February 12, 2015 by The Nation

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MORE •Buhari: don’t deploy soldiers for elections •AND ON PAGES 2-7,58&60 •President’s team attacks INEC over PVC •U.S. urges candidates, supporters to shun violence •APC demands probe of military’s role in Ekiti poll

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VOL. 10, NO. 3123 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

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•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (fifth right), his running mate Prof Yemi Osinbajo (seventh right) with Catholic Bishops during a meeting between the APC team and the bishops in Abuja…on Tuesday night. (Sixth right) is Archbishop of Jos and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Ignasuis Kiagama; Vice President (CBCN), Benin Archbishop Augustine Akubueze (fourth right) and others.

Jonathan: I’ll quit if I lose ‘No plan to remove Jega’

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night denied the allegation that he will not hand over power if he loses the March 28 election. “I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose, I will gladly go home. I still maintain this nation is more important than anyone. The insinuations that I will not hand over power are unnecessary and unfortunate,” he said.

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

Soldiers extend siege to Tinubu’s home

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If the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government; there is no way I will say if I lose I will not hand over

OLDIERS on Tuesday night returned to the frontage of All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Ikoyi, Lagos home. They had on Monday night relaxed the threeday all-night siege near the residence before returning on Tuesday night. A security man attached to the house said a detachment of soldiers “arrived at about 11pm in a lorry stationed at the next house to Tinubu’s”. “They wore helmets and uniforms and had guns. They were about a dozen soldiers. They hung there till about 3am yesterday but we have not seen them today,” he said. Nigerians from all walks of life have been criticising the siege which the military however denied, saying the soldiers were on “roun-

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By Joseph Jibueze, Precious Igbonwelundu and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Speaking during the Presidential Media Chat monitored on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Jonathan said even if the military failed to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks, the May 29 handover date stands.

He said: “If in 2011, I said that I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose, I will happily go home and it should be recorded and as at that time no African sitting President had lost election but within this peContinued on page 4

•Dr. Jonathan...last night.

PHOTO: AFP

Continued on page 4

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS

MAY 29

...106 DAYS TO GO

Polls: Campaign promises and the great expectations

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (third left); his Chief of Staff, Mr Gboyega Oyetola (second right); Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (second left); Chairman of the five-member Visitation Panel on the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) crisis, Prof Adebisi Daramola (third right); panel member Prof Omotoye Olorode (right) and Secretary to the Panel, Mrs Olufunke Kolawole (left), after the inuaguration of the panel at the Governor's Office, Osogbo...yesterday.

Barring the unforeseen, Nigerians will elect their representatives at the national and states’ elections on March 28 and April 11. Assistant Editor DARE ODUFOWOKAN writes that it will henceforth be ‘business unusual’ as the electorate will put those who made campaign promises on their toes and hold them accountable.

Kwara State Govrnor Abdulfatah Ahmed receiving a Plaque of Honour from the Chairman, Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Association of Nigeria (RANAO), Capt. Ibrahim Ahmed, at the Government House, Ilorin, Kwara State...yesterday.

UT for the postponement of the general elections, candidates and their parties will by now be dropping the curtain on their campaigns. The shift has however given them more time to smoothen some rough edges. Before Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega announced the shift, the leading contenders and their spokespersons had criss-crossed the country and made various pledges to the electorate. Expectedly, the people listened to enable them make right choices at the polls. As a matter of fact, the voters have been the ‘beautiful brides’. The two leading political parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – launched ambitious manifestos in October, 2014, when INEC lifted the ban on political campaigns. Both parties organised shadow elections, where their standard bearers emerged. The parties had traversed the length and breath of the land to market their programmes to the electorate. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition APC and 12 other presidential hopeful made overtures to sway the voters’ preference. At times, they pledged beyond what their party manifestos offer. With the extension, the parties will sustain the tempo till March 28 and April 11 for the rescheduled national and state elections.

Battle for votes

•Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha (middle) flanked by his deputy Benard Otti (left) and Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy, NNPC, Dr Tim Okon at a press briefing PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE on the Forensic Audit of the Corporation in Abuja...yesterday

•From left: Managing Director, Africa Eaton, Mr. Shane Kilfoil; Regional Sales Manager, Charles Iyo; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Sola Oworu; President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Kurt McMaken and President, Electrical Sector, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Frank Campbell at the Eaton West Africa Technology PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON Day in Lagos...yesterday...

As a political party, the APC has been stressing its resolve to stop what it calls a drift of the country towards failure. The party says change is inevitable if Nigeria must be salvaged. All through the campaigns, the party has made creative use of the slogan ‘change’ to mean a need for it to replace the PDP in government. The APC manifesto reads in part: “To achieve this laudable programme, the APC government shall restructure the country, devolve power to the units, with the best practices of federalism and eliminate unintended paralysis of the center. In summary, we subscribe to and shall preserve the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as enshrined in Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. And without any intention to abandon any ideal which will guarantee the corporate welfare and security of our people, we specifically offer these seven cardinal programmes - (WBA-IFD) to the Nigeria populace. “They are: War Against Corruption; Food Security; Accelerated Power Supply; Integrated Transport Network; Free Education; Devolution of Power; Accelerated Economic Growth and Affordable Health Care. On its part, the ruling PDP has promised to build a just society, which provides basic needs; ensures equal opportunities for self-development through education and gainful em-

ployment; defends the dignity of the human person; judges its strength by the condition of the weak; provides security against fear and delivers the masses from the tyranny of poverty oppression and abuse of power.

Campaign promises The party also promises sustained implementation of people-oriented programmes with particular emphasis on: War Against Poverty; Integrated rural development; Rapid Industrial Growth; Excellence in Education, Science and Technology; Rebuilding and Expanding Basic Infrastructure. But beyond the manifestos, the candidates have been delivering messages of hope for the people. Aside frequent mudslinging and name-calling, Jonathan and his main rival have been talking about issues affecting the people. The common denominator that runs through all the campaigns is how the twin-menace of insecurity and corruption would be addressed. This is also one area where the two gladiators differ substantially. Next to insecurity and corruption is infrastructural development and economic restructuring. Both President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari have been assuring Nigerians that after the February 14 election, it would be time to face these two assignments headlong.

Peoples’ dreams However, expressing fear over the accountability of politicians, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, the Most Reverend Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, lamented that the gains of democracy have persistently eluded Nigerians because politicians renege on their campaign promises. He said essential facilities, such as good roads and clean water, as well as security of lives and property have not been provided for the common good of the people. He decried the attitude of politicians, whom he said could not boast of delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. Nonetheless, it has been promises, and more promises, even in the face of dwindling revenue.

Making the right choice While Jonathan wants Nigerians to believe that he needs the next four years to ensure that his efforts in the last six years materialise, Gen. Buhari and the APC would want Nigerians to embrace change and see how, within a single term of four years, the polity will witness massive infrastructural and economic rebirth. For a country that is battling terrorism and a tottering economy, analysts are of the view that the electorate’s perception of the campaign promises will go a long way in determining how the presidential election will be won and lost. Christopher Dan-Akhigbe of Voters’ Right Agenda (VRA) said: “This time, Nigerians are interested in knowing what any of the candidates will do with their mandate if elected as president. “The situation in the country today where the northern region is being bat-

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

MAY 29

...106 DAYS TO GO world perform better during the second term. He said his administration’s case would not be an exception as he was set to do more in the next four years if re-elected - than what he has achieved in the past four years. Jonathan spoke at a meeting with members of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs at the Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, Kogi State. He said public office holders perform better during their second term because they have enough time to settle down and plan for national development. The President said: “Whatever we have done in the last four years, we believe that we will even do more in the next four years. Most governments all over the world do better in their second tenure. “This is because the Presidents are more stable that time, especially in this two-term arrangement. They are more stable. They sit down and plan for the country and focus on key areas.”

•Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a presidential rally on Mapo Hill, Ibadan, Oyo State.

A litany of broken promises

tered by insurgents while rampant insecurity threatens the south, is worrisome not only to politicians, but to everyone. This is why there are so many promises on the campaign trails this time. The contestants are making speeches aimed at convincing the people that they have the solution to our national problems. “While some are sincere and ready to follow up their promises with action if elected, there are those who are merely engaging in empty rhetorics aimed at deceiving the people into voting for them. “Thus, every words being uttered by those campaigning will go a long way in determining their fate at the polls. Also, Nigerians know those who are trying to deceive them. Those who promised in the past and reneged on their promises should know their game is up.”

Battling Boko Haram Barring the unforeseen, the military will on Saturady launch an offensive to dislodged members of the out-ofcontrol Boko Haram sect from their Sambisa Forest enclave in Borno State. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki has assured that the recheduled elections will be held all over the country as the security challenge, which was part of the reasons for the shift, would have been tackled with the planned military clampdown. At one of his rallies, President Jonathan had reassured the people of Borno State and the Northeast zone that his administration will do everything possible to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and restore peace in the country. He also assured that the Federal Government and security agencies were doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the 219 abducted Chibok school girls and restore normalcy in the state and other affected communities in the troubled region. He had said: “I want to assure you that the terrorists will not get away

with the atrocities; they will not win; we will bring justice to the savage terrorists known as Boko Haram. They will be defeated.” But APC’s Buhari said Boko Haram insurgents will be chased out of Nigeria if the party takes over power at the centre. He said this while addressing an overflowing crowd at his party’s presidential rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital. According to him, the insurgency in some parts of the Northeast could not be quelled by the PDP-led government because the government was corrupt and insincere. He said the major focus of the APC-led government will be to provide security of lives and property.

Old promises, fresh hopes Buhari said: “If you elect me as the President of Nigeria on February 14 (now March 28), I am assuring you that our government will chase Boko Haram out of Nigeria within two months because it is the responsibility of any reasonable government to secure the lives and property of its citizens.” As Buhari was assuring Nigerians that all corrupt politicians will end up in jail once he is elected into power, Jonathan was saying that jailing the people will not rid the country of corruption.

Anti-corruption war Buhari, who gave the assurance at an APC rally and the presentation of the party’s flag to Umana Umana as

the party’s governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, in Uyo, said his administartion will block all loopholes through which public funds were being siphoned. “When we come into power, anyone who steals Nigeria’s money will end up in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. We are going to make sure that Nigeria’s wealth belongs only to Nigerians,” he said. But speaking during an interactive session with an organised private sector, Jonathan said convicting offenders cannot stop corruption in the land, hence the decision by his administration to adopt another approach to curb corruption. He noted: “Convicting Nigerians does not stop corruption. You have to block all avenues that lead to corruption and that is what my administration is fighting really hard to work out. “As I speak, we have already put machinery in motion in our fight against corruption and we are trying a new and dynamic approach in our fight against corruption and I am sure that we shall come out tops.” On infrastructure, Buhari said money saved by blocking corruption would be used to provide infrastructure for the masses. He assured Nigerians of functional infrastructure if elected. Speaking in Sokoto at his campaign, he promised to tap the nation’s mineral resources for the benefit of all. He also pledged to wage anti-corruption war and ensure the judicious use of recovered funds.

‘

This time, Nigerians are interested in knowing what any of the candidates will do with their mandate if elected as president

“We will also partner with the state government to boost agriculture; ensure provision of potable water and efficient health care delivery. Our concern is to provide better maternal and child healthcare services for the grassroots,” he said. Hosting some local actors and musicians who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan told his guests that his administration will work harder at improving the state of infrastructure in the country. Admitting the infrastructural flaws, the President renewed his administration’s commitment to improve transportation, aviation, ports, roads and power infrastructure.

Non-oil sector to the rescue Speaking on how he intends to salvage the nation’s tottering economy, Buhari said he would explore the nonoil sector to create wealth for the nation if elected. The retired General made the promise at the APC presidential campaign/rally held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. According to him, the over-concentration on the oil sector and the failure to manage the resources that had accrued from it had plunged the country into economic woes. He said: “Our leaders have over relied on oil money to the detriment of other sectors. Now that the price of oil has crashed, we are now facing serious economic challenges. “Our concern is the vicious cycle of insecurity, corruption and unemployment confronting Nigeria now.” Buhari also promised to address the challenges headlong if voted as the next president. “We will engage in commercial agriculture and mining as well as resuscitate the abandoned agro-allied industries so as to generate employment and create wealth for Nigerians,” Buhari said. This is just as President Jonathan said most governments all over the

The promises are endless, swelling the expectations of the people as they come. But as politicians continue to mount soap boxes to reel out real and imaginary intentions, Nigerians are also unrelenting in their demand for good governance.

Holding politicians accountable Akhigbe said: “Our position is that Nigerians must engage in a productive national debate on how to implement positive and effective policies and not engage in the self-destructing, unproductive and endless discussion on whether such a policy is feasible, practical or realistic. “As we listen to these politicians making speeches, we must begin to take note of all they are saying with a view to tasking them on it all at a later date should they get elected into offices. It will do us no good to shoot down any of their ideas now. “Political parties, think-tanks, research organisations and business groups should all contribute their ideas, knowledge and work to present solutions to make the goal of a better Nigeria realiseable.” Bishop Ayo-Maria said most of the political manifestos and agenda may remain unfulfilled. According to him, government exists for the welfare of the people and as such they are to cater for the common good of the people and lift them up socially. According to him, politicians ought to live up to their promises as Jesus Christ never promised what he would not do. The cleric decried the divide-andrule game being played by politicians, warning that such would be counterproductive for the welfare of the people and the advancement of the nation. He challenged all the tiers of government to rise up to their responsibilities by initiating and executing practical, enduring, purposeful and people-oriented programmes. Be that as it may, Nigeria has witnessed many election manifestos and silently endured broken promises. Only time will how many of the promises being made on political platforms would be honoured.

‘ Wamakko: polls shifted to save PDP, Jonathan from defeat, humiliation

EARS that President Goodluck Jonathan may lose the election originally billed for Saturday informed the postponement of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko said yesterday. According to him, the decision was uncalled for but it has confirmed the fears of defeat by candidates of the ruling PDP. “The move is simply to avert defeat and humiliation. The decision was unnecessary. The PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) is scared of losing the elections to the APC (All Progressives Congress),” the governor said. Wamakko suggested that the Federal Government’s concern should be on

From: Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

how to regain the territories lost to insurgents in the Northeast rather than using the military to intimidate the citizens from participating in the democratic process. His words: “If the Federal Government wants to show military power, let them go and show force in Borno and Adamawa states by regaining our territories that had been taken away by terrorists.” The governor told reporters in Sokoto that the election was postponed because President Jonathan was scared of losing the presidential polls. “He (President) now sees the APC as a real threat to his re-election

bid. “He noted with passion the wide acceptance of APC by Nigerians, pointing out that it was a source of worry to him (Jonathan), hence postponement. “There was no way Nigeria could continue this way with the level of corruption, impunity, disregard for law and order and lack of direction under the Jonathan’s administration. “When we discovered that Jonathan has no focus and was not ready to listen, we formed our alliance in the interest of this country. Today our effort has already yielded result and the alliance is working, as we now have two strong major political parties that we need for growth in this country.

“Jonathan is afraid of losing this election. They have seen the wide acceptance of APC across the country and instead of them to accept the glaring realities; they are trying to play games with Nigerians. I am sure the international community will not allow them to do that and Nigerians are wiser now than 15 years ago.” The governor also condemned the massive deployment of soldiers in Sokoto and some cities by the Federal Government shortly after the postponement of the elections, saying such measure was uncalled for. He berated siege by security operatives on the residence of APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some APC members, saying Ni-

gerians will not be intimidated by the millitary. “You cannot intimidate citizens with soldiers or policemen. Nigerians can never be intimidated by using soldiers or power of incumbency, especially a weak incumbency, that has no direction,” he said. Recalling the decision reached at the latest National Council of State meeting in Abuja, the governor said: “In the last National Council of State meeting, there was a suggestion that the millitary should be deployed to each headquarters of a local government area. This is in the event of any riot as a result of postponement of elections in which case they have made up their mind to change the date.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS Buhari: don’t deploy soldiers for polls

LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Abuja that he opposed the deployment of soldiers for electoral duties. To him, it is the duty of the police to ensure security during elections. Gen. Buhari also said he was committed to Nigeria as a multi-religious society where every Nigerian will be free to practise his or her religion, adding that he will never support any move to either Christianise or Islamise Nigeria. The former Head of State spoke at meetings with the Catholic Bishops Conference of

•Lagos State Commissioner of PoliceKayode Aderanti shortly after the State Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola speaking at the Lagos House...yesterday. With him are: Commander 9 Mechanised Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Mohammed Sabo (left), Director, State Security Service, Mr. Ben Olayi (left, behind), the Commander NNS BeeCroft Olokun Apapa, Navy Commodore David Ikoli (2nd right) and Air Commodore Lere Osanyintolu, Commander Air Force Base, Ikeja.

I’ll quit if I lose election, says Jonathan Continued from page 1

riod a lot of African sitting presidents have lost election.” “But I said I want to create the history to be the first African President to lose election but let the world know that the elections are free and fair. “This nation is more important than anybody and I still maintain that if anybody who wants to hold this office of the President or any office at all and feels that he is more important than the nation, that is not quite right. “If as at that time I said that I was ready to conduct free and fair election and if I lose, I will go, not to talk about now that Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four full years.” “So if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government; there is no way I will say if I lose I will not hand over.” According to Dr. Jonathan, the

percentage of permanent voter cards distribution should be fairly high. Despite the threat by ex-militants to go to war if Jonathan loses, the President assured that everything will be done to keep Nigeria one and there will be no war. He also fielded questions on Boko Haram, saying the goal is not to totally eliminate the insurgency before the elections, but to make adequate security arrangement for the exercise. He also dissociated himself from the plot to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Atttahiru Jega, before the elections, denying such plans. Director-General of PDP Campaign Organisation Dr Ahmadu Ali on Tuesday said Jega should resign because he had allegedly bungled the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). Indeed, the PDP

rejected the use of PVCs and called for the use of the Temporary Voter Cards (TVC). The organisation’s Director of Communications, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday reiterated the call for Jega to resign. A group, Goodluck Lagos Grassroots Project, has also been sponsoring advertorial in newspapers asking Jega to “come clean”, “resign” and not to “sabotage the election”. The President’s supporters notably Chief Edwin Clark, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, have also been calling for Jega’s sack. But the President described the indications that he would direct Jega to proceed on compulsory leave as “stupid things”, adding: “It belongs to the garbage world.” “I have not told anybody that I will remove Jega,” he said, adding that if there are obvious rea-

sons to remove Jega, he would rely on “constitutional” provisions that empower him to remove whoever he appoints. “I appointed him. If I feel he is not doing well, there are constitutional provisions on how to remove him, but I have not even contemplated it,” he said. “I have never thought about removing the INEC Chairman, though I have the constitutional power to do so.” Asked if he has confidence in Jega, he said he wished the INEC chairman were seated by his side to answer the question. “I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer whether I have confidence in him. Yes, those who called for his sack may be close to me, but they express their own opinion. More than 80 per cent of those who sponsor messages on our behalf we don’t even know them. People use the reschedulContinued on page 60

Soldiers extend siege to Tinubu’s home Continued from page 1

tine patrol”. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 81 Division Major Gen. Tanmi Dibi, said his men were on patrol which he described as routine. Yesterday, the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation described the deployment of troops around some leaders of the party as a deliberate act of intimidation and provocation by the Jonathan government. It warned that nothing untoward should happen to its leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinu-

bu and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State – whose Government House in Owerri, also on Tuesday was under siege by soldiers, who brought an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to its gate. President Goodluck Jonathan would be held liable for their safety, it said. The statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, said deployment of armed soldiers around the residences of Tinubu and Okorocha for yet-to-be disclosed reasons by the PDP

administration was unacceptable and a breach of their fundamental human rights. The organisation said it viewed seriously this deployment of troops, adding that “this Rambo-style intimidation of opposition figures is not acceptable, and this crude show of power should not take place under any democratically elected government”. Shehu said as the Commander-in-Chief, President Jonathan would be held personally liable because he has the overall responsibility for the deployment of troops across the country.

Saying that the action was an embarrassment, the organisation condemned what it called abuse of power by the President in order to intimidate opposition members. It reminded President Jonathan that the will of the people is superior to a standing army. It advised APC supporters throughout the country to remain calm and behave responsibly, saying “if the country could survive military dictators to restore the roots of democracy, they should not be intimidated by tin gods in democratic clothing”.

From Tony Akowe Abuja

Nigeria, a delegation of the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union Election missions. He spoke just as the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) said it was expedient for stakeholders in the electoral process to know the constitutional limit for elections and ensure that they are respected. He said: “No; I do not support deployment of soldiers for polls. It is police duty and I think there is no local government area in this country without the police.” At a meeting with the Catholic Bishops, Gen. Buhari said alContinued on page 60

What Obasanjo’s endorsement means to me, by Buhari

LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari last night said the endorsement of his candidacy by former President Olusegun Obasanjo will boost his chances in the March 28 elections. Interviewed on Cable News Network (CNN) by Christane Amanpour, Gen Buhari, who expressed disappointment about the shift of the elections, also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. He said Obasanjo’s support “would certainly bring more supporters to us and more confidence again to us for those who were sitting on the fence, because General Obasanjo is highly respected and as far as the Nigerian nation is concerned, there is no serious issue that can be discussed without people seeking his opinion and listening to it”. The APC candidate said the presentation made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Council of State meeting was that “they were ready to conduct election on the date they fixed a year ago and for them forced virtually by the military that they cannot guarantee the safety of their workers; they had to concede to the demand of the military for additional six weeks. “Now since those six weeks are constitutionally-allowed, we had to tell our supporters to remain calm and resolute and obey the laws.” On Boko Haram and the fight against insurgency by the Jonathan administration,

Gen Buhari said that had been “made much more clear, when the National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing after our soldiers were giving interviews to the foreign media about being sent to the front without proper weapons. “The National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing by getting the budget approved by the National Assembly over the last three years and inviting the service chiefs to come and tell them why the weapons were not procured and sent to the soldiers under competent leadership. That hearing was scuttled. “So, it showed the misapplication or misappropriation of the resources provided by the government and (it) says why the Nigerian military was unable to defeat Boko Haram.” Gen. Buhari also said as an elected president, he will not rule with iron fist, unlike when he was a military Head of State. He promised to combat Boko Haram if elected, using the “Nigerian military that built a reputation internationally for effectiveness; it’s a great embarrassment to them and to the country that they have not been able to secure Nigerian territory, an area of 14 local governments out of 774 local governments. I believe this problem will not be too difficult for the APC government because we know the Nigerian military is competent. It is a question of making sure that the money voted for equipment and training is properly utilised.” He also promised to firmly fight corruption, saying “because, there are serious citizens that (have) said unless Nigerian kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

Poll: DHQ warns military officers, others against being partisan

ILITARY personnel were yesterday warned to avoid partisanship. They should not compromise the electoral process, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said. It vowed to sanction any officer or man who compromises the law or the electoral process, adding that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Service Chiefs will not derail the nation’s democracy. The DHQ reassured Nigerians of the military’s commitment to peace, law, order and stability before, during and after the forthcoming elections. The elections, which were slated for February 14 and 28 have been shifted to March 28 and April 11. The DHQ, which gave the warning in Abuja in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, asked military personnel to uphold their oath of office to protect the constitution.

Continued from page 1

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The statement said: “The Defence Headquarters has noted the palpable tension being generated in certain quarters with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities and recent developments, especially in relation to the electioneering programmes in the country. “Accordingly, it has become necessary to reassure all citizens that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to its duty in working to ensure the sustenance of peace, law, order and stability in the country before, during and after the forthcoming elections. “It is also important to reassure Nigerians that the military will while working with all security agencies and stake holders in the process, remain professional, apolitical and nonpartisan in all operations or activities related to this crucial ex-

ercise. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is quite conscious of the fact that apart from its primary constitutional role of defending the country from external aggression and internal insurrection, it also has the responsibility of providing support in aid of civil authority such as the need to provide complementary security arrangement to protect our electoral process. “It is on record that the military has successfully lived up to its responsibility while discharging this duty during previous elections without equivocation. “In this instance, all military personnel have been reminded and warned to remain ever conscious of their service oath and solemn commitment to protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even while remaining loyal to constituted authorities in the country. “No excuse will be acceptable

for any act of commission or omission that tends to compromise the law or the electoral process as well as decent conduct or judgment on the part of any service personnel while discharging duties related to elections in any part of the country.” The DHQ assured that the military will continue to protect and cherish the nation’s democracy. The statement added: “While expressing deep appreciation to Nigerians who have remained calm and understanding of the peculiarity of the security challenges being managed by the Armed Forces at this auspicious period in the nation’s history, the military is unequivocally assuring all citizens that it recognizes the fact that the nation’s larger interest and her security is sacrosanct and beyond any political expediency or ulterior consideration.” It urged Nigerians to insulate the military from partisan poli-

tics and have confidence in the neutrality of the Armed Forces. “It is therefore advised that Nigerians should also endeavor to insulate the military from partisan politics and retain their confidence in its neutrality and sense of patriotism at this critical point. “Indeed, the leadership, in particular, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, being products and beneficiaries of the nation’s democratic processes themselves, continue to cherish highly, the nation’s democracy. “They will therefore not engage in, condone or encourage any act that has capacity to undermine or subvert any aspect of the democratic processes. “Nigerians and the friends of the country should be reassured that the Nigerian Armed Forces believes strongly in the prospects of the country under a democratic rule and will contin-

•Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

ue to discharge its responsibility to support our democracy as constitutionally guaranteed,” the statement said.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS MAY 29...106 DAYS TO GO

Akande to Jonathan: clear the air on Jega’s tenure

ORMER Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to clear the air on the tenure of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega. Akande, in a statement yesterday, said the speculation on Jega’s tenure was heating up the polity. The statement reads: “President Jonathan must put the mind of Nigerians and the world as rest by clearing the air and by speaking out over the loud rumours that he would change the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) chairman midway before the shifted election’s date with a view to throwing Nigeria into a constitutional crisis. It is no longer news that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has scant regard for the rule of law and constitutionalism. Over and over again, Nigerians have witnessed the administration bending the rules and the laws to further sectional, parochial

By Wale Ajetunmobi

and personal interests. When concerned citizens first cried out that the administration was determined to scuttle the scheduled February 14, 2015 elections, many dismissed it as crying wolf. Now Nigerians know better than to assume that the present Federal government administration will not go to any length to frustrate the change earnestly desired by millions of Nigerians. “After orchestrating the postponement of the elections, it is now being revealed that the administration’s next act is to remove the Chairman of the “INEC” Professor Attahiru Jega from office. The reason why people assume that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan now appears ready to sink even lower in its disregard for law and the constitutional order by actively working to remove Professor Attahiru Jega from office as the chairman of the INEC is not far fetched: while the INEC under Professor Jega has delivered a mixed bag of hits and misses in its conduct

What the President said last night PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night denied any plan to remove the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega. He spoke during the Presidential Medial Chat. Jonathan, however, added that as his appointees, Jega and other INEC National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) could be removed by him. He added that he was satisfied with INEC’s leadership. of credible elections, it is clear that the Professor has exercised commendable independence and has refused to be cowed or induced by the administration and supporters of President Jonathan. “While this alarm may again sound outlandish to the innocent and the most optimistic fervent believer in the decency of the holders of the office of the Presidency, it should be recalled that the Presidency under President Goodluck Jonathan has notoriously bent the rules to frustrate the letters and the spirit of our laws in the past. It can be recalled that President Jonathan once removed the President of Appeal Court from his position while presiding over the case of the im-

propriety of own election in 2011. Also, the controversial removal of the former Governor of the Central Bank is another case in point. Another such case of maneuvering any issue affecting his personal ambition is the postponement of the scheduled February 14, 2015 elections. For, whereas it has been said that the INEC has the powers to postpone elections, it is instructive to note that the postponement in this case was de facto carried out by the appointees of president Jonathan: as has been made public, it was not the will of INEC but that of the military chiefs appointed by President Jonathan to have the elections postponed. “With such notorious penchant to take positions and

actions without regard to law, processes and procedure as long as selfish, sectional and parochial interests are served, I feel compelled to point out, in the interest of our democracy, that the tenure of the Office of the Chairman of the INEC is protected and guaranteed, not by mere statute, but by the Constitution! The Constitution is the fons et origo from which all other laws and persons and authorities derive their just and competent powers. “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 155(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly provides for the tenure of the office of the Chairman of the INEC as “a period of five years from the date of his appointment.” Furthermore, Section 157(1) provides that the Chairman of the INEC “may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or

•Akande

for misconduct. “It is clear that there is no legal basis whatsoever for the planned compulsory terminal leave for the chairman of the INEC or his suspension from office. Any attempt to do such would be departing from time-honoured precedents (as is the case with former chairmen of the INEC and other office holders like the last substantive Director Genera of the Securities and Exchange Commisssion, Ms. Aruma Oteh) and would amount to the subversion of the will of the people as expressed in the ground-norm of the Nigerian legal system, the 1999 Constitution.”

Elections must be devoid of violence, says U.S.

NITED States Consul General Jeffery Hawkins has urged politicians and their supporters to shun violence before, during and after the polls. He spoke at an event in Lagos to mark the AfricanAmerican History Month, urging Nigerians, to learn from Americans who have perfected electioneering campaigns devoid of violence. Hawkins said: “What lessons can we draw from the U.S.? First of all, it is so important to cast your vote. People have marched, been bitten by dogs and beaten by police and died to obtain the right to vote. When we have the right to vote but don’t use it, we disrespect their memory. So, I urge all Nigerians who are eligible to vote, to do so. Vote. It’s one of the most powerful weapons that we have in large, animated democracies, such as Nigeria and the United States. Please vote! “Secondly, for the first time in the history of the United States, we now have an African-American President in the White House. Having lived through the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, and having recently relived the experience through watching the film, Selma, I can confirm that the contrast is startling. Who would have thought, 50 years

•From left: Ogun State Chairman, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Mr. Yinka Folarin; Lagos State Chairman, CDHR, Mr. Olaitan Buna; President, Centre for the Rule of Law, Olasupo Ojo; Hawkins and human rights activist-lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) during a Black History Month Programme on Non-Violent Democratic Change in Lagos…yesterday. By Precious Igbonwelundu

ago, that it would even be conceivable to have an AfricanAmerican President in the United States of America? This just goes to show how genuine change, through the democratic process, is absolutely possible. But you must exercise your right to vote to make change happen, to vote into office people who have a vision for a new Nigeria. “The third and final lesson I draw from the civil rights history is the power of nonviolence. As Dr. King taught Americans, and as he taught the world, “non-violence means avoiding not only ex-

ternal physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” It is in that same nonviolent spirit of Dr. King’s that our U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle and I have been so outspoken over the past year on the importance of non-violence in Nigeria’s upcoming elections.” He said America was delighted to see the media, civil society and entertainers campaign against violence. “ As President Jonathan said in his New Year’s message, no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any of your countrymen, women, and chil-

dren. And as General Buhari recently tweeted, electoral violence is unacceptable, and every Nigerian life is sacred. Both presidential candidates have also signed on to the socalled Abuja Accord, which commits them to running exclusively issue-based campaigns, refraining from violence before, during and after election day, and speaking out against any violence that does emerge. “These are commitments that we need to see from everyone and they are commitments that need to be kept. Chairman Jega and the thousands of Independent National Electoral Commission em-

ployees are taking concrete steps to guarantee that this election is successful. We’ve also urged Nigeria’s governors to call for peaceful democratic engagement among their residents, and we ask all parties and all candidates to do the same. Some weeks ago, we were able to get the governorship candidates in Rivers State to come out and take this pledge in public. On Monday, I hosted a peace pledge event where we invited the leading Lagos gubernatorial candidates to go on record that they would not support violence before, during, or after the election. Their pledges were witnessed by senior religious fig-

ures, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, and local media. “Committing to non-violence, in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also means that you will not engage in or support violence for any reason, no matter what others do. And if you hear about plans of violent acts to be perpetrated by others, you will do whatever you can to stop it. And you will speak out against those who advocate violence to let everyone around you know that Nigerians can do better than that. That, and no less than that, is what Dr. King would expect.”

100m Nigerians lack access to improved sanitation, says WaterAid

N international organisation, WaterAid, has said over 100 million Nigerians still lack access to improved sanitation. It said basic access to sanitation and hygiene had dropped from 37 per cent in 1990 to 28 per cent in 2012,

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

despite government’s claim that access to sanitation was at 41 per cent. The country representative of the agency in Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo, said this in a statement in Abuja. The statement quoted Dr.

Ojo as saying that 60 million Nigerians lacked access to improved water sources. He explained that 68,000 children, under the age of five, die from diseases caused by poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene. “Only 28 per cent of the population has access to ba-

sic sanitation (over 100 million people have no access to improved sanitation). “Nigeria is one of a handful of countries around the world where access to basic sanitation is actually falling rather than rising; down from 37 per cent in 1990 to 32 per cent in 2000 and just 28

per cent in 2012. Twentythree per cent practise open defecation (nearly 40 million people) and 36 per cent lack access to improved water sources (over 60 million). “Around 68,000 children under the age of five in Nigeria die from diseases caused by the nation’s poor

levels of access to water, sanitation and hygiene.” Dr. Ojo urged Nigerians to continue to demand that the nation’s leaders embrace new and ambitious policies that will eradicate poverty, inequality and change the future of Nigerians for the better.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014

NEWS MAY 29...106 DAYS TO GO

Chadian army kills 13 insurgents

HADIAN soldiers have killed 13 Boko Haram fighters in a battle at Gamboru in Borno State. The country’s army, in a statement yesterday, added that one soldier was killed during the encounter. Chadian troops are in Gamboru as part of a regional offensive against Boko Haram, whose militants are staging cross-border raids in addition to attacks in Nigeria. The sect launched a pre-dawn raid in Gamboru, to overwhelm Chadian troops, who had pushed them out of the border town. The military in N’Djamena said the militants were repelled, but the counter-attack was an indication of the task facing regional forces in the fight agaist the seat. Troops from Chad, Cameroon and Niger have been deployed to fight the insurgents, whose bloody insurgency have claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2009. Boko Haram’s counter-attack on Gamboru, which has been repeatedly targeted in the past, is an established tactic from the militants, who have seized dozens of towns and villages since mid-2014. The extent of the rebels’ control of the captured areas has been hard to verify, with claim and counter-claim that the authority has repeatedly switched between the insurgents and the military. Boko Haram’s apparent ability to regroup is a sign of its transformation from a rag-tag guerrilla group carrying out hit and run strikes to a more effective fighting force. The insurgents were initially pushed out of Gamboru, which lies on the Nigerian side of the border with Cameroon in the eastern fringe of Borno state, on February 3. Chadian ground troops crossed over the bridge marking the frontier after days of sustained bombardment. The following day, rebel fighters counter-attacked in the

Cameroon town of Fotokol. “The Boko Haram elements wanted to surprise us by attacking at about 4:00 am (0300 GMT),” a military source in N’Djamena told Agence France Presse (AFP) of the latest attack. “We were aware of it from the day before and were prepared. They arrived with 14 vehicles and two armoured vehicles. We repulsed them and they retreated. “A helicopter was brought in to join the pursuit and destroy them.” One Chadian soldier and several Boko Haram fighters were killed, while eight troops were injured, the source said. Boko Haram has stepped up the frequency and intensity of its attacks since the turn of the year, in part to undermine the Nigerian elections. A devastating attack on the fishing hub of Baga on January 3 has been seen as a turningpoint in regional cooperation, galvanising neighbouring powers into providing assistance to Nigerian. Since then, there have been repeated attacks in northern Cameroon, while the Islamists last weekend opened up a new front across the border in Niger, attacking the border region of Diffa. N i a m e y o n Tuesday imposed a 15-day state of emergency in Diffa, where thousands of Nigerians have fled the violence, heaping pressure on food supplies and infrastructure. A reporter in the area said businesses, government offices and schools were shut as residents sought to flee. Nigeria maintains the involvement of troops from Chad, Cameroon and now Niger, after the parliament in Niamey approved the deployment of soldiers, is part of an existing agreement. At the same time, all four countries, whose borders converge on Lake Chad, with Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour to the west, agreed to provide 8,700 personnel for an African Union-backed regional force.

