December 29, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

APC, PDP, SDP, Accord in war of words over Oyo NEWS Page 8

News PDP okays Ajibola for Kwara P11 Sports Keshi: friends’ve abandoned me P41 Business CBN defends naira devaluation P31

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3079 MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Missing $20b: Buhari demands release of audit report

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has demanded the relaese of the forensic audit on the missing $20 billion oil cash.

Gen. Buhari, in a statement yesterday, said the report must be released “in the spirit of the war

By Bunmi Ogunmodede

against corruption”.

The APC presidential standard bearer accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of “digging graves in search of rumours” to confuse the voters.

The statement, signed by the Director of Communication of the Buhari Campaign

Organisation, Mr. Dele Alake, reads: “There is a clear linkage between the billions of naira lost to corruption and the poor living conditions of our people: it is the resources meant for the development of our people that are diverted to service the greed of a few. It is the fear of the unknown in a country where both family

and government social welfare have collapsed that fuels the avarice of those in offices to steal for generations unborn.

It is indeed true that, by sheer force of personal examples, I and my running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, have demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that it is possible to live above

the greed that dominates the system.

“I believe our spiritual anchors as men who fear The Almighty and are resolved to live our lives according to His admonitions have played very critical roles in developing our capacity to lead. As Christians go and return from churches, as Muslims and men of other

faiths observe their spiritual obligations, we believe our individual commitments to serve our Creator will inspire us to shun corruption.

“We say this fully conscious of the need to strengthen these spiritual values by creating a system that cares for the poor Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: 2015: APC ’LL ENSURE VIOLENCE-FREE POLLS P5 FAYOSE GETS KNOCKS OVER WORKERS’ PAY P8

Revealed: What Jonathan, Babangida discussed President woos Emirs, leaders

AirAsia plane with 162 passengers missing

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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ORMER military President Ibrahim Babangida made no commitment on the 2015 presidential poll to President Goodluck Jonathan at a meeting in Minna on Saturday, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Gen. Babangida only raised issues on how to keep the nation united during and after the general elections – contrary to the widespread insinuation that he endorsed Jonathan’s bid for another term.

Buoyed by the visit, Dr. Jonathan has started reaching out to key emirs and leaders of the North to back his re-election bid.

He may soon visit these leaders as part of his action plan to reduce the influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The details of the meeting between Jonathan and Gen. Babangida were revealed in Abuja by one of the key aides of the former military leader.

The talks between the two leaders in Minna created ripples in the North, with many highly-placed Northerners bombarding Gen. Babangida with calls on what actually transpired.

The aide, who was at Gen. Babangida’s Hilltop mansion when Jonathan visited, said the talks had nothing to do with the general elections.

The source said: “It is true that the President visited Gen. Babangida at his Minna Hilltop mansion but the nature of his message was based purely on unity of WILL THE the country and not CHIBOK GIRLS about 2015 presidential KIDNAPPED election.

ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN? Continued on page 4

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HE search for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 passengers, including 17 children, was yesterday called off for poor visibility. The aircraft lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control early yesterday.

Before communication was lost, AirAsia Flight QZ 8501 asked to deviate from its planned flight route — from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore — because of weather conditions, AirAsia said in a statement.

There was conflicting information about when exactly the aircraft went missing. AirAsia said contact was lost at 7:24 a.m. yesterday (7:24 p.m.

Saturday ET), but Indonesian aviation authorities said it happened earlier, at 6:17 a.m.

“At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority,” AirAsia said.

Of the people on board the Airbus A320-200, 156 are Indonesians, three are South Koreans, a Frenchman, a Malaysian and a Singaporean, the airline said.

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•A GONY •AGONY GONY:: Relatives of the passengers in the missing plane crying...yesterday.

PHOTOS: EPA

Continued on page 4

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P39 •FOREIGN P55

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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NEWS 2015 PREVIEW

•C.E.O, Emerald Nigeria Ltd, Mrs Bolanle Subair ( second right),Brand Manager, Canoe, Miss Gloria Jacobs ( fourth right),Miss Chidinma Igbo (third right) and Fiona Anucha of Mabatpro Experiential Agency during the alive with colour activation campaign by PZ Cussons at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos.. at the weekend.

•Stock brokers at the Exchange

2015: A year of changes at the capital market •From left:Area Sales Manager Lagos North West, Reckitt Benckiser, Akinpelu Segun, Territory Sales Manager, Lagos North West, Adisa Adeyemi, Assistant Brand Manager, Harpic, Ebunoluwa Longe and the Regional Sales Manager, Lagos, Shittu Abayomi at the Harpic Experience Moment in Ikotun market, Lagos.

2015 will witness a lot of changes at the capital market. From the regulatory agencies to operators and investors, the New Year will see many twists and turns, writes Capital Market Editor TAOFIK SALAKO

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•Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba (second left); Commandant, Customs Training School, Gwagwalada, Mr Abba Aminu (second right); Commissioner of Police Federal Capital Territory Command, Mr Wilson Inalegwu (left) and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mr Mohammed Jafaru after the IGP’s aerial surveillance in Abuja.

•From left: Deputy National President, Ex-Officio, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Remi Bello, First Deputy National President, Chief Bassey Edem and Acting DirectorGeneral, Janet Omisore at a news conference on the state of the nation. PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

OR the capital market, next year will witness many changes. Against the backdrop of negative return in 2014, the expected tight macroeconomic condition in 2015 and the resultant fiscal and monetary adjustments will serve as the mixer for a mixture of political, operational and regulatory variables, which are expected to moderate the market’s performance and investors’ return in 2015.

The year is starting with the expiration of the tenure of the director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh.

The reappointment of Oteh or appointment of a new director-general will dictate the pace for many market developments, including the recapitalisation of capital market operators.

Ms Oteh resumed as director-general in January 2010. Her tenure ends January 2015. The Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, the law regulating the capital market, provides for a five-year tenure for the director-general, in the first instance, renewable for a similar term of five years only.

Section 5, subsection 1 stipulates that the director-general and the three full time commissioners shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the minister and confirmation by the Senate. Section 5, subsection 2 states that “the Director-General shall hold office for a period of 5 years in the first instance and may be reappointed for a further period of five years and no more”.

However, subsection 5 states that “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the President may extend the tenure of office of the director-general and any of the Commissioners whose term of office has expired until a successor to such director-general or commissioner is appointed”.

In the alternative, the director-general may be requested to appoint one of the commissioners to supervise activities in her absence. Subsection 7 stipulates that “the director-general or, in his absence, one of the commissioners nominated by the director-general shall be responsible for the day to day management and administration of the Commission and shall be answerable to the Board of the Commission”.

The choice of the chief executive for the nation’s apex capital market regulator is already keeping the market on the edge. Discussions were in hushed tones at the Abuja headquarters of SEC and within the major financial centres of Customs Street and Victoria Island.

Opinions are divided on Oteh’s continuity and otherwise. Oteh’s reappointment will give verve to her reforms, especially in corporate governance, disclosures and enforcements.

She will step on with the recapitalisation of capital market operators, which has pitched her against the multitude of small and medium operators. She may also have another chance to push for her unrealised targets of full dematerialisation, unclaimed dividend management, new complaint management framework, demutualisation of the Exchange and review and promulgation of many laws that could aid market developments. Most important, she will be able to drive the long-term master plan for the capital market, a blueprint she had championed and launched in Abuja in the last quarter.

But Ms Oteh faces stiff oppositions from sundry market operators, investors and stakeholders groups, including staff of the SEC. She has major obstacles in the National Assembly, which has subsisting orders against her and had blocked subvention to SEC. The Presidency ignored the legislative resolutions but it will have to

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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NEWS 2015 PREVIEW

•Ms Oteh return to the National Assembly to get approval for any appointment into the office of SEC’s director-general. Several stakeholders want to see a new chief executive who could draw on the capacities of the various constituents, including the National Assembly, to push for major changes that could alter the market development. They cited inability of Ms Oteh to put the capital market forward as the vehicle for government’s divestitures in the power sector and absence of legislative supports for the market.

Ms Oteh, who had been accused of conflict of interest, is also unsuitable to supervise the demutualisation of the Exchange, some alleged.

HE General Secretary, Inde pendent Shareholders Asso ciation of Nigeria (ISAN), Adebayo Adeleke, is canvassing for a new chief executive, an opinion he said mirrored the feelings of the average retail Nigerian investor. Their grouse was the takeover of three quoted banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without whatever consideration for retail investors and lack of enforcement actions against the indicted executives in the banks’ malfeasance. Oteh’s reappointment will kick-start the implementation of the recapitalisation of capital market operators.

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New capital, new operators January 1, 2015 is a signal date for capital market operators. That’s the take-off date for the new capital new capital base for various functions prescribed by SEC as well as the minimum operating standard (MOS) requirements prescribed by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). With the December 31 deadline for compliance, 2015 will be a decisive year for the sifting the capital market operators. While there is ongoing intense lobby for extension of the recapitalisation deadline, it’s almost certain that capital requirements will play decisive roles in the classification of market operators going forward. SEC had in December 2013 announced new minimum capital requirements for all capital market operators, with a compliance deadline of December 31, 2014 and effective take-off on January 1, 2015. Under the new capital requirements, minimum capital base for broker-dealer was increased by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million. Broker, which currently operates with capital base of N40 million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent.

Minimum capital base for dealer increased by 233 per cent from N30 million to N100 million.

Also, issuing houses, which facilitate new issues in the primary market, will now be required to have minimum capital base of N200 million as against the current capital base of N150 million. The capital requirement for underwriter also doubled from N100

million to N200 million. Trustees, rating agencies and portfolio and fund managers had their minimum capital base increased by 650 per cent each from N40 million, N20 million and N20 million to N300 million, N150 million and N150 million respectively.

A Registrar will now have a minimum capital base of N150 million as against the current requirement of N50 million. While the minimum capital base for corporate investment adviser remained unchanged at N5 million, individual investment advisers will have to increase their capital base by 300 per cent from N500,000 to N2 million.

Stockbroking firms under the auspices of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) have already called for a deferment of the deadline. Many wanted the suspension of the recapitalisation altogether.

President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Madubike, said the stockbroking firms have made a case for extension or deferment of the deadline. According to him, the recapitalisation, as it is now, is not in the best interest of the market and should be reviewed. “For me, I believe that whatever we are doing, we are doing it in the interest of the market. So, if whatever you are doing doesn’t seem to be in the interest of the market, you need to restrategise.

What we are asking for is a deferment of the deadline,” Madubuike said.

Many stakeholders feel that the new minimum capital requirements may adversely impact the market penetration and financial inclusion programme.

But the NSE has already indicated it will stick to the December 31 deadline for its reclassification programme for stockbroking firms based on the operating capacity of the firms. The new MOS standards relate to all the three classes of dealing members including broker-dealers, brokers and dealers and address the five broad areas of manpower and equipment; organizational structure and governance; effective processes; global competitiveness; and technology. The Nation had reported that a circular was dispatched to stockbroking firms on the eve of the Yuletide holidays affirming the deadline and outlining the implementation framework for the MOS. Under the MOS, stockbrokers will be reclassified under four categories according to operating capacity in 2015 while other stockbroking firms that fail to meet requirements for any of the four categories will be exited from the market. Also, existing stockbrokers that fail to meet the first three levels of operating standards will be reclassified as sub-brokers, partially recognised operators, and they will lose their membership of the Exchange.

With effect from March 31, 2015, each dealing member of the NSE is required to submit a final MOS compli-

ance level report in the prescribed templates previously provided by the Exchange. Dealing members that do not comply by March 31, 2015 will immediately be suspended from trading until they comply. Also, commencing in April 2015 and until the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2015, the Exchange will conduct thematic reviews and examinations to evaluate each dealing member’s level of compliance with the MOS. Following the thematic reviews and examinations, stockbrokers that are not in compliance with the MOS by the fourth quarter of 2015 will be advised to reclassify from broker-dealer status to a classification with lower MOS requirements. These include splitting the functions and becoming either a broker or dealer or becoming a sub-broker, a quasi operator with no membership of the NSE. Other stockbroking firms that fail to meet any of the four categories will be directed to “exit the market in an orderly manner”. Head, legal and regulation division, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ms Tinuade Awe, said the objective of the minimum operating standards is to transform the operators into more competitive and compliant operators. “We intend to ensure that the broker dealers, brokers and dealers have very robust controls, strong governance framework and sustainable operations that will enable them compete on a global scale for the benefit of the investors and the Nigerian capital market,” Awe said.

NALYSTS’ estimate indicates that not less than 200 stockbroking firms may be affected by both the recapitalisation and the MOS scheme. This may further pressure the delicate overall market situation, which is under extraneous influence of the global crude oil crisis and resultant national monetary and fiscal adjustments.

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Another difficult year Head, Equity Research, FBN Capital Limited, Olubunmi Asaolu, said 2015 could be another difficult year for investors given the global crude oil crisis, a variable that has served as triggered for a chain of reactions, including tight monetary and fiscal policies.

“Given the challenges which the oil price decline is posing, we expect next year to be another relatively difficult year for the equities market, though we don’t expect it to be as bad as this year,” Asaolu, a chartered financial analyst (CFA) said. Nigeria earns more than 70 per cent of its national revenue from crude oil. With a steep decline in global crude oil, by some 40 per cent, rocking the national economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had responded with increase in monetary policy rate (MPR) from 12 per cent to 13 per cent, the first change in three years. It also devalued naira exchange rate to N168 per dollar with a band of +-5.0 per cent, that is, N160-N176. It was previously

•Oscar Onyema at N155 per dollar with a band of +3.0 per cent, that is, N150-N160. Many analysts said they expected the apex bank to further devalue the Naira in the New Year. The increase in interest rate, the devaluation of Naira and expected spike in inflation rate are expected to combine to further constrained corporate earnings in the New Year. This will also be compounded by the unrelenting violence in the Northern region. Already, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2015 growth estimate for Nigeria to five per cent, as against initial 6.9 per cent estimated for 2014.

A worsening macroeconomic outlook, especially with regards to reactive monetary policies, could proof to be fatal for the capital market in 2015.

The Nigerian capital market is dominated by foreign investors, whose initial concerns about the macroeconomic performance had sustained decline all through the second half of 2014. Latest Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) by the NSE showed that foreign investors had taken away more than N101 billion from their portfolio investments in Nigeria by October 2014. The October report indicated that Nigeria recorded a net foreign portfolio deficit of some N101.41 billion over the past 10 months as divestments significantly outpaced investments by foreign investors. The NSE report is generally regarded as a credible gauge of foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria as it coordinates data from nearly all active investment bankers and stockbrokers. Nigeria operates a mono stock exchange, which makes the NSE the sole gateway to the nation’s stock market and the NSE’s benchmark indices, the country indices for Nigeria.

Foreign portfolio outflow was N676.67 billion as against inflow of N575.26 billion during the 10.-month period, representing a net deficit of N101.41 billion. While the ratio of foreign-domestic investors participation fluctuate month-by-month, trading data have established firmly that foreign investors are the largest and most dominant bloc in the Nigerian capital market. In October 2014, foreign investors accounted for 87.5 per cent of total market transactions.

Head, research and investment advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Mr. Sewa Wusu, said anxieties over Nigeria’s macroeconomic and monetary outlook in the light of the declining global oil prices and rising economic risks would combine with political risks to moderate the performance of the market.

Head, financial advisory, GTI Capital Limited, Mr. Kehinde Hassan, said the 2015 general elections hold strong influence on the performance of the market going forward. Both Wusu and Hassan agreed that either way, the politics of 2015 will modulate the market performance. According to the

analysts, a change in government in the February 14 presidential election and renewal of ongoing presidential term will influence the economic direction and investors’ reaction.

ESIDES, the expected cut in banks’ earnings in the New Year could have strong sectoral influence on the market. Banking stocks are the most active stocks and they have influence on the overall market situation. The progressive reduction in Commission on Turnover (COT) will again reduce this charge from N2 per N1,000 in 2014 to N1 per N1,000 in 2015, halving banks’ earnings from this source. Impending capital adequacy ratio (CAR) changes are also expected to impact cost and earnings. Large commercial banks classified as systemically important banks (SIBs) are required to have an additional 100 basis points on the general benchmark of 15 per cent, that is, 16 per cent CAR with effect from April 2015. Nigerian banking industry will be adopting Basel II Capital Accord with effect from October 2015. “The adoption of Basel II essentially means additional capital charge for market and operational risks,” Head of Finance, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr Oyewale Ariyibi said.

There is also the fear that the large exposure of banks to the oil and gas sector may have a pronounced impact on their bottom-line. While Ariyibi allayed the fears of burgeoning non-performing loans, he agreed that the exposures to the sector could impact on margins. “If the fundamentals of the obligors’ businesses do not change, loans do not go bad; however, temporary macroeconomic challenges might impact margins and profitability,” he said.

Asaolu noted that the performance of the market may not be as worse as in the outgoing year. Head, Research and Intelligence, BGL Plc, Mr. Femi Ademola said although the volatile political situation is likely to scare investors away from the market, expectation of strong year end results and attractive corporate actions by listed companies could still lead to positive sentiments for the equity market. He noted that the recent reversal in oil price from below $60 to about $62 per barrel with a one year outlook of about $65 per barrel would also help to stem exchange rate volatility and thus attract portfolio investment to the country, post-election.

“Empirical evidence suggests that Nigerian market usually recover strongly once elections have been settled and the likely policy stance of the new administration established.

Therefore, we are optimistic of a positive outlook for the market in 2015, albeit modest,” Ademola said.

Whichever twist, whichever turn, the New Year is loading, and it will throw up many challenges and opportunities.

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS Nigeria’ll be a better place in four years, says Jonathan

P •Lagosians returning home after Christmas holidays. at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja... yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said Nigera will become a better place in the next four to five ears.

He said that Nigeria was steadily making progress as a result of the policies of his administration.

The President spoke at the Christ Apostolic Church, Garki Area 1, Abuja, where he observed his last Sunday church service for the year.

Even as he expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome its challenges, he said that 2015, which is an election year, will be a tempting one.

The President later yesterday afternoon left Abuja for a private visit to the United Kingdom.

A statement by his Special

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President was accompanied on the trip by some of his principal staff and personal aides.

Jonathan is expected back in Abuja today ahead of official engagements at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, including scheduled audiences with groups from Delta and Lagos states.

Speaking at the church service, Jonathan said: “As a nation, we have not reached where we want to go; definitely not. But we are coming up with a number of policies.

Those who are taking pain to look at what we are doing will agree with us that if we Continued on page 56

Revealed: What Babangida discussed with Jonathan

Asian plane missing with 162 passengers Continued from page 1

Seventeen children, including one infant, are among the passengers, the carrier said.

Seven of the people on board are crew members.

“Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We must stay strong,” AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said on Twitter. He later announced he was travelling to Surabaya, saying most of the passengers are from there.

As news of the missing plane spread, the airline changed the colour of its logo on its social media accounts from red to gray.

The Flight 8501 “was requesting deviation due to en route weather before communication with the aircraft was lost,” the airline said.

From the flight tracking websites, almost the entire flight path appeared to be over the sea.

Bad weather was in evidence in the region at the time, Cable Network News (CNN) meteorologist Derek Van Dam said.

PLANES THAT VANISHED MYSTERIOUSLY •Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, March 8, 2014 •Air France Flight 447, 2009 •Boeing 727-233, registered N844AA, 2003 •B-52 bomber on the moon, 1988 •Varig Brazilian Airlines, January 1979 •Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, 1932 •Lockheed Model 10 Electra 1937 “We still had lines of very heavy thunderstorms” when the plane was flying, Van Dam said. “But keep in mind, turbulence doesn’t necessarily bring down airplanes,” he added.

CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo questioned whether weather would have been a factor in what happened to the plane.

“Ordinarily, the pilots would get the updated weather from air traffic control and, of course, their onboard radar,” said Schiavo, a former Inspector-General for the United States (US) Department of

Transportation. “So whether there was (bad) weather in the area would not be a mystery.”

AirAsia is a Malaysia-based airline that is popular in the region as a budget carrier. It has about 100 destinations, with affiliate companies in several Asian countries.

The missing plane is operated by AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate, in which the Malaysian company holds a 48.9 per cent stake, according to its website.

The Malaysian government said it was ready to offer assistance to Indonesian and Singaporean authorities.

“Very sad to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing,” Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Twitter. “My thoughts are with the families.”

The loss of contact with the AirAsia plane came 10 months after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which dropped off radar over Southeast Asia on March 8 with 239 people on board.

The Malaysian Airlines plane, a Boeing 777-200ER, lost contact with air traffic control over the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam.

Searchers have yet to find any debris from Flight 370, which officials believe crashed in the southern Indian Ocean after veering dramatically off course.

US President Barack Obama has been briefed about the missing AirAsia plane, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said, adding that US officials will continue to monitor the situation.

Continued from page 1

“As a former president who fought for the unity of the country, he was of the view that the president needs support as President and not as presidential candidate per se.

“It is his view that the country needs to be united as one before we can begin to talk about election. Only a united Nigeria can guarantee credible election.”

According to the aide, who requested not to be named because he was not permitted to speak to the media, “What Gen. IBB said should be

viewed within the context of the larger Nigeria interest and not that of any parochial interest that is likely to unsettle the system.

“Those of them who fought in the civil war to keep the country one understand the dynamics and challenges facing us now in the face of grave insecurity and poor economic realities,” he said.

Besides, said the aide, those criticising Gen. Babangida should take it easy as he belongs to the PDP “even as a nominal member.

“As a leader and former Continued on page 56

Boko Haram kills 23 in northern HE Boko Haram insurCameroon gents have killed 23

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people and burnt down a village in an attack on Mozogo district in Cameroon’s Far North Region, an official said at the weekend Regional governor Mijiyawa Bakary said: “We are still gathering the facts from our divisional officers, but what we know for now is that the attackers killed at least 23 people. The damage could be more.”

A soldier on the front who did not want to be named told CNN by phone that the insurgents carried out a similar attack along the Waza-Mora highway on Friday, killing a Cameroonian soldier.

The soldier said “a corporal was killed and three soldiers were wounded. The attackers also confiscated a (Toyota) Land Cruiser belonging to the Cameroon military.”

Missing $20b: Buhari demands release of audit report Continued from page 1

and the downtrodden; a system that gives jobs to the unemployed; provides electricity so that the artisans and the middle class can be productive and expands infrastructure to enable the corporate sector reduce cost of operations.

“The details of the roadmap to prosperity has been powerfully articulated in the manifesto of our party, the All Progressives Congress.

We have signed this manifesto to commit ourselves to faithfully execute it as our contract with the people of Nigeria.

“Let us reiterate that we have already declared war against corruption, resolved to achieve food security, provide accelerated power supply, integrate the country’s transport network, promote free education and provide affordable health care service.

“What we bring to the table is not just these ideas.

What we offer Nigerians is that we shall, day and night, 24 hours per day, seven days a week, stake our intergrity as men of discipline and

transparency to make life better for the average Nigerian by executing these policies in the shortest possible time.

“What we bring to the table is an unblemished record of patriotism to our country and an enviable standard of hardwork and fulfillment of pledges that we have not seen in the handling of our national affairs in the last few years.

“In the spirit of the war against corruption, we demand the release of the Audit Report of the Missing 20 billion dollars.

“Clearly unable to oppose us with an equally clean and unassailable ticket, we can understand why our opponents are running from pillar to post, digging graves in search of rumours in the impossible hope of misinforming unsuspecting voters and spinning a web of blackmail and deceit.

“In this electoral contest of vision and moral stature, only the guilty needs to be afraid. Luckily, our lives are like the open book. We challenge our opponents to stake their desire to lead Nigeria again on what they have achieved with the billions of

resources they received. This is not the time for distractions and red herrings. Nigerians are the ultimate judge of stewardship. They will deliver their verdict, loud and clear to the world on February 14, 2015.”

Speaking at a media parley at the weekend, Osinbajo said his party would return the country to the path of progress, if elected next February.

The professor of Law said the APC would not treat the issue of governance with levity and that its leaders will take responsibility and not offer excuses to Nigerians as it is being done today.

According to him, what Nigerians expect from the government is solution to problems and not explanations on why the economy is bad, why they cannot get protection from terror attacks and why commercial kidnapping rages on in some parts of the country.

Osinbajo bared his mind in Lagos at an interactive parley with the media. He said the APC was on a rescue mission as it has drawn up a blueprint on how to revamp the econo-

my and give Nigerians hope.

He blamed the dwindling fortune of Nigerians on the mismanagement of the people’s commonwealth by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he said had run out of ideas on how to get the country on the right track.

Osinbajo also defended Gen. Buhari on his role in the enforcement of a retroactive Decree and the romance with the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in his days as military Head of State.

He described as a wrong notion to link his emergence as Gen. Buhari’s running mate to an imposition by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

According to the eminent lawyer, he emerged after two attempts to arrive at a consensus running mate collapsed.

He told his audience that he was picked by Gen. Buhari and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, with approval of the party’s leadership.

Osinbajo said the problems of the land would have been more than 50 per cent solved

with Gen Buhari in the saddle as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

His words: “It’s going to be the first time that Nigerians will see the Commander-inChief as somebody who will not condone indiscipline and corruption.

“Whatever anybody says about the former Head of State, there is no controversy that he is widely respected for his anti-corruption posture and his penchance for discipline.

“I think what is important is leadership. As it is today, the leadership is unsure of itself. The leadership is uncertain. The Commander-inChief must take responsibility for everything. It is not good enough for the Commander-in-Chief to say my enemy did this, my enemy did that.”

On how the APC plans to make a difference in government, Osinbajo said the mismanagement of resources and not lack had been the bane of the country, even as he disagreed that the size of government was weighing the economy down.

•Gen. Buhari

“The size of government is not accountable for corruption. What is responsible is stealing and mismanagement of public funds,” Osinbajo said, pointing out that the APC will break away from the routine way of running government, which he alleged has never produced the desired result.

He said a Gen. Buhari adContinued on page 56

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

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THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS Kumuyi: God has not written Nigeria off •‘2015 a year of turnaround’

By Joseph Jibueze

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IGERIA is still in God’s plans for liberation from security challenges and economic reversals, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, has said.

He urged citizens not to be like the complaining, critical and murmuring Israelites in the Bible.

They should magnify God’s promises and plans rather than focus on present and past crises, the cleric said.

His words: “God has not written you off. God has not forgotten you. There is a glorious day awaiting you; things will turn around… the bright future is starting today. God has come to visit His people… nothing will stop you onward journey.”

He spoke at the church’s 2014 December National Retreat and Miracle/Revival Programme with the theme: “Lifted up to Higher Ground and Enrichment through God’s visitation.”

Addressing a mammoth crowd, Pastor Kumuyi declared that 2015 is the year of God’s visitation, adding that the Almighty would give His people a cause to celebrate in the New Year.

He said: “God will visit you in the New Year. Everything holding you down, the Lord will break it. You will step into your Promised Land. Things will turn around in your life. It is not what you see yesterday; it is not what you see today; a brighter day is coming.

“The coming days for you will be better than the good old days. The things of the past may be wonderful, the things of today and tomorrow will be more wonderful.”

Pastor Kumuyi urged Christians to prepare for life beyond the immediate, as, according to him, the Lord’s return is imminent. Nigerians, he said, must not seek powers outside the confines of God’s word.

“We do not need to kill ourselves to have worldly and ephemeral powers.

This should moderate our conducts on earth,” he said.

He emphasised that worldly attainments would fade away, while the word of God remains forever.

According to him, Christians and saints must, therefore, constantly feed themselves on the word of God. The cleric stressed that it was pointless to fight for things that would not last beyond 60 to 70 years “when we can strive for the ideal of righteous and unblemished life through the grace of God, and through a life that is wellpleasing to God, to eventually attain a life that has no end, which is as blissful as it is glorious.”

He blessed the people and urged them to be satisfied with God’s goodness and kindness, which he said were more than sufficient to take care of them both here and in the hereafter.

Kumuyi added that God, at all times, must be their pillar of strength and corner stone and abiding refuge for every situation.

The programme also featured seminars under which several topics were considered. The miracle/revival segment featured power ministrations and healings by Pastor Kumuyi.

There were also orchestra and song performances by the church choir.

The programme provided opportunities for people to share their testimonies.

For instance, a woman named Toyin Adeyemi, who had been married for 19 years without a child, climbed the stage to tell her story of how God took away her reproach.

Samuel Olubiyi from Isolo area of Lagos told how he and his wife were blessed with a baby after four consecutive years of miscarriages. He also testified to his divine promotion after seven years of working without recognition.

It was the same for Mr. and Mrs. John Chijioke. After several years of miscarriages, the woman conceived. When she was due to put to bed, all efforts by the medical team for her to have a normal delivery failed. After 13 hours of labour, she was wheeled into the theatre for an operation.

We ’ll ensure violence-free 2015 polls, says APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians and the international community that it will ensure next year’s general election is violence-free.

It said the rising apprehension about the polls among the populace was inimical to the conduct of a successful election.

APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the pledge in a statement yesterday in Lagos.

The statement, however, said the party’s efforts should be complemented by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, which, the APC said, had a propensity for using the security agencies to harass and intimidate the opposition and the citizens.

It added that the Federal Government should take necessary measures to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible, stressing that “rigging and other acts of electoral malfeasance constitute the immediate trigger for anger and violence during and after elections.”

The statement also reads: ‘’We have heard from Nigerians who are so afraid about possible violence during the election that they are even willing to relocate to other countries until after the elections. But, as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria and a major stakeholder in our nation’s democracy, we are assuring, on our part, that there will be no violence. ‘’Though our party has no history of violence, we have commenced a nationwide effort to sensitise our members and supporters to the need to eschew rancour and embrace nonviolent methods, even in the face of the kind of provocations to which we were subjected during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, when our members were needlessly harassed, arrested and detained by partisan security agencies acting under orders from the Federal Government. ‘’If the Federal Government allows a level-playing field for all contestants, if the security agencies stop acting as the armed wing of the

ruling PDP, if the electoral umpire will carry out its duties without fear, favour or bias and if citizens are allowed to exercise their franchise unmolested, the stage will be set for a non-violent, free, fair and credible polls. In other words, the government has a major role to play in making the forthcoming polls peaceful. ‘’On our part, in addition to other efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful election, we pledge to accept the result of an election that is not only free, fair, credible and transparent, but one that is also seen to be so. We hope other parties will make a similar pledge.”

The party said it demonstrated during its recent rancour-free and festive national convention in Lagos that elections should be a celebration of democracy, rather than a moment of fear, violence and threat to lives.

It said far from mere rhetoric, it had taken practical steps, as far back as May 2014, to work with the PDP to ensure violence-free polls next year. ‘’Following up on a meeting of rep-

resentatives of both parties in Washington, DC, United States, on April 7-8, 2014, under the auspices of the CSIS Nigeria Election Forum, at which it was agreed that a joint meeting of both parties be convened to discuss and agree on the crucial issue of a Code of Conduct for the campaigns and the elections, we wrote a letter to the PDP suggesting a bipartisan meeting to address the issue. ‘’The PDP agreed to the proposal and suggested that it should be expanded to include the leadership of other political parties in the country.

However, problem with logistics meant that the meeting did not hold. ‘’Even with the little time left for the election to hold, we strongly believe that a meeting of the leadership of the two political parties - the APC and the PDP - will send a powerful message to our compatriots and indeed the international community and douse the tension that is building up ahead of the election,’’ APC said.

•Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) Joe Kennedy Opara (se cond left) speaking during the departure of pigrims from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to Jerusalem...at the weekend. With him from left are: Federal Government’s delegation leader Chief Raginald Amadi; Senator Matthew Nwagu; Senate Leader Senator Ndoma Egba and others.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Shekarau assures of strike-free tertiary institutions

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DUCATION Minister Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has assured Nigerians of his plan to leave behind industrial action-free tertiary institutions nationwide.

Shekarau, who spoke with reporters yesterday in Kano, admitted that there were numerous problems bedevilling the nation’s education.

He explained that on assumption of office, he summoned stakeholders to brainstorm on challenges confronting the nation’s education.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

The minister said at the end of deliberations, the stakeholders agreed not to down tools, but seek ways of tackling the crisis facing the sector, adding that they also resolved that teaching must continue in spite of the challenges.

According to him, the Federal Government set up a committee, saddled with the responsibility to assess the problems in the universi-

ties, at the end of which they discovered that the tertiary institutions need not less than N1.3 trillion, with which to tackle its myriad of problems.

Based on the findings, Shekarau added that President Goodluck Jonathan endorsed the approval of N220 billion, to be disbursed to universities over a period of five years.

This year alone, the minister revealed that each Federal university got N910 million, Federal polytech-

nic (N650 million each) and Federal College of Education received (N550 million each).

Shekarau noted that it was left for the tertiary institutions to decide on what to use the funds disbursed to them.

On TETfund, he lamented that the majority of the universities were yet to come forward to assess the funds, adding that they were yet to begin relevant processes, which he said were vital for assessment of the funds.

Rice import waivers to cost Fed Govt N40 billion

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HE Federal Government’s backward integration plan in the rice industry may cost the nation over N40 billion through indiscriminate granting of waivers and concessions to non-committed investors as well as smuggling of the product unless, The Nation has learnt.

Many of the non-committed investors, who got the import allocation quotas for rice, are trading it to interested stakeholders at between 60 to 80 per cent levy, after obtaining same at 20 per cent.

The development, it was learnt, has cost the Federal Government over N20 billion.

Documents obtained by The Nation showed that investors, who have only submitted expression of interests in the sector without any visible form of investment, might be enjoying waivers amounting to about N20 billion under the exercise.

For instance, allocation of rice im-

By Chikodi Okereocha

port quotas under the new rice policy by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that a move to bridge the supply gap of import-grade rice of 1.5 million metric tonnes was designed to ensure that existing rice millers and new investors receive a preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.

But other importers pay a higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina had in a letter to the Minister of Economy and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the allocation of rice import quotas, noted that the criteria for allocation of quotas under a methodology, which assigns weight to key criteria of self-sufficiency in rice production and milling in Nigeria, include the submission and ap-

proval of a Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP) among others.

Adesina said a supply gap of import-grade rice was determined to be 1.5 million metric tonnes for 2014 while an inter-ministerial committee discussed the methodology for allocation of the import quotas.

“Subsequently, a letter was sent to existing rice millers and new investors to submit a DRPP, and based on their submissions; 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice import quotas were issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.

“The remaining 0.2 million metric tonnes of rice imports will be at the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for other rice importers”, the letter reads in part.

However, documents obtained by The Nation showed that the supply gap estimate is unrealistic when

compared to a total of 2.74 million metric tonnes of imported rice that made its way into the country in 2014 - representing a combination of rice imported into the country and the smuggled commodity from neighbouring West African countries.

In other words, through the indiscriminate granting of waivers, government might have been promoting the activities of rice smugglers.

Hence, the country, according to experts, may continue to lose at least N20 billion to smugglers, while putting the rice policy under serious threat.

Documents also showed that new investors without milling capacity or investments in the country received the highest quota of the allocations to approved rice millers, while actual millers did not receive allocations and in some instances, received very low portion.

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THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS General sues Army for ‘unlawful retirement’

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•People preparing chicken at Kubwa market in Abuja...yesterday.

2015 polls: Lamido warns Clark, El-Rufai, other over threats

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IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has warned Ijaw leader Edwin Clark and Kaduna State All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate Malam Nasiru elRufai to stop heating the polity and threatening next year’s general election.

Lamido gave the warning at the weekend at the formal flag-off of the state Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) campaign for next

From Adamu Amadu, Dutse

year’s general election.

The governor, who expressed concern over the political statements by people like Clark, Mujahiddeen Dakubo-Asari, el-Rufai and others, described their utterances as “serious threat to national unity, democracy and 2015 general elections.”

Lamido also expressed dismay at the manner some politicians were preaching do-or-die election.

He stressed that Nigerians must exercise restraint and put national interest above any individual, regional or group of people’s interest.

He noted that since Nigeria is practicing federalism, every citizen has the right to associate with any political party or group of his choice.

Lamido argued that it would be undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable to intimidate, injure or kill any person because he

or she vote for political party or candidate of his or her own choice.

He urged Nigerians to resist any attempt to intimidate or force them to vote for any candidate or party against their own free will.

At the event, party’s flags were presented to the state governorship candidate, three senatorial candidates, 11 contenders for National Assembly elections and 30 candidates for the House of Assembly.

‘Boko Haram paralysing Northeast’s economy’

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HE Minister for National Planning, Dr. Abubakar, has lamented that activities of the Boko Haram insurgency group have devastated and paralysed the economy of the states and communities in the Northeast.

The minister spoke through the Acting Secretary of the commission, Bassey Akpayung, at a meeting organised with development partners on the security challenges in the zone.

He maintained that the effects of the insurgency were devastating with the local economy being paralysed, lives and property wasted.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

The minister said the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast (PINE) seeks to develop a framework to revitalise the economy of the zone and leverage on the activities of the states and local governments as well as the development partners.

He added that the initiative was expected to come up with a sort of Marshall Plan that would be used to mobilise support for targeted intervention funds.

He called for deepening of interventions in the region and also reiterated the need to work in a better collabora-

tive manner with the stakeholders in the intervention activities.

The minister explained that “the meeting was organised to examine the current situation in the Northeast region and fashion out ways to restrategise and coordinate the efforts aimed at achieving a better result and also to reach more of the internally displaced persons in the region.”

“Insurgency seems to be recurring in this part of the country, but the scope, scale and impact of the current intrusion as well as the dexterity of the perpetrators is out of proportion to any previous one. The current insur-

gency, perpetuated by the Boko Haram sect, was initially traced to the neighbourhood effects of the Arab Spring in the North Africa,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the meeting, representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhassan Nuhu, said about 868,000 people have been displaced by insurgency groups and flood.

Nuhu said the Federal Government, through MEMA, “is providing medical consumables, ambulances, clean water and provision of boreholes for Internally Displaced Persons in various camps.”

Yakasai: it’s risky for Jonathan to visit Chibok

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N elder statesman and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, at the weekend, defended President Goodluck Jonathan for not visiting Chibok after over 200 school girls were abducted by insurgents.

Yakasai argued that it was too risky for Jonathan to visit the town at the time because of insecurity.

The abduction led to uproar worldwide with civil right groups and international community calling on the Federal Government to rescue the girls from their abductors.

Despite the call, Jonathan refused to visit the school where the girls were kidnapped, leading to criticism of

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

his administration.

But Yakasai, in a popular FRCN Radio Hausa Programme: “Hannu da Yawa,” monitored in Kaduna, said soldiers were the right people to be sent to the town and not the President.

He said: “Why I think the President’s decision not to visit the area is not bad, it’s because we were all aware of the deteriorated level of insecurity in that part of the country.

“We all know it’s too risky for the President to visit Chibok at that time. The President is not a soldier; soldiers are the people that should be sent there.

“If I was the President and such an incident occur, the right thing for me to do was to send soldiers. And to be frank, our soldiers are doing their best. We are hearing on radio and reading in newspapers how soldiers were being killed, and yet they are doing their best.

“I don’t know what is happening, the Minister of Defence, Ali Gusau, is a northerner and so also the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police and Chief of Defence Staff.

“If all these people couldn’t address the problem, how could it be easy for the President to do it?

“Don’t forget the suicide bombers are now experts. So,

what will happen if they ambush the President and something bad happens to him? Do you think his people will accept that? Except if people want the country to return to Niger Delta militants’ era,” he said.

On the issue of Boko Haram, Yakasai said to end the crisis, serious measures must be taken.

His words: “Could you imagine today we are talking of female suicide bombers when we all know in history that females are known to be shy and peace-loving. But today, a girl of age 13 was caught with bombs and some others had detonated their bombs, which killed many people in Kano.”

FEDERAL High Court has fixed February 3, 2015 for mention in a suit alleging unlawful retirement of an officer, Brig-Gen. Abdul Qadir Abubakar, from the Nigerian Army.

Brig-Gen. Abubakar sued the Armed Forces Council, Nigerian Army Council, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Ministry of Defence before the court, challenging his retirement from the Nigerian Army without completing the normal mandatory period.

The retired Army officer, in the suit filed on his behalf by a Kaduna-based lawyer, Tajudeen Oladoja, is asking the court to set aside his purported retirement from the Army by the defendants.

