February 06, 2015

NIGERIA DECIDES

Newspaper of the Year

•Soyinka: I’ve 60 reasons why I won’t vote for Jonathan •The Economist endorses Buhari•Lagos declares holiday •Sultan gets PVC•Averting violence in Rivers elections •AND MORE ON •YCE, Ohanaeze reject Jonathan’s endorsement PAGES 2-7,12,47&60

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3118 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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•INSIDE: FIRM INVESTS $391.6 IN OIL BLOCKS P11 ROW OVER N3.4B CASSAVA BREAD FUND P11

•NO WAY: Some Nigerians protesting against the likely postponement of the February 14 and 28 elections in Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•SEE ALSO PAGE 56

Revealed: How Council of State rejected polls shift Jega insists INEC ready for Feb 14, 28 From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

O

PPONENTS of postponement of the February 14 and 28 elections won a major battle yesterday, with the Council of State giving the green light for the exercise.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega insisted on going ahead with the general elections, stressing that the com-

WHO IS WHERE FOR SHIFT •Olusegun Mimiko •Godswill Akpabio •Babangida Aliyu •Liyel Imoke •Sambo Dasuki •Service Chiefs mission is better prepared than it was in 2011.

It was a major victory for

AGAINST SHIFT •Gen. Yakubu Gowon •Alhaji Shehu Shagari •Gen. I. B. Babangida •Gen. A. Abdulsalami •All APC governors •Chief Ernest Shonekan INEC. Ex-Heads of State and Presidents lined up behind Jega and asked the nation to go

ahead with the polls.

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Gen. Yakubu Gowon supported the elections as scheduled.

The overwhelming backing for the elections “caught President Goodluck Jonathan unawares”, a source at the meeting said.

He (Dr. Jonathan) accused All Progressives Congress Continued on page 4

?

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

NNPC to pay $1.48bn From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

A

UDITING giant PriceWaterhouseCoppers (PwC) has said $1.48 billion is missing from the treasury —no thanks to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Addressing reporters on the highlights of the PwC report as requested by President Jonathan, the Auditor Continued on page 4

•AGRIC P12•SPORTS P16 •SOCIETY P41•POLITICS P47•BRAND P51 •MONEYLINK P55

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

2

NEWS

•Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II (second right); Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa ( UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Head, Strategic Business Group, UBA, Mr. Oliver Alawuba (left) and the bank’s Executive Director, Resources, Ms. Obi Ibekwe when the UBA management team visited the Emir at his palace in Kano...Wednesday.

COUNTDOWN TO FEB.14 ...EIGHT DAYS TO GO

The Economist: Many Nigerians prefer to give Buhari another chance A

From left: The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; President, Cosmopolitan Women's Club, Chief Bintu Fatima Tinubu; Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje at an interactive session with parties’ flag bearers in Lagos at the MUSON Centre, Lagos Island, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

From left: Executive Director, Renewable Energy, Federal Ministry of Power, Abayomi Adebisi; Managing Director, Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), Peter Ewesor; Minister of State for Power, Muhammed Wakil; Chairman, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Kola Balogun and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. Godknows Igali after a courtesy visit to MEMMCOL’s factory at Mowe, Ogun State.

•From left: Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun , Bursar , Dr. Modupe Ajayi , Registrar, Chief Reuben Fasoranti , Chairman FUTA/Akure Partnership , Professor Adebiyi Daramola , Vice Chancellor , Professor Adedayo Fasakin, Chairman, and Dr Femi Oguntuase , Librarian, shortly after the inauguration of the Implementation Committee of the New School of Health and Heath Technology recently approved for the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Thursday .

FTER weighing the two leading presidential candidates – Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), The Economist, the influential London weekly magazine, has rated the General above the incumbent President.

In its editorial entitled: “A former dictator is a better choice than a failed president,” the magazine said Nigerians have to make a choice between the duo on February 14.

The editorial is in the newspaper’s edition due for publication tomorrow. It is unsparing of both candidates.

President Jonathan, according to the editorial, has not shown enough political will to tackle corruption since he mounted the saddle in 2010, following the death of his predecessor, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

It said: “Start with Mr Jonathan, whose People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has run the country since 1999 and who stumbled into the presidency on the death of his predecessor in 2010. The PDP’s reign has been a sorry one. Mr Jonathan has shown little willingness to tackle endemic corruption.”

The paper also called Buhari a former dictator, who came to power in coup.

“The opposition All Progressives Congress has a real chance of winning through the ballot box. Yet its candidate, Mr Buhari, is an ex-general who, three decades ago, came to power in a coup. His rule was nasty, brutish and mercifully short,” the editorial said.

In apparent reference to an opinion poll, the magazine said many Nigerians prefer to offer Buhari another chance because of his lifestyle and readiness to submit himself to democratic dictates.

The paper stated: “Should a former dictator with such a record be offered another chance? Surprisingly, many Nigerians think he should.

“One reason is that, in a country where ministers routinely wear wristwatches worth many times their annual salary, Mr Buhari is a sandal-wearing ascetic with a record of fighting corruption.”

Below is the text of the editorial: “Sometimes there are no good options. Nigeria goes to the polls on February 14th to elect the next president, who will face problems so large—from rampant corruption to a jihadist insurgency—that they could break the country apart, with dire consequences for Nigerians and the world.

“And yet, as Africa’s biggest economy stages its most important election since the restoration of civilian rule in 1999, and perhaps since the civil war four decades ago, Nigerians must pick between the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, who has proved an utter failure, and the opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator with blood on his hands (see article).

The candidates stand as symbols of a broken political system that makes all Nigeria’s problems even more intractable.

In this section “Start with Mr Jonathan, whose People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has run the country since 1999 and who stumbled into the presidency on the death of his predecessor in 2010. The PDP’s reign has been a sorry one. Mr Jonathan has shown little willingness to tackle endemic corruption.

When the governor of the central bank reported that $20 billion had been stolen, his reward was to be sacked.

“Worse, on Mr Jonathan’s watch much of the north of the country has been in flames. About 18,000 people have died in political violence in recent years, thousands of them in January in several brutal attacks by Boko Haram, a jihadist group that claims to have established its “caliphate” in territory as large as Belgium. Another 1.5m people have fled their homes.

“The insurgency is far from Mr Jonathan’s southern political heartland and afflicts people more likely to vote for the opposition. He has shown little enthusiasm for tackling it, and even less competence.

“Quick to offer condolences to France after the attack on Charlie Hedbo, Mr Jonathan waited almost two weeks before speaking up about a Boko Haram attack that killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of his compatriots.

“The single bright spot of his rule has been Nigeria’s economy, one of the world’s fastest-growing. Yet that is largely despite the government rather than because of it, and falling oil prices will temper the boom. The prosperity has not been broadly shared: under Mr Jonathan poverty has increased. Nigerians typically die eight years younger than their poorer neighbours in nearby Ghana.

Goodbye Jonathan “Voters have ample cause to send Mr Jonathan packing. In a country where power has often changed through the barrel of a gun, the opposition All Progressives Congress has a real chance of winning through the ballot box.

“Yet its candidate, Mr Buhari, is an ex-general who, three decades ago, came to power in a coup. His

PO THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

3

COUNTDOWN TO FEB.14 ...EIGHT DAYS TO GO

‘

One reason is that, in a country where ministers routinely wear wristwatches worth many times their annual salary, Mr Buhari is a sandal-wearing ascetic with a record of fighting corruption •Dr. Jonathan

rule was nasty, brutish and mercifully short. Declaring a ‘war against indiscipline’, he ordered whipwielding soldiers to ensure that Nigerians formed orderly queues.

“His economics, known as Buharism, was destructive. Instead of letting the currency depreciate in the face of a trade deficit, he tried to fix prices and ban ‘unnecessary’

•Gen. Buhari

‘

•Prof Jega

imports. He expelled 700,000 migrants in the delusion that this would create jobs for Nigerians. He banned political meetings and free speech. He detained thousands, used secret tribunals and executed people for crimes that were not capital offences.

“Should a former dictator with such a record be offered another

chance? Surprisingly, many Nigerians think he should. One reason is that, in a country where ministers routinely wear wristwatches worth many times their annual salary, Mr Buhari is a sandal-wearing ascetic with a record of fighting corruption.

“Few nowadays question his commitment to democracy or expect him to turn autocratic: he has repeatedly

stood for election and accepted the outcome when he lost. He would probably do a better job of running the country, and in particular of tackling Boko Haram.

“As a northerner and Muslim, he will have greater legitimacy among villagers whose help he will need to isolate the insurgents. As a military man, he is more likely to win the re-

spect of a demoralised army.

“We are relieved not to have a vote in this election. But were we offered one we would—with a heavy heart—choose Mr Buhari. Mr Jonathan risks presiding over Nigeria’s bloody fragmentation. If Mr Buhari can save Nigeria, history might even be kind to him.”

‘Nothing much would have changed with postponement’

B

Y the time you read this essay on Thursday (yesterday), February 5, 2015, all indications are that the Council of State must have met - or will be in a crucial meeting - in Abuja. The main agenda will be the ongoing electoral process that should begin on February 14 with Presidential and National Assembly elections, and end on February 28 with governorship and states Assembly elections. One can imagine that key discussions will follow a thorough briefing - by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof.

Jega or his designated proxy or pinch-hitter and will include information about • The total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) available for distribution visa-vis the eligible voters count of 68,833,476.

Ideally these two numbers should be equal.

INEC now says that indeed that is the case, and that it has printed all 68.8 million cards.

Fine, but have all the latest printed cards that is, largely for those who registered after June 2014 - now beind distributed to all the states yet, and signed for, someone in the Council of State will ask? Can they all be distributed before February 14?

• The number of PVCs actually collected by eligible voters vis-a-vis the number of PVCs already available for collection. Again, these two should be equal. INEC says that at 45,098,876 collected, this represents a respectable 66 per cent, which could increase

by February 8 or even by Feb 13 if need be to 70-80 per cent. That is not 100 per cent, but much higher than traditional turnout rates in Nigeria of 30-50 per cent.

• The number of card readers available in each state. There should be at least one per polling unit PU and/or voting station VS (VS = 1 to 3 x PUs, the latest innovation by INEC).

There are 120,000 PUs in the country, and INEC states that it has sent all needed card readers to the states, which has been attested to by a number of REC (Resident Electoral Commissioners).

• The Boko Haram situation in the Northeast geo-political zone (particularly in the besieged states of Borno, Yobe, and Bauchi, and parts of Gombe and Adamawa) which has led to many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) - as many as near one million - with fear that they and even others not displaced will be discouraged from coming out to vote, and hence disenfranchised. INEC states that it is doing everything to include the IDPs under special arrangement.

Despite all of INEC’s assurances, my gut feeling now is that the elections will be postponed from six to eight weeks framed by

Nigerians hoped for the best and prepared for the worst at yesterday’s Council of State (NCS) meeting. But promoters of polls’ shift lost the argument to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, who convinced Council members that his Commission is good to go with the elections as scheduled.

In his article, entitled: Midweek essay: “To postpone or not to postpone,” the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Prof Bolaji Aluko had preempted discussions at the well-attended Council meeting.

Update on PVCs distribution by INEC State

No. of reg. voters NRV

PVCs printedand receivedby INECbyJan 7

PVCs distributed

by Jan. 9

PVCs distributed

by Jan 27

Diff. in PVCs Jan 27 minus Jan 9

New % PV distributed of NRV by Jan 27

SW

13,731,349

10,602,164

6,270,736

6,403,530

132,794

46.35%

SE

7,665,859

6,082,994

3,915,241

4,378,329

463,088

57.11%

SS

10,059,347

8,360,814

5,756,018

6,214,977

458,959

61.78%

TOTAL SOUTH

31,456,555

25,045,972

the Easter season by the Federal Government under cover of the Council of State, but within constitutionally-allowed period before the sacrosanct hand-over date of May 29, if “tenure elongation hidden agenda” is not to be claimed.

Elections will most likely now hold April 11 and April 25 after Easter - which is Sunday April 5 this year.

An impending terrible decision This decision will be a terrible one for three reasons: • It will be another major blow to Nigeria’s credibility and image as a competent nation.

After all, we knew about these elections four years ago, and why is it now all so suddenly problematics? Why cannot we for goodness sake fix some dates and stick with them?

• It is likely that a major casualty would be the hapless INEC chair, who has staked his personal reputation on conducting free, fair and credible elections on schedule. He may

15,941,995

16,996,836

jump - resign - or be pushed - asked to step aside, go on “accumulated leave”, and hence not be on the driver’s seat as chairman during a postponed set of elections, since his term ends in June 2015.

• Nothing much would have changed on the ground in Nigeria after six to eight weeks of postponement, and we might again be talking of another postponement in six to eight weeks time. So we might as well get it over with now.

Let me explain, starting from the Boko Haram security situation in the Northeast.

The government argument could be that it needs this time to launch a major offensive in the area - starting from Sambisa Forest, where the Chibok girls are held or were once held - to finally drive BH (Boko Haram) away from the territory. This ostensibly would enable the return of the IDPs to their homes, and them make them feel sufficiently safe to obtain their PVCs and vote from the safe

1,054,841 53.89% confines of their homes like every one else in the country. The interesting situation though is that despite the difficulties so far, according to INEC data, the NE (Northeast) represents that the geo-political region with the highest percentage of PVCs distributed as of January 27: 73.2 per cent compared to the national average then of 62.28 per cent (See Table 1 below.). That is counterintuitive. One hopes that it does not portend some “mago-mago” - but that is the data that we have to go by. Besides, when it comes to military operations, no guarantees can be given by any side, no matter how powerful, that in six to eight weeks, it will have achieved a certain military advantage. Surprises do happen which, God forbid, might make things worse, not better - so what would happen then to the postponed elections?

•Prof Aluko is the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Boko Haram chief feared dead

60 reasons why I won’t vote for Jonathan, by Soyinka

N

OBEL laureate Prof.

Wole Soyinka yesterday gave 60 reasons why he would not advise anyone to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in next week’s presidential election.

The eminent playwright’s position is another blow to the President’s flagging reelection campaign.

Prof. Soyinka was addressing some youths at the Freedom Park in Lagos during the unveiling of the finalists for the 2015 edition of the Vision of the Child (VOTC) – the children/student segment of the yearly Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF).

There are 60 finalists - 30 for

•Troops retake six towns

A

BOKO HARAM leader may have been killed during air strikes against the insurgents in the Northeast by Nigerian and Allied forces, it was learnt yesterday.

Members of the allied forces are Chad, Niger and Cameroon who are Nigeria’s neighbours.

But the authenticity of the reported killing of the sect’s chief is being investigated by military authorities.

The sect leader is said to be one of the senior officers in Boko Haram command during the tenure of the late Mohammed Yusuf, founder of the group.

Besdies, the military has recovered deadly weapons from the insurgents in Baga. They include armoured tanks, artillery guns, and many Toyota Hilux vans.

Military source said troops have recaptured six towns from the insurgents. These are Gamboru-Ngala, Malamfatori, Abadam, Kirawa, Ashigashiya and Michika.

The battle to liberate Gwoza, Gulak and others was ongoing yesterday.

According to military sources, the battle to sack Boko Haram from the Northeast has assumed a large-scale dimension.

The sources claimed that many camps and cells of the insurgents had been razed down through heavy air strikes.

One of the sources said a top Boko Haram leader was feared killed in one of the air strikes.

The highly-placed source said: “As the battle to annihilate Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast parts of the country intensifies with Nigerian troops in conjunction with allied forces from neighbouring countries gaining the upper hand, there is suppressed excitement about the reported death of a top ranking leader

creative writing and 30 for painting.

Soyinka spoke on the theme for the VOTC: “The Road to Sambisa”.

In reference to the April 2014 kidnapping of almost 300 pupils of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, he said: “It is impossible to think of today’s election without thinking of what happened to your colleagues, your siblings, your peers in the village called Chibok.

“It’s not possible to think of the future of this nation, its sense of responsibility, without that albatross called Chibok coming to the fore of our contemplation.

Continued on page 60

Council of State to INEC: elections must go on Continued from page 1

(APC) governors of being partisan on a national issue.

According to the source at the over seven hours meeting at the Presidential Villa, Jega •A Nigerian soldier standing in front of recovered sophisticated Armoured Battle Tank from terrorists

Sects kills 100 in Cameroon

B

OKO Haram fighters yesterday shot or burnt to death nearly 100 civilians and injured 500 in a battle at a Cameroonian border town near Nigeria, officials said.

No fewer than 800 Islamic extremists attacking the town of Fotokol have “burnt churches, mosques and villages and slaughtered youths who resisted joining them to fight Cameroonian forces,” Cameroun Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari said.

The insurgents also looted livestock and food in the fighting that began Wednesday and is continuing Thursday, Bakari told The Associated Press.

The militants attacked in Fotocol after fleeing clashes with Chadian forces across the border in the Nigerian town of Gambaru, according to Bakari, who said: “After fierce fighting, the enemy was once more booted out, incurring over more than 50 deaths among its troops.” Bakari told Continued on page 60 From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

of the terrorists operating in the region.

“Commanders at the frontline reported that the leader was a casualty of the ongoing heavy air bombardment from warplanes while clearing the way for the

ground troops of multinational task force to move into some towns near one of the borders.

Director of Defence Information Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade declined to give details on the killing of the top Boko Haram leader.

He simply said: “As far as we are concerned, anybody that is associated with terrorism is a target and right now, we have a task of cleaning up the entire Boko Haram - infested region and returning peace to the country.”

One of the leaders of Boko Haram whose death has been controversial is Abubakar Shekau.

On 19 August 2013, the Joint Task Force (JTF) announced his death.

They claimed he died of gunshots wounds received in an encounter with the JTF in one of their camps in Sambisa Forest on June 30, 2013.

Many months later, Shekau re-emerged to dispute the claim of his death.

But the military disputed the re-emergence of Shekau by claiming that the man in the video was allegedly “having different mannerisms, gait and character from the original Shekau”.

stood his ground that the polls will not be shifted.

The source said: “Jega told the leaders that INEC is ready for the polls better than 2011. He said all logistics had been put in place for a hitch-free exercise.

He confirmed that all sensitive materials, such as ballot papers, and non-sensitive materials had been distributed.

“He said it was left for other agencies connected with the conduct of the elections to discharge their duties.

“On the distribution of PVCs, Jega disclosed that more than 50

per cent of the 68.83m had been collected. At a point when some people were hammering on PVCs, Jega retorted: ‘The PVCs are available but I cannot commandeer all the registered voters to go and collect their cards.

I do not think that non-collection of PVCs will amount to disenfranchisement of voters.’

“Jega dismissed insinuations that the distribution of PVCs can affect the validity of any election.

He gave example of Ekiti State where 750,000 PVCs were produced but only 350,000 PVCs were collected.

“He asked rhetorically: ‘Did the number of PVCs affect the validity of the poll? With more than 50 per cent of the PVCs collected, we can go ahead with the Continued on page 60

INEC gets go-ahead to conduct polls

T

HE National Council of State yesterday gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the go ahead to conduct the February 14 and 28 elections as scheduled after listening to INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki.

The meeting lasted seven hours, having started around noon, to end at

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

about 7.pm As Jega told the meeting that he was fully ready to go ahead, Air Chief Marshal Badeh said he could not guarantee security in some areas in four states, which sources put as Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.

After the meeting, three governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) Rochas Okorcha (Imo) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) briefed reContinued on page 60

$20b: PwC recommends NNPC should pay $1.48bn to treasury Minister directs NNPC to pay outstanding cash

Continued from page 1

General of the Federation, Mr. Ukura Samuel, said the PwC report centered on NNPC Costs; Ownership of NPDC revenues and Kerosine (DPK) subsidy.

Samuel stated that “based on the information available to PwC, and from analysis, the firm submitted that NNPC and NPDC should refund to the Federation Accounts a minimum of $1.48 billion.”

The Auditor General before presenting the PwC audit highlights categorically stated that President Goodluck Jonathan “cannot direct” him to release the highlights or complete details of any report but can “request” for the release of the highlights. His office, he said, is mandated by law to submit its report to the National Assembly and not to the Presidency.

With regards to NNPC cost, from where the $20 billion was alleged to have gone missing, the PwC report berated NNPC’s operations which it described as “an unsustainable model”.

The report noted that 46 per cent of proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues for the review period was spent on operations and subsidies while the corporation is unable to sustain monthly remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and meet its operational

P

ETROLEUM Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to defray the outstanding $1.48billion Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) signature bonus, taxes and royalties in line with the recommendation of the forensic audit report.

The forensic audit report on the alleged missing $20bn unremitted oil revenue carried out by auditing giant PriceWaterhouseCoopers had absolved the corporation of culpability over the allegation of non- remittance of $20bn, saying that what is due for remittance to the Federation Account is $1.48bn, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) being signature bonus, taxes and royalties on the assets transferred to the Corporation’s upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company.

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

costs entirely from the proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues and have had to incur third party liabilities to bridge the funding gap.

NNPC provided transaction documents representing additional cost of $2.81 billion related to the review period, citing the NNPC Act LFN No 33 of 1977 that allows for such de-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

In a statement made available to journalists, the Corporation noted that the release of the forensic audit report has finally laid to rest the controversy surrounding allegations of “missing oil revenue” or nonremittance to the Federation Account.

The Corporation explained that it was not true that it was indicted in the Forensic Audit Report as being speculated in some quarters as the $1.48bn that the audit firm recommended the Corporation to remit to the Federation Account was not part of the alleged unremitted revenues from crude lifting.

It explained that the $1.48bn was never in dispute as it is made up of statutory payments such as signature bonus, taxes and royalties which are statutory payments that come with assets acquisition.

It stated that the delay in payment was

ductions.

However, PwC was at a loss “whether such deductions should be made by NNPC as a first line charge before remitting the net proceeds of domestic crude to the federation accounts.”

Based on this, PwC recommended that “the NNPC model of operation must be urgently reviewed and restructured, as the current model which has

due to the reconciliation processes between the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the NNPC. Mrs. Alison-Madueke has directed the NNPC to defray the signature bonuses, taxes and royalties in line with the recommendation of the forensic audit report.

The Corporation stated that the forensic audit report and the Senate Committee on Finance report on the unremitted revenue all alluded to the fact that NPDC reported crude oil revenues of $5.11bn.

It explained that the forensic audit acknowledged that the total cash remitted into the Federation Accounts in relation to the crude lifting in the period under review was $50.81bn and not $47bn and that subsidy on premium motor spirit and dual purpose kerosene stood at $8.7bn.

On kerosene subsidy, the Corporation said that the Forensic Audit Report also

been in operation since the creation of the NNPC cannot be sustained.”

In the case of the ownership of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), PwC stated that NPDC generated $5.11 billion (net of royalties and petroleum profit tax paid), relied on the legal opinion provided to Senate Committee by the Attorney General on the subject of the transfers of NNPC’s

Continued on page 60

55 per cent portion of oil leases (OMLs) involved in the Shell (SPDC) divestments which impacted crude oil revenues in the period.

The PwC report noted that “the Attorney General’s opinion indicated that these transfers were within the authority of the minister of petroleum resources to make.”

The report added that “NNPC’s 55 per cent portion of

•Mrs. Alison-Madueke

oil lease (OMLs) involved in the Shell divestments related to the eight OMLs were transferred to NPDC for an aggregate amount of US$1.85 billion. So far, only the amount of the US$100 million had been remitted. PwC also added that they had expected a transfer basis higher than the US$1.85 billion earlier mentioned.”

PwC reported that “NPDC had done a self assessment of PPT and Royalty and had unpaid self assessed PPT and Royalty to the tune of $0.47 billion related to the review period”. PwC added that Continued on page 60

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

5

NEWS

YCE, Ohanaeze reject Jonathan’s endorsement

T

HE Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and the Caretaker Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo have distanced themselves from the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Afenifere, last week, publicised its endorsement of Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This drew criticism from the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), which disowned the backing.

The Chief Gary Igariweyled Ohanaeze Ndigbo national executive, which was sacked by the Elders’ Council of the body, also endorsed the president.

But yesterday, the YCE (aka Igbimo Agba Yoruba) announced its decision after the National Executive Committee meeting at its Bodija, Ibadan office, yesterday.

The meeting was presided over by Major General

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan and Chris Oji, Enugu

Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).

The elders, who described their association as apolitical, said Afenifere was a political party.

The elders noted that as respectable elders of Yoruba, they believed that caution should be taken on the issue of endorsement.

Prof. Bayo Olateju, who read the communique, said: “YCE is not a party to any purported endorsement given by any group or groups to a presidential candidate and so dissociates itself from such action as YCE did not at any time sit with any group of people to consider and come to such decision.”

The council affirmed that the “Presidency should go to the best candidate who has the vision and mission of taking Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to wealth; from

insecurity of lives and property to living secured, prosperous and in abundance; regardless of party affiliation, religious, or tribe.”

It called on all political parties to caution and control their supporters from making provocative and inflammatory public statements, which could set the nation ablaze or railroad it into another civil war.

The YCE also expressed serious concern about the spate of violence within the political circle and condemned it in strong terms.

It urged all parties to remind their members of the recently signed Abuja peace accord.

Rather than attack personalities, the elders posited that parties should concentrate their campaigns on issues such as economy, security, stable electric power, industrialisation, employment, education for all, sustenance of de-

mocracy, good healthcare of the aged and other salient issues.

On the proposal to postpone this month’s election, the group said political parties and stakeholders should stick to INEC’s stance that it was fully ready and prepared to conduct the election.

The YCE also warned the new Assistant Inspector General of Police for Lagos and Ogun states, Mbu Joseph Mbu, not to fan any embers of discord in his new place of assignment, but to do his work professionally.

The caretaker committee of the apex Igbo socio-cultural association led by Chief Ralph Obioha, while disowning the endorsement, said it would be counter-productive to commit Ndigbo to any form of blanket support.

The committee said it would not endorse either President Jonathan or his main challenger and the candidate

of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, for next week’s presidential election.

At a joint news briefing addressed by Obioha as chairman of the committee and Dr. Zed Chukwujama (secretary) as well as Chief Mbazulike Amaechi (chairman of the Elders’ Council), the group asked the Igbo to vote according to their conscience.

They regretted that until now, none of the two major presidential candidates had entered into any form of agreement with Ndigbo on the four cardinal issues they outlined.

The issues, according to them, include the security of life and property of Ndigbo, infrastructural development in Igbo land, reparation for atrocities and war crimes against Ndigbo as recommended in the Oputa Panel Report as well as what would become of Ndigbo’s fate after

2019.

The Igbo leaders said: “Of the two candidates, only one sent a high level delegation to us and we told the delegation that we must see the candidate himself because whatever agreements to be reached will be implemented by him, if he wins and becomes president.

“We have not seen the candidate as at this date. The other presidential candidate has not made any contact with the committee, which is the authentic legal organ of Ohanaeze.

“If his belief is in some other areas or persons to gather the Igbo nation into one basket, we can only wish them good luck.”

The faction asked Igbo to pray for God’s guidance on the day of election and vote according to their conscience, advising them to be vigilant before, during and after the polls.

Navy assures voters, INEC officials of safety From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

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Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade (third left) and Chief Imam of Mushin, Alhaji Sulaimon Opeyemi Bukhari Olanijo (third right), flanked by Christian and Muslim faithful, at a special prayer on the general election in Lagos.

OTERS and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been assured of their safety and security in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta region before, during and after the coming elections.

The Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, gave the assurance yesterday during a “Show of Force” exercise by the navy ship in the waters around Bennett Island in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

He said the navy would deal with those out to perpetrate criminality during the period.

Gemu, who urged those involved in legitimate businesses to continue to be law-abiding, said the navy would not be directly involved in the electoral exercise, but would provide background security for the police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, emphasising the need for the navy to be non-partisan.

He stressed that surveillance activities had increased in the waterways and that every boat and ship entering the region now has to be searched for illegal substances like arms, ammunition and stolen oil.

“Generally, we want to ensure there is security before, during and after the elections. This isn’t the only place where we are carrying out this exercise. It is simultaneously going on in Bayelsa State, Escravos and every other place where we have naval presence.

APC faults Jonathan’s campaign promises

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has said President Goodluck Jonathan is not a man who can be taken seriously, having failed to deliver on his promises.

Jonathan’s administration, the organisation said, has been making bogus claims with regards to its achievements in the railway sector and failed to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians four years ago to transform the power sector.

In a statement yesterday, its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Shehu, stressed that the President had repeatedly stated while campaigning for re-election that he had resuscitated the country’s railways, which has been moribund for over 20 years, a claim that the APC described as a hoax.

Shehu added: “The Director General of his campaign, Senator Ahmadu Ali, even stretches this moribund hyperbole to 35 years. On the campaign trail, the railway lies just seem to keep tumbling out.”

He said among the claims of the president, which, he added, are not true, include the President’s statement

•Party rejects president’s claims on railways, others From Tony Akowe, Abuja

during his campaign rallies that his government rehabilitated and built about 3,500 kilometres (km) of railways, pointing out that “only about 2,000 km had been rehabilitated and less than 250km of new track built”.

The APC presidential campaign spokesman queried the quality of work done on these rehabilitations, stressing that the government gave contracts to its cronies, regardless of whether they had the essential skills or experience.

He said: “A railway expert advises that the real test of the integrity of the more recently rehabilitated track infrastructure is when the rainy season arrives.”

Shehu noted that the huge railway contracts awarded by the Jonathan government did not include most of the railway sidings and passing loops, effectively limiting the capacity of the lines in terms of the number of trains that could run on them at any time, thus “making an unviable rail service even more unviable”.

“They also do not say

why the railway track rehabilitations, which were supposed to take 10 months, have taken four years and counting,”Shehu said, adding that the claim by the President that work has commenced on the Lagos-Calabar coastal railway line was “another big fat lie.”

He said: “How can they commence work on a project that has no appropriation?

How can they commence construction on a project without a signed contract? Or is a memorandum of understanding now a contract?

“In any case, why is the scope of work being described as Lagos to Calabar, when the Lagos-Ibadan part of the route is in another contract (i.e. the Obasanjo LagosKano contract)? Will he pay twice for Lagos-Ibadan?

With the addition of BeninOnitsha to the coastal line, what is the new cost and how is he going to pay for it all?

With more loans, why is the nation bleeding financially?

“One railway project Mr. President and his media personnel have been silent about is the Abuja Rail Mass Transit. What Mr. President will not tell the people is how

many Nigerians truly benefit from the hundreds of billions purportedly spent on the rehabilitation of rail lines and whether value for money has been achieved.

What he will not tell Nigerians, is that it costs about N10,000 per passenger to produce that Lagos-Kano service, which his railway corporation sells at N1,930 per passenger.

“What he will not tell Nigerians is the number of derailments that have taken place on the Lagos-Kano line as a result of poor quality track work.”

Shehu said while campaigning for the 2011 presidential elections, Jonathan made more promises to Nigerians, which were unfulfilled.

He listed such unfulfilled promises as rehabilitation of existing power generation, distribution and transmission assets to give a minimum of 6,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity; the harnessing of alternative sources of energy, such as coal, wind and solar to generate an initial 13,000mw, and the unbundling of PHCN into 18 successor companies.

He said: “Four years after he made those promises, the President is still making more promises to Nigerians, when he clearly has no intention of fulfilling them the same way he has not fulfilled those regarding power.”

The APC presidential spokesman said initial moves craftily aimed at convincing the nation that he was true to his word, the PDP candidate went on to create the Nigeria Bank Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and undertook an MoU with the General Electric mostly to add up to 15 per cent in power projects to achieve 10,000mw by 2020.

“However, till date, unacceptable lapses are still seen in the power sector. All over Nigeria, from Yola to Port Harcourt to Ibadan, Nigerians are complaining about the poor supply of electricity to their offices and homes,” he said.

He lamented that despite the huge resources on the power sector, Nigeria’s current capacity is still under 4,400MW, despite the PDP government’s promise to complete all National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) to deliver at least 4,000 MW by 2012.

Osinbajo condemns education funding

By Ajose Sehindemi

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HE vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has condemned the funding of education.

Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday through Dr. Dotun Ogunyemi at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Campus Connect tour, blamed the nation’s educational backwardness on inadequate funding.

He said it was unthinkable that eight per cent was budgeted for education and about 20 per cent for feeding.

He said: “There is no way you can spend N4.2 billion to feed a four-member family. Ask how much have they budgeted for Obafemi Awolowo University?”

He said education will be pivotal during the tenure of presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Ogunyemi, however, said Prof. Osinbajo was unavoidable absent at the event as he got an urgent late call from Buhari.

Prof. Osinbajo’s absence did not go down well with the students as most of them left the venue when they heard he could not make it, as anticipated.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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NEWS

PDM, Accord Party, eight others reject elections’ delay

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COALITION of 10 political parties have rejected calls for the postponement of the February 14 and 28 general elections, saying such undemocratic tactic can plunge the country into anarchy.

At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, the leaders of the parties expressed shock at the decision of some of the political parties to join what they described as the infamous campaign to scuttle the country’s democracy.

The parties are the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Accord Party, KOWA Party, African Peoples Alliance (APA); Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and United Progressives Party (UPP).

The National Chairman of the PDM, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, who addressed reporters at the conference, said the call for the postponement

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

of the election was dubious and evil.

According to him, the call had nothing to do with the preparedness or otherwise of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election or the pace of distribution and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible, this underhand and undemocratic tactic meant to plunge our country into anarchy, on top of the debilitating state of insecurity, which has become pervasive in the land,” Ibrahim stated.

The parties stated that there was no reason for the postponement, since INEC had maintained its preparedness to conduct the polls.

The parties also cited the assurances by the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Air Marshall Alexander Badeh guaranteeing adequate security for the

elections in the three Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe that are under the Boko Haram siege.

A statement read by Ibrahim on behalf of the other parties stated: “The military, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, had guaranteed adequate security on land and air for a successful and safe conduct of the 2015 general election. This ought to have settled the fears about the security of lives and property as well as of the electorate and INEC officials.

“The governors and citizens of the three states have not complained either to the INEC or the Executive and Legislative arms of government that their citizens would be disenfranchised if elections were held in their states.

“The call for the postponement of the general election is, therefore, a call orchestrated by one of the political parties, which has continued to invest huge sums of money to ensure the elections do not hold as scheduled, out of fear of losing power for the first time since

1999.

“Our democracy has come of age and Nigerians are ready for change, we will not allow desperation and power-mongering to scuttle it and will do whatever is necessary to defend it and ensure that the general election holds as scheduled.

“We call on the INEC not to be intimidated by desperate elements and to proceed with its preparations for the general election as scheduled. We assure INEC we shall stand by it, shoulder to shoulder, to ensure our democracy is not undermined.”

The parties added: “We urge all major stakeholders, especially well meaning political parties and their presidential candidates, the INEC and the National Assembly as well as all the security agencies in the country to stand together to ensure that the 2015 general election is conducted as scheduled and guarantee that Nigeria survives to face another general election in 2019.

“We call on friends of Nigeria and the international

community at large to stand with Nigeria in these very trying times and put pressure on the authorities to comply with the timetable of democratic elections as released by INEC. “We call on Nigerians to be vigilant and protect their hardearned democracy and their freedom to choose those who will govern them. Nigerians must know freedom is not given on a platter of gold.

“It is earned and, like all truly democratic nations, the time has come for us to earn our freedom from those whose agenda is to subjugate us for 60 uninterrupted years, whether we like it or not. The alternative to this is to allow ourselves and our children to be enslaved by those who do not wish us and our country well.

“These are trying times. This is not the first time desperate and undesirable elements come together to scuttle our democracy for their selfish ends. We remember June 12, 1993 and the role played by these elements to scuttle Niger-

ia’s democracy and the chain of events which ensued.

“It is not surprising that the same characters are again at work. If Nigerians would look closely, they will realise these characters are still around and have coalesced in the same political party, which is now leading this charge to postpone the elections without credible and acceptable explanation other than the fear of losing power for the first time.

“What is our democracy worth if some shadowy and anti-democratic interests can come together and change the rule in the middle of the game?

“As Nigerians, we can seize the opportunity of this moment to settle the question of “To Who Does Power Belong?” once and for all or allow the opportunity to slip through the cracks and continue to live as victims of our own indifference. The choice is ours to make and the time to make that choice is now. On February 14 we stand”.

Jonathan launches three security strategy documents

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan moved yesterday to check terrorism and cyber crimes in the country with the launch of three national security documents.

It was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The three documents as presented by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, are: National Security Strategy, Counter Terrorism Strategy and Cyber Security Plan and Strategy.

The President directed all security agencies to adopt the principles enshrined in the documents.

He said: “Today, the foremost threat facing us is clearly the terrorism perpetrated by the Boko Harram, the radical Islamic sect, in its bid to further its misguided cause.

This cowardly group has continued in wanton disruption of lives and property, particu-

•IGP orders tight protection From Augustine Ehikioya and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

larly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“Boko Haram has systematically targeted the poor and the wealthy; it has employed violence to intimidate and instill fear to the general populace and media propaganda to manipulate the minds of our people.

“The sect, its supporters and allies, seek to undermine our national security. They neither believe in our country nor the sanctity of human lives. The counter terrorism strategy document is a major contribution to our determined national efforts to effectively and comprehensively deal with the challenges posed by Boko Haram and other insurgency groups.”

President Jonathan noted

that the Maitatsine attacks in 1982 was not on the same scale with the Boko Haram attacks.

According to him, PublicPrivate-Sector (PSP) partnership, multi-stakeholder engagement and international cooperation were three key approaches to a successful national cyber security programme.

He called for cooperation among stakeholders to eliminate the security threats.

The president said the three publications would be of immense benefits to the business community and in communication.

His words: “These documents will no doubt contribute immensely to our collective efforts at finding solutions to the security challenges that posed threats to our progress and development efforts.”

The document on cyber

•President Jonathan the launching ceremony... yesterday.

crime strategy is aimed at identifying forensic measures to address the nation’s cyber space exposure and risks.

Also yesterday, the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, ordered that all government buildings and critical in-

Labour-civil society delegates to national confab kick against polls shift

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OME members of the joint labour-civil society delegation to last year’s National Conference have kicked against the call “to postpone, shift or abandon” the February 14 and 28 general elections.

In a statement yesterday, 12 of the delegates said they believed that four years were enough to prepare for and conduct the elections.

The delegates are: human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana; Nnimmo Bassey; Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; Jaye Gaskia; Ezenwa Nwagwu; Kyauta Giwa; Abiola Akiode-Afolabi; Steve Aluko Daniel; Yz Ya’u; Shetu I. Alfa; Rommy Mom and a delegate identified as Mahmud.

They noted that “it will severely insult the sensibility of citizens and also the candidates who have invested so much energy campaigning and preparing for the elections,” if the polls were shifted.

They expressed surprise that with less than two weeks to the February 14 date for the presidential elections, some delegates to the National Conference held a symposium in Abuja under the banner of the National Conference, demanding that the election should be postponed.

“No one can call for the postponement of the election in our name without our consent. We insist that as things stand now, with the state of preparedness of all stakeholders that the February 2015 general elections can, and must go on according to the already announced schedule.

“We are convinced that any call or action taken now in postponing, shifting or abandoning the scheduled elections for any form of transitional or interim arrangement will only serve to further inflame the current situation and precipitate a crisis that will almost certainly lead to the termination of the current democratic experience in par-

‘

We are convinced that our nation is at a critical historical junction, and that having a critical role to play in the unfolding events and processes, it is our historical duty to make this stand and to denounce the position of those who have chosen to play games with the fate of our country, and who have chosen to so do in our name without consulting us

‘

ticular, and the democratisation process in general,” the former delegates said.

The Labour-CSO members

noted that when the conference was convoked in March 2014, some of them that chose to participate in the process did so with the conviction that “a Nigeria that we can be proud citizens of is possible”.

The delegates stressed that they participated in the conference despite the doubt raised by some Nigerians since “President Goodluck Jonathan assured all that the true intent was for Nigerians to sit together, discourse the affairs of the nation and chart a way forward for the nation”.

The statement also reads: “Civil society groups involved in the process did their utmost to mirror and push the desires of Nigerians for an arrangement that promotes full fiscal federalism and where justice and fairness are enthroned. We pushed for the justiciability of human, socioeconomic and other rights of citizens and even went as far as pushing for the recognition of the rights of nature to regenerate itself.

