government has appealed for a stay of execution. But before then, the status quo ante remains.” Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye of the Kogi State High Court had ordered the local government chairmen to hand over to the most senior director in their councils with immediate effect. In his judgement, Justice OmolayeAjileye averred that KOSIEC’s actions, those of the local government chairman and other members contradicted Section 200(1) of 1999 Constitution, as amended. He said the composition of KOSIEC was unconstitutional, illegal and void. Justice Omolaye-Ajileye said: “The section of the Constitution is designed by lawmakers to promote the principle of fairness, independence, transparency and the notion of neutrality and these are not abstract notions as the notion of independence reflect in the name of the third defendant (KOSIEC). “As an umpire, KOSIEC must not only be neutral but must also manifestly be seen to be neutral.’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS ‘Okowa’s emergence part of Ibori’s scheming’

•From left: Chairman, Organising Committee, Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative, Mr Jide Sanwoolu; wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola and the Convener, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) at the Musical Youth Fiesta in Lagos ... yesterday.

AST week’s victory in Asaba, the Delta State capital, of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate was part of a scheme to ensure President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure in next year’s presidential poll, it was learnt yesterday. The chairman of a sociopolitical organisation, the Urhobo Mandate Group (UMG), Dr Wilson Omene, made the allegation in a statement in Warri. The UMG leader also alleged that the scheme was

Kalabari monarch: Peterside has always been a good man

HE Amayanabo of Kalabari, King T. J. T. Princewill, has said the Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has always been a good man. The Amayanabo was Peterside’s lecturer. A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by Sylvester Asoya, the special assistant (Media) to Dr. Peterside, said the monarch spoke at his palace in Buguma when Peterside visited him. The royal father advised Peterside to continue being a good boy. He said: “If you want to remain my son, then you must continue to do the good you have always done. You said I groomed you but you are not the only one I groomed. President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and others were also my students. If any of you come for blessing, I will say that blessing was even granted before you came. But you must go to the field and do your best. I want to request that we ensure a violence-free election. We, in Buguma, have seen violence; we don’t want to see it again.” King Princewill blessed Peterside. The monarch urged the APC candidate to ensure that idle youths in his kingdom

U.S. to Rivers politicians: make 2015 polls violence-free •Wike: I’ll revive failed govt institutions

HE United States (U.S.) Consular General in Nigeria, Jeffrey Hawkins, has urged political parties in Rivers State to make the 2015 polls violence-free. Hawkins spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when he visited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike. The consular general said the U.S. was concerned about reports of likely electoral violence in Rivers State. He urged key political players to work for peaceful elections next year. Wike said he was on a mission to revive government institutions that had allegedly been destroyed by the administration and set democracy on the right path. The PDP candidate accused the administration of destroying the Legislature and the Judiciary in order to deny the ordinary people access to the core dividends of democracy. He said: “The Judiciary and the Legislature have been crippled by the current administration in the state. One of the very first assignments that I will handle is to reFrom Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

were fully engaged. “We have a lot of problems among our youths. How do we get them engaged? How can we make them not to be idle?” he asked. King Princewill urged politicians to address the problem of intra-party crises. The monarch warned that

store the integrity of these two arms of government and ensure effective separation of powers. “The 2015 elections in Rivers State will be peaceful, free and fair, despite the sponsored negative propaganda by the current administration. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is raising unnecessary alarm about the alleged plan to rig the election so that they can justify their impending loss. “We have entered into a contract with the Rivers people in all the 23 local government areas of the state as we have directly met with the people. We are now moving from ward to ward and community to community to sell the New Rivers Vision 2015 to the people. We are sure of victory in 2015 because the people are with us. Rivers State is a traditional PDP.” Wike said after the 2015 elections, he would start aggressive development programmes to empower the residents with jobs. He promised to revive the economy to accommodate a larger percentage of the population.

it would be counter-productive to allow intra-party factions to fester. Peterside described the kling’s values as the inspiration for his quest to govern Rivers State. He said: ”I am inspired by the things you believe in and the values you have brought to leadership. The time you spent teaching us, you emphasised

that a leader is not worth anything if he or she does not represent the values of love, unity, peace and justice for his people. I am, therefore, proud that you groomed us with honesty, excellence and quest for knowledge.” The APC candidate hailed King Princewill for receiving him so warmly, even on short notice.