He also asked the court to reinstate him back into the service with all his rights and promotion to the rank of a Major-General.

The suit alleged that the defendants, without looking into his appeal, carried out the retirement against Section 178 (2) of the Armed Forces Act, CAP A 20 Laws of the Federa-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

tion, 2004.

Counsel to the plaintiff said a letter from the second defendants dated December 11, 2014, in which the plaintiff was advised to apply for voluntary retirement not later than January 31, 2014, so that the Army Council would not consider him for compulsory retirement, was against justice and fair hearing.

According to the lawyer, while the plaintiff’s appeal was pending for redress and yet to be determined by the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, the second defendant met on April 10, 2014 and approved the plaintiff’s retirement.

In the Writ of Summons, the counsel is urging the court to give an order directing the second defendants to review the Nigerian Army 2011-2013 promotion exercise concerning the plaintiff and to grant him elevation to the rank of Major-General as well as restore his promotion, rights, privileges and statutory career at the age of 54 years.

‘Only Buhari can fix Nigeria’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has been identified as a leader who has the experience, courage and character to fix Nigeria.

The Ekiti State Coordinator of the Buhari Support Organisation, Mr. Babatope Adebulejo, in a statement yesterday, urged Nigerians to vote for the APC presidential flagbearer to save the country from collapse.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government has allegedly bastardised governance and impoverish majority of Nigerians.

Adebulejo said Buhari,

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

during his first stint in power as Military Head of State, tackled corruption and instituted discipline in Nigerian public life.

The group said the APC presidential candidate has the moral fibre to tackle corruption and cleanse the mess in political, economic and social aspects of the Nigerian society.

He warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to succumb to temptation to next year’s general elections, declaring the readiness of the Nigerian electorate to resist subversion of their electoral will.

APC candidate urges review of Fiscal Federalism

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, has called for a review of fiscal federalism.

She said the review became necessary, owing to the reduction of allocations going to the states from the Federation Account, which, she said, has made it difficult for them to pay salaries and honour other commitments.

Dr. Ajayi made the call at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at a news conference, where she unfolded her agenda for the people of Ado-Ekiti and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas that make up her constituency.

She expressed confidence of winning the election despite sharing the same federal constituency of origin with Governor Ayo Fayose, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying “the power of the people is greater than the power in government”.

Dr. Ajayi said the mood

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

among the electorate right now favour the APC as a party that has better manifesto and programmes for the electorate than the PDP. The former Commissioner for Education also pledged to champion the review of the nation’s strategies for job creation and employment in a bid to reduce the security threat posed by a large army of unemployed youths.

She said the weapon of lawmaking should be used to legally institutionalise the percentage of women in the public sector.

The APC candidate said if she is elected as a member of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, she would effect plans to cut down cost of governance and curb corruption.

She said it was called for introduction of social security plans for the aged and the vulnerable in the society.

She promised to ensure that the people of the constituency benefit from the Constituency Project Scheme of the Federal Government.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

7

NEWS More support for Lagos Assembly

Alumni appeal for funding

By Oziegbe Okoeki

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) has promised to support the Assembly to enable it realise its objectives.

LAHASCOM Chairman Wale Mogaji said this at the opening of a three-day retreat for workers in Epe at the weekend.

He said to put the commission on a solid footing, training programmes, workshops and retreat would be organised for workers.

“We will not relent in our efforts to nurture democratic governance and institutions in the state.

“As part of our developmental strategies, we have institutionalised training programmes to ensure our officials can carry on with building the best legislative institution in the country.’’

The Acting Secretary of the National Assembly Service Commission, Olusanya Ajakaye, who was the guest speaker, praised the leadership of the commission for “the great achievements recorded”.

Amosun gets backing

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HE Senator Ibukunle Amosun (SIA) support group in Ijoko, Ogun State, has called for support for the governor’s second term ambition.

The group’s spokesman, Babatunde Tajudeen, said: “Ogun State was created 38 years ago. From inception till date, the state has been governed by 15 military administrators and civilian governors.

“But Governor Amosun‘s administration has achieved phenomenal feats that his predecessors were unable to attain.

“The building of the IjokoAgbado-Akute-Berger Road with several overhead bridges is on-going.

“More of these overhead bridges, six lanes and sometimes eight or 10-lane roads continue to emerge in various parts of our state.

“We envisage that about 20 overhead bridges would dot the landscape of Ogun State.

“Amosun has achieved what we had hitherto been made to believe was impossible.

“Disgruntled politicians are out to destroy his good works because he has refused to do ‘business as usual’.

“I wish to advise every indigene to support our governor so that he can take our dear state to the Promised Land.”

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•Aregbesola (left) receiving the report from the Chairman, Labour Committee on IGR, Francis Adetunji (second right).With them are Adesiyan (left); Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Bayo Adejumo (third right) and others.

‘Osun won’t accept cash for revenue payment’

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HE Osun State government has said it will no longer accept cash for payment of fees, fines, charges and other forms of revenue collection from Thursday.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola said this when members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) submitted a report on alternative sources of revenue for the state.

The governor said arrangements had been concluded to go digital in the collecting of revenues and in stopping acceptance of cash by revenue officials.

Aregbesola said: “I must announce this to all of you that as from Thursday, no revenue official will be al-

•State goes cashless From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

lowed to handle cash again.

“We have decided to go digital in our revenue collection. So, be it school fees, fines, charges, and all other forms of payment to the government, no cash will be collected again.

“The government, at this critical time, must know what accrues to it and not only what is recorded by revenue officials.

“I thank the workers for their sense of responsibility; for their exhibition of the Omoluabi ethos.

“I find it difficult to de-

prive any worker his or her income at the end of each month.

“So, for the workers to express their readiness to tolerate and absorb the delay in salary payment is the highest demonstration of understanding and patriotism.

“That sense of duty, patriotism and extreme sacrifice is appreciated.

“We will study this report very seriously and intimately and come up with our own white paper such that you will appreciate the consideration we shall give to your suggestions.

“Either at the federal or at the state level, where is

it that are workers in this country are being paid as at when due?

“We thought this situation will not last long. That was why we used our strategic reserve to augment salaries for one year.

“All our savings were spent on augmentation of salaries. Our commitment to the welfare of workers is incomparable.”

State NLC Chairman Saka Adesiyan said the workers took the initiative because it was more realistic for them to intervene.

TUC’s Adetunji Oladele, who read the highlight of the proposals, said the labour leaders met 64 agencies to seek their input into the proposal.

Don’t drop Kashamu, Ogun PDP warns

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EMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun East Senatorial district - comprising nine local governments- yesterday warned the party not to drop its candidate, Buruji Kashamu.

They argued that should the party yield to lobbying to substitute Kashamu with a yet-to-be-named candidate, the result would be counterproductive.

They said the PDP should forget their votes, if the “detractor” wishes were carried out.

The people said: “No Buruji Kashamu, no vote for PDP in Ogun East.”

They were responding to a request by the state Chairman, Dayo Bayo, who sought their consent at a political gathering yesterday in

•’I’ll sacrifice my blood’ From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Ijebu-Igbo.

The chairman said: “Some individuals are pressuring and working in Abuja that Kashamu should sacrifice his ticket.

“I don’t see what I can do now after the conclusion of the exercise (primary).

“I want to know your thoughts. Now I have heard you, I have heard what the nine local governments have said.

“I remember in 1987 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo died, Chief Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu wrote in the condolence register that he (Awo) was the best president Nigeria never had.

“I don’t want that to happen to Kashamu, he is our leader and he is the best. I will communicate your decision to the appropriate quarters, he is not stepping down.

“Nobody is perfect, you will see people saying all kinds of things about him, people who can’t come close to him.

“He has not travelled to the United States but people are saying all kinds of falsehood about him and drugs.

We do not have another senatorial candidate for Ogun East save Buruji Kashamu.”

Kashamu, who was at the meeting, said he would “sacrifice” his “blood” for the ticket, warning that any at-

•Kashamu

tempt to rob him would mean defeat for the PDP in Ogun East.

He said if the plans of the detractors succeeded, it would weaken the PDP’s chances in the state.

Two injured in NURTW, RTEAN clash

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•Amosun

HE police in Ondo town, Ondo State, have invited seven members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and their counterparts from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), following a clash between the two unions.

Two members, including the RTEAN Chairman, Okada branch, Lipakala unit, Amadu Jamiu, were injured, in the clash which was said to have occurred at Lipakala junction.

Jamiu, who spoke with reporters at the

•Police summon seven From Damisi Ojo, Akure

emergency ward of the State Specialist hospital, alleged that the attackers, suspected NURTW members, were led by Abdulahi Olawale.

The victim alleged that the attackers stormed the loading park in the area to unleash mayhem on them.

He traced the source of the conflict to the decision to move from NURTW to RTEAN. “We were members of the NURTW,

but we decided to move to RTEAN. We wrote a later to them and accompanied it with an affidavit to support our claims. Since then, they have been threatening us.”

The RTEAN Chairman in Ondo town, Sebeeni Obadun, described the attack as unfortunate. A NURTW chieftain, Henry Ajetomobi, described all allegations levelled against his members as untrue The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Olu-Ojo Ogunmoyole, confirmed the report. He said members of the two unions were invited for questioning.

he National President of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Alumni Association, Babajide Bewaji, has appealed to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is also the university’s Visitor, to help the school.

Bewaji made the appeal in a statement in Ibadan yesterday. He said kudos should be given to Aregbesola, who had showed commitment in the education sector.

The statement reads:” it is obvious that there is dwindling allocation of resources from the centre to the states which has stagnated the financial strength due to sharp and sudden fall in oil price in the international community.

“Government intervention at this stage is very critical to avoid and avert a lingering crisis among various unions on campus, which could result in making the students vulnerable and exposed to the inherent danger in the coming election where they become tools in the hands of desperate politicians.”

Ajimobi gives N300m to traders From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has distributed N300 million to 6,000 traders and artisans under the Oyo State government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Micro, Small and Medium entrepreneur development fund scheme.

The governor made the distribution at the capacity-filled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The governor, who presented N50,000 cheque to each of the beneficiaries, said the government made the loan interest-free as it would be responsible for the payment of nine per cent interest rate to CBN. Ajimobi, who was assisted by the Head of Service, Soji Eniade, said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise to the traders and artisans that his government would positively touch the lives of everyone.

He assured that the traders would make life better for them, urging them, therefore, to keep on supporting his administration so that dividends of democracy could get to all parts of the state.

The governor urged the beneficiaries to use the loan judiciously for others to benefit.

The CBN controller, Southwest, Misbau Olatinwo, said the bank had put in place a body to monitor the utilisation of the fund by the beneficiaries.

The Babaloja, Dauda Oladapo and the Iyaloja, Labake Lawal, lauded the government’s gesture.

The benefiting associations are: Ibadan Joint Traders’ Association; State Market Men And Women Association; Nigeria Youth Traders Association; National Traders And Market Leaders Council; Oyo State Canteen Food Sellers And Artisan Association of Nigeria.

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS

APC to Fayose: you are callous

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of callousness.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party described Fayose’s refusal to pay workers’ September salary as “wicked, callous and insensitive”.

The APC spokesman said records would show the debt profile of the state during former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administra-

•Pay Sept salary, says party From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

tion, adding that the people’s experience during Christmas would show who was lying between the two leaders.

The party said since federal allocations are paid in arrears, it was incumbent upon Fayose to pay September salary with September federal allocation that he collected in October after

Fayemi had left.

“It was Fayose as governor-elect who went to harass the banks that had overdraft arrangement with the Fayemi administration to stop granting such facilities even though it is the same facility Fayose is using to pay salaries.

“We wish to remind Governor Fayose that even if it was Fayemi who did not pay September salary, government is a continuum

and whoever assumes office inherits both assets and liabilities.

“It is, therefore, a misnomer for the governor to declare in a heartless manner on state radio and television that Ekiti workers should forget September salary.”

He explained that Fayose’s declaration had confirmed speculations and fears that he had misapplied the September salary amounting to over N1. 5 billion.

Olatunbosun added: “If he paid December salary with November allocation that he received in December, what stopped him from paying September salary with September allocation that he received in October?

“Why skipping September salary only to pay October salary with September’s allocation?

“What is he planning to do with the one month salary that is outstanding now and which allocation he had already collected?”

•Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mohammed Sidi (left); Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Senator Bala Mohammed (second left) when they visited victims of last week’s bomb blast in Bauchi at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital .

PHOTO: NAN

‘Beware of prophets of doom’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has warned Lagosians to be wary of attention – seeking prophets and their patronising prophecies of doom.

Reacting to a prediction by Primate Theophilus Olabayo of the Evangelical Church of Yahweh, Maryland, Lagos that APC would lose the governorship election in the state, APC’s Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe said the cleric was only aiming at regaining public relevance.

He said Olabayo’s prediction never came to the party as a surprise, following his antecedents of failed predictions in the past.

Igbokwe said the cleric was only trying to use APC to bounce back to relevance, having suffered physical, financial and spiritual setback years ago.

“Is it not the same man who predicted years back that George W. Bush would defeat Bill Clinton only to publicly apologise that he saw Clinton and not Bush, after Clinton became the president?

“In 1991, the ‘man of God’ predicted the imminent death of a very prominent Nigerian who threatened to sue him for the fake prophesies. The man is still alive and kicking at over 80 years. Are these not enough to make the self-acclaimed Nostradamus cover his face?

The APC spokesman advised the ‘cleric’ to heed the word of the Bible, which says “Healer, heal thyself”.

He said just as his past predictions had gone into the bin, this one will not be fulfilled.

Alakija is richest black woman

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IL tycoon Folorunsho Alakija is now the richest black woman in the world with an estimated fortune of $7.3 billion.

The 62-year-old mother of four displaced Oprah Winfrey as the richest black woman in the world.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.9 billion.

Africa boasts 55 billionaires and they are worth a staggering $143.88 billion, according to pan-African magazine Ventures Africa.

Alakija started her career as

a secretary in a bank in the mid 1970s and then studied fashion in London before returning to Nigeria to start a label, Supreme Stitches. But her biggest break came in oil.

In 1993, her company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil prospecting licence, which later became OML 127, one of Nigeria’s most prolific oil blocks.

The company owns a 60 per cent stake in the block, valued at about $7.3 billion, Ventures Africa reports.

Onijoko stool: Police arrest nine •Recover arms in monarchs’ palaces From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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INE persons have been arrested by the police in Ogun State, following their alleged involvement in the chieftaincy crisis that led to the burning of a palace and two buildings in Ijoko-Otta town. Over a dozen residents were injured in the crisis.

There has been a leadership tussle in the area between Oba Fatai Matanmi and Oba Lasisi Ogunseye. Violence erupted in Ijoko-Otta when hoodlums suspected to be acting on behalf of the feuding monarchs went on the rampage.

The suspects were picked up when the police stormed Matanmi’s and Ogunseye’s palaces in a raid coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Egberebi Egbuson.

A dozen single barreled guns, two pump action rifles, 191 cartridges, two cutlasses, axes, charms and masquerade’s regalia were recovered from Matanmi’s palace; the butt of a single barrelled gun was found in Ogunseye’s palace.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Ogunseye had been “indicted by some suspects, who were arrested in a case of shooting and injuring” at a filing station in Agbado on Boxing Day. The monarchs have been invited to appear to the Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, for “interrogation and investigation” in connection with the violence in their domains.

He said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

Eight Ogun Assembly members to dump PDP

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IGHT Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Ogun State House of Assembly are set to leave the party, following the controversies trailing its primaries.

The eight lawmakers were said to have decided to leave the party for “greener pastures” after the party released a list as its authentic list for the election.

One of the aggrieved lawmakers, who pleaded for anonymity, wondered why the National Working Committee (NWC) would ‘hand over the fate of aspirants to one man’.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The lawmaker said: “They called off the primaries on the pretext that the national body would meet and communicate to the aspirants the way forward.

“We were still expecting this to be done when they said three leaders of the party - a former Minister of Industries, Chief Jubril Martins Kuye; former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Chairman, Membership and Mobilisation Committee in the Southwest Buruji Kashamu – were asked to meet in Abuja to draw up a

list of candidates at all levels.

“From the list they had submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only Kashamu drew up the list.

The state Chairman, Bayo Dayo, relied on Kashamu’s wide connections in Abuja to conduct the governorship primary on December 8, despite a directive from the NWC, stopping the primary.

“But from what had transpired, the national body, which said it would not recognise the governorship primary, where only three aspirants contested and nine boycotted,

has accepted the result because Gboyega Isiaka is Kashamu’s candidate. Other names follow the same pattern, coming from one person.

“That is not the beauty of democracy. They should have allowed us to contest against one another and allow the delegates to choose who they want, not asking one man to handpick his acolytes to stand for election.

“So, if we are not needed in the PDP, the exit door is still open; eight of us in the House of Assembly have decided to move to another party where we are needed.”

APC, PDP, SDP, Accord in war of words over Oyo

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AJOR political parties in Oyo State have started a “war of words” over who wins the governorship election next year.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord and Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday explained reasons their confidence of routing others in the February election.

APC Chairman Akin Oke said the coast was clear for the “so-called jinx to be broken” (referring to inability of previous governors to win a second term).

Oke hailed the emergence of four other candidates - Rashidi Ladoja (Accord), Adebayo

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Alao-Akala (Labour), Teslim Folarin (PDP) and Seyi Makinde (SDP).

He described it as good for Oyo State and part of the beauty of democracy.

Oke expressed confidence that the people would vote for continuity of the good works being done by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He said other candidates are from the PDP, stressing that voters know their pedigree and cannot be deceived.

The APC chairman said within the three and a half years that Oyo people have tasted the APC, they would not go back to the dark days again.

Folarin’s spokesman Victor

‘Oyo people have tasted the APC, they would not go back to the dark days again’ Oluwadamilare said the people desire a generational change of leaders into which Folarin fits.

According to him, Ajimobi has tried his best, but his best is not good enough for the state. He said Ladoja, who he described as a fantastic man, is too old for the dynamics of governance and that AlaoAkala has offered his best,

which was inadequate.

Ladoja sees no candidate who can beat him in the election, based on his popularity and swollen number of Accord supporters.

Accord’s spokesman Nureni Adeniran said: “The bulk of Ibadan votes will go to Ladoja. Ajimobi is the only strong contender in Ibadan but people are tired of him.

Once Ajimobi is out, Ladoja is coming in. He clearly ranks number one. We are optimistic that Ladoja will coast to victory.”

Makinde said he is the fresh blood which the people want, stressing that all other candidates have shown what they can do, which has not improved the lot of the state.

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THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS Bankole, supporters may dump PDP From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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GGRIEVED members of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have threatened to dump the party. Their threat followed their ‘displeasure with the list of candidates’ submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the national and states Assemblies elections slated for February 14 and 28 next year.

It was gathered that the aggrieved members, particularly former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole and his group are tidying up their plans to move to other political parties. Among the parties being considered are the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the resuscitated Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party(LP).

In the last three weeks, there have been confusion and uncertainty over the party’s governorship candidate as well as the national and state Assemblies’ candidates.

Bankole from Ogun Central and former Managing Director of the Gateway Holdings under the Otunba Gbenga Dàniel-led administration, Prince Gboyega Isiaka from Ogun West are battling for the party’s sole ticket.

In a controversial primary conducted on December 8, by the Dayo Bayo-led executive committee, Isiàka emerged winner, scoring 705 votes to defeat other contestants, including a former House of Representatives member, Kayode Amusan. Bankole and his faction boycotted the exercise, citing directive from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP as reason for their action.

There were indications that the PDP leadership would respect the outcome of the congresses in line with court pronouncement to that effect.

PZ Cussons’ campaign hits streets

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HE management of PZ Cussons has begun a regional consumer engagement campaign of Canoe detergent brand, tagged: “Alive with Colour Campaign”.

It is meant to promote the uniqueness of the brand and demonstrate how it washes clothing clean, while preserving the colours.

The Head of Fabric Care, PZ Cussons Africa, Roy C. Ekekwe, speaking at the weekend at the activation of the product at the Ikeja Mall, Lagos, said the purpose of the brand was to enable consumers live a colourful life.

“The brand is there to resolve the tension our consumers deal with each time they wash and clean their coloured fabrics.”

The Brand Manager, Canoe Detergent, Gloria Jacobs, said: “Colours are at the heart of what Canoe stands for.”

She said the brand enjoyed quality advantage over other brands in the market, being the only Nigerian colour care detergent formulated to clean and care for coloured clothes. “Its mild formulation, with soap flakes and Aloe Vera tipping, make this possible. Canoe detergent has enjoyed patronage from consumers.”

Father ‘kills’ son in Ebonyi A

45-year-old man, Mr. Nwofu Igbo, at the weekend allegedly killed his 16-year-old son.

The incident occurred at Nwofee community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The victim, who lived in Lagos State, returned to his village to celebrate Christmas with his family.

A source alleged that

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Nwofu killed his son.

According to him, a quarrel had ensued between him and the deceased’s mother, which led to her being driven out of the matrimonial home.

The source said the suspect later married another wife, who bore him five children.

He reportedly took possession of all that belonged to

the deceased’s mother.

The Nation learnt that the victim, who had been living with his mother and siblings, returned to his father’s home to reconcile his estranged parents.

“When the deceased greeted his father and asked him where he could put his luggage, Nwofu was hostile to him. The deceased left and spent the night in the home

of one of his friends.

“When he returned the next day to apologise and reconcile his parents, Nwofu grudgingly showed him a room where he could stay. As he was changing his clothes, he sneaked in and hit him in the head with a big iron and he died. The suspect then dumped his son’s body on the road,” the source said.

He said when the villagers

found the body, Nwofu did not own up. But one of his sons, the deceased’s half brother, told them and the police that he saw the father hit the victim with an iron before he dumped his body on the road.

Police Commissioner Maigari Dikko confirmed the incident.

He said it was being investigated.

Umana:We must work for change in Akwa Ibom

By Seun Akioye

The founder of Ikeoha Foundation and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu acknowledging cheers from the PHOTO: OBI CLETUS widows during the distribution of Christmas gifts in Enugu

Minister: Kashimbila Dam’ll add 40mw to national grid

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HE Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam will add 40 megawatts to the national grid, Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo has said.

He noted that the power generated from the dam would serve Taraba, Benue and Plateau states.

Nebo said the hydro power components of the dam and turbines were in place for power generation.

He spoke to reporters at Kashimbila in Tarko Local Government Area of Taraba

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

State during a tour of the dam.

Nebo was accompanied by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and her Culture, Tourism and National Orientation counterpart, Mr. Edem Duke.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan had approved a contract, which would put in place transmis-

sion sub stations and lines.

Nebo said: “Just because of this hydro power plant, the transmission infrastructure that will be put in place will strengthen Taraba State, moving to Benue State and Plateau State so that we will have a reliable electricity grid in this part of the country.

“For now, that is what it has been designed for. Remember that the initial plan was 10 megawatts. Then it

went up to 20, to 30 and to 40. So it is maximisation of our available resources. I will say for now, 40 megawatts is ample for the volume of water that flows in this area.

“So, evacuation is not going to be a problem. This is why we want to make sure that immediately the hydro power is ready with the transmission on course, it will not take much to do it.

There will be no stranded power here at all.”

Otti decries billboards’ destruction in Aba

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HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has condemned the destruction of his billboards in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, by suspected hoodlums.

Otti, who spoke to reporters through the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Chief Ahamdi Nweke, after a tour of the city to assess the damage, described the action as criminal and counterproductive.

Nweke, who described Otti as the man the indigenes were expecting to develop the state, alleged that the attack was carried out by those afraid of his acceptance.

He said: “The Alex Otti Campaign Organisation

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

erected billboards everywhere in the town, but as you can see, the opposition have destroyed them.

“They do this because the state wants a change. Because Aba people have through their actions made it clear that they want a change.

They believe they can stop the change by destroying the billboards of the man, who is going to bring about the change.”

The director-general, berating the perpetrators, said: “What we expect from those who destroyed the billboards is to campaign as Otti is doing, rather than engage in barbarism and vandalism.

“What we expect the

opposition to do is to campaign as we are doing.

We are going door to door, market to market, shop to shop, speaking to people on the change we must have in Abia. We have been in this mess for years and people think we must have a credible leader like Dr. Otti, the governorship candidate of APGA. “It is shameful and unfortunate that people have resorted to vandalism and thuggery.

“A huge amount was spent on the billboards. But they have been destroyed by people who ought to have erected their own.”

Nweke accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of carrying out the act “because the party’s billboards were not touched.”

He alleged: “It is not difficult to know where these destructions came from, because the few billboards PDP has in the town were not touched.

Although what it has in most places are banners.

“We will not attack PDP because it is not in existence in the state. You will remember that before the state congresses, Abia PDP was dissolved, the local government executives were dissolved, the ward executives were dissolved. So, there is no PDP in the state.

This is why APGA has taken the centre stage and everyone is supporting the party.”

The director-general urged APGA’s supporters to remain calm, saying Otti was a decent man, who would not be involved in violence.

THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has thanked the people for their support and steadfast love in the face of mounting obstacles.

In a Christmas and New Year message , the APC candidate urged the people to choose a new direction for peace and prosperity of all Akwa Ibom people in next year’s election.

“As we enter the New Year for the decisive phase of the campaign to take back our state and implement the change that we dearly need, I feel a call of duty to remind you all the choice before us is crystal clear,” he said.

The governorship candidate said the choice is between a new direction that leads to prosperity for all and a continuation of the regime of “unspeakable affluence for a tiny, privileged few.”

Umana said: “ The choice is between party and candidates who offer love, mutual respect, peace, unity and brotherhood on the one hand and those who have chosen the path of division, impunity, contempt for others and domination of all by one family on the other.

“My dear people, you have to choose between those who boast that they have the right to appoint a governor for you and those who believe that the power to choose a governor belongs to the good people of the state.”

He said the change his party, the APC promises is “in your right to choose your leaders; we believe in your right to the wealth of Akwa Ibom State, your right to be free from poverty. This is the change we promise you,” Umana said.

PPA dissolves Ebonyi Exco •Over anti-party activities From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) has dissolved its Ebonyi State Executive Committee (exco).

It said its action followed insubordination and anti-party activities.

The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Peter Ameh, in a statement in Abuja said the decision was taken at the NWC meeting on December 19.

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

CITYBEATS How man lost leg, daughter same day •’I’ve accepted my fate, but the pains won’t go’

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SUALLY, on his birthday, his home is a beehive, with family members and friends coming to rejoice with him.

But this December 12 was different. Kaseem Ayinla, 64, was not in a celebration mood because of his condition.

He looked at his amputated right leg on his wheel chair in front of his Ogunlesi Street, Palmgrove, Lagos home and shook his head. A few sympathisers, mostly his tenants, watched as he struggled to suppress his emotion. Breaking his silence after a deep sigh, he cleared his throat, saying: “Alhamdu-lillahi (To Allah be the glory).

“I can’t but accept my fate, but I don’t know what I have done to deserve this; and the pains have refused to go,” he said.

Ayinla, popularly addressed as Oluaye by admirers, is the younger brother of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubril Ayinla.

How did it happen? He recalled that it happened shortly after last year’s Eid-il-Kabir celebration. Ayinla said his first daughter, Bidemi, who was on admission at a Lagos hospital, died from shock minutes after his leg was amputated at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHI) in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

He said: “Everyone around me knows that sickness is alien to me. The day this trouble began, it was like a bad dream.

About 5pm, I took a stroll to a friend’s shop just a stone’s throw to my home to take a bottle of drink. Before settling down there, I headed for the toilet to ease myself. To my dismay, my legs suddenly went stiff and lifeless. I could not move the legs. All I could ask myself was: ‘what is this?’ I had to wait for whoever would come there to urinate. Not quite five minutes later, a man came around and I pleaded with him to assist me. He was the one that promptly alerted others who came to carry me home.”

•Representatives of the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Ayodele Antonio (right) and Council Manager of Coker Aguda Local Council Development Area Mr Onala Ige jointly presenting Eko Gas cylinder to the Chief Imam of Orile Iganmu Alhaji R. O. Olaoye at the distribution of the free gas to the people of the LCDA.

SpiritOfLagos fetes the needy

By Basirat Braimah

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By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

After sometime, he regained the use of his left leg, but the right “unbearable pains.” “It was as if the bones in the leg were being smashed by an invisible hammer,” he said.

From then, he became a regular caller at the NOHI, the Navy Hospital and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja in his search hospitals for treatment.

NOHI eventually became his second home. “I spent weeks there; I lost count of how many patients gave up the ghost while I was there, which is why I feel I have cause to thank Allah for this gift of life. Before I was rushed there, I was sitting in front of my house when strangely, my right foot dropped off. As one of my children was packing it inside a poly bag, maggots were dropping from the rotting portion.

Like everyone around me, I was alarmed. So, my journey to Igbobi (NOHI) began,” he said.

He went on: “If I had thought that I had a brother in Vice Admiral (Jubril), I knew better that I have a father in him. He is a rare one that any family would pray fervently to have.

When he was not with me at my sickbed, he is on phone asking for my condition. He made sure I lacked nothing throughout my dark moments. Ah …… (Virtually lost in spontaneous effusive prayers). He rushed in from abroad, met with the doctors around and dropped more than the money I would need pending when he would return. He did not leave without assuring me that Allah was with me.”

Ayinla said his doctor cracked jokes with him to get his back off the surgery.

“I was made to fix my gaze on a moving object on an electronic board in my front after giving me some injections minutes earlier. I only got to know that I had lost my right leg some minutes later when the pains began. It was traumatic,” Kazeem said.

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

•Ayinla...last week

While he was awaiting surgery, the late Bidemi was in pains in another hospital. A relation, who got wind of her father’s predicament, broke the news of his amputated leg to her during a visit her.

“Hearing that his father’s leg had been amputated, Bidemi was said to have screamed on her sickbed and that was how she died instantly. But the news of her death was not broken to me until later on my birthday – December 12, last year,” Kazeem said, explaining: “I was at home here when my brother (Jubril) came with all sorts of gifts as it was my birthday.

Some of my children and relations were around too. Shortly after settling down, my broth-

er moved closer and held me by my shoulder. I was moved by the display of brotherly love. He reminded me that I was no longer a kid and that at my age and life experience, nothing should move me badly. So, he dropped the bombshell: ‘Take heart and be a man; Bidemi is no more!’ I was shattered. I wept like a baby. It was a day I would never forget in my life.”

AVM Ayinla then got him a wheel-chair to aid his movements in his compound. Not long after, the ex-naval officer returned from abroad with a motorized wheel-chair which, according to Kazeem, costs between N1.5million and N2million. With the wheelchair, he can visit friends in the neighbourhood with ease.

Weeks after, another a medical test revealed that the problem in his amputated right leg was about affecting the other.

Then, he had to undergo another surgery on his stomach.

Pulling off his shirt to show the reporter the affected part of his stomach, Kazeem said: “You can see the stitched portion. It was done in Abuja. My brother flew in experts from abroad to do it. It cost him about N5million. You can only join me in daily prayers for him (Jubril); he is my human saviour. Even after the surgeries, he has been taking adequate care of my upkeep and that of his other siblings among others in and outside the family.”

On Saturday, the reporter saw him cruising around in his motorised wheel-chair. He was in a flowing agbada with cap to match. He told the reporter: “What has happened has happened; we have to move on with Allah behind us.”

After a exchange of pleasantries, he rode off, beaming with smiles.

OR their support for the “Good Neighbourliness” arm of the SpiritOfLagos, Lagosians have received the thumbs up.

SpiritOfLagos Project Director Olaniyi Omotoso championed “Good Neighbourliness” to encourage Lagosians to show love to one another by donating items to the Gbagada-based Child Life Line, a non-profit, charitable association committed to supporting the needy.

Omotoso praised those who donated items, such as, perishable food items, educational materials, clothes and sporting gears, saying their response, was encouraging and showed that the SpiritOfGood neighbourliness truly resides in Lagos.

He said: “We are overwhelmed by what we are seeing today. Even with a short notice, Lagosians have expressed love even to these young children who are products of circumstances beyond them. Good neighbourliness is one of the four pillars that the SpiritOfLagos stands on. It is through good neighbourliness that our community can truly develop. And with the donation of these items today, these vulnerable children in Child Life Line will from today begin to enjoy a new lease of life”.

The SpiritOfLagos, he said, would continue to support the Child Life Line as it seeks to empower children, mostly between ages 10 and 18, through formal and vocational education and reconnect them with their families.

In the spirit of the Yuletide, members of the SpiritOfLagos also had a Christmas party for the children.

Mrs. Sally Udoma, President, Child Life Line, thanked members of SpiritOfLagos for championing “a worthy cause”, urging the organisation to continue to support the group to make its vision a reality.

Child Life Line, according to her, had been able to reunite some children with their families in the last 20 years. Some of the children, she said, had been nurtured to be self reliant, self supporting and independent through the provision of formal and informal education.

•Omotoso

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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NEWS

10 killed in Kaduna post-Christmas celebration

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UNMEN on Saturday night killed 10 persons at a post-Christmas celebration in Kaduna State, it was learnt yesterday.

A resident, Pastor Mike Maikarfi, told our reporter that the gunmen attacked the residents of Tattaura village in Sanga Local Government Area and ran away.

The attackers also reportedly injured four persons.

The injured were taken to a hospital in Akwanga,

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Nasarawa State, which is closer than Kafanchan in Kaduna State.

Maikarfi said: “Tattaura community was attacked yesterday night (Saturday), leaving 10 people dead and four others severely injured. The attack took place at 10.12pm while Christmas celebration was going on in the community.

“Tattaura is a community

in Ancha District of Ninzo Chiefdom. The village is two kilometres East of Gwantu, the local government’s headquarters. The attack took place in a shop where some men were relaxing.

“Tattaura celebrated their Christmas yesterday night (Saturday) with dances by youths, children and adults.”

The eyewitness said those killed are: Joel Ambo, Yakubu Ambi, Yamu Idzi, Anche Ishaku, Misalai Ngbo, Ishaya

Anche, Monday Samson, Joel Anzah, Jonathan Anche and a young man, popularly called P–Square.

At the time of filing this report last night, arrangements to hold a mass burial for the deceased was said to be on.

Sympathisers and relations were seen trooping to the village over the attack.

The Kaduna State Police Command and Kaduna State Government had not reacted to the attacks at the time of filing this report.

Police spokesman, Aminu Lawan, a Superintendent (S), could not be reached for comment.

Several calls to his mobile did not go through.

Electrocution: Court orders PHCN to pay N25m

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KATSINA-Ala High Court judge in Benue State, Justice Tersea Kume, has ordered the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc to jointly pay N25 million damages to the family of a man, Akpenwuan Chia, who was electrocuted by high tension electricity cable in Ukum Local Government Area in August, last year.

Delivering judgement in a suit filed by Edward Ikyoive, counsel to the elder brother of the victim,

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Mr Aondo Chia, Justice Kume also ordered that the defendant to pay interest of 10 per cent monthly until the judgement sum is liquidated.

The plaintiff sued the defendants, claiming N1 billion as general damages for negligence, which caused the electrocution of his younger brother.

Justice Kume said he relied on the evidence of the plaintiff that it was due to negligence by officials of PHCN, who failed to re-

move the high tension cable, which electrocuted the victim about 8.20pm on the fateful day when he was returning from the compound of a chief to his home.

The judge said it was the careless conduct of PHCN officials that caused the death of the 40 years old man.

She averred that if the high tension cable, which was suspended mid air across the road, had been quickly removed after the report was made to PHCN, the incident would have

been averted.

Justice Kume urged officials of PHCN to ensure quick attention to some of its damaged cables, especially where reports had been made by its customers, to avoid such ugly incidents.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Edward Ikyoive, described the judgment as “sound”.

The lawyer said though no amount could compensate for the value of life, the money would support the children and wife of the deceased.

Borno PDP stakeholders oppose substitution of Lawan’s name C

ONCERNED elders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State have kicked against the substitution of Alhaji Gambo Lawan as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 election.

Lawan, a former Chairman of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) and exChairman of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, won the party’s governorship ticket at a primary in Abuja supervised by President Goodluck Jonathan.

This followed the President’s intervention to resolve the lingering disagreement over the party’s governorship ticket in the state.

The former GDM chairman and founding leader of the PDP in the state was affirmed by the party’s delegates and a Certificate of Return was issued to him after the election.

In attendance during the primary were: Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, PDP’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Borno State PDP Chairman, Minister of State for Power Muhammed Wakil, BOT members and other stakeholders from the state.

But on the eve of the submission of all the parties’ governorship flag bearers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Lawan’s name was substituted by the PDP National Chairman with that of Mohammed Imam, a nominee of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

In an open letter to President Jonathan on December 26, the PDP stakeholders called for a reversal of the substitution in the interest of justice and fair play.

The petition was signed by

Aminu Yakudima, Ibrahim Abatcha and Salisu Aliyu.

On the process that produced Lawan, they said: “The process and composition of the people present is first of its kind in the history of our great party, which Your Excellency described as the Supreme Court of the party whose decision is final. You may wish to recall further

that Lawan, having emerged from the old PDP as the candidate, you directed the new entrants to the party to nominate the candidate for the deputy governor.

“It is disheartening to note that 14 days after the nomination and affirmation of Lawan as the candidate, he was wrongly and illegally substituted with Imam on the

eve of the closure for the submission of the governorship nominees to INEC. “We want to believe that Your Excellency is unaware of this ugly and sad development, particularly in a nomination process of this magnitude that was conducted by the highest office of the federation. In this regard and in the best interest of the party, we call for the immediate reversal of the decision to substitute Lawan.

Gombe post-election victims to get compensation

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HE Gombe State Government will soon compensate victims of the 2011 post-election violence victims, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has said.

The governor spoke on Saturday at the annual cultural festival of the Tangale and the Kaltungo people at Billiri and Kaltungo local government areas.

He said: "I have been assured, In shaa Allah, that in January or February, the victims would be supported and paid their entitlements that

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

have been computed.

"I want to assure our retirees for state and local governments that we have almost finished clearing that of the state's backlog, which we inherited from 2008. We have started settling the share of gratuity of local governments.

"But the most important thing is that no retiree in Gombe State is not paid pension. All retirees are on pension payroll and are paid monthly."

I’m not running for poll, says Danladi

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ARABA State Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi at the weekend said he will not contest any election in 2015.

Danladi addressed reporters in Jalingo, the state capital, at a Christmas dinner in his house.

There were speculations that Danladi would dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the governorship election in an opposition party.

But the acting governor dispelled the rumour.

He said: “I shall remain loyal to my boss, Governor

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Danbaba Suntai. God upholds loyalty.

“I am not going to contest any election. People should stop panicking. Everybody should come and work with me, even those who plotted my impeachment shouldn’t fear.

“I wouldn’t regret what happened because I know it was designed by God. God designed that I would be deputy governor for some time, out for another period and back to office for the remaining period of the administration.

Kogi courts discharge 7,850 cases in 2013/2014

C

OURTS under the Kogi State Judicial Service successfully handled 7,850 cases during the 2013/2014 legal year, it has been learnt.

It was also learnt that 5,663 others were outstanding.

The Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, spoke at the maiden Kogi State Chief Judge’s Annual Awards, which held at the State High Court Complex in Lokoja, the state capital.

•From left: Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo; Mai of Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Mohammed and Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, at the 2014 Kaltungo Cultural Festival at Kaltungo, Gombe State... on Saturday.

PHOTO: NAN

From James Azania, Lokoja

Justice Ajanah hailed the Judiciary for exceptional performance during the outgoing legal year, adding that it would fast-track the administration of justice in the state.

Suswam, others for Benue youth carnival From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

B

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam, commissioners and prominent residents are among eminent people expected at this year’s Benue Youth Cultural Carnival procession.

The procession will start from the Benue State University’s (BSU’s) second campus and move through major streets. It will terminate at the IBB Square in Makurdi, the state capital.

Thje Benue Youth Cultural Carnival is the biggest youth fiesta in the North and it is an annual cultural show held throughout December.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Students and Youths Affairs, Comrade Terfa Akume, told our reporter that this year’s carnival procession would include cultural activities, such as masquerade display, beauty pageant, puppet show, traditional music and folks tales.

Kwara PDP unveils Ajibola as governorship candidate

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HE Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend presented Senator Simeon Ajibola as its governorship candidate.

