February 04, 2015 by The Nation

NIGERIA DECIDES

Newspaper of the Year

•Fashola advises Lagosians as INEC takes PVCs to PUs MORE •Ohanaeze adopts Jonathan as APC woos Igbo •AND ON PAGES •All the parties, their strengths, weaknesses 2-7,12,57,58&59 •Fed Govt behind campaign to shift elections, says party

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3116 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

BDCs to get $76.3m from CBN on Friday By Collins Nweze

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to sell $30,000 to each of the 2,544 bureau de change operators on Friday, it was learnt yesterday. The $76.32 million is an addition to the weekly sales to the operators. The move, the apex bank said, is aimed at increasing dollar liquidity in the system and freeing the naira from pressure. A dollar was selling at N209 in the parallel market operated by bureau de change agents on Tuesday. The interbank market rate hit N190.08 on thin trades. Continued on page 54

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

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Chad captures Gamboru from sect

HAD’s military has captured Nigeria’s Borno State town Gamboru from Boko Haram’s control, a report said yesterday. Gamboru, which is on the Nigeria-Chad border, is the latest in a series of excursions into Nigerian territory by the Chadians in their battle against Boko Haram. But the Nigerian military yesterday denied that the Chadians were leading the battle against the sect. “Our troops entered Nigeria

•Chad not driving attacks, says DHQ this morning. The combat is ongoing,” one of the sources at Chad’s army headquarters told Reuters. Armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from Cameroon following air strikes and mortar attacks on Boko Haram positions, officials said Chad has deployed some 2,500 troops as part of a regional effort to take on the militant group that has waged a bloody insurgency to create an Islam-

ist emirate in northern Nigeria. Chadian forces have also liberated Baga, Dikwa and other Borno towns. Malam Fatori, Damasak, Ngala and parts of Bama in the past four days, Jubrin Gunda, a spokesman for a Nigerian militia group, said yesterday on telephone from Maiduguri. Continued on page 6

•INSIDE: SEC LIMITS PRIVATE PLACEMENT TO 30% P25 JV VOTE DOWN BY 40% P25

me use this opportunity to sound a note of ‘Let warning to all judicial officers. Do not allow any political party or politician to compromise your integrity or your future. We must never again be used as tools to truncate our nation’s democracy. I assure you that any judge found wanting would only have himself or herself to blame as the National Judicial Council will definitely not spare the rod in ensuring that the honour, respect and independence of the Judiciary is protected •SEE PPAAGE 2

’

•Chief Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed

Pro-shift forces eye June as plot against Jega thickens ‘Jonathan's lawyer prosecutes case against Buhari’

•Prof. Jega

ROPONENTS of postponement of the general elections are considering June as the new date for the all-important exercise. Reason: they want to ease out Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who remains firm that all is set for the February 14 and 28 elections. Jega and his National Commis-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

sioners’ five-year tenure will end on June 13. Those who do not trust his team “to do their bidding” are thinking of a new hand to run this year’s elections, The Nation learnt last night. But, despite the march on its Abuja headquarters, INEC is forging ahead in its preparations for the general elections. Prof. Jega has deployed all the National Commissioners and other

top officials in the six geopolitical zones for first hand assessment of the readiness of all its state offices for the elections. The commission is also keeping an eye on applications before some courts seeking to stop the elections. Section 132(2)of the Constitution as amended states: "An election to the said office (President) shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the

expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office". It was learnt that the second alternative is to capitalise on lapses in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) or shoddy management of the elections’ logistics to sack Jega and his team. But Jega enjoys the confidence of the international community and cannot be removed midway into the elecContinued on page 2

•LIFE P13 •POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P24 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •MONEYLINK P55

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS

•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (left) with Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, during the visit of the APC presidential campaign team to the Emir…yesterday.

•Attah of Igala land, His Royal Majesty Michael (right) welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign in Lokoja, Kogi State…yesterday. PHOTOS: NAN

CJN to judges: don’t be used to truncate democracy

HIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed talked tough yesterday. He warned judges and judicial officers against being used to truncate democracy. Justice Mohammed spoke against the background of various suits hurriedly filed by politicians or those being used by them to stop the February 14 and 28 elections or prevent candidates from contesting after being cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Many watchers of the political scene believe that the judiciary is about to be used to truncate the elections like it was during the 1993 presidential election. Justice Bassey Ikpeme gave a nuctunal judgment stopping the elections, the basis of which the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida military regime said it annulled the polls. The crises that followed the cancellation of the poll, which was believed to have been won by the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, almost consumed the country. Justice Mohammed said: “Let me use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to all judicial officers. Do not allow any political party or politician to compromise your integrity or

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

your future. We must never again be used as tools to truncate our nation’s democracy. “I assure you that any judge found wanting would only have himself or herself to blame as the National Judicial Council will definitely not spare the rod in ensuring that the honour, respect and independence of the Judiciary is protected.” He spoke during the inauguration of the 242 judges appointed to the tribunals that will sit on petitions arising from the general elections. The CJN urged members of the tribunals to be guided by the law and their conscience. Besides, they should shun pressure from partisan interests. The 242 judges, who were sworn in yesterday during a brief ceremony at the Supreme Court, Abuja, were selected from various superior courts of record across the country. They include chairmen and members of the tribunals, who will handle disputes arising from the elections. Justice Mohammed said the decision to inaugurate the tribunal members before the polls was in accordance with

the provision of Section 133 (3) (a) & (b) of the Electoral Act 2010, requiring that election petitions tribunals must be established 14 days prior to the elections, and that the secretariat of the tribunals must be opened seven days before elections. He urged the judges to refrain from undue reliance on technicalities, but to be driven solely by the urge to do justice. He warned that those found wanting would be penalised by the National Judicial Council (NJC). He reminded them that their assignment would “be very laborious” and that they would “likely to be overstretched in the handling of election matters”. Justice Mohammed also reminded the tribunal members that “praises and condemnations will be meted out to you in the course of discharging your duties. Unfortunately, some of the condemnations will come from our partners in the temple of justice ( i.e the Bar). However, I urge you not to be deterred by the uncomplimentary comments of some politicians and litigants anytime judgment is given against them.” ”As you start your assign-

ment, I must re-iterate that while you are on the tribunals, you will be looked upon as the embodiment of this ideal of Justice. To that end, you must be the dispensers of justice, regardless of fear or favour, position or standing. “You must uphold the stability of this democracy by stamping the hallmark of legality on the conduct of our nation’s elections as it is through your eyes that Justice perceives a wrong that must be made right. “Since you all do not have the luxury of time in the discharge of your duties, I urge you all to be pedantic in your deliberations but do not allow ‘red- herring’ technicalities to distract you from the path of justice. You must listen attentively, and enquire appropriately, taking care not to descend into the arena. “In addition, it is crucial that you consider all the evidence before you carefully, deliberate conscientiously, and adjudicate swiftly and justly as not only you but the entire Judiciary will also be on trial. Posterity will judge you on the words that you utter in judgment and my sincere prayer is that we will all not be judged harshly by history,” the CJN said.

Chad not driving attacks on insurgents, says DHQ

HE Defence Headquarters yesterday said Chad is not driving attacks on Boko Haram insurgents contrary to insinuations. It said Nigerian troops had been leading the plan and coordinating attacks on insurgents. It also said Chad has not taken over any Nigerian territory in the ongoing onslaught against the insurgents. The DHQ, which made the clarifications in a statement on its blog, said Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad are involved in joint operations against Boko Haram under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). The statement said: “The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region. “The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin Commission also had some understanding, which now enables a massive move against terrorists from all angles. “Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some media. “For instance Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory. “There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders of Cameroun, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations. “Chadians and others are however keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed. “Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact.” A military source , who spoke in confidence, also added: “While it is true that these other countries are collaborating with Nigeria, their troops contributions are not as massive as to make the kind of impressions being peddled by sections of the press.” “The cooperation by countries making up the Lake Chad Region against Boko Haram terrorists has in no way compromised the territorial integrity of the country.”

Pro-shift forces eye June as plot against Jega thickens Continued from page 1

tion process unless there is a legal basis for such. It was gathered that the legal alternative informed the filing of four applications before some courts to seek order to pull the brake on the elections. A source said: “Those pushing for the postponement of the election want June as the most practicable timeline when all eligible voters would have collected their PVCs. “They want Jega and his National Commissioners to complete their term on June 13 before the poll is conducted. There are fears that Jega and his team are unyielding.” But there is a snag: President Goodluck Jonathan’s first term will end on May 29. “Nigerians may rise against the extension of the present administration beyond May 29, 2015. The permutation has led to other options,” a source said, adding: “This is why they are thinking of creating a stalemate through the court, with an order stopping the conduct of the poll as proposed. This will leave Nigerians and political

‘Jonathan's lawyer prosecutes case against Buhari’

HE lawyer to Max Ozoaka, the plaintiff in the case challenging the eligibility of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in an Abuja court is President Goodluck Jonathan’s personal lawyer, it was learnt yesterday. He is Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), who is also appearing for President Jonathan in the eligibility case pending in the Court of Appeal against the president. A judge in one of the cases is a personal friend to Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parties to return to the drawing board for options. “One of the options is exploring Section 25 of the Electoral 2010(as amended) which still leaves a window of 30 days before the end of Jonathan’s tenure for the conduct of the general election.” The section states: “Elections into the offices of the President and Vice-President, the governor and deputy governor of a state, and to the membership of the Senate,

has been desperately shopping for lawyers of Yoruba origin and ‘pliant judges’ to file and sit on the cases brought up against Gen. Buhari, all in a bid to stop what a source described as “the humiliating defeat” they envisage in the February 14 presidential election. A top Abuja lawyer was approached by a representative of “the fuel subsidy cartel” to prosecute a case against the General and earn million of dollars, but declined the offer, The Nation learnt. “More than the politicians in the ruling party, cronies of the president, along with those directly benefiting from the corruption and disorganisation in the petroleum industry and the

the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly shall be held in the following order…the date mentioned shall not be earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the House stands dissolved. “An election to the said office of the President shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.”

military, are most afraid of a Buhari presidency,” said another source, who added: “There is fear among the president’s handlers that the game is up, hence the last minute moves to either keep the APC candidate off the ballot or postpone the elections to allow the negative publicity against him to gain some traction. “So far, the groundswell behind a Buhari presidency has been unprecedented, with every online poll indicating a landslide victory for the General and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Despite the propaganda against him, the support for the BuhariOsinbajo ticket has suffered no loss.

Another source said: “If Jega and his team fail in the distribution of PVCs and falter in logistics for the poll, the affected forces will pressurise the government to sack them and raise a new group to conduct the general elections. “And you know INEC does not have total control of all the logistics. So, the plot against Jega and his team thickens. “A safe net for these forces is for a court pronouncement to stop the conduct of the

polls. And by the time all the stakeholders move in and out of the court, the tenure of Jega would have expired. “The Judiciary will be a good cover for the government to defend the polls shift.” Responding to a question, the source added: “Ordinarily, INEC would have been overruled on issues surrounding the preparation for the poll but Jega and his team have international backing.”

INEC officials declined comments yesterday on the twists to the pressure for polls shift. As at press time, however, Jega has deployed all the National Commissioners and other top officials in the six geopolitical zones for first hand assessment of the readiness of all the state offices for the polls. A source in INEC said of the trips: “It is a kind of checklist trip because we want to get everything right before the poll. “We are going ahead with preparation for the conduct of the general election. The INEC chairman will still address the press on Wednesday (today) on the status of our readiness.” There were fears yesterday that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) may not vote in spite of the efforts being made by INEC to make them participate. It was learnt that legal hurdles have made it virtually impossible to accommodate them since they were not registered.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS

NIGERIA DECIDES

•President Jonathan

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola with Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone II, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu when the police chief visited the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday.

•Gen. Buhari

•Okorie

Presidential poll: Th In 10 days, Nigerians will go to the poll to elect the president of their choice. In the race are 14 candidates. In this piece, YUSUF ALLI, Managing Editor (Northern Operation), appraises the strengths and weaknesses of the parties.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second left), his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, President, National Association of Osun State Students ((NAOSS), Offa Poly chapter, Mr. Akintunde Maruf (second right) and Secretary-General, Natiomal Association of Polytechnic Students, Mr Seriki Ibrahim Olawale, when the union’s representatives visited the governor to pledge support for the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari/Prof Osinbajo presidential bid at the Goverment House, Osogbo, Osun State...yesterday.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher; Chairman, Zinox Group, Chief Leo Stan Eke; Conference Chairman, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya ; Mr. Bernard Najim, Head of Europe MiddleEast & Africa, Nokia Networks at a stakeholders forum on the conference on Connect Nigeria: Exploiting ICT Potential For Growth - Challenges & Opportunities for Operators in the Nigerian Market through 3G & LTE in Lagos...yesterday.

ARRING last-minute hiccups, the much-awaited presidential election will be here in 10 days. Fourteen political parties are vying for the plum office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-inChief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The parties and their candidates are: Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (PDP); Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (APC); Chief Sam Eke (CPP); Ambrose Albert Owuru (Hope Democratic Party); Ganiyu Galadima (Allied Congress Party of Nigeria) and Rafiu Salau (Alliance for Democracy) Others are: Godson Okoye (United Democratic Party); Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad (African Democratic Congress); Martin Onovo (National Conscience Party); Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya (Kowa Party); Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani (Action Alliance); Chekwas Okorie( United Progressive Party), Ayeni Musa , Adebayo African Peoples Party (APA) and Allagoa Kelvin (Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). For a party to win the coveted seat, Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution states: “A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected, where, there being only two candidates for the election if (a) he has the majority of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-third of all the states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.” The ball is now in the court of the 14 parties to woo the nation’s 68, 333, 476 registered voters. The Herculean task before the electorate, however, is how to separate the wheat from the chaff. The parties’ strengths and weaknesses are as follows:

PDP

•From left: Managing Director, Neo-Media, Ehi Braimah; Director-General, National Mathematical Centre, Prof Adewale Solarin; Managing Director, Promasidor, Olivier Thiry and Head, Marketing, Promasidor, Festus Tettey at a press conference on the Cowbell National Secondary School at Cowbell Way, Isolo, Lagos. PHOTO: JOHN EBOTHA

Formed in 1998, the ruling PDP has consolidated its hold on power in the country in the last 16 years. Since the emergence of the Fourth Republic, the party has won the presidential and majority seats in National Assembly elections in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. Wikipedia describes PDP thus: “The Peoples Democratic Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the Centreright of the political spectrum. It has won every presidential election since 1999, and it is the reigning party in the Fourth Republic amid con-

troversial circumstances. The party has a neo-liberal stance in its economic policies and maintains a conservative stance on certain social issues. The PDP favours free-market policies which support economic liberalism and limited government regulation.”

Strength Until recently, the party enjoys national spread among all ethnic groups in the country. At a point in the nation’s history, events in the PDP used to have implications on national development. With 21 governors out of 36 governors in its fold, the PDP controls the Senate and at least 21 States’ Houses of Assembly. Leaders of the party have access to war chest being in control the largest chunk of the finances of the federation. Recently, the party raised N21 billion for the forthcoming elections. The amount is the highest donation ever received by any party to prosecute elections.

Weaknesses The party’s popularity has waned over the years. Many of its foundation leaders have either defected to the opposition or abandoned the party to its fate. Members of the ruling PDP have joined Nigerians now calling for change following the party’s inability to deliver on its promises like power and employment. The PDP-controlled Federal Government is perceived as corrupt. Most party leaders are believed to be corrupt some of them are presently being tried for alleged graft and corruption. In just a day, the ruling party lost five of its governors to its main rival – the APC.Irrespective of skepticisms against the PDP, it remains the party to beat at the poll in the next few days.

APC Formed as a coalition of progressives from four political parties on February 6, 2013, the party got approval for its registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31, 2013, to become a political party. Wikipedia describes the APC as “a social-democratic political party.” One of the strengths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 14 and 28 elections is its emergence as an amalgam of major opposition parties in the country. The former parties that fused into the APC were: the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NIGERIA DECIDES

•Kelvin

•Onovo

•Prof Sonaiya

•Okoye

•Owuru

•Salau

•Anifowoshe-Kelani

oll: The parties, their strengths, weaknesses (CPC) and a part of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The formation of the party was the first successful merger in the history of party politics in the country. The party’s chances are further boosted by the defection of several PDP chieftains, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a number of governors and ex-governors, and many members of the House of Representatives to its fold. The APC has 14 states in its fold as against the 21 being controlled by the PDP.

Strength

The APC has enjoyed relative stability since its formation as no faction is known to exist within it. Although many pundits had written off the APC as a party of disparate configuration but it enjoys a cult-like bond especially in the North and the Southwest, leaving many of its critics dumb-founded. Its popularity in the Southeast and Southsouth, which are traditionally PDP stronghold has sent the ruling party back to the drawing board to find a way to counter the onslaught. Another factor in APC’s favour ahead of the February 14 presidential election is the alleged weak leadership of the ruling party and the poor rating of the President Jonathan’s administration. Besides, the presidential candidate of the APC – Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has a sellable pedigree and rising profile as a presidential candidate. He was a one-time military Head of State, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He is blessed with a strong character, discipline and seen as incorruptible. Buhari is loved and adored all over the North, a development than can largely swing the votes in favor of the rival opposition party in the forthcoming polls. It is the fourth time the retired General would be taking a shot at the presidency under the democratic dispensation. He had always inched closer each time he ran. The five governors that left the PDP to join its fold last year have further extended the reach and national spread of the party. The APC governors are also rated as having performed as exemplified by the developmental strides of some of governors like Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), among others.

Weaknesses The APC has not been able to penetrate the Southsouth and the Southeast with as much acceptability as the PDP in the two regions.

ACPN The party came into being out of political exigency with the Saraki political dynasty in Kwara State in 2011. It was formed by the late strongman of Kwara politics, Abubakar Olusola Saraki. The late Saraki was the Senate Leader in the Second Republic. Beyond the shores of Kwara, the party is unknown to Nigerians. The

The parties and their candidates •Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - Dr. Goodluck Jonathan •All Progressives Congress (APC) - Gen. Muhammadu Buhari •Convention Peoples Party (CPP) - Chief Sam Eke •Hope Democratic Party (HDP) -Ambrose Albert Owuru •Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) - Ganiyu Galadima •Alliance for Democracy (AD) Rafiu Salau •United Democratic Party (UDP) - Godson Okoye •African Democratic Congress (ADC) - Dr. Mani ACPN died with its founder because most of its members have defected to the APC in Kwara. At best, its presidential candidate, Ganiyu Galadima is playing to the gallery. Its governorship candidate in the 2011 election, Senator Gbemi Saraki, had since defected back to the PDP.

UPP The UPP was formed in 2012 by Chief Chekwas Okorie following the factionalisation of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). The party, which technically, remains an offshoot of APGA, might pretend to be a national party. Its logo, “Isi Agu” (Lion’s Head) points to its catchment area. Lion’s Head was said to have “deep historical connotations within the Southeast and Southsouth.” It remains a tribal party whose presidential candidate, Chief Chekwas Okorie is looking for political relevance.

AD The Alliance for Democracy was established on September 9, 1998 and in 2006, a faction of the party dissolved into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The Alliance for Democracy was a progressive opposition political party in Nigeria. The party produced all the six governors in the Southwest in 1999. In 2003, the party secured 8.8 per cent of the popular vote and 34 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and six out of 109 seats in the Senate. Most of its founders are now in the APC, leaving only a few old brigades to manage the AD wrecks. The party is virtually dead in the mind of its followers because it is now rated as an appendage of the PDP. There are still issues on how its presidential candidate, Rafiu Salau emerged.

KP According to its website, Kowa was registered on July 16, 2009 by a group of Nigerian civil society activists, professionals and technocrats. The citation reads: “The founding members of KOWA party consist of men and women of integrity who wish to contribute to making Nigeria a country where there is economic

Ibrahim Ahmad •National Conscience Party (NCP) - Martin Onovo •Kowa Party (KP) -Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya •Action Alliance (AA) -Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani •United Progressive Party (UPP) - Chekwas Okorie •African Peoples Alliance (APA) -Ayeni Musa Adebayo •Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) - Allagoa Kelvin .

justice, political sanity, peace, stability, human development and social progress; a country governed in the best interest of the majority who are at present, mostly poor, struggling people, as opposed to the current situation in which there is gross economic injustice and a wide gap between the rich and the poor. We are mostly political activists, professionals and politicians who did not find a level playing ground in the God-father-dominated Political Parties. This means that we are not your typical, conventional, rotten politicians. We are different.” Beyond its vision, KOWA had always compromised with the PDP and this year’s elections might not be an exception.

NCP Though the National Conscience Party (NCP) was formed in 1994 by the late fiery human rights’ activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others, it went through legal hurdles before it secured judicial victory to participate in the general elections in 2003, when it won a legal battle to be able to do so. The best outing of the party was in the 2003 presidential election when Fawehinmi scored 161,333 votes (0.41 per cent) to emerge distant fifth. The desire of the NCP to take part in presidential poll through its candidate, Martin Onovo, is largely seen as a desire to fulfill all righteousness and retain its name the register of participating party.

AA The AA was formerly called National Mass Movement of Nigeria (NMMN). The change of name was necessitated by reasons of giving the party a more focused and dynamic leadership but still carrying the people along. It has a mission to save poor Nigerians and protect the interest of all.

UDP The United Democratic Party is led by Godson Okoye, a lawyer who contested the Anambra gubernatorial election in 2010 and lost. It is more or less being run like a personal estate.

HDP This is one of the lucky parties in the country. In December 2013, HDP was deregistered by INEC based on Section 78 of the 1999 Constitution. But Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declared the deregistration as illegal, null and void on October 20, 2014. It ruled that the party’s name be reinstated in the list of registered political parties. The National Chairman of the party, Ambrose A. Owuru, a lawyer, is also its presidential candidate. The polls and rating of the parties Aside of the PDP and the APC that have demonstrated seriousness as contenders for the presidency, the other 12 political parties are just putting up a show at best. Some of them want to be seen as relevant even though they do not enjoy any measure of popularity and national spread to enable them make a mark. For instance, the Action Alliance has no record that it had won any political seat since 1999, yet its members believe they will get a mention by contesting the presidential slot. On the other hand, the United Progressives Party (UPP) is a new entrant into the political space. It was founded by Okorie. The APGA’s one-time national chairman believes he was schemed out by the hawks in his old party. The KOWA party is relatively unknown, even as it has been around for a while. Its members adopted the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2011. However, they believe they can take a shot at the presidency this time around. The only electoral asset of the party is that it is fielding a woman female professor as its presidential candidate, Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya. The NCP, formed by late Gani Fawehinmi, has been around for a while but has nothing to show in terms of electoral capital. Its presidential candidate for the February 14 election is Chief Martin Onovo with Ibrahim Mohammed as his running mate. It is doubtful if the party can cause any upset since it lacks the national spread and the popular candidates to attract voters during the elec-

•Prof Jega

tions. The National Secretary of the National Unity Group (NUG), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who is also the National Vice Chairman, Southsouth of the PDP, said the group had been having meetings with nine parties to back President Goodluck Jonathan. So far, the battle is between the PDP and APC. While the PDP is stronger in the Southeast, Southsouth, in some parts of the Northcentral and two states in the Southwest, the APC is at home in the Northwest, Northeast, parts of Northcentral and Southwest. At a session at the Chattam House, London United Kingdom (UK), the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, said: “The emergence of a seemingly viable opposition, as well as the closeness of the race is a clear demonstration of our maturing democracy...” What fate for the mushroom parties After the polls, INEC might still be forced to wield the big stick on these parties in line with Section 78(7) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended. The section says: “The commission shall have power to deregister political parties on the following grounds (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration and (ii) for failure to win presidential or governorship or a seat in the National or State Assembly election.” INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega gave insights into the deregistration of parties by his Commission when 28 parties were de-listed. He said: “In particular if you look at Sections 222 and 223, political parties are supposed to register with INEC and to have an office in Abuja; they are supposed to hold periodic elections; they are supposed to have executives that represent in their composition the Federal Character in particular two-thirds of the state of the Federation. And also the Electoral Act in particular says that those who did not win any seat in any of the elections can be deregistered. “The first step we took was to deregister seven parties. We deregistered them solely on the basis of the fact that they did not even field candidates for the elections.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS

PDP plotting to cause constitutional crisis, says APC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) alerted Nigerians yesterday to a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to precipitate a constitutional crisis to was forestall elections and pave the way for an interim government. The party alleged that some elements in the country were trying to manipulate the courts and tribunals to achieve the plot. Its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, added that the agents of the plot might procure “pliant judges” to give outrageous and unpopular judgment at the election tribunals and courts to destabilise the polity Also, a statement by the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation’s (APCPCO) Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said insecurity of life and property, which has consigned a portion of the country to insurgents, was a huge indictment on the government in its primary responsibility of safeguarding the life and property of Nigerians. The organisation said using that as an excuse to call for the postponement of the elec-

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor and Tony Akowe, Abuja

tions was a way of perpetuating the agenda of the ruling PDP because of the defeat starring the party in the face. But, Mohammed warned that any outrageous and unpopular judgment would trigger massive violence, which they will cite as an excuse to scuttle the elections and form an interim government. Mohammed said: “At the last count, six cases have been filed by the agents of those working to scuttle the elections, and we expect more. “In one of the cases, Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday gave the order for a substituted service in the case instituted by Max Uzoaka against our candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. “The Jonathan administration and the PDP do not want elections, despite their deceitful statements that they are ready for the polls. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the polls do not hold as scheduled, if at all. “This is why they have not been asking Nigerians to go and collect their PVCs, even

•Party alleges plans to halt polls when the INEC has said the cards for all registered voters are now ready for collection, putting a lie to the campaign that the cards will not be ready before the elections. “That is why they have refused hordes of foreign journalists visas to come to Nigeria. The denial of visas to foreign journalists is systemic, aimed at preventing the international community from seeing or watching the desperate plots to scuttle the elections. An administration that has nothing to hide will not embark on a deliberate move to shut foreign journalists out of what is definitely one of the most important elections in the world this year.” Mohammed alleged that besides manipulating the courts, unpatriotic elements have resorted to lobbying some members of the Council of State to support their clamour for election postponement. He urged the council, which is expected to meet this week, to put the national interest above narrow, partisan considerations by rejecting the call for postponement.

The party’s spokesman also urged local and foreign observers to take note of the scheming by the election postponement campaigners, adding that if they succeed, they would have no elections to observe. He said since election was a process, and not restricted to the election day, all the steps leading to the elections were as important as the actual voting. Mohammed said: “We call on Nigerians to remain vigilant, especially in the days ahead, and to continue to reject all attempts by anti-democratic forces to cling to or get power through means that are not democratic. We urge our members and supporters in particular to eschew violence under any guise, even in the face of the most egregious provocations, so as not to play into the hands of those working to scuttle the elections. “If the Jonathan administration and the PDP are indeed committed to the February 14 and 28 dates for the elections, as they have said, we challenge them to heed our call for a two-day public holiday so that working class Nigerians

“Chadian troops are in these places and are pushing for other areas where the insurgents have bases,” he said. The Chadian contingent of about 2,000 troops crossed the frontier without a shot being fired, AFP news agency reports from the scene. Chad warplanes had earlier carried out air strikes for about an hour. On Monday, the Nigerian Army said it had recaptured Gamboru, a small town separated from Cameroon by a river. African leaders agreed to set up a task force of 7,500 soldiers from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin to counter Boko Haram, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama said on January 31 at a briefing in Accra, the capital of Ghana. The force will have its headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, and a 12-month

mandate starting in February, he said. Also, French military aircraft are carrying out surveillance missions to help countries bordering Nigeria tackle Boko Haram militants, officials said yesterday amid efforts by African countries to coordinate a response to the threat posed by the group. “Our air force is carrying out reconnaissance missions, but not over Nigeria,” said a French defence ministry source. “Our support is limited to neighbouring countries such as Chad and Niger.” The source added intelligence was being given to Chadian forces fighting Boko Haram on the Cameroon and Nigeria border region. Speaking at a ceremony yesterday marking the accidental death of nine French airmen in Spain last month, French President Francois Hollande earlier said aircraft were operating over Nigeria. Clarifying Hollande’s comments, the presidential palace

said French planes were not flying over Nigeria, but that France was “co-operating in the fight against Boko Haram,” accrording to Reuters Hollande said in May that Rafale fighter jets would be used for reconnaissance missions to help find some 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Since then there has been no official comment on any French operations in the country. France has headquartered its 3,200-strong Sahel counter-insurgency force, Barkhane, in the Chadian capital N’Djamena, some 50km from the Nigerian border. It has fighter jets based there and in Niger, where it also has surveillance drones. Paris has ruled out direct military involvement for now, but said it can play a role in easing tensions and instigating dialogue between its three former colonies - Chad, Niger and Cameroon - and anglophone Nigeria.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

•Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

Chad and Cameroon have stepped up troop deployments to fight the militants and on 31 January Chad’s army said it bombarded Boko Haram militants two days after their troops drove Boko Haram fighters from a northern Nigeria border town. “France is in D’Djamena. We have the capacity to do surveillance and provide intelligence,” a French diplomatic source said.”Our job is to put some oil in the cogs between Nigeria and its neighbours.”

Lamido: I met Amaechi in the national interest

IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has explained that his meeting with his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, was for national interest and was sustenance of democracy. Lamido said he is still a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that Amaechi’s visit was to discuss the need for campaign officials to jettison smear campaigns. The governor spoke yesterday at a PDP governorship rally in Kaugama, Kaugama Local Government Area, Jigawa. The governor made the declaration following insinuations that he would ditch the party for the APC. Lamido said he was a PDP member and would intensify

•Governor denies plan to defect to APC From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of the party. He said he had cautioned Amaechi on the dangers associated with smear campaign among politicians, which is inimical to the growth of democratic governance in the country. “If Amaechi, a southerner and a Christian is campaigning for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC; I do not see any wrong for me, a northerner and Muslim to campaign for President Jonathan. “Leadership comes from God. And in His divine wisdom, He made people of

northern and southern extraction to live in one land, our dear country, Nigeria. “We are one and we should not allow some disgruntled elements using politics, religion and ethnicity to cause disaffection among our people. “Ignore what they are saying; it is frivolous and cheap lies to deceive voters. “They said I do not care for the North and called me a pastor, but it does not bother me,” Lamido said. He said the founding fathers had fought for the nation’s independence, irrespective of creed or religious affiliations. and therefore, Nigerians should unite for peace and progress of the country. The governor advised the

gathering of individuals, better dubbed – Association of Jonathan-organised National Conference Attendees – with the sole objective of truncating the general elections, particularly the February 14 presidential poll, thus preventing an embarrassing shellacking for their benefactor, President Goodluck Jonathan”. Shehu said it was more annoying “that one of these people, with a history of armed insurrection by way of attempted military putsch against a united Nigeria, had the effrontery to offer admonition against the conduct of election, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended for the virility of the Nigerian state. “The ostensible reason of insecurity in some part of the country, though seemingly valid, pales into insignificance when put side by side with their real reasons. “The fact of insecurity of lives and property, which has consigned a portion of the nation state to a ragtag insurgency group, is in itself, a huge indictment of the government in failing in its primary responsibility as contemplated in Section 14 of 1999 Constitution as amended.”

Alake: Buhari ’ll promote true federalism

Chad captures Gamboru from sect Continued from page 1

who have yet to collect their PVCs can do so. By the way, APC states will declare two public holidays for this purpose. “We will also like to repeat our appeal to the judiciary to act as a bulwark against any attempt to truncate our nation’s hard-earned democracy by refusing to be used to scuttle the elections. We consider it an insult to the judiciary for the advocates of election shift to believe they can use their dirty funds to influence the course of justice. We believe the judiciary will not take this bait. “We will not relent in speaking out against ongoing efforts to scuttle the elections. The APC is ready for the elections as scheduled. The PDP and the Jonathan administration should stop their scheming and get themselves ready for the elections too. Nigerians have seen through them, and have rejected their evil plots. “The elections dates of Feb. 14th and 28th are sacrosanct.” According to Shehu, the Federal Government was frustrating attempts by over 80 foreign journalists to cover the elections. He said it has “observed the

electorate to vote for credible and patriotic leaders, who would render selfless service and move the country forward. “You should not be deceived by the smear campaigns. Vote for credible people, those who respect human rights, ensure accountability and transparency in governance. “I advise you to vote wisely,” he said, adding that the PDP-led administration had brought positive development in the country in the last 16 years. Also speaking, the state PDP gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Ibrahim, pledged to consolidate on the feat achieved by Lamido’s administration

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has affirmed that the party will promote true federalism, if elected. Its Director of Strategic Communications, Mr. Dele Alake, who said this during a television programme yesterday, added that the APC was ready to make a clear political statement. To tackle corruption, Alake, who spoke on a Silverbird Television programme, added that the country must run a government that allows each arm and level of government to operate independently. He said: “The principle of true federalism dictates that each component or state be allowed to develop at its own pace and exploit its own resources, while making contributions to the centre; leaving the centre to be in charge of common aspirations like defence, foreign affairs and some other salient issues.” The APC chieftain suggested that the country should device a means by which retired generals could be brought into governance, based on their experience, for exchange of ideas. His words: “We must device plans of bringing in our retired generals, who have been involved in putting down insurrection, either in Nigeria or abroad, to cross-fertilise ideas and exchange principles and strategies.” He also advocated that “commitment, seriousness, and focus” should be the watchwords of the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces. Alake stressed that his party has the power to fulfill its promises, stressing that the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the APC have clean political records, notwithstanding the alleged controversy over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s secondary school certificate. He said: “The two presidential candidates of the APC constitute the cleanest ticket, in terms of probity, transparency, honesty and credibility that Nigeria has ever produced”. He insisted that the certificate of the APC presidential candidate should not be an issue, since he had been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On how to tackle corruption, Alake said the leadership at the centre must be the focal-point from which every other arm of government will eradicate corruption. He said: “When the leadership is rotten, it percolates down the entire society. The Federal Government is a behemoth that sits atop the edifice of Nigeria. Hence, the states do not possess as much power as they should.” According to him, “disciplined leadership is important to infuse and inculcate the right attitudes that are synthetically accrued to meaningful progress.” On power sharing, the APC chieftain said: “Issues of social development, including health, education and infrastructure must be devolved to the states.” •Alake

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS Aliyu: I’m not sympathetic to Buhari From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

•Wasiu Eshilokun; Deji Awobotu; Ayodele Joseph; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Hakeem Bamgbala; Yakubu Balogun and Dolapo Badru at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Lagos Island Local Government... yesterday.

Nigeria ’ll remain one, says Buhari

RESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari affirmed yesterday that Nigeria will remain one united country despite its perceived ethnic and religious differences. Buhari was in Kano for a town hall meeting with Kano business community at Africa House, Kano Government House. He insisted that looking at cultural, inter-marriage, commercial and socio-political integration among the nation’s ethnic and religious groups, “there is hope that Nigeria and Nigerians will remain united, living in peace and harmony”. The APC presidential candidate regretted high rate of unemployment, especially, among the youth, lamenting

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

that “wherever I go around the country, I get frightened by the large number of men jumping and sweating, following the convoy; most of them unemployed.” He described terrorism in Nigeria as a fraud that has no link to religion, insisting that it was only good governance that could eradicate terrorism. “It is a menace that could be confronted with seriousness. We should stop playing the ostrich and do what is right world is watching us and as one calling the shots in the African continent Nigeria should be seen to be up and doing on how to make the nation secure,” he stated. The APC leader also advised his supporters to shun violence during and after the elections, noting that decent

political objectives could never be achieved through violence. “I myself is a victim of a wellcalculated plot at the time I was blatantly fingered for spearheading the violence that preceded the 2011 presidential elections. At the end of it all, I was found to have no hand in it. “It was even discovered that I lost some of my belongings to the crises. So, one could clearly read between the lines and see the irony of such an accusation” he stated. Buhari remembered the abduction of the Chibok girls, hinging the blame on the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He insisted that government’s inability to rescue the young girls showed gross incompetence and negligence of its responsibility, which is to ensure security of lives and property of Nigerians.

General Buhari regretted that despite the story of Nigeria’s economy being the biggest in Africa, it has not reflected in the lives of over 60 per cent of Nigerian, mostly the youth. He said if he becomes Nigeria’s president, his government would create three million jobs every year in line with the APC manifesto and his three-point agenda, which is security, job creation and sustainable fight against corruption. Buhari also promised the Kano business community to resuscitate the ailing industries, ensure steady power supply and as well make the North the food basket of Africa. The presidential candidate said Nigerians are yearning for change, assuring that the change could only be success-

ful if the citizens obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), which he said would help them to vote out leaders that were incapable to rule. “I have always appeal to voters to come out and cast their votes for us and also to protect their votes. My appeal to people is also to desist from any act of violence,” he said. Buhari, however, hailed Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for his foresight and efforts in re-modeling Kano, promising that as President, his government will accord Kano a top priority considering its position as the commercial nerve-centre of the North. Kwankwaso stated that Buhari, if elected, has the charisma and capacity to fight Boko Haram and other daunting national problems to a standstill.

‘Missing’ $30tr: Aregbesola laments Nigerians’ silence

Nation safe under Jonathan, says Babangida

ORMER Military President General Ibrahim Babangida believes that Nigeria is safe in the hand of President Goodluck Jonathan. He spoke yesterday in his Minna Uphill residence when he played host to the president who was in Niger State in continuation of his campaign. Babangida said he shared same passion with Jonathan for a peaceful, stable and developed nation. “Whenever I discussed with him (Jonathan), I see a young man who has passion for Nigeria. Under Jonathan, Nigeria is in safe hand,” IBB told his guests. He said all the presidents that had governed the country came to Minna for blessing, hailing Jonathan for do-

•President: ‘He is not like other past leaders’ From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

ing same. “All Presidents that this country has produced have come to Minna for blessing and today that you (Jonathan) have come, I will offer you that blessing,” Babangida stated. He praised the party for treading on the right path, which, he added, was devoid of religious and ethnicity. Jonathan described his host as a dependable pillar that has continued to ensure the nation’s stability. His words: “As a deputy governor, you took me as a son and since I came on board as vice president till date, you

have been a pillar and a charismatic leader. You have been a stabilising factor in this country in many ways. “You are not like some other past leaders. We pray for long life for you so that you can continue to mentor the country and you give rightful direction to us”. The president later went into a closed door meeting with his host and some party chieftains. Surprisingly too, Aisha Babangida was announced yesterday as the Jonathan/Sambo campaign coordinator for Niger State. Meanwhile, Jonathan has pledged to empower the youth and give them more op-

portunities. He stated that the PDP was paving the right path for the country. The president, who spoke at the PDP presidential rally in Minna, said it was the young people who will lead the country to its height. Jonathan said his administration would create opportunities for the youth and give them leadership positions to prepare them for the future. He hailed Governor Babangida Aliyu for his developmental stride, adding that Niger State was known for producing great Nigerians. The vice president’s wife, Amina Sambo; Minister of State for Agriculture Hajia

•Babangida

Asmau Asabe Ahmed; the Director General of the Presidential Campaign, Ahmadu Alli; Prof. Jerry Gana; PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu; Minister for Special Duties Aminu Turaki; Senator Zagbayi, the state PDP candidates for elective positions attended the rally.

APC will tackle insecurity, says candidate at Emir’s palace

HE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he will tackle the country’s insecurity, especially in the Northeast, if voted for in the February 14 election. He spoke when he visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, at his palace before the APC presidential campaign rally at Pantami Stadium in the state capital. The APC candidate said

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

insurgency had prevailed for a long time to the extent that insurgents were now ahead of security operatives, unlike before when the Nigerian soldiers were known for bringing peace to other countries. He said the situation had been worsened by the fact that Nigerians were now refugees in their homelands. Buhari said he would create more employment opportunities for unemployed Nigerians by boosting agricul-

tural activities and wealth of the nation. The APC, he added, knew the nation’s problems, saying that the party was set to solve them, if voted into power. He said efforts would be put into ensuring justice, fairness and peace from May 30. Buhari pledged to fight corruption, improve the economy and provide more dividend of democracy for the people. He stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to dis-

charge its constitutional responsibility independently while discouraging the use of the military during the elections. He called on Nigerians to ensure they collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to be able to elect candidates of their choices. The Emir called on people, especially the politicians, to maintain peace, unity and tranquility of the state and the country during the elections. He also called on the politicians to focus on human de-

CHAIRMAN, Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor Dr. Babangida Aliyu said national interest made him not to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. He added that he was not sympathetic to the APC standard-bearer because he (Buhari) truncated his political career in 1983. Aliyu, who spoke at President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign rally in Minna yesterday, said Buhari upset him in the past for truncating his political career, but he has forgiven him. “Some people think we are sympathetic to Buhari. I am not sympathetic to him because I had my political career in 1983 truncated by him. “Then, I was elected into the House of Representatives. But his taking over power truncated my career. But I have forgiven him and was able to use the period to pursue my Masters and PhD,” he said. The NSGF chair stressed that Buhari might be admired for his personal qualities, but added that those qualities would not translate into public policies. Aliyu, who was yet to overcome the shock of the defection of his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, and other PDP chieftains last month, challenged those who defected from the ruling party to surrender all they acquired while in the party, if they claimed the party is bad.

velopment, peace, education, agriculture employment opportunities as well as caution their supporters to be lawabiding. The Emir also called on the people to pray for peace before during and after the general election for more development. But, at the APC presidential campaign rally in the state capital , Buhari warned whoever that misappropriated public resources to better start fathoming how to make refunds.

OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has lamented what he described as the criminal silence of Nigerians at the revelation that about N30 trillion allegedly got missing under the watch of the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Aregbesola, while receiving representatives of students of Nigerian polytechnics, who visited him at the Government House yesterday, said it was amazing how corruption had become so entrenched in the country that the mention of N30 trillion missing under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has not been greeted with trepidation. He said with such money being frittered away, the future of the youth has been mortgaged. Addressing the students’ representatives who said they were at the Government House to show solidarity with the governor, his APC-led administration and support for presidential candidate of the APC, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Aregbesola said with the way the nation was moving, Nigerians of the age of the students should take it upon themselves to ensure the pursuit of change is driven to a logical conclusion.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS ‘Stop blackmail plot against Fayemi’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

HE Youth Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state-owned broadcasting station over alleged attempts to blackmail former Governor Kayode Fayemi. The APC youths also disowned what it called a “phantom youth group” that goes by the name of “Ekiti APC Youths Congress”, which purportedly issued a statement condemning Fayemi for allegedly abandoning the state chapter for the presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The purported youth group had in that statement counseled Fayemi to stay at home as Governor Ayo Fayose is doing in PDP. But APC said it discovered fraud and deceit in the message, maintaining that no youth group would issue a statement on behalf of the party without recourse to the state youth leader. In a statement yesterday by the state APC Youth Leader, Femi Ogundare, the Wing said “APC has no members bearing Tope Ogukunade and Comrade Tunji Adeleye who signed the purported statement. Ogundare said: “We want to make it clear that there is no group by that name in APC Ekiti State, rather, it is a creation of Mr. Fayose through his equally loquacious aide, Lere Olayinka. “We have discipline and structure in our party that does not allow anybody or group to issue statements on behalf of the party.”

Vote Folarin, Adeojo begs

ORMER National Deputy Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the Board of Trustees Yekini Adeojo has urged the people of Oyo State to vote for the governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin. He said Folarin is the only young and vibrant candidate among the contestants, adding that his pedigree and antecedents cannot be compared with any other candidates. Adeojo, who spoke yester-

By Jeremiah Oke

day while addressing the people of Orita Merin, Agbeni, Oke-Ado and Ogunpa market in Ibadan, urged the people to support the PDP candidate. According to him, it is better for people to elect a strong, energetic and industrious candidate who can improve the fortune of the state than those who have nothing to contribute. Adeojo urged them to vote for youths who can decide the future of the next generation.

Ajimobi, Ladoja bicker over N500m loot

ID former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja return N500million to the government’s coffers? Governor Abiola Ajimobi insisted yesterday that Ladoja returned the money, a claim the former governor denied. They spoke during a governorship debate organised by a private radio station, Splash FM, at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. It was attended by academics, captains of industries, politicians, students, and members of the international community. Also in attendance were two other candidates- Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ajimobi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking re-election

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

in the February 28 poll in which Ladoja is also contesting on the platform of the Accord Party (AP). Responding to a question on whether or not Ladoja returned the money through the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Ajimobi answered in the affirmative, saying the return was acknowledged by his administration. Ajimobi said Ladoja decided to return the money when he (Ladoja) entered into a plea bargain with the anti-graft agency. “I have to say this over and over again and I will continue to say it that he(Ladoja) returned the money to the Oyo State government.” But Ladoja said he never returned any money, adding

that the cheques published by the government were not his. To buttress his statement, the Accord governorship candidate said the money in question was returned in May. Ladoja also claimed that the controversy regarding the money was nothing but a ploy to tarnish his reputation. “The principal actor then said he was asked to taint my holier than thou image,” he said. Dismissing the plea bargain claim, the former governor said he had sued the government. But the governor stood his ground, maintaining that he (Ladoja) returned over N500million to the government. On the Mokola Bridge, the two candidates also traded words over the contract sum,

which Ladoja argued was inflated by Ajimobi. The governor told the audience that the cost of the bridge was relatively cheap when compared with others. He said: “Without any reservation the price of Mokola Bridge is relatively cheap.” The former governor said for every N1 spent on the bridge done in Ogun State, Oyo spent N6, noting that the Ogun State bridge was double lane with trailers passing through. Ajimobi said there is a difference between a bridge and a flyover. “Ogun State bridge is 11.2 meter by width, our own is over 500 meters. So, egbon (elder brother) you don’t have the facts on what you are saying on Mokola flyover.” He challenged Ladoja to go and cross check the facts.

‘PDP dead in Lagos’

N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Bolaji Ayinla, has said the party chose Akin Ambode as its governorship candidate because there was no room for trial and error in Lagos. Ayinla, a member of the House of Assembly, said what Lagos needs is continuity of the foundation laid down by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 15 years ago, which was consolidated by Governor Babatunde Fashola. He said if elected, Ambode will move Lagos to the next level of becoming the bench mark of excellence.

By Leke Salaudeen

The lawmaker described the APC candidate as a seasoned civil servant, a chartered accountant who has what it takes to govern Lagos. “There is no room for trial and error in Lagos. We can’t entrust the governance of the state into the hands of an inexperienced candidate who will take us back. “Agbaje was one of us. He should have waited for his turn and be groomed for the job. But his ambition has taken him to two or three parties within eight years. Agbaje is not in the right party.”

Vote of confidence in Tinubu

EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Action Group in Ekiti State have reiterated their confidence in the National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. The Ekiti APC Action Group was established to complement the efforts of the APC in Ekiti State. Led by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government Ganiyu Owolabi, former commissioners, special advisers, council chairmen, members of the House of Assembly, the APC Ekiti Action Group said the meeting was to reassure

Tinubu that Ekiti people appreciate his role in the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria. “We came to assure our national leader of the solidarity of Ekiti and the fact that Ekiti people are part of the larger Yoruba family. “We came to show our unflinching commitment to the victory of the APC and all its candidates.” “We came to let Asiwaju know of our plans to enrich the campaign even in the face of threats and intimidation of APC members in Ekiti State by the governor and his party,” Senator Ojudu said.

Council trains workers By Bode Monogbe

HE Chairman, Yewa South Local Government Area in Ogun State, Safiu Odebiyi, has assured workers of excellent welfare and training programmes that would empower them. He gave the assurance at a training programme on soap making, organised by the council in collaboration with GIZ, a nongovernmental organisation, at the council secretariat in Ilaro. Odebiyi said the training would boost workers’ morale in this austere time. He urged participants to make the best use of the knowledge gained. The council chief advised them not to allow the new skill affect their official duties.

•GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES ALL. From right: Ajimobi, Makinde, Ladoja and Folarin...yesterday

Ekiti confirms receipt of N2b Ecological Fund

HE Ekiti State government has acknowledged the receipt of the N2billion Ecological Fund. Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Youth and Sports, Lanre Ogunsuyi, confirmed receipt of the fund from the Federal Government. The receipt of the money caused a row between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the opposition claiming that the governor received the ecological fund on December 31, which the government denied.

•Reduces MDAs’ running grant by 60 per cent From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Hard times await Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as Governor Ayo Fayose has approved the reduction of their monthly running grants by as much as 60 per cent. Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Toyin Ojo said this yesterday while analysing the 2015 Budget passed into law by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Assembly. Ojo said the reduction of

running grants to MDAs was “part of the fiscal caution taken to reduce spending to save funds for capital projects”. The commissioner said government reduced MDAs from 36 to 14 to cut spending and saving more money to carry out projects. Ojo said the government would revive the Integrated Poultry Scheme at four designated centres. Fayose, during his first stint in power, carried out a poultry project which became controversial as the

Alao-Akala: no pact with APC

I’ll pay N18,000, says Agbaje

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has said neither he nor his party signed any agreement to work with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The statement followed a rumour that the LP has agreed to team up with the APC and its candidates. The former governor, who spoke through his Director of Public Affairs, Oludare Ogunlana, said the LP and the APC had different ideologies. Alao-Akala said: “Labour Party has its own ideology and it can never be like the APC. Rather than make sure the people benefited from its project, the present administration continues to empower few capitalists. “How can we be associated with a dictatorial government? We’ve not forgotten the “Soka” revelation where many people were held captive in a concentration camp for many years. The government has yet to tell us the outcome of the investigation after over a year.” The former governor said he had been to some parts of the state “and all what the people are saying is that AlaoAkala should come back. Things have gone worse. All what I did as governor still stand the test of time”.

governor was sued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the N1.3 billion project. Although the case is still in court, Fayose is covered by immunity in line with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. The earlier poultry project was established in the 16 local governments and four special centres. Ojo said the global economic recession that has cut down the oil proceeds in Nigeria has taken a toll on the state’s finances.

•Agbaje

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has said he will pay the minimum wage of N18,000. He said: “The government in place which has refused to pay the minimum wage is laying claim to the Centre of Excellence. Lagos State pays

N12,000 instead of N18,000. Be assured we shall pay you the N18,000 minimum wage.” Agbaje spoke on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, where the party’s campaign train stopped yesterday. At the rally were Agbaje’s running mate, Mrs. Safurat Abdulkarim, state Chairman Captain Tunji Shelle, Secretary Wahab Owokoniran and several members of the executive. He told the cheering crowd that a PDP government would stop the controversial policy of deporting non-indigenes from Lagos State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

MOLADE OKOYA-THOMAS (1935-2015) •Former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande (left) greeting former InspectorGeneral of Police Musiliu Smith. With them are Jakande’s wife, Abimbola (second left) and Mrs. Margaret Koshoni... yesterday

•Former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Chief Emeka Anyaoku signing the condolence register... yesterday

•Accounting doyen Chief Akintola Williams (left) and former Super Permanent Secretary Chief Philip Asiodu... yesterday

•Ambode signing the condolence register... yesterday PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

My dad's last moment, by daughter

“H

E was cheerful and looking forward to resuming work this Thursday after a short bed rest. He gave me an assignment to carry out for him in the office ahead of his resumption." Those were the words of one of the daughters of the late business mogul and socialite, Chief Molade OkoyaThomas, Mrs. Tosin AloboBakare, who saw him last before his demise on Sunday night. Okoya-Thomas, 79, passed on at 9:15pm at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, few hours after he was taken there. According to Mrs. AloboBakare, her father had difficulty breathing at 7pm. She said: "I was with my dad around 5pm where he assigned me some duties to carry out in the office ahead of his resumption on Thursday. "He was cheerful and longing to start work after being on bed rest. "I left him here at his house and went to my home. At 7pm while I was having fellowship, I got a call that my dad could not breathe well. "I rushed down to his place and we rushed him to Reddington Hospital where he was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). "They tried to revive him but he passed on at 9pm." A pained daughter described her father as a caring, humble and God fearing man. "My father taught us to love the family, people and ourselves. In our upbringing, he taught us to treat everybody equally and be humble. "He told us not to see ourselves better or higher than others. He has a lot of humility and wisdom. We will miss him," she added.

‘He just couldn’t stop doing good’

•Mark, Ikuforiji, Kalu, Otudeko eulogise Asoju-Oba By Olalekan Okusan, Precious Igbonwelundu, Oziegbe Okoeki, Oluwamayomikun Orekoya and Kudirat Oderinde

Senate President David Mark said the deceased lived his life for the good of all. "Chief Okoya-Thomas was a big brother who showed tremendous interest in my wellbeing and always encouraged me in the pursuit of my endeavor. "He was a sports enthusiast and philanthropist par excellence, who lived an eventful life worthy of emulation." Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji described him as "an uncommon patriot, a foremost sports administrator, an industrialist of uncommon pedigree and a philanthropist, whose great contributions towards human and sports development can never be wished away in a hurry". The Speaker said: "The sudden demise of this uncommon patriot, a juggernaut in the socio-economic and human development has robbed our nation of one of its very best citizens. "It is regrettable that the nation will be missing him at this crucial period of the nation's political re-engineering." Former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu said: "He was too good, too humane, quiet unassuming and extremely generous with his time and resources. His breed is very rare. I am deeply saddened by his demise". Tinubu who was one of the early visitors to register his condolence at the home of the late industrialist of the CFAO fame went back memory lane to say that Lagos will never forget him for his contributions to builing a Lagos that is

strong and self reliant. "He was of the first generation of elites who laid the foundation for Lagos and for decades was a good ambassador for Lagos". He touched many lives and many Lagos residents will never forget him The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, described the deceased as an inspiring sports legend and illustrious Lagosian. "The most inspiring sports legend and illustrious son of Lagos State. A pride to all Nigerians. My promise to you is to keep your good work going in whatever position I find myself. True love always. Papa sleep well." The state APC Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, eulogised the late philanthropist, adding that the nation would miss him at this critical time. Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, said Okoya-Thomas was an embodiment of virtues. "Chief was an embodiment of goodness, loving, genuine, caring and Godly. May heaven accept this noble soul in paradise and bless his heritage in Jesus' name." Former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu described the deceased as a consummate philanthropist, whose demise is a great loss to the country. He said the late Okoya-Thomas was an astute entrepreneur who contributed to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria. The French government has said it would not forget the efforts made by the deceased towards fostering ties between Nigeria and France. The Consular General, Embassy of France in Lagos, François Sastourne, described

the late entrepreneur as an old and true friend of France, who helped in promoting French culture in Nigeria. He stated that Okoya-Thomas was till his death, the Chairman of the Alliance Francaise, a post he held for over two decades. "He sat on so many boards of French companies in Nigeria and was very helpful in promoting closer ties between both countries. For this, he was decorated with the highest honour by the French government. Renowned accountant Bode Agusto eulogised the late philanthropist, saying his impact at the Lagos State University (LASU) cannot be underestimated. "Thank you for your fatherly advice when I was at Lagos State University. May your soul rest in perfect peace." Mrs. Onikepo Oshodi described the late Okoya-Thomas as a leader and a gentleman. "Asoju-Oba Molade OkoyaThomas was a gentleman to the core and we shall all miss his leadership qualities. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Great man! What a loss," she said. In his remarks, Chief Mike Inegbese of Ineh-Mic Autos, who was accompanied by his wife said: "Our High Chief and uncle, may your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our heavenly father. You were surely a rare gem." Other dignitaries who flocked the home of OkoyaThomas included Erelu of Lagos Abiola Dosunmu; former Miss Nigeria Nike Oshinowo; industrialist and Aare of Lagos Chief Razak Okoya; Publisher, Guardian Newspaper, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, amongst others.

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Lekan Okusan

•Miss Obiekwe

RESSED in the Holy Child College, Ikoyi, uniform, a young girl sat in a white chair on the balcony of the late business gaint’s Victoria Island home, sobbing. She was consoled by a man. A woman on her left also wept, using her handkerchief to wipe her face. The pupil, Precious Obiekwe, after regaining her composure, said she learnt of Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas’ death when her parents came to pick her from school. Miss Obiekwe did not just lose her benefactor in Okoya-Thomas, she also lost a friend who “couldn’t just stop doing good”. She told The Nation that the deceased, who was no relation of hers, saved her from leaving Holy Cross School in JSS1 and had since then taken up her education as his responsibility. Her words: “In 2009, I met him with my family in church. Prior to that meeting, we did not know him at all. We went to church (Holy Cross Cathedral) and he just called on us to come.

“It was at a period I was about to leave Holy Cross College for another school. He asked me the school I attended and I told him Holy Child College but that my parents were making plans to move me to Reagan. “He said he wanted me to continue in Holy Child, that he liked the school and that he would henceforth be responsible for my education. “I am in SS 3 now and a boarder and he has been the one footing my bills. He has been providing for me and he even promised to send me to Canada for my university education because I said I want to study medical sciences. “I called him on Christmas Day and he sounded weak and told me to pray for him that he was not feeling too well, which I did. “I sent him a text on New Year’s Day and he replied. We also spoke on phone and he told me he was getting better but that I should keep praying for him. “I am pained now because I did not speak with him again until my parents came to school this morning to tell me he had passed on. “I cannot use words to describe him. I just know that he was a very good man. He couldn’t just stop helping. He was just very good. “We did not know him from anywhere. He just saw us coming to church and he called and asked me for my school. I attend children mass regularly and I also answer questions in church. Maybe that was where he knew me. “I just do not know what to say but I know that I will miss him greatly.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS Obong of Calabar warns against election postponement

HE Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, has warned against postponing the elections. The monarch told reporters in Calabar yesterday that even if 100 per cent of Nigerians collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), there was no guarantee they would vote. He said: “Why are people looking for unnecessary excuses to draw the country backward? Most of those who have obtained their PVCs will not vote because of one thing or the other. “As far as I am concerned, election should go on. Any

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

discussion on postponing it is irrelevant. It is uncalled for. Nigerians should stop playing to the gallery. “Let us follow the programme, which INEC has submitted. Let us allow the Almighty God to work in people to achieve His divine purposes. Whosoever emerges should be considered as the will of God and should be accepted. “Politicians should not see the elections as a do-or-die affair. No matter how desperate politicians attempt to impose their will on Nigerians, we should pray that the will of God only should prevail.”

CNPP insists on polls

HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) said yesterday that the postponement of the elections might lead to “unintended consequences.” After an emergency meeting in Abuja, the group resolved that the elections must hold. CNPP is of the view that some of the people calling for postponement are “elements, who do not mean well for the country. Therefore, President Goodluck Jonathan should caution such subversive elements. Who told him that he must win the election? Assuming he loses, he should thank Almighty God for ruling the country for six years.”

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

A statement in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: “On February 2015 polls we stand! This is the position of CNPP, after an emergency meeting at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja on Monday night. “Whereas we agree that there is insecurity in parts of the country and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been less than proactive, until recently, in the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs); however, postponement may lead to unintended consequences.

FrontiersNews editor dies From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

HE management of Frontiers Alliance Communications Ltd, publishers of Frontiers Newspapers Online, has announced the death of its Executive Editor, Mr. Daniel Ovwigho Idonor. A statement by the Managing Editor, Horatius Egua, said the deceased, popularly called “Chair” by his colleagues, passed away on Monday afternoon at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Abuja, after a protracted illness. He was 45. The deceased was a devout Christian. He was a deacon at the Living Faith Ministry, Abuja. Idonor is survived by a wife and four children.

Expert urges INEC on data management

management information system expert, Mr. Michael Ale, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the integrity of data management through the use of technological device, spot checking and on site verification, during the elections.

He spoke when the National Data Verification team visited the consultant firm managing the National Water and Sanitation Data for Oyo State, under the World Bank-sponsored National Water and Sanitation Baseline Survey Update.

Community leader dies at 82

Sheik Gumi: 100 years of extension can’t ensure flawless elections

Lagos accuses PDP members of damaging Fawehinmi’s Freedom Park

HE Lagos State government accused yesterday members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of desecrating the Ojota Freedom Park, named after the late rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi. Its Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello condemned what he called vandalism of facilities at the park that hosted the anti-fuel price hike for a week in 2013. Members of the PDP converged on the historical park yesterday to market their candidate for the governorship election slated for February 28, Mr. Jimi Agbaje. But the commissioner, who took an assessment tour of the park with reporters, said the campaigners vandalised equipment and historical monuments provided by the government with tax-payers’ money. In a statement by Mr. Fola

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ment organisation, “My Choice, My Pride Foundation”, aimed at getting election results from geographical locations under his watch. The revered scholar said: “On the election, to be honest with you, Nigeria is not yet perfect. Even if you give 100 years, it can never be enough. So, no matter what, elections must still be held. We can never be perfect. We are passing through a very difficult stage.

Adeyemi, the ministry’s director of information, Mr. Bello noted that yesterday was the third time that members of the PDP would display a show of recklessness. The statement reads: “It must be noted that while, the state government is not against the use of the park by individuals/public as they were built for public use and not for rallies, but it frowns against the wanton destruction of the entire landscaped site and equipment that adorn the park in the name of a rally. “A park is indeed different from an open space. We have a lot of open spaces across the state which they can use rather than destroying our lush green parks that have given the state a lot of public acclaim. “Nowhere in the world would you display such indecency and lack of respect to the

people, where you publicly harass and chase away workers who maintain these parks because you control the police and the army. “Similar acts of impunity was also displayed by the PDPcontrolled Federal Government, through the clamp down on corporate advertisers in the state. They forcibly, with the backing of the police, removed paid adverts on street lampposts, billboards across the state. This is gross abuse of power and authority over the people you want to govern.” Bello wondered how a party that intends to govern state could exhibit such a high-level of public indecency, with its members openly chasing away operators of the park, while they carted away recreation facilities and looted the stores where equipments

were kept. He listed some of the vandalised facilities to include: the bust of the late freedom fighter, about 100 animated features, mound, borehole and sprinklers that were all carted away. The commissioner observed that the funds that would be used to restore the park could have been used to provide other facilities for the use of Lagosians. “Lagosians are therefore advised to be wary of wolves in sheep clothing’s who by their acts take away peoples’ means of livelihoods and infringe on their rights and privileges, especially at this time when the election is near,” the commissioner warned. He called on the InspectorGeneral of Police and the State Commissioner of Police to take note for necessary action.

Ohanaeze endorses Jonathan

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE death has occurred of a community leader, Pa Sunday Ogbeiwi (aka Better Boy). He died in November last year. He was 82. A statement by the family said a service of songs would hold tomorrow at his home, 57, Market Road, Ehen Quarter, Urhonigbe, Edo State, at 7pm. On Friday, his body will leave the Foundation Medical Centre, Abavo for Urhonigbe at noon. Funeral service holds at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Urhonigbe. Interment follows at his home. There will be an outing and thanksgiving service at the same church on Sunday. He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

FOREMOST Islamic scholar in the North, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct the elections. He said 100 years of extension would not guarantee that the polls would be flawless. The Islamic scholar denounced a report that he supported a presidential candidate, describing it as unfair. He spoke yesterday in Kaduna when unveiling an election monitoring non-govern-

• The newly-appointed Auditor-General for Local Government Office, Mr. Olatunji Jimoh (left), being administered with the oath of office by the Director, Legislative Drafting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya (right) at the swearing-in at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

HE umbrella Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the presidential election. It said in a meeting in Enugu that the interest of the Igbo would be protected under the Jonathan presidency. Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the president’s achievements in the last four years stood him in a good stead to seek re-election. The meeting was attended

From Chris Oji, Enugu

by former governors of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Dr. Joe Nworgu, Senator Hope Uzodinma, monarchs led by the Chairman, Eze Cletus Illomuanya, among others. Moving a motion for the endorsement, the PresidentGeneral, Chief Gary Igariwey, said the move was the outcome of consultations with

the Council of Traditional Rulers and the leadership of major Igbo organisations at home and in the diaspora. He said it was based on the reasons of continuity and a sense of solidarity as well as the need to maintain an unbroken chain of allowing each of the six zones to hold the presidency for two terms that the Igbo supported Jonathan. His words: “As a people, we believe in the principles of fairness, equity and justice, which are ingredients of peace

Igbo flee North as polls draw near

ESPITE pleas by Igbo leaders and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to the Igbo in other parts of the country, especially in the North, to vote where they live, some have relocated to the Southeast. Yesterday, hundreds of women and children in the North returned to Owerri, the Imo State capital, following fears of post-election violence. Some of the returnees, who were seen at the ABC terminus, said they would stay until after the elections before returning to the North, adding that they abandoned their businesses for fear of crisis. One of the returnees from Kano State, Mrs. Mary Ikeagwuna, a widow and a

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

mother of three, said she returned with her children, following her experience in 2011 when the Igbo were killed. She said more people would return to their states, especially women and children, adding that tension was mounting ahead of the elections. Mrs. Ikeagwuna said she registered her children in schools in Owerri before returning, to ensure their studies were not disrupted. Her words: “I don’t know what will happen after the elections. I thought it wise to return with my children. I’m a widow, they are all I have.” Mr. John Odinachi, another returnee from Kano, said:

“The country may disintegrate after the elections. “The northerners are known for killing innocent people at the slightest provocation. I advise the Igbo in the North to return to the East and go back to their base after the elections.” A returnee from Borno State, who simply identified himself as Nwabueze, advised Ndigbo in the North to return to their states, adding that some of those who refused to flee at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency were killed. Nwabueze, who also recalled the killings of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Bauchi State during the 2011 elections, urged the evacuation of corps members in the North, to avoid a recurrence.

and stability, without which our country cannot advance or survive. “The President is from a minority ethnic group in the Southsouth. This is the first time a citizen from the minority has become the president through a democratic process. “It is noteworthy that his zone has sustained economic development through its natural endowment and has paid a price through environmental degradation.”

Graduates urged to embrace skills acquisition From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

HE Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Malam Abubakar Mohammed, has described skills acquisition as an antidote to youth unemployment. He spoke yesterday in AdoEkiti at the graduation of trainees of the Solar Energy Training Scheme (SETS). Abubakar, whose speech was delivered by the Ekiti State Coordinator of the NDE, Mrs. Adeola Shafaru, said 700 unemployed graduates across the federation were trained under the scheme to take them off the streets.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Life

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

Text only: 08023058761

‘There was abject poverty in the land. The Paradise that was envisioned at independence had been battered by Nigerians who had looted and vandalised national treasury. Within this setup, the poor had become even poorer, traumatised by a bureaucracy that celebrated pomp and pageantry...’ •Prof jegede

‘There is too much agony in the land’ -SEE STORY ON PAGE 14

Cuba gets first church under Castro – Page 49

Big treat for winners – Page 50

Painting bought for $5,212 sells for $5.2m – Page 51

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

OU once described your art thus: My art is cathartic. What do you mean? My art—specifically my paintings and, to some extent, drawings—are outlets for my pent-up emotions. They provide an effective lever for my personal musings and creative monologues. I remain committed to the philosophy of engaged and catalytic art, an activist art that has relevancy in the way that it seeks to tug at the conscience of the nation, provoke a level of personal reflections, even reactions, at the same time that it historicizes its period. The luxury of vacant aesthetics is something that I do not often indulge in; there is too much agony in the homeland— far too many traumatised mothers, too many brutalized children—for art to miss the opportunity to inveigh against annoyingly obtuse leadership. In fact, whichever direction you look, the artist could not have asked for better topics to focus upon. If your interest is in landscape art, how about the cataclysmic environmental degradation that we all have continued to be party to in the Niger Delta region? What gave you the right to think that water was not critical to human life? The ecosystem is being laid to waste right under our nose. Our streets have been taken over by vituperative generators that spew soot in our face and are on a mission to impair our hearing. Yet our country continues to wallow in abysmal poverty of ideas, leadership, and implementation. Of course, the laudable Millennial Development Goals of the United Nations have become, in the mouths of Nigerian leaders, nothing more than mere usernames and passwords that facilitate access to the political treasury. The artist has an unmistakable responsibility to be the social conscience of his or her era; to de-legitimise all unwholesome acts that are now routinely left in the hands of “Baba God.” Piquant art and soothing balms of color are not mutually irreconcilable. How much of social conscience do we find in our artists' works of today? It is difficult for me to say with any degree of certainty, given the constraints that I have to work with as a result of (dis)location. Artists of the African Diaspora have opportunities that are not afforded their colleagues who are on the continent. But artists of African descent who live and work on the continent also have tremendous opportunities to help shape the discourse of social conscience through their work. This is one area in which our writers have logged appreciable success. Specifically, Nigerian artists have the chance and space to conscientise their audience to the economic depravity and the abdication of responsibility that seem to have become normative among some key actors of the political class. For sure, all art has whatever freedom it may claim to affirm its legitimacy. And again, I should emphasize that I simply do not want to be prescriptive; you cannot dictate who should do what when it comes to the exercise of individual expression. But there is need for our artists to hone their skills and target their message. Nigeria is an open canvas. At the presentation of your book by CBAAC, Prof Salah Hassan described the most exciting artists as those who live simultaneously in the centre and at the periphery. What is your take on this? Salah Hasan’s reference to the center and the periphery recalls the discourse of dualism and dialogic presence in a global creative environment that remained, until less than two decades ago, firmly in the grip of Western culture. That artists who live simultaneously at the center and the periphery are exciting is borne out of the vast vistas that are opened up to those who are bold enough to liberate themselves from the hegemonic restrictiveness of monolithic thinking. For example, the notion that works by African artists must conform to the standards bequeathed to society by dead white artists is no longer considered relevant. Let us face the fact: there is no longer a universally acknowledged center in the art world if by that we mean that such a center has monopoly on modes of cultural production. The idea that certain cultures belong in the periphery, which is itself a quaint carry-over of the primitivising tenets that once held sway in the West, has been ruptured by the presence and work of a coterie of artists, writers, and scholars. From Nigeria, for example, there is such a strong and aspiring painter as Nina Fabunmi who is currently rocking the world in San Francisco. There are also Nnena Okore and Marcia Kure, who bring such diversity and newness to the art world in the same way that Chimamanda Adichie has done in literature that you can no longer talk of centre and periphery as discrete spaces. You held a solo show Paradise Battered at the National Theatre in 1986. Three decades after, will you still retain such theme given what the nation is going through now?

•Prof. jegede

PHOTO: OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

‘There is too much agony in the land’ In 1986, United States based Nigerian scholar Prof dele jegede held a solo exhibition, Paradise Battered, in condemnation of what he perceived as the government’s insensitivity. Almost three decades after, he says in this interview with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME that Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s administration that was truncated by the military may literally look like Nigeria’s golden era, given the magnitude of abuses these past years. INTERVIEW My 1986 exhibition, Paradise Battered, has turned out to be an epochal event not only because of the artworks but also because of what has become a manifesto of profound import. You will observe that Paradise Battered came after a quarter century of independence. Babangida was in his first year as the new dictator, having pried Buhari from his self-imposed mission of sanitising the nation. In the early 1980’s some of us had complained quite

vociferously about the direction that Nigeria was going. We challenged Umaru Dikko’s notion of poverty, which posited that there was no poverty until Nigerians had taken to scavenging. We berated our then Minister of Information, Walter Ofonagoro of the infamous Verdit 83 saga, for such puerile fawning and cavorting in the discharge of his duties. My exhibition of the time attempted to use art as a viable critical platform. There was abject poverty in the land. The Paradise that was envisioned at independence had been battered by Nigerians who had

‘In the early 1980s, some of us had complained quite vociferously about the direction that Nigeria was going. We challenged Umaru Dikko’s notion of poverty, which posited that there was no poverty until Nigerians had taken to scavenging’

looted and vandalised national treasury. Within this set-up, the poor had become even poorer, traumatised by a bureaucracy that celebrated pomp and pageantry but signified sheer narcissism and indecisiveness. The administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was seen as mild-tempered: an administration that was largely insensitive to the yearnings of my generation for bold policies in the area, for example, of technology. It was considered tone-deaf, and relished its power to create a burgeoning bureaucracy. It was the era of substantives and subordinates in government establishments. There was a Minister of, and a Minister for Water, for example. This meant that one minister would dig the borehole, and the other would drink the water. My popular anecdote of the period was taken from the contention of a colleague of mine at the University of Lagos, who had threatened that if he died he would not come back to Nigeria. Rather, he would reincarnate in Saudi Arabia as a camel! Reference to the camel was to emphasise that in Saudi Arabia, even camels lived a more dignified existence. Now, is Nigeria of 2015 better than Nigeria of 1986? Given the myriad of problems that have assailed and continue to assault the national psyche, and the gratuitousness of many Nigerians in the public sphere, given the attitude that you could get away with murder, literally, the Shagari years are now made to look like Nigeria’s golden era. I would love to see more artists embrace their role as the voice of the underprivileged and the conscience of the nation. Or as visionaries who care more about the art and the message than about the auction market. Do you believe the boundary-breaking efforts of some artists in the Diaspora have shored up the value of African art on global market? It is important to contextualize the visibility that African art has continued to enjoy in recent years. My view is that there is a certain degree of inexorability to it; it is meant to happen at one point or another in the course of art development and the age of globalization. It certainly helps that there is a coterie of artists in western countries who are able to key into this development. But we should not neglect the fact that the current visibility is the result of a number of separate but interrelated developments, all of which have coalesced in the rise in the value of African art on a global scale. Look, for example, at the curatorial work by key African curators who are based in the West. Then consider the cumulative impact of the scholarship of African art. The fact is that in the last decade or two, the focus has shifted from traditional arts of Africa to the contemporary area. In 1983 when I defended my dissertation, contemporary African art was viewed with disdain and apathy. Today, graduate students are more inclined in favor of modern and/or contemporary African art. And then there are artists of the African Diaspora who are quite versatile in utilizing the means, mode, and language of the West even as they express Africa-centric views. There is also the business dimension to all of this: the emergence of auction houses on the continent, and a reciprocal exploration of modern/contemporary African art by both established and emerging auction houses in the West. In short, there simply cannot be one single entity claiming the prize for stirring this visibility in African art. It has been decades in coming. During your tenure as director cultural studies, Unilag, there was a popular Unilag music festival. What was the inspiration? I took over the reins of directorship of the Center for Cultural Studies in 1989, the same year that I became President of the Society of Nigerian Artists. It was a period filled with excitement. With my colleagues, including the late Bode Osanyin, Duro Oni, Abayomi Barber, Joy Nwosu, Uwa Hunwick, and the late Afolabi Alaja-Browne, we strove to live up to our role as a center for research into visual culture and the study of popular and material culture. The Center for Cultural Studies was solely responsible for managing all auditoria on the campus at that time: the University Auditorium, the Arts Theatre, and the College of Education Auditorium. We came up with the Unilag Popular Music Festival in our effort to raise the profile of our musicians, especially budding ones such as Shina Peters and Adewale Ayuba. Of course, we yielded the platform to established artists such as Ayinla Kollington and Ayinde Barrister among others. It was a win-win project, one that allowed us as practitioners, professionals, and scholars to continue our research into sundry aspects of popular culture at the same time that we raked substantial revenue into the coffers of the University of Lagos. The Popular Music Festival was but an aspect of our agenda— the domestic agenda—of maximum exposure during my tenure as Director at the Center for Cultural Studies. At the international level, the Performing Arts Troupe, which was headed by •Continued on Page 49

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

MONDAY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

In the Third Republic, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was the governor of Abia State. He is a former presidential candidate and the National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was also the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Screening Committee that cleared Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and other aspirants to contest the primaries. He spoke with TONY AKOWE in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the preparations for the general elections and APC’s chances at the polls.

ECENTLY, the presidential candidates signed the Abuja Accord and a few days after that, the President was pelted with stones in Katsina. Would you say that your party has violated the accord? It is unfair to attribute that to the APC. Don’t forget that Katsina is a state governed by the PDP and there could be disgruntled persons and so, you do not attribute that the APC. Moreover, we are not a violent party. The constitution of the APC is very clear that the party does not tolerate violence. So, even without that pact that was signed, once you are a member of the party, you must subscribe to the constitution and so, you cannot be violent because, if you are violent, you will be disciplined. Many are calling for the postponement of the elections. What is your take on that? Some are saying that INEC is not ready because many have not collected their PVCs and others are saying because of the insurgents. But, that is not the solution. If you look at the issue of insurgency, you will discover that there are countries with serious war situations. Bad as what we are experiencing in this country at the moment is, there are countries like Afghanistan. Iraq, Syria with worse situation and yet, they held elections. When it comes to INEC, the Chairman told us that they are ready. For the PVC, they initially put the end of the month for everybody to collect their own. Now, they have extended it to give enough time for people to collect their PVCs. I think that is a better approach, rather than say you will postpone it. Even if you postpone, how are you sure that more people will go and collect the PVCs. So, we can’t create constitutional crisis for the nation because of problems we should not have, if we manage ourselves well. Having followed the campaign thus far, what will you says are the chances of the APC in the elections. We have very bright chances. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians are tired of broken promises. A government has credibility only when it makes promises and fulfill those promises. So, if you make promises and for 16 years, people see that repeatedly, those promises are not kept, they will simply want change. Really, Nigerians deserve change because, if you have two things, there is no way you will know which is better, until you are able to make changes. APC has a wonderful chance to win this election for the benefit of our nation. There are fears of post election violence, the magnitude of which may be more than the one of 2011 and many people are presently relocating their families from the north, especially people from the south east who are known to do business outside their home region. What is your take on this. This is a matter of making sure that elections are free and fair. If we have our elections that are free and fair, there will be no violence. So, we urge our government to make sure that everything is done to have free and fair elections in the country. There is this feeling that, when you win, the elections are fee and fair. But, when you don’t win, they are not free and fair. How do you view this against the accusation by the PDP that the APC is already preparing ground for post -lection violence? The orientation you have talked about is not right. If elections are truly free and fair, I don’t think that anybody will say that they were not free because he did not win. We believe that we can organise free and fair elections in Nigeria. If Ghana, Senegal and many other African countries can organise free and fair election, I don’t see why we cannot organise free and fair elections. Let us not forget that our inability to organise free and fair elections in Nigeria is one of the reasons why we have been having problems of governance. It is extremely important that we are able to have free and fair elections in the country. Do you subscribe to forming a Government of National Unity as against the winner take all syndrome? The APC would like a situation where we have the opportunity to put into effect the

‘Masses want power shift’ ‘

The truth of the matter is that Nigerians are tired of broken promises. A government has credibility only when it makes promises and fulfill those promises. So, if you make promises and for 16 years, people see that repeatedly, those promises are not kept, they will simply want change

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manifestos of the party. We are running a manifesto, which we presented in Lagos. There was a summit we held here in Abuja where we modified that manifesto to sought the requirement of the 2015 elections. So, it is very important that the government will now be able to implement that manifesto so that Nigerians will be able to know the difference between the PAC and the PDP. So, you don’t subscribe to the Government of National Unity? As an individual, I don’t, but that is not a party position. You were the Chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee of the APC and, barely a month after the presidential primaries, there are fireworks from the ruling party about the certificates of your presidential candidate. We want you to put this in proper perspective. Really, that issue should not create the type of problem we are seeing in the polity. This matter came before us in the Presidential Screening Committee and we had to rely on the constitution of the country. To qualify to be President of the country, you have to be a Nigerian by birth,you have to be 40 years of age, you have to be a member of a political party and that party should sponsor you and finally, you should obtain education of, at least, secondary school certificate level or its equivalent. We have a man who had attended military schools in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, in India and in the United States of America and, in America, he attended the the United States Army War College. So, there isn’t any reason to create this type of problem we now have in the polity. Did the committee demand for a copy of the certificate? As part of the screening, we demanded for a copy of the certificate, but there was an affidavit and, once you swear to an affidavit, it gives you whatever protection you need on any matter and not just on this issue. We were not doing this for this opposition, we were doing it for Nigeria. This is a man who will be President of Nigeria and there is a supreme law, which is the constitution that guides us. The issue of qualification is, at least, school certificate. So, if there is evidence that somebody has attended military schools that are tertiary institutions in lauding the war college of the United States of America, why should you be going into the issue of school certificate and so on? The Army has shown that he applied in Form Six. Many of you don’t know that we use to have form six. I attended higher schools. That is what it was called and you spend two years and you

•Onu

can’t go to form six, unless you have completed your form five and obtained the relevant credits in the relevant subjects. All these are in his file, and so, I really don’t see why we should be thinking in this direction because the problem before the nation are enormous. We should be looking at how do we solve the problem of insecurity in a country that is the largest and most populous black nation in the world, the largest economy in Africa and you have flags that are unknown to the constitution flying in our territory. There is an Islamic caliphate and that is a very serious challenge for the nation. We have unemployment, we have an economy that has not been managed properly. I am a chemical engineer and it paid me that for 16 years, we abandoned our refineries and import petroleum products. We are the sixth largest exporters of crude oil in the world. Then we import refined petroleum products. You have all these chemical engineers and so, what else do you need? We have four refineries and we can’t even keep them running for 16 years. This is very disturbing. Why do you think that the issue of certificate suddenly became an issue? This has become an issue not because the ruling party knows that a lot of Nigerians are yearning for change. This desire has been there for a very long time, but because there was no viable alternative, it could not be actualised. Now, there is a viable alternative. The APC has shown that it is the viable alternative that Nigerians have been looking for. The APC has two of the most populous stars in the country and we have shown that we have capacity. Our manifesto is very rich. We are very original, very creative and Nigerians know that we are men and women of integrity with the capacity to change Nigeria for good. We can become that nation that God had destined us to be. There is also the argument that you don’t submit the original of your certificates to your employers and that you only give a photocopy. Do you think that the argument that the original certificate is with the Army is tenable? On the argument that the originals should not have given out, he said “actually, our concern was not on these points. We wanted to be sure that we respected the constitution and that there was no where we were in breach of the Elec-

toral Act. As far as the certificate is concerned, what the constitution required of anybody’s who wanted to be President was that the person should have at least secondary school certificate or its equivalent. You see, people forget that operational word, which is, at least. So, it did not say it must be a secondary school certificate. It says, at least, and I want people to go and read section 131 of the constitution. You don’t have to be a lawyer to read it. The operational word is, at least. We were satisfied that he had that educational qualification. You see, when you attend a military school, it is all education. It does not means that it is only when you go to Primary or secondary school. Any military school can be the education you are acquiring normally after the secondary school level, we were satisfied that he meet the requirement. However, don’t forget that anybody can misplace his original certificate or something can happen to it. But that is not the issue now”. Many Nigerians still see the APC as a northern party. As someone from the South, especially the Southeast. How would you react to this? You know that the ruling party has what I may call a core base within the Southeast and Southsouth. But gradually, they are now seeing the there is the need for them to embrace the APC the same way they embrace the PDP before. But, let us not forget that the APC is relatively a young party even though it is made up of old parties. So, there is a gradual change in the orientation of the people of that area. So, what are the chances of the party in that region? We have very good chances, but you know that changes takes time. We expect that the Presidential candidate of the APC will do far. More better in the south east and south south this time than he did in the past. If you have the opportunity to address Nigerians, ahead of the election, what will you tell them? As a matter of fact, the APC is going to do very well in the country and will perform very well in every geopolitical zone. What I was trying to say about the south east and south south is that the performance of the APC will be far better because the candidate will be running for election for the fourth time now and if you take the performance that he is going to have in those regions, it will be far better and a serious improvement than in the past. It will not be the same in some other parts of the country. People are playing back the some of the words credited to your Presidential candidate in the past. Don’t you think that is capable of affecting your chances? I don’t think so. Our candidate is a person that quite a number of persons misunderstand. He is a man of very strong character, a man of high integrity, a man of discipline and these are the qualities we need now in the country to solve the problems that we have now. For example, this free and fair election that we are talking about, if you don’t have somebody that is disciplined, he can’t work for it. Look at the fight against corruption, so that you can have enough resources to deliver on infrastructure. You need somebody like General Buhari in other to get the nation to be on the journey that it is presently, to realizing its full potentials.