He said: “I am a son in this house. It is only a son who does not know his rights that will not know when to approach his father. I know my right and I know when to approach my father. “I am, therefore, here to seek your fatherly blessing. By next year, your people will be electing a governor. One of the major political parties, the APC, has given me its flag as its candidate. But I resolved that I would not accept the challenge without seeking your fatherly blessing. If I have your blessing, I will succeed. “I am a son you raised properly and the promise is that I will not disappoint you now that I have been given a huge responsibility. You taught us not to run away from any fight that will bring development and progress. “As a bearer of your vision, I will be going into this race pursuing the unity and well-being of our people. I shall advance your dream and vision for Rivers State where everybody will have a sense of belonging, not where some people will be second-class citizens. And we must defend the values and convictions you hold dear.” Peterside noted that the present situation required serious consultation with forthright and perceptive monarchs like King Princewill.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

orchestrated by former Delta State Governor James Ibori to take his pound of flesh from President Jonathan. According to him, the Ibori strategy was aimed at ensuring that the Urhobo did not renege on the Uvwiamughe Declaration, where it pledged to support any party which fields an Urhobo candidate as its governorship candidate. Omene said this was the reason the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) primary was allegedly manipulated in favour of Dr Okowa to slight the Urhobo nation. The statement urged the PDP to brace itself to face the backlash of its anti-Urhobo position, adding that the ethnic nation would mobilise about two million votes for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from its people in Delta and other parts of the country. Omene also alleged that Ibori, working in alliance with the national leadership of the APC, had started lobbying the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) to pressure Chief Great Ogboru, another Urhobo man, who had secured the governorship ticket of the Labour Party (LP) and who is believed to be sympathetic to President Jonathan, to opt out of the race so that the APC governorship candidate might have an undivided Urhobo block vote. It noted that the battered state of affairs between the ruling party and the Urhobo nation could still be salvaged if the party would revert the present situation whereby it had given its ticket to a minority part of the state. UMG also deplored the Ijaw ethnic nation in the Delta South Senatorial District for teaming up with the people of the northern senatorial district to work against the aspiration of the Urhobo nation.

UPU: we haven’t endorsed APC, LP candidate for 2015 •‘Endorsement to be by candidate’s popularity’

•Oba of Ketu, Oba Isiaka Adio Balogun Oyero Adetutu (Ilufemiloye 1), (middle); Chairman, Board of Governors, Jextoban Secondary School, Pastor Emmanuel Adedayo Ojo (second left); and Proprietress, Mrs. Adunola Ojo, during a visit to the monarch to mark his fourth year coronation, in Lagos… recently

HE leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) in Delta State has said the union has not endorsed either the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or his Labour Party (LP) counterpart for giving their tickets to Urhobo candidates. The union also said the choice of the governorship candidate to represent the Urhobo would not be by party but by popularity. But it said the Urhobo would vote against the

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections. UPU’s President General Joe Omene spoke when the LP governorship candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, visited him at his country home at Mosogar, Ethiope East Local Government Area. Omene said the union had not taken a position on who to support between Chief O’tega Emerhor of the APC and Ogboru of the LP.

Group warns PDP against divisive politics in Akwa Ibom

N Akwa Ibom leadership advocacy group, Ibom True Leadership Forum (ITLF), has cautioned that unless the discord following the December 8 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State is resolved, the peace in the state may be compromised. ITLF’s warning is in a state-

ment it released yesterday in Abuja after presenting a letter at Wadata House in Wuse, the national headquarters of the PDP. The group urged the PDP leadership to address the grievances of the 22 governorship aspirants, who were protesting alleged irregularities and the lack of transparency in the party’s primary in

Akwa Ibom State. The statement by ITLF’s Chairman, Dr. Uwem Effiong, reads: “Akwa Ibom, as a Niger Delta state, has enjoyed relative peace and unity, even at a period when the zone was boiling as a result of youth restiveness and widespread agitation. So, we plead with the PDP, under the leadership of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to ex-

hibit responsible leadership by addressing the grievances of the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state to avoid jeopardising the peace and unity we enjoy in Akwa Ibom. “The views of 22 of the 23 aspirants should not be ignored as if they don’t matter. PDP, as a leading political party in Nigeria, should at all times be a unifying factor and

not one to sow the seed of discord among its followers. “The simple requests of the aspirants, as was publicised, is a plea for fair play, equity and transparency in the process of electing who should fly the flag of the PDP in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.” The group added: “Such harmless and civil request,

which embodies the will of not only the aspirants but those of their teeming supporters and sympathisers, when swept under the carpet, would most likely result in a breach of the peace, but would also obviously be costly for the PDP in the general elections where our son, President Goodluck Jonathan, is seeking a re-election.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