Northeast APC: only Buhari has capacity to defeat Boko Haram HE National Vice Chairman (Northeast) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babachir David Lawal, said yesterday that the party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, remained the only one in the general elections with the capacity to defeat Boko Haram and restore the image of the country’s military. Addressing a news conference in his office in Abuja, Lawal, an engineer, said the Military High Command should have known that General Buhari was the only one with the capacity and inclination to restore the low morale and self-esteem of the military. He dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was bias in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the Northeast states because

•‘Our candidate’ll restore military credibility’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

they collected more PVCs than others. The APC chieftain stressed that people in the region had every reason to want to vote out the government, which, he said, failed to protect them in six years. To him, with it many towns and villages under Boko Haram, the people are ready to vote the government out. Lawal noted that since the only way to do that was the PVCs, the Northeast people had every reason to defile the security challenges to collect their cards. Lawal criticised the military for what he described as the intimidation of the opposition, aided by the military. His evidence: the “siege on APC leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s home and the Imo State Government House”.

He spoke also on the postponment of the February 14 and 28 elections. Lawal said: “Nigerians woke up on the morning of Saturday, February 7, 2015, to the very sad announcement by INEC that at the instance of the Nigerian Military High Command, it had decided to shift the national elections by six weeks. “What makes this sad is the recourse to subterfuge and blackmail using the hapless people of the Northeast as an excuse to carry out a pre-planned and brutally executed course of action designed to abort the pending resounding electoral defeat of the PDP at the hands of the APC. “As if the merciless killings of its people and the wanton destruction of its property is not enough, the people of the Northeast region now have to bear the

additional burden of being used as a decoy to perpetrate evil by its erstwhile traducers and persecutors.” “Nigerians know that the true reason for this extension is so that the PDP can perfect its rigging plans, failing which it will create a constitutional crisis to altogether abort the democratic process of government change,” Lawal alleged, adding: “This could be so because some of their henchmen have publicly sworn that they will never hand-over power to Gen. Buhari. “Mark my words. INEC was fully prepared to conduct the elections. It had demonstrated its ability and readiness to conduct elections in the Northeast region through the creation of voting centres in safe areas for the internally displaced persons (IDPs).”

Airlines divert flights over bad weather By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

EAVY RAIN and poor visibility prevented domestic aircraft yesterday from landing at Lagos airport with aviation authorities directing them to go back to airports of departure and aerodromes. The rain, which started at about 3.30pm, forced the aircraft to return to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Calabar and other airports as the “prevailing weather minima was below the prescribed 1,800 metres”. Most pilots would not land an aircraft in bad weather if “the minima is not above 1,800 metres”. At the new Lagos Domestic Terminal, scores of passengers waited for over one hour for their scheduled flights due to the delay in arrival of aircraft. Some airlines, it was learnt, had to combine flights on some destinations to enable them meet up with the backlog of passengers at the terminal. Mostly affected were flights into Abuja from Lagos as well as into Southeastern routes such as Owerri, Enugu and Asaba. Last December, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a weather alert to pilots indicating hazards associated with Inclement in flight operations. The General Manager, Public Affairs of NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, said the alert was important since bad weather was known to pose threat to aircraft, particularly in areas of challenging terrains due to low visibility. He urged pilots to obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) prior to flight operations. He advised pilots to exercise maximum restraint when strong surface wind, fog or harmattan haze is observed or forecast. He said the alert was in line with the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the cessation of rainy season in 2014.

•Parish Priest, St Theresa Catholic Church, Yola, Adamawa State, Rev Fr. Moris Kwairanga addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s wife Hajiya Aishatu (left); Mrs Toyin Saraki (second left); former Minister of Industry Mrs Pauline Tellen (Second right) and other when Hajiya Aishatu and APC women donated drugs to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the church...yesterday

Osinbajo laments corruption, unemployment UPPORTERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday gave a rousing welcome to the party’s vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). The eminent lawyer was in the state for the Town Hall Interactive Meeting with the people held at ADOC Event Centre, Ondo town. The programme was coordinated by Mr. Bola Ilori, an APC chieftain and aide to Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Prof. Osinbajo earlier walked through Erekesan market, Akure, where scores of market women and traders trooped out to welcome him,

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

explaining their problems. He then left for Ondo town where he addressed the crowd. The vice presidential candidate identified corruption and unemployment as the bane of development in the country. He said APC stood for real change in all aspects of life, stressing that this was why the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was scared because of anti-corruption virtue of APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. In his views, the PDP was not ready to tell the people the whereabouts of the missing money from

government coffers. Prof. Osinbajo promised that the APC government would create jobs for the nation’s unemployed youths. He explained that if elected, the party would support state governments in providing 20,000 jobs in each state. The Senior Advocate explained that the country was at a great risk if a large number of graduates remained unemployed. According to him, 80 per cent youths and graduates were unemployed. Osinbanjo also used the forum to highlight some of the manifestos of the APC. The party’s National Vice

Chairman (Southwest),Chief Pius Akinyelure, urged all party supporters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that they should intensify House-toHouse campaign to mobilise people for the party’s victory at the polls. The event gave the audience the opportunity to interact with Gen. Buhari’s running-mate. Among the party leaders at the event were state APC chairman Isaac Kekemeke; Ifedayo Abegunde; Eni Omosule; Tunji Abayomi; Olu Adegboro; Jamiu Ekungba; Mrs. Fola Olaseinde Vincent; Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, Mrs. Tenabe; and Mrs. Ronke Ojo.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS MAY 29...106 DAYS TO GO

Polls shift: Govt warns diplomats against ‘unguarded utterances’

HE Federal Government yesterday, cautioned members of the diplomatic community against making what it termed “unguarded utterances” on matters that are strictly within the domestic jurisdiction of Nigeria. Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Aminu Wali gave the warning in Abuja at an interactive session with diplomats over the shift of the general elections. Wali expressed “the strong displeasure of the Federal Government with the conduct of some Heads of Mission” who have continued to breach the laid down diplomatic channels of communication.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

According to him, some heads of mission “have continued to behave in an imperial manner and in clear breach of the channel of the diplomatic communication. “A situation where a Head of Mission takes on the role of a government, seeking to impose the views and perspectives of his government and making unguarded utterances on matters that are strictly within the domestic jurisdiction of the host country is totally unacceptable. “It is only in this country that I have noticed some envoys who have taken it upon

themselves and without recourse to the government to embark on social causes and political advocacy that are totally unrelated to conventional diplomacy and representational duties of ambassadors. “It is therefore unacceptable for envoys to abuse their privileges and immunities by behaving in a manner that would have been met with the opprobrium in their countries were Nigerian ambassadors to behave in like manner. “Let me be clear on this, the federal government will no longer tolerate the excesses of such Heads of Mission. “They are hereby advised to operate within the norms and etiquette of diplomatic inter-

course,” he said. Wali did not name such envoys. But, he was sure that with the support of Nigerians and the international community, the elections would hold as rescheduled and in a peaceful and violence-free atmosphere. He said it had become evident that elections could not hold as planned in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Wali explained that doing so could have put the electoral officials, including observers and ad hoc staff, under severe danger. He said the decision to shift the elections, as stated by INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, was taken after painstaking consultations with all rel-

evant stakeholders. He said the federal government found the comments already made by some of Nigeria’s friends and partners on the polls shift as judgemental, precipitate and unwaranted. “What we need at this time is not to be hectored or lectured as to the conduct of Nigeria’s internal affairs, but the deepening of democracy in our country. “No country, no matter how well-intentioned, can love Nigeria more than Nigerians,” he said. According to him, there is a broad-based consensus by Nigerians for the elections to hold in all parts of the country, to guarantee the credibility and acceptability of the exercise. “While security has been a major concern, it is obvious that INEC may not have been fully prepared to conduct the elections as earlier scheduled. “It is a fact that over 34 per cent of registered voters are yet to collect their permanent voter cards. “There are other logistical and operational challenges, such as adequate provisions for electoral materials, includ-

ing prompt delivery and the training of ad-hoc staff which are critical to the success of the elections. “I am confident that as envoys accredited to Nigeria, you will continue to report events in this country factually and accurately so as to deepen understanding, cooperation and partnership among your individual countries and Nigeria,” the minister said. On the issue raised by the representative of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria, Richard Young, that Nigeria denied international media access to cover the elections, Wali said the Federal Government had already issued over 300 visas to foreign journalists who are interested to report the country’s general elections, adding that the process is ongoing. Already, over 300 visas have been issued and we have agreed that visas will not be issued 48 hours soon after the necessary procedure has been completed; so that one is already settled. I don’t know whether your people communicated to you or not,” Wali said.

Military pensioners threaten protest From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

T •From left: President, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa, Joseph Emmanuel; Policy Advisor, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, Chioma Osuji; Chief Executive, Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal and Policy Advocacy Advisor, Deborah Ojonwa, at Advocacy Training for Youths on Education in Abuja...yesterday.

HE National Association of Military Pensioners has threatened to disrupt the presidential election, scheduled for March 28, if the Federal Government fails to pay its members salary arrears spanning four years. According to a statement by its National President, Eromafuru Benson, the body said it came to the conclusion after memos sent to President Goodluck Jonathan to act on the matter yielded no results. He said some of the association’s members, who were now physically-challenged, needed to go for regular medical checks, but lacked the financial means to do so. Benson noted that the retired military men were prepared to repel security agencies if the issue is not addressed before the election.

‘National Assembly should investigate military’s role in Ekiti election’

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the National Assembly to investigate the alleged involvement of the military in what it described as the massive rigging of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election. The party said the audio tape on the alleged malpractices should not be swept under the carpet in the interest of democracy. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who played the tape and the interview with Capt. Sagir Koli aired by Sahara Reporters anchor Omoyele Sowore, to reporters in Lagos, lamented the misuse of the military by top government functionaries, who belong to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Capt Koli, the Intelligence Officer of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, who recorded the meeting in AdoEkiti of some PDP officials and the Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Aliyu Momoh, on the eve of the election, was “motivated by patriotism and commitment to professionalism.” These audio and video tapes detail how former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, and Gen. Momoh used the Army and other security agencies to rig the governorship election. Obanikoro, Omisore and Fayose denied their involvement in the meeting. In the interview, Capt Koli emphasisd that soldiers were drafted to

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

16 local government areas of Ekiti from the Akure Military Command to assist the PDP rigging machine. He lamented that the PDP chieftains threatened and blackmailed Gen Momoh, who they described as key to the election. He claimed that the former minister said that Brig-Gen. Momoh would not be promoted if he refused to cooperate with the PDP chiefs. Capt. Koli, who said the soldiers were compromised, said officers were not happy with the Ekiti scenario, adding that the soldiers were given N5,000 each before and after the polls. The captain, who spoke from hiding, lamented that his younger brother, a 14-year-old student of Command Secondary School, Akure, was arrested and detained for five months when the authorities could not lay their hands on him. He also said that his salary was stopped in accordance with the military tradition of punishing rebels. He recorded the conversations at the meeting because he believed that the military was derailing as a professional institution. Urging the military to defend its integrity and dignity, he said patriotism should be the watchword. He said he was ready to defend his allegations, saying that he acted in good faith and in national interest. He added: “They cannot deny it. They will only deny it to mislead the populace.”

Mohammed said, based on the tape, it was evident that the Army played a major role in the rigging of the poll. He added: “As Capt. Koli said, a total of 1,006 military officers and men were deployed in Ekiti, as part of a so-called Special Task Force for the election. Soldiers were deployed to each of the 16 local governments with the express instruction to ‘work’ with the PDP contacts in the local governments. “Also, special stickers were given to select PDP officials so their vehicles could be granted an unfettered access to any part of the state, despite the traditional election day restriction of movement.” The Publicity Secretary recalled that the APC had alerted the nation to the motive behind Gen Momoh transfer to Ekiti to supervise the poll. He also recalled that the party had cried out over Obanikoro’s nocturnal movements in Ado-Ekiti, the over-militarisation of Ekiti and the denial of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s right to campaign in the state. Mohammed added: “We further raised the alarm that the PDP chieftain, Chris Uba, in the presence of AIG Baka Nasarawa; Mrs Florence Ikhanone of SSS; Brig-Gen. Momoh; and Mr Ayo Fayose’s Chief Security Officer, Kayode Adeoye, addressed the Special Task Force that included 67 SSS operatives, 30 soldiers, 30 NDLEA operatives and 70 mobile policemen. “ Adeoye and Uba reminded the officers of the Special Task Force of their duty to President Goodluck

Jonathan, who was identified as their benefactor, and how the officers must ensure that their benefactor wins the election. “This was the same team that went round the state from Friday evening and throughout the duration of the election picking up leaders of the APC from across the state in specially-designated black buses with Presidency number plate numbers. All our warnings fell on deaf ears and the PDP and the Presidency even accused us of crying wolf.” Mohammed said if the tapes are swept under the carpet, the military will be abused again during the general elections. He added: “Already, soldiers armed to the teeth have been deployed to key opposition strongholds, apparently to intimidate the opposition. Armed troops have also been deployed in the areas around the residence of our national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in an effort to harass and intimidate him. “The PDP and the Jonathan Administration have left no one in doubt that they will again abuse the military and use soldiers to rig the forthcoming elections, in spite of the ruling by a Federal High Court in Sokoto that it is unconstitutional to deploy the military to monitor or provide security during elections. The court also ordered that such deployment must stop. To the best of our knowledge, the Federal Government has not appealed that ruling.” Mohammed urged the National Assembly to probe the role of the military in the Ekiti election because of the danger it portends to democ-

racy. He said: “ They must invite everyone who featured in that audio of shame to testify about the rigging of Ekiti poll, using the military. “The military is a national institution that is far too important as a symbol of our national unity to be toyed with or dragged into partisan politics. We will also remind the military that its loyalty should be to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not to any party or individual, whoever that person may be. “The military should not be used for policing duties during elections. That role should be left for the police and the Civil Defence. Is it not curious that over 1,000 troops could be made available for election duty at a time the military was battling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east? Is it any surprise then why this battle has not achieved much in six years? “The Jonathan Administration and the PDP have perfected the plot to again use the military to thwart the aspirations of Nigerians for a change that will usher in a purposeful government. Already, the Social Media is alight with information that the military is meeting in Kaduna with a view to working out the modalities to help the PDP at the polls. This sends the wrong signal to the polity as well as the international community about the role of the military in Nigeria’s elections “We will ensure that this issue will not be swept under the carpet, and that those who are found to have played an ignominious role in what is now definitely a plot to rig the Ekiti election will be brought to justice.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

NEWS Two inmates rearrested for alleged robbery

‘We’re Ondo PDP candidates’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

WO inmates of AdoEkiti prisons, who escaped during an attack on the facility on November 30, have been arrested by the police for alleged robbery. Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu broke the news yesterday when he paraded the suspects at the state command headquarters. Adegboye Sunday attempted to rob Akingbinsola Feyi, a resident of Ori Apata area of Ado-Ekiti on December 5, last year, at 10.25 pm. The runaway prisoner led three other suspects, armed with cutlasses, to the scene of the incident where they attacked people preparing for a wedding. Ajimoko Kayode was arrested after leading a gang of four to a robbery at Olokemeji in Ado-Ekiti on January 20. Lakanu said 40 robbery suspects were in police custody, decrying the congestion of the cells where they were being kept. “We have 40 robbery suspects with us but they have not been charged to court because of the judiciary workers’ strike. “Our cells are congested and you know those arrested for capital offences cannot be released. “Some of those arrested are among those who escaped from prison, so we urge the public to volunteer information to assist us,” Lakanu said.

UNIOSUN crisis panel inaugurated From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has inaugurated a fiveman Visitation Panel to the Osun State University (UNIOSUN). The governor admonished universities to solve problems rather than create them. The panel is headed by Prof. Adebiyi Daramola. Prof. Jacob Ladipo, Prof Omotoye Olorode and Mr. Babatunde Adebayo are members, with Mrs. Oluwakemi Kolawole as secretary. Aregbesola said the panel would investigate the basis of the crisis and the misunderstanding between the management and the council. The panel will proffer solutions to the disintegration in relationship between the management and students, with special reference to the Ikire Campus. He urged the Visitation Panel to submit its report within four weeks. The governor said: “As you are aware, there has been some disquieting dust being raised in the institution. The Ikire campus was shut until recently. Now, the management and council are at loggerheads. “I find it troubling that our universities are not problem solvers but crisis generators. We want to end this and return UNIOSUN to the path of its founding mission.”

•From left: Head of ICT, Mrs Wunmi Balogun; Head of Department Election and Political Monitoring, Mr Bunmi Ariyo and Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, at a voters education programme for youths in Ibadan…yesterday

June 12 detractors back, says Falana

ONSTITUTIONAL lawyer and rights’ activist Femi Falana has urged Nigerians to be vigilant because those who plotted the June 12, 1993 debacle are scheming to derail the present democracy. Falana, who spoke at the commemoration of the 2015 Black History Month and Beko Ransome Kuti Memorial, at Right House, Ikeja, said Nigeria was at a crossroads. The lecture: ‘Non-violent Democratic Change’, was organised by the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR). He said: “The Senate President, David Mark, said last September that ‘election is not our agenda now, we are fighting a war’. “The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, has had his way on the postponement of the elections. When he was the aide-de-camp to General Ibrahim Babangida, he and David Mark were among the colonels who said

•Urges Nigerians to be vigilant By Musa Odoshimokhe

over their dead bodies would Babangida hand over to Chief MKO Abiola. “Those who plotted the June 12 annulment are back, but are we going to allow them? If no, that is what the ballot demands from us. While we want to change peacefully, we have no apology to say that those who make peaceful change impossible make a violent one inevitable.” Falana said Nigerians were languishing in poverty, but the Federal Government was depriving them of the opportunity to make a choice. “We are insisting that this election must hold and whoever wins must be allowed to govern the country. “I am challenging Chief Edwin Clark and others. We never saw them when we marched on the streets of Lagos and Abuja to proclaim

Goodluck Jonathan as acting President. When we were on the streets of Lagos, where were they? “Quote me, in fact Baba Clark called me during one of our protests and said Femi my son, keep it up. We, of the Niger Delta cannot join this struggle now. I said why sir, why? He said because Jonathan is our son. I said what has your son got to do with this? It was Prof. Wole Soyinka at 71 then who led us in the protest.” The lawyer said the service chiefs have committed mutiny, stressing that this was the same offence for which some soldiers were charged. He urged Nigerians to resist the attempt to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, to proceed on terminal leave, stressing that it was unconstitutional.

The United States Consul General Jeffrey Hawkins reiterated the need to abide by the peace accord signed by the leaders of the parties. “As President Jonathan said in his New Year’s message, no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any of your countrymen, women and children. “General Muhammadu Buhari recently tweeted, electoral violence is unacceptable and every Nigerian’s life is sacred. Both presidential candidates have also signed the Abuja Accord, which commits them to running exclusively issue based campaigns,” he said. The host, former National President CDHR Olasupo Ojo said the mobilisation to save Nigerians had begun. “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we have the right to use the ballot they way we want it. It our right to exercise it, it is our property and nobody can take it away from us.”

APC: Fayose seizing official cars for personal gains

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of alleged sharp practices in the seizure of official vehicles belonging to government officials under former Governor Kayode Fayemi. The party accused the governor of plans to use cronies from Ibadan to buy the seized cars and later deposit them at his newly refurbished car showroom for sale to the public. APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun said in a statement that it was confirmed that the governor wanted to buy the seized cars in a contrived auctioning arrangement with his cronies. “To give the impression that the auctioning is transparent, some Ekiti people will be given auction forms to fill and actually participate in the auctioning session. Another set of people from Ibadan will also participate in the auction, but they will be the prime beneficiaries of the auction in the ratio of 90 to 10 per cent in

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

favour of Ibadan cronies, who are buying up the cars on behalf of the governor. “The governor has allegedly secured the services of Customs agents to help him prepare fresh papers for the cars before they are ready for sale in the open market.” The APC spokesman said former Governor Fayemi had a vehicle ownership agreement with his officials in which the officials would pay 60 per cent of the cost in a monetised policy that the cost would be deducted from their salaries, allowances and in some cases severance allowance, adding that the agreement included that the vehicles would be used for all official duties. “As at the time they were leaving office, several of the officials had fully paid for their vehicles while others had between 10 and 20 per cent to defray the cost. “For this category of officials, Fayose is yet to pay their severance allowances which would make up for the money

owed on the cars.” Olatubosun said despite this, Fayose was still insisting on taking these cars not for official duties but for his personal gains. He said an ambush was set for the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, yesterday to seize his official vehicle but the plan failed. “They arrived at his house as planned but they missed their target as the Deputy

Speaker had changed location before their arrival,” he said. He added that the governor’s agents earlier arrested Biodun Akin-Fasae, Wole Ariyo, Dr Bayo Orire, Ayodele Jinadu and several others. “On Tuesday, former Special Adviser to Fayemi Biodun Omoleye had his car impounded by a team of armed men in about 30 vehicles after threatening to kill him.”

SDP candidate advises Oyo voters From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

HE governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has advised the people to place less emphasis on religion and focus on how to eradicate poverty. Makinde said this after interactive sessions with leaders of religious groups, which he described as “fruitful and eye-opening”. The SDP candidate said his mission in government would not be to place one religion above the other, but to be just, fair and accountable to his creator. Makinde said: “If God had wanted mankind to worship Him through one religion, He would have decreed it and since He did not do that, I don’t think it is the responsibility of any individual or group to decree one religion out of existence. “My main concern in government is my desire to banish poverty, which has no religion, race, creed or colour. It is our common denominator and we all must drive it out.”

HE Olu-Ogunye-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Ondo State yesterday said they would pursue their case to a logical conclusion. A statement by the senatorial candidate for Ondo North, Olu Agunloye, said those spreading the rumour that they lost out in the bid to reclaim their mandate were enemies of the party. The candidates described the publication by the Ondo State government that Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led faction candidates were the authentic candidates of the party as misinformation and misinterpretation of the court’s verdict. The statement affirmed that the Ogunye faction candidates remained the authentic candidates of the party. The candidates said the Abuja Federal High Court verdict delivered on February 6 did not make any pronouncement on who the legitimate candidates of the party were . They said the court rather reiterated that Dr. Olu Ogunye remained the authentic Ondo PDP chairman and did not find the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guilty for not using the list of candidates submitted to it by Ogunye and the National Working Committee (NWC) in respect of a court order by the same judge. The candidates said the February 6 ruling was only a side kick in the substantive case of Ogunye vs INEC and PDP of December 18, last year, where the plaintiff pleaded that the court should recognise him as the authentic chairman and restrain Clement Faboyede from parading himself as the chairman. They said this request was granted by the court and nullified the appointment of the caretaker committee members constituted by the NWC. The statement said Ogunye submitted the list of the authentic candidates to INEC and NWC in Abuja on December 18 and obtained a confirmation.

‘Ogun SDP not for Jonathan’ By Leke Salaudeen

HE Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State is divided on the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate. It said it was not aware when the decision was taken. Its governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi, said: “The endorsement of a presidential candidate is news to us because we are not a party to that decision. “We are aware of a committee set up by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to examine the presidential candidates of the other parties and recommend anyone whose programme tallies with the SDP manifesto for adoption since our party is not fielding any candidate. “The state leadership and I are not aware that the committee had submitted its report and the NEC’s decision on it. “The endorsement of President Jonathan is in the realm of speculation. There was no directive to us here in Ogun State to that effect. “

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS ‘Give me staff of office’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi being welcomed to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Iseyin by the State Coordinator , Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses (middle) and corps members

Court fixes hearing in Ondo APC primaries’ suit

HE Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted to hear a suit challenging the outcome of the National Assembly primary held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. The plaintiff, a House of Representatives aspirant for the Odigbo/Ileoluji/ Okeigbo Federal Constituency, Festus Ayodele Adefiranye, alleged that his name was substituted after he won the primary on December 7, last year. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, after hearing an ex-parte application by the plaintiff, ordered that processes (court documents) in respect of the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

case be served on the defendants through substituted means. The defendants are Mrs. Yejide Ogundipe, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiff, in a motion on notice, asked the court to among others, uphold the result of the House of Representatives primary election of December 7, where he polled the highest number of votes cast and declare him the APC candidate. He asked the court to direct the party to forward his name to INEC as its candidate for

the House of Representatives election in the constituency and order INEC to accept and publish his name as the party’s candidate for the election. Adefiranye also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting and publishing the name of the first defendant (Ogundipe) as the APC candidate for the election. He stated in a supporting affidavit that he emerged as the candidate of the party in the primaries with the highest votes of 191, while Ogundipe got 189, Emmanuel Adedeji 100 and Pius Akingba 13. Adefiranye said he was de-

clared the winner by the Returning Officer, who also signed and gave him a copy of the result. He said the result was equally signed by the chairman and secretary of the Primaries Election Committee of the party as required. “After my declaration as the winner, I was congratulated by several persons, including the first defendant, Ogundipe, who congratulated me via a text message. “On December 13, I received a text message at 4.50pm that a petition had been written against me by the first defendant, consequent upon which I was required to appear before the

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on January 30, on behalf of Adesina Ibrahim Olaleye, by his counsel, Malachy Ugwummadu ,was transferred to the Abeokuta Division of the Federal High Court this week. Olaleye, who is contesting the Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi/Owode Federal Constituency seat, is also seeking a declaration that it is “illegal, null and

void,” for PDP to substitute his name with that of Amusan. Olaleye said Amusan did not participate in the House of Representatives primary elections conducted on December 6 by the PDP. He said Amusan did not obtain the expression of interest and nomination forms, noting that he (Amusan) only contested the governorship primary elections but lost. When the case was men-

Ajimobi consoles rainstorm victims From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has condoled with Oyo residents on the rainstorm that ravaged the area. Ajimobi, at a meeting with the 33 local governments caretaker chairmen, assured the victims that the government would assist them. The governor warned the people to be safety conscious always, particularly during rainy season. Caretaker Chairman, Oyo West Local Government, Soji Ojoawo thanked the governor for his concern and promised that the people would continue to support him.

‘Vote for credible candidate’

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

YO State Governor’s wife Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has advised women to vote for credible candidates. Mrs. Ajimobi said this at the monthly Women Intercessory Network (WIN) programme at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan. She enjoined the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote out bad leaders. Mrs Ajimobi solicited support for her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. “He has done a lot in the area of peace; nobody in the history of the state has his record, so I implore you to vote for him in the coming election”.

tioned yesterday, Kayode Akinsola, told the court that his client (Amusan) had not been served with a notice of the suit. Ugwummadu said he would serve the notice of the application (notice of motion) to the parties and asked the court’s leave to serve the defendants. Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo adjourned the case till February 19 on account of its “urgency”.

LASU matriculates 3,143

ICE-CHANCELLOR (VC), Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. John Obafunwa, has urged parents and wellmeaning Nigerians to donate towards boosting the image of the institution. Obafunwa made the appeal yesterday at the matriculation of 3,143 newly admitted students. The VC solicited the cooperation of parents and guardians in joining the LASU Parents’ Forum to participate in moulding the character of the students to become responsible fellows in the future. He said 3,143 were cleared for the matriculation of the 4,166 candidates offered admission for the

Poly workers sue rector, council From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Amusan’s disqualification suit for Feb 19 FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday fixed February 19 to hear an application to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Kayode Amusan as PDP candidate for the March 28 House of Representatives elections. The suit, which was first filed at the Federal High

Legislative Election Appeal Committee by 6pm of the same date. “I proceeded to appear before the Legislative Election Appeal Committee as directed where it was confirmed to me that the first defendant had written a petition against me, which was read to me and to which I was requested to respond. I requested to have a copy of the petition as my copy, but I was denied,” Adefiranye said. Justice Kolawole fixed March 2 for the commencement of hearing.

HE Olukere of IkereEkiti, Oba Obasoyin Ayodele Ganiyu, has called on Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to present him with his staff of office six months after his installation. The monarch, who spoke with reporters yesterday, said the tradition of the town demanded that the traditional ruler should begin the planting season. He said since coronation could only be performed by the government, Fayose should intervene and remove the bottlenecks delaying his coronation. The Olukere said he had written to the government on the matter but was told by the officials at Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs that his coronation was being delayed by the non-installation of a new Ogoga of Ikere. Ikere community has two Obas-the Olukere and the Ogoga-who had ruled the ancient community side-byside for ages. The last Ogoga, Oba Adegoke Adegboye, passed on last August. But Oba Ganiyu said he had written to the government that his coronation should not be delayed by the non-installation of a new Ogoga, maintaining that the Olukere stool had existed before that of the Ogoga. “I am appealing to the governor because we know he believes in justice, equity and fair play and we urge him to accede to our request so that I can perform my duties to the best of my ability so that peace will reign in Ikere.”

2014/2015 academic session. “The breakdown is as follows: Faculty of Arts (473); Faculty of Management Science (717); Faculty of Social Science (478); Faculty of Science (567); Faculty of Education (474); School of Communication (107). “College of Medicine (Physiology inclusive) (102); Faculty of Engineering (181) and Faculty of Transport (44). “The 2014/2015 admission exercise was transparent and based on merit. “The Lagos State government has been magnanimous in reducing the school fees to N25,000 to allow more students intake,’’ the VC said.

HE crisis rocking the Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti, Ekiti State, has moved to the courtroom with the three labour unions suing the Governing Council and the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, at the Federal High Court. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) are challenging the suspension of union activities by the Governing Council. They are demanding the sack of Dr. Akande and the Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Victor Ebomoyi. They flayed the Governing Council boss for allegedly acting contrary to extant laws regulating union activities. Ebomoyi issued a statement suspending all the workers’ unions as well as the Student Union Government. ASUP chair Tunji Owoeye accused the council of conniving with the rector to run the institution as their personal estate. Owoeye said Ebomoyi breached civil service rules and procedures by laying claim to the headship of the council. “While serving in the council, he did not resign his appointment as legally demanded before seeking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for Edo South Senatorial District. He lost his bid and returned to the council, this is illegal,” he noted. SSANIP Chairman Dr Oluwole Ayeni, NASU Secretary Tope Ajayi alleged that Dr Akande owed workers nearly N400 million in cooperative deductions. He said: "When we chorused that we needed one of us as the rector, we never knew we were courting trouble. "We got one and she has since been whipping us with scorpions. She is claiming all is well with the institution, how many students have resumed now? "Nobody is going to resume duties until all our demands are met. We have genuine issues presented to the Federal Government and then somebody woke up and suspended us, we are not going to keep quiet." The workers have been on strike since January 5 this year, leading to a halt in academic activities in the school.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Boy, 16, ‘defiles’ girl, 7

Policewoman disarms two suspected robbers

P O L I C E WO M A N , on Tuesday, in Lagos disarmed two men, who attempted to rob her and her companion on their way home. Sergeant Mercy John, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), was said to have refused the suspected robbers’ orders to the lie face down and submit her bag. She is attached to the Provost Office, State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja. A statement by the Lagos Police spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superin-

•Sergeant gets IG, CP awards By Sulaiman Salawudeen

tendent (DSP), said the incident happened about 6pm at Tawakalitu Close in Egbeda, Lagos. John, the statement said, “grabbed the neck of one of the robbers who pointed a locally made pistol at her, cocking same at the same time”. She smashed the suspected robber’s head against a nearby wall when she sensed the gun was not fir-

ing. The gun fell off the suspected robber’s hand and she quickly picked up the weapon, the statement said. The robbers fled. “The firearm has been deposited with the Special Anti Robbery Squad, while efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing hoodlums,” Nwosu said. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba who was briefed by the Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti immedi-

•John

ately approved that the NCO be equally given the IGP ‘Commendation’ alongside that of the CP. “The Commissioner of Police wishes to congratulate the NCO for this uncommon act of bravery and urges her to keep it up.

Court remands hawker for friend’s ‘murder’

N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded an 18year-old hawker, Nnabaike Enwerem, in prison custody for allegedly killing 18year old Sunday Ilaya. Enwerem was alleged to have stabbed the late Ilaya with a knife on the left side of his neck.

By Rukayat Jimoh

The incident occurred last December 24 about 8:30pm at 10, Mulianu Street Ajangbadi, Lagos. The defendant and the victim are neighbours. Enwerem and the late Ilaya’s younger brother, the court heard, ran errand for a neighbour which in-

volved money. Ilaya’s brother felt cheated in the deal and reported the matter to his brother, the prosecution said. Fighting broke when the late Ilaya confronted Enwerem over the matter. Prosecuting police Corporal Lydia Akhadolome, who held brief for Inspec-

tor Clement Okuomoise, applied that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending advice from Office of Department of the Public Prosecution (DPP). Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni rejected Enwerem’s bail application. He adjourned the matter till March 10.

She dumped me for another man, says husband

68-year-old trader, Kayode Onabanjo, has prayed the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos, to dissolve his 18 year-old marriage to his wife, Funmilayo. He alleged that Funmilayo, who was two months pregnant left him to live with another man. She has since given birth. Onabanjo, who lives at 23, James Oyedele Street, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, said he had always complained about his wife’s movement. He told the court: “We ought to have had a third child but for over 14 years, my wife has been committing abortion. She almost lost her life because of it. I

•’I was forced to sleep with him’ By Basirat Braimah

heard she engaged in extra marital affairs but I never caught her with another man. There was a time I travelled out of town and on getting back; our children told me how a man slept on our bed with my wife. “Since we got married, she always informed me whenever she was having her period. Two months ago, I heard she was delivered of a child but before she packed out of the house last February, we still slept with each other and she told me she had missed her period.