OUR ERROR The correct headline in a story on page 17 of yesterday’s edition should have read: Oshiomhole, Anenih resume hostilities in Edo Central. The error is regretted.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2015

these are past leaders that are still liv‘All ing by the special grace of God. They know that the country is not the country they wish and whatever is responsible for what is happening today is very unfortunate

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‘Why past leaders are not supporting Jonathan’ Former Kogi State Acting Governor Clarence Olafemi is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with JAMES AZANIA, he speaks about the chances of the party in the North Central state.

HE APC presidential campaign rally in Kogi was a huge success. How did you achieve that? We have no sitting governor. So, we had to carry our cross by ourselves. The whole thing is gone, but we thank God that it was a huge success. I have never witnessed the kind of crowd that I saw in Obajana alone. What I saw in Obajana was about three times what I saw in the stadium. It is unbelievable, even those ones alone vote in Kogi and they are all of voters’ age; forget about the problem of distribution of permanent voters’ card (PVC) cards, I have no doubt that the result of election, come February 14, will be too fantastic in Kogi. Initially, they were saying Kogi will be only 20 per cent but I told them they should aim at 80 per cent. I have been able to prove my worth, having overseen the conduct of a governorship election in 2008, that we won massively, I have proved that I am a manager of election process, by making sure that I delivered over 80 per cent of the total vote cast to my party, PDP then. There is no assignment you give me you judge me by my result. The next thing you can use in judging me was the decamping. The decamping to APC has never been so successful. The records are there. The leadership of the APC were so happy. In Kogi, we can get this crowd? There was no sort of insinuation that was not made; they said we rented crowd. Even if we borrowed, we borrowed from PDP and PDP cooperated? Is that not interesting? Even if to say we rented it means that the people we rented they have agreed to be hired. But the truth of the matter was that it was a fantastic success, the decamping was also centred around me, with the likes of Baba (John) Oda who was the leader of the group. He is a leader but the engine room is somewhere, and this one now has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Clarence Olafemi is capable of managing any political activity or structure. My concern is that let Clarence Olafemi not work and some sycophants will go and take the credit somewhere. The only leader ahead of me is Prince Abubakar Audu and he was not around, he came two days to the day. I have to give the credit vintage information because you don’t value what you have until you don’t have it again. I predicted to one of my closest political friends, Barrister Haruna, that there is going to be a Tsunami two weeks to the election and it is happening now. It has not even gotten to two weeks; people are going to start moving because we are tired of the government that is inactive. Why is Ekwueme not supporting Jonathan? It’s in the papers. Why is Obasanjo not supporting Jonathan? It’s in the papers. Why is Shagari not supporting Jonathan? Why is Babangida saying vote

wisely; not supporting Jonathan? Why is Abubakar not? All these are past leaders that are still living by the special grace of God. They know that the country is not the country they wish and whatever is responsible for what is happening today is very unfortunate, its condemnable, that Chad will now be spearheading security safety of Nigeria. Chad! A state in Nigeria is richer than that country called Chad. We have crashed and collapsed the country called Nigeria; economically, politically, militarily, every sphere of this country has collapsed and people are paying lip service. What were your achievements when you were Acting Governor of Kogi State? When Clarence got into power as Acting Governor of Kogi State, he left a legacy; he established a college of education, staff and student today over 3,000 are feeding from it. Let everyone who steps into the corridor of power be able to say this is what I have done. We voted in the state house of assembly for state fund to be deducted at source to increase electricity supply in this country. Today, where are we? The money was deducted, the electricity has not come. I was Speaker of the House. I know what I am talking, Today, I spend an average of N8, 000 per day buying fuel and I have three generators in my house, yet I can still go without light. Eight times 30 will give you 240 Today, NEPA is charging me N8, 000. I am saying, NEPA please, charge me N30, 000, charge me N40, 000, but give me regular light, it is better than the diesel I am buying. I went to UK, I spent 31 days for holiday they never took my light and my computer was working on my computer Wi-Fi. Nigeria, Obasanjo gave us a platform for IT but we cannot develop it, we are retrogressing. You go to petrol station in UK that will be manned by nobody but by yourself, you plug your card, you put the nuzzle in your car, as soon as it sells the amount you want to you it cuts off and you go, whether it is 12 midnight, whether it is 11pm, you buy your fuel and you go your house. Our people go there they see them, why are they not able to allow that thing to happen in Nigeria? My ticket is what make me to enter the airport. I put it on something, once it picks the ticket it opens the gate for me I pass. These are IT and technology base that could revolutionize Ni-

geria. How do you respond to allegations by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode that the APC presidential candidate is batting serious health challenges? Let me just tell you, my problem with FaniKayode is that he is the most inconsistent Yoruba politician that we have in Nigeria. He’s the ‘jeun jeun’ kind of politician, he moves by the current. I will not be surprised if tomorrow the good people of Nigeria decide Buhari should be the president and he won that election, he will criticise Goodluck Jonathan as the worst president Nigeria has ever had. So, for you people that are taking Fani-Kayode serious, I don’t take FaniKayode serious. I don’t see him as a politician of substance. He knows how to make noise. What has Fani-Kayode been able to electorally change in this country? Nothing. Since 2003 that I have come home to come and play politics are you not able to tell the story of Clarence Olafemi politically? Are you not able to say how he has impacted on the life of the average Kogite? I have a list here, which my lawyer was talking about, of how I have been able to transform the live of Kogites. Fani is an opportunist. Full stop. Is he a medical doctor? Which hospital diagnosed Buhari of cancer? And who told him that the law of nature cannot even make him to be sick tomorrow? Anybody, no matter who the person is, can fall sick. The man who owns the body has said that he only has cold, and in this changing of weather, catarrh and all these things, it is natural in African, in a tropical country. Even my little kid, Princess Tinu Olafemi, she has cold now. Are you going to say she has cancer? Can you be more Catholic than the pope? Anybody who is reckoning with Fani is wasting his time. He is an unnecessary distractions at these age of our election. He cannot gain any vote for Jonathan. There was a time the Kogi Elders Forum wrote a letter to the President that if something is not done to right, there will be repercussions. Your decamping with others, is this part of the repercussions you talked of? You have mentioned Chief John Oda, you mentioned others, the three of us were part of the six that signed the letter and in fact, they even took us to court that we are not elders from this state and the court ruled that

‘All these are past leaders that are still living by the special grace of God. They knew that the country is not the country they wish and whatever is responsible for what is happening today is very unfortunate, its condemnable, that Chad will now be spearheading security safety of Nigeria’

•Olafemi

we are elders. You know we did not come back to tell you the end of that judgment? We won. How will you say Clarence Olafemi, who is 64, who has been governor of this state, who has been Speaker of this state, is not a stakeholder of Kogi State? And, how do you define elders? Baba Oda is about 70. I saw long time ago that the PDP was going to crash. When you see an umbrella that the cyclone is blowing and you say you are looking for cover, I will not stay under the umbrella that is torn. We saw this thing coming and more will come. PDP has collapsed due to mismanagement. The impression is that you are nursing gubernatorial ambition. Is this true? Is it a crime for somebody of my age, who has acted as governor of the state to want to contest? Even if I say I will not, you will say I should and do so. Let me tell you, I am going to contest. Look at what is happening in Kogi, where nothing is working and you say that you are happy. Kwara gets about N200 million per month less than Kogi in terms of allocation but go to Ilorin and see what they have done. The other state you should be thinking about is Nasarawa, go to Nasarawa, go to Niger, go to Plateau; don’t go and talk of Rivers, don’t go and talk of Akwa Ibom; they will say they have oil advantage. My brother, what we have here is a desert, and if some of us do not stand up, our children, children yet unborn will ask us, ‘they said your father was very prominent’, prominent doing what? Looking for what he will come into his pocket. I remain the only Acting Governor that returned over N3.7 billion back to government purse. If I’m looking for how to make millions, I would have made two out of it to my private pocket and leave 1.7 and they would still have praised me. Or, I could have attempt to transform to become the governor.

I’m not a religious bigot, says Kwara PDP candidate

•The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (second right) at the Lagos Prayer Rally for the 2015 elections held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. With him are: Prof. Idowu Shobowale (left), Rev. Awusanya Daniel and Apostle Pawpaw Odele.

HE Kwara State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola yesterday denied being a religious apostate. The clarification came on the heels of his campaign posters pasted around strategic locations within Ilorin metropolis where he appeared with turban on his head. He said that he was not responsible for the posters, explaining that it might have been produced to discredit him. The senator spoke with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital after a thanksgiving service organized by his party at Saint Barnabas Church. Ajibola explained that although he had a Muslim background, he would not compromise his faith as a Christian. The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Kwara, Rt. Rev Olusegun Adeyemi, urged Nigerians to obtain their per-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

manent voter’s card (PVC) to exercise their franchise in the elections. The cleric warned politicians not to lose their eternity because of elections. He called on them to inculcate perseverance while embarking on their political activities. However, Ajibola said he remained a faithful christian and would not been inpostor on the altar of politics. He said: “There can never be any deceit on the issue of faith. The issue of religion, which is faith-based is between an individual and the God Almighty. And one can chose to practice it the way he so desires. Senator Simeon Ajibola, I’m a Christian and there is no doubt about that. I may have the Muslim background.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Light for learning • Lagos State launches an innovative approach to powering schools

HE recent launch of the solar power initiative for 172 public secondary schools in Lagos State is a continuing affirmation of the determination of the state government to ensure that its educational reforms are not hampered by the country’s woeful lack of power supply. Speaking at the installation of the first solar panel at Model College, Meiran, Lagos, last week, Governor Babatunde Fashola explained that all the access to the latest technology in the world would count for nothing if there was no power with which to utilise it. He said the solar initiative represented an organised approach to tackling the many challenges facing education in the state, and was helping to change popular perceptions of public education. The solar panels will take care of the power requirements of the chosen schools, including information technology systems and lighting. With proper maintenance, they are expected to last 25 years. Developed by the state government and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the programme will be managed by the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB). Eleven flagship public health centres are also to benefit from the initiative. Coming as it does after years of frustration at the prospects of improved public power supply, the solar power initiative is especially commendable because of its focus on renewable energy. Unlike the use of generators, solar panels are relatively cheaper, easier to maintain and longer-lasting, not to mention their envi-

ronmental sustainability. Steady power supply has become a vital component of the education delivery process due to the increased reliance on IT tools such as the internet, computers and tablets. As the experience of “Opon Imo” in Osun State has shown, Nigerian students can adapt to the use of tablets as easily as their counterparts elsewhere. Providing reliable power supply ensures that such facilities can be used to their full potential, with beneficial effects upon students, teachers and the public school system itself. Schools will no longer be seen as just brick-and-mortar structures; rather, they will be able to live up to their ideal as places of wonder, discovery and achievement. Such is the significance of the renewable power initiative that it needs to be incorporated into other aspects of life in Lagos State, especially given the state’s abundance of sunshine, as well as its unexploited capacity for wind and wave energy. While there have been efforts to develop renewable energy alternatives, the results have been uneven at best. A solar electrification project set up in Osinowo Village in 2005 does not appear to have met its initial objectives. The state’s solar-powered street light programme also needs to be reinvigorated. Many of the solar lights on Alausa Dual Carriageway, Allen Avenue/Opebi Road, Ojodu-Ogba Ijaiye Road, the Oshodi end of the ApapaOshodi Expressway and Toyin Street are not working at optimum levels. There does not seem to be enough interest in renewable energy from the

citizenry, either. Far too many Lagosians appear to be content with petrol or diesel-powered generators in their homes and offices, in spite of their cost, and the noise and pollution they cause. Even the many deaths that have resulted from the inhalation of carbon monoxide produced by such generators have not deterred them; indeed, Nigeria’s power crisis has only made them all the more ubiquitous. This situation should not continue. The state government’s renewable energy initiative should extend to the Secretariat in Alausa, the offices of its parastatals and agencies, and its housing estates. When more citizens are able to directly experience the benefits and advantages of renewable energy, they will be less reluctant to consider it as a viable alternative to current unsatisfactory approaches.

‘Coming as it does after years of frustration at the prospects of improved public power supply, the solar power initiative is especially commendable because of its focus on renewable energy. Unlike the use of generators, solar panels are relatively cheaper, easier to maintain and longer-lasting, not to mention their environmental sustainability’

Budget vs. campaign •In the name of elections, lawmakers have abandoned their first loyalty: the people

VEN in the best of times, the country’s budget had hardly been passed early since the return to civil rule in 1999. This year, indications are that the budget may even be delayed longer than it used to be because it is an election year and the National Assembly members who are supposed to work on it have all returned to their respective constituencies to drum up support for their political parties ahead of the general elections billed for February 14 and 28. Although the House of Representatives spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, gave the impression that the House committees may be meeting with the officers of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government on the matter without making their meetings public, facts on ground indicate otherwise. Mo-

‘By pushing the budget to the background, our lawmakers have only confirmed our worst fears that most of our public servants place self first before service. Yet, if only they could invest 60 percent of the zeal with which they are pursuing the election into their legislative business and be diligent at it, the country would have been a lot better’

hammed was quoted as saying “The committees may be meeting and holding discussions with the MDAs. There are many details to be looked at in the budget and it takes a while; there certainly will be public sittings.” This is different from what an official of the National Assembly reportedly said: “Unfortunately, that (committees meetings with the MDAs) is not happening. It is two weeks on and none of such meetings has taken place. The attention of all the members is on the forthcoming elections even though over 60 per cent of them are not candidates for any positions”. This seems the actual position because it is in line with what the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, said while ruling on the motion for the adjournment of the Senate on January 14. He had told the senators that the holiday was to enable them participate actively in electioneering at their respective constituencies. We know that law makers are politicians and they cannot afford to be missing in action in an election year, particularly a crucial one as this year’s. But then, the budget is also an important issue that cannot be kept in abeyance till whenever the lawmakers are done with their political campaigns. Being an estimate of income and expenditure for the year, it deserves to be given priority attention. It is just that successive governments in the country have hardly

treated budgets with the required sense of urgency, especially since the return to democracy about 16 years ago. By pushing the budget to the background, our lawmakers have only confirmed our worst fears that most of our public servants place self first before service. Yet, if only they could invest 60 percent of the zeal with which they are pursuing the election into their legislative business and be diligent at it, the country would have been a lot better; most of the corrupt practices that have become daily occurrences now would have been drastically reduced. We urge the National Assembly members to henceforth regard the budget as the important document that it is. Although we know that the government as well as MDAs can still spend up to a certain percentage of what they spent last year pending the approval of the budget proposal, this is not the best of times to trivialise the budget. This is a year with a difference, given the drastic drop in crude oil prices. With the executive arm of government insisting on leaving the budget benchmark at $65 per barrel when right now, the commodity has dropped below the $50 mark, in the hope that the prices would return to about $65 per barrel before the second quarter, there is much work to be done to ensure that the country fixed a realistic benchmark so that the budget would not be dead on arrival.

Real trouble with Nigeria

IR: Nigeria has continued to have the misfortune that just very few of its politicians spare a thought for the existence of Nigeria as a nation. Majority of them only concentrate on grabbing power at the wake of an election period either for protecting their vast economic empires or for projecting clannish interests. It becomes doubly heartbreaking that majority of the electorate who are often at the receiving end of the antics of these unscrupulous politicians decide to align with them and fight among themselves, perhaps in anticipation of crumbs from the fiefs’ tables. No one appears to give a thought to the real problem besetting the nation, causing the series of crises in the country, and how it could be dealt with. What is this real trouble with our nation, blessed as it is, yet unable to outgrow certain threats identifiable with nascent states, even when it has existed as a country for half a century? Everyone recognizes the diverse nature of the nation. There is, therefore, the inevitability of conflicts which stream mainly from our differing backgrounds - political, religious, economic, cultural, even a general view of life. To achieve harmony and peaceful coexistence in a situation like this, it is essential to define terms which should be mutually agreeable to every unit of the union, which Nigerians have not been able to do to the extent that sections and tribes feel used by others. Under this situation, crisis is perpetual. Since the end of the civil war, Nigeria has continued to operate a false federalism where the central government dictates the pace of how every Nigerian should even breathe. If we must answer federal, let it be a true one, at least because of its inbuilt mechanisms that are capable of taming avarice and corruption which have become known characteristics of a Nigerian. We have had enough of the cap-in-hand begging from our regions to the centre. A national order specifies everyone’s right and banishes the emerging neo-feudalism. So much pillage, injustice, impunity and disrespect of the next-door neighbour’s feelings have been going on in the nation such that everyone chases the ultimate federal power, mainly to be on top, be the hammer rather than the nail. Under true federalism, rather than this winnertake-all system, power would devolve more to the federating units. When there isn’t much to loot at the federal level, the “hawks” will be boxed within their own home units and would have no hold on the wealth of another federating unit. If nothing is in the hawk’s home, he is forced to make his home fertile instead. Well, home hawks are easier to manage than the visiting hawks. The latter strike and run back to their own base while the prey suffers the pillage. Whether we accept it or not, one thing is certain, that the rumble in the house of Nigeria is an indication of disquiet, disagreement, unrest, bottled up strife and this makes the country a seething volcano. In the interest of all of us, all areas of interest need to be discussed and addressed for us to enjoy our stay in this house. That candidate averse to a national order, a true federalism, is an enemy to the country. If we don’t get it we will continue to wallow in a false federation where some of us remain, as late Ikemba Nnewi Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu would say, like Jonah in the belly of the fish. And peace will remain elusive. It is too late to postpone the election. What we must pray for is a set of men and women who would actualize this much needed national order for peace to reign. Those beating the drums of war should recognize that war is a gale that blows no one any good. This is a period that calls for circumspection. • Richard Dirim Odu Owerri, Imo State

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Every February 4 has been set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for creating awareness about the deadly disease of cancer. Cancerous tissues are loosely malignant growth or tumour which invades adjacent tissue and spread by the lymphatics and blood vessels to other parts of the body. Cancer has become one of the frequent causes of death notably among the Caucasians, but it has raised its ugly head in often times in Africa and Nigeria, affecting young and old. It is more prevalent among the old and aged. Statistics show that 70 percent of deaths from cancer occur in economically less developed countries. About 80,000 Nigerians die from various forms of cancer annually with an estimated 10 persons dying from cancer every hour. Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary-general said in 2008 that cancer, diabetes, heart diseases are no longer the diseases of the wealthy. Today they hamper the people and the economics of the poorest populations even more than infectious diseases. This represents public health emergency

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World Cancer Day: Not Beyond Us in slow motion. This year’s Cancer Day has its theme Not Beyond Us. In truth, the elimination of cancer worldwide seems to be insurmountable; however, it requires a combined effort of all the parties involved; these include nongovernmental organisations, patients, relatives and all stakeholders that are concerned especially, the effective utilisation of resources and grants. Most unfortunate is that many Nigerians are living with cancer without knowing, they discover late at a point whereby the cancerous cells had metastasized, that is, transported to other surrounding tissues and organs which are delicate and cannot be removed. Cancerous cells are said to be he-

reditary, that is, capable of being inherited by offsprings of a particular filial generation. This knowledge has assisted in tracing and controlling the recurrence of cancer in a bloodline. A grandmother with breast cancer, for instance, is capable of passing the cancerous cells through her children, but manifesting in her granddaughters. Therefore, it is advised that any family line with the history of cancer should carry out routine medical check-ups and personal breast examinations to determine their own status. Many treatment options are available, ranging from surgical removal of malignant tumours, chemotherapy; the use of anticancer drugs, radiotherapy, which is the

Okorocha is a blessing to Imo

IR: Rochas Okorocha is a blessing to the people of Imo State. His administration has done what Napoleon could not do, so to speak, in terms of redeeming the people of Imo State from the shackles of abject poverty, kidnapping, armed robbery, and the notorious “419” saga that took centre-stage during the 12 years reign of Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, both of the PDP. If you go to Imo State today, the difference is clear. When you compare or correlate the state of affairs in Imo State during the 12 years of Achike Udenwa, and Ohakim combined, with the current state of affairs in Imo State today, every sensible and right thinking person would not hesitate to say that Rochas Okorocha is a blessing to the people of Imo State and as such deserves to be given another chance. Okorocha has given Imo State a

new lease under four years in office. Security, protection of people’s lives and property is the bedrock of economic growth, and he has brought that to Imo State. The problem of kidnapping and armed robbery that became the order of the day in Imo State during the 12 year reign of Achike Udenwa and Ohakim has been grossly decimated. In Imo State today, you can go to bed with your door wide open, and wake up peacefully! Owerri the state capital has been transformed from a sub-standard (dirty) city to a clean-mega city. You could recall that the only two major roads in Owerri were Douglas and Whethral. Go to Owerri today, you would be surprised at what you will see! Prior to the advent of the Okorocha administration, Owerri was the only urban city in Imo State. Today, Okorocha is on the path of transforming Orlu and Okigwe to

a standard urban area that could attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). have no doubt that urbanization of Owerri will extend to other vibrant areas within the Owerri senatorial zone, such as Mbaise and Okpala. Before we talk about industrialising Imo State, we should not lose sight of the fact that the necessary infrastructure and enabling environment must first of all be created for industrialization to flourish. Apparently, that is exactly what Rochas Okorocha was busy consolidating during his first term in office. I strongly believe he should be given the chance to actualize his vision for the state in the second term. There is every hope that he would do more! • Chief H. U. Nwachukwu. Baltimore, Maryland, United States

use of radioisotopes to numb the cancerous cells have also been of immense help and importance help in treating the disease. Nevertheless, compliance to treatment, appointments with health care facilitators and chemotherapy is very important. Living with cancer affects life on many levels. it changes ones perspective about life in different ways. It offers an opportunity to

re-evaluate and reassess one’s life, life style and daily chores that will be of benefits in life. A change in diet, finances, communication, interaction and association with other persons occur. Most times, these changes are beneficial; some are detrimental to health. A day like this should offer an initiative towards alleviating the dual burden of the diseases and for all partners involved to seek joint strategies in early detection, prevention, management and to set up a very reliable health infrastructural and health care capacity. Taking an approach in this direction will offer a window of opportunity for future development.

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• Ogunwola Oluwatosin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

What hope for people with disability?

IR: Why do noble ideas start from Lagos State and end there? For instance, that state since 2011 has the ‘ Lagos State Special People’s Law,’ in place to promote,”An inclusive Lagos with a level playing field and self-esteem of People With Disabilities [PWDs]”. The state has a functional office set up amongst many reasons to ensure compliance with the Law by receiving complaints from PWDs, investigation, prosecution and sanctions in appropriate cases of any violation of the law. But other than the submission of bills at the National Assembly to discuss the plight of people living with disability, is there an all-inclusive law to protect them in Nigeria? I recall with nostalgia contact with a visually-impaired person who later became one of my greatest friends during my undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan. You would almost think that a ‘blind bat’, as he loves to call himself would be so helpless and at the mercy of people. I saw him walk down alleys with two jerry cans to fetch water all by himself without asking for help. What is wrong if governments in Nigeria establish a ministry for the

disabled to be overseen by these people, many of whom are qualified all around this country to run this ministry? Wouldn’t it be nice to give automatic scholarships to people with disability who aspire to higher learning? The systemic discrimination against persons with disability is so strong in Nigeria and if she aspires to be great then all of her citizens must be taken seriously. People who do not have choice about their forms of birth need not suffer discrimination and stigmatization at the hands of the people who are fortunate not to have physical challenges. There is not a country in the world that will love her citizens more than the governments in those countries, and it is incumbent upon them to ensure that they take action against any interest that will further polarize the minority. A nation that is keen to free her citizens from poverty and compete globally with the developed world must request the support of all citizens (rich and poor/ educated and uneducated/ physically challenged) to contribute to national development. • Simon Abah Port Harcourt, Rivers State

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

COMMENTS

‘Our Girls’; Call Violent Politicians ‘Boko Haram’; Police: Fashola’s IT Gift; Deliver Election Baby! ‘O

UR Girls and Our People’ are missing since April 15, 2014 with kidnappings before and after that date. This kidnap strategy has fed the cross-border modern Tony slavery trade for generaMarinho tions. A family sold a 10 years old daughter ‘hoping’ she would become a martyr to enhance their status. If male martyrs get seven virgins, what do female martyrs get? Thankfully, Chibok, security and election violence are ‘issues’ on the lips, if not hearts, of election candidates and the electorate must keep candidates on their toes. It was not nuclear physics to predict that the evil Boko Haram would strike again in Maiduguri after failing last week. Are they an invisible group, moving hundreds of men and weapons, by ‘military magic’ on invisible roads and with no possibility of interception? Yes, they will murder to eliminate spies and gossips. But the Sunday February 1 attack on Maiduguri was predictable and preventable if many more troops were deployed. Increasingly ‘unknown’ police and armed forces personnel pay the supreme price. MEANWHILE WE PARTY. The number of 2014 murdered personnel is not available but approaching 1000. What value does Nigeria place on its uniformed personnel at Nigeria’s four ‘warfronts’ Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen versus farmers, ‘Armed Robbery and Kidnapping’ and Politics with ‘Violence’ as if the word ‘politics’ makes it more acceptable to be killed and as if it is alright for ‘upright’ politicians to plan, finance and carry arms? House burning is house burning, murder is murder, whether by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen attack, armed robbery or by political thuggery. Politicians are Boko Haram if they use violence or cheat. Why does the serving Nigerian uniform corrupt the memory of dead fallen comrades with almost ritualistic public bribe-taking on streets and in police stations nationwide? Greed? Thankful we have an anti-bribery weapon in citizen cell

INCE the commencement of the electioneering campaign process towards the general elections which kicks off next week, loyalists and supporters of some of the political parties and many other faceless Nigerians, have, through their actions, body language, speeches, advertisements and documentaries, been fanning the embers of war ahead of the elections. They have been threatening fire and brimstone. From the North to the South of the country, the situation remains the same. Palpable tension is in the air, so thick that it could be sliced with a butter knife. As this column wrote last week, as a result of this tension in the land, quite a good number of people are already voting with their feet. They are relocating their families out of the country or back to their respective villages over the fear of imminent violence. Not even assurances by top officials of government and other agencies are enough to dissuade the mass exodus from perceived hotspots in the country. From discussions everywhere you go to in the country these days, it is clear that since 1999, Nigerians have not witnessed any election as tension-soaked and keenly contested as next week’s presidential election. The election fever is not evident in the country alone as the international community has also been caught up in the trajectory. Quite recently, John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State, had to dash down to Nigeria to meet with the two frontline Presidential candidates – President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives’ Congress – as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. His message was that the international community is watching Nigeria and that peaceful

phones and cameras with media ready to air uploaded material. Everyone must change. We wished that by January 1, all the yellow fever-traffic wardens, including the five on Sunday February 1 feeding frenzy duty at Zenith Bank/ Osuntokun Junction, Bodija, Ibadan, and police nationwide had received a 2015 Anti-Corruption Circular, asked them take an Anti-Bribery Vow to stop bribery activities with ‘Immediate Buhari-Idiagbon Effect’. They have role models like the fine gentleman Yellow Fever traffic warden at Customs/ Secretariat road Junction Ibadan, who is worthy of media coverage, promotion to investigative duties and other rewards. Such a nearby contrast shows true Nigerians are alive and in uniform and with a good heart. FRSC has changed from the concept of the founding fathers. It must answer hard questions about its enhanced ‘Stop Traffic on The Highway’ policy as seen with perfection at Ogere, Lagos-Ibadan road. An FRSC with ‘Internal Affairs’ investigative teams must receive bribe complaints, monitor and keep their men and women in line – yes, even women in uniform take bribes. Female politicians are not exempt. Why would a father or mother, in full view of 30 people, stoop so low as to stand on the road, with hand out for a bribe from a commercial vehicle probably carrying their own relations? Nigeria’s children witness this dehumanising scene and when asked to draw pictures of uniformed personnel, often draw them with a hand outstretched for a hand out. The past IG Abubakar stopped checkpoints, saving Nigerians N12N24 billion annually in bribes. Checkpoints returned first to ‘crack down’ on tinted windows and then ‘fake’ driving licences. What will the new IG please save us from? According to witnesses, and the Nigerian and UN Human Rights Commissions, ‘uniforms’ commit offences like murder by accidental discharge, falsification of evidence, torture with beatings, pepper in private parts, broomstick up the penis, rape in unlawful detention, illegal bail fee demands et cetera. The equipping of the first of a planned 100 police unit scheme with ‘modern’ IT technology by the Fashola Lagos State Government is a 30-year federal failure to modernise police

records and forensics. Like with refineries, it pays someone for police IT to malfunction. It is a nationally reproducible opportunity to enter the 21st Century in crime recording with digital, still and video camera evidence, computerised records for accurate data entry and easy retrieval and cross-referencing of crimes and networked criminal records like names, faces, fingerprinting, addresses, contacts and evidence documentation. The governor mentioned it could cut out the outdated demand by police and courts to hold victims’ stolen assets like vehicles for years pending the case result and punishing the victim of the crime further. As we deploy over 1,000,000 hopefully anti-corruption police, NYSC members and Civil Defence for the February elections, let Nigerians ensure that beyond prayers for ‘A Safe Violence-Free Delivery Of The Election Baby’, we deliver all voters, empower ourselves to record on cell-phone camera, upload to pre-planned websites -identify your preferred website now- and disseminate any witnessed political violence and authentic results. Only then say ‘Amen’. If a murderer or thief can stop or be stopped, a politician can stop violence. Politicians: Stop violence or be stopped and prosecuted and go to prison, 10 years, for instigating or financing GBH- Grievous Bodily Harm! February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Was February 14 chosen as Election Day out of ignorance or wisdom? Red is for roses not blood. Flowers are for love not funerals. ‘Show Love not War!’ Happy February 14 in advance. ‘READY your phone camera. STEADY your audio recording. GO viral and VOTE’.

‘February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Was February 14 chosen as Election Day out of ignorance or wisdom? Red is for roses not blood. Flowers are for love not funerals. ‘Show Love not War!’ Happy February 14 in advance. ‘READY your phone camera. STEADY your audio recording. GO viral and VOTE’

Audacity of Violence and timely elections were vital to the continued existence of the country as well as peace in the West African sub-region. Obviously, there were other underlining factors that prompted Kerry’s visit. But if he was economical with words during his visit, the events that took place shortly after his departure showed that the country may well be sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Few hours after Kerry’s departure, President Jonathan’s campaign train moved to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram terrorists’ onslaught in the North-east. Borno is one of the three north-eastern states under emergency rule. With elaborate security arrangement provided by ground troops and the Air force, complete with roving helicopter gunships, the president managed to complete his campaign and departed from the city. Unfortunately, hours after, Maiduguri became a battle zone as Boko Haram terrorists, attacking from three flanks, descended on the city like a swarm of bees. It took heavy military reinforcement and bombardments, coupled with a curfew, to clear the city of the daring and deadly invaders. With this ever-present threat of violence from Boko Haram and the hate preaching by politicians all over the place, the country’s path seems to be littered with landmines. In fact, the threat from Boko Haram is only the most dramatic aspect of a situation in which almost every line on the chart of national stability is heading in the wrong direction. Falling oil prices have eroded government revenue, leading to raids on the sovereign wealth fund and pointing to a not too distant

‘With this ever-present threat of violence from Boko Haram and the hate preaching by politicians all over the place, the country’s path seems to be littered with landmines’

moment when governments at all levels – federal, state and local government - may be unable to pay those who work for them or even to maintain essential services. And this is happening in an energy-rich country where, for example, there is no reliable electricity supply, something that is very disastrous for economic survival and other social services. The truth is that as resources shrink, the hydra-headed monster called corruption will certainly get worse, leaving even far less available for legitimate purposes. Right now, in spite of significant increases in defence spending, troops battling terrorists in the north of the country are still without adequate equipment and, in some cases, even proper kits and regular supplies of food and ammunition. The police are not faring any better as no money has been allocated to them for the elections, leading to the usual speculation that the money earmarked for defence and security, may have developed wings. Apart from this, there is a sharp division between the political parties, on virtually every issue and all the issues about the forthcoming elections. The division between the parties has largely followed primordial ethnic and religious fault lines – north and south, Christian and Muslim, to mention only the most obvious – which rather than easing, have been deepening in recent years. Perhaps, of greater worry is the ready recourse of politicians to unleash menacingly-looking thugs, all brandishing dangerous weapons and missiles, on innocent people. While some of the campaigns have been marred by violence and may get worse in the days ahead, some ethnic bigots are also threatening to spill blood if their candidate is unsuccessful in the coming election. My fear is that if the situation is not urgently checked, the nation may soon be embroiled in violence of unimaginable proportion.

With this sordid scenario, like I said earlier, the country’s path in the weeks ahead is laden with landmines. Even if the country manages to scale through the elections without the worst happening, the result of the elections may come under serious litigation. If this happens and the government fails to move quickly to defuse tension as well as arrest the looming fiscal crisis, such a weakened government would find it even harder to put in place adequate military architecture to combat the growing menace of the terrorists ravaging the north-east part of the country. The terrorists could as well intensify their attacks during the election period to create maximum confusion and disorder. In his historic election campaign en route the 2008 American presidential elections, Barack Hussein Obama, the incumbent President of the United States of America, demonstrated that with boldness and unwavering commitment to a cause, victory can indeed be achieved. That unwavering commitment as chronicled in his now famous book, The Audacity of Hope, singled him out as a man who knows his onions and just where to fix them. It painted Obama as a person who had a vision for America, a vision rooted in the values that have always made America the last bastion of hope in the world. Unfortunately, now that the general election in Nigeria is right here at our doorstep, we are yet to recognise such vision dripping with patriotic fervor in our politicians even as they crisscross the entire length and breadth of the country wooing and cajoling voters to give them their votes. For several months before his eventual election as president in 2008, Obama held meetings across the country with all manners of people on front porches and family farms; in the basements of churches and at town hall meetings. The people he met knew that it wasn’t possible that government alone can

Dele Agekameh solve all their problems and they never expected it to be so. Instead, the people believed in personal responsibility, hard work and self reliance. They also believed in fairness, opportunity and the responsibilities they have to one another. They believed in an America where good jobs are there for the willing, where hard work is rewarded with a decent living and they also recognised the fundamental truth that a sound economy requires thriving businesses and flourishing families. However, what they will not take is to see their tax dollars going down the drain or private pockets as we witness too often in Nigeria. In a globalised world that changes every now and then, forging this kind of future like that of the Americans in a place like Nigeria can never be a tea party. In other words, it will never come easily. It requires new ways of thinking, of doing things and a new spirit of patriotism. That is exactly what is expected of Nigeria and Nigerians and not the growing audacity for violence. Although, the country has, several times proved the doomsayers wrong before now, it however, remains to be seen if the present worsening odds against it could also pass away without causing a major catastrophe in the polity. Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

COMMENTS In spite of the peace pact signed by all the political parties against political violence before and after the election, it is very unfortunate that the PDP has violated the accord through its brothers who are threatening to cause war if the President is not reelected. PDP should call the militants to order if only for the sake of the agreement signed. Let them not breach it in the interest of Nigeria. What lesson is the ruling party teaching Nigerians? Incitement through terrible comments against opponents would not augur well in our democracy. They should mind their language; after all, power comes only from God. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State. •Jonathan

For Prof. Olatunji Dare Truth, however underdressed, will always be more magnetic than untruth, however over dressed. The incorrect and misleading signpost about Gen. Buhari’s certificate could be excused because such is the way of politically motivated communication, especially when those behind it are swimming against the current, with their position being fueled by ignorance and insufficient education in logic and critical thinking. From Adegoke O. O. Ikhin, Edo State We are waiting to hear that General Buhari should provide his school uniforms and sandals he used when he was in secondary school, because certificate issue has been defeated. Truth of the matter is that ruling party doesn’t have manifestoes or blueprints for the electorate that is the reasons they were bringing out false allegation against General Buhari candidature. They should just start preparing their handover note now, because the electorate would not be sitting down, Nigeria is sinking with corruption and insecurity. Prof Jega and his men should ensure that our votes are counted to move Nigeria forward. From Gordon Chika Nnorom With PhD holders like President Jonathan and graduates like his wife Patience, the Federal Government should apologise to HND,NCE holders in the federal service particularly the Immigration Service for causing them career stagnation, humiliation, frustration and discontent in the name of paper qualification. This graduate thing is a sham. Anonymous Briliant job. There is a popular Yoruba adage, ‘Bi a ba fa gburu, gburu a fa igbo’ . A man set out with highest determination looking for the man that owe his father 1000 cowries, but the first person he met on his way was the fellow his mother owe 10,000 cowries. From Ayo Okedokun Sir, I share in your thoughts and belief in this matter regarding our president’s Doctorate. Anonymous Sir, I just read your ‘GMB does a rope-adope’ and couldn’t agree more with you. My uncle got and was conferred with a PhD in Mass Communication at the Benue State University, Makurdi in 2012. We, relatives, friends and well wishers, attended the convocation where we snapped pictures. My uncle even snapped with the university Visitor, Governor Gabriel Suswam. In fact the event was very colorful and unforgettable. The pictures solidly confirm he is a PhD holder. Can we get GEL’s PhD’s convocation images? Let’s see them. Anonymous GMB does a rope -a-dope:- PDP should stop this high level of desperation by blackmailing GMB and tell Nigerians what GEJ has for Nigeria. GEJ said during his flag-off in Lagos that he has failed. So why this desperation. It seems Nigerians are tired of this corrupt govt. Indeed, a search to ascertain whether Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Ph.D was earned or awarded as a terminal gratification is overdue and would be welcome. Anoymous Your piece in today’s The Nation as well as that of Mr Louis Odion made my day. Both of you hit the nail squarely on the head. It’s now left for our people to troop out en-mass on dday to vote out GEJ, the most inept, corrupt and visionless leader of our time. From Ike, Port-Harcourt. Elder Olatunji, how else can I express my appreciation? This article,‘GMB does a ropea-dope‘ is well articulated and a food for thought. Thanks dear and God bless you. From Dyondun V.M.K. Sir. Your column in the ‘ Nation ‘ newspaper of January 27 titled ‘GMB does a rope -adope ‘refers. The issue in discussion can be referred as an African adage known as ‘if drum sounds too extremely nice to hear, its closer to its end’. From Tanko

I am a foundation member of the PDP but, let the truth be said at all times. How can a normal human being begin to neither assume nor believe GMB lacks the necessary academic qualifications for elections? God bless you and please keep it up. From Hon. Henry C. Nzekwue. Nigeria needs general Buhari as a farmer who will not sell farmers fertilliser through the minister of agriculture and the PhD President call him petty stealing not corruption. Anonymous Sir, having gone through your column of today you have not read today’s papers of The Nation concerning Buhari e-mail and doctoring of his certificate. Never mind, God will surely catch them. I hope that General Buhari on the long run will make some billions from suing them. From Elder Tony Re-GMB does a rope-a-dope. Let us wait for the outcome of whatever investigation that may be/ is being carried out- common or forensic before conclusion is determined by all. What is interesting to me in this controversy is that ‘whatever is good for goose should be good for the gander’! When a weak man is shaken by investigation on suspicion, same should be carried out on the mighty. Even Mr. President could be investigated using the court of law where suspicion on misdemeanor is suspected. People should cry less, when ‘big men’ are involved in suspicion. From Lanre Oseni. I’ve always felt uncomfortable with the embarrassingly poor elocution of the President, a supposed PhD holder! Thank God you like Idowu Akinlotan (the latter a fearless writer alludes to this worrisome inadequacy occasionally) are bothered. One hopes the president is not about being hoisted with his own petard. Anonymous Dear Prof, it’s so obvious Uncle Jonathan and his cohorts are trying all their best to hold on to power. One would expect a PhD holder to be cerebral and show some decorum and finesse in his manner of doing things but alas the exact opposite is the case. Little wonder our dear country is in the doldrums. From BAM, Ibadan. Your super-qualified General Buhari has said everything minus how he is going to tackle the menace of his free-range rampaging cattle-rearing kinsmen. Is that not a problem in this country? Like during the war they have recruited some of you to fight the ‘arinis’. You are crying more than Haruna the owner of the corpse. I can’t believe you are the same writer I used to read in The Guardian. Anonymous.