NEWS 2015: Senate seeks polling units for IDPs

HE Senate directed yesterday its committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to liaise with the commission’s authorities to ensure that special polling units are established for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Majority of the IDPs are said to be victims of the insurgency in the Northeast. The resolution of the Senate followed an extensive debate on a Bill to amend the Electoral Act 2010, sponsored by the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial Dis-

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

trict, Senator Ali Ndume. Ndume’s Bill sought to amend Section 42 of the Electoral Act to make provisions for the enfranchisement of the IDPs in their various camps nationwide. He insisted that the quality of elections is not only measured by the extent to which the franchise is guaranteed and elections impartially administered for the majority of voters, but also by accommodations of enfranchise voters

marginalised in polity. Most senators in their contribution agreed that the passage of Ndume’s Bill might not be necessary since the amendment might not be operational before the general elections. They therefore suggested that the Senate passed a resolution that would mandate the INEC to ensure that the electoral interests of all the IDPs are taken care in next year’s polls. Senate President, David Mark, who presided over the session, said: “When we have

a large internally displaced persons, they should vote irrespective of their locations. “However, the process of amending the Electoral Act as being suggested by the bill is long.” The senators therefore voted for the withdrawal of Ndume’s Bill and through a resolution, directed its committee on INEC to ensure that the electoral body put all necessary administrative measures in place to make sure that all IDPs nationwide are able to vote during the elections.

How Mark’s attempt to save senators failed

FFORTS made by the Senate President, David Mark, to secure the return bid of majority of the senators in 2015 emerged yesterday. A senator close to Mark told The Nation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators blaming Mark for their inability to pick their tickets at their parties’ primary election “are not being fair to the Senate President.” The senator, who does not want his name disclosed, said

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

in Abuja that “some of the senators, who may be up-in-arms against the Senate President, are not being fair to him.” He noted that “if those who are angry for failing to survive at the primary election are truthful to themselves, they should also disclose how the Senate President took time off preparation for his own primary election to plead the case of most of the senators both at the PDP headquarters and at

the Presidency.” He noted that “it is on record that the Senate President personally led some of the interventionists meetings held both at the party level and at the Presidency.” He added that “it is also on record that the Senate President spoke to most of the PDP governors to accommodate the senators in their states at the primary elections.” He agreed that “the reach of the Senate President is wide,” but insisted that “the Senate

President did not just sit idly by without mounting the necessary lobby for the return of most senators.” He explained that in the case of a particular Senator from South South, “the Senate President took him to the party headquarters, the Senate President also took him to the Presidency and spoke several times with his governor but his governor was adamant in giving his seat to another person.”

$1b ECA cash unaccounted for Continued from page 4

“How we would go about it, you will know in the coming months,” she said. “Today was just for us to exchange views with the commissioners on what we should do at both federal and state levels to help man-

age the situation.” Odaah said they discussed with the coordinating minister of finance was not necessarily increasing VAT but “creating a conducive environment for all to thrive”. At the end of the FAAC meeting, N628.775 billion

was shared among the three tiers of government, with N427.654 going to statutory allocations, N60 billion VAT and N6.130 as exchange gain. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) brought an additional

N55.601 billion and N36.873 billion was taken from the ECA to increase the money shared for November. SUREP contributed N35.549 billion. The rest was completed with the usual N6.330 billion refund from NNPC to the federal government.

Gunmen kill 145 in school attack Continued from page 4

schools run by the Pakistani military around the country. The student body is made up of both children of military personnel as well as civilians. A government official, Javed Khan, said most of the students appeared to be civilians rather than children of army staff. But analysts said the militants likely targeted the school because of its military connections. “It’s a kind of a message that we can also kill your children,” said Pakistani analyst Zahid Hussain One of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of 8th, 9th and 10th graders who were getting first-aid instructions and training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began for real When the shooting started, Jamal, who was shot in the leg, said nobody knew what was going on in the first few seconds. “Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming. I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet,” he said, speaking from his hospital bed. Another student, Amir Mateen, said they locked the door from the inside when they heard the shooting but gunmen blasted through the door anyway and opened fire. In a phone call to reporters, Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurasani claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the suicide bombers carried it out to avenge the kill-