The primary that led to his emergence early in the month was dogged with controversy.

But PDP State Chairman Iyiola Oyedepo said the crisis had been resolved, as he introduced Ajibola to the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

public at a media briefing in Ilorin, the state capital.

Three of the former 10 governorship aspirants of the party - Prof. Shuaib AbdulRaheem, Deacon John Dara and Dele Belgore - attended the event.

The PDP candidate also unveiled Yinka Aluko as his running mate, saying Aluko’s emergence was di-

vine, just like his.

Ajibola, who accepted to run as the PDP governorship flag bearer, said the PDP would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election.

He hailed the aspirants for conceding the position to him, adding that he was not the best among the contestants though his emergence was the wish of God. Ajibola said: “The victory at

the primary is not only for me but for all of us who decided or dared to put ourselves forward for public service in our effort to rescue Kwara.

“I hereby plead with you all to put personal interests aside, respect the decision of the delegates and, above all, remind ourselves of our promises to work together for the success of the party.”

Aluko accepted the position with a promise to be loyal to

Ajibola.

Oyedepo noted that despite the crisis over the outcome of the primary, the party had come out with a candidate who was not imposed.

AbdulRaheem explained that contrary to the speculation that the multiple aspirants would divide the party, the party was more united.

He said the members were satisfied with the process that produced Ajibola.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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NEWS

UPU: Urhobo may vote for Jonathan, if...

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HE apex Urhobo sociocultural group, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), may have tactically relaxed its hard stance about the Uvwiamughe Declaration.

The union, at the weekend said it might support the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

UPU’s leadership had maintained, prior to the primaries of the political parties, that it would direct the over one million Urhobo electorate to vote for any party which gave its governorship ticket to an Urhobo politician.

From Bolaji Ogundele Warri

The union added that the block Urhobo vote would affect all elective positions, including the presidential election in 2015.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not give its governorship ticket to an Urhobo aspirant, although two other parties - the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) elected Urhobo candidates in their primaries for the governorship office.

But in a recent interview, UPU’s President-General Joe

Omene said the organisation would not rush to a conclusion on who, among the presidential candidates, to vote for.

He said the PDP governorship primaries might have been sabotaged to discredit Jonathan.

The Urhobo leader stressed that the UPU would not just support any opposition party or President Jonathan for that matter.

He said the union would first discuss with the candidates, peruse their plans for Urhobo before it would decide who to vote for next year.

Omene said: “You see, in any system, there can be saboteurs. Maybe some overzealous people, who could be so close to the President, can frustrate his effort. I don’t think that the President himself will want to make sure the Urhobo suffer.

“Sometimes, your aides can cause problems for you. The PDP is not just a ‘carry-go’ affair. The President should explain or discuss with the Urhobo nation and tell us why certain things happened. Then, we will understand. If the APC or any other party can gave us the gover-

norship ticket, it’s equally your right for you still need to discuss with us. What is going to be our own, if we vote for you?

“We will not just go out blindly and vote. But such people may have a better chance. Mr President and APC presidential candidate and any other presidential candidate will need to discuss with the Urhobo nation first before we can make up our mind. If you don’t talk to us, we will not blindly go out there and throw our ballot papers into your box. It won’t happen.”

Cancer patient escapes from UBTH without paying bill

A

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

Enoyin’s son was detained for allegedly assaulting the security personnel and not because of the woman’s inability to pay her medical bill.

The source said: “The truth of the matter is that they were not detained because the woman escaped but because they beat up our security.

Whenever people behave like this, we usually write up their medical bills. They actually arranged for her to escape because when our security insisted on conducting a search in their house, they resisted.

This led to the fracas.”

On the allegation that the patient was detained for eight weeks, the source added: “If you are on admission, you are expected to pay your bill before you leave. But because she had not done that, she was in the ward. So, it is not as if the police were watching her.

What she would have done was to approach the Medical Social Service, where her matter would be looked into for help. But she decided to run away.”

But other sources at the UBTH said the doctors and nurses responsible for the woman’s treatment would lose their salaries in lieu of her medical bill.

The source said: “It is not unusual to have those responsible for escaped patients being surcharged and punished for dereliction of duty. That is why in most cases, we demand payment from patients before commencing treatment. It is not really our making. Rather, it is the kind of system we find ourselves.

“It is even more painful when you stick out your neck for some patients who were rushed in on emergency.

Some of them escape when they have recovered, on the pretext of trying to buy some items at the gate. It is really unfortunate.”

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

A

KWA Ibom State governorship candidate of Accord Party (A) and its leader in the state, Bishop Samuel Akpan, has promised to end the prevailing hunger among the people, if elected next February.

The Accord candidate spoke on what the people should expect from him, if he wins next year’s election and forms the next government in May, 2015.

•From right: Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku; his wife and senator representing Southern Taraba, Emmanuel Bwacha, at a reception/rally for Ishaku in Takum ...at the weekend.

•Police detain her children for alleged assault CANCER patient, simply identified as Mrs Enoyin, has allegedly run away from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) without paying her medical bill.

Her 15-year old son, Esosa Ukponayusi and his younger sibling, are also being held at the Ugbowo Police Station in Benin, the Edo State capital, for alleged “unruly behaviour and assault” on the whereabouts of their mother.

Authorities of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) accused the children of rudeness to the workers.

Mrs Enoyin, a widow and indigent patient, was receiving treatment at the UBTH. She was reported to have escaped from the hospital, following her inability to pay the balance of her medical bill.

Mrs Enoyin reportedly sold bean cake (akara) to cater for her children.

One of her breasts was cut off to prevent the spread of the cancer.

The poor woman was allegedly detained for eight weeks at the hospital before her escape.

It was learnt that her two children, who had spent the Christmas in detention, had been released.

They were said to have gone to check their mother at the hospital but were shocked to learn that she was no longer there.

The children were alleged to have assaulted UBTH’s security personnel, demanding the whereabouts of their mother.

But a member of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), who spoke in confidence for security reasons, confirmed the incident.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Michael Ibadin, could not be reached for comments.

But the source said Mrs

Accord Party on ‘stomach infrastructure’

PHOTO: FANEN IHYONGO

T

HERE was pandemonium at the weekend in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, following the alleged killing of a man for suspected cult-related activities.

The incident occurred at Obodogba Quarters after rival cult groups clashed over money-sharing.

Okpanam is a suburb of Asaba, the Delta State capital.

It was gathered that over 20 cultists used dangerous weapons, including battle axes, cutlasses, cudgels and knives, in the clash that led to the death of a cultist.

Police spokesperson Celestina

Tension in Delta community over suspected cultist’s death From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the victim died on the way to the hospital.

She said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The spokesperson said the command would apprehend other fleeing cultists from their hideouts.

Kalu urged the residents to remain calm and go about their

lawful activities.

An eyewitness said the deceased, who hailed from Abakiliki, the Ebonyi State capital, had been stabbed in the neck when his “cult group” clashed with another group in the town.

It was learnt that trouble started when a member of the Baga cult, simply identified as Ozuronye, had his debts forgiven.

But a rival cult, Two-Two, ambushed Ozuronye and beat

him up.

An eyewitness said: “Obviously, Ozuronye went to mobilise his members for revenge. The groups met at Obodogba Quarters and unleashed violence.

Some of them sustained severe injuries, including Ozuronye, who died on the way to hospital.”

A source said the body of the deceased had been deposited at a hospital’s mortuary.

Osahon wins APC’s Ovia House of Reps primary

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HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared Isaac Osahon Nosakhare the winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency primary held on December 7 at Iguobazuwa, Edo State.

The aspirant scored the highest votes cast, according to the the presiding officer.

A high-ranking member of APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) told our reporter in confidence in Benin, the state

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

capital, that following on the committee’s report, which was submitted to the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and signed by the committee’s Chairman Abdullahi Saqid and Secretary Muktar Kaura, and from the video clip, the primary was about to be concluded when the process was disrupted by two people: Morrison Ogunrobo and Dennis Idahosa.

The NEC gave Osahon the

Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) form to fill.

The NEC member, who quoted a section of the party’s guideline, said: “Notwithstanding, the provisions of the guideline or any other rules of the party, the decision of the NWC acting on behalf of the NEC shall and binding on all aspirants, officers and organs of the party in respect of the primary election to the National Assembly.”

“Therefore, it is our submission that in the interest of jus-

tice and fair play Nosakhare Osahon is the winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency primary election held on December 7, 2014.”

Saqid’s report says: “These same persons abducted our presiding officers to unknown destination. We can deduce the following statistics, number of accredited delegates is 662, number of valid votes cast is 654, number of invalid votes is 8, number of votes scored by Orobosa Omo-Ojo is 65, that of Nosakhare Osahon is 297.”

Power shift: Asari-Dokubo urges Rivers residents to protest ‘injustice’

A

FORMER warlord and leader of the Niger Delta People’s Salvation and Volunteer Force (NDSVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has urged Rivers residents to protest the alleged injustice on rotational power among the ethnic groups in the state.

The former warlord urged the people to ensure that each of the ethnic groups had its turn to lead the state.

He said it would amount to

•‘Jonathan has no competitor’ From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

high-level injustice if Rivers indigenes were not allowed to enjoy equal access to power through a rotational arrangement.

According to him, it will be an act of injustice, if power remained with one ethnic group.

Asari-Dokubo said the best

way to attract peace, equity and justice was to give other ethnic nationalities the opportunity to govern Rivers State.

The NDSVF leader spoke yesterday at the funeral of his grandmother, Princess Preba Abigail Prince Ekineh, at Buguma in Asari/Toru Local Government Area.

He said the Peoples Demo-

cratic Party’s (PDP’s) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had no competitor in next year’s election.

Asari-Dokubo said Jonathan haddone well in all sectors of the economy, adding that he would get massive votes in the 2015 election.

According to him, the PDP presidential candidate had

already won.

Asari-Dokubo said: “It is injustice for one set of people in Rivers State to continue to rule. Rivers State is a multiethnic state and all the ethnic nationalities must have access to government. So, whoever is encouraging this perfidy does not mean well for the people of the state.

“That’s because I know that someday the deceit will explode. The people must protest against this. The only

way out is to seek justice and equity in search of the next governor of Rivers State. I expected all the political parties in Rivers State to field candidates from the ethnic groups crying for justice.

“With what Jonathan has done in all the sectors of the economy, I am optimistic that he will win in 2015. I am not afraid of anybody. He has already won. My confidence is that he is going to get the victory.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Since 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not won any senatorial election in Lagos State. Will the story be different in next year’s poll? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the credentials of the flag bearers in the ruling and opposition parties and issues that will shape the contest.

Lagos 2015: APC, PDP battle for Senate T

HERE is poster war in Lagos.

Posters and bill-boards of parliamentary flag bearers adorn the metropolis and suburbs.

It is the season of campaigns across the three districts. Who wins the senatorial elections in the Central, West and East districts?

Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary Ganiyu Taofik said: “2015 is a year of power shift in Lagos.” He added: “Society is dynamic. It is true that Lagosians have been voting for the AD, the AC and the ACN before.

But, the situation will change next year. No political bloc can dominate the scene for too long. You will see the results of the senatorial election.”

But, his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, said that the PDP is day dreaming in Lagos. He said Lagosians who are calling for power shift at the centre will not endorse the PDP at the state level.

“Lagosians and other Nigerians want President Jonathan and the PDP out in 2015. Do you think that these same people will now endorse a PDP senatorial candidate at the poll? The PDP is day dreaming in Lagos. They will fail again in 2015,” Igbokwe maintained.

In the Central District, the PDP is roaring like a lion. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Lagos State First Lady and Founder of the New Era Foundation, is seeking reelection into the Senate on the platform of the APC. In 2011, she defeated her challenger, Mr. Animasahun, a retired civil servant. Next year, she will face a new challenger, Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu, a failed PDP governorship candidate.

In the West, House of Representatives member Hon. Adeola Olamilekan is the APC candidate.

It will be an interesting battle between him and his 2011 challenger, Mr. Segun Adewale, an aggressive grassroots politician from Alimoso sub-zone, who is running on the platform of the PDP. In 2003, both politicians were members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

The battle for the East senatorial seat is between the former Permanent Secretary, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and a relatively unknown woman politician from Kosofe area, Mrs. Olabisi Owolabi SalisFakos, wife of the veteran PDP governorship aspirant, Owolabi Salis, a lawyer and financial expert.

Since the Second Republic, Lagosians have always voted for senatorial candidates from progressives parties. Senators Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Ajayi Adeyiga, Durosinmi and Habib Fashinro were elected on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (SAN). In the Third Republic, the three senatorsBola Tinubu (West), Tony Adefuye (East) and Kofoworola AkereleBucknor (Central) were chieftains of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). Tinubu, who had the highest number of votes nationwide, defeated Mrs. Kemi Nelson of the proscribed National Reoublicam Convention (NRC).

Akerele-Bucknor defeated Chief Demola Seriki with a slim margin.

• Senator Tinubu

• Ashafa

• Dosumu

• Adewale

In this dispensation, the PDP has make efforts, but without success.

In 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, its senatorial candidates lost their deposit at the polls. In 1999, Prince Adeseye Ogunlewe (East), Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Central) and Dr. Wahab Dosunmu (West) contested and won on the platform of the AD. Ahead of 2003 elections, Dosunmu and Ogunlewe dumped the AD for the PDP, citing the crisis in the party as the reason for jumping ship. They vied for the same position, but lost.

Afikuyomi, who moved from the Central to the West, was reelected. He was succeeded in the Central District by former Home Affairs Commissioner Musiliu Obanikoro, who ran in the AD. When the eminent politician, Chief Dapo Sarunmi, rejected the AD ticket in the East District, the

Speaker of the House of Assembly. Hon. Olorunnimbe Mamora, filled the vacuum created by Ogunlewe’s defection.

In 2007, Senator Muniru Muse (Central) became an Action Congress (AC) senator. The ticket was initially offered to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who lost the governorship primaries to Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). But, the Afenifere chieftain declined to contest for the Senate, saying that he was only interested in serving as governor.

He emerged as the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA). He lost to Fashola. In the East, Mamora, who made much impact as a vocal senator, was re-elected. In the West, Tinubu, who was rounding off his second term as governor, stepped down from the senatorial race.

Sources said that the coast was not clear. The Federal Government

• Olamilekan

was bent on denying him the opportunity to return to the Upper Chamber. In the spirit of reconciliation, the slot was offered to an aggrieved governorship aspirant, Ganiyu Solomon, who became senator.

Senator Solomon from Mushin had contested against Afikuyomi in 2003. He protested against the decision of Afikuyomi to relocate to the West, saying that it was in bad faith. He was pacified with the House of Representatives ticket in Mushin, which had been won by Mrs. Kehinde Babalola-Adepoju.

In 2011, Solomon was re-elected.

But, Mamora and Muse were succeeded by Ashafa and Mrs. Tinubu.

Unlike previous elections, the PDP is mounting an aggressive campaign. It is a combination of media advertisement and do-todoor mobilisation. Its candidates have a deep purse, making it easy to oil their campaign machinery.

APC member in Kosofe said: “This mobilisation of members is another empowerment for us, apart from the SURE-P.”. She described the candidates as competent Lagosians who can represent the three districts. But, Igbokwe said none of them can match the pedigree of the APC flag bearers. Another APC chieftain, mr. Tunde Temionu, said: “Political parties win elections because of their structures, power base and mass appeal. The PDP lack these three elements. There will be a clear battle now that we have two main parties.”

Dosunmu is an administrator. He holds a doctorate degree in management. He worked in the civil service, rising to the position of the chief executive of one of the parastatals in the aviation sector.

He became a politician in 2011, when he was drafted into the gov-

Lagosians and other Nigerians want President Jonathan and the PDP out in 2015. Do you think that these same people will now endorse a PDP senatorial candidate at the poll? The PDP is day dreaming in Lagos. They will fail again in 2015

ernorship race by the PDP leader, Commodore Olabode George (rtd). Lagosians did not take him seriously. He lost the poll to Fashola.

In three and half years, Mrs. Tinubu has emerged as a tested and trusted politician, who can make and redeem her pledges to constituents. A former teacher, she came into the limelight as the first lady, when her husband assumed the reins as the governor. The New Era Foundation, which she founded gave succour to the needy and indigent students. It also engaged in a talent hunt. Its Spelling Bee competition threw up egg heads, who are now graduates of various disciplines across the federation.

Senator Tinubu made a lot of promises to the Central District in 2011. In the view of the APC leader, Prince Oluyole Olusi, she has fulfilled the promises. “We have had many senators in the Lagos Central-Oba Musediku Adeniji-Adele, Senator Adeyiga Ajayi, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Muniru Muse and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. But, none has performed like Senator Oluremi Tinubu,” he said.

It is an understatement. Since 2011, Mrs. Tinubu has always rendered accounts at town hall meetings organised in every three months. The senator has also instituted a scholarship scheme for students. Indigent traders and widows have benefited from her empowerment schemes. Mrs. Tinubu has also attracted federal government projects to the Lagos State University, Ojo, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe. In the Senate, she is not a bench warmer. Apart from effectively participating in deliberations and passage of bills and resolutions, Mrs. Tinubu is also effective in the performance of oversight functions. He has proposed a bill on special status for Lagos, although it met with obstacles. Reflecting on her performance, former Yaba Council Chairman and House of Representatives aspirant Hon. Jide Jimoh, described Mrs. Tinubu as a special legislator who has a milk of human kindness. “She has served Lagos central with her whole heart. That was why stakeholders endorsed her for a second term,” he said.

In the East, Mrs. Salis is intensifying her mobilisation in Kosofe, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe. The APC has endorsed Ashafa for a second term in this district. The ruling party has a formidable structure in the area. But, many look forward to the contest in the West, where Olamilekan and Adewale will clash. Since Adewale joined the PDP, luck has not smiled on him. In 2011, he struggled to win the House of Representatives seat against Olamilekan. Between 2003 and 2011, Olamilekan was a member of the House of Assembly. He is a loyal party chieftain.

This may have accounted for his meteoric political rise.

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THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

RACE TO 2015

By Musa Odoshimokhe

O

“How can we explain that oil sold for more than three years above 100 dollars level and yet, we are faced with this calamity without any redemption in sight? How can we explain it?”

Aregbesola expressed confidence in the capacity of the Osun people to make the best choice. He said: “Our people can distinguish between the selfish and the selfless.Those who voted for me in the August 9 election in Osun have another assignment on their hands. If you voted for me and you don’t vote for Buhari and our representatives in the next elections, you have missed it.

“Don’t fight. Don’t carry cutlasses, guns or any other thing. Just go to the polling booths on that day and vote for our party. That is the power we all have to rescue ourselves from these elements.

“If we love ourselves, our towns and our country, we must all promote Buhari and campaign for him vigorously.”

•Gen. Buhari

Defective process produced Wike as candidate, says Dagogo-Jack From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

R

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack has said that the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, became the governorship candidate through a defective process.

The former governorship aspirant said the outcome of the primaries have implications, urging the party leaders to forge reconciliation in the troubled chapter.

Dagogo-Jack however, said that he will not jump ship, despite his complaints about the process.

The politician, who spoke in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, said the PDP has much work to do in Rivers State.

He said: “Some of the processes that were used to arrive at this decision were very defective by any standard because the results are there. But, since the party has taken its position, I have no choice than to remain in PDP.” Dagogo-Jack, the former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Power, said it is dangerous to elect any foundation on a platform that is devoid of equity.

He added: “Members of the Restoration Agenda have made their arguments to the national leadership of the party that the primaries were flawed and that the basis for a sustainable society is equity. They would not like to create another confusion that might not augur well for them.”

He said that his interest now is to ensure victory for PDP at all levels of the election including the Presidential polls stressing that his aim of forming the restoration agenda is to enable them work like a family and not to trade positions.

The PDP and its wicked allies have been known over the decades for misery. If you have them around you for whatever reason, you would realise that they represent nothing other than misery

‘

Adebule: New role for loyal chieftain

Aregebsola: Buhari ‘s up to task SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential election will stop the drift to economic chaos, if elected in next year’s election.

He said the former Head of State had sanitised the country in 1983, when sacked the conservative National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which had brought the country to her knees.

Aregbesola recaled that the economy and social welfare had been completely destroyed between 1979 to 1983 before the military intervention, adding that Buhari restored hope to Nigerians.

Noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cripled the economy, he said the time is ripe for change.

He however, noted the difference in the Buhari of 2014 ,who is a civilian and a democrat, and the Buhari of 1983, who was a soldier. Aregbesola spoke during a meeting with labour leaders in Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor said the first step towards salvaging Nigeria is to vote out the PDP, stressing that the party has wrecked havoc on the polity. He said it is worrisome that the masses wallow in poverty and misery in the midst of abundant resources.

Aregbesola said in a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, that workers have a role to play in the national quest for political change at the centre.

He said: “In 1983, it was Buhari that God sent to rescue the situation of Nigerians. The conservative elements had brought Nigeria to a rot. Buhari has come again to lead us out of the quagmire and sweep away all the anti-democratic and anti-development elements, who have brought Nigeria to this deplorable state.

“The governor added: “The PDP and its wicked allies have been known over the decades for misery. If you have them around you for whatever reason, you would realise that they represent nothing other than misery. They represent the best of wickedness, misery and misfortune. Only the misguided would claim to belong to the PDP in Nigeria.”

Aregbesola said the ruling party should take the blame for the various crises bedeviling the country, adding that, despite selling the crude oil above $100 for more than three years, there is nothing on ground to show for it. must be asked what it has done with the huge resources that accrued to it.

He said: “The responsibility for the economic tragedy that we are witnessing in Nigeria today rests permanently and absolutely on the PDP and its government at the federal level. There is no way that the party and its government can be excused. As a first step to salvage our nation, we must vote out the PDP.

‘

L

AGOS, the Centre of Excellence, has endlessly blazed the trail in the scheme of things in the country. It could as well be said that Lagos is the real pace-setting state. Without doubt, the Fashola Administration in Lagos has redefined governance in the country.

Most pundits have even claimed that the administration parades, perhaps, the most sophisticated, hardworking and result oriented State Executive Council in the current political dispensation. Those who made this assertion laid credence to the composition of the council, which is an intricate blend of professionals, administrators, scholars and politicians. These men and women personified the spirit of the trail-blazing years of the Fashola Administration and the moving force behind the numerous landmark attainments of the administration.

Dr Oluranti Idiat Adebule, the Secretary to the Government (SSG), belongs to this group of eminent personalities. A selfless, focussed and hardworking woman, Adebule is inimitable in many perspectives. Her mien belies her remarkable strides in life.

This is obviously evident in her gait that is copiously devoid of any form of arrogance, despite her exalted office. Her disarming smile is just simply infectious.

The story of Adebule is that of the triumph of will power and hard work over life’s circumstances. Despite being born in the modest Ojo Alaworo Community, Badagry, her dream has always been to become a vehicle for the upliftment of her people. Many complete their course in life without really discovering their purpose. Consequently, they live their lives confused and frustrated.

But, not for Adebule. She discovered her purpose very early in life.

Her penchant for excellence has always been the driving force in everything she does. It is, therefore, not surprising that she has been able to climb the ladder of success in a very competitive environment.

Her sterling leadership qualities clearly stand her out as one that is destined for the sky. Leadership is an underlining unique factor in accounting for changes which are inevitable in any country or civilised environment. Leadership is as old as the advent of human civilisation. The pains and gains of a community or country are synonymous to the quality of leaders who preside over it. Thus, great leaders like Dr Nelson Mandela, Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe emulated great icons because of their contributions to better the lives of their people.

Aside her sterling leadership traits, Adebule is passionately sympathetic to the course of the downtrodden in the society. She was not born with a silver spoon.

Adebule often refers to the poor and other vulnerable members of the society as members of her constituency. Consequently, she practically goes out of her way to proffer soccour for them. She does this religiously not really as an obli-

• Adebule

By Akeem Odusina

gation but as a passion. She once said: “I can’t just bear the sight of despair in people. If I could, I would ensure that every hopeless person in life has a course to be hopeful and exciting about life again”. She is simply one through whom the proverbial milk of human kindness flows endlessly. In her capacity as the Secretary to Government, Adebule has continued to touch and impact on lives. Without a doubt, a kind and compassionate heart is one which every leader must possess in great measure. As Frank Roosevelt once said: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have little”.

A committed and avowed educationist, Adebule’s steadfast affection for impartation of knowledge has seen her dedicate her entire working career to the teaching profession. Perhaps her unalloyed love for teaching is budded in her first contact with the profession as a classroom teacher during her National Youth Service in, Bauchi, Bauchi State from 1994 to 1995. She, thereafter, began her teaching career in 1995 with the Lagos State College of Primary Education (LACOPED), Noforija, Epe, as a Lecturer in the Department of Islamic Studies. In June 2005, she joined Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, as a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum

‘I can’t just bear the sight of despair in people. If I could, I would ensure that every hopeless person in life has a course to be hopeful and exciting about life again’

Studies, Language Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Education.

While in LASU, Adebule served at various time as member of the committees on Establishment of LASU International Secondary School, Faculty of Education Teaching Practice Committee, Faculty of Education 9th Conference on Education, LASU Staff School Monitoring Committee , LASU Sandwich Degree Programme, Osun State College of Education, Ilesha Campus among several others.

Born 27th November, 1970, Oluranti Adebule attended Awori College, Ojo, where she earned the West African School Certificate Education (Ordinary Level) in 1987. For her higher education, Adebule attended the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos where she obtained the Bachelor of Arts (Education) in Islamic Studies and Master of Education (Curriculum Studies) in 1992 and 1997 respectively. To complete the circle of her academic attainment, Adebule has earned a Ph.D in Curriculum Studies with specialisation in Religious Education at LASU. A consummate writer, Adebule has several local, national and international publications to her credit.

These include ‘Reading The Objective of the Universal Basic Education in Nigeria’, ‘The Effective Use of Educational Technology for Religious Education Teaching Amongst Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria’, The Imperative of Religion and Peace in the Quest for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Plateau State Experience’, to mention just a few.

Additionally, Adebule has to her credit several social, academic and professional awards such as Women Motivation Award (WMA) which she received in September, 2002 courtesy the National Union of Lagos State Students, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti Chapter, Merit Award of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos Area Unit (October, 2003), Merit Award of Awori College Old Students Association (December, 2004) and Recognition Award, Ojo Local Government (September, 2002).

Since her sojourn into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, Adebule had served different political parties in various positions. She was a member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Leaders Forum, Badagry Division.

She was also a Woman Representative (Lagos West Senatorial District), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Lagos Central Working Committee. She is the founder of ‘EJI Owuro’, a political group for women and youth in Badagry Division of Lagos State.

Presently, she is an active member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter.

A golden fish, as the saying goes, has no hiding place, recognition for hard work and dedication to duty has made her party, the APC, to nominate Adebule as the party’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming 2015 general elections. Her track record of successes in previous assignments, speaks volume about her level of preparedness for greater tasks. Undoubtedly, Adebule is a tried, tested and trusted leader.

Odusina is of the Press & Public Affairs Unit, Office of the SSG, Alausa, Ikeja.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Without conscience •The over N21 billion donated by government and private persons to the campaign fund of President Jonathan defied the law and undermined decency

A

NY patriot who watched or witnessed the fundraiser that yielded over N21 billion for the presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan would know that the event took away from our dream of a decent society. December 20th paraded a night of shame for our nation and a section of its political and business elite.

The shindig was an example of coldblooded jollification with its displays of excess in sartorial, rhetorical, culinary and dramatic vanities. But the surfeit of glitz was the least of the night’s obscenities. It was its lack of awareness not only of the law, but the stark inequity of its action.

It took the public rage of lawyers and civil society groups for the insiders of the Jonathan administration to understand, at least in public, that it had to explain its iniquities. It is now scrambling for a lacuna to justify how corporate entities, individuals and government agencies could amass such obscene wealth on one night for a campaign fund.

On that night, governors were looking for money to pay civil servants ahead of a bleak Christmas, the value of the naira had dipped to about 190 to a dollar and the price of oil, our main foreign exchange earner, had cascaded to about 60 dollars per barrel as against over 110 dollar per barrel a few months earlier. In these times of goodwill towards all, the president and his donors defined generosity in their own selfish lights.

So how did a president who endeared himself to Nigerians as a man who once had no shoes show such insensitivity, and allowed it to beam live on network television? It was not only an abuse of generosity but also a desecration of medium.

Did the president not know that it was illegal, according to the Electoral Act, that he was only entitled to N1billion of all the money raked in that night?

If, that is, the entire activ- Jonathan ity of that night has nullified all the money acquired as illegal.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and of course the Federal Government under President Jonathan are primed with lawyers who understand that the Electoral Act 2010 says that the “maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1 billion.”

So what happened was not only an act of lawlessness but a fly in the face of the law.

Even if we ask the PDP to refund the money obtained that night, it would not obviate the essential impunity committed. But the greater tragedy is that those who committed the crime know that no overriding authority is going to reverse the perverse gains of that fundraiser. Not the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), nor the Security and Exchange Commission, the regulatory police of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has expressed even curiosity about that night of impunity.

They have not raised even perfidious eyebrows over the fact that the chairman of the Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, donated N2.5 billion. He also promised that, as representative of the president’s friends, the donation would climb to N3 billion. They did not wonder how the PDP governors, some of whom are owing civil servants’ salaries, were coming together to belch out over N1 billion.

Did they ponder how the power sector that could not provide meters to darkness-bound

citizens and has received several billions in subventions from the Federal Government found N500 million for the campaign. The oil and gas sector was the star of the night.

Bola Shagaya rolled out N5 billion at a time that the government has said it has no money from excess crude account because of subsidy.

Yet the price of petroleum is still high, and the investigations into the fat cats who primed their accounts and flaunted extravagant lifestyles on subsidy have not been brought to book. Yet the same industry preened with billions for the Jonathan campaign. Another star contributor was OluchiOkoye on behalf of the real estate sector. Is this happening in a society where many are without shelter or have only a mockery of rudimentary homes? Others include Didi Ndimou who gave N1 billion on behalf of the transport and aviation sector, Chief Ominife Uzoegbu(N500 million) for agriculture in a country where we import even to-

matoes. The National Automotive Industry smiled with N450 million donation even though we know that the transport sector is one of the most besieged with rickety buses and troubled movements.

In a democracy that should thrive on laws, the president should have reined in that night before it started. For a government that has been accused of undermining the rule of law, it should have found out what the companies were in the oil and gas, real estate, automotive, agriculture and food, power, etc. that donated and whether they got approval from their board of directors. Even if they did, it would have contravened the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Section 38 (2) says: “A company shall not have or exercise power either directly or indirectly to make a donation or a gift of any of its property or funds to a political party or political association, or for any political purpose, or if in breach of this subsection makes any donation or gives of its property to a political party or political association or political purpose, the officers in default and any member who voted for the breach shall be

jointly or severally liable for the refund to the company the sum of value of the donation or gift and, in addition, the company and any such officer or member shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine equal to the amount or value of the donation or value of the donation or gift.”

What this law says is clear. All the culprits should not only refund the money, they are owing their companies the amount they donated in fine. If there are no consequences for these actions, it would mean that we have gone deeper into the moral sewer than in the times of former President Olusegun Obasanjo when the shareholders rejected the amount donated to the Obasanjo Presidential Library by the now defunct Intercontinental Bank PlC. Another corporate player, The Nigerian Breweries PLC, presided over the retirement of Festus Odimegwu, its managing director, over the same matter.

Three things remain unresolved. One, why has the president or his associates not insisted on releasing all the names of the donors and the companies they represent? This is a requirement of the law that prides itself on the virtue of an open society. The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Political Finance Manual compels any donor’s name to be disclosed by the political party. Up till the time of writing, the INEC has not made any announcement on that night.

Two, this does not answer a crucial question as to whether this is public wealth masquerading as private wealth. Who is going to do the accounting and trace the origins of the money donated? In the case of the Niger Delta Development Commission that donated N15 million and the governors that donated N1.05 billion, it is clear they do not have the authority of the law. But the private donors make mockery of the public-private mantra of modern governance.

Three, when those in authority commit wrong, to whom shall we complain? It is the dilemma of this unwholesome drama. With a clipped EFCC and voiceless INEC, and a National Assembly obsessed with reelection politics, a sense of anarchy overwhelms this moral absurdity. It seems the donors, the president and the PDP top brass will get away with this metaphorical murder.

While the donation night persisted, many victims of Boko Haram insurgency complained they could not benefit from the socalled victim’s funds and the flood victims of last year still suffered from deprivation in spite of the donations publicly celebrated by some corporate bigwigs. The state governments where some of these victims live say they do not have enough money to cater for them because the Federal Government has cut their monthly allocations.

The political elite and business class must understand that the society belongs to the majority and not a minority of greedy and insensitive persons as was blatantly dramatised in Abuja on December 20.

We need a mechanism as a people to check this obscene excess in high places, or else we shall become subject to those who raid our patrimony without conscience.

‘Did the president not know that it was illegal, according to the Electoral Act, that he was only entitled to N1billion of all the money raked in that night? If, that is, the entire activity of that night has nullified all the money acquired as illegal’

Do they deserve our prayers again?

S

IR: I believe Nigerians are more aware of this season of wishing ourselves all the best and praying fervently for one another to have our heart desires granted by our good Lord. So also, the politicians are tactically approaching fellow Nigerians with best wishes and enjoining them to be of good behaviour and to pray for them and the country.

Truly speaking, Nigerians are good people.

They will pray for their leaders wherever they find themselves and in any prayer room, not because the leaders have asked them to do so, but because they are being commanded to do so in their holy books and they want to be obedient to the almighty God. However, the prayer points have changed dramatically these days and the politicians are yet to hear and understand the the way we pray. Prayers are now being properly channeled to God with precise request and true desires for this nation. No wonder some politicians have now turned to churches and mosques for solutions to their problems and not necessarily the problems of this nation.

We all know and believe that God is good all the time, but the professional politicians have taken the goodness of the Lord for granted and more so, for a long time in Nigeria. It seems Nigerians are now fully awake from their slumber or hypnotism and suddenly we all asking for a true change.

Nigerians need changes and not just a change at the presidential level. We need a change of hearts, a true change in government policies, a true change of leadership at the local government, Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, the Senate, the banks, the presidency, the churches, the mosques and at all the places or corridors where peoples money are being spent on their behalf.

The prayer points should not just be for only the politicians but for all the leaders in our land.

Imagine the leaders of churches with private jets that are being rented out for profits. Most of them would have told us that the jets are for the promotion of the gospel beyond our coast.

But now we know better and hopefully taxes will be paid on the gains.

Imagine bank directors whose bank stocks have been reduced to cents but are still flying first or business class to Abuja or London instead of economy class.

Imagine senators and reps without a functional constituency office or a well designed and functional websites to reach out to their folks and no one knows about the use of the constituency allowance until a time like this when they come to dole out few nairas and bags of rice and cooking oil.

Now, let us rise on our feet to pray....... And after the prayer let the people say a loud amen.

•Joe Femi-Dagunro Nigeria Beyond 2015 Group, Lagos

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

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20

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Despite all the excruciating challenges facing us, Almighty Father, we pray that the coming New Year will hold out a glimmer of hope for surmounting them. So, we beg that you make us gain a new oxygen of hope to enable us avert being drowned in the stormy waters of despair. With your blessed assurance, we repose trust in you that it shall be well with us, regardless of great odds. This is because in your will lies our peace and salvation, not in mere mortal man who can disappoint in the critical hour of need.

Almighty, as we approach this critical juncture of our general elections, we pray that you touch the heart of our politicians. Make some of them to stop their reckless and provocative utterances that can heat up our polity. It is our fond hope that you nudge our politicians to understand the true essence of democracy, which, apart from ensuring majority rule, is necessitated by man’s inclination to misrule, oppression and injustice.

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

Prayer for Nigeria At this tempestuous time, ethnic and religious sentiments have become a political force, let them shun sectional politics and the precipitate hatred and division. Instead, they should be inspired to play issue-based politics, as geared towards achieving good governance, responsible citizenry, political stability, social cohesion, economic prosperity, even and sustainable development and national greatness.

We are in dire need of thoughtful leaders with the irresistible urge to change things for the better in Nigeria. Almighty Father, give us upright and selfless leaders whose ar-

ticles of faith will be honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability and probity and who will be eager to manifest such elevating qualities in both their private and public life. Such proven, tested and trusted leaders should be meek, humble, selfless, self-effacing, compassionate, altruistic, populist, patriotic, pan-nationalistic, centrist and statesmanlike, as well as visionary, pragmatic and dynamic.

And given that man has dominated man to his injury in Nigeria, it is our humble wish that you provide us with leaders whose guiding principles will be justice, fairness and equity for social peace to prevail in

our clime.

Dear Father in heaven, make our ethnic and religious leaders to have a dramatic change of heart in order to emphasise the ties that bind us as a people like African consanguinity, common colonial history and same national challenges, not issues of faith and ethnicity that seriously divide when subjected to abuse. This is essential because, in most cases, what we have in our fractured society are warlike communal leaders, not warlike people.

Almighty Father, as we end this hopeful prayer, we, once again, express our deep gratitude for all the marvellous things you have done

Why Nigerians must vote in 2015

S

IR: It is very correct that everything connected with nature and natural laws is based upon cause and effect.

Invariably, every problem we are all witnessing today is caused by our decisions and hence, we definitely have to be part of the solutions. Gandhi rightly said “We must become the change we seek in the world” some years ago.

Barrack Obama said on February 5, 2008 in Chicago, that “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek”.

The development of any democratic nation is a struggle towards three closely related understandings, according to Moore. They includeto check arbitrary rulers; to replace arbitrary rules with just and rational ones and lastly, to obtain a share for the underlying population in the making of rules.

In a truly democratic set-up, the

mechanism to achieve this laudable feat is through exercise of political right which is the right to vote and be voted for. Voting is an adequate mechanism for a positive change if there is a free and fair election. Voting is a not a yardstick for representatives to disconnect from the citizens after the election and loot the treasury.

The concept of democracy explains the system of governance in which the people choose leaders by casting their votes which is regarded as their sacred power.

Besides, to achieve a lasting and ideal democratic regime, an electoral democracy should be along the same line with the liberal democracy which includes the governance by rule of law and the protection of civil liberties. That is why a former American President, Thomas Jefferson opined that without liberal democracy, electoral democracy is “nothing more than mob rule where 51 percent of the people may take

away the rights of the other 49”.

Voting is an important aspect of citizens’ responsibility. It occurs when eligible voters of a nation defy sun or rain to go to polls and cast their votes for those candidates they think would make good leaders. The greatest opportunity for a change is voting in a democratic society. A vote is regarded as a present possession that keeps people from repeating the past mistake in the future.

What or whom voters vote for determines the things or events that will eventually bless or mar their happiness. The most vital thing to the society is who you want to vote for and not who other people want to vote for. We are in this present situation today as a result of decisions taken and accepted as true. A purpose does what it must, talent does what it can, but enmasse voting brings what you want.

Our choice (not chance) determines our destiny. Any

eligible voter that refuses to vote has already been defeated by bad representation in government.

People that do not vote have to wait so long for the future which has already gone. The less people vote in an election, the more the chances of bad candidates and mediocres to be in government. An adult who does not vote is a slave and at the same time like a person waiting to board a ship at the airport. Sow better seeds by voting for the right candidates and you reap better lives. Your vote can change your life.

Finally, the electoral authority handling elections must be independent and not partial in order to ensure election results that reflect the wishes of the masses. The electoral body has sole responsibility of conducting a free and fair election in any nation and they must be accountable for this activity.

•Adewale T Akande, Barcelona, Spain

in our lives despite the vicissitudes of existence. May all the glory and adoration be unto you as we lift our hands in worship and with a sacrifice of praise to sanctify your holy name for giving us hope not only for this 2015 but also for the future.

Happy and prosperous New Year to fellow Nigerians.

• Okechukwu Emeh, Jr Wuse II, Abuja.

Buhari’s the surest bet

S

IR: Muhammadu Buhari a successful battle against indiscipline, lawlessness, and corruption during the short period of his administration.

He controlled the nation’s spending in the best interest of Nigeria and in accordance with the law. He only had enemies among those corrupt leaders and rogues among the society.

Buhari is a tested leader, when he was pushed out of power, there was no trace of him stealing the nation’s money. He remained clean and pure.