“At the conclusion of the National Conference, except for a lack of unanimity on aspects of the devolution of power, there were signs that if what were agreed on were implemented, the nation would be much better off than current arrangements.”

They called on Federal and state executives to implement the policy recommendations detailed in the conference reports without further delay.

“We also call on the National Assembly to take on board the constitutional amendments agreed to at the conference.

“We are convinced that our nation is at a critical historical junction, and that having a critical role to play in the unfolding events and processes, it is our historical duty to make this stand and to denounce the position of those who have chosen to play games with the fate of our country, and who have chosen to so do in our name without consulting us,” they said.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

frastructures across the country be adequately protected as part of preparation for the election.

‘No to postponement’

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan against shifting the February 14 and 28 general elections, advising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain truly independent.

Adeleke said the President had called for a contest and, as such, should not shy away from its conduct.

The former Senate Committee Chairman on INEC, in a statement by his media adviser, Olumide Lawal, said any attempt to derail the election programmes “and the strenuous campaign efforts so far embarked upon by various political parties and their candidates, will tantamount to an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians, who are seriously clamouring for a change of government at the federal level through APC.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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NEWS Eko Club endorses Ambode

Ekiti Speaker demands opening of petrol station

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EMBERS of the Eko Club have endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

At an event tagged: “Eko Club Interactive Session with Governorship Candidates in Lagos State”, on the club’s premises in Lagos, the Club President, Babatunde Grillo, said the APC candidate earned their endorsement based on what he described as “his tested and trusted servitude, leadership acumen and an unmatched experience in matters of good governance”.

The Chairman of the interactive session, Chief Murphy Adetoro, reiterated the club’s stance by introducing Ambode as the best candidate for the Lagos top job.

“Ambode is an accomplished administrator, who has consistently employed his wits at one capacity or the other to ensure that our state thrives as a true state of excellence.

All these, combined with his experience and integrity, gives one the confidence that he is the right man to take Lagos to higher heights.”

•Govt: action not politically-motivated From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

•Dr. Omirin

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HE Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has called on citizens to prevail on Governor Ayo Fayose to open his petrol station, which has been sealed since October.

He said the governor needed God to touch his (Fayose’s) conscience so that he could rule with the fear of God and stop persecuting innocent people.

Omirin, who made the appeal in a telephone chat with reporters yesterday, said the petrol station, which had not been officially

opened before Fayose returned to power, was his “little contribution” to creating jobs.

New documents had been pasted on the station which, according to him, had new padlocks.

The Fayose administration claimed that Omirin’s petrol station had no approval and that it was close to residential buildings.

The Speaker said the government agents stormed the petrol station on Ajilosun Street in Ado-Ekiti at 2pm on Wednesday and pasted documents purporting that he had failed to produce papers required for the operation of the business.

But Omirin maintained that he fulfilled all requirements to operate the business and had obtained the necessary approvals from relevant ministries and agencies.

The Speaker said he had docu-

ments to back up his claim, noting that he did not see any reason why his station was sealed off.

He said the fuel bought shortly before the petrol station was sealed was still there about four months after.

Omirin said: “The place has been sealed off since October and we have not done anything there since.

We have not sold the fuel there.

“I have all the relevant papers and documents, I presented police approval, fire service approval and ministry approval and all the documents were submitted to the Ministry of Lands.

“It is all victimisation and vendetta; I have a residential building at the back (of the station) which I am planning to move into.

Does that mean that I cannot move there?

“I don’t see any reason for

CAN: treat Lagosians fairly

LASU admits 2,000

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HE Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, yesterday said it would matriculate 2,000 students on February 11 for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The Dean, Students Affairs, Prof.

Kabir Akinyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that arrangements had been put in place for a successful event.

“Although we are still compiling the total number of students that will be matriculated, it cannot be less than 2000,’’ Prof Akinyemi said.

The institution’s bulletin given to NAN indicated that the matriculation lecture for the freshmen, parents and guardians would hold before the February 11 event.

It said the university authorities expected newly-admitted students to have paid their school fees before February 4.

The bulletin directed the fresh students to collect their matriculation gowns at their various faculties by 7.30 a.m. on February 4, on the payment of N2, 500.

“The gown should be returned to the point of collection the same day by 2pm,’’ the bulletin said

Police, DSS ‘arrest’ council chairman From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

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HE Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos State, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, has advised that the next governor should be fair to residents, irrespective of their religion and tribe.

In his keynote address at a prayer session organised by CAN for the governorship candidates at Hoares Memorial Methodist Church,Yaba, Bamgbola said though Christians in Lagos had clamoured for a Christian governor, it would be ungodly for the governor to favour only Christians.

He said: “You must bear in mind that there are people of various faith in Lagos State. There are those who are neither Muslims nor Christians.

There are those who just want to live their lives. All these people are going to vote and it will be very unfair for the governor to disregard them.

The governor must be fair to all.”

He said what the Christian community is asking for is fairness. “We are not asking you to get to government and favour only Christians. That will not be Christlike. What you do for A you must do for B. “The composition of your cabinet must be balanced and fair. You must look at factors that will promote peace and unity. Every form of discrimination on the basis of religion or tribe must be abhorred.”

sealing off my station. I have tenants moving in but they cannot have access to it because of this forced closure.

“I appeal to well-meaning people to prevail on the powers that be to allow me access to my petrol station. This is my little contribution to solving the unemployment problem in Ekiti State.”

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the government’s action was not politically-motivated and was done to sanitise the oil and gas business in the state.

Ogunsuyi said construction started in the station in 2012 with residents writing petitions to complain about its location.

The governor’s aide claimed that Omirin did not have an approval to build the petrol station, adding that political meanings should not be read into the scenario.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second right); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (second left); All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh at a rally in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Ambode, Agbaje pledge to be women-friendly

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has pledged to ensure the equal treatment of men and women in workplaces and to prioritise the enforcement of the law on domestic violence, if elected into power.

Ambode, who spoke in Lagos yesterday at an interactive session organised by the Cosmopolitan Women’s Club with governorship candidates, noted that the role of women in developing any nation was second to none.

He said he was raised by a woman and, as a result, understood the challenges of women in the society.

“Our government shall pursue equal treatment for men and women in workplaces. There would be same conditions of service for men and women. Our government will prioritise and enforce laws against domestic violence and empowerment of women. We shall empower women through skill acquisition.

“My commitment towards women in everything I do is very personal. No girl would be denied good education. You can hold me accountable for every word that I have spoken.”

The APC candidate said women and girls face various challenges because they were often the most vulnerable group, exposed to child abuse, child trafficking and labour

By Raymond Mordi and Oziegbe Okoeki

exploitation.

Ambode promised to run an inclusive government to accommodate everyone, including women.

He said his administration would institute an employment trust fund with N25 billion to cater for talented youths and women.

Concerning complaints about multiple taxation, he said he would consolidate the taxes.

The APC candidate said the toll gate would remain, arguing that funds derived from the tolls were useful to the government and the people because it funded basic amenities and created jobs.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olujimi Agbaje, said women need to show more commitment to politics and governance.

He said women should run for political offices, as such positions could not be given to them on a platter of gold.

Agbaje said if elected, his administration would reserve between 20 to 25 per cent appointments at higher levels to women in the first four years.

On whether he would have a succession plan to produce a womangovernor, the PDP candidate said at the end of their tenure, his deputy would have an edge over other aspirants and that he would assist her.

Agbaje said his administration would leapfrog in many areas to improve the living standard of the people, rather than make incremental increases.

The atmosphere at the interactive session, with the theme, “What About the Women…?” was very friendly.

Ambode and Agbaje hugged several times during the event. It was also remarkable that their wives sat side-by-side.

Both Ambode and Agbaje pledged to harmonise taxes to ease the burden on the people and the economy.

On why he should be trusted, Ambode said his track record and service was impeccable.

Agbaje said he could be trusted to deliver on his promises because his greatest strength was that he is his own person. “What you see is what you get. I am not just making empty promises,” he added.

The candidate of the Kowa Party, Victor Adeniji, enjoined women to stand up and be counted.

“It is your responsibility to take your place in the political space in Nigeria,” he added.

Adeniji said his party is genderfriendly listing the party’s Board of Trustees chairman and the presidential candidate as women.

“We try to encourage women to come out and seek elective positions, but they said politics is dirty.”

ECURITY operatives yesterday ‘arrested’ the Chairman of Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Soji Ojo-Awo. It was gathered that the arrest was not unconnected with the pulling down of the billboard of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, which was said to have been erected in front of the local government secretariat.

Sources said PDP members complained to the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ojo-Awo was said to have been summoned by the agencies. He wrote statements and was detained.

The council chairman was said to have insisted that he knew nothing about the destruction and that it was wrong for the opposition to erect a billboard at the entrance of the council secretariat at Ojongbondu.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, saved the situation from degenerating as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were moblising for what they referred to as “arbitrary use of security agencies by the PDP to harass, intimidate and victimise the progressives”.

Some of the aggrieved APC members accused the PDP of removing their candidates’ posters and replacing them with those of PDP’s candidates.

Thugs attack Ekiti APC chieftain From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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HE orgy of pre-election violence has continued in Ekiti State, with the attack on the former caretaker Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Azeez Awolokun, on Wednesday.

Awolokun, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said yesterday that suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs stormed his home in Igede-Ekiti at 5.30 pm.

He said the armed thugs came in two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) branded bus with the portrait of a House of Representatives candidate.

“My house was attacked by these thugs and it was God who saved me, my household and my 82-year-old mother, Madam Omorin Awolokun, from the thugs .

“They were shooting and destroying all banners and posters in my house.

“They destroyed my DSTV dish.

All the cartridges of their guns are with me. They dragged my mother out at gunpoint.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NEWS

Driver crushes 11 cows to death From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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•All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Central Senatorial District candidate Senator Oluremi Tinubu speaking at the APC rally in Yaba…yesterday. With her are state Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale (second left); Women Leader (Southwest) Mrs. Kemi Nelson and a member of the party’s Publicity Committee, Paul Kalejaiye.

LEVEN cows were reportedly crushed to death early yesterday by a luxury bus on the Akure-Owo Expressway in Ondo State.

Miscreants, upon getting an inkling of the incident, mobilised themselves and removed the cows before dawn.

They reportedly “hijacked” buses and other vehicles plying the road to convey the dead cows to hidden places where they shared them.

It was learnt that a fight broke out among them over the sharing formula to be used, especially for the heads, tails and legs.

Eyewitnesses said the luxury bus was coming from Abuja and heading to Lagos.

The Fulani herdsmen were said to have fled into the bush for fear of being lynched. The driver and the passengers also fled the scene in fear that the herdsmen may attack them.

Miscreants armed with knives and cutlasses were seen discussing on how to move the carcasses to a safer place to use as temporary slaughter slab.

It was later agreed that 12 persons would share a cow and within a few minutes they organised themselves into groups.

The hoodlums were hostile to reporters who visited the scene and warned them against taking photographs.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he was not aware of the incident.

Clark’s wife donates medical supplies

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark, has donated several medical supplies to pregnant, nursing mothers and their children at the Ofada and Agbado Primary Health Centres.

At the event, mosquito nets, vaccines, malaria medication, health related consultations and advice were given.

The two-day “health mission” was also supported by the Adeife Akinola Foundation founded by Mrs. Sodipo-Clark.

The senatorial candidate revealed that her love for women and children motivated her “to ensure this health mission takes place. This is actually an annual event. This became a public event for obvious reasons. Otherwise this is what we do every year. It has become part of us-politics or no politics.

The foundation handles that. We thank God that the people who turned out in their numbers”.

Knights seek support for less-privileged •All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State Mr Akinwunmi Ambode addressing the crowd at the APC rally in Yaba…yesterday. With him from left are Chief Chris Awuho; Paul Kalejaiye; his running mate, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; his wife, Bolanle; Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and APC Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe.

Osun Tribunal to deliver judgment today

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HE Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime Election Tribunal in Osun State will today deliver judgment in a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014 election.

The secretary of the tribunal, Adamu Aliyu, confirmed that the judgment would be delivered today.

Security has been strengthened in Osogbo, the state capital. There is an unusual pres-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ence of combined security personnel on major streets of Osogbo. This has created tension and fear among residents.

On January 23, the threeperson tribunal adjourned indefinitely after the adoption of final written addresses of both counsel to the petitioners (PDP and Omisore) and the respondents - the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Aregbesola.

Counsel to the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) also had his address adopted.

On that day, PDP supporters were jubilating in what the APC described as a grand design to mislead the people into believing that the judgment had been delivered in their favour.

Since then, there had been rumours and insinuations among the political class about the possible judgment to be delivered today.

It was gathered that those to attend today’s sitting, in-

cluding lawyers, reporters and politicians, would be screened and the roads leading to the state High Court, venue of the tribunal, blocked by security agents.

Police spokesperson Mrs. Folashade Odoro said the security provision was to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order before, during and after the judgment.

Also, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, said his men would be present at the tribunal.

‘Buhari, Osinbajo represent Sardauna, Awolowo’

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Tayo Oyemade, yesterday urged the people of the Southwest to vote for the party.

Addressing party supporters at a rally in Yaba, Oyemade said the Southwest had a duty to ensure the success of APC in the general elections.

He said a vote for the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was a vote for the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo He berated Afenifere for endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that it was done in bad faith.

He noted that Afenifere did not take cognisance of the fact that Osinbajo, an in-law of Awolowo represented

•Nollywood Artistes allege death threats

By Musa Odoshimokhe

what the late Premier stood for in the West.

Oyemade added that Buhari, standing in the stead of the late Sadauna, was the rallying point for the Arewa and the northern political bloc.

He urged Lagosians to stand firm in their support for the APC presidential candidate and the governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Nollywood artistes at the rally alleged threats to their lives by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Popular Yoruba actress Remi Surutu said: “I am not afraid to identify myself as a member of the APC. If you observe very well, I have

never put on a fez cap or anything to disguise myself from being identified with the APC. “I received phone calls from some members of the PDP who threatened to deal with me if I continue to campaign for the APC. “This is unfortunate, but it’s a free world and I have the right to choose who I want to have relationship with.”

Another actress, Iyabo Ojo, said she renounced the PDP because it was not concerned with the welfare of the people.

She said no matter the threat, they have resolved to stay with the APC during the campaigns.

“They have been threatening to kill us, but we are not bothered because God

will continue to protect us.

The PDP has caused poverty for the people in the country. Now they want us to be support them, we won’t do that, we won’t compromise the future of our children.”

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HE Knights of St Mulumba, Lekki Sub-council, has urged Nigerians to support the less privileged, promote positive values that would engender a better society.

The Grand Knight, Jonny Ngonadi, said the KSM, a group of dedicated Catholics, seeks to make the society a better place by being sensitive to the needs of the poor and giving succour to the destitute, the disadvantaged and the oppressed in the society.

“As a group, we work towards a high sense of order and discipline within society, work for justice always and everywhere for the benefit of mankind, live an exemplary Catholic life and defend the faith as well as support other intentions and actions that are good, noble, sacred, holy and beautiful.”

Deputy Grand Knight Tony Idigbe said: “Since the establishment of KSM, the Association has continued to witness men with their wives contributing their quota to the spiritual/ temporal growth of the Church.

“They bind themselves into fraternal organisations with the general objectives of fighting evil and promoting good. In particular, they set themselves the necessary task of uprooting the systematic and structural evil in the society.”

Wole Soyinka Centre trains 203

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WO hundred and three journalists were trained during the pilot edition of the Pro-Engage: House-to-House project conceived by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism in Nigeria.

The initiative, in partnership with the British High Commission, was held from January 19 to 30.

It took advocacy for inves-

Yoruba group backs Buhari

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HE Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) has endorsed the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement by its General Secretary, Akin Malaolu, the group said it took the decision having considered the situation in the country and what the candidates have in store for the people.

“We have accepted the choice of this honest and strongwilled statesman. Today, we wish to state clearly and categorically that Gen Buhari has met our leadership capacity index for his adoption as the candidate to vote for in the election.

“We urge all Nigerians, regardless of tribes, to honour Gen Buhari with their votes so that the ring of those who have turned our commonwealth into private property can be defeated to save our country Nigeria and move her away from our present gloomy situation.”

By Seun Akioye

tigative reporting from one media house to the other.

A statement by the Centre’s coordinator, Ms. Motunrayo Alaka, said the training provided capacity support for the creation and or improvement of investigative reporting desks in eight selected media houses in Lagos and Abuja.

The media houses trained are The Nation, New Telegraph, Media Trust, The Leadership, The Guardian, The Premium Times, The News and Television Continental.

The Wole Soyinka Centre staff alongside its faculty, comprising veteran investigative journalism professionals, visited seven media houses to conduct the training for members of staff and followed up with workshops for representatives of the eight media houses.

Ms. Alaka said continuous training and re-training of media professionals is essential to ensure the revival of investigative journalism.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Trailer runs over reporter’s legs

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REPORTER is hospitalised after a trailer ran over him at the popular Ojota Bus stop in Lagos.

Rasheed Abubakar, an Entertainment Reporter with a softsell journal, Encomium, is lying critically ill at the Gbagada General Hospital.

He is awaiting surgery to save his legs.

Abubakar was hit on Wednesday from behind by the trailer, which also ran over his legs.

The driver was trying to evade arrest by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials when the accident occurred.

Abubakar was rushed to the hospital with the help of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) after a good samaritan identified him.

At the hospital yesterday, Abubakar lay on the bed, writhing in pains. His legs were bandaged.

His wife, Taofiqqah, was at his bedside.

She said the doctor told the family to deposit N250, 000 for the surgery.

Abubakar told The Nation how the accident occurred.

He said: “After leaving office around past 11am, I wanted to return home, but I changed my mind to go and collect my Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) at Palmgrove. While waiting at the bus stop, I heard people

‘Collect your PVCs’ XECUTIVE Secretary, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Babajide Bello has urged residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards to enable them vote during the Feburary 14 and 28 elections.

He spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting aimed at encouraging those who registered to collect their cards.

Bello said council officials were visiting homes, streets, markets and other public places to sensitise people to collect the cards.

“The only way you can show total love for your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to sacrifice your comfort and preach the gospel of the party to all around you. The

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By Tajudeen Adebanjo

shouting. Before I could look back to see what was happening, the trailer had hit me and run over my legs. While people gathered around me, one man, Mr Osoba who I had done a story for, recognised me and shouted for help.”

A LASTMA official expressed doubts that the agency’s officials caused the accident, promising to investigate the matter.

“It is not a matter that can be swept under the carpet; whoever is found culpable would be seriously dealt with. The agency’s approach to issue is that whoever is found engaging in illicit act will pay dearly for it. We are not going to shield anybody, that I can assure you but I am not sure our officers were the ones he tried to dodge if at all that was the case. It could be the touts that disturb them (trailer drivers) on the roads,” she said.

Confirming that Abubakar has been booked for surgery, Senior Assistant to Voice of Nigeria (VON) DirectorGeneral Mallam AbdurRazaq AbdusSalam, an in-law to Abubakar, wrote on WhatsApp: “AbdurRasheed would be off the radar to rest for some time because of the accident. He is stable although the excruciating pain from the fractures affects him and his family is fully around. We should restrict visitation till after

CDA holds meeting

T •Abubakar on his sick bed ... yesterday (Inset Abubakar before the accident)

surgery. Keep praying for him; the family appreciates all the goodwill.”

Mrs Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle, a Mass Communication teacher at the Lagos State

University (LASU), prayed Allah to grant Abubakar quick recovery.

“We give thanks to Allah that there is no permanent damage,” she said.

HE Abule Egba North Community Development Association (CDA) in Lagos State will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the CDA, Elder Paul Crown and the Secretary, Mr Nasiru Aliu, the meeting will take place at Peace Shalom Nurs-

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By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

tive for cannabis sativa weighing 19.8 kilogrammes in the luggage of 30-year-old Ebere Ohakwe Sandra, and 33-year-old Obidike Ugochukwu Maureen. The drug was detected during the outward screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

The case is under investigation and the suspects are assisting our investigators,” Hamza said.

Ebere, who lives in Dubai, claimed her travel agent told her to smuggle cannabis in exchange for her visa. She said: “I used to export foodstuff to Dubai since 2012.

Each time I go to Dubai, I stay for two months and come back because I have no permanent visa. I came to Nigeria since December 2014

to spend the Christmas and New Year at home. While I was preparing to go back, my travel agent in Dubai called to tell me that somebody would give me a parcel to take to him.

“My first question was that I hope it is not cocaine, and he said that it was not cocaine but weed - and that it is not something serious. He also promised me that if I could take it to him, he would prepare my next visa for free.

That was how I agreed to take it”.

The Economics graduate also explained how she implicated her friend, Maureen.

“Maureen is my friend. We met in Port Harcourt and had been chatting always. She told me she would like to visit Dubai to buy clothes because

she sells female clothes. We agreed to both travel to Dubai on my return in January 2015.

“Since she had only hand luggage, I decided to check in some of my luggage in her name because I had 80 kilogrammes and did no not want to pay the excess charge.

Unfortunately, NDLEA discovered drugs in the luggage I checked in in her name and we were both arrested. I regret accepting to take the drug. I have learnt my lessons.”

Ugochukwu described herself as a victim of wrong company, saying: “My friend did not tell me that she had drugs in the luggage she checked in in my name. She told me that it was all foodstuffs but it turned out to be cannabis. I feel very sad.”

ery/Primary School, Abule Egba in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The statement added that the essence of the gathering is to felicitate with the residents and re-awaken their interest and participation in community development and governance.

Lagos community gets ruler

people shouting. Before T ‘I Iheard could look back to see what was happening, the trailer had hit me and run over my legs ’ Two women arrested with cannabis

WO women are being interrogated by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials for attempted illegal exportation of 19.8 kilogrammes of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The drug was seized at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos during the screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

The drug was concealed in foodstuff and a local alcoholic beverage, Alomo Bitters.

The airport’s NDLEA Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, said the case was under investigation.

“We found 78 parcels of dried weeds that tested posi-

‘change’ slogan at the federal level is real. We cannot continue to grope in the dark; stay without employment for our teeming youths that are roaming the streets without jobs; massive corruption in high places; lack of road network and reliable healthcare delivery system; shameful importation of refined petroleum products due to the terrible handling of our refineries and other woes that have bedevilled the country since the current administration at the federal level. One of the ways the people can speak loud is to vote out an ineffective administration with a more focused, dedicated, determined, humane administration which the APC represents,” he said.

HE traditional ruler of Ibeju Agbeland in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government area of Lagos, Oba Rafiu Adesegun Salami, has installed Chief Yinusa Sonibare Badekale as the Alajegbenwa of Ajegbenwa community.

The monarch urged Badekale to desist from acts capable of demeaning his dignity

By Latifah Ohunene Ochu

and urged his subjects to support him.

According to Salami, Badekale is a man of good character who has contributed to the development of Ajegbenwa and Ibeju-Lekki.

Badekale promised to use his new position to uplift the community.

Synagogue: South Africa set to take remaining bodies

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OUTH Africa has promised to convey home the remaining bodies of its nationals killed in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse last September 12.

Minister in the presidency Jeff Radebe told reporters that a South African airforce C130 aircraft has arrived Lagos “to bring the mortal remains of those that have been positively identified.”

Of the 81 bodies, 70 were repatriated in November, two months after the collapse of the multi-storey building.

The outstanding 11 are still undergoing DNA identification.

“Our repatriation team has

for Lagos,” said Radebe, and “when they land, we will know precisely how many South Africans will be repatriated.”

Nigerian authorities have been driving the testing and verification process.

A delayed rescue operation, “climatic conditions” and the sheer number of victims that had to be identified were responsible for the prolonged wait for the bodies, Radebe said.

No fewer than 116 people, including Nigerians and other foreign nationals, were killed in the incident.

The Lagos State coroner is conducting an inquest into the incident.

•Management Staff and engineers of Sumec Machinery and Electric Company Limited, manufacturers of Sumec Firman Generator sets after a training for the company’s Engineers at Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

IFC offers N3.8b grant to AIICO Insurance

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FC, International Finance Corporation (IFC) , a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a grant of N3.8 billion ( $20 million) convertible loan to AIICO Insurance Plc. The loan, according to the Managing Director of AIICO Insurance Edwin Igbiti, is the global finance institution’s support to the insurance underwriting firm for its expansion activities across Nigeria.

He said the plan by the company to expand its insurance services in the country will help to increase economic security, as well as create the development of new asset pools that can be invested in order to support economic development, including job creation.

Igbiti also said the company will use the loan facility to increase its agency network and retail centers and increase its reach and footprint across the country.

He further said the facility will also enable AIICO to further strengthen its information technology platform to achieve greater efficiency in claims processing and customer services.

According to him, “AIICO Insurance Plc offers life and non-life insurance products to individuals, households, and businesses with a focus on value creation.

“Partnering with IFC will help AIICO expand its activities further to meet the needs of the consumers who require more options. It will improve AIICO’s operational efficiency and strengthen the economic security and prosperity in Nigeria, Igbiti stated.”

IFC’s global insurance strategy aims to increase the penetration of insurance in underserved markets, promoting diverse products and developing long-term partnerships with institutions that can help expand its developmental goals.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil $54/barrel Cocoa $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee ¢132.70/pound Cotton ¢95.17pound Gold $1,396.9/troy Sugar $163/lb RATES Inflation 8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending 15.87% Savings rate 3% 91-day NTB 15% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR 13% Foreign Reserve $34.5b FOREX (RDAS) US Dollar 168 Pounds 253.26 Euro 190.6968 Swiss Franc 181.1907 Yen 1.4316 CFA 0.2889 WAUA 235.9975

There is nothing wrong in having a robust renewable energy programme in the country. In fact, government has taken a step in that direction by introducing the: ‘Light Up Nigeria’ scheme.

- Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Rueben Okeke

Seplat invests $391.6m in two oil blocks from Chevron N

Election shift will erode investors’ confidence, says LCCI

• From left: Senior Manager, KPMG Advisory Services, Mr. Lawrence Amadi; Business Development Manager Enugu 1, FirstBank, Mr. Anthony Uwandu; Zonal Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Eke Micheal; Business Development Manager, Awka, FirstBank, Mr. John Okah; and Team Lead (Liability Generation) Consumer Banking, FirstBank, Mr. Maxwell Ezenwa at the FirstBank Savings Bonanza Draw held in Awka...yesterday.

‘Falling oil prices will herald gloomy economy’

IGERIA’S indigenous oil exploration and production company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, has acquired 40 per cent working interest, and another 56.25 per cent stake in two oil mining leases, (OML) 53 and 55 at a cost of $391.6 million.

Seplat said it acqqured OML 53 located onshore Northeastern Niger Delta from Chevron Nigeria Limited, as well as 56.25 per cent of the share capital of Belema Oil Producing Limited, a Nigerian Special Purpose vehicle that has 40 per cent interest in OML 55, located in the swamp of South eastern Niger Delta, previously held

by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

The firm said in a statement yesterday, that with the acquisition, it’s effective working interest in OML 55 is 22.50 per cent, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holds the remaining 60 per cent in

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the two assets.

Seplat said the up-front acquisition cost of OML 53 to Seplat, after adjustments, is $259.4 million, out of which $69 million was deposited in 2013 and the balance of $190.4 million was paid at completion.

It explained that the adjustments to the up-front acquisition cost include a deferred payment of $18.75 million contingent on oil prices averaging $90 per barrel (bbl) or above for the 12 consecutive months over the next five years.

The firm said its estimate of net recoverable hydrocarbon volumes attributable to its 40 per cent working interest, to be approximately 51 million barrels of oil and condensate, and 611 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf) of gas, totaling 151 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

Seplat said following the development, it has been designated as Operator of OML 53 pursuant to the Joint Operating Model approved by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, adding that the consideration for the 22.50 per cent interest in OML 55 is $132.2 million after allowing for adjustments.

The adjustments to the consideration include a deferred payment of $11.6 million net to Seplat contingent on oil prices averaging $90/bbl, or above for 12 consecutive months over the next five years.

The company has also advanced $80 million credit to the other shareholders of Belemaoil to meet their share of investments and associated costs with Belemaoil.

In addition, discussions are underway to determine repayment terms for the initial deposit against the acquisition of $52.5 million that Belemaoil funded with bank

debt.

This amount may subsequently be added to the total amount loaned to Belemaoil

by Seplat.

Under the agreed terms, Seplat will recover the loaned amounts, together with an uplift premium of up to $20.6 million, and an annual interest of 10 per cent, from 80 per cent of the other shareholders’ oil lifting entitlements.

Seplat’s estimates net recoverable hydrocarbon volumes attributable to its 22.50 per cent interest to be approximately 20million barrels of oil and condensate and 156 Bscf of gas (total 46 MMboe).

The current gross production at OML 55 is approximately 8,000 bpd (1,800 bopd on a 22.50 per cent working interest basis). The deal is pursuant to the Joint Operating Model approved by the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

‘Bakers accuse bank of delaying release of N3.4b Cassava Bread Fund’

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HE National Master Bakers and Catering Association of Nigeria has expressed worry at the unnecessary delay in the disbursement of the N3.4billion Cassava Bread Fund by the Bank of Industry (BoI).

The Chairman of the Association, Simeon Abannlor, while reacting to claims by the Lagos Chapter of the Association that no Master Baker has benefited from the Cassava Bread Fund, said the BoI should be blamed for the delay in the release of funds and not government.

Abannlor said the Federal Government has been sincere enough by allowing BoI to disburse the funds so as to ensure transparency, but

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

regreted however since January 2014 when the first set of beneficiaries received the bakers equipment made up of 2000 capacity Rotary oven, Spiral Mixer, 80KVA Generator, deep Freezer and working Capital of N1million, it was yet to process application of other beneficiaries.

Basically, in an effort to scale up the production of cassava bread by the master bakers, the Federal government domiciled N3.4billion with the BoI to be disbursed to the Small Scale High Quality Cassava Flour Producer, Large Mills, and Master Bakers.

The body admitted that N1.2billion of the said amount has so far being disbursed since 2013, while 2.2billion is still domiciled with the bank.

The disbursement of the Cassava Bread Fund according to the National Chairman is in progress, as the ministry has so far trained 200 of its members out of which 177 members are beneficiaries.

Against the backdrop of the allegation raised by the Lagos Chapter of the association, he disclosed that 96 master bakers across the country have received their equipment. He explained that for the first phase of the project, the bank selected 4

master bakers from each state He said each baker received 2000 capacity Rotary oven, Spiral Mixer, 80KVA generator, while the beneficiaries are still expecting deep freezers and a working capital of N1million.

Commending the Agriculture Minister for taking decisive steps in ensuring the success of the project, and that the fund domiciled with the Bank of Industry gets to the intended beneficiaries, he expressed his reservation against the Lagos chapter of the association for staging protest against the policy, saying they are only trying to play politics with food security.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

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HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Indus try (LCCI), has expressed concern over the calls for the postponement of the elections.

The council noted that such a move would have significant negative consequences for investors, the economy and the stability of the polity.

In a statement, the Director General, Muda Yusuf, said the credibility of the electoral process could also be put at risk.

He urged all Nigerians and in particular, the political class to respect the outcome of the elections; and advised candidates with reservations to seek redress in accordance with the law. All forms of violence should be avoided. Without peace nothing else will happen in an economy, Yusuf said..

“Political and social stability are critical factors that drive investor’ confidence. Therefore, the quality of the electoral process and the conduct of the major players in the political space are most critical at this time”.

LCCI reiterated its call on the key institutions such as INEC, Security agencies and the Judiciary in the transition process to be above board and to be nonpartisan in order to earn the confidence of the citizens and the stakeholders in the electoral process.

On the subsidy debate, they reiterated call for the Federal Government to discontinue its subsidy scheme on Primary Motor Spirit ( PMS) and kerosene in the light of the drop in global oil price.

“Government should take the opportunity presented by the current realities to exit the subsidy scheme in view of the fiscal leakages and other transparency issues associated with the scheme. This would liberate the downstream oil sector from the shackles of inefficiency and corruption, it stated further”.

By Akinola Ajibade

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IGERIANS should prepare for critical economic situations with the slump in the international prices of crude oil, Afrinvest West Africa has said.

In a paper entitled, ‘The Impact of Falling oil prices on Private Sector Economic Activities", and delivered in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, Ike Chioke, said the prospects of economic gloom is high in view of the untoward developments in the global oil market.

Chioke, who spoke during the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBBC) Members Evening in Lagos, said hard times await Nigerians unless there is increase in productivity across the value chain in the country.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

At a time fish stocks are declining globally due to factors, such as climatic change and pollution, cage fish farming technique has become an encouraging alternative that yields 10 times the ‘fish catch’ compared to ‘fish reared’ in ponds,or in the sea. The West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme is working with the private sector to boost fish production nationwide, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

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HIL Onuoha produces fish seeds. His interest in farming started from youth, having been born into a fish farming family.

Though they did not have the technology and the infrastructure then and they were not able to pay scientists to teach them fish hatchery management and practices.

Against this background, Onouha has moved to enlighten farmers that they could make money from the trade as well as improve their diet as fish is highly nutritious. He rears catfish and sells fingerlings to farmers who rears them. According to him, fish farming can boost farmers’ income.

His farm, aside from producing fingerlings and grown-outs, provides education on fish farming to farmers and institutions.

But one day, a competitor poured poison into his water source and his uncle made losses. This made him to research into how to address the issue of water supply. He said farmers spend a lot of money on generators to ensure that water supply at their farm go on uninterrupted. The cost of fuelling affects the farms income.

To solve this problem, Onuoha said the government and the private sector should encourage Nigerians to practise fish cage farming, which will require them using the abundant natural sources of water. According to him, the rivers and estuaries in Nigeria are extremely suitable sites for fish cage farming.

The streams and rivers, therefore, offer opportunities for pond culture, while the larger rivers and lakes offer opportunities for intensive cage culture. Onuoha said locating fish farms within water bodies is crucial and most productive and would bring returns to the investors.

Generally, cage fish farming involves the use of nets mounted

Boosting cage fish farming

•Cage fish farming

on metallic frames to form a cage. The cage is placed in a specific area, where it floats on water. The method is costeffective and increases inland fish production substantially, he said.

The fish, such as tilapia, mature between six and eight months.

Un-der this procedure, fish rearing is done in an enclosed area in a natural aquatic environment where the water continuously flows without accumulation of debris, which is why there is no pollution or ammonia deposition as in the case of stagnant and low density water ponds.

At the end of the culture period, which ranges from six to eight months, three to five

tonnes of fish are produced from one cage.

The biggest advantage of cage farming, according to Onuoha, is that it saves water as there is no need to change the water as sea water flows continuously through the cages. Natural food is easily available for the fish to feed on and there’s no need to put up any time or space-consuming infrastructure except the cages.

However, not all areas are suitable for cage farming. There needs to be optimum depth of at least 10 metres from the shore; the sea should be more or less calm without high waves and currents where the cages are located. The salinity, ammonia, nitrate should be all within per-

missible limits, according to experts.

Cage culture is a new method of fish farming. According to experts, a stock of about 1,500kg can be accommodated in a cage of two metres length, two metres wide and two metres deep The disadvantage is that cages can only be used in water which is more than five metres deep.

China has recorded some successes in cage culture and marine fish cage culture.

Head of Trade, Marketing Department, Green Agriculture West Africa (GAWAL), a subsidiary of China General Construction (CGC Nigeria Ltd), John Wen, said his organisation is working with the West Africa Agricultural Productivity

Programme (WAAPP), Nigeria to promote the development of small scale cage fish farms across the country.

The cage culture would be small-scale operation located onshore or in mangrove creeks, not far from farmers’homes for easy management, security and saving of labour costs.

He said the company was cooperating with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for the promotion of fish cage culture by introducing advanced fish farming techniques from China. In 2013, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with WAAPP-Nigeria for agricultural cooperation. The deal has covered construction of biogas digesters and fish cage culture projects, production and supply of rice and maize-certified seeds.

Chief of South-South Cooperation, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Festus Akinnifesi, said since 2003, about 650 Chinese experts and technicians have been fielded in Nigeria for a minimum of two years.

The experts are deployed in all the country’s 36 states and a majority of them live in rural communities. Once there, the experts share their knowledge, skills and experiences, and have helped introduced, demonstrated and enabled the adaptation of more than 200 Chinesedeveloped scalable technologies and innovations.

In Koton-Karfi, Kogi State, members of a new cooperative are waiting for about 4,000 tilapia to mature in eight bamboo-and-net cages anchored to the shore of a small lake. “Traditionally we fish by setting nets, but we’re never sure how much we’ll catch,” explains 20-year-old Al Hassan Tijani.

“With fish cage culture, we know how many fish we will harvest, and how much we will earn,” he added.

Adesina makes case for dairy zones

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HE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has proposed the establishment of dairy production zones to operate a modern dairy system that would increase milk production.

He made the proposal, when the Management of Friesland Campina WAMCO, paid him a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister suggested the establishment of a Dairy College, where people can learn to be dairy farmers, saying: “We need to create a young generation of dairy farmers and young entrepreneurs.” He said the ministry would be willing to assist young dairy farmers.

Adesina praised WAMCO for scaling up their milk production from 100,000 litres to 2.2 million litres, adding that Nigeria has no business importing milk rather than producing it.

He proposed the creation of two dairy production zones in any of the 14 Staple Crops Processing

Zones (SCPZ), assuring that the readiness of his ministry to provide the necessary infrastructure.

Adesina restated his ministry’s commitment to the development of grazing reserves and ranches in Nigeria, stating that there was nothing wrong in having commercial and public ranches simultaneously. He disclosed that a National Policy on the development of ranches was being put in place by the government.

Earlier, the Chairman, Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jacob Ajekigbe, said the visit was a follow- up on their previous meetings and to show their commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the company with the ministry in 2011.

He sought more support from the ministry in infrastructure development to enable them to increase their productivity level.

He praised the minister for the excellent job he’s doing in the agricultural sector.

• Adesina with Chairman, Friesland Campina WAMCO, Mr. Jacob Ajekigbe (left) and the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Colaco at the event.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

Teflon president-in waiting

Doyin Abiola at 70 •An astute journalist and achiever joins the club of elders

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N February 1, Dr. Hamidat Doyinsola Abiola joined the club of septuagenarians and could therefore reminisce on the past with a view to guiding the up and coming.

Although she would have loved a very quiet and silent celebration, the public eye, being on her projected the event as an uncommon attainment. While it is given for many in the society to attain the age, not many are considered as achievers who have the right stories to tell.

As a journalist, she attained a height that is the dream of many. In 1980, she was appointed the first woman editor of a national newspaper, National Concord.

An incredulous public was soon convinced that there is nothing about the office that should make it an exclusive preserve of men. She adroitly ran the newspaper and it became a reference point.

Dr. Abiola who obtained a doctorate degree in journalism in 1979 also proved that theory and practice should not always run along parallel lines. She managed the men and resources in the paper in such a way that it became the envy of older newspapers and those who had thought partisan considerations would becloud the writers’ sense of judgement were soon disappointed.

In two years, she had proved her mettle and moved up the ladder as director/ editor-in-chief. When the pioneer managing director, Chief Henry Odukomaiya, a respected elder in the profession, had to bow out in 1984, his shoes were considered so large that a

number of professionals wondered if the fortunes of the paper would not begin to decline. His successor would have to manage an array of achievers who had been assembled to produce a first-class newspaper, Mrs. Abiola was found fit and proper to run all divisions of the group as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief.

Dr. Abiola was not just the wife of the publisher and proprietor of the vibrant group of newspapers, the largest selling at a point, she was highly regarded by all in the industry. Her robust intellectual capacity and sound managerial skills made her a reputable journalist.

Her strength of character was aptly demonstrated during the struggle for the validation of the mandate overwhelmingly won by her husband, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola in the June 12, 1993 presidential election. The adversity faced by the family when the embodiment of the nation’s democratic struggles was locked up by the Abacha regime was enough to break the spirit of mean men and women. The regime put in place measures to frustrate the late Abiola’s businesses, including the newspapers; yet, the Concord manager refused to oblige them the pleasure of having the last laugh. She would neither betray her husband nor the struggle.