“She had always left the house whenever there was a problem. But, it caught me unawares when she left for another man because we were on talking terms.” The petitioner went on: “I married her when she was barely 18 and I have been providing for her needs. I feel so cheated because she never said she wanted a divorce. I know her friends misled her.” Defending herself, Mrs Onabanjo, 37, a caterer said: “I used to work in his film house when I came to Lagos in 1996 where he accommodated me. He didn’t rape me but was forced to marry him since he threat-

Community hails ‘Spirit of Lagos’ initiative

ESIDENTS of OkeIra in Ogba, Lagos, have hailed a rebranding outfit, Spirit of Lagos, for bringing its civic responsibility campaign to their community. Olarenwaju Oladapo, a leader, who spoke on behalf of the people, during the “Do the Right Thing” road show in Ogba and environs to create awareness on the need for residents to show a high level of civic responsibility, lauded the initiative. “We are truly pleased to receive the message that emphasises on doing the right thing to restore Lagos to its good old days. As elders, we feel bad each time we reminisce on the good old days. We desire the restoration of the lost glories of Lagos which many of us witnessed in the 1960s to 80s. It gladdens our heart that the Spirit of Lagos Movement has taken up the challenge,” he said.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

The community, he said, regularly mobilises residents to imbibe good culture and work for a better community. “We have also sensitised our people to take active part in the forthcoming elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), and ensuring that they vote during the elections as this is their biggest opportunity to evolve a better society,” he said. A cleric and motivational speaker, Femi Oluwole, said the ideals and vision of the Spirit of Lagos Movement should be supported by those who wish the state well. Oluwole said: “The idea of the Spirit of Lagos is a laudable one, especially in a society populated by many nonchalant people. We are truly happy with this initiative on behavioural change. We want to

appreciate the Spirit of Lagos team for deeming it fit to go around Lagos communities, educating people to engage in positive activities that will result to the good of the society”. He added: “A bulk of the sufferings in the society is as a result of ‘I don’t care’ attitudes being displayed by many residents of Lagos... if the people of Lagos could embrace social change and do the right thing, posterity will be happy with us.” Spirit of Lagos Project Director, Mr Olaniyi Omotoso hailed the people of the community for their selfless service, genuine interest and commitment to their area’s growth. The role of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the overall development of any state cannot be over-emphasised, he said. Omotosho urged other CDAs to join hands for the betterment of the state.

ened to send me out on several occasions; I had to sleep with him because I had nowhere to go. I met no woman in his house but I later got to know I am his ninth wife. “I took to abortion because he refused to set up a business for me. Since I had our first son, my husband stopped giving me allowance. I have never brought another man to the house. I didn’t leave his house last February. I left June 2013. I met my current husband five months after I left my ex-husband. The child is not his. I couldn’t just stand the sight of this wicked man. He doesn’t deserve me.” The marriage which was sealed under Native and Customary Law produced two children between ages 14 and 19. The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, advised the parties to maintain peace. He adjourned the matter till March 28.

16-year-old boy, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defiling a seven year old girl. The defendant, a native of Osun State was said to have pretended to be playing with the primary two girl in her parent’s house before he defiled her. He warned her not to tell her parents. But the girl did. The charge sheet reads: “That you...on the 13th day of December, 2014 at about 1pm at no 3, Salam Aye Itubo

By Rukayat Jimoh

Street, off Adoff Bus stop, Iba, Lagos did have sexual intercourse with one...of age seven years and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. Magistrate A.O. Isaac granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. He added that a refundable N30, 000 be paid into the account Lagos State. The case has been adjourned till March 4.

Barber charged with slashing N Ebute Meta Chief lover’s neck Magistrate’s Court

has ordered a 20year-old barber, Sikiru Buhari, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly attempting to kill his 18-year old lover, Boluwatife Emmanuel. Buhari, a native of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, allegedly attempted to murder Boluwatife by slashing her neck with a razor blade. The lovers met around 10pm behind the victim’s mother’s shop where the incident happened. Boluwatife’s refusal to accept N3000 from Buhari instead of N3500 led to their quarrel. In the process, the defendant allegedly slashed the vic-

By Rukayat Jimoh

tim’s neck with a razor. The victim is in hospital. The defence counsel, F. S Oladele, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms. Prosecuting police, Corporal N. Iyobosa applied that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending advice from office of Department of Public Prosecution (DPP). Magistrate F.J Adefioye ordered the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from DPP’s office. He adjourned the matter till March 11.

ALGON, NULGE sue JTB over revenue ban

SSOCIATION of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have taken the Joint Tax Board (JTB) before a Lagos Federal High Court, over the board’s purported ban on the sale and issuance of permits to motorists yearly nationwide. The suit was brought through originating summons under Order 3, Rule 9. Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is a defendant in the suit. Counsel to the plaintiffs Messrs M. O. Obhahin-Maje and Victor Mallor Ibhaze prayed the court to restrain JTB, its agents, and any person and group, including the Police and other law enforcement agencies from carrying out the directive. There five questions, which border on interpretation of the

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Constitution, Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act and other relevant laws stipulating the collection of revenue from motorists by the councils. The originating summons is supported by a 17-paragraph, a written address and documentary evidence. ALGON, NULGE and their accredited partners, the Joint Mobile Advert Agency of Nigeria (JMOAN) and the Logistics Agency of Nigeria Limited (LOANL) have asked councils, their revenue committees, agents and consultants to go about their duties pending the determination of the suit. The JTB had told the public that ALGON, NULGE and their agents were not authorised to sell stickers/emblems to motorists, prompting JMOAN and LOANL to head to the court.

•Oba of Ojokoroland, Oba Oluwalambe Taiwo (left) assisted by Ojokoro Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary, Mrs Fausat HassanOlajoku and other council officials to open the new council gate at Ojokoro.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

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‘N213b to power firms is loan, not grant’ From Nduka Chiejina and Akinola Ajibade

HE Director-General, Bureau of Public Enter prises (BPE), Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has said the N213 billion intervention fund recently granted the power generation companies (GENCOs) and power distribution companies(DISCOs) by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) is a loan, and not a grant. BPE, in a statement, quoted Dikki as saying that the public misconstrued the fund to mean a grant. He said from the conception of the power sector reforms, it was calculated that 40-60 per cent of power generated was lost due to technical faults and inefficiencies in transmission and distribution occasioned by inadequate investment and poor maintenance culture. He said the losses that no private sector investor would bear, were made good by the government via subsidies over an initial three year period, to give the private sector investors time to make the necessary investments to improve the distribution network. Dikki explained that due to revenue challenges, the government could not meet the obligation, hence the CBN decided to intervene and grant a loan to the power sector market, adding that the fund is a loan to the power market to enable investors improve infrastructure. He said the loan is repayable over a period of 1o years. “The CBN, BPE and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) would monitor the utilisation of the fund by ensuring that power infrastructure improves,’’ he said. Dikki noted that the greatest challenge facing power firms was gas, adding that previous administrations did not make investment in gas infrastructure until the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration came to salvage the situation.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil $58/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

What does corporate governance do? It ensures that you have set up a structure and a culture within the institution that can drive the business in line with given rules. That’s what corporate governance does. -Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

How NNPC will remit $1.48b, by GMD

HE Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Dawha, yesterday explained how the Corporation would remit the outstanding $1.48 billion unearthed by the PwC audit, to the Federation Account. He said the remittance would be effected as soon as the body reconciles the figures with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Dawha made this known at a briefing in Abuja on the outcome of the forensic audit conducted by PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC) on crude oil revenues accrued to the country between January 2012 and July 2013. He explained that the $1.48 billion is the balance of its remittance to the government on NPDC’s signature bonus. The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had accused the NNPC of failure to remit $20billion proceeds from crude oil sales into the federation account. Dawha said the entire revenue accruable to the Federa-

• Un-remitted funds not part of crude sales From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

tion has been fully accounted for in the report with clearly categorised components, stating that $1.48 billion signature bonus was not part of proceeds from crude oil sales as initially alleged by Sanusi, but the balance of the book value for the divested asset which the DPR had valued. He said the Corporation is working closely with the DPR to defray the amount as soon as possible. The NNPC boss also explained that the PwC audit, acknowledged the Corporation’s longstanding stance that a total of $50.81 billion has been remitted to the federation account as proceeds from crude oil sales within the period under review, as against claims of $47 billion. “The entire revenues accruable to the federation during the period have been fully accounted for in the report and the various components of the accruable revenue

have been clearly categorised. “The issue of outstanding $1.48 billion NPDC signature bonus, is in fact the balance of the book value of the divested assets, as assessed by the DPR and yet to be paid into the federation account by NNPC,” Dawha said, adding, that this does not in any way constitute an indictment. This value is still being reconciled with the DPR, he said. “Let me emphasis that there is no money missing. However the delay in payment of the true value of the divested assets is due to the unfinished reconciliation process amongst NNPC, DPR and other agencies of government.” The corporation’s Group Executive Director Corporate Planning, Dr. Tim Okon, said part of the payment has been made, while the remaining part of the $1.48 billion is undergoing reconciliation and so we are discussing with DPR on the valuation done and in due course this will be settled.

SEC, NAICOM to collaborate on insurance From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor), Abuja

T • Dawha

As soon as practicable because we are in discussion with the DPR and we are honouring the commitment that minister has made and we will do so as soon as we reconcile the numbers.” He however stated that the Management of NNPC was fully in support of the ongoing process of reviewing the laws governing its operations and has commenced internal transformation ahead of the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is currently undergoing legislative processes at the National Assembly.

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will collaborate to strengthen enforcement actions against insurance firms that misusefunds raised from the capital market. The Acting Director General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, made this known when he hosted the Management of NAICOM on a courtesy visit to his office yesterday in Abuja. The Deputy Commissioner of Insurance (Technical), NAICOM, Mr. Muhammad Kari, had highlighted some cases being investigated by NAICOM where funds were raised from the capital market and applied for other use by some insurance companies. According to him, such cases necessitate the involvement of SEC as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market with the responsibility of protecting investors. Mr. Gwarzo suggested closer cooperation between the two regulatory bodies to ensure erring persons or institutions are swiftly brought to book. “We are ready to work closely with NAICOM to resolve these cases,” Mr. Gwarzo said.

Glo presents N1m cheques to nurse, 18 other Overload promo winners

N • From left: Chairman, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), Alhaji Yusuf H. Abubakar; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jamil Gwamna; Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the disbursement of N39.5 billion intervention fund to the DISCOs and GENCOs in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

NLC election in chaos over financial misappropriation T

HE ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 11th Delegates Conference in Abuja almost hit the rocks yesterday due to the alleged misappropriation of over N40 billion said to be responsible for stalling the NLC’s Kriston-Lally Affordable Housing project. But for the wisdom of the out-going President, Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, who promptly called the presidential candidates to address and call their supporters to order, the election would have suffered a huge setback. Pandemonium broke out when one of the delegates called for the financial report on the mortgage scheme, a

By Toba Agboola

project said to have been allegedly riddled with fraud. For some minutes, delegates were astounded as chairs, bottled water, satchets and other items were thrown from one end of the hall to the other, while delegates scampered for safety. The delegates were dazed. Although the intervention by the presidential candidates brought some form of momentary respite and orderliness, the call by Comrade Omar for the acceptance of the financial report on the

project ignited another uproar. The delegates were divided on the adoption of the financial report. Some agreed that it should be accepted. Those who disagreed created another scene, singing war songs, calling the labour leader names and asking for him to step aside. Omar called for election and the majority finally voted in favour of the acceptance. Before the election, Omar had told the delegates that their money was intact, and the case under investigation

by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). “The money is secured through the action we took by ensuring that we are part of signatory to the account. It is true that the arrowhead in the company cannot be found now, but immediately the security agency gets him, we will commence payment,” he assured the delegates. Over N40 billion contributed by workers towards an affordable housing scheme, which was expected to deliver houses ranging from two-bedroom to four-bedroom to the workers since December 2014, is involved in the scam. The project began in May, 2013.

ATIONAL operator, Globacom has presented cheques to 20 more winners in the on-going N120 million Glo Overload Reloaded promotion. Each collected a cheque for N1 million. The cheques were presented to the winners yesterday at a convivial ceremony at the popular Yaba park in Lagos. The presentation brought to 40 the number of subscribers who have so far won the N1m prize in the Overload promo. Eighty more Glo millionaires are expected to emerge in the customer-reward programme. An ordinarily busy area, the Yaba park took on an added boisterous and colourful atmosphere with the Glo green roll-up and feather banners dotting the area and hit tunes blaring from the loudspeakers mounted at the venue of the presentation. For the about two hours the show lasted, the venue was literally at a standstill as market women, buyers, students, drivers, park workers and passersby thronged the venue to catch a glimpse of the lucky subscribers who had just been made millionaires by Globacom.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Limited access to credit has been a major challenge to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). To get round the problem and unleash MSMEs’ potential to create jobs, boost production and reduce poverty, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) created the N220 billion MSMEs Development Fund in August 2013. How can operators access the fund with ease? Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

Enhancing access to N220b MSMEs’ fund T

HE Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), wet the appetite of operators when it launched the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Fund in August 2013. The lifeline, expectedly, offered hopes of closing the financing gap in the sector. It was acknowledged globally as the engine of economic growth because of its potential to create jobs, boost production, generate income and reduce poverty.

MSMEs before the scheme Before the roll out of the scheme, about 80 per cent of MSMEs had no access to the financial market, according to a survey by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Mckinsey & Company, a United States (US)based multinational management consulting firm. Between 2003 and 2012, commercial bank loans to small scale enterprises dropped at an exponential rate. Analysis of the yearly trend in the share of commercial bank credit to smallscale industries indicated a decline from about 7.5 per cent in 2003 to less than one per cent in 2006 and a further decline in 2012 to 0.14 per cent. To make matters worse, commercial banks charge as high as between 22 and 25 per cent. Micro-finance Banks (MFBs) charge higher, insisting on between 30 and 40 per cent interest rates. The exorbitant interest rates charged by the commercial banks is said to be partly responsible for the shutting of many industries. Others simply relocated to neighbouring countries where they are sure of interest-friendly credit facilities. Despite the high cost of credit, Nigeria’s MSMEs estimated at 17.6 million employed about 32.4 million people as at 2012. It also contributed about 46.54 per cent of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure which raised hope that the N220 billion would, perhaps, be a shot in the arm of operators in the MSMEs sector. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele amplified this expectation when he described the intervention as an innovative way of improving MSMEs access to finance, shoring up their potential for job creation and enabling them reduce poverty in the country.

Access becomes an issue However, MSMEs’ ability to play this critical role on the strength of the N220 billion lifeline has come under serious threat due to difficulties in accessing the fund. Some of the operators lamented that it is easier for the camel to pass through needle’s eye than to access the fund because of the stringent conditions and guidelines for accessing it. For instance, the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) lamented that accessing the fund has become extremely difficult. “The problem with funds like that and over the years, we have had so many funds like that, you cannot access them. So, they remain a mirage. And this N220 billion has continued to be a mirage, which means you can’t touch it. The CBN guideline as published makes it impossible for anybody to access that fund. That is what happened to all kinds of funds domiciled in the CBN, nobody can access them,” the National President of NASSI, Chief Chuku Wachuku said. Chief Wachuku, a Consultant Economist, told The Nation that by giving the fund and other similar funds to government agencies to administer instead of putting them directly into private sector organisations or development finance institutions, such government agencies would create bureaucratic empires. “You are going to have managing directors and deputy managing directors with all the attachments and appurtenances thereto and then

the money will just go. But, the correct thing to do is to find a critical strategy to get these funds directly into the businesses to create employment and when you create employment you create wealth,” he argued. He also said putting the funds into development finance institutions would have been more ideal because they understand the concept of small scale enterprises. Noting that Deposit Money Banks do not understand the concept of short-term financing, he, however, urged the development finance institutions, such as the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to understand that they are intervention agencies of the Federal Government set up to give effect to the fiscal policies of government. “Their duty is not to make money or show increased balanced sheet; once they do that, we are going to call on the Presidency to scrap them,” he said.

Operators call for invovement in fund’s administration Wachuku said putting such funds directly into private sector organisations, or development finance institutions, would mean getting the fund as quickly as possible without too many bottlenecks. He said this would be done by working with members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), who would translate the interventions into real industrial growth. “I am using this opportunity to call on the Presidency to re-evaluate these huge sums of money pumped into public sector agencies and put them directly into private sector organisations,” he stated. He wondered why the government continued to pump more intervention funds into government agencies despite the fact that they he not lived upto expectation, pointing out that “the correct thing to do is to find a critical strategy to get these funds directly into the businesses to create employment and when you create employment you create wealth”. He insisted that everywhere, the government cannot create employment rather; employment and wealth creation must be private sector-driven. Members of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) are also kicking, saying that access to the fund has remained a challenge for close to two years after it was launched. To ease access to the fund, the Director-General (DG) of ECCIMA, Mr. Emeka Okereke, said OPS members should be brought into its administration. He argued that since the fund is a developmental initiative, OPS members should be involved in its administration. According to him, this would allow ECCIMA and other private sector organisations vouch for the integrity of their members wishing to access the fund. This, Okereke said, would go a long way in reducing incidents of loan default, as the OPS would be engaged in setting eligibility criteria for accessing the loans. The ECCIMA chief also said there was need for banks to create SMEs desk to help operators package their business proposals very well to attract the required funds. Noting that the N220billon MSMEs intervention fund is not charity, he said OPS members must possess all the basic criteria for accessing the fund including presenting a bankable proposal. The Director-General said most MSMEs lack

•Emefiele

•Chuku-Wachuku

the capacity to package their feasibility studies very well. Besides, they lack good management structure and accounting system to make them attractive to financial institutions for any form of assistance. Reminded that the Bank of Industry (BoI) had earlier signed a service agreement with Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to help operators package their loan requests, develop bankable business plans and proposals for to facilitate their access to finance, Okereke said most of the MSMEs don’t have the financial resources to hire experts or professionals to their feasibility studies. Also worried by lack of access to the fund, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce is canvassing the inclusion of the OPS in setting criteria for assessing the fund. Its Vice President, Public Relations, Jude Igwe, commending the N220billion scheme launched by President Goodluck Jonathan as a policy in the right direction, advised that the OPS should be engaged in setting eligibility criteria for assessing the loans.

ployment creation and diversification of the country’s economic base, also said a maximum of 10 per cent of the commercial component of the fund should be channeled to trading and commerce. Although, CBN requests that 60 per cent of the fund, representing N132 billion, be earmarked for providing financial services to womenowned businesses, Emefiele said PFIs would be required to submit periodic returns on disbursements as well as an analysis of the social impacts of the fund. He added that the finance sector regulator will also undertake regular on and off site checks to ascertain the veracity of the reports received. That is not all. The CBN also demanded that borrowers provide 100 per cent near-cash cover in treasury bills or fixed deposit, a situation said to have made it difficult for most finance house operators to draw from the fund. Most of the finance house operators are therefore, reluctant to draw from the loan. In their own thinking, the CBN cannot force people to invest in treasury bills or keep fixed deposits because they want to borrow. Because of this, only commercial banks are said to be meeting the drawndown policy and are accessing the loans. The snag however, is that this arrangement defeats the objective of setting up the fund. However, Wachuku argued that this should not be so, pointing out that the economy of the emerging nations or even developed nations appreciate, that economies must necessarily depend on MSMEs and the informal sector because it’s the engine of growth. He said 70 per cent of all new net jobs in the US are created by small and medium enterprises. He also said in Nigeria, SMEs contribute 90 to 95 per cent to GDP, but their only problem is that whereas they contribute this percentage to GDP, the wealth addition stands at only 46 per cent. Indeed, in developed economies of the world, the private sector is the engine of economic growth, propelling the economies of those countries by creating the bulk of job opportunities. Government only creates the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive through unfettered access to credit facility to MSMEs in those countries. Government also provides the necessary infrastructure, including guaranteeing the security of lives and property. But this is not the case in Nigeria where the government remains the largest employer of labour.

CBN’s guidelines Under CBN’s guidelines, the fund, which attracts nine per cent interest rate, would be administered through private or state owned Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs), Finance Houses, and Cooperative Finance Agencies. Such MFIs or micro-finance banks must pass CBN’s competency and proficiency tests in order to certify them capable of distributing these funds to MSMEs. State governments will be able to access up to N2 billion each for lending to eligible beneficiaries through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) in their states. In other words, the CBN will not be lending directly to farmers or businesses. What the fund does is a wholesale fund. It provides funding to the PFIs. MFIs or micro-finance banks can also come to the fund. The CBN will assess them; give them the money at low interest rate. The PFIs would undertake that they will lend at low rate of interest to micro-entrepreneurs, the low-income earners, farmers, artisans and the active poor who operate in the informal sector. Also, PFIs can only finance agricultural value chain activities, trade and commerce; cottage industries, artisans, among others. The apex bank in a bid to ensure that productive sectors of the economy attract more finance necessary for em-

‘

The problem with funds like that and over the years, we have had so many funds like that, you cannot access them. So, they remain a mirage. And this N220 billion has continued to be a mirage, which means you can’t touch it. The CBN guideline as published makes it impossible for anybody to access that fund. That is what happened to all kinds of funds domiciled in the CBN, nobody can access them

‘

Conclusion The hope was that the fund, seen by not a few stakeholders as a practical approach to boost the employment and wealth creation capacity of operators of MSMEs, would reverse this trend. But as things stand, OPS members believe that the initiative can still deliver on its promises if private sector players are brought into the administration of the fund.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Is Mbu above the law?

•Lawlessness begets lawlessness and an officer of the law who brims with impunity is a threat to peace

HAT shall we have to do to get members of our uniformed corps thatinclude the police, military, paramilitary and security agencies, to respect the basic rules and laws governing the society? Over the years, we have been faced with the problems of unruliness and disdain for rules of engagement with members of the public in the daily run of business. Through the years, men and women in various uniforms have almost had as much run-ins with ordinary, law-abiding citizens as with outlaws. Hardly any week seems to pass without one reported case of infraction, bordering on intimidation, humiliation and unwarranted show of brute force. Often these altercations result in deaths, serious bodily injuries or unlawful detention. Recently, a police officer reportedly brutalised a couple with the butt of his gun,

‘AIG Mbu was just a few days in his new posting when this incident happened. What a comeback for an officer of the law who already bears the tag of ‘Mr. Controversial’, arising from his barbaric role as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State recently! As a senior police officer, Mbu must crave to epitomise the very best of conduct at all times in order to maintain the sanctity of and serve as a shining example for the institution he represents’

almost blinding them, over a minor argument. There was another recent case of plain-clothed security men suspected to be members of the Department of State Security (DSS) brutalising and indeed hauling off to an unknown destination, hapless workers at a tollgate within the precincts of the airport at Ikeja, Lagos. However, the incident on January 29, 2015 at Toll Plaza 1 on the Eti-Osa LekkiEpe Expressway, Lagos, must give every discerning Nigerian a cause for worry. It involved the newly deployed Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Mr. Joseph Mbu. As the story went, the new police boss was traversing the toll facility on this day at about 6.00 pm in a convoy of about six police vehicles and an armoured van. As reported, for failing to allow the convoy a speedy, unhindered passage, some men in AIG Mbu’s entourage invaded the ‘offending’ toll booth, manhandled the operator and bundled him and three policemen attached to the plaza into their vehicle. They were later detained for about one week at Makoko Police Station without charge. According to a release by the toll operators, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), published on January 31, what transpired at the toll facility can be described as a blatant show of power and abuse of office. There was no demand whatsoever for the vehicles in the convoy of the AIG to pay toll, they were only required to allow a few seconds for the vehicles to be processed as exempt vehicles as the rules demanded. But the AIG and his men apparently felt affronted that the operator did not allow them unhindered passage. They

would not suffer a moment’s ‘delay’ and no other explanation made sense than to ‘teach’ everyone in sight a lesson. Even fellow policemen on duty at the plaza had to be humiliated as well. AIG Mbu was just a few days in his new posting when this incident happened. What a comeback for an officer of the law who already bears the tag of ‘Mr. Controversial’, arising from his barbaric role as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State recently! As a senior police officer, Mbu must crave to epitomise the very best of conduct at all times in order to maintain the sanctity of and serve as a shining example for the institution he represents. Mr. Mbu is also remembered for sending his boys to practically abduct a journalist of the African Independent Television (AIT) even as he was presenting a programme in the studio. The presenter had merely described him as a controversial police officer. These are very poor conducts not expected from a high level officer. Impatience, unruliness, disdain for rules and conventions and the kind of impunity that arises from a messiah complex seem to characterise the conduct of some senior security, military and law enforcement officers. Need we admonish that the law is the law and there are no separate laws for different people. We urge our officers of the law to always conduct themselves with utmost decorum and dignity, bearing in mind that their uniforms and even the arms they bear are veritable totems for maintaining the sanctity of the law and never for abusing the citizenry.

Teenager stowaway • More attention at airports will avert further incidents

ECURITY breaches have led to several cases of stowaways, especially teenage stowaways, at some of our airports. The most recent of such incident occurred at the private general aviation Execujet terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on February 1, when the commanding pilot of an aircraft detected a teenage boy in the tyre compartment of the aircraft operated by Tag Aviation. The aircraft was said to have flown in a former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Dan Etete, into the Lagos Airport the previous night, and parked at the private hangar from where it was expected to take off on February 1 before the teenager, Samuel Ogundeyi, was caught in its tyre compartment. The teenager was said to have been discovered at about 12 noon when pilots of the aircraft marked M-MYNA were carrying out a routine inspection on it. When Ogundeyi was interrogated, he reportedly said that he was able to cross the L18 runway over to the Execujet facility located at the international wing of the airport at night when he “noticed there was no flight landing or taking off on the runway”. The teenager also confessed that he entered the hangar through the facility of the Headquarters, Air Defence Corps of the Nigerian Air Force located next to the Presidential VIP Lounge in the airport, on January 31, with the help of somebody he identified as his brother. Arrests of teenager stowaways , usually boys, are becoming worrisome, especially as the incidents were caused by

security breach in our airports. A few years back, we had a similar case of a teenager stowaway who was arrested in Lagos. Indeed, we have had several other cases of security breaches at some of our airports. For instance, some animals had strayed into the runways while even vehicles had crashed into some of the areas within the airport complexes. These incidents are bad advertisement for the country’s airports as they portray them as insecure. We are particularly bothered about the circumstances driving young Nigerians to desperately want to leave the country for abroad without minding the attendant risk to their lives. On August 24, 2013, a teenager stowaway, Daniel Ohikhena, followed an Arik Air plane from Benin to Lagos, thinking the plane was going abroad. He said he was disappointed when he eventually found out that the plane landed in Lagos. Although we can understand the cases of adults trying to check out of the country (as symbolised by “Andrew”) for greener pastures, the cases of teenager stowaways may portray Nigeria as a difficult country to live in, even by teenagers probably as a result of neglect, poverty and squalor. This is despite the fact that attractive as the idea of going abroad for better life is, the risks are equally enormous, because all that glitters is not gold. After all, the bodies of stowaways have been found in aircraft while some of those who arrived their destinations abroad safely were

shamefully deported. The government’s job appears well cut out for it as far as these twin issues of security at our airports and unemployment are concerned. First, we need to provide adequate security in our airports because these security breaches have grave implications for passengers, especially in these days of insurgency and terror. So, the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should wake up to see to it that our airports are safe. And, in order to prevent further occurrences of teenager stowaways in our country, our government should try as much as possible to make life worth living for all Nigerians, irrespective of age, caste, creed or colour. That is the only way Ogundeyi’s incident would be the last.

‘And, in order to prevent further occurrences of teenager stowaways in our country, our government should try as much as possible to make life worth living for all Nigerians, irrespective of age, caste, creed or colour. That is the only way Ogundeyi’s incident would be the last’

Ajimobi and second term jinx

IR: In recent political dispensations in Oyo State, what started as a mere political routine was allowed to be turned to a jinx. Unfortunately, that jinx has almost graduated to a taboo. That is the so-called second term syndrome. It is very ridiculous that those who are now attempting to turn it into a taboo did not deify it until they themselves failed in their second term bid. If it was a taboo, why did they themselves seek a re-election bid the first instance? First of all, the record must be put straight. Between 2003 and 2011, the PDP had a second term in Oyo State. If because of his administrative ineptitude, Rasidi Ladoja failed to get the second term ticket of his party, should the gods of Oyo State be blamed for that? Should the burden of his inability to manage his success between 2003 and 2007 be put on the people of Oyo State? Certainly not. His political indiscretion at that time indicated his inability to manage a cordial relationship with the state House of Assembly. In the case of ex-Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala his successor, his priority was the consolidation of his grips of the party structure in the state. He did that bearing in mind the fragile nature of his emergence from the moment of Ladoja’s impeachment. This was further complicated by his sudden political orphanage with the death of Adedibu. Suddenly, he found himself in the forefront of the battle against Ladoja. At that stage, he had to resort to extraneous agencies of political pressure groups in order to fortify himself on the political landscape. The first port of call was the drivers union – the NURTW. That group was not only factionalized but polarized. The state of unease in which the state was thrown into can never be forgotten by the good people of Oyo State in a hurry. It was in that state of socio-political insecurity that the 2011 election took place. The people of the state who were eagerly looking for a respite from their heightened anxiety found solace in the then ACN and Ajimobi, its flag-bearer. The question to ask in respect of the much talked about continuity in Oyo State is what is it for Ajimobi to continue in Oyo State. The first and the most precious is the peaceful serenity across the state at the moment. The point must be stressed that it is this serene atmosphere in which the state has been breathing that gives room to the socio-economic stride of the state in the last four years of Ajimobi administration. There is also the need for continuity in the road networks which Ajimobi had opened across the state. This can be quantified in various dualizations and over-head bridges which he had embarked on. Another area where continuity is desired is in the attraction of business investments. The Technical University which remains a pet project of the Ajimobi administration also needs to be brought to fruition. • Agboola Sanni, Ibadan.

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

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•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

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•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

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•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: In view of ethnic and tribal diversity of the Nigerian federation, lack of unity has always been a major impediment to nation building. From independence till date, successive governments have devised various policies and programmes with the primary goal of surmounting the various complications posed by the country’s mixed population. One of such is the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Brainchild of the General Yakubu Gowon’s (rtd.) military administration, it was conceived in 1973 as a way to address the major fallouts of the Nigerian civil war (19671970). Having fought a bitter civil war that further exposed the precarious nature of the county’s federation, the NYSC programme was put in place as a policy that could enhance the unity of the country. The core aspect of the programme involves the posting of fresh graduates to various parts of the country for a mandatory one-year national service programme. Among the major core values of the NYSC are dedication and loyalty to the service of one’s fatherland. In adherence to this, many corps members have remained true to this cause by giving out their best in their various places of primary assignment. There is, however, urgent need to tidy up certain loose ends in respect of the NYSC programme in order to preserve its values. A recent survey shows that corps members meet with various challenges in the process of carrying out their assignments. Prominent among these challenges are security, low allowance and rejection by some organisations. Also, the working environment in certain locations in the country is not actually conducive for members to give out their best. Equally, members are sometimes overburdened with so much work and still get very little remuneration. Inadequate accommodation is also a serious challenge for members across the country. This is particularly frustrating, especially for corps members posted to places

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Preserving the NYSC scheme where they are complete strangers. Closely related to this is the issue of transportation. In major cities in Nigeria, it is usually difficult and very expensive navigating through one’s way because of the huge cost of transportation. The result is that corps members serving in most of the cities often end up spending fortunes on transportation. Ironically, the meager monthly allowance is usually expended on transportation thereby compounding the frustrations of the corpers. At the end of the month, there is little

or nothing left to feed and use on other essential expenses. Added to this is the fact that many employers don’t really treat members fairly as they are often used as beasts of burden that should do all the dirty works and yet without being duly compensated. This is particularly the case with members who serve with the private sector where they are expected to face the same task as given to permanent staff. Compared to insecurity, all the aforementioned challenges are

however child-plays. If the security operatives, with all the human and material resources at their disposal, could not guarantee us of a safe election, definitely corps members who are posted to troubled spots in the country are, undoubtedly, endangered species. Besides our peculiar security plight, the poor state of roads across the country equally jeopardizes the safety of corps members. There have been countless instances of corps members losing their lives through tragic motor

accidents. Despite these challenges, corps members have continued to heed and obey the clarion call of service to their fatherland by diligently carrying out their various tasks in whatever capacity they are given. Hence they have continued to exhibit the core values that anchor the NYSC scheme. Like all government’s policies and programmes, despite its various shortcomings, the NYSC scheme has over the years succeeded, in its own little way, in fostering unity in the country. There is, however, an urgent need to look into the various challenges bedeviling the scheme with a view to preserving its major values. •Susan Olije Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

As GEJ continues to re-define graft IR: For those who had been following the ongoing presidential campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, something must have come very clear by now. The President will not do anything tangible, now or in the immediate future, to curb the mindless corruption that is almost choking the nation to death under his watch. Public outcry on pervasive official corruption under the present administration, became accentuated after the mass antigovernment protests that followed the fuel price hike of 2012, which shut the nation down for 10 days and the subsequent outcome of the various probe reports, which revealed a massive plunder of the nation’s resources, especially by friends of government. The people had anxiously waited for the prosecution and recovery of the humongous amounts allegedly pillaged by those involved, but nothing concrete has happened two years after. Instead, those indicted has arrogantly continued to trot the corridors of

power, wining and dining with the powers that be. Nigerians might have unwittingly had an inkling of the President’s mindset in May last year, when he said in answer to a question during a session of his quarterly media chat, that: ‘over 70% of what is called corruption, even by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-corruption agencies, is not corruption but common stealing’. Reactions to this was mixed at the time as some people believed it was probably his usual laconic way of reacting to issues he considered over exaggerated. That the President meant every word of what he said on that occasion is now no longer in doubt, as it has become a major plank of his electioneering campaign. He had re-stated this position at every stop on his campaign trail and he does not appear apologetic about it, even in the face of harsh public criticisms. Added to this is what looks like his bizarre template for curbing corruption which tends to emphasize persuasion rather than

punishment. First, he believed that the average Nigerian’s perception of corruption and how it should be curbed, were totally wrong, archaic and not in sync with what, in his view, obtains in civilized environments. He did not believe in arresting people and putting them in jail, because, according to him, that will not stop them from stealing again. Although, he agreed that corruption should be fought, he had his own template that has kept his countrymen dazed. No arrests, no lock-ups, no imprisonments. Just restructure the system using ICT in a way that people holding public offices will no longer have direct access to funds, he said. Reactions to this had been rather cynical especially from anti-corruption crusade groups who had little trust for a government notorious for shielding its corrupt officials. Public perception of his recent thoughts and utterances on corruption more than give credence to fears that the President lacks the guts to confront endemic

graft in the system frontally. This is because, always by his side on the podium and cheering ecstatically whenever he speaks, are top members of his party, especially his re-election campaign team, which is populated by those who, or their children, are still answering corruption charges in the courts. For those who believe that the President may have squandered his goodwill and even his good luck, redemption may be farfetched especially in an election year. Any effort towards this will depend on if he rolls back his mindset and begin to listen to wise counsel from those who mean well for the nation and the coveted office of the President. It’s been said that a President who openly defends his corrupt officials as Jonathan has been doing, loses self respect both at home and in the international community. But then, it is the nation that suffers such indignity the most. • Olu Adebayo, Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

COMMENTS

B/Haram and Nigeria’s neighbors; failure of foreign policy?