Unfortunately, after Buhari was overthrown, corruption and indiscipline came became the order of the day and without control.

What have we to say about the very younger elements who have no other record than looting the national treasury when they were in power for which Rev. Sunday Mbang cried out by saying “Every evil has become an accepted standard of Nigerian life”.

So it is not the age that matters in government, but the sincerity and ability to perform of which Buhari stands out. He is going into politics this time around with a mission, vision and compass to serve the nation and not ambition for personal profit.

He is coming to put a full stop to “Non-construction but payment for bridges where there is no river”.

• Michael O. Faniyi mni. Jp Esa Oke, Osun State.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

21

COMMENTS

W

HAT’s the fuss about President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection campaign war chest of at least N21bn, to go by the figures of the December 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Fund Raising Dinner held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Vila, Abuja? Indeed, the outcome of the money spinner may be considered anticlimactic, given the known capitalistic orientation of the Jonathan administration and its major supporters. It is instructive that the Chief Fund Raiser and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who is listed among the world’s wealthiest persons, was reportedly out of the country; and his representative, Mr. Joseph Makanju, was said to have assured the organisers of the event that Dangote would live up to their expectations when he returned.

Jonathan was quoted as saying, “I thank everyone who made donation tonight.” He probably had a good reason to be grateful, considering the dimensions of the donors and the significance of their donations, which included: N5bn from players in the Oil and Gas sector; Real Estate and Building, N4bn; Transport and Aviation, N1bn; Roads and Construction, N560m; Power, N500m; Food and Agriculture, N500m; Automotive Association, N450m; PDP Governors N1.05bn; Jerry Gana and others, N5bn; and Tunde Ayeni and others, N2bn.

Also, what’s the commotion about the possible legal implications of the grand collection? The Jonathan administration is not particularly known for its adherence to the letter and spirit of the law, and may ultimately exceed the lawful N1bn spending limit for presidential campaigns without compunction.

It is intriguing that the scale of financial support appeared to contradict any negative perception of the Jonathan presidency. If the intention was to make a statement about the backing Jonathan ostensibly enjoys, the message was strikingly delivered. Also fascinating is the remarkable donor anonymity, which introduced an impersonal angle; paradoxically, it would suggest that the individuals who gave money wished to be faceless. In this connection, it is food for thought that Balarabe Musa, a former governor of Kaduna

Between the masses and the moneybags

Index shows that economic growth is undermined and efforts to stop corruption fade when leaders and high level officials abuse power to appropriate public funds for personal gain.”

Ironically, the projection of finance-driven strength might well be an indication of weakness in the critical area of people appeal. It is logical to observe that money by itself is unlikely to win the presidential election for Jonathan next year, especially given his provably poor performance in office.

It is noteworthy that under Jonathan, for instance, the country’s poverty profile is tragically inexcusable for an oilrich country. Of relevance is the observation by the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the April IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, where he restated that Nigeria was among the top five countries with the largest number of the poor.

Scandalously, the country ranks third on this list of infamy behind India (with 33 percent of the world’s poor) and China (13 percent). With 7 percent of the “wretched of the earth”, the country is ahead of Bangladesh (6 percent) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (5 percent). Together these countries are home to nearly 760 million impoverished people.

For a picture of poverty, the World Bank’s definition is clarifying. According to the institution, “Poverty is an income level below some minimum level necessary to meet basic needs. This minimum level is usually called the “poverty line”. What is necessary to satisfy basic needs varies across time and societies. Therefore, poverty lines vary in time and place, and each country uses lines which are appropriate to its level of development, societal norms and values. But the content of the needs is more or less the same everywhere.” It further said: “Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter.

Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor.

Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.”

There is no doubt that the majority of Nigerians can understand what the World Bank says about poverty, and even what it has not said. The poverty of leadership, which has so devastatingly levelled the country, requires urgent redemption.

It is eye-opening to contrast the Crowd Funding Project of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, with Jonathan’s moneybags financing scheme. Buhari said: My strength mainly is the ordinary people. N100 is plenty of money for them and I know that they are going to make the sacrifice required for the change we are looking for, especially when I made them a promise to be transparent and personally responsible for the money.” He disclosed that the people had contributed N54.4 million, and declared, “So far so good.” In the end, it will be a battle between the masses and the moneybags.

‘Ironically, the projection of finance-driven strength might well be an indication of weakness in the critical area of people appeal. It is logical to observe that money by itself is unlikely to win the presidential election for Jonathan next year, especially given his provably poor performance in office’

State, said: “It is money stolen from the government. The money could not have been donated by someone who earned it legitimately. They are monies stolen from the public fund.

Can they say the money is from their pocket?” Beyond the question of whether the humongous resources came from questionable sources, it is thought-provoking that the donors in question went so far in providing a pillar for the administration, which suggests that the opposition has an intimidating power contest ahead in next year’s general elections.

Against the background of Musa’s far-reaching conclusions, it is interesting to note that former President Olusegun Obasanjo who recently released his explosively controversial three-volume autobiography, My Watch, wrote of the Jonathan presidency in the most unflattering terms.

Obasanjo said: ”Under Jonathan we seem to have gone from frying pan to fire. If in the past corruption was in the corridors of power, it would seem now to be in the sitting room, dining room and bedroom of power. If what is called ‘corruption’ is stealing, under the watch of Goodluck Jonathan, then government has become legalised and protected robbery.”

This vignette is particularly persuasive in the context of the news that Transparency International (TI), the respected watchdog, this month ranked Nigeria 136th on its 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) focused on 175 countries.

The assessment was based on the presumed extent of public sector corruption in the countries. Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks, and was listed as the 39th most corrupt nation in the world. Particularly relevant to the country is the TI observation: “A poor score is likely a sign of widespread bribery, lack of punishment for corruption and public institutions that don’t respond to citizens’ needs.” TI Chairman, José Ugaz, said: “The 2014 Corruption Perceptions

A

Jonathan: Pitching young against old

DDRESSING mostly youths at the official inauguration of the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme and the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, December 17, President Jonathan was widely reported to have praised the Nigerian youths about their remarkable feats in their chosen fields of human endeavor, most specifically in the areas of sports and the arts. He said they continue to “bring glory” to the Nigerian nation. Conversely, he excoriated the previous, older generations, including himself, passing them off as grumpy and quarrelsome old people who did nothing but create problems. Hear the president: “For the Nigerian young men and women, those who have seen today and the ones outside there, we appreciate and commend you because anything that you are involved, you bring glory to this country. Anything that the old people like us are involved in, it is always problems…and within the period that I have been here as Vice President and President, they have always been bringing glory to us.”

Reminding the rest under-achieving Nigerians of the industry in which they have recorded the highest achievement, President Jonathan said that “Young people are involved in the movie, popularly called Nollywood, and this continues to bring glory to us. Young people are involved in music, like D-Banj, and they always continue to bring glory to us.

But see politics that old people like us are involved in, we continue to quarrel and abuse ourselves everyday and create problems for innocent Nigerians…The young Nigerians will surely take us to where we want to be.” As if that was not enough lambast for the few old people at the inauguration to hang their heads in shame, tuck their tails between their legs and get out of there as fast as their legs could carry them to avoid more verbal missiles, President Goodluck Jonathan delivered the mother lode of the excoriation and said: “One day, you will take us to the moon…Surely, we will create enabling environment for you because you stand for the future of this country and you will make this country great.”

Phew! What an awesome president.

So many adjectives have been deployed to situate the Jonathan presidency with the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people as well as the nation, as an organic entity. The Jonathan government has been described by the Nigerian people from various socio-economic stations as “uninspiring” and “under-achieving because of an “incompetent” and “clueless” leader whose ship of state is glaringly and hopelessly adrift.

While these adjectives may be apt in describing Jonathan and his administration, the president may not be totally “clueless” when it comes to the art of political mischief, such as deploying the instrumentalities of state to force his will down the throats of the Nigerian people, or using their ethno-religious differences to drive a wedge between them in his desperation to hold on to power beyond 2015.

Looking at the above statements from the surface, one may be tempted to think that President Jonathan was probably too frustrated with his older forebears for making his job

By Femi Odere unnecessarily difficult, having failed to design and put in place a proper, enduring socio-economic and political template before the polity became too complex like now. But one should not be under any illusion that the President is carefully setting up a new but diabolical stage to exploit society’s social stratification in respect of age as a weapon of mass electoral harvest in his war to hold on to the presidency of the republic which must be won either by hook or crook. It was a carefully coded verbal barrage (although delivered with his usual display of youthful exuberance and naïve optimism when he’s not reading from a prepared text), deliberately targeted at Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (72), the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). It should be recalled that President Jonathan, more than any other chief of state in the nation’s history, has cynically exploited Nigeria’s ethno-religious cleavages in the most egregious, if not despicable and highly reprehensible manner in order to score electoral points.

Notable people from his Ijaw ethnic minority had warned and placed advertorials in national newspapers to remind Nigerians that Jonathan is their beloved son in whom they’re well pleased and therefore, must be allowed to do another term irrespective of his performance record. When those advertorials were deemed not to have sunk into our collective consciousness, they threatened war – literally – should the president lose the presidential election in 2015. While all this was going on, Nigeria’s president (or so the rest of us thought) did not utter a single word to dissociate himself and his presidency from this tomfoolery. Even religion, which should be between its practitioner and his/her God, has not been spared by the president in his urge to win the electoral contest at all costs. Governance has been taken to a despicable new low as President Jonathan continues to use the pulpits to announce major policy decisions and issues of national importance brought into the fore. His partner and loyal lieutenant in this ‘crime’ is not his Vice President nor the Aso Rock chaplain, but the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who had warned in so many ways that it would be more tolerable for the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah than for Nigeria’s Christendom if Jonathan (a Christian) is not re-elected. It cannot get any more nauseating than that.

One need not be a political scientist to recognize a common thread in what President Jonathan has done in the past, which is his inordinate knack to exploit what is exploitable, by his recent statements. Since his camp is beginning to sense that somehow, their strategy of exploiting ethno-religious sentiments introduced into this electoral contest seems not to be

gaining enough traction, exploiting the youths’ anger towards the nation’s older generations whom they believe, even if instinctively, may have failed them in so many respects, thereby truncating their future, is another perfect idea.

After all, the youths constitute the bulk of the Nigerian, if not the voting population. It therefore, makes perfect political sense for the Jonathanians to cast Muhammadu Buhari, as representing the “old” that continues to “create problems for innocent (the youths) Nigerians.”

But before the youths start shopping for those special suits that will enable them to defy gravity on their journey to the moon, they should interrogate the state of education and the enabling environment under Jonathan’s watch. They need to remember who gave a new meaning to corruption when he said that much of the financial sleaze happening in the country is nothing but mere stealing and not corruption. Even the squandering of N10 billion by the Petroleum Minister on a private jet to hop around the world (when there’re ten airplanes in the presidential fleet) is yet to meet the definitional threshold of stealing, let alone corruption. They need to remind themselves of a former governor of Central Bank who screamed that $20 billion was not remitted to the national coffer, but disputed by the country’s Exchequer that the amount was only $10 billion. Even the $10b is yet to be accounted for. Perhaps they should have maintained a minute of silence (before clapping for their president) for those 20 members of their generation who met their untimely deaths because a Minister, after an apparent extortion, herded them into stadiums across the country for employment he knew did not exist. The minister is still sitting pretty on his chair.

This is the enabling environment that Jonathan is providing the youths for ascending to the moon and doing greater exploits. What a fantastic president.

• Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com

‘Since his camp is beginning to sense that somehow, their strategy of exploiting ethno-religious sentiments introduced into this electoral contest seems not to be gaining enough traction, exploiting the youths’ anger towards the nation’s older generations whom they believe, even if instinctively, may have failed them in so many respects, thereby truncating their future, is another perfect idea’

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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COMMENTS

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RESIDENT Jonathan appeared to have opened Pandora’s Box when last week, he sought to establish the conditions for the growth of democracy in this country.

Obviously worried by intense rancour that was the outcome of the primaries of his party, the PDP, he had urged aggrieved members not to quit the party so as to enhance the growth of democracy.

Hear him: “the only way you can strengthen democracy is for you to stay in your party. If there are some issues you feel are not too correct, it behoves on us to stay together and correct them. That is the only way we can grow democracy. If out of anger or frustration you leave the party because you did not get what you wanted, then you are not contributing to the growth of democracy”.

On face value, it would seem Jonathan’s perspective on this matter is a very innocuous one that holds tremendous prospects for the growth and sustenance of democracy in this country. This is more so when it is viewed along the lines of encouraging party members to sink their differences for the overall good of their party.

It is no less a truism that there must be differences among members of the same political party in the pursuit of their individual ambitions. And in this pursuit, some interests must definitely suffer as not all will be accommodated when many seek the same goal. And in matters relating to contest for political offices, this could be more appreciated. There must be losers and winners in such game situations. Those who lost ought to accept their defeat in good faith. This however, presupposes that extant rules of the game have been followed to the letters. If that is the situation Jonathan had in mind, then one can understand him.

But that was not the situation in the instant case. Those planning to ditch the party are not aggrieved because they lost out in the primaries. They are not aggrieved because they did not get what they wanted. It is also not that they are impatient. These are not the issues and Jonathan cannot pretend the issues go beyond these.

They are aggrieved because of the scant regard of the party for due process in matters concerning party primaries. They are frustrated by the serial inability or refusal by the party to allow the sovereignty of the people to have free reign. They are piqued by a flawed system that has over the years been irresponsive to the frustrations of members who have never been allowed to participate

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

No! Jonathan No! in decisions as to who are to represent them.

The inability of the party to allow popular participation in the choice of leaders at the ward, local government, state and federal levels is the issue to contend with. It is this scant regard for the sovereignty of the people that stultified the ward congresses of the party and gave rise to lists of delegates that were at variance with the wishes and aspirations of the constituents which they purport to represent.

Having laid a weak foundation at those levels, the outcome of the primaries had obviously been primed for a total fiasco which it turned out to be. People of conscience and principle will be hard put to remain in a party that has no ordered way of conducting its affairs. People of principle will prefer a party that has established processes for conducting congresses and primaries. If such people dump a party that has shown scant regard for rules, procedure and order, they should be hailed and not vilified. In their action lies the path to the growth of democracy. For them to be encouraged to stay on and grow democracy there must be some order. That is the issue that has been elevated to the fore by the bad blood in the party leading to defections.

So Jonathan missed the point completely when his suggestions gave the impression that those aggrieved were merely impatient people grumbling because they did not succeed in the elections. That is not the issue here.

Neither does it make any sense to heap the blames of the current challenges facing the party on these frustrated members. The issues that demoralize them leading to defections are very fundamental and at the very heart of representative democracy. And they are not entirely new to the party. They formed part

“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.” – Bob Marley

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HE die has been cast; the drums have been rolled out and the dancers have already taken the centre stage.

It is a very rough road that leads to Armageddon and some may never even reach there. We have crossed this bridge before and it was not an easy way to Terabithia.

General elections in Nigeria are a very serious business – too serious to be left in the hands of politicians alone.

In the past few weeks, political parties were preoccupied with party primaries across all level of governance. Party tickets have been won and lost. The winners are engulfed with joy and they are looking forward to form more alliances ahead of the February general elections, while some losers are still aggrieved, dissatisfied and angry. Some are even looking for ways to cause chaos during the elections.

Only a few of them understood the real meaning of sportsmanship in politics and that brings us to where we presently find ourselves. Many politicians in Nigeria are very selfish and they are always ready at any given time to do whatever it takes to get elected. The life of the poor in our society and the peace of the nation mean nothing to them in as much as the elections did not go in their favour. The opposition will do everything within their arsenals to muscle their way into power, while the incumbents will also use all armaments to keep power. All the dirty tricks in the books will be deployed by all and at the end of the day they leave blood in the streets. Oh yes! We have crossed this bridge before and it never leads to Terabithia.

The 2011 general elections was marred with wide spread post-election violence in some sections of the country. The Federal Government constituted a 22-man committee headed

‘The election is just around the corner, but no one is discussing issues yet. No one is discussing the peace and security of the electorates before, during and after the elections. As far as I am concerned, the security of lives and properties of the citizenry is far more important than the value attached to winning elections. Without peace and security in the nation, there will be no country to rule’

of the grouses of some governors and key leaders of the party that culminated into its implosion early this year. They are issues relating to internal democracy, arbitrariness, imposition of candidates and scant regard for rules.

Given the above, the minimum expectation was that the party would have been guided by this experience in preparing for this election. The general feeling was that the PDP would seize the momentum of current events in the country to reform and reposition itself in the overall interest of our wobbling democracy. But events have proved all that wrong. Rather than abate, such negative tendencies and dispositions were further reinforced by the outcome of the ward congresses and primaries of that party.

Jonathan’s reaction that the party will be guided by this sad experience when preparing for the 2019 elections is rather ridiculous. So also is his exhortation to aggrieved members to remain in the party and resolve whatever they felt is wrong in the party.

Since these issues have been with the party, a President or political party that is desirous of deepening democracy ought to have taken steps to ensure they were corrected before the primaries. To allow things get out of hands only to blame the aggrieved for impatience is not a mark of good leadership. All the signals for whatever happened at the primaries had all along been there.

Jonathan saw them. The corrupt party leadership saw them and was interested in lining their pockets. They cannot pretend at the bazaar that was the fate of their ward congresses and primaries.

They cannot pretend there is now a strong opposition waiting in the wings to provide credible alternative. They cannot pretend that the impunity of the party when it comes to electing members into party positions or elective offices has long been a huge source of worry to all lovers of democracy. It is also not new that many have left or shunted out of the party on account of these. There have been enough signals that it should no longer be business as usual.

Yet, for the party, nothing changed. Whatever reverses the party is currently passing through are self-inflicted.

Jonathan was pushing his luck too far when he promised to redress the undemocratic conduct in his party affairs when preparing for 2019 elections. He may be able to do so if he wins the 2015 election. But there is no guarantee he will win as the current disputes over the primaries have been taking a toll on the membership of the PDP. Maybe all these have been primed to weaken his candidature.

Even then, more than any other, this is the time he needed to hold his party members together given the armada of opposition that has been lined up against him. Having failed to take advantage of this imperative, he should be prepared for the consequences of his inaction.

But he must hold himself and his party leadership largely responsible for the spate of defections arising from the flawed congresses and primaries. If we cannot grow democracy through such outcome, he and the PDP leadership should take the blame and not aggrieved members.

‘Jonathan was pushing his luck too far when he promised to redress the undemocratic conduct in his party affairs when preparing for 2019 elections. He may be able to do so if he wins the 2015 election. But there is no guarantee he will win as the current disputes over the primaries have been taking a toll on the membership of the PDP’

2015: Nigerians need peace

By Shafi’i Hamidu by a Minna-based former Grand Khadi, Sheikh Ahmad Lemu. Nobody was in any doubt when the highly respected Sheikh presented a very meticulous report with insightful recommendations on how to forestall future occurrences.

But very typical of this administration, the report, just like many other committee reports before it, was dumped in a shelf somewhere in a corner of Aso Rock villa. No surprise that nobody heard anything about the Lemu’s report or its recommendations that was submitted to the current president. Ironically, this and many other good intentioned works for promoting peace and religious understanding earned the Sheikh the 2014 King Faisal Prize at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since then many things have change in this country. The Fulani man carrying a stick before is now carrying a gun.

The repentant Niger Delta militants carrying guns before are now warship importers. The Boko Haram carrying AK47 before are now controlling Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and the Ombatse militia of Nasarawa State are now gun runners. Our territories have been annexed by religious extremists that claimed to be fighting for Islam. Weapons, weapons, everywhere, but not enough for the army. Of great concern are the recent serial jailbreaks that took place at different locations in the country. The pattern of these prison breaks have political colouration written all over them.

Everyday there is a terror story in Nigeria and no one is feeling secure. Unfortunately, the government of the day has its priorities and providing security to the citizenry is not at the top of their scale of preference. Winning election and retaining their offices is all they have ear for. At the top of these all we are facing a general election in an uncertain, insecure, vulnerable and defenceless situation.

It is important to point out that no politician is worth dying for and no one deserve to die because of an election.

Rewind: actually, not even an ant deserves to die because of an election. I also believe that the security of lives and properties of the citizenry is the responsibility of all, but the buck lies on the table of the Commander-in-Chief and the governors of the states. History shows that the utterances of some political gladiators during electioneering are clear pointers that motivate violent tendencies in the electorates.

Therefore, it is high time we start holding our leaders responsible for their unguarded utterances in the run-up to elections. The way and manner some electorates easily be-

come willing tools for political manipulations to cause violence during or after elections calls for a serious concern. It still beat my imaginations that in this year and age some people still participate in political thuggery without their political godfathers and their children leading the way in the streets. It is totally against the law of fairness for politicians to incite the masses to kill themselves on the streets during elections while their children are sent to the most expensive schools abroad studying. Indeed, common sense is not always common.

The politics of tribe, religion and region is a very sensitive thing to play with in Nigeria, but unfortunately that is what the politicians are using to divide us. The moment any of these is mention, we quickly loose our senses. We quickly take sides depending on which side of the argument we come from. The election is just around the corner, but no one is discussing issues yet. No one is discussing the peace and security of the electorates before, during and after the elections. As far as I am concerned, the security of lives and properties of the citizenry is far more important than the value attached to winning elections. Without peace and security in the nation, there will be no country to rule.

Let us be our brother’s keepers and let’s shun any act of violence that will jeopardize the peace and tranquillity of the nation. Vote wisely because your vote is your right.

This is my #PieceOfPeace.

• Hamidu wrote in from the Federal University of Technology Minna.

‘It is important to point out that no politician is worth dying for and no one deserve to die because of an election. Rewind: actually, not even an ant deserves to die because of an election. I also believe that the security of lives and properties of the citizenry is the responsibility of all, but the buck lies on the table of the Commander-in-Chief and the governors of the states’

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

CEO

JOBS

Jobs: SMEs to the rescue

‘Oil price slump won’t weaken banks’ base’ - P. 37

- P. 35 News Briefing Nairadevaluation, insurgencytaketollontrade THE chickens are finally coming home to roost. The devaluation of the naira and insurgency in the Northeast part of Nigeria are begining to bite commerce.

–Page 26

2015 budget: NASS gets N40b for constituency projects THE Federal Government has budgeted N40 billion for Constituency Projects aside from the N150 billion funneled to the National Assembly in 2015.

–Page 26

Under counterfeiters’ threat THEY are the fastest bottling lines built by Krones, a German packaging and bottling machine manufacturer, for liquor production in West Africa.

The two Krone installedreturnable lines produce 30,000 bottles of liquor per hour; while the non-returnable Poly Ethylene Teraphthalate (PET) line distills 40,000 containers hourly.

–Page 26

NSE to remove low-level stockbrokers • Sticks to December 31 deadline for new standards S TOCKBROKERS and dealers at the Nigerian stock market will face a litmus test of minimum operating capacity in the New Year as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) begins implementation of its minimum operating standard (MOS) requirements.

A circular dispatched to stockbroking firms on the eve of the Yuletide holidays, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation, indicated that stockbrokers will be reclassified under four categories according to operating capacity in 2015 while other stockbroking firms that fail to meet requirements for any of the four categories will be exited from the market.

Also, existing stockbrokers that fail to meet the first three levels of operating standards

By Taofik Salako

will be reclassified as subbrokers, partially recognised operators, and they will lose their membership of the Exchange.

Contrary to expectations that the Exchange may delayed the implementation, the circular, authorised by the broker-dealer regulation department of the Exchange and titled “Implementation of the NSE’s Minimum Operating Standard Requirements (MOS)” stated that the “deadline for compliance with the MOS remains December 31, 2014”.

The implementation of the MOS deadline placed stockbrokers, which also face similar recapitalisation deadline

from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in a tight position. There is ongoing strong lobby for extension of the deadline by SEC, which has not issued any statement on the extension as at press time.

The new standards relate to all the three classes of dealing members including broker-dealers, brokers and dealers and address the five broad areas of manpower and equipment; organizational structure and governance; effective processes; global competitiveness; and technology.

According to the circular, dealing members shall cease to submit monthly MOS compliance level reports to the Exchange and

instead, no later than March 31, 2015, each Dealing Member is required to submit one final MOS compliance level report in the prescribed templates previously provided by the Exchange. Dealing members that do not comply

by March 31, 2015 will immediately be suspended from trading until they comply.

Also, commencing in April 2015 and until the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2015, the Exchange will conduct thematic reviews and examinations to evaluate each dealing member’s level of compliance with the MOS. Dealing members that have partially complied by the fourth quarter of 2015 may be provided additional

NACCIMA to govt: Explore alternative energy sources

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

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

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

timelines to comply as appropriate. However, the accommodation of additional timelines may be accompanied by penalties as appropriate.

According to NSE, following the thematic reviews and examinations, stockbrokers that are not in compliance with the MOS by the fourth quarter of 2015 will be advised to reclassify from broker-dealer status to a classification with lower MOS requirements. These include splitting the functions and becoming either a broker or dealer or becoming a sub-broker, a quasi operator with no membership of the NSE. Other stockbroking firms that fail to meet any of the four categories will be directed to “exit the market in an orderly manner”.

• Member, Board of Advisors, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN),Chairman, Prof Oladapo Afolabi, President, Yinka Fasuyi and Member , Board of Advisor, Adebayo Jimoh all of Ibadan Business School (IBS) uring the inaugural meeting of IBS in Ibadan.

PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

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PERATORS of small scale enterprises and industries in Nigeria, acting under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), are considering setting up their own Micro-Finance Bank (MFB) to get round their challenge of lack of access to finance, The Nation has learnt.

The Association’s National President, Chief Chuku Nwachuku, said in the next couple of weeks, NASSI would be asking for investors so that it can have its own micro-finance bank in every local government area of the country.

He said the MFB would grant loans to NASSI mem-

HE Nigeria Associa tion of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Power (NACCIMA), has urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the political will to implement its policy on alternative energy sources.

It said this is an important step for government to achiev stable power supply in the country to stimulate economic activities.

Its President, Alhaji Mohammed Badru Abubakar said in view of the critical role that power plays in the development of the national economy, government must work closely with the generating companies and distribution companies to achieve the desired energy requirement of the country. He said: “All stakeholders in the power sector should collaborate to improve on the current output, which hovers between 3,200megawatts (Mw) and 3,500Mw.”

NASSI mulls micro-finance bank

By Chikodi Okereocha

bers at a friendly interest rate instead of the prevailing rate of between 25 and 30 per cent interest rate. “How do you expect a deposit money bank with shareholders funds to give you interest of nine per cent, for instance, instead of their prevailing interest rate of 25 to 30 per cent?” he asked.

While describing the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fund put in place by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) as a serious and com-

mendable intervention, he expressed regrets that the problem with the fund, like similar funds in the past targeted at the sub-sector, is difficulty in accessing them.

“That (N220b MSMEs fund) is a serious intervention. But the problem with funds like that, and over the years we have had so many funds like that in place, is that you cannot access them. So they remain a mirage. And this N220 billion has continued to be a mirage. That means you can’t touch it,” he said.

He said a memo that came up at the first meeting of the National Council on Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo was access to finance, and that the Vice President realised there and then that a big chunk of the problem small scale industrialists are having is how to access finance.

“The CBN guideline as published makes it impossible for anybody to access that fund.

That is what happened to all kinds of funds that is domiciled with the CBN and other government agencies. Nobody can access them,” he lamented.

Nwachuku, a former Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE)

however, said the VP in his right thinking set up a subcommittee with NASSI as a member, and together with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), CBN, Bank of Industry (BoI), and Bank of Agriculture (BoA), NASSI is trying to find a practical approach on how entrepreneurs can really access the fund.

The NASSI boss however, argued that rather than put such intervention funds in the hands of government agencies, the best thing is to get the funds directly into the businesses to create employment.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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BUSINESS NEWS Naira devaluation, insurgency take toll on trade

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HE chickens are finally coming home to roost.

The devaluation of the naira and insurgency in the Northeast part of Nigeria are begining to bite commerce.

At one of Nigeria’s busiest markets, Ndubuisi Benjamin Nweke complains about the toughest business environment Africa’s biggest economy has faced in years.

“Customers are not coming the way they’re supposed to,” said the 46-year-old, whose trade in Chinesemade fabrics at the Idumota market in the commercial capital, Lagos, like many Nigerian importers, is being squeezed by a plunge in the naira. “Everyone is crying for money.”

Nigeria is being hammered on two fronts as it heads toward general elections in February. In the face of plummeting crude prices, the central bank devalued the naira and the government proposed budget cuts.

At the same time, Islamist militants of the Boko Haram group have stepped up attacks in their five-year insurgency, and the security forces in Africa’s top crude producer are struggling to stop them.

Northern Nigeria is faring even worse than the south.

Cosmetics seller Madu Masa Fantami has witnessed a drop in business after suicide bombers killed dozens at the Monday Market in the Northeastern city of Maiduguri last month.

“Before these two attacks we have been making a lot of sales but now the situation worsens, sometimes we make very little,” Fantami, 35, said by phone from Maiduguri. “People don’t come like before for fear of being attacked by Boko Haram.”

Election violence will probably intensify, with the elections in February expected to be disputed, Brussels-based International Crisis Group said in report last month.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will face an opposition led by former military leader Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the tightest contest since the PDP came to power at the end of military rule in 1999. Both Jonathan and Buhari have pledged to stop the Islamist rebellion that’s killed more than 13,000 since 2009.

“There will be some form of struggle for quite a number of businesses,”

Adedayo Idowu, an economist at Lagos-based Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., said by phone. “Between the security crisis and the severe austerity going on in the economy, because it’s not just the exchange rate, it’s also the austerity, the sense is this is just the beginning of it.”

Finance Minister and Coordinator Minister of the Economy, Ngozi OkonjoIweala proposed an eight per cent spending cut in next year’s budget in reaction to the 45 per cent decline in oil prices this year. Nigeria, which gets about 70 per cent of government revenue and almost all of its export earnings from crude, is expecting prices to stabilise at about $65 to $70 a barrel next year, from $60.75 currently.

The CBN responded with currency devaluation and by raising interest rates to a record 13 per cent to address capital outflows. The actions were a bid to stem capital outflows and stabilise the currency, which has retreated nine per cent this quarter against the dollar, the worst performer in Africa after Malawi’s kwacha.

“The devaluation of the official exchange rate and depreciation pressures will quickly push up import prices and lift headline inflation into double digits in early 2015,” David Faulkner, a Johannesburg-based subSaharan Africa economist at HSBC Holdings Plc, wrote in a report. The inflation rate was 7.9 per cent in November.

Nigeria’s fiscal and external “buffers” are low and need to be rebuilt, with the West African nation’s oil savings, the Excess Crude Account (ECA), depleted to $3 billion from $21 billion in 2008, the International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) country representative Gene Leon said in a statement. Nigeria also faces domestic risks including security before the elections, he said.

Even in the southern coastal hub of Lagos, Nweke’s fabric business is feeling the strain of the country’s security challenges.

Goods that used to take three to four days to clear at the ports can now be held up by about three weeks as authorities search for shipments bringing in weapons and ammunition, he said.

“Things are hard,” Nweke said. “We’re still hoping that after the elections in 2015, things will be better.”

‘

The CBN responded with currency devaluation and by raising interest rates to a record 13 per cent to address capital outflows. The actions were a bid to stem capital outflows and stabilise the currency, which has retreated nine per cent this quarter against the dollar, the worst performer in Africa after Malawi’s kwacha

’

• Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar 111 (left) with Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State after the presentation of 2015 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly in Sokoto.

PHOTO: NAN

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2015 budget: NASS gets N40b for constituency projects

HE Federal Govern ment has budgeted N40 billion for Constituency Projects aside from the N150 billion funneled to the National Assembly in 2015.

According the details of the 2015 budget under the Service Wide Vote, a special intervention/constituency projects item to be jointly approved by the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance will receive N40 billion in the new financial year.

The Federal Government has also indicated its intention to go ahead with its nuclear programme next year.

Pursuant to this, the government has voted N1.5 billion as seed money in the 2015 budget to finance “the implementation of Nigeria’s nuclear power programme.”

Also contained in the details of the budget proposal is another N1billion budgeted as matching grant for the “safe school initiative” programme; N750, 000, 000 for the rehabilitation of existing 23 federal secretariats in the states of the federation; N300million for the establishment of resident defense section at the Embassy of Nigeria, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and N1billion for the construction of federal secretariat in Ekiti State.

•Govt votes N1.5b for nuclear programme From Nduka Chiejina (Asst.

Editor) and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

The sum of N474, 533, 276 has been planned for consultancy, survey and short term studies; N7, 005, 000, 000 for refunds to states for federal roads projects and N4.5million to cover sinking fund for retiring future matured bonds.

All these are contained in the Service Wide Vote of the Federal Ministry of Finance which has over a trillion naira to tinker with in the new year.

Communications and advocacy will take N427million; N1, 561, 772, 918 will got to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) special projects; N9, 376, 044, 922 on Special Intervention MDGs 1; N4, 216, 074, 449 on Special Intervention MDGs 2 and N20million on Sinking Fund for infrastructural development.

For adjustments to capital costs, over N2billion has been budgeted in 2015 while the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited

(NELMCO) will get N6billion for its functions in the same year.

Funding of Galaxy Backbone infrastructure will take N2.5billion; Bulk traders N5.43billion; Special initiative for women participation in agriculture, water, sport, communication technology, etc N1.5billion; Job creation, Youwin programme N6billion; Payment for maturing domestic bonds N7.5billion; Government integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) N500million; and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) N3billion.

In 2015, the National Planning Commission (infrastructure master plan) is expected to receive N300million; Housing Mortgage Institutions N1billion; Sports Developm e n t N1.5billion; Counterpart funding including global fund/for health N1.5billion; Capital Development of national institute for legislative studies (NILS)

also of the National Assembly N2billion.

Payment of local contractors’ debts get N3billion; the Federal Initiative for the North East (pilot counterpart funding contribution) will get N5billion; Refund to special accounts N10billion; Development Finance Institutions (DFI) N4billion; the 2011 election violence and civil disturbances got N3.7billion; Quick winscompletion of 2008 & 2009 p r o j e c t s N527,259,306; Conditional grants and social safety nets for (MDGs)- N35,284,192,766; and Support to UNDP millennium campaign programme Nigeria in Africa/ African parliamentarian programme-N5billion.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme Reintegration of transformed ex-militants will be smiling to bank with N35.4billio; the Presidential Amnesty Programme: Reintegration/Transition safety allowances for 3,642 ex-militants (3rd phase) will also receive N546.3billion; while the Presidential Amnesty Programmes: operational cost for the new year will pocket N3.6billion. Next year, an allocation has also been made for Contingency to receive N15billion and Recurrent Adjustment N3.09billion.

‘Stable power supply is work in progress’

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HE Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric (IE) (formerly Ikeja Electricity Distribution (IKEDC), Engr.

Abiodun Ajifowobaje, has said the country’s transition to uninterrupted power supply is work in progress.

He expressed confidence that the advent of privatisation in the power sector will deliver the expected dividend.

Ajifowobaje who spoke with The Nation, however cautioned Nigerians that they should not be unmindful of the time it will take the country to reach the desired levels of gas availability, infrastructure, human capital and financial backing, which

By Muyiwa Lucas

are all critical ingredients for a complete transformation of the sector.

According to him, so far, the best thing that has happened to the power sector is its privatisation.

This is because prior to privatisation, the industry was in need of fresh investments to boost capacity and supply.

Privatisation, the IE boss explained, has given the sector a boost, especially with the introduction of private sector initiative, including private funding, which he noted, is completely changing its operational framework all

over the country.

He however said the persistent problem of vandalism of electrical equipment constitutes a major challenge to timely realisation of the goal.

Vandalism, he further said, is like a virus which is destroying the power industry in Nigeria with colossal socio-economic implication.

“It throws communities into darkness and hit the commercial and industrial activities of the affected areas.

“We should work together to stop the activities of vandals and those that specialise in energy theft and destruction of power facilities and installations,” he said.

He recalled that one year ago when IE took over the electricity distribution under the privatisation scheme, there were 42 transformer substations out of circuit due to vandalism.

To curb or reduce this incident from further occurrence, he said that his firm had to engage in public enlightenment on the effect of vandalism. This has also been further boosted by way of partnering with security agencies in Lagos State in tackling the menace, as well as being in constant touch with the community leaders and propping them to assist in securing the equipment in their domains.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

27

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

OPEC oil output will not be cut, says Saudi’s oil Minister

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AUDI Arabia’s oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, has said oil producers’ cartel OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) will not cut production even if the price falls to $20 a barrel.

His comments reinforce OPEC recent policy change away from restricting output as prices fall.

In November, OPEC said it would keep its target output at 30 million barrels per day.

The Brent crude oil price has fallen by more than 46 per cent since its $116 June peak.

Speaking to the Middle East Economic Survey, Mr al-Naimi said: “As a policy for Opec - and I con-

vinced OPEC of this, even OPEC secretary general, Mr al-Badri is now convinced - it is not in the interest of OPEC producers to cut their production, whatever the price is.

“Whether it goes down to $20, $40, $50, $60, it is irrelevant,” he said. The world might not see the oil price back at $100 a barrel again, he added.

While alternative sources of crude oil, such as shale and tar sands, have caused a big increase in supply, some analysts argue that the oil price collapse is more to do with falling demand due to a slowing global economy.

Danny Gabay of Fathom Finan-

cial Consulting said that the oil price fall was “overwhelmingly, predominantly, if not entirely, a demand shock. It’s China slowing down. The supply element is more of a reaction.”

International Monetary Fund (IMF) economists have speculated that the low oil price could boost the global economy by up to 0.7 per cent in 2015.

“Overall, we see this as a shot in the arm for the global economy,” said Olivier Blanchard, the IMF’s chief economist.

Similarly, OPEC producers believe the oil price could return to about $70 or $80 by the end of 2015 as global economic recovery boosts demand.

Nigerian-German business group for Germany

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DELEGATION of small and medium-sized business con cerns comprising members of the Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA) will visit Germany in February next year to explore opportunities for business deals.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NGBA and Delegate, German Delegation of Industry and Commerce (AHK), Mr. André Rönne, who made this known at the 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association in Lagos, said the planned visit was a response to the five-day visit of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) to Nigeria in June, this year.

VDMA represents all manufacturers of machinery, equipment and

plant in Germany and has approximately 3,100 member-companies.

During the visit, the VDMA delegation organised a symposium on German Technology – Tailor Made for Foodstuff Processing and Packaging and participated in a workshop on Doing Business in Nigeria.

Rönne said NGBA and AHK also organised a cultural trade show dedicated to the cultural variety of Nigeria in collaboration with the German Goethe Institute and Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in October to highlight positive aspects of Nigeria.

He announced that the second edition of the cultural show is already being planned and is expected to

attract a bigger audience.

The AGM, chaired by outgoing President, Mr. Peter Sengpiel, adopted the annual report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 following a motion moved by Dr. David Obi. In his welcome address, Sengpiel noted that the association was more vibrant and on the path of growth again following the engagement of Mrs. Jennifer Anoyika to run the affairs of the association as the Chief Operating Officer last year.

At the end of the meeting, awards were conferred on the founder of NGBA, Mr. and Ambassador (Mrs) Adebo-Kiencke and Mr. Sengpiel for contributions to the association.

Classique Event offers 20% discount

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LASSIQUE Events Place has opened in Lagos with the management promising a 20 per cent discount for customers.

It was opened by Latter Rain Assembly founder, Pastor Tunde Bakare. Based at Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, it boasts of 2,500 seats, a parking lot for over 500 cars, all-marble flooring with nine large multimedia screens in the hall.

The management of the place led by the owner, Mrs. Olutola Adeyinka, said Classique also boast of 24-hour power supply with standby generators, modern

convenience facilities as well as professional staff.

At the event were ace comedian, Basket Mouth, TITI of Inspiration FM and Oscar Oyinsan of City FM. Adeyinka said the Classique Events Place was set up to raise the bar of what is deemed excellent facilities for events centres in the Lagos.

She also said to celebrate the birth of that dream, prospective customers who pre-booked the venue between now and December 30, would receive as much as a 20 per cent discount on pricing for their events till August 2015 and a Samsung smartphone.