For Prof. Segun Gbadegesin

Sir, threat from ex- militant from Niger Delta should not be taken lightlly. They issued their statement from government house Yenagoa. After a meeting which was attended by some Federal Government’s appointees. Many people who fought for democracy that President Jonathan and his supporters are enjoying today lost their business, properties and even their lives. Where is President Jonathan and his Niger Delta war monger? since President Jonathan assumed office, he has been arming these youths to scutle democracy. Let all that love Nigeria and democracy rise and condemn President Jonathan and his armed war lord. From Ayeke Ayeke Port Harcourt. I love your piece on campaign clowns, zonal zealots and partisan priests. My major grouse is with our religious leaders who have refused to make difference between Apostleship and Pastoring. Good work: keep it up. Anonymous. Sir, I am not an ardent supporter of any of the presidential candidates for February 14 election, but I found it quite disgusting when you ceded Governor Rotimi Amaechi com-

•Buhari ment in nation election situation as a right of talk while condemning others that uttered similar utterances. What I am reading from The Nation newspaper these days is neither educative nor encouraging. From G. C. C. Mbah. Sir, your column as usual, made my day, especially the last paragraph. There are many good journalists but few realists among them. Thanks. From Ayaga, S. Makurdi. Thanks to God because of General Buhari, at least there is formidable opposition that will force the government to be more active, but fools are talking according to their age and academic backgrounds. Anonymous The bellicose and sanguinary rhetoric emanating from over- zealous political rascals must be consummately condemned by all patriotic Nigerians. General Buhari and President Jonathan must be verbally circumspect to avoid their ‘Man Fridays’ from imitating them. Nigeria is too great nation for this brouhaha and violence is not the exclusive monopoly of any body or group. Politicians Beware!!! From Chief Bobson Gbinije,Mandate Against Poverty(MAP)Warri. Para 13 of your beautiful article on the back page of The Nation Newspaper of January30, 2015 refers. I am just wondering why the Niger Delta militant’s expression of intention to declare war, if President Jonathan should lose next month’s election was not seen as a right to freedom of speech under the constitution; as against Gov Rotimi Amaechi’s suggestion of forming a parallel government should APC lose in an ‘unfair election’. Truth is that the two statements from the Niger-Delta gladiators are just two sides of the same coin-threats to post-elections stability of Nigeria. And I am sure our constitution does not guarantee such freedom, one way or the other. From Thanks. Dr Ufot Ekere, Kuje, Abuja. Sir, in your piece campaign clowns, zonal zealous and partisan priests (2), it demonstrates one fact, there is no Nigerian state, we have a band of opportunists with nothing to offer that will remove rent-seeking tendencies and offer opportunity for the diligent to thrive. From Owen- Browne Nigerians should be very vigilant and active to ensure that PDP does not create crisis to stop or rig the 2015 elections. From Idowu, Lagos. Wow! That’s why it is said, “he who comes to equity must come with a clean hand.” Now left for President Jonathan to defend himself. From Idriss k. We are grateful to God that we have some few reasonable persons who have a balance of mind like you. Your Friday piece (comment and debate) on the Nation exhibited a glaringly balanced comment. From Barrister Mahmud Musa, a lawyer with D.M Abejeme and partners Bauchi.

For Tunji Adegboyega

I have just read your comment. I am a young man of 19, definitely I should be able to differentiate between the good and the bad … If not for anything, let this man go so we can get security back to our country. Here in the north we don’t want him because he is weak. Anonymous. Tunji, I have just finished reading your comment. Though I have always bought the paper, I usually jumped the column thinking it was the paper’s opinion. Thank you for Jonathan. You have given the president the best advice. If he likes, let him listen; that is if he had read the piece. But that is my fear. Otherwise I would have expected him to forget about reelection and quietly move to Otuoke, where people will soon be visiting him, like he has visited Obasanjo, Babangida, etc. From Hileor Zeka. You have brightened my day with your

article titled:”The militants’ threats”. It is very interesting, educative and informative. My brother, is it not possible for this article to be repeated between now and Election Day? My spirit endorses and our God almighty approves of it for the benefit of this nation and mankind in general. From Engr. Shoyebo. Those people called ex-militants that are singing the songs of war have forgotten that politics is all about convincing people to your side, not threatening the people. They should be reminded that peace is what Nigerians want but if they want war, they would live to regret their actions. Nobody has the monopoly of violence, no matter what he or she calls himself or herself. If actually these people mean what they are advocating for, they should walk the streets of Lagos, Kano, and Abuja and repeat what they said in Bayelsa and see whether they would return home. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos. Look, Tunji, all the Niger Delta militants will ‘pick race’ if there is war. Boko Haram cannot be cleared because of the Chibok girls being used as human shield. Let the militants ask their elders of their experiences during the last civil war. From Femi, Ibadan. Dokubo and the rest are a bunch of illiterates who profited from the state‘s killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and others. Where were Tompolo etc. who are now beneficiaries of amnesty and ‘oil theft’ (a new word in Jonathan administration) then? They used Government House immunity to talk rubbish. Thousands of Alhaji Jelilis cannot arrest them but the votes of Nigerians will do. Asari Dokubo released a video last year on the same threat. Their leaders are sleeping, if any. Edwin Clark is their godfather. Come February 14, we will all see where they will hide! From Adewale Azeez. It was indeed an objective comment you wrote on the militants, Dickson and President Jonathan. I think somebody among them is looking for the restoration of already soured relationship. From Rolly, Yenagoa. Re: The militants’ threats. Dokubo, Tompolo and others who are threatening fire and brimstone are only attracting more enemies for and disadvantages to President Jonathan! Few supporters remaining may be lost if their wrong drum-beat is not halted. Irrespective of the outcome of the February 14 election, no section of the country can hold Nigeria into ransom again. Never! From Lanre Oseni. We should ask why the police and the DSS have suddenly become ‘inoperative’ in the face of such direct threats by Asari Dokubo and Co. Whereas they issued stern warnings to politicians(read Gov Amaechi and Chief John Oyegun), who, to them, made provocative statements. Till today, the president is yet to speak on the matter … Have you forgotten what the president himself said a couple of years ago on TV “with relish” in Bayelsa State about the report of an incident when former Gov Sylva was ‘stoned’ by the people? He even added that he too would join the people to ‘stone’ Gov Dickson if he failed to perform! Whilst I abhor these acts of indiscipline by the people, I am tempted to ask: Isn’t ‘experience the best teacher?’ So, let us guard our utterances at all times. Anonymous. Your write-up “The militants’ threats’ was superb. Kudos. Anonymous. In spite of the peace pact signed by all the political parties against political violence before and after the election, it is very unfortunate that the PDP has violated the accord through its brothers who are threatening to cause war if the president is not reelected. PDP should call the militants to order if only for the sake of the agreement signed. Let them not breach it in the interest of Nigeria. What lesson is the ruling party teaching Nigerians? Incitement through terrible comments against opponents would not augur well in our democracy. They should mind their language; after all, power comes only from God. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

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

Arik Air spreads wings to Abidjan

RIK Air will from February16 begin scheduled flight operations from Lagos, Nigeria to the Ivoirian city, Abidjan via Cotonou, Benin Republic. The new service will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. On Mondays, the outbound flight will depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and arrive at Cotonou International Airport . The new Lagos-Abidjan service will be operated using Arik Air’s state-of-the-art Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft configured to carry 10 Business Class and 64 Economy class passengers. Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr Chris Ndulue said the new service will provide more travel options for Nigerians. “Abidjan is a preferred destination for Nigerian businessmen and women. Arik Air’s foray into this commercial city will make life a lot easier for our guests who have been yearning for flight connection between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. This service will further underline Arik Air’s position as West Africa’s premier airline.” The Lagos-Abidjan service is Arik Air’s first new route in 2015.Abidjan thus becomes Arik Air’s seventh destination in West Africa. COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/ troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b

CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

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

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

SEC limits private placement to 30%, reduces cost of issue

UOTED public limited liability companies will henceforth not be able to issue more than 30 per cent of their outstanding paid up share capital through private placement. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently reviewing rules and regulations on new issue. A draft of the amendments indicated that public quoted company shall not be able to offer more than 30 per cent of their issued share

By Taofik Salako

capital in private placement. According to the amendments, the aggregate number of shares to be offered through private placement by a public quoted company ‘shall not exceed’30 per cent of its existing issued and paid-up capital prior to the offer. Also, the apex capital market regulator plans to reduce the cost of issue in the primary market by aggregating all costs to the issue under a single bracket.

According to the amend--ments, the cost of issue shall not exceed 3.17 per cent for equity and 3.9375 per cent for bonds of the gross total proceeds, indemnity fee, advertisement, and printing and take on fees for registrars, from the issue or such percentage as the Commission may prescribe from time to time. Some cost elements like advertisement, indemnity fee and printing fee among others were previously not included under the same cost bracket.

Many companies had used the private placement window to raise new funds in recent time. Wema Bank and Unity Bank Plc recently raised new equity funds through private placements. Unity Bank had raised N39.22 billion in combined rights and special placement offers. Unity Bank floated a rights issue of 38.45 billion ordinary shares and special placement of 40 billion ordinary shares, both of which were offered at par value.

•From left: Chairman, Committee of the Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria, (CCCOBIN) & CCO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Pattison Boleigha, Founder/Managing Director, DATAPRO Limited., Mr. Abimbola Adeseyoju and CCO, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Mr. Olusoji Adeyinka at the 2015 meeting of the CCCOBIN held in Lagos PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

‘Erratic power supply challenge to digital press’

HE Chief executive Officer, Skysat Technology Limited, Mr. Izzat Debs, has identified erratic power supply as one of the major factors inhibiting the growth and prosperity of digital commercial press in the country. Speaking on the sideline with The Nation at the launch of Konica Minolta Bizhub Press C1100 digital printing machine in Abuja, Debs said the job creation potential of digital press cannot be overemphasised, adding that the young crop of digital printers in Shomolu, a Lagos suburb, started out with products from Konica Minolta and graduated to be what they are today. He said though the government has been trying its best to fix the challenge in the power sector, more still needs to be done to encourage small and medium scale (SMEs) play more significant role in the digital printing space.

Cash-less banking must grow to global standard, - P26 says Emefiele

By Lucas Ajanaku

He said: "Of course, if the government can really resolve the power issue, there will be so many commercial presses that will be opened. Power is something that is challenging for everyone." He said the firm has made local human capital development the cornerstone of its operations in the country as 90 per cent of the engineers that offer aftersales services for the machines are from Nigeria. Debs said: "Our engineers are 90 per cent Nigerians though with foreign technical support. This is one area we emphasis on. We take a lot of Nigerians to Germany for training. The engineers are already on the field. They are trained specifically to handle any issue concerning the machine should the need arise at all. They are comprised of technical team with certificate from Konica Minolta. Every one of the en-

gineers has their own levels such as masters and so on. "Our engineers have already completed examination on Konica Minolta. We are not only doing product certification, we are also doing technical certification on Konica Minolta to service those machines. "Over the past few years too, we have helped to create employment opportunity for young Nigerians." Speaking on the machines, he said they are the latest technology in town and built to take care of the power realities in the country. According to him, the warranty that the firm received its manufacturers from overseas is three months, adding that training of the final consumers of the product is part of the deal. "We do a lot of training for the operators. It is all part of the package that we sell. We don't just sell these printers to you, we also

Access Bank to ride on N53b rights issue to become most respected African bank in 3 years - P37

train the operators so they know how to use the machines and they reduce the minimum level of down time and break downs. "There is also the service agreement with the customers that could be signed in the contract. It could be yearly service agreement in which case, for one year, your machine is always taken care of. For us, we feel duty-bound to give the best to our customers." On availability of consumables, he said the service centres of the firm are spread all over the country. "We have offices in Lagos, Victoria Island and Ikeja; we have in Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt and in more remote areas, we need to send the goods by air transportation so the down time is reduced to the barest minimum. We have very big stock of consumables available in all service centres to make sure that the customer doesn't have any interruption in the process of production," he said.

Govt slashes 2015 JV capex by 40%

HE Federal Government has reduced its capital budget for the 2015 joint venture oil operations by 40 per cent to $8.1 billion from the initial budget of $13.5 billion due to the slump in crude oil prices, sources at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said. The Federal Government through the NNPC operates joint ventures with multinational companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni in the production of the nation’s oil and gas. “The NNPC has informed the joint venture partners that this year’s capital expenditures will be cut down by 40 per cent from the initial proposed budget of $13.5 billion. “The $13.5 billion has been the level that has been maintained in the past three years, but because of the drastic decline in oil prices that level cannot be sustained this year,” it added According to Platts, NNPC did not comment officially, but under Nigeria’s joint venture arrangements, NNPC contributes about 60 per cent of the funding requirement, while the foreign firms provide the 40 per cent. Initially, the government had proposed N1.22 trillion ($7.5 billion) to fund its share of the oil joint venture operations this year, with the foreign oil firms providing the balance of $6 billion. “But since this budget was agreed in the last quarter of 2014, there have been drastic changes in the parameters considered by the partners. “Oil prices have fallens sharply to around $40 per barrel from $80 when the joint venture budget was prepared, while general growth in the Nigerian economy has declined below six per cent from 6.3 per cent,” the NNPC source said. Officials of the Western oil companies confirmed receiving NNPC directives on the budget cut, Platts said. “Even though the directive is for joint venture operations, it is generally expected. Oil companies have themselves been revising down their budgets in the light of the oil price slump,” an official said. With the price of oil around $50/b currently, down by more than half from the middle of last year, Nigeria faces growing fiscal challenges as oil accounts for more 70 per cent of its revenue. NNPC Group Managing Director, Joseph Dawha, had said that three deepwater offshore oil projects and one shallowwater were at risk of being delayed or cancelled outright because of the decline in oil prices.

Weaving water weeds into handicrafts - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Cash-less banking must grow to global standard, says Emefiele H OW has cash-less banking fared three years after its introduction? It has not done well says Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele who has tasked stakeholders to ensure the payment system meets global standard. Emefiele, who inaugurated members of the Payment System Strategy (PSS) Board, Payment Scheme Boards and Initiatives Working Groups of the Nigerian Payment System, meant to drive the restructured Payments System Vision 2020 (PSV2020), said despite growing the mobile payment channel by 8,400 per cent to N296.9 billion in 2014 from N3.5 billion in 2012, there are still gaps to be filled. He said Point of Sale (PoS) trans-

Stories by Collins Nweze

actions also rose to N312 billion last year from N48 billion in 2012, representing about 550 per cent increase; the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) Instant Payment (NIP), increased by 423 per cent to 19.9 trillion last year from N3.8 trillion in 2012. The web channel grew by 108 per cent from N31.5 billion in 2012 to N65.6 billion last year, while Nigerian Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), rose by 7.5 per cent to N14.6 trillion from N13.6 trillion. “There is no doubt that we have indeed, recorded many successes

along the way; however, we do not intend to rest on our oars. In that sense, looking in retrospect, and interpreting the future of our payments system in the light of the present, we see our accomplishments as a stepping stone, bearing in mind that there’s still a great deal of work to be done,” Emefiele said. He listed agriculture, smart cities, government flows, hotels and entertainment, transport, education, health, bill payment and direct debits, as areas that need strengthening in the payment system to improve results in the years ahead.

He described the PSV2020 as part of the CBN’s efforts to transform the nation’s payment system, adding that a functional national payment system is essential for an efficient financial sector. Emefiele listed some of the achievements made in the electronic payment to include implementation of the Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number (NUBAN), deployment of a new Real Time Gross Settlement system (RTGS) built on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), messaging standards and Introduction of the cash-less policy, among others. He said the PSV2020, was created to make the Payments System ‘Nationally Utilised and Internationally Recognised’. “It is gratifying to note that our country is acknowledged as a major economic force within Africa, but also increasingly becoming an active player in the global economy. To participate actively, our payments system must be successfully benchmarked against the global

best practices, as in most developed nations of the world. We have made some significant achievements so far in this journey, but a lot still remains to be done,” he said. The Board, he said, shall be chaired by the CBN Governor. It has the Honourable Minister of Communications & Technology; the Accountant-General of the Federation; the four Deputy Governors of the CBN; the Chairmen of the four Payment Scheme Boards, among others as members. “The PSV2020 initiative is intended to benchmark the existing core payments infrastructure in Nigeria against international best practices. The primary reference point was the Core Principles produced by the then Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS),” he said. He, however, said through the implementation of the original PSV2020 initiatives by the CBN, in association with the banking community, the country has witnessed an impressive growth of electronic payments and a shift from the overwhelming dominance of cash as a means of payment.

Enterprise Bank begins MoneyGram ‘Naija Send’

E • From left: National Treasurer, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Emmanuel Efuntayo; Board Member, Dr. Mary Ade-Fosudo and National President, Chief Olabintan Famutimi at a press conference announcing activities for the chamber’s US Trade Mission in Lagos.

‘Govt’s domestic borrowing to hit N2tr’ AFRINVEST West Africa Plc Managing Director Ike Chioke, has predicted increased domestic government borrowings of N2 trillion this year. In Afrinvest Research 2015 Outlook Report released last weekend, Chioke said the increased borrowing would occur against the backdrop of a significant drop in revenue (oil & non-oil) and anticipated reduction in capital expenditure. Chioke said the steep drop in oil prices have forced an exigent rethink of government revenues and discussions about the economy. “With a precipitous drop in crude prices to $48.0pb from more than $110.0pb in June last year, transition have been thrown overboard. As it stands, oil is expected to fund 52.8 per cent of government revenue implicit in the N3.6tr budget. If oil trades at its current prices or below $50pd for much of the year, the federal government would have to scale up its domestic and international borrowing programmes by at least another N1 trillion to fund its deficit,” he said. He noted that some states and a member of Federal Ministries Depertments and Agencies are reported to be struggling to pay staff salaries. “We expect that more states are in financial difficulty than is apparent after the elections. Hence, if oil prices stay at this level, how will the new government of Nigeria post May 29 run the wheels of state? We expect that revenues from non-oil sources will not materialise quickly enough to swiftly replace revenues lost to poor oil fortunes. Oddly enough, unattractive crude revenues

‘With a precipitous drop in crude prices to $48.0pb from more than $110.0pb in June last year, transition have been thrown overboard. As it stands, oil is expected to fund 52.8 per cent of government revenue implicit in the N3.6tr budget’ present a great opportunity to diversify government revenues and most importantly, rein in the costs of governance and administration,” he said. Chioke said Nigeria famously spends an amount disproportionate to its economic importance on maintaining its elected officials in relative comfort and luxury. He said that 75 per cent of budget, recurrent expenditure is deterring Nigeria’s economic development. “What Nigeria has basically done over the last couple of years has been

to use all of its oil revenues to pay the salaries of a few (less than 10.0 per cent of population). Hence, a new government may discover that to gain traction in governance, it has to bring down the cost of governance. This is inevitably linked to reducing the cost of maintaining the organs and machinery of government”. “Nigeria famously spends an amount disproportionate to its economic importance on maintaining its elected officials in relative comfort and luxury. Also, it would require that a new government takes the bull by the horn and address the perennial problem of a bloated civil service that is not as productive as its maintenance costs imply,” he advised. The proposed 2015 budget total expenditure of N4.4 trillion is 7.2 per cent lower than N4.7 trillion appropriated last year. He said the proposed reduction in expenditure will not be broad-based, as the cut will majorly be effected in the capital expenditure (N633.5 billion) component of the budget, while the Statutory Transfer (N411.8 billion), Debt Service (N943 billion) and Recurrent Expenditure (N2.6 trillion) components are all proposed to increase. “Capital expenditure is proposed to reduce by 43.4 per cent from the N1.1 trillion appropriated in Fiscal 2014 to N633.5 billion, while Non-Debt Recurrent Expenditure is proposed to increase six per cent over the 2014 appropriation to N2.6 trillion. In effect, the share of capital vote to total expenditure will reduce to 14.6 per cent from 23.8 per cent in Fiscal 2014,” he said.

NTERPRISE Bank Limited has begun MoneyGram “Naija Send” – Outbound money transfer services from Nigeria with MoneyGram International. In a statement, the bank, which is currently undergoing a business combination with Heritage Bank Limited, said the product is one of the ways to positively impact the lives of her customers both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. It said MoneyGram “Naija Send” enables walk-in and existing customers enjoy the opportunity of sending money abroad on the MoneyGram International platform, adding that the product is designed for everybody, and has proven to be a convenient means of meeting personal financial needs.

The bank said the product makes it easy for parents, who have children schooling abroad, to pay school fees, send pocket money and meet other educational expenses. “Under this service, money is sent in naira, but received in the currency of the receiving country. This eliminates the risk attached to carrying physical cash in transit while travelling abroad. For additional security, money sent from Nigeria cannot be received in Nigeria,” it said. The bank said with its introduction, customers can now walk into its over 150 branches across the country to receive, or send money to their loved ones in over 200 countries, adding that the service establishes Enterprise Bank firmly as a Send-and-Receive Agent of MoneyGram International.

AfDB Board approves pact on customer complaints

USTOMERS of the African Development Bank (AfDB) will henceforth, have more opportunity to voice their complaints to the lender. This is because the bank’s Board of Directors of the bank has approved the revised version of the resolution establishing the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) and its operating rules and procedures. These procedures, it said, have simplified the process of filing complaints from persons adversely affected by a project or programme financed by the bank. They also enable the IRM to provide advisory service to the bank. Administered by the Bank’s Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), the IRM gets involved when two or more affected persons submit a complaint accusing the Bank of failing to comply with any of its policies and procedures. As a result, such failure threatens to affect them adversely. The bank explained that under the approved resolution, the IRM will undertake problem-solving, compliance review and advisory functions.

“The CRMU is to disseminate information about the IRM to Bank staff, civil society organisations, affected communities and the general public. The Bank’s management is required to mainstream information about the IRM in Bank policies and project documents,” it said. According to the AfDB, the IRM’s problem-solving function will be applicable in cases where complaints or grievances can benefit from techniques that try to address underlying issues. These techniques, it added, will include independent factfinding, mediation, conciliation, and dialogue facilitation, taking into consideration best customary practices for handling complaints. “The compliance review function will focus on issues of non-compliance by an institution within the bank group. The advisory function shall come into play after the President and/or the Board shall have been provided with sufficient information detailing how the bank group can benefit from IRM’s role to strengthen the social and environmental impact of Bank-funded projects,” it said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

MONEY The use of foreign exchange (forex) to import commodities that could be produced locally and rising cases of forex speculation are giving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headache. Last week in Lagos, CBN met with banks’ helmsmen, forex operators and other captains of industry to address the matter. It also spelt out sanctions to defaulters, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

A push to stop forex abuse T

HE coming weeks will be tough for forex speculators and importers, who misuse dollar allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to import commodities that could be produced locally. That was the verdict of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, when he met with stakeholders in Lagos last week. The urgent nature of the meeting implied that activities of speculators and importers are hurting the naira, foreign exchange reserves and the economy. Giving the large dependence of Nigeria on oil and the level of importation of nonoil products, less dollar inflow from oil exports and high import bills have threatened external reserves with attendant impact on domestic currency. Emefiele was quick to point out that the correlation between the crude oil price, exchange rate and reserves and how forex abuse has made the CBN’s role in defending the naira difficult. He said between June 30 and December 31, last year, price of Bonny Light dropped by 50.7 per cent from $112.78 per barrel to $55.57 per barrel. It further recorded 15 per cent decline between December 31, last year and January 23, this year from $55.57 per barrel to $42.22 per barrel. Also, he said the foreign reserve dropped by 12.3 per cent from $39.07 billion in July last year to $34.26 billion on January 22, while the naira depreciated by eight per cent and 13 per cent at the official and Interbank Markets last year respectively. The naira also depreciated by 5.6 per cent at the interbank markets as at January 23, this year. These declines in macroeconomic indicators, he said, showed that as crude oil price rises, external reserves increase. It also proved that exchange rate appreciates with increase in external reserves and that external reserves dwindle as crude oil prices decline, which may lead to a depreciation of the naira. To save the naira, reserves and protect the economy, Emefiele insisted that abuse of the forex must stop and has therefore, taken some steps to achieve this objective.

Steps taken Emefiele told the stakeholders at the meeting that the CBN would no longer allow rice importers to access forex from the CBN, if the pressure on the naira does not recede. He regretted that so much forex was being wasted on importation of products that could be produced locally. He stressed the need for local production of most of the commodities that are presently imported into the country, in order to strengthen the naira and develop the country. “In the course of time, we are not going to ban the importation of rice, but we are not going to provide foreign exchange if you are going to import rice into the country. So if you are interested in rice, I will advise that you go into the production of rice. If you want to use your dollar that you have kept somewhere, there is no problem but at some point we will not allocate foreign exchange for you to import rice. The same way, we will graduate it to other products,” Emefiele said. While dispelling fears of a further devaluation of the naira and the ability of the CBN to continue to defend the currency, he, however, gave the assurance that the apex bank would continue to provide foreign exchange for legitimate investors and businesses. The CBN boss insisted that Nigeria had survived an oil price crash with $10 billion in foreign reserves, adding that at $34.2 billion, Nigeria’s reserve is enough to scale through the present oil price crisis. “The important thing is that anyone who needs foreign exchange for legitimate pur-

poses will get their forex. Even when the interbank is unable to meet the demands in the market, the CBN will, from time to time, step in. We will provide the foreign exchange that is needed to meet everybody’s legitimate demand,” the CBN boss said.

Sanctions for defaulters Emefiele also threatened to withdraw the foreign exchange dealing licences of banks that engage in speculative demand for the dollar at the forex market. He said the speculative activities had led to artificial demand for the dollar and an unnecessary pressure on the naira. “We will not hesitate to suspend the dealing licences of banks speculating on the dollar. Companies caught involved in sharp practices under the guise of seeking dollars to import items into the country will lose their licences,” he said. Emefiele, who described currency speculative activities as sharp practices, said the CBN would not shy away from dealing with the unpatriotic behaviour because they could make the nation “plunder its external reserves and throw the country into crisis.” For the CBN boss, frontloading demand for forex and other speculative practices have made the CBN to come up with certain measures aimed at stabilising the forex markets. They include the review of banks’ foreign currency net open position, weekly forex sales to Bureau de Change operators, and increased scrutiny of items to been imported with the forex purchased from the banks. But, he insisted that local production of imported commodities remained the best way out of the quagmire. Emefiele said the demand pressure needed to stop and that people engaging in speculative activities would lose money.

Stakeholders speak The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said his company was planning to be the major seller of foreign exchange after the CBN by 2018. He also disclosed that Nigerian would be the biggest exporter of urea and ammonia by 2017. He said: “Based on our plans we will be the highest foreign exchange seller in the market by the first quarter of 2018, and it’s not from just refinery alone”. Dangote will be investing about $9 billion to build a refinery expected to produce 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Dangote also said the country could not continue to import consumables and “things that we don’t even need.” He urged Nigerians to get involved in manufacturing not only for local consumption, but also for export. He advised the business community to support the government and the country by seeking to export commodities rather than import perpetually. “We need to set a foundation for the country’s revenue base. We need to become an exporting country after which we can then allow the naira to float without supporting it,” Dangote

• Emefiele

• Dangote

said. A former Chairman of Diamond Bank Plc, Pascal Dozie, said the current challenges in the economy presented the best time for wise investors. He, however, advised the government on the need to restructure the economy, while urging the CBN to encourage fiscal authorities to ensure that the economy was diversified and that unnecessary expenditures are curtailed. “If there is no corresponding action from the fiscal authorities, the CBN will continue to be under pressure,” he said. President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe said bureaux de change operators take issues bothering on the economy very seriously. He said his members would do everything needed to bring respite to the naira. He also praised Emefiele for raising the weekly dollar allocation to BDCs from $15,000 to $30,000, adding that such policy would help them remain in business and support the economy. Michael Okoro, a stockbroker based in Lagos, said the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira. The official devaluation of the naira, he said, allowed the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) to move within the range that straddles the interbank foreign exchange rate. “While the market reaction to the RDAS move in the near-term will be important, we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria. “While Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability,” he said.

year, the CBN, among other things, raised the minimum capital requirement of BDCs to N35 million from N10 million. It raised the mandatory caution deposit to N35 million from $10,000. Again, on July 7 last year, the apex bank extended the deadline from July 15 to July 31, in response to appeals and intervention of ABCON and both chambers of the National Assembly. CBN’s Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kelvin Amugo, said interest would be paid on the mandatory caution deposit of N35 million, based on the savings account rate. The CBN, Amugo said, would, on expiration of the deadline, cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the fresh requirements. The CBN had recently given approval to additional 102 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, bringing the total to 2,544 since the recapitalisation deadline lapsed in July last year. The apex bank last August, published a list of 2,442 licensed BDCs, which it said, had complied with its new capital requirements of N35 million as at July 31, last year. There were 3,208 registered BDCs before the expiration of the deadline. The CBN had in June, announced a new minimum capital requirement of N35 million for the operation of BDCs, up from the N10 million. To ensure that forex dealers comply with the new capital requirements, the CBN had extended the deadline to July 31, last year. The forex dealers were previously given a deadline of July 15, last year. The apex bank had also stated that interest would be paid on the mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million, based on banking industry savings account rate. It, among other requirements, reviewed the mandatory cautionary deposit for BDCs upward to N35 million. The regulator had pointed out that on the expiration of the deadline on July 31, last year, that it would cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the new requirements, adding that “only BDCs that meet the new requirements would qualify to be engaged as agent by the licenced international money transfer operators for inward and outward transfer business in Nigeria. The CBN has also directed that all importations involving electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment, and invisible transactions would henceforth be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only. The policy was to maintain the existing stability in forex market and strengthen the various policy measures, already initiated by the regulator.

Regulation of BDCs The CBN has for long, been making changes in BDC subsector. On June 23, last

‘Based on our plans we will be the highest foreign exchange seller in the market by the first quarter of 2018, and it’s not from just refinery alone Dangote will be investing about $9 billion to build a refinery expected to produce 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Shareholders applaud SEC on new dividend rules

HAREHOLDERS have thrown their weight behind a draft of new rules and regulations, which will see unclaimed dividends returning to paying companies rather than stay in the custody of registrars. The Nation on Monday reported that SEC is considering new rules and regulations that would allow companies to retrieve unclaimed dividends and invest such money for their benefit. It is a paradigm shift from the current position where companies are not allowed access to unclaimed dividends until after 12 years. Unclaimed dividends are currently estimated at about N70 billion. A draft document on new rules and regulations on unclaimed dividends by the SEC indicated that unclaimed dividends, which hitherto used to be in the custody of registrars until after they become statute-barred after 12 years, will now revert back to the paying company after 12 months. However, the company is under obligation to make the unclaimed dividend available to the registrars for payment whenever there is request by any shareholder. Shareholders described the draft rules and regulations on unclaimed

By Taofik Salako

dividends as a positive step in the right direction, noting that the change in custodianship and the timeline could help to stem the recurring issue of unclaimed dividends. President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Shehu Mikhail, said the main plank of the new rules and regulations is in line with the agitation of shareholders. According to him, shareholders have been clamouring that unclaimed dividends should revert to paying companies rather than staying with registrars as shareholders own both the paying company and unclaimed dividends and can get future values from both. “This is one of the things shareholders have been clamouring for, it is good to have the unclaimed dividends sent back to the companies,” Mikhail said. He said the new rules and regulations might help to check any unhealthy collaboration between directors of companies and registrars noting that there has always been suspicion that shareholders were being deliberately frustrated from getting their dividends.

He urged SEC to coordinate a compendium of unclaimed dividends with names and addresses of the beneficiaries as part of efforts to push unclaimed dividends out to shareholders. Unclaimed dividend has grown steadily in recent years and it has been at the centre of intense controversy among market stakeholders. Initial attempt by SEC to establish a trust fund for the management of unclaimed dividends was vehemently opposed by shareholders, quoted companies and registrars. A 2012 third quarter report by had shown that unclaimed dividends totaled N50.7 billion by the end of the quarter. Unclaimed dividends had increased sharply from about N27.8 billion in 2008 to N41.3 billion in 2009, only to hit N41.7 billion in 2010. In 2011 it hit N50.2 but slightly increased further to N50.7 billion as at September 2012. By the end of 2012, SEC put unclaimed dividend at N60 billion. According to the new rules and regulations, all unclaimed dividends in the custody of the registrars shall be returned to the paying company 12 months after the date of approval of dividends at a general meeting, in the case of final dividends, or a board

meeting, in the case of interim dividends. The registrar is expected to provide evidence of such remittance to SEC within 24 hours. The rules indicated that “where dividends are returned to the company unclaimed, the company may invest the unclaimed dividend for its own benefit in a guaranteed income investment outside the company and no interest shall accrue on the dividends against the company”. However, unclaimed dividend shall not be used by the company for its own business except in accordance with provisions of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). Also, a company may retain a minimum of five per cent of the unclaimed dividends in cash or near-cash for the purpose of remittance to the Registrars upon request for payment. According to the draft, all accrued interests from the failure of Registrars to remit the unclaimed dividends within the time limit prescribed in these Rules and Regulations shall be remitted along with the unclaimed dividend to the paying company. In this instance, the accrued interest shall be calculated at a rate not below a premium of five percent above the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

treasury bills rate. Failure to remit unclaimed dividends to the paying company by the Registrar as indicated shall attract a penalty of N5 million and an additional sum of N100, 000 for every day such contravention persists. The rules however retain registrars as the distributors of dividends. The registrars will still bear the responsibility of paying dividends to a shareholder after the dividends have been returned to the company. However, the affected company shall remit the portion of unclaimed dividends claimed by a shareholder to the registrar within 48 hours of receiving a request or claim for payment. Where the company fails to meet the remittance or payment deadline to registrar as indicated above, the company will pay penalty of N1 million in the first instance and N100, 000 for every day such contravention persists. Also, any registrar that connives or fails to comply with the provision of the rules on the 48-hour repayment will pay a penalty of N2 million in the first instance and N500, 000 for every day such contravention persists.

Otudeko to stockbrokers: make integrity your watchword

•From right: Risk and Quality Leader (Africa) PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) Mr Gabriel Ukpeh; Country Senior Partner, Pwc, Mr Uyi Akpata; President Goodluck Jonathan and the Auditor-General, Mr Ukura Samuel, at the submission of forensic audited report of finances in NNPC by Pricewaterhousecoopers in Abuja.

ROM Dr. Oba Otudeko, Founder/Chairman, Honeywell Group has come a stern warning to stockbrokers and allied professionals in the capital market: “Be steadfast in all your dealings.” He gave this charge in Lagos at a one-day dialogue on ‘The capital market and 2015 federal budget’, organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in collaboration with Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria and the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria. Otudeko, who chaired the first session whose thematic preoccupation centred on an overview of the 2015 federal budget and capital market, said: “Integrity is a veritable instrument necessary for the development and sustainability of the capital market. So, you can’t afford to toy with your integrity.” Speaking against the backdrop of the pursuit for wealth by unscrupulous individuals, the former President of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE)

reiterated that the capital market is not an avenue for crash materialism. “We must promote integrity and ensure transparency, accountability because the market is a long distance business. The capital market is a not a luxury. It is a serious business that is based on market fundamentals. We are still in the infancy of a big business.” Otudeko, who doubles as Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc did not spare the regulators as well. “The regulators must also step up their game if the capital market must reach its full potential as an avenue for socio-economic development,” he stressed. Speaking earlier, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said the capital market remains a rallying point for the national economy. “It is important that we draw the attention of policy makers at the highest level of government to know the role the capital market can play as far as growing the economy.”

Monetary policies, markets and economic growth

HE recent decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to retain rates as they are, is seen as making a safe bet so close to the elections, and to avoid being dragged into partisan politics. It was however not a decision reflecting current economic conditions in the country. The Monetary Policy Interest Rate (MPR) retention at 13 per cent, ignored the widening gap between the Naira /Dollar exchange rate. This was far from what some analysts expected, especially seeing the rapid and negative reaction to the movement in the exchange rates, after expanding the corridors of the exchange rate management band to N155-N168. This was effectively 8% devaluation. The reaction of the markets and the stretch of the Naira/Dollar exchange rate to N190 at the interbank, speaks to the fundamental issues around the Naira, which we must address if we want to strengthen the Naira. Currency value comes from the productive capacity of the underlying economy. The Nigerian economy is neither productive nor efficient and the underlying economy of the Naira is weak right now. The massive youth unemployment, weak Infrastructure, especially our inability to generate sufficient electric power to support the

By Victor Ogiemwonyi

economy, poor educational support, weak capital markets and the overall non competitive economic environment is what is translating to low productivity and hence low currency value. The value of the Naira in the last few years was artificially propped up by the high oil prices. Low oil prices have now adjusted Naira downwards to find its value. The fixation of the CBN in defending the Naira is like fighting gravity. We cannot continue to defend the Naira with the little foreign reserves currently about $34 billion which is hardly enough to cover six months of our import bill. Those who insist that we cannot afford to allow the Naira to find its value because we are import dependent, should be told that unless we wean ourselves of frivolous imports, we will never have the chance to diversify the economy. My take is for the CBN to quickly draw up a list of importable items the official foreign Exchange can be used for, like Machinery for local production for instance. Items that should not be on this list include all luxury goods and anything that can be manufactured here or have alternatives. Those who must buy luxury goods must be allowed to do

so, but they should get their foreign Exchange outside of the official market and pay our tariffs when they bring them in. India had a rigorous import regime for several decades, they did not allow foreign car imports for instance, look at what has happened to their motor manufacturing industry. Even Coca cola was out of India for many years. If we are serious about diversifying from oil and growing our economy, we must let the Naira find its true value, first by widening the management band to N185-N200 and intervene only when it breaches the upper limit of this band. The question is; who is afraid of high exchange rates? And who are we defending the Naira value for? A higher exchange rate for the Naira will provide a more level playing ground for local industries and make it uncompetitive for those who import toothpicks from China. Yes, higher value for the Naira is desirable but not at all cost, especially when on the long run, it will damage the economy. There is no need to fret about the temporary devaluation. The Naira will improve gradually as current fundamental challenges are gradually addressed. The Japanese currency, the ‘ YEN ‘ started the year 1980 with a value of 237.8 to 1 US Dollar. By the end of the 80s decade, the currency was valued at 209.4. It opened the year 1990 at 144.9

to the Dollar and ended the 90s valued at 133.8 to the dollar. Today as I write this, the Japanese Yen is trading at 118 to the Dollar. Anybody watching the Japanese economy can easily see the relationship with the growth of the economy and its currency. Many forget that the massive Japanese export drive started in this period. The Toyotas and many Japanese companies we all know today, all became important in the last 20 to 25 years. We should focus on growth. If we are able to grow the economy rapidly, it will address the value of the currency. The Naira devaluation must be seen as an opportunity to make quick progress in accelerating our growth, by encouraging local production for domestic consumption and exports. Current MPR rate at 13per cent is hurting the economy. We cannot see sufficient growth at this interest rate level, particularly when inflation is trending down with the current rate, at 8.5%. Investors are interested in real returns. Inflation at 8.5% allows real returns at 9 to10 per cent. The lower inflation is an opportunity to lower interest rates. But for lower interest rates to work, foreign exchange rates must be sufficiently high to discourage speculators who might see the lower interest rates as an opportunity to round trip. We have also seen growth rates revised downwards to about 5.5

per cent in Nigeria while the World Bank and the IMF also see slower growth around the world except the US. This is more reason we need to pursue a growth strategy that will eventually see us growing at double digits. Anything less will not be good enough. We have a huge population that is an advantage if we can grow fast enough, but a burden if we continue on the slow growth path that has seen poverty double in just 20 years. A key ingredient for growth is lower interest rates. Lower interest rate environment tends to support growth. We have seen this recently during the last financial crisis. Many countries cut interest rates to stimulate growth. Our concern should be how to accelerate our economic growth in the double digits so we can continue to out grow inflation and reduce unemployment speedily. This can only happen with low interest rates. We have seen this in other climes.The low interest rate environment in the US and UK is the reason why their economies are growing. A country like Singapore has had low interest rate environment for over a decade allowing all other rates to settle within a range. The slower inflation rate at 8.5 per cent should be the impetus we needed to crash the MPR rate, and let its forward guidance be based on the inflation rate

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

PAGE 29

As political campaigns and related activities peak in Oyo State towards this month’s elections, Correspondent BISI OLADELE weighs the dynamics of the campaigns against the era and style of the late ‘strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, and how residents are responding.