CHOLARS of international relations have always considered peace on the borders of any country crucial in understanding that country’s relations with the outside world. In this sense, it is almost a truism that the most secure border is the undefended border. Good examples of secure borders are the USA/Canadian and Shengen borders in Europe. The sign of insecurity is when borders are heavily fortified. The removal of borders between or among a group of countries is a manifestation of peace and economic equilibrium. When there is unequal economic development, removal of borders will lead to push-pull movement in which people will move in large numbers to developed and economically buoyant neighboring countries in search of economic sustenance. The greatest development in the politics of the world since 1945 is the attempt at European economic integration as a possible prelude to full political union. This happened in a Europe where between 1870 and 1945, the two countries in the heart of that continent namely France and Germany fought three wars, the last two plunging the world into military cataclysm that led to the death of close to 50 million souls not counting those who died as a result of disease and collateral damage. This is why the advent of the European Economic Community (EEC) and its metamorphosis into the European Union has not only been studied critically all over the world, it has also provided an example to follow in other regions of the world particularly in the Americas. South East Asia, Central Asia the Pacific Rim and Africa. The ECOWAS experiment did not just come from the moon, it was well rooted in historical antecedence. Coming nearer home, we have been seized with the question of relations among neighbors in Africa. We cannot build any economic edifice among neighboring countries unless we first establish if there is some kind of entente cordiale between two countries and among others involved in economic integration. For Nigeria, the most important country in West Africa, charity must begin on our borders. I think it was Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari who first used an inelegant phraseology to describe this idea as co-prosperity area. It is inelegant in the sense that it brings back the feeling of a powerful country overrunning its neighbors as was done by Japan during the events leading to the Second World War. I have been involved with others in studying our relations with our neighbors for some decades and I have written quite extensively on this. I remember writing on Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea relations and Nigeria-Cameroun relations in the

T was a long day not only for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega and his team, but also for Nigerians. Throughout Saturday, the nation waited on Jega as he held series of meetings on whether the February 14 and 28 general elections should hold as scheduled. Even before he came out around 11pm to address reporters, who had waited all day in INEC’s press centre, the grapevine had been abuzz with what he wanted to say. Since information travels at the speed of light these days, many were already talking about the postponement on social media. So, Jega only came to confirm what people already knew - the shift of the elections to March 28 and April 11. Watching Jega that night as he spoke, I felt for him. Here was a man of principle faced with a dire situation. He and his commission had done everything in readiness for the elections. They were set to go despite the hiccups in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which some initially wanted to use to force its hands to postpone the elections. Mind you, it is not that INEC has not been distributing the cards; it has been doing so even though it could still improve on its system to

304 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

1970s as purely academic exercise without necessarily thinking of policy implications. But somehow, I have had to advice government based on what initially looked like pure academic exercise. This has been a case of relevance of research in solving problems. I remember suggesting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the idea of posting its most senior and knowledgeable diplomats to the capitals of our neighbors rather than to distant places like WashingtonMoscow, New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Brussels and Beijing, important as these places may be. The home front which peace on our borders implies is more important than the glamour of world capital cities. Their economic importance can be handled by welltrained commercial and economic experts in these missions. Of course ambassadors Hamzat Ahmadu and Akporode Clark were once posted to Yaunde and Niamey but these were not strictly based on the kind of policy shift I had in mind. Relations with all our neighbors namely, Benin, Niger, Tchad, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé and Principe are important and as we have now found out with the Boko Haram insurgency, a matter of life or death for our country. If our policy towards Tchad for example had been based on sound knowledge and operated by an influential envoy in Ndjamena, we would have had reports on the gathering storm because it is clear that Boko Haram had initially its rear base of operation in Tchad. This is not surprising to me. Borno shares a common border and history with its neighbors across the frontier in the Wadai and Kanem districts of Tchad. In the long history of Kanem-Borno dating back around 800 A.D, that is the 9th century when Sayf bin dhi Yazan founded the Sayfawa dynasty, the area has witnessed political eruptions necessitating transfer of its capitals from Njimi in the 12century to N’gazargamu in the 15th century. Borno also witnessed the invasion of the kingdom by the Fulani jihadists necessitating dynastic change from the Sayfawa to the Kanemis in 1810 to preserve the independence of the kingdom before it was again invaded by an Arab conquistador named Rabih Fadlallah who occupied the place between 1894 and 1897 before the British and the French drove him out and shared his territory into what was then called British and French Borno. Tchad itself had never from colonial times till now been stable and had never been under civil admnistration under French colonial rule it was simply referred to as Territoire militaire du Tchad. It has continued to be governed by soldiers with consequent instability necessitating Nigeria’s military intervention in the country inthe 1980s. In the absence of jobs, Chadians have always been ready to offer their services legally or ille-

gally as fighters rather than starve at home in their inhospitable environment. In other words, what is happening now is history repeating itself. The joint military operation has now become necessary because Nigeria has failed to protect its own territory through lack of miliJide tary preparedness and Osuntokun d i p l o m a t i c manoeuvering that should have anticipated events if we had secured our borders. I was in Maiduguri in 1983 when Chadians invaded Borno. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, GOC Third Division of the Nigerian Army – yes the same Buhari – rushed the 23rd Armored Brigade commanded by Joshua Dogonyaro to Baga and Doro on Lake Chad and drove the Chadian rebels out of Nigeria. This is why a person like Buhari must find the present situation galling and almost humiliating. It is too late to wish that we can solve our problems ourselves and the setting up of an AU force of 7500 soldiers may be totally unnecessary if the present operations involving the Cameroun, Niger, Tchad and ourselves can be coordinated well under the rubric of the Lake Chad Commission. We must learn a bitter lesson from this Boko Haram insurgency which started from local grievances but has now snowballed into an international crisis drawing in Cameroun, Niger and principally Tchad and Libya as a distant source of weapons since the collapse of the Col. Khadaffi’s regime in which we foolishly supported the invasion of an African country by NATO. Perhaps I need to say that Libya is not strange to Borno because there is a large section of Maiduguri called FEZZARI originally settled by people from The Fezzan in southern Libya. The lesson in all this is the appreciation of the nexus between foreign and domestic politics and the need for military preparedness even in time of peace, knowing that eternal vigilance is the price for liberty. Poor governance at home has its reverberation abroad. One hopes the Chadian army now fighting the Boko Haram would not be tempted in getting involved in the politics of territorial expansion and exerting political pressure on an apparent militarily exposed Nigeria. The news we have is that Chadians are already involved apparently in clandestine administration of conquered Nigerian territories.

Hiding behind a finger make things less cumbersome. It could ensure that its personnel are at the collection centres, such as polling units (PUs), wards and local government areas, as scheduled so that eligible voters will not be left stranded. Because really, many went to their PUs, wards and local governments severally without meeting INEC personnel on ground. But in many places where INEC officials turned up early for the exercise, the owners were not there to collect their cards. What do we make of that? Do we blame INEC if the owners decide not to collect the cards? With the extension of the exercise to March 8, the collection of PVC would, hopefully, have long been dealt with before the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections. Those who had other agenda wanted to hide under the collection of PVCs to scuttle the ongoing transition programme. It all started as a huge joke when some people began to fly the kite for either the postponement of the elections or an interim government. The reason, according to them, being INEC’s unpreparedness. The commission has said it repeatedly that it is ready for the elections. Jega has been unequivocal on his stand that INEC is prepared for the polls notwithstanding the PVC challenge. His assurances seem not to cut ice with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has a different motive. Although the party is openly saying that it is prepared for the elections, it is acting otherwise behind the scene. It is in cahoots with some parties, which only exist on paper, some politicians, priests and former militants to stop the elections. The question then is why is PDP working covertly against holding the elections? Political pundits argue

that it is against the holding of the elections because it has no answer to the Buhari challenge. In the political market today, the stock of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhar, is soaring. The pundits believe that if the elections hold today, Buhari will carry the day. It is to avoid its ignominious defeat at the polls that PDP is buying time through the postponement of the elections. “Why will you postpone the elections at the 11th hour despite all the assurances given by the electoral body that it is ready for the exercise?” they wonder, adding : ‘’There is more to it than meets the eye’’. Elsewhere, governments move elections forward and not backward once they are sure of sweeping the polls. Indeed, it is curious that the elections are being postponed now. Left to Jega, the exercise would have gone on until the military threw the issue of security into the mix. Insecurity was the latter day excuse, which the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sabo Dasuki, and the military chiefs gave for seeking the postponement of the elections for six weeks. But before looking at the genuineness or otherwise of this excuse, let us examine what Dasuki said at Chatham House in London last January 22, while campaigning for postponement : ‘’They still have about 30 million cards to distribute. We look at the possibility of shifting this thing (election) and doing it when everybody has the card because it doesn’t cost you anything. ‘’It is still within the law and it is safer for all of us. So, that is what we are encouraging. INEC keeps assuring us that everybody will have his card but I doubt it...there is nothing wrong in delaying it to ensure that everybody who ought

to vote gets that card to vote...if you can’t vote without your PVC, what sense does it make to vote three months early when 30 million cards are still with INEC? That is my position’’. As we said in this space two weeks ago, in such a situation, the government should have come to INEC’s aid to ensure a quicker distribution of the PVCs in such a way that it would not affect the election dates. It could have declared public holidays to hasten the process, if it actually wanted the elections to hold as scheduled. ince it had its own agenda, it was better to hide under in security to force INEC to postpone the elections. When did it dawn on the NSA that the prevailing insecurity in the Northeast could affect the holding of the elections? Was it after his alleged shoddy distribution of PVCs by INEC failed to fly? Now that they have had their way, we wait to see how they will conquer Boko Haram within six weeks as they have boasted. If it is that easy to finish off Boko Haram, why hasn’t the military done so since? What have they been waiting for these past six years? Boko Haram became a thorn in the nation’s flesh in 2009 shortly after the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and since then the military has not found an answer to this problem. Painfully, the Boko Haram insurgency has spread from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital to Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states, without the security agencies rising to the occasion. Now, the NSA, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Olusola Amosun and Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba want us to believe

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

that, at last, they have found the antidote to the Boko Haram insurgency and that it comes at a price postponement of the much awaited general elections. That, with due apologies to Zebrudaya, is ‘’fa...faa... faaa...foul’’. In 61 days, it will be one year since Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped over 200 Chibok schoolgirls. What have our security chiefs done in this past year to bring back our girls? Nothing, but they are quick to use the ploy of insecurity to get the general elections postponed. Tell me, if in six years, they cannot flush out Boko Haram, is it in six weeks they will perform that magic?

‘Painfully, the Boko Haram insurgency has spread without the security agencies rising to the occasion. Tell me, if in six years, they cannot flush out Boko Haram, is it in six weeks they will perform that magic?’

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 12, 2015

COMMENTS “

ABANGIDA is my father”, President Jonathan recently told reporters after a courtesy call on the ex-military dictator. He, by that declaration, traded off his estranged godfather, ex-President Obasanjo who he now says “is nothing but a motor park tout” for an evil genius and an acclaimed Maradona of Nigerian politics. The truth of the matter is that Babangida and Jonathan have so many parallels that will shock Nigerians. Babangida attained power through act of subterfuge on a night of many knives. Jonathan adopted the same strategy betraying the spirit and the letter of PDP constitution and its rotational policy. Sambo Dasuki, one of Babangida, Abacha and Gusau’s foot-soldiers during their coup against Buhari, became Babangida’s ADC (aide-de-camp). By strange coincidence, Dasuki, is today the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan who is contesting against General Muhammadu Buhari in an election now derailed by what many Nigerians regarded as Dasuki’s spurious security report. And still on similarities between father and son; Babangida embarked on a ‘transition without end’ immediately after a successful coup and went on to dribble Nigerians for eight years. Jonathan’s first concern on attaining power in 2011 was to float the idea of a six-year presidency. Now after six years of failed presidency, he wants another four years. And Just as Babangida had Arthur Nzeribe’s Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), Jonathan’s Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) that would rather have him adopted than face election. And just as Babangida relied on “Nigerian Army of anything is possible’’ now ably represented in PDP to torment Nigeria for eight years, Jonathan is today using a politicized military to increase our nightmare. Similarly, Babangida institutionalized corruption, but Jonathan, surrounded by indicted party officials and ex-governors who stole in billions and trillions has improved on his ‘father’s legacy. While Babangida destroyed the economy resulting in the devaluation of naira, he was awarded the Fellowship of Nigeria Economic Society, (the authoritative body of Nigerian scholars on Nigerian economy and social problems) as ‘a visionary in the management of our economy’. Now Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister and former World Bank

RNEST Ndukwe, former chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission requires no much of introduction. He steered the ship of Nigeria’s telecommuncations revolution, and signposted Nigeria’s image across the globe with his transparent management of the nation’s telecom resources. He democratized mobile phone services and put mobile phones in the hands of every Nigerian after decades of lack. In advanced societies where performance, integrity, commitment to selfless service and other sterling virtues guide people’s choice for effective representation in the upper chamber of parliament, Ndukwe’s aspiration to represent Anambra South Senatorial Zone under APGA, would have been declared a nocontest in his favour! Even in a clear contest where citizens of this senatorial zone are allowed to vote in an open, fair and transparent manner, the Ndukwe personae towers above any contestant to the senate, irrespective of party affiliation. But elections in this zone are always mired in controversies with major allegations being that results of elections come from the blues even when ballots are not cast. But the trio of Uba brothers, Senators Ugochukwu and Andy, and now Chief Chris Uba, propped up by then President Olusegun Obasanjo ahead of former Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Alex Ekwueme, has made it clear that the senate seat belongs to the family. Chief Chris Ubah at a recent press conference asserted that the elder duo has taken their turns, and that 2015 is his turn. The refusal of Senator Andy to let him is now a subject in court while both are currently in the field campaigning for the seat under the PDP. It may sound ridiculous but it is widely believed that the disposition, whims and caprices of the Ubah brothers have become the rule on who gets elected to any office in the zone. Close to any general elections since 2003, no politician eying the state assembly, House of Representatives or the Senate under the PDP, will succeeded without the approval of the Ubah brothers, especially, Chief Chris Ubah. In most of the cases, nominations have be-

Like Babangida, like Jonathan celebrated officer, has praised the president for his bold economic strides especially with the rebasing that has now established our economy as the biggest in Africa. This is in spite of millions of Nigerian unemployed university graduates roaming the streets and the exchange rate which was $1-85 in 1999 but now $1-N210. While the above parallels may be lost on Nigerians and the innocent 18 year-olds President Jonathan has tried to cultivate, the assault on Nigerians last Saturday by President Jonathan should be a source of concern. From the diary of events, it is apparent that postponement of the election was a panic measure by a government facing an imminent defeat hoping to buy time for more sinister strategies and desperate measures just as Babangida did back in 1993. For instance, until last week when the president’s game of subterfuge finally unfolded, he had pretended his relationship with INEC was anchored on ‘delegation by abdication’. He and his party pretended all was well with INEC. In fact, it was the opposition that was in the forefront of ensuring voters gets their PVCs. It was the opposition that passed a resolution at the Lower House to the effect that the electorate be allowed to use their temporary voters card if INEC failed, and it was the opposition that declared public holidays in the states they controlled to enable voters collect their PVCs .The President remained unruffled. In fact, he in early January still assured Nigerians of his commitment to the election and mandated

INEC to ensure all eligible voters receive their PVCs before the election. INEC was working round the clock to achieve that objective when the President’s National Security Adviser went to Chatham House London, to give what he described as a personal advice - that INEC postpones the election to enable all eligible voters collect their PVCs. The international community that has been treating President Jonathan and his PDP like a bull in a China shop immediately saw through government ploy. They knew it was the hand of Jacob but the voice of Esau. They advised Jonathan against shifting the election date and President Obama went further by sending John Kerry, his secretary of state to prevail on President Jonathan not to tamper with the electoral process. President Jonathan like Babangida back in 1993 assured President Obama of his commitment to February 14. But curiously, on February 4, the NSA wrote a letter, not to the President but to INEC chairman telling him the obvious - 14 of the country’s 774 LGAs are unsafe for the conduct of the election. But long before the NSA’s game of deceit, Nigerians as well as stakeholders from the besieged North-east knew that as a fact. On February 5, the president, still hiding behind one finger, invited his security chiefs to brief the Council of State about the security situation in the North-east. The body rightly washed its hand clean asking INEC to go on with its job after due consultation with stakeholders. Doyin Okupe was at this stage forced to

spill the beans. According to him, the security chiefs “cannot guarantee the security of electoral materials, INEC staff and the voting population in areas currently engulfed by the war against insurgency.” Besides “with the arrival of new effective combatant equipment and machinery, the situation in the affected states will be brought under such reasonable control that will guarantee safety of the electoral process ...at a no distant future”, he concluded avoiding mentioning six weeks. Mike Omeri, the Director-General of National Orientation Agency followed with a press conference. He was in possession of a security report that pointed to the possibility of some women infiltrating queues on the voting day to detonate bombs hidden in their Niqabs. Then came Edwin Clark, Alex Ekwueme, Walter Ofonagoro, Femi Okunrounmu, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and others, all rabid supporters of Jonathan’s re-election under the aegis of Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, SNPA calling for “the postponement of the February 14 presidential election, the sack and arrest of the Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega to allow for the reconstitution, repositioning and reprocessing of INEC to discharge its responsibility of conducting an impartial election.” Their grouse: Jega allegedly directed the release of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Emirs, District Heads and top politicians in the north. Even if this were true, how can one entrust such roles to people like Chief Edwin Clark under whose watchful eyes, successive governors of the Delta states diverted about 70% of their states allocations for personal use or Dr Alex Ekwueme who saw nothing and heard nothing when some past Anambra State governors expended their state allocations in servicing godfathers or when Ngige was kidnapped in broad day light by aggrieved godfather? Desperate times are here again; Panic has set in. It is like Babangida’s era all over again with oil bunkerers and militants responsible for the loss of 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day, fuel subsidy thieves responsible for the theft of N1.6 trillion, banking sector fraudsters responsible for the collapse of the sector, and the stock exchange market back in 2009 and shameless elders assaulting our sensibilities on television. And putting pepper in our eyes, President Jonathan says he is acting in good faith.

Ndukwe: People’s will against godfatherism By Ebuka Emenike come very controversial, and since 2003, there has never been an election in the zone without the PDP having a set of three candidates campaigning for each of the seats from the state to the National Assembly. Even in the most unusual circumstances, the Ubah brothers have prevailed against any opposition, be it at inter, or intra-party levels. The Ubah brothers have broken the national record in uncommon domination of the political space within their carved empire. That empire is the Anambra South Senatorial Zone which they have held in their stranglehold since 1999. When they began in 1999 with the appointment of Senator Andy Ubah as the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo, the controversy surrounding the nomination of his senior brother, Ugochukwu, to the senate, was resolved in their favour. Curiously, the two other senators whose elections who contested on the PDP platform under same platform and under similar circumstances of party nomination, lost their seats at the courts. With their dominance of the political scene of the area, the Ubah brothers began to push up the ante. On July 10, 2003, Chief Chris Ubah, broke another world record with the attempted abduction of the sitting Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige. The tacit approval of such a heinous crime against a democratically elected governor, by the Obasanjo regime at the centre, became a signal that the dynasty has come to stay. This was to follow in 2007 with the forceful swearing-in of Dr. Andy Ubah on May 29, 2007, after purportedly wining in an election in which the number of votes cast were more than the number of people registered in the entire state. It took the Supreme Court to reverse this forceful assumption of office when it pronounced that the seat of the governor was still occupied

by Peter Obi. With their pre-eminence and political connections, Dr. Andy Ubah prevailed over Nicholas Ukachukwu’s nomination and went ahead to become the current chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC. Going into this year’s elections, Senator Andy and his aides have told all those who cared to listen that his vintage position in the senate will come to bear sooner than later. Chief Chris Ubah, on his part, is a member of the BOT of the PDP. The self-acclaimed godfather of Anambra State PDP, who is now battling his brother to the seat, currently plays court to other aspirants to other elective positions in the state as he is said to own the lineup. In the Anambra South Zone, all the citizens, including politicians are spectators while the Ubah brothers are playing, refereeing, and scoring the goals. Ironically, while the Ubah brothers have completely emasculated the political space in Anambra South Zone, and in deed across the state, they are finding it difficult to share the spoils of the war among themselves. This is why Dr. Andy Ubah and Chief Chris Ubah are now pitted against themselves over the Anambra South Senate Seat. While INEC has published the name of the latter, with a notation of a court order forcing them to so do, Dr. Andy Ubah is also campaigning as the heir to this political throne. In the different comic campaign trails of the brothers, no serious subjects are raised. Boasts about their wealth and political connections are the key subjects. Notwithstanding that for all the years that the Ubah brothers have held sway, dividends of democracy for the people in the zone have remained a mirage, and in fact, are hardly a subject of discussions. For all their connections, the two federal roads within the zone Nnewi – Ekwulobia–Oko-Umunze-Okigwe Road, and Nnewi – Uga – Okigwe Road, extending across the Ubah brothers residences, have not received any government’s attention.

Their presence at the corridors of power is read in the pages of newspapers like fiction stories. The electorates in the zone are only privileged to see the Ubah brothers once in four years – during electioneering campaigns when they engage in salutary interactions with political and opinion leaders in the zone. In all, it is the fear of the political connections of the Ubah brothers to the Presidency, and INEC, that is assumed the biggest threat to Ndukwe’s aspiration. Whether real or imagined, past experiences have shown that the Ubah brothers have put their connections to maximum use. It is only a credible and formidable opposition like Ndukwe that has the potentials and the capacity to challenge the Uba brothers. Perhaps, Engr. Ndukwe’s emergence under APGA may be the break to the cycle of inaccessible, ineffective, and indeed, non-performing representation of the people of the South Senatorial zone of Anambra State. But the question is: Will Professor Jega’s men in INEC muster the courage to conduct free, fair and transparent election in the zone and let the people decide who would represent them? Would this be the end of the era where the political godfathers are given the opportunity to nominate the electoral officers in a contest where they are candidates? •Emenike writes from Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA of Anambra State.

‘Will Professor Jega’s men in INEC muster the courage to conduct free, fair and transparent election in the zone and let the people decide who would represent them? Would this be the end of the era where the political godfathers are given the opportunity to nominate the electoral officers in a contest where they are candidates?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

COMMENTS “

HE wages of sin is death”, says the Great Book. Empirically, we know that death is always preceded by some sort of weakness. Sin sets on a process of progressive weakening which ultimately ends in death. All of nature and all of history, as they concern us Nigerians, combined to give us a country that was meant and endowed to be prosperous and great in the world. Though the human agents, the British, who carved out that country and gave it initial structure, were manipulative, crooked and wicked in much of what they did, our country, as it sprang into tentative being at independence was nevertheless a potentially mighty entity eager and rearing to fulfill its awesome destiny among the countries of the earth. But then the power of sin set in – the power of unrestrained human will, the urge and resolve of some in the house to grab and engross what belongs to the whole household and to deprive the rest. As in all cases where sin strikes out to act, the urge to grab and engross and deprive others was needless. Sharing in order and mutual respect, our chances of prospering together were huge. But by thus setting in motion a process of orgiastic scrambling and wrangling, we have bruised every member of the household, generated a barbarous culture, and mindlessly pushed our country onto the path of sickness and death. Today, the sickness has advanced so far that the question uppermost on most of our minds is whether it is possible at all for our country to exist much longer. These days, we are all living in horror as

‘If Nigeria does finally drown in the mess which we have created, we Nigerians of the generations since 1960 to now will go down in the annals of human history as the incompetents and moral dwarfs who were handed a country with all the possibilities of greatness and who made only a mess of it. It is not a good load to bear in history’

HE abuse of State and Administrative Resources (SARs) in the context of electioneering campaigns has been a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s electoral democracy since the first republic. Yet the links between campaign finance rules and misuse of incumbency powers have not been receiving significant attention it requires until much recently. Perhaps, given the undue advantages derived from incumbency factors, especially in the context of campaign finance, it becomes very important that the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) start tracking the misuse of SARs for electioneering campaigns purposes. The stakes are always high whenever the incumbents contest as candidates as immense public resources are often deployed towards retaining power at all costs. As long as an election presents a possibility of defeat for the ruling parties, the same perverse techniques perfected at every turn, would be called into use to avert the imminence of defeat. This perversion is seen as a symptomatic of a political culture in which competitive party politics is equated with either a zero-sum game or warfare by which one’s enemies (sorry, opponents) must be annihilated. Again, the ongoing electioneering campaigns have thrown up the issue of misuse of incumbency factors where the ruling parties at all levels overtly exploiting public resources and privileges attached to their offices for undue personal political ambitions. For example, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has not disavowed the use of SARs attaches to the office of the President for his re-election campaigns. For instance, there were many credible news reports in both the electronic and print media that the ruling PDP held series of partisan political meetings in the State House (Presidential Villa), including a fund-raising dinner for the President/ PDP, or using presidential aircrafts, motorcade (convoys of SUVs), state house facilities and other paraphernalia, including deploying publicly paid presidential aides/staffers for electioneering campaign purposes. Undoubtedly, this remains an abuse or misuse of privileges by the incumbent as other candidates or parties have no access to similar governmental facilities and or resources for

Nigeria: Wages of sin we watch our country going through the dance of death – with every single index of national strength pulverized and decaying. Greed, avarice and graft rule supreme over all institutions, all duty performances, and all inter-personal dealings. Hardly any Nigerian public official, high or low, offers any service to the public these days without first demanding bribes. Nigeria teaches and acculturates its citizens to despise truly productive enterprise, and to give their intellect and passion to hustling for shares from the bounties stolen from the national wealth. Security is the first benefit of citizenship of a country, but in the Nigeria of greed and graft, security has disappeared. The average Nigerian, if criminally abused or robbed, can no longer be sure whether it is safe to seek help from the police and the legal system. If the miscreant bribes the police and court officials enough (as is now the norm), the victim who seeks help from the law-enforcement agencies will only get himself into bigger trouble – and may need a lot of money to dig himself out. We are constantly hearing stories of military officers stealing weapons from the nation’s armouries for sale to criminals and terrorists, of funds meant for running military operations being criminally shared by military commanders, and of high military officers building or buying multi-billion naira estates. In the circumstance, the Nigerian military has lost all professionalism and all efficiency, with the result that we Nigerians feel helpless before the rampages of a ragtag hoodlum gang like Boko Haram. From reports and experience, most Nigerians know that Nigeria’s secret service is a beehive of corruption within which even the most junior officers can quickly amass fortunes – from their contacts with public resources and with members of the public. This past week, each of these agencies of public safety (the police, the military and the secret service) scored a first in degradation and corruption in the history of human governance. Each of them, operating as if they are private entities by themselves and for themselves,

and not publicly owned agencies, wrote letters to the nation’s electoral servants to say that they will not be available to give Nigerians security in the nationally scheduled, and all-important, act of voting to elect a new government – letters that, in a proper country, should qualify for charges of treason. The electoral commission, ludicrously called “Independent National Electoral Commission”, is well known and deeply despised by all Nigerians for what it is – a stink-pot of corruption and betrayal, an ever ready tool of bandits in power for distorting and stultifying the will of Nigerians at elections. This past week, some eminent Nigerians led by a former Vice-President of Nigeria (Alex Ekweme) hauled staggering accusations against INEC, to the effect that INEC has been engaged in a huge plot to rig the forth-coming presidential election. And, as of the time that these allegations were being aired, certain incredible materials were also circulating in Nigeria and abroad alleging a plot by some highly placed public officials and lawenforcement commanders to rig a recent election in one Nigerian state. Of course, given the sordid history of the electoral commission since independence, no Nigerian is seriously surprised or bothered by these allegations. These are the sorts of things that INEC has always done. Of course too, no authority in Nigeria (presidency, or Attorney General, or police) is expected to step forward to investigate these horrendously criminal allegations. For Nigeria, governance belongs in the mud pond of corruption and crimes. Finally, over this massive mud pond of corruption and crimes reigns the official whom we “elect” as president of our country. He is commander-in-chief, patron and rewarder of all processes of the corruption. That is the way the mess was designed and nurtured – constitutionally, politically and morally. In all essence, it is not fair to blame any particular president for these ills. I once said in this column that I agree with President Jonathan’s statement that he is not the source or cause of Nigeria’s mess. But it is

Gbogun gboro fair to say that he came, he saw the mess, and he revelled in it – revelled in it more than any president before him. Of course, I would agree with the overwhelming majority of Nigerians at home and abroad that President Jonathan does not deserve to have one more term as our president, but I would not saddle him with the historic responsibility of plunging our country into the mud in which it is now gasping for breath. This sad story of Nigeria has a powerful lesson: If you belong to a household, don’t proceed to break down the moral fence protecting it – no matter your incentives and possible gains for feeling like doing so. The people who started at independence to disrupt and distort the fragile balance of Nigeria’s politics could never have imagined that the consequences of what they were starting then would ever be as bad as today. Today, nobody, no group, is benefiting from the horrors that have been concocted. All of us Nigerians, as individuals and nationalities, are losers –losers in prospect, losers in hope, and losers in image among the peoples of the earth. If Nigeria does finally drown in the mess which we have created, we Nigerians of the generations since 1960 to now will go down in the annals of human history as the incompetents and moral dwarfs who were handed a country with all the possibilities of greatness and who made only a mess of it. It is not a good load to bear in history.

Campaign finance and abuse of incumbency By Tunde Salman their electioneering campaigns; as such, they might have to source for fund in order to hold similar meetings in hotels/event centres. Aside the federal level, the employment of SARs for election campaigns has also been played out by the incumbent state governments even in the All Progressive Congress (APC) controlled states. For instance, the APC controlled Rivers State government reluctantly accepted the PDP to use its 40,000 capacity (Adokiye Amiesiemeka) Stadium in Port Harcourt for the party’s South-south presidential rally. Estimating the market value (or cost) of using, for instance, the Banquet facilities at the State House, Abuja, could be benchmarked at the cost of hiring either the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel or International Conference Centre, Abuja. The rates charged for hiring Transcorp Hilton Congress Hall is given at N2millon excluding food and drinks. A three-course meal at the prestigious Hotel is N7300 per head, when this rate is multiplied by the total number of over 500 guests that was reported to have attended the PDP presidential fund-raising dinner on Saturday, December 20, 2014, more than N6million could have been expended on only the venue and meals; not to talk of accommodation and honorarium for event managers, performing artistes and live coverage of the event on three major news television channels (AIT, Channels Television and NTA). The same simple costing can be done for estimating other monetary value of all SARs items like chartering of aircraft, vehicular convoys/motorcade and accommodation for Presidential campaigns entourage using the market value or cost of the items in question. More so, abuse of public resources by the ruling parties in their electoral campaigns also include the coercive, regulatory, legislative, institutional (human/material), and financial resources, etc. for example, the opposition APC has accused (and even taken) the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to court for shutting down its online

fund-raising SMS platform. Media reports had it that the chair of APC fund raising committee for the Buhari/Osinbajo presidential campaign, Governor Babatunde Fashola, accused the NCC of shutting down the SMS platform set up by the party for interested Nigerians to donate to its campaign fund; noting that the commission had even threatened to sanction any service provider that runs political advertisement or promotions which could portray them as being partisan. Suffice to say that the same NCC that couldn’t flex its regulatory muscles on the avalanche of complaint over daily bombardment of unsolicited SMS on subscribers quickly remembers its regulatory powers to sanction erring GSM service providers! More recently, the opposition APC has had course to accuse the Federal Government of planning to use the State Security Services, SSS, and the Police to harass and intimidate its leaders. While noting the threats of arrest on its leaders by key government officials and the collaboration of the security agencies, the party said it was clear that the Jonathan administration was set to crackdown on the opposition. Although the presidency dismissed the allegation as baseless; and stressed that it was part of APC’s agenda to malign the President. The tussle between the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) and the state Police Command may amount to infraction in terms of the SARs as other federal authorities purportedly ban outdoor ads on all federal roads in the state even against the backdrop that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) has been doing similar removal of unauthorized political campaign materials without any hindrances. The Lagos Police command was reported to have threatened LASAA officials with arrests for allegedly destroying campaign posters and billboards of opposition parties within the state. The police said it was being bombarded with series of complaints from candidates of other political parties (apart from APC), alleging mass destruction of their posters and bill-

boards by LASAA. The police thus said it won’t take lightly the report of anyone caught in such act as it was ready to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and their respective candidates seeking any elective office in the forthcoming general elections. In a nutshell, the issue of party and or campaign finance remain integral to sanitize Nigeria’s growing electoral democracy given the corrosive influence of dirty money and abuse of state and administrative resources on our electoral geography. It is at the root of political corruption as campaign corruption has been noted to take three main forms; namely: Quid Pro Quo donations where parties or candidates receives campaign resources in return for favourable treatments (which the World Bank considers as the foundation of state capture); use SARs where incumbent candidates or parties overtly exploit their official paraphernalia unduly; and bribery of voters (apparently decipher in sudden charitable gesture by candidates now termed stomach infrastructure) and election officials. The need for a level playing field for the various contending political parties and their candidates cannot be achieved if some candidates enjoy undue advantages attached to their offices for electoral gains. Thus, the level of openness or otherwise of funding for political parties and the effectiveness of campaign finance rules remain very important to contain the abuse of SARs and corrosive impact of moneybags (and their dirty money) on the electoral process. • Salman writes from Kuje, Abuja.

‘The need for a level playing field for the various contending political parties and their candidates cannot be achieved if some candidates enjoy undue advantages attached to their offices for electoral gains’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS Rivers govt to contractors: no shoddy jobs

‘Your PVC is your weapon against bad governance’

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

KWA Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has urged the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and use it them to vote in leaders of their choice . He spoke on Tuesday while addressing his supporters who trooped to the airport in Uyo, the state capital, to receive him on his return from Abuja. Etteh thanked them for being beside and behind him during his quest for the governorship of the state, maintaining that his quest was divine. He urged the people to keep trusting God to do a new thing in the state, urging his supporters to ensure they get their PVCs and await further instruction from him. He paid glowing tribute to his colleagues in the Group of 22 aspirants, popularly called G-22, protesting the “imposition” of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the PDP governorship candidate for Akwa

• Etteh and his wife Ekaete, besieged by supporters...on Tuesday. From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Ibom State, saying their action was a patriotic one which was borne out of their interest for a better Akwa Ibom State. A source said Etteh was received by the vice chairman, councillors, Secretary and Executive Council members of Ibeno Local Government Area. “They ignored the State Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) governorship campaign in their area to welcome one of their own, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Only the Chairman, Henry Ekpe Nko, was at Ibeno to welcome Mr. Udom Emmanuel. “Other supporters of Etteh from around the state, some colleagues including the member representing Mbo State Constituency, Mrs. Alice Ekpenyong, that of Urue Of-

fong/Oruko State Constituency and standard bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Senate race for Eket Senatorial District, Barrister Bassey Etienam, Vice Chairman of Udung Uko, former State Commissioner, Dr Emem Wills of the APC, some Accord and Labour Party members were also on ground to say “welcome” to Etteh who has been away from the state since the G-22 gathered in Abuja to protest

Udom’s alleged imposition,” said a source. Youth Leader of the Akwa Ibom Goodluck Movement (AKGM), Mr. Leo Umanah, said: “Etteh should have joined his other colleagues in an earlier homecoming last month but for the death of his elder brother that weekend which made to stay back till now. This shows he is still on ground and that until it is over it is not over.”