Teleworld opens in Yaba

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ECHNOLOGY consumers in Lagos now have easy access to technology products at highly competitive pricing in a soothing ambience at the newly opened one-stop technology and lifestyle superstore, the Geek Centre, courtesy of Teleworld Integrated Services Limited.

Speaking at the opening of the cCentre in Lagos, Timothy Ogboruche, Chief Executive Officer of Teleworld Integrated, said: “The Geek Centre was inspired by the need to meet the needs of the technology consumer for convenience, access to a wide range of technology products and services under one roof and for excellent customer service. As a consumer focused company, we have been able to achieve this in Ikeja, Kaduna and Abuja, and are delighted to be replicating the same in the heart of Lagos metropolis in Yaba.

“Under one roof at the Geek Centre, we have a one-stop shop for phones, electronic gadgets, and household appliances, sound studio and sound system retail units to meet the increasingly dynamic needs of the contemporary technology savvy consumer.

The choice of Tejuosho in Yaba as the location of the Geek Centre is strategic because of

its nearness to the ultra modern Tejuosho Mall, University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and the need to differentiate the Teleworld brand by moving away from the clutter at the Computer Village. Consumers on Lagos mainland now have easy access to technology products at highly competitive pricing in a soothing ambience.”

Trevor Akindele, Partner, Kruxland Petrogas Nigeria Limited, said: “The Geek Centre is a testament to the outstanding ability of young Nigerian entrepreneurs to excel in spite of the odds. It is indeed inspiring that Teleworld through the Geek Centre and its various offerings will be creating employment for other young Nigerians, and contributing positively to the economy of Nigeria. The Geek Centre is yet another novelty that inspires confidence in the ability of youthful Nigerian entrepreneurs to succeed.”

Encompassing mobile phones, computers, video games, electronic gadgets, and home appliances retail segments; the multi-storied Geek Centre also houses an ultra modern sound production studio, and a sound system retail unit in the heart of Yaba in Lagos Mainland.

Minimum wage bump at 1,400 Walmart stores

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OME employees in about 1,400 Walmart stores could

•The Ilva plant is Europe’s biggest in terms of output capacity.

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Italian govt steps in to save Ilva steel plant

HE Italian government is in tervening in the manage ment of Europe’s biggest steel plant, in an attempt to reform the beleaguered business.

A commissioner will be appointed to manage the site in Taranto and could have the task of preparing its sale.

Ilva, which is a major employer in the southern Italy, has faced criticisms over its environmental record.

Toxic emissions from the Ilva plant have been blamed for unusually high rates of cancer in the area.

The privately-owned plant, Europe’s biggest in terms of out-

put capacity, employs at least 14,000 people. Ilva has been making a loss for years and was placed in special administration last year.

Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also committed the government to clearing up the polluted areas surrounding the plant, in order to protect children in Taranto, the coastal town in which Ilva is based.

The European Commission said in October that the Tamburi area of the town in particular was contaminated and urged the govern-

ment to take action.

Mr Renzi said that the government would consider nationalising the plant and selling it on, if a buyer could be found who promised to protect jobs.

“I forecast maximum state intervention of 36 months to clean up Ilva and relaunch it,” he told reporters.

The international steel giant ArcellorMittal has reportedly expressed an interest in acquiring Ilva.

The plant, owned by the Riva family, was partially closed in 2012 because of the high levels of pollution.

see their wages climb in 2015 due to increases in their state’s minimum wage.

There are 20 states where the minimum wage is set to rise on Jan. 1, and another four states plus Washington D.C. where the wages are due to go up later in the year.

According to a state-by-state breakdown of stores in Walmart (WMT) financial filings, there were just more 1,400 stores in those 24 states as of Jan. 31 of last year, though that number has likely increased due to Walmart expansion plans. There are a little more than 200 Sam’s Clubs in those 24 states as well.

Walmart has become a focus of activists who want to raise the federal minimum wage, with aggrieved Walmart workers and their advocates protesting outside of stores. Walmart is the nation’s largest private sector employer with 1.4 million U.S. employees, according to company filings.

CEO Doug McMillon told reporters last month that there were less than 6,000 of those employees who are paid the na-

tional minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, and that the company was moving towards paying all of its employees more than the federal minimum. But he did not give a breakdown as to how many were paid the minimum allowed by state law, which is currently as high as $9.32 an hour in Washington.

Walmart has said it does not oppose the Obama administration’s proposal to raise the national minimum wage $10.10. The company would actually a benefit from higher wages for low-wage workers since many of those minimum wage workers are shoppers at its stores. But other business groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Retail Federation have opposed a minimum wage increase and have been able to beat back any attempts in Congress to raise the federal minimum.

Reuters reported that Walmart management sent a memo to store managers detailing the extent of the pay increases that would take place due to the changes in state minimums.

Walmart’s spokespeople were not immediate available to comment on that report.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

28

BUSINESS AFRICA

Cargo clearing at MMIA on course, says Nahco Aviance chief

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LEARING of goods at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, is ongoing and should end by the first week of January, the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of nahco aviance, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, has assured.

In a statement in Lagos, the company’s spokesman, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, quoted Bielderman as saying that everything was under control and work was progressing.

“All hands have been on deck to ensure that the backlog is cleared.

Currently we have cleared approximately 60 percent. We are hopeful that the situation will be back to normal by the end of the first week of 2015. We do 24 hours decongestion on the tarmac, which has yielded positive result,” Bielderman was quoted to have stated.

The nahco aviance’ boss restated that the seven-day work strategy adopted by the Company had gone a long way in reducing the volume of cargo on the tarmac.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

On whether this strategy also meant that work would continue at Christmas, Bielderman said: “By joint agreement between terminal operators, clearing agents and Customs, it was decided that work be put off for the public holidays of December 25 and 26, 2014. Full operations will resume on December 27 till the end of 2014. This will enable all concerned to have a little rest and re-energise. This position was agreed between all stakeholders in cargo clearing business.”

Bielderman also disclosed that because of the nature of the task at hand, the senior management team and himself would be on ground during the holidays and would continue to work until the situationreturned to normal.

He said: “Due to the situation in cargo, I will not be going on leave.

My senior management team and myself will be on ground during this holiday season until the situation is back to normal in cargo.”

He praised the excellent working

relationship with stakeholders, adding that everyone was doing well to ensure that the situation was contained.

He, however, appealed to importers for their understanding, promising that nahco aviance is doing everything possible to ensure that their shipments are delivered safely without further delay. “We truly never envisage this situation. However, all necessary mechanisms have been put in place to guide against a repeat of this ugly incident,” he re-assured.

Bielderman also expressed appreciation to clearing agents for their support and cooperation and requested them to sustain the current trend.

“The board and management of nahco aviance like to appreciate all our client airlines, clearing agents, customs, FAAN, and other critical stakeholders in air cargo for the support and cooperation in this critical period. We wish them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance,” Bielderman stated.

NBCC congratulates Dangote as Forbes Africa Person of the Year

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HE Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has congratulated President/ Founder of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his award as the Forbes Africa Person of the Year by Forbes Magazine.

In a statement in Lagos, its President, Yemi Adefulu said by the award, Forbes was only affirming what the NBCC knew about Dangote.

“In selecting Dangote as a Patron of the NBCC in 2013, the Chamber had closely monitored with satisfaction, his steady meteoric rise in business and social service leadership by prodigious hard work, strategic business planning and focused entrepreneurial ingenuity,” he said.

The Chamber agrees with the encomiums showered on Alhaji Dangote at the Forbes Award ceremony that he is the Lion of Africa in terms of business investment.

He is also a capitalist with a big heart. He puts his money where his mouth is and his foundation is a step forward for a man who wants to make a difference on the continent”, he stated.

He said the NBCC was proud of Dangote and the diverse values of the Forbes brand, which the primary purpose of which was to honour an exceptional leader from the African continent who has not only significantly impacted on the industry he serves, but who has deliberately and positively impacted the lives of the people.

ITF, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone signed MoU on training

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HE Director-General, Industrial Training fund( ITF) Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko has signed a Memorandum of Undersstanding (MoU) with the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones Authority (OGFTZA), Onne in Abuja.

She observed that the Nigeria’s population is growing rapidly, and that there is urgent need to harnessed this potential.

Dr Chukkas-Onaeko said the shortage of technical and vocational skills is constraining enterprise development and restricting employment.

“Evidence from developed and emerging economies show that requisite expertise constitute a key platform for attaining sustainable economic improvement which could only be accomplished by a properly planned and implementable system of education and training.

“In spite of the different governments’ interventions, it is evident that the nation is nevertheless grappling with shortage of skills.

“We do not have the necessary expertise in Nigeria and we have to appear elsewhere. We have prof-

fered options that will address the weaknesses and bridge the capabilities and improvement wants without which it will be hard for Nigeria to totally industrialise,” she said.

The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones Authority Onne, Alabo Victor, agreed with with the director-general and noting that the Free Trade Zones were designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Oil and Gas Sector.

He said the country is witnessing the evolution of trends and investment improve each in foreign direct investment and clientele.

For instance, according to him, the oil and gas free zones had been really active in current times and attracted main oil field operations.

He pointed out that Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone attracted more than 200 businesses operating in different statuses, ranging from oil service companies, projects, manufacturing and processing, banking and so on.

At the end of the meeting, the delegation undertook a facility tour of the MSTC, Abuja.

Hollandia Yoghurt unveils campaign

C •From Left: Commercial Director Promasidor, Mr Onyekachi Onuborgu; 1st Vice President Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs Iquo Ukoh; President ADVAN, Mr Kolawole Oyeyemi; and Executive Secretary, Mrs Ediri Ose-Ediale, at the ADVAN Partners’ end of the year party in Lagos.

Medview Airlines, German carrier partner on sale of flights

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S preparations are in top gear to operate flights to Dubai and Jeddah, Medview Airline have entered into a partnership agreement with a German carrier - Hahn Air for the sale of its flights in 190 countries by travel agents.

Under the umbrella of the Hahn Air electronic ticketing platform, over the 91,000 travel agents hooked on to the system, can sell Medview Airline flights from any destinations even where they don’t have offices.

The Hahn Global Distribution System (GDS) provides travel agents with the tools to issue single or multiple connections tickets of Medview Airline, whether on domestic or international flight.

Medview Airline Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said the partnership agreement with Hahn Air is a welcome development as the aviation industry is highly globalised.

Meanwhile, Investigations revealed that Medview Airlines is recording huge passenger traffic

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

on its Lagos-Accra route.

Sequel to the huge traffic the airline had to deploy bigger aircraft to meet up with the passenger demand .

Sources revealed that the airline may soon begin test ions into other reports in the West African Coast to link routes in many parts of Africa Recently, Bankole said the airline was fine tuning plans to expand flights to the five countries in West Africa it has been designated by the Federal Government .

He listed the countries to include: Senegal, Côte D’ Ivoire, Mali, and Gabon.

Bankole said the desire to extend flight operations into the listed countries would assist Nigerian passengers connect into Europe and other parts of the world, where foreign airlines offer cheaper fares.

He said the commencement of operations into Accra has facilitated a window where Nigerians could access Ghana by air and enjoy the lower fares available to other coun-

tries .

Apart from the huge business transactions between Nigeria and Ghana, Bankole said flights into Ghana has further opened up the market for many Nigerians.

He said the airline is set to consolidate its operations on the Abuja - Jeddah and Dubai routes , which he affirmed many Nigerians are excited about.

He said: “We are looking beyond Accra to fly to Bamako, Libreville, and other countries.

“On the Dubai operations, we are very ready, we have put our house in order and the Nigerian community is ready for us.

“We need to support our airline , because only Nigeria carriers would offer jobs to its nationals , not the foreign airlines coming in here to make money.”

“I have travelled to Saudi Arabia and Dubai to prepare for the operations. We need to support our own carriers. We are going to create jobs and have Nigerian flavour on board.

There is a good offer for Nigerians.”

HI Limited, has unveiled a new advertising campaign for Hollandia Yoghurt in Lagos.

The Television commercial (TVC), tagged ‘It’s All Good,’ features one of Nigeria’s woman singer, songwriter and excellent dancer, Seyi Shay, and it highlighting benefits of drinking Hollandia Yoghurt.

Essentially, the TVC highlights the connection between consumption of Hollandia Yoghurt that is nutritionally fulfilling and the celebrity endorser, Shay.

It also draws attention to the success that is within the reach of those who dare to dream big.

On the TVC, a member of the creative agency in charge of the copy, said the new TVC is a product of innovative thinking that has helped to convey the message that the “goodness” derived from taking Hollandia Yoghurt drink is not only experienced inside but also radiates on the outside.

“It is not always easy to find an emotional way to say things that are factual. This is why we decided to engage the services of Seyi Shay to highlight the goodness of consuming Hollandia Yoghurt regularly.”

Shay said: ‘The partnership was a no-brainer and a flawless match for brand Hollandia brand and my brand. For me, it’s more than just a commercial, it’s my own way of getting millions of Nigerians everywhere to see and enjoy the goodness of Hollandia Yoghurt.’

A consumer of Hollandia Yogurt, Mr. Olanrewaju Ogundipe,

praised Chi Limited and its creative team for putting together such a great commercial.

Ogundipe said: “I really appreciate the work.’’

A marketer, Mrs Sandra Ochulor, said noted that Hollandia Yoghurt stands out in its ability to create an aspiration through its advertising while effectively delivering on the brand promise.

“Technology is clearly changing the way that consumers engage with brands and there is a clear convergence now between creative and the experience that is delivered. It used to be that customer service defined the customer experience. Now, thanks to technology, we can do so much more to enhance the customer experience.”

In a related development, Hollandia Yoghurt has launched some new and exciting variants.

Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Roy Deepanjan, said: “This year Hollandia Yoghurt launched the” It’s All Good” campaign to deliver on the brand truth- which is that Hollandia Yoghurt is good –on the inside as well as on the outside. We observed that there have been dramatic changes in the lifestyle of the consumer. People no longer have the luxury of time as they chase their dreams. That’s our reason for introducing new variants and pack sizes that respond to our consumers’ current needs. We look forward to working with Seyi Shay on a host of different platforms to bring the beloved brand even closer to Nigerians’ ’

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

29

BUSINESS ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2015

• Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

National carrier, master plan, charges in front burner A S the Federal Government unveils new measures to shore up revenue from the non - oil sectors next year, the aviation industry is expected to contribute significantly to the gross domestic product.

Statistics reveal that passenger traffic on both domestic and international routes is expected to hit over 15 million mark, with the attendant spiral effects in terms of revenue accruing to government from ticket sales' tax.

The aviation sector, expectedly is hoping to have a fresh breath of air next year, given the template put in place by government which is a friendlier business environment where multiple charges are undergoing review.

Next year, according to experts, will be under close watch as lower fare regime; dictated by a lowering of airport and aeronautical charges for airlines would be the major outlook for business in the sector.

Optimism over lower airport charges is predicated on a preliminary report submitted by the committee set up by aviation ministry, which prescribed the review of multiple charges and its attendant effects on investment in the sector.

Industry watchers say major development that would determine the outlook of the industry is the unveiling of a master plan that would address revenue , airport concessions and related issues.

The draft of an industry master plan in 2015, according to the minister of aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, will provide a compass on how many issues in the industry will be resolved.

Issues that will dominate the attention of experts in the year include : implementation of the master plan, the template guiding airport concessions and how land available at airports nationwide would be utilised for the development and growth of the industry through private sector intervention.

Aviation experts say the setting up of a national carrier, to be private sector driven will also constitute the major outlook for the sector in 2015.

At a time revenues accruing to government are falling, on account of falling oil prices, a review of commercial air agreements and royalties would be to the rescue.

Such review would fetch more money for government than the meagre royalties paid by foreign airlines for extra frequencies they enjoy operating into Nigeria.

In 2015, a new industry master plan is expected to create avenues for government to

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

optimise its revenue offerings from the aviation sector through review of subsisting concessions.

A review of such concessions, the minister of aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka said, would enable the aviation sector contribute significantly to the gross domestic product.

Currently, the aviation sector contribute less than one per cent to the gross domestic product.

Key among the concessions include the use of land around airports nationwide , which is expected to be optimised to yield more revenue for government through private sector buy in resulting in the provision of airport facilities.

These would include airline catering facilities, aviation fuel depots, aircraft maintenance facilities and other ancillary service providers.

Experts project that the outlook for the aviation sector in 2015 would be brighter if government succeeds in setting up a national carrier, which would enable indigenous carriers have increased market share of the thousands of passengers flown out of the country by foreign airlines .

Such a venture would not only earn revenue for government, but would position the aviation sector a contributor to economic development.

The establishment of a national carrier would also create a window for manpower development and utilisation in the aviation sector with its multiplier effect for the economy.

In 2015, the expansion of cargo and freight business is expected to fetch in more revenue for government as there is increasing freight and logistic business into Nigeria.

As a strategy, so cargo and ground handling companies including: Skyways Aviation Handling Company ( SAHCOL ) has already completed its ultra modern warehouse to cater for the expected increase in cargo movement.

Increasing cargo activities at major international airports, would earn more revenue for government, which would become handy in the face of falling oil prices in the international market.

Two leading ground handling companies, SAHCOL and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc are already provid-

ing facilities to key into the new arrangement, where aviation should be a major contributor to the gross domestic product.

In the area of manpower development, government should invest more in the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in Zaria, Kaduna State to attract more revenue for government.

This has become imperative given the place of the college as the leading aviation training institution in Africa.

Apart from the provision of more training facilities at the college, the establishment of a flight simulation centre in Lagos in 2015 is expected to earn more revenue for government.

Industry players say the setting up of a flight simulator centre for pilots in Nigeria would save enough foreign exchange hitherto spent on such training in Europe and America.

Significantly, the completion of five international airport terminals built by the Chinese Engineering Construction Company is expected to get some attention in 2015.

The new terminals are located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano. Enugu and Port Harcourt.

With increasing flight activities at these airports, revenue accruing to government is expected to increase in the year.

In 2015, domestic airline operations would take a shape as more carriers would expand their route network.

Expansion of routes would be into secondary airports, as some carriers will take delivery of regional aircraft, including Bombardier CRJ and DORNIER Jets to service such routes.

Among the carriers to look out for include Air Peace, which would launch flights into Warri, Makurdi, Kano, Benin, Uyo, Yola, and other airports.

Another airline to watch in the year is Discovery Air, which is set to expand its operations into many routes.

The chairman of Discovery Air, Mr Tunde Babalola said three new carriers would announce a consolidation arrangement. Which is set to achieve cooperation among airlines.

He listed the airlines to include: Discovery Air, AZMAN Air and Air Peace.

Arik Air and Medview Airlines in 2015 are set to make foray into some regional and intercontinental routes in the months ahead.

While Medview is set to expand flights into Dubai and Jeddah as well as Singapore, it would also expand on the West African routes

to Dakar, Abidjan and Libreville.

Speaking in an interview, the managing director of Medview Airlines said: “We look forward to a robust year as we will expand flights into Dubai, Jeddah and Singapore.

On the domestic scene, we are looking at consolidating our operations, hoping that the operating environment would be conducive.

From the point of view of civil aviation regulation, 2015 would be busy for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), which is expected to recruit more aircraft inspectors to shore up, its regulatory responsibility.

In particular, the NCAA is expected to equip its airworthiness directorate with highly technical personnel, who are supposed to carry put serious oversight on airlines.

The regulatory body in the year, aviation experts say, should carry out more economic audit of domestic carriers to ensure their viability and safety.

Industry watchers say more should be expected from the ministry of aviation in terms policy , as the portal set up by the ministry to carry out surveillance on airlines will assist to across issues bordering on delayed and cancelled flights.

Airlines in the year will be sanctioned for either cancelling or delaying flights.

Speaking in an interview on the outlook of aviation in 2015, an aviation expert said: "We call for increased monitoring of economic regulation on airlines by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ascertain their financial health as provided for in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations “I encourage local operators to form alliances/cooperation in order to tap into the benefits of economics of scale and scope which will accrue from such exercise.

The use of foreign registered aircraft with foreign crew should be looked into such that employment opportunities for Nigerian pilots could be enhanced.”

More private sector engagement is expected in the aviation sector in 2015, as government considers options bordering on privatisation of airports, which done concessionaires including Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited has endorsed as the best model to move the industry forward.

Privatisation, if pursued transparently, some experts say would reduce government’s financial intervention on capital projects concerning airport infrastructure.

30

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Alomo Bitters a herbal gin reported to have libido enhancing power is produced in Ghana, but makes huge sales in Nigeria. The manufacturer is worried that the product is being adulterated by those making a kill from it. Now, the company’s plan to have a factory in Nigeria is under threat, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI, who toured Kasapreko facility in Ghana.

T

HEY are the fastest bottling lines built

by Krones, a German packaging and bottling machine manufacturer, for liquor production in West Africa. The two Krone installed-returnable lines produce 30,000 bottles of liquor per hour; while the non-returnable Poly Ethylene Teraphthalate (PET) line distills 40,000 containers hourly.

“It is the fastest spirits line Krones ever installed anywhere in the world,” the company’s founder/CEO, Kwabena Adjei, told The Nation as he walked through the production lines on a newly-built cantilever hall, measuring 100 x 44 metres.

Inside the courtyard of Kasapreko facility, in Accra, Ghana, heavy trucks from Nigeria line up on the dusty road leading to the company. Loaded with Alomo Bitters, with each carton weighing 5.2 kilogrammes, the trucks embark on the 500 kilometres journey to Lagos through Achimatan, a Ghana border town, to Togo and Benin Republic, where it has been enjoying skyrocket sales over the years. “Nigeria is the second-biggest market for Kasapreko, with almost 40 per cent of its sales finding their way over the border,” one of Adjei’s salesmen whispered on the sideline of the facility tour.

The crave for this product by Nigerian consumers is not unconnected with the aphrodisiac qualities that it holds for men and women. “Nigerians mix the beverage with non-alcoholic beer. The supposed sexual enhancing properties hit the right buttons in Nigeria,” says an expert from Euromontor, a market intelligence platform.

Thrilled by the success the product enjoys in Nigeria and the growing demand by other countries, Kasapreko Company bought two new Krones lines in December 2012 to deepen its market penetration. However, with the level of investment, cutting-edge technology, Adjei is not happy with the dwindling market share in the world’s next global frontier for investment —Nigeria. As he addressed a group of journalists from Nigeria inside its boardroom where he displayed over 15 herbal brands produced by the company, and samples of the fake Alomo Bitters, his voice quivered. Looking at the sales chart from the Nigerian market going down drastically, his once-upon-atime fears stared him in the face.

With the realisation of what he dreaded most, his future plan to move his production plant to Nigeria may suffer a hitch with the current challenge his premium brand is facing there.

“Per market share has dropped drastically in Nigeria because of counterfeiting. When I started, I vowed that I will never operate in Nigeria because of faking. But we came to Nigeria. Our business was doing well until now when counterfeiting started destroying our brand,” Adjei said.

Alomo Bitters which according to findings was being smuggled into the country from Ghana before the product got NAFDAC registration in Nigeria now has properties of its brand architecture being copied. From label, container, logo, artistry, colour, brand name, some of the fake brands bear semblance with the Kasapreko Alomo Bitters.

Besides, the fake products come with 100ml instead of the 200ml produced by the company. As a result, an unwary consumers might not notice except skeptic one. “In Nigeria, people copy our mould, label, crown logo, cock crown. We don’t produce 100ml but 200ml. So, we don’t know how our product is now 100ml,” he said.

The reason for this is understandable.

Alomo is a product of research and it is blended with plant extracts that has been used for medicinal purpose. While its Research and Development teams have sound and trained trado-medical practitioners, Kasapreko brags with the fact that seven of its product herbal properties are also extracted from world 3500 documented extracts. “Alomo Bitters offers so many health benefits. We picked seven out of 3500 documented extracts by world research books for herbal plants. One of them is Mahogany which is used for treating fever. It boosts

Under counterfeiters’ threat

• The Krone lines. Inset: Original Alomo (middle) flanked by two fake products.

immune system. It also helps sexual lifestyle base on another properties. It also works for other health issues. These are claims that can be substantiated. There are clinical researches to back these claims. These were tested on animals and it’sscientific basis established. So, Alomo Bitters has gone through scientific evidence,” says Research and Development Manager, Mr. Steven Osafo-Mensah of Kasapreko.

Little Wonder, the product is said to have been researched to cure piles, body pains, menstrual pain, enhancing easy blood circulation and boosting of man power. With the ability of the brand to enhance libido in particular, its faking soared. The product led a chain effect, propelling some Nigerian companies to invest in the bitters business, producing, brands, such as, “Koboko”, “Atekanle Gbongbon” “Osomo” “Pasan.” The brand names of the made in Nigeria original herbal gin is derived from misinterpretation of the Ghanaian ‘Alomo’ which to an ethnic group in Nigeria, Yoruba, means “a Casanova or philanderer” - A smooth-talking charmer who has mastered the art of finding, meeting, attracting and seducing beautiful women into the bedroom. The names of these brands produced in Nigeria arrogates erectile ability functional value of this product whereas Alomo Bitters means friendship in Ghana.

“We call our product Alomo Bitters. Alomo in Ghanaian language means friendship,” Adjei said. As a result, the product since it came to Nigeria, gained wider market acceptance and it has stopped from being faked.

With the level of investment in production, research and development, manpower and taxes to government, Kasapreko’s Alomo Bitters is produced in small rooms and shops on the streets of Lagos. The counterfeit products bearing Alomo Bitters value creation and brand identity are: “The Prince Alomo Bitters” and “De Kings Bitters”, They have the origi-

nals’ brand identities, such as colour, label, logo and label information in an attempt to dwindle the product’s market share which in 2011 and 2012, according to Kasapreko hovered around 80 per cent of the bitters market which value stands at N32.2 billion.

But they have not escaped the law. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two brothers, Henry and Ekene Ezeani for alleged illegal manufacture and sale of fake alcoholic beverage, “The Prince AlomoBitters.” The agency’s operatives in Lagos impounded N25 million worth of the product during the raid. NAFDAC’s spokesperson Anslem Okonkwor said the suspects were part of a syndicate that specialised in producing fake brands of beverages, which had been under the agency’s surveillance.

“A team of NAFDAC officials led by Mr. Joseph Asikpo apprehended them while they were producing the fake products in their residence at 140, Ojora Royal Compound, Coker Village in Lagos,” Okonkwor said.

This development scared Adjei. He believes the intake of the fake Alomo Bitters by Nigerian consumers is dangerous to their health. The fake bitters, he believes,are mixtures of chemicals that can cause arm to the health. This was proved by a recent test carried out by The Nation. In the investigation and laboratory test carried out by Saturday Nation, some consumers of these herbal gin had their blood sampled and the paid lab experts who conducted the test on behalf of The Nation discovered heavy metals such as cardinum and lead in the sampled blood of consumers of fake herbal gins. Although, some of the original herbal gins tested in the lab by The Nation also recorded same dangerous properties but Kasapreko’s Director of Quality Assurance and Research and Development, Dr. David Kamau said there must be holistic approach to producing herbal gin

‘Per market share has dropped drastically in Nigeria because of counterfeiting. When I started, I vowed that I will never operate in Nigeria because of faking. But we came to Nigeria. Our business was doing well until now when counterfeiting started destroying our brand’

in order to avoid the health risk herbal gin pose to consumers health. “Herbal consumption is dangerous to health though there must be holistic approach to usage. If you don’t source your plants from the right source, you might have contamination case. If you don’t have expertise, the consumers health is at risk. We have been able to establish the toxity range in therapeutic index such that if you overtake it we know what can happen to consumers. So, moderation is needed in usage,” says Kamau.

Despite doubts about its expansion plan in Nigeria Kasapreko has found a way to protect Alomo Bitters with a new hologram that will cost a fortune to fake. According to him, the security will involve four levels all in an attempt to ensure that the consumer gets the right quality product. “We have all heard about words like brand protection. We over a year ago took a journey to Germany and came across Hologram Company, the Sleeve Seal Company, to help us protect our brand.

We know that fakers will try to confuse the consumers with fake holographic seal but ours is so sophisticated and consumers will be able to identify the original from the fake,” said the company’s Director of Technical, Holograms and Security Checks, Mr. Kwame Dickson.

However, Adjei regretted that the faking of the product because of its success and health benefits had brought the equity of the brand down. “If we don’t fight the fake, we are hurting the government because fakers don’t pay tax. We are harming the consumers because fakers don’t use good product. Some of these fake products have been tested in our laboratory and I tell you that the result is shocking and unhealthy to consumers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Marketing Manager of Alomo Bitters in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Adegor, said the company is happy with the economic collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana. He gave examples of many Nigerian banks, telecoms and other businesses that are flourishing in Ghana just as the Kasapreko flagship brand Alomo Bitters is maintaining its leadership of the bitters category in Nigeria despite growing competition. He stressed that since Alomo Bitters led the way for other bitters to come up, Kasapreko feels a sense of responsibility to educate the drinking populace to be careful and wary of sub-standard brands out there in the market.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

31

MONEYLINK

CBN justifies naira devaluation

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the postdevaluation band for the naira is “appropriately priced”, but black marketers on the street are trading it at between three and five per cent below its floor in the runup to Christmas.

Reuters reports that despite an eight per cent devaluation of the target band and efforts last week to crack down on currency speculation by squeezing liquidity, the naira remains at record lows. But while the CBN and the interbank markets argue over the naira’s fair value, it’s harder to argue with the price on the streets where many dollars are bought and sold.

The naira was devalued and its target trading band widened to N160 to N176 against the dollar, but few analysts believe that can

Stories by Collins Nweze

hold, given a steady decline in reserves.

Several street changers, mostly Muslim northerners from the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups, told Reuters they were trading a dollar for between N180 and N182 on Christmas eve.

Last week, when the naira hit a record low, they were trading at 190 to the dollar, some 6.5 per cent below the lower end of the bank’s target band.

“The naira’s come back a bit because people are wanting more of it now ahead of Christmas,” said Ibrahim Sanni, standing by a palmlined Lagos hotel adorned with Christmas decorations. “Last week we bought at 190, lower than ever.”

But he added that trading has been

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management supports Foundations

S

TANBIC IBTC Asset Man agement Limited, a subsid iary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has made donations to two leading Foundations to support the less privileged in the areas of education and healthcare.

The firm donated N1 million to Thoughtful House Foundation and N500,000 to LOTS Charity Foundation, to enable them cater for the needs of the less privileged. LOTS Charity Foundation is focused on education and community development while Thoughtful House Foundation is focused on providing support on the education and therapy of children with Autism.

Speaking at the cheque presen-

tation ceremony in Lagos Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, said the gesture is in line with the firm’s commitment to value-driven corporate social responsibility, designed to make positive impact on the wellbeing of the communities where it operates.

“These interventions fit into the architecture of Stanbic IBTC Group’s corporate social investments (CSI) efforts,which focus on education, health and economic empowerment. We believe strongly in adding value to the communities in which we operate, and we will continue to identify partnerships that are pivotal in achieving these objectives,” he said.

AfDB puts intra- Africa’s trade value at $110b

very slow since the end of November, when the central bank devalued the currency. The naira has been hit hard in recent months by a steep fall in the price of Nigeria’s main export, oil.

The CBN also introduced new policies last week banning banks from holding their own funds in dollars and decreeing that dollars bought from the interbank market could be held only for up to 48 hours. Trading has almost ground to a halt since the measures were introduced.

The rise in the dollar in heavily import-dependent Nigeria has caused pain ahead of the Christmas shopping season, with small-scale

T •CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele retailers saying sales were badly hit. “Even in Christmas week, they aren’t buying,” said Bola Maja, 40, who runs a clothes shop in Lagos.

JP Morgan report says it’s learning from mistakes

J

P MORGAN Chase & Co has out lined improved controls it has been enacting in the wake of recent missteps, including pay clawbacks and minimum share ownership requirements for leaders, it said in a report issued under shareholders’ pressure.

The document titled, “How We Do Business” and posted on JP Morgan’s website, is the latest mea sure from the largest U.S. bank by assets, after a slew of problems and a record $13 billion settlement with regulators in 2013 over its mortgage operations leading up to the financial crisis.

“In some cases our controls fell short, and in others, we simply weren’t meeting the standards we had set for ourselves,” the report states.

“Every company makes mistakes (and we’ve made a number of them), but the hallmark of a great company is what it does in response,”

Chief Executive Jamie Dimon wrote in the report’s cover letter to Reuters.

The document summarizes a wide range of actions JPMorgan has taken to tighten processes in recent years, though many of the details have been previously known.

For instance, the report describes how JPMorgan clawed back or canceled more than $100 million in executive compensation after one of its traders, known as the “London Whale,” lost more than $6 billion on bad derivatives trades, raising the ire of regulators.

The report also states that members of JPMorgan’s operating committee must own at least 200,000 to 400,000 shares of the company’s stock, and that its CEO must hold a minimum of 1 million shares. The report has satisfied some shareholder activists who had pressed for it earlier this year, including Seamus Finn, chair of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

HE Africa Development Bank (AfDB) has said the share of intra-African trade accounts for 11 per cent ($110 billion) of the value of total African trade.

The Trade Finance in Africa released by the bank at the weekend explained that given the estimated rejection rates of trade finance applications, the conservative estimate for the value of unmet demand for bank-intermediated trade finance is $110 billion to $120 billion, significantly higher than estimated earlier figures of about $25 billion. These figures, it said, suggest that the market is significantly underserved.

It said that African banks face numerous constraints in meeting the demand for trade finance. “The survey reveals that the main constraints are limited dollar availability (by far the dominant currency in international trade, and by extension, trade finance) and insufficient limits with confirming banks for confirming letters of credit. Other constraints include small balance sheets, which tends to make single obligor limits frequently binding. These constraints also suggest that the AfDB’s trade finance program, as well as those implemented by other international financial institutions, are needed and well suited to relaxing some of the most binding constraints,” it said.

It however, insisted that the outlook of banks for trade finance remains positive, with 72 per cent expecting to increase their trade finance activities in the immediate future.

“However, banks foresee obstacles to their trade finance portfolio growth such as low US dollar liquidity, regulation compliance, slow economic growth in some markets, and the inability to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers,” it said.

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

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 2,237.65 1.39 1,710.65 1,092.63 115.26 121.16 1,117.51 1.1841 1.2569 0.7009 1.1047

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 10/12/2014 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 1,116.70 1.7777 1.2569 0.6899 1.1047

GAINERS AS AT 24-12-14

SYMBOL GUINNESS SEPLAT PRESCO DANGCEM CHAMPION NAHCO UBA SKYEBANK TRANSCORP NB NESTLE

O/PRICE 137.76 292.18 22.00 178.46 5.36 4.52 4.56 2.64 3.72 151.75 877.80

C/PRICE 151.87 322.11 24.25 196.65 5.90 4.97 5.00 2.89 3.97 160.98 930.22

CHANGE 14.11 29.93 2.25 18.19 0.54 0.45 0.44 0.25 0.25 9.23 52.42

LOSERS AS AT 24-12-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

WAPIC 0.66 STERLNBANK 2.43 OKOMUOIL 25.71 MANSARD 3.31 HONYFLOUR 3.50 AIICO 0.74 ETERNA 3.05 DIAMONDBNK 5.79 UACN 36.00 7UP 161.70 UBN 7.87 CUSTODYINS 3.78 VITAFOAM 3.83

C/PRICE 0.63 2.33 24.80 3.21 3.40 0.72 3.00 5.70 35.45 160.00 7.80 3.75 3.75

CHANGE -0.03 -0.10 -0.91 -0.10 -0.10 -0.02 -0.05 -0.09 -0.55 -1.70 -0.07 -0.03 -0.02

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: November

7.9%

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

$61.12

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 18, 2014

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

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

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

17-12-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 18-12-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

1M

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

3M

13.08

13.33

6M

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

185.50

0

Dec. 18, 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 MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

32

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-12-14

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-12-14

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

33

EQUITIES

Nigerian equities gain N1.4tr in three days F

OR investors in Nigerian eq uities, the Yuletide came with a bagful of goodies; a whooping N1.4 trillion capital gains within three days of consecutive uptrend at the stock market. Market valuation of quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by N1.40 trillion within the three-day trading session of last week, indicating average week-onweek gain of 13.60 per cent.

The Nigerian stock market opened for three days as Thursday and Friday were declared public holidays to celebrate the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays. Though short, the week was one to be remembered by investors, who had been scared by depressing bearishness this first half.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the NSE, which had opened the week at N10.006 trillion, closed the week at N11.402 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, spiked up by 13.60 per cent to close

•UBA leads with 32% gain Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

the week at 34,408.82 points as against its week’s opening index of 30,306.51 points.

The overtly bullish overall market situation was driven by widespread gains across the sectors. All the sectoral and group indices at the NSE also closed with substantial gains. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks on the NSE, recorded a week-onweek gain of 12.79 per cent, underlining the influence of the largecap stocks which hold the largest weights in the market.

The NSE Banking Index indicated a major recovery in the banking sector with a weekly average return of 14.53 per cent, the highest by any sector or group. The NSE Insurance Index rose by 1.68 per cent while the NSE Consumer Goods Index, NSE Oil and Gas Index and NSE Industrial Goods In-

dex gained 10.15 per cent, 8.92 per cent and 14.23 per cent respectively.

The NSE Lotus Islamic Index, which tracks Shari’ah-compliant stocks, also recorded double-digit gain of 10.72 per cent.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc led the bullish rally with a gain of 32.28 per cent to close at N5 per share. It was followed by Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, which gained 28.90 per cent to close at N3.97. Oando placed third with a gain of 26.79 per cent to close at N19.97. Skye Bank rallied by 26.20 per cent to close at N2.89. Dangote Cement jumped by 22.91 per cent to close at N196.65. Seplat Petroleum Development Company recorded a gain of 21.54 per cent to close at N322.11 while Guinness Nigeria rose by 26.91 per cent to close at N151.87 per share.

Price movement analysis indicated that 57 equities appreciated

while 16 equities depreciated. A total of 124 stocks closed flat. Two weeks ago, 23 stocks had appreciated while 51 stocks depreciated. A total of 123 stocks were stagnant during the week.

Total turnover last week stood at 1.86 billion shares worth N12.76 billion in 13,469 deals. This was lower than a total of 5.41 billion shares valued at N46.47 billion traded in 22,986 deals two weeks ago.

The financial services sector remained the dominant sector with a turnover of 1.11 billion shares valued at N6.37 billion in 7,532 deals; representing 60 per cent and 50 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The conglomerates sector followed with a turnover of 467.6 million shares worth N1.66 billion in 830 deals. The third place was occupied by consumer goods sector with 85.970 million shares worth N2.392 billion in 2,469 deals.

Skye Bank to absorb Mainstreet Bank, appoints interim management

F

•From Left: Mr. John Coumantaros, Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, Mrs. Mary Uriah, retiring human resources director, FMN; Mr. Paul Gbededo, Group Managing Director, FMN and Dr. Ify Uriah during the farewell dinner

Ecobank, European Bank in N19b deal COBANK Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc, the holding company for Ecobank Nigeria and other subsidiaries, has signed a loan facility agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in a deal worth about N19 billion.

The dollar-denominated loan facility agreement involved $100 million and will have a tenor of seven year.

The Lomé-based ETI is the parent company of the Ecobank Nigeria, which is expected to also benefit from the loan disbursement.

According to a regulatory filing on the deal, Ecobank will use the loan to provide some of its subsidiaries with additional lending capacity as well as finance some of its group strategic capital expenditures.

The loan deal, according to the group, also demonstrated its commitments to contribute positively to the African economy by increasing the levels of credit available to businesses while at the same time generating long-term value for its shareholders.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc, Albert Essien, said the group would use the fund to consolidate its operations across Africa.

“This funding continues our relationship with the European Investment Bank. It will allow us to con-

E

tinue to consolidate our expanded operations and translate our scale and geographical footprint into added value for our customers. We shall use the financing to maintain credit provision in key economies in Africa thus contributing to the development of the continent,” Essien said.

Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of ETI for the ninemonth period ended September 30, 2014 had shown that the financial holding company grew its top-line by 16 per cent to N207.75 billion in third quarter 2014 while interest income rose by about 11 per cent to N187.67 billion. Profit after tax rose to N52.49 billion in 2014 as against N39.96 billion in comparable period of 2013.