•Adedibu’s residence in Ibadan used to be a beehive of political activities when he was alive. Inset: Chief Adedibu

Oyo politics without Adedibu P

INSIDE

OLITICIANS in Oyo State, like their counterparts in other states, have been on the hustings, trying to convince the electorate to back them. From Ogbomoso to Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa to Oyo and all across the length and breadth of Ibadan, the state capital, politics is in the air as candidates and their parties bombard the airwaves with their messages. Billboards and posters adorn strategic places in the towns, cities

Carnival for orphans, physically challenged brings joy, hope PAGE 32

and even hamlets. Open spaces have been turned into campaign grounds for rallies, drawing people in their hundreds and thousands. But hard as the candidates and their supporters try to electrify the crowds at the campaigns, the atmosphere seems to lack drama and razzmatazz associated with such events in Oyo State, especially in Ibadan, the political capital of the Southwest. Regarded as the heartbeat of

Yoruba politics, Ibadan stands tall in the politics of the Southwest, thanks largely to the number of colourful politicians who have come out of the ancient city, who in their own unique ways defined politics and politicking in the state. From the First Republic through to the present dispensation, the city has thrown up many renowned gladiators, chief among who were Chiefs Adegoke Adelabu (Penkelemesi), Busari Adelakun

APC chieftain empowers 400 in Ibadan

PAGES 34

(Eruobodo) and Lamidi Adedibu, all late. As campaigns and other political activities get hotter for this month’s elections, the flambouyance that marked the approach of the trio of Adelabu, Adelakun and Adedibu (all godfathers of Ibadan/Oyo politics in their time) to politics seems to be gradually fading.

Political headquarters

Five major gladiators from different political parties are in the cur-

Rodents, termites take over judges quarters in Oyo PAGE 36

rent race to the Agodi Government House. They are Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord, Senator Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party (LP) and Engineer Oluseyi Maknde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

•Continued on page 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Oyo politics without Adedibu •Continued from page 29 In spite of each of them commanding large followership, no residence of anyone of them or office can be referred to as the headquarters of political activities unlike in the days of Chief Adedibu, the last of the godfathers. As the most experienced politician in Ibadan and the state, during his time, Adedibu’s Molete, Ibadan residence played host to crowds of party faithful, budding politicians, aspirants, candidates and political elders all day long. At the expansive palace, Adedibu also received some of the most notable national political figures, captains of industry, top Islamic clerics, opinion leaders as well as emissaries of traditional rulers. Ordinary folks, itinerary drummers, beggars and all sorts also thronged his residence in search of alms and daily bread which they never lacked once they found their way into the compound. But the shine is gone in the present time. Though the houses of the four governorship candidates of Ibadan origin also play host to many visitors daily, none presents the strength of Adedibu’s Molete palace, which looked like a market every hour of the day. If Adedibu were alive, his Molete residence would have been the first port of call for the presidential candidate of his party, the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the party during their recent campaign in Ibadan. They would have also visited the residence regularly to perfect strategies on how to win all the states in Southwest Nigeria.

Influence/money-forticket factor

Adedibu was a master strategist and consummate politician. In his lifetime, he either played a major role in who became the governor of the state, since the second republic, or singlehandedly chose who occupied the government house at Agodi. Because politicians, particularly members of his own party naturally surrendered leadership to him, he practically decided the party’s candidates in all the previous elections in the state. The major factor in his decision, according to one of his followers, who preferred anonymity, was money and the influence each aspirant wielded. This accounted for why, in 2007, Adedibu produced two senators within his large extended family. He played the leading role in the emergence of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as governor in 2003 and singlehandedly produced Chief Alao-Akala as governor in 2007. The same cannot be said of any living politician in Oyo State today. In fact, since Ladoja contended with Adedibu, a dispute that led to his illegal impeachment in 2006, Ladoja emerged as a new political bloc in the state but initially struggled to gain acceptance and strength. But today, Ladoja’s bloc is a force to reckon with in Oyo State politics. However, it cannot be safely said that money and political influence determine who picks ticket for offices within Ladoja’s camp. The same development plays out in the camp of the current governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who emerged as another political bloc since 2007. As years roll by, Ajomobi political bloc, formerly dubbed ‘Senator Abiola Ajimobi Campaign Organi-

•A political campaign rally at Mapo Hall, Ibadan

zation’ (SENACO), and which has dissolved into the APC, is unarguably the most popular and strongest political group in Oyo State today. Unlike Adedibu’s style, however, money and influence are not the primary factor determining who becomes what in political schemes. As it happened in the December primaries of the party, only popular aspirants emerged as candidates. In the process, even Farouk Alao, the son of the late Ibadan business mogul and Islamic leader, Aare AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, failed to pick the party’s ticket for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency during the popularity test. So were the renowned unionists and prodemocracy crusaders, Hon. Ibrahim Bolomope and Mashood Erubami respectively. In the days of Adedibu’s reign, no one would go against baba’s choice. Losers were also compensated with appointments, however. The same can be said of AlaoAkala’s, Teslim Folarin’s and Seyi Makinde’s camps. No aspirant needs to grease the palm of these political leaders to pick the party’s ticket.

Godfather and defection syndrome

Because of the improvement in the polity and influx of more educated and middle-class people into partisan politics, Adedibu’s exit marked a watershed in the godfather factor in Oyo State politics. Once any budding politician enrolled in his Molete ‘school of politics’, his decision was final on their

•From left, the Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi; the Ekerin of Ibadanland, High Chief Eddie Oyewole Foko who represented the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade and the Zonal Business Director, Globacom, West Territory, Mr Dare Oyewale at a press conference held in Ibadan on Monday to kick off this year’s Oke ‘Badan Festival sponsored by Globacom.

ambition. Anyone that challenged his verdict risked political persecution, together with members of his household. He also risked political oblivion because Chief Adedibu knew all the tactics and wielded so much influence. But in today’s politics in Oyo State the political godfather concept has given way to political leader concept. Followers now tell political leaders to their face that they would rather dump the party than settle for what is on offer - and they do just that! That was a taboo in days of Chief Adedibu. Baba’s was the supreme voice in the party and only top, experienced members could differ with the Ibadan high chief. Even at that, they would only stay away, not fighting from within. Such was too dangerous to dare.

Campaign: Frivolities against important issues

In the present dispensation in Oyo State the incumbent governor is being tackled on his policies and projects in the last three and a half years during campagns. He is being criticized on his urban renewal project, infrastructural development initiatives, welfare packages for traders, civil servants and management of followers, among others. Ajimobi is also hinging his campaign on his outstanding performance, always emphasizing that he outperformed all his predecessors, two of who are in the 2015 race. But in the days of Chief Adedibu, development issues were not the priority in campaigns. The high chief anchored his party’s cam-

paigns on the dirty aspects of the opponent’s life. As he led his party’s campaign across the state, Chief Adedibu, who would have carefully dug out the negative sides of the opponent’s life, rolled them out with glee while the crowd of party supporters hailed him and saw the need to reject the opponent. This was an area of Adedibu’s dexterity. People loved to listen to him during campaigns. He was a crowd puller and he could be predicted on the content of his campaign. His sophistry, rendered in embellished Ibadan dialect, also made a great difference whenever he mounted the podium. The crowd would be silent to hear him while residents rushed to their television set or radio to listen to what Adedibu said at the campaign. The content of his campaign was usually the talk of town for days, weeks and sometimes for years. But today, issues confronting residents, communities and groups are the focus of campaigns. Debates are being organized for candidates where issues of developments are addressed. Party manifestos dominate debates and content of campaigns at rallies.

Thuggery and the commercial drivers’ factor

Chief Adedibu was the Grand Patron of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) until his death. His grip on the union was firm and his influence great on commercial drivers. He understood their needs, thinking and he spoke their lan-

guage. This made him enjoy good followership among them. The union’s chairmen paid homage at Molete and sought his advice. With this huge strength, members of the union were always available tools in Adedbu’s hands during political campaigns and other activities. He used them as party supporters and they followed him to wherever he went for campaign. The presence of the commercial drivers, most of who were thugs, formed a huge part of the crowd of supporters at campaigns and also helped him gain control of the crowd while giving his address. They responded with enthusiasm and were on ground to silence anyone that might want to express a dissenting voice against Baba’s position. On the other hand, their presence at campaign grounds made many decent people stay away from such places but they stayed glued to their radio and television later in the day to enjoy all Chief Adedibu said at the campaign. But in a recent interview with The Nation, his Personal Assistant, Alhaji Hakeem Gbolarumi, described the hoodlums as members of the party. “Those people were all members of the party. Baba never recruited thugs. They were members and they loved Baba to the core. That was why they could do anything for him.” He said. But today, even though some thugs are following politicians to campaign grounds, they do not enjoy such freedom and prominence as in the days of the late Chief Adedibu. In fact, any revelation

Iba

HE annual Oke promises to be f year as two bus Globacom Nigeria Gunness Nigeria PLC to sponsor the 2015 tively slated for March The business orga backing the event sa committed to the pre promotion of the Nige At the unveiling o logo in Ibadan on Zonal Business Globacom, Dare Oyew the company’s partner tival organisers, Kings ment, as a way of celeb

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

•Photographs of past Nigerian leaders on display at Adedibu’s residence

•Inside Chief Adedibu’s residence

that a candidate is rearing thugs will make him lose support in the state because people have gone through terrible experiences in the hands of the NURTW members in the build-up to the 2011

elections. One big breakthrough for the Ajimobi’s administration was how it succeeded in making NURTW members to conduct their activities peacefully. Since he banned ac-

tivities of the Union on June 6, 2011 following the gruesome murder of many commuters at Iwo Road interchange, he succeeded in stamping out violence among commercial drivers.

Again, the ruling APC is always hammering the violence and thuggery that marked the era of Ladoja and Alao-Akala from 2003 to 2007 as a reason voters should reject them again in this month’s election. Ajimobi’s campaign is wound around the concept of sustaining the peace and development he started three and a half years ago. The twin evil of violence and thuggery has become an albatross for both Alao-Akala and Ladoja. Music and food factor While politicians talk about stomach infrastructure today, Adedibu adopted the idea early in his leadership period. One of his popular saying was: “For you to survive as a political leader, three quarter of your income must be spent on your followers.” This was the concept that made him gain fame as an ‘amala politician.’ Because of the low level of most of his followers, Adedibu understood the need to feed them and meet their other basic needs. He did this with gusto and what he gained in return was an army of loyal followers. But today, politicians have made the idea a corporate one, packaging raw food in potable bags and offering a pittance to their supporters. Amala is no longer on offer though supporters and needy people still throng homes of political leaders. In the corporate stomach infrastructure, however, some supporters get contract for purchase of raw food, packaging and distribution, giving them a decent income.

Ibadan gears up for colourful Okebadan festival

HE annual Okebadan festival promises to be full of fun this year as two business giants Globacom Nigeria Limited and Gunness Nigeria PLC - have agreed o sponsor the 2015 edition tentaively slated for March. The business organizations in backing the event said they were ommitted to the preservation and promotion of the Nigerian culture. At the unveiling of the festival ogo in Ibadan on Monday, the Zonal Business Coordinator, Globacom, Dare Oyewale, described he company’s partnership with fesival organisers, Kingsize Entertainment, as a way of celebrating the cul-

•Globacom, Guinness to bankroll event From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

ture and tradition of Ibadan people. The representative of Guinness PLc, Awolowo Adewumi also said that the company would continue to mark its presence in the heart of the people while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kingsize Entertainment, Lanre Alabi said the coming of the two companies into the festival would give it a global reckoning. Also at the event, the Aboke of Okebadan, Ifasola Ifamapowa, prayed for the unity of Nigeria.

The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, was represented at the event by the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole. The Alaasa Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Alabi, enjoined the people not to throw away their culture and tradition because of foreign influence. He added that the Europeans progressed because they protected their own cultural heritage. His words: “The Okebadan Festival is staged annually to pay homage to the founders of the city. Our ancestors prayed to God and He an-

swered their prayers. This shows that they also believed in God. We thank God that Globacom and Guinness are coming to sponsor the festival this year after carefully taking a look at the proposal presented by the organizers.” While assuring that Globacom would continue to support genuine effort targeted at celebrating the people, Oyewale said: “Globacom fully understands the importance of the celebration of festivals to the culture and tradition of the people of our great country. This is precisely why we have consistently been supporting and sponsoring key festivals, thereby contributing to the ad-

Yet, political loyalty has waned unlike in the days of Adedibu. Also, while itinerary drummers led Adedibu’s team to campaign grounds, releasing tunes disparaging and abusing opposition candidates, today’s politicians employ the service of musicians who mount the stage at campaigns grounds. The musicians, aside eulogizing the party and the candidate that engage them also sing against their opponents. This has been the experience at at Mapo Hall and stadia in the Ibadan. The parties engage popular Fuji musicians in order to draw huge crowd to their rallies. While the APC has King Wasiu Ayinde and Rashidi Ayinde on its side, the PDP and LP have Abass Akande (Obesere) on their list. Saheed Osupa plays for the SDP and Accord. But at rallies in other towns, parties employ the services of local fuji musicians who they believe will also pull crowd, foster identity with locals and as well reduce cost. Speaking on the two eras, a chieftain of the PDP in the state and a governorship aspirant, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan said: “Adedibu has come and gone. He was a gem with his own style of politics. The situation today is different. Adedibu would organize elections all by himself. He did everything all alone. He didn’t believe in structures or election process because he set up his own and he controlled it. But he was a good planner, energetic and a master strategist. He did everything on his own with the assistance of his supporters. “Adedibu knew how to stoop to conquer. He knew how to get aspirants to support certain choices. The vacuum he left is very clear today. We don’t have any strong leadership again. There is nobody to actually look up to in ability to handle all tough political issues. That is why it has become extremely expensive to run campaigns today. In his days, Adedibu used to assess well. He knew how to bring up candidates that are able to defeat the opponent”. Gbolarumi, slightly corroborated Olaosebikan’s position on lack of leadership and insisted that PDP campaigns would have been better handled if the high chief was alive. He said: “When Baba was alive, he assigned me to accomplish all the tasks. But those in the saddle now are troubled with ego. They see me as a threat. Leadership is a problem in the state’s politics today. But we will soon work it out. We shall reach an understanding in the process of time. “ If Baba was alive, we in the PDP would have gone far into all nooks and crannies of the state for campaign. But today, there is no clearcut overall leader. Those assuming leadership still have one thing or the other to learn. But there is the question of whether or not they want to learn.” Overall, the colour and glamour in Oyo politics have either changed or faded due to exposure, quest for better ways to handle politics and the passage of the late politician.

mirable determination of the various tribes in the country to celebrate their roots.” The Olubadan prayed that those who will win election to represent Oyo State at the National Assembly in this month’s election would take the creation of Ibadan State as a priority. The monarch maintained that Ibadan State was long overdue, adding that people must rally round Ibadan indigenes to give them a state of their own. He said: “From any parameter you use, Ibadan State was long overdue. We just pray that those to be elected in the forthcoming election would be nice enough to ensure the creation of Ibadan State.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Children from different orphanage homes in Oyo, Ogun and Osun States and some other less privileged persons in the society, including the physically challenged, were brought together in Ibadan, the Oyo State capita l recently in a carnival-like atmosphere by Care People Foundation to celebrate them and offer some forms of assistance. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU was there.

Carnival for orphans, physically challenged brings joy, hope I T was not the usual carnival where people gathered once in a while to celebrate, rejoice and make merry. This was a carnival with a difference to remember the needy and voiceless in the society and take care of the critical aspects of their needs. Though not totally devoid of merry making, the carnival organised by the Care People Foundation for motherless babies and handicapped persons, essentially was meant to show love, affection and care for the less privileged in the society. The event which took place a couple of weeks ago at the Foundation’s centre along the IbadanLagos Expressway drew children from orphanages from Oyo, Osun and Ogun States and witnessed marchpast/parade by the orphans, football match featuring the physically challenged, children games and distribution of gifts and prizes. Mr. Mojeed Olabode, who had problems standing on his feet since birth was one of the beneficiaries of the 50 brand new wheel chairs donated by the Foundation through the philanthropy of some affluent individuals in the society. In spite of his physical challenges, Olabode is an Ewi exponent and father of five boys. Yet, his dream in life was to be able to save part of the earnings from his Ewi music and buy a wheel chair. But his pains were turned into joy when a new wheel chair was handed over to him at the carnival. “For more than two decades, I could not buy a wheel chair because it is very expensive and I could not afford it from my earnings”, Olabode said. Unlike Olabode , Pastor Remi Alao was not born with any disability but got one after he was involved in a ghastly auto crash on his way to Kwara state from Lagos. Alao, a preacher could not afford to buy a wheel chair which he said had been a major problem in his life. Both Messrs Olabode and Alao were among hundreds of physically challenged persons who benefited from the 50 new wheel chairs distributed at the carnival by the Foundation as part of the annual event. Some of the beneficiaries could not hold their emotions as they expressed joy and gratitude to the Foundation.

•An orphan being presented with a gift at the event.

•Another orphan (middle) beng presented with a gift at the occasion.

•Dr. Abib Olamitoye, the Chairman, Governing Council of the Care People Foundation (left) presenting a gift to one of the orphans , while Mrs Tioluwani watches during the carnival.

Young children, all orphans, also received various gifts. Adorned in their best dresses, the children filled the long canopies with well prepared dishes and soft drinks to savour. It was a memorable day for them. Others were busy serving dishes to the invited guests as ushers. They were also well dressed. On the high table was the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Isaac Adeyemi, the Vice Chancellor of Bells University, Sango Ota, Ogun state in the company with his wife.

Also present was the Chairman, Governing Council of the Foundation, Dr Abib Olamitoye, owner of Ibadan Central Hospital. On what motivated the gesture, Dr Olamitoye told The Nation during an interview shortly after the event that:” As parents we have our own children, but the children here are not the same. They depend on strangers. They have no parents, no one to call daddy, no one to call mummy. So we want to be here and find a way to empower them”.

•One of the orphans (middle) being presented with a gift at the event.

He explained further the need to turn the orphanage into a children village with modern facilities, stating that efforts have been made in this regard to reach out to individuals whose hearts move them to give to the needy. “We have the vision of creating a village here. The kind of school we want to start this January, if you look to the left, Oyo state Government is building homes here; we expect that the quality of the school will be able to cater in the immedi-

ate future for the children that will come into these new homes. They will mix with these motherless children. That is why we want to focus on the quality of teachers and then the standard of the school; a school that will raise children that will be leaders of tomorrow. This is the kind of vision we have for this centre. “Then, in the future we want to bring in more children from other orphanage homes because all these other homes do not have the kind

•Another of the orphans receiving a gift.

of facility we have here. So, after we have started the school, we are going to build more dormitories for the children so that in the near future we will have children village here; in the near future we will have schools for the handicap and motherless children and for the physically challenged, the blind, deaf and less privileged. “Other children that are on the streets, that cannot find their bearings in the society we want to incorporate them here so that we can

rid the society of the horror of seeing children that carry low capacity to achieve basic education, “ Dr Olamitoye said. The Chairman of the Foundation, Reverend Paul Tunde Tioluwani thanked all those who have brought smiles on the faces of the less privileged and the orphans in their time of need. Since the establishment of the orphanage in 1999, several young children have been trained to become leaders in their fields. One of them,

My agenda for Kosofe, by Braimah

•Braimah

was not as easy as it used to be. The expectation of the people will not allow me to move freely. Many people did not know the difference of being a lawyer and a politician, they try to lump everything together. It was affecting my performance to my clients, even the way my client related to me. But the office is there, I only stepped aside for other colleagues to run the office. I have concentrated fully on my other business, which is hospitality. I have invested my time and resources into it. What was the secret of your success in the primary election? God has been kind to me. Whatever others did with so much money, I have always achieved with little or nothing.

This is because of my background, the name and the goodwill. There was a particular leader who encouraged me to continue to do more. He told me to ensure that I continue to do more for the people. That advice has really encouraged me to continue doing to my doing good to my people. Politics is an expensive venture. How have you coped all this while? I thank God that I am not a pauper. I have source of income and I had to cut my coat to my size. I did not go out of my way to do what I should not do. I am taking everything in my strides and God has been kind. What happened to your followers while you were out of office? Many left while others stayed with

me. My staunch supporters stayed with me even when I was not contesting any election. You would be surprised that they rally round me whenever I have anything to celebrate. Looking back at what happened when you ran for the office a local government chairman, what would you say has changed? For my experience, I believe that things have indeed changed. I thank Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the development he has brought to bear on our party. He has allowed for a free and fair contest, and of course, that was what helped me. I thank God there was no order from above. The conduct of the election was liberal and proper, and it allowed people who

really know us to vote freely. I thank God there was no order from above it was liberal and proper, and it allowed people who really know us to vote and make their choice. In 1998 when I became chairman, the process was also free and fair. And sincerely, I think when election has been free and fair, God has always been kind to me. What particular lesson did you learn as chairman that you hope to bring to bear if you win? The basic lesson I took away from office as chairman is about public attitude to governance and that you must be public-oriented. Of course my background as a lawyer will help me because it is a procedural activity. Pro-

according to Tioluwani, recently graduated as a civil engineer. “My first graduate came out last year as a civil engineer. And about two or three months ago he joined the Nigerian Army. This was a young man that we picked under the bridge as a boy, we never knew that he can become that academically brilliant because he used his academic certificate to join the Army. So, our Foundation goes beyond housing people here, we organise programmes. Last November we

had a quiz competition for all secondary schools in Oyo state. We also give out scholarships to indigent students. We have given out thousands of scholarships along that line”, he said. Reverend Tioluwani, however, urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of giving to the less privileged in their midst, and not develop apathy towards the handicapped. He described such attitude as not only ungodly but unloving. “In Nigeria people look at chil-

dren of orphanages as people that have no tomorrow, but they have forgotten that there are people who grew up in orphanages and they are shaking the world. I have been told that the present manager of Chelsea Football Club grew up in an orphanage and so many like that. So, you don’t conclude a man’s tomorrow because you are not the one that created him.” The highlight of the event was a football match among the handicapped which thrilled the audience.

Oyo NUJ honours AGF

Tunde Braimah was the executive chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area between 1999 and 2002. Braimah, a lawyer went back to practice his first love, law, after leaving office. More than a decade after, he is back into active politics and has won the primary election to represent Kosofe in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the banner of the APC. In this interview with SEGUN AJIBOYE and INNOCENT DURU, he spoke about his expectations and what put him in good stead for legislative assignment. Excerpts: YOU defeated an incumbent in the recent primary election for the Lagos State House of Assembly in Kosofe Constituency. How did you achieve this? I will not subscribe to the use of the word ‘defeat’ because it was an intraparty primary election. The word defeat may sound inappropriate in that circumstance. It was a kind of arrangements of the best hands in the party to be selected for the job. There were other people that aspired for that post. It was an election of the most qualified person. What have you been up to, since you quit office as a local government chairman? I went back to law practice, but it

•The wheelchairs given out to beneficiaries

•An orphan (second left) receiving her own gift during the carnival.

cedures are used in court, though I know that there will be differences. I practiced law undiluted since 1999, doing nothing other than law practice. So what do you think should give you the edge seeking a legislative position? My profession as a lawyer has really helped me. As a practicing lawyer, I know how to present a motion and argue matters, though there may be slightly differences in the way legislative business is done because instead of me persuading somebody, I will be convincing them. And I will adapt, by the grace of God, to bring myself in tune to the rules of the House. There is enough time to

•Continued on page 34

HE Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ),Oyo State council has honoured the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Niyi Otunla, as the Public Officer of the Year. The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun while presenting the award to Mr Otunla over the weekend at the press centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan explained that he was honoured due to his unprecedented achievement over the years in the civil service. “The constitution of our state council empowers us to recognise five distinguish Nigerians, but last year we were only able to honour two. Today, we are honouring a distinguish son of this country who is unique and outstanding in his career. “He is from a humble background and he has risen to the peak of his

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

career. He is an epitome of industry, signifies hard work, and resilience. He is a man of integrity and simplicity. He didn’t limit himself in his career but worked hard to reach the peak. “he said He also commended the AGF for his exceptional selfless service and support to the people of Oyo State and the NUJ. “You are really an achiever and a visionary and we wish to state unequivocally that you are a pride to our generation, the people of Arawo and Oyo State. We will like to assure you of our support in your current and future assignments” Opadotun stated He challenged all journalists in the state to be thorough and work harder to reach the peak in their career.

Responding, Otunla, who was represented by a former Permanent Secretary in the state, Mr Wole Oladokun, expressed appreciation to the Oyo State council of the NUJ for the award and assured that he would continue to partner with the media in all his endeavour. Otunla said:” The reward for hard work is more work. I want to thank this union for the award. I am not the only Nigerian serving this country, but it’s a great honour for recognising me and I promise to do more for the service of humanity. I am impressed with this honour and I will try my best to contribute to its development and progress. He commended the leadership of the union for raising the standard of the union, urging them to be cautious in the forth coming election and should be professional in news reportage.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

•An orphan being presented with a gift at the event.

•Another orphan (middle) beng presented with a gift at the occasion.

•Dr. Abib Olamitoye, the Chairman, Governing Council of the Care People Foundation (left) presenting a gift to one of the orphans , while Mrs Tioluwani watches during the carnival.

•One of the orphans (middle) being presented with a gift at the event.

•Another of the orphans receiving a gift.

My agenda for Kosofe, by Braimah

•Braimah

Oyo NUJ honours AGF

•The wheelchairs given out to beneficiaries

•An orphan (second left) receiving her own gift during the carnival.

•Continued on page 34

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT Council chief inaugurates creche, promises more democracy dividends By Bode Monogbe

•Left to right: Deputy Executive Secretary, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon Remi Gbadegesin, Executive Secretary, Ejigbo LCDA Tajudeen Alabi, Head Budget, Planning and Statistics, Mrs Oluwakemi Aviseh-Akowe and Treasurer, Alli Balogun at the council’s 2015 Budget technical session, held at Hi Point Hotel, Ejigbo, Lagos. PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Lawmaker urges youths to emulate Ajimobi

MEMBER of the Oyo state House of Assembly Hon Olusegun Olaleye has urged the youth to emulate the doggedness and commitment of the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, towards repositioning the state. He said governor Ajimobi has improved the living standard of the masses especially the youth since he came on board adding that Ajimobi has proved to be the change Oyo state people have been clamouring for before 2011. The lawmaker who spoke during the presentation of empowerment items to youths in the Abadina area of the University of Ibadan boasted that he was a product of the university as well as the Abadina commu-

From Jeremiah Oke

nity. He donated gas cookers, home theatres, refrigerators’, grading machines, cash, cobblers machine among other gadget to the people. He said he was happy for the support of the youth who believed in him and mobilised for him during the last election. He urged them to do the same in the 2015 election. Olaleye who highlighted the achievement of the governor in the state implored the people to believe in the transformation and policies of the state government adding that they will enjoy more dividend of democracy beyond the 2015 if they voted for the governor in the forthcoming general elections.

“I want you people to emulate Governor Abiola Ajimobi for what he stands for. He has proved to be the change we are looking for prior to the 2011 general election. Ajimobi believes so much in the youth and he has contributed to the development of the state. I am very happy with the way you supported me and I want you to keep supporting us. You believe in our ideology and we appreciate you for that.” Reacting the president of the caretaker committee of the Abadina residents association Mr. Monday Okpokuru appreciated the gesture of the lawmaker and urged him to continue getting back to his community. He said the lawmaker has distinguished himself from other youths who began their lives from

the Abadina and prayed that he will get relected in 2015 elections. “you are a good ambassador of this area and we are proud of you” he noted. The youth leader Mr. Emeka Aliba who appreciated the lawmaker on behalf of the entire youths said they were happy for the generosity of the lawmaker and assured him of the total support of the area. He said the youth were happy for having the lawmaker who happened to be one of them in the House of Assembly. He confirmed that Olaleye has came to their rescue many times. “He is our brother and mentor. He has proved to be a leader with the way he has been dealing with us. I am now assuring him of our total support in the forthcoming elections” he assured.

Pregnancies by insane women worry Ondo government From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE rate at which insane women are being impregnated in Ondo State is giving concern to the state government. The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Yemi Mahmud said no fewer than 10 of such women across the state were delivered of babies last December and wondered who were the people responsible for their pregnancies. Besides, the state government is also worried at the high level of under-age pregnancy in the state, calling on parents and guardians to monitor their children closely. Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Akure at the weekend Dr. Mahmud said “the rate at which mad women get impregnated has become very alarming in the state now. We wonder who impregnated them and when these men slept with them. The state government has received reports of this ugly development happening in different places across the state.” She stated that “during the last Christmas celebration, when others were relaxing with members of their families, I was at the hospital with some insane women who wanted to deliver. Only on Christmas day four of them gave birth.” “We were surprised with this level of impunity. You wonder where theses men slept with the women and when they did it. It is clear that some men take advantage of the health condition of these women to perpetrate the act,” she lamented. Mrs Mahmud who also lamented the level at which under-age children were impregnated in the state, bemoaned the sexual recklessness among some under age children in the state. She said the state government was determined to cater for the needs of the less privileged individuals in the state and enjoined the people to embrace the health programmes of the present administration in the state.

HE Chairman, Yewa South Local Government Area in Ogun State,Alhaji Safiu Abiodun Odebiyi, has inaugurated a creche built by the council.The facility was personally equipped and furnished by Engineer Batunde Odunlami , the council’s head of administration. Speaking at the event,Alhaji Odebiyi expressed appreciation for the kind gesture of Odunlami, saying the well-being of the children of workers had been paramount to his administration since he came on board.He observed that the crèche would allow proper monitoring of workers’ children and also enable nursing mothers to pay attention to their mother while at work. He admonished workers to emulate the good spirit of Odunlami whose exemplary leadership style he has been enjoying since he assumed office.The council chief used the occasion to encourage voters to vote for the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the coming election ,assuring them of more dividends of democracy. Speaking earlier ,Odunlami said it was a rare privilege for him to work with the chairman and members of his executive council .He said his simplicity and focused life style had attracted large scale development to Yewa South Local Government Area. Giving reasons for his action, he said he observed that children could be a source of distraction to nursing mothers,hence the need to provide a conducive atmosphere for them while their mothers were at work.He added that other benefit to be enjoyed by the children include their interaction with one another, which according to him,will promote cordial relationship among parents. Among facilities at the crèche include: story books,different sets of standard toys,well furnished beddings and painted walls ,alphabets and hanging almanacs showing animals.

My agenda for Kosofe, by Braimah •Continued from page 33

•Mr Deji Aboderin presenting a hair drier to a beneficiary, Mrs Rasheedat Adetunji at the programme

APC chieftain empowers 400 in Ibadan

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Mr Deji Aboderin, last week empowered 400 men and women in Ibadan South East Local Government of the state. Aboderin, who decamped from Accord to the APC last year, distributed items such as grinding machines, sewing machines, generators, hair driers, freezers and hair clippers, among others to the needy across the local government. He was an aspirant to the House of Representatives for the Ibadan South East/North East Constituency before decamping to the APC. He said the empowerment had become a regular exercise for him

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

because he was born into a family of givers. “In my family, we are givers. I inherited this from my parents, uncles and others whom I grew up to know as givers, empowering the poor. So, it is in my blood. I believe that these little things will help the beneficiaries. “Again, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done a lot of empowerment projects. So I moved over to a family of like minds.” The beneficiaries, who were mostly women and artisans, expressed gratitude to Aboderin for the gesture and promised to utilize the items to improve their well-be-

ing. One of them, Mrs Rasheedat Adetunji, who is a hair dresser, said: “I appreciate that Mr Aboderin is helping and empowering people. If beneficiaries work hard to multiply the items, I believe we will earn a better living. Some people have completed their apprenticeship but cannot afford to buy equipment to start up. There is no doubt that this will reduce poverty among us. It will boost our business.” At the empowerment programme were party leaders in the local government including the Chairman, Chief Kayode Arowolo, Alhaji. Mufutau Adisa, Mrs Abigail Olufunlola and Alhaji. Yunus Adeogun.

prepare for the election. My background should be a good start for me to build on. Moreover, I also have the benefit of having held an executive position. So, I think the combination of the two experiences would go a long way to assist me in carrying out my responsibilities to my people. You said something about goodwill. How easy is it for you to have maintained you followers these past years? The world is like a talking drum. It faces some and at the same time backs others. But you must always believe in yourself. There are three ways of judging people’s character- what he says, what he does and what people says about him. What he says and what he does are the most important things. What people say about him, of course, may not be a fair assessment of who he is. But what you do says a lot about you and people must know who you are. Character is the most important thing, because that is who you are. For instance, you may be reputed to be a womanizer, but it may a very wrong opinion about you. But for me, there is nobody that I cannot deal with. If someone has a wrong impression of me, I try to keep up with him, because I know that with time things will change. When you are persistent on an issue or in your relationship with people, they will get to know who you if they allow their minds to be open. Majority of the people in Lagos are hard working people whose desire is good representation. Therefore,

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT The hospitality industry in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has received a new addition with the opening of De Xambdra International Hotel. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

De Xambdra hotel opens for business in Ado-Ekiti

HE world of the hospitality industry in Ekiti State has been taken a notch higher with the recent opening of De Xambdra International Hotel in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Located on 12, Main Street, behind the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ire-Akari Estate, the facility brings to the table extra touch or class for those looking for best services in the industry. The hotel has 68 rooms reputed to be the biggest in the city while additional 38 rooms will be added in the next couple of days to accommodate more customers. The presidential lodge of the hotel has six rooms for guests of its status and another five rooms for their aides with swimming pools as another incentive. The hotel also boasts of an outside bar, general bar, executive bar, uninterrupted internet service, laundry service and restaurants serving local, continental and intercontinental dishes. Speaking with The Nation on why he decided to set up the hotel, the Chairman of De Xambdra, Mr. Gbenga Bankole, said he knows what hospitality business means overseas where he had lived for over twenty four years hence the need to replicate same in his hometown of Ado-Ekiti. When asked of why he chose to name the hotel De Xambdra, Bankole explained that the name is a Greek word which means God’s place or God’s land. Bankole said he was also motivated to establish the hotel to contribute to the economy of the state and give employment opportunities to scores of young men and women to earn their living. He disclosed that so far, 58 workers have been employed to work in the hotel with the likelihood of employing more workers as operations expand. Bankole explained: “I established this hotel to enable me contribute to the development of the state because charity begins at home. “We discovered that there are many unemployed people in the state and this is just one of the means to take some unemployed people off the streets and give them means of livelihood. “We could have done this in Lagos, Abuja or any other bigger cities but we chose to establish it in Ado-Ekiti. Majority of our people here are farmers and if people continue to leave the state, it will affect us. “I decided to set it up here after many years abroad and it is my desire to develop the state and contribute to its economy and make people enjoy what is enjoyed elsewhere. “That was the main reason why I looked inward and decide to bequeath this to posterity”.

•De Xambdra Hotel

Speaking along the same line, the hotel consultant, Mr. Bola Olakunori, described De Xambdra as a laudable project which was conceived to add spice to hotel business in Ado-Ekiti in particular and Ekiti State in general. Olakunori said the hotel will benefit Ado-Ekiti and its environs noting that the number of previously unemployed graduates now working there will have positively effects on their families. He said further: “The quality service we render here is incomparable to the best anywhere and the location of this hotel is very good. It is located in a place that is serene, quiet and it is not a place where crime thrives. “The security here is second to none because we have policemen always around to protect our guests. The uninterrupted internet service is always available. “Our swimming pool at the presidential lodge is second to none, our staff are well-trained and always in action. The environment here is wonderful and the scenery around here is very inviting.” Olakunori said the vision is to make De Xambdra one of the market leaders in Ado-Ekiti within the next three to four years and a place that will serve customers best and give them value for their money. Before the hotel opened its doors for business, there were training programmes for its first set of workers in its quest to justify the reasons for the establishment of the hospitality facility. The new members of staff numbering 58 including males and females were gathered in the conference room of the hotel for all-round trainings that would make them fit into the standards already set by the owners of the hotel which many

•The hotel bar

have described as a compliment of a status the Ekiti state capital is approaching. Delivery a lecture on environmental consciousness, the chairman of SAJOE Services, Mr. Joel Ogunmodede said the pioneer staff must not be carried away by the personality of their guests, emphasizing that guests vary from one degree to the other with different intentions. He stressed that different people come to hotels with different purposes being a public place and charged the trainees to be hygienic in the task of sustaining the pace at

which the hotel has been designed to operate as a unique establishment geared towards adding values to the existence of the state capital. While emphasizing that the attitude of every staff has an impact on the image of the hotel, Mr. Ogunmodede urged all staff to work together as a family with the aim of justifying the huge investment already committed to the project which he said would go a long way in re-orientating the hospitality business in the state. Addressing the pioneer staff, Chairman of the Hotel, Mr. Bankole, charged the new staff to be diligent,

‘Job creation will eliminate insurgency’

REATION of jobs and skill acquisition programmes have been identified as antidote to insurgency and politicallymotivated violence in the country. A traditional ruler in Ekiti State, Oba Peter Falade made the remark recently at the graduation ceremony of the Solar Energy Training Scheme (SETS) organized by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Ado-Ekiti. Speaking as the special guest of honour at the event, Oba Falade

Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

who is the Obaloja of Oloje-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area expressed worry about the youths’ obsession with politics in Ekiti State. The monarch expressed dismay with the number of youths who showed up at the programme saying had the event been a political rally, it would have attracted the youth in large numbers. The royal father explained that massive unemployment in the land

gave rise to the Boko Haram insurgency and the use of youths as thugs by desperate politicians. “We need more of this programme, assuming there is a political rally, there will be more people especially our youths here and we want this type of programme at the grassroots. “If the unemployment problem is addressed, crime will reduce. It is the massive unemployment in the land that has given rise to the Boko Haram menace.

“If you graduate and have a job, you will not want to be used as a political thug. This type of programmes will get our youths positively engaged”, Oba Falade explained. Speaking earlier, the NDE Director General, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, explained that solar energy has become the obvious alternative to the prevailing epileptic power problem in the country. Abubakar whose speech was read by the NDE State Coordinator, Mrs.

honest, forthright, determined and focused in discharging their duties and emphasized that they must avoid acts that could tarnish their image and that of the hotel. The Chairman added that protocols and due process must be followed in the delivery of the worldclass services that has been designed to make the hotel a home away from home for the guests. Those trained at the 3-day programme include the kitchen staff, security personnel, receptionists, drivers, and bar attendants.

Adeola Shafaru, stated that unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions were trained in solar energy generation from the abundant sunshine across Nigeria. He disclosed that a total number of 700 unemployed graduates across the federation were trained in the design, procurement, installation and maintenance of solar energy equipment for the harvesting of solar energy for electricity generation. The NDE boss described solar energy as a viable alternative source of energy as the traditional sources become scarcer.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT The official quarters built for judges and magistrates in Oyo town, Oyo State have been taken over by undesirable elements after they were abandoned by the jurists. BODE DUROJAIYE reports that the development is causing delay in the dispensation of justice in the ancient town.