At 70, she could look back and say though she literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death in the days of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) resistance movement, she held on till the very end. Heroes and heroines are made in a country’s difficult moments. Men of

straw find it very easy to betray a cause they had hitherto professed, but, Dr. Abiola passed the test. She stood for Nigeria, would do nothing to put pressure on her husband to recant and rather gave him all the encouragement he needed.

We commend Mrs. Abiola’s spirit, poise and vision. As a woman of substance, she has been a true trailblazer and shown that greatness is not merely inherited, but achieved. She has also demonstrated that hard work, faithfulness and steadfastness lead to imperishable legacy. We call on her to write books on her experience as a journalist and the struggle to free her country. This is a debt she owes and must pay back in expressing gratitude to God for sparing her life till this moment.

‘As a woman of substance, she has been a true trailblazer and shown that greatness is not merely inherited, but achieved ... We call on her to write books on her experience as a journalist and the struggle to free her country. This is a debt she owes and must pay back in expressing gratitude to God for sparing her life till this moment’

The great giver • Chief Molade Alexander Okoya-Thomas, foremost Nigerian philanthropist, dies

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THE death of Chief Molade OkoyaThomas marks the cessation of a life whose distinguishing feature was its overwhelming generosity. In a country where the wealthy are better known for their avarice and predation, Okoya-Thomas stood out for the depth and consistency of his commitment to the well-being and advancement of society.

The unique nature of his openhandedness can best be seen in the case of Miss Precious Obiekwe, an SS 3 student of Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In 2009, her family, owing to diminishing fortunes, had taken the decision to transfer her to another school which was perceived to be not as good. According to Miss Obiekwe, Chief Okoya-Thomas spoke to her in church and offered to sponsor her education; though they had had

‘Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas has shown that the possession of large amounts of money does not result in a loss of humanity or the absence of a sense of propriety. He demonstrated that intelligence, competence and hard work can create wealth which must be utilised judiciously and responsibly. May the soul of the man who couldn’t stop doing good rest in peace’

no previous contact with him.

As an act of generosity, it had all the hallmarks of Okoya-Thomas’ personality: it was discreet, utterly altruistic and aimed at bringing out the very best in the beneficiary. Miss Obiekwe says he maintained regular contact with her and had promised to sponsor her medical training in Canada after her secondary school education. “He just couldn’t stop doing good,” she declared.

Chief Okoya-Thomas’ philanthropy certainly demonstrates the way in which “doing good” was an unwavering commitment on his part. He is perhaps bestknown for his sponsorship of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship for nearly half a century. Long before it was conventional wisdom, Chief OkoyaThomas realised the vital importance of organised sport to the wellbeing of youths and sought to have them engaged in positive sporting and other activity as much as he could. The table tennis championships have become an important fixture on the nation’s sporting calendar and has given rise to many athletes who have gone on to distinguish themselves internationally.

Apart from personal demonstrations of generosity, Chief Okoya-Thomas’ contributions in the area of sport extended to his participation in various fund-raising committees and bodies in which his leadership, as much as his donations, had significant impact. They include the Lagos State Sports Council, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, the Third All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, the National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and the Sports Trust Fund. He also built and donated a sports hall for the Lagos State Uni-

versity (LASU) in 2009.

Given the extent and longevity of his philanthropy, it is clear that Chief Okoya-Thomas was not engaged in acts of so-called “subversive generosity,” that ambiguous kindness which is merely a cover for less-honourable intentions. He did not seek to buy himself influence of the social, political or economic kind; he was not trying to boost his profile by taking advantage of the vulnerability of others; he certainly was not attempting to show off. His openhandedness was simply the manifestation of a fundamental generosity of spirit.

This is, unfortunately, a character trait which is sadly lacking in the majority of Nigeria’s wealthy elite. The country has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of billionaires, but the positive effects of their presence are not as spectacular.

Instead of the emergence of more public-spirited individuals like Chief Okoya-Thomas, what is seen is the advent of a shockingly crass materialism.

Nigeria is renowned for its world-beating consumption of champagne, its growing number of private jet owners and the feverish rate at which it acquires the latest cars.

Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas has shown that the possession of large amounts of money does not result in a loss of humanity or the absence of a sense of propriety. He demonstrated that intelligence, competence and hard work can create wealth which must be utilised judiciously and responsibly.

May the soul of the man who couldn’t stop doing good rest in peace.

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IR: Teflon is a kind of plastic often applied on pans to prevent food from sticking to them. If anything can be said about the developments in Nigeria’s political arena these days, it is that Gen. Buhari, the APC presidential candidate is really”Mr. Teflon.”

In its panic mode, the PDP campaign organization of President Goodluck Jonathan has thrown everything at its disposal at him. None, nil, nada has been able to stick!

First, political darts were thrown to no effect. At age 72, Buhari was declared to be too old to be President by over-weight pot-bellied political hounds that cannot even outrace the General in a 50 metre race! Their contentions were laid bare when the honourable people of Tunisia elected an 88-year old gentleman as President of their country.

Next, they went into the kitchen and started throwing everything at him. General Buhari has cancer they screamed. No luck! His doctors promptly disabused their minds and brains; they have become befuddled.

They picked up another refrain; Buhari has no secondary school leaving certificate. For a time, it looked like their allegation would gain traction. Then the General displayed what made him a General; strategy! In a concerted, well-orchestrated response, all of the institutions the General attended made public all of the information in their possession. All of the information released by these institutions point to the fact that Gen. Buhari has satisfied the requirements of the appropriate section of the Nigerian Constitution.

They have not stopped. Gen. Buhari wants to convert Nigerians to the Islamic faith, they avow, even though at all the times he has run for the office, his running mates have been Christians! Another blatant lie.

However, Gen. Buhari gets more popular by the day and the endorsement by the people that really matter, the voters, are coming in bunches.

The PDP and its cohorts, in my humble opinion, have two problems. First are the memories of the Nigerian people. They have gone through both administrations; Jonathan’s and General Buhari’s.

They remember and prefer Buhari’s two years in office over Dr. Jonathan’s six years in office. The differences are just too glaring! Hence, they have picked up Gen. Buhari’s refrain of “change.”

The second problem is encapsulated in late Chief S. L. Akintola’s memorable assertion - You have not suffered in life and you say you are wise. Who is your teacher? This assertion is a major problem for the PDP. Nigerians have suffered tremendously. And they are still suffering. Finally, the die is cast, the last straw has broken the camel’s back and they do not want to suffer anymore. They have smartened up!

Nigerians want results now not promises. They want the electric power they pay for not the darkness that hovers over them for days, months even years. They want roads, hospitals, schools, and social services which they know the country can pay for but which have been denied them by peculator incumbents of public offices. They have realized that now is the time for good governance, not good luck! Nowhere in the world has good luck built a country. Instead, honesty, integrity, consistency, commitment, visionary leadership, cooperation and character build nations.

Like Barack Obama, who rode into office on the crest of a popular political movement that destroyed every political “monument” or obelisk in its path in 2008, Buhari’s train is riding through the thick and thin of the needless hurdles being put in its path by mediocre political midgets, political prostitutes and hirelings of no consequence to the country, with the ease of a knife going through butter.

Honestly, seems to me like this is Buhari’s divine assignment. He has a date with destiny.

• Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: President Goodluck Jonathan received the forensic audit report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on February 2, 2015. It was served like revenge - cold! – almost one whole year after the Federal Government commissioned the audit in response to public outcry over the claim made by then Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Lamido Sanusi, that $20 billion was not remitted to the Federation Account

by NNPC. The submission happened a day after former CBN governor, Charles Soludo, released a clincher on the state of the economy, a highly charged riposte to the judgment of his person and his tenure by Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Soludo estimated that a lot of money has disappeared under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch : N30 trillion!

The submission of the report reawakened embers in the memory.

Only very few people still remember that there was a shakedown of the NNPC, the holy of holies of corruption in Nigeria. We had moved on, not in the least because we supposed that meat will come out of the eater. There was a more current and important missing, the missing of human beings. Chibok girls

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Jonathan: Laughing at missing trillions and others taken into captivity by the death cult named Boko Haram.

The submission had a necromantic effect. It recalled the ghost.

On the day Okonjo-Iweala announced the appointment of PriceWaterHouseCoopers for the auditing, she said the investigation would take 16 weeks. PWC does not have a reputation for clumsiness. If anything, it has an almost unblemished track record professionalism and integrity. It is arguably the best pick anyone could make for such tasks. So why did the submission of the report take so long?

Some reports say the audit was completed on schedule and was ready for submission. The only problem was that the Jonathan administration did not want to glimpse the picture of the secrets of its painted sepulcher.

The submission was apparently arranged to extinguish the Soludo question. It is less than two weeks to the Presidential polls. This is the

time you need weighty endorsements. Not a red capped Professor overseas stoking excitement in your challenger’s camp.

In his campaign rallies, Jonathan talks up his capacity for leniency.

While seeking to contrast himself with his apparently stern rival, Jonathan introduces himself as the hater of jails; the one who would rather shield you than permit you to get your deserts. No, I won’t send you to jail because some valuable was guilty of tempting you to make it disappear!

In my own city of Enugu, President Jonathan, a PhD, asked a rally of thousands, ‘’how much did Jim Nwobodo stole? Money not up to the price of a Peugeot and Buhari regime send him to jail. Is that good enough?’’

Now Jonathan has a sense of proportion that is difficult to calibrate.

While you reckon that the theft of a coin makes a thief, Jonathan believes and propagates the idea that

No to poll shift

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IR: The cacophonous clamour for the postponement of February 14 and 28 elections is a cancer that can destroy the very foundation of our dear nation. There are many posers for its proponents.

What happens to the billions of naira committed to electioneering campaigns, media showcase, foot soldiering, and the energy dissipated to the forthcoming polls? It is corollary with the allegation of kleptomania leveled against the ruling party at the centre. Our already tainted image will further reek in the global community. The acclaimed giant of Africa continues to fumble in the electoral process and yet approaches the advanced democracies for a good handshake; it is akin

to the demented leper chasing a sane man about for an embrace. The scene is better imagined that witnessed.

On a football pitch, the referee holds the ace, no matter how deft the match commissioner claims to be he cannot change the goal posts in the middle of the game nor can he challenge the referee during the match. The insinuation that the ruling PDP is behind the plot is rife.

The party and its co-travellers owe Nigeria, Nigerians and posterity a debt of explanations. When a man is trapped in a mesh the more he tries to disentangle himself the deeper he is cocooned. Ill wind blows nobody any good. The centripetal/centrifugal forces are covertly beckoning to

anarchy. And civil war looms in the process. The crux of it all is how to prognosticate whether Nigeria will remain one UNITED country thereafter. Let us remember the warning of America that Nigeria will break in the year 2015.

The council of state should not bite the bileduct; it is bitter and poisonous. June 12, 1993 and its attendant debacle remain indelible in our national psyche.

To this end, Professor Atahiru Jega led INEC should be allowed to do its job and announce the winners for the covert benefit of the unborn generations.

• Adelani Olawuyi Ogbomoso, Oyo State

there is some threshold, a magic sum ostensibly known only to him, that someone has to labour hard to appropriate before they qualify to be numbered among transgressors.

That concept of relativity spewed forth that viral and virulent wisecrack,’’ stealing is not corruption’’.

So the odds are that if the amount established to have disappeared in the audit report is in the realms of stealing, that is, not equal to or greater than corruption, the audit is a wasted venture. The white paper will reach his desk and then end

up in the disused part of his library labeled WHITE PAPERS. Now, the theft of ‘’ money not up to the price of a Peugeot’’ in the eighties has evolved to the procurement of two bulletproof BMW cars at N225 million. The generation that stole ‘’money not up to a Peugeot’’ has begotten a much more ambitious one. The children sent to rob by their fathers are not sneaking in: they are kicking the door open!

President Jonathan says ‘’ the kind of figure people bandy in the papers look so ridiculous’’. The kind of money he permits people to steal without consequence is anything but ridiculous. But when you have a warped sense of humor, you can see comedy in the figures that are reported stolen in the country you lead!

• Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu @emmaugwutheman

The matter of Osun Poly registrar

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IR: It has become very necessary for me to lend my voice to the current unwarranted controversy trailing the appointment of the Registrar of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

As an alumnus, I watched, with keen interest, the process of the appointment of the registrar and I have taken time off to weigh the contending issues.

I realised that the Governing Council of the Polytechnic stands on the side of the truth and integrity on the matter. The Council acted in the best interest of maintaining the positive image of the Polytechnic by appointing a man of integrity, knowledge and experience to the post.

Therefore, there is need to put an end to this needless controversy.

From my independent findings, I realised that the process of the appointment followed the due process and that there is no dispute over the certificate of the officer who is a product of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The new registrar possesses a Second Class Upper Degree in English Language in 1989 from OAU, Ile-

Ife. He is also a member of many professional bodies such as Nigerian Institute of Management and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria.

It is embarrassing to read in the newspapers the man was not qualified to hold the position.

It is pertinent to note that Osun State is lucky to have a meticulous governor, Rauf Aregbesola who is always painstaking in handling issues. The governor, who is a catalyst of change and an apostle of integrity would not open his eyes and allow corruption under his watch. I congratulate the Council, once again, for the courage to toe the path of honour despite intimidations by some cabals.

I appeal to those faceless individuals sponsoring unjustified writeups in the newspapers against the registrar to desist and allow peace to reign at OSPOLY so that those of us carrying the certificates of the polytechnic would not be subjected to further ridicule in our places of work.

• Hameed Oyegbade Osogbo, Osun State

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COMMENTS

Nigeria never forgets (2) • (Tragicomedy of Ngozi-Okonjo Iweala and her voodoo economics)

Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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GOZI Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy was speciously misjudged as a supreme intellectual. She is a dismal headliner and fame junkie no doubt; but if indeed, she possesses at least, a smidgen of economic genius, as she purportedly does, her very presence in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet makes it crucial to admit that by accepting to serve with the incumbent presidency, she successfully neutered herself – a theory bolstered by her depressing economics. By accepting the job, Okonjo-Iweala had also attained immense power, which cuts both ways: if she became dissatisfied with her role or the administration’s policies, she could implode like a time-bomb within the presidency.

Pity she chose not to implode; today, Okonjo-Iweala betrays no such awareness or grit. In fact, as the incumbent administration fumbles on, it has become clear that the former World Bank senior executive is unaware of the magnitude of her office and the true responsibilities before her. Perhaps OkonjoIweala is doing exactly what she is expected to do by her former employers, the World Bank – she is

aggressively remodeling the Nigerian economy to suit the global money lender’s “third world” ridiculous economic therapy.

Okonjo-Iweala would need more than her impressive résumé and touted savvy as a global economic strategist, which has so far revealed her need for more than a few lessons in Nigerian economics and sterling citizenship. Perhaps, if like Lula of Brazil, she had come into Nigerians lives from a paradigm of shared tragedies and values, she would probably sound off as more humane and in tune with the country’s most gruesome realities however far-removed she is from them.

Bet not a few Nigerians thought she only had to report in office, wave her magic wand and thus stimulate a landmark turnaround of the Nigerian economy. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala possesses no magic wand. No matter her touted genius or intimidating stature she flaunts, Nigeria’s incumbent finance minister is simply another farceur in the country’s annals of administrative misadventures.

The finance minister’s economics brazenly perpetuates an unjustifiable god-complex in the face of dehumanizing realities. She attempts to overcome this by throwing lots of smart mathematics at her irra-

‘Bet not a few Nigerians thought she only had to report in office, wave her magic wand and thus stimulate a landmark turnaround of the Nigerian economy. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala possesses no magic wand. No matter her touted genius or intimidating stature she flaunts, Nigeria’s incumbent finance minister is simply another farceur in the country’s annals of administrative misadventures’

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T was the late former governor of Kano State, Senator Sabo Bakinzuwo, who once revealed that one of the foci of his party’s manifesto was banning the use of helmet by motorcyclists. “Helmet is bad”, he told his interviewer on Radio Kano in the early 80’s, “because it causes accident frequently. If motorcyclist wears helmet, he does not hear when you blare horn, and when a taxi driver hit him, the helmet will eventually strangle him”.

As funny as this political skit may sound today, the late politician’s policy is, by default, still in effect in Nigeria. Indiscipline is so prevalent and widespread that government cannot enforce even the use of helmet today to minimize danger.

But PDP governorship candidate in Kano State, Salihu Sagir Takai is taking us on a nostalgic voyage to 80’s, telling the people of Kano State that if elected, he will allow the use of commercial motorcycle (Achaba/Okada).

In an innuendo-laden jingle placed on local radio stations, the candidate is also accusing the present administration of “dakile Allazi wahidun” (banning begging).

Kwankwaso banned the use of commercial motorcycles in January 2013 in the wake of incessant attacks and killings by bike-riding gunmen.

In a recent article contributed by this writer to justify the decision, I had explained thus: “Apart from being antithetical to ideal city transport system, the environmental hazards and dangers the trade poses to the health of the rider and the passenger, the bike is now used by hoodlums — given its runaway pliability — to kill innocent people.

But Nigerians seem to be at home with the country’s underdevelopment. We loathe changes but love development. We seem so averse to progressive changes, yet we always yearn for changes. We are good at making comparison with advanced countries on issues of development or sanity, yet any attempt by leaders to bring sanity into the system is criticized by the same critics of underdevelopment.

Any leader who is not progressive in his approach in this age, he is, obviously, doomed for failure. Our social system is ailing. It is the responsibility of a leader to provide the antidote or required pills needed to relieve the indisposed system — however bitter the pills may taste.

While some people wrongly argue that Kano State government is alienating the people’s “rights to movement” (as if government has banned motorcycles completely) as ‘guaranteed’ by the constitution, they blink over the fact

tionality, in desperation to make her fantasy seem more scientific and realistic. Her economics creates an illusion of precision where none exists; consequently, unquestionable belief in her touted panaceas has led to all manner of mischief and economic failures.

Okonjo-Iweala has got the presidency and her fans locked onto an economic theory that inherently makes them tone deaf to arguments of the other side, even when those arguments are quite valid. OkonjoIweala and company in effect, have become soldiers for doubtful causes which are hardly predicated on careful observation and empirical findings.

“We will focus on those sectors that affect the common man. That is why government is focusing on the development of power…Whatever government is going to do with the economy would be geared towards pro-jobs growth,” she stressed at the beginning of her misadventure, adding that the country’s total debt stock stands at $39.7 billion (about 20 percent of GDP), out of which $34 billion or about 17.5 percent of GDP is accounted for by domestic debts. This translates to about N5.2 trillion and $5.3 billion in external debts.

Consequently, the government would be paying closer attention to the country’s debt profile, with a view to reducing borrowing from local sources. To this end, OkonjoIweala favours accumulation of more foreign debt thus her recent facilitation of a $550 million loan from her former employer, the World Bank among other gaffes.

That Okonjo-Iweala was instrumental to the country’s freedom from the Paris Club debt in 2006 isn’t contestable; what is contestable however was Nigeria’s payment of a whopping $12.6 billion to realize an $18 billion debt write-off. Today, Okonjo-Iweala’s brilliant economics recommends that Nigeria could

incur more foreign debt.

Her ceaseless misadventures with State fund predictably, escalate this year with spurious allocations in the 2015 budget. Unscathed by austerity, the National Assembly was allocated N150bn yet again in 2015; up from N49.89bn in 2005. The National Judicial Council (NJC) gets N73bn while the Universal Basic Education Fund is getting N76.3bn, up from N70.47bn in 2014.

According to BudgIT analysis, “A quick peep into the books of the Federal Ministry of Works seems to beg questions. Capital allocation is slashed by 89.4 percent from N106.3bn in 2014 to N11.23bn in 2015; the ministry’s overhead is up from N19.77bn to N20.7bn. Given that the Ministry of Works has fewer projects to oversee, why is its overhead costs rising? Why is a ministry, whose output is expected to be N11.23bn (as Capital Allocation) with N28.35bn (made up of Personnel costs of N7.64bn and Overheads worth N20.7bn) given that amount as overhead? Many will question why the Presidency is spending N174.19m to purchase canteen and kitchen equipment, yet the AkureIlesha Road gets a lesser N125m for its construction.

“The Nigerian Army is taking a cut in its overhead cost from the 2014 level of N10.7bn to N7.85bn.

Also, the Nigerian Police Formations and Command overhead cost is down from N8.49bn in 2014 to N5.895bn today. Interestingly enough, the Nigeria Police Formations and Command has a capital budget of N17bn (If the 2015 budget is anything to go by) while the Nigerian Army will run with a Capital budget of N5.22bn,” notes BudgIT. Why is the Presidency planning to spend N1.92bn on travels and N56.58m on the procurement of crested crockery (plates and spoons) in an austere clime? Why spend N61.03m on household and cater-

ing equipment and make available N387.11bn for Capital Expenditure, which is 9% of the entire expenditure? Can’t the N826.69m the presidency is spending to upgrade the villa’s facilities wait till next year?

The budget is markedly more austere on the working poor and have-nots. More worrisomely, Nigeria is already running short of revenue targets as the oil price at $46 per barrel is already well below the benchmark price. The Excess Crude Account, in 2007, was $24 billion; today, it has been depleted to about $2 billion on her watch even as speculations abound particularly among the state governors that the account is empty. In 2007 without an economic coordinator, we had zero % foreign debts; at present we have over $9 billion debt and we continue to borrow.

Thus, what exactly has she coordinated?

Yet Okonjo-Iweala is quick to point out that Nigeria’s economy is growing at 7% rate; she excitedly claims that Nigeria is experiencing economic growth even as she is conveniently silent on the fact that her coordinating machinery perpetually generates severe poverty and inequality.

Providence is the nemesis of pretenders, and hubris is the bane of all demagogues. Enabled by a bumbling president, OkonjoIweala Was been re-invented into a swash-buckling Czarina enhanced with messianic frills and compromises of all sorts. Alas! It was garbage in, garbage out; she couldn’t give what she never had. Her bearing clearly depicts the politician in Nikita Khrushchev’s parable of the politician. Going by the quality of her stewardship and former CBN Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo’s recent exposé and clinical retort to her juvenile rants, Okonjo-Iweala is no genius; she is undeniably bland. That has to be sad; it is.

Kano 2015: Takai’s tacky manifesto

By Jaafar Jaafar that the right to life is also guaranteed under section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution. “Every person,” says the 1999 constitution, “has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life save in the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”.

That aside, the responsibility of securing the life and welfare of the citizenry rests squarely on the government.

This truism is boldly highlighted by section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution which states: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the PRIMARY purpose of government”. (Emphasis mine).

Now, how will you score a leader who makes no effort to discharge his PRIMARY purpose? In a serious clime, failure to do this can spark impeachment sessions in the legislative chambers.

Until the late 80s (some say early 90s), Nigerians never knew achaba/okada, and the transport system was less or not chaotic as it is today. We boarded taxis and buses in those days and nothing happened to us. Where, in any advanced society, is achaba/okada operating? It is a sign of chronic underdevelopment.

Statistics at the emergency units of our hospitals however shows that most of their patients are either the commercial motorcyclists or their passengers. In just Murtala Mohammed Hospital, a total of 8,428 cases of male accident victims related to motorcycles were recorded from January to December 2012. Within the same period, 2,367 female sustained injuries through motorcycle-related accidents. And now the sad story: a total of 2,018 people lost their lives last year (2012) through road accidents — 90 percent related to motorcycles— in just one hospital!”

Should we go back to this chaotic past again? Certainly NO. Kano deserves better.

When BBC reporter asked Kwankwaso in London about the time Achaba service will be restored in Kano, the governor curtly answered: “When London started Achaba. If it is a good, it would have been operational here”.

In terms of ideas, PDP’s candidate in Kano always sounds primitive. He just wants to be governor. No plans.

No ideas. No clout. And no manifesto that can have a

synonym in the 21st century development thesaurus. His catch-phrase is just “continue where Malam (Shekarau) stopped”! Where did Shekarau stop? What is Shekarau’s legacy? Shekarau spent eight years as governor and left Kano in rubble, with decaying infrastructure, empty treasury, debt burden, thousands ghost workers, striking teachers, among others. In one fell swoop, the Shekarau administration siphoned N11 billion under what he called “reciprocal arrangement”, with no distinct recipient to justify the reciprocity.

It requires determination and uneven willpower to ban begging in the streets of Kano. Successive administrations have attempted and fail. But Kwankwaso, like a spirited matador, took the bull by the horn and succeeded in clearing the streets of Kano from beggars. This, according to the PDP candidate, is wrong.

Another medieval policy of the candidate is to disband Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), which employs 1,600 youths that bring sanity to the chaotic traffic system of Kano State.

School feeding and free uniform programmes, which motivate pupils to enroll into primary schools will also be abolished. Due to these programmes, school enrollment had tripled in the last three years.

May leaders that will take Kano to the primitive days of Achaba, corruption and fake religious demagoguery never come to pass.

• Jaafar writes from Kano

‘Until the late 80s (some say early 90s), Nigerians never knew achaba/ okada, and the transport system was less or not chaotic as it is today. We boarded taxis and buses in those days and nothing happened to us.

Where, in any advanced society, is achaba/okada operating? It is a sign of chronic underdevelopment’

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Man has always needed to believe in some form of a continuity of achievement ‘ - Robert Vaughn

T

HIS electoral season has thrown up so many issues. One of them is the debate over whether the jinx of second term can be broken by some governors. Oyo is one of the states where it is believed, whether rightly or wrongly, that a sitting governor cannot be re-elected twice. This position did not just come out of the blues.

It has empirical foundation in successive administrations in the states whose henchmen - governors - were not given the mandate to run for a second term in office.

For instance, in the aborted second republic, the late Chief Bola Ige, the first civilian governor of old Oyo State under the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was voted out in the 1983 general elections. That election, believed to have been rigged for Dr Omololu Olunloyo of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), had serious reverberations round the state and the attendant consequences in Oyo and other southwest states reasonably culminated in the return of the military during that epoch.

When a military-guided democracy returned in 1991 under military despot Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Kolapo Ishola contested for the seat on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform and could not even complete his term before despotic military leader, Sani Abacha carried out a palace coup against the Interim National Government (ING), dissolving all democratic structures in the process. That marked the Nunc dimittis of the Ishola government in Oyo State.

The Fourth Republic that was guided by General Abdulsalami Abubakar came after the demise of Abacha and the late Lam Adesina of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) emerged as governor in 1999. In the state’s typical fashion, he was voted out in 2003 by the people of that state. Subsequently, Adewolu Ladoja of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became the governor. His tenure was beleaguered and unfocused and he was eventually succeeded by his deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala who was also voted out of office after just one term of miliki and igbadun governance. The demise of AlaoAkala government marked the end of PDP

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08110000117

…For the sake of Oyo’s future

• Ajimobi

• Ladoja

reign in that state. Then entered the new and current governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi in 2011 on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. He is now seeking another term in the February 28 governorship election under the more formidable All Progressives Congress (APC).

Yet, most people within and outside the state believe this to be an impossible mission simply because it has never been done. Will the second term jinx be broken this time around? This is the question that this month’s election will provide answer to, particularly in Oyo State where the issue of second term jinx is on the front burner. What is going to happen at the end of the day in Oyo State?

Will Ajimobi be returned for second term in office as governor? The truth of the matter is that there are some insinuations of

S the elections draw near, global focus is on Nigeria.

There are several reasons for this attention. There is no doubt that the first reason for the attention is that elections are to be held in the most populous country in Africa thus bringing into bold relief the march or otherwise of plebiscitary democracy in an important African country.

A second and definitely compelling reason for preoccupation with the elections is that the elections of 14 and 28 February is scheduled to hold in a situation in which the nihilistic insurgent group, the murderous extremist group Boko Haram, is said to control about 50,000 square kilometres. The seizure of Nigerian territory by the terrorist Boko Haram has resulted in the displacement of over 650,000 Nigerians and another 80,000 as refugees in Cameroon and Chad. In effect, thousands of Nigerians may not be able to exercise their right to vote.

Yet, a third factor why the election has attracted the attention of the international community is the unpleasant history of electoral malfeasance in Nigeria. Past elections in Nigeria were characterised by rigging, switch of election results, vote suppression, and use of public media to promote the governing party. In addition, security forces were deployed by the federal government to intimidate the opposition, their candidates and supporters. The inexplicable election result of June 21, 2014 in Ekiti State is a reminder.

Regrettably, we appear not to have learnt from past gross electoral chicanery of 1964, 1965, and 1983 when turmoil followed elections of those years. Indeed, the pattern of past electoral malpractices appears to have reared their heads again or is in the offing as seen in recent events. Briefly, these events are purchase of voter cards, character assassinations, disruptive court cases, false opinion surveys, and sudden transfer of top police officials. In addition, the PDP- led federal government is said to have released billions of naira to farmers, in order to influence Nigerian voters.

Instead of investing in infrastructure, the PDP, on the eve of a crucial election is bribing Nigerians with a one-time socalled stomach infrastructure. After the elections, the PDP will abandon ordinary Nigerians to insecurity, darkness, hunger, starvation, and unemployment whilst PDP political barons feed fat in the house of patronage and continue their loot of the treasury. They will continue to ignore 60 percent of Nigerians who live below the global poverty level that is less than a dollar a day that is 188 naira.

The Nigerian middle class, a dwindling class due to President Jonathan’s economic mismanagement, is also suffering. The spending power of the class has been eroded due, amongst other factors, to the dramatic depreciation of the naira by about 25 percent since October 2014. This has inflationary consequences. Further, import duty on used cars which the middle class can only afford has gone up by 35

misdemeanour on the part of the governor.

Some perceive the governor as snooty and elitist; others condemn him for having allegedly given his wife too much latitude in the running of his administration.

The two allegations are selfadjustable though the governor, in a recent interview in the Sunday title of this paper, denied ever relinquishing the running of his government to his wife whom he said was merely in charge of women affairs, nothing more. He, however, professed his unwavering love for his wife, a passion he had no apology for.

His reason: He has just one wife unlike most ofhis other opponents that have wives and uncountable concubines. On the allegation of Ajimobi being conceited, this could as well be realisation of self-worth but by now, the governor ought to realise that in politics, a power holder must come down to the level of the people.

Whatever some people might perceive as Ajimobi’s misgivings should have been nullified by the fact that nobody has publicly accused him of non-performance or fraud.

Moreover, the man in nearly four years has performed more than all the governors

produced by the state. Anyone who is conversant with Ibadan, capital of Oyo State for instance, will realise that the ante of development has been upped by Ajimobi.

The air of freshness and neatness that has engulfed the landscape of Ibadan is something that was alien to that ancient town. Now, Ibadan is reasonably cleaner and neater when compared to the town’s airfouling status of the past that previous administrations in the state failed to convincingly address. The overhead bridge at the Mokola Junction is a marvel to the air which only a progressive government of the APC can provide. Afterall, the PDP has been in charge of the state for years without known noticeable improvements in the general wellbeing of the state.

One interesting area where Ajimobi has made remarkable progress is that of peace which is the bedrock of any meaningful development. Prior to his coming into office, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan especially, had turned the state into one battle-field where blood must flow every week. The era of lethal Tokyo and Eleweomo under Ladoja and Alao-Akala when residents of the ancient town lived in perpetual fear of violence that was then a recurring decimal is gone as Ajimobi, with deft determination, weeded all the miscreants away.

The irony of it all is that these former governors of the state that were unable to bring tangible peace, security and development to Oyo State while in the saddle are now the leading contestants for the governorship slot with the incumbent. The people of that state must read between the lines and not play unreasonable politics of undue sentiment with the sustenance of their development which Ajimobi represents.

This column believes that if the people of the state truly want development and sustained peace and harmony, they should ignore whatever shortcomings political opponents are trying to robe Ajimobi with and show purposeful mission by re-electing him in the coming election. This, in view of prevailing empirical facts, is the only guarantee of clear aversion for the nauseating looting and misgovernance of the past. ‘Forward ever, backward never,’ should be their new-found anthem now!

Reflections on the elections

By Ayo Fasanmi percent. An additional 35 percent is to be added in April making 70 percent increase in a dubious effort to produce vehicles which prices will be beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.

The salaried category in the Nigerian middle class, most of who are public employees in the states of the federation, are owed salary arrears due to late transfer or nonavailability of statutory funds under federal control to the states of the federation. Of course, the PDP may blame the crash in oil prices as the cause of the financial difficulties faced by Nigerians. However, Nigerians know that in 2010, at the time he took over as President, Dr. Jonathan met over $9billion in the Excess Crude Account and about $60 billion in the Foreign Reserves Account. Over $7 billion and close to $30 billion have been spent in these accounts under President Jonathan leaving a balance of barely 2 billion dollars in the Excess Crude Account, an account that was meant for a period like this when oil prices are falling. A visionary and competent government should have known that prices of oil crash between 5-7 years and accordingly prepare for the rainy day. The last oil crash was in 2008; six years later, 2014, there was another crash. What makes the current crash very problematic for Nigeria is that the United States of America, a major importer of Nigerian oil now exports oil and in a year or two might be the largest oil producer in the world. This is due to United States production of shale oil through the technology of fracking.

In the old days, Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have warned Nigeria about the economic and financial difficulties Nigeria is now experiencing as he did in 1980 on the verge of then Nigeria’s economic and external debt difficulties.

That is why when measured against the standards adopted

by Chief Awolowo, then the leading light in Afenifere, he would certainly not have endorsed Dr. Jonathan. Indeed, he would have trenchantly criticised him for gross mismanagement, incompetence and condoning of wanton corruption. He would also have noted the marginalisation of the South-west except for the little crumbs thrown at the greedy elements in the PDP from the region. Even with less than 10 days to the election, appointments are being made to ministerial positions and the appointee is gloating. In another political clime, the status quo would have remained as the outcome of the election may not return to office the incumbent. Of course, except there is a hidden master plan to rig the election and thwart the preference of Nigerian

people.

In the history of independent Nigeria, not once has there been a change of power at the federal level between the ruling party and opposition (Nigeria since 1964 has held six federal elections under civilian administrations and three under military rule). African countries such as our neighbours, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritius in southern Africa have peacefully voted out ruling parties in favour of the opposition. Indeed, power has changed hands between government and opposition twice in Ghana, Republic of Benin and Mauritius. These African states thus meet the test of Professor Samuel Huntington, late American political scientist, as democratic states. Nigerians can advance, deepen and begin the process of consolidating democracy by peacefully voting out PDP and installing APC in power.

The elections coming up in the coming weeks thus provide Nigerians opportunity to make history by installing in power the opposition APC which will work for Nigerians, a party that will not loot the treasury, and a party that will truly serve the Nigerian people and bring genuine change.

When Nigerians effect peaceful change through the ballot, the country can then begin the arduous task of building institutions of state that will provide security for all, promote the rule of law, improve the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians, and hold all public officials accountable.

•Senator Fasanmi is a member of the Second Republic Senate

‘In the history of independent Nigeria, not once has there been a change of power at the federal level between the ruling party and opposition (Nigeria since 1964 has held six federal elections under civilian administrations and three under military rule). African countries such as our neighbours, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritius in southern Africa have peacefully voted out ruling parties in favour of the opposition’

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Two held for car-snatching, six for robbery

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

‘Operation Oil Palm’ in Imo

NBL inaugurates plant in Aba

•PAGE 27

•PAGE 26

PAGE 25

•PAGE 40

The joy of water It might not mean much to those who have it in abundance but to Ugbele residents in Imo State, seeing water for the first time was enough to celebrate. OKODILI NDIDI reports

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AN anyone be happier than a people with a problem solved? In Ugbele, a community in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, residents jumped for joy, sang and danced as their first water borehole was inaugurated. Their traditional rulers, in full regalia, were present to see taps run for the first time in their community.

Decades of thirst and torture had come to an end.

Before the commissioning of the project, which was singlehandedly built and donated to the community by the Uzotex Foundation, funded by a renowned philanthropist, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, Ugbele residents walked over 3km to fetch water from the Orashi River.

Apart from the fact that the water from the river was not safe for drinking and other domestic purposes, the youths who normally go to the river contended with the risk of climbing the hill through a narrow pathway that has been devastated by gully erosion.

For several decades, this community with a population over 3000, waited endlessly for government intervention, which never came until their plight, caught the attention of the China based businessman, who had already provided water in 17 other communities in the Council Area.

The traditional ruler of Ugbele community, Eze Richard Okoro, who witnessed the commissioning alongside other monarchs from neighboring communities, described the project as a “huge relief”.

He said that, “life is difficult without water and we had to live with this challenge for decades without hope at sight. It is even more difficult for the elderly, who can no longer walk the over three kilometers to the Orashi River or

As the traditional ruler of Ugbele community I am most grateful and happy that this historic event happened during my time. We are also appealing to other illustrious sons of the Local Government Area to join hands and develop the communities because the government alone cannot it

•Mbisiogu (second right), with traditional rulers at the launch of the borehole

,

climb the hill. But now with this water borehole in place, our people can now have access to water at any time of the day.

“We are grateful to Uzotex Foundation for what they have done and as the traditional ruler of Ugbele community I am most grateful and happy that this historic event happened during my time. We are also appealing to other illustrious sons of the LGA to join hands and develop the communities because the government alone cannot it.”

Speaking at the event, Mbisiogu (the donor), said that he initiated the programme to provide water for all the communities in Ideato South and North Council Areas of the state, after considering the plight they go through on daily

•The site of the community borehole basis just to get water.

“The idea,” he said, “started during the burial ceremony of my late mother, when the water tanker that was paid to supply water broke

down on the way and all the people that came to visit me where stranded because there was no water and we had to go the three kilometers to fetch water from the river.

It was a difficult task and after then I told myself that this must end and that was how the whole •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

26

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Alleged car snatching robbery: Eight suspected held ‘

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HE Abia State police command has paraded two young men suspected to have snatched a Toyota Sequioa SUV car from its owner.

The command also alleged that the suspects pasted the campaign poster of Hon. Nnenna ElenduUkeje, member representing Bende Federal constituency of the state on the stolen vehicle.

Parading the suspects in Umuahia, the state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim concluded that they may have used the poster as a camouflage to escape arrest.

Ibrahim said that the two men whose names were given as Uchenna Ibero, 24, and Ifeanyi Agbai, 27, were arrested by the police at Amaiyi Obilohia in Isuikwuato council area after snatching a campaign bus from a politician.

The Abia police chief said that the suspects had earlier snatched a Mitsubushi campaign bus with registration number APP 376 CV, belonging to Chief Karibe Pascal Ojigwe, a former international footballer and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance for Abia House of Assembly.

He said that the suspects snatched the bus at gunpoint from Ojigwe, adding,”My men went after them and traced them to Isuikwuato, where Agbai was arrested and during a search in his house we recovered one AK47 rifle with serial number 05934.

One AK47 magazine containing three rounds of live ammunition, a locally made revolver pistol, one APGA T-shirt and one black polo with the inscription, ‘Gallant MOPOL, including the snatched bus.

A few days later the suspects led the police to De-Jug Hotel located at Nkpa near Uzuakoli in search of

My men went after them and traced them to Isuikwuato, where Agbai was arrested and during a search in his house we recovered one AK47 rifle with serial number 05934

,

From Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke, Umuahia

the fleeing members of the gang and the hoodlums numbering about five on sighting the police opened fire on them”.

Ibrahim said that at the end of the gun battle, one suspect identified as Ifeanyi Agwu Sunday of Eluama Alayi was arrested with bullet wounds and the Toyota SUV with registration number SMK 766 DE with a poster on it recovered.

The Abia police boss said that his men also recovered one Space Wagon with the number NCH 405 AE, one Toyota Picnic SUV with the number KPA 177 LG and a Lexus Jeep with the number PH 30 AM. He said that the vehicles were recovered and one Ndubueze Onuegbu was arrested in connection with the three vehicles which were parked in a compound belonging to one Chibueze Onuegbu at Ubani Ibeku in Umuahia North

•The suspects area.

The police said they also paraded six other suspected armed robbers arrested at different locations in the state, and assured the residents that criminals would be chased out of the state.

The state Commissioner of Police said that the command has put in place a lot of security measures which led to the arrest of over 200 suspects before, during and after the Christmas period, with many of them being prosecuted.