ings of Taliban members at the hands of Pakistani authorities. Peshawar has been the target of frequent militant attacks in the past but has seen a relative lull recently. The Pakistani military launched the military operation in the nearby North Waziristan tribal area in June, vowing that it would go after all militant groups that had been operating in the region. With the launch of the operation, security officials and civilians feared retribution by militants but until Tuesday, a widespread backlash had failed to materialize. Tuesday’s attack calls into question whether the militants have been crippled by the military or will be able to regroup. This appeared to be the worst attack in Pakistan since a 2007 suicide bombing in the port city of Karachi killed 150 people. The violence also underscored the vulnerability of Pakistani schools, which was dramatically exposed in the attack two years ago on Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl shot in the head by a Taliban gunman outside her school in the Swat Valley for daring to speak up about girls’ rights. She survived, becoming a Nobel Prize laureate and global advocate for girls’ education but out of security concerns has never returned to Pakistan. Militants have also blown up schools in the northwest. “I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us,” said Malala in a statement.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9 NO.3067

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

•The media office of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu replies to an article published by a website, Saharareporters, titled: Threat of Perjury Trial: How Jonathan Blackmailed Bola Tinubu before 2011 Presidential Election

HE unfolding smear campaign against former Lagos governor and leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, is no surprise. It had been in the works for years since the Jonathan-led government realised that Tinubu commanded a powerful political followership. The successful merger and birth of the APC posed the most potent threat to the PDP and Tinubu an architect of the merger has become a marked man. The thought of a Buhari-Tinubu ticket confounds the PDP hierarchy and their crisisbattered president. That Tinubu might be nominated as General Buhari’s running mate also incenses the small element within the APC who joined the party not for its progressive vision but to exploit its platform to press forward their vision of themselves. Having failed at halting General Buhari’s bid, the PDP disinformation machine has thrown itself into overdrive trying to stymie the selection of Tinubu. Sadly, some elements within the APC – elevating their personal ambition over party and national interests — have lent themselves to this endeavor. During the Nazi takeover of Germany, madman Adolf Hitler became jealous of those within his own party who showed independent thought and who would not allow themselves to be bent just so he could satisfy his megalomania. Outraged, he engineered a purge executing the lot of them. This bloody scheme became known as the “night of the long knives.” In Nigeria, we have entered the “season of the wrong knives.” The recent report on one of the online news websites on the allegations bordering on his academic qualification is not new. What is new is how desperate they have become to stir up a new controversy using an old lie. In the past these allegations were successfully rebutted. Recent attempt to present them as fresh allegations will not go unchallenged. The online report, published by Sahara Reporters claims that Tinubu withdrew his sup-

RIPPLES

I’M STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PROPOSE–NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS

OPEN FORUM

By SUNDAY DARE Season of the wrong knivesSaharareporters mis-reports

•Jonathan

•Tinubu

port for the ACN in the 2011 election due to blackmail by the president. It is rather odd that this report colors Tinubu as the villain. If the report were true, he would be a victim. President Jonathan and his administration would be guilty of the high crime of extortion. This tiny consideration seemed not to dawn on the authors of this scurrilous piece; so fixated on stabbing Tinubu, they implicate their own boss in wrongdoing. So eager to please their master, Jonathan’s mindless men further ensnare him. If Tinubu had been scared off in 2011, it would make no sense for him to spearhead the formation of the APC against the same president. If the president had such control over TInubu why didn’t the president use that leverage earlier to scuttle the APC before it gained a strong position in the political space? The story makes no logical sense. The particular accusations in the story fur-

ther reveal the malice of mind of those peddling it. They claim Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University. They cite as their evidence a letter from the US Consulate. But if you read the letter carefully, the surname stated is “TinubO” not “TinubU.” If the University did a computer check on that name, the check would come up empty. The culprits likely misspelled the last name so that the name search would reveal nothing. This is clever but immoral; it is a wrong knife. Meanwhile, Tinubu has genuine documents and pictures showing him as an award-winning student at the school. Nigeria should be proud that one of its own graduated an honor student from an American university over thirty years ago when that was more of a rarity than it is today. Instead, his detractors want to pretend he never set foot on campus. As late as August 2012, Tinubu visited the