Peterside unveils agenda to professional bodies

IVERS State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Dakuku Peterside has unveiled his agenda to professional bodies. At a round table, tagged: Business Rivers, Peterside, according to a statement yesterday by his Director of Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, urged professionals to be active in politics. The interaction brought together over 30 professional bodies, technocrats, civil society groups, politicians, scholars, business men and women. He said since government policies affect everybody

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

professionals should not leave governance to career politicians. The APC candidate articulated his blueprint known as the Road Map to Prosperity. Peterside, who was accompanied by his wife, Elima, running mate, Honourable Asita, party chairman, Davies Ikanya and members of his campaign organisation, said he would secure lives and properties, increase economic activity in Rivers State, create jobs, attract investments, boost tourism and run a government on the principles of rule of law.

He said: “When people are empowered economically, their quality of life improves; they will visit the hospital when they are ill and engage the services of a lawyer when their rights are infringed upon. When they want to build a house because of the income at their disposal, they engage the architect, the engineer and the quantity surveyor. The truth is that all of us benefit when society prospers. “What are the things that must be in place to engender this prosperity that we all seek? Fortunately for us, we have a governor who has in the last seven years taken care of the fundamentals, so

we will not dwell so much on that. Foundational issues have already been taken care of by this administration.” The APC candidate, who described security as an important ingredient of growth, said investments only go to places that were safe and secure. He promised to provide security in addition to engendering conducive physical and regulatory. Peterside, who was a former Commissioner of Works, promised to deploy relevant skills and experiences from the private sector, especially in this era of falling oil prices and uncertainties. His government, he in-

sisted, would create wealth, provide opportunities for the people and provide loans at one digit interest rate. He added that his government as a matter of fact, would simplify government business by bringing services closer to the people. He pleaded with the people to be guided by reason, adding that emotion never led anyone far. He called on the people to be circumspect under this circumstance where the choices crystal clear. APC, he said, was the direction Nigerians were headed, therefore Rivers State must go in that direction for a bright and secure future.

Oshiomhole: we must vote PDP out

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will suffer defeat in the March 28 and April 11 polls. He spoke while kicking off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 3.6km 2nd East Circular Road in Benin City, the state capital. The governor said: “They say the half of the money Comrade is using is from Federal Government. So, the one you took for 10 years, where is the money? So when they say Federal Government is the one supporting Comrade, the question then is: was the PDP Federal Government withholding money from PDP Edo State government in the past 10 years? If it is true that it is only APC government that knows how to collect money from PDP Federal Government, is that not a reason to keep PDP out of government forever? “If I can collect money from PDP Federal Govern-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

ment to build the number of red roofs we have done, imagine if that same Federal Government is now in the hands of APC, will they not give us more money to build more red roofs and other infrastructure? We can never return to Egypt, we will move on. The only thing I plead for is that this coming election they have postponed by 6 weeks, we must vote them out so I ask you to maintain peace, spread the message and on March 28, vote for change at the Federal Level. “Vote for change because we need to raise the political awareness. Those who said they were helpless over Boko Haram suddenly now say that in six weeks, they will do what they couldn’t do in 6 years which means somebody knew what should be done but failed to do it so they can use it as an excuse

to postpone elections.” On the road, he said: “We are not resurfacing the old East Circular Road. What we are doing is a complete redesign and reconstruction. We are replacing the old 7-meter wide road with 14.5 meters wide dual carriage road so that this road will no longer be just one road but it will be dual carriage way complete with street lights and a median with plants and trees. “We will also ensure that on both sides of the road, that drains are provided for and that those drains are covered so they don’t breed mosquitoes that will disturb the market women. This is the kind of road you will find anywhere in the world. I believe that the people of this community deserve everything that Government can do because we gave always won election in this part of this area. “We must dedicate and recognise that this work has

been made possible because we have had in the House of Assembly, men and woman who believe that Edo State government project should be designed in a way that will deliver the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Without the support and the legal backing by the Hon. Speaker, Uyi Igbe this road will not have been possible.” Commissioner for Works Hon. Osarodion Ogie said the road has not been worked on in the past 50 years. He said: “Last year you paid a visit to this area and did promise that this road was going to be reconstructed. What we are seeing today is a fulfillment of that promise you made to the people of this community. This road is one of the three main arteries roads connecting Sapele roads through Sakponba Road to Akpakpava Road and they are major roads that involve a lot of commercial activities.

•Oshiomhole

“Those now showing 2nd East Circular Road on television were in government for 10 years but forgot that this road needed to be constructed but today you have shown in your usual way that when government says something, it carries it out.” The leader of the traders in the area, Mrs. Blacky Omorogie, said the road had been impassable for the past 20 years and thanked the governor for his bold move to reconstruct the road.

IVERS State government has warned contractors against poor execution of jobs. Commissioner for Health Dr Sampson Parker spoke in Port Harcourt on Tuesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state and a Chinese governmentowned firm, Jiangsu First Power Construction Company of China. The MoU is for the re-construction of the 1000-bed Justice Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital which has been stalled due to contractual disagreement between the government and a contractor, Clinotech. Parker said the contract was terminated “because of irreconcilable differences between the government and the contractors”. The commissioner said “other foreign partners have been indicating interest to take over the site” before the government settled for the Chinese firm. He hoped the Chinese company would “fast track the completion of the project” to make Rivers the destination for the best health care services. Parker announced that the cost of the contract with the Chinese firm is $303 million, adding that the government would provide 15 per cent of the total. The Chinese government will contribute 85 per cent. The representative of the Chinese government, Julie Zhou, said the best resources would be used to ensure the completion of the project within two years. Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Wogu Boms presided over the signing of the MoU.

‘Don’t vote for wicked people’

HAIRMAN, House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers East Senatorial district, Andrew Uchendu, has urged the people not to vote for wicked politicians. Uchendu spoke at an APC campaign launch at the Government Secondary School, Emohua, Rivers State. He said: “There is no brother in politics. The only brother you have in politics is the one who protects your interest. In 2011, our leader, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi led us to vote massively for our so-called brother, we gave him two million votes and he abandoned us. What did we do to him? Please don’t vote for those who are politically wicked. “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Dakuku Peterside are our brothers. They will remember us because they are our true brothers, not like those who claim to be our brothers, so give them your votes because they will never forget”. He described Peterside as a fitting successor to Amaechi and called on the people of the state to support him.

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

•The letters.

Crisis hits NECO

AN a minister exercise control over heads of agencies under his ministry? This is a puzzle the president may have to unravel following the muscle flexing between Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and National Examinations

Council (NECO) Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer Porf Promise Okpala. Shekarau asked Okpala to proceed on terminal leave, but he allegedly refused to comply. In a January 23 letter signed by Dr. M.B Umar, acting Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Shekarau directed Okpala to

All is not well at the National Examinations Council (NECO). Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) are up in arms against the Registrar, Prof Promise Okpala, over his alleged refusal to comply with Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau’s directive to go on terminal leave, reports JIDE ORINTUNSIN from Minna. go on pre-retirement leave since his tenure lapses on April 9. The letter reads: "I am directed to inform you that the Minister of Education has directed that you should handover the management of the affairs of your office to Dr. James Ojebode, Director Finance, who is the most senior

officer in your organisation. "Consequently, you are to proceed on your pre-retirement leave which took effect from January 12, 2015 or your accumulated and unspent leave in the course of the service. But, in a two-page letter to the Minister, copies of which were sent to the Secretary to

INSIDE

PAU inaugurates green building -Page 28

Educationist gives reasons for mass failure

RECURRING public holidays, distractions and lack of motivation have been identified as major causes of mass failure in secondary school final examinations. -Page 39

the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of State for Education, and Chairman, Governing Board of NECO, Okpala said only President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed him, could give such directives. The letter reads: "You will recall that I am a political ap-

CAMPUS LIFE ‘It was a long scary night’ -Page 29

pointee of Mr. President in the federal bureaucracy and not a career civil servant that rose through the rank-and-file of the Civil Service structure. I received my appointment from Mr. President based on nomination and neither on seniority nor by passing any •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION Don counsels pupils

Scholarship galore from Nigerian Turkish varsity

HE overall best SS3 graduate from a village secondary school can get into the Nigerian Turkish Nile University (NTNU), Abuja free of charge. This is because the university has a scholarship scheme that accepts the top products from any secondary school in Nigeria (public or private). Mr Kamil Kemanci who visited The Nation on Tuesday, added that candidates with Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores of over 230; four A1 in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE); a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5-5.0 (for direct entry); participants in international Olmpiads, winners of professional competitions in sports, arts or other fields, are eligible for the scholarship which can be up to 100 per cent. "Even if your school is in the village and you come out top best student, you will be given the scholarship. That is a good opportunity for everybody. You may say that JAMB is a difficult exam but if you are best in your school that is it. Of course, you must meet all the re-

•The university. By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie and Oluwatoyin Adeleye

quirements of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), including passing WAEC and JAMB at the required level," he said. Meanwhile, the seven-year old university has started accepting students into its new law faculty as well as the school of postgraduate studies.

The Faculty of Law has two departments: Private and Islamic Law, and Public and International Law; while the Postgraduate School runs programmes under the faculties of Management and social sciences, natural and applied sciences, and engineering. Kemanci said NTNU began in 2009 because of pressure from parents whose wards have passed

through the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC). "We built up the university according to the high demands of parents who said that we are grooming their children from nursery, primary and secondary schools so where is your university. So there was so much pressure on the management to start a university, so we started in 2009," he said.

‘Even if your school is in the village and you come out top best student, you will be given the scholarship. That is a good opportunity for everybody. You may say that JAMB is a difficult exam but if you are best in your school that is it. Of course, you must meet all the requirements of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), including passing WAEC and JAMB at the required level’

UPILS of Sasa Community Senior High School, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have been challenged to discover their potential. A senior lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), Dr Doyin Hassan, made this call during the school's counseling and career day, themed 'Unlocking your potential'. He said: "Students should know where their strength lay and how well they can strategize to use their talents to make them better citizens." Hassan said this process should start early so by the end of their secondary education they are sure which careers to embrace. "As they are growing-up, it is important for them to know certain things. By the time they leave secondary school they have a lot waiting for them outside there. So it is about looking around you; what is embedded in you to shape the present situation with resources at your disposal," he said. Outside his lecturing job, the don said he mentors youth, especially those that want to be actors. Another speaker, Mr John Fagbemi, also encouraged the pupils to be driven to fulfil their potentials. Mrs. I.E Fagbemi, the school counselor, said that the programme has provided a platform for her pupils to meet seasoned professionals who graduated from the school. "When the Ex-students came here, they challenged the present students that they can do more and be effective in whatever field they have chosen," she said.

Crisis hits NECO •Continued from page 25 examination that requires skills related to my job as Registrar/CEO of NECO in the Federal Ministry of Education. "Based on the extant letter of my appointment signed by the SGF, my tenure as Chief Executive Officer of NECO is expected to lapse on the 9th of April, 2015. It is expected that matters relating to my appointment and re-appointment should follow the right administrative channel of Mr. President through the office of SGF". Okpala also faulted the directive to hand over to Ojebode, saying he is not the most senior director in the council. The Registrar said: "The most senior officer in the organisation is Mr John Asuwe, the Director, Human Resources Management.” Following Okpala’s letter, Anyim wrote to Shekarau that the Registrar should remain in office except otherwise directed by President Jonathan. In the January 27 letter, Anyim argued Shekarau to withdraw his letter to Okpala. He said: "The term of office of the Registrar expires on the 8th of April, 2015. Prior to that date, he is not subject to removal from office on any account except by Mr. President at whose discretion the Registrar holds office." A January 28 letter from Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala has asked Okpala to remain in office. The letter addressed to the Chairman, NECO Governing Council and titled: Re: Handing over the management of the National Examination Council, reads: "…You are to put onhold the contents therein of our earlier letter Reference No. PRT/ABJ/ OP/10/248 dated 23rd January, 2015 directing the Registrar/Chief Executive to hand over the management and affairs of National Examination NECO. Thus the status quo ante should be maintained.” But NECO’s Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) is not happy with the development. The union regards Okpala’s refusal to go on leave as an

affront to the Minister. The union insists that the minister has the power to direct Okpala to proceed on leave. Two weeks ago, the union called a press conference to pressure the registrar to obey the minister. At the briefing, held at NECO’s Conference Hall NASU chairman Comrade Abdulrasheed Rabana faulted Okpala's refusal to comply with the directive. In an interview with The Nation on Monday, Rabana said the Minister acted according to the Act establishing NECO. He argued that Part VI Section 28 (1) of the Act states "The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations generally for the carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing..." Rabana cited Section 100238 of the Public Service rule which he said stipulated "a public office holder should go on disengagement/preretirement leave of three months". He wondered why Okpala, who was suspended in 2008 on the orders of the then Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, for six months is now turning around to place himself above the current Minister. Rabana asked: “Why is it that a Minister now cannot give directive to go on disengagement leave?" But Okapala is insisting on remaining in office until his tenure lapses. "I will work till my last day here, and then I will hand over the baton to the next person. I have less than two months from now, I don't know why all these are coming up now. I am in support of unionism, I am a grand patron of NECO NASU but it is not all their demands that I will bow to," he said. There is a twist in the tale. Ojebode, who the minister asked to take over from Okpala, is now refusing to obey

•WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD: Okpala (right) shaking hands with Ojebode at a ceremony.

his boss. Last Wednesday, Ojebode was absent at a press conference to announce the release of the 2014 November/December Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination for external candidates. On Monday, he was also absent from a management meeting called by Okpala. Even when the Registrar addressed a press conference on Tuesday only three of the five Directors - Asuwe, Abubakar Gana, director of Examination Administration, and Ebikibina Ogborodi, Director of Examination Development were present. While Dr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu, Director Quality Assurance was said to be away on official assignment, Ojebode was absent. On Tuesday, The Nation gathered that Ojebode has petitioned the Minister, accusing Okpala of flouting the directive to hand over to him. Efforts to get Ojebode to comment

failed as he refused to pick calls or reply text messages. Shekarau, also refused comment on the matter on Monday. Shekarau told our correspondent: "It is an administrative issue. I will not say more than that." The three directors present at Tuesday's meeting are supporting Okpala. Asuwe, who claimed to be the most senior director in the council said that he had called the attention of the Minister to the fact that he is the most senior of all the directors. He said: "As the most senior director, I drew the attention of the Minister to that as I was appointed director on January 1, 2012, while three others had their appointment in 2014, while the last director is in acting capacity. "We had a management meeting yesterday (Monday) and all the directors pledged our support to the registrar, Prof Promise Okpala. There

The Registrar and Baba Ojebode were until now the best of friends. They travelled together and did things together. What we are witnessing now is good because there is a lot of rot in this council

is no crisis in NECO. You can see that everybody is going after his or her work without any molestation." Ogborodi said: "In Abuja where we had an enlarged management meeting, all the directors pledged their loyalty and acknowledged Prof. Promise Okpala as our registrar and chief executive." Gana said: "We all came back from Abuja with the aim of working together. We don't know or have a acting registrar". But a source, who spoke in confidence, said the struggle for power in the council was a product of betrayal and back stabbing. "The Registrar and Baba Ojebode were until now the best of friends. They travelled together and did things together. What we are witnessing now is good because there is a lot of rot in this council. "It will be wrong if anybody says there is no crisis. The registrar had done things with impunity and now that he is about to go, those who are against him now want their pound of flesh. NECO has never been this polarised," the source noted. Armed policemen are now stationed at NECO’s entrance in Minna the Niger State Capital. •Additional report by Gbenga Omokhunu.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION Foundation gives to school

19-year-old determined to become an IT guru

By Jane Chijioke

•Ilaro Poly admits 4,450 of 25,000 applicants

NINETEEN-year-old footballer and student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Miss Omowunmi Oladipo, appeared to have found her bearing early at a time her peers require guidance for them not to be distracted by the transient trappings of youth stretched beyond imaginations. She found her love in computer engineering. She was one of the 4,450 fresh students that took the institution’s matriculation oath for the 2014/2015

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

academic session last Thursday. The youngest of three siblings, Omowunmi nurses a dream to become a “computer engineering guru in future,” a male-dominated career. She told The Nation that her ambition made her pay special attention to science subjects during secondary education at Josbel College, Surulere, Lagos. While she focuses on becoming an IT guru, she has vowed to exercise

‘Nobody told me to go into engineering discipline. I was determined to be an engineering student and I was a science student in my secondary school. I have this desire to change the face of information technology, solve problems with it or create more jobs for people in future’

HE Civil Society Partnership for Democracy and Governance in Oyo State has organised a sensitisation programme on voter's education for public secondary school pupils in Ibadan, the state capital. The lecture titled: “Election devoid of violence”, held at Expoyo Center. It was attended by pupils of Bashorun High School, Islamic High School, Bishop Onabanjo High School, Community Secondary School and Cheshire High School. The facilitator, Mr Ebika Anthony, said the lecture is coming at a time when Nigerians need to be enlightened. "We organised this programme for students in senior secondary school, who may not be of voting

personal discipline - abstaining from “dating” and other “boy friend things,” until she reaches her goal. She said: “I don’t have time for dating or boy friend thing. Mine is to face my studies and achieve my set goal first then other things can come later but definitely not now.” The driving force, she revealed, is to change the face of information technology, use the knowledge to solve some of the problems facing humanity, create jobs and wealth for the fatherland in future. “Nobody told me to go into engineering discipline. I was determined to be an engineering student and I was a science student in my secondary school. “I have this desire to change the face of information technology, solve problems with it or create more jobs for people in future,” she said. At the matriculation, the Rector, Olusegun Aluko said no fewer than 25,000 candidates applied for admission into various programmes of the institution. However, the institution has spaces for only 4,450.

•Omowunmi

Aluko, an architect, advised the freshers to see their admission as a rare opportunity that should be optimally utilised. He warned them not to allow the freedom most of them would experience for the first time to distract them. The Rector charged them to be law abiding, study diligently, shun examinations malpractice and other vices, while assuring them of the management’s commitment to providing an enabling environment that would continue to ensure “regular, smooth, uninterrupted and stable academic calendar.”

NGO educates pupils about voting From Bisola Oloyede, Ibadan

age, but can transfer it to their various homes. We want the students to educate their parents who are not educated to know their rights and not sell their conscience," he said. Anthony also revealed that even though the pupils may not vote, knowing their rights is key to prevent violence. The keynote speaker, Mr Ayo Arowosafe, a lawyer, lectured the pupils on "The development of democracy, civil rights and election participation in Nigeria". "We can have an election devoid of violence and the only

way we can do that is to know our civil rights as citizens," he said. He advised the pupils against election thuggery and violence. "I want to advise this up and coming generation, even though they may not vote this time around to shun all kinds of violence. We have discovered that it is mainly the youth that are used as perpetrators of violence in this country by politicians," he said. He also urged the pupils to participate in the election by encouraging their parents and other family members to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to exercise their rights. "We want these

students to be peer educators, to enlighten their parents to get their PVC and vote accordingly.” Speaking on the benefits of the programme, Ogunsanya Anu, from Cheshire High School, said she learnt about enlightening people to vote. Edet Blessing from Bishop Onabanjo High School said she now knows her rights and responsibilities. The representative from Islamic High School, Azeez Sodiq said he will never be a part of election thuggery. "I have learnt that election thuggery is not good and it does not make a good nation," he said.

HE Nigerian Turkish International Colleges Foundation (NTICF) has donated some educational materials to pupils of St. Peters Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja. The foundation distributed 200 packs of exercise books, mathematical sets, pencils, colour pencils, drawing books, crayons, and chocolate drinks to some pupils of the school. Director of the foundation, Mr Fettullah Celik, who was represented by the principal, Nigerian Turkish International College, Opebi, Mr Yunus Dogan, said the foundation focuses on relieving the challenges in the areas of education, health, water and orphanage homes. He said the foundation, which was formed in 2013, is supported by the Nigeria Turkish Nile University, Nigeria Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, and the Association of Business People and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey. Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Fumilayo Tuoyo, appreciated the gesture. She said it would go a long way in helping some of the pupils whose parents cannot afford some of the necessary learning materials. "This will be in the heart of the children that an organisation once gave them learning materials. The necessities to cater for the number of public schools in the state are quite enormous. So, we welcome this kind of philanthropic gesture," she said. She also thanked the Lagos State government and called for assistance to renovate a portion of the school. The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, praised the foundation for giving attention to primary education because it is the foundation of the education sector. Mrs Oladunjoye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo asked for more to be done for children whom she believed will find the materials very beneficial to enable them do well in their studies and prayed to God to continue to bless the Foundation.

Teacher’s joy as LIRS fetes essayists

OING by the way he danced, Mr Segun Shopekun of St Jude Private School, Festac Town, could have been mistaken as a recipient of the tax compliance award presented by Governor Babatunde Fashola at the 8th Annual Taxation Stakeholders' Conference organised by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). But that was not the case. It was his pupil, Joy Ekpuka, who won the first prize in the senior secondary category of the LIRS Secondary School Essay Competition. Though Shopekun would not get anything out of the prize money, which was a N250,000 scholarship for his lucky pupil, the English teacher sang joyfully an old school song that blared from the speakers at The Haven, Ikeja, venue of the event. He told The Nation that he was excited about producing the winner for the first time. "I am so excited because it is the Lord's doing. We put in so much hard work and I thank God for crowning our effort with success," he said. Shopekun said the school presented two pupils, who were shortlisted for the defense stage during which the writers did an oral presentation. One of them emerged winner. "The students wrote the essays by themselves. All we did was to edit. The defense was tough, but I thank God. I never expected we will win because it was competitive," he said. In an interview, the 15-year-old

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Ekpuka affirmed that she wrote the essay by herself and learnt a lot in the process. She said: "When I was called out, I felt very happy. I felt like crying. It took me four hours to write the essay. Nobody guided me. I was on my own. I learnt a lot. I learnt that along the years that the amount of internally-generated revenue has drastically increased by billions. I got to know about the Mega City project; about the Ikoyi Bridge. I didn't know these things before if not for the fact that I researched for the essay." Although she did not make the first or second place, second runner up in the junior secondary category, Mercy Olatubosun, said she was happy about her performance, which was boosted by the essay defense held in December. Olatunbosun, a JSS3 pupil of Eletu Odibo Junior Secondary School, Lagos Island, said: "I was not expecting to win because they arranged us according to how we did in the essay for defense. So I was the fifth. Coming third showed that

• Governor Fashola (middle) with the winners - (from left) Theresa, Joy, Esther, Ololade, Aisha, and Mercy at the event.

if I did not put effort in my defense I would not have made it." Other winners in the junior category were: Esther Oludotun of Itire Junior Secondary School (first) and Aisha Raji of Al Tanzeel Primary and Secondary School (second). They won N250,000 and N200,000 each and computers for their

schools. In the senior category, Ololade Afolabi of Isolo Comprehensive Senior Secondary School and Theresa Ibrahim of Surulere Senior Secondary School were first and second runners up. Chairman of LIRS, Mr Tunde

‘I learnt that along the years that the amount of internally-generated revenue has drastically increased by billions. I got to know about the Mega City project; about the Ikoyi Bridge. I didn't know these things before if not for the fact that I researched for the essay’

Fowler, said pupils from 310 secondary schools (70 per cent public and 30 per cent private) were involved in the competition. He described all the finalists as winners. Topics of the essays were: "Discuss the various sources of revenue available to African countries, highlighting the best that will guarantee sustainable development"; "What role should oil revenue play (in relation to tax revenue) in the development of Nigeria in the next 10 years"; "What is the relationship between tax revenue and employment."

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION

PAU inaugurates green building

HOSE unfamiliar with what a green building looks like should take a trip to the Pan Atlantic University, PAU, Ajah on the outskirts of Lagos, where the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) just inaugurated one. The three-storey building which was completed in two years was designed to save energy by 40 per cent. The structure, which is located within the Lagos Business School (LBS) campus of the university in Ajah, was inaugurated by the Minister of Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga. Describing the building as a true example of environmental sustainable building in Nigeria and West Africa, the Director, EDC, Peter Bamkole said the centre invested heavily in alternative energy to power the building. He said: “The 2, 000 square metres EDC building, with three floors is significant in many ways. The first is that this building is a green building. As you walk into the main foyer of the building, there is an instant sense of light. We harvest at least 12 hours of natural light every day. From the design stage we wanted to save at least 40 per cent of energy usage when compared with similar buildings in Nigeria, and across the continent so we invested heavily in

By Medinat Kanabe

alternate energy. “Embedded in the roof is 96 double length solar panel that produce enough energy to power all the street and perimeter lighting, all the access control, CCTV, internet, IP phones, the lighting in the main foyer, the general office and 50 per cent of the air conditioning in the general office. “Every floor is equipped with an online inverter system that carries other sensitive training equipment, from 5pm to 8pm every day, on weekends and indeed at off peak periods. We run only on clean energy.” Bamkole explained that the building, which was conceived about three years ago, was built by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs of PAU. At the conception stage, he said he did not know what the building would look like. “The architect, Jeff walked into my office and said kindly describe the kind of building you want so that we can craft out how the building will look. It was very difficult because I was not used to crafting out the nature of a building, I could tell you what I wanted but that was a new one for me. After a lot of persuasion we settled for a smart green build-

• The green building

ing that will have a recognisable character that will instantly energise all those that enter it. “…(A building) where learners and visitors will express freedom, transparency, flexibility, innovation and loads of light. We wanted all the floors in the building to be visible and connected to one another. A sense of family between us and all those that we serve; we wanted their stay in the building to be, memorable and we wanted to leave a lasting impression on all those that enter

the building,” he added. Bamkole said one of their entrepreneurs installed the motion sensors in all common areas, while two others also advised on how they can optimise their energy consumption in an energy report that they completed. In his speech, Aganga said he first learnt about the EDC while working with the Goldman Sachs, USA in 2010. He praised the centre’s effort to groom entrepreneurial leaders who will impact the society.

Corps member gives scholarship

Tips for school success, by administrator

HE schools that will groom the best pupils are those that appreciate the importance of teacher-training and adopting best practices in education, says Ms Abiola Lamikanra, Head of School, City of Knowledge Academy (CKA). Ms Lamikanra said during an open house programme for parents that school administrators that want to compete with the best worldwide must also be ready to adopt globallyaccepted pedagogy in teaching and learning and implement a curriculum that has a global orientation. She added that regular teachertraining is important because teachers are the ones that will implement the global curriculum. Ms Lamikanra said that educating for global relevance has become necessary because of the interconnectivity of the world. "Teaching children about global issues is very imperative and raising a child in a 21st century requires a common sense; one century is not different from another, the only thing that happens now is that we are more global in perspective; we are all very connected; whatever happens in Australia in one minute, the whole world knows the next minute, so to be able to get our children participate globally we have to be very active in the use of technology and this should be the target of all education managers," she said. One of such necessities is the use of ICT in teaching and learning, urging schools to key into it. Apart from making use of interactive boards in the classroom to make learning come alive, Ms Lamikanra said at CKA, there is also a virtual learning platform, accessible via tablets, for teachers to interact with the pupils. She said parents also have access to this platform. "In CKA, technology is used as a tool; not for decoration. When the children are in class they make effective use of the interactive board. They have their netbook with them and as the teacher is interacting with them, they are exploring the Internet together," she said.

•Mr Jeremiah Ogunjere, a science teacher (middle), guiding some pupils in the laboratory during a Chemistry class. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Ms Lamikanra said this global perspective to education embraces not only teaching what is relevant academically but also socially, like they try to do at CKA. She said: "While grooming our students with our ethical pillars which are culture, character and confidence, we also explore other avenues. There is a programme we call Physical, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, where they discuss personal responsibilities and other life skills. "We pay a lot of attention to the acquisition of life and organisational skills like time management and interpersonal relationships. There are other programmes they take in conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and fixed mindset versus growth mindset. All these are de-

“EDC has proven its commitment to facilitate access to market for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). With the establishment of this magnificent building, EDC is indeed an inspiration,” he said. On his part the Vice Chancellor, Prof Juan Elegido, said the EDC is the main vehicle through which the PAU endeavours to serve the immediate society in ways that go beyond teaching and research. He said that the impact has been truly significant as “they are already serving Nigerians.”

signed to ensure our students are well equipped to cope with future academic requirement. They are not examination subjects; we are simply teaching them the ABC's of this life. "On the aspect of confidence, our children have confidence in themselves, they can go anywhere in the world and participate actively in any programme. We build their self-esteem and that is important in educating a child in today's world." Speaking more about the ethical orientation of the school, the Head of School said CKA seeks to ensure that the pupils grow into useful members of the society. "Our emphasis is also on culture, character and confidence. We have explored the dimensions of character in today's world, in terms of accountability, honesty, responsibility and leadership. Having good character is important to us all in main-

‘Teaching children about global issues is very imperative and raising a child in a 21st century requires a common sense; one century is not different from another, the only thing that happens now is that we are more global in perspective; we are all very connected

•Ms Lamikanra

taining a good position in a society," she said. Despite the emphasis on global relevance at CKA, Ms Lamikanra said pupils of the school must appreciate the Nigerian culture. "We do not want to produce children who do not have a trace of their culture - not just their culture - but to also have respect for other people's culture," she said. The parents toured the school's academic and boarding facilities available on the expansive premises located along the Ore-Sagamu expressway.

BATCH 'A' corps member, serving at St Brendan's Secondary School, Iyamoyong, Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State, Joshua Orege, has given scholarships to six orphans in the council. The scholarship was presented to the secondary school pupils at the inauguration of a statue, also endowed by Orege near the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. At the event held at the Local Government Council Hall in Obubra, Orege said he gave the scholarship to reduce illiteracy among the less privileged and give them access to quality education. Orege, who graduated from the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, as the best Chemistry student said: "After observing that for several weeks these children did not go to school because nobody could pay their school fees, I decided to place the burden on myself to the best of my ability." He urged wealthy Cross Riverians to initiate scholarship schemes for orphans and downtrodden children in Obubra. The Cross River State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Habibu Kurawa praised Orege for supporting educational advancement in the state. Represented by the HOD, Community Development Service (CDS), Mr Chuka Osuagwu, he advised the beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity well and stay focused. He also charged other corps members to emulate the good work done by Orege. One of the beneficiaries, Ekpang Gift Ngbongha, an SS1 pupil of Egara Community Secondary School, Iyametet, appreciated Orege for "giving them hope to return to school." The event was graced by dignitaries, including traditional rulers, NYSC officials, school administrators, and guardians of the children. Orege has also organised free coaching classes for pupils in the Iyamoyong community, constructed road safety signpost and donated stools to the chemistry laboratory of his place of primary assignment.

‘Why rural communities must be protected’

‘How to be a campus journalist’

Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Seven months after Boko Haram distrupted power supply to Maiduguri, the epicentre of its insurgency, the beleaguered Borno State capital has been re-connected to the national grid. Students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) are excited by the development, reports TAIWO ISOLA (400-Level Human Anatomy).

•The UNIMAID gate

HE seven-month blackout in Maiduguri, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, has ended. Students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) are the happier for it. The embattled Borno State capital was thrown into darkness, following the destruction of transmission cables by Boko Haram last July. The cables could not be fixed on time because of the security challenge. During the blackout, students coped with fivehour electricity to key facilities and hostels provided by the institution between 6pm and 11pm. The destroyed cables also affected telecommunication services. For months, students were unable to charge their mobile phones and other communication gadgets. The blackout set many on the edge because of the prevailing security situation. Students were in the dark about events in the city. Many could not speak with their families back home for months. All these changed following the restoration of electricity. Students were excited. Idris Suleiman, a 300-Level student, said the challenging times were over, describing the period of blackout as “overwhelming long night”. He said: “The fear of attack by Boko Haram

‘It was a long scary night’ •Students relive seven-month blackout at UNIMAID ‘Once the generators serving the hostels are switched off by 11pm, the whole campus would be quiet and we would be hearing gunshots from the neighbourhood. It was a scary experience for us because we didn’t know where the sound was coming from and where to run to. All we could see was thick darkness’ insurgents pervaded the campus during the period because we had no access to communication. The absence of mobile telephone networks and electricity almost turned the campus to a ghost town. This development did not encourage learning because many were afraid to go for lectures.

“At the end of the day’s work, you would want to go to class to read but there would be no light. The electricity provided by the management was just for five hours and it is even within the confinement of the hostel area. There are no lights in the classes for night reading, and the lamps do not have sufficient energy to last for long. It was

really a challenging period for us. We are happy that there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Blessing Samuel, another student, said the sound of explosion and gunshot scared students during the period. “Once the generators serving the hostels are switched off by 11pm, the whole campus would be quiet and we would be hearing gunshots from the neighbourhood. It was a scary experience for us because we didn’t know where the sound was coming from and where to run to. All we could see was thick darkness,” she said. “The disruption of telecommunication networks created apprehension among the students while the blackout lasted,” Emeka Obiano, a Science student, said. He said Maiduguri seemed far away because of the inability to communicate. Emeka said: “Then, anyone who intended to make an emergency call would discover that there was no network on his phone. •Continued on page 30

•Polls shift: Students protest in Lagos-P32 •Student loses cancer battle P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

Pushing Out

Ingenuity in times of distress

mark for the student experience stated that Nigerian students are the seventh most satisfied international students in the world. The survey was carried in 50 universities in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia and was filled in by 60,000 international students studying in these countries. For the survey, students were asked to rate their satisfaction on a scale of one to four – one meaning “very dissatisfied” and four meaning “very satisfied.” The average score of Nigerian students’ satisfaction was 3.11, a meagre 0.19 points lower than Spain with the most satisfied students at 3.30. Nigeria was also the only African country represented in the top 50. Like almost everything foreign, our craze for higher education abroad is common knowledge. In 2012, a non-governmental organization, Exam ethics international said that Nigeria loses over N1.5 trillion to foreign education annually with neighbouring Ghana alone getting about N160 billion as tuition fees for the over 71,000 students studying there. The reason for this is not farfetched as it is a well-known fact that the declining standard of education is reason enough for Nigerian students search for greener pastures abroad. Am I saying it is wrong to school abroad? Absolutely not; but we have to be careful not to totally denigrate or destroy our institutions in the process, as is being consciously or unconsciously done. In this age of globalisation, we need all the international exposure and diversity we need. But we cannot effectively compete on the global scene if we neglect the cultural aspect that would assist in maintaining our image and “Nigerianness.” China and other Asian countries know this well and strive to ensure their culture and ways of life are not eroded through internationalisation. It needs to be pointed out that Nigerian students’ mass exodus in search of foreign education is not always as rosy as the igraduate survey report may suggest. Late last year, the Federal Government for the first time in eight months preceding the end of the year, paid allowances it owed the over 322 Nigerian students on the Bilateral Educational Agreement scholarship in Russia. Only last week I came across a letter written by a Nigerian lecturer studying abroad who appealed to the government to release their fees payment under

PICTURE in some national newspapers caught my attention recently; a Vice Chancellor of one of our private universities posed with his wife and son who just graduated from an American university. My thought - after seeing the pictures - was how his students would feel if they see it. Will they feel betrayed that the VC does not have confidence to send his son to the institution he oversees? Will they feel justified that the millions they pay each semester are worth it? Is it that he does not have confidence in the lecturers he had a hand in employing? What happens if all our students relocate abroad for their education? However, let’s face facts: it is tough going to school in Nigeria; I will be flogging a dead horse if I say our educational sector has all but collapsed. We hear tales of undergraduates who cannot write a good job application. We also have thousands who cannot reason rationally or solve simple logic. It is therefore little wonder that Nigeria has remained a lucrative destination for endless education fairs where hitherto unknown countries now come to market their varsities. Exploiting this lacuna is not only the preserve of foreigners.’ A commercial bank has also cashed in by providing payment platforms where fees for foreign varsities can be paid from home with ease. I’m very sure that this bank’s ingenuity – if I may call it that – will soon be copied by others. Give it to Nigerians, we never miss opportunities even if it affects our system negatively, so long as we profit from it, it is fine. What this inadvertently does is further denting the self-confidence of “home grown” graduates who would be constantly reminded that they simply do not have what it takes to be relevant. A survey carried out late last year by igraduate International Insight – an organization that focuses on the global bench-

•One of the affected hostels

‘It was a long scary night’ •Continued from page 29

This, sometimes, lasted for as long as the whole day. At times, the networks signals would be so limited that one could not make calls for seconds. We are hoping not to go back to that era.” Tope Oyeniyi, a Computer Engineering student, is happy because he was able to speak with his parents after several weeks of communication breakdown. “I became the happiest student on the day electricity was restored. I almost jumped down from my hostel when power supply was restored. Life without electricity is like living in the Stone Age, especially for those of us in an academic environment. There was no light to read, charge phones and laptops. I was disconnected from my family for weeks.” Tope added: “The five hours electricity supply from school generators was not constant. I reside in Sardauna

with

Agbo Agbo

Hall and because we share a generator with two other hostels, we rotated usage every night and each hall had three hours every day. It was later the management brought a bigger generator so we could have light for five hours.” A student-blogger, Chris Jacob, said blackout disconnected students from the social media. He said many students could not access information online due to the disruption. Chris said: “Cyber café operating on the campus could not open because of the problem. Many business operators said they did not have fuel to continue their businesses. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) were operated occasionally because there was no electricity. Practically, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) broke down on campus. It took us back to the past and put us at a disadvantage in many ways. But we are happy that electricity has been restored.”