Ibrahim said that his men while on patrol along Aba-Owerri Expressway, arrested one Chinaza Ofoegbu from Isuikwuato with a machete at a notorious black spot at Aro-Ngwa near Aba The police chief said the suspects

‘ The police also paraded six suspected armed robbers arrested at different locations in the state, and assured the residents that criminals would be chased out of the state

,

was nabbed “while blocking the highway with stones alongside his gang members,” adding that “others fled into the bush, while Chinaza was arrested”.

He said that another armed robbery suspect a notorious one, who

Cars, tricycles for women in‘Enugu

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NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Adadioranma Foundation, has provided various items for no fewer than 1000 women in Enugu State. The items included cars, Keke NAPEP, hair driers, grinding engines, among others.

Speaking during the event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the benefactor, Mrs. Nkoli Imo said she was moved by the suffering of women, especially in rural communities.

Imo, who said she was not a politician, noted that her action was merely driven by passion to equip the women and use them to touch other lives in their immediate communities.

She charged those who benefited from the free car initiative to use the vehicle for the good of the people.

“As I hand over the keys to these beneficiaries today, I urge you to use it for the good of mankind and not for selfish reasons; use it to assist vulnerable people any time you meet them on the road”, she said.

Turning to those who benefited from Keke NAPEP, hair driers, grinding engines, among others, Mrs Imo said, “as you do businesses,

has been on the police watch list for some time with the name Chimere Eze alias ‘Nwa Barrister’ was arrested.

He added that Nwa Barrister had •Continued on page 27

The joy of water

This is the first time an individual, who is not a politician, is distributing Jeeps, Keke NAPEP and many other items, as well as 750 bags of rice to our people

,

From Chris Oji, Enugu

help other people around you; make effort to make other people share in your joy”.

She, however, charged the over 1000 women to make sure they cast their votes for the right candidate in the February general elections.

“Collect your Permanent Voter’s Card and vote for the right candidate, especially those who have

•Mrs Imo flagging off the distribution of the items track records of helping the poor; don’t vote for parties, vote for individuals”, she further advised.

She equally announced a scholarship to university level and a N200,000 cash award for a teenager, who presented a modem 2-storey building, which he personally constructed.

The coordinator of the Adadioranma Foundation in Enugu State, Mr. Nnamdi Anigbo and an Abuja based philantropist, Mrs. Theodora Obi-Okeke, described the initiative as “unprecedented in the

history of Enugu State”.

According to Anigbo, “This is the first time an individual, who is not a politician, is distributing Jeeps, Keke NAPEP and many other items, as well as 750 bags of rice to our people”.

On her part, Obi-Okeke said: “I’m here because I share in her passion; we are equally involved in a similar activity, though in the area of free health care.

“I commend the donor and urge the beneficiaries to use these items for the overall good of mankind”.

•Continued from page 25 idea started”.

He also added that, “after I got the insight that God wanted to use me to provide water for the people, I didn’t hesitate because it is proper to support the state government. This project is my way of contributing to the development of the state and it is also a call on other successful individuals to join hands and develop the communities. The essence is to stop the sufferings of our people”.

Charging the beneficiaries to ensure adequate maintenance of the borehole, Mbisiogu, disclosed that an average of N2 million was spent on each of the 18 boreholes, outside the cost of the generating sets provided to ensure constant power supply.

Octogenarians, majority of them, women who leaned on their walking sticks, danced and prayed for the donor, as water gushed out of the taps for the first time in the history of the community. Young men and women were not left out as they struggled to be the first to fetch from the borehole.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Operation Oil Palm’ in Imo From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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HE plan to diversify the Imo State economy has a life of its own. Palm trees are springing up in the state. Residents greet one another with a question: have you planted a palm? It is the state’s plan to diversify its economy and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. It is the Operation Oil Palm.

The programme, known as ‘Ikuona Nku?’, meaning, Have you planted a palm?, according to Governor Rochas Okorocha, was conceived to re-awaken the interest of the people in the cultivation of palm, which was once the mainstay of the state economy.

The government has also revived other abandoned agro-based industries, especially the Ada Palm, the ailing oil palm plantation in the state.

Before now the Ada Palm Plantation, with a sprawling 4310 hectares of full grown palm and arguably one of the largest in Africa, contributed over 60% of the total income of the state.

The plantation established by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Opara, was however abandoned as a result of the oil boom.

However following the depleting •Continued on page 28

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The government has also revived other abandoned agro-based industries, especially the Ada Palm, the ailing oil palm plantation in the state

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•The Centre at Iyienu Mission Hospital

Southeast’s ‘ oldest hospital retooled The hospital is setting a place in A SET of state-of-the-art equipment has been shipped to the oldest medical facility in the Southeast, Iyienu Misson Hospital, established in 1907. It is located in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Since its inauguration, the hospital, founded by the Anglican Church, has been associated with high standards.

In their time as governors, Dr. Chris Ngige and Mr. Peter Obi supported the facility with cash and equipment.

The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), in partnership with Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), also provided over N300m to fund projects and procure modern equipment for the hospital.

The result: multi-dimensional kidney analysis and breast screening centres at the hospital, among other facilities.

The Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo, stressed the imperatives of helping the hospital grow, saying it will reduce capital flight in medical tourism abroad, which was reportedly sucking out as much as N250m from the nation ev-

medi-care with five functioning advanced dialysis machines with efficient renal care at low cost with good working clinic and their consulting nephrologists

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From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ery year.

The vision of the founding fathers of the hospital was summed up in their motto, “to preach and to heal” At the commissioning of the centres, the Managing Director of Shell, Dr. Chike Onyejekwe, said the choice of Iyienu Mission Hospital was based on its record as one of the oldest in the south East.

Cancer and kidney patients have been visiting the hospital for screening.

When Emeka Anyaoku Diagnostic

and Dialysis Centre was commissioned by the Obi administration in 2014, it helped to bring down the volume of Southeast people going overseas for medical tourism.

The centre was the pet project of the former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, with over 100 million naira raised for it in his birthplace.

At its commissioning, Obi announced over N500m to revitalise the hospital. The state government further announced an additional donation of N100m to further equip It, while two buses were equally given

for its high-flying school of nursing. which had become the best in the state.

Today, the hospital is setting a place in medi-care with five functioning advanced dialysis machines with efficient renal care at low cost with good working clinic and their consulting nephrologists.

Rev. Ikechukwu Okwuosa is the hospital administrator, who told The Nation that the scanners in use at the hospital are digitalised, that they detect anomalies form three different areas in the body.

The centre takes care of disease of the lung, abdomen and kidney, while the machines take care for studying the diseases of the bone, so says, Dr. Eric Umeh, the consultant Radiologist.

When The Nation visited the place, some of the machines sighted were X-ray clips, CT SCAN, CT Imagery and Mammography, described by experts as the best of their kind in the world.

Also available at the centre were Sound Cardiographs, Digitizer and Echo-cardiographs (ECG) among others. Dr. Umeokafor Chijioke, of the Radiology Department, said the Dialysis Centre was affordable.

Eight suspects held in Abia •Continued from page 26

•The recovered Toyota car

been involved in many armed robbery cases in the state but that he had been evading police arrest for over three years.

The suspect was arrested with a locally made pistol which was concealed in a brown bag at Asaga village, Arochukwu where he was engaged in a serious fight with his gang members, it was said.

Ibrahim said that his men on raid at Asaeme village Uratta, Aba, arrested Onyekachi Uchendu of 11D Faulks road Aba in a criminal hideout with one unregistered Skygo motorcycle suspected to have been stolen, adding that the case is under investigation.

He said that another armed robbery suspect Uchenna Ibeawuchi of Umulolo Olokoro was also arrested for being in possession of a suspected stolen motorcycle.

“On interrogation, he confessed to the allegation and disclosed the receivers of the motorcycles, which led to the recovery of six motorcycles,” Ibrahim said.

The police CP said that his men arrested Enyinnaya Umegbulam for attacking Chibuike Ojiabo and

Azubike Paul both of Ihie Ndume in Umuahia, saying that the suspect inflicted injuries on two of them with stones, sticks, and bottles and robbed them of their phones and cash.

Ibrahim said that one of the victims, Ojiabo who was seriously injured eventually died in the hospital while the suspect Umegbulam ran away, ”However my men later tracked him after many attempts and he has been arrested”.

He said that the police at Bende Division received a distress call from a concern citizen from Ozuitem and when they got there with the help of vigilante arrested one Okorie Dick and that a locally made pistol was found on him with an unregistered motorcycle, “While efforts are being made to arrest his gang member, Uwalaka Nwokorie of Ozuitem who is at large”.

The Abia CP said that the last person to be paraded was one Ezekiel Ogbaa who was arrested while trying to steal an MTN transformer, adding that the suspect conspired with five others now at large, but that his men recovered a Citroen Jumper bus with the number WER 36 EM used by the suspects.

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Obiano has started well’

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and they now live in refugee camps. This alone has its own social implication as children who are supposed to be in school are out of school

From assessment of the states to ravages of Boko Haram to the government Ebonyi State deserves and the forthcoming elections, the Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Anglican Communion, the Right Rev. Paul Udeogu, holds nothing back in this interview with OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE. Excerpts: On Governor Willie Obiano

W

E sincerely congratulate our beloved brother, Chief Willie Obiano and his Deputy Dr. Nkem Okeke on their election. This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight. We are happy that he has started very well. His first100 days in office were remarkable. He was able to do what “Napoleon could not do’. His resilience in the war against crime and insecurity, doggedness to see Anambra State join the league of oil producing states by the ongoing construction of roads from Aguleri to Orient petroleum drilling site Aguleri Otu, the new face he is giving Awka, the State capital, his bumper in-

vestment in agriculture, his selfless and determined infrastructural development of the state have within his few months in office won the confidence and admiration of Ndi Anambra. The peaceful and crime free atmosphere he created has attracted over $800m investment to the state. We pray Almighty God to give him the grace, wisdom, courage and strength to take Anambra State to the next level.

On the Centenary We praise and glorify the Almighty God who has sustained our nation for the past 100 years. The journey of Nigeria has been a challenging one as we have experienced civil war, political, economic and religious crises. However, we can say, like the Biblical preacher, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are

,

•Bishop Udeogu not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

On the National Conference The National Conference over, what is crucial now is the implementation of the recommendations made. Having followed the preconference discussions from different parts of our country, the discus-

sion proper at the national conference and the recommendations of the conference, we can say without mincing words that if at least 50% of the recommendations of the conference is implemented, Nigeria would be a better country. We are aware that the majority of the recommendations of the previous National Conferences were swept under the carpet. We hope that such should not be the same with the 2014 National Conference. We call upon the President, the National Assembly, and the Council of State to ensure that the recommendations of the Conference are passed into law.

On Boko Haram Our newspapers are dominated by the moral evil, inhumanity and wickedness and terror perpetrated by the Islamist terrorist group known as Boko Haram. The abduction of Chibok girls, the massacre of innocent people in Kano, Maiduguri, Damaturu, Taraba and Adamawa, the declaration of cali-

phates at Gwoza and Mubi area, the Islamisation and killing of Christians in the North by the Boko Haram are all devilish acts which we condemn completely.

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and they now live in refugee camps.

This alone has its own social implication as children who are supposed to be in school are out of school. The capture and renaming of Gwoza in Borno State and Mubi in Adamawa State, particularly the capture of the hometown of the Chief of Defense staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh is a bad omen for our country.

A critical assessment of the security challenges in our country reveals that Boko haram still holds sway due to infiltration of our security operations by the sect, sabotage, religious and Northern bias, political bias and lack of willpower on the side of the government to deal decisively with these terrorists.

•Continued on page 38

‘Operation Oil Palm’ in Imo

•Continued from page 27 oil fortune, the Rochas Okorocha led administration launched a new plan to ensure that every family in the state owns a palm plantation.

The idea according to the Governor was to alleviate poverty in the state, especially in the rural communities.

To ensure a smooth take off of the programme, the state government disbursed a takeoff grant of N3300, 000.00 to each traditional ruler in the 637 autonomous communities in the state.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

The fund was to be utilised in the cultivation of the new palm seedlings provided by government and the establishment of local oil mills for the milling of the palm fruits.

The Governor while addressing a meeting of the traditional rulers, conveyed to brainstorm on the possible ways of returning to agriculture, said that Imo State before now

was the largest producer of palm oil but regretted that palm cultivation was abandoned over the years.

Highlighting the benefits of palm oil cultivation, the Imo Governor, hinted that with the decline in the price of oil and the need to diversify the economy of the state, it has become imperative that the people return to their former ways

of making a living.

He disclosed that the state government will continue to provide necessary incentives and grants to encourage the people to cultivate oil palm, adding that in the next ten years if the programme is sustained, the state will be a leading producer of palm oil and other produce that can be harnessed from oil palm.

He urged the monarchs to engage in and encourage communal oil palm cultivation to create wealth and employment for the people.

He said, “Our greeting at all times in Imo State now is ‘ikuona nku?’

This is to drive home the importance of palm oil cultivation, which will truly transform the economy of the state faster than oil. Imo State used to be the greatest producer of palm oil but we lost this position because our people ran after oil”.

Today more farmers in the state are keying into the programme and massively planting oil palm trees in previously fallow lands.

Chief Sylvanus Uguru, described the development as a right step in the right direction, adding that, “this is healthy for the state. I think it is a proactive measure against the falling oil price, the state will benefit immensely if the programme is sustained.

‘

The state government will continue to provide necessary incentives and grants to encourage the people to cultivate oil palm, adding that in the next ten years if the programme is sustained, the state will be a leading producer of palm oil and other produce that can be harnessed from oil palm

,

•Oil palm nurseries at one of the plantations

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Lawrence

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

PAGE 29

OGONI

OGWASHI-UKU

DEL TA DELT

THE Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA), have declared an indigenous government led by the chairman of Ogoni Governor’s forum, Hon. Lipnee Barika Lawrence.

The government promised to fight for the implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

•PAGE 34

OGWASHI-UKU, the birthplace of Minister for Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and headquarter of Aniocha South Local Government Area,, has grappled with total darkness and a lack of potable water for its inhabitants in the last seven years.

MR Paul Odili is a member of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign publicity committee. He speaks on alleged hijack of the party, report of tension between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and other issues.

•PAGE 32

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

•PAGE 31

•Odili

‘Our children were dying’ •Cross River communities relish drop in child, maternal mortality

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•A young mother in Abredang

HE Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week was an opportunity for stock-taking. During the week, Adim in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State and some other remote communities came under spotlight.

These communities have seen the worst of child and maternal mortality.

The Cross River State government prided itself to offer free medical healthcare to pregnant women and children under five years old and the occasion provided an opportunity to find out how true the promise went.

Findings revealed that the women and children were actually benefitting from the programme.

Villages visited by this reporter include Abradang, Ichom Abayom, Abrijang Abayom and Abaribara. It took about four hours to visit all the villages with an okada (commercial motorcyclist) through bush tracks as they had no good roads, an amenity they all begged the government to do something urgently about.

It was gathered that maternal and child mortality had drastically reduced in these villages.

Health workers said this was due to the fact that women now assess proper medical care at the primary healthcare facilities. They complained that at times they were in short supply of drugs to attend to the women and children.

“When it is like that, there is nothing we can do and we beg that the government makes sure that drugs are always available,” a nurse, who did not want to be named, said.

In Adim, Mrs Celestina Bassey James, a nursing mother said: “The child and maternal mortality rate has reduced very much from how we used to know it. Since the arrival of this health post, it has reduced.

The week was really helpful because a lot of women and children turned up for it. We had access as we have usually been having to free medical care. The government and the donors like UNICEF and WHO have really been trying for us and we are very grateful to them.

“The maternal and child health week also helped us a lot because it gave us access to healthcare when all the health workers were on strike. The children were taken good medical are of as many of

‘

Before now, the children were dying too much but since the government started this programme, the rate of children and even mothers dying has reduced drastically. The government has been sending drugs to the health facilities here and the women have been taking part effectively

‘

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

them were immunised and dewormed for free. Pregnant women also benefited from free ante-natal check-ups and drugs.

An expectant mother, Mrs Blessing Eyong Ikwa, also said: “We have been receiving free drugs and mosquito nets among other things.

But the only thing is that sometimes they tell us no drugs. But we still thank them because we have free registration, free laboratory tests, free delivery and when they baby is born, he or she gets free healthcare until five years old.

Even treatment for children who have accidents and are under five is free. The maternal and child health week that just finished also helped us very much because as the health workers were on strike our children got free deworming, free immunisation, free birth registration, free drugs, screening for malnutrition, free mosquito nets and free tetanus toxoid for pregnant women. We were also lectured on health issues, family planning among many other things. We thank them so much.”

At Abredang Village, Mrs Patience Onang Ukang, mother of an 11 month old baby, said the rate of children dying in their community had reduced greatly.

“My baby had worm a few days ago and they gave her drugs and after that she stooled some worms and now she is very fine.”

Continued on page 33

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Bayelsa community at war with Agip I

NDIGENES of the Kalaba community, Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, are supposed to be happy. At least their community is host to one of the giant oil companies, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Ironically, they are dejected and disappointed. Instead of enjoying the benediction of oil they are rather afflicted by its malediction. Recently, they raised the alarm that one of the sites hosting the oil facilities of Agip was in fire. The fire was said to have raged as the spill bubbled forth from the facility.

Their anger is that the fire would have been prevented if Agip had responded immediately it got information about the first oil spill that occurred there on January 12th.

A report released by the Environmental Right Action (ERA) and Friends of the Earth (FoE) indicted Agip. It accused the oil giant of nonchalance. The Bayelsa State representative of ERA, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said a case of oil spill was reported within the environment of Kalaba on January 12.

He said at that time, the spill point was just emitting gas and oil and had yet to spew from the point of rupture.

“ERA promptly informed some top Management Staff of Agip and urged that the company take advantage of the scenario then and promptly mobilize to site for clamping before more harm was done”, he said.

He said that Agip acknowledge the information. But it beat the imagination Morris that the company which got information about the spill failed to take positive remedial action until the spill point increased and crude spewed so much that it caused fire outbreak.

“When ERA’s field monitors responded to very recent calls about a current spill and rushed to the community; the field monitors were led to the same spill point of 12th January, 2015 and were astonished that this was the same spill that ERA urged Agip to attend to more than two weeks ago”, he said.

In fact, the indigenes of the community are disappointed at the development. The community’s Paramount Ruler, Chief Roman Oruka described it as an unfortunate situation.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that this is happening again. It is even more worrisome by the way Agip is behaving; it seems Agip has a hand in the spill. The spill occurred on the 12th of January, 2015 and Agip was promptly informed same day.

“The company came to see the spill point the next day, being 13th January, 2015. But, it is surprising to see that Agip has failed to return and stop the spill until crude oil has now spread in the environment. It seems Agip is interested in the destruction of our environment.

“After all they are the very contractors for clean-up jobs; we are gaining nothing from these spills. Agip should know that the environment is our life, health and wealth. In this regard, I wish to urge Agip to help us protect our environment by coming to stop the spill and carry our immediate cleanup. This, the company should do to ensure a safe environment for our people”.

A lady whose cassava farm was destroyed by the spill said her produce had been rendered useless by the incident. The lady who identified herself as Joy Kumosuoyon said: “It is about two weeks since this spill occurred.

“And it has affected my cassava farm negatively. When I went and harvested some; they have gone bad, polluted by the crude oil; no way to

•Cassava dying •An impacted area still boiling at the time ERA visited

•Boiling

•Both sides of the pipeline impacted From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

eat them because of the crude oil impacts on the cassava”.

The Youth President of the community, Mr. Samuel Oburu confirmed what the paramount ruler said. He narrated: “This spill occurred on the 12th of January, 2015. And, to be very sincere the spill is very close to the community.

“Even when we are right in the community we perceive the crude oil, we also inhale it and; I think it has negative effects on our health. I am aware that Agip, the owner of the facility have sent its production team to come and check the spill site; yet nothing has been done ”I know it is their habit; but we are still crying out loud. Agip should come and stop this spill and make necessary repairs as to stop further spread of crude oil and related pollution in the environment.

“It is really an unfortunate scenario we find ourselves. I was even invited by the State Security Service [SSS] and I told them we are seriously investigating who was responsible for the spill.”

In the report of ERA, Morris described the attitude of the company as corporate irresponsibility. He said even if the pipeline bearing the crude oil was sabotaged by a third party, it was not enough for Agip to ignore it.

“It should be an understatement to state that Agip is culpable; the history/ details of this spill indicate an act of Corporate Irresponsibility on the part of Agip; even though those who sabotaged the crude oil bearing pipeline deserves condemnation.

“That a stitch in time, saves nine; is a

well known saying and, this is where Agip fell short of being Corporately Responsible; for leaving a small spill unattended to for over two weeks until it became bigger spill.

“As at the time of ERA’s visit on 28th January, 2015 the spill point was still bubbling; like a boiling pot. But the surrounding environment shows that there was an initial spraying on crude oil high into the air as plants and environment on both sides of the pipeline depicted.

“It also reveals Agip must have reduced the original pressure along the pipeline; as it was no longer spraying into the air but just bubbling as at time of ERA’s visit.

“Crude oil was streaming down to nearby natural water course behind the community and leaves of impacted crops and other vegetation were observed to be at different conditions; wilting, dying and dead.

The grass within the area impacted along the pipeline are all dead including plants close to the Right Of Way (ROW). They are all drenched by crude oil.”

ERA said it would not be tired of advocating for the right things to do in the interest of the environment and, best practices in the oil industry. It said the oil industry regulations demand prompt stoppage of spills, containment, clean-up and remediation no matter the cause.

The group, therefore, demanded that Agip should take immediate steps to stop the spill by going to site and effect clamping after Joint Investigation (JIV). It asked the company to take all necessary steps to prevent such delays in responding to spill incidents; especially when there is no security or ac-

‘

Crude oil was streaming down to nearby natural water course behind the community and leaves of impacted crops and other vegetation were observed to be at different conditions; wilting, dying and dead. The grass within the area impacted along the pipeline are all dead including plants close to the Right Of Way (ROW). They are all drenched by crude oil

‘

cessibility issues.

It said: “Agip should ensure steps are taken for the immediate clean-up of impacted environment. The regulatory agencies [NOSDRA and SMoE] should also play expected roles in ensuring the safety of the environment.

“The Security agencies should try

•Joy Kumosuoyon.

and do follow-ups with intensive investigation with a view to apprehend and prosecute real culprits. Again, both the government and oil companies should channel resources toward sensitisation of communities on the dangers inherent in such acts relating to third party spills.

“Finally, the government and oil companies should play the Corporate Social Responsibility roles expected of them by meeting the developmental needs of our communities from time to time”.

Agip could not be reached for its reactions.

Who wants to stone Dickson?

B ‘ working The people AYELSA State was once described by Governor Seriake Dickson as the headquarters of rumour in Nigeria. To counter what he viewed as the ugly consequences of rumour-mongering , Dickson set up the Bayelsa State Information Management Committee.

But despite the activities of the committee, a disturbing rumour has refused to depart the political scene the stoning of the governor.

It has become an open secret that there is a plot to stone the governor at the forthcoming Presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yenagoa. Though it sounded unbelievable, persons said to be behind the plot were alleged to have constituted “a stoning committee” made up of angry youths to work out the modalities.

The Government House is not taking the matter lying low. In fact, members of Dickson’s team are aware that stoning is a possibility that cannot be wished away. They are doing everything possible to stop unleashing such public opprobrium on the countryman governor. They were amusingly said to have also established an “anti-stoning committee” to counter any stoning eventuality.

Indeed, people have every reason to take the matter seriously. Stoning the highest public personage in Bayelsa is not new. It was an ugly condemnable precedent that entered the political space of the state in 2011.

Former Governor Timipre Sylva got huge dose of the ill-treatment that year when Jonathan came for a similar rally in Yenagoa.

In the presence of Jonathan and other PDP bigwigs, youths believed to have been hired turned stones, sachet water and other objects within their reach into missiles and hurled them at Sylva while he stood on a podium to address the gathering.

They treated their governor with ignominy and washed their dirty linen in a public event that was beamed live on national television. It was a worrisome development that rattled and hunted the governor and his cabinet.

In fact, beyond the stoning, the taciturn posture of the President worried everybody. President Jonathan said nothing to condemn the public embarrassment visited on Sylva. He kept sealed lips and saw nothing wrong with the stone revolution.

Eventually, when he spoke, his statement which gave approval to stoning as a sign of public rejection startled everybody. His remarks came about one year after Sylva’s public harassment, during the final governorship rally of PDP that ushered in Dickson. The President did not just support stoning, he promised to partake in it if Dickson failed and the people decided to give him the Sylva treatment.

He proudly alluded to the stoning and claimed that the former governor’s style of leadership and poor performance compelled the people of the state to hurl missiles at him (Sylva) during one of his presidential visits.

He turned to Dickson and said: “You have brought people from Abuja to Yenagoa today. The only thing I want to tell you in the presence of Bayelsa State is that I was here in this place some months ago and Bayelsans stoned the governor. You must work hard to make sure that Bayelsans don’t stone you. The day I come here and Bayelsans stone you, I will follow and stone you.”

The President’s outburst and public endorsement of stoning surprised everybody. Maybe he must regretted the endorsement recently after

around the President that set up this TAN in Bayelsa are the people against the President and the bulk stops on the table of Mr. President.

To sit down and allow these things to snowball into what it is gradually getting to now affecting 100 per cent vote from Bayelsa for the President •Dickson •Dickson

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

similar treatment was meted him in some northern states during his ongoing campaign to retain his office.

But everybody who remembered his stoning approval is worried and that is why the Dickson’s team is said to be preparing for such possibility at rally. Though nobody knows the anti-stoning strategy being adopted, some said the governor was making a plan to install cameras all over the Samson Siasia Sports Complex where the rally is scheduled to hold. This, they argue, will help the security agencies fish out the agents of stoning if it eventually happens.

In fact, the anticipation of such ill treatment became rife recently after the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) raised it as a poser in their press release which reportedly barred the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan from accompanying her husband to the event.

Condemning the silence of the President over the excesses of his wife in the state, the group queried: “Is President Goodluck Jonathan using this as a ploy to join Bayelsa youths to stone Governor Dickson as promised by the President during his presidential campaign in 2011 and subsequently to oust Dickson’s administration since he could hardly rebuke his wife in several of her political atrocities?”

Furthermore, the cold shoulder the governor has been receiving from the Presidency is a suspect. Recently trending on Facebook is an unconfirmed report of an alleged rude treatment the governor received at Aso Rock Villa from security operatives attached to the President.

The governor has been battling the overtures of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a campaign group of Jonathan which has practically hijacked the activities of PDP in the state. TAN is believed to be working for Mrs. Jonathan to undermine Dickson.

Reacting to the development, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udens Eradiri, denounced the rumour that the gov-

ernor could be a victim of stoning.

He said: “The President will be here on February 6th and we are already hearing rumours that some people will stone some people. Any iota of satchet water or stone will crumble Mr. President chances and Ijaw people must note that that day is supposed to be a day of celebration, dancing. Everybody must come out to support our own.

“You saw what they did for Buhari in Kano and you will see what they will do when he goes back home for his final campaign. That is what we must show. Let us forget our differences and come out. The TAN people should note that we know all those meetings that they are holding.

“If they are actually working for the a President, everybody will be on the same vessel. I am a non-partisan person and I stand in the middle. If any of them go wrong I will always tell them. As IYC President at the end of the day, they will pit youths against themselves. When they will sit down as politicians to drink champagne, the enmity of the youths will continue.

My duty is to ensure that these youths are not used as pawns in a chess game.”

Eradiri further regretted the Cold War involving TAN, the First Lady and Dickson. “We can’t pretend about it. There is a Cold War going on.

There is the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria. (TAN) that is made up of the loyalists of the former governor of the state who were not in good terms with the President. They have never been happy with the President.

“And so their conduct is actually creating so much problems for the President’s reelection. I wonder who set that thing up knowing fully well that these are the people who are not on the side of the governor and they are not also on the side of the President. Now, their principal is in the opposition abusing the President and challenging the President and you now mop up these same people into a TAN in order for them to deliver the President. No. They won’t do that.

“So, there is no sincerity of pur-

‘

pose. I have made it clear before and I am still saying it.TAN in Bayelsa is purposely put together to create conflict for the President and also to cause commotion in the state so that there cannot be that synergy. I support the proscription of TAN in Bayelsa in as much as I do not support the way it was put together”, he said.

He also partly blamed the political crisis in Bayelsa on the President.

He said: “I think that the President is not doing enough. The President who head or tail is the one that will lose or gain should have had his own machinery of ensuring that his house is intact. I blame the President for it and that is why we are warning that our political capital is about to be squandered by their actions and inactions. I condemn what they are doing. It is not called for.

“But if you look at it there is no governor that will accept what TAN is doing and what other aides of the President is doing in Bayelsa. It is the aides of the President who say that they are working for the President that put up this TAN knowing fully well that the people there are the people who don’t want to see the President.

“It, therefore, means that the people working around the President that set up this TAN in Bayelsa are the people against the President and the bulk stops on the table of Mr. President. To sit down and allow these things to snowball into what it is gradually getting to now affecting 100 per cent vote from Bayelsa for the President. And you know when we don’t have 100 per cent from Bayelsa it begins to send a negative signal to the opposition and other parts of the country.”

But TAN has since denied undermining the governor. It said the group would work with the governor to ensure the re-election of the President.

Undoubtedly as everybody waits to see how the home rally of the President will turn out, the crack team of the governor is working round the clock to gather intelligence on the possibility that Dickson may be stoned.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Okonjo-Iweala’s Ogwashi-Uku kinsmen bemoan lack of water, power

D

ESPITE over a century of unbroken existence as provincial headquarter, Ogwashi-Uku, headquarter of Aniocha South Local Government Area, has little to show for its status.

Ogwashi-Uku, the birthplace of Minister for Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has grappled with total darkness and a lack of potable water for its inhabitants in the last seven years.

When the Federal Government in 2003 commenced work on a dam, Ogwashi-Uku residents heaved a sigh of relief, but that hope has since been dashed following the abandonment of the dam10 years after construction started.

As if to add insult to injury, the Ubu River - the only source of water to residents – has become polluted due to the activities of the contractors at the dam, raising fears of an imminent epidemic.

The Ubu River, which traverses many communities, used to be a fastflowing river, but has become stagnant and polluted. The river at a point on the Asaba-Ughelli is threatening to wash off the road under construction due to the build-up of water upstream.

The Iyase of Ogwashi-Uku, Dr Collins Afunwa, who spoke to Niger Delta Report in Ogwashi-Uku, urged the Federal Government to complete the dam to forestall an impending health calamity.

He confirmed that the only water source in the community has become polluted owing to the construction work at the dam site. He lamented the non-completion of the OgwashiUku Dam after over a decade after.

He said the abandoned water dam is negatively affecting the wellbeing of residents, adding that residents are forced to buy water from commercial water vendors at exorbitant costs.

He blamed the pollution of the Ubu River on the blockade of the river channel to the copper dams used to restrict the flow of water during construction work at the dam, which has been left unopened.

Of the four copper dam constructed down-stream, only one is evacuating water- a situation that may be responsible the restricted flow and attendant water build-up up-steam.

Aside the non-completion of the dam, our findings revealed that another major factor militating against the completion is the uncompleted

•Dr Afunwa

•A view of the dam

•A section of the abandoned dam From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

power substation attached to the dam.

Dr Afunwa expressed doubt over the completion of the project, adding the current state of the dam has made it impossible for the people of the community to have access to the Ubu stream.

He predicted that the Ogwashi-

Uku people would endure more hardship during the dry season owing to the uncompleted dam.

On efforts the community is making to ensure that work resumes, Afunwa appealed to Dr OkonjoIweala to help fast track the completion of the dam, as the community has exhausted all means available to get work to resume on the dam site.

His words: ‘We understood that the Minister for Finance, who hails

from this town, is handling the dam project. So, we have no committee in place that is liaising with government on the dam. We are hoping that the Minister for Finance will use this opportunity to show she hails from this town. I believe strongly that that project has been abandoned.”

A resident, Alphonsus Onianwa, said without potable water supply, he has had to build a concrete pond to store water purchased from com-

mercial water dealer at great cost.

His words: “We have continued to suffer as we have suffered since the past seven years. Many residents fetch water from the streams around while the rich buy water from tankers who get water from boreholes.

“It is cheaper to buy from commercial water tankers who fetch from the polluted Ubu River as it sells for N5000, while commercial tankers who fetch from borehole sell theirs for N7500.For an average family, this stock of water will last only two weeks and as a civil servant you will agree with me that this is expensive.”

Afunwa wondered why the privatisation efforts of the Federal Government have failed to yield the expected dividend for which it was handed to private investors.

He said: “It is indeed sad that despite the purported privatisation of the PHCN things have not changed Besides one is compelled to wonder why the investors of the electricity company are not in a hurry to put things in order so that they can start making profits from their investments. One would have expected they will be in a hurry to do the needful so that they can start making profits, but that is not the case. The whole thing looks suspicious.”

Continuing: “We have done everything humanely possible to ensure that we have electricity in the last seven years and nothing is happening about light. For more than seven years we have never had light and it has been like that and nobody is thinking about getting us light. As far as light is concerned OgwashiUku is not sure of getting light in the next two years, unless government comes to our aid.”

APC govt will implement welfare law, says Ake

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HE member representing Rivers West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake has said the All Progressives Congress(APC) will implement the Social Security Bill just passed into law.

Ake spoke in Erema, his home town in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State when groups from the area paid him solidarity/thank you visit for his efforts in ensuring the passage of the bill.

Senator Ake, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labour, said the bill was meant to cater for the less privileged, the aged and unemployed youths, and as such would reduce insurgency, insecurity and other social vices.

He said the APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Adol Peterside , have the political

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

will to implement the law.

He urged the people to vote massively for APC candidates at all levels.

“I thank you for your solidarity and concern for the bill that was passed by the National Assembly by my committee. The bill as you know is intended to chatter for the less privileged members of our country, and I assure you that the country has everybody in mind and we believe that the in-coming government of the APC will have the mind and all it will take to implement every aspect of that law fully.

“I believe that it will reduce interest in insurgency, restiveness, and draw our children away from all manner of vices that is todaycharacterising parts of our country and the aged ones who have nobody to chatter for them will

have something to depend upon.

“I want to also encourage you to do everything within your powers to ensure that APC from the national to the state, especially Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and Dakuku Peterside win the next month’s elections, because they have all it takes to change things positively in the country and state.” He appealed.

Earlier, spokesman of each of the five groups that visited had extoled Ake’s Representative qualities in the National Assembly especially his thoughtfulness in initiating a bill that will have direct bearing on the indigent members of the society and the jobless youths, with the aim of fighting insecurity in the country.

The groups are Rivers West Progressive Forum, Rivers West students union, Rivers West Youth Assembly, Rivers West Platform and Orashi Youth Movement.

They said posterity would remember him for the act and called

on President Good Luck Jonathan to facilitate its signing into law so it would have full legal backing for implementation.

The Chairman Rivers West Progressive Forum, Kingsman Alex said: “We are happy for your kind feelings for the poor masses of the society which has translated into your sponsoring the Social Security Bill which was passed into law last week.

“We are here to express how proud we are because of your people oriented representation you are giving to this senatorial district.

“The Social Security Act when signed and fully implemented will help in giving hope to the less privileged of the society and unemployed youths, as the monthly stipends that will be given them by the government will go a long way in alleviating their sufferings until they find their feet in a better and sustainable source of living.

“We have no doubt that when this

•Dakuku

law comes on course, the growing trend of insecurity and criminality in the country will reduce to barest minimum. We, therefore, call on the government to ensure the signing of the Act into law does not linger.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

‘There is no godfather in Delta PDP’ W

HAT omen does the emergence of Sen Okowa portend for your party in next month’s general election?

The omens are very good. Okowa is a good candidate. He is well liked and he is known by the people of Delta State. He is has a lot of experience in politics. He has a lot of experience in government too. He understands the state and the people.

He is a progressive politician who wants the best for the people of the state. He wants to build on the best successes of the government of Delta state. He is the candidate to beat, others are pretenders and jokers who have been tried and have failed the people. Unlike his opponents in the other parties, Okowa has never lost an election. Deltans don’t want failures to be elected into the exalted office of governor because they know that it is too risky. PDP with Okowa as flag bearer is going to sweep the election in Delta State.

Your enthusiasm is not shared by a section of the party against the backdrop the deep wounds the primary left on individuals, leaders and the party…

There is no deep wound on individuals. Where is the evidence of that? Don’t mistake smoke as fire.

Right now almost all the PDP aspirants are working with the winner in the party campaign organisation.

Some aspirants are zonal coordinators, some are directors of the PDP campaign organisation; those who are not directly involved have nominees holding strategic positions in the campaign organisation. So right now the deep wounds exist in the imagination of opponents who are praying and wishing to see a PDP in disarray and are in shock that the party has come together and is forging ahead into victory. The party has experienced managers and leaders and has emerged from the primaries stronger and more united.

Its leaders have reached out to everyone and there is acceptance to be together and to ensure victory for the party in all the elections.

What’s your view on the rumoured friction between the incumbent governor and the party’s flag bearer?

You say it is rumour and you know what they say about rumour: it is usually smoke without fire. This rumour is a very good example of that. The oppositions are always imagining things. When what they imagine is not coming to reality, they start spreading rumour. The first person to publicly congratulate Okowa was Governor Uduaghan.

He followed by inviting Okowa to dinner and to wish him well. Within 48 hours, the governor was working with Dr Okowa to reach out to the other aspirants and with the party leaders constituted the campaign council. So are these actions of two people having friction? The answer is no. Since then Governor Uduaghan and Dr Okowa have campaigned together on a number of occasions, with Governor Uduaghan time and time again raising the hand of Okowa and calling on Deltans to support and to vote for him and other PDP candidates. See, the thing with rumour is that it is easy to expose. My advice to the opposition is: don’t wait for imaginary friction, go to the field and campaign. Go to the people and look for votes. Governor Uduaghan and Dr Okowa are working together for victory. There is no friction.

A section of the party’s faithful and Deltans believe that the PDP has been hijacked by certain ele-

‘Our children were dying’

Mr Paul Odili is a member of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign publicity committee. He speaks with SHOLA O’NEIL on alleged hijack of the party, report of tension between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and other issues.

•Mrs Celetina Bassey

•Chief Vincent Eta

•Prophet Godwin Unoh

Continued on pages 29

•Odili

ments, how do you think he can deal with the ‘godfathers’?

There is no hijack. PDP is too big to be hijacked by certain elements.

How is that possible? Again, I don’t think that godfather exists in the party. It is difficult for that to happen. I know a party with godfathers.

Nigerians know that party and PDP is not that party. PDP is a massesbased party and members are free to express themselves and have always expressed themselves. There are regular meetings and consultations. So, who is hijacking who?

Okowa is an experienced party leader and was part of the formation of the party in 1998 and knows all the key players and have a good eye for new members that have joined and are playing leadership role in the party. He understands how PDP works. He is a grassroots man and understands how the party works.

Okowa cannot be hijacked by anyone; he is a listening politician; he knows how to consult and how to reach out. He is man who is committed to create balance in how things work. I know Okowa cannot be part of plot to hijack the party and give undue advantage to anyone or group or godfather as you called it. He understands politics and the ingredients of politics. His success is a product of struggle and he knows that PDP will continue to

‘

Okowa’s governorship is not about Delta north, it is creating a better future for all Deltans, it is about inclusiveness for every part. I know that the silent majority of our people across know this and will give him their votes and support.

grow if it promotes mass appeal and not the agenda of any godfather.

Some people feel that with the capital and several other key appointments, Delta north has more than its fair share of political offices and so are opposed to Okowa’s candidacy. What is your take?

It is true that all things being equal and with God’s help, Delta north under the principle of rotation will produce the next governor of Delta State. It is good that as people of one state that we give each other a sense of belonging and opportunity to be equal stakeholders.

‘

I was pleased and excited when Governor Uduaghan, an Itsekiri from Delta South senatorial district, was elected governor. That is a good thing. Today we are looking at Okowa from Ika in Delta north.