Further analysis showed that the company’s cost to income ratio reduced to 66.56 per cent in 2014 from 71.20 per cent in 2013. Additionally, net margin moved to 19.51 per cent as against 17.23 per cent in previous year. Ecobank was aggressive about lending as its loans to deposit ratio jumped to 71.63 per cent from 66.80 per cent while loans and advances were up by 16.55 per cent to N1.97 trillion in third quarter 2014 as against N1.69 trillion by third quarter 2013.

Deposit from customers also rose by 8.69 per cent to N2.75 trillion as

against N2.53 trillion in comparable period of 2013. Total assets rose by 10.69 per cent to N3.83 trillion in 2014 compared with N3.46 trillion in 2013.

Essien said the company’s strong results for the first nine months of 2014 showed solid revenue growth and a further reduction in our costincome ratio.

According to him, the sustained improvement in the company’s Nigeria business, the largest of its 36 countries in Africa, and another strong treasury performance, helped to increase earnings per share by 26 percent.

Essien noted that the company’s capital position was significantly enhanced recently, with the conversion of $75 million of loans by IFC funds in the third quarter and Nedbank’s subsequent investment of $493 million to reach a 20 per cent shareholding in ETI. “The management team and board remain optimistic but vigilant going into the fourth quarter given the macroeconomic and other challenges in some of our countries where we have operations. We pay particular tribute to the dedication and professionalism of our staff in countries affected by the current Ebola epidemic as they work to serve our clients in very difficult circumstances,” Essien said.

Further trade analysis showed that the trio of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc were the most active stocks, by volume, jointly accounting for 836.84 million shares worth N3.35 billion in 3,315 deals, representing 45 per cent and 26.2 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also, a total of 36,241 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N627,306 were traded in 15 deals, more than a total of 28,556 units valued at N531,541 traded in 21 deals penultimate week.

Meanwhile, new bonds were added to Nigerian sovereign bonds on the stock market. A total of N7.5 billion, N18.0 billion and N28.0 billion were added to the 13.05 per cent FGN August 2016, 14.20 per cent FGN March 2024, and 12.1493 per cent FGN July 2034 respectively.

OLLOWING the formal hand ing over of the acquired bridge bank two weeks ago, indications have emerged that Skye Bank Plc will merge the operations of Mainstreet Bank Limited and absorbed the bank under its brand name. The Skye Bank brand will fly on the mast hitherto bearing Mainstreet Bank.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had on December 19 transferred full ownership of Mainstreet Bank to Skye Bank Plc, giving the latter the control to begin the post-acquisition integration for the acquired bank. The transfer of full ownership took place after a completion meeting where AMCON divested its interest and transferred full ownership of the bridge bank to Skye Bank. Skye Bank had successfully paid 100 per cent of the acquisition value and received regulatory clearance as the new owner.

A reliable source in the know told The Nation that the board of Skye Bank had decided to pursue full integration and merger of the operations of the acquired bank with that of Skye Bank, rather than operating the acquired bank as a stand-alone commercial bank and a subsidiary.

According to the source, the full integration and merger with all the attendant brand name change, workforce and operations convergence are expected to be completed by the first half of 2015.

In deciding on full integration and merger, the source said the directors and top management executives of Skye Bank considered the low-profile brand status of Mainstreet Bank; a name that was adopted after the AMCON acquired the then Afribank Nigeria Plc. The board also sought to optimize efficiency by reducing operating costs, which would be higher in the event of running the acquired bank as a subsidiary.

Full integration and merger has been a favourite option for mergers and acquisitions in the Nigerian banking industry. Access Bank had adopted the same option in the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated had adopted similar approach in the acquisition of Oceanic Bank International.

Already, the board of Skye Bank has appointed an interim management for Mainstreet Bank, with a dual mandate to run the bank within the immediate period and lead the full integration and merger.

The interim management board comprised of Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, the deputy managing director of Skye Bank and Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, an executive director and chief risk officer of Skye Bank.

The interim management board will steer the affairs of Mainstreet

Bank for not more than six months, during which time Skye Bank will pursue the integration of the operations of the two banks.

Between October 3 and October 31, Skye Bank paid both the initial 20 percent mandatory deposit and completed the 80 percent balance well ahead of the November 3 deadline for the 100 per cent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank which has been described by several analysts and financial commentators as a ground breaking acquisition in Nigeria’s financial sector.

While addressing the executive members and management team of Mainstreet Bank at the bank’s headquarters after the handover

by AMCON in Marina, group managing director, Skye Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, had assured staff and customers of good times ahead; even as he solicited the co-operation of all in ensuring a seamless transition process.

Analysts have been unanimous in that the acquisition, operationally, is a game-changer for Skye Bank, given possible synergies and the impact on the balance sheet and profitability of the bank, while it would also increase the bank’s market position in the banking industry and at the stock market.

Recent newspaper reports quote analysts as saying that the potential impact will be big on Skye Bank’s reach and asset size.

Mainstreet Bank has nine subsidiaries and a large distribution network comprising of 201 branches across 35 out of 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It equally has nine cash centers and 205 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Skye Bank, with dominant operations in the Southwest, is also banking on Mainstreet Bank to deepen its penetration of the South-East and South-South regions where it is currently less represented. Some 26 percent or 54 branches of Mainstreet Bank’s network are located in the two regions. These two regions also accounted for 28 percent of Mainstreet Bank’s over 1.9 million customers, second only to Lagos with 37 percent.

With smooth and seamless integration, Skye Bank will be able to make valuable in-roads into these two regions without the need to incur huge expenditure, while the acquisition would bring valuable concurrence and synergies from the mutual focus areas of commercial and retail banking of the two entities. Skye Bank focuses on retail and commercial banking which is also the main focus areas of Mainstreet Bank.

34

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

Taxation Electronic Filing of Returns, An Outcome of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) (1)

T

O facilitate doing business with taxpayers and enhance voluntary tax compliance, FIRS has been through several structural and operational changes. These changes include: • Segmentation of FIRS offices to make them business focused • Creation of risk management department • Implementation of case selection criteria • Creation of Modernisation Group to champion all reform agenda • Passage and operationalisation of self assessment and transfer pricing regulation • Fully operationalTax Appeal Tribunal • Automation of audit case selection criteria • Enablement of Withholding credit note search for taxpayers • Consistent Engagement of Taxpayers to sensitize and create awareness on tax matters.

• Implementation of the Electronic Filing platform FILLING RETURNS ON FIRS ELECTRONIC PLATFORM

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi

• The login page is used by taxpayers to enter eFiling platform • Forgotten passwords must be reset by contacting the Tax Office • Usernames and passwords are both case sensitive • Validation will occur if either or both username/password are entered incorrectly ROLE OF TAXPAYERS IN ELECTRONIC FILLING After a successful login to the e-Filing application, you have access to a different menu depending on your roles as follows: • View Only (always granted by default): With this role you can only see the information on your past returns submissions without being able to submit or modify any information (the required hyperlinks for new declarations are disabled) • Declaration: This role allows filing new tax returns • TIN Validation: This role allows you to check whether a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) as supplied by a third party is valid or not • Tax Clearance Validation: This role allows you to check whether a TCC (Tax Clearance Certificate) as supplied by a third party is valid or not • Upload Supporting Document Files: This role allows you to submit tax returns with all relevant schedules in online submission as .csv file upload E-FILING: DECLARATION ACCESS

FILING A DECLARATION After a successful login, you are positioned in your Home page as shown in the image above, in which you can see a summary of the declarations which need to be filed, the account balances, and whether you have any unread messages.

• To start your declaration, you have two choices: • On your Home page either click on the View all declarations to be filed hyperlink or on the Taxpayer Service tab • The Tax Declaration page opens by default in the collapsed form.

• Click on the “+” button of the tax type for which you want to file, in this example VAT • The expanded form is displayed to show the ‘File now’ hyperlinks as highlighted in the sample page above for the tax period November 2014. Click on the “File now” hyperlink to file returns using the following steps: • Enter Form line Details • Confirm Declaration Details • Complete/Submit the Declaration Process • View/Print the Remittance Document created For more Information on e-filing, please contact: • itas.change@firs.gov.ng • itasproject@firs.gov.ng • 08115900301 • 08115900021

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• A cross section of Corps members

With a projected five million jobs coming from the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) next year, the Federal Government appears set to tackle graduate unemployment in the country, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

Jobs: SMEs to the rescue

F

OR the many graduates leaving school every year, there is good news from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

They may not all have to pound the streets in search of jobs as five million jobs will be created under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by next year.

Aganga said to create jobs for youths, particularly graduates, the Federal Government has adopted some measures through the SMEs, with no fewer than 4000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members trained in SMEs. The measure, he said, is meant to make the NYSC members self-reliant and become employers through entrepreneurial engagements after completing their one year compulsory service.

Records showed the impressive impacts of SMEs on the economic performance index.

For instance, the SME sector is said to have employed more than 31 million people, thereby significantly contributing 46.54 per

cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to information from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the population of youths is put at about 67 million.

Of this number, about 30 million, representing 46 per cent, is said to be unemployed.

The report showed that of the number seeking paid jobs, the number of those with certificates outweighs the number of those who have no certificates.

There are two variants of the NYSC/SMEs concept. One involves the government taking the entrepreneurial campaign to the universities nationwide by establishing ‘’Enterprise Centres’’.

The idea, Aganga explained, is to make the students entrepreneurs instead of job seekers when they graduate. The other is a SMEDAN programme called ‘’One Local Government, One Product (OLOP)’’, which entails taking the programme to the rural communities. Some local governments have been selected for the pilot scheme.

Aganga told The Nation that the government is set to crash the cost of accessing funds for

the intending entrepreneurs.

“With the Presidential directive that the Bank of Industry (BoI), which lends at single digit interest rate, be recapitalised, many more SMEs will be able to access cheap funds at minimal costs when the cost-reduction process is completed,” he said.

He said all over the world, SMEs empowerment has become the main economic growth strategy, considering the high employment generation capacity of SMEs, adding that with about 17 million SMEs in Nigeria, the creation of five million jobs was very possible.

“Recent data provided by SMEDAN and the National Bureau of Statistics, put the number of MSMEs in Nigeria at 17,284,671, with total employment put at 32,414,884. If each of these SMEs is empowered to create one job each, that makes about 17 million jobs. If 50 per •Continued on page 36

36

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

JOBS

Jobs: SMEs to the rescue •Continued from page 35

cent of this figure create one job each, that means 8.5 million jobs will be created.

He said if a quarter of the total is empowered, and they create one job each, over four million jobs will be created.

Aganga said the figure could go up, adding that he has directed the parastatals to work out a job creation profile around the model, so it can serve as a key performance index for the country. “Our job is to put structures in place to make it happen,” he said.

While encouraging more entrepreneurs to come up with ideas that could create quality jobs and enhance inclusive economic growth, he said the Federal Government is committed to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He stressed that all the factors needed for profitable and sustainable business were abundant in Nigeria, citing market and raw materials as critical success factors of business/investment.

SMEDAN’s Alhaji Bature Masari says the agency is set to create five million jobs through SMEs before 2015, adding that the agency had mapped out strategies to achieve the goal.

Masari said the strategies include the implementation of the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) and OLOP scheme across the federation.

He added that NEDEP was developed with the objective of harnessing the opportunities in the MSME sector to drive inclusive economic growth through skills training and development, job creation and wealth generation.

“Our objective is that within the few years of implementing NEDEP and other programmes to be initiated, we will generate an estimated five million direct and indirect jobs,’’ he said.

Masari said the agency would work with BoI and the Industrial

Training Fund (ITF) on MSMEs development, skills training and acquisition as well as business services development.

“Part of our strategy is to create new clusters of businesses based on competitive and comparative advantages already identified through the OLOP initiative and raw materials mapping in the 774 Local Governments,” he added.

He said the government would set up an SME Council, comprising the federal, state and local governments to streamline and harmonise all SMEs development activities across the country to achieve maximum impact. ”If we are going to develop our economy and turn our quantity advantage into productive advantage, one of the most important sectors that we have to focus on is the MSME sector.”

Masari said the development of the sector would help in job and wealth creation, and address the problem of unemployment and youth restiveness in the country.

He said the government was restructuring the organisation to achieve its mandate and added that SMEDAN had just opened new offices in 11 states.

Also, with the introduction of the over-the-counter (OTC) market by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), two weeks ago, SMEs seeking long-term funds

• Aganga

no longer have to fear.

OTC is a decentralised market of securities not listed on an exchange, where operators trade over the telephone or electronic network, instead of a physical trading floor, or central exchange. The OTC is designed to provide a platform for the companies to access funds from the market.

• Masari

The Managing Director, NASD, Bola Ajomale, said the initiative means a lot to the SMEs. “Though the market is meant for any firm with signs of growth and good corporate governance, prominence is given to SMEs because they are the bedrock of any economy and not the blue chips. It will go a long way in providing

‘Though the market is meant for any firm with signs of growth and good corporate governance, prominence is given to SMEs because they are the bedrock of any economy and not the blue chips. It will go a long way in providing funds for them to grow their business and enhance their potential’

funds for them to grow their business and enhance their potential,” he said.

According to Ajomale, all that an interested company needs to do is to apply to raise funds through an initial public offer (IPO), before it is admitted as a security for trading on the platform through any of the 40 stockbrokers that have been registered

by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the apex regulator of the market and NASD. But it does not end there. SEC and NASD will conduct a thorough check on the security to verify the growth and corporate governance status of the company to determine whether it is good for the consumption of the public.

“We are encouraging small companies that want to get bigger, and by having this market in place, it means we are giving them a place to grow,” he stated.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Seven steps to successful job hunting R

EALISING that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process with patience and persistence. In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time.

‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was offered a position after only a twoweek search.

With many job seekers vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely has anything to do with it. If you want to be among the highly successful job seekers make it an habit of doing the following seven things outlined below:

Search with purpose Instead of trying to fit into a mould set by a hiring organisation, target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position that is a natural fit.

After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.

By Olu Oyeniran

Always be prepared Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity.

If you find yourself answering the phone like this: “hello? ... well ... um ... well, like I was kinda sleeping ... how long is this gonna take? ... who are you again? ... like I, um, contacted so many places, cuz, you know, like, I can’t like find a job ...” then it is time to reprioritise your needs.

Waiting until things are about to get absolutely out of control before you begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes are made and your job search may begin to suffer.

Develop a job search plan Organise your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and establish goals. The greates source of confidence is knowledge and preparation. Begin your search

with a clear focus and a plan. Participate in a number of activities including answering newspaper ads, posting your resume on the Internet, and going on informational interviews.

Bypass human resources A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The screener’s job is to review resumes and match your experience with a checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the resume to the decision maker.

Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation.

This is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager.

Since the decision makers (e.g., National Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, or CEO) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is advisable that you apply directly to them.

Write follow-up letters Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the interviewer for his or her time.

It should be a sophisticated letter

that either re-affirms your interest in the position, serves as an opportunity to mention an important point you neglected to bring up, and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that was discussed during the interview.

Avoid toxic job seekers Support systems (even those created by you) are a great way to generate ideas and for networking purposes. However, some are also a breeding ground for negativity.

“There is no job in Nigeria now”.

‘Didn’t you hear of so many people who lost their jobs in XY company last month?”, You can’t get a job there unless you know somebody”.

Are not what you should surround yourself with. Check those people around you, especially those you involve in your job search endeavors. Do they offer words of encouragement? Are they supportive of your efforts, or do they feed into your insecurities/ negativities? Create a positively supporting system.

Be good to yourself There are two types of job seekers. One that has a laid back approach, and the other that always feels “there aren’t enough hours in the day” and compulsively searches for a job without taking a

breather.

Following in the footsteps of the latter is the fastest way to reaching burn out and when careless mistakes are often made. Though your job search should be your primary activity, don’t allow it to consume your every waking moment.

Every so often take a mini vacation; spend time with people who support you, listen to music and participate in activities you enjoy.

Clearing your mind replenishes your energy and will allow you to continue searching for a job with a fresh outlook.

EkiniConsult & Associates is organising three free and open workshops, “Knocking on the Right Doors- Strategies for Uncovering the Hidden Job Market” for The Nation readers in Lagos. A free eBook of the same title will be given to those who may not be able to attend.

If you are interested, send-in your name, location, email address and GSM no to 080-8384-3230. Precede with the word ‘ATTEND’ for those who want to come and ‘FREE EBOOK’ for those who want the free eBook only.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

37

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

THE CEO The crash in oil price has implications for a mono-economy like Nigeria’s. Since oil is its major revenue earner, the country caught cold when the price fell. It has kept on dropping. But Oyewale Ariyibi, Head of finance at FBN Holding Plc, believes banks have nothing to fear about the falling oil price. In this interview with reporters, he argues that banks stand a chance in the face of the crashing price. Capital Market Editor TAOFIK SALAKO was there.

‘Oil price slump won’t weaken banks’ base’ I

N what ways will the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and falling oil prices affect banks’ profitability?

I believe that one of the key objectives of the regulator is to engender financial stability in the system by ensuring that banks are adequately capitalised and wellresourced for the businesses that they undertake. From April 2013 and up till now, there have been a number of pronouncements that have impacted income generation capacity of banks. Some of these policies amongst others are increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for both public and private sector deposits; mandatory payment of a minimum 30 per cent MPR rate on savings deposits; attaching a risk weight of 125 per cent to oil and gas exposure of banks with 20 per cent or more of its portfolio in oil and gas; progressive reduction in Commission on Turnover (COT) from 5/mille to 3/mille in 2013, 2/mille in 2014 1/mille in 2015 and zero in 2016. No doubt, these pronouncements have impacted earnings of banks, including FirstBank and, ultimately, the holding company. Let me illustrate the impact with just the CRR at 75 per cent for public sector deposits and 20 per cent for private sector deposits, FirstBank, has about N560 billion sterilised with the Central Bank yielding no interest or return whatsoever. Hitherto, such funds would have been invested at an average interest rate of 12 per cent per year, thus the opportunity cost is an annual lost income of N67 billion.

The bank has complied with all these regulations and re-arranged its operating structure and created more efficient internal processes to ensure quality service delivery and minimise the impact of the regulatory pronouncements on earnings and the bottom line. Our financial results for the nine months ending September 30, 2014 showed that the group has made significant progress with a profit of N74 billion compared to N70 billion for the equivalent period of prior year.

How do you see the changes in capital adequacy ratio?

The CBN, as the regulatory authority in the Nigeria banking industry, has come up with operational guidelines and categorisation for banks in Nigeria. Large commercial banks-mostly Tier 1 banks, with international operations are required to have a minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 15 per cent while banks classified as systemically important banks (SIBs) are required to have an additional 100 basis points, that is, 16 per cent CAR with effect from April 2015. It is also pertinent to note that the banking industry will be adopting Basel II Capital Accord with effect from October 2015. The adoption of Basel II essentially

means additional capital charge for market and operational risks. For us at FBN Holdings, FirstBank is the subsidiary under the CAR requirements and we are pleased with the efforts and actions put in place by the management of the bank to remain compliant both with the regulation and the SIB requirement taking effect from April 2015.

Looking at the regulatory policies, which do you think should be reviewed in the next financial year?

The regulators have made policy pronouncements based on their research and data gathering system. As I said earlier, the objective would be to ensure that there is stability in the system and we fully align with some of these policies.

One area, I wish the CBN can take another look is the issue of CRR vis-a-vis liquidity ratio. The funds are sterilised in CBN for CRR purposes and these funds - N560 billion in the case of FirstBank, do not count for liquidity but the banks are not relieved of the burden of liquidity ratio for the underlining deposits. Hence banks make provision for liquidity ratio on deposits that are not available for their use and do not count for liquidity.

It is either those deposits are excluded from computation of liquidity ratio or the sterilised funds are counted as part of a bank’s liquid assets.

CBN said there is excess liquidity in the system and banks. What do you think necessitated such excess liquidity policies?

This does not really apply to our group. The bank has constantly extended credit to the productive sectors and, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which explains why FirstBank has the largest loan portfolio in the banking industry.

There are fears that non-performing loans (NPLs) will spike next year as a result of potential downward trend in government spending. How do you mitigate this risk?

You know before the bank ex-

•Ariyibi

tends facilities, there are risk acceptance criteria and credit assessment mechanisms that give some level of comfort that the obligor has the capacity and capability to repay the loan from the cash flow point of view. If the fundamentals of the obligors’ businesses do not change, loans do not go bad; however, temporary macroeconomic challenges might impact margins and profitability. On our own, we have very competent and experienced personnel at the bank who are daily monitoring the bank’s

PHOTO: TAOFIK SALAKO

portfolio and the obligors to ensure that the loan covenants are adhered.Generally, given the more robust risk framework and proactive approach of the apex bank, we do not expect oil and gas related non-performing loans to become somehow significant or require the kind of bailouts that the industry witnessed in 2009.

How do you intend to drive down cost and increase the bottomline and profit next year given changing regulatory headwinds?

‘The regulators have made policy pronouncements based on their research and data gathering. The objective would be to ensure that there is stability in the system and we fully align with some of these policies. One area, I wish the CBN can take another look is the issue of CRR vis-a-vis liquidity ratio. The funds are sterilised in CBN for CRR purposes and these funds - N560 billion in the case of FirstBank, do not count for liquidity but the banks are not relieved of the burden of liquidity ratio for the underlining deposits’

We appreciate the strength in financial size, and the size of the institution has been a major asset to us. At present, we have about 800 branches and service points across the enterprise, and there are attendant operational costs associated with this size. For example, for each branch, you need to have a transformer and a generator with the attendant costs of maintenance. With the benefit of experience, the bank can safely estimate how much it will cost per year to operate different types of branches and quick service points.

Hence, a template can be developed and deployed as benchmark across different branches and quick service points. In addition, with current advances in technology and the deployment of online banking, mobile banking, over 2,200 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and other platforms, the customers can transact their businesses from the comfort of their homes and offices without necessarily going to the physical bank locations. With this, we can begin to record savings in this area going forward. The group’s target is that by the end of 2016 which is the end of the current three-year •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

38

THE CEO

‘Oil price slump won’t weaken banks’ base’ •Continued from page 37

strategic planning cycle, we would have shaved off about 500 basis points in cost-income ratio compared to 2013. This is a stress target and all hands are on deck towards achieving this.

FBN Holdings recently acquired Kakawa Discount House Limited.

Are you eyeing further acquisition in Africa?

The acquisitions that you have seen are in line with the group’s strategic plan for growth and earnings diversification. If I can take you back a little bit, you will recall that one of the key reasons for adopting the financial holding company structure is to extract synergies and optimise cross selling opportunities across our subsidiaries, hence the inherent value in the group will be harnessed with the financial holding company structure such that the holding company will focus on co-ordination and consolidation and allow each operating company, that is, subsidiary business to focus on the strategic core of its mandate. The group is structured along four strategic businesses namely: commercial banking group, investment banking and asset management, insurance and other financial services. The commercial banking is focused strictly on commercial banking and related businesses, investment banking and asset management focuses on asset management, corporate finance, and capital market operations, including issuing house and security dealing, advisory services etc., while the insurance group focuses on risk underwriting.

Prior to this time, the group held 46 per cent of the shares of Kakawa Discount House Limited and was an associated business. Kakawa offers a unique proposition to the group. It comes with a rich and unique blend of a fixed income origination and distribution capacity which can be integrated into our investment banking and asset management group and with this, we are not only reaching out to places we have not reached before but we are also able to deepen existing relationship, improve and increase the type of product offerings available to our customers.

This makes Kakawa a perfect fit in the FBN Holdings structure. In view of this, the group decided to acquire the 54 per cent shares hitherto held by non-members of FBN group thus FBN Holdings Plc has become the beneficial owner of 100 percent shares of Kakawa Discount House Limited. Previously, the commercial banking group through FirstBank had completed the acquisition of ICB West Africa operations in Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

Additionally, FBN Insurance Limited acquired Oasis Insurance Plc. thereby affording the company the opportunity to underwrite general insurance business in addition to its Life business license.

FBN Holdings Plc has not raised fresh equity in recent time, and the acquisitions were through internally generated funds. We monitor the group performance periodically and regularly with the objective of ensuring that we sweat the equity for efficiency.

Our strategy generally is to enrich our subsidiaries’ footprints across Africa and in selected countries across the continents. We give higher priorities to markets that offer higher potential returns on investments and shorter payback period.

With our diversified business and revenue base, we are confident that we have laid strong foundation for the future towards improving the well-being of our stakeholders. For now we do not have any immediate plans of fur-

• Ariyibi

• Ariyibi

• Ariyibi

PHOTOS: TAOFIK SALAKO

‘It is not difficult to pay interest on deposits. Even before the pronouncement, FirstBank was paying interest on its savings and the bank encourages people to save. When the rate is indexed against MPR, this has increased interest expense and cost of funds slightly, but the bank has managed this appropriately with careful and profitable deployment of the funds’ ther acquisitions, but to focus on integration and getting the benefit from the investments.

FirstBank is the largest bank in Nigeria, but considering the market capitalisation figures, do you think the bank is still leading ?

In 2012, the FBN group re-structured its businesses to adopt the financial holding company structure. First Bank of Nigeria Limited today is the largest subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc. So, the quoted company, which listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange is

FBN Holdings Plc. The groups’ financial results as at third quarter ended September 2014 showed total assets of N4.19 trillion, deposit liabilities of N2.91 trillion and net loans and advances to customers of N2.03 trillion. With these, FBN Holdings Plc is the largest financial institution in Nigeria and the 13th largest in the whole of Africa by total assets. Considering the size of this institution, number of branches, number of customer accounts, and the employees, FBN Holdings is still the largest finan-

cial institution in Nigeria. Also, in terms of our contribution to economic development; you will observe that the bank supports the highest number of productive sectors in terms of loans and advances.

Do you think there is disconnect between returns and investors’ valuation of FBN Holdings, especially in the light of the share price trend at the stock market?

First, the market is bearish. Secondly, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), which constitute

large institutional investors in Nigeria, were barred from further investing in the shares of financial holding companies (Holdcos). This is because holdcos were categorised as new companies in line with section 73 of the Pension Reform Act of 2004. This section of the old law debars PFAs from investing in new companies that has not made profit or declared dividend in the last five years. Whereas, FBN Holdings Plc, in substance over the form, is essentially a continuation of FBN Plc. A quick look at our five-year dividend history from 2010 to 2014, showed that the group had declared and paid 10 kobo, 60 kobo, 80 kobo, 100 kobo, and 110kobo yielding a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 62 per cent. Investing in FBN Holdings Plc is like a fixed income security with en equity upside. The dividend CAGR is very commendable in view of the very challenging macroeconomic environment under which we have operated in the past five years.

With the promulgation of the new Pension Reform Amendment Act of 2014, the section has been amended and coupled with the release of the guidelines for the operations of a financial holding companies in Nigeria, we await the release of the necessary circular from the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) that will enable PFAs to resume investing in the shares of financial holding companies. We are confident that once this circular is released, the shares of FBN Holdings Plc. will gravitate towards its full intrinsic value.

With the new regulatory pronouncement stipulating an interest rate of 3.6 per cent to be paid on all savings accounts, does this pose a challenge to FirstBank’s profitability?

It is not difficult to pay interest on deposits. Even before the pronouncement, FirstBank was paying interest on its savings and the bank encourages people to save.

When the rate is indexed against MPR, this has increased interest expense and cost of funds slightly, but the bank has managed this appropriately with careful and profitable deployment of the funds. No doubt, regulatory risks in recent period have had negative impacts on the profitability of some of our subsidiaries, but given strong measures we have taken, we have been able to weather the storm.

FBN Holdings has built robust structures to respond to potential regulatory policies, guidelines, and measures in the context of emerging macroeconomic outlook.

You have made acquisitions and also made divestments too. Are there plans to further divest from underperforming assets?

FBN Holdings Plc is like an investment management company.

The company has expectations and usually set target returns for its operating companies in line with the group’s aspirations and strategic plan. Usually, we consider both the short and long term profitability of any business before taking any decision. Review of performance is a continuous process and the decision to invest or divest rests squarely with the board of directors.

What are your projections on the impact of regulatory tightening policies on the bottom-line?

The market is bearish, but those companies with strong fundamentals will bounce back as investors and analysts take a longer view of the economy from first half of 2015. Our investment banking and asset management business is fully diversified to mitigate the impact of the bearish market.

39

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

BUSINESS MOTORING

Coscharis Motors Limited, the distributor of BMW models in Nigeria has unveiled the new BMW X4 at its Victoria Island office in Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

•The BMW X4

Coscharis unveils the new BMW X4 D

ESCRIBED by BMW as a “Sports Activity Coupe,” the X4 combines the elevated ride height and all-wheel-drive capability of a crossover with the striking sheetmetal of a coupe.

Detractors claim that it’s a worst-of-bothworlds vehicle that marries the performance and efficiency-diluting weight of a SUV with the impracticality of a coupe. On the other hand, for supporters, the X4’s distinctive styling more than makes up for those drawbacks.

And distinctive it most certainly is, with a sharply tapered roof, creased hood and upswept character lines. Only the front end, with headlights that flow into BMW’s signature kidney grille, betrays the X4’s close relationship to the more utilitarian X3.

It’s a different story inside, at least as far as design is concerned, as everything one can see and touch in the X4 is essentially lifted straight from the X3. That’s hardly a bad thing, though, as it means there’s premium materials, an attractive dashboard and a comfortable driving position. Simple, effective and old-fashioned white-on-black analog gauges contrast with BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment system, which has evolved over the years into one of the most user-friendly interfaces for controlling entertainment, navigation and climate control functions. Redundant controls composed of conventional knobs and buttons provide an alternate means of accessing often-used features.

No doubt, Nigerian lovers of the German machines, BMW, have something new to look up to as they prepare for the New Year.

Coscharis Motors Limited, the representative of the brand in Nigeria, unveiled the new product in Lagos on Friday with the expectation that the new X4 would increase its share in the premium segment of the nation’s automobile market.

According to the President/Chief Executive Officer, Coscharis Group, Mr Cosmas Maduka, the introduction of the car is expected to widen

the BMW market share within Nigeria and globally.

Maduka, who spoke through the General Manager for the BMW brand at Coscharis, Mr Sola Adigun, said the X4 had been equipped with adaptive light control, driving dynamics control with ECO PRO mode and twin power turbo inline four cylinders.

“The new BMW X4,” he said “stands in the gap for both X5 and X6 and it provides a unique combination of sporty and elegant coupé design, excellent versatility, space and the hallmark BMW sheer driving experience. The BMW X4 is designed that is obviously spacious with an excellent functionality.

“However, this does not adversely affect the car’s dynamic appearance. It is simply a car with intelligent innovations.”

According to the Coscharis boss, the X4 (F26) is not just the best-selling manufactured in the compact executive class, but also the first car made in this segment to offer no less than four different body variants: Saloon, Touring, Coupe and Convertible.”The range increased with the advent and launch of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo late last year,” he stated.

The BMW X4 is new for the 2015 model year, and it doubles down on the German automaker’s success with the X6 - its first foray into the hazy world of coupe-like crossovers.

Assembly takes place at BMW’s United Staes facility in Greer, South Carolina, alongside the X3, the X5 and the X6.

With its slicked-back roofline and choice performance upgrades, the X4 is targeted at drivers who might shop for a Porsche Macan or a Range Rover Evoque, possibly even a Lincoln MKC. The General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, Mr Abiona Babarinde, said the introduction of the new car at this period was deliberate as it was meant to coincide with the end of the year.

“This is the time when many people change

their wardrobes and decide the type of clothes, shoes and other accessories they want to buy as they prepare to celebrate the Christmas and the New Year. That decision also includes the automobiles,” he said.

He said the company was not deterred in the launch of the new vehicle by the economic crunch in the country following the recently rolled out austerity measures by the Federal Government in reaction to the falling global prices of crude oil.

Babarinde said, “It is an emotional car; and notwithstanding the price and the economic situation in the country, people who are attached to beautiful automobiles will always ask for the BMW,” he said.

Interior Its elevated seat position offers a perfect view of the exclusive, clearly designed interior.

It has a standard-feature sport leather steering wheel and a sporty-shaped gear selector lever that convey a dynamic impression.

The new car, according to its manufacturer, has unique surround sound and an outstanding sensation of space, adding the ambience in the BMW X4 satisfies even the highest demands.

“Depending on your personal taste, you can add extra touches with top-quality wood trims or a cool metallic look,” it states.

The elevated seat position in the BMW X4 offers a perfect view of the exclusive, clearly designed interior.

The standard-feature sport leather steering wheel and the sporty-shaped gear selector lever convey a dynamic impression in an instant.

Exterior The car has an independent self-image and this is evident as soon as people set eyes on it.

BMW says its striking front is characterised by a solid stance, a powerful kidney grille and

large air inlets. It also has integrated doubleround headlights with a full led technology as an option.

Its sporty bumpers, muscular wheel arches and broad shoulder line further show the X genes of the sports activity coupé.

From the side, the dynamic contours of the coupé roof line and the characteristic two-part crease line are evident.

At the rear, the powerfully sculptured bumpers and led lights round off the vehicle’s proportions.

Engine performance It comes with 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo sixcylinder petrol engine with 225 kW (306 hp).

This produces a maximum torque of 400 Nm. The intelligent innovations package comprising TwinScroll turbocharger with valvetronic, double-vanos and high precision injection not only enables the BMW X4 xDrive35i to unleash its power, but is also responsible for its efficiency.

The X4 is equipped with innovative and easy to operate features. For instance, its Comfort Access system makes it possible to open the vehicle doors and start the engine without having to use the car key.

The key, which may be in one’s trouser pocket or in a briefcase, is automatically recognised upon approaching the car. Once the door has been automatically unlocked, the driver can get in and start the engine by pressing the Start/ Stop button.

The Comfort Access system also includes the Smart Opener function. An integrated sensor detects a short, directed wave of the foot below the rear bumper and the tailgate opens and closes automatically without being touched.

The Comfort Access system relies on key authentication to ensure security.

The standard-feature sport leather steering wheel and the sporty-shaped gear selector lever convey a dynamic impression in an instant.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

40

MOTORING

G

AC Motors, one of the leading Chinese automobile manufacturers has demonstrated its strong resolve to compete in the Nigerian automobile market by opening an ultra-modern three S facility in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Chinese auto maker, represented in Nigeria by CIG Motors, before the completion of its new facility was operating from the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island and has taken part in the annual Abuja and Lagos Motor shows, as well as private exhibitions at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling the chairman of CIG Motors, Mrs Diana Chen explained that GAC brand of automobiles are produced to the highest industry standard to compete with leading Japanese and European models.

GAC Motors opens ultra-modern facility Mrs Diana boasted that CIG will deliver unique services to Nigerians.

“We are very confident with the standard and quality of automobiles the CIG Motors intend to deliver to Nigerians having seen that Nigerians love quality things including automobiles,” she said.

She disclosed that the company has started a holiday promotion by offering 20 per cent discount on any GS5 SUV or GA3 1.6 litre engine saloon model bought during the period.

CIG Motors Sales and Marketing Director, Mr Kayode Adejumo, stated that GAC brand

of vehicles will give value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed.

According to him, the first set of models unveiled into the market are GS5 2.0L engine, the mid luxury SUV, currently the flagship and the GA3 1, 6L saloon vehicle. CIG, he added, is set to offer the highest standards and quality of service with genuine spare parts available for all the vehicles.

“Apart from having the highest safety rating of 5 NCAP stars, it is one of the leading vehicles in passive safety with the most advanced technology applied,” Adejumo said.

The GAC flagship, GS5 SUV is powered by

a 2.0 litre engine and loaded with array of features that are only seen in luxury brands.

The near luxury sport utility vehicle is competitive priced despite it array of feature.

A high level of comfort is experienced in the GAC with generous legroom, head room and luggage space, while the double fork independent suspensions ensure smoother ride on uneven surfaces.

According to Adejumo, CIG Motors, has opened sales and after-sales facility as part of the steps towards achieving its plans to launch itself fully into the Nigerian auto market as a way of getting Nigerians.

A

S if there weren’t enough things in the world that one want but probably can’t afford, Bentley decided to pile it on. The ultra-luxury car maker recently debuted its new Grand Convertible, which just might become the world’s ultimate top-down vehicle. At its core, the Grand Convertible is a Bentley Muslanne Speed, complete with a 530-horsepower 6.75 twin-turbo V8 engine that tacks on a whopping 811 pound-feet of torque. This car is the paramount of engineering and sophistication, and the only downside is that it will be a tad bit out of the price range of average consumer.

“We are eagerly awaiting the response of our customers to this car. We will ensure that this car — if it reaches the roads – will be a highly exclusive, extremely limited collector’s piece,” said Bentley Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Dürheimer.

Dürheimer made the statement at the car’s unveiling at the LA Auto Show.

“This concept demonstrates Bentley’s ability to create a pinnacle convertible Grand Tourer, while embodying elegance beyond compares. With this car, we combine the opulent Mulsanne experience with the full sensory indulgence of openair touring, continuing to unite luxury and performance in new ways,” he stated.

The Grand Coupe will continue its promotional tour following the LA Auto Show, and head to Miami for Art Basel, where it will likely garner even more consumer excitement.

For comparison, the car’s soon-to-be greatest rival, the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, sells for around half a million dollars. While the car itself is still in the concept phase, all signs point toward production in the near future.

“It’s a production-ready concept,” Corey Proffitt, a Bentley North American spokesman, told The New York Times.

“No final decision on production has been made, though. The business is using L.A. and Miami appearances to gauge dealer and customer feedback in our two largest convertible markets,” he noted While it’s certain to turn a lot of heads and create a good amount of buzz in the auto world, the pressing question really regards where the new Grand Convertible will fit in. Really, all it boils down to is how Bentley plans on introducing a car that very few people can afford into an auto market that is being dominated by sales of pickup trucks, cheap commuter cars and economical compact SUVs. As mentioned previously, Bentley is taking aim at its chief rival, Rolls Royce. On Rolls Royce’s side of things, they already have the Phantom Drophead Coupe on the market, which is currently the US$ 500,000 ultra-luxury convertible leader. By introducing the Grand Convertible to compete with the Phantom, Bentley is taking a stab at a market segment that has really, up to this point, gone mostly unchallenged. Now that it’s been on the market, dominating the ultra-luxury convertible segment since 2008, this may be the perfect chance for Bentley to jump in and swipes some

•Bentley Grand Convertible

Meet Bentley’s new Grand Convertible market share.

But how about the rest of the Bentley line up?

With the lack of a marquee convertible model, the Grand Convertible will be a welcome addition that will augment what the company has to offer.

Though it’s really an offshoot of the Mulsanne, the new addition extends Bentley’s reach on the mar-

ket. Right now, the Flying Spur, the Continental and the Mulsanne are the only current production models that Bentley produces, so by expanding on that, execs are hoping to improve sales.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Grand Convertible isn’t the only new addition coming to the Bentley family. The company is also in the midst of

a new SUV project, which is still mostly under wraps. While the convertible will open a few new doors, adding an SUV to the fold will really shake things up, and give the world what is likely to be one of the most powerful and expensive sport utility vehicles on the planet.

Easy Ride donates to Juvenile Centre

T

O some, motorbike riding is a form of recreation, but for Easy Ride Motorcycle Club, Lagos, there is more to it than just getting on a fancy motorcycle and cruising round town.

On Sunday, December 21, members of Easy Ride Motorcycle Club engaged in a charity ride geared towards donating gifts to the residents of Juvenile Welfare Centre IN Mushin, Lagos, as a way to remember the less-privileged in the society in the spirit of Christmas.

The event was the fourth in a series of annual donations to charity homes. But what made 2014’s event different from previous years’ was that the club adopted the Juvenile Welfare Centre and unveiled a plan to refurbish it. It also disclosed a proposal to adopt two children and sponsor their education.

As a first step, the club agreed to carry out the immediate change of the centre’s leaking roof, fix its broken generator and repair its grounded bus.

Some of the items donated to the centre include

TVs, mattresses, toys, clothes and foodstuff, and while handing them over on behalf of the club, a member of its Board of Trustees, Adeyinka Olugbode said the endowment was a way to say ‘Thank you to God’ for eventful years spent by the club’s members and to celebrate the season with the less-privileged.

He also said the charity ride was another way to develop the culture of good riding in Nigeria.

“It was a very eventful year for Nigeria and the club as well. We want to celebrate the season with the less privileged in the society that is why we organised an event like this. This will show that someone somewhere cares for them and they are not alone. The donation to the less-privileged started four years ago and we thank God we’ve been able to sustain it,” Olugbode said.