By Nneka Nwaneri

Rodents, termites take over judges quarters in Oyo M ISCREANTS, rodents, termites and similar dangerous creatures have taken over the official quarters of Judges and Magistrates deployed to the temple of justice in the Oyo judicial division of the Oyo State judiciary. And unless urgent steps are taken to rehabilitate the buildings built since colonial time and already in various stages of collapse, the hopes of litigants in the area in securing smooth dispensation of justice may be forlorn. The quarters located at the government reservation area, Apitipiti, have not only been overgrown with thick weeds, all the fittings and house hold materials inside have been completely vandalized. Our correspondent reliably learnt than judges decided to abandon the quarters some years ago, for what they described as “security laxity”. The jurists argument, it was gathered was that the only access road to the GRA was porous, thereby making the quarters vulnerable to criminal activities. Consequently, judges and even the magistrates have had to travel from Ibadan, the state capital (a distance of between one or two hours depending on the traffic along the highway) to the ancient town to attend to litigations. Often times, both the litigants and lawyers were disappointed and frustrated as a result of frequent adjournment of cases by the judges, who could not come to court on time and as often as expected due to the stressful and heavy traffic hold ups along Ibadan /Oyo road. The situation has become worrisome as suspects awaiting trials are languishing in the federal prisons at Abolongo, along Ogbomoso Road, indefinitely, due to inability of judges to try them as at when due. Some of the lawyers interviewed told The Nation that the frequent adjournment of cases was an aberration to the dispensation of justice. According to them, “we are really disturbed and feeling bad about

•The dilapidated Judges Quarters in Oyo town

the development. But don’t blame the judges, but the government that fails to provide enabling environment for the jurists to operate, it is indeed unfortunate.’’ A litigant, Mr. Adio Adelana,

wondered why the state government could not construct befitting residential quarters for the judges and provide adequate security for them. “I have a case in one of the courts

in Oyo town, which is being adjourned frequently due to inability of the presiding judge to come down from Ibadan, as a result of traffic hold up. It is a worrisome development indeed”.

Slain police officer’s family cries out over alleged neglect

OR the family of one of the four policemen killed in the recent armed robbery attack on IkareAkoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State, it has been a tale of woe since their breadwinner, Corporal Kola Ogidan was killed in the January 13 attack that also claimed the lives of 19 others. Still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of Ogidan, the family is faced with lack of money to organize a befitting burial for their slain son. And their problem is compounded by the police authority’s seeming reluctance to offer any form of assistance. The family, in a statement, alleged neglect by the state police command and has therefore cried out to the Inspector General of Police Mr Sueiman Abba to come to their aid and intervene in the matter.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

They said the command complained of paucity of fund when asked for money to organize Ogidan’s funeral rites. Ogidan who was popularly called “Kola Team” was attached to Akure Road Police post in Ikare Akoko and was shot to death on the day of the incident by the armed robbers who invaded the town. The family noted that the late Ogidan’s entitlements from the Police force were also not released by the State Police authorities. The family noted that the deceased Police Officer who was survived by an aged mother, pregnant wife and children died while serving his nation, hence the need for the government to compensate them. It was learnt that Late Ogidan

Succour for families of late neighbourhood watchers

was one of the few Police Officers that faced the robbers in an attempt to protect the masses. Also, it was learnt that the deceased’s family had met with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke on the matter but nothing positive came out of the meeting. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo could not be reached for comments. Residents of the town have however called on the Nigerian Army to establish a military check point in the town to forestall further ugly occurrence. The State Assembly at its sitting on Tuesday also called for the establishment of Military post in Ikare-Akoko Community. A community Leader, Chief Saliu Ojelabi said the community needed heavy presence of security men to ensure security of its people.

The late Ogidan

OR the families of deceased members of the Lagos State’ community security outfit, the Neighbourhood Watchers, the labours of their lost loved ones have not been in vain. The Lagos State Government in recognition of the services rendered to the state by these Neighbourhood Watchers some of whom died between 2013 and last year, recently donated N250,000 each to the bereaved to cushion the effect of the loss of their bread winners. One of the beneficiaries, 23year –old Saheed Kobomoje lost his father Sulaimon Kobomoje in February last year. Following his father’s death, Saheed has been the breadwinner of the family and together with his mother has been doing menial jobs to sustain their family. He was particularly grateful to the Lagos State Government for the assistance. Like the Kobomojes, other beneficiaries were full of thanks for the government for the support as they relived their ordeals since the death of their fathers to The Nation. While making the presentation to the families on behalf of the Lagos State Government, the Commissioner for Rural Development Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi expressed the government’s condolence and thanked the deceased for sacrificing their lives, time and family to protect their community. The token amount, he said was just to sustain the families and urged them to invest it wisely to yield results in no time. “These men have in their little ways contributed their quotas to the development of Lagos State. This reward is coming because their services were appreciated and noted by the government. “This is just our own token show of appreciation for the services the late watchers rendered and served diligently as neighborhood watchers. The money is meant to support the family for the service their fathers rendered to Lagos State while alive.” The Commissioner urged the bereaved to individually and collectively look inward to know what they can do for themselves outside government. A total of 20 families benefited from the gesture, they include: the lates Olufemi Ajayi; Saheed Sanusi: Adisa Bello; Adekunle Daramola; Ezekiel Akinbami; Sunday Ogunlaja; Oladimeji Olabisi. To the widows and children, the money will come handy in establishing and investing in a trade to sustain their families. There were other peculiar cases of serving watchers who were down with one form of ailment or the other. They were given N500,000 each to assist them with their treatment. While Mr Job Adikwu has spinal cord injury, 47 year old Owolabi Odufuwa has kidney problem.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Access Bank to become most respected African bank

CCESS Bank Plc plans to become world’s most respected African bank and a top-three brands in all business segments within the next three years.This is hingedon its ability to harness net proceeds of N53 billion rights issue to strengthen its capital base and explore new growth opportunities. Access Bank Plc is offering about 7.63 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.90 to existing shareholders on the basis of one new share for every three shares held. The rights issue opened on January 26 and will close on March 4. In a strategic preview of the bank, the management of Access Bank outlined that the ongoing recapitalisation is part of its strategic initiatives aimed at realising the bank’s strategic vision of becoming the world’s most respected African bank by 2017 and attain a top three position in any of its chosen market segments, based on all performing metrics. The bank stated that it would focus on five key broad initiatives over the next the next three years with each initiative targeted at various areas of the bank’s operations. These included customer relationship, products, delivery channels, relationship management and product pricing. The bank stated that its number one priority will be its customers and it will continue to focus on improving and deepening the relationship with the customers by

Stories by Taofik Salako

embarking on customer sub-segmentation, which will improve the feedback process and transform the whole customer experience. Under the superior product initiative, the bank plans to develop superior banking products, which will act as “game changers”, tailormade for specific customer needs. According to the bank, as the Nigerian banking industry becomes more competitive, it can increase its market share by developing products that offer better value and by showing a better understanding of individual customer needs. “The bank is in the process of optimising its services distribution channels. The goal under this initiative is to improve the service delivery channels to customers by providing a wide range of distribution channels, such as mobile banking and mini cash centres, while improving the bank’s operational efficiency by rationalising its branch network,” the bank stated. The bank also plans to automate and improve its product pricing to maximise returns and minimise risks, in line with its risk management guidelines. This is expected to boost profitability by improving its return on risk-adjusted capital model for pricing its products and services. Under the relationship management initiative, Access Bank aims at maintaining and strengthening

its relationship with existing customers, while attracting new customers. The bank plans to attract new customers based on trust and the strong working relationship with existing clients. Chairman, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, noted that in furtherance of the bank’s objective of ranking as one of the top three banks in its chosen markets, it has identified certain sectors and market segments as growth opportunities for the next five years, adding that enhancement of the bank’s capital base is critical to the realisation of the potentials in the identified sectors. He outlined that the capital raising is also to stand the bank in good chance in the event of regulatory headwinds. According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria recently designated eight banks, including Access Bank, as Systematically Important Banks (SIBs). SIBs will be required to have an additional one per cent buffer of tier1 capital above the minimum capital required by other banks. “These developments make the enhancement of the bank’s capital base imperative for the realisation of its strategic objectives,” Oyebode said.

He outlined that the net proceeds of the offer would be used to upgrade the information and communication technology (ICT) systems of the bank to provide better services and build a more robust ICT platform as well as upgrade the branch network and facilities to serve the growing number of clients and further improve the working environment of staff. He added that the bank would also use part of the proceeds to further develop its distribution channel infrastructure to provide better and more efficient services to clients while it would also augment its working capital to expand its loan book in its identified sectors of growth in line with its medium term strategic objectives. Access Bank would also use part of the proceeds to pursue opportunities for international expansion. Oyebode noted that the bank has put in place adequate measures to safeguard it against possible headwinds and risks. According to him, management of Access Bank has broadly categorised the potential risks into risks to the entire banking industry and risks specific to Access Bank. Potential risks to the entire

banking industry include headwinds from regulatory changes. The bank has set comfort buffers above regulatory limits to reduce the impact of any unexpected regulatory changes. Potential risks specific to the bank include, but are not limited to, composition of the bank’s deposits, loan book concentration, and foreign currency risks. “The bank has strong internal risk management teams dedicated to monitoring all of the bank’s, identified risks and exposures. Our governance and risk-management framework policies remain strong and robust. Over the years, these policies have protected the bank whilst allowing us to pursue opportunities that drive long-term growth and value. The board of directors is confident that the bank has the appropriate capacity to protect and safeguard the interests of its depositors and shareholders at all times,” Oyebode stated. He urged shareholders to pick their rights, pointing out that by accepting their rights, they will be supporting the bank to further consolidate its position as a Tier I bank and be well positioned to achieve its strategic market leadership objectives.

Tor Nygard steps down as Berger Paints MD

HE managing director of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard, has disengaged from the services of the company following the expiration of his contract on January 31, 2015. The board of directors of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc has appointed Mr. Jatin Madan, the chief operating officer, as the acting chief executive officer pending the appointment of a substantive managing director. Mr. Nygard joined the company on November 2, 2009 as the deputy managing director designate and was later appointed executive director. His tenure was associated with a number of reforms, including the expansion of the colour world centres and the factory modernisation

project that is currently being implemented. In a related development, the company has announced the appointment of Mr. Sanjay Datwani to its board of directors. Datwani graduated from Boston University, Massachusetts, USA with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. He is the managing director of Clayton Finance Limited, a company which specialises in export of raw materials for Industry to West African region. He also works as a property consultant and developer in the United Kingdom. With over 18 years experience in international trade, finance and banking, Datwani brings a wealth of experience to the board.

Pension assets hit N4.6tr

HE NATIONAL Pension Commission, PenCom, at the weekend said the nation’s total pension assets, had risen above N4.6 trillion. Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who disclosed this at a one-day dialogue on ‘The capital market and 2015 federal budget’, organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in collaboration with Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria and the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, said it was heartening to note that things are really looking up for the pension scheme thus far. She said with more than 21 pension fund administrators and over 6.3 million contributors nationwide, the pension scheme holds a lot of promise as a major source of socio-economic development. “Payment of pension under the contributing pension scheme is now prompt and consistent since 2007. So far, over 6.3 million contributors have been registered into the scheme since its inception.”

While noting that the Pension Reform Act 2004 was not perfect, she however, said the re-enacted Pension Reform act, 2014, has been designed in such a way to cover those in the public and private sub-sector. The PenCom boss, who was represented by Mr. Olulana Olayemi, also hinted of plans by the Commission to partner with investors in the capital market with a view to developing the sector. According to her, pension fund is very important in view of the fact that it produces long-term funds for the capital market. PenCom, she said, would come out with useful regulations to support investment windows within the market. The capital market operators, she maintained, should be able to come up with new products that will make use of pension assets. “On our part, we will come with risk acceptance criteria to guide the process. We would be very flexible. This is just to show the extent we are willing to go to support capital market,” she stressed.

•From left:Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adeola Adetunji; Chief Executive Director and Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie; and Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) Mr. Peter Bamkole; during the launch of the Enterprise Development Centre new building at Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

SEC to review new minimum capitalisation quirements for various capital marHE Securities and Exchange requirements ket functions from December 31, Commission (SEC) has con-

firmed that it would review the new minimum capital base requirements for capital market operators. Acting director general, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said the apex capital market regulator would return to the recapitalisation issue in the next five months. Gwarzo told a team of the council and management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that visited him that the Commission was delighted that it has had a good collaboration with all stakeholders on the issue of the recapitalisation and it “will return to the exercise in the next five months”. The report confirmed earlier exclusive report by The Nation last week that the new management of SEC would review certain capital market policies and processes. SEC had also last week presented draft of new rules and regulations and amendments for public comment.

Relying on an impeccable source, The Nation had reported that SEC may undertake extensive review of its policies and modus operandi with a view to aligning them with its core mission of investors’ protection and capital market development. The source had said the new management of SEC plans to review existing policies and frameworks for its operations to give a new verve to the operations of the apex capital market regulators. The erstwhile executive commissioner, operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo took over as the acting director general of the apex capital market regulator on Monday January 12. He succeeded Ms Arunma Oteh, who completed her five-year tenure on Wednesday January 7, 2015. It should be noted that SEC had extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital re-

2014 to September 30, 2015. Before the extension, some 262 capital market operators had met their various capital requirements. However, the larger segment of the capital market operators had called for a review of the minimum capital base, arguing that it violated the principles of risk-based approach that should govern the capitalisation of multi-operators market. SEC had 2013 announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital market functions under a new minimum capital structure that was initially scheduled to take off by January 1, 2015. 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.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Women are increasingly playing significant roles in transforming the economy and helping in poverty reduction. One of them is Achenyo Idachaba, Founder and Creative Director, MitiMeth,who is using water weeds to create handicrafts. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Weaving water weeds into handicrafts

ATER hyacinth is considered one of the most notorious aquatic weeds. It proliferates rapidly in lakes, dams and irrigation channels and chokes them. But an entrepreneur, Achenyo Idachaba, Founder and Creative Director, MitiMeth,an Ibadan based social enterprise, has now shown that the infamous weed can be used to make handicrafts. Though a bane, to Idachaba, it is a business opportunity as she is cashing in on its fiber. Setting up shop in Ibadan, she began harvesting the water hyacinth and transforming the product into intricately handcrafted everyday items. Idachaba is showcasing locally produced arts and crafts made from water hyacinth. The patronage she is getting from people has been overwhelming. Everybody is amazed by the quality and strength of the materials, and beauty of the products from which she gets trade inquiries. She upcycles water hyacinth into aesthetic handicrafts,including home décor and personal accessories. By using invasive species, she encourages local artisans to create hand-made products. For example, women and youths are trained to produce marketable objects from the water hyacinth. This gives them the opportunity to earn decent wages and enjoy consistent employment. Before she started the project, she was in a great dilemma and uncertain about the success and acceptability of such experiments. Today, she is happy that within four years of the project, she has been able to train many artisans. The project covers many skilled and expert artisans in the different areas of the country. Not only that , she has gotten the opportunity to develop and promote an innovative ecofriendly handicraft, using the abundant water hyacinth and transformed the lives of the rural poor, and at the same time turning the water hyacinth from being merely a wild water-weed to ‘pearl of water. The craft is highly flexible as

•Ropes made from water hyacinth

•Idachaba

there is no fixed time for the artisans to make their products. It is also less cumbersome than other work available in villages, such as as farm labour. Further, artisans need not come out of their house in search of jobs. These are some of the reasons behind this craft receiving such

prompt and wide acceptance among the rural women. She has also introduced the district ‘mentor’ scheme to help the artisans, regularly visit them, guide them to improve the quality of their products and finally collect their products for sale. Right now, the irregular supply of cane and the high cost of bamboo crafts has led to search for options for easily available raw-materials such as water hyacinth which could enable a sustainable option for rural artisans in these crafts. The water hyacinth craft has gained popularity, as it requires minimal effort to produce the dried stems needed for making eco-friendly products for both regular use and decorative purposes including bags, hats, basketry, slippers, mats, lampshed, and ornaments among others. But how much is MitiMeth worth? She said the enterprise is still a small business. She has eight employees. Idachaba has been a recipient of a few grant awards and prizes , including YouWIN!

Women, Standard Chartered Bank’s Dragon’s Den and the 2014 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. The awards have encouraged her to grow her workforce as well as purchase equipment and other raw materials. It has also helped the organisation engage in research and development and embark on field work. Were there times things didn’t go the way she wanted as an entrepreneur? “Absolutely and as an entrepreneur one should expect that to happen. but I have always believed that if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again,” she said, adding that as an entrepreneur, there is a need for a backup or contingency plan in case the original plan does not work out well.” I started off as an entrepreneur in the services industry doing some consulting in the environmental area.” Idachaba worked on some great waste management projects but the opportunities to do such consulting were irregular. It was that experience that helped prepare her for her pet project- MitiMeth, mak-

ing eco-friendly products. MitiMeth, she further revealed, is a tangible expression of the message she had been preaching on waste recovery and its utilisation. On the whole, she loves the social and economic impact created by her organisation’s water hyacinth handicrafts solution. “I love it because it is a “hands-on” approach. I love being able to help people see water hyacinth in a different light through awareness creation and capacity building. I love the fact that I am not boxed in a corner and I am able to try out different things, leverage my corporate experience and be creative at the same time,” she submitted. Born in the United States of America, she spent her early years between Nigeria and the US. Today, Idachaba has built a thriving career as a computer scientist and business analyst. A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where she obtained a B.Sc in Computer Science and Economics. Idachaba also has an M.Sc in Applied Computer Science from Illinois State University and worked as an IT Programme Analyst for a few years before getting an M.B.A from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Prior to establishing MitiMeth, Idachaba worked for ExxonMobil in the United States, where she held a variety of Regional and Global Advisor positions. In 2009, relocated to Nigeria, precisely Ibadan, where she set up an environmental consulting business, to start a new chapter in her life as a social entrepreneur. MitiMeth was coined from the phrase Mitigating Methane, a name she got when the idea of utilising aquatic weeds for beneficial use came to her. “I was doing a bit of research on opportunity areas for mitigating methane emissions (a potent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. My aquatic weed of interest (water hyacinth) also happened to be rich in methane content due to its organic nature,” she explained.

Promoting rural enterprises The last two decades have been challenging for the people living in the villages with growing unemployment and dearth of business opportunities. But social entrepreneurs are emerging to help young people to return to the rural settings and establish village enterprises, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

N some surrounding towns, Southwest of the country, young people are now involved in agro businesses and farms reclaimed from the forests. Towns around Lala, Idiroko in Ogun state and Ogbomosho in Oyo State are welcoming village enterprises promoting cultivation of cucumbers, tomatoes and watermelon. The young entrepreneurs are getting better prices for their produce and more control over value chains as they move them through trucks to Lagos. As the waste farmland roads are changing fast,the creation of rural agro business growth networks is helping rural areas overcome barriers to growth as more rural business are starting up, giving a boost to local communities and unlocking the economic potential of rural areas. The rugged lowlands are now taken over by agro enterprises and plantations as businesses are scrambling for land to invest in

large agro-enterprises. While there seems to be a positive effect as local businesses investing in these areas, building infrastructure or buying processing equipment, the outcome, however is that some young entrepreneurs are smiling to banks with a lot of youths now determined to pursue agricultural business instead of a plush job posting. One of those rallying youths to go rural and establish thriving agro ventures is Chief Executive, X-Ray Farms Consulting, Akinoluwa Abayomi Mogaji, popularly known as African farmer. To a number of youths scrambling for farmlands to do business, Mogaji is a thought-leader in promoting and facilitating economic participation. Through his mentorship, the nation is witnessing the explosion of youth empowered agribusinesses. Speaking with The Nation, Mogaji said he has a divine mandate to rid the streets of unemployed youths and

turn them into agro entrepreneurs.This is in line with national growth and industrial objectives which aim to increase competitiveness and support for cooperatives and small businesses. His main investment areas are information and communication technology and media, and food and agro-processing. His strategic project is focused on increasing the inclusion of young people in early-stage projects. While some crops are identified as important drivers of growth, each project will be judged on economic merit and ability to deliver on the development mandate. The impact is not driven only by financial terms, but by the empowerment dividend. One of the cardinal programmes of his organisation is to support young entrepreneurs wishing to start new businesses access rural lands to establish commercially viable projects that will benefit communities in rural areas. He acknowledged that many farmers

and aspiring ones contend with high cost of capital such as lands and machineries. However, he has discovered a way youths, workers and retirees can explore government land option wasting across the country. He urged people not to consider their obstacles to be greater than their dreams. Mogaji, who started farming about two decades ago while still an undergraduate, said he has plans to assist aspiring agro entrepreneurs access cheap land and affordable tractors. Besides this, he conducts an xray of the proposed farming business, identifying what needs to be done for the business to be productive or more profitable. The xray can even be done before the person commits any funds into the business. For example, watermelon farming can make farmers comfortable. This is happening in areas such as Oyo and Ogun States where he has gotten a number of youths

•Mogaji

to start ventures with precision farming, irrigation system and improved varieties that help them to attain economic gain. The farmers are getting almost seven times of what they invested in cultivation practices. Years ago, he faced many challenges. Today, he has discovered a solution that is helping him produce maize all year round using irrigation; watermelon, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers and cassava. He started commercial farming in 1996.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL Apple to sell $5b bonds

• From left: Dr. Alo; Head of Internal Audit, Berger Paints Nigeria, Mrs. Bamidele Daramola and the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jatin Madan, at the event.

ECHNOLOGY giant Apple is expected to raise at least $5billion (£3.3billion) by issuing bonds. Some of the funds raised will be used for Apple’s share buyback programme. The California-based company plans to return more than $130billion to shareholders by the end of this year. The move comes despite the company sitting on a cash pile of $178billion. Apple will raise less than half the $12billon generated in April, last yaer when it was last active in the US bond market. Some of the bonds will mature in five years, while others will not do so for another three decades, reports suggest. Analysts have said Apple could increase the amount it returns to its investors to as much as $200billion over the next three years. Even when Apple’s $35billion of debt is taken into account, it still

Don’t use inferior paints, Berger Paints chair warns • Opens Sango Ota outlet

Obama plans tax on US C firms overseas to fix roads

NITED States President Barack Obama plans to close a tax loophole that allows US firms to avoid paying taxes on overseas profits, the White House says. His 2016 budget would impose a one-off 14per cent tax on US profits stashed overseas, as well as a 19per cent tax on any future profits as they are earned. The $238billion (£158billion) raised would be used to fund road projects in the US. But analysts say it is unlikely the Republican-controlled Congress will approve the proposals. Mr Obama told broadcaster NBC that despite several years of economic improvement, wages and incomes for middle class families were “just now ticking up”. “They haven’t been keeping pace over the last 30 years compared to, you know, corporate

profits and what’s happening to folks in the very top,” he said. Printed copies of U.S. President Barack Obama’s proposed 2016 budget that will be handed out on Capitol Hill in Washington, 2 February 2015. Research firm Audit Analytics calculated last April that US firms in total had $2.1trillion-worth of profits stashed abroad. It found US conglomerate General Electric had the most profit stored overseas at $110billion. Tech giants Microsoft and Apple and drugs companies Pfizer and Merck all featured in the top five. No tax is currently due on foreign profits as long as they are not brought into the US. As a result some companies put their earnings in low tax jurisdictions and simply leave them there. The White House said its plans for an immediate 14per cent tax would raise $238billion, which

would be used to fund a wider $478billion public works programme of road, bridge and public transport upgrades. “This transition tax would mean that companies have to pay US tax right now on the $2trillion they already have overseas, rather than being able to delay paying any US tax indefinitely,” a White House official said. The official said that after this one-off tax, the 19per cent permanent tax firms would have to pay on overseas profits “would level the playing field, and encourage firms to create jobs here at home.” Customers queue to wait for the opening of a new Apple Store in Chongqing municipality 31 January 2015 Apple would be among the American firms most affected by the tax rise The tax rate is far lower than the current US top corporate tax rate of 35per cent.

Oil prices rebound on signs of output cuts

HE price of oil rallied on Monday as investors speculated that the falling cost of crude may have ended. Brent crude was up 1.3per cent at $53.65 a barrel, having reached $55, while US oil rose 1.7per cent to $48.52. It followed the release of data showing that US demand for leasing oil rigs was slowing, suggesting that producers might be preparing to cut output. Meanwhile, US giant ExxonMobil reported a 21per cent fall in quarterly earnings on lower oil and gas production. Last week, data showed that more than 90 US oil rigs were idled, the larg-

est number to be wound down in a single day since the mid-1980s. Continue reading the main story[an error occurred while processing this directive] “There were a lot of people on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity to buy,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB. Monday’s price rise extended the gains made last week, and boosted oil and gas share prices. Tullow Oil rose almost seven per cent, while BG Group climbed five per cent. Since last summer, the prices of Brent and UK West Texas Intermediate Crude have fallen from above $100 a barrel.

“Most market observers have been surprised by the scale of the decrease, and expectations of US oil output this year will no doubt be lowered accordingly,” analysts at Commerzbank said in a research note. “The foundation for a steady price recovery in the second half of the year has thus been laid.” Meanwhile, Exxon, the world’s largest publicly traded oil company, saw profit in the fourth quarter fall to $6.57billion (£4.37billion), from $8.35billion for the same three months the year before. Oil and natural gas production fell 3.8per cent, Exxon said.

Eurozone manufacturing growth remains ‘meagre’

UROZONE manufacturing growth remained “meagre” in January as factories slashed prices at the fastest rate since mid-2013, a survey has said. The latest Markit/CIPS eurozone Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 51 in January from 50.6 in December. Although this was only just above the 50 mark, which indicates growth, it was the strongest figure for six months. Eurozone manufacturers are facing a duel problem of weak domestic demand and export performance, Markit said. Official data showed deflation in the eurozone deepened in January

with prices falling 0.6 per cent in the month compared with a year earlier. Markit’s survey found the falling price of oil drove average manufacturing costs down at the fastest pace for five-and-a-half years. Lower cost pressures were partly reflected in average selling prices. Output charges fell for the fifth month in a row and registered the biggest fall for more than a year and a half. The survey was carried out before the European Central Bank (ECB) announced its •1.1trillion (£820billion) bond buying programme, which Markit’s chief economist Chris Williamson, said

should boost business and consumer confidence in the eurozone and weaken the euro further, helping to boost exports. The single currency has already fallen more than six per cent versus the US dollar since the start of the year. Mr Williamson said: “Eurozone manufacturing showed signs of pulling out of the doldrums at the start of the year, but the rate of expansion remained disappointingly meagre, vindicating the ECB’s decision to take drastic action to revive the economy. “The currency’s fall should benefit exporting manufacturers in particular over coming months.”

has $142billion in cash. Almost 90per cent of the cash is held outside the US, and it would have to pay the top corporate tax rate of 35per cent if it returned the money from abroad, which is why it is borrowing the money instead. Apple is rated by Moody’s as Aa1, the second-highest available, and bonds from companies with high credit ratings are popular with investors. Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs are the banks managing the capital-raising. Last week, Apple reported a record quarterly profit for a public company of $18billion for the three months to December 31, with revenue up almost 30per cent to $74.6billion after the new iPhone 6 proved a huge hit with consumers globally. Shares in Apple rose 0.9 per cent to $118.17 in morning trading in New York on Monday, valuing the company at almost $684billion.

HAIRNMAN, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc Dr Oladimeji has warned Nigerians to avoid inferior paints, because they damage walls, adding that when this happens, they are often more expensive to correct. He gave the warning at the opening of the firm’s otlet at Sango Ota in Ogun State. He said in the last one year, Berger Paints set up some sales outlets, including one at Mushin, Lagos State. Alo said the outlet would enhance proximity to customers and ensure the availability of genuine Berger Paints products in the area. According to Alo, the outlet would enhance accessibility, visibility and availability of the company’s products to its customers living in and around the state. He said the outlet would also serve as a channel for distributing Berger’s well-known brands, such as Luxol, Clinstay, Super Star, and Classic, among others, which have continued to enjoy extreme popularity across the country. He further said the company had

commenced full automation of its production facility, adding that the automation would not only revolutionise production and distribution processes, but will also have positive impact on costs, product quality, turn –around time and profitability. He said efforts were on-going to boost the company’s managerial capacity and make the company more nimble and adaptable to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the economy. “Of particular importance to us is the implementation of the local content policy in the oil and gas sector and the prospect it holds for us, given the strategic alliances and partnership we have formed with Kumkang Korea Chemicals Limited (KCC), a South Korean company, which is one of the largest manufacturers of marine and protection paints in the world, and technical partner to Hyundai Heavy Industries,” he said. Berger Paints supplied over N200 million worth of marine and protection paints to Hyundai heavy industries to the new vessels for Nigeria LNG.

Exxon fourth-quarter profit tops estimate

XXON Mobil Corp said its quarterly profit fell 21 per cent as weak oil prices took a toll, but results topped Wall Street expectations due to a tax adjustment and higher earnings from its chemicals business. Shares of Exxon rose 1.2 per cent to $88.46 in mid-day New York Stock Exchange trading. Global oil markets are oversupplied at a time when demand is waning, sending crude prices tumbling by more than half since June. Investors are closely watching oil companies’ responses to the collapse, which has included job cuts and reduced capital expenditure budgets.

Mindful of lower oil prices, Exxon said it will slash its share buyback program in the first quarter by more than half to $1 billion. In the fourth quarter, Exxon spent $3 billion on share repurchases. Rival Chevron Corp said on Friday it suspended its share buyback program for the year. Exxon, which plans to release its 2015 capital expenditure plan on March 4, spent $38.5 billion in 2014, down $4 billion from 2013. Spending for the oil major peaked at $42.5 billion in 2013, and the company has said it expects yearly budgets below $37 billion over the next several years.

NESG director chairs APCON

HE Federal Government has appointed Udeme Ufot, a director, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), as Chairman, Governing Council, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). Ufot who is the Group Managing Director of SO&U Group and a former President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) was joint chairman of the organizing committee of Summit 12 in 2006. Ufot widely respected for his contributions to the marketing communications industry in Nigeria has served several tenures as council member of APCON and chaired a number of subcommittees. Speaking on his appointment, Ufot said he felt honoured with the opportunity to serve as the new

APCON chairman. He noted that challenges and opportunities lay ahead and both must be harnessed for the growth of the industry. "There is a lot of work to be done and it requires sacrifice. With the experience of the council members, APCON will continue to regulate and encourage competitiveness within the industry. It's a challenge and an opportunity to make a change," he said. In 2000, he was a member of the publicity subcommittee of the Organising Committee of the 40th Independence celebration set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The same committee was given the responsibility for planning and executing publicity for the first anniversary of return to civil rule during the Obasanjo led Government.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS NIGERIA DECIDES • Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN (left), former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (second right), APC candidate Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (third left), his runningmate, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule (middle) and Ambode’s wife Bolanle (second left) and others at the APC Governorship Campaign Mega Rally at Volkswagen, Ojo, Lagos...on Monday. PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN

2 •Ogun State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Ibikunle Amosun (right) decorating the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka at the Ogun Political Debate organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Ogun Council, at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta...on Monday.

•Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) carrying a mock coffin of the PDP at the APC’s Presidential campaign rally, at Ribadu Stadium, in Yola, Adamawa State...on Monday.

•Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda (middle) introducing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Alhaji Auwal Jatau at a campaign in Ganjuwal Local Government Council...on Monday. With them is Jatau’s runningmate Samaila Adamu

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola carrying a boy at a rally for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari and National Assembly candidates at the Palace Square Apomu... on Monday. With him are Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori candidate for Osun West Senatorial District Senator Isiaka Adeleke (second right) and others.

•PDP governorship candidate in Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku, acknowledging cheers from supporters at the party’s governorship rally in the state.

•Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (right) presenting a souvenir to Boma Obuoforibo (left) after being sworn in as the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa.

•Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Mr Jimi Agbaje (second left); his runningmate Alhaja Safuratu Abdulkareem (left); Chairman Capt Tunji Shelle (rtd) middle; party chieftain Bode George and former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro at the party’s governorship campaign in Lagos Island...on Monday

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left) holding his permanent voter card after receiving it from the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State, Amb.Rufus Akeju (middle) at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan...on Monday. With them is the Electoral Officer for Ibadan Southwest Local Government, Mr. Segun Ogunade.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

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Cuba builds first church since Castro came to power

NEGLECTED, weed-strewn field in a small Cuban town where there are more horses than cars seems an unlikely setting for a major shift in government policy. But in the isolated town of Sandino, Cuba’s first Catholic Church since the 1959 revolution took power is set to be built. “There is money to start, there is the construction material to start, there are the permissions to start, so everything is ready,” said Bishop Jorge Enrique Serpa Pérez, who oversees the diocese where the new church will be built. The Sandino church has been 56 years in the making, ever since Fidel Castro took power and Cuba became an officially atheist state. Religious people fell under suspicion by the new revolutionary government, but none more so than those who belonged to the Catholic Church, which was seen as being overly sympathetic to the Batista regime that Castro had driven from power. In the first years of the revolution, thousands of Catholic priests were jailed or forced into exile, and church property, including the Jesuit school that Castro attended, was seized by the Cuban government. Only with the visit in 1998 of Pope John Paul II to the island did relations between the Cuban government and Catholic Church begin to thaw. Christmas again became a national holiday, and Cubans faced less official discrimination for practicing their faiths. In December, Cuban President Raul Castro thanked Pope Francis for his role in the secret talks that led to a prisoner swap between Cuba and the United States and the start of negotiations to restore full diplomatic relations. In 2015, church officials said requests to build new churches that had long been ensnared in red tape began to receive government approval. While church officials said several new Catholic houses of worship are in the works, the first will be built in Sandino, a remote town at the end of a pothole-cratered road in Cuba’s

By Patrick Oppman

RELIGION westernmost province. The Rev. Cirilo Castro drives that road to Sandino once a week to officiate Mass in a converted garage in the back of a house the church rents. He has lost count of the miles he has put on his green Russian Lada as part of his ministry to towns throughout the province. When the new Catholic church is built — the first in Sandino’s history — Castro said he would move to minster there full time. “I hope the church doesn’t stay within the four walls,” he said “That it will go farther than that. That with the building of the new church, there will be more people of faith,” Castro said. The Cuban Catholic Church desperately needs more followers in Cuba, where in recent years the syncretic religion Santeria, that mixes African religions with Catholicism, has exploded in popularity. The church in Sandino will take about two years to build and when completed will hold 200 people, Castro said. Most of the $50,000 collected so far for the new church comes from fund-raisers held by the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida. “Much of Tampa’s history and culture comes from Cuba,” said the Rev. Tom Morgan, St. Lawrence’s vicar. “It’s absolutely fantastic they are building a new church, and I hope to be able to visit one day.” Morgan said he was optimistic that recent changes in U..S Treasury Department regulations would make it possible for his church to send supplies and building materials to Cuba to help with the construction of the new church. As she makes her way down a path to attend Mass in Cirilo Castro’s converted garage, Digna Martinez said she has waited more than five decades for a church to be built in Sandino. Martinez said she, her husband and two children were those relocated to the town during early

•Pope Benedict XIV

1960s when a triumphant Fidel Castro was still battling what he called “bandits,” holdouts against his revolution waging guerrilla warfare in the countryside. While there is no official tally, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people suspected of plotting against the revolution were shipped to Sandino to live in a form of internal exile. “It was a process to make a community for political prisoners,” Martinez said. “They took our farm away and brought us here.”

A lifelong Catholic, Martinez said one of the most devastating things about being forced to move 500 miles away from her home to a town she had never heard of was that there was no church. “Having a church is very important,” she said. “Many of the people here were brought up Catholic and need a church. We were baptized and prayed when we went to bed and woke up, just like our parents and grandparents taught us.” •Culled from CNN

‘There is too much agony in the land’ •Continued from Page 14 Bode Osanyin, with a 21-person-strong team of actors and drummers, undertook two international tours during my tenure. In 1989, we took Bode’s play, Orisa, to Jamaica, with another tour of Germany in 1992. 1989 to 1992 were eventful years for you as president, SNA, director cultural studies. How did you manage the task before you then? By the time I became President of the Society of Nigerian Artists in 1989, the association had laid comatose for a while. Although the Lagos branch of the society remained active, that was about it for an organisation that our founding fathers, including Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Erhabor Emokpae, T.A. Fasuyi, had nursed with high hopes. I was quite fortunate in having such dedicated and motivated members on my Executive Council. I had the privilege of working with such practitioners as Okpu Eze, B.A. Aina, Bisi Fakeye, Ndidi Dike, and Ola Oloidi, and my National Vice-President, L. T. Bentu, among others. It was during my tenure that we democratised the structure of the Society, created and empowered state branches, and backed this up with a legal instrument. It was during my time that we registered the Society as a legal body, with all that that entailed. We inaugurated a series of activities that took place outside of Lagos. In 1989, we were in Zaria and Kaduna with a major lecture and a slate of activities that brought attention to the national scope of the society. We annualized a national exhibition, which brought together artists from all over the country, and paid attention to our own history through ample documentation and exhibition catalogs. We celebrated our elders at the same time that we opened ourselves up to budding members. We were insistent on going to bat for our members and the Society on all matters pertaining to art at the national level. We called our Minister of Culture Lamba Gwom to order on his ill-advised attempt to subsume the nascent National Gallery of Art under the Arts Council. We took out a full page advertorial in the Sunday Times to plead our case for the establishment of the National Gallery of Art as an independent government parastatal in tandem with enunciations in the cultural policy. Indeed, this last issue was one of the major achievements of the SNA under my leadership. Quite sadly

though, we are yet to have a national edifice as our National Gallery. In fact, we are on a slippery slope on this score, if the information that the National Theatre is now with a concessionaire is true. What made us so successful at that time was that we were quite idealistic and bold. We were passionate about building upon the legacy bequeathed to us by the founding fathers. We believed strongly in the notion that leadership was not necessarily coterminous with huge budgets, flamboyant pronouncements, but little accomplishments. We dared. Are there such artists in Nigeria who can dare the economic realities as well as be the voice of the voiceless? Becoming the voice of the voiceless, or producing art that is focused on social issues has less to do with an artist's economic buoyancy and more with personal perspectives or ideological bent. I believe that the art market does not discriminate on the basis of subject matter, as art is largely an issue of aesthetics and, of course, perspectives. If you are not an economically successful artist, it is probably not necessarily because of the subject matter that your work extols although I can see where, in certain areas, a subject matter may be so provocative as to create social uproar. (Here, I have in mind such sensitive issues as religion and sexuality). But in terms of highlighting the social malaise that Nigeria has found itself in-the inequalities in living conditions; the pallid conditions in which most people live; the non-availability of basic conditions that are conducive to healthy life; even social systems such as the police-these and many other aspects are aspects that a socially conscious artist can draw attention to. Economically successful artists are not necessarily going to be impelled, all of a sudden, to become art activists if that simply is not what excites them. You were very popular with your cartoons in Sunday Times with Kole the menace in the 70s. Considering the state of Nigerian media now, did you miss the newsroom activities? The cartoons that I produced intermittently from the mid-70’s to through the early 90’s were a celebration of my penchant for humor. But, as you know, this was a period dominated largely by the military. (I was out of the country during the reign of Shehu Shagari).

So much has changed between then and now, in terms of the Nigerian media. The newsroom has gone global. With technology, access to information has been democratised. The Internet now furnishes humanity with an inordinate amount of news, breaking or cold, at little or no cost, and accessible in real time. In the 70’s the source of information was quite predictable. Domestically, it was either Radio Nigeria, the NTA, or the Daily Times under Alhaji Babatude Jose. This is the sense in which I miss newsroom activities. As Art Editor at Kakawa, I miss the camaraderie that often prevailed in the studio, what with Cliff Ogiugo, the late Yomi Wilson, and the ever-ebullient Josy Ajiboye, with whom I have continued to share indissoluble affinity. Yes, I miss my colleagues in the Daily Times of the 1970s: Tunde Agbabiaka; Lade Bonuola; the late Terry Agbelemoge; Banji Ogundele; Livinus Okereafor; Achike Okafor; Clement Okosun; and, of course, the late Tunji Oseni for whom my respect and admiration continue to endure. Oseni was a principled gentleman who neither lucre nor power could sway from whatever he considered righteous. Cartooning was at its infancy at that time although this should not be misconstrued as implying that the dominant cartoonists of the time were infantile. Far from it. When you look at the cerebral drawings of somebody like Bisi Ogunbadejo in the early 1980s at the Guardian, or the pesky cartoons of Kenny Adamson of the Punch, you couldn’t but sit up, especially if you fell within their operational orbit. Josy Ajiboye’s trademark remained jokes that were inspired by the pedestrian and the marginalized. Still, all of us were at the vanguard of a profession that was at its early stages of development, notwithstanding the pioneering efforts of Akinola Lasekan at the West African Pilot, or even Ayo Ajayi of the Daily Times. Nowadays, the advent of technology has considerably facilitated incredibly memorable cartoons, with particular regard to production. How fulfilling were those years as cartoonist and any regret while you were running the column? Those were quite fulfilling years and I have no regrets whatsoever. For sure, cartooning came with its perils and pleasures. You were not sure if you would spend the night with your family; if an unmarked car would come

for you on account of a cartoon that you did, but which probably riled a soldier. Fortunately, I never once had such unpleasant experience as going to Alagbon, an idea made popular by the indomitable musician, Fela. This had less to do with my brashness though, and more—a lot more—to do with the prudential stance of the editors. You may call it self-censorship and I will not quibble about that. All I can say it that, given the prevailing climate—remember the Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irhabor saga—it worked. I particularly relished the discipline that meeting submission deadlines imposed on me as a cartoonist. And the beauty of production was yet another draw: all I needed was paper and pen. This meant that I could execute my drawings in the sparsest environment. There was, of course, the issue of ideas. There is no doubt that ideas are superior to execution with regard to art in general and cartooning in particular. Regardless of how pretty your drawing is, if it is not embedded within a workable idea, it is not a cartoon. It may be just an illustration but it will definitely not be a memorable cartoon. Often time, people easily identify you with the beret cap. Is it driven by the activism in you or what? The beret is as much an aspect of my love of fashion as it is a part of my expressive personality. Between art history and studio practice, which is your attraction and why? I am drawn to both and I do enjoy writing as much as I do studio work. Each brings its own pangs and joys. There is pleasure, for example, in research and scholarship, especially where one has the opportunity to impact one's field. On the other hand, you simply cannot beat the reckless abandon that painting or drawing brings. While a certain degree of meticulousness and deference is warranted when it comes to writing, such constraints are not characteristic of studio practice although this by no means annuls the challenges that studio practice harbors. It is the process that marks the shift in both instances: shift in mentality and outcome. With respect to art history, I consider myself privileged to be able to contribute to perspectives that assert the integrity of my ancestry. As for my studio practice, this is a forever thing.