08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement for lecturers on study abroad. He was concerned that the current political campaigns are seriously affecting governance. The increase in the number of students travelling abroad had initially been attributed to the parlous state of Nigerian universities. Obviously, there is some truth in this, considering the frequency of industrial actions, paucity of funds, dilapidated state of infrastructure and the lack of manpower in the public universities. The rapid growth in the number of private universities in Nigeria, which offer a relative measure of stability, should have stemmed the tide in the number of those going overseas to study. This has however not happened, clearly indicating the presence of a broader set of drivers that are contributing to sustaining interest in foreign education. One of such drivers is globalisation, which I mentioned earlier. And perhaps the biggest primer of globalisation is technology or more specifically - the advent of the internet, which has made communication easier and also, shrunk the global community. We can now communicate with someone who is several thousand kilometres away; we can find information on different locations while sitting at our desks. Travel has become easier, faster and cheaper. Across the world, the effect of globalisation has been an increase in the number of people travelling to new destinations on vacation, to live, work or study. Globalisation is good if you’re not operating from a disadvantaged position. Aside this, Nigerians are an aspirational lot. Parents sacrifice to put their children through school. Postgraduate students rely on savings, borrowing and support from family members to pay for their education. While the oil economy ensures that there is some money in circulation, thereby ensur-

AN you tell us about your background? I grew up in Ogba Aguda in Lagos, where I attended both primary and secondary schools. By a stroke of fate, I have found myself at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), which is also located in Ogba Aguda. So, all education I have received in my life is from this place. How did you discover your passion for music? Music has been my dream since I was a child. I imbibed the habit from my mother, who is also a singer. She taught me how to compose songs. So, overtime I developed passion for it and it became part of me and there is nothing I have found interesting aside from music. So music is a career for me; it is my calling. What genre of music do you do? I am into secular music. I sing hip-hop specifically, but I combine it with some touch of Afrobeat. At times, I do rap but I don’t see myself as a rapper. I want to be versatile in all arrear of hip-hop to make my music flexible. How many songs have you released? I have two songs to my credit for now and they are being played on radio. I have new songs but I mostly sing them at students’ shows and other social events. I have been getting commendations from people, who always want me to perform. I have proven my ability in music. People are applauding my talent and I am very proud about it. How do you rate yourself in the music industry? One thing in life is that, you should not copy what people are doing. If you do this, it means you are trying to be like others and don’t

ing that there is a steady stream of students who are financially able, Nigerian banks have also started to provide education loans, enabling more people to access study opportunities abroad. It remain to be seen how the dwindling oil price will affect this. Personal motivation is also another key driver. For some, it is a means to enhance their career prospects at home; for others, a route to starting a new life abroad. In the first scenario, it does appear that the companies who offer top paying jobs in Nigeria now have a preference for holders of foreign degrees. Indeed, such companies regularly attend job fairs in Europe and North America, hunting for Nigerians who studied abroad, to come and work in Nigeria. This trend may well continue as more international firms are seeking investment opportunities in emerging economies such as Nigeria, as growth in the advanced economies has remained slow for years now. This can only motivate more individuals to seek that extra edge which will give them a fighting chance for the best jobs. In the second instance, despite the slow growth earlier mentioned, the number of individuals from Nigeria and other developing economies who desire to migrate to the western world continues to grow. However, academic qualifications from Nigeria are often shunned by employers in many western economies and those who desire to migrate abroad explore foreign study opportunities to enable them secure decent employment in their chosen destinations. It is an open fact that the opportunity to reside and work is often used as an incentive by governments to attract students to their countries. For example, the UK post study work permit was an attraction for many international students. The law has now been amended by the UK government but that has not caused a substantial reduction in the number of Nigerian students travelling to the UK for higher education, though it appears to have had a more significant impact in India. Canada and Australia are recent examples of countries that are now using such post study work permits to promote their countries as study destinations, and there are already growing interest in these destinations. While we continue our quests for better education we should please not forget the home front because the reality is that we cannot all school abroad.

‘My mother taught me how to sing’ Samuel Allison is a National Diploma 1 Journalism student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos. He is also an upcoming hip-hop artiste who plays at students’ shows. He shares his aspirations with SAMSON UWALA (ND II Journalism).

•Samuel

expect to go beyond them. That is a limitation one may have. The industry is wide and can accommodate all shades of talents. Music is not something anyone should do because you have people in the industry. You must have a passion for it and create your own brand. I have a unique trademark, which many people may not know because of the level of my popularity. But, people who have listened to my music know my ability. Within a little time, I believe my brand will be accepted by generality of hip-hop lovers. So,

I can’t copy anyone; I will always be myself. How do you plan to cope with academics and music? It has not been easy for me doing music and studying. And I have not seen anyone, who says it is easy. But, the truth is that, in life, one should have a dream, which we must pursue. I think being a student has helped my career in music and music can also help my studies. I believe combining both will do a lot of help. As it is now, I cannot leave my academic pursuit for music and vice versa. I have some songs, which I have just completed in the studio. I believe being a student will make people accept these songs. So, combining music and schooling together is not a big challenge for me. What is your message to your fans? My fan base is growing by the day and this gives me the courage to do more in music. To my fans, I want them to continue to believe in me and ability. I want to put in more effort to do good music that will get them excited. With the support of God, I believe what I am doing will take me to places. So, I promise my fans that I will not let them down.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE The University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter of the National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) has sworn in its leaders at the parliamentary chamber of the Students’ Union Government. FRANK EJEAGBASI and KINGSLEY CHARLES report.

UST like their election, the inauguration of Nigerian Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) executive at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) was memorable. The executive were sworn in with fanfare at the Students’ Union Government (SUG) parliamentary chamber. The event, which started at 1pm, was chaired by Mr. Bassey Ekerette of the UNICAL Teaching Hospital. It was attended by guests from within and outside the university, including the SUG president, Emmanuel Ajang, Editor of Weekend Chronicle Mrs Florence Oluohu and Editor-in-Chief of Cross River Watch Mr Agba Jalingo, among others. In his valedictory speech, former NUCJ president Raymond Ekemini praised the university management for its support, noting that the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof James Epoke, contributed to the press freedom on the campus. He said: “Words are not enough for me to express my heartfelt gratitude to our media-friendly ViceChancellor for his support and contribution throughout my tenure as president. To my successor, I praise your courage for taking this brave decision to serve despite the challenges involved in balancing this selfless engagement with academics. I urge you to be objective in your action. You must not allow anyone to threaten you into distorting the truth.” Ekerette applauded the campus

‘How to be a campus journalist’ •

writers for their orderliness, urging them not to relent in keeping the university community informed about students’ welfare. He said journalism was reserved for responsible people, stressing that the union must channel their writing objectively. There was excitement in the hall when Raymond passed the baton of leadership to his successor, Gilbert Pepple, after the executive members took the oath of office. The oath-taking was conducted by Mr Maxwell Egbawho, the commissioner for oath. Gilbert promised not to betray the trust of his colleagues, describing the

ceremony as a “moment of happiness”. He said: “I am grateful to God and my fellow campus writers who entrusted such great confidence in me. I am not unaware that the journey is not going to be an easy one. It was not easy for Martin Luther King, V.I. Lewin, Mao Tse-tung and Nelson Mandela, but according to John Mason, all obstacles will vanish with consistent and persistent struggle.” Mrs Oluohu urged the campus writers to brace for the challenges of journalism, saying: “Being a campus journalist is a lofty task, because you stand as a mediator between the school and

the students. Your duty as campus writers is not just reporting news stories but to speak against injustice and other ills on campus without fear or favour.” Mrs Oluohu expressed worry over the absence exclusion of ladies in the executive. She added: “It is sad that this new executive is not gender friendly. I will expect you make amend soon.” Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to some guests for their contribution to the development of campus journalism. Among the honorees were Prof Epoke, Direc-

tor, Centre for Educational Services, Dr Paul Eze Bassey, Chief Medical Director of UNICAL Medical Centre, Mrs Oluohu and Agba Jalingo, among other. Ikechukwu Ofili, a 200-Level Public Administration student, won Campus Journalist of the Year. The others exco members are Emmanuel James Philips, Vice President, Nnabi Getoke, General Secretary and Mfonobong Ayara, Financial Secretary, Sunday Ezema, Director of Project and Emmanuel Nwagboh, Director of Programmes, among others.

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has partnered the directorate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train Corps members in entrepreneurship to make them self-reliant after the service year. BALIKIS MOYOSORE reports.

Tackling poverty and unemployment

O make them self-dreliant after the National Youth Service, the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the presidency has partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to float War Against Poverty (WAP), an entrepreneurship scheme aimed at equipping outgoing Corps members with business and investment skills. The pilot scheme of the training was held on Tuesday in Abuja, where some outgoing Corps members were empowered with start-up loan between N200,000 and N300,000 to invest in agro-enterprise of their choice. At the launch of the scheme, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawunmi, said the organisation believed the youth were gifted in different business skills but said many of them lacked financial wherewithal to start up their dream businesses. He said the loan would keep the beneficiaries busy after their Youth Service, adding that the business they would establish with the loan would boost the nation’s economy. The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on MDGs, Mrs Precious Gbeneol, who initiated the scheme, said the programme was aimed to engage Corps members in productive venture after Youth Service. She said the scheme would only be extended to Corps members passing out, saying they would be trained in small scale and agro-allied businesses. The interest-free loans given to the trainees, Gbeneol said, would enable them to

•Brig-Gen. Olawunmi with the beneficiaries after the training

generate jobs for others. She said the scheme was part of the poverty-eradication programme of the president. She said: “We have no doubt that the scheme would create wealth and boost agricultural productivity for food security. The beneficiaries are expected to train and mentor at least five youths in their host communities as well as use the platform of their agro-allied enterprise for community development activities.” Gbeneol said the scheme would be introduced across the state directorate of the NYSC, noting that any Corps member who wishes to be trained must express interest by completing the WAP Form of Intent in the state. The beneficiaries were trained in snailery, bee keeping, fish farming, animal husbandry, grasscutting

‘We have no doubt that the scheme would create wealth and boost agricultural productivity for food security. The beneficiaries are expected to train and mentor at least five youths in their host communities as well as use the platform of their agro-allied enterprise for community development activities’ farming, plantain multiplication and poultry farming. On completion of training, the Corps members were given relevant manuals and two copies of the Memorandum of Understanding, which they completed before the loans were made available to them. Oluwatosin Oke, a 26 year-old youth, who benefitted from the scheme, said he had made a resolu-

tion not to look for white-collar job since he was an undergraduate. While he may not have realised his dream to become self-dependent, Oluwatosin said the loan would give him an opportunity to achieve his aim. Marcus Olugbenga, who served in Bauchi State, described the scheme as “good youth development project”, saying it could bring

down the rate of unemployment at the within a short period if it is sustained. A beneficiary, Gbenga Ogunmakinde, who served in Abuja, qualified for the scheme after he was adjudged the best youth entrepreneur in North Central zone at the maiden contest of Youth Enterprise With Innovation In Nigeria (YouWin), an entrepreneurial competition initiative established by the Federal Ministry of Finance. Seven beneficiaries of the scheme were among 22 youths selected after a rigorous business plan contest organised by African in Diaspora Programme in Entrepreneurship Development. They selected youths will be attending advanced entrepreneurial training at Barry University in Florida, United States.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

Polls shift: Students protest in Lagos

ROTEST rocked Lagos State on Monday, following the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The federal and state elections, which were initially scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, were shifted by the commission to March 28 and April 11, citing security reason. This development did not go down well with students in Lagos, who described the poll shift as an attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to scheme the exercise in its favour. The students, who gathered from all tertiary institutions in Lagos, led a protest to the office of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to register their displeasure over the election postponement. • The protesters, led by Jubril Olayinka, a 400-Level Industrial Relations and Personnel Management student of the Lagos State University (LASU), criticised the role played by the military in the affair, warning the Federal Government against compromising the security agencies for selfish end. The students’ protest letter to the governor reads: “We decry the unjust shift in election date. We deem it baseless, needless, selfish and an attempt to rig the general election by the ruling party. The agents of darkness are playing pranks on the intelligence of Nigerians. We are protesting to let the whole country know that the development presents a clear danger to our democracy.

From Nurudeen Yusuf LASU “We consider the election postponement as a failure and a huge embarrassment on the part of INEC, security agencies and the Federal Government. We regard it as an attempt by the presidency to strategise rigging and scheme the process in its favour.” Jubril, who is also the Acting Chairman of Lagos axis of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said students had resolved to do everything to defend their votes and resist further postponement with last drop of their blood. He demanded apology from INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, for his failure to conduct the elections this month. Jubril also urged students to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying the cards are the passport through which they could contribute to the development of the nation. The protesters were drawn from tertiary institutions, including LASU, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Adeniran Ogonsanya College of Education (AOCED), Federal College of Education (FCE Technical) Akoka, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Lagos State School of Health Technology and the Federal College of Fishers and Marine Technology.

•Protesters at the governor's office

•Students displaying a banner to condemn the poll shift

Lagos students endorse Ambode

•Otufodunrin speaking at the seminar

Engage new media, The Nation Online Editor ASS Communication stugood enough if you know how to dents have been urged to urges students use the new media and you don’t embrace the new media if have the required media knowledge

they want to be relevant in the emerging trend of communication. The charge was given by the Managing Editor, Online and Special Publications of The Nation, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, at a seminar marking the Mass Communication Students’ Association (MCSA) Week at Babcock University. The event with the theme: Preparing for a Mass Communication Career in a New Media Age, was held on the campus. Otufodunrin noted that the teaching of traditional journalism was changing with the advent of the new media, which he said youths are championing. The knowledge of new media, Otufodunrin said, would increase the chance of the youth to get job in the media. He said: “Media organisations and other employers of communication

From Margaret-Mary Osiobor BABCOCK graduates now give preference to those who are skilled in new media not only for social interaction, which was the original purpose of the platform, but to those who know how to apply it professionally.” The Editor, however, said journalism training could not be substituted for skills in the use of new media, saying not many of the users of the new media possessed knowledge required to practise journalism. “Students must realise that they can only become professionals in mass communication if they acquire skills in the use of social media to complement their knowledge in traditional journalism. It would not be

in traditional journalism,” he said. The event also saw him engage the students and staff of the department with tangible ideas on how to start making earnest and intentional preparations towards a successful career in the field. Otufodunrin urged the students improve their activities on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, but cautioned them against the wrong use of social media. The seminar also featured an interactive session, where the guest speaker engaged participants on how to use social media. Alaba Abodunrin, a 300-Level student, described the session as educative, noting that he Otufodunrin’s message was clear and straightforward on the need to engage the new media.

TUDENTS of higher institutions in Lagos State under the aegis of Students’ Support Group (SSG) have declared their support for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode. The students urged residents to vote for the governoship candidate in the Aprill 11 election. The leader of the group Mr Ahmed Agbabiaka (fondly called common Sense Revolution), said the APC standard bearer possessed the skills and experience to move the state to the next level. Agbabiaka said it was impossible for the APC to lose the election considering the performance of the current governor, who he said had the support of the masses through his populist programmes. Agbabiaka, who was a member of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said Ambode’s 27 years of experience in civil service placed him ahead of his main opponent, Mr Jimi Agbaje. He urged Lagosians to vote for experience, adding that the state is too sophisticated to be administered by anyone with no idea of governance. He said: “It is visible to the blind that the most popular candidate in Lagos who has practicable

College welcomes freshers

HE Rector of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE) in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Ms Halima Bewell, has urged fresh students to be of good behaviour. The Rector spoke at the matriculation of freshers admitted into the diploma programme for 2014/2015 session. Bewell urged the students to maintain high level of discipline throughout their stay. She emphasised the need for cooperation among students,

From Godwin Simon UNILAG programmes is Ambode. We don’t want a neophyte to come and put Lagos into a laboratory for experiment. Ambode has a clear-cut agenda and we want continuity of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s programmes. We cannot trust the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because what he is after is to experiment. Ambode is a scholar and has had cognate experience in administration. “He has served in all areas of governance in Lagos, from the local government to the state public service. So, we believe Ambode is wellequipped for the task ahead. The only thing Jimi Agbaje can claim to have is his past governoship ambition in 2007.” Ahmed said the group has membership, comprising of students who are 18 years and above in secondary and tertiary institutions across the state. A member, Jeremiah Olatinwo of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was confident of victory for Ambode at the polls, noting that students and youths in Lagos were ready to entrust their wellbeing in Ambode for four years. From Augustine Anyanwu TV COLLEGE noting that the college is not having crisis because of unity among students and staff. The Academic Secretary, Mr Zakari Yakubu, told the students to shun vices which could lead to their expulsion. He advised the freshers to familiarise themselves with the college’s codes of conduct, which he said were part of the students’ handbook. At the ceremony were the heads of departments, including Television Production, Dr Phoebe Rishante; Television Journalism, Ms Ozewe Banke and Television Engineering, Mr Titus Mazhinyi. There were also parents and guardians of the students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Student loses cancer battle From Toluleke Akinbode OAU

•The beauty queen, Joy (second left) with her friends during the event

College celebrates ‘freshers’ night’

TUDENTS of the College of Health and Science Technology (COHEST) in Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State have celebrated their Freshers’ Night. It was organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for new students. The event, which is perceived as the biggest social event on campus, is held yearly after matriculation to welcome freshers. Thousands of students trooped to Private Hostel, the venue of the show. Glamour was added to the event by upcoming hip-hop artistes on campus, such as Bukky Cartoon, Black Fret, COHEST All Star, Sango Drama Band of Ijero Ekiti, Mind Blow, Xclusive Dancer, Staywat and FTG, among others. They thrilled the freshers with a stage performance. The event also featured a talent

From Temitope Yakubu, ADO POLY hunt and a beauty pageant to crown the queen of the college. The pageant was won by Joy Olowu, a student of Environmental Health Technology. Adefunke Osorun of Radiology Department was crowned the Miss Fresher, Sidikat Badmus from Environmental Health Technology became Miss Ebony. Bakiyat Sanusi of the Department of Nursing was crowned Miss Portable. The SUG president, Ifeoluwa Adewuyi, said the event would afford the freshers to associate with their senior colleagues and promote harmony on the campus. He hailed students for being good ambassador of the School, while thanking Governor Ayodele Fayose for reducing their school fees by

N15,000. The Director of Social, Ayodele Olubosinrin, said the event was to boost social activities on the campus, noting more of such event would be held the in current semester. He said the college was not about reading books alone. A student, Olubunmi Olomosola, said the event would linger in her heart, assuring that she would participate in the subsequent shows. Earlier, the union honoured Fayose with an award of excellence. The governor was on the campus to attend matriculation of freshers. Guests at that occasion included the Caretaker Chairman of Ijero Local Government, Hon. John Abiodun Dada and other principal officers of the institution led by the Provost, Pastor Bayo Ojo.

STUDENT of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Pius Oluwole Agidigbi, has died of colon cancer. The late Pius, a 300-Level English student, was known on campus as COPAK. He died at the OAU Teaching Hospital. He was 22. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that his parents were with him in his last hours. He reportedly muttered “I want to go home” before he breathed his last. It was gathered that the deceased had been managing the tumour since he was in sec- •The ondary Beforeschool. his death, the late Pius was said to have undergone six surgeries and could not attend the school in the first semester of his third year. He promised to join his classmates after recovery. Ayomide Alabi, his close friend described him as a “gentle and jovial young man” who loved football. Ayomide added that the deceased loved political discussion.

late Pius

“Pius’ philosophy in life was that of fun and getting the best life could offer,” Ayomide said. In a condolence letter to his parents, the Head of Department of English, urged the family to take heart. The late Pius was buried the day he died. He was admitted into OAU through Pre-degree programme. He was the last child of his family.

Anti-graft club advises students on violence

•Prof Mimiko (middle) with his wife, Bosede, receiving a gift from a member of the Council

Varsity honours former VC

HE Governing Council of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Thursday, held a send-off dinner in honour of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Femi Mimiko. The event was held at the Royal Bird Hotel in Akure and was attended by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, top government officials and members of the university community. The institution’s Pro-chancellor, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, praised the honoree for what he called visionary and purposeful leadership rendered to earn the varsity global awards. Akadiri said the Council would miss the intellectual contributions of Prof Mimiko at its meetings, but said the achievements of the former VC would be a reminder of the Prof Mimiko’s tenure in the administration of the school. The Pro-chancellor said the rating of AAUA as the best state-owned

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA university by the United States Transparency International Standards in 2014 was not unconnected with the modest efforts of the Prof Mimiko-led administration. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, described his predecessor as a scholar of excellence and astute administrator, saying his effort to improve the rating of the school was commendable. Ajibefun said Prof Mimiko laid foundation for excellence, robust scholarship and sustainable academic culture, pledging to build on them. Gov Mimiko praised his brother for justifying the confidence reposed in him when he was appointed as VC, noting that the ex-VC promoted the good name of the family by demonstrating quality leadership without compromising standard. He stressed that the Ondo State Government deliberately ensured access through introduction of af-

fordable school fees to quality education and health services without compromising standard, thus settling the age-old conflict between access and quality service. The governor also pledged continued funding to the school, saying: “Despite the shrinking resources, we will still do what is necessary to sustain the existing standard. We will give the new VC the necessary support. I will not influence admission procedure or staff promotion. We will support you to continue the merit-driven admission.” Responding, Prof Mimiko thanked the governing council for the honour, saying the achievements were made possible by God. He urged his successor to avoid distraction in the administration of the university. The guest speaker at the event and Prof Mimiko predecessor, Prof Funso Akere, spoke on Effective university administration in Nigeria and the challenge of leadership. Highlight of the event was presentation of gift to the honoree.

HE Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) chapter of Zero Tolerance for Corruption (ZTC), an anti-graft campaign initiative, has implored students to steer clear of corruption and electoral violence. The lecture with the theme: Role of tertiary institutions in the fight against electoral violence was held in the university auditorium. It was chaired by Dr Abubakar Matazu of Faculty of Law and attended by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, his deputy, Prof Muhammad Lawal Ahmadu, Registrar, Mallam M.K. Jabbo, represented by Mrs K. Abdullahi, Chief Security Officer, Col Abdullahi Muhammad Gwandu (rtd), Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Adamu Aliero. Prof Ahmadu spoke on Corruption, post-election violence and the role of youths. He said corruption gave rise to underdevelopment, political instability, insecurity and collapse of infrastructure. He added that electoral violence was the direct outcome of a corrupt system. He said: “Discussions on Nigerian politics should address factual issues affecting the people, as against frivolities relating to religious or ethnic affiliations. The role of youth in curbing electoral violence include acquiring education and training on ethical conduct and imbib good moral behaviour. As students, you must be among the vanguard promoting justice and fairness in all areas of our national life.” A Christian leader, Reverend Father Onuh Ladi, represented by Prof I.S. Ogundiya, said havoc wreaked by electoral violence could not be quantified, stressing that there was the need for the youth to maintain high moral standard and discipline. Mallam Musa Aliyu Zuru, who represented Muslim community,

•Prof Zuru

From Halimah Akanbi UDUS suggested that ethical and civic education courses should be introduced in curriculum of tertiary institutions to train the youth on morality and ethics. He said it was pertinent for people to be tolerant and live in peacefully with others regardless of religion, ethnicity or language. The VC remarked that poverty, corruption and underdevelopment remained the cause of electoral violence. He urged students to shun violence, adding that politicians were fond of using religion and ethnicity to brainwash the youth and incite them to foment trouble. He said: “You must acquire education as youths and you must show a difference. I appeal to you to use your intellectual knowledge to promote peace and harmony. You must take the responsibility to educate some of your peers who are not in the school to learn the art of living together.” Col. Gwandu advised the students not to indulge in violence or vandalise properties. He said: “If you participate in violence and you lose your life, you are gone forever, and life will continue with those that are living.” Dr Aliero believed the seminar would open up the minds of the students against violence and any form of corruption. The ZTC chairman, Hassan Maikasuwa, a 500-Level Veterinary Medicine student, urged everyone to join in the fight against corruption.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Participants at a conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have urged the government to check environmental degradation in rural areas. OLADELE OGE reports.

ITIES should not be protected from environmental degradation at the expense of rural areas, participants at a three-day conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) have said. The event with the theme: Industry, agriculture and environmental sustainability: The role of environmental toxicology and chemistry research in Africa took place at the institution’s Princess Alexandra Hall. The guest speaker, Prof Ikechukwu Onwurah, urged the Federal Government to upgrade rural environmental protection, because degradation poses risk to communities. He said government must check the role being played by corporate bodies in environmental degradation, urging it to promulgate laws to control the negative effects. Prof Onwurah, who delivered a paper titled: Sustainable Environmental compliance monitoring (ECM) framework: The role of government, highlighted the importance of the conference to the nation’s wellbeing, saying a friendly environment would reduce risk of natural disaster and disease outbreak. He urged government at different levels not to relent in finding lasting solutions to communities’ environmental and ecological problems. He said they must fund academic researches aimed solving environmental challenges. While declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, urged participants to ensure that their contributions were informed by research to make the outcome and recommendations a quality document useful to the government. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the Univer-

‘Why rural communities must be protected’ •Participants at the conference

sity of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof.L.I.N Ezemonye, who spoke on Plurality of ecotoxicological interventions in environmental management system, said the release of several industrial chemicals to the environment had resulted into acute lethal toxicity in the water body, noting that species of fishes, shrimps and earthworms had been endangered. Ezemonye, represented by Dr Alex Enuneku, said species of organisms in the Niger Delta had mortality average of seven days, saying this necessitated the constant monitoring of the water in the region. Outlining the challenges facing

ecological research, Prof Onwurah said insufficient funding is the major problem of quality research into the issue. He urged the Federal Government to establish direct linkage between researchers and those in the affected communities, to enable experts tackle the problems. Other challenges, he pointed out, included inadequate capacity building for technical staff undertaking ecoloxicological analysis and the pressure to reduce use of vegetables in ecotoxicological test in biochemistry research. Mrs Folake Idowu-Adebayo spoke on Proximate composition and

effect of frying on the oxalic content of cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) chips. The don, who is of the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, said she observed that the method of processing oxalic contents of a fried food had specific effects on the body system. She said it was important to determine the effect of processing on the oxalic contents in every stage of production by street vendors, stressing that there was need to understand the effectiveness of frying method before accepting fried food. Describing quality food and

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) hosted the President of COSCHARIS Group, Dr Cosmas Maduka, who gave them tips on how to be successful entrepreneurs. UCHECHUKWU EKWUEME-DURU (300-Level Industrial Technology Education) reports.

Secrets of success, by Coscharis chief

HAT does it entail to become an entrepreneur? It takes sacrifice, dedication, discipline and consistency to become an entrepreneur, Dr Cosmas Maduka, the President of COSCHARIS Group, told a large gathering of students at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, the Niger State capital. Maduka spoke penultimate Tuesday at a public lecture organised by the university with the theme: What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur: The COSCHARIS story. It was held to hone students’ entrepreneurial skills. Staff and students trooped to the Caverton Hall the event. This world, the COSCHARIS boss said, is a big mall, where everything in it is reserved for those willing to pay the price. Maduka said the secrets of success of any entrepreneur were his sacrifice of comfort, commitment to improvement, discipline and consistency. As aspiring entrepreneur, Maduka said money should not be the focus of the students, noting that the love of money could easily bring down a business. He said: “The choices we make also

play major role in our success as an entrepreneur. The love of money can ruin the chances of an entrepreneur to succeed, because money should not be the main goal in business. The main problem people, especially students have is their outrageous love for money and material property. They believe that money is everything but the truth is that, it is not. “I worked for my uncle after my father’s death for seven years without being paid. Those seven years moulded me to the personality I become today. You must work for experience, don’t always work for the money.” There was excitement in the hall when Maduka explained to the audience, which included staff and students, how he laboured to build his automobile firm to a state of fame and reputation. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Musbau Akanji, in his remarks, stressed the relevance of entrepreneurship to the growth of the nation. He said: “It is important we know and understand the current situation of the country so that we would all work together not just to reduce the rate of unemployment as entrepreneurs, but to also create

employment for others.” The VC promised that the management would continue to hold such lectures to produce world-class entrepreneurs among the students. Some of the students at the lecture expressed their views on what they learnt from it. Gideon Mamudu, 500Level Biology Education, said he was privileged to meet Maduka, who he described as successful entrepreneur. He said: “I am happy to be part of the students, who attended this great lecture. I believe what I learnt today would go a long way in shaping my views on entrepreneurship.” Hajara Mohammed, a 200-Level Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering student, said: “I was impressed by the success of Maduka, who did not go to school because of his deprived background. That he has built a large business empire shows there is hope for the youth to achieve success with their talents. The lecture has a positive impact on me.” At the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof Abdullahi Bala and Prof S.O. Sadiku, Registrar, Mrs V.N Kolo, and the deans of faculties, directors of units and Chief Security Officer of the university, among others.