Another member of the club’s Board of Trustee, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya said the essence of the ride was to give back to the society.

“The Christmas is all about giving and we all

know that it is not just about eating and having fun alone. Easy Ride Motorcycle Club is made of professionals. Most people believe that people who ride bikes are not ‘responsible’ but I can tell you that all members of Easy Ride are professionals and God-fearing. We are very responsible. We do the right thing in the right way.

“A lot of us work in organisations where we do Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and there is no way we cannot apply that here (Easy Ride Motorcycle Club). This is not the first time we are doing this.

We have visited different centres before.

“In essence, we want to show love to the lessprivileged. Kudos must be given to members of the (club’s) executive. They we’ve done well in leading the club,” Badejo-Okusanya said.

The officer in charge of the centre, Mrs Alausa Afusat, Deputy Superintendence of Police (DSP), who was full of joy, thanked the club for its kind gesture.

SAFE DRIVING

Pre -licence renewal driver training

W

ITHOUT any iota of doubt, majority of Nigerians currently holding the National Drivers Licence did not undergo the normal Basic Driver Training (for Learners) in the Driving Schools thus having limited knowledge of what driving actually entails. Majority of the men and women driving in Nigeria today do not know all the traffic signs, road markings and signals.

Neither do they know several other factors responsible for road accidents. Hence the high rate of accidents and fatalities in the country.

Likewise, those that passed through Driving Schools can in no

way be taught everything they need to know about driving. For example, there are over 200 rules of Defensive driving and there is no way any Driving School can cover all, not to talk of several other topics on the personal and occupational health factors, Vehicle dynamics, Vehicle technology, Road and road furnitures, Adverse driving conditions, Driving forces, Traffic offences, Security and surveillance among others.

Learners are only exposed to the basic Theory, Practical and Hazard perception lessons within the time they can spare for their training.

Naturally, knowledge acquisition or education is a systematic and pro-

gressive task. Just as we have Kindergarten, Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions as progressive steps in knowledge acquisition.

We must also have an established phases of learning for all categories of Drivers and Vehicle Owners to enable each and everyone have good knowledge of driving and allied factors bearing in mind that the fact that we were not exposed to fundamental training on road safety in our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

The recent introduction of the Graduated Licensing System is a good step in the right direction and there is the need to make good use of

this opportunity to ensure that the safety culture is imbibed by each and everyone, no matter the status.

The rate of road crashes and fatalities is high in Nigeria and many continue to be high unless we all get committed to the practice and promotion of the safety culture.

Considering the dearth of knowledge during the learning stage, it has become expedient for all categories of Drivers (including Drivers of Own vehicles) to be subjected to intensive pre-licence renewal re-training programme to further entrench the safety culture into them. This regular and mandatory re-training programme will ensure that every

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

Driver in Nigeria is equipped with the knowledge and skills required for safety on all Nigeria roads.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

43

SPECIAL REPORT

•A group of Nigerians with disabilities arriving for a reception after the 2010 Commonwealth Games: They are mostly remembered after doing the country proud

How Nigeria lets down its army of 22 miliion people with disabilities The bulk of the estimated 22 million Nigerians with one form of disability or the other still hold the short end of the stick, suffering in silence. From banking, insurance, health, employment, sports and even worship, persons with disabilities are abandoned despite the avalanche of conventions to protect their rights and dignity, writes COLLINS NWEZE Besides, Onwe, who is the Lead Partner, Daniel & Sophina, regretted the absence of insurance cover or products for per- sons with disabilities, as operators see them as highrisk segment of the society.

The churches and mosques, he added, are not built with their interest at heart.

"When we manage to be in such worship places, we are seen as people seeking miracles and healings. Churches and mosques are very dangerous for us because of the way they are built.

We do not even have access to go to altar for prayers. Still we want to be part of the fellowship. We are not looking for miracles but to worship God. "Same thing applies when we want to marry or even secure accommodation. Most times, policy makers see us as objects of charity. But many of us have gone beyond that. It is not every person with disability that needs rice or N5, 000 to survive," he narrated.

,

The National Coach of Nigerian Wheelchair Racers, Aliyu Adebayo, agreed with Onwe. He spoke on his experience with a Lagos-based commercial bank.

"While working with Rivers State government, I needed to withdraw N10 million from the bank to pay my athletes during a major competition. The pain of that experience still lingers. The irony of it was that I could not enter the banking hall because my wheelchair could not pass the electric entrance door. I was paid the money in front of the bank branch. It was Ecobank Nigeria. I just gave them the cheque; they went inside and brought the money outside. I was so scared for my life and of losing the money. It was the branch manager that came to my rescue. He took his official car and drove me out of the place," he said.

But the banking system, the wheelchair racer said, is just a section of the society as they face more severe challenges when dealing with larger sections of the society.

"Some have successfully passed interviews, but later excluded because of their conditions. Some employers can even

E withxclusion desi disab of per men gn, pla ilities f sons eval tation; nning, rom th poli uation monit imple e affe cies on of gov oring a dist ct their key is ernme nd be i urbing lives a sues th nt and nclude . They re high at state d in need ly strat natio to egic nal plan s

,

,

D

ANIEL Onwe, a Lagos litigation lawyer, knows the pains that come with disabilities. He has been living with one almost all his life. At less than two years old, he suffered poliomyelitis, a highly infectious viral disease which left him with partial paralysis and deformity of the lower limbs. He depends on crutches for movement.

As one of the estimated 22 million Nigerians living with disabilities as stated in the World Disability Report, he knows where the shoe pinches. Today, whenever he speaks on such disabilities, the world listens.

"From lack of recognition before the law, access to justices, right to education and health, protection of personal integrity, respect for the family, employment, adequate standard of living and right to vote, persons with disabilities are daily deprived of their rights to contribute to economic development," he said.

The lawyer said nationwide, none of the structures in the court environment, which is a temple of justice, has ramp to aid movement for persons with disabilities.

"I pass through lots of hassles to be in the court. No consideration is given to us in the society which we are stakeholders in. But it should not be so. Everything should be done, bearing in mind that we are citizens of this country," he lamented.

Continuing, he said the restrictions in entering into the banking halls due to hi-tech doors and negligence when one manages to gain entrance make banking difficult for them. The visually impaired, he said, also rely on third parties for their transactions.

be more polite saying: 'You see, you cannot cope with this type of job because of your condition'," he said.

What the National Disability Bill says The National Disability Bill, which is already passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, is awaiting presidential assent. The Bill seeks to establish a National Commission for persons with disabilities; prohibit discrimination against them; mandates Federal Ministry of Information to create awareness on disability issues; makes it mandatory for public buildings, roads and transportation system to be accessible to persons with disabilities and reservation for persons with disabilities at car parks.

It stipulates that in all emergency situations, or disasters, persons with disabilities should be given special consideration based their peculiarities; makes it illegal to use persons with disabilities in begging; compulsory and free education to secondary school level for persons with disabilities; public schools at level shall be run to be inclusive of persons with disabilities and five per cent of employment in the public sector shall be reserved for persons with disabilities.

Banking Vs the blind The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has continued to urge banks on the need to employ assistive technology to make banking more accessible to customers with disabilities, including the blind. This has brought about reactions from persons with disabilities.

(Continued on page 44)

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

44

SPECIAL REPORT

How Nigeria lets down 22 m

•Dr. Adebayo

(Continued from page 45) "Bank visits can be challenging for wheelchair users. Blind customers cannot read standard statements. I want banks to addresses such logistical challenges with accessible web, communications technologies and specially-trained workforce. But their response is coming too slow," Abiodun Erugbaju, a blind customer of one of the commercial banks, said.

He spoke on the sideline at a one-day public policy dialogue on inclusion of persons with disabilities in government policies and programmes organised by Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) in partnership with Disability Policy and Advocacy Initiative (DPAI), in Lagos.

He said a combination of bad staff attitude and poor technology has made banking difficult for the blind and other persons with disabilities. He shared a personal experience during one of his visits to his bank: "How would you feel when you discover that there are no voice guidance and tactile keyboards on the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) your bank expects you to use.

Or hearing a customer service officer ask a colleague: 'who will be operating the bank account for him?'"

These, he said, were some of his experiences in banks, almost daily. The most disturbing part of it, he said, was that the customer service officer was not even asking him directly, but was asking a colleague.

"When I heard it, I felt bad, and quickly told her that the question was ridiculous. If you want to ask this type of question, you should ask me. Not a third party that does not know about me. She is not my brother or someone that knows me. Asking a stranger who will be operating my account for me is derogatory. Which means I can't do that even as a Masters Degree holder? I brought out four different ATM cards and told her that the card she has just given me will make it the fifth that I have at the moment. Then, I told her that she had just insulted me by that question," Erugbaju narrated.

The Coordinator, Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), Ejiro Okotie, called for financial sector advocacy that would prompt lenders to be more attentive to the plights of persons with disabilities. She said her experiences with her banks were equally disturbing. For her, not completing her pay slip before going to the bank means that getting someone to do it for her would be a challenge, adding that access to the banking halls is equally a major challenge for the blind.

"Some of us move with the guide canes which cannot pass the electric doors installed at the entrance of the banking halls. Sometimes, I had to drop my cane behind, or talk

•Erugbaju

to the security personnel to disable the entrance door before I can go in with the cane. This is because many of the banks do not have alternative doors for the blind to go into the banking halls without inconveniencing others."

The NAB Coordinator suggested that at least a customer care person be responsible for attending to persons with disabilities and other illiterate persons.

"I always need someone to help me type my Personal Identification Number (PIN) when using ATMs. We need ATMs that can talk as such would give the blind confidentiality," she said.

She advised banks to train their staff to render disability-friendly services, especially for the blind.

"If you give me all my bank statements in prints, I have to get someone to read it to me.

But if they have the necessary facilities in place to make sure that information are put in accessible format like Braille, life will be made a little easier for me," she said.

The Executive Secretary, Disability Policy and Advocacy Initiative (DPAI), Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, who is also blind, supported Erugbayi's argument insisting that the ATMs are not well equipped for the blind.

"The ATMs are not equipped to give me my account balances, buy air airtime, pay utility bills among other services. The bank notes are also not recognisable," he said.

Such inadequacies, he said, have discouraged him from banking.

He said that making the banknotes recognisable to the blind would solve half of the financial handling challenges they face.

"If the CBN wants to create the needed features, it can do it. But the bitter truth is that they do not even think that some people are disabled. We are the ones affected, but some of them may be disabled one day. Challenges can visit anybody just like rain can fall at any time without announcements," he said.

Adebayo, who banks with Zenith, Access and Diamond banks, said he has not noticed any improvements on the attention and services the lenders give to him or some of his blind friends.

Mrs Rita Boyo wants banks to improve on their ATM services by reducing difficulties that come with accessing the keys. She also wants lenders to put signs on the ATMs that identify the numbers on the keypad.

"I was at Wema Bank the other time, and I had to call the security man to assist me with my account number. And you know the account number is supposed to be private but I have to disclose it just to get the transaction done. I also do same with my ATM PIN, which is not supposed to be. Even the cheque books can be done in a way that it becomes easier for us to use. We also need to identify the notes," she said.

A lecturer at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo, Olubodede Emmanuel, told The Nation that Access Bank's token is not accessible to the blind. He said despite complaining to the lend-

•Okotie

er about such deficiency, nothing has been done.

"I have complained to the bank several times, but it has failed to address the challenge. FirstBank's token is accessible to the blind but it is not talking. Skye Bank's token is not accessible at all to the blind. These are some of the challenges we face when trying to do internet banking," he said.

Emmanuel said some of the banks' branches are not customer-friendly, adding that sometimes, they refuse to issue ATM cards for the blind.

The Executive Director, African Union of the Blind (AFUB), Julius Kamya, also recounted his experience with Barclays Bank, Uganda when his request for a $7,000 salary advance loan was declined.

"I applied for a loan and they said your organisation did not qualify when we did the qualification sampling. Then I said no problem, I am not qualified, but one of my staff who is not disabled applied for the loan and got it. I am the chief executive officer of the organisation where she works, how come I was not qualified? What is the problem so that I rectify it and not make other staff lose when they apply?

"They said I was just not qualified. Then I said can you put what you are telling me in writing?

The bank said no. Then, I contacted my lawyer who wrote them. They sensed there was big trouble when I kept writing them, up to three times. They gave me the loan. I was contemplating dragging them to court, before they responded. They just sensed I was on the move," he said.

Kamya, who spoke while attending a conference in Lagos, said there was need for continuous advocacy for persons with disability, especially the blind. He said challenges faced by the blind differ from bank to bank, but the issues have to do with discrimination, poor customer services and outright denial of banking services.

"Some banks don't think that I am eligible to have a bank account. Some banks do not accept thumb prints thereby excluding the blind that may not be able to sign with a pen. Sometimes, it may have to do with ignorance by the staff of the banking institution. Some banks even think that as a visually impaired person, one is not entitled to a loan. There are also issues around bank notes not being accessible to blind users who will not be able to differentiate one currency from another. I have seen these practices in Lagos, Kenya and Uganda," he said.

The AFUB boss said other marginalised group of persons with disabilities, such as persons with albinism, persons with intellectual disabilities, and persons with epilepsy, face life threatening violence and deprivation of liberty due to societal beliefs and harmful cultural practices.

He advised that stakeholders ensure that persons with disabilities, including youths and older persons, as well as children and their families, should be closely consulted and actively involved through their representative organi-

•Kamya

sations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of all programmes and policies that impact on their lives.

The convener of the policy dialogue, Olufunke Osindele, said banks are not doing enough to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the financial system. She wants lenders to make messages about their products and services available in a manner they can understand them. Stakeholders, she said, should ensure effective inclusion of people with disabilities in empowerment programmes that would have positive behavioural change on their relationship with the society.

"Exclusion of persons with disabilities from the design, planning, implementation; monitoring and evaluation of government policies on key issues that affect their lives are highly disturbing. They need to be included in national and state strategic plans; other relevant policy documents on banking operations, telecom and reproductive health, which constitute major concerns to stakeholders," she said.

From the world of Sports Daniel Ezekiel, a sportsman and power lifter, said Nigerian government does not appreciate what it has, as it has abandoned persons with disabilities.

"It is when we have suffered, and improved on themselves, and win medals that government will then recognise us. Government does not even pay us any salaries until we win medals in major competitions. So, without medals, no help, no employment or any form of support from the government; the only thing they know is go and win us medals. But there is no support at all to make that happen. Like me I sing. I write songs very well. I just want government to support us discover our talents and achieve our goals in life. Let them recognise us and assist us financially," he said.

On banking, he said: "For me, banking has not been easy. Many times, when I go to the banks, the machine will request that I remove the metal object, which is the wheel chair. In many cases, they have to switch off the electric door to enable me pass. Again, when I get inside the banking hall, the next challenge is the large crowd, and before they will attend to me, a lot of time would have passed. I want banks to have a special route for the physically challenged people to pass, because if they are talking about financial inclusion, I believe no one should be left behind".

He described wheelchair racing as flamboyant but very expensive sports. He said Nigerian racers only rely on standard wheelchair which is less sophisticated than the customised ones used in advanced countries.

"In Nigeria, the customised one is not even available and that has put us behind during international competitions. Still, we are trying our best that is even why we pick up some medals (Continued on page 45)

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

45

SPECIAL REPORT

miliion people with disabilities

•Onwe

,

We are seen as people seeking miracles and healings. Churches and mosques are very dangerous for us because of the way they are built. We do not even have access to go to altar for prayers. We are not looking for miracles but to worship God... It is not every person with disability that needs rice or N5, 000 to survive

,,

when we go for international competitions. If government should try and acquire the customised race chairs for us, I believe we will rule the world. It is the technology that is inside those customised chairs that make other racers from advanced countries to beat us. But when you talk of human resources and manpower, we have everything thing," he said.

Speaking further, he said: "Government is the parental body that everyone cries to for help.

Government needs to pass all the bills, including one that requires that companies employ a number of us from where we will earn our living, but that is not happening".

Facts from insurance A Lagos-based insurance consultant, Abiodun Lasaki, regretted that operators do not have prod-

•Mrs. Odumosu

ucts targeting Persons with disabilities. The available products, he said, can only insure persons without disabilities in workplaces.

"For instance, the Employer's Liability (Group Life) Insurance requires that all employers of labour with more than four employees key into it. The law requires the employers to have insurance that will provide for compensation in the event of death, disappearance, disability, or critical illness suffered by staff while in service and to subsidise pension provision in the event of mental or physical disability.

"This law applies to both public and private sector employees. This means that employees (and their families) have the right to demand compensation and payment from their employers in the event of injury or death. The penalty for non-compliance with this law is N250,000, Record of conviction, and in addition the place of business may be sealed up. It is recognised under the Pension Reform Act 2004," Lasaki said.

The deaf and their health Findings also showed that the deaf are also denied proper health care in the society. Take the case of 43-years-old Mrs. Tinuke Odumosu, who has been deaf since birth. She lost her husband, Seye and child under sympathetic and terrifying circumstances.

Speaking through a sign language interpreter, Wole Ekundayo, she said that when her late husband was sick and taken to a hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, it was difficult for doctors to accurately diagnose his ailment due to communication gap. That she said, led to his death.

Months later, she also lost one of her three children under similar circumstance. "The cause of both deaths is similar. In all the cases, doctors could not understand how they felt and the health challenges they faced. So, it was difficult to administer the right drugs and treatments," she said.

The Odumosus are not the only family of the deaf that suffers from this dilemma. Take the case of Kenneth Osuligwe, from Owerri. He had two children, but one died after a brief illness.

"The baby suddenly got sick and was rushed to a hospital where he died because no one could tell the doctor what was wrong," he lamented.

Mrs Ademosu said she needs government's backing and support, especially in making interpreters available at government hospitals to avert preventable deaths.

The president of Deaf Supporters Group, Afolabi Dahunsi, said challenges facing the group are many and that, ideally, the group is against its members begging, but one has to be realistic. "How do we stop people from begging when there is nothing for them to do? We have always advised them to start small businesses because there is dignity in labour. But starting a small business also requires money," he said.

Conventions to the rescue Kamya said the United Nations conventions

•Adebayo

on persons with disabilities instituted in 2006 has enabled the group to engage stakeholders with the policy instrument. One of the provisions of that document, he explained, is that national governments should domesticate the policy through an act of parliament and set up agencies, on disabilities that will look into these issues.

"The convention on the rights of persons with disabilities is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect their rights and dignity. Parties to the convention like Nigeria are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law".

"The convention has served as the major catalyst in the global movement from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members of society, with human rights. It is also the only United Nations human rights instrument with an explicit sustainable development dimension.

The convention was the first human rights treaty of the third millennium," he said but regretted that many countries are not implementing it.

Battle goes to court The fight to get persons with disabilities recognised has also moved to the law court. The Federal High Court in Lagos is hearing a case instituted by Onwe against President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly (NASS) for allegedly failing to enact a law to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

The plaintiff is seeking an order mandating the respondents to enact, forthwith, the necessary laws to protect persons with disabilities, thereby stopping the violation of their fundamental rights."It will be in the interest of justice and the nation to grant this application," Onwe prayed the court.

He is seeking a declaration that the absence of a federal legislation for the protection of persons with disabilities violates their fundamental rights as guaranteed by Sections 33, 34, 39, 40, 41 and 42 of 1999 Constitution and articles 4, 5, 9, 12(1), 13(3), 18(4) and 24 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

Regulators, banks speak CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele explained during the lunching of the N100 centenary banknote that it is embedded with features that makes it recognisable to the blind. Emefiele said banks should do businesses that balance economic profit, social responsibility and environmental issues. He the CBN has been making steady progress on how to get more people into the financial system, including people with disabilities.

Also, Special Adviser to the Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Yakubu Mohammed, said sustainable

banking is about guaranteeing human rights and a life in dignity, free from want and poverty for all.

"It is about providing specialised products for women, youths, disabled, widows to ensure that 34.9 million out of the 87.9 million adult Nigerian excluded from the financial system have access to finance," he said.

FirstBank's spokesperson and Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank has demonstrated its commitment to providing inclusion, advocacy and public enlightenment for blind and visually impaired persons through support for the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) White Cane and Safety Day, which it has been doing since 2011.

She said the bank's partnership with NAB is implemented on the platform of the lender's "Hope Rising" initiatives aimed at providing health and welfare support for indigent persons and persons with disabilities.

"Through the years, the bank has been committed to supporting persons with disabilities. We have started building wheelchair-friendly branches and will continue to take steps to get more people, including the blind, into the financial system," she said.

The Head of Media, United Bank for Africa Plc, Ramon Olanrewaju, said the lender is taking steps to ensure that every of its branches have facilities for the disabled.

"I can tell you that those on wheel chair or blind are well taken care of. There are security gates which they have to pass through.

We try as much as we can to ensure that they get adequate attention," he said.

But Emefiele's position on the new banknote was faulted by the NAB's President, David Okon who insisted that the new N100 note does not have features that make it recognisable to the blind.

"It does not have the features that make it recognisable to the blind. For us, there is nothing that differentiates the new note from others. The challenges we face today are enormous and need policy backup for the CBN and banks to address them. We have written severally to them on these issues but got no response," he told The Nation.

Other stakeholders have also called for a federal legislation to specifically protect persons with disabilities. They want public buildings, sidewalks and other architectural structures equipped with lifts and ramps to make life easier for the group. The use of sign language and Braille for the deaf and blind persons respectively, they said, should also be promoted.

Like Onwe, Okon wants the world to not just listen to the plights of persons with disabilities but act to make the desired change happen.

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

46

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Celebration (9) 6. Greeting (2) 7. Documentation (6) 9. Indelible Mark (4) 10. Former (2) 11. Spread Out (3) 12. Final (4) 14, Resounding Noise (4) 15. In direction of (2) 16, Myself (2) 17. Eager (4) 19. Young Boy (3) 20. Father Christmas (10) 24. Being (2) 26. Tinkle (6) 27. Perform (2) 28. Tease (6)

1. Impression (4) 2. Cereal (4) 3. Created (4) 4. Amuse (6) 5. Celebration of Christ’s birth(9) 8. Free Air (6) 11. Paths (5) 13. Clawed 18. Deserve (4) 19. Juvenile (3) 21. Story (4) 22. So be it (4) 23. Musical Note (2) 25. Gladness (3)

SANTA PUZZLE Find alternative words to the clues below and fill them in their spaces in the grid.The answer to the first word on the grid “ORICK” has 4 letters which should be placed in their spaces in the grid being 1,8,6, and 15 as shown besie the word. The star word, an 11letter word denoting the yuletide will be revealed when done .

1

Story of the Christmas Tree

9

10

11

POETRY

The Legend of Christmas Tree

2

8

3

7 4

5

6

Just how powerful a symbol is the Christmas tree?

Any Christmas tree, given the right kind of attention, can be perfect, and even humble things take on exalted meaning in the eyes of Christ.

• “The First Christmas Tree”Did you know that an oak was the inspiration for the first Christmas tree? In this informative story, we learn how an eighth-century monk named Boniface chopped down an oak tree to prove an important religious point, and ended up viewing a small fir sapling as a miracle.

• “The First Christmas Tree Lights”Ever wonder about the origin of Christmas tree lights? This story tells how Martin Luther changed the Christmas tree tradition with the addition of lights, the result of his frightening walk through the dark woods. It reveals the fascinating fact that Christmas trees were originally hung upside down, without lights.

• “The Perfect Tree”This delightful story is told from the perspective of a small, unremarkable tree that worries whether it will be suitable for Christmas. Through the inspired care of a family, it fills the bill perfectly. Try reading this uplifting tale to a child — it will teach him or her some valuable lessons about caring for others.

• “The Tale of Three Trees”What if Christmas trees could talk? What would they say? In this profound Christmas tale, three trees have grandiose hopes for their wood after they’re harvested, and all three are disappointed — temporarily. Eventually, they all play meaningful roles in the life of Jesus Christ. Make this inspirational story part of your family’s Christmas tradition.

• “O Christmas Tree” The brief on Christmas Tree Stories ends here with the story about a “special” Christmas tree everyone thought was too small. Read ‘O Christmas Tree’ to find out how this special tree turned into a bright, beautiful spectacle that would remain with one happy family forever.

Pep Talk

Humour * What did Adam say to his wife on the day before Christmas?

Answer:It’s Christmas, Eve! * What for the trumpet of Ken was kept in the freezer?

Answer: Because he loves cool music. * What is the popular carol in Desert?

Answer: Camel ye Faithful. * Why the Christmas tree can’t stand up?

Answer: It doesn’t have legs.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things”. - Thomas S. Monson

47

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

Almost 24 states in Nigeria today cannot pay their salaries in the last two months and yet these so-called elements in public office are collecting N21bn for presidential election. There is too much deceit and they are not even thinking wisely. Who do they want to impress that they organized a fund raiser

‘

Former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State. He spoke with reporters on his mission, the Ajimobi Administration and chances at the poll. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

Folarin: I ‘m not afraid of incumbency in Oyo’ T

HE perception is that your party in Oyo State is enmeshed in crisis and that would be a disadvantage to you in the election...

I totally disagree. Can you tell me which party in this state that is not in crisis? The APC which is the ruling party has lost all its senators, literally lost most of the House of Representatives members and everyone is leaving the party but no one is talking about that. Politics is a game of interest and so, that is why the battle for the control of the soul of the party has been very fierce.

Yes, some people have left, but some people have also come into the party.

This is season is like the transfer window among football clubs, there is a merry go round, people are going out, people are coming in.

We are very sad to see people go, but they exercised their fundamental human rights which we respect. Yes, we are also making moves towards reconciliation and I can tell you that it is going very, very well. We plan to call a stakeholders’ meeting next week, to carry people along, to let them know that it is a project for everyone and that it is not a Folarin thing, but a PDP thing.

You are competing with Rasheed Ladoja, Seyi Makinde. All of you in the race, exceppt Adebayo AlaoAkala from Ogbomoso, are from ibadan. Would that not result in vote splitting?

Your assumption is wrong. Sometimes in politics, two plus two doesn’t give you four. Sometimes it gives you ten, sometimes it gives you zero. With all due respect in Ogbomoso zone who left with Governor Akala? It is not just about names, you must have followers. There are two members of the House of Representatives in Ogbomoso Zone, the House leader and Odebunmi, they didn’t go with him. The House of Assembly members didn’t go with him. The structure of the party did not go with him. I was with the leader of the party in Ogbomoso, Dr. Saka Balogun, he didn’t go with him. I don’t want to talk about his move, but I think it is a miscalculation and I really do. But you will be shocked with what happens in

Ogbomoso. Let me also note that my deputy is from Ogbomoso, a two time local government chairman and a very popular man. No one really went with him.

Why do you want to be governor of Oyo State?

It is something I have always wanted to do to change things. I lived in England for fourteen years and there you see how orderly things are done and you begin to wonder why are things not like this in my country and that was what drove me. I was doing well in England and I have seen successive governments in Oyo State and for me, they have done nothing, because they didn’t come with plans, they don’t put people in the heart of their policies. We have the recipe for change. As senator I could only attract projects to my constituency, I didn’t have a red pen, but as governor you could make things happen and make a difference.

One of the things I feel strongly about is education because if you miss the boat completely. The other day somebody invited me to a party in a high school and you would think you were in a piggery. I couldn’t believe I was in a school.

We feel very strongly also on the issue of youth unemployment because that was one theme that resonated very strongly during my travels across the state. We have been thinking what would we do? We wont waste our time travelling the whole world looking for investors like previous governments have done. We would create the enabling environment, we would create a small and medium enterprises unit in one of our ministries that would focus on how to help small businesses, help the youths. We would also generate a lot of jobs in the agricultural sector.

In Oyo State today, infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the country and it is quite unacceptable. For a population of seven million we have about 135 doctors. So, I think if you ask me, it is down to the government.

You were discharged and not found guilty over the killing of Eleweomo.

But, don’t you think the issue could afect your aspiration?

•Folarin

The issue of Eleweomo was something that used to make me very angry before, but not anymore. I just feel disappointed that we would stoop to this level where we would play politics like this. The former governor (Akala) wasn’t inclusive, he excluded me and good people like Senator Balogun, Chief Adejo, Senator Ladoja and he drove Ladoja out of the party.

And because of my position as the arrowhead of the opposition to him and we were not asking too much from him, just include us and they came up with this plan to frame me. I thought it was very, very unfortunate because I was nowhere near the scene of the incident and I ask, as Senate Leader what was my business with NURTW thug?

It just didn’t make sense, if you want to frame somebody do it in a more tidy way. In these days of telephone camera, not a single person has any evidence to say that he did it. Secondly, they rushed to the press and said that I shot the guy and immediately the autopsy report came, they said he was stabbed. Do policemen stab people?

This government, you have to give

it to them, when Ajimobi came to power, he called the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) and asked for the file and he, the DPP said Akala asked them to frame me up and he asked him to go and write the correct report and after he wrote the report, he sacked him and told him we don’t want to play this kind of politics in this state again.

I am not a violent person and even for my orderlies I don’t tolerate it when they harass motorists and they know it. I have never killed a chicken in my life. It was all a set up and they locked me up in Agodi Prisons all because they wanted to do their primaries.

Now you have cited the good side of Governor Ajimobi. Could you tell us some of his other good achievements and then, point out his failures?

I just said what he did about that unfortunate case, but I think that, since then, he has since completely missed the boat. He came into government without any plan, without any clue of what he wants to do and you can see that all he does is travel to Lagos and when he comes back, he will now say Fashola has built one bridge, let me go and build one too. Go to our hospitals, they are not fenced, our schools are not fenced. Oyo State, the pacesetter state came 23rd in the WAEC. Even this infrastructure they are talking about, they got it wrong. I was the first person to raise the alarm and when I did it, it was with all sense of responsibility thinking that they will change and this government is so insensitive, lacks human face and basically they are clueless. He hasn’t paid compensation, he hasn’t provided alternatives and that is the truth of the matter. What we are saying is that they got their balance wrong. He forgets all the time that being in government is about serving the people. If you are going to plant flowers, yes, it makes everywhere look nice, but if it means that it is going to make some people unemployed, then don’t plant the flower. Once you dislodge them, not

only do you cause economic dislocation, you also cause social dislocation and that is the story right across the state and that is why everybody wants him out.

Even the bridge they built at Mokola, you get the impression that they only built the bridge so that they can say that Ajimobi built this bridge, but it has caused more misery to people living in that area when a simple transport management would solve the problem. You are expanding all the roads, but go to England, they have narrow roads, they have traffic lights.

The point I am making is that you can do the right thing the wrong way.

I have given you the analogy of the poultry. You don’t have to use very strong chemicals to kill the chicken.

There is nothing wrong with urban regeneration, in fact it is something we will continue, but we will do it with a human face.

Do you see the incumbency factor as a challenge to your aspiration?

Incumbency in Oyo State has always been a minus! It means nothing in our state if you look at our history. In other states it is a big factor but in our state if you say you are the incumbent it makes it much easier.

Are you worried that Ajimobi could get on the coattails of Gen. Buhari to get to a second term?

What is our business with Gen. Buhari in the Southwest? All we care about is Ajimobi who has demolished our livelihoods. People are angry that Ajimobi has deprived them of their livelihoods, deprived them of their homes. Look, they have built bridges and all that but why haven’t they conducted local government elections? It is because they know that they will lose.

Are you worried that you would be confronting two former governors and an incumbent governor?

Let me tell you that the PDP has the strongest platform whether we are in government or not. This thing you mentioned about the former governors, that is the advantage for me. I am going to tell the people that these people have done it before and they failed you, give me a chance.

‘No good government will allow N21b donation’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

• Opadokun

T

HE Coordinator of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), Ayo Opadokun, has chided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal government over the N21 billion donation to President

Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign.

He said only an unserious government can close its eyes to iniquity and impunity.

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Secretary told reporters in Offa, Kwara State, that the campaign fund was embarassing. He spoke after delivering a lecture organised by the Offa Students Union.

Opadokun said: “Money is not everything. Their big naira that they have budgeted for that election will fail them because it appears that Nigerians are ready for a change. They cannot be governed continuously in this way.

“I went to jail several times in the struggle to return democracy to Nigeria. We thought that, after that struggle, after we have sent the military packing, those elements that will take over government will work for the greatest interest of our people. But, that is not what is happening. Look at the infrastructure, they are in a terrible mess. By and large, I am sure that

this situation cannot continue in this way.

“Abuja, as glamorous as they have made it, if there is no oil money for two or three years, it will collapse.

Opadokun said the sources of the campaign fund should be probed.

He added: “They should ask where those people got such money. Did they get the money from their father’s houses? Those monies are part of the commonwealth of Nigeria.

“Any government, properly so called, should not have allowed such iniquity to appear. It is too much of an eyesore.

“Almost 24 states in Nigeria today cannot pay their salaries in the last two months and yet these so-called elements in public office are collecting N21bn for presidential election. There is too much deceit and they are not even thinking wisely. Who do they want to impress that they organized a fund raiser?

“The social services have totally collapsed. The more petroleum dollars they have, the more misery they add to the Nigerian people. Something

must give way, it cannot continue to this way.

“If Nigerian sare ready to take their destiny in their hands, they must go democratically and put a strong action to demand that these people should surrender.

Opadokun, who said the PDP has violated the law, lamented that no authority can probe the ruling party.

He stressed: “It is a violation of electoral law. Who will prosecute them? Justice Muhammed Uwais electoral panel recommended a set of actions that this government had turned into their dustbin. One of them is that there must be establishment of electoral offenses commission and that the commission will have statutory members and members of the civil society.

“That commission will have prosecutorial powers so that they can prosecute any electoral offender.

They must not wait for the fiat or approval of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice because the commission will have independent

prosecutorial powers. They have not created it and I know this government will not create it.”

A member of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Alhaji Oyeleke Hassan, aligned with the CODER convener.

He said: “What the federal government is doing is just sheer impunity because it is refusing to abide by the constitution. It shows the level of our legal development. It appears that the situation is worse than the late General Sanni Abacha’s administration “They have Attorney-General, the president has been there for nothing less than 6 years, they cannot claim not to be aware of the electoral act.

Here they are celebrating the donation of over N21bn. It is sheer impunity, “In fact, it is an impeachable offence.

The President should go and the party is supposed to be sanctioned? So where is INEC and who is supposed to bring sanity to this party? That is why the All Progressives Congress (APC) has become a good alternative. President Goodluck and PDP have violated the electoral act very clearly.”

48

THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2014

‘

There are some party stakeholders who could not participate at the primaries where the candidate was chosen. We owe it a duty to carry them along

RACE TO 2015

‘

Lamido rejects PDP Northwest campaign coordinator

J

• Agbaje (right) with his running mate, Mrs Abdulkarim, at a rally in Lagos.

IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has denied being appointed as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Northwest campaign coordinator for next year’s election.

The governor told reporters in Dutse, the state capital, that the appointement was a ruse. He said: “As I’m talking to you now, there is no formal sign of my appointment. I hard it as you hard, it. No body contacted me. As far I’m concerned, I’m not appointed as the Jonathan campaign coordinator at any level”.

Lamido added: “As I’m talking to you, there is no any official letter in any form to me directly or through the party, in respect of the appointment you are asking about.

“I am not the Jonathan Campaign Coordinator. Only what I know is that I saw my name in the newspaper. Things are is not been done that way.”

The PDP Acting Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Jahun, who is the leadder of the party in Jigawa Central Zone, spoke on why the posters of the President are not on the streets of Jigawa. He said every candidate is entitled to his campaign strategy and committee.

But, the PDP Governorship Campaign Coordinator Alhaji Isa Duniya Bahutu said stakeholders are being mobilised to vote for a credible successor to Lamido.

He said: “There are some party stakeholders who could not participate at the primaries where the candidate was chosen. We owe it a duty to carry them along.”

Bahatu also refuted the allegation of factionalisation of the PDP, saying that the party is one in Jigawa State. He said: “The PDP in Jigawa is one and we are working as a single family.”

‘Lagos ‘ll be better under PDP’

L

AGOS State Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) governor ship candidate Jimi Agbaje’s running mate,Alhaja Safurat Olayinka Abdulkarim, has said that the state will savour more dividends of democracy, if the ticket is endorsed at the poll.

Abdulkarim, a teacher, accountant and Muslim, is from Badagry Division.

In 2003, she was the running mate to the former PDP flag bearer, Funso Williams, an engineer, who was assassinated in Lagos in 2006. Married to a a retired Air Force officer, she holds a professional Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Abdulkarim said she would complement her principal, Agbaje, whose administration would usher in an era of greater prosperity in the Centre of Excelence. She said the PDP will govern the state, in accordance with the wishes of the people. The running mate spoke with reporters in Lagos, shortly after she was presented to the media by Agbaje.

“I feel humbled about being chosen for this noble responsibility,” Abdulkarim said, adding: “Mr. Jimi Agbaje is an amiable

personality. He is a complete gentleman. I hope I can really complement him and assist him in winning the 2015 election” In her view, the PDP has a bright chance at the poll. She said the ticket is formidable and attractive to Lagosians, adding that it would offer an opportunity for them to explore the alternative route.

Abdulkarim added: “Our chances are very bright. Citizens want a change in government.

They want personalities who can bring positive programmes to their lives. We want to usher into Lagos a better way of governance, devoid of coercion and intimidation and harassment.”

The PDP chieftain was a pupil the Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Badagry, Lagos, between 1966 and 1972.

From 1975 to 1980, she attended Government Teachers’ College, Badagry, where she obtained a Teacher’s Grade II Certificate. She proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (1985-1987), earning an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Accounting and a Higher National Diploma (HND) from the

Kano State Polytechnic (1990).

In 2006, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management from the University of Ado-Ekiti.

Abdulkarim was an Accounting Officer at Bintu Binta Trading Company, Kano (1987). She became the General Manager of the Ikeja, Lagos-based Disk Engineering Limited (1990-1996) and Managing Director, Transmit Network (1996-1999).

Born June 23, 1961 to the family of Mr. Abdulmananu Mofolorunsho Layode and Mrs. Risikat Ayinke Layode, Abdulkarim has her roots in Egun and Awori, Lagos. Her father hailed from Layode Compound, Awhonjigoh Quarters, Badagry. Her mother came from the famous Akibon family, a lineage of warriors from Akogun Compound, Iba Town, in present day Ojo Local Government.

Between 1998 and 1999, she served as the Vice Chairman and Supervisory Councillor, Badagry Local Government Caretaker Committee.

Safurat is married to WingCommander Bala Abdulkarim (Rtd) with children.

• All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during his house-tohouse campaign in Obalende, Lagos.

Vote wisely, legislator urges constituents

By Adebisi Onanuga

A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Atiba, Afijio, Oyo West and Oyo East Constituency, Hon. Kamil Mudashiru, has urged the people to vote for credible leaders in next year’s polls.

He s p o k e i n O y o , s h o r t l y a f t e r d o n a t i n g a n a m b u l a n c e worthN12 million to the General Hospital, Oyo. Mudashiru, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), said only credible leaders can work for the progress of the constituency.

Explaning the reason for the donation, he said: “Transportation is an important aspect of effective health care delivery and I deemed it fit to provide the vehicle to the hospital that could not boast of one ambulance since its inception.”

Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who witnessed the ceremony, decried the poor state of the hospital.

He said: “When those buildings were erected, we wanted to upgrade the hospital to make it an Advanced Nursing School, which would be an annex of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTHEC), Ogbomoso. Then, we planned to move the Nursing School Department from Ogbomoso to Oyo, but now, the buildings are wasting.”

Alao-Akala, who is the LP governorship candidate, assured the people that his vision for the hospital would come into reality, if re-elected as the governor.

He advised the electorate to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote for the candidates of their choice.

The Chief Medical Director, Dr I. A. Azeez, commended the donor, urging other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate him.

APC chieftain hails Tinubu

K

WARA State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa has hailed the contribution of the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to the growth of democracy.

He described him as a principled, dedicated and harworking progressive arrowhead, whose mission in politics is the liberation of the masses.

Bolarinwa said in a statement in Lagos that Tinubu’s commitment to democracy has reflected in the emergence of a viable and formidabole opposition party, adding that it has also motivated Nigerians to agitate for power shift and positive change.