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•Prof Sam Ukala (right), receiving his reward from Babs Omotowa at the public presentation on Thursday in Lagos. With them are Prof Banjo (left) and Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke.

OUR months after they emerged winners of the Nigeria LNG sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature 2014 and The Prize for Literary Criticism 2014, the duo of Prof Sam Ukala and Isidore Diala last Thursday got inducted into the hall of prize winners in Lagos. The public presentation of the winners (almost like a replay of the award night on October 9 last year) was held at the Agip Recital Hall Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos and it attracted literati, academics, top government functionaries, artistes and students drawn from about 10 secondary schools in Lagos. Essentially, it was also a forum to honour the prize winners and hear first-hand the authors talk about their muse and, ultimately, give an acceptance speech that serves as the final trappings of their investiture as winners. Guests at the event included Managing Director NLNG Limited Mr Babs Omotowa, his deputy, Mr Isa Inuwa, former Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, Prof Ayo Banjo, Prof Charity Angya, Prof Austin Anigala (who represented Vice Chancellor Delta State University, Abraka Prof Victor Peretomode) and Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard MofeDamijo. Others were Deputy Vice Chancellor University of Lagos Prof Duro Oni, filmmaker Tunde Kelani, Mrs Bolanle Austin-Peters, Prof Ahmed Yerima, Dr. Kudos Eresia Eke, Prize runners-up Friday John Abba and Jude Idada. Omotowa said over the years NLNG has raised the stake of the prize to $100,000 and remain fully committed to the prize irrespective of the economic challenges. “The prize has stimulated some new writers and it has helped to improve standard of publishing...We hope other organsiations will join us. For us at NLNG, the prize is to develop human capacity. Ukala’ book Iredi War, is on

Honour for NLNG award winners Last Thursday, top officials of Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited were in Lagos to present winners of the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Prize for Literary Criticism. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there. CELEBRATION leadership and there is no better time to address that than now in Nigeria. The success of NLNG is a testimony that Nigeria can hold its own in the comity of nations,” he said. Ukala, who dedicated his award to God almighty for the inspiration, talent and direction said: “I whole-heartedly and most gratefully accept the award of the Nigerian Prize for Literature 2014.” He said those he criticised most in his works are the leaders because ‘if the leadership is right all other things will be right.’ “I feel fulfilled, grateful to God Almighty for the inspiration, talent and energy. I also feel indebted to NLNG for endowing the prize and processing the entries with utmost integrity and transparency through the appointment of an Advisory Board of truly

honourable men, who, in turn, appointed persons of impeccable character as judges. “I also think the public presentation is a great idea. It might result in the promotion of this author and his work as well as the promotion of literature and literary artists in general. It might be a forum to spotlight the need for Nigeria to consciously cultivate and maintain a robust reading culture as a way of improving the standard of education in the country,” he added. In his acceptance speech titled: Warring twin or intellectual muse? Diala, who won the prize for literary criticism, said it was a privilege to emerge as the first recipient of an award that is bond to grow in prestige among scholars of Nigerian literature. He noted that exaltation of a great literary work is invariably also a literary criticism, noting that by endowing the literature prize,

‘I feel fulfilled, grateful to God Almighty for the inspiration, talent and energy. I also feel indebted to NLNG for endowing the prize and processing the entries with utmost integrity and transparency through the appointment of an Advisory Board of truly honourable men, who, in turn, appointed persons of impeccable character as judges’

NLNG acknowledges one of the oldest functions of criticism: informed evaluation and judgment, discrimination between the mediocre and the great. “Charting and enriching the tradition of ideas on which the writer relies, the critic’s endeavour is thus of crucial import to the artist. Thus, the endowment of a specific literary criticism prize is the sponsor’s acknowledgment of the complementarities between creation and criticism. Yet, the literature and literary criticism prizes sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited are ultimately of greater consequences. Prestigious prizes play pivotal roles in determining the trajectory of a people’s literature and canonising its masterpieces. By its capacity to lift into prominence its preferred concept of excellence in African literature through publication, distribution, and the award of prestigious prizes, the West metonymically appropriates the African voice and endorses as authorised particular forms of the representation of African reality,” Diala said. The Professor of African Literature, Imo State University said the literary criticism prize would seek to authenticate preferred nuances in the reading of Nigeria/African literature. This, he said, was bound to generate controversies, some of which, hopefully, could serve a positive purpose. “Examining Isidore Okpewho’s astonishing novel, Call Me by My Rightful Name, in my winning entry, I approach cultures as necessarily syncretic, hybrid exogamous and appraise the writer’s realisation of his vision in the work of art,” he added. In a goodwill message, Kelani said though he has not won NLNG literary prize, he had adapted seven books into movie and that what NLNG has started is sowing a seed that would grow.

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Odunuga: Exit of principal

“D

EATH be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For those, whom thou think’st , thou dost overthrow, die not . Poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleepe , which but thy pictures bee, much pressure, then from thee, much more must flow. And soonest our best men with thee doe goe, rest of their bones and souls deliverie. Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men, and dost with poyson, warre, and sickness dwell, and poppie , or charmes can make us sleepe as well, and better then thy stroake ; why swell’st thou then ; One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, and death shall be no more ; Death, thou shall die. “ This sonnet by John Donne written around 1610 and first published posthumously in 1633 brings back the fond memories of my Principal at Multilateral Grammar School, Okun - Owa in Ijebu, Ogun State. Chief Oladotun Odunuga whom we, his former students fondly call Papa, passed on peacefully on Thursday, January 29, 2015 at his 9, Agbon Odumosu Street residence in Ilese Ijebu, a town he fondly calls “a city of the black, sacred cat “ , at the age of 84. It is not his demise that brings about the memories of this literary giant, but his professionalism. As our Principal, he also combined the administrative job with the teaching of Literature in English. A vibrant teacher, he recited poems with a lot of drama and this particular poem was his favourite. Without any prompting, most of us, his students, memorised poems and the quotable quotes in all Williams Shakespeare books we read. No wonder many of my classmates in the Literature in English class ended up as journalists, lawyers, theatre practitioners

From Sina Ogunbambo

TRIBUTE •Odunuga

and University lectureres, apart from the fact that the school produced professionals in all areas of science, arts, commerce and technical works. Papa Oladotun Odunuga who resumed duties at my school on September 1, 1975 when he was posted from Mac - Job Grammar School, Abeokuta, served my school meritoriously for seven years until his retirement on August 31, 1982. A thorough bred professional, a disciplined and principled mind, Papa Odunuga made his teachers to engage in extra classes after official hours and on Saturdays , at no financial cost to our parents. We were thoroughly fed with words of God and good moral up-

bringing. A handsome Principal and a choice dresser, Papa Odunuga like typical teachers of that time, do carry cane, like a military officer carrying a swagger stick, but hardly apply it on students. We all love him and respect him because our progress was uppermost in his heart. Because of his exemplary leadership, all teachers toed his line and the college did not only excel in academics but also in sports, drama, literary and debating activities. We were all made to cut grasses and do little farming, just to shape us up. He engaged labourers to use mowing machines to do the grass cutting, when what we call stubborn grasses, becomes cumbersome for us to handle. Many would have thought that his dedication to duty and determination to excellence in studies must be due to the fact that one of his children , Mopelola (now a top bank manager) was one of us, the final year students, when he resumed at our school. This impression was removed when he sustained the tempo throughout his tenure at Multilateral Grammar School, Okun - Owa. The result of his commitment came out with some of the students having Grade one in the West African School Cerificate examination (WASCE), after a lull in that particular grade. What really stands Papa Odunuga out was the fact that he was always ready to spend his personal money to advance the cause of his students. He was the one that purchased the Higher School Certificate entrance form examination at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu for this writer and he refused to accept a refund from my mother. He was instrumental into the school granting scholarship to brilliant, indigent students. He motivated a lot of us to aqquire University education as he had already stimulated us with stories about his days at University College

Painting bought for $5,212 sells for $5.2m 19th or early 20th century, in a misguided attempt to ‘finish’ the painting.” Expand Gallery Lyles wrote that this was the reason why Christie’s “overlooked” its authenticity in 2013. “The retouchings on the present painting were readily soluble in the course of its recent cleaning, and Constable’s original and brilliant conception has been once again revealed,” Lyles wrote. Christie’s, however, said that experts disagree about the painting’s authenticity. “We are aware that Sotheby’s have sold this work as by Constable,” the auction house said in a statement. “We took the view at the time of our sale in 2013 that it was by a ‘follower of.’ We understand that there is no clear consen•Jesse Owen’s 1936 gold medal sold for $1,466,574 at an auction setting a record for the highest price paid for sus of expertise on the Olympic memorabilia.

N art enthusiast paid $5,212 in 2013 at a London auction for a painting of a 19th-century English landscape. That price was well above Christie’s auction house estimated value of $760 to $1,200. This week, however, the painting’s price jumped exponentially — 1,000 times its previous value — at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. It sold Wednesday for $5.2 million. The discrepancy in the value of “Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows” is due to a difference of opinion by art experts at the rival auction houses. Christie’s analysed the painting in 2013 and declared that it was the work of a follower of John Constable —

By Lorenzo Ferrigno

AUCTION not a creation of the famed English Romantic landscape artist himself. But Sotheby’s claimed it was an original Constable made in preparation for another work owned by the Tate gallery in London. The auction house valued the painting at between $2 million and $3 million. Anne Lyles, former 18th and 19th century British art curator at the Tate, wrote in catalog for the Sotheby’s auction that “the present work by Constable was heavily retouched with a dark and opaque pigments which probably dated to the late

new attribution.” Mystery masterpiece a Rembrandt Lyles wrote that the painting recently sold was one of five preliminary oil sketches, precursors to “perhaps the greatest of his late masterpieces,” a work that goes by the same name. According to Sotheby’s, it is believed the sketch was possibly sold by the artist in 1837 for 6 pounds — or about $9 today. John Constable (1776-1837) was famous for his landscapes of the English countryside, particularly scenes of his native Suffolk. In 2012, the Constable painting “The Lock” became one of the most expensive British paintings ever sold, fetching £22.4milllion ($34.8 million) at an auction at Christie’s in London.

‘This great soul, humble and peace lovng personality, will be committed to mother earth on Wednesday , February 11, 2015 after a funeral service at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ilese in Ijebu, Ogun State. However, his legacy to humanity can never be buried as he has etched his name in gold. Adieu, Papa Odunuga. Rest in perfect peace’ Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) where he obtained a degree in English with History and Religious Studies awarded by London University on November 17, 1963. We, the Old Students, had planned to add to his numerous honour as the college clocks 50 years on March, 19, 2015 but poor death has robbed us of this much desired appreciation. As one bade farewell to the mentor and role model of many students, who are now great leaders in Government and private sectors, the food for thought is for our modern day Principals and teachers to imbibe from the legacy of Papa Odunuga. This great soul, humble and peace lovng personality, will be committed to mother earth on Wednesday , February 11, 2015 after a funeral service at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ilese in Ijebu, Ogun State. However his legacy to humanity can never be buried as he has etched his name in gold. Adieu, Papa Odunuga. Rest in perfect peace. •Ogunbambo, a journalist and public affairs analyst, was a former student of Odunuga.

POETRY

Korea-Nigeria Poetry feast holds AROJAH Concepts in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), will again join the rest of the world in commemorating the World Poetry Day with its Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast, organised for the first time in 2011. This year’s edition, which is the fifth, will focus on celebrating travel poetry as ‘we expect interested poets to share their travelling experiences in poetic forms. Entries are expected from interested poets in accordance with the following guidelines: •That your submission will be a poetic appraisal or documentation of your travelling experience to any part of the world (cities, towns, people, architecture, food, culture, religion and so on). •Each poet can enter a maximum of five poems as a single entry. •All entries must conform with the above focus/theme. •All entries must be the original work of the poet and not previously published •All entries should be in a single file of a word document, sent only as an attachment. •All entries should be sent to knpf.wpd@gmail.com with the subject box marked KNPF 2015 SUBMISSION •All entries must be received on or before Friday February 28, 2015. •A shortlist of 10 poems/poets selected by a three-man panel will be announced on Friday March 14. •All selected poems/poets will receive certificate of merit/participation and Korean branded souvenirs during the fifth Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast in Abuja on Friday March 20, 2015 when the selected poems will be performed by Arojah Royal Theatre as part of activities marking the World Poetry Day. As many good poems as we are able to select from entries receive will be published in the second edition of our cross-cultural poetry anthology.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

CAN’T CHEAT NATURE

A trader taking a nap while selling her bush meat at Iyalla Street, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Abraka hosts Ukala, Yeibo

HE department of English and Literary Studies, Delta State University, Abraka will host a symposium in honour of the dramatist, Prof Sam Ukala and the poet, Ebi Yeibo. The event which will focus on the creative endeavours of both writers, will hold tomorrow at 9am at the new 1000LT at the university’s permanent site. It is a mark of honour for the two writers who were last year garlanded for their distinctive literary works. Sam Ukala won The Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by LNG with Iredi War, a play, while Ebi Yeibo won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for poetry with The Fourth Masquerade. Ukala took his first degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before veering off into Theatre Arts. He teaches Theatre at Delta State University. Yeibo also took his first degree in English at Abraka and later proceeded for postgraduate studies at Ibadan. He now teaches in the Department of English at the Niger Delta

University, Amassoma in Bayelsa State. According to a statement by Dr. Sunny Awhefeada on behalf of the department, the symposium is aimed at opening up the two works to literary criticisms and public engagement. Dr. Godfrey Enita will lead the discussion on Iredi War with the theme Sam Ukala’s Iredi War: Celebrating a History of Resistance and a Nation at Crossroads while Steve Kekeghe will do the same for Yeibo’s The Fourth Masquerade by addressing the topic The Fourth Masquerade: Allegiance to Homeland or Nation? A Writer’s Dilemma. Both speakers will be joined by a panel of discussants made up of Karo Ilolo, Kennedy Edegbe, P.K. Igugu, Peter Omoko, Henry Unuajohwofia and Emmanuel Esemedafe. The symposium, which will be chaired by Prof G.G. Darah, has the university’s Dean of Arts, Prof Austin Anigala as guest of honour, Vice Chancellor, Prof Victor Peretomode will be guest of honour, while Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education Prof Hope Eghagha is special guest of honour.

Foundation calls for entries

PLENDID Literature and Culture Foundation has called for entries from young Nigerian writers for this year’s Splendid Literature Series. The yearly competition is to select and publish the best 12 original, unpublished stories by Nigerian writers of children’s literature. According to a statement by the foundation, all entries must be original, unpublished prose works in English. Plays and poems are not eligible. Entries should entertain, enlighten and have strong Nigeria/African content. Entrants must be between the ages of 11 and 21. Entries must fall within one of the following two categories; Junior category: A story of about 5,000 words in English written for children between the ages of 8 and 12 while the senior category will focus on a story of about 10,000 words in English written for young adults between the ages of 13 and 17. Closing date for all entries is April 17, 2015. Entries should consider appropriate language and subject matter relevant to the reader’s experience and interest. The best six stories in each category will be selected by the Foundation’s Panel of Judges for publication. The panel of judges will assess each entry on its depth, originality, quality of writing and appeal to the in-

By Evelyn Osagie

tended audience. The usual royalty and publication terms will apply to every story published by the foundation. The copyright of each entry will remain vested in the author, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the entrant. Submissions should be typewritten or legibly handwritten, double spaced, on numbered pages. Entrants are expected to include name, address, phone number and email address on the title page of the manuscript, with only the full name of entrant on each numbered page of the submission. Entries must be submitted under the entrant’s real name. Pseudonyms will not be accepted. Not more than one entry per entrant will be accepted. For online submission, entrants should forward to entries@splendidfoundation.com. Also, entrants can submit four copies of manuscripts to Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation: 31, Alhaji Tokan Street, Alaka Estate, Surulere, Lagos or P.O Box 7328, GPO, Lagos. Submissions should be accompanied by evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy/ scanned copy of birth certificate, Nigerian passport or Nigerian ID Card).

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

MONEYLINK Skye Bank's balance sheet rises to N1.5tr

BDCs to get $76.3m CBN intervention on Friday • Continued from Page 1 The bank is trying to narrow the gap at which the naira, hard hit by the drop in oil prices, trades on the interbank market through its regular interventions and is also trying to curb speculation. Interested BDC operators are to fund their accounts latest today to accommodate the special intervention. Meanwhile, the apex bank has also instituted a N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) to enable it unlock the potential of the real sector to engender output growth, value added productivity and job creation. A report by the CB N released yesterday, said the facility will be used to support large enterprises

for start-ups and expansion financing needs of N500 million up to a maximum of N10 billion. The real sector activities targeted by the facility are The objectives of the facility, the CBN said, are to improve access to finance by Nigerian Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and services sub-sectors of the Nigerian economy. Increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis. It said the Development Finance Department shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the facility would cover manu-

facturing, agriculture, agricultural value chain, services, among others. Some of the facilities available include long term loan for acquisition of plant and machinery, working capital, eligibility criteria for participation in the facility among others. “Loan amount is minimum of N500.0 million up to a maximum of N10.0 billion for a single obligor. Any amount above N10 billion requires the special approval of Management. The facility shall be administered at an all-in Interest rate/charge of nine per cent per annum payable on quarterly basis. Specifically, the Central Bank of Nigeria shall disburse the Facility to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at three per cent interest rate and the

S •CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

deposit money banks shall have a six per cent spread,” the bank said. Continuing, it said the loans shall have a maximum tenor of 15 years depending on the complexity of the project and shall terminate on 31st December, 2030. Each project tenor shall be determined in relation to its cash flow and life of the underlying collateral.

Jaiz Bank, others pioneer NIBSS’s Bulk Payment System

AIZ Bank Plc, is among the first eight banks to commence the Automated Bulk Payment System (NAPS). A statement from Jaiz bank released yesterday in Abuja said the new NAPS will ensure faster processing of bulk payments like salaries, allowances, contractors payments and direct debit recoveries by the bank. NAPS is an innovation by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc and it commenced full operations on Monday, February 2, 2015. The banks that successfully participated in the pilot run of the system along with Jaiz Bank

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

are: First Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc; Stanbic-IBTC Bank Plc; Sterling Bank Plc; Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; United Bank for Africa Plc; and WemaBank Plc. The statement said the NIBSS has assured that “other Banks would join the operations as soon they conclude on the necessary transition processes.” NAPS is a product of a strategic alliance between NIBSS and SystemSpecs Limited which is a direct response to market demand for On-Line-Real-Time bulk payment. It is a variance of

126.59 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,740.37 1,105.75 112.48 121.16 1.67 1.29 1.32 0.95 1.17

126.46 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,740.37 1,104.98 111.88 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17

C/PRICE 7.14 9.99 16.80 3.15 21.51 4.89 3.65 3.88 5.94 3.30 0.67 157.20 0.79

CHANGE 9.85 9.42 5.00 4.98 4.94 4.89 4.86 4.76 4.76 4.69 4.31 3.95 3.90

LOSERS AS AT 03-02-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

UNIONDICON VITAFOAM NB AFRIPRUD FBNH UNILEVER ETERNA FO DANGCEM CUSTODYINS

13.80 3.49 149.00 2.80 7.07 34.40 2.67 223.05 157.70 3.91

C/PRICE 13.11 3.42 146.00 2.75 7.00 34.08 2.65 221.45 157.00 3.90

CHANGE -5.00 -2.01 -2.01 -1.79 -0.99 -0.93 -0.75 -0.72 -0.44 -0.26

Corporate Communications of Jaiz bank, “the service is a 24/7 payments system operating at 15 minutes payments cycles with transaction tracking functionality, full end-to-end (STP) processing and operates on the secure NIBSS Virtual Private Network.” Idris Salihu noted that “this innovation by NIBSS and for which Jaiz is proud to have been part of, will no doubt position our Bank to deliver on the needs of our corporate and public sector clients especially as it relates to timely and efficient payment of bulk transactions. It will also complement our Internet and Mobile banking platforms”

Transaction Dates 13/01/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: December

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

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES January 14, 2015

Monetary Policy Rate

GAINERS AS AT 03-02-15

SYMBOL O/PRICE NASCON 6.50 UAC-PROP 9.13 ZENITHBANK 16.00 DANGFLOUR 3.00 GUARANTY 20.49 NAHCO 4.66 DIAMONDBNK 3.48 REDSTAREX 3.70 CHAMPION 5.67 HONYFLOUR 3.15 RTBRISCOE 0.64 7UP 150.70 AIICO 0.76

the NIBSS Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system introduced in 2004 and the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) introduced in 2011. The service is designed to enable faster processing of bulk payments like salaries, allowances, contractors payments and direct debit recoveries. It is a full end-to-end Credit (Push) & Debit (Pull) Transactions service deployable to corporate customers of Banks. It integrates with the NIBSS Industry-wide Central Mandate Management Systems (CMMS) for faster direct debit processing. According to Idris Salihu, Head,

KYE Bank Plc has begun to enjoy the benefits of its recent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited as its balance sheet has risen to N1.5 trillion from the per-acquisition value of N1.2 trillion. Similarly, the bank's branch network is now 450 compared to 260 before the business combination with Mainstreet Bank. Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, disclosed these at the weekend during a 'Corporate Partners' forum held in Lagos. He said the enhanced balance sheet has put the bank in a better position to take on bigger transaction tickets, promising that its customers would be the better for it. Oguntayo also explained that the increased branch network would make access to the bank's services easier as branches are now easily accessed. He added that the bank's combined automatic teller machines network is now 815 from 600 prior to the acquisition. He re-assured the bank's customers of excellent and customised services at all time, expalining that the desire to serve the customers better informed the launch of a customer service charter in the past. The Skye Bank boss thanked the customers for their loyalty and patronage, and promised to exceed their expectations as the partnership blossoms. A customer of the bank and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Mr. Oba Otudeko, commended the bank for the bold initiatives it took to acquire Mainstreet Bank. He said a bigger and stronger Skye Bank would be better placed to satisfy the customers and deliver more value to the stakeholders.

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

167

168

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$35b

US Dollar

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$45

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

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

13-01-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 14-01-15

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

13.08

13.33

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

Jan. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

13.65

T-bills - 182

13.88

T-bills - 364

13.65

Bond - 3yrs

13.81

Bond - 5yrs

13.85

Bond - 7yrs

13.83

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

BUSINESS EXTRA Transition electricity market takes off

HE Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) on February 1, 2015 attained the much awaited Transition Stage Electricity Market (TEM), whereby wholesale buying and selling of electricity is based on contractual and regulatory rules. This is sequel to an Order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directing all electricity market participants on the takeoff of the Transitional Stage of the Electricity Market (TEM) with effect from February 1, 2015. The Commission disclosed this in a statement yesterday. But it would be recalled that the Ministry of Power had in a statement issued on December 31 last year in a statement by its Deputy Director (Press) Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, announced the commencement of TEM on January 1. His statement then read in part: “With the commencement of TEM on January 1, 2015, all contracts entered into at privatization will be activated and activities in the electricity market will carry the obligations outlined in the contracts.” There was however no explanation for the delay in the activation of the contractual trade in the commission’s statement yesterday. But according to NERC, “With this development, a greater degree of business and investment certainty has been introduced into the country’s electricity market, with the welcome result of setting an even firmer basis for increasing the amount of electricity available to Nigerians in short order.” Commenting on the importance of this stage of the market, the Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, said: “This will ensure more discipline, corporate governance, guarantee recovery on investment as well as give certainty for a sustainable and growing electricity market that would serve the need of Nigerians”. NERC in its Order said, “Conditions precedent set

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

out in the market rules and subsequently agreed to be necessary for effective TEM have been satisfactorily fulfilled”. “With effect from February 1, 2015, the amendments to the Market Rules and application and enforcement of the said Market Rules shall be in full force. With the effectiveness of the Market Rules, as amended, the Transitional Stage Electricity Market shall commence with effect from the same date”. One of the implications of TEM is that the gas bottleneck which has constrained electricity supply would be reduced as gas will be supplied to electricity generation firms on a legally binding basis as regards delivery and payment. Besides, the failure of electricity distributions companies to pay for energy bought from generation firms and for deliveries on their privatisation performance obligations will now attract sanctions in line with the Market Rules and contractual obligations. The Order dated December 31, 2014 further directed all relevant market participants, service providers and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) to comply with effect from February 1, 2015. From that date, the market will now be governed with the strict application of the terms and conditions of the Multi Year Tariff Order 2.1 (MYTO 2.1) that was approved on December 24, 2014 and became effective from January 1, 2015. This Tariff Order ensures that market participants now have a cost reflective tariff. The Tariff Order is one of the major conditions precedents for takeoff of TEM. Some other conditions include the constitution of a Dispute Resolution Panel and Initial Stakeholder Advisory Panel, approval of the Grid Code and the Market Rules and their implementation, among others.

• From left: Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Ecobank Nigeria Ltd, Foluke Aboderin; Head, Group Research, Mr Edward George; Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking, Mr Charles Kie; Managing Director, Jibril Aku, and Chairman/ CEO, Brittania-U Nigeria Ltd, Uju Ifejika, during the Ecobank Capital Investment Banking conference in Lagos.

SEC to dematerialise, says Ag. DG

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) says it is committed to dematerialisation in the capital market as one of the means of boosting investors’ confidence. Ag. Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja when he received the management of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc at the Commission’s head office. Dematerialisation refers to the conversion of share certificates (physical paperform/certificates or documents of title representing ownership of securities) to an electronic form which is domiciled directly with the CSCS. Gwarzo admitted that CSCS plays a very critical role in the capital market and disclosed that SEC Nigeria is now ready to conclude the dematerialisation process in the market. According to Gwarzo, “we have already commenced the dematerialisation process, if

BEDC uncovers plot to foment trouble today

HE Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has uncovered plots by some faceless group to use President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally holding in Benin today to foment trouble claiming demonstration against BEDC and privatisation. The Chief Security Officer of BEDC, Lt.-Col. Isaac Edoka (rtd), disclosed this in a statement yesterday. He said this information had been reported to the law enforcement agencies for adequate monitoring. In a related development, BEDC yesterday said that it received 240MegaWatt (MW) from the national grid instead of about 900MW required by the company to serve Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states. The electricity firm, which said this in a statement, explained that this under-supply was responsible for the load shedding among customers in the four states. The statement signed by

Chief Corporate Service Officer, Mrs Kunbi Labiyi, added that some demonstrators, who besieged the company, understood the challenge when these facts were presented to them “and realised there was no basis for their demonstration.” The statement entitled: “Report on Demonstration to Benin Disco Office,” read: “At around 9.30am this morning (Monday), there was demonstration from persons who claimed to be residents from areas behind Ogbe stadium (Benin City) under Etete environs. Their complaint was hinged on the 12 hourly load shedding arrangement currently being enjoyed by their area. This implies that they are not happy that they are getting 12 hours power supply daily. “The Load shedding arrangement is a result of inadequate power supply and was further occasioned by the reduction in generation leading to a drop in the allocation from TCN to BEDC.” She ex-

plained: “Presently, BEDC receives 240MW from the national grid to cover Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, which is far lower than what the four states need. “BEDC currently has capacity to take three times the power provided. Edo state enjoys the 44 per cent of the amount received presently, while 56 per cent is shared by the Ekiti, Ondo and Delta States. “In Edo State, several locations receive between 10hours and 23hours power supply, with the least availability being six hours. This is far higher than the average in most States in the country. We are not in a position to increase this as this will further marginalise the other three States. ”After due consultation with the representatives they understood the challenge and realised there was no basis for their demonstration, because the electricity supply to their area is amongst the best in Edo state.”

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

not for certain things it would have been concluded by now. We are ready to work with stakeholders to ensure that we conclude the process. One of the critical parts of this exercise is public enlightenment and we will be in the market in the next few weeks to tell people to open their accounts, sort out the issues with e-dividend and get ready for dematerialisation.” He added that the SEC “will make use of jingles in the radio, newspaper adverts among other enlightenment tools.” The Ag. DG re-emphasised that public enlightenment was critical after which all stakeholders can then work on other parts of the issue to bring it to a conclusion. He also announced that in

the next few weeks, the Commission will launch its complaints management framework so that issues can be handled from the lowest levels to the top Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/CEO of CSCS, Kyari Buka said “sustainability of the regulatory agency is one of the things dear to us. Our hope and belief is that even in acting capacity things will continue and there will be sustainability of the entity. The regulatory framework that has been started will continue.” Dematerialisation, he noted “is one of the things very important to us. We very strongly believe that many of the things that have happened have something to do with dematerialisation. If share certificates are in electronic form, many of the issues relating to

the paper certificates will not arise. “The paper one can be lost, stolen, doctored among others, we simply believe that dematerialisation is one important area we should look at and conclude. If we do it rightly, we will help boost investors’ confidence.” He urged SEC to put a resolution mechanism in place to make the transition from one custodian to another smooth “We should come up with a resolution on how best to handle such issue. The root cause is account opening data. If such vital information is with the regulator, in the event that the House goes dead, the process of resolution becomes easy for everybody. Mechanisms that could electronically control these can lead to speedy resolution of such issues” he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS Ondo community seeks Chevron’s direct dealing

RIVERINE community in Ondo State has insisted that oil giant Chevron should henceforth deal directly with its leaders in matters concerning oil prospect in the area. Leaders of Awoye and Molutehin communities took the decision after a meting at Moulutehin Town hall. The meeting was also attended by stake holders, according to a statement by the leaders. There has been no love lost between the Molutehin and Awoye communities on the administration of the oil in Ilaje, Ugbo Kingdom.

•National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (sixth left) with members of Ekiti APC caucus - Senator Babafemi Ojudu (fourth right); former Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi (second right); ex-Women Affairs Commissioner Mrs Ronke Okusanya (third right); an aide to former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Adewale Adeoye (right); former Inter-Governmental Affairs Commissioner Funminiyi Afuye (fifth left) and others when they visited Asiwaju Tinubu at his Ikoyi, Lagos home.

INEC takes distribution of PVCs to polling units in Lagos

EGINNING from today till Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will in Lagos distribute the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at polling units. This is to ensure that Lagosians collect the cards to enable them vote in the elections slated for February 14 and 28. Lagos ranks among the least on the INEC’s card collection table. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who announced the new distribution plan after a meeting with INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Akin Orebiyi, urged Lagosians to take advantage of the new arrangement and the extension of collection time. The cards are to be distributed between 8.30am and 5.30pm daily. The governor said he would not pick up his own card until majority of Lagosians have picked up theirs. “I will keep an eye to see this new phase of the exercise. It allows the people the oppor-

tunity to vote and as I said, this exercise would start tomorrow (today). There are five days to do this, so that as many people as possible and hopefully everybody who is registered can get theirs at their poling units”. he said. “I know people have tried. I have heard people say they have been to the places, the Ward Offices eight times and some four times and for me if you have made that kind of efforts, the real success must come in not giving up and I don’t give up and that is why I continue to address the issue”. Responding to a question on what his views are concerning the various court cases being instituted against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate on his eligibility, the governor said he doesn’t really have the full details of what the claims are. He added that to a large extent they tend to either seek to challenge certain things and that so long as they are valid challenges, they may be legitimate as no one can shut people away from the courts.

Uduaghan appoints Obuh, Emetulu as commissioners From Okungbowa Aiwerie, , Asaba

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has nominated two former governorship aspirants, Mr Tony Obuh and Mr Charles Emetulu, as commissioners. Both nominees did not win the December 8, 2014 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary. Emetulu was Commissionerfor Energy in the Uduaghan administration but resigned his appointment to pursue his failed governorship bid. Obuh resigned as the Permanent Secretary at the Government House. The letter conveying the names of the two nominees was addressed to House of Assembly Speaker and read on the floor of the Assembly at the resumed plenary. The two nominees were invited by the lawmakers for screening and their appointments confirmed. Speaker Peter Onwusanya asked both nominees to take a bow and leave, following an application to that effect by Majority Leader Monday Igbuya. The legislature also screened and confirmed the appointment of Mr Famous Ofurobri as Secretary for Bomadi Local Government Area.

Etteh joins Osun APC

ORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Joined by thousands of her supporters from Irewole, Ayedaade and Isokan Federal Constituency, Mrs. Etteh said she joined the APC because of the party’s progressive policies and the love for the masses, saying that her decision will allow her contribute her quota to the development of the people. She praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the positive change he has brought to the state in the past four and a half years, noting that the transformation of the state is glaring for all to see. Aregbesola, speaking at a welcome rally, enjoined voters in the constituency to vote for APC candidates.

Amaechi: nobody can islamise Nigeria

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has accused some church leaders of collecting N6 billion from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to campaign against All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. He expressed surprise that the pastors were circulating false documents that the APC administration would Islamise the country, if Gen. Buhari is elected President on February 14. Amaechi spoke yesterday at Emohua, the headquarters of Emohua Local Government Area of the state at the rally of APC governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. The governor said Nigerians were too enlightened for any individual or political party to Islamise the country. He said: “Some pastors collected N6 billion and they are circulating documents and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man; not to vote for a Muslim; that they want to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them to return our N6 billion. “They (PDP) gave them (pastors) N6 billion. They should return it to the Federal Government’s coffers. They will tell you that Gen. Buhari wants to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them we are too educated. I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story in the Catholic Church, because I will ask him how. “If any pastor tells you that, tell him to return the money. Nobody can Islamise Nigeria. They have commercialised Jesus Christ. They should stop commercialising Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour.

Don’t endorse Jonathan, Obadan warns PFN

ORMER Edo State Deputy Governor Rev. Peter Obadan has warned leaders of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) against endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan at their biennial conference, which begins today in Lagos. Rev. Obadan said it would be unscriptural for the priests to use the occasion to endorse Jonathan when PFN has one of its own, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, as the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Rev. Obadan, who addressed reporters yesterday in Benin, the state capital, urged PFN not to use religion to blackmail APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. The former deputy governor noted that the controversy on Islamising Nigeria and unearthing Gen. Buhari’s past because of his disciplinary measures were arrant nonsense. He reminded Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejiafor and PFN’s President Felix Omobude that the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, who is regarded as father of PFN, supported a Muslim/Muslim ticket when the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingigbe ran for the Presidency in 1993. From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

“You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple. He chased them (merchants) away. We shall chase away those pastors who collected money from PDP leaders to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The governor said the presidential election would be a referendum between him and President Goodluck Jonathan. He said: “I told the President that the presidential election in Rivers State is a referendum between him and me. I told him anywhere I go, I will show what I have done.

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

Rev. Obadan said: “I will advise the leadership of PFN to encourage all Christians to vote their conscience. If PFN must endorse, we must endorse our own Buhari/Osibanjo. For a Pentecostal minister to make a declaration for Jonathan is a vote for corruption, a vote for inefficiency, of which I am sure God will also hold them accountable for the sufferings of Nigerians. “Capitalistic ministers, who have been blessed with wealth, including private jets, and are thinking that they may be called upon to account for the source of their wealth if Gen. Buhari wins, should not to be afraid because they will also have access to the Presidency since the vice presidential candidate of the APC is a Minister of God. This, we have never had as a nation. “All the blackmail against Gen. Buhari is ungodly because Gen. Buhari took over the reins of this nation when drug barons were almost taking over the country; there was so much corruption in the civilian administration then. Majority of Nigerians applauded the military intervention then. If not, Nigeria would have collapsed.”

Let him show what he has done.” Peterside, who is a member of the House of Representatives representing AndoniOpobo/Nkoro, promised to complete the projects started by the Amaechi administration, if elected on February 28. He also promised to tackle insecurity and increase students’ bursary and overseas’ scholarships, if elected. The 44-year-old APC candidate addressed students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), his alma mater, where he recently completed a doctoral programme. Peterside said: “In our first

tenure in office, we shall increase bursary. The current government sent people on scholarship, we will continue in that tradition and increase the number of persons we send abroad.” The APC candidate, who was accompanied by Amaechi, also an alumnus of UNIPORT, accused the PDP-led Federal Government of not caring about youths. He said: “The government at the centre does not care about young people like you. Yet, they say the future belongs to the youth. Only a leadership that is responsible can reverse the trend...”

Army denies plans to form interim government

HE authorities of the Nigerian Army have denied alleged plans by the Service to form an interim government should the opposition win the February 14 presidential election. A statement yesterday by the Army spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman described the allegation as spurious and unsubstantiated, saying the authorities of the Army were not aware of such plans. The statement said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to spurious and unsubstantiated allegations being circulated particularly, in the so-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

cial media about the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff and some serving senior officers. “Any discerning mind would notice that these false and baseless allegations are calculated attempts by unpatriotic elements to divide the Nigerian Army, create disaffection among its ranks and distract the service from its avowed constitutional duty of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation. “Unfortunately for these individuals, their effort which are reminiscent of the NADE-

CO days are obviously aimed at reversing the gains made and the renewed efforts in fighting terrorism and insurgency in the country is failing woefully”. The blamed the allegation on those it described as faceless groups, ”who since last year have made futile efforts to politicise the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations. Late last year, the same group using the stolen identity of a serving Lieutenant Colonel, wrote a petition to the President making all sorts of unfounded allegations.

“The petition was thoroughly investigated by relevant security agencies. The findings indicated that the petition was indeed the handiwork of faceless and unpatriotic individuals who seek to distract the Nigerian Army. “The latest effort by these same group and their collaborators is the sensational and outrageous claim that the Chief of Army Staff is preparing to assume the leadership of this country through an interim government, in the event that the opposition party wins the 2015 general elections at the federal level.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

NEWS Jonathan, besides IBB, first Nigerian leader at IOC meeting, says Osinbajo •UPU faction endorses Buhari, Emerhor

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was the first Nigerian elected President under whose administration the nation attended a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), it has been learnt. This followed the nation’s entry into the global body during the General Ibrahim Babangida military regime. All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), broke the news yesterday at a town hall meeting in Warri, Delta State. The APC chief said the Goodluck Jonathan administration had made a good job of distorting history and creating a wrong image of APC’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. Osinbajo, who said Islamising the country could never be an easy task, considering the constitutional requirements to accomplish it, stressed that the attempt at casting the image of General Buhari as a religious fundamentalist was mere propa-

ganda used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jonathan administration to hoodwink those who might have forgotten history. He said: “Throughout his period as military Head of State, Gen. Buhari was under intense pressure to drag Nigeria into the IOC, but he never yielded. That’s because he respects Nigeria as a multi-religious state, in line with the Constitution. Besides, his cook and driver are Christians. “When Gen. Babangida eventually dragged Nigeria into IOC, none of his successors ever attended any of its meetings because they knew that to Islamise Nigeria was very difficult as you need to first get the Constitution amended. That process, you know, is almost impossible. “But it is on record that in 2013, President Jonathan, undermining the constitutional limitation, ensured that Nigeria attended an IOC meeting.”