Uduaghan did not govern Delta for Itsekiri. He governed for Deltans irrespective of tribe and I know Okowa is going to do same. Okowa is going to make sure every part of Delta belongs and benefits from appointments, programmes and projects. No part will be left behind.

As a member of state executive council, I know that when decisions are

being taken, there is conscious effort to ensure balance, equity and justice. Okowa served as commissioner of various ministries and SSG, and I am yet to hear that his tenure benefitted one group over another.

So the fear is unfounded. But you know some persons and group will always canvass more. They will look for all kinds of arguments to justify their position, even if that argument does not hold water. Okowa’s governorship is not about Delta north, it is creating a better future for all Deltans. It is about inclusiveness for every part. I know that the silent

majority of our people across know this and will give him their votes and support.

Beyond promising to bring posperity to Deltans, the PDP candidate is yet to roll out programme and roadmap to the ‘prosperity’?

Dr Okowa has an agenda and he has rolled it out. He is promising prosperity, he is promising empowerment, he is promising infrastructure development, he is promising real grass root development, he is promising health insurance for Deltans, he is promising agro-based industrial development. Dr Okowa is promising urban renewal and infrastructure development. He is promising environmental protection and development. He is saying that Delta State is a state with limitless possibilities and that the state with him will see great changes and consolidation. He has a five-point agenda, an improvement over the three point agenda of Uduaghan.

Okowa is saying that there will be strategic wealth creation, there will be urban renewal, he is saying there will be consolidation in education and health, he is promising political and social stability and agricultural transformation. That is his programme and I cannot think at this time think of a better roadmap. There is no doubt the future of Delta State is secured and safe. This man has been tried and tested and he has excelled.

I

NTERIM head of the Village, Prophet Godwin Unoh, a primary school teacher, said: “We appreciate the government for what they have been doing. Before now, the children were dying too much but since the government started this program, the rate of children and even mothers dying has reduced drastically. The government has been sending drugs to the health facilities here and the women have been taking part effectively. We the men also encourage our women to participate as they are doing.

“Because of how happy we feel about the attention of government, we participated effectively in the health week hat recently finished, which also helped our women and children a lot. Many sicknesses our children used to have, they are no

•Chief Emmanuel Igban

•Mrs Promise Egwor

longer having it now. At the beginning people seemed not to be interested but as they started seeing positive results, they are now very enthusiastic about proper medical healthcare.”

At Ichom Abayom village, another nursing mother, Promise Egwor, said: “We feel very happy for the free health services. We have been receiving assistance which we cannot pay for. For example some days ago my baby had serious cough and catarrh and when I carried him to the health centre using the child and maternal care week, he was given medicine and I thank God he is now very fine.

When the health facility here cannot handle the problem, they transfer it to a bigger hospital in Akpet for free.

We really thank them, but i just want to say that we still need more drugs, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and medical assistance.”

At Abrijang Abayom Village, the Village Head, Chief Vincent Eta was also grateful about the situation.

He said: “We encourage the women to assess these healthcare services. One of my grandchildren defecated worm just the other day and I know it is because he was carried to the health centre. Before now we had to go to Ebonyi or Itigidi for healthcare but now they have brought it close.

“Death is something that is in God’s hands. A small child, an old man, an adult, in fact anybody can die at any time, but I must say there has been a lot of improvement in this village as it concerns the lives of children. The children are no longer dying as before. A disease like polio is no longer around us, just as many other diseases. We are grateful but we need more.”

Village Head of Abaribara Em-

manuel Ilem Igban also sought more healthcare assistance.

He begged government to do something about construct a road that would make the village more assessable and encourage health workers to come to their domain.

“We thank the government and those supporting them for the assistance they have been giving us.

Now we have health centres close to us and our women and children have been going there, the cases of death have reduced so much. But please we need the roads because sometimes if the health centre here cannot handle a very serious case and we are transferring the patient to a bigger hospital in the town, the person may die on the way because there is no good road to take the person there in time. You have seen how you came here yourself. It is not easy.”

Rivers NBA begins voters’ sensitisation awareness

T

HE Nigerian Bar Association, Isiokpo branch in Ikwerre Local government of Rivers State has kicked off voters sensitisation exercise to educate the people especially the youths on how to vote wisely.

The campaign which started on Monday at the palace of the paramount ruler of Emohua, HRM, Eze V.C.D Okor was attended by traditional rulers, chiefs, clan heads,

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

women and youths of the area.

Educating the voters, the chairman of Nigerian Bar association Isiokpo branch Mr. Promise Wobo Iwezor said the sensitization campaign came as a result of the task given to all branches of NBA by the National president, Augustine Alege.

Iwezor said their mission is to sen-

sitize end mobilize the people of area on election and voting matters to promote peace and orderliness during the February general election.

He thanked the paramount ruler of Emohua for given them the opportunity to address his subjects, adding their effort would contribute to the success of the 2015 general election.

“From today we have started the voters’ sensitization awareness; thank

God we started from the palace. The objective is to create voters awareness with believe that we will achieve desired result.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure crisis free election; the awareness campaign is going down to the grassroots. Of course, what we are doing is in line with NBA’s agreement at the end of her National workshop in Abuja.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Ogoni indigenous government to facilitate the implementation of UNEP report

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HE Ogoni people, under the auspices of Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA), have declared an indigenous government led by the chairman of Ogoni Governor’s forum, Hon. Lipnee Barika Lawrence. The Ogoni government promised to fight for the implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

The government said their structure runs from the village council to the districts and to the province, adding that they got their legal backing from UN declaration of rights of indigenous government.

It would be recalled that the call for the implementation UNEP report have generated much controversy leading to different political parties pledging support to the Ogoni people and promising to ensure the implementation of the report.

The OCIA made up of the eight Ogoni indigenous governors led by its chairman of Ogoni Governor’s forum, Hon. Lipnee Barika Lawrence said Ogoni people are tired of promises from the political class. He noted that the plight of Ogoni people would no longer be politicised but an adequate action would be taken to ensure that UNEP report is implemented.

While embarking on its first tour to the eight provinces in Ogoni after their inauguration Lipnee said: “After our inauguration as the governor of the eight Ogoni provinces we decided to make this familiarization tour for our people to know what is happening. The struggle of this government has a great emphasis for the execution of the UNEP report. Days are gone when politicians will be coming to Ogioni to use our polluted environment as a campaign to attract vote from Ogoni people.

“The Ogoni government is on course. Ogonis have elected their governors from the eight provinces.

We have come to show ourselves.

No one should be afraid of abandonment. We are with our people.

If we are not in place, the police would have arrested us as we are moving with siren. Federal Government is aware of our existence and activities. We call on all the Ogoni

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

people to accept our government which is founded on the UN declaration of rights of the indigenous people to have their indigenous government. That is our legal backing.”

The paramount ruler of Zaakpo community in Bori Province, Chief Sampson Adamugbo, while responding after appeasing the gods for the success of the government, said: “I am happy with the message brought to me today. But I plead that it should be for the interest of Ogoni people else I will not be happy. The things you told me should be real and should not turn out to be false. I pray God’s grace as you continue in this journey.”

Joseph Kio, a youth leader in Bori who spoke for the youths of Bori Province said: “We align ourselves with the vision of our hero, KenSaro Wiwa. We support the struggle of realizing his dreams. We will not fold our hands and watch our oil and efforts waste.”

Prince Lebosi Eguru who spoke for his father, the king of Luubara, King Dr M S H Eguru, the Gbenemene Kenkana Kingdom encouraged OCIA to be law-abiding in all their activities.

“Your conducts should be peaceful. It should not involve crisis that may bring Ogoni to be deserted. We want to grow to the point of talking to international communities. The King is rightly behind you in the struggle.” He said Hon Dumade Bernard Budam, the Chief of Staff and the Deputy leader Ogoni Legislative Assembly, said that Ogoni has fulfilled all that it entails in the long term struggle for freedom and justice.

In his words: “I believe that Ogoni has achieved the efforts of Wiwa.

We have evoked the United Nation’s declaration of the rights of the indigenous people. We thank President Jonathan for giving us audience because he loves the Ogoni people. If he does not love us he would not have allowed us parade an indigenous government under him. So I believe he loves us and we appreciate him “We have made several achieve-

ments in course of this indigenous authority. This is because we have structures on ground. The structure runs from the village council to the district, district to province. We are seriously working towards the implementation of the UNEP report in Ogoniland. This government stands on horticulture, that is, agriculture and homeland security for the indigenous Ogoni people.

“There is no Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) again in Ogoni land.

What we have now is Ogoni indigenous government. MOSOP ceased to be a body after the 22nd Ogoni Day anniversary. This is because what MOSOP was established for has been actualised. MOSOP was formed to fight for the freedom of the Ogoni people for justice and for self-government and fair play.

“Now MOSOP has evoked the UN declaration of the right of indigenes, which is what gave us this right today. There is nothing like MOSOP again in Ogoni. If anybody is talking about MOSOP, it is for the person’s self-gain and interest. The nine affiliates of MOSOP stand as the NGOs that will work with international NGOs to help the government grow. We now have Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority, government of the Ogoni people.”

•Chief Sampson Adamugbo pouring libation for the success of the Ogoni Indigenous Authority

Rotary sets up accident victim trust Funds in Rivers

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HE Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, District 9140 says it has set up an accident Trust Fund to help road accident victims get prompt attention when rushed to hospital.

The district President, Frank Eni disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt the state capital yesterday to kick-off programme to mark 50 years of the club in Port Harcourt.

Eni said the Fund which was a joint programme with members of the state Road Transport Workers Union and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), where the programme is running is meant to reduce the number of deaths by road accident in the state.

He said the club also provided some essential needs for those in admission in the hospital, especially at the hospital’s emergency ward.

The President said the programme has helped in the survival of many accident victims in the state since it began several years ago; also said, it is one of the numerous humanitarian programmes the club undertakes in its efforts to assist humanity.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

“The programme was a response to the frequent deaths of accident victims in the hospital because of lack of emergence drugs and materials.

“We have also donated oxygen masks and incubators to Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) to provide life support for children born underweight.

“To address the issue of infant mortality, the club procured Bilirubinmeter for Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH). Bilirubinmeter measures the bilirin, one of the causes of infant mortality in children.

“To also address the difficulties associated with the treatment of ear, nose and throat ailments, the club donated Adenotensiloctomy set to the ENT department”.

“In furtherance of its drive in health awareness campaigns, Eni stressed that the club has also intensified public awareness on the causes of “breast cancer; cervical cancer; prostate cancer;

•Lawrence flanked by an Ogoni security official

diabetes; sickle cell anaemia and maternal health.” Among others He also enumerated the various efforts of the club in partnership with the governments to ensure Polio Myelitis is completely eradicated in Nigeria.

“Our members have on a number of occasions joined the medical team of the state government to visit rural areas to immunise children against polio as well as sensitise the populace on the need to get our children immunised”.

The district governor, His Royal Magesty, HRM, Noble Eshemitan, enjoined members to strive to give their very best to the growth and development of the club in the state.

He admitted that the inability of the club to openly canvass for membership was a major challenge because the norm in rotary is for members to bring/ invite persons to join and not for a prospective member applying for admission personally.

According to him, the obvious laziness of existing members is responsible for the slow growth of the club.

‘Make health care affordable to Nigerians’ From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

P

ROMOTERS of the Invitro-Fertility (IVF) technology, also known as testtube babies, have called on governments to make healthcare at all levels affordably to the citizenry.

Doctors Preye Fiepai and Eli Shikari, Gynaecologists made the call at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Bridge Clinic-an IVF centre, held in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital recently.

The duo held that assisted conception remains the only solution to the increasing problem of infertility among couples, but regretted that high cost of accessing the process is a challenge to many Nigerian families.

They appealed to governments at all levels, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and organized Private bodies to rally around these families by helping in subsidizing the cost of this treatment the same way they gave support to Ebola and HIV/AIDS, patients to overcome their challenge.

Fiepai noted that including IVF treatment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would go a long way in achieving this.

He said, “We hope that health care in Nigeria will be made more affordable to those who require it, especially in the area of assisted fertility.

“This is because one of the main challenges people face is the cost of receiving care. Beyond assisted conception, not many people are able to afford services in private clinics, and unfortunately the public health system is not able to meet a lot of our needs.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), is one way that we can achieve this and we hope that as the years go on, the Scheme will be open to provide services to those who are unable to pay from their pockets.

“In most civilized countries nobody pays out of pocket for this kind of services, you can only do so if you have a pull from which money is provided.”

In his view, Shikari called for increased number of centres and clinics where the treatment could be accessed in the country as in parts of other African countries.

“Some of the indications for IVF treatment to include, women who experience unexplained infertility, those that suffer both tubal blockages, those men that suffer low sperm count among others.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

LEEP was at my door in Lagos when I first stumbled on the documentary. I saw it a second time in a hotel room in Port Harcourt, the city where President Goodluck Jonathan, whom I will address as Uncle Jona after now, spent a chunk of his life.

His three degrees were earned in this city.

On the second occasion of seeing the documentary, I saw it from the beginning and like it did the first time, it gave me a feeling that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, was brutish as a Head of State. But somehow, I also felt this was a piece of propaganda from Uncle Jona’s team to gain some political mileage.

In the documentary, Buhari was accused of being behind Gloria Okon’s disappearance. Ms Okon was believed to have some government secret. He was also accused of aiding the noninvestigation of the “56 suitcases full of foreign currencies” allegedly imported by a Northern traditional ruler. There were several other ones.

Many of these claims, time and researches have shown, are just deliberate lies told to rev up Uncle Jona’s campaign. Ms Okon’s matter, for instance, happened under the Ibrahim Babangida regime, which overthrew Buhari.

The documentary also went off decency track by using Buhari’s personal calamities, such as the deaths of his first wife and daughter, to score cheap points.

Uncle Jona, the Otuoke-born ex-deputy governor, ex-governor, ex-vice president, ex-acting president and president, has been in power at the centre for six years. He is seeking re-election for another four years and is facing the toughest challenge of his life. Two of his six years were inherited from the late Umaru Yar’Adua, who died in office.

Until now, things have always come easy for Uncle Jona. Luck has always done it. Now things are different, which explains the agitation in his camp and the resort to obvious lies and threats to see him back in office.

What really baffles me is the feeling in Uncle Jona’s camp that if he loses, it is Southsouth that has lost. I ask: what has Southsouth gained from Uncle Jona in the last six years? Uncle Jona has explained his unsatisfactory showing in the Southsouth away on the excuse that he is the President of Nigeria and not Niger Delta. Good talk. This is why ex-Niger Delta militants, especially Tompolo and Alhaji Muhahid AsariDokubo, should stop telling us that the country will boil if Uncle Jona loses. So, are they telling us that Uncle Jonathan should just stroll back to power? Then where is democracy?

Whoever loses in a free and fair poll should accept the will of the people. That is what democracy is all about.

Uncle Jona is not Ijaw president, even though he is Ijaw. He is not Niger Delta president, even though he comes from the Niger Delta. He is not Southsouth president, even though his

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Uncle Jona is not Ijaw president

‘

Nigerians have a choice between two candidates, Uncle Jona and Buhari. The others are spectators. Whoever Nigerians choose is their choice and should be allowed to stand. If they choose Uncle Jona, so be it.

If they choose Buhari, so be it also •Jonathan

home state of Bayelsa falls within this geo-political zone. He is president of Nigeria, which is made up of 36 states. Of these states, only six— Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River— are in the Southsouth. The other 30 states, for goodness sake, have a right to decide who rules them.

Asari confuses me at times. One moment he is hitting at the president, the other he is supporting him and for no reason other than the fact that he is from the Niger Delta, where the bulk of the country’s current wealth comes from. A few instances will suffice here.

This is my first dish as prepared by Asari: “Jonathan is surroundered by very greedy people who are only in the presidency to enrich themselves at the expense of Goodluck himself.

If we don’t talk and we continue to brush it aside, tomorrow we will be blamed; and people will say: ‘Mujahid Asari-Dokubo was

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘

The Social Security Act when signed and fully implemented will help in giving hope to the less privileged of the society and unemployed youths, as the monthly stipends that will be given them by the government will go a long way in alleviating their sufferings until they find their feet in a better

‘

––– Senator Wilson Ake

‘

around when Goodluck Jonathan was president, and he didn’t talk.’ Then I will be an accomplice and accessory after the fact.

“First, there was no need for Goodluck Jonathan to disagree with Olusegun Obasanjo.

I don’t like Obasanjo, I don’t like his face, I hate him, but he was instrumental in bringing Goodluck Jonathan to power.

“And the greedy people around Jonathan have not managed him enough, to the extent that they will allow Jonathan to disagree with Obasanjo openly. And if you check, all the people who supported Goodluck Jonathan and fought to bring him to power have openly disagreed with him.”

Hear Asari last month: “For every action, there will be an opposite and equal reaction. I knew that the signing of the accord was useless and that the president subjected himself to sign such an accord… for me, it was out of place for

a president and commander in chief of the armed forces of a country. But the president is a humble person. He does things that even marvel some of us and make us sometimes to be very angry. To be frank, I was very angry on that day they were signing it.

“The president has sworn to protect the lives of every Nigerian. So, why would he after taking a constitutional oath subject himself to another oath? So what happened in Katsina is not a surprise. But don’t be surprised. We are putting the world on notice that they have started first. When we reply, let no body talk because we are going to reply. We did not sign any accord with them. They did not sign. They are talking about election violence now because they know that other people will respond. Before, they had the monopoly of violence, so nobody cared who died. Our lives were not valuable and they had all the latitude to wreck havoc and did what they liked.

But the game has changed. Be bold enough to tell them that game has changed.

“If they slice our throat, we are going to slice your throat. They stoned the president, you will hear from us. That’s the answer. My concern is what happens after the election because we know they will do what they are known to do every time. But this time, they will cry. So, all Igbo people who are there, if you don’t come back home and you want to continue to be there and something happens to you, there is nobody to be blamed. If you have a child who is a youth corper and you allow him to be there, you will not hold anybody responsible.”

Last month too, he lambasted Uncle Jona for visiting former President Olusegun Obasanjo instead of summoning him to Abuja and getting him arrested. This is the same Obasanjo Asari berated Uncle Jona for. He even claimed Uncle Jona’s ingratitude to Obasanjo would cost him re-election.

I need to serve you another dish from Asari: “2015 Goodluck Jonathan will win; in whatever way they want him, he will win. I am not afraid of anybody. My confidence is that he has already won.” So, why threaten violence when you are sure he will win?

My final take: In another eight days, Nigerians, not just Niger Deltans, will elect their leader. Majority will have their way and the minority will have their say in this crucial process. We can only elect one person. Anything other than this will be anarchy, which will not augur well for us all. From the look of things, Nigerians have a choice between two candidates, Uncle Jona and Buhari. The others are spectators. Whoever Nigerians choose is their choice and should be allowed to stand. If they choose Uncle Jona, so be it. If they choose Buhari, so be it also. This is the rule of the ballot and not the rule of the bullet. The people’s will must prevail and Nigeria must come first.

BY NICHOLAS KALU, CALABAR

The absentee candidate in Cross River

W

HERE is Dr (Mrs) Rose Oko? That is the question on the lips of the average politically aware person from the northern senatorial district of Cross River State.

The northern senatorial district consists of Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Bekwarra and Obanliku local government areas. Oko is the representative of the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. She picked the ticket as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the district in the party primary elections in what many from the area described as controversial.

Beyond the feeling that she was imposed on them by the establishment against their wishes, also worrisome to the people has been that she has not been sighted in public for months.

Rumourmills have it that she is ill and receiving treatment in a hospital abroad even before the primary elections in which she emerged winner.

She emerged in a dramatic manner because many people thought the candidate would be any of these men: Speaker of the House of Assembly Larry Odey; Commissioner for Local Government, Peter Ojie and former Commissioner for Environment, Julius Okputu who were vying for the position. When the primary elections were almost concluded, word came from “above” that everybody should step down and she be installed as candidate even when she was believed not to be in good condition.

Okputu has moved to the Labour Party to realise his ambition.

Presently, there is tension within the PDP over the matter as some stakeholders have demanded for her to be replaced immediately. The stakeholders comprising of some members of elders/caucus committee, some wards, local government officers, youths as well as some rights groups have argued that it is unacceptable for the ruling party to field a candidate that is indisposed and is receiving treatment abroad for an undisclosed ailment.

In the campaign tours of the party moving round the state, she has been noticeably absent.

When campaigns for her was carried it in her district, it was done with her posters.

One of the party’s stakeholders, Elder Johnson Agba Johnson, told reporters: “It has become imperative to raise the alarm over the health challenges facing our senatorial flag bearer, Dr. Rose Oko, and immediately seek for her replacement at this crucial stage.”

Johnson, a retried public servant, wondered what the rationale was for the PDP to choose a candidate its leaders know was faced with a serious health issue, adding that it is an insult on the sensibilities of the people to insist that she is the best material at the moment.

He said: “We have come to a stage where we all have to speak up against what is bad and the treatment meted out on us. In the 2011 election when Dr. Oko won PDP primaries into the House of Representatives for Ogoja/Yala, she was on sick bed and later won in the general elections; in the last December primary again, she still won from sick bed against all protestations from party

members.

“But the problem is not winning by proxy, but the outright impunity by the party leadership and the fate of our daughter who is critically ill and is receiving treatment. Besides, she has not shown face in all party rallies and meetings held so far in the Northern district, thereby creating rooms for rumour mongers.”

Johnson further said if the party refused to heed to the yearning of the zone to change their senatorial candidate, “then we have no option than to use our PVCs in protest against their highhandedness. But we don’t want our party to lose to opposition and that is why we are expressing our concern through this medium.”

Recently rumours have been strong that she had passed but that it was being kept a secret by the establishment.

A youth leader, Comrade Emmanuel Agbe Abeng said: “How can you give us a candidate that most of us who are youths don’t even know nor have ever seen? ” But the state chairman of the PDP, Ntufam John Okon, has dispelled such rumours.

He said: “I can tell you that Hon. Rose Oko is in London and I have spoken with her. So, she is not dead though she had a successful treatment and she is now in London recuperating. Besides, I can assure you that she will win her election.”

An indigene of Yala Local Government Area Emmanuel Ogar, suggested: “It is a simple matter. She should just make a public appearance to dispel all doubts.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

•Continued on page 40

37

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

NGO pays exam fees for 224 candidates ‘ A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Chinedu Ogah Foundation has taken the pressure off 184 secondary school pupils in Item Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The organisation offset their West African Senior School Certificate Exam fees totaling N2m.

He also promised to pay the fees of 97 Primary Six pupils of Community Primary School in the community who will sit the 2015 Common Entrance exam.

The chairman and chief executive of the foundation, Comrade Chinedu Ogah disbursed the funds to the benefiting students when he visited the school.

Addressing the benefiting students, staff and principal of the school, Ogah said the resolve to settle the fees of the students was borne out of the determination and commitment to develop the youths who are the future of tomorrow and deserves empowerment.

Ogah said, “The youths are the future leaders of tomorrow; that is why the NGO embarked on the payment of WASC fees to the students, and to assist in the academic pursuits of students in his community by improving the standard of education in the area,” he reiterated.

He stated that the foundation has

The youths are the future leaders of tomorrow; that is why the NGO embarked on the payment of WASC fees to the students, and to assist in the academic pursuits of students in his community by improving the standard of education in the area

,

•The benefitting pupils From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

granted scholarship to undergraduates studying various courses in Nigerian universities across the country, in addition to construction of health centers and provision of electricity and roads to the community.

“We also attracted the construction of the classroom block in the school, so that the students can study in a conducive atmosphere.

The foundation regularly procures school uniforms for all the students in the school every year as well as text books” He called on the students to take their studies as they have no excuse

anymore to fail even as he promised to give university scholarship to students who pass the exams.

Comrade Ogah announced that arrangements have been concluded to construct staff quarters for staff of unity secondary schools.

Reacting to the development, the principal of the school, Mrs Mary Nweke commended the foundation

for her philanthropic gesture to the school, assuring that the school will live up to expectation by bequeathing academic excellence to the students.

It would be recalled that the foundation had over the years secured employment to over 315 graduates from the community in federal parastatals, courtesy of the Chinedu Ogah Foundation in addition to scholarships to hundreds of students across the state.

‘Obiano ‘ has started well’

•Continued from page 28

Moreover, defenders of Boko Haram before now told the world that the insurgency was fuelled by poverty and bad governance and not Islamic extremism, but events have proved them to be liars. What has poverty to do with the killing of innocent school children? It cannot explain the abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of some 200 girls in Chibok, the declaration of caliphate at Mubi and Gwoza. It is high time that the international community saw Boko Haram as examples of Islamic extremism.

We believe that trouncing Boko Haram can’t be achieved overnight.

It calls for patience, prayers and cooperation of every Nigerian. Boko Haram is a criminal enterprise which must be ruthlessly crushed at the earliest opportunity.

We believe that trouncing Boko Haram can’t be achieved overnight.

It calls for patience, prayers and cooperation of every Nigerian.

Boko Haram is a criminal enterprise which must be ruthlessly crushed at the earliest opportunity

,

We appeal to Nigerians of goodwill and conscience irrespective of their tribe and religious affiliation to rise to these challenges and cooperate with the government to win the battle against terrorism.

We call upon our President

Jonathan Goodluck to invoke his powers as the President of this country on this matter. The activities of Boko haram are now a very big embarrassment to our county.

The integrity of Nigeria is at stake.

The sovereignty of Nigeria is be-

ing challenged by the declaration of a caliphate at Mubi. Boko Hararn must be stopped now.

On the elections It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our love for our country by electing credible leaders for the country. As things unfold daily, one is worried because the country is being heated up. The political rascality with impunity, political maneuvering, selfishness, greed and wickedness being exhibited by our politicians are issues of great concern. Politicians should be reminded again that power belongs to God. It is the right of the electorate to elect their leaders. We advise our politicians to be humble, sincere and play the game according to the rule. Let things be done decently and in order.

We encourage our people to vote for credible and trusted candidates and not voting necessarily on party basis. We must remember these scriptures “righteousness exalt a nation but sin is a reproach” (Prov.

14:34). “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice but when the wicked man rules, the people groan” (Prov. 29:2) We call upon the Church of God in Nigeria to pray God to give us leaders after His heart. However, the role of the church should not be limited to prayers; Christians should also be involved in the process. The church should engage in enlightenment campaigns, providing information through the mass media, social media to educate our people, on why we must vote, the kinds of people to be voted and how to defend our votes.

We call on INEC to be firm and sincere in their conduct and judgment and appeal to the police and other security agencies to double their efforts to see that the nation does not witness any violence before, during and after the election.

On Ebonyi •Ohafia Cultural Troope performing during the commissioning of a new plant by Nigeria Breweries Plc

We commend Ebonyi State Gov-

•Governor Obiano ernor Chief Martin Elechi, his wife, Mrs Josephine Elechi for their efforts on the ongoing Ochudo City, Oferekpe Water Project, the international market and the unity bridges across the state but we are yet to see the Ebonyi State of our founding fathers’ dream. Poverty is on the increase, majority of our roads are bad.

On the governor the state needs We must state categorically that the governor we need must be a God-fearing man, a dynamic and visionary man with great foresight of what is needed to be done, man with a burden and great concern on the state of affairs in the state, a well-informed and experienced man who has excelled with good testimonies in his career or civil service, a servant-leader, a man with onus to provoke the economic viability of the state, through profitable investment, youth empowerment and creation of enabling environment for business, a prudent manager, a listening governor, an unprejudiced leader that will involve all the interest groups and sections in the state, a focused man, a man with a well articulated, road map to the greatness of Ebonyi State, a man with a stable family record, a selfless and contented person, a man of his word and not a stooge.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia electorate urged to ‘ candidates vote credible

A

BIA South Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chris Nkwonta has urged voters in the state to cast their ballot only for credible people with a good record.

Nkwonta, who was speaking when members of the Agalaba Youth Movement paid him a courtesy visit his country home, Akwete in Ukwa East Council, warned that if the people failed to vote in the right candidates, they would continue to elect those who have no business occupying political offices.

“We must be careful in the quality of people we elect to represent us this time around. We need to elect the right people.

They have started calling for your votes.

Last week, I went to a campaign tour of Ibeme autonomous community in Obingwa local government. I discovered that the community has no electricity. I was moved and started the process of assisting them to get electricity. It was then that the PDP heard what I have done and also came in to assist the community.

“The question is, why must Chris Nkwonta, a private person from Akwete in Ukwa East Local Government, be the one to discover that Ibeme, a community in a local government that produced a senator, has no electricity? It tells a lot about the type of representation we have had in the last eight years. If there has been no change in the last 8 years, what is the assurance that there will be change if we give them another four years?”

The APGA senatorial candidate buttressing the need for credible candidates in various political positions from the local government to the federal level called for the election of people who have track records of performance into political of-

We must be careful in the quality of people we elect to represent us this time around. We need to elect the right people.

They have started calling for your votes. Last week, I went to a campaign tour of Ibeme autonomous community in Obingwa local government. I discovered that the community has no electricity

,

•Anambra youths protesting against multiple candidacy at INEC headquarters, Awka

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

fices to reduce the suffering of the masses.

“If I have empowered many 2000 people through skill acquisition and tertiary education scholarships within my personal capacity, I will do more if I’m elected as a senator. We can’t continue like this. Cast and defend your votes, you won’t be disappointed. “ In his address, Vice chairman of the Agalaba Youth Movement, Anthony Nnadozie said the Association accessed all the candidates seeking the senatorial seat and discovered that Nkwonta has the best credentials to represent the zone in 2015.

According to him, “Abia South needs change and would rejoice with a more grassroots oriented representative like Chris Nkwonta in 2015.”

•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha with Senator Offia Nwali, a chieftain of Ohaneze Ndigbo

•The All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate in Enugu State, Mr. Okey Ezea (second left); his Deputy, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku (left); the state chairman of the party and Enugu East senatorial candidate, Dr. Ben Nwoye (second right) and Hon. Mohammed Shamsuddeen Abdulahi, a member of the party, during a campaign tour of Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

•Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime (second right), with the state Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (third left); his running mate, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; state chairman of the PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa (left), and the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo at Udi Local Government Secretariat for a campaign rally

•Guests at the flag-off of the plant

•Mr Chinedu Ogah, who paid school fees for pupils in an Ebonyi State school, hands out the cash to the pupils

GUESTS AT THE FLAG-OFF OF THE PLANT

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

40

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

NBL inaugurates plant in Aba T

HE Nigeria Breweries Plc has launched an N18b plant in Aba, Abia State’s commercial nerve.

On hand to witness it were Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, and the state governor Theodore Oji, among other dignitaries.

President Jonathan commended the company on the laudable project, saying its effort could not be taken away from what contributed to its listing as one of the top100 firms in Nigeria in 2014.

“The project is also a reflection of our future as a nation,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Orji said that the project showed a perfect partnership between the government and private investors owing to the tangible achievement of his administration in fighting insecurity in the state.

He enjoined the people of the state to continue to support the company as the new plant will enhance direct and indirect employment, increase revenue generation to local, state and federal governments, as well as raise the standard of living of the people.

The chairman of the company, Chief Kola Jamodu, stated that the expansion project reflected the

From Sunny Nwankwo and Preciuos Dikewoha

firm’s confidence, not only in Abia but the entire Southeast as an investment destination.

He said, “Our company started business in 1946 in Lagos as Nigeria’s first brewing company.

In 1949, the first bottle of Star beer was produced. Aba Brewery was commissioned in 1957 and today starts another milestone in our company’s socio-economic developmental journey with Eastern Nigeria.”

He added that over the years the company has been very active in supporting Nigeria’s national development aspirations as exemplified by its continuous identification and response to major challenges confronting the nation through corporate social investments, especially in the areas of education, environment, water, youth empowerment, talent development and sports, among others.

The Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde pointed out that as Nigeria’s leading brewing company, the plant’s takeoff

•The new plant

demonstrated NBL’s commitment to ‘Winning with Nigeria’ through “our investments, our footprint, our people and our socio-economic impact. This journey which commenced with the registration of our company in 1946 continues today with a footprint of 11 breweries and two malting plants strategically

spread out across Nigeria.”

While thanking Governor Orji for providing the enabling environment for their engineers and workers throughout the building project, the NBL chiefs expressed happiness that there were no accidents or loss of personnel while the work lasted.

They said the plant would cre-

‘

Over the years the company has been very active in supporting Nigeria’s national development aspirations as exemplified by its continuous identification and response to major challenges confronting the nation through corporate social investments, especially in the areas of education, environment, water, youth empowerment, talent development and sports, among others

,

D

ESPITE assurances from Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda that non-indigenous residents of state were safe, some Igbo living in various parts of north continued relocating to their home states, fearing post-election crisis.

Some of the returnees, who spoke with our reporter blamed the situation on their security concerns, saying they would not return to the north until after May 29.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Mr. Gilbert, said, “Coming down home (Aba) is like running to heaven. The situation is so tense where I stay in the north unlike what is obtainable here. You don’t know who to suspect or not.

It is true that food is cheaper there than what you get here. However, it is good for someone to be safe and hungry than eating well and yet feel insecure.”

•From left: Managing Director, NB Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Governor Theodore Orji and the Chairman Nigerian Breweries

‘No going ‘ back to North’ From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Gilbert, who spent almost his entire life in the North, said he hoped to return after May 29 when the winner of the presidential poll would have been inaugurated.

Another returnee respondent, Mrs. Ngozi Chika said she was would not be going back until the 2015 election was over.

Chika called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security organisations and other relevant agencies to ensure that the February 14 and 28 elections were conducted to reflect people’s wish. She also appealed to politicians to work together in the

The situation is so tense where I stay in the north unlike what is obtainable here. You don’t know who to suspect or not. It is true that food is cheaper there than what you get here. However, it is good for someone to be safe and hungry than eating well and yet feel insecure

,

interest of the country.

“If these politicians that claim to be seeking for various elective positions are doing so in the interest of their respective local governments, states and the country at

large, there won’t be any need for anticipated electoral violence, but the way things are going right now, it is not in the interest of citizens like us.

“And for me, a widow, I would

ate jobs and increase revenue generation across the tiers of government.

Vervelde said, “We brewed our first bottle of Star in 1949 in Lagos but it was very quickly clear to the founding fathers of Nigerian Breweries that we needed to expand our operational footprint around the country. It is for this reason that the Aba Brewery holds a very special place in our hearts because it was our very first Brewery built outside Lagos and perhaps it was the success of Aba that sharpened our corporate courage to push further which culminates in today’s enviable spread that enables us to serve diverse consumer needs across the country with our wellloved brands.

Jamodu said, “Our socio economic impact report shows that in 2013 alone, the value added

by Nigerian Breweries to the Nigerian Economy stood at N292 billion value added or 0.4 per cent of GDP. N98billion or 0.1per cent of GDP out of this stood as direct support. Our company supported 279,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

Aganga who said that the citing of the project in Abia State has made the state fit and open for investment, commended brewing multi-national company for sourcing about 50% of their raw materials locally stated that such action has encouraged Nigerian farmers to grow in their businesses.

not want to lose my children or even my relations and that was why I left the north because of the tension there. I can only go back after the election. This is always the situation here especially during electioneering period. I initially didn’t want to come back because of my business. I sent my children home during the December period, but after a lot of pressure from my people and the place that I am married to I had no option but to listen to them even when my business as I am talking to you is suffering,” she said It was also observed at various motor parks in Aba that the number of transporters who ply the northern routes has dropped. They attributed this to the uncertainty surrounding the February election.

One of them, who spoke anonymously, said that insecurity challenges have affected patronage.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

41

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FOUR-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

‘No marriage is perfect’ •The Couples

The wedding reception of Taiwo and Kehinde Aderemi, daughters of a lawyer, Prince Johnson Adeyemi Aderemi of Efon Alaye in Ekiti State was held last Saturday at Yard 158 Events Arena in Oregun, Lagos.

OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

T

AIWO Adedoyin and Kehinde Adeyinka, the twin daughters of a lawyer, Prince Johnson Adeyemi Aderemi were a beauty to behold. They beamed with smiles all through the day in their white flowing dresses. Their husbands-Adebayo Smith and Adewale Adebiyi- were charming in navy blue suit, white shirt, with red bow tie and flower rose. It was their wedding day.

Some family members and friends came to share in their joy. Many exchanged pleasantries and took photographs before the ceremony began.

It was more like a reunion for members of the three families.

Yard 158 Events Arena on Kudirat Abiola Way in Oregun, Lagos was tastefully decorated in white and yellow, matching the colours of the covers of chairs set around tables. Each table had a gold flower vase with red and green flowers on it.

Aristotle Melody Band electrified the hall with its sonorous songs.

The couples’ parents were called into the hall one after the other. They entered in company of family mem-

bers and friends, dancing to the music of a live band.

The couples came in next. They were accompanied by friends, family members and the bridal trains.

The couple’s could not hide their joy as they danced to the popular Shoki song by Lil Kesh.

Chairman on the occasion Aare Kunle Olajide congratulated the couple and their parents.

The wife of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, Chief Tayo Abiola, supervised the cutting of the cake. There were two cakes. The white three-step cakes were designed with orange flowers.

Chief Abiola told the couples to love, learn to know themselves and say “sorry” when the need arises.

Former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro congratulated the couples. He said he was glad to be a part of the family.

Father of the day and former Osun State governor, Prince Oyinlola Olagunsoye, told the couples to make the Lord the head of their homes.

“They must stay and pray together, face the challenges of life together

•Prince Oyinlola (left) and Prince Kazeem Adio

and in that way they will overcome every other difficulty of life which they will encounter as they go along this marital life,” he said.

Mr Gabriel Ayoola Odeyemi, stood for the late father of Adewale Adebiyi, who got married to Kehinde. Odeyemi told the couple that with love and endurance, their marriage would grow.

The father of Adebayo Smith, Mr Alexander Smith, former Head of Transport Department, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), whose son married Taiwo told the couple that they have built a bridge among the three families that must not collapse.

“You must protect the bridge. In the midst of challenges in marriage, ensure you are close to God and God will lead you,” he said.

Adewale’s mother Mrs Juliana Adebiyi, said she was glad to see her son marry. She told the couple to be one and steadfast, praying that the marriage would yield fruits.

Prince Aderemi told his daughters and their grooms to tolerate themselves.

He said: “No marriage is perfect but with tolerance, you can love, avoid malice, you will be able to fore see and perceive what your partner is likely to do.

The couples said it was their hap-

piest day.

Kehinde, a postgraduate student of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), said she felt on top of the world.

The Chemistry graduate from University of Ado-Ekiti described her husband, Adewale, as her best friend, adding that he is kind, caring and loving.

Adewale described Kehinde as a loving woman, gentle, excellent, nice, good partner, exciting and simple.

Adewale, who hails from Osun State works with the Department of State Services in Abuja.

Taiwo, who has the same academic qualification as her twin sister, said she is excited and fulfilled. She said her husband, Adebayo is funny and makes her laugh all the time. She said he is a motivational speaker, inspiring and positive in everything he does.

Her husband, Adebayo, said he is the happiest man on earth, to have found his missing rib.

Adebayo said his wife is beautiful saying his love for her, is indrescribable.

“I was attracted to her the first day I saw her and I had to force myself to borrow a pen from her; that was the first way I got her attention, we kept talking and we are here now, and we say thank God,” he said.

A graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adebayo is a Senior Chemical Engineer at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. He hails from Lagos State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

42

SOCIETY ‘NO MARRIAGE IS PERFECT’

•Bride’s Parent, Mr Aderemi and his wife, Titi

•Mr Odeyemi and Mrs Adebiyi

•Mrs Abiola (left) and Dr Olajide

•Mr Smith

•Mrs Bolajoko Smith PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ZAKAT AND SADAQAT FOUNDATION (ZSF) AT UNILAG IN AKOKA, LAGOS

•From left: Chief Executive Officer Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Imam Abdullahi Shuaib; Chief Executive Officer, Jaiz Charity Development Foundation, Ambassador Adamu Babangida Ibrahim and Executive Director (Sales) Bua International, Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro

•From left: ZSF Chairman, Prince Sulayman Olagunju; Member, Board of Directors, Ustadh Jamiu Muhammad Trimidhi and Associate Professor, University of Lagos, Dr Abdul Fatai Badru

•Chief Financial Officer, MTN Ghana Communications, Mr Modupe Kadri (right) and Mallam Sulayman Ogunmuyiwa

•Managing Director, FIS Securities Limited, Mr Hakeem Otiti

•Baytuzzeenah Chief Executive Officer, Hajia Saidat Otiti

•President, UNILAG Muslim Women Society, Alhaja Toyibat Gbadamosi

•General Manager, Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited, Alhaji AbdulHameed Solate

•HOD Mechanical Engineering, YABATECH, Dr Ibraheem AbdulKareem (left) and Director, TECH Consult, Alhaji Daud Arogundade

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

43

SOCIETY

Femi Macaulay, member, Editorial Board of The Nation, last Friday in Lagos, buried his mother, Mrs Eleanor Bodunrin Macaulay after a funeral service at The First Baptist Church on Broad Street. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

‘She lived by example’

T

HE Macaulay family and their friends gathered in Lagos last Friday to bid farewell to Mrs Eleanor Bodunrin Macaulay who was buried at Ikoyi Cemetery.

She was the widow of the late Mr Frank Olusola Macaulay, grand nephew of the late Nationalist Herbert Macaulay.

Mrs Macaulay died in Lagos last December 15, 21 days to her 80th birthday on January 5.

Family members and guests wore white traditinal attires with green head gears.

All stood when the choir took the processional hymn: “All hail the power of Jesus name”. As they sang, the remains of Mrs Macaulay were wheeled into the church by St Francis’s pall bearers.

Leading members of the family was her son, Mr Femi Macaulay, an Editorial Board member of The Nation.

Dr Enahoro David read from Psalm 134 before the choir took another hymn titled: “Immortal invisible”.

Macaulay read the biography of his mother; his wife, Funmilayo rendered a special song for her mother-in-law.

Mrs Omotunde Oshodi took another reading from Acts 9: 36-43.

Pastor Rotimi Allison represented the pastor in charge of First Baptist Church, Rev Sunday Fagbemi. In his sermon, Pastor Allison urged the gathering to love Christ and live for Him. He said death is inevitable following which there would be judgment.

Only Jesus, the cleric added, had victory over death.

He asked the congregation where they would be on Judgement Day when Jesus would return. “Jesus is coming back someday. Where will you spend your eternity?” The cleric prayed for the bereaved family.

The congregation moved to Ikoyi Cemetry where the remains of Mrs Macaulay were buried about 1:20 pm.

Reception was at The Police Officers’ Mess in Onikan, Lagos. The chairs and tables were covered with white fabrics. Golden Star Band supplied music; The Mainlanders Band entertained those who sat under the tents outside.

Macaulay described his mother as modest. “She was not a noise maker; she had respect for diversity and the differences of the other person. She was more interested in humanity than status and believed in gradual increase, development and not sudden overnight appearance of prosperity.

“The truly prosperous person to her was a contented person not the perpetual pursuer of material. She lived by example and her punctuality was

•Family of the deceased, (from left): Mrs Macaulay; Mr Macaulay; Laolu Macaulay and Mr Williams

•Prof Adebayo Williams (left) and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Mr Sam Omatseye

• Mrs Oto Gbajabiamila (left) and Mrs Lawunmi Fasanya

timelessness. Her modesty was often misunderstood for conservatism and she was a dynamic person and open to change,” he said.

He recalled his memorable moment with his mother. He said: “It was in 2009 during her late husband’s 80th birthday when I noticed certain gestures, especially when the two of them were dancing on the occasion. It seems to remind them of sometime

BIRTHDAY

Mr and Mrs Abiodun Foluso cutting the wife’s 50th birthday cake

in the past when they were much younger and when they did things together. It might not have been obvious to everybody present on that occasion but looking at even the picture of both of them dancing; you will see a certain sense of procession.

“From the scene, I saw her excited because I had not seen my mother that excited in a long time and they demonstrated to me how deeply commit-

•From left; Mrs Yetunde Merriman-Johnson; Mr Ladipo Lawson and Mr Ajayi

•Pastor Allison (left) and Pastor Comfort Akinola PHOTOS: MUYIWA HASSAN

ted she was to the relationship she had with my father.”

He went on. “I will miss her quiet laughter, her sense of humour, her philosophical perspectives and her motherly love”.

A close family member, who had known the deceased for over 60 years and Chairman, A-tech Nigeria Limited, Mr Akin Ajayi, described the late Mrs Macaulay

as a warm hearted woman who took care of her late husband’s family.

Her younger brother, Mr Bankole Williams, said his sister was a darling. “She lived a good and disciplined life; she took special care of me to the point of assisting my father to pay my secondary school fees. She disliked anything flamboyant and believed in modesty”.

CHILD DEDICATION

• Denna Rossi Ltd Managing Director, Dr John Nwafor, his wife and son, Chibueze at the child dedication ceremony of the Latter at the Corpus Christ Cathedral Church, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

44

SOCIETY

•Bride’s parents, Mr Madu and his wife

•The couple, Malechi and Vivian

Linked up by friend Vivian, daughter of Chief Executive Officer of Multimix Academy Mr Obiora Madu and Malechi Jideofor, son of Sir Francis Okafor, have got married in Lagos, reports NNEKA NWANERI.

V

IVIAN Oluchi Madu and Malechi Jideofor Okafor thrilled guests as they displayed the latest dance steps of Shoki; Alingo; Sekem; Yahooze; Swoo; Alanta; Azonto; Kurukere; Galala; among others.

As the disc jockey (DJ) dished out music, the couple kept digging it out on the dance floor to guests’ delight.

It was the wedding reception of Vivian and

Malechi at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Centre in Iganmu, Lagos, last Saturday. The arena came alive as guests thronged the centre in gorgeous attires of peach and blue.

Malechi, son of Sir Francis Okafor, had on his signature afro hair. He was all smiles. He wore a navy blue suit to complement the white gown of his radiant gap-toothed bride, daughter of the Chief Executive Officer of Multimix Acad-

•Groom’s parents, Mr Okafor and his wife

emy, Mr Obiora Madu.

Their love story began in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in 2011 during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference. Proposing the toast, a friend of the couple, Ikenna Enebe, relived how it all started. He said: “During the conference, Vivian came visiting me at the hotel where I lodged. Jideofor was with me then and they exchanged numbers and got talking.

“I was, particularly, excited about them because I know my friend to be an energetic young man and a bubbling bee whose enthusiasm is

PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

infectious. Those are the qualities Vivian’s father has and I guess that was the attraction. She, too, is sharp, perceptive and very intelligent.”

Enebe was optimistic that the couple would have a blissful marriage.

The union was solemnised at the St Dominic’s Catholic Church in Yaba, Lagos Mainland. It attended a large congregation of family members and friends.

They were joined by Rev Fr Felix Udolisa. Rev Steve Ogbe gave a touching homily, after which guests gave him an applause.

Former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs Omotayo Amoke Olabenjo has retired after 34years in service. A party was held to mark her retirement and 60th birthday, writes NNEKA NWANERI.

‘She was a good administrator’ •From left: Mr Olabenjo; Mrs Olabenjo; Danmole and the Ministry’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs Kemi Adeoye

A

FTER 34 years in service, it was time for Mrs Omotayo Amoke Olabenjo to retire.

Mrs Olabenjo, who retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, served the Lagos State Government in various capacities for 34 years. She retired at 60.

She celebrated her retirement and her 60th birthday on the same day.

The celebration, began with a thanksgiving at the Chapel of Christ The Light Church in Alausa, Ikeja. The church was filled with her family members, colleagues, friends and well wishers.

Her husband, Olugbenga was by her side.

He acknowledged greetings and prayers for his wife.

Guests moved to the nearby De Hall Events Centre, for the reception. They were decked in peach and gold the colours of the day.

Lagos State Head of Service Mrs Josephine Oluseyi Williams, presided over the ceremony.

Mrs Williams described Mrs Olabenjo as a principled and confident officer who took responsibility for her actions. She congratulated the Olabenjo family on the achievements of their matriarch and presented her with a certificate of service.

Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Oyinlomo Danmole, under whom Mrs Olabenjo last served, described her as a wonderful person. Mrs Olabenjo, he said, made his job stress free by taking charge of all offi-

•Mrs Williams (left) and Mrs Bolanle Aramide of the Post Service Department

cial matters in his absence.

“She knows how to communicate well and carry along all stakeholders every time,” he said. Others attested to the motherly care of Mrs Olabenjo.

Former Rector of Lagos State Polytechnic and now Executive Secretary, Lagos State Vocational Education Board, Mr Olawunmi Gasper described the celebrator as a fantastic administrator who assisted him while he was rector.

Mrs. Olabenjo ensured that the polytechnic had the best at a time it had no governing Board.

Her children spoke glowingly about her describing her as a disciplinarian.

Mrs Olabenjo, is a Fellow oaf the Institute of Strategic Management, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1979 from the University of Ibadan (UI). She holds a Masters in Public

Administration (M-P-A) and a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD).

She started her career as a lecturer at the then Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) and later moved to (LASPOTECH. She also taught briefly at the Marywood Grammar School, Abule-nla in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.

Her resourcefulness and dedication to duty took her to the summit of her administrative career at some tertiary institutions. Mrs. Olabenjo transferred her service to the mainstream Civil Service. She rose from Assistant Director (Finance and Administration) in the Office of Physical Planning, Ministry of Physical Planning in 2001 to Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture in 2012.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 2015

46

COMMENTARY

FEMI ABBAS ON

“H

ERE is the period of life against which we had been warned through the wisdom of Ubayyi Bn Ka‘b and that of Abdullah Bn Mas‘ud. Here is the time in life when truth becomes totally abhorrent while falsehood and mischief are loftily upheld. Should this period linger and nothing changes in it, the world may (soon) reach a stage where the bereaved will rather rejoice than grieve over the demise of a close relation and parents will rather grieve than rejoice over the birth of a new baby”.

By an Arab poet

Preamble Read the above quotation once again and compare it with the current social, political and economic trends in Nigeria. In a situation like this where suicide through insurgency is in vogue for teenagers; where throwing away of newly born babies by young, unmarried women is taken for civilisation; where kidnapping has become a lucrative business and oil theft is now a unique profession; where rebellion and terrorism are the order of the day, one can hardly see anything other than the signals of the end of time.

For majority of Nigerians today, life is so much upside down that the children of textile magnates now walk the streets in rags even as the children of meat sellers of yore now eat bones. The highly valued norms of our society that once constituted the pinnacle of glory in the life of Nigerians have sadly become objects of ridicule while vagabondism and unbridled brigandage have replaced those norms. Like prodigal children of history, Nigerians now live in a land of unrealisable dream and peregrinate aimlessly in the desert of pauperism. And the compass with which to find the way to the Cape of Good Hope has been lost by those who are claiming to be the crew on our nation’s boat. Where are we going from here?

Memorial Inscription Whenever I remember an inscription once placed, conspicuously, at the entrance of the University of Cordoba, in Spain, my heart bleeds. In the antiquity of that inscription is the summary of what the world should be as against what it is today. I first saw the inscription in 1985 when I accompanied the late Bashorun MKO Abiola to Spain where he delivered a lecture on ‘Islamic Economic System’. It read thus: “The world is held together by four formidable pillars: the wisdom of the learned, the justice of the great, the prayer of the righteous and the valour of the brave”. (University of Cordoba is the very first University ever established in the world. It was established by the Muslim Arabs in Spain in the seventh century CE).

At the foundation of the four pillars mentioned above are two key words that link man directly to God. The two words are: TRUTH AND JUSTICE. Without those two abstract but ruling words, it would have been impossible for humanity to remain in peace and harmony.

Perhaps no scholar in the contemporary world has given a more connotative definition to TRUTH than Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio did. In that axiomatic definition which The Guardian of Nigeria has adopted for its official insignia, the great scholar described Truth as “an open wound which only the conscience can heal”. And, in Islam, JUSTICE is a corollary of TRUTH. Both are the armour with which two unique persons are fortified in the course of their responsibilities.

The two persons are the umpire and the witness.

Truth and Justice Uthman Dan Fodio’s definition of TRUTH was based on his understanding of Allah’s counsel for mankind thus: “Do not encapsulate truth in falsehood, nor hide the truth deliberately….” Q. 2: 42. And Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also admonished the Muslims thus: “Speak the truth even if it be against you”.

Truth and Justice are like a pair of scissors. They work together inseparably.

And, just as no scissors can function effectively with just one blade so can no

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

An umpire’s role ‘As an umpire, pitching tent with an individual or a group against another in a contest can only amount to a breach of natural law, a betrayal of trust and a violation of justice all of which can incur the wrath of God. No man in the position of an umpire has ever betrayed the course of justice without paying dearly for it in the end’ Prof Jega

building stand without a foundation.

Truth is the foundation of Justice. Wherever the two are constantly found, all vices disappear into permanent oblivion.

In Islam, nothing is more important than Truth and Justice. In 245 places in the Qur’an, Allah talks of the essence of Truth in the life of man with emphasis. Also, in 28 places, in the same Glorious Book, He guides mankind on Justice and frowns emphatically at injustice.

That is why, (in a genuine Islamic society), no man can become an Imam, a Judge, an umpire or even be accepted as a witness unless there is evidence that he is truthful and just.

Breach of Trust The first step towards the breach of trust can be found in a situation where a person who is involved in a case is the one to appoint the judge. This happens in various forms. For instance, injustice is expected to occur where the coach of a football team is responsible for assigning a referee to a match involving his team. A better example is a situation where a ruling party or a contestant in an election is the one to appoint the umpire in such election as it happens in Nigeria. With that alone, the basis of trust has been destroyed, especially if that umpire reports to the same person who appoints him. In such a situation, no amount of verbal assurances or persuasion can convince anybody. And any contest based on that situation is based on injustice.

Down the memory lane Students of Arabic grammar should be able recall an episode during the golden era of Abbasid dynasty in Iraq. That was the time when Islamic knowledge flourished almost to its peak and Arabic grammar was taking its final formation. Two famous schools of Arabic language coexisted in Iraq at that time. One was in Basrah. The other was in Kuffah. They were headed by Sibawayh (a Persian) and Kisai (an Arab), respectively.

The Basrah School specialised in syntax.

The Kuffah School specialised in morphology. But both schools were in a fierce competition and none could be said to be superior to the other.

However, some concerned scholars who wanted to establish the base of superiority between the two schools decided to put

both to test. A grammatical question was raised. And the two leaders were invited to answer it analytically. Here is the question: “I have always thought that the hornet was more poisonous than the scorpion”. Two answers were provided for that question. One was “and it happens to be so”. The other was “and it is exactly so”. The examinees were expected to pick only one answer.

What Sibawayh and Kisai were requested to do in answering the question was to analyse the full complement of any question they picked grammatically.

Kisai chose the first answer while Sibawayh chose the second. The panel of judges was divided on the matter but the opinion of the leader of the panel prevailed. Kisai was thus declared the winner and Kuffah School was proclaimed superior.

Disappointed that the judgment was partial in favour of his rival Sibawayh who was impeccably renowned, intellectually, did not return to his home base in Basrah. Rather, he migrated to a remote village where he spent the rest of his life in frustration and died miserably.

It was many years after his death that the incident was revisited and Sibawayh was found to be correct while Kisai was wrong. But then, the die had been cast as the demised victor could not rejoice over his victory.

Nepotism Going into why the first judgment was faulty, researchers discovered that the head of the first panel was Kisai’s cousin. And so, the judgment was deliberately given to reflect nepotism. Over 1,000 years after that episode, Nigeria staged a similar show in 1993 at a macro level. And it ended in a fiasco called the June 12 debacle. In the show, an MKO Abiola won the freest and fairest election ever held in this country but was denied victory and made to die miserably in prison.

The result is the ongoing spectre casting a political spell on Nigeria and constituting a pendulum of uncertainty on the citizenry.

Neutrality of an umpire Whoever is appointed an umpire or finds himself in such a position must bring his conscience to bear. He must not only be truthful, just, upright and con-

scientious, he must also see himself as being in the presence of the Almighty God in his open conduct and secret deeds.

An umpire can be a judge in a court of law, an arbiter in a dispute, a referee in a boxing ring, a moderator in an election or a ruler of a nation. Each of these is expected by God and by man to be just in his arbitration, rule or dealings. As such, he must not just wear the garb of neutrality; he must also be vividly seen in that garb. It hoped that the INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega would read this article.

As an umpire, pitching tent with an individual or a group against another in a contest can only amount to a breach of natural law, a betrayal of trust and a violation of justice all of which can incur the wrath of God. No man in the position of an umpire has ever betrayed the course of justice without paying dearly for it in the end.

Where the chief executive officer of a country becomes the chief law breaker through deliberate falsehood, vicious treachery, audacious injustice, treasury looting, and playing of god-fatherism to illegality and gangsterism, it is only natural to expect repercussion in whatever form. A former one time Governor of Kaduna State, Group Captain Usman Jibrin (now of blessed memory) warned Nigerian Muslim leadership against injustice in 1994, at a meeting of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs held in Arewa House, Kaduna, and headed by the former Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

When some Muslim elders present at that meeting, who were expected to uphold the truth, started to speak from both sides of their mouths on the June 12, 1993 election annulment, Group Captain Jibrin rose courageously to call a spade its name quoting the following verses of the Qur’an: “And guard against a calamity that may descend not only on evil perpetrators but also on their aides as well.

And know that Allah’s punishment can be very severe.”

Truth like gold Truth is like gold. It can be smelted and panel-beaten after taken through the furnace. But when it becomes an adorned ornament its beauty remains forever. The misfortune of history as a teacher is that people refuse to learn from its lessons.

In Nigeria, like in most other African countries, greed is the very basis of injustice. Every action by the so called leaders is measured in terms of dollars and Euros accruing to their pockets from the national treasury. But Allah is patient.

He allows unjust rulers and political demagogues to pull a long rope before they end up hanging themselves with the same rope.

Who can be a better judge of actions and intentions than Allah?

Democracy is stable in the Western world because greed is not vivid in the culture of that world. The former American President, Bill Clinton, was living in a four bedroom bungalow before he assumed office in 1992. It was to that same bungalow that he returned in year 2000 after serving two terms of eight years as President of the world’s most powerful country. Can the same be said of Nigerian leaders after Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Murtala Muhammed? And, given this situation, in which Nigeria finds herself today, does one need to gaze through the crystal ball to know why the life span in Nigeria came down to 43 years in 2006 from 52 years that it was in 1999 even as winning the coming elections has been declared ‘a do or die affair’?

INEC under watch Now, we are going through another acid test in the hands of justice.

All eyes are on the umpire called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even as the world waits to see the direction to which Nigeria will head through the general elections that start in a week’s time. Confidence has been eroded.

Fears have been expressed in various quarters. Prayers have been offered by millions of Muslims and Christians in the country. It is our hope that INEC will live by the name of an umpire if for posterity sake. It is also our fervent prayer that the Almighty Allah will allay all fears in the land and rescue Nigerians from the crushing manacle with which Satan has fettered this country to its own stake. Amen.

THE NATION FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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acceptable electoral outcome is possible in ‘ An Rivers State, but only if the elections are truly free and fair. There cannot be free and fair election, if the spate of violence, high handedness, intimidation and terror is not halted

...Eight days to go

‘

RIVERS POLITICS

Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in this piece, he highlights what he describes as the atrocities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against APC members and the implications for the general elections. He warns that the state may slip into violence, if the acts of terror are not checked.

Averting violence in Rivers elections T

HE greatest obstacle to democratic consolidation in Nigeria is electoral violence. Pre-election violence is as a result of the rascally disposition of some desperate and greedy politicians, who want to secure electoral victory by subverting the process and undermining the rule of law.

Whilst the threat of bloodshed has always been in the air in Rivers State since the countdown to the general elections started, the upsurge in the incidence of violence in the state in recent times is worrisome. Apart from the fact that this phenomenon affects the credibility of the electoral process, the legitimacy of the election results and the rule of law, the nature, extent and magnitude of violence indicate unequivocally that it is a deliberate tool for intimidation and terror adopted as a policy and backed by security institutions who are paid from our commonwealth to protect our citizens.

Electoral violence

Electoral violence is any random or organized act that seeks to determine, delay or otherwise influence an electoral process through threat, verbal intimidation, hate speech, disinformation, physical assault, forced protection, destruction of property or assassination. The aim of electoral violence is either to influence the outcome of the process or to disrupt the entire electoral process.

The Federal Government under the collegiate presidency of Dr. and Dame Goodluck Jonathan adopted a deliberate policy of state-sponsored violence against Rivers people when it deployed Mbu Joseph Mbu intentionally to promote (through manifestly corrupt and illicit means) the ascendancy of Mr. Nyesom Wike to political infamy. Mr. Mbu’s antics are too numerous and very well publicized. However, it may be necessary to remind us that since the day he shamelessly escorted known criminals and outlaws through the streets of Port Harcourt in the guise of a demonstration, violence triumphantly returned to Rivers State The PDP, having established its machinery for violence, began to unleash mayhem in the form of physical attacks on the APC members, killing and causing grievous bodily harm on our members.

Attack on House of Assembly The absurdity of the attack on the House of Assembly would confound any right-thinking person who knows that there are 32 members of the House of Assembly out of which, five purportedly tried to impeach the Speaker. In the course of their quest to regain lawful access to the House of Assembly complex, the remaining 27 members were forced to sit on the bare surface of Moscow Road from where Mr. Mbu dispersed them with tear gas. Mr. Mbu left Rivers State in exceedingly controversial circumstances, after presiding over the return of Rivers State to a near state of anarchy into the warm embrace of the president and his dear wife who promptly rewarded him with a “well deserved” promotion. His legacies include the return of hitherto outlawed warlords who have re-established their camps and are operating visibly. Before he was redeployed, his atrocities reached its apogee with the attempted murder of Senator Magnus Abe when police men on his orders attacked Save Rivers Movement members at College of Arts and Science premises in Rumuola, Port Harcourt.

Violence against APC members

The following are but a few of the known cases of death and grievous bodily injuries caused our members by the PDP through its members and hirelings.

Perhaps, the most brazen of all attacks took place in the early morning of the flag-off of the Presidential Campaign of the APC in Port Harcourt. Two different sets of gun men attacked buses conveying the party supporters from different parts of the state to Port Harcourt. The buses located several hundred kilometers from each other were riddled with bullets. A day after the attack, the police naively dismissed the attacks as incidents of

•Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside at a rally in Port-Harcourt, the state capital.

armed robbery. Whilst it must be noted that nothing was stolen from the victims, one must ask the police why the “robbers” isolated APC members on the same day, at about the same time and in two different locations in the state?

Many APC supporters on their way to the official flag-off of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign were attacked by gun men near Harry’s Town in Degema and Sakpenwa in Tai. The cowards were not bold enough to do it without hiding under face masks. They left many unconscious and in their pool of blood and fled into anonymity to spend the filthy money from their cowardly masters.

After this, the APC secretariat in Okrika, the home of Madam Patience Jonathan was destroyed by a bomb explosion. Whilst no life was lost, party members have been terrorized and the message is clear that the PDP and its dangerously armed terrorist gangs will not allow the APC to lawfully contest for the votes in Okrika Local Government Area.

Chief Orerehim was on the 10th of January beaten alongside others when they were having a caucus meeting at Oro-owo, Rumueme, Ward 10, Obio-Akpor LGA by thugs. He was seriously beaten and injured.

He reported the matter to Rukpakani Police Station, Ada George Road. But, no arrest, invitation or investigation was made by the police.

On January 22 in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, some group of PDP thugs destroyed APC billboards/banners and injured one Mr. Precious Tende. That was the third time Evans Bipi and his cohorts had willfully destroyed APC banners/billboards in Ogu, headquarters of the Local Government Area. the Ogu Council of Chiefs, the police at Ogu, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Joint Task Force Unit are all aware of it.

The following day, some PDP thugs numbering about 24 attacked the private residence of Barr. Cyprian Chukwu, a member of the APC in Ward 9, destroying valuable properties. He was lucky not to be at home when they came. They decapitated a young man in the premises and he is lying critically ill in the hospital with machete wounds on

both arms.

In the early hours of January 24, thugs on the orders of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, PDP attacked the National field in Okrika which was to be the venue of an APC rally scheduled for that day with guns and explosive devices and destroyed a musical/public address system, canopies, podium and chairs.

Thereafter, they attacked the residence of APC Councilors and members in Okrika Local Government Area. The police are yet to make any arrests.

Aiding and abetting by police

Most of these heinous crimes have been aided and abetted by the police. In some cases, they simply looked the other way whilst the crimes were committed. In other instances, they arrested the APC complainants or members of supporters on phantom charges just to neutralize the political influence of the APC in the area. Below are some of the flagrant cases of police harassment, intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention against members and supporters of APC in Rivers State.

Victimisation, arrest and detention

In Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a former Commissioner and currently Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Omuma Local Government Council was arrested and accused of shooting at Mr. President’s billboard. Meanwhile, on the fateful day (August 25, 2014), he was at a Joint Allocation Committee meeting in Port Harcourt and was nowhere near the scene of the incident at Omuma Local Government Area. He arrested on August 27, 2014 by over 60 armed policemen in a commando style, handcuffed in the presence of his children and detained for two days. He was subsequently released without any charge.

In Ikwerre Local Government Area, Godwin Wojinda was arrested by the SARS squad of the police for stopping one Isi from running away with permanent voters cards (PVCs) belonging to ward 3, Omagwe, Ikwerre Local Government Area. He is still in police

’ As the general elections approach, the scale, magnitude and intensity of the orchestrated violence against members of the APC has been assuming a frightful dimension, necessitating that we cry out to Nigerians and the international community ‘

detention even when the culprit returned the hijacked material to the INEC Local Government Area Electoral Officer. He was not arrested; rather it was the complainant that was clamped into detention by the police.

Anxiety over polls As the general elections approach, the scale, magnitude and intensity of the orchestrated violence against members of the APC has been assuming a frightful dimension, necessitating that we cry out to Nigerians and the international community. Our plight is akin to that of a people in a militarily conquered and occupied territory. PDP thugs and hirelings practically commit murders under the watchful and protective eyes of the police without as much as a slap on the wrist. The objective is obviously to antagonize and intimidate our supporters into believing that it is unsafe for them to come out and vote, thus effectively disenfranchising them.

We make this distress call to all men, women, organizations, nations and people who cherish democracy to intervene before it is too late. It is unimaginable that a president, who is from the Niger Delta region and who assumed office on the wings of agitations for equity and justice, would permit unprovoked and premeditated violent attacks on the same people he hopes to ride on their primordial sentiments to secure his second term. The president’s cavalier attitude to the escalating violence in the state borders on criminal negligence because he knows or ought to know (or in the least remember) the level of arms in circulation and the historical volatility of the state (and region).

We call on Amnesty International, the International Red Cross, the relevant organs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to immediately commence independent inquiries into the gruesome attacks and killings in Rivers State.

We call on these and other humanitarian and democratic organizations and institutions to set high-powered election monitoring networks, teams and processes to monitor the election in Rivers State to avert unnecessary bloodbath, which may cripple our already weakened economy. An acceptable electoral outcome is possible in Rivers State, but only if the elections are truly free and fair. There cannot be free and fair election, if the spate of violence, high handedness, intimidation and terror is not halted. We pledge to remain law abiding but we shall defend ourselves, our people and their votes by all lawful means.

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THE NATION FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2015

quest for justice, equity and fair‘ The ness brought me into the APC. The party has provided a platform for my people to be liberated

‘

...Eight days to go

All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom Northwest District Chief Inibehe Okori is contesting against Governor Godswill Akpabio of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he explains why people are defecting to the APC and how he intends to floor the governor at the poll.

Okori: APC ’ll liberate Akwa Ibom from tyranny W

HY are you running for the Senate?

The duty of a Senator is to make laws for the good governance of the country. I’m offering to go to the Senate to be able to cater for my people in line with constitutional requirements of the duties of a Senator. Secondly, it would enable me to impact on the lives and wellbeing of the people of Nigeria.

It would also enable me to attract democracy dividends, which may come in different ways, such as constituency projects and what I would call government largesse.

What motivated you to go into politics?

I’ve been a professional in politics for quite some time. What motivated me is the desire to serve; to utilize the opportunity to attract the benefits of holding political office in Nigeria for my people.

Why are you running on the platform of the APC? The quest for justice, equity and fairness brought me into the APC. The party has provided a platform for my people to be liberated. In real terms, the APC is here to right the wrongs committed by the ruling PDP. For instance, in my senatorial district the agreement is that the Senate seat

should go to three local governments that make up Abak federal constituency, which is where I come from.

Since 1963, when Nigeria became a republic that federal constituency has been represented in the Senate. In the senatorial district, we have four federal constituencies and the other three have had representatives at the Senate at least twice. So, I’m in the APC because the party is insisting that for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, the senatorial slot must be given to my constituency. Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is contesting on the PDP platform, comes from the Ikot Ekpene federal constituency, which has enjoyed the slot three times.

Akwa Ibom is believed to be a PDP state. You are also running against the governor. How do you intend to overcome the double challenge?

People often talk about incumbency, but it doesn’t really matter.

Akpabio has been a governor, not a senator. So, you cannot say Akpabio as a senator did this or did that.

Rather, I think I’m well positioned, considering my exposure in the country, particularly my relationship across geo-political zones. The Senate is a chamber made up of 109 members. It is a place you must

•Okori

synergise and work in tandem with your colleagues. It is not a place where you sit down and dish out directives to commissioners and other aides. You must be able to relate well with others in the course of your work, by extracting cooperation and exchanges with them. I have that gait, competence and capacity to synergise with colleagues and bring dividends of democracy

closer to my people.

Incumbency has never been a factor in the election of a senator. Let me take you back into history. In 2007, two incumbent governors were defeated in the senatorial race.

One of them is today the National Chairman of the PDP (Adamu Muazu); he was then the outgoing governor of Bauchi State. You see, democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people; it is a government of individuals like Akpabio and the like.

So, for me, incumbency in this regard is not a big deal because democracy entails a social contract and politicians are expected to stick to the principles of the agreement. So, whether you are an incumbent or not is immaterial; once the agreement is breached, you must face the consequences.

Given the amount of money at Akpabio’s disposal, do you think you can match him, in terms of campaign spending?

Well, to God be the glory that people who have money don’t talk about it. The Bible says that when you bring yourself down, the Lord will lift you up and when you lift yourself up, He will bring you down. What type of

money does Akpabio have? Is it the peoples’ money that is entrusted in his hands? Is it justifiable for him to use this money to oppress the people? The God I worship would not allow that.

As I speak to you, I want you to look at me once again; I am that David that fought Goliath; I am that Moses that confronted Pharaoh on behalf of the people of Israel. It shall come to pass.

What is the major problem of your constituency?

Basically, it is poverty. People are really impoverished; most of them are living below $1 per day. So far, I have covered all the polling units within my constituency and I must confess to you that I am really sad about what I met on the ground. I am full of tears for my people. The infrastructure that you need to grow the economy is non-existent, particularly in this era when small and medium-scaled enterprises are encouraged to develop within clusters. All over the world, government has a support system for such SMEs, as a way of creating employment opportunities. There is also absence of medical care and educational facilities, particularly in this age when emphasis is on information and communication technologies (ICT).

‘PDP wants to instigate violence’ Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe spoke with reporters in Lagos on the preparations for the general elections and how Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains are promoting discord and intolerance in the Centre of Excellence.

W

HAT is your assessment of the ampaigns so far?

Campaigns have been going on across the country, but I regret to say that we are dodging the issues. We are leaving out the burning issues to dwell on personalities and this is where we are not getting it right. Desperation and fear have gripped the ruling party that they now play dirty. In the presidential campaigns, the APC candidate, General Buhari, has been a problem for the PDP. The Buhari of 2003, 2007 and 2011 has turned to a political giant, a volcano, a bulldozer, an avatar, a caterpillar and a massive movement in 2015. A man who contested elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 is being accused of not having a certificate in 2015 because the man has moved from the back seat to the driver’s seat. They talk about his certificate, his age, his health, his family, his religion, his wife, his culture etc.

The corrupt and desperate politicians and subsidy scammers are worried to the bones.

The fear of Buhari is now the beginning of wisdom. They know that a President Buhari will not accept corruption as a way of life again.

They know that he will plug the loop holes in the systems. They know that the people that ruined Nigeria will be brought to book. They are moving their families and wealth abroad because Buhari is coming and he is coming on strong. I fear for those who think it is going to be business as usual. All things considered, President Jonathan has lost this election the day Buhari was picked as a candidate of the APC in Lagos. From all permutations, calculations and analysis the game has been won and lost at the first ballot. I pity anybody who will not be wise enough to know that the market is over.

There is finger of God in all this. Did anybody remember that Buhari cried in 2011 for Nigeria?

God saw that genuine tears and decided to pave way for him to help in fixing the land.

Buhari’s coming in 2015 is a prayer answered.

In Lagos, the campaigns are all about continuity of intelligent leadership, committed leadership and disciplined leadership. In Lagos, it is experience versus inexperience. It is Ambode’s

27 years experience and retired as AccountantGeneral in Lagos State versus Jimi Agbaje, a drug seller in a small shop in Apapa. It is capacity versus incapacity. It is capability versus incapability.

What are the issues that will shape the Presidential elections and the governorship election in Lagos?

At the presidential level we expect that Nigerians will think about the very important issues of national security. Nigerians will ask questions about the Chibok girls and our stolen territories

by Boko Haram. Nigerians will ask questions about the power sector and why it has not worked after investing billions of dollars in 16 years. Nigerians will ask questions about unemployment and the NIS recruitment tragedy of last year. Nigerians will ask questions about the the stolen billions of dollars and the subsidy scam. Nigerians will ask questions about corruption in high places and why we cannot build our infrastructure. Nigerians will ask questions about the abuse of law enforcement agencies etc.

In Lagos, Lagosians will look at the last 16 years of AC, ACN and APC governance. They have seen the transformation from what former President Obasanjo called a slum to a modern and cleanest city in Nigeria. Lagosians have seen how the lives and property were secured through committed and effective leadership.

They have seen their Lagos has been made a

’If you try to steal the peoples’ votes, you are looking for trouble. For our democracy to work better, all democratic institutions must be strengthened to be efficient and neutral. This is the way to avert violence ‘

world destination in 16 years.

How can the votes count?

Votes must count if we want to help this country to grow. If you rig a meretricious mediocrity into an exalted of the President or Governor, the people will suffer for four or eight years. This is the reason why our democratic institutions must help the system to work. Our country is down today because we have helped to rig common criminals into exalted offices. Our country is suffering today because we have helped to rig compound fools and nitwits in positions of authority. When these kinds of people are elected to positions they do not merit, they convert the huge offices to become family assets. The Police, Army, Navy, Airforce SSS or DSS, Civil Defence, NYSC, Customs, etc must allow our democracy to work. They must make our votes to count this time around.

How can violence be averted?

Do the right thing. Be neutral. Stop intimidation. Respect the fundamental rights of others.

When peoples’ rights are violated, they may take laws into their hands. When our law enforcement agencies encourage some privileged Nigerians to oppress the poor, please know that trouble is coming. When Senator Obanikoro, a junior Minister took soldiers to stop Lagos State Housing project at Ilubirin in Lagos Island, he and the soldiers are looking for trouble. When Segun Adewale, a PDP Senatorial Candidate for Lagos West took thugs and policemen to The campaign office of his counterpart in APC in the same zone, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan’s ( Yayi) to try to assassinate him, are they not looking for violence? If you try to steal the peoples’ votes, you are looking for trouble. For our democracy to work better, all democratic institutions must be strengthened to be efficient and neutral. This is the way to avert violence.

Why are people not collecting their voter’s cards?

Some people are not collecting the PVCs because INEC did not get it right from the onset.

You can’t plant cassava and hope to harvest yam. Whatever you sow, you will reap. I have been told that the only way a small army can

•Igbokwe

defeat a huge army is probably because the small army had a better training, well equipped, well organized and possibly led by a gallant general. If INEC had been better organized and prepared like we have seen in other climes like India, collecting PVCs would not have been an issue. People and institutions fail because they fail to plan.

Do you support deployment of troops for the election?

If the troops will hit the streets just to help maintain law and order,that will be nice and acceptable. We have seen them do it in the past but if it turns out to be like the one we saw in Ekiti and Osun states, it will be unacceptable. Soldiers are supposed to be neutral, they are supposed to be defenders of every Nigerian but we are living witnesses of how these soldiers have been deployed to oppress, repress and suppress the opposition. Often times we see these soldiers working for the ruling party, abusing and humiliating the opposition with reckless abandon. I hope this will not happen in February 14 2015. Our soldiers must defend every Nigerian and equally defend our renascent democracy.

Our soldiers that were rated among the best in Africa are now being rated as weak and ill-equipped to confront the common enemy.

Our troops must redeem their battered image now.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Their advert style, their strength A

CAMPAIGN advert contains what a candidate wants to share with voters. It is to get those who share his ideas to support him. The message often consists of several talking points about policy issues.

The points summarise the main ideas of the campaign and are repeated frequently to create a lasting impression on the voters.

In many elections, the opposition party tries to get the candidate “off message” by raising issues not related to the talking points. Most campaigns prefer to keep the message broad in order to attract potential voters.

A message that is too narrow can alienate voters or slow the candidate down by trying to explain details.

In the 2008 American presidential election, John McCain originally used a message that focused on patriotism and political experience. The short and crisp message was Country First. It was later changed to shift attention to his role as: “The Original Maverick” within the political establishment.

President Barack Obama ran on a consistent, simple message of “change” throughout his campaign. However, even if the message was crafted carefully, it does not assure the candidate victory at the polls. For a winning candidate, the message is refined and then becomes his or her’s in office.

In the ongoing electioneering in Lagos State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has shown is keeping the discussions cerebral and issues-based.

This is evident in his radio and television commercials.

In the commercial with a simple theme message, “Believe”, Ambode rallies people to believe in Lagos as the place where they can play their part and fulfil their potential. Boasting an intimidating array of leading Nollywood actors including Desmond Elliot, Funke Akindele, MI, Banky W, Yemi Alade, Uti, youths, professionals, traders and artisans, the commercial takes the word “Believe” to a whole new level.

The campaign presents people of different social strata: youths, professionals, artisans, parents, leading artistes, traders, key opinion formers from diverse ethnic backgrounds expressing their aspirations, belief in Lagos. The main character, Ambode, however, did not differ: “I believe together we can build the Lagos of our dreams.”

Pictured as a core democrat, Ambode rallies the people, singing, “I believe in the power of you and I. I believe together, we’ll fly. I believe in the power that comes from a world brought together as one.”

To connect with the youth demography, Ambode’s campaign song explores ‘emotion’ to win the youth, particularly the students into his vision. The television commercial opens with an undergraduate who focuses on achieving her potentials through academic success. The female cast voices her belief: “there comes a moment when my heart must choose on this great path I’ve chosen. Like a house that is a home. Sometimes I feel like it’s not enough and I know that we can’t give up. You’ve willed me to be all I can be. Now nothing can stop me.”

The commercial also enlightens electorate on the need to vote wisely and present people of different social classes in Lagos, their

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwumi Ambode and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Mr. Jimi Agbaje have been trying to outdo each other in their ongoing campaign for the exalted seat. They are exploring different creative tools in their campaigns, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

•Ambode

aspiration and belief in Lagos.

“This is the moment we have dreamed of all our lives.” She swiftly focuses on fellow youths with the lyrics: “We’ll be the change we wish from others; we’ll stand tall for what is right. And in my heart, there’ll be no doubt. The arms of the world will come reaching out; and embrace me to be all I can be! Now nothing can stop me!,” the Female voice sings.

However, to re-connect audience to Ambode’s agenda for the state, she thumbprints her belief: “I believe Lagos is the place, where I can achieve my full potential” and some professionals join her to sing

•Agbaje

the theme song with her: ‘I believe Lagos gives me the best opportunities.’ These groups were later joined by an upcoming guitarclutching musician who jumps-off a tricycle, popularly called, “Keke Maruwa” and also declares ‘I believe Lagos gives me a stage to conquer the world.’ The campaign also delivers key promises in the areas of youth development.