•Dr Maduka

good health as fundamental to society development, IdowuAdebayo said government must revitalise public health institutions to meet international standard in reducing health problems emanating from fried food. The organising secretary of the conference, Dr Victor Ogugua, said the aim of the conference was to remind the government about the importance of environmental protection to the wellbeing of the society. He said impacts of environmental degradation on rural dwellers, particularly in the NigerDelta region could not be quantified, pointing out that the perennial flood in the area was one of the threats being posed by mismanaged environment.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

A date with history

UMAN thinking has shown that intelligence can reach evolutionary dead end. Most people do not know that in every action taken collectively, we remain responsible individually for its outcome – whether good or bad. For such action taken together, we accept the responsibility collectively because its outcome would affect all. As I grow older, I pay less attention to the uncomplimentary things most Nigerians say. I watch actions being done to either destroy or make the country great; I always want to know why people do such. There is a law about life; it is so cruel and just. It states: one must grow wiser or pay more for stagnancy. Nigeria has grown to the extent that both leaders and followers climb the ladder of success wrongly. Nigeria, the so-called giant of Africa, has been said to be a country still marching to nationhood. Some described it as a tragic state whose people are in perpetual suffering in the midst of abundance in human and material resources. The nation’s progress has been impeded by bad leadership which has built a vicious cycle of poverty and want. It is significant to note that Nigeria is among countries endowed in incalculable resources that are capable of improving socio-economic life and living standards of the citi-

zens. But the reverse has been the case. In view of this ugly trend, one begins to wonder the kind of “giant” Nigeria is proving to be when it could not provide basic amenities to its people. God created the country so perfectly and make it is among the blessed nations, but its internal contradiction has made its journey to nationhood tortuous. Rather than playing the big brother role to other war-torn countries, we have been the nation receiving help from powerful countries. The help they offer is not without condition. Many countries offer to help because of what they would tap from our wealth. God destined this country to be great, but its fabrics are being torn apart by ethno-religious strife. Through our bad actions, our country has become the focus of international community as crisisprone and corruption-riddled. As I write this, it is shocking that petroleum subsidy questions are yet to be answered. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is being sold at exorbitant price of N87 per litre. Power sector went from bad to worse after the celebrated privatisation. Insecurity is fast becoming part of life, deaths on our roads increasing, unemployment and attendant man-made disasters surging and corruption in high places stinks to high heaven (apologies Gani

Fawehinmi). The only property this generation of leaders is handing over to the next generation is a failed leadership. Our peers in the BRICS (Britain, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries have shown what can be achieved with the right leadership at the helms. The youth here, if handed leadership mantle, will have to spend time and resources on re-orientation of citizens in values. Although progress is not without challenge, taking Nigeria back is an option for some people because of personal gains. So disheartening is the fact that our choices towards governance has taken us back in development at a time countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Venezuela are making progress in geometric sequence. The bad choice we made did not just start. After over three decades of military rule, from 1966-1999 (with the exception of 1979-1983 and 82 days of the Interim National Government in 1993) Nigeria transited to democratic regime on May, 29, 1999. Since restoration of democratic rule, Nigeria is nowhere close to achieving good governance. Well, it is a product of our choice. We chose our leaders, our leaders did not choose us. Prof Charles Soludo puts it right when he said: “What Nigeria is go-

By Habeeb Whyte ing through now is a consequence of our deliberate wrong choices.” Political power and elections in Nigeria are not about love for country or service to the motherland. They are about selfish interest. Leaders pursue nepotism; they give privileges and undue advantage to their family members and cronies. This has given rise to ethnic contest of sort, because people who feel aggrieved about the sharing of resources or political power see it as a necessity to rely on their ethnic groups on their behalf against dominant ethnic groups. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love

Wanted: An impartial umpire

By Jennifer Umeh By Ezekiel Efeobhokhan

EADERS who are familiar with the football parlance would understand what the Spanish word el clasico means. The game never fails to thrill football fans worldwide. In the like manner, the hot contest between the two main political parties in Nigeria – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) – could be termed political el clasico. Just as in soccer, supporters of these parties have not failed to express their solidarity for their choice candidates in the coming presidential election. It has been a show of wit and strength. The parties’ supporters have engaged themselves in mudslinging. They use unprintable

DUAYA to my fellow Corps members and good citizens of Nigeria. It is with deep sense of modesty and respect that I write this letter to you today about the general elections, which has just been postponed to March 28. It is very pertinent and germane to urge us to reawaken the spirit of patriotism in us and make render a selfless service to our country. This missive is rather timely, especially at this critical period in the history of Nigeria when people are again faced with another opportunity to change the destiny of this country. We must act towards upholding the honour and glory of our nation. Whatever decision we make, we should be sure that it will have significant effect on us and posterity, either positively or the other way.

words to paint the other side bad. They propagate propaganda with the speed of light. Their needless abuses are not limited to conventional media alone; they have taken to social media to continue their frivolous arguments. But, the candidates may not be aware that these activities are going on in their names. They may not be aware that their supporters’ actions may turn what is supposed to be peaceful civil exercise to a fullblown acrimony. But because these candidates may not have something to offer to the people, some of them resort to name-calling and abuses. The PDP candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, has been described as a great transformer by his supporters, and he is compared with the likes of Barrack Obama and Lee Kwan Yew. But, is there anything that justifies this comparison? Jonathan must have achieved some good things but he is nowhere near transforming the country. This writer is yet to see how and where transformation is taking place. Would it be transformation that Nigeria has turned to a jungle under the watch of President Jonathan? In one swoop, 219 schoolgirls were herded into the bush by a band of criminals and some nine months after, we are yet to rescue them from their captors. Or is it transformation that oil price is dropping and there has been no

commensurate crash in the pump price of petrol? Or what do we call the subsidy scam on kerosene and petrol? Power supply is worse than it has ever been. Truth be told, Jonathan has ‘transformed’ the country into a lawless society where anything goes. Our savings at the World Bank has been depleted in a manner we have never seen before. Corruption thrives under this administration while many PDP officials go away with murder. What is the price of a bag of cement now? This commodity has increased in price by more than 75 per cent against what the president promised us. How can an economy that has been undergoing transformation suddenly slump into a depression at the fall of oil price in crude market? The ‘transformation’ train has hit our anti-graft agencies, making them ineffective to fight corruption. Even, there is an official imprimatur in support of graft and this is confirmed with a statement credited to the president: “stealing is not corruption”. What is it then? We have seen unresolved corruption cases increasing and gulping our resources. We are yet to see the end of $620,000 Farouk Lawal bribery scandal, the N4 trillion subsidy scam, the N60 billion police pension scam, the N225 million Oduagate, the N10 billion Alison Madueke’s jet scandal and the missing $20 billion

oil money at the nation’s oil corporation. The APC pride itself as party of change. It has been promising change away from the maladministration of the PDP. But, can the party truly effect the change when some of its members were part of the people who enthroned PDP to lord it over us? A larger number of APC candidates defected from the ruling party because they were sidelined in the PDP. Even, the antecedent of the APC presidential candidate is still being contested in the court of public opinion, whether he truly represents the change we desire. General Muhammadu Buhari’s action as Head of State is still creating fear in the heart of many, who experienced his jackboot rule in 1984. Why is Nigeria always getting first-hand disappointment from political leaders? Why is this country always finding itself between the devil and the deep blue sea? That, out of the avalanche of corrupt and morally degraded politicians, we are stuck in-between two side distractions -bad political clubs and that of expired players. Most of the time, we are caught between laughing off self-inflicted crises plaguing this country or resorting to laughter as a form of catharsis to blurt out the gory affairs of a nation that has refused to grow out of the embryo of bad leadership

can do that. It is time for us to rewrite our wrong choices by making the right one on February 14. The ultimate agenda right is how to redeem the country from the brink, to re-negotiate its terms of existence. It is a task genuine patriots, irrespective of affiliation, must pursue with all sense of seriousness and responsibility, considering the danger. It should be a choice that will rid the country of religious and tribal conflict; one that will ensure corruption is reduced to minimum if not totally removed. It is time for our common sense revolution to support a cause that will reclaim our destiny and enthrone of good governance. We need brilliant mind with the spirit of a performer and the humble heart to lead us at this time of our need. We must make our destiny of greatness come to reality by chosing the best people for the job regardless of his religious affiliation. For those, who will vote on March 28, my advice is, let us wait and see how event would play out. By voting for the status quo, then we may have given their tacit endorsement of underperforming government. If we vote against the ruling party’s opponent, a long and arduous task of reclaiming this country would have been in progress. Don’t we believe in change? •Habeeb is a Corps member, NYSC Abuja in which it has been trapped since. Who will point the way toward a glorious Nigeria, where there would be power stability, elimination of Boko Haram, job creation, zero tolerance for corruption and the likes? Who will take education as a priority and do everything to forestall further academic strike? Who will create jobs for the teaming youths? Who will give education grants to students and make Nigerians have interest in education again? These are not too much to ask from these two aspirants in case any eventually becomes president. On election, should we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain true to its name - independent? Would Prof Attahiru Jega be bold enough to tame the excesses of the candidates without fear of favoritism? INEC should know that masses, the jobless ones that fill our beer parlour, the men that cluster around newsstand to argue for a better country, want their votes count. INEC should also be cautious to know that the unity of the Nigeria depends on how free and fair this election is conducted. The electoral umpire should beware that el classico such as this could be volatile and may turn violent if the fans dare smell any foul. Many times, aggrieved fans do not mind beating up the referee alongside the opponents. A word is enough for the wise. •Ezekiel, 400-Level Pharmacy, UNIBEN

Letter to Corps members Our inputs as ad-hoc electoral officers during the elections must be a road map for the Nigeria we all aspire and desire to live in. Our actions during on the election day should be more of a clarion call and our activities should portray that of a patriotic citizen. It is our duty to shun every form of electoral malpractices and violence. The role of Corps members in all states of the federation cannot be underestimated. Notwithstanding, Corps members’ contribution to this nation, during elections, cannot be well-compensated with political appointment, money, filthy largesse or whatever gift that politicians can push forward. Our role in the elections is a duty to

protect the mandate of the people towards reshaping the country and make Nigeria a better society for all of us. We must not compromise the will of the people and subvert the electoral process because of personal gains. Aside being Corps members, we are also Nigerians. Therefore, efforts of the people to vote for candidates they deem would provide an enabling environment for us all, create job opportunities, give us better welfare, drinkable water and stable power supply, should not be traded for an immediate reward. Our reward shall come from the improved economy and job creation.

It is on this note that I enjoin all members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be diligent, hardworking and morally upright during the elections to guarantee us a nation where travesty and parody of justice will go into extinction. We can make the poll credible and generally-acceptable by being extremely disciplined, indefatigable and conscious of our acts during the process. We need to obey the clarion call to serve with good and pure mind. May God bless Nigeria. •Alex is a Corps member, NYSC Akure

By Alex Ojekunle

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2015

CAMPUS LIFE Students to Mimiko: pay our bursary or lose election

PRESSURE group, National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) has appealed to the government to pay their bursary. The students said Governor Olusegun Mimiko has not paid them in the last two years. They accused Mimiko of “deliberate neglect”, saying the governor left them to suffer. They said they had written several letters to the government with no response. The students, who spoke through their association’s leaders, said the bursary was the only benefit they get from the government, expressing disappointment in the Mimikoled administration for not paying them for two years.

From Hameed Muritala UNILORIN In a statement signed by the NAOSS senators, the students lamented that the delay in bursary payment was affecting their education and association’s progress. The students said they have stopped attending weekly meetings because of the development. According to NAOSS president at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Fisayo Falusi, students would mobilise to work against the government’s interest in the impending general elections if their bursary is not paid in two weeks.

LAUTECH students make case for cheap cancer drugs

TUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have called on the government to provide grants to researchers and local pharmaceutical companies to enable them to produce cheaper drugs for cancer treatment. The students led by a 400-Level Medical Laboratory Science student, Oluwatosin Ogunwola, made the appeal in Osogbo, the Osun State on Monday. Oluwatosin said the students were in the state to sensitise the people on the need to go for regular cancer screening. Many Nigerians, he said, were living with cancer without knowing about it. Oluwatosin said: “The government should provide grants to researchers and pharmaceutical companies to produce cancer drugs,

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN which will be cheaper and affordable to the poor people. Many Nigerians have died of cancer because they learnt about the disease late. Many do not bother to go to hospitals because they believe it is an incurable disease. But early detection and prompt treatment has a way of cushioning the psychological trauma.” Oluwatosin urged people, especially those whose family members suffered cancer, to regularly go for checkup. He said the theme of 2015 Cancer Day, Not Beyond Us, was appropriate, noting that although cancer elimination seemed insurmountable, but early detection and prompt treatment remained the best measure to stop the disease.

•The freshers taking the oath

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State, Prof Musbau Akanji, has urged the freshers admitted into the institution to pursue excellence and make their stay on the campus worthwhile. The VC made the charge during the matriculation held to welcome the new students admitted for 2014/2015 session. The ceremony took place at the 1000seater multi-purpose hall of the Gidan Kwano campus. Prof Akanji advised the freshers against to vices that could terminate their academic pursuit. He said: “You have a minimum of five years and a maximum of seven and half years to spend on

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

Don’t join cult group, VC advises freshers From Uchechukwu Ekwueme-Duru FUT MINNA campus for your programmes. What you make out of this period depends solely on you. Flee from cultism and exam malpractice. Don’t join bad company. Study hard and watch yourself succeed.” Deans of various faculties also addressed the freshers, urging them to be focused and work hard to achieve excellence. The campus was a sight to behold as the freshers clad in purple academic gowns came out of the hall to take pictures with their friends, parents and guardians. The campus was lively as music blared from different angles. Some of the fresh students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described their admission grace of God. Hajia Salihu, 100-Level Soil Science, said: “I am happy I was admitted after the third time I applied. This is one of my happiest moments because my dream of acquiring university education is becoming a reality.” Oluwatobi Fakorede, who came in through Direct Entry, said: “I

‘I am happy I was admitted after the third time I applied. This is one of my happiest moments because my dream of acquiring university education is becoming a reality’ am filled with joy. I never knew matriculation days could be fun. I did not experience such in my former school. I also hope my convocation would be fun.” Christian Okechukwu, 100Level Physics, who was admitted after the fourth attempt said: “I thank God for this wonderful start.” The Students’ Union Government (SUG) hosted the freshers in a show after the ceremony.

UNILAG students shine at debate

500-Level Engineering student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Faruq Musodiq, has emerged the overall best adjudicator at the second All National Universities Debating Championship. About 18 higher institutions participated in contest held at the Julius Berger Hall of the university. Panel of judges was made up of students from the participating schools, with UNILAG having fifteen judges. Faruq, who was adjudged the best by the 60 judges, described the feat as surprising and unexpected. He said: “When the winners were announced and my name was not called among the first and second runners-up, I thought I had lost out. But when my name was announced as the overall winner, I was shocked. I did not believe I could win among the debaters.” A student of UNILAG was also the second runner-up. The next edition of the debate will be hosted by the Imo State University (IMSU).

•Faruq

Some of the other schools that participated included IMSU, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, University of Ibadan (UI), Baze University, Abuja, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, and Ebonyi State University (EBSU).

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION

Over 5,000 matriculate at MOUAU

HE Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Hilary Edeoga, says the institution has expanded its facilities and programmes to accommodate more students. Speaking at the 22nd Matriculation of the university where over 5,000 freshers were conferred with rights and privileges of bonafide students, Edeoga said the management decided to expand the university’s facilities to take qualified students off the streets. The Vice Chancellor said the number admitted is 1,000 more than last session. He counselled the students to study, saying that the success of their

‘One of the cardinal visions of this administration is to ensure that students’ welfare remains at the front burner’

Inaugural Lecture for Feb 18 MRS Fatimah Biade Abdulkareem, a professor in the Department of Anatomic & Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG) will deliver the second Inaugural Lecture of the university for the 2014/2015 Academic Session on Wednesday next week. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, will preside over the lecture titled: “Is it all about the Dead? NAY! It is the living that benefits,” at the Main Auditorium of the university.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

academic journey depended on how well they applied themselves, time and talents to their books. Edeoga warned the freshers that their admission is not irrevocable and can be withdrawn if their behavior is inimical to the good of the institution. “You should eschew all acts of indiscipline, including cultism, gangsters’ acts, extortion, prostitution, armed robbery, indecent dressing, and all other vices that can lead to your expulsion from this university if caught,” he said. The VC said the university would play its role to make the students more comfortable on campus. “One of the cardinal visions of this administration is to ensure that students’ welfare remains at the front burner. In realising this, several measures have been put in place to provide more infrastructural facilities including hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories for research work and others to provide the needed conducive environment for training learning and research,” he said.

OGITECH welcomes 1,000 VER1,000 students have been offered admission to study at the Ogun state Institute of Technology,(OGITECH), Igbesa, Ogun State, for the 2014/2015 academic session. Speaking at the matriculation, the Rector of the institute, Dr Olufunke Akinkurolere, said the new students were admitted for the full-time and part-time programmes of the institute. She counselled them to be focused on their studies. The Rector said: "While congratulating you for this achievement, I urge you to make the best use of the golden opportunity presented by your admission into the Institute. You need to stay conscious of the expectations of your parents as well as the enormous sacrifices they are making to see you through school

UNILAG FILE

at this point in time. You must, therefore, make a personal commitment not to let them down." Having provided necessary facilities and enabling environment to enable students concentrate on their studies, the Rector said the management would implement to the letter all regulations. Dr Akinkurolere, an engineer, noted that in less than four months of assuming office, OGITECH got accreditation for four courses, bringing the total of accredited courses to 23. Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Olusegun Odubela, assured the institute that the government would fund education. Odubela, who inaugurated a twin lecture theatre at the institute, praised its management for its rapid development despite challenges.

MAPOLY council presents score card

Don wins L'orealUNESCO award

• Opene Ijeoma, (middle) P&G Nigeria Sales Leader, with the members of The Technopreneurs, at the CEO Challenge.

UI students win contest

HE Technopreneurs, a team of three students from the University of Ibadan (UI), has won the Procter & Gamble (P&G) CEO Challenge. The team, comprising Ololade Olaleye, Olamide Oladeji and Dolapo Salawu beat four teams (HHR, Midas, Incredible and Nudocs) from their university, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. Chisom Obiora, Talent Practice Manager, P&G Nigeria, praised the teams for putting up a good challenge for the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) stage of the competition. She added that the creativity of The Technopreneurs in executing tasks assigned to them as well as their technical understanding of the competition made them the unanimous choice of the panel of judges. "In line with our mission of developing the finest business leaders in the world, P&G Nigeria is

proud to celebrate The Technopreneurs and every other Nigerian student who participated in this online case study. We believe that the competition has given them the opportunity to work and learn from real business issues and senior management," she said. Oladeji, a member of The Technopreneurs team, said the competition had been very exciting, yet challenging. "It had effectively helped my brainstorming abilities and my ability to work under strict deadlines," he said. A total of 449 teams from different universities and business schools participated in the competition. The P&G CEO Challenge is an online case study competition among students of universities and business schools across the world, aimed at identifying, developing and grooming leaders for tomorrow. Winners will experience a day with P&G leaders, get exciting prizes and enjoy a trip to Dubai.

YEAR after it was sworn in, the Governing Council of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has presented the score sheet of its performance. The Chairman of the council, Iyalode Alaba Lawson said the board has performed well in the areas of academic, infrastructure, procurement, students' and workers' welfare and training. Speaking at a briefing on the council's achievements, she said: "We have made tremendous improvement on quality of infrastructure we met when we came in. We have constructed a 1,000 seater hall for the school of Information and Communication Technology, a computeraided design and drawing room for the school of engineering, a crèche, and a central store building. "Still on infrastructure, we have also re-partitioned the Architecture studio in the Mass Communication block, renovated the OGD auditorium and provided self produced solar powered street light in the institution. We have renovated the Ramotu Ibironke Babalakin auditorium, we did the same to the Adebisi Adebayo administrative building and Rabiatu Soaga Memorial Health Centre and also provided air conditioners in the classroom with blinds and modern furniture. The list is endless." She added that the council has procured three new luxury buses to convey students at N20 per trip. "Apart from the luxury buses, we

AN lecture the Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Mrs. Temitope Olawunmi Sogbamu, has won the L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa 2014 Fellowship Award. The award worth 5,000 Euros is for the completion of her Ph.D research. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, congratulated Mrs. Sogbamu on the feat.

Orientation ends for freshers THE Students' Affairs Division has concluded the 2014/2015 Orientation Programme for UTME and Direct Entry Students of UNILAG. The revamped programme featured lectures, guided tour of the campus and a novelty match all designed to acquaint the students with the policies, rules, regulations, practices and structures of the university. The lecture and tour sessions ran concurrently as the fresh students were divided into two groups. Student-leaders drawn from faculties across the University served as tour guides for the new students. The grand finale of the five-day event was the 'Breakfast with Principal Officers of UNILAG' at the Multipurpose Hall of the university. The event presented a platform for the new students to know and interact with the university management team in a relaxed environment. The event, which was attended by the Principal Officers and top officials of the university, gave the new students the opportunity to express their views about the university, ask questions which were answered by the ViceChancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello. The students also got the opportunity to showcase their talents such as singing, writing and reading poems among others.

VC inaugurates new school

• From left: Prof Mohammed Al-Amin, Managing Director/CEO Federal Housing Authority (FHA); Prof. Duro Oni, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello; and guest speaker, Mr Hassan Usman, at the 10th Annual Project Management Lecture of the university. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN By Innocent Duru

also have procured a well-equipped ambulance and medical equipment for the health centre. Aside from that, we also procured four brand new official cars and ICT materials," she said. Apart from infrastructure, she said the council has also made the training and welfare of workers and students a priority, and supported the

institution to get accreditation for seven new programmes. "We have been carrying out a continuous training and retraining of staff and more Ph.Ds are emerging through the support of TETFund and also obtained teaching and learning aides to improve teaching quality," she said. The largesse got to the students as well. They now pay lower fees.

"We have implemented the reduction in school fees by the state government and reduced administrative levy and cost of identity cards to make life easier for the students and their parents. It is therefore with joyful heart, though loaded with lots more to do, that we as a council and management look back within the first 365 days and say to God be the glory," she said.

THE UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, has inaugurated an ultra-modern block of 15 classrooms for the Nursery Unit of the UNILAG Staff School, Akoka. Speaking at the inauguration, the Vice-Chancellor appreciated the Staff School Board and Management for concluding the project and urged the school management to judiciously utilise the building. He also praised the Messer Fast-link Limited for the delivery of a befitting school structure on schedule. Bello urged the school management to install close circuit cameras in the classrooms so that parents could monitor the performance of their children from different locations.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE EKSU FILE

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE

Centre holds workshop THE Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University (EKSU), has organised a oneday “Train the trainers” workshop on Gender Mainstreaming. Director of the centre, Prof Olabisi Aina said Gender Mainstreaming has become a practice in academic, socio, political and economic orders in firstclass institutions all over the world. She said such universities have infused Gender Mainstreaming and its values into their Curricular. As such, she said EKSU should not lag behind. Dr. Toyin Ilesanmi, a clinical psychologist at the Centre, said the approach was not to elevate the female over the male gender but to achieve a balance in the improvement of the learning abilities of both gender. A psychiatrist and Clinical psychologist from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Dr. Boladale Mapayi, noted that lecturers and university managers should be aware of the differences and similarities of both male and female to enable teaching methodology and pedagogy. The workshop also featured questions and answers, group works by the participants which included Deans and Departmental Heads.

Strategic Plan: VC lauds progress THE EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina, has praised members of staff and students of the institution for their commitment to the university’s goal of becoming a world-class institution. He said this at a workshop on the implementation of EKSU Strategic Plan (2014-2018) held last Thursday at the 3,000-Seater Lecture Theatre of the university. The Vice-Chancellor explained that the main goal of the Strategic Plan is to reposition EKSU in academic, administration and provision of services to its communities on its way to becoming a 21st century world class university. He lauded the methodologies and logic of the plan, which he said has been embraced by the university community. Aina said that the plan was developed by consultants and stakeholders with baseline data collected from workers, students, university managers and various interest groups at the grassroots. The workshop aimed at interpreting the plan to the officials who are expected to take ownership and teach their subordinates to do same. The consultants on the strategic plan, Prof Olabisi Aina and Prof. Yinka Adesina from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife explained that the workshop covered objectives such as Gender Mainstreaming, Roles and Responsibilities of different sections of the university and individuals in the implementation of the plan, managing results and reporting frameworks at various levels as well as Data Management, Coordination and sustained partnership for effective performance of the strategic plan.

Bocconi Scholarships in Italy for International Students

available for pursuing LLM Law programme at King's College London. Scholarship Provider: King's College London, UK Scholarship can be taken at: UK

King’s Nigerian Law Scholar Fund for Masters Students in UK, 2015-2016

Eligibility: Applications are invited from students undertaking the one year LLM Law, who are able to provide evidence of financial need. In order to be eligible to apply, you must: •be undertaking the one year LLM Law programme at King's, 2015 entry; •be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance and provide a written personal statement; •be ordinarily resident in Nigeria, and liable for international rate tuition fees at King's; •be intending to return to Nigeria on completion of your studies, to share the skills gained whilst studying at King's; •be willing to provide an end of year report and a letter of thanks to the donor. Scholarship Open for International Students: Students of Nigeria can apply for the scholarship.

King's College London is inviting applications for law scholarship from Nigerian students undertaking the one year LLM Law programme at King's for 2015 entry. The winner will be selected on the basis of a personal statement as well as demonstrable financial hardship. The scholarship will be worth £25,000 and will support the winner with the full cost of tuition fees and also provide a living costs allowance whilst studying. The application deadline is 31 March 2015. Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded in the area of Law. Course Level: Scholarships are

£18,400 to cover tuition fees in full and £6,600 contribution towards living costs. Selection Criteria: The winner will be selected on the basis of a personal statement as well as demonstrable financial hardship. Applicants must have a confirmed place to study the one year LLM Law programme at King's College London. Notification: Provided your application form has been accurately completed and the appropriate documentary evidence supplied, you will be notified of the decision by the end of May 2015. How to Apply: The application form should be completed, scanned and emailed. Alternatively it may be posted. Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 31 March 2015. Read more: Law Scholarship for Nigerian Students in UK, 2015-2016 Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarship-positions.com

Woman, 52, is LASPOTECH fresher

MONG the freshers packed into the School of Agriculture Complex of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), for the matriculation of those admitted for the 2014/2015 academic session Ikorodu, Mrs Juliana Bankole stood out. She was obviously far older than the other students and more comported. She sat close to the front, looking calm and contented in the grey and blue matriculation gown. Fifty-two-year-old Mrs Bankole has returned to earn a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Science. She completed her National Diploma (ND) last year. Mrs Bankole said she took the decision to gain tertiary qualifications after repeatedly being passed over for promotion as a technician at the Nigerian Natural Development Agency under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, where she has now worked for 12 years. Prior to coming to LASPOTECH, Mrs Bankole only had her O Levels, which she earned from the Aguda Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos in 1978. She said: "In my office I discovered that without additional qualifications there is nobody to promote you. I discovered that I have the knowledge and experience; I am a technician; I know how to repair radio and other things like that. They put me in Computer Department, in the server room to monitor all the equipment. I am there with O Level; there was no promotion. I discovered that people that are ahead of me they have additional qualifications. That was what motivated me to go to school so that I could get additional qualification so that I will

• Dr Lawal (middle), flanked by Mr Oluyinka Sogunro, Deputy Rector, Administration (left); and Mr Nurudeen Sonayon Deputy Rector, Academics (right). By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

move from that level to a higher level." The mother of three, two of them graduates, said her family supports her decision to study. "My children are really happy. They say 'Mummy wants to get to a high level. Even my husband supports me. He dropped me at Ojota before going his own way," she said. It was not only Mrs Bankole that was excited about matriculating. Though she did not hang around posing for photographs with friends, the ND freshers admitted for both the full-time and part-time programmes of the institution either posed in groups for photographs, or took to the dance floor after swearing the matriculation oath to celebrate their studentship.

has also advocated family business and small and medium enterprise as having potential to increase Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product. The author of eight books and more than 90 articles, has conducted research in family business and corporate governance that has influenced state policies and been a major contributor to India's GDP. He presented a lecture at the Atiku Centre lecture series towards the close of last semester on

Joy Olomo, an Agricultural Technology ND student (full-time), said she was ecstatic about scaling the rigorous admission process of the school. "I feel so great; so excited to be among the people that are having this kind of celebration. It was not easy getting into this school. It is by the grace of God. My expectation is for me to do well and be a good student," she said. To do well, Joy and other freshers would benefit from the counsel of the Rector, Dr Adbulazeez Lawal, who advised them to abide by the institution's rules and regulations. "To my dear matriculating students once again, I want to charge you always be at the forefront of sustaining the culture of academic excellence for which Lagos State Polytechnic is known. By taking the matriculation oath today, you are

‘I discovered that people that are ahead of me they have additional qualifications. That was what motivated me to go to school so that I could get additional qualification so that I will move from that level to a higher level’

Top Indian scholar joins AUN RENOWNED academic and founder of India's Shanti Business School, Dr. Vrajal Sapovadia, has joined the American University of Nigeria (AUN) as an Assistant Dean in the School of Business & Entrepreneurship with effect from spring 2015 semester. Sapovadia, who was introduced to the AUN community at the spring 2015 orientation for new students and parents in January,

Scholarship Description: King's College London is delighted to offer the King's Nigerian Law Scholars Fund. The award has been established by a friend of the College who would like to support residents of Nigeria who wish to study law at King's. This fund is intended to give students the opportunity to further their legal careers in an internationally recognised centre of excellence. The winner will be selected on the basis of a personal statement as well as demonstrable financial hardship. Applicants must have a confirmed place to study the one year LLM Law programme at King's College London. Number of award(s): For 2015-16, one scholarship is available. Duration of award(s): Applications are invited from students undertaking the one year LLM Law. What does it cover? The scholarship will be worth £25,000 and will support the winner with the full cost of tuition fees and also provide a living costs allowance whilst studying. The scholarship will be paid as follows:

the topic "Strengthening Nigerian family business to promote socioeconomic development". AUN President Dr Margee Ensign said Sapovadia would add value to the university. "We are so fortunate to be able to have a scholar of Dr Sapovadia's caliber as part of the AUN community. Dr Sapovadia is internationally respected for his expertise in international business development. He is a fantastic addition to

AUN's already strong School of Business & Entrepreneurship and I am sure he will make his mark not only on our students, but in our nation and region," she said. Recently, Dr. Sapovadia was a keynote speaker at the International Cooperative Summit in Quebec, Canada, as well as a keynote speaker in several conferences hosted by the World Bank. He has also been a member of AUN's online faculty, teaching undergraduate and MBA courses in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

•Mrs Bankole

publicly declaring your willingness to accept the terms and obligations of studentship in the polytechnic, which include: compliance with the institution's dress code approved by the Academic Board; respect for constituted authority; 75 per cent class attendance before qualifying to write semester examinations; commitment to the core values of the polytechnic; non-involvement in acts bordering on examination malpractices or other immorality; non-membership of cult groups or other unregistered clandestine groups; etc. You can avail yourselves a copy of the Students' Handbook for an in-depth explanation of these rules," he said. Lawal, whose tenure as Rector ends this year, said the institution has on ground necessary facilities to provide high quality education to the students. The students were admitted into the six schools of the institution namely: Schools of Agriculture, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Management and Business Studies, Communication and Liberal Studies, Technology, Pure and Applied Sicences, and the School of Part-Time Studies.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION

• A cross-section of participants at the event. Inset: Ayodele.

Educationist gives reasons for mass failure

ECURRING public holidays, distractions and lack of motivation have been identified as major causes of mass failure in secondary school final examinations. Chief Executive Officer, Standard Mandate International (SMI), Mr Nelson Ayodele, said this at the 2015 edition of Students Academic Success Summit (SASS 2015) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). It had as theme, "Success Focus". Ayodele said indiscriminate declarations of public holidays by the government hinder teachers from completing their syllabuses before examinations begin thereby making it difficult for the schools to cover their curriculum within the stipulated time. This, he said, leads to situations where pupils are faced with questions they have not been taught during examinations. He therefore urged the government to cut down on public holidays or exempt pupils in terminal classes to aid their success in examinations. "The recurring public holidays that disrupt academic activities should be avoided, especially for students in the examination classes," he said. Speakers at the programme, which

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

featured various activities to motivate the SS3 pupils from over 30 secondary schools present, including film shows, talks and practical in English Language and Mathematics, also identified lack of motivation as a factor that hinders pupils from attaining desired results in their final examinations. Keynote speaker, Director of Sound Hope Schools, Dr. Bimbo Monayajo, advised the pupils to be self motivated and set goals for themselves while studying. She explained that they could motivate themselves by making their passion their profession and being courageous and honest. Ayodele also advised teachers and parents to constantly sensitize and motivate the young ones both at home and in school to boost their morale and prepare them for their examinations. He also counseled parents to reduce errands during examination periods to help their wards stay focused. SASS, which is usually organised annually by SMI, is aimed at supporting pupils writing their final

examinations and reminding them of the basic things they should know and do to excel. Representatives from the examination bodies, including West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examinations Council (NECO) as well as and professionals in English Language and Mathematics and A' Levels addressed the pupils about the intricacies of writing and passing examinations. By the end of the summit, many of the pupils were more determined to make their papers at one sitting. Arowosoba Abdulbasit, a pupil of Crescent College, who advised his peers to believe in themselves, said: "Simply, they taught us tips to passing WAEC in a very easy manner. You read your books from SS1 and pick an 80 Leaves book to summarise points from all your notes." Oham Amarachi of Chrisland High School, Victoria Garden City, who wants to be a doctor so that she can save lives, was motivated to look at the future always and set goals for herself.

NGO seeks aid for poor pupils

FORMER principal, Mrs Akinsanmi Olayemi is seeking for greater financial support from affluent Nigerians to be able to cater for the needs of less privileged children in the society. Mrs Olayemi, who started the OLA Foundation after retiring as the Principal of St Joseph Secondary School, Mangoro, Agege, Lagos, said the foundation would reach more children if it had more funds. Lamenting that most Nigerians do not engage in philanthropy, she said: "The rich do not help the poor. They are only interested in their family members, if they had been caring for the poor in their midst, the rate of criminality would not be as much as it is now across the country. "The Foundation had been financially run by my immediate family. There are only a handful of supporters with the help of family members and my former students who try to help in any little way they can. The Foundation does not help only the poor, but as many as we come across who are not able to fend for themselves. Items collected from friends are opened to the public every three months to pick what they want. When there are disasters, we also reach out. "Although it has not been easy running this NGO, we intend soliciting for more assistance to reduce the miscreants on the streets," she said.

By Dorcas Imah

To mark its fifth anniversary, the foundation hosted less privileged, children drawn from various schools and communities in OgbaAguda, Lagos to a party, during which they were presented with gifts. Mrs Akinsanmi said the gifts are meant to ignite joy and create a sense of value in the young minds. She praised the New Era Lions Club for sponsoring the party and placing some of the children in school. "New Era Lions Club has assisted in making this party a memorable one for these children. “The Foundation has helped some children make a meaning out of their lives by placing 60 of them in public schools with the support of district offices and it is looking forward to giving scholarship to any child that performs well academically," she said. She said many of the children are forced to the streets by parents to earn a living and support the family income. "In the process of hawking, most female children are impregnated and most parents who can't fend for themselves would turn their children to emergency breadwinners of the home by way of exploitation," she said.

School inducts prefects

ILYVALE Nursery and Primary School Pipeline, Ishashi, Akute, Ogun State has inducted its elected prefects alongside class captains and assistants for all classes up to Basic Five, decorating them with badges. The occasion was witnessed by Mrs Adijat Motunrayo AdeleOladapo, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, who represents IFO II Constituency, parents and members of staff of the school. The Head Girl, Favour Ogbekilu, thanked Mrs Adele-Oladapo for attending the ceremony. The girl appealed to her to remember the people of Ishasi, Akute should she win a seat to represent IfoEwekoro Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representa-

tives. Mrs Adele-Oladapo advised the children not to look down on those that are less privileged. "You are able to attend private school, know that it is God's goodness, it is not because you are better than those people outside there," she said. The Head Teacher, Titilayo Orisabinone hoped that the democratic process of selecting prefects in the school would make a lasting impact on the pupils as they grow. "It is my prayer that the good seed we are planting in the lives of these ones will germinate and blossom in Jesus name. The genesis of this is our belief that our children need to be exposed to clean and healthy politics peradventure they find themselves in it in future," she said.

Cash rain for maths wizkids in Cowbell contest

ROMASIDOR, organisers of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC), has added a new twist to this year's edition of the competition which was flagged off at a briefing at the firm's Lagos headquarters on Tuesday last week. Managing Director of the company, Mr Olivier Thiry said the second stage of the mathematics competition, which used to be a written examination, has been transformed into quiz. He added that this year also promises to be more rewarding for winners, their teachers and their schools. "We will now have a 'Stage 2 Reloaded', which includes a quiz segment and wonderful new prizes for the winning students and their teachers. Also, I am happy to announce that this 15th edition will see substantial increase in the prize package," he said. The prize money for the top three winners has been reviewed significantly. The winner will get N750,000 as against the N300,000 presented last year. The second place will get N500,000 compared to N200,000; while the third will get N250,000 (N150,000 previously). The Mathematics teacher of the winner will get N250,000 (N50,000 formerly), while those of the run-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

ners up will get N200,000 (N25,000 before) and N150,000 (N20,000 previously) each. Their schools will get computers, printers and mathematics textbooks - five computers for the winner's school; three for the first runner up, and two for the second runner up. Fifty-four winners from each of the two categories (junior and senior secondary school) that emerge from the first stage which will be written on March 14, 2015 in 189 centres, will feature in the quiz stage. Mr Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria, said the 54 winners would comprise the top 20 with the highest scores irrespective of their states, while the remaining 34 would be the best from 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. (The examination will not hold in the three states where there is insurgency - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe). They would go through preliminary, quarter, semi-finals and the final in quiz stage from which the winners would emerge. In addition to the prizes planned by Promasidor, Prof Adewale Solarin, Director, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja announced mouthwatering prizes for the top 20 winners of both cat-

• Prof Solarin, Mr. Olivier Thiry, and Mr Tettey at the event.

egories. The NMC Director said that: •The top 10 winners will be invited to a training camp to select the Nigerian team for the African Academy of Sciences- Pan African Science Olympiad (AAS-PASO); •Any among in the senior category interested in studying mathematics in the university, would be sponsored to top universities any-

where in the world; •Schools of the top three winners in each category would get 100 NMC Mathematics textbooks; 100 NMC-branded Rubik's cubes, and 10 NMC Mathematics Olympiad textbooks worth about N1 million. • The best pupils from each state that emerge from the first stage examination in the junior category and their teachers would be invited

to a one-week Olympiad training camp to prepare free of charge. •The best girls in each state from the first category will get invitation to the selection camp for the maiden edition of the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls holding this year in August. Prof Solarin praised Promasidor for supporting the government to improve Mathematics education.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EDUCATION

Hope Waddell plans for 120th anniversary

HE Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has started plans to mark 120 years of its existence next month. Missionaries of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland established the secondary school in 1895. Some its notable alumni are Eni Njoku, first vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG); John Ogbu, Nigerian-American anthropologist and professor; Dennis, Osadebay, politician, poet, journalist and premier of the Mid-Western Region of Nigeria; Akanu Ibiam, medical missionary, Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president among others. A statement signed by the Principal, Prince Samuel Ikpeme; chairman, 120th Founders Day, Central Planning Committee, Sir Emman

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

O'Neill; and the National Chairman of the Hope Waddell Old Students Association (HWOSA), Dr Usen Uwah noted that the theme of the celebration is "Hope Waddell: A treasured legacy". They also hope to use the programme to raise funds to renovate two dormitories. The statement reads in part: "Hope Waddell is on record the 5th oldest college in Nigeria, the first in Eastern Nigeria and the first comprehensive college in West Africa. "As a foremost citadel of education in Nigeria, the institution has churned out generations of quintessential professionals and individuals from all works of the world,

across all ethnic and religious boundaries who have and are still proving their mettle in their respective walks of life, having inculcated requisite knowledge through a well articulated curriculum which captured every aspect of human development heart, mind and body. "To mark this great event, our desire is to renovate and make habitable for use by the students, a dormitory block (storey building hosting two houses - Macgregor and Luke Houses) thus contributing in restring facilities in the institution since 1895. This building is to be commissioned in March 2015." Activities to mark the event would include inter-house sports competition, awards, endowments, novelty football match, HWOSA Annual General Meeting, inauguration of projects, college lunch, and anniversary lecture/dinner, among others.