The former House of Representatives member said: “Those of us who know you and your antecedents will attest that the big opposition party, the APC, is a product of foresight. The political wizardry in you has made you to remain focused,steadfast and strategic in bringing together opposition elements for positive action.

“It is not out of place, if you seek to lead the APC to government, considering your efforts, sacrifice, financial commitment and other unseen troubles you have been subjected to as a leader. Owing to a curious propaganda, political calculation is now based on religious factor.

“But, as the National Leader, we salute your courage, sacrifice and selfless service to the progressive cause. As it is for now, Asiwaju is left with the position of the National Leader. Fine it is,but experience has taught us a lot of lessons about the complexity and unpredicability of human beings. My wish is that the position of the National Leader should, not only be morally recognised and verbally acknowledged by the party, it should also be entrenched in the party constitution.

This, to me, will enable you to continue to play the role of a bridgebuilder and place you at a vantage to find a lasting solution to the myriad of problems facing the country.”

THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

SHOWBIZ

• Governor Liyel Imoke and wife, Obioma

Calabar Carnival: Master Blasta wins again

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OR the third year in a row, MastaBlasta band in the annual Carnival Calabar, took the lead in an enduring 16-kilometer parade which climaxed at the U.J Esuene Stadium early Sunday morning.

Although other bands such as Passion Four, Freedom Band, Seagull and Bayside proved their skills at the event, the tiara was adjudged to fit the MastaBlasta, who took the streets by storm, featuring twin sing-

By Victor Akande

ers and dancers, P-Square.

Other notable celebrities at this year’s event include Kate Henshaw, Jim Iyke and Don Flexx.

The colourful display of shimmering costumes, dance, drama, acrobatics and magic, saw the traditional five bands in an exciting procession from the Millennium Park, through major city centers such as Mary Slessor and IBB roads before terminating at

the U. J Esuene Stadium at sunset.

Touted as the biggest street party in Africa, the carnival which entered its 10th edition this year was flagged off by Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.

Imoke who described the show as unique in promoting talents and unity among Nigerians said going by the theme of this year’s carnival which is “‘Celebration Time’, the people of Cross River State have remained united

P

N

By Mercy Michael

tertainers on their social habits, he said; “I don’t have much to say other than to say that people should know that the cost of living a reckless life is very high, I mean look at me, it costs about one thousand five hundred dollars to keep me alive every month and this is for a life time; there is no way this will not take its toll on my family and those around me.

So people who want to avoid this should watch what they eat and drink and cut down on all unhealthy habits.

OJB Jezreel is an awardwinning Nigerian music producer who produced the

• OJB Jezreel

legendry song African Queen for 2face Idibia. Last year, he panicked the entire Nigerian music industry when he was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Gloria Ibru drops Sugar Mama

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FTER 28 years of doing live music, Nigerian entertainer, Gloria Ibru is set to release an album. Making the revelation at the preview of the video of her second single, Sugar Mama which held at Victoria Island on Wednesday, December 24, the songstress describes the new single as a blend of African sounds.

Sugar Mama tells the story of a young man who walks into a bar wearing a long face. The lady in the bar asks the attendant if he knows the young man. He says no, he has never seen him before. So she welcomes him and encourages him to be happy.

“There is nothing erotic about it. It is just about making one person happy and carrying on with life. It is not simulated music. Every instrument is played live. We do not have the facility in Nigeria to do that all at once so we had to record it one

By By Ovwe Medeme

instrument at a time. It not only takes up time, it takes up money. Now what we need to do is to encourage Nigerians who love music to come in and invest in proper studios,” she says.

Written by ElvinaIbru, Gloria’s sister and directed

by Onesoul, the album, which will be released sometime next year, will have about 10 tracks, according to the artiste. She also describes her genre of music as Jazzlife, a blend ofhighlife and jazz. “The new song is actually a blend of calypso and highlife and jazz. It is basically jazz and highlife with other genres infused.

The album will be a potpourri of music. There will be a bit of juju, there will be a bit of reggae. It is what Wole Oni does best,” says Ibru.

According to Wole Oni, producer of the track, Gloria has a sound and her sound is

as one throughout the years.”

The event has become a popular leisure and relaxation spectacle during the yuletide, attracting huge sponsorship from leading brands such as First Bank Plc., MultiChoice Nigeria and Pepsi among several others.

There was a great influx of visitors into the city, as every street became so busy with revelers who were seen

making merry at different fun spots.

Organisers record that annually, the festival parades 50,000 costumed revelers, two million spectators and an audience of over 50 million television viewers.

“We are celebrating 10 years of Cross River carnival, 10 years of oneness and unity, 10 years in showcasing what we have and what we are and 10 years of our

culture and heritage,” said Mr. Gabriel Onah, Chairman of the Calabar Carnival Commission, noting that the carnival has “continued to grow from strength to strength with new innovations added to it yearly.”

The 2014 edition of the carnival, which is the last for the Imoke-led administration, was also attended by the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti and his wife.

Oritse Femi replaces damaged Range Rover

‘I spend $1,500 on my health monthly,’ says OJB Jezreel ROLIFIC veteran music producer OJB Jezreel has warned Nigerian youths and entertainers to refrain from reckless behaviours that could be harmful to their lives, because the treatments for ailments related to alcohol and smoking is really very expensive.

The ace producer who spoke to The Nation revealed that he has fully recovered from his kidney transplant surgery which took him to India a couple of months ago.

“I thank God for my life; I have fully recovered and kicking,” he said.

Asked to advise young en-

• Kate Henshaw and P-Square at the carnival

NIGERIA musical sensation Oritse Femi has replaced his damaged 2014 Range Rover sport that he crashed along Ikorodu road when he was being pursued by armed robbers on December 5.

The Double Wahala crooner expressed his gratitude to God first for saving his life and providing him with finances to buy a new Range Rover because according to him, the crashed car was not insured. “My crashed car has since been replaced because the first one I bought crashed three days after I bought it. I have not even fixed the number plate. I really thank God who saved my driver, manager and me on that fateful day. The funny thing is that the car was not insured, so I had to buy a new one,” he revealed.

When asked how he feels about his success, the hit maker revealed that he

By Mercy Michael

never knew he could be this successful. “Look at me today, I have made it big and making serious money.

Who would have thought I would? Help me talk to the youths to shun violence and stay focused because that is the only way they can break out of the slums and poverty.”

The wavemaking performer who was on stage at the maiden edition of All Africa Music A w a r d (AFRIMA) is signed on to • Oritse Femi Avatar Music

and his presently rocking the continent with tracks like Better for every man and Double Wahala.

Uche Jombo writes birthday note to self

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• Gloria Ibru

universal. “Being an African, we must be able to replicate that in her music which is why the delay came on in the first place. Now that she is coming out, we are trying to showcase her in that all the elements of Africannessthat we know will be on the track. That is what we are showcasing. We are here to show the world her identity,” he said.

OR some, the anniversary of one’s birth is something to party about while for others, it calls for sober reflection.

Nollywood filmmaker, Uche Jombo-Rodriguez might just fall in the category of the latter. As the actress added a year to her age yesterday, she took time out to admonish herself on some of life’s issues.

She posted; “Happy birthday to me.... It’s been an emotional year for me and also an amazing one too...

They say that you never know the exact minute your life has changed; that circumstances and situations happen and one day you wake up and you just feel differently. I’m so thankful to God for that which was taken away has been replaced, my ‘good’ plan replaced with God’s best’ plan for me.

“And in all things I know

there’s indeed the almighty one who is always there for me despite how hard things may get and loves me unconditionally so I say to him “thank you Lord.”

“NOTE to self today...Dear self, enjoy each day that you are given, sometimes a pause or restart is necessary, it might be hard but don’t ever feel guilty about changing for the better, keep in mind your light may not warm everyone’s soul and it may leave some blinded by your truth.

“Happiness isn’t getting all you want; it’s enjoying all you have, start every day with a new hope, leave bad memories behind. Speak positivity into your life, speak your joy into existence. Have faith for a better tomorrow and keep your light bright. Remain unstoppable! Cheers to another year. Seriously when I look

back from where I started I can only conclude that MY LIFE has been a definition of God’s grace.”

• Uche Jombo

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Diocese Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus Most Revd. Adebola Ademowo; Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left); Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos, Justice George Oguntade and Deputy Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos, Justice Sybil Nwaka at a service to mark Xmas at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos. With them is Chaplain to the Archbishop, Rev. Canon Adebola Ojofutimi PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

•Picnickers at the Agodi Resort Gardens, rebuilt by the Oyo State government during the Christmas festivities

•Anambra State governor’s wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano addressing inmates at the Amawbia Prisons in the state. With Mrs. Obiano are members of her entourage

•Bishop of Tinubu, Methodist Church of Trinity, Lagos, Rt. Rev. Oladapo Omotayo Babalola (left); Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu-Uche; Bishop, Evangelism and Discipleship, Rt. Rev. Edoka Amuta and the Church proto-presbyter, at the Christmas service in Tinubu, Lagos.

•Archbishop, Cathedral of St. Jude, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rev. Adebayo Akinde (holding a staff); Deputy Registrar, Ven. Feyi Ojelabi (extreme left); Dean, Justice Yinka Faji (second left); Chancellor, Justice Ibikunle Adesalu (second right) and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Publication Limited, Mr. Lanre Idowu (extreme right) at the Christmas celebration in Lagos...yesterday.

•Participants at the 2014 Calabar Carnival Grand Finale...at the weekend

•More participants at the 2014 Calabar Carnival Grand Finale.

PHOTO: NAN

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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OMETIMES in late 2012, China's President Xi Jinping took a sobering look at institutional corruption and abuse of power in his country and decided something drastic has to be done to save the communist Party from eroding what is left of its tattered image from the kleptomaniac hands of powerful party strongmen, some who are considered as "untouchables". He gathered some eminent men of letters from Law, Political Science and the Economics as well as seasoned administrators to draw a blueprint which it was hoped will rein in not only the "tigers", but also the "flies" making hay in sucking the economy dry.

He found a worthy ally in Wang Qishan, a member of the ruling Politburo Standing Committee and Secretary of the Committee for Disciplinary Inspection.

It was seen as a herculean task giving the long tradition of graft which has bedevilled the nation of dragons, since the post-Mao clean up and economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping who held sway between 1978 and 1992.

The first casualty in this new war on corruption was Bo Xilai the then Governor of Liaoning Province who bagged a long sentence for abuse of power and corruption.

More than ten other powerful members of the party have since been investigated, convicted and dismissed on similar charges including: Li Chncheng, Vice Premier Secretary of Schuan Province; Shan Zengde, Vuce Agricultural Chief of Shandong Province and Lei Zhengfu, the Party Secretary of Beibei County of Chongping, 72year old retired security czar Zhou Yongkang, former Central Military Commission vice-chair Xu Caihou among others.

Perhaps, the most surprising is Ling Jihua. He is a fast and rising star in the Politburo, movers and shakers of the Communist Party, a former senior aide to former President Hu Jintao . He was the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In March last year, he was seen opening attending the opening ceremony of the CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People sitting next to President Jiping even when an investigation of his finances had commenced without his knowledge.

Last Tuesday, the party ousted Sun Zhaoxue, the former leader of metals giant Aluminum Corp. of China, after accusing him of taking bribes, abusing his post and adultery.

Generally, the undercurrent of China's new war is that there are no sacred cows and the president has deployed the social media as a

Global Focus DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com

China: Lessons from Xi Jinping's war on corruption ‘Put in perspective, Nigeria is occupying the unenviable position of 136 out of the 175 countries rated in 2014 and we have heard our leaders’ usual rants about the fairness or otherwise of the ranking system as if we don’t see or know the rot that is called governance in our dear country where our leaders look us in the eye and steal our money with impunity’ tool in gathering of information to the delight of the people.

It is yet early to say whether this war will fundamentally change the face of corruption in China or how it will affect human rights abuses of the alleged victims.

Critics have raised this issue as how it could be used to spare some who are called Princeling, a term reserved for the elite of the elites in the Party. President Jinping himself is in this category as his father was a former vice premier in the Communist Party, thus creating the

F

FIRE erupted on a ferry carrying 478 people from Greece to Italy yesterday, leaving one person dead and trapping hundreds on top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered evacuation.

The Italian Navy said that the victim and an injured person were transported by helicopter to the southern Italian city of Brindisi on Sunday evening. Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the crippled ferry, battered by 90 kilometer per hour (55 mph) winds that pushed it toward the Albanian coast.

Nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves and facilitate rescue. As darkness fell, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti said rescue operations would continue throughout the night.

The fire broke out on the car deck of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, traveling from the western Greek port of Patras to the Italian port of Ancona on the Adriatic, with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board. The ship was stricken about 42 nautical miles (48 miles, 78 kilometers) northwest of the Greek island of Corfu.

Some 11 hours after pre-dawn blaze erupted as passengers slept, only 149 people had been rescued from the ferry, and the blaze was still burning, the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said. Heavy gray smoke enveloped the top decks as dusk approached, while tugboats sprayed water in a battle to extinguish the flames.

Nine of the rescued were flown to the southern Italian city of Lecce and the rest taken to nearby ships, said Greek Merchant Marine spokesman Nikos Lagadianos Passengers described scenes of terror and chaos. “They called first on women and children to be evacuated from the ship,” Vassiliki Tavrizelou, who was rescued along with her 2-year-old daughter, told The Associated Press.

She recalled the ship alarm going off and seeing fire from her cabin. “Then we heard explosions,” she said. It was not immediately clear what the explosions were, and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

The ship, which was run by a Greek ferry company, was packed with holidaymakers and truck drivers making the popular transport run between Greece and Italy. Of those on board, 234 passengers and 34 crew are Greek, said Lagadianos. Other passengers are from Turkey, Albania, Italy and several other countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Many of the crew included Italians.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was in contact with his Italian counterpart,

A •Bush Sr

legs, but in June celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump.

His son George W Bush served as president from 2001 to 2009.

Another son, Jeb, said this month he will “actively explore the possibility of running for president” in 2016.

Kidnapped Mexican priest found shot dead

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general impression that if none of the Princelings have been arrested, then they must be squeaky clean, including the president himself. This feeds to those insinuating that Jinping might be using the war to put himself in the right while denigrating and conscripting his political opponents into the dustbin of political ignominy.

The efficacy of the war on corruption can also be questioned from the prismatic frame of the latest slipping of China 20 places to rank 100 among 175 states in the 2014 Corruption

1 dead, hundreds stranded in Greek ferry disaster

George HW Bush spends weekend in hospital ORMER US President George Bush Sr remained in hospital over the weekend but could be discharged soon, his spokesman says.

Mr Bush, 90, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday after suffering from a shortness of breath.

His spokesman Jim McGrath said his condition had improved and doctors were “discussing dates for his discharge”.

Mr Bush, who was president from 1989 to 1993, was visited by family on Christmas Day. Two years ago, Mr Bush was treated in the same hospital for more than two months for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

He is the oldest living former US president and a World War II veteran. He can no longer use his

•Jinping

Perceptions Index conducted by the Berlin-based Transparency International.

However, change is hard to accomplish, as people say, the more things change the more they tend to remain the same.

The tempo is likely to be sustained or even escalated in the run-up to the 19th Congress of the Communist Party in 2017, thereby giving Jinping the much needed-arsenal to populate the 25 member Politburo with men favoured to support his economic policies of reform Put in perspective, Nigeria is occupying the unenviable position of 136 out of the 175 countries rated in 2014 and we have heard our leaders' usual rants about the fairness or otherwise of the ranking system as if we don't see or know the rot that is called governance in our dear country where our leaders look us in the eye and steal our money with impunity.

We gasped for air the other day when our president said it is not much of corruption going on in town, but just mere stealing. What a badge of honour!

We have anti-graft agencies in Nigeria as the EFCC, ICPC as well as bountiful laws in our penal codes but they are mere toothless bulldogs which indulge in selective prosecutions, incompetent, shoddy and endless trials which for the most part end nowhere.

Also with the dwindling economic fortunes emanating from falling oil prices at the international market, there surely is less to steal from the kitty. We continue to be inundated with tissues of lies from our economic managers with denials of missing funds from our national treasury without any one caring about their untruths because in due course of time, there will definitely be time for accountability. How that will fathom out is anybody's guess.

In China, the mighty are really falling and there are no sacred cows in this war on corruption. That is a lesson our leaders in Nigeria might want to copy as the nation struggles and deceives the people so often and so shamelessly.

The electorate are now wiser, and in 2015 all the deceits will surely be settled at the ballot box.

As we conclude, our globe is our heritage.

Let's continue to keep her clean in our everyday living. Go green, plant a tree in your neighbourhood and put a smile on a tight face, by doing an act of random kindness. Remember that BRF administration extols us :"Life is better with Trees" Sit under it and read a story to your child and grandchildren, you will be better for it. See you next week.

PRIEST who was kidnapped in Mexico’s south-western state of Guerrero on Monday has been found shot dead, officials say.

The body of Father Gregorio Lopez was discovered near the city of Ciudad Altamirano.

A group of priests later rallied in the city to condemn the murder.

Father Lopez was seized by gunmen from Ciudad Altamirano’s seminary, where he taught. The motive for the killing remains unclear.

A friend of the priest told local media that Father Lopez was kidnapped after he accused drug gang Guerreros Unidos of the abduction and alleged murder of 43 students in September.

He is the third priest to be killed this year in Guerrero state, which has been at the centre of drug-related violence in Mexico.

Last month, forensic experts identified the body of a Ugandan Catholic priest among the remains found in a mass grave. Father John Ssenyondo had been missing since being kidnapped in April.

The grave was located by federal police looking for the missing students.

On Friday, demonstrators in several Mexican cities commemorated the disappearance of the students on 26 September - exactly three months ago.

Police in the town of Iguala allegedly detained them following a clash that left six people dead.

Authorities say the police turned the students over to members of a drug gang who killed them and burned their bodies.

So far, the authorities have only identified the remains of one of the students.

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Egypt cuts ‘gay wedding video’ jail terms

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COURT in Egypt has reduced to one year the three-year jail sentences given to eight men for appearing in a video alleged to show a gay marriage.

All eight denied charges of inciting debauchery and offending public morality during the trial in November.

The video, which was posted to YouTube in September, shows two men exchanging rings on a boat on the Nile.

Though homosexuality is legal in Egypt, it remains a taboo. Police raids on gay venues have risen in recent months.

Relatives of the defendants screamed and wept on hearing the new sentences given by a Cairo appeal court, AFP news agency reports.

In April, a court in Egypt sentenced four men to up to eight years in prison for committing homosexual acts.

A mass round-up in 2001 saw dozens of men sentenced on similar charges.

The latest court case comes amid reports that Egypt is enacting authoritarian laws at a rate unmatched by any other country for 60 years.

The UK’s Guardian newspaper reports that since the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, his successors Adly Mansour and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi have used the absence of an elected parliament to issue decrees “that severely restrict freedom of expression, association and assembly”.

NATO marks new Afghan mission

ATO has formally ended its 13year combat mission in Afghanistan - heralding the start of a new phase of support for local Afghan troops.

Commanders lowered the flag during a ceremony in Kabul - raising the flag of the new mission named Resolute Support.

“We have lifted the Afghan people out of the darkness of despair and given

them hope for the future,” mission commander Gen John Campbell said.

Nato’s Afghan deployment began after the 9/11 attacks against the US. From 1 January the alliance’s role will shift to a mainly training and support mission for the Afghan army.

Sunday’s ceremony was low-key held inside a gymnasium at the alliance headquarters away from the public.

A military band played as the flag

of the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) was lowered in the presence of senior military personnel from both sides.

Afghan troops will have the support of the remaining Nato mission Unfurling the new flag, Gen Campbell said the mission “will serve as the bedrock of an enduring partnership” between Nato and Afghanistan.

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THE NATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS ‘Peterside is compasionate, God-fearing’

Missing $20b: Buhari demands release of audit report Continued from page 4

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REVEREND Sister and matron of the Home for the Elderly, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Reverend Sister Jane Raphael, has described the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dakuku Peterside, as a compassionate and Godfearing man.

Rev. Sr. Raphael spoke when Peterside visited the home to fete the elderly. She said the APC standard bearer is known for always celebrating with the less privileged.

“When I saw your photograph, I concluded that God has already chosen you because we always pray to have God-fearing people. We promise you our daily prayers and may God bless and reward you. May He also bless everybody supporting you and may your efforts be crowned with success. And

by Easter, I hope to see you again.”

Peterside called for better care and support for the aged

•Dr. Peterside presenting some of the gifts to Rev. Sr. Raphael. With them is Mrs Peterside (second left) and Mrs Semenitari

and thanked the management and staff members of the home for caring for the elderly.

Peterside described old age as a natural phenomenon, adding that for as long as the

earth remains, there will continue to have old people. Old age, he said, is not a curse.

“Therefore, the elderly must be loved and cared for by anybody who is still physically and mentally alert. ”

A statement by the Director of Communication of the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said Peterside was accompanied by his wife, Elima and campaign officials.

2015: Concerns in Niger Delta over hijack of gunboats

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HERE is anxiety within military circles in the Niger Delta over a peaceful general election in the region next year. Reason: The killing of military personnel and hijack of gunboats.

No fewer than 11 soldiers have been killed or declared missing in President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa since November. The uniforms of the soldiers were taken away. Two gunboats hijacked are yet to be found.

The incidents have led to speculations that the arms and ammunition and uniforms that were hijacked from the military are being used by criminals to build armouries, which could be used to cause mayhem during the elections.

A military officer told our reporter: “The development should be a source of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians, not just security operatives.

Security challenges occur mostly when you have arms and ammunition in the hands of people not legally permitted to bear arms. And when there is the possibility that they could be parading with these weapons while dressed as military men makes it even more worrying.”

The source, who asked not be mentioned because of his sensitive position, noted that

From Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Port Harcourt

security reports from Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states indicated that former militants and criminals are regrouping.

“The situation is worrisome.

In Bayelsa State, for instance, in the past two months there have been no fewer than three attacks on military convoys.

The gunboats, arms and ammunition of the soldiers were carted away.

“The most disturbing part is that over months after, none of these gunboats have been found; nobody knows where they are or who has them. This makes us to believe that the crafts were deliberately hijacked for sinister purposes,” our source added.

However, the outgoing Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force Headquarters in the region, Lt Col Anka Mustapha, told our reporter that there is no cause for concern.

The military spokesperson, in a telephone chat with our reporter yesterday said: “One of our mandates is to safeguard the entire Niger Delta from all forms of criminality and sundry crimes which have to do with sea robbery, kidnapping and other crimes.”

Lt Col Mustapha vowed that the recent incident involving the attack on a military convoy in the Brass area of Bayelsa State would not deter the task force, stressing, “That one would not deter JTF from its mandate; it is not deterring us at all and we are on top of the situation.”

He affirmed that the task force was searching for the three missing soldiers in the illfated expedition, adding, “We declared the soldiers missing and efforts are on to rescue them.”

Besides, he disclosed that some of the 30 gunboats approved for the task force to beef up security in the region area were already arriving.

“JTF is not relenting in its effort. I mentioned that the military has authorized the release of 30 gunboats. We have started receiving some of the gunboats; they are all meant to enhance our capacity to fight these crimes and criminalities.”

He hinted that the increased criminality in the waterways, particularly in Bayelsa state was a result of the clampdown on illegal bunkering, which have forced operators of criminal oil rings to seek alternative means of making money.

“The bunkerers are finding it

very difficult so many of them are going into sea robbery because they are not finding that one (bunkering) to be so lucrative. It is something the JTF is not relenting to tackle. We are not doing it alone; we are doing it in collaboration with other stakeholders. We are not sleeping.”

He assured that the JTF was adequately prepared to tackle any problem that may result during the election, stressing that “we have our mandate and we are very prepared.”

Despite his assurance, our feelers from military formation in the area revealed growing unease among the ranks and file, who are particularly worried that gunboats and military hardware in the hands of criminals with better knowledge of the terrain could spell doom.

An officer in one of the formations said, “If you see how JTF operates, who will be able to see how terrible the terrain is.

From Yenagoa to Brass for instance, you are moving from one river to the other. People can hide somewhere and see without you seeing the persons.

You cannot really understand what the creek is all about somebody can jump on you without you knowing until it is too late. That is why they seem to be having the upper hand.”

ministration, if elected, will implement to the letter the APC manifesto as contained in the party’s “Roadmap to a New Nigeria” blueprint.

The APC running mate listed the contents to include: provision of immediate relief, jobs, quality education, affordable housing, qualitative healthcare services and social welfare for the less advantaged and the aged.

Osinbajo said the APC will accord security of lives and properties priority, adding that the dearth of equipment in the military and inadequate kitting of the security outfits was unacceptable after the government’s claim that it has invested trillions of naira in security.

He said the Federal Government got it wrong from the scratch by accusing the opposition of being the promoters of terrorism even without first investigating.

According to him, it will be difficult for any government to win the war against terror without radically addressing unemployment, adding that the devil will always find work for every idle hand.

Osinbajo urged Nigerians to stop seeing Gen. Buhari in a military garb but as a lawabiding Nigerian, whose action will be guided by the rule of law, pointing out that there are marked differences between the military and democratic dispensations.

Osinbajo reminded that it took extra-judicial killings of some former Ghanaian leaders by the then President Jerry

Rawlings to return the West African nation to the path of greatness.

He said being on the same ticket with the retired General to serve the country has not in any way compromised his faith as a pastor, his calling as a teacher and his stand as a lawyer.

His words: “As a pastor, I preach in my church on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. And my message is on grace. Even David, an adulterer and murderer received grace from God and he was forgiven.

“That Gen. Buhari made mistake, in the heady days of the military does not mean he is not capable of doing good in a democratic dispensation.

Even as a military Head of State, Gen. Buhari stood for discipline and against corruption. These are attributes nobody can take away from him.”

Osinbajo noted that the impunity under the PDP government was unacceptable.

He cited the attack on two High Court judges in Ado-Ekiti by supporters of then PDP governor-elect, the refusal to reinstate the former President of the Appeal Court, Justice Ayo Salami, despite court rulings, and the unilateral stripping of House of Representatives Speaker, Aminul Tambuwal of his privileges as the number three citizen by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba, as some of the impunities under the present democratic dispensation.

“Nigeria cannot continue like this. It is unacceptable,” Osinbajo said.

Revealed: What Babangida discussed with Jonathan Continued from page 4

president who was privileged to preside over the affairs of the country and who also fought in the civil war, he will continue to speak the language of unification than that of division,” he said.

Gen. Babangida’s view, according to the aide is that as a President who is facing crises, Jonathan deserves the support of all to keep the country together, irrespective of all the manifest imperfections.

Jonathan is said to have started reaching out to top Emirs and leaders in the North to checkmate Gen. Buhari’s influence.

A source spoke of the battle between Jonathan and Gen. Buhari has shifting to the North, adding that has been

consulting some prominent Emirs and leaders on why he should be given second term in office.

“The President, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP governors, and leaders will be embarking on shuttles to some of these key Northern leaders for support.

“They are desperate to take the battle to Buhari’s stronghold but no one can say whether the President and the PDP can go far or not,” said the source.

Another source added: “Jonathan’s game plan is to split the North.

“This explains why Northern leaders were concerned about the President’s renewed interest in the North after he failed the region in many promises he made in 2011.”

Nigeria’ll be a better place in four years, says Jonathan Continued from page 4

progress as a nation steadily in this manner, in the next four or five years, this country will be a better place.

“Only a few days back, the Vice President was in Port Harcourt to flag off the Eastern railway. The Western one moving from Lagos to Kano has been running. We will start using the modern one from Kaduna to Abuja by the first quarter of next year and the one from Port Harcourt.

“When we were small, there were railways. But I believe most of our children of about 30 years only see railway as cartoons in the television but now, they are seeing it.

“We relied on agriculture before the oil boom or doom

and all that died. We are reviving it and the whole world has appreciated that we are moving forward in agriculture.”

He went on: “When they start something, people do not see the benefits immediately.

We know that as a nation, we have a lot of challenges in terms of getting jobs for our young graduates and we have set up a lot of programmes that can bring job opportunities for our young men. The result may not be obvious immediately but God willing, job opportunities will continue to increase and many more young people will be engaged.”

On falling oil prices, he said: “We have talked about the drop in global price of oil. Of course, if there is a drop in oil price, it will affect us in one way or the other. We tell our

people to bear with us. It has happened before in 2008, 2009 that was almost about $40, we survived as a nation.”

The President reassured Nigerians that the falling oil prices will not go as low as $40 and that Nigeria will survive it.

According to him, his economic team is already working very hard to stabilise it.

He said: “Although there may be temporary inconveniences, it will definitely not bring the economy down.”

Stressing that 2015 is a tempting year, Jonathan said: “Elections year in Third World countries is always a turbulent year with all kinds of predictions. I, however, believe that the God who brought us to this level will see us through.”

He urged the congregation to continue to pray for politi-

cians from all political parties.

The President said: “Pray for God to guide us in our utterances and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of Nigerians because of our ambitions. Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

“Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the country ablaze because of our own personal ambition.”

“There are so many good Nigerians that can hold the offices we are occupying or aspiring to occupy; it is by privilege of God that we are here in positions to ask for the mandates of Nigerians.”

He went on: “None of us should begin to think that he is the best person to be any-

where from state houses of assembly to the president. There are a thousand and one Nigerians that are super qualified more than those people who are even aspiring to occupy offices.

“If the idea is to help the people, grow the economy and make the people happy, you won’t want to kill, you won’t want to maim or burn down houses, vehicles and property.

Human beings may see things differently but God can guide us.”

He noted that instead of the challenges abating, the problems started increasing for one reason or the other.

“But I am convinced that it would have been worse than this but for your prayers. With the prayers you continue to offer to God, God will see us

through, he said, adding: “I always say that whenever I read the Bible, especially the Old Testament, particularly the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land, the kind of challenges they faced; the confrontation, the wars up to the days of King David, people were always fighting and you will ask why children of God will continue to be fighting.”

“I believe what is even happening to us is not even as serious as sometimes the passages we read in the Bible and God was able to see them through.”

“The God we believe will see us through. What I will request from you is to continue to pray for us. For me and members of my team, in spite of the challenges, we will continue to do our best.” he stated

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NATION SPORT

Ogu demands red card appeal N

IGERIA international John Ogu has said he would be delighted for his Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva to appeal a red card against him in a 2-1 win

over Hapoel Petach Tikva on Saturday.

"I am happy for the team’s victory and my second goal of the season, but I am gutted with the red card. It was

Agent dismisses Roma, Lazio link for Chidera Ezeh

C

HIDERA Ezeh will not depart Porto in the near future, with reports in Italy claiming that he is on the wish list of Roma, Lazio, Sampdoria and Sporting Lisbon.

The 17-year-old striker will continue training with the youth team of the Primeira Liga powerhouse until he becomes eligible to sign professional terms in the next winter transfer market.

Before the Nigeria youth international and his representative agreed a precontract with Porto, Roma were the only Italian club that explored the possibility of signing him from River Lane Academy. ''It is not true that Chidera Ezeh is wanted by Roma, Lazio, Sampdoria and Sporting Lisbon,'' Babawo Mohammed, the bonafide agent of Ezeh, told SL10.ng. ''After the Under 17 World Cup, we had offers from Racing Genk, Grasshoppers, Olympiakos, Red Bull Salzburg and Roma

but we picked Porto because he will develop there. ''He has already signed a pre - contract with Porto, he doesn't want to play for any other team. ''He usually trains with their Under 19 team, sometimes with the main team and B team.''

Chidera Ezeh is hoping to practice with Nigeria's Under 20 squad, the Flying Eagles, as from next month, subject to him receiving green light from Porto.

• Ezeh

not a red card offence, but the opponent made it look like that to the referee, but I hope my club will appeal the red card decision," Ogu said.

The former Academica de Coimbra midfielder gave Hapoel Be'er Sheva the lead in the 16th minute, but was sent off in the 90th minute, when he was given a straight red card for a dangerouslooking foul.

He has now scored two goals this season.

• Ogu

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 3,079

‘Jonathan was pushing his luck too far when he promised to redress the undemocratic conduct in his party affairs when preparing for 2019 elections. He may be able to do so if he wins the 2015 election’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

IS name is poetic and so is his soul.

She has a popular surname, although she does not belong to high society.

Fahat Fahat is a soldier, and is one of the 54 sentenced to death for mutiny by the army court.

Zaharau Babangida played coy by not detonating a bomb strapped in her body beneath her hijab. She said she was forced to wear it and detonate it in the famous Kantin kwari market in Kano on December 10. Two other girls yielded to the order and died in presumed martyrdom, killing four persons and injuring several others. In irony, Babangida was one of the victims and her leg injury forced her to yell for help.

Both stories tell tales not only of innocence but how this generation of leaders has failed the young at every level.

The story of Citizen Fahat Fahat is compelling. His English is flawed, but his poetic imagination surges with pithy lines. This young man's ardour for the army and his nation contrasts with his present and ominous case. It draws not only pity for him but for this country.

Technology and the magic of Facebook unfurl this story. When Fahat Fahat, 22, left for his assignment against Boko Haram, he wrote on his Facebook on May 21, 2013: "Nassarawa off I go Maiduguri here I come, one man one bullet. We do good things to good people and we do bad things to bad people (sic)." His adrenaline rush springs from that page like a martial tide against the insurgency.

But if it was mere juvenile effusion, he showed that he was a patriot. "we ar train to kill. God bless Nigeria armed forces." (sic).

This is not the sort of guy who would shy from battle. He gloried in his soldiery and his martial prowess. He did not cut the image of a coward in these lines. He posted his picture, his thin, ruddy face and sharp eyes. His black hood on his Nigerian army fatigue reflected a man primed for battle. He had no complaints at that point.

It was clear he loathed Boko Haram, and he characterised them as bad people, as indicated in his post of February 28, 2014, "I am commando trooper junper canta force galopa amphibios. Above all a gorilla d king of the jungle, am trained to kill the wicked, am proud to be killer, we do good things to good people and we do bad things to bad people one man one bullet sumtimes one man one magazine." (sic).

A certain gloating vanity drapes his ardour, but it is the sort that drives the soldier of destiny.

Yet in the course of his call to national duty, he suffers personal tragedies. He laments not only the passing of his father, but of his kid brother, Umar. However, his zeal for the army does not flag. Rather he posts with irony the following words on July 24, 2014. "Bless Thurs-

RIPPLES TREKKING GOOD FOR THE HEART – CARDIOLOGIST

Then LAGOSIANS should start trekking to work...ehn?

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

For citizens Fahat and Zaharau

•Fahat

•Zaharau

‘Fahat Fahat believed in his country.

Zaharau believed in her father and the faith he confessed. Both father and country inflicted them with doubt and gave them death’ day I lost my dad on Thursday my little broda on Thursday. I lost my elder brodason on Thursday O Allah your name be prase."(sic).

He posts Umar's picture on November 23.

After all the optimistic drama came this post from Citizen Fahat Fahat: "Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am soldier and I am sentence to death by the Nigeria army. Cause we did not go to fight Boko haram with out equipment.

We ask for weapon insted dem gave death

sentence." (sic). This was a mournful post, a contrast from the exuberance of the soul that once exhaled, "Maiduguri here I come."

For Babangida, her father wanted her to be a parody of Ibrahim sacrificing Isaac. But Zaharau is a girl, 13. The father took her to a Bauchi forest where they wanted to compel her to paradise against her will. She disavowed the paradise, but her father insisted. She eventually had her revenge. At the last minute, she

HARDBALL

W

HAT should the people make of the news that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been credited with uncommon brilliance by a professor in an academic context? Coming from a senior academic in the country's university system, it was a thought-provoking praise for an exleader who continues to inspire a committed and venomous circle of public attackers.

Obasanjo's intellectual fan, Prof. 'Deji Ayegboyin of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly made the flattering observation after a two-hour teacher-student interaction with him. Ayegboyin said he was highly impressed during their meeting in his office in Ibadan to explore how Obasanjo should approach his PhD programme and thesis focused on "Liberation Theology."

The don, who is supervising Obasanjo's PhD studies at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said: "I took Chief Obasanjo for two hours in my office and my impression of him is that he is extraordinarily brilliant.

He asked probing and intimidating questions, which show that he is extremely interested in the topic of the thesis." Ayegboyin's choice of descriptive words carries a hint of determined exaggeration. Just what does he mean by the description, "extraordinarily brilliant"?

EMEKA OMEIHE

disobeyed. But for the wound in her leg, she might have disappeared quietly out of the disaster scene, or maybe the father would have forced her back to the forest, to the arms of her tormentors. She was taken in a tricycle to Dawanau where her parents resided. She left her bomb in the vehicle. The driver alerted the police and she was arrested in a hospital. She wanted to live.

Zaharau reflects the failure of family, if the tale of Fahat Fahat connotes the failure of national institutions. For Zaharau, in her hijab, was a devout Muslim. She wanted to go to paradise, but not her father's or Boko Haram's. Her father failed her and the so-called custodians, the ecclesiastical lords of her faith. It is like the Greek story of Iphigenia whom her father, Agamemnon, wanted to sacrifice to the gods in order to secure winds for the country's army.

But according to the plays of Euripides, Iphigenia survived. So did Zaharau.

She is a case of a budding feminist, a woman who would not conform to the bestialities of patriarchal world. We know that virgins are promised the boy suicides. Nothing has been documented awaits the girls. This is canonical prejudice from the texts of renegades of the faith. "The corruption of the best produces the worst," wrote English philosopher John Hume.

For Citizen Fahat Fahat, he worked for the army, but they wanted him to fight without arms. Yet, it is his duty to fight, and not to desert. Did he commit a crime? By law, he did.

Mutiny is a crime. The question is who committed the crime first? His country or he? Is it the case noted by novelist Samuel Butler that "society creates the crime and the criminal commits it?" An army does not send its troops to battle bare handed. Fahat Fahat probably had weapons when he started, when he boasted of one man, one bullet. He could not post his deficiency of arms when it happened. It would have made him liable for a court martial.

But how do we define the army without armoury? Especially when we know the dark exploits of Boko Haram, which has now occupied 20 of the 27 local government areas of Borno State. An army without armoury fails the soldier. Was that not what happened to Fahat Fahat? It is not the fault of the army per se, but the fault of those who pay the army to fight. Does Fahat not know that we have voted about N1 trillion a year in the past three years on defence? Yet it is the soldier that is rescued by a foreign army on our border with a tinier military budget and smaller armed forces.

In the Babangida and Fahat stories, we see how this generation has failed the young. If everything is failing, why not fathers as in the case of Zaharau? If money has failed, why not the army against the efficiency of a guerilla force?

Fahat Fahat believed in his country. Zaharau believed in her father and the faith he confessed. Both father and country inflicted them with doubt and gave them death.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Just what Obasanjo loves to hear about himself Since it is unclear how Ayegboyin arrived at this assessment, which may not be empirically provable, it is possible that Obasanjo's considerable political weight was a factor, whether consciously or unconsciously. Could Ayegboyin have said anything less glorious about this special student who has been a military head of state and two-term democratic president? With all due respect to the professor, it won't be out of place in this matter to wonder whether he was in any way influenced to paint a politically correct picture of Obasanjo.

In other words, was Ayegboyin guided by the respectable principle of intellectual honesty when he painted Obasanjo's alleged intellectual gift in such bright and beautiful colours?

Interestingly, Ayegboyin's suggestion that Obasanjo possessed the qualities of a genius was probably never suspected or appreciated by the people during his years in power. It should, therefore, not surprise anyone if, for example, Obasanjo completes his PhD in Theology in record time. It is relevant to note that a press statement issued by University of

Ibadan spokesman, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, quoted Obasanjo as saying: "I have disciplined myself under the tutelage of my supervisors for effective learning to take place. And I had got assignments from them which I must have to work on."

It is easy to imagine that Obasanjo must be thrilled by Ayegboyin's positive remarks, which could pass for honourable intellectual endorsement, especially when juxtaposed with the image of an allegedly clueless President Goodluck Jonathan who ironically has a PhD. For a man who has consistently demonstrated an often nauseating sense of self-love, self-worth and self-projection that borders on narcissism and shuts out everyone else, Obasanjo got just the kind of things he loves to hear from Ayegboyin. Of course, he is entitled to all the flattery and sycophancy he can get, but he would be gravely mistaken to believe everything or think that the people believe everything.

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