PDP, APC in row over Kaduna violence From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

•Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang (right) with the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sen. Gyang Pwajok, at a rally in Jos North Local Government Area ...yesterday.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ADUNA State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attacking his convoy on Monday evening. The alleged attack, it was gathered, happened on the Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway when the governor with chieftains and supporters of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on a campaign tour. But APC said Yero was planning to turn Kaduna into a theatre of war by blaming the alleged attack on the opposition. In a statement by his media aide, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, the governor said he condemned “the attack on his campaign team by thugs loyal to APC at Bakin Ruwa in Igabi Local Government Area”. The statement added: “The thugs were obviously hired by the opposition to attack the convoy with the sole aim of throwing the state into confusion.” The statement reiterated the governor’s commitment to peaceful electoral process, warning that “government will not fold its arms and continue to watch as a violent minority seeks to intimidate the majority of our people into submission”. It said: “It is unfortunate that the same APC, which is chanting change, has resorted to violence and threats. This show of desperation by the APC since the beginning of campaigns by the ruling PDP, is a clear indication that the opposition is afraid of an imminent defeat in the forthcoming polls. “We condemn the negative antics of the APC in influencing youths to take to violence. The PDP shall continue to resist any attempt at causing mayhem in Kaduna State.” Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, the Kaduna State Campaign Coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Team, Senator Sani Saleh, said: “We make bold to say that the responsibility for the mayhem, injuries and the loss of lives and property rest squarely with Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and his PDP government. “You will recall that at the launch of his campaign last month, Yero incited his supporters to violence, apart from threatening the property, liberty and freedom of movement of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, our candidate for the governorship of this state. Our response to this threat was to ask our supporters not to respond to provocations. “We also wrote to alert the National Human Rights Commission and representatives of the international community to this blatant instance of hate speech. “Governor Yero yesterday (Monday) supervised hoodlums and thugs on a rampage against people and property. It is bad enough that his entourage attacked and destroyed billboards of General Muhammadu Buhari and Malam Nasir ElRufai in the Bakin Ruwa and Kabala West areas of Kaduna, the state capital. It is worse that residents who challenged this act of wanton vandalisation were attacked and beaten by the thugs. It is worst that Yero was in the motorcade as his henchmen attacked persons and property with a ferocity that claimed lives. Yero’s security detail got in the unfortunate action, shooting at citizens who happened to be in the area. •Governor Yero

PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan’s silence on Asari-Dokubo’s, others’ threats unacceptable, says David-West

FORMER Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, yesterday decried President Goodluck Jonathan’s silence on the statements by two former militant leaders - Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo). David-West said Jonathan’s silence was as condemnable as the statements because he swore to protect the integrity of Nigeria and be responsible to all Nigerians. The former minister, who spoke with our correspondent on phone yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, expressed shock that President Jonathan had been silent on what he called “irresponsible” statements by the two former militant leaders. According to him, President

•Urges President to apologise to Danjuma From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Jonathan will be held responsible for all activities on this month’s elections. David-West said: “A candidate can be good but can also lose an election due to carelessness and irresponsibility of some people around him or known to be members of his caucus. “I am shocked that he (Jonathan) is not saying anything on the explosive statements by Asari-Dokubo and Tompolo, but more of AsariDokubo, whose statement is reckless and irresponsible. President Jonathan’s silence is equally irresponsible because he is the Commander-in-

Chief of this country. He swore to protect the integrity of this country; he can’t afford to stay silent. “Remember that AsariDokubo had said that girls were not abducted at Chibok. He said the incident was fake; that it did not happen. Yet, President Jonathan did not call him to order. How do you think the parents of those abducted girls would feel? “Asari-Dokubo also said repeatedly that Ijaw are not Nigerians. Yet, the President, an Ijaw man, has not corrected him. If we were not Ijaw, how can Jonathan, an Ijaw man, be President of Nigeria? That means President Jonathan believes it. So, why is he contest-

ing to be President again? He has disqualified himself to contest. We, as supporters, must show respect and responsibility. “President Jonathan owes Gen. Theophilus Danjuma a public apology because Gen. Danjuma fought to keep Nigeria one. “In 2011, only about 25 per cent of the votes for Jonathan came from the Southsouth. Other votes that made him President came from other regions of the country. But Asari-Domubo called those other regions parasites. Yet, President Jonathan did not correct him. He should apologise. No part of the country is a parasite.”

10 houses, six ‘warehouses’ burnt as PDP, APC clash in Jigawa

EN houses, six local warehouses and a car were burnt yesterday when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed at Giwa village in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State. It was learnt that the violence started when the PDP House of Representatives candidate for the constituency, Alhaji Ali Tukur Gantsa, and his supporters stormed the village for a rally. His supporters allegedly set ablaze APC’s makeshifts and candidates’ billboards. The fire was said to have spread to the houses and the local warehouses or food stores. An eyewitness told our reporter that in retaliation,

HE Students Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State University (LASU) has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode. Student Union President Nurudeen Yusuf at the APC mega rally in Ojo said the students took the decision after weighing the two top contenders for the position. Yusuf, who led his collaegues to the rally, said their decision was based on his experience, competence, integrity. He said the students see Ambode as a visionary leader who will listen to their

•Police: three houses destroyed From Adamu Amadu, Dutse

APC supporters burnt a car belonging to a PDP chieftain. In the milieu, supporters on both sides were reportedly injured. It was learnt that although nobody died in the clash, human and animal foods, worth millions of naira, were burnt. Our reporter, who visited the scene, said some of the burnt houses were still burning in the afternoon. The village APC leader Alhaji Bala Giwa said: “The violence started when the PDP House of Representatives candidate visited the village for his rally. He realised that his party had no supporters. So, he ordered his thugs to set fire on our houses.

“The thugs, who were supported by police, entered the village and scattered our people, particularly children and women. Youths ran away. “I can show you the canisters of the tear gas that were fired by the police as evidence of what the police did to our people.” Gantsa confirmed the incident to reporters. He explained that “our youths retaliated”. He said: “What actually happened was that we went to Giwa village for our rally. After our team entered the village, one of our cars was attacked and burnt by APC thugs. Our office was also burnt down. “This attack spurred our

youths to retaliate. But what I know is that no PDP supporter or police officer used any weapon or tear gas on innocent women or children in the village.” Police spokesman, Abdu Jinjiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident. He said: “It happened and the police immediately intervened. There was no loss of life.” Jinjiri added: “According to our report, only a car and three houses were burnt. We don’t know who attacked who. But we know it was between APC and PDP.” He said the police had not made any arrest on the incident. The police spokesman assured that the matter was being investigated.

LASU students back Ambode From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

yearnings and aspirations. He said the 27 years experience garnered by Ambode in the civil service will give

him the edge to keep the ball rolling if elected and would continue the massive infrastructural development to make the university a world class institution.

The students hail Ambode’s academic achievement as exemplary, saying they look forward to his mentorship as a scholar and governor.

A vote for Jonathan is vote for hardship, says Ahmed

NOTHER four years of President Goodluck Jonathan in the saddle will be years of continued hardship for Nigerians, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said. The governor urged Nigerians not to vote for Jonathan in the February 14 election.

Ahmed, who advised Kwara State electorate to vote for General Buhari, added: “If you know his background and antecedent, General Mohammadu Buhari stands for integrity. He would not steal our money. He stands for truth, fair play and progress.” The governor recalled

that Kwara State voted massively for Jonathan in 2011 but had nothing to show for it. He asked: “How many hospitals have been commissioned in the state? How many roads have been inaugurated? The ones we undertook, have they reimbursed us?”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Italian businessman arraigned for ‘defrauding’ bank

HE Special Fraud Unit (SFU) yesterday arraigned an Italian businessman, Piero Allan Franchillo, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding Zenith Bank Plc of over N717 million. Franchillo, 56, was charged with Advance Fee Fraud, forgery and uttering of documents. He allegedly conspired with others, at large, to obtain N717,403,475.36 from the bank for the construction of Delta Mall at Effurum, Delta State. The police said he fraudu-

By Joseph Jibueze

lently converted the money to his own use instead of executing the project. The offence was allegedly committed between August 2013 and last April at Zenith Bank’s Headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the prosecution, Franchilo, an Italian, also “did forge an extract of minutes of meeting of the board of directors of New Technic Construction Nigeria Limited purportedly held on August 26, 2013, accepting APG/Bid Bond Line for enhancement of N1.5billion

and overdraft renewal of N50million for the construction of Delta Mall...” He was accused of altering the forged document, which enabled him to obtain the money from the bank. The offences contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act (2010), and Sections 390 (1), 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code, Cap C.38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2010). Franchilo pleaded not guilty. Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned till Friday for ruling on his bail application.

My man is an adulterer, says wife •‘She’s behind my woes’

40-year-old fashion designer, Funmilayo Odeyinka, has prayed the Alagbado Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage. She is seeking to divorce her husband, Toyin Odeyinka because he is “adulterous and irresponsible.” She said: “My husband womanises a lot. He once had an affair with our neighbour to the extent of getting her pregnant. My pastor revealed to me that if the woman had a child for my husband, she would kill our children. Surprisingly, five months after, I heard that she had aborted the pregnancy; that

By Basirat Braimah

was the last I heard of her. “As if that wasn’t enough, my husband married another woman to whom he is indebted. He cares less about me and our children’s wellbeing. At times, he leaves home at odd hours, claiming it was on the request of his boss. I later got to know his boss was his new wife. “I was shocked when my mother-in-law said the medical bills paid by my husband when I had to undergo Caesarean Section was enough to build a house. Consequently, she advised her son to

marry another wife. Since my presence alone irritates him, I willingly left his house. I just want our children in my custody because I am not comfortable with where they live.” Odeyinka, 48, who is not opposed to the divorce, accused his wife of being behind his problems. He said: “My wife is the reason behind our marriage troubles. I married another woman solely because my wife slept on the couch for a year without letting me touch her. I don’t womanise. Funmi is not disciplined. I never

HE National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffick in Persons (NAPTIP) has arraigned a 24-year-old woman, Ife Yussuf, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged human trafficking. She was accused of inducing three persons aged, 15, 16, and 22 into prostitution, by securing travelling documents for them to Burkina Faso from Lagos. The prosecuting counsel Mrs Kehinde Falade said

terminal was breached by a stowaway suspect, last weekend, has strengthened security at its facility to prevent a recurrence. A teenager, Samuel Ogunbiyi, attempted to stowaway in a private jet owned by Tag Aviation and parked at Execujet’s terminal. Execujet’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter de Waal, said more security personnel had been deployed in the airside through which Ogunbiyi sneaked into the private terminal, which is an international Fixed based Operator (HBO). He said the suspect, who entered the airpot on Saturday night, was able to access the facility, by hiding and running for cover whenever he saw people coming. Ogunbiyi, he said, accessed the airport premises through the broken perimeter fencing at Shasha/

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Akowonjo and sneaked through the airside to the Execujet facility. The Beesam Police station, which is at the airport, confirmed that the suspect did not pass through any of the airport gates but “scaled through the MMIA along Shasha axis”. De Waal said the suspect was found when the pilot wanted to take off. The pilot did routine walk with security operatives and Ogunbiyi was seen hiding in the wheelwell of the aircraft. “He did not come through the Presidential (VIP) Gate; he came though Shasha/ Akowonjo area and there have been thefts at the airport because that area is porous. People sneak into the airport through that area. However, we have fortified security at our own facility, but the

airport management should also do the same, so that this kind of thing will not reoccur. We are sure it will never happen again at our facility. He took the advantage of power outage, the interlude it took to switch on to generator. But we have taken care of that now,” De Waal said. In his confessional statement, the suspect claimed he entered the hangar through the Air Defence Corps of Nigerian Air Force, located next to the Presidential/ VIP Lounge in the airport on Saturday night, with the help of someone he simply identified as “a brother.” In August 2013 Ricky Daniel Oikhena was brought to Lagos while hiding in the wheel-well of an Arik air flight from Benin to the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

Drugs found in Bobbi Kristina’s house •Miss Elliot recalls Whitney’s wish for daughter

•Lt Moaz

bombings in Amman in 2005, in return for the release of Lt Kasasbeh. The video emerged three days after another video appeared to show the dead body of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

Harper Lee to do Mockingbird ‘sequel’

the accused person was arrested at the Ketu area of Lagos following a tip-off. Yusuf pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge of the offence, which contravenes sections 15 (a), 16, and 19 (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law Enforce-

ment and Administration Act, 2003. Following an application for bail by her lawyer, Mr Segun Onikoyi, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must provide tax clearance.

Stowaway: Operator strengthens PRIVATE operator, Executive Aviation security at terminal Nigeria Ltd, which

Jordan pilot hostage burned alive

N unpublished novel by Harper Lee is to finally see the light of day, 60 years after the US author put it aside to write To Kill a Mockingbird. Go Set a Watchman, which features the character Scout Finch as an adult, will be released on 14 July. Lee wrote it in the mid-1950s but put it aside on the advice of her editor. “I thought it a pretty decent effort.” said Lee, now 88. “I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years.”

By Joseph Jibueze

SHOWBIZ

FOREIGN NEWS

VIDEO published online by Islamic State (IS) militants claims to show Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive. The video, which could not immediately be verified, shows a man standing in a cage and engulfed in flames. Lt Moaz al-Kasasbeh was captured when his plane came down near Raqqa, Syria, in December on a mission to support the US-led military coalition against IS. Jordanian state TV confirmed the death and said he was killed a month ago. The video posted online on Tuesday was distributed via a Twitter account known as a source for IS propaganda. A relative of Lt Kasasbeh told Reuters news agency that the Jordanian armed forces had informed the family that he had been killed. The BBC’s Frank Gardner says that the video is clearly intended to shock. The highly produced 22-minute film includes a sequence showing the Jordanian pilot walking at gunpoint amongst rubble apparently caused by coalition air strikes that targeted jihadists. Jordan had been attempting to secure Lt Kasasbeh’s release as part of a prisoner swap. It had offered to free Sajida al-Rishawi, who is on death row in Jordan for her role in hotel

NAPTIP arraigns woman for alleged human trafficking

Set in the fictional southern town of Maycomb during the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman sees Scout return from New York to visit her father, the lawyer Atticus Finch. According to the publisher’s announcement: “She is forced to grapple with issues both personal and political as she tries to understand her father’s attitude toward society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood.” To Kill a Mockingbird won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961

OUR days after late Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who is now in coma, was rescued from a bathtub drowning, the police have found drugs in her house. According to a family source, it was gathered that the police went back a second time to search the house, after their first attempt, which didn’t produce any evidence. Although the police will not confirm yet that they found drugs, the source said they seized several items. Law enforcement sources told TMZ they believed from the beginning that Bobbi Kristina ended up face down in a bathtub as a result of drugs. As for why the cops didn’t find anything during the first search, “We’re told they were only looking for items that were “out in the open.” Law enforcement tells us the second search was more thorough,” reports TMZ. Meanwhile, Miss Elliot has expressed sadness over the situation, which doctors say is bleak for the only daughter of late Whitney, recalling the late singer’s wish for Bobbi, whom she had for RnB singer, Bobby Brown.

“Bobbi is like a little sister to me. I have been very close to her mother. One thing that her mother said to me before she passed away was to make sure Bobbi Kristina was straight, so my prayers for healing [are] that she comes out and be around people that love her.” Bobbi Kristina, 21, has remained brain-dead in a medically-induced coma. As her family prays for a miracle, they are being told by doctors to prepare for the worst. Experts said Bobbi Kristina likely suffered severe brain damage and the outlook is bleak. “Even minutes without air can be grim,” neurologist Eli Zimmerman of Massachusetts General Hospital said. While loved ones are hoping for the best, the chances of a full recovery are dismal, as Bobbi Kristina, has very little brain activity and appears to have suffered severe oxygen deprivation. Even if Brown does recover, her rehabilitation will be a long, hard road, and she will likely continue to suffer from seizures and impaired cognitive function. In September 2014, comedian Joan Rivers died one week after suffering irreparable brain damage after she stopped breathing during a routine throat surgery. Like

Bobbi Kristina, Rivers was placed into a medically-induced coma and died a week later. Bobbi Kristina’s beleaguered father, singer Bobby Brown, released a statement asking the media and fans for privacy. “Privacy is requested in this matter,” Bobby asked in a statement. “Please allow for my family to deal with this matter and give my daughter the love and support she needs at this time.”

• Kristina

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorses the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/ Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following numbers on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

186TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

ano State, under the leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE, stands out as a legendary copious beacon in the delivery of services by Government across all sectors towards fulfillment of promises/resolutions to satisfy the genuine aspirations of the good people of the State for the betterment of their lives. Series of approvals continually granted and ensured of being executed on public spirited/oriented projects/schemes/ programmes attest to this as available indelible records of the performance by MDAs across all sectors show. The tangible physical developmental, perceivable socio – cultural and positive economic transformations and other achievements recorded need no emphasis in this medium. Verification survey and conduct of opinion polls can confirm the commendable trend in continuation with which the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and eighty sixth (186th) sitting on Sunday 1st February, 2015 (11th Rabi’ul Thani, 1436AH). Forty (40) memoranda from eight (8) MDAs were tabled for deliberation of which Council approved twenty five (25) cutting across six (6) sectors for execution with an expenditure of Two Hundred and Eighty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Four Naira, Twenty Nine Kobo (N285,710,174.29) covering twenty one (21) projects while the remaining four (4) are on policy issues as follows; 1. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENANCE SECTOR A total of fourteen (14) or more than 50% of the twenty five (25) memoranda approved for execution by the Kano State Executive Council at its one hundred and eighty sixth (186th) sitting are under the infrastructural development/ maintenance sector. Accordingly, the fourteen (14) memoranda approved for execution under this sector can be further sub – divided into four (4). Viz; provision of public utilities; provision of roads/related structures; provision of housing and urban beautification (7, 4, 2 and 1 respectively) as follows; • PROVISION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES:i. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Professional Fees in Respect of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency:Council approved the release of the sum of N405,350.00 to the State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency to enable payment of professional fees to the Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria as well as the International Zoo Educators. The request was endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration on behalf of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency. ii. Request for Funds for the Supply and Installation of Furniture at the recently Completed Deputy Governor’s Office:This request was submitted from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. The details presented were appraised and Council approved the release of the sum of N20,036,063.25 for the stated purpose. iii. Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Provision of Minimum Requirements for the Full Take – Off of Informatics Institute, Kura Permanent Site:Prominent amongst the employable skills acquisition institutes established by the present administration, is Kano Informatics Institutes with its permanent site in Karfi, Kura Local Government. Council approved the release of the sum of N62,551,707.91 to enable provision of the requirements for the full take – off of the Kano State Informatics Institute at its Kura permanent site on Contractual arrangement to be supervised by the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. iv. Request for Funds to Enable Procurement and Installation of 350KVA Electricity Generating Set/Accessories at Kano Informatics Institute Permanent Site, Kura:The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport substantiated through contents of this memorandum, the need for submitting this request for consideration by Council. Approval was granted for the release of the sum of N16,257,189.38 for the stated project to be executed on Contractual arrangement under the supervision of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. v. Request for Funds for the Supply and Installation of Furniture and Electricity Standby Generating Set at the Kano State Sports Institute Permanent Site, Karfi:Approval was granted for the release of the sum of N18,179,673.75 for this project to be executed on Contractual arrangement under the supervision of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. vi. Presentation on the Need to Convert Imam Wali Local Government Development Center to a Health Facility (Cottage Hospital):Council noted, considered the details presented and approved the conversion of the under – utilized Imam Wali Local Government Development Center to a fully functional Cottage Hospital under the State Ministry of Health. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health was instructed to set the stage for the provision of required facilities with a view to putting the new hospital to use in two weeks time. Furthermore, the Council approved the naming of the new hospital after Mallam Imam Wali. vii. Request for the Provision of 250KVA Electricity Generator at the Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso College of Basic and Remedial Studies Tudun Wada:This institute is among the 24 institute established by the administration of KWANKWASO in the state. It is intended to provide for remedial courses as the state has only one of such institutions. The details submitted on the plausible reasons that prompted submission of this request from the Ministry of Higher Education for consideration by Council warranted for the granting of approval as requested thereby mandating the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to carry – out the assignment accordingly. • PROVISION OF ROADS/RELATED FACILITIES:i. Request for Funds to Enable Continuation with Enforcement of the Street De – Congestion/Illegal Motor Parks Operations in Kano Metropolis:Cognizant of the policy of the present administration to decongest metropolitan roads and eliminate the operation of illegal motor parks, this request was presented to Council for consideration. Council appraised the request and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 to cater for the two (2) items required (Logistics and Allowances) for three (3) months (January – March, 2015). All activities are to be supervised by the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. ii. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Accrued Expenditure on Maintenance/Running Cost for the Street and Traffic Control Lighting Project (November – December, 2014):Council approved the release of the sum of N28,336,000.00 to enable the State Taskforce Committee on the Installation/Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights pay its accrued expenditure executed on loan for the stated duration on maintenance/running cost. iii. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for One (1) Property Omitted Amongst those Affected by the Construction of 5KM Road at Ungogo Town:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning reported to Council, through contents of this memorandum that, one (1) item (structure) was erroneously omitted when the successful payment of compensation for structures affected by the 5KM Road Projects at Ungogo Town in Ungogo Local Government Council Area was undertaken. Council approved the release of the sum of N892,350.00 to enable payment of the stated compensation according to the details presented. In a related development, Council urged the Contractors handling the construction of the 5KM Road projects across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State to hasten its complete. iv. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty Five (25) Properties (Items) Affected by the Construction of Koki/Daurawa Road Leading to the Newly Constructed Secondary School:Council approved the release of the sum of N30,926,350.00 to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to enable payment of compensation for twenty

five (25) properties (items) affected by the construction of Koki/Daurawa Road leading to the newly constructed Secondary School according to the details presented. • PROVISION OF HOUSING:i. Presentation of Progress Report from the House Numbering/Street Naming Committee:Council was notified, through contents of this Progress Report that the recently approved (ratified) and released sum of N266,303,000.00 was judiciously utilized with progress categorically reported from five (5) of the eight (8) Municipal Local Government Council Areas which include Nassarawa, Dala, Ungogo, Gwale and Kumbotso. Specifically, the Committee submitted a joint report from Gwale and Ungogo Local Government Council Areas with highlights as follows; completed buildings = 175,978; uncompleted houses = 15,078; plots = 29,349. Council acknowledged the presentation and directed for continuation of the project by the Committee so as to enhance facilitation of Data/Information relevant to planning. ii. Request for Funds to Enable Refund of Overpayment in Respect of Some Sold GP Houses:Council approved release of the sum of N6,746,300.00 to three (3) Individuals as refund for the overpayment for the GP Houses sold to them by the State Government under the present administration. • URBAN RENEWAL/BEAUTIFICATION:Request for Funds to Enable Establishment and Settlement of Masquerade Plants at the Permanent Site of Kano Informatics and Sports Institutes:The Horticulture Institute, Bagauda reportedly completed its own version of the cited project waiting for proper transplanting of the nurtured seedlings at the two (2) institutes estimated to cost the sum of N3,607,180.00. The idea behind the planting of the Masquerade Plants is to provide protection of the wall fence, as well as security of the institute. 2. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR The empowerment sector was further endowed with the granting of approval by the Kano State Executive Council at its one hundred and eighty sixth (186th) sitting for the execution of six (6) memoranda, five (5) of which are on provision of access to professional/academic education while the other one (1) is on provision of access to capacity building for serving civil servants as follows; • PROVISION OF ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC EDUCATION:i. Request for Funds to Enable Purchase of One Way Air Tickets for One Hundred and Ninety Seven (197) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for One – Year Top Up Degree Programme at International University of East Africa, Uganda:The content of this memorandum recall Council on its earlier approval for the sponsoring of one hundred and ninety seven (197) State Indigenous Students to pursue a one year top – up degree programme at the International University of East Africa Kampala, Uganda. So far, the students have successfully completed their studies and awarded with various class of degree as follow; • Forty nine (49) – first (1st) class. • Ninety (90) – second (2nd) class upper. • Forty four (44) – second (2nd) class lower. • Fourteen (14) – pass. The details presented above was considered as authentic on the referred students having completed their studies and due to return home which prompted Council to approve the release of the sum of N32,702,000.00 to the Ministry of Science and Technology, as endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for the stated purpose at N166,000.00 each. ii. Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of 2015 IJMB Marking Exercise and Payment of Affiliation Fees by the Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies:The content of this memorandum is requesting for funds to cater for the conduct of the year 2015 IJMB Examination, marking Exercise and Payment of Affiliation fees. The sum N11,945,200.00 is being requested to enable the successful conduct of the examination in terms accommodation, feeding, honoraria and refreshment for external supervisors, allowances for internal coordinators, procurement of chemical and other consumable for practical examinations, etc. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the requested sum for the undertaking. iii. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Expenses Incurred in the Conduct of Head Count of Sponsored Kano State Indigenous Students at Crescent, Bells, Igbinedion and American University, Yola:Ensuring accountability, the Ministry of Higher Education led a high powered team to conduct the actual head count referred. Details were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N1,267,450.00 incurred in conduct of the exercise. Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. iv. Request for Funds for the Payment of Allowances/Expenses in Respect of Special Assignment Conducted to Verify the Number of Kano State Sponsored Students at Al – Qalam University, Katsina:The content of this memorandum recall members of Council of the directives given to the State Ministry of Higher Education to visit Al – Qalam university Katsina and take head counts of the State sponsored students at the Institution. Against the background of the foregoing, the sum of N388,275.00 is being requested as duty tour allowances in respect of the Ministry officials who conducted the head count of the State sponsored students at the Institutions. Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. v. Request for Funds as Special Grant on the Second (2nd) Batch Kano State Indigenous Students Admitted into the Nigerian Law Schools:In continuation with fulfilling the policy on free education of the state, thirty one (31) Kano State Indigenous Students were cleared by the authorities at the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education as qualified for second (2nd) Batch admission into the Nigerian Law Schools (2014/2015) academic session. Council approved the release of the sum of N10,385,000.00 to the Kano State Scholarship Board in respect of the thirty one (31) second (2nd) Batch Kano State Indigenous Students admitted into the Nigerian Law Schools (at N335,000.00) each. • Provision of Access to Capacity Building for Serving Civil Servants:Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Statutory Dues to Four (4) Senior Government Officials at the Kano Pilgrims’ Welfare Board:The content of this memorandum is from the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board intimating Council on the communication it received from National Hajj Commission of Nigeria regarding a programme on pilgrim leadership management jointly organized by EDUGUIDE and ALHARAMIN Ltd schedule to take place in Riyadh. The memorandum further recall the outstanding performance of the State during the last four (4) operations particularly the just conducted 2014 Hajj which earned the State (Kano) reputation in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia with an award of excellence by the establishment for pilgrims from African and Non – Arab Countries. Accordingly, Council approved the release of the sum of N5,683,000.00 to enable the four (4) Senior Government Officials to attend the programme jointly organized by the EDUGUIDE and ALHARAMAINPILGRIMS Ltd on pilgrims’ leadership management at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 3. THE COMMERCE/INVESTMENT SECTOR Cognizant of the need to protect commerce (trading) and investment into viable ventures in Kano State (covertly named as the center of commerce), the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of two (2) memoranda under the commerce/investment sector at its one hundred and eighty sixth (186th) sitting as follows; a) Presentation of Performance Report/Retirement of Expenditure (4th Quarter, 2014) and Request for Operational Funds for the First (1st) Quarter 2015 by the Kano State Consumer Protection Council:-

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation of the Committee’s performance and approved the release of the recommended sum of N5,000,000.00 as endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Governmentto enable the Consumer Protection Council operate in the first (1st) quarter of 2015. b) Presentation of Report from the Seventeen (17) – Member Committee on the Kano – Katsina – Maradi (2KM) Cross Boarder Initiative:The 17 – Member Committee assigned on the cited initiative (project) carried out its mandate and submitted its report which was concisely summarized to six (6) items and presented to Council for consideration based on which approval was granted as requested by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism and endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government for clearance to enable the commencement of the assigned duties of the Committee. 4. THE EDUCATION SECTOR The Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of only one (1) memorandum under the education sector at its one hundred and eighty sixth (186th) sitting in continuation with the unwavering attention accorded the sector as follows; Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of Midterm and Final, Mass Literacy Classes Examination (2nd Circle):The content of this memorandum recall Council of its’ earlier approval granted to the State Agency for Mass Education for the conduct of giant Mass Literacy Campaign for the period of 2012 – 2015 which led to the establishment of 8,074 classes with an enrollment of 403,700 adult, 16,148 facilitators and 440 supervisors. It is pertinent to note that, the programme has tremendously assisted in rising the adults literacy level in the State. In this regard, the sum of N5,000,085.00 is being requested to cater for the smooth conduct of mid – term and final examination as funds for the procurement of examination materials, allowances for invigilators as well as monitoring logistics. Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. 5. THE HEALTH SECTOR The prominence accorded the health sector and provision of vital services related to it prompted Council to approve execution of the only one (1) memorandum from the sector as follows; Request for Funds to Enable Provision of Operational Funds to the Multi – Agency Taskforce on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking:Cognizant of the significant role played by the cited Taskforce on the fight against the unwholesome activities of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Council approved the release of the recommended sum of N14,961,000.00 as operational funds (January – March, 2015) to the Multi – Agency Taskforce on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. 6. THE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION/PROTECTION SECTOR Matters of the environment are considered of priority by the present administration cognizant to which the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of the request related to the sector as endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Monthly Allowances to the Three (3) Private Members of the (MIREMCO) (October, 2014 – January, 2015):Specifically, the three (3) Private Members of the Kano State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) requested for the release of the sum of N440,000.00 as four (4) months sitting allowances (October, 2014 – January, 2015). Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 186TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. SWEARING- IN OF THREE (3) NEWLY APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS Council witnessed the successful swearing – in of three (3) newly appointed commissioners on Sunday 1 st February, 2015 at the Council Chamber Government House, Kano by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The appointment is to fill the vacuum created by the resignation of some Commissioners so as to contest for elective offices. The newly appointed Commissioners/portfolios are as follows: i. Alhaji Aminu Mukhtar – Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Finance. ii. Engr. Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar - Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Rural and Community Development. iii. Hajiya Zainab Abdu Bako – Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Science & Technology. In the same vein, Council congratulated the new members and urged them to discharge their official responsibility with fear of Almighty Allah. 2. COMMISSIONING OF KWANKWASIYYA HOUSING ESTATE BY GEN. T.Y. DANJUMA (Rtd) Council delightfully acknowledged the successful commissioning of Kwankwasiyya Housing Estate by Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd) on Wednesday 28th January, 2015. The General in his remarks commended the laudable performance of the present administration in Kano State under the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE towards infrastructural development across various sectors. 3. KANO ECONOMIC AND COMMERCE DIALOGUE ORGANIZED BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN ABUJA Council noted the successful conduct of the organized Economic and Commerce Dialogue by the American Embassy held on 22nd January, 2015 at Abuja attended by the Kano State team, headed by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Co-operatives and Tourism. The forum provided an opportunity to Kano Business Community to discussed vital issues related to Trade and Investment promotions at national and International level. 4. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE TO STATE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM (SSIT) MEMBERS AND LAUNCHING OF TEACHING SKILL PROGRAMME (YEAR 2) Council noted the successful presentation of Certificates to State School Improvement Team and launching of Teaching Skills Programme second (2nd) Phase for the year 2015 in the State in collaboration with DFID-ESSPIN as development partners by His Excellency the DeputyGovernor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government on Literacy and Numeracy initiatives for Primary 4 and 5, initiated by the present administration for Primary 1-3 in 2013/2014. 5. PRESENTATION OF AN AWARD TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE Council noted the presentation of an Award to the Governor as “True Champion of Women Empowerment” during an organized three-day Bazaar/Exhibition on Women Finished Products by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Grand Coalition of Women Empowered by the present Administration.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture, Kano State

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3116

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Was February 14 chosen as Election Day out of ignorance or wisdom? Red is for roses not blood. Flowers are for love not funerals. ‘Show Love not War!’ Happy February 14 in advance. ‘READY your phone camera. STEADY your audio recording. GO viral and VOTE’ TONY MARINHO

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

UST when it looked like Nigerians were condemned to listening to barren debates on non-issues in the run-up to the February 14 presidential and federal legislative elections, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, waded in on January 25 with a bombshell that ought to force those seeking our votes to debate the real issues that concern us. Soludo’s roughly 6,000-word article, “Buhari versus Jonathan: Beyond the Elections,” may yet fail in achieving his apparent objective but after his piece, which was essentially about President Goodluck Jonathan’s management – the former CBN Governor himself called it mismanagement - of our economy, no one can say there has been no attempt to put an end to the manipulation and exploitation of primordial sentiments by politicians to win our votes. In this respect, it was good that Soludo’s piece provoked a very rapid response the very next day from our Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, through her Special Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu. The very headline of Nwabuikwu’s roughly 3,220-word reply to Soludo which was a parody of sorts of the title of Soludo’s piece – “Beyond Belief: Soludo’s Self-Serving article on Economic Management is Deficit in Facts, Logic and Honour” - spoke volumes about the anger his article must have provoked in Abuja. First, Soludo said in his article, at the time of oil boom Nigeria had gone on a consumption spree “such that the budgets of the last five years can best be described as ‘consumption budgets.’” Second, he said, not one penny was added to the stock of foreign reserves at a period Nigeria earned hundreds of billions from oil. Third, the country, he said, went on a borrowing binge such that “the rate of public debt accumulation at a time of unprecedented boom had no parallel in the world... “In sum, the mismanagement of our economy has brought us once more to the brink.” Neither the government nor the opposition, he said, have so far come up with any credible economic policies on how to bring the country back from that brink. Not surprisingly, his harsh criticism of government greatly angered the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister. “It is totally remarkable” she said in the rather uncharitable opening paragraphs of her reply through Nwabuikwu, “that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the man who presided over the worst mismanagement of Nigeria’s banking sector as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between May 2004 and May 2009, can write about the mismanagement of the economy.” Her concluding paragraph was even less charitable of the former CBN Governor. “It is a sad day for Nigeria and the economics profession,” she said, “that someone like Soludo, a former CBN governor, should write such an article. If Soludo wants to regain respect, he should return to the path of professionalism. He certainly needs

RIPPLES NOBODY CAN INTIMIDATE US, OBA OF LAGOS WARNS AIG MBU

Kabiyesi, thank you for that REMINDER… Lagos, NO SHAKING.

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Between Soludo and Okonjo-Iweala

•Prof. Soludo

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

something to improve his image from that of someone whose sojourn into National Economic Management ended in disaster for the banking sector, his sojourn in politics, ended in overwhelming rejection by the electorate, and more recently, his sojourn abroad, has put him out of touch with the reality of the Nigerian economy.” Soludo, obviously spoiling for a fight, fired back an even more damaging charge of economic mismanagement against the minister. “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala And The Missing Trillions (1)” he entitled his roughly 6,500-word rejoinder to her rejoinder. This time he accused the minister, more or less, of criminal negligence in carrying out her brief as a doubleminister. “My earlier article,” he said, “stated that the minimum forex reserves should have been at least $90 billion by now and you did not challenge it. Rather it is about $30 billion, meaning that gross mismanagement has denied the country some $60 billion or another N12.6 trillion. “Now add the ‘missing’ $20 billion from the NNPC. You promised a forensic audit report ‘soon’, and more than a year later the Report itself is still ‘missing’. This is over N4 trillion, and we don’t know how much more has ‘missed’ since Sanusi cried out.” Soludo then proceeded to challenge her to a three-way debate between the government

and the leading opposition party, with himself as a third party on any economic topic of her choice. The debate, he suggested, should also include the way out of our economic mess and should take place by February 12. I doubt that the minister will pick up Soludo’s gauntlet. But even if she did, it is doubtful that a debate at this time will make any difference because, as Soludo himself said in his first article, most Nigerians have pretty much made up their minds who to vote for on considerations other than the record of performance and dispositions of the contestants. Even then I still believe Soludo deserves commendation for trying to pull us away from the useless debates on non-issues that have so far characterised the campaigns. Soludo’s articles may have been self-serving. Certainly his record as CBN Governor is hardly as glorious as he has tried to paint it. True, his creation of 25 mega-banks out of the hitherto existing 89 transformed Nigeria’s financial sector like no other reform before it, but it did not achieve its principal objectives. It did stop the banking sector, in which 11 banks were already seriously ailing, from an imminent collapse. However, the mergers did not stop some of them from remaining family piggybanks, nor did they improve transparency and good governance, a failure which forced his successor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to do a massive cleaning up pretty early in his tenure. Nor still did the mega banks finance the so-called “real sector” – agriculture, manufacturing and even services – more than marginally better than the smaller banks. However, I believe it is rather disingenuous of our double-minister to try and isolate what she calls Soludo’s failure from what she says was the wonderful performance of the economy during her first sojourn as Finance Minister on leave from the World Bank. First, as she very well knew, if Soludo failed to supervise the new mega-banks closely it was because the chief executives of some of the banks had an even easier access to the top hierarchy of government than Soludo himself, arising from their unexplained

HARDBALL

HE majesty of Greek and Yoruba cultures came alive when Prof. Ola Rotimi (God bless his soul!) adapted Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex (King Oedipus), a play, to the African setting in The Gods Are Not to Blame. The two plays show both the Greek and Yoruba traditional societies as religious, superstitious and even fatalistic. But even with the larger-thanlife presence of the supernatural in these two societies, people still make their own choices — to make or ruin themselves. So, it was with Kings Oedipus and Odewale, and their corresponding tragedies. The gods and choices are, of course, reminiscent of Ekiti in modern Nigeria — one of only perhaps two states, the other being Bayelsa, that is ethnically homogeneous. Figuratively speaking, Ifa has been kind to Ekiti! Four years ago, Ifa gave Ekiti Kayode Fayemi (sure, the former governor is a staunch Catholic, even boasting the baptismal name of John, but Fa suggests his name is an Ifa derivative, in Yoruba meaning “Ifa ennobles me”). And just last year Ifa gave Ekiti Ayodele Fayose. No, no: it was not like the Israelites of old, pestering Jehovah to give them another king. But from the incumbent’s crushing loss at that election, it might not be so dissimilar.

Ekiti: Ifa is not to blame Well, the replacement is another Fayose (literally in Yoruba, “Ifa will do it”) — though again Fayose boasts a baptismal name of Peter (can you imagine: Peter the Rock!); and at the last count, worships at the Deeper Life Christian Church, where he laid prostrate — poor lamb of God! — at the thanksgiving, just after his inauguration. Anyway, Ekiti made their own choice: Fayemi out, Fayose in, chikena! Fayemi had his weaknesses: many said he was distant and cold. Other said he built roads but ignored the grumbling tummy. Yet others, particularly the avant-garde and sophisticated, said he was Plato’s philosopher king, among a democratic rabble. He rippled with ideas but left his people winded and far behind; so they couldn’t buy into his vision. Yet, in four years he envisioned, laboured and tried to build lasting and transformational

shares and deposits in the banks. Soludo simply knew his limits and wisely refrained from crossing them. Second, she was merely the first among equals in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Economic Management Team and several of its ideas came from others, not least of all from Soludo as, first, Obasanjo’s Economic Adviser, and then CBN Governor. The problem with our double-minister, I believe, is, first, that all too often she wants to eat her cake and still have it; she likes to take credit for government’s achievements and distant herself from its failures. She has, for example, been quick to take credit for the country’s debt relief in 2005 and yet decline responsibility for the fact that the relief translated into little or no benefit for ordinary Nigerians. More recently she has been quick to take credit for the so-called rebasing of the country’s economy which has made it Africa’s number one, well ahead of the wealthier South African’s, the continent’s hitherto number one. But while quick in taking credit for Nigeria’s phantom economic growth she is reticent, to say the least, about the fact that the country’s human development index is worse today than it was before the rebasing. Worse, she has been even more reticent about the incredible degree of corruption in the land. Second, our double-minister likes to talk about the sacrifices she has made in leaving her job at the World Bank to come back home and serve. What you never hear from her is what benefits she has derived from coming home to serve, including her high profile projections abroad and enviable physical assets at home. This, of course, is natural. But it is also the very reason why she should spare us her sermons on her self-sacrifice. In an interview with Will Ross, BBC’s Lagos Correspondent, on March 12 last year, for example, she seemed angry when he asked her if Nigeria was serious about fighting corruption. He had pointed to her that there seemed to be a huge gap between government’s declaration of war on corruption and its actions, notably the unprecedented suspension of the CBN governor, Malam Sanusi, for raising the alarm over huge sums missing from the Federation Account . Didn’t she think, Ross asked, her reputation was at stake? “I don’t think my reputation is under threat and to imply otherwise is distinctly wrong. I know what I’m doing. I know why I’m here. It would be very easy for me to sit at the World Bank and earn a nice salary and criticise. I gave up a comfortable career to come here and do my bit because I recognise that nobody but us Nigerians can clean it up.” Fine words, indeed. Trouble is, doing her own bit has not been any more glorious and more beneficial to ordinary Nigerians than that of Soludo, her new-found pet-hate. Nor has her doing her own bit been all sacrifices and no benefits. •For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above legacies, en route to vaulting Ekiti from its pristine rural state to glorious modernity. But all that is history now — except the cold, concrete stare from his physical infrastructure! Then enter, Fayose, the man of the people, though in the mould of Chinua Achebe’s fictional Chief Nanga, MP! As Fayemi was cold, Fayose is warm. As Fayemi hugged physical infrastructure, Fayose hugs stomach infrastructure. As Fayemi ate and drank with his books and policy wonks, Fayose eats and drinks — agbo jedi! — with his people, live in the streets! The Ekiti masses couldn’t have had it better. Yet, in four months, Fayose is about undoing what Fayemi has done in four years: structured governance, executive-legislative harmony, respect for and integrity of the judiciary, and even general security and safety. For four years, hooliganism and open opportunity violence appeared banished from Ekiti. But just in four months now, these vices appear back with a vengeance. Two “donations” from Ifa; yet two diametrically opposed results! Still, Ifa is not to blame; Ekiti Kete made their choice.

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