Traders and artisans take turns to express. With the fact that Ambode is contesting under the platform of the ruling party in the state, the campaign ads raises issue of continuity considering the number of big projects such as Eko Mega City

among others, which will enhance the profile of Lagos state across the globe.

With the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, the commercial shows an Igbo man saying “Nna men! I believe Lagos is a place where you can come from your village and make it big!” Also, an Hausa brother choruses “Walai, I believe Lagos is a place where you can do your business and practise your religion with peace of mind.”

The campaign also explores celebrity endorsement model to deepen Ambode’s campaign messages as celebrities express belief in their special areas ranging from arts, en-

‘In the commercial with a simple theme message, “Believe”, Ambode rallies people to believe in Lagos as the place where they can play their part and fulfil their potential. Boasting an intimidating array of leading Nollywood actors including Desmond Elliot, Funke Akindele, MI, Banky W, Yemi Alade, Uti, youths, professionals, traders and artisans, the commercial takes the word “Believe” to a whole new level’

tertainment, youth empowerment, guarantee for children’s future, qualitative education, peaceful coexistence and individual aspirations. One of the celebs, Banky W says: “I believe ain’t no party like the Lagos party. Turn up!”

For Jimi Agbaje, the campaign commercials explore various musical genres such as Hip Hop, Fuji and Juju to drive his campaign promise using English language, Pidgin English and Yoruba as a means of communication. The campaign songs come in various headings as sub-theme of the central campaign direction: “Bold Ideas and New Opportunities.”

In one of his campaign adverts, Agbaje’s creative team shows their candidates vision for the education sector and his deep concern for moral decadence. Little wonder, it explores a child cast who admonishes other children to listen to their parents in order for them to become worthy leaders of tomorrow. In the introductory part of the English version, the child cast urged the parents to vote Agbaje on the promise of good education.

The campaign ads also reveal Agbaje’s intention to transform Lagos under another sub-theme.

Val Day: Close Up launches game for consumers

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LOSE Up, a premium brand from the stable of Unilever, has launched a new campaign, Cupid Games, to win over the youth.

The Cupid Game, which signed on A-list musical stars Yemi Alade and Davido as campaign ambassador for the game, is expected to challenge young people to express themselves to loved ones without feeling timid.

During the launch, Davido and

Yemi Alade demonstrated how the game could be played before a participatory observation by The Nation.

Top 10 creative participants will be rewarded with exciting prizes like Beats by Dre headphones and get invites to cupid games grand event where they get to hang out with Davido and Yemi Alade.

The grand prize winner will go home with a brand new MV Agusta

Brutale 800cc power bike, second and third will get a pair of personalised Apple Mac Books and Ipads respectively.

The Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr David Okeme, during the launch said Cupid game is an engagement platform by Closeup for young adults to connect and show their loved ones how much they care, especially at valentine.

Also, the Category Manager Oral

Care, Oiza Gyang, added that Closeup Cupids Dare Game is a conversation starter meant to get people closer while demonstrating the extent they would go for love.

Closeup over the years has been able to reinforce its understanding of Nigeria’s oral care needs and re-state its commitment towards sustaining its position as the best oral care product in the market.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

52

THE NATION

BUSINESS

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326

SHOPPING

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Aba Mega Mall for inauguration

•From left: Obanua, Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji; Ugo Umeseaka, Managing Director, Aba Mega Mall Limited and others, during the governor’s tour of facilities at Osisiama, Aba.

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HE first phase of the $300 million Aba Mega Mall project, expected to stimulate economic activities in the Southeast and Southsouth is set for inauguration.

The project, which seats on 28 hectares, on completion, would consist of 5,830 ultra-modern shops, in four sizes of 12sq meters, 16sq metres, 24sq meters and 48sq metres.

The facility will also have provision for banks, security post, 25,000sq meters climate-controlled warehouse space, restaurants, entertainment centres with six cinema screens, children play area and a massive parking space for over 5,000 cars.

The South East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA), an umbrella body of traders in the Southeast region, has endorsed the project, which they described as laudable. Consequently, it has urged its members across the country to support the

By Chikodi Okereocha

project, arguing that it is good for the Southeast region, as it is providing the needed infrastructure to ensure that the region regains its pride of place in commerce in Africa.

Group Managing Director, Geenfield Assets Limited, promoters of the mall, Paul Obanua, while hosting Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, on a pre-inauguration inspection of the facility, explained that when completed, it would be the first mall with a dry port in Nigeria and Africa as well as the biggest mall on the continent.

The dry port, according to Obanua, will be a 30,000 square meter bonded warehouse, which affords people of the Southeast the opportunity of clearng their goods on time. This means that they would no longer suffer time wastages due to perennial port congestion at the nation’s various sea ports.

Obanua said: “We are also going to offer good storage facilities, automated climate controlled facility. So, this mall is going to be a one-stop-shop. And by the second phase, you are going to have a 100room hotel come up here at the Aba Mega Mall. We are going to have a section that will be called the Aba Business Resort, so that you have your events here, like conferences and when you are in the Southeast, you can also lodge in and do your business. The other aspect of this mall is that we are going to have Aba Mega Mall online. So, the ecommerce of this mall will commence operation at the commissioning.”

He said what this meant was that shoppers who couldn’t come to the mall to shop could shop online in any part of the country. “Even if you are in Lagos or Abuja, you can shop from anywhere and it will be delivered to you at your door steps by the Orji-led administration that encouraged the company venture into the project,” he said.

Konga announces fashion sale for Valentine

V

ALENTINE’S Day is around the corner; it is a day several people are eagerly looking forward to.

However, the world renowned day of love also accounts for an enormous portion of the money spent on gifts every year.

In the United States, it is extimated that shoppers would spend as much as $19billion on Val’s day gifts this year, at an average of $142 per person (that is about N27, 000). Some people estimate that Nigeria alone may spend about N350 million on gifts for Val’s day this year.

As this season of love approaches, Nigeria’s Largest Online Mall, Konga.com has announced that in celebration of Valentine’s Day it would be delighting its customers across Nigeria with a special Fashion Sale called Konga ‘Love Boom’.

The Konga ‘Love Boom’ Sales was opened yesterday, February 5, with massive discounts of up to 50 per cent on top fashion labels

A

L

EADING online firm, Kaymu.com.ng, is two years old.

ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA, ADO-EKITIIts Public Relations and Marketing Head, Tomiwa Oladele said: “It has been an amazing and remarkable two years with a small start. “We have grown big and still standing, with more milestones to cover”.

Kaymu made its debut in the country in January, and has in two years set up operations in 34 countries, 17 of which are African.

Since incepti o n , K a y m u h a s imprinted its name in the mind of Nigerians as synonymous with a safe online platform to conduct business transactions due to the measures it has

By Joseph Jibueze

found in the root of the Indian spice turmeric, the study found, prevented new fear memories being stored in the brain, and also removed pre-existing fear memories.

“Curry is widely considered a precious and nutritious health food because of the above spices. These spices are used in a traditional system of Indian medicine called Ayurveda, or Life Sciences, which incorporates them into a daily routine to assure a long and healthy life,” Akhigbe said.

On how to prepare Samurai Curry, he said: “For 10 servings, for instance, cut lean beef, chicken, fish, etc into cubes. Chop onions finely and cut all the vegetables into bite-size pieces.

“Heat oil and stir-fry meat and onions in a large frying pan until onions are lightly browned, approximately three minutes.

“Add carrots, potatoes or other vegetables. Put the cooked meat and vegetables into a large pot.

Add water and bring to the boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer until meat is tender.

“Break Samurai Curry cube into

•Samurai Curry sauce

pieces and add them to the pot. Stir until completely melted. Simmer for five minutes stirring constantly. Serve hot over rice, yam, pasta, or noodles.”

According to Akhigbe, cooking with curry originated in India under the administration of the British. The British obtained the recipes and took them back to England, from where it spread throughout the world.

He added: “The spicy aroma of Japanese curry stimulates your appetite. It’s a dish that the Japanese

on the online store.Several brands are included in the sale from both the male and female fashion stores. Some of the participating brands include Dainty Sole, Spotted, 24/7, Qupid, Le Rouge, Quest, among others.

According to Konga.com’s Head of Public Relations, Olatomiwa Akande, “Valentine’s Day is all about love, and at Konga.com we know how much the Nigerian shopper loves to be able to get the trendiest fashion items and styles at a great price. And with the Konga ‘Love Boom’ Sales, we want our customers to let go of their Valentine budget worries and feel free to express how much they love the special people in their lives.

The online retail company has other packages up for grabs in its 2015 Valentine Store, from romantic getaways to fashion discounts and much more.

Kaymu.com is two

Firm launches new curry sauce NEW sauce, Samurai Curry, has been launched in Lagos The distributor, Tokyo Boeki, said it will soon be in major shops across the country. The sauce can be eaten with rice, yam, porridge, noodles, spaghetti, and bread, among others.

Chief Executive Officer of Tokyo Boeki, Mr Abel Akhigbe said Samurai Curry contains over 30 spices that are necessary for good health. They include black pepper (which stimulates appetite, digestion and circulation), cardamom (which relieves flatulence and induces sweating), cinnamon (which acts as a stimulant and detoxifier) and cumin (which also improves appetite).

Others are fenugreek (which reduces fever, helps with acid indigestion and diarrhea), nutmeg (which has analgesic effects and acts as a sleep aid) and turmeric (which increases liver function, heals fatigue and acts as an anticancer agent.

Akhigbe recalled a recent research finding that curcumin, used in curry, could help erase bad memories.

The bright-yellow compound

By Tonia ‘Diyan

just can’t get enough of. Statistics show that the average Japanese eats it more than once a week - 84 times a year.

“The instant curry sauce has made it easier than ever for families at home to cook delicious curry by using Samurai instant Curry Sauce.

“Samurai Curry manufacturer has created original curries rich in flavor by blending together over 30 spices carefully selected from about 80 spices around the world.”

Akhigbe said each pack of Samurai Curry (for minimum of 10 servings) is sold at N800.

taken to ensure the smooth process of buying and selling.

These measures include: dedicated customer service teams that validates orders and ensures deliveries are promptly made and a quality control team that ensures authenticity.

The firm’s staff has grown from five at its inception to over 200 and it’s still growing with hubs in six geopolitical regions in Nigeria.

There have been a series of seller focused workshops organised by the firm, where sellers are trained on how to leverage social media tools as well as embark on the (Do it yourself) DIY Public Relations activities for their online stores.

Kaymu introduced an entrepreneurial shop where series of mobile workshops that educate entrepreneurs on how to sell online, manage an online store and create public relations /social media strategies for themselves a s onl i ne m a r k et pl a c e sel l ers.

Part of the firm’s initiatives is the kaymu future entrepreneurs and SME Saturdays: an interactive and educational training and practical session that enables primary and secondary school students work for half a day at the Kaymu office to drive their entrepreneurship spirit. Also, an online/offline integrated sales event where buyers and sellers get to conduct business transactions face-to-face.

The firm’s Managing Director, Evangeline Wiles who spoke during the firm’s second anniversary in its former Ikoyi office, said: “Kaymu is the fastest growing online marketplace in the emerging market in Africa, Asia and most recently in Europe.

“Basically, it is an online shopping for both sellers and buyers which means, we provide a platform where buyers and sellers meet and make best sales for their goods and services. We will keep expanding till we are able to bring all merchants to the Kaymu platform.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 05-02-15

Access Bank assures investors of good returns

A

CCESS Bank yesterday reiterated its commitments to creating better shareholders’ value and ensuring good returns to investors in the bank.

Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, yesterday at the bank’s interactive forum with investing public at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), assured that the bank would deliver on its promise of good returns.

According to him, investors should take advantage of the bank’s ongoing rights issue to take bigger stakes in the bank as it continues to pursue its vision of being the top three banks in the next three years.

He noted that though the downtrend at the stock market had negatively affected the share price of the bank, its fundamentals remained strong and the offer price is a good entry price for investors.

“We don’t manage share price, but the fundamentals of the bank are very strong. We are going to give good returns on investment as our target is to be among top three banks in 2017,” Wigwe said.

He said the bank has been talking to institutional investors, high networth investors

• Urges investors to pick their rights

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

and individuals who understand the value of long term investments to take positions in the bank.

He expressed optimism on the success of the rights issue noting that initial reports have indicated that shareholders were enthusiastic about the rights issue and have been taking up their rights.

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 04, 2015.

The net proceeds of the N53 billion 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.

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.

Interim results of the bank for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 showed 17.3 per cent increase in gross earnings to N181.8 billion in 2014 as against N155 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Total assets rose to N2.07 trillion, an increase of 13 per cent from N1.84 trillion recorded in the comparable period of 2013. Profit for the period rose by 28 per cent to N35.4 billion compared with N27.6 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Basic earnings per share thus increased by 28 per cent to N1.54 as against N1.21 posted in the comparable period of 2013.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 05-02-15

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

IMF expresses concern over Ecobank’s capital

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USHED growth and poor governance at Ecobank pose serious concerns, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report about banks operating across African borders.

It said Ecobank Nigeria’s “relatively weak capital position remains a concern” and that rapid loan growth at the bank, which is a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), raises suspicion of reckless lending.

But Ecobank’s Spokesman, Richard Uku, described the report as a misconception. He said the report suggests that ETI’s rapid expansion, lack of regulation and poor governance pose a wider threat to

Stories by Collins Nweze

financial stability in Africa.

He said the report contained some inaccuracies.

“The internal governance issues that it refers to at Ecobank date back to a period of several months between mid-2013 and early 2014.

The Ecobank Group dealt conclusively with those internal governance issues at the time..

Uku said that since that period, a reconstituted new Ecobank Group Board and senior management team have been able to restore stability to the bank and regain the confidence of its stakeholders, including its regulators, shareholders, customers and staff.

“The board is led by the experienced and well respected Emmanuel Ikazoboh as Chairman.

He is supported by a diverse group of directors with a rich mix of experience and knowledge of the African banking industry. Senior management is led by Mr. Essien, a veteran professional of Ecobank for almost 25 years. Board and management have provided strong leadership for the institution since their assumption of office at Group’s 2014 Annual General Meeting,” he said.

He explained that It would be wrong for the report to inadvertently convey the perception that past governance issues still exist at Ecobank, addi g that a lot has

taken place between the preparation of the aforementioned IMF report and the present time.

At the end of 2014, Nedbank and Qatar National Bank became the largest shareholders of the Ecobank group. The investment by both of these banks demonstrates their confidence, not only in the Ecobank Group’s future growth prospects, but also in the strength of its governance and its management,” the ETI spokesman said.

Ecobank is one of the largest financial institution in sub-Saharan Africa and has a presence in 36 countries on the continent. Its assets in 2013 stood at $22.5 billion, according to the company’s website.

Sanusi praises UBA’s role in banking reforms

T

HE Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has commended the management of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc for the leadership role it played in the financial industry reforms, when he was the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Sanusi, who spoke during the visit of the executive management of UBA to his palace in Kano, said that because of the UBA’s commitment to the reforms introduced by the apex regu-

latory institution, the Bank’s Group Managing Director, Phillips Oduoza chaired the Committee on Financial Inclusion, which championed the cashless and mobile banking initiatives in the country.

“The reforms introduced by CBN towards improving Nigeria’s financial landscape were a collective decision and the responsibility of everybody, but I should emphasise the contribution of UBA. “UBA’s Group Managing Director chaired one of the critical committees

that drove the reform,” the Emir said.

He also praised UBA for offering him a job when returned from Sudan after bagging a degree in Islamic studies.

“I am not surprised by the role played by UBA in ensuring that we succeed. The Bank defied all odds to offer me employment after my education in Sudan in Islamic Studies, and provided me an opportunity to advance my career in banking. The institution has been instrumental to my success as a banker, for which I am grateful.

My relationship with UBA was further extended to CBN,” Sanusi said.

While responding, Oduoza, praised the exemplary leadership skills shown by the Emir as a staff of UBA and Governor at the CBN. He said the banking industry is today, relatively immune from the vagaries of crisis brought about by the crash in crude oil price, as a result of the detoxication of banks’ balance sheet through the setting up of AMCON by the Sanusi-led CBN.

FirstBank rewards 480 customers

F

IRSTBANK has rewarded 480 customers with cash and gift prizes during the January monthly raffle draw of its savings bonanza held yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State.

The promo which kicked off last September will run till February 28, 2015 and winners will emerge based on monthly and quarterly draws to

be held during the duration of the promo.

The monthly and quarterly raffle draws in the savings promo bonanza have produced several winners in the past months to include 180 winners of 32 -inch LED Televisions, 180 winners of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 180 winners of Home Theatre Systems, 180 winners of N50,000 cash prize

each and six winners of a brand new Hyundai Elantra cars.

Speaking at a media event recently, Head, Consumer Banking Products, Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna said that “The FirstBank Savings Promo Bonanza is a platform designed for enhancing savings culture in the nation and encouraging the youths as well as the unbanked to embrace the fi-

nancial services system.”

It is designed to reward customers for their patronage and loyalty to the brand over the years in keeping up with the Brand’s promise of putting customers first. Mrs. Ihekuna also added that the Bank has been changing the life style of average Nigerians with its Savings Promo since 2008.

FCMB promotes workplace wellness

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has commenced its yearly Employee Health Week. The health week, which began on February 2 and will run till February 7th, is primarily aimed at promoting healthy living for employees and their families.

Since the programme began, FCMB has been carrying out a variety of activities with focus on good nutrition, exercise, and early detection of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, among others.

The aim of the program is to prevent and reduce health risk factors which affect employee productivity.

The highpoints of this year’s FCMB Employee Health Week is the deployment of doctors to 20 select branches nation-wide, to conduct quick examinations such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels and Body Mass Index (BMI) tests for employees. Employees will also receive free comprehensive health checks and free mammograms screening.

A Family Fitness Day event has been scheduled for Saturday, February 7 in Lagos, where employees, their spouses and children will engage in various fitness activities, including aerobics, cycling, games, and stress relief therapy. There will also be a dedicated health corner, where a team of medical experts will enlighten participants on various health issues and provide tips on healthy living.

Speaking on the significance of the Health Week, the Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management of FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa, said that, ‘’this is one of our initiatives aimed at promoting the wellness of our workforce, improving the health of our employees and their family members to ensure a healthy society.”

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS 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

126.59 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,741.99 1,106.55 113.25 121.16 1.67 1.29 1.32 0.95 1.17

126.46 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,741.99 1,105.78 112.64 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17

GAINERS AS AT 05-02-15

SYMBOL CHAMPION DANGFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL UAC-PROP RTBRISCOE AIICO ACCESS INTBREW CUSTODYINS ABCTRANS PORTPAINT NEM UACN

O/PRICE 6.28 3.30 3.34 10.97 0.73 0.80 5.42 20.50 3.83 0.53 3.89 0.57 38.85

C/PRICE 6.91 3.63 3.67 11.94 0.79 0.84 5.69 21.50 4.00 0.55 4.03 0.59 40.00

CHANGE 10.03 10.00 9.88 8.84 8.22 5.00 4.98 4.44 3.77 3.60 3.51 2.96 2.30

LOSERS AS AT 05-02-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

FLOURMILL TRANSEXPR DANGSUGAR HONYFLOUR SKYEBANK UBA GLAXOSMITH WEMABANK TRANSCORP ZENITHBANK PRESCO NB GUARANTY

38.00 1.00 7.31 3.30 2.10 3.67 42.00 0.94 3.00 18.11 29.99 148.50 22.58

C/PRICE 36.10 0.95 6.95 3.14 2.00 3.50 40.10 0.90 2.89 17.49 29.00 144.00 21.90

CHANGE -5.00 -5.00 -4.92 -4.85 -4.76 -4.63 -4.52 -4.26 -3.67 -3.42 -3.30 -3.03 -3.01

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 5, 2015

R-DAS ($/N)

168.00

$1

Interbank ($/N)

185.50

$1

Black Market ($/N)

205.00

$1

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: December

CBN EXCHANGE RATES (RDAS) February 5, 2015

8%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$34.5b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$55

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

03-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 04-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

1M

11.94

12.18

3M

13.08

13.33

6M

14.03

14.17

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

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

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

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

US Dollar

167

168

Pounds Sterling

251.7525

253.26

Euro

189.5617

190.6968

Swiss Franc

180.1122

181.1907

Yen

1.4231

1.4316

CFA

0.2689

0.2889

234.5928

235.9975

Yuan/Renminbi

26.6837

26.8444

Riyal

44.4908

44.7582

SDR

235.2863

236.6952

WAUA

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 4, 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 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

56

SHOWBIZ

COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING

The Anniversary stars BBA’s Tayo in first movie role

M

IXED Feelings star on Ebony Life TV; F o l a s a d e Abimbola, is set for her cinematic debut, The Anniversary co-produced by Seun Okegbemiro who is also the director of the film.

The film features Big Brother Africa’s first runnerup, in last year’s reality show, Tayo Faniran, as lead character in the work that is also his debut as an actor.

The film, a two-man cast, stars Folasade and Tayo, in a story of a struggling young

couple who decide to work on their differences and stay together.

For Miss Abimbola, the project is a landmark in her young career as a filmmaker.

Not only is it her first movie project, as a producer, she has played alongside self-styled Mr. Hotshot sexy farmer, as Tayo fondly calls himself.

Recounting her experience while working with the BBA star, Abimbola said, “Big Brother Hotshot was more or less a talent exhibition show, the contestants had to act,

sing and perform for Africa, every week so, seeing Tayo on those extravaganzas made it easy. And also he’s quite funny and interesting.”

Written by Gbenga Etti, The Anniversary has its own challenges, and according to the producer, “It is basically logistics. That is also the reason we decided to do a short film and not a feature-length.

Well, it is my first effort as co-producer, maybe subsequentl,y we will do feature length movies,” she said.

Describing her journey into the movie industry, Sade who made a comeback into Nollywood 2013 said, “The journey has been bittersweet, being an actor can be quite tedious and sometime, outright frustrating especially for a youngster, but trust me, it has its amazing parts”. The graduate of Lagos State University is noted for plays such as Iphegenia finds Ayelala, Woman of Owu and We Will Live, while still an undergraduate.

On the other hand, her coproducer, Seun Okegbemiro, is a movie, music video director and artiste manager.

His production house, Dazedfaze Films, is responsible for the film project which is being supported by OUCH, Maryshine Saloon and Wickedstones.

Dazedfaze Films is also part organizers of Most Beautiful Face in Nigeria pageant.

• Tayo with Abimbola

Bobby Brown reveals wife is pregnant, as fears grow on losing Bobbi Kristina

•L-R: Former President Alhaji Shehu Shagari, former Head of State Gen Muhammadu Buhari and former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida at the National Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja... yesterday.

•Governors Rotimi Amaechi (left); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Zana Umar Mustafa...yesterday.

•No inheritance for ‘hubby’ in case of death

S

OMEHOW, RnB singer, has revealed to his grieving family, that wife, Alicia Etheredge, is pregnant, as they deal with the prospect of losing his only daughter by late singer, Whitney Houston.

Alicia is said to be four months pregnant; something he hadn’t shared with many of his relatives until now. Critics say the timing is awful, but the situation couldn’t be hidden as they keep vigil in the hospital waiting rooms, for Bobbi Kristina, whose brain function has perilously diminished.

There had been a feud between Bobby’s family and Whitney’s, but report says, so far, Alicia is handling it well.

The two families were said to be bickering over who gets access to the part of the hospital where Bobbi Kristina is currently receiving

By Victor Akande

treatment. As one source put it, “The Houston family is sick of the Brown family acting up, as they always do.”

A somber Bobby Brown showed up at Emory University Hospital, Wednesday, to visit his Bobbi Kristina, but refused to answer questions about his daughter’s condition. But there were indications her brain swelling went down and her eyes showed some movement. However, doctors say they can’t predict the outcome since she was without oxygen for two to five minutes as she lay face down in her bathtub.

Bobbi Kristina was transferred to Emory, Tuesday, because the hospital is renowned for treating brain injuries.

Meanwhile, there have been thoughts over the inheritance of Bobbi Kristina, should she

• Bobbi Kristina with Nick Gordon

pass away, with Bobby Brown claiming his daughter was never married to Nick Gordon.

“Bobbi Kristina was never ever Mrs. Nick Gordon,” said Brown. And according to his attorney ... “Bobbi Kristina is not and has never been married to Nick Gordon.” For once, the Houston family agrees with Bobby Brown, saying, there are no legal documents that would allow Gordon to get any of the Whitney Houston fortune Bobbi Kristina inherited — if she passes.

The fake marriage revelation flies in the face of several statements Bobbi Kristina and Nick both made on camera last year.

Bobbi Kristina, who was 19-year-old when Whitney died in 2012, became inconceivably richer, because the singer left her with 100 percent of her assets in her will ... an estate valued at around $20 million.

According to reports, Whitney’s will doesn’t enumerate specific assets — but she left all furnishings, clothing, personal effects, jewelry and cars to her surviving child.

According to reports, Houston’s money will be put in a trust — which Bobbi will have access to in stages and earn a portion when she turns 21, another chunk when she turns 25, and the rest when she turns 30.

The will was signed in 1993, a month before she gave birth to Bobbi.

•Kano State Governor Musa Kwakwanso(left); his Kwara State counterpart AbdulFatah Ahmed and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke...yesterday.

•L-R: Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakada Wammako(left); his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola and Governor of Niger State Dr. Babangida Aliyu ...yesterday.

PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN.

57

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Board cries out over fake forms From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

THE Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has warned those who duplicate pilgrims’ forms and sell to people, to desist from such act or face the wrath of the government.

The Chairman of the board, Dr Levi Muonanu, alleged that some people were impersonating as officials of the board, selling fake forms to the public.

He briefed reporters yesterday in Awka on the outcome of the meeting of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in Abuja.

PVC: Lagos declares work-free day today

T

HE Lagos State Government yesterday declared today a work-free day for its workers just as Governor Babatunde Fashola enjoined private sector employers to release their workers early to enable those of them who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to do so in their various Polling Units.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, who gave the directive in a statement,

said the State Government was desirous of ensuring that all public servants in the State participated in the voting process adding that they should take the opportunity to go out and collect their cards at their Polling Units.

Enjoining Private sector employers to release their workers early today for the same purpose, Governor Fashola said the desired prosperity and the brighter rewarding future being sought after by

the people, both for themselves and for their children, would be determined by their willingness or otherwise to sacrifice time to key into the election process by collecting their Permanent Voters’ Cards for the elections.

He declared, “The prosperity and the brighter rewarding future that we all seek, for ourselves and our children over the next four years, will be determined by what we do in the next few days”, adding

that no sacrifice could be too much a price to secure a better future over the next four years and beyond.

The Governor, who noted that in order for democracy to be truly representative, it must be participatory, added that such participation confers eligibility and imposes a duty on all the citizens from the age of 18 years to vote in the elections even as it also enables them to have a say in the elections.

Abule Egba CDA celebrates ABULE Egba North Community Development Association (CDA) will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday.

A statement by the CDA Chairman, Elder Paul Crown and Secretary, Mr. Nasiru Aliu, said the meeting would take place at Peace Shalom Nursery/Primary School, 32, Paul Street, Abule Egba in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State at 12pm.

The statement added that the essence of the meeting was to celebrate with the residents and re-awaken their interest and participation in community development and governance.

Church holds event THE Head Pastor of Divine Favour Prayer Assembly Ministries, Mowe, Ogun State, Prophet Tayo Popoola, has urged the Federal Government, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), parties and other stakeholders in the elections to play by the rules of the game.

He said plans had been concluded by his church to begin a seven-week non-stop prayer for the country, starting from February 1 to March 15. Prophet Popoola enjoined Christians and Muslims “to pray for Nigeria at this critical moment.”

•Hip-Hop singer, Innocent Idibia (aka Tuface) (left) and his wife, Annie (right) during their condolence visit to the children PHOTO: RAHMAN of the late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas - Deji and Mrs. Tosin Bakare, in Lagos...yesterday.

SANUSI

Boko Haram plots to bomb polling centres, says Fed Govt

T

Edo SSG loses dad THE Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has lost his father, High Chief John Ihonvbere.

He died on Monday. He was 98.

Pa Ihonvbere is survived by a wife, Chief Alice Titi Ihonvbere, four children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family said it would announce funeral arrangements later.

Funeral for Mrs Ekundayo Funeral programmes for the late Mrs Olufunke Ekundayo, wife of the former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in Ekiti State, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, will begin next Monday with a service of songs at her home, 12A, Joe Akonobi Street, River Valley Estate, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, by 5pm.

The family said a service would hold on February 12 at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Ise-Ekiti at 10am.

Interment follows.

The late Mrs Ekundayo, 56, a senior education officer with the Lagos State Government, died on January 31.

•Secretary-General, Sacred Order, Cherubim and Seraphim, Mount Zion, Yaba, Lagos, Elder Napo Emunday (right), speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Africa Cathedral Bethel, Lagos. With him is Chairman, Mount Zion Management Council, Apostle-General Dare Otubu.

•Continued

HE Federal G o v e r n m e n t yesterday raised the alarm over plans by Boko Haram insurgents to attack polling units during the elections.

It also alleged that the group had perfected plans to collect, buy or steal Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) of female voters, hand them over to female suicide bombers and create access for them into polling centres where they will detonate bombs and kill voters.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri and security officials briefed reporters in Abuja.

He urged Nigerians,

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

especially female voters, to be mindful of their PVCs, to ensure they don’t get into the hands of bad elements.

“By this information, therefore, Nigerians, especially female electors, are warned to remain vigilant, guard and preserve their PVCs to avoid the possibility of their being lost to these bad elements, who will put them to untoward uses”, Omeri said.

Speaking on the 7,500 AUbacked multinational force, he said the force is to be composed of troops from countries in the Lake Chad Basin Commission areas.

‘Don’t sell your votes’ •Christians support Ambode

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

L

AGOSIANS have been advised not to sell their votes, to avoid installing a bad government.

They were also urged to shun the antics of cash-andcarry politicians, who might lure them with money Spokesman for Akinwunmi Ambode Kommittee of Friends (AA’KOF), Elder Cornelius Olopade, gave the advice yesterday.

He was speaking at a rally organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yaba, Lagos State.

Olopade said the electors should vote for candidates, based on their performances and their parties.

He said he was sure that if those were the criteria used, the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and other party’s candidates would win with a landslide.

Ambode, who said he was flabbergasted by the massive turnout at the campaign, added that with the continuity of an APC government, the dream of turning Lagos into a mega city would be realised.

He urged Lagosians to vote for him and other APC candidates “so that together we will turn Lagos to a mega city.”

The National President of the All Christian Leaders & Ministers Forum (ACLMF), Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, has said Christians in Lagos State are supporting Ambode and other APC candidates.

Ogedengbe, who spoke yesterday at the group’s forum in Abule-Egba, Lagos, said: “We‘ve not received money from anybody. We support APC because it is a party that cares for the masses.”

He noted that the elections would be peaceful and credible “because God loves Nigeria. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be impartial in performing its duties.”

Atedo’s ataraxia, Ekwueme’s quagmire from Back Page

Not minding the inherent perils, he teamed up with a few other soul mates to found the Concerned Professionals, (CP). Through well-reasoned newspaper adverts CP relentlessly challenged the obdurate military regimes and insisted that the right thing must be done by the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. In that period of subterfuge and renegades, Atedo’s was an intervention that was at once unique, effective and memorable.

You must have noticed recently, similar newspaper adverts with Atedo apparently trying to re-enact the activism of those days, using the platform of ANAP Foundation. Sadly, today, he appears to have grown

ataraxic and dangerously sentimental.

His last installment is titled: “The ugly side of Buhari and GEJ”, (The Punch 31-01-15, page 23).

It is a perfect example of negative campaign done with panache and bravura.

As Atedo purports, it is a preview of an opinion poll bankrolled by him which results show that Buhari and Jonathan are running neck-toneck. But Atedo’s take on his poll drips with bias and bad blood against Buhari that nobody should bother about the result of his so-called poll.

First, it has to be the ‘ugly side” of the candidates that has to be highlighted. But it turned out to be Atedo’s ugly thoughts and sentiments about Buhari.

There are about 20 ‘negative’ verbal assaults against Buhari on one page of

Atedo’s article. Let’s list some.

One: swing voters will determine the next presidential election. “They want change but see Buhari as the type of change that is both worrisome and alarming.”

Two: “Many of the swing voters are true democrats who abhor authoritarianism.

Buhari was not a benevolent dictator… he was a vicious and wicked one who used retroactive decrees to sentence youths to death…”

Three: “On the economy, Buhari was a disaster first time around. He was clearly an economic illiterate…”

Four: Atedo describes Buhari as “an old and infirm “honest” man who is driven by blind ambition to reoccupy a seat from which he was booted out in 1985…”

And what is GEJ’s ugly side?

Hear it from Atedo: “GEJ’s vulnerabilities are from the party chieftains and a few dodgy aides that he accommodates and/or tolerates… he believed too much in assurances from our security agencies… This entire group have (sic) lost credibility in the fight against Boko Haram…” on and on, GEJ is Atedo’s hero and knight in shining armour.

Atedo wraps up his ugly campaign thus: “If I vote GEJ in this election it is because his ugly side is less ugly than Buhari’s known and welldocumented uglier side and nothing more.”

One cannot help wondering where the rain started to beat Atedo? I shed tears as I interrogated his metamorphosis; if one had not interviewed this fellow

about 20 years ago one would probably blame it on hunger.

Today, he typifies the current leadership that sits in its exquisite cabin and would not acknowledge that the ship of state is sinking. Is Nigeria not a pariah state today as in 1994?

No serious country would sell us arms. When is a banana republic? Chadian troops and South African mercenaries are on our soil today? What is our exchange rate now? Yet in Atedo’s estimation, Gen. Buhari is Nigeria’s problem.

Let’s close by informing Atedo that he will go down as one of the un-doings of GEJ. If only the president got proper counsel; if only just one refinery was built in five years (as Singapore and even Niger did) and Nigeria no longer imports petroleum products...what a difference that would have made today?

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

58

NEWS

•The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP), Auchi polytechnic chapter in a peaceful protest at the institution ... yesterday.

Jonathan to Deltans: we’ll complete $16b gas city P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to complete the $16 billion gas city project if he is reelected.

According to the President, the gas city project was very important to Nigeria as it would generate employment for the youth and boost the country’s economy.

Jonathan, who was addressing members of the

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council after a presidential campaign rally in Asaba, said the gas city project, to be the biggest oil and gas investment in Africa, was dear to his administration.

He said the project would

be launched in a few weeks and appealed to the traditional rulers not to relent in their support for his administration.

Jonathan told the traditional rulers that he was seeking re-election to complete projects that would be beneficial to Nigerians.

The Obi of Owa, Efeizomor II, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, described Jonathan as a performer whose projects transformed the lives of Nigerians and repositioned Nigeria for faster economic growth.

The Owa monarch explained that with Jonathan in charge, Nigeria would get a better deal.

Why Idahosa quit as commissioner, by Edo govt

T

HE Edo State government has explained why Mr Dennis Idahosa left the executive council of Governor Adams Oshiomhole .

The government, in a statement by Information and Orientation Commissioner Louis Odion, said Idahosa was indicted for advance fee fraud by an administrative panel.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to spates of disinformation and untruths in a section of the media with regards to the sudden exit of Mr. Dennis Idahosa from the Edo State Executive Council as commissioner for Investment,

Public/Private Partnership.

“For clarity, we wish to state that in the last two months, Governor Adams Oshiomhole had received a series of petitions, mostly from overseas, alleging that Mr. Idahosa was engaged in fraudulent activities (popularly called 419) on an industrial scale. The petitioners, purporting to be his victims, alleged they had been swindled of huge sums of money.

“Disturbed and consistent with his zero tolerance for corruption or any conduct that might tarnish the image of Edo State or bring the country to international odium for

that matter, Comrade Oshiomhole had last year set up a high-level administrative panel to look into the grave allegations discreetly.

After weeks of forensic investigations, the panel’s findings were startling.

“Last week, Mr. Idahosa became aware that the administrative panel was on the verge of formally requesting him to answer those weighty charges.

As a matter of fact, last Thursday (January 29), Mr. Idahosa had attended APC Mega Presidential rally at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium that was well attended in his capacity as commissioner. Curiously, he would dramatically reappear

barely 24 hours later at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announcing his defection.

“We do not want to join the speculation that Mr. Idahosa’s defection was designed to preempt the report of the administrative panel or his action motivated by an external offer of protection. However, in the name of decency and justice and international image of our country, we can only encourage Mr. Idahosa to come out in the open and answer the sundry allegations of 419 levelled against him.

Otherwise, the long arm of the law, though may be delayed by his new powerful friends, will ultimately prevail.”

Ogoni people ‘ll massively vote for Peterside, says monarch

T

HE paramount ruler of Gokana Kingdom in Ogoniland, Rivers State, King Barnabas Paago Bagia, has declared that his peace-loving people will vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside on February 28.

Bagia spoke yesterday when Peterside visited his palace at Bera-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area.

The monarch stated that the decision of the Ogoni people to vote en masse for the Rivers APC’s governorship candidate was because he was from the political family of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The king, who spoke through Chief Needom Badom, said: “We assure you that Gokana people will give you support. We assure you that Gokana people will support anything that has to do with the Amaechi’s political family.

“Our position, as royal fathers, isolate us from partisan politics, but be that as it may, it smacks of injustice and tantamount to ingratitude, if we do not state categorically that since the amalgamation of Nigeria, Gokana people have benefitted from Amaechi

APC candidate vows to leave a legacy of peace, progress

T

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has assured the people of the state that love, unity, peace and progress will form the building blocks of his administration if elected.

Peterside spoke in Omoku at the palace of Eze Chukwuemeka Nnam Obi, the Oba of Ogbaland while responding to the monarch’s welcome address. The APC candidate, who is criss-crossing the length and breadth of Rivers State ahead of the elections, promised to bequeath to Rivers people, a legacy of peace, unity and development.

“Your eminence, be rest assured that we are on the same page on this issue of love, peace and unity. This is our objective and it is the greatest legacy any government can give to his people. I want to assure you that from our first day in office, we will From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

than any other person.”

The monarch pleaded with Peterside to consider the construction of a new palace for Gokana Kingdom and the provision of a bus for the Gokana Council of Chiefs, when inaugurated as Rivers governor on May 29.

The paramount ruler said: “We are not here to bother you with requests, because you already know them.

Gokana, as you can see, is a huge construction site, with

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

work vigorously in pursuit of peace, unity and prosperity.

“As a leader, I am conscious of my role and the expectations of our people. Hon. Asita, my running mate also appreciates this. On the day we are called to give account, we will stand before God to answer for our actions. We shall take full responsibility of our actions. We shall conduct ourselves in such a way that at the end of the day, we will not account to any man.

“We are indeed clear-headed and mindful of where we are going. And the people of Rivers State can count on our integrity and track record.”

Peterside later proceeded to Omoku Local Government Council Pavilion where he received a rousing welcome from APC leaders and supporters. He reeled out his economic development agenda for Rivers State people, promising to be faithful in all his dealings.

network of roads, schools, name it. Therefore, we will make one small request from you. This palace is not befitting. We want you to help us.

The palace also needs a bus for the chiefs.”

Peterside, who was accompanied by his running mate, Okorie Honourable Asita and the APC’s candidate for Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, among others, promised to complete all projects initiated by the Amaechi’s administration and to ensure the connec-

tion of communities in Gokana kingdom to the national grid, if elected.

The Rivers APC’s governorship candidate said: “We will complete every project started by our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Gokana LGA. We will pay special attention to many roads in Gokana. We will extend Gokana water scheme to the communities not yet reached and we will ensure that communities in this kingdom are connected to the national grid.”

Emerhor’ll succeed Uduaghan, says running mate

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, will emerge governor, his running mate, Vander-Puye Thomas Abanum, has said.

Abanum spoke with reporters in Asaba yesterday.

He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of winning past elections through rigging.

He vowed that the APC would curtail the ruling party’s excesses.