IF NO ONE COMES, YOU TOO CAN PROPOSE...IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD

HE politics of Delta State took centre stage last week as an aftermath of the governorship primary election that saw the charismatic Ifeanyi Okowa emerge as the party’s standard-bearer. But the subtext of the story is the meddlesome mania of the President and his cohorts in the hierarchy of the PDP. The impression had been falsely presented that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was not interested in who becomes his successor from Delta North. So why did he pick Anthony Obuh? Obuh comes from there and that puts paid to that falsehood. But he had said repeatedly before his support of Obuh that the governorship had been zoned to Delta North, but given the array and acrimony within the coterie of aspirants from the region, Governor Uduaghan said they might lose it by default. What started off that ugly drama was the intervention of the presidency and such unflinching men as Chief E.K. Clark, Senator James Manager and the hard-charging mili-

HARDBALL Intrigues of Delta State guber primary tant-turned-government contractor Tompolo. First they said they did not want Uduaghan to run for Senate. They mounted pressure on him to step down. They knew that Manager had become senator for two terms, and in the senatorial zone, it is now the turn of the Itsekiri. But playing the ethnic Ijaw card, Clark worked with President Goodluck Jonathan and Manager to force him to step down. Their plan was for Manager to become the majority leader in the Senate, creating an Ijaw deuce of president of Nigeria and Senate majority leader. Little wonder the PDP hierarchy plotted and gloated over Udoma-Egba’s ouster from the race in Cross River State. The other twist was that Clark and the president rejected Obuh, and asked

university and was given a special reception and a tour by the school’s president. This would not have been done for a stranger. It would have been done for a distinguished alumnus. After graduation, Tinubu landed jobs with two well established international companies, one the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche and the other, ExxonMobil. Such companies investigate an applicant’s academic background. If he had not attended school, these companies would not have hired him. He would not have excelled in them but he did. The rumor about drug running is the lowest form of calumny. He has never been arrested, charged or indicted for any drug-related crime. Had any such suspicion existed, the American government would not have granted him political asylum during the Abacha era. Under American law, asylum cannot attach to anyone who has broken or offended that same law. Moreover, Tinubu travels frequently to the states. This means he has a visa. American law prohibits visa issuance to anyone reasonably suspected of drug dealing, let along being convicted of the same. If I were Tinubu, I would place a wager with the PDP. He should offer to fly to America if the PDP would also send Mr. Kashamu. Both can fly to Chicago. Then he should bet the PDP who would return to Nigeria first. We all know the answer. There is a vicious campaign to deter Tinubu from the APC ticket; this campaign is being run from the PDP’s basement. They fear him. They cannot assail his competence and experience. He has been an able senator and governor. They cannot assail his commitment to democracy. He has personally sacrificed more for democracy than all the PDP hierarchy combined. They fear his ability to campaign, to get out the vote and to protect that vote, especially in the southwest because they know that is the pivotal region where the election will likely be won or lost. These assailants desperately try to scuttle Tinubu’s potential candidacy. In that the truth offers them no solace, they resort to lies. They seek to ambush the man under cover of innuendo and untruth. But their aim is off and their knives are wrong. In the end, what they use to injure him will turn to point against them. Such is the outcome when one engages in malice. Thus, they seek to prevent a person who may be controversial yet he is perhaps Nigeria’s most able and versatile politician, strategist and policy maker. For perhaps the most gifted politician of his time not to seek national office is a luxury a nation in this dire circumstance can ill afford. In the end, governance has little to do with religion, region or rumor. It has to do with vision and competence. The wrong knives will never be able to cut that truth. •Mohammed Haruna returns next week

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Uduaghan to get a ‘popular’ candidate. They took advantage of two things. One, Uduaghan is a minority Itsekiri. Two, they dangled the subtle threat that if he defied them, they would undermine his position as the chief security officer of the state. Tompolo and Clark, according to earlier reports, were going to control the primaries and force the police and the armed forces to report to them rather than the state chief security officer of the state, that is the governor. The governor, who had backed Delta North, saw himself unable to pick from a fractious group of Delta North aspirants. So he looked to the Urhobo Progressive Union, who could come together behind David Edevbie. But with the game under the control of the presidency, Manager and Clark, it was too late for him to rally a victory. The odds fell in Okowa’s favour. It was for most part a victory for presidential conspiracy against a beleaguered governor.

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