Abanum said: “We will not allow PDP to rig this time. In the previous elections, the PDP only won through rigging, but this time around, we will curtail them. They will not be able to rig. Do not worry about the details of how we intend to so do. We are prepared.”

He said Deltans were tired of the 16 years of PDP misrule and want change, adding that many disgruntled PDP members were secretly working for an APC victory.

Abanum attributed the victory of the PDP at the last local council polls to the alleged partiality of the local

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

electoral umpire, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).

He said the governor appointed all the members of the DSIEC, adding that such a body could be compromised.

Abanum said the apex Urhobo socio-cultural group, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), endorsed Emerhor and not the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Great Ogboru.

His words: “All I know is that the UPU only endorsed O’tega Emerhor of the APC. That was what we heard the day before and maybe the LP to fool the people also came out with its story that its candidate also have been endorsed by the UPU, but we do know that the UPU and the Urhobo are behind O’tega Emerhor.”

He said an APC administration would empower youths and women through the creation of N10 billion grant for small-scale entrepreneurs, stressing that local governments councils would play major roles in the disbursements of the fund.

Amaechi, navy partner on waterways security

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IVERS State government and the Navy have agreed to provide adequate security on the waterways during the elections.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure the security of lives and properties across the state, especially on the waterways.

Amaechi said the government would give the Navy, the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, the Marine Police, and other security agencies the needed support to ensure the safety of sea travellers.

The governor spoke when the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Amaechi, who was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru, said: “Years ago, security on our waterways was a difficult task, but with the help of the Navy, the situation was tamed.”

He added that his administration would continue to work with the security agencies.

Rear Admiral Babalola said

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

his visit was part of his familiarisation tour of all units under his command.

He said the command would collaborate with other security agencies to ensure that the general elections would be done in a proper and conducive atmosphere.

In a related development, the Navy expressed its readiness to provide security in the waterways before, during and after the general elections.

Commodore Musa Gemu, the commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, Warri Naval base, pledged the readiness during Operation Show of Force in Warri yesterday.

Gemu assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electorate of adequate protection.

Gemu said the event, held at the Benelt Island in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, was happening simultaneously in all naval commands across the country.

He added that it was aimed at showing the readiness of naval officers in providing security in the waterways before, during and after the elections.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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NEWS NLC to refund housing project subscribers’ fund

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured subscribers to the NLC-Kriston Lally Housing Project that their investments will be refunded soon.

In a statement by its General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, the congress said it was working with security agents to ensure that the developer signed the documents for the refund.

The NLC chief apologised for the delay in the refund, adding that the congress did not set out to defraud the subscribers.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

According to him, the transition in the congress will not affect the pace of refund.

The statement reads: “We would want to use this opportunity to once again offer our apology to aggrieved and agitated subscribers to the NLCKriston Lally Housing Project for the delay in their refunds.

“As they are already aware, much of the paper work has been done. However, the process of refund to subscribers was frustrated by the developers, Kriston-Lally.

Ogbe: Ortom has formula to tackle Benue’s challenges From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi •Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (middle); his deputy, Tha’anda Rubainu (right) and Director-General of his campaign organisation at a rally in Kaltungo.

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Audu Ogbe, has said the party’s Benue State governorship candidate, Samuel Ortom, has the formula to tackle the challenges confronting the state.

Ogbe spoke yesterday at the beginning of the party’s governorship, state and National assemblies’ campaigns in Benue South Senatorial District at Otukpo.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former National Chairman said as a successful industrialist, Ortom possessed the key to solve the state’s most nagging problems, including unemployment.

He described the PDP as a mega mafia, which had deviated from the dreams of its founding fathers.

Ogbe said the ruling party was pandering to the whims and caprices of a few at the expense of the majority.

The former Information Minister urged Nigerians to vote for APC candidates in this month’s general elections to change the nation’s fortunes.

He regretted that while Nasarawa and Osun states, which received far less federal allocation than Benue, were discharging their financial responsibilities to their people, salaries and pensions remained unpaid in Benue State.

Abuja rail ‘generates 5,000 jobs’ •Former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Comrade Ayodele Adewale speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) distribution at Sunfit Hotel and Spa, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State. With him are Comrade Kingsley Nwaze (right); Comrade Taiwo Ayedun (second left) and Mr. Akin Alla, Southwest Co-ordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria.

Sanusi: I’ve reached my ambition’s terminus

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HE Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said he is contented with his current status as a first class monarch.

Sanusi said the stool was his major accomplishment.

The monarch said he would not aspire for any other position, however plum, for the rest of his life.

Sanusi spoke yesterday in Kano with a select group of reporters ahead of his coronation tomorrow as the 14th Emir of Kano.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said he had fulfilled his major ambition in life, following his ascension to the throne.

He said the stool was the most revered status anyone could acquire to have a sense

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

of satisfaction.

Sanusi said his journey to the exalted position started on a sound footing, adding that he was willing to live it well, from the palace to the grave.

According to him, Almighty Allah, in His infinite wisdom, made it possible for him to reach the pinnacle of his ambition.

Sanusi said he was following the footsteps of his predecessors, with the understanding of the immense sacrifices they rendered to Kano residents.

The monarch stressed that as the leader of the people, he would be guided by the teachings of Islam to do what Allah has ordained.

He said: “As far as I am con-

cerned, I can tell you that I have achieved my ambition.

I have no further ambition in life. I am not willing to move an inch in the name of looking for any revered status.

“I know what my predecessors did to earn the confidence of the people. I am also taking a cue from their good legacies to prove my prowess.”

On the need for the residents to accommodate one another, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations, Sanusi said Kano had been adored for its hospitality and tolerance.

The monarch said the ancient city’s dwellers carved a niche for themselves through decorum and decency it was built on.

He stressed the need for

quality education to enable the people understand the indices of good life, adding that he was poised to place a high premium on education.

On his eventful tenure at the CBN, Sanusi said he introduced far-reaching reforms, which positively impacted on the lives of Nigerians.

The monarch said he was averse to any responsibility that he would not handle effectively.

He said: “People are erroneously nursing the impression that only a popular thing that is right. One may come up with an initiative that is unpopular but may not be right, as expected. But with conviction and sincerity of purpose, one could be able to make some appreciable headway.”

NCAA lists foreign registered aircraft for private operations T

HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday released the list of foreign registered privately operated aircraft with flight operations clearance certificate (FOCC) and maintenance clearance certificate (MCC).

They were authorised to carry out private operations only.

NCAA’s spokesman Fan Ndubuoke said the operators were only allowed to operate within Nigeria for private operations and not for commercial purpose.

The spokesman described commercial flights as “hire and reward”, adding that this violated the Nigerian Civil

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Aviation Regulations.

Ndubuoke listed the operators as follows: Air First, ANAP Business Jets, ATT Aviation Support Limited, AVJET Corporation, BUA Group Limited, Chrome Air, Delmon Aviation/C&K, and Dominion Air. Others are: EAN Aviation Limited, Executive Jets, Ferry Aviation Development Services, Gitto Construzioni, Grenfact Ventures Limited, Gyro Air limited, NAMCO Nigeria Limited, Orlean Invest West Africa, Prime Air, Project Ea-

gle Air Limited, Southern Air, SWAT Technology Limited, Tag Aviation Limited and Toucan Aviation Support.

A statement by the NCAA reads: “The public is hereby notified of the list of Foreign Registered Privately operated aircraft that have been issued with NCAA Flight Operations Clearance Certificate (FOCC) and Maintenance Clearance Certificate (MCC) whereby the owners are authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for private operation only and not for hire or reward (not for com-

mercial purpose) according to Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nigeria CARs) 8.2.1.9.

“The use of these operators’ aircraft for commercial operations shall be in violation of the Nigerian CARs 9.1.1.4(a)(b) and will attract appropriate sanctions by the authority.”

Early this week, Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka threatened to ground private jet operators with foreign registered aircraft engaging in commercial/charter operations.

The minister said such operators had till yesterday to regularise their operations.

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HE Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, has said the Idu light rail project in Abuja has generated about 5,000 jobs.

The minister said the project would generate millions of jobs when it becomes fully operational.

Suleiman spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he inspected some projects funded by the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

He said: “The railway project is a phenomenal initiative. The project has already created 5,000 jobs. You will see jobs in millions when the

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

project is fully operational. It will create jobs for security men and businesses will emerge.”

Sulaiman restated government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria.

He hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for the initiative.

According to him, the project will boost the nation’s economic development.

At the site of the dualised Abuja–Abaji Road (Section 1), which was 95 per cent completed, the minister praised the contractor for the quality of job done on the road.

‘Jonathan doesn’t deserve North’s votes’ From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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KADUNA State chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ashafa Ayuba, has said the next President should know every part of the country, including the culture and ethno-religious background of the people.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Kaduna, Ayuba noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had never known any part of the North; neither did he associate with those who matter in the region before he became President.

The politician said it was the reason the President was finding it difficult to administer the zone and other parts of the country.

He said Jonathan should vacate the seat and allow someone with a good understanding of the country, including the people and their cultural backgrounds, to administer the nation.

Ayuba noted that the inability of President Jonathan to tackle Boko Haram insurgency was additional reasons for him to go this year.

According to him, Jonathan should allow capable hands to charge of the nation’s affairs.

Ayuba said: “It is very unfortunate that we are having a President as Goodluck Jonathan, who does not know any part of the North. I ask fellow Nigerians how such a leader would be capable of administering or governing the country when he does not know much about the people and their cultures.

“I want to say that Nigerians should elect a President who knows every part of the country, including the tribes, religions and cultural dispositions of the people. This is the way a leader would be able to appreciate the people and tackle their problems without reservations or sentiments.

“Look at the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the Northeast for some years now. President Jonathan cannot end it. Then, what are the people benefitting from the government they elected into power? No, this unbearable. We need another President who has the feelings of the people at heart.”

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NEWS Council of State to INEC: elections must go on Continued from page 4

general election.’

Another source said: “As expected, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) battled spiritedly to justify the need for the postponement.

“Babangida Aliyu appeared to be a lone ranger from the North as most governors from the region chose to keep quiet at the session. They neither spoke against nor in favour of the poll shift.

“But they were rebuffed by council members and all APC governors at the meeting who took time to explain the grave consequences of postponing the poll and how it can damage the nation’s reputation.”

A third source said the National Security Adviser Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) briefed the session on threats to the peaceful conduct of elections in some states.

Dasuki specifically isolated Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Gombe states as flashpoints.

The source added: “Immediately Gombe was included, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo quickly countered that ‘Gombe State is not under security threat.

“At the end of the day, 14 local governments (nine in Borno, three in Adamawa and two in Yobe) were found to have been affected by the security challenges.

“Most members of the council asked why the nation cannot isolate the 14 local government areas.”

“At this stage, all the former Heads of State, except President Olusegun Obasanjo who was absent, spoke in favour of going

Minister directs NNPC to pay $1.48b Continued from page 4

What Council of State discussed,

by APC Governors’ Forum N a statement last night on the Council of State meeting’s outcome, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha explained what transpired.

“Members of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) are delighted at the conclusions of the Council of State Meeting as follows: “Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike: This is the internal affairs of states and all state governors who have issues with judicial staff are advised to engage the unions to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.

“Security and 2015 Elections:The Council of State reviewed the report from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the state of preparedness for the 14th and 28th February General Elections.

“The Chairman of INEC assured Council that INEC is

ready to proceed with elections as scheduled emphasising that, “our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the elections.

Compared with the 2011 General Elections, for instance, our systems are definitely more robust … We believe that we are ready for the elections as planned”.

“The NSA, however, drew the attention of Council to security challenges in fourteen (14) Local Government Areas (LGAs in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states 2:10:2 respectively.

“The overwhelming majority of Council members, including all former Heads of State and all former Chief Justices of the Federation agreed that the elections should proceed as scheduled on 14th and 28th of February, 2015. However, many of the PDP Governors insisted on postponement in spite of INEC’s assurances.”

ahead with the elections.”

The source quoted Gen. Babangida as saying: “With the report from the NSA, it is clear that only 14 out of the 774 local governments in the country(less than 5%) are under security threats. You cannot stop elections because of these areas.”

Other leaders, such as Gen. Abdulsalami, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,Shagari, Shonekan, and Gen. Gowon asked the military and security agencies to “concentrate efforts at resolving

the challenges in the affected local governments.”

It was gathered that Mimiko also attempted to raise issues on how President Jonathan’s life had been endangered in some states where he was stoned but he was cautioned against being too emotional and personal.

A fourth source, however, gave a graphic summary of the session, saying: “It was a bad day for those who wanted the elections shift.

“At a stage, the President at-

I

clarified that subsidy on DPK is still in force as the presidential directive of 19th October, 2009, was not gazetted in line with provisions of section 6 sub section 1 of the Petroleum Act of 1969.

The Forensic Audit Report also acknowledged that Section 7 Subsection 4 of NNPC Act empowers the Corporation to defray its costs and expenses including the costs of its subsidiaries from crude oil reve•Prof. Jega

tacked APC governors for being too partisan on a national matter. He spoke with a little bit of anxiety and tinge of anger.”

“The Council resolved that INEC should be left to go ahead with the decision it deems fit in the circumstance and in the best interest of the nation.”

At about 8pm, Jega began a meeting with National Commissioners on how to “sort things out”.

A top official said: “The INEC chairman convened the meeting to brief his team on what transpired at the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa.

“The meeting will also look at all the options available including the fate of the 14 local governments where the situation is still tense.”

As Jega was holding court at the INEC headquarters, President Jonathan also began a meeting with PDP governors.

“We are only meeting to review the outcome of the Council of State session and re-strategise accordingly,” said a governor.

INEC gets go-ahead to conduct polls Continued from page 4

porters on what transpired at the meeting.

There was a mild drama as Mimiko, after speaking, got up, along with Ngilari and made to leave, signaling the end of the briefing, but Okorocha disagreed: ”This briefing is one sided,” he said.

The other governors then sat down and allowed him to speak.

Okorocha said: “The National Council of State advised INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility, which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very challenging moment and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but noted concern of security agencies in some few local governments. Council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections.”

On whether there was a decision to change the February 14 and February 28 dates of the election, he said: “There is no decision as to a change of date or postponement at all. The Council has asked INEC to go and perform their responsibili-

ty.”

Asked if there was any decision on the use of temporary voters card, Okorocha said: “The temporary voter cards are being exchanged for the new ones and once you have given out your temporary voter card, that means you don’t have it any more. So they are going for the permanent voter cards, and the PVCs would be assumed to have been distributed beforeSunday, that was the essence of the whole exercise and Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task.

In fact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011.”

On whether the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled, Okorocha said: “No; there was nothing like that discussed.”

Asked whether the PDP and the APC are not on the same page on the matter, he said: “As usual, we are not on the same page on any issue of this nature.

It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the Constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement;

the constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the nation’s policies.”

On whether APC expects to see elections holding on February 14 and 28, he said: “That is what we are expecting definitely.”

Mimiko, speaking earlier, said: “Council of State held a meeting close to seven hours. Essentially, the state of preparedness of INEC was on the table. INEC had the benefit of input from council members and security chiefs and agencies. And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC is constitutionally-empowered with the basis of discussions to brief the nation and then the news will be communicated to you.”

On whether there will be a shift in the date, he said: “Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not the INEC chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had.

INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision that they will brief the nation soon.

“The Council of State is essentially an advisory body. Mr. President, in his wisdom, has invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies; INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC.” He added: “For any avoidance of doubt, like I said, INEC had the benefit of input and perspectives from council members. Issues of distribution of PVCs, card readers, the extent of piloting to ensure that people are familiar with this, security issues; all of these were discussed.”

“Issues of the fact that seven days to election, 34 per cent of Nigerians is yet to get PVCs. It was a major issue that was discussed, issue of preparedness of security to conduct elections nationwide, issue of extensive pilot card readers, which is a new technology.

All of these were discussed, but ultimately, council being an advisory body, urged INEC to take advantage of the different perspective of Council members to take its decision about the election,” he said.

$20bn: Auditors ask NNPC to pay $1.48bn Continued from page 4

it did not obtain any information that suggested that NPDC has been assessed for PPT and Royalty for the review period.

Based on these, PwC recommended that NPDC should remit dividend to the NNPC and ultimately to the federation account based on NPDC’s dividend policy and declared dividend for the review period.

For kerosine subsidy, PwC determined that $3.38 billion relating to DPK subsidy cost was incurred by the NNPC for the review period. PWC confirmed that there was indeed a presidential directive issued on the 15th of June 2009 instructing that subsidy on DPK be stopped and that there was a correspondence

between PPPRA and the CBN governor to the effect that “PPPRA had ceased granting subsidy on kerosine since the Presidential directive of 15 June 2009, but kerosine subsidy was appropriated for in the 2012 and 2013 FGN budgets.

However, because the presidential directive was not gazetted and there has been no other legal instrument cancelling the subsidy on DPK, the subsidy has remained in effect.

Therefore, PwC recommended that an official directive be written to support the legality of the kerosine subsidy costs to be followed by adequate budgeting and appropriation for the costs.

Based on PwC’s audit it was revealed that total gross reve-

nues generated from FGN crude oil liftings was $69.34 billion and not $67 billion as earlier stated by the senate reconciliation committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013 and within this $69.34 billion, $28.22 billion was the value of domestic crude oil allocated to NNPC. Also, total amount spent as subsidy for PMS amounted to $5.32 billion, $3.38 billion was spent on subsidy for DPK (not appropriated), $1.19 billion was spent as other third party financing arrangement and equity crude oil processing costs.

Total cost directly attributable to domestic crude oil amounted to $1.46 billion while other costs incurred by the NNPC not directly attrib-

utable to domestic crude oil was put at $2.81 billion. Revenue attributable to NPDC as submitted by the former NPDC managing director to the senate is $5.11 billion.

PwC stated that this amount needs to be incorporated into the financial statements of NPDC from where dividend should be declared to the federation accounts.

In addition, signature bonus, PPT and Royalty yet to be paid

by NPDC is $2.22 billion. Total cash remitted into the federation accounts in relation to crude oil liftings was $50.81 billion and not $47 billion as earlier stated by the senate reconciliation committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013.

nues, though it also recommended that the laws be reviewed to make the Corporation meet its costs and expenses entirely from the value it creates.

The Federal Ministry of Finance last year hired the PriceWaterHouseCoopers to investigate the veracity of the allegation by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that $48.9bn and later $20bn was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.

Sects kills 100 in Cameroon Continued from page 4

VOA: “The response of our army led to the seizing of huge war materiel.” Fighters escaped from Fotocol into surrounding villages, where they were pursued by Cameroonian soldiers.

The Cameroonian forces, backed by Chad, had repelled Boko Haram militants from Fotocol on Wednesday, after the fighters killed at least 70 people in a raid.

Fighting in northeast Nigeria has escalated as the country’s February 14 presidential election draws closer.

France has sent military advisers to Niger’s southern border with Nigeria to help coordinate military action by regional powers fighting Boko Haram, a French army official said yesterday.

The deployment was announced as warplanes pounded Boko Haram positions just over the border in Nigeria, a resident in the Niger town of Bosso said, and hundreds of Chadian troops massed at the frontier to prepare an attack.

Chad has sent about 2,500 troops as part of efforts to take on the militant group, which has intensified its fight to set up a breakaway Islamist state in Nigeria and has staged cross-border raids. Chadian troops crossed into Nigeria this week from Cameroon, on the southern side of Lake Chad.

A French army official told Reuters a detachment of about 10 military personnel had been stationed in Diffa at the request of Niger, its former colony.

“It is there to coordinate the armies on the ground in the fight against Boko Haram,” the official said.

The African Union (AU) has authorised a force of 7,500

troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin to fight the militants. It is expected to seek a United NationsSecurity Council mandate, which could also include logistical support from other countries.

A source close to the Niger government told Reuters yesterday that the parliament in Niamey would vote on Monday to send its troops to Nigeria.

Nearly two years after a French-led operation liberated the north of Mali from al Q a e d a - l i n k e d rebels, France has headquartered a 3,200-strong Sahel counter-insurgency force, Barkhane, in the Chadian capital N’Djamena, some 50 km (30 miles) from the Nigerian border.

It has also been operating reconnaissance missions near the Nigerian border and sharing intelligence with countries in the region, although it has ruled out direct military involvement for now.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, President Francois Hollande said Paris was also providing logistical and operation support, including fuel and amunition to countries fighting Boko Haram.

However, he said France could not be expected to get involved in every crisis around the world and accused other major powers of inaction in Africa.

“This is a message to the international community and the biggest countries. Do your work! Stop giving lessons and take action!” Hollande said.

“In Africa, we have to help the Africans a lot more to fight terrorism, because if we do not then other countries will be destabilised,” he warned.

Soyinka: why I won’t vote Jonathan Continued from page 4

This festival doesn’t involve itself, collectively, in political affairs. I am telling you now as a consultant to this festival, that I have at least 60 reasons for not voting for a continuation of this present government. And those reasons are here, that at least 60 reasons why I will not vote or encourage anyone to vote for the continuation of this present government, simply because your colleagues, numbering over 200, were kidnapped. We sent them on a mission – education, enlightenment – take their examination to rob minds with their peers, and they disappeared. And the government of this nation failed to show leadership. So anybody who says that after that event I would vote or cast my vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime must be living in Sambisa forest.”

The dramatist went on: “There has been a failure of leadership, our children have been betrayed. They are betrayed because no action or appropriate action was taken to retrieve the children who were stolen from under our noses. It took 10 days before this government even accepted the fact they were missing. So, after

that dereliction of duty; after that failure of leadership; after that betrayal of future; for anyone to think or to put words in my mouth suggesting that I will vote for such a regime, it is a travesty of intelligence. ”Nigeria is in a parlous state.

There are more than two candidates; whoever wins, they should understand that it is a burden; it is a mission which is being imposed on that individual.

“They should understand that this is not a European nation, and it is not a nation which has not been enjoying the number of the infrastructural development even in basic thing like agriculture; and that there is a lot of work to do to rescue this nation.

“So, search your conscience, don’t sell your votes, and don’t be intimidated, especially by crude, vulgar and barbaric policemen – commissioner or whatever position – who have been sent on a mission on disrupting the process of elections.

Agree absolutely with Oba (of Lagos) Rilwan Akiolu, that Commissioner of Police or whatever position they hold, had better beware when they tangle with the very very dissatisfied electorate.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Osaze listed in Stoke's squad for rest of season N

IGERIA international, Peter Odemwingie, who is yet to recover from the injury he sustained six months back, has been named in Stoke City's squad for the second half of the season.

Peter Odemwingie was named in a 23-man squad the Potters submitted to the Premier League for the second half of the season.

The Super Eagles’ forward, Odemwingie who scored a goal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Bosnia Herzegovina damaged his knee ligaments in a Stoke City famous away win at the Etihad, a lone goal win against Manchester City in August.

It looks more like Stoke City have taken a gamble on the Nigerian who has though admitted to Stokesentinel that he might only be half-way through his recovery Odemwingie,33, was widely acknowledged as a major catalyst behind Stoke's powerful second half to last season following his arrival from Cardiff in January 2014.

F

• Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea marred by crowd trouble last night. Ghana won 3-0

The former Blackburn Rovers striker took part in preseason training with his previous club in Qatar, and it is believed at the Madejski Stadium that he could be in contention to make his Roy-

AFCON 2015 FINAL Africa Cup of Nations semi-final marred by crowd trouble • It’s Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana

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HE Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and host country Equatorial Guinea has been marred by crowd trouble towards the closing stages of the match.

Ghana were cruising towards the final of the competition with a 3-0 lead when play was stopped in the 82nd minute due to missiles being thrown by the home supporters.

A number of Ghanaian fans were trapped by the side of the pitch after officials had attempted to lead them out of the ground for their own pro-

• Says NSC not owing Power Holding • Clamours for regular exercise to prevent cancer

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Aiyegbeni working on fitness ORMER Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni is set to make his debut for new club, Reading, the championship club have confirmed.

Elegbeleye confirms Abuja stadium for Dream Team VI matches

tection.

There was also trouble at half time as fans allegedly threw bottles and stones at the Ghana bench, forcing the Black Stars to remain on the field before being shielded down the tunnel by riot police.

A number of attempts to restore order, including from the Equatorial Guinea players pleading with their own supporters, were unsuccessful, leaving the match in doubt as to whether it will continue.

Ghana will be due to face Ivory Coast in the final of the competition on Sunday.

als debut in the coming games.

Speaking at his weekly pre-match press conference, manager Steve Clarke revealed that the experienced striker was working on his fitness prior to his arrival in Berkshire on Monday’s transfer deadline day.

“He’s had a bit of football lately in the form of friendly matches,” Clarke said.

“He’s come in and done some training with us and looks in decent shape. I don’t think it will take too long to get him up to speed and hopefully he can give us that little bit extra that we’re looking for.

“I’ve been looking at our games recently where we’ve had a lot of possession in forward areas and couldn’t find the killer touch. Until Monday, you’re searching the world markets for someone that can do that and then suddenly I got a call saying Yakubu was available.

“The most important thing

RESULTS AFCON Ghana 3 - 0 E. Guinea Netherlands - Eredivisie Heracles 2 - 2 FC Groningen

for us, is that we get him quickly integrated into the group and that he starts to make a contribution to us as soon as possible,” he was quoted on Reading’s official website.

HE Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable gbenga Elegbeleye has told NationSport that the Abuja National Stadium will host all the All African Games’ qualifying matches of the national U- 23 team popularly called the Dream Team VI. The NSC top officer confirmed this while on routine inspection of the Stadium yesterday in the company of the Director of Facilities of the NSC, Engineer Shehu Ibrahim and other staff of the Commission.

“There was a time the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles (Stephen Keshi) complained about this pitch not being good enough for playing football. But since then the stadium has been turned to lush green and we want to keep it that way. So I am here with the other top staff of the Commission including the Director of Facilities to go on a routine inspection of the stadium to ensure the place is well taken care of.

“Our own U- 23 national team will also be playing on this pitch for their qualifying matches so we need to make the pitch very okay for football. The good condition of the pitch will spur the Dream Team VI to perform well in their qualifying matches”, Elegbeleye clarified yesterday.

The DG of the NSC frowned at the epileptic supply of electricity to the Stadium despite paying Power Holding’s bills up to date. He, however vowed to pro-

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja cure a pre-paid meter for the Stadium so that the Commission should be charged according to usage of electricity.

“The state of power supply to the Stadium to me is quite embarrassing because we have been paying all our bills. Recently again we have asked the power supply agency to give us a pre-paid meter so that we will be able to pay according to what we have used. We have paid for that in order to keep the place alive so that we can get light always and you know we have to be pro-active”, Elegbeleye disclosed.

The DG of the NSC also assured that two training pitches of the Abuja National Stadium are presently undergoing re-construction and would soon be ready for use because the main bowl won’t last if these two training pitches are not put in place for trainings while the main bowl will be for competition matches only.

“We have been having good support from President Goodluck Jonathan who has good support for sports in the country. That is a reflection of what you are seeing here today by having this kind of good facilities. Any matches of international standard now can be played here. We can get involved in any kind of world class football matches, athletics and other field and track events”, he disclosed.

THE NATION FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2015

62

NEWS

•Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat, Mr Mathew Willsher (left); Chairman, Zinox Group, Chief Leo Stan Eke; Conference Chair, Mr Segun Ogunsanya and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Bernard Najim after a news conference in Lagos.

•Past District (9110) Governor, Rotary International and Chairman of the occasion Mr Richard Giwa (left); District Governor Balogun Dele; Deputy Governor Bola Onabadejo and Past District Governor Kamoru PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA Omotoso at the Rotary Foundation Dance Ball news conference at Ikeja, Lagos.

•Managing Director, Arik Air, Mr Christophe Pennick (left); Senior Manager, Customer Loyalty, Mr. Chris Ndulue; Mr. Kaushalya de Alwis and Head, Corporate Communications, BiCourtney Aviation Services (BASL), Mr. Remi Ladigbolu at the inauguration of the Aviation Committee Initiative by the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka in Lagos.

•Chairman, Election Observer and Sensitisation, Diocese of Lagos West, Ven. Gbenga Oniye; representative of Bishop of Lagos West, Ven. Abiade Adeniji and Chairperson of the occasion and Secretary, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Mrs. Pheola Cauilcrick at a one-day training and workshop on Election Observation for Member of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion observation team held at Archbishop Vining Cathederal Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

•L-R: Mrs Morenikeji Shobajo, Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Akin Fatunke, Manager, Public and Govt Affairs, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mrs Anna A. Towobola, Author of the book, “Telling Lies” Miss Kemi Adetona and Otunba Deinde Banjo at a Special Thanksgiving Service and Book launch in Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS.

•Data Integrity Expert, Mr Kayode Ibukunoluwa (right); Consultant to Oyo State Government, Prof Bola Ayeni and National Management Information System Consultant on National Water and Sanitation Database Survey, Mr Micheal Alo at an Election Data Integrity verification visit to Oyo State.

•L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Society for the Blind (NSB), Mrs. Biola Agbaje, Vice Chairman, Asiwaju Fola Osibo and Mrs. Arit Tunde-Imoyo, member at a news conference on the activities to mark the NSB’s 60th anniversary at the Vocational Training Centre, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos..

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE JIMOH

•Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties, Dr Aderemi Desalu(left); Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed and Lagos NYSC Coordinator Mr. Akhanemhe Cyril during his courtesy visit to the Ministry with NYSC Management team at Alausa.

•Area Commander, D Command, Mr. Garba Danjuma (left); Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government, Mr. Babajide Bello; Council Manager Mr. Rasak Oladeji and Divisional Police Officer, Olosun Police Station Mr. Afolabi Babatola, when the Area Commander visited the secretary.

THE NATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

‘Bet not a few Nigerians thought she only had to report in office, wave her magic wand and thus stimulate a landmark turnaround of the Nigerian economy’

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3118

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE presidential election is a week away, that is, if it is not scuttled by the frenzied call for postponement. As strident as those calls are, there have also been boisterous demands for INEC to conduct the elections as scheduled. The Chief Justice of Nigeria has weighed in on the side of reason with his mature counsel to judges to avoid being used to scuttle our hard-earned democracy. It is indeed disheartening to witness another June 12 in the making, and from the same set of characters or their offspring. Gene really matters. What is surprising, however, is the successful recruitment of the victims of past assaults on democracy to the camp of the assaulters. Fully aware that the present agitation for postponement has followed the very same script used in 1993, I don’t see how anyone can be so fooled as not to detect the real motive behind the call.

The Council of States was called to weigh in, but since its meeting was still going on as of the deadline for submitting this piece, I cannot factor the resolution of that body into my reflections today.

What is clear to me is that the drummer to whose beat this mad dancing is a response is somewhere close to the Rock. But let us examine the issues dispassionately. First, in the matter of the distribution of PVC, with INEC’s latest release that over 45 million voters (about 66 per cent of the registered electorate) have collected their PVCs and the extension of the deadline to February 8, it should be a reassuring piece of news. The election agency also confirmed that all PVCs are available for collection at designated centres. It is then the responsibility of individuals to find time to collect. Some state governments have taken the initiative to make it easy for their residents to discharge this patriotic responsibility by declaring work free days. One would expect the Federal Government as well as the state governments to follow this example if in fact they are serious about avoiding the disenfranchisement of citizens.

Second, it has been alleged that INEC has neither recruited nor trained the over 900,000 workers that it plans to use for the elections.

If this is true, it is troubling. However, the veracity of the claim is doubtful since INEC has been consistent in its assurance that it is ready and determined to conduct a successful election.

Third, a preposterous claim by election fear mongers is that the contract for the printing of ballot papers had not been awarded for an election that is only a week away. I find it

L

EADERS are unborn Almost exactly 10 years ago, as editor and columnist for the defunct New Age newspaper, I had written a piece titled: “The Ekwueme quagmire” (New Age, Thursday, January 20, 2005). Let’s take an excerpt from that piece as a background to today’s offering.

“His ultimate quagmire is typified in the Anambra situation since 1999 (but) which came to a head on June 10, 2003, with the abduction of a serving governor of his state and party – a situation that wants to make one hide one’s face in black polythene bag.

“How could an Ekwueme be in a country where ‘pirates’ would put monies accruing to his state’s treasury on the table (like a loot) and simply share it, month after month, year after year, for four years and for another term kicking off?

“How could an Ekwueme be alive and for nearly a year, teachers and pensioners were not paid, schools were shut, entire Anambra infrastructure collapsed in the face of huge monthly revenue allocation to the state? How

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Will the elections hold?

•Prof. Jega

very difficult to believe this in view of the fact that INEC Chair, Professor Attahiru Jega, is not a new kid on the block. He conducted what everyone agreed was a successful presidential and general elections in 2011, and has had other successes in the various off-time elections since then. If ballots have not been printed by now, then of course there is a serious problem. Bear in mind, however, that this allegation has come from a group that has stopped at nothing to convince us that the elections are bound to fail unless we yield to their demand for postponement. I would rather hear from the horse’s mouth concerning the readiness or otherwise. What I am hearing from INEC is a confirmation of its readiness.

Lastly and most unfortunately, the issue of security has been added to the pack. We are now being told that security forces need two to three months to mop up the Northeast and take back lost territories. What has eluded them in four years, they plan to achieve in three months! How realistic is this? And does

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Atedo’s ataraxia, Ekwueme’s quagmire could an Ekwueme be and the president (Obasanjo) stated in public that the problem in Anambra took root because there were no respectable elders in Igboland?

“Finally, how could an Ekwueme be member of a party, a state and even a country where a governor is abducted, properties razed and

In praise of Asiodu’s G – 13

A

LL it too little too late but as they say, better late than never. Have you seen a recent press release by a group that goes by the name, INITIATIVE FOR MORAL RECTITUDE IN THE SOCIETY? What an awkward name but what is in a name? They say they are for …Promoting Good Governance and we say about time some elders stood up to be counted and rescue this drifting ship.

They say they are distressed by the situation in our nation Nigeria and call on all political parties to ensure that their candidates stick to issues rather than pointless attacks on their opponents. They also call on all parties to shun violence and seek redress through

it matter to the plotters of this scheme if there is a constitutional crisis?

Jonathan’s score card It is really sad that the president has found himself in this pathetic situation for which he has only himself to blame. Leadership has its demands, the most important of which is strength of conviction and firmness of purpose in pursuit of the right and just. This is what Jonathan lacks and this is turning out to be his undoing should he lose the election. But since miracles do happen, should he win by some magic, it is what he has to pay attention to in a second term.

A few weeks ago on this page, I identified three major issues at stake in this election as security, corruption and the economy. To be as charitable as possible, given the prevailing conditions, it is clear that Jonathan cannot receive a pass mark for his handling of security and corruption and only a below average on the economy.

We are told that under Jonathan’s watch, Nigeria has become the largest economy in Africa and he has claimed that he has created more millionaires in Nigeria than at any time.

Yet our poverty level is sky high. There is mention of the resuscitation of railroads. But industrialists and business people have to provide the train cars to move their goods. In the matter of energy, his supporters would not like us to remember Jonathan’s 2011 declaration that if he can’t improve on power within four years, it means that he cannot do anything even if he’s there for additional four years.

On security, our president did not initially take the menace of insurgency seriously, choosing to blame imaginary sponsors, an unforgivable shirking of the most important responsibility of any government. Between 2011 and 2013 the president and his team didn’t know what to do as they played the ostrich. It

statutory means of resolving disputes, among other laudable talk.

But really the news is in the members who signed the news release: Chief Philip Asiodu who appears to be the arrowhead; Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Chief E.J. Amana, Prof Grace AleleWilliams, Prof. T.A.J. Ogunbiyi, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, Alhaji Abba Kyari, Amb. B.A. Clark, Amb. Abdhullahi Atta, Alhaji Mohammed HayatuDeen, Chief B. Ogunkelu, Dr. G.A. Soyoye and R/Admiral A.O.S. Okoja (Rtd).

It is so salutary and refreshing to see a group that appears unbiased and truly exists in the interest of our motherland. We hope this initiative is sustained and that it continues to grow in its noble objectives.

votes said to be entirely stolen? None can remember on strong statement he made in condemnation of these abominable acts.”

Of course, Dr. Alex Ekwueme is former vice president of Nigeria, founding chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a two-time presidential aspirant. More important, he led the Group of 34 (G34) that practically chased the late military junta General Sani Abacha, out of office and which metamorphosed into PDP. To drive home the point, Ekwueme is the most influential voice in the land since the Second Republic. But as the excerpts above show, and with due respect to an octogenarian statesman, he has always failed to lend his voice during critical moments of national crisis. It took the conscientious voice of the late Chinua Achebe from his wheelchair in faraway US to call global attention to Obasanjo’s madness in Anambra at that time.

Just as Ekwueme’s silence reverberated in 2005 when Governor Ngige was abducted, a similar scenario plays out today. While the nation totters, respected elders go on endorsement circuit. While that may be their

OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

was this mindset that led to the denial of the kidnapping of over 200 Chibok girls, still the nation’s worst nightmare. With the terrorists’ control of swaths of the national territory, it is clear that the president has violated his oath to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

Evaluating Jonathan’s non-performance in tackling corruption is a nausea-inducing exercise, since for him we shouldn’t be unduly concerned about corruption because what ails the nation is stealing and not corruption. Presumably, this is why there hasn’t been any high profile indictment since Jonathan took over as president and why he has been reluctant to fire cabinet members and other government officials implicated in shady deals. But Dr. Jonathan didn’t have any hesitation removing Justice Salami and CBN Governor Sanusi for doing their jobs! And while security forces lack funds and equipment to execute the war on terror, militants receive huge contracts for the supply of weapons.

Beside corruption in terms of material acquisition to the detriment of the state, there is moral depravity. While a number of people close to him have adjudged the president a good-natured person, it is unfortunate that he has not applied his good nature on behalf of good cause, especially with regard to impunity within the ruling party.

The moment that the president lost me completely was when he approved the blatant disrespect for democratic values by the PDP governors pursuant to the well-publicised Nigerian Governors’ Forum elections. How any right-thinking person, let alone the President of a nation, can support the grossly irresponsible conduct of those PDP governors and their co-travellers in shame is beyond me. How can I ever again trust my president to make a morally sound judgment in cases in which his selfish interest is at stake? The precedent set by that perfidy was recently followed to the letter by Ekiti PDP lawmakers. But unless you are an unrepentant egoist, the idea of rational morality is that even in cases where your interests are affected, you must follow the dictate of morality, which may justifiably require the sacrifice of your interests for the greater good. By the way, isn’t this also the dictate of Christianity?

That our president accords his political selfinterest priority over the greater good of fostering democracy even when it hurts is an indictment of his moral leadership.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 prerogative, not when they purport to speak for the entire Southeast; but they are not mouthpiece of the Igbo; they have not earned that pip. Recall the mess the late Ralph Iwechue made of Ohaneze in 2011 endorsement season. So sad that Igbo politicians of this era have proven to be poor, poor politicians. Poor as pimps.

Atedo’s ataraxia While Dr. Ekwueme may be in a quandary as to how to handle the mantle of leadership providence bequeathed to him, Atedo Peterside suffers acute ataraxia, a state of mind in which a man suffers what may be debilitating tranquility. Or to say in plainer, it is a state in which you experience too much of a good thing; where you are permanently in cloud nine, so to speak. For those who may not know, Atedo Peterside boasts of a rich pedigree. He is a silver spoon who did even better for himself. In the 80s of one-man banks, he led a small team to set up an upscale wholesale bank known as IBTC. It was so successful that all the turbulence that assailed and blew away many of its peers never affected it. Today it trades as StanbicIBTC, a member of the multinational banking group, Standard Chartered. Atedo remains its chairman.

With his kinsman, Goodluck Jonathan as president, Atedo naturally found favour with him and has remained a member of the president’s economic team and ‘kitchen’ cabinet in the last four years. His influence in economic affairs has been deep and of course his bank has grown proportionately.

Unconcerned professional Many will remember Atedo as a well groomed man of culture, a professional and a patriot. In the heady 80s of the Generals (Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha) when the junta sought to extirpate our resurgent democracy, Atedo was one of those who stood up to be counted.

•Continued

on page 57

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