• The executive secretary Iba Local Council Development Association (LCDA), Lagos, Mr Isiaka Yahya and Council Manager, Mr. E.A Aina presenting classroom furniture to all 14 public primary schools in the council.

OAU matriculates pioneer ODL students

HE pioneer set of the Obafemi Awolowo University's Centre for Distance Learning (OAUCDL) took the matriculation oath of the university with assurances that they would receive top quality education online. The OAU is one of the universities accredited by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to operate the Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode of education. The students, numbering over 200, were admitted to study Nursing and Accounting. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, congratulated the students for being the first set to enrol for the university's ODL mode of education, which has been designed to fully function on the e-learning platform. The students will receive all their lectures on customised tablets (Vigitab) that have been pre-loaded with various learning resources for them. Assuring the students of the worth of the programme at the matriculation which held at the Oduduwa Hall, OAU, Omole, said: "You have the singular honour of being the first set of students in our eLearning programme, the first of its type in Nigeria. I congratulate you on being pioneers of the eLearning revolution in the country. I want to assure you that your distance learning mode of admission does not in any way imply inferiority in status, compared to our conventional students, either in terms of lecture delivery or the certificates you receive at the end of your programmes. “Our university guards jealously the integrity of its degrees and diplomas whether obtained in the conventional or distance learning mode. Hence your various curricula have gone through the usual high standards of excellence of the University Senate for which Obafemi Awolowo

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

University is well known." The Director, Centre for Distance Learning, Prof Bode Asubiojo, said the students would find their tablets function as their classrooms irrespective of their locations. "This development is the first of its kind in Nigeria and we are pleased with it. We have replicated the classroom experience on a tablet device for students. For the first time, students can receive lectures, submit assignments, participate in forums, take quizzes, and even rewind their lectures, all from the comfort of their homes, offices or wherever they may be in Nigeria or abroad," he said. The eLearning solution is powered by a Learning Management System (VigiLearn) that allows students to receive lectures, submit assignments, discuss with their classmates, par-

ticipate in group discussions and get graded without being physically within the four walls of a lecture room. The Vigitab is specifically built for Nigeria and allow for users to continue to study and receive lectures with limited internet connection. Asubiojo said with the online platform, many more Nigerians would be able to access university education. "Our primary charge at the Centre for Distance Learning of ObafemiAwolowo University is to provide quality education to the teeming number of Nigerian youths who possess the prerequisite qualifications for entry to Nigerian Universities but are denied admission owing to inadequate facilities on campus and the working class who are desirous of pursuing undergraduate and post graduate programmes whilst still retaining their jobs," he said.

Crawford varsity mourns PRO

HE Crawford University community, Igbesa, Ogun State was thrown into mourning last week following the death of the institution's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Abayomi Ojo, last Tuesday in an auto accident. His Toyota-branded car with registration number BDG- 614CU was crushed by a truck carrying sand at Atan in Ogun State. Ojo died on the spot while a passenger in the car with him sustained severe injuries. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Mr Samson Ayanlaja described Ojo as dutiful member of

EDUTALK

with

Farida's success despite palsy

IGERIA and Ghana are claiming Farida Bedwei. When two countries are taking pride in a cerebral palsy sufferer, whose speech is a bit slurred and walks with the aid of crutches, then there must be something about her. Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder, which according to kidshealth.org "affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way)." It is caused by brain damage before or during birth, or the first three to five years of a child's life. Farida was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy when she was just 10 days old. However today, the 36-year old is a software engineer, who has created an application that allows small and micro business owners access to loans. The initiative, called gKudi, is a rave in Ghana and has brought Farida a lot of fame as an entrepreneur. She was featured on CNN African Voices aired last Sunday (February 8, 2015) where she was described as a Nigerian living in Ghana. But apart from being born in Nigeria in 1979, I did not find any evidence of her being Nigerian on the internet. She has lived in Ghana for most of her life. After being home schooled till age 12, she attended proper school and went on to earn two technology-related diplomas as a result of her love for Information Communication Technology. That she got work in corporate organisations is a miracle that I wonder could have happened were she to be in Nigeria. She got her first job by just going to the firm she desired to work in and being honest with the manager about her lack of skills and experience but willingness to learn. She got two other jobs afterwards - one of them where she spent up to nine years. Nigerian employers need to learn from this. How many of them would employ an able-bodied diploma holder and give him or her a chance to grow not to mention someone with disabilities? Even when they do, the usual case is for them to be used for many years as casual workers or contract staff - good enough to work and deliver results on pittance - but not good enough to be regularised. However, the most intriguing part of the story for me was how she got her BSc. in Computer Science and what the National Universities Commission (NUC) and our tertiary institutions can learn from it. She applied to universities in Britain, stating her disability, her qualifications and job experience (six years at the time). She was admitted to study Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom (UK). Based on her previous qualifications and work experience, the university waived the first two years of the programme. She only had to spend one year to earn the degree. Note that the diplomas and work experience were not earned in the UK but in Ghana. However, UK varsities have evolved a means of assessing their candidates appropriately through their applications. They also appreciate the role work experience plays in improving the skills an individual possesses. Not so in Nigeria. You cannot gain direct entry into the university with just any diploma (I doubt that IT certifications can earn one a direct entry). Even the National Diploma (ND) that is recognised from the polytechnic gives the bearer no favours. If an ND holder is lucky to be accepted into the university through direct entry, he starts from 100Level. The holder of the Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate who seeks to earn a degree and applies for Direct Entry, if accepted, has to start from 200-Level and spend two or three more years depending on the course. This is irrespective of the person's work experience. That is one of the reasons the Nigerian education system is moving at snail's pace. Those with these diplomas that want degrees apply for part-time programmes in universities. Many of them are busy workers who hardly have the time to attend classes. With their work experience, usually, there is little new information that the lecturer would give them. Many of them do not usually meet the stipulated class attendance required to take examinations but very few universities enforce this requirement. So, they pass through the university for two/three years - just for the certificate. While the above scenario is not good enough, we can argue that at least ND/HND holders can get degrees, though through an unnecessarily tedious and long process. However, for people living with disabilities, the opportunities are almost nonexistent. For people with disabilities like physical challenges or blindness, they can still go to school - though they complain about the environment being unfriendly. However, such opportunities do not extend to some other learning disabilities like Down syndrome and Cerebral palsy. As a result, sufferers are more likely to be taught vocational skills - for the lucky ones - or hidden away from sight until they are totally useless to themselves and others. Farida's success should inspire us to do away with archaic practices in our education system. People should be able to get lifelong learning even if they have disorders.

• Ojo By Medinat Kanabe

staff who was loved by all, including students. A wake-keep and other burial activities will take place today and tomorrow at the Apostolic Faith Church in the institution at 10am on both days.

‘However, the most intriguing part of the story for me was how she got her BSc. in Computer Science and what the National Universities Commission (NUC) and our tertiary institutions can learn from it’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in IleIfe, Osun State, Prof. Adeyemi Olusile, tackles the question below:

Healthy teeth in healthy body

ENTAL ailments globally have remained the same throughout history. Besides, oral health problems require rudimentary treatments, which have been identified and described for thousands of years. And recently it has dawn on us that oral health is not just about the mouth but also the body. Oral health is a component of overall health, and as should not be taken in isolation from the rest of the body. Systematically, a person is not well if he has an oral problem. Let us look at nutrition as a relationship between oral hygiene and systemic health. Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking and poor diet will lead to dental diseases, and consequently pain. When you are in pain, you cannot eat and this will affect your nutrition. That is why the mouth is a mediator between the general health and systemic health. In the last decade or so, there has been an increase in the awareness of oral health; more teeth are preserved in the mouth. To eradicate oral problems, education is important to preventing dental problems. Be educated on the health of your mouth, the health of your teeth and even before your kids teeth come out. You should see your dentist once in six month. You do not wait until you have a problem with your teeth and be sure that everything is fine. Like a relation of mine rightly said, our mouth is the gateway to the body. Poor oral health can lead to anaemia and other systemic diseases. We can diagnose them and nip them in the bud before they get out of hand. To further address the pressing oral health issues Pepsodent Triple Protection Toothpaste, a unique formulation that helps protect against cavities/tooth decay, stains and bad breath is recommended. I will now identify the basic dental health problems in Nigeria, and their causes: Periodontal diseases and tooth decay are said to be the most common diseases in the world, yet they are quite preventable because they are bacterial in origin; eliminate the bacteria and eliminate the diseases. Cohabiting with the teeth and the gums in every mouth are bacterial that easily exceed the number of people who live on earth - six billion. These bacteria are the culprit in tooth decay, periodontal diseases and dirty mouth or foul breath. Periodontal disease or gum problems are wide spread and are the leading cause of tooth loss. In Nigeria, almost every teenager above 16 years has one form of periodontitis or the other. The disease include a wide range of inflammatory diseases of the tooth supporting tissues known as the periodontum. When it is limited to the gums, it is called gingivitis but when the deeper connective tissues and bones are also involved it becomes periodontitis. Gingivitis is usually seen as swollen red and bleeding gums around the teeth, it heals with removal of the irritating dental plaque and good oral hygiene. Periodontitis when there is pocket formation can be arrested but often the lost tissues are difficult to restore. Left untreated, the disease lead to increase tooth movement, abscess or even tooth loss. Aetiology Direct causes: These include poor oral hygiene leading to accumulation of dental plaque and calculus, and traumatic occlusion. Indirect factor: Malnutrition (deficiency of vitamins A and C, niacin and protein) is associated with a higher prevalence of peri-

odontal diseases. • Endocrine disturbances including physiological causes such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and pathological causes such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and diabetes may aggravate existing periodontal disease. • Decreased immunity as in persons with HIV and those on immunosuppressive drugs. • Blood disorders such as acute monocytic leukaemia and pernicious anaemia can lead to periodontal diseases. • Malalignment of the teeth interferes with proper plaque control. Tobacco smoking and chewing reduce tissue resistance and increase the susceptibility to periodontal diseases. • An improper brushing technique, besides resulting in inadequate plaque removal, can also cause gingival recession. • Drugs—certain drugs such as phenytoin sodium and nifedipine can cause gingival hyperplasia. Distant causes. These include low socioeconomic and literacy level, difficult access to an oral health care facility, poor oral health awareness, and lack of oral health insurance. Stress is known to predispose to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease on the planet. It is an infectious microbiological disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues. It is the second most common cause of tooth loss and is found universally, irrespective of age, sex, caste, creed or geographic location. It is considered to be a disease of civilized society, related to lifestyle factors, but heredity also plays a role. In the late stages, it causes severe pain, is expensive to treat and leads to loss of precious man-hours. However, it is preventable to a certain extent. Bad breath is often caused by a build up of bacteria in the mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odours or gases that smell like sulphur- or worse. Everybody has nasty breath at some point, like when you get out of bed in the morn-

Question: I am a researcher on lifestye. I am researching into dental ailments in Nigeria and their causes. Can you help out? -Inaolaji Ikupayida, 28 years old, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. ing. There are no statistics on what percentage of the population has bad breath. That’s because studies usually rely on someone reporting whether or not they think they have bad breath and may not be accurate. Several internal medical conditions also can cause your breath to go downhill fast. They include diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis. But studies show that about 80 percent of bad breath comes from an oral source. For instance, cavities or gum disease can lead to bad breath, as can tonsils that have trapped food particles; cracked fillings, and less-thanclean dentures. One of the chief causes of bad breath, is untreated tooth decay. Even a small amount of dental decay can produce a foul odour. Orofacial cancers are the sixth most common worldwide and they originate from the oral cavity and adjacent structures. In Nigeria, the prevalence may not be significantly more than in other parts of the world, being about 20 to 25 in 100,000. More worrisome is that orofacial cancers are not being presented until they become so massive that sugary become very difficult if not impossible. The consequent morbidity is high. Direct causes: Tobacco, alcohol, bacterial infections such as syphilis and fungal plus viral infections; chronic irritation due to sharp teeth and faulty pros-thesis and exposure to radiation. Indirect causes: Industrial pollution due to asbestos, lead; nutritional deficiencies such as those due to vitamins A, B complex, and iron deficiency Distant causes: Low socioeconomic and literacy level; poor oral health awareness and poor access to oral health care facilities for prevention and early detection. Dentofacial anomalies include hereditary, developmental and acquired malocclusion or

•Olusile

malalignment of the teeth. Worldwide, the average prevalence of malocclusion in the 10 to 12 years’ age group is reported to be 30 percent to 35 per cent. Personally, I think this is as a result of evolutionary trend. The jaws are getting smaller and these small jaws cannot accommodate 32 teeth. The rest are semantics. Direct causes: •Heredity: Hereditary factors play an important role in conditions such as cleft lip and palate, facial asymmetries variations in tooth shape and size, deep bites, discrepancies in jaw size. • Congenital: These include cleft lip and palate, and syndromes associated with anomalies of craniofacial structures, cerebral palsy, torticollis, cleidocranial dysostosis, congenital syphilis, etc. • Abnormal pressure habits and functional aberrations: These include abnormal suckling, thumb and finger sucking, tongue thrusting and sucking, lip and nail biting, mouth breathing, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, trauma and accidents. • Local factors: These include abnormalities of number such as supernumerary and missing teeth, abnormalities of tooth size and shape, abnormal labial frenum causing spacing between the upper anterior teeth, premature tooth loss with drifting of the adjoining and opposite teeth, prolonged retention of the milk teeth, delayed eruption of the permanent teeth, abnormal eruptive path, dental caries, and improper dental restorations.

•A dentist examining a patient’s mouth.

Natural Health page gives way to Clinic Day, this week. The page returns next week.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NATURAL HEALTH

2015: Jonathan, Buhari, the Rich and the poor (7)

NDER intense pressure from many fronts last Saturday, Prof. Atahiru Jega’s Independent National Election Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential election from February 14 to March 26. That is a whopping 40 days ample leg room for President Jonathan and the PDP which can make or unmake the success chances of many politicians. President Ebere Jonathan, rated far behind challenger Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), should heave a sigh of relief and clink champing glasses with his backers in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the All Progressives Congress (APC) there may have been a momentary grave yard silence. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), tipped he win the polls, may have lapsed into a swoon. To start with, the PDP has enough money to foot another round of campaigns over 40 days which the APC cannot afford. For the first campaigns, PDP raised about N25 billion from only about four of its members. Gen. Buhari depended largely on the N100 personal donations through cell phone recharge cards. The winning joter of the President was the statement credited to the Army that, because it was fighting insurgents in 10 local governments areas in the north, it couldn’t provide adequate security cover for the polls. The police, too, followed in tow. It was a warming to INEC and the country that going ahead with the polls on Saturday could be calamitous, and Prof. Jega, defiant and independent as he may have wished to be, should know a bait had been set for him. And, simultaneously, the PDP began to assail his person as they did Gen. Buharis. The assaults were led by Chief Edwin Clark, a respected South-South region of Nigeria leader who sees nothing wrong with the Jonathan Administration and has become its number one spokesman and apologist. If Prof Jega stuck to his guns, the PDP would, very likely, boycott the elections, plunging Nigeria 51 years back to the 1964 general elections which was boycotted by UPGA, (United Progressive Grand Alliance), a political coalition of the Eastern and Western regions of Nigeria. That boycott discredited the election under which Alhaji Tafawa Balewa became Prime Minister of Nigeria, fermented killings and arson in the Western region and led to Nigeria’s first military coup and the Biafran civil war. Even with Prof. Jega refraining from taking a plunge from the cliff to wherever the leap would lead, the government saw the postponement of the polls as dangerous enough to cause trouble that it deployed troops around Lagos and some important cities ahead of the announcement. That was intriguing. For this was the same Army credited with saying it had no potential to provide cover for peaceful elections deploying troops to combat protests. The Army left at least three questions unanswered in a security report of its preparedness for its professional duties to Nigeria it was said to have given the government. •If the Army should, but cannot provide cover for a purely civil event, what would happen if the Cameroun or Cod’voire or Niger or Chad were to invade Nigeria in search of territory? Many people know the Nigerian Army would not tolerate that, that it is robust, that it is one of the worlds best Armies, that Boko haram get as e bi, as we say when, the more we look, the more we look at something, the less of it we see. If the Army statement is a political statement, as many people suspect, it would be an unfortunate event that could politicise the Army. We cannot blame President Jonathan for starting this in a civil society in which the army would appeared to be giving instruction to a civil government instead of taking orders from it, or supporting and defending the public will. President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose creation is the Jonathan Administration, deployed troops to win elections he couldn’t win. Now helpless, he must be sad watching whirlwinds and morsoon winds growing out of the winds he unleashed while in office. 2) Much as I am a novice in military matters, I believe it is reasonable to assume that soldiers are trained to kill and destroy, when necessary, and that, in civil matters in civilised society, it is to the police that the primary duty of maintaining law and order is assigned. Why do we think there would be such crisis on Election Day that requires the Army’s attention to quelle if we do not believe the elections would be rigged and the voters would protest it. Such indicators are prouded by the President himself in a statement during the last Osun State governorship election when he said the election was a do or die affair”. •If the Army cannot overrun Boko Haram in 40 days, what, again, happens to the elections. Will they be shifted again, If they are, with Prof Jega’s appointment be renewed? If the President brings someone else, will the election not be flawed before it has taken place? If the Army is not ready before the President’s tenure lapses, will Nigeria head for an Interim National Government? Is the ING idea the plan of the Establishment to save itself from a probing Buhari Administration? In other words, is it a way of defusing a political bomb inimical to Establishment interests? Will it fit into the theory of the Establishment employing such tactics to save itself politically and economically? The Church F we fear the Army is being politicized, the church has long fallen prey to mammon. The churches now appear to be competing for the President’s attention and should get plenty of it in the coming 40 days. In which major Pentecostal church has the President not gone to campaign for re-election in a manner which may pitch Christians against Moslems and disturb our Nigeria’s fragile religious peace? Redeemed Christian Church of God? Winners Chapel? Chosen? Each visit has been followed by poisonous propaganda by the President’s men. After the Redeemed visit, it was that

he couldn’t anoint two men for the same office. This was a veiled reference to his support for President Jonathan in 2011 and inability, therefore, to swing for Prof. Osinbajo, a Vice Presidential candidate of APC and a senior Pastor of Redeemed. In other words, say the propagandists, President Jonathan has the nod for 2015. A worse propaganda broke out after the Winners’ visit the General Overseer, Oyedepo, was said to have threatened to open the gates of hell for any member who voted against President Jonathan. Oyedepo was wise. He taped the proceedings. And according to people who claimed to have watched it, no such thing was said. To have said so would have been calamitous for this gentleman. For hell is not in paradise, and only a resident of hell can open the gates of hell for the inmates. I do not subscribe to the speculations that, like the tail of Halley’s Comet or other comets, made up of gas and dust, hard currency constitutes the tails of these Presidential visits. Over which the churches, excepts perhaps the Catholic Church, are falling over themselves. But I believe the visits, if successful, may set Christians up against Moslems in the South-West region which would appear to be vehemently opposed to a second term for the President. To counter this offensive, the APC would have to keep up the tempo of any damage to the economy by the Jonathan Administration. The APC would appear not to have roasted this meat well enough. Former Central Bank Governor Charles Soludo may not be its card – carrying member, but he has shown the way economic issues can be focused in a campaign focusing on the economy. In only two well – researched articles he has shown about #30 trillion from crude oil sales could be in privates pockets! In whose pockets is the money nestling, we are yet to know. APC Vice Presidential candidate Osinbajo is a professor of law. In the next 40 days, can he give us a professional dissertation on the damage to the rule of law which the President swore on the Bible to uphold but damaged? I remember the case of Mr. Justice Salami of the Federal Court of Appeal Vs the Supreme Court Justices. I remember, also the Judge in Ekiti State who was beaten up in the Court room and who had to flee through the window. A President who swore on the sacred Bible to uphold the Rule of Law would have fished out the Judges attackers and brought them to book. But what happened? Alfred Rewani N a time such as this, Nigerians who genuinely what their country to run well and beautifully cannot forget Pa Alfred Rewani, a state murder victim during the regime of Gen. Sanni Abacha. He characteristically, this prolific writer would have linked us to the past at this time, to enable us know where we are coming from, so we can take only sure steps into the future. When Prof Jega stood his ground against the President and the National Cainal of state did likewise, I wrote the following test, based on my memory of the past about which Pa Rewane would have connected us. The unfolding political event which led to this commentary has been overtaken. But I have decided to live it as intact as I wrote it. I cannot do it as well as he would have… CONGRATULATIONS, NIGERIA. By averting a postponement of Saturday’s Presidential election, Nigeria may have averted a dangerous political crisis. An election crisis brought the military to power in 1966, led to the 1967-70 Biafran civil war, led to the overthrow of Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s military government, Saw Gen. Ibrahim Babangida out of power, paved the way for gen. Sanni Abacha to take power and later destroyed him, brought Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) back to power, and, under President Ebere Jonathan, may have led to a crisis of yet unknown dimensions. When it comes to protecting personal or party interests, politicians never appear to have a sense of history. Already, the country appears politically divided along the physical shape of the Biafran war years... the eastern region of Nigeria on one side, and the rest of Nigeria on the other. And all it would take to cause commotion could be a careless and unjustifiable political manoeuvre or statements. If political campaigns have no other value, that is if elec-

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

tion results had been predetermined and polls are mere formalities, they are at least handwritings on the wall. We all interprete political campaign handwritings differently, depending on our education about political behaviour and our emotions. But when you notice panic in a political camp, that’s another handwriting on the wall super-inposed on those of the political campaigns. There is no doubt that President Jonathan had a bad product to sell to the electorate. That bad product was what his government has made of the economy of Nigeria in the last four years. On the eve of the campaigns, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the President’s party, sought to present the economic mess as Nigerian feature of a global economic crisis triggered by the collapse of crude oil price in the world market. But the government could not explain why Nigerian pump price fell by only 10 percent against 60 percent in even some nonoil producing countries, and why Value Added Tax (VAT) simultaneously leapt from five to 10 percent. To worsen matters on an Election Eve, Nigeria’s currency, the Naira, was devalued from about N165 to the United States Dollar to about N205 today. That means inflation. Many state governments and the Federal Government owed workers salaries for about five months. Meanwhile, the President and some of his ministers lived in opulence. The President had 12 jets in his Presidential fleet against only two jets left behind a few years ago by President Olusegun Obasanjo who left behind a tidy foreign reserve and even sovereign reserve. Both reserves were squandered, and President Jonathan was in the process of adding a 13th jet to the fleet before the campaigns. Even the Minister of Petroleum had an official private jet. It would appear this jet was not in the budget approved for the President by the National Assembly. And this bears testimony to claims by the opposition that the government spends more money out of the Budget than in the Budget. Public finance watchers believe the free petro dollar comes from oil sales not accounted for. In the recent public exchanges between Professor Charles Solido, Former Governor of the Central Bank, and incumbent Finance Minister Mrs. Okonjo Iweala, Professor Solido has used her own data of oil revenue outside the books, which are conservative figures, to show that this free cash circulating in the corridors of power has amounted to N30 trillion! I believe the mistake of President Jonathan is his assumption that the presidency is a tea party. He probably didn’t realise early enough that the President is the driver of the craft, the chief servant of the public. He took a back seat, far away from the rigour of work, and handed the work to other people. These other people were no fools. They stormed the treasury, and helped themselves to free cash. The government became loose and he did not have firm control over anything. And, so, when the report card hard to be written four years after in an election, there was nothing substantial to write home about the economy. Corruption had so eaten deep into the government and society that even Gen. Ibrahim Babangida whose regime was before now widely acclaim to aggravate corruption in Nigeria, would now publicly say that, compared with President Jonathan’s, he was a saint! And, to worsen matters, President Jonathan went about making light jokes about corruption. One of his famous comments on corruption was that “stealing is not corruption”. At campaign rallies, he said he couldn’t send corrupt people to jail because the prisons would not take them all. At another forum, he said he couldn’t jail his friends simply because they were corrupt. And, so, quite naturally, the entry of Gen. Mohamadu Buhari (rtd) as a major challenger for the presidency would cause a stir, if not a scare in the PDP. He immediately lay his person bare: he has only two houses in the whole wide world, and less than one million in his bank account. This was a challenge to President Jonathan to publicly declare his assets. The President would not. Even in 2007 when he was Vice-president to President Yar A’dua, who publicly declared his asset of about N960 million, Vice-president Jonathan made no such declaration. In contrast, Gen. Buhari says his ministers would publicly declare assets and he would empower the now moribund Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do its job independent of the government. The PDP tried to move the campaign away from corruption and the economy. Thus, the person of Buhari became its punch bag. He was hit left and right and all over about his age, health, education, family life and his life span. But it always turned out information about Buhari’s person was false and the lies against his person won him pity and support. There ploys having failed to subsume the challenger, two king jokers were wheeled out of the armoury. One was to trick him into a public debate with President Jonathan who himself avoided a public debate in 2011. Gen. Buhari is not a man of many words. And he may easily get angry. Besides, he could easily make the mistake of a Chief Obafemi Awolowo or a Chief Moshood Abiola. In Aba, heart of igboland, Chief Awolowo said he would ban the importation of stockfish and second hand clothes. Stockfish was, and still is, a culinary delicacy in Eastern Nigeria. Chief Awolowo said life had been drained away from it with the extraction of Cod Liver oil and that it was the sun-dried chaff Norway was selling to Nigeria. For second-hand clothes why should any-one dehumanise himself or herself by wearing clothes, shoes, brassairs and undies someone else had won life out off and discarded? Why should we make ourselves “second-hand” human beings? Unfortunately, these are what a majority of Nigerians have become, unable to break free of the spiritual yoke, which makes them substandard to other human beings, given the huge business in second-hand “everything imaginable” in Nigeria today.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson spoke with reporters in Yenogoa, the state capital, on a wide range of issues, including the challenges facing his administration, President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid and preparations for parliamentary elections in the state. MIKE ODIEGWU was there.

HAT is the government doing to ensure victory for your party at the polls? This state has less political challenges. We are far more stable politically than many other states around and the reason is obvious. First, because of our mature tolerance and approach to handling political issues. Secondly, the political calendar is such that the governorship election is not coming up right now and sometimes that is why we wonder why some people have started getting unduly excited. After all, there is no governorship election or nominations right now to take place in this state. All those who mean well for this state should be rallying round me as leader of the PDP, the President’s party, to solidify the home-base and then mobilise support for the President. But, unfortunately, you are aware of the deliberate acts of distraction that are going on. But, as I said, we are not distracted, we are committed to doing what is right and proper. I am a tolerant politician and a democrat. I have always believed in the fact that people should be encouraged to exercise their franchise freely and that has been demonstrated in so many ways, unlike the situation that existed before we came to power. People were attacked at political rallies even within the same political parties; thugs were after people. You know what happened, for example, when in 2011 Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, then the presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), visited Bayelsa. The government then was not disposed to his holding a rally in Yenogoa. So, the rally was disrupted. In contrast, you saw the steps my government took to ensure their safety and guarantee their right under the constitution. Any other outcome would have sent the wrong message to the outside world. Imagine what would have happened if there had been some violence here at the time of his campaign. That is why sometimes I say many of our people are yet to fully understand the quality of leadership that I am giving here. Human memory is very short; they have forgotten about what happened in the past when people who disagreed with the powers-that-be then would not be allowed entry into Baylesa. You can see how people who disagree with us are operating freely in the state and my only requirement is that they should do so within the confines of the law because there is a difference between opposition politics and subversion and even treason. So as a government, we will do everything to support the exercise of the free franchise of our people. There is no one who will tell you in this state, either within our party or the opposition elements that I have fail to protect and guarantee their lives. No one is running away from Bayelsa. Personally, I have faced a commission of enquiry in this state; I faced warrant of arrest. For two years, I came into Bayelsa secretly because of the prevailing climate. But the environment we have created is such that everybody comes around; it’s our state and that was why I said don’t banish anybody from any community. All those who couldn’t go to their communities in the past as a result of that disruptive politics as I came in I directed that they should return. So, we are committed as a government to support the fact that people should freely come out and cast their votes for candidates of their choice without intimidation and violence and we are working with the security agents to ensure that that happens. How are you preparing for the general elections? We have done far better than most other states in terms of the percentage of collection of permanent voters’ cards (PVCs). About 80 to 85 per cent of registered voters have collected their PVCs. Some local government areas have done better than others and I have spoken with the leaders of the Yenagoa Local Government Area to ensure that the capital does not lag behind other local government areas, particularly in the hinterland. I am confident that with the measures that we have put in place, with the support and encouragement we are getting from our leaders and other agencies, the people of Bayelsa will get their PVCs. I call on all those who have registered to please go and collect your PVC because that is your right and power; with that you can determine who becomes your leader at all levels. The number of registered voters ascribed to Bayelsa does not represent our true voting strength. But, that is the number recorded against Bayelsa. So, I want to encourage all of you to go and collect your PVCs, so that you can come out and vote en masse. I am talking as a partisan politician. Please come out and cast your votes for candidates of the PDP right from the President to the House of Assembly. Of course, you know that I have been leading the campaign in various strategic ways; you can see steps that we have been taking hosting different groups in the past couple of days. That is what I have been doing here; not to talk of the ones that I do in Abuja, working with friends across the country to ensure that the President gets the support of Nigerians. But, we in this state owe him all our votes, if only we all freely exercise our mandate. All the candidates of the PDP for the National Assembly and the ones for the State House of Assembly are much better than those of the other parties. You don’t see cult elements in candidates of our party. You don’t see people who have destroyed and killed people. You don’t see people who have committed different crimes against their people and their state as candidates of our party.

Dickson: Bayelsa is fully behind Jonathan have done far ‘ We better than most other states in terms of the percentage of collection of permanent voters’ cards (PVCs). About 80 to 85 per cent of registered voters have collected their PVCs

‘

•Dickson

The candidates of our party have been proved to be persons who deserve your support, and I strongly recommend them to you. For those elements in the PDP who are playing primitive politics of being a card carrying member of one party or even being a stakeholder of one party and supporting candidates of another party, I call on you to urgently retrace your steps because that is anti-party, and that is not the way we do politics. I call on you to close ranks, support the candidates of your party even if they are not the candidates that you would have wanted to see emerge in your party. That is the way the party game goes. Tomorrow it could be your choice. So, I want to say that the state is getting set for the election, and I want to call on all people to do it peacefully. When will the President visit your state to inaugurate some of your projects? We are just waiting for a convenient time since the President is engaged now with his campaign. After the elections we hope to invite our dear President to come on a state visit to commission these big projects that our government has completed. Most of you don’t know that the President and l are working closely together and he is fully supportive. There is nothing that l have proposed to him in the interest of the people that he has not supported. We are working closely together and we will continue to do so in the interest of the people. The truth is that the President has been telling me to give him a date inviting him to come. We wanted the Ebeni bridge to be completed because when l was in the executive council during the period Dr. Jonathan was the governor of the state, l saw how worried he was about commencing that bridge in 2006. I saw his passion about that particular bridge. I delayed his coming because l needed about a month or two to be able to finish the bridge because l wanted him to be the one to

commission it. We also have many projects lined up for his commissioning and some of them have already been put to use without formal commissioning. For example, the Tombia-Amassoma and Azikoro roads, traditional rulers council complex and the Secretariat Annex Complex. What is your government doing about compensating those whose landed property was acquired to build public structures including the fruit market at Kpansia? We have a number of compensation matters. People don’t know what it takes to conceive of a project; funding it, to acquire the land. I know that there are a number of compensation matters where landowners have shown understanding and i want to thank them. Because of the several jobs that we are doing, we have not been able to meet a number of compensation claims. My plea is not just to you alone but to all such cases that you should have some understanding. These are projects that we have conceived are for your own benefit. For example, the Kpansia market is so important because every Saturday that road is closed down and that is not good for us particularly with the way we have dualized that road. By the time we finish the Isaac Boro road and fix the streetlights and plant flowers, it will be comparable to the streets in Dubai. We are also developing big fish farms at Ogbogoro in Yenagoa. The Israeli businessmen are ready with their equipment but which are lying there and because compensation has not been fully paid. The same goes for the biggest cassava processing factory at Ebedebiri. Most of these agricultural projects are what we need to be on ground to absorb our unemployed youths. We will try but we are battling to even pay salaries so i need understanding from these landlords. But we will pay their compensations. This year we have been trying to work on a date for a state visit by the President for him to commission most of these projects. Why has the Civil Service Commission not conducted promotion exercise from last year till date? Civil servants have lots of requests; a basketful of issues that we are trying to solve. The civil service commission is handling that. I am a system person and i set up institutions and i allow them to function but if there are issues, i am sure they will bring them to my attention. You have always said you want to turn Yenagoa to the new Dubai of Africa. How do you intend to do this without good internal roads and effective drainage system? When we came on board, we designed our master plan of the state along the lines of promoting security, development and prosperity. And because we wanted this place to be the new Dubai you can see the type of mega projects and they cost a lot of money. And most of these projects have a construction period of 3 years and some 3 and a half years; that is assuming we even have the funds because of the terrain and the technical requirements.

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRURARY 12, 2015

Opinion polls show that Buhari is on ‘ground, people are yearning for change, people are looking for change because the present system is not working

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...106 D AYS TO GO DA

Bamidele’s return to ‘natural habitat’ D

ESPITE the change of government in Ekiti State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is waxing stronger in the fountain of knowledge in its quest to bounce back in the general elections. Apart from organizing what is generally believed to be credible House of Assembly and National Assembly primaries where candidates emerged in a free and fair atmosphere, the party is waxing stronger everyday winning more members. Another factor that is putting Ekiti APC in good stead for next month’s polls is the fact that despite the loss of the governorship election last year, majority of its members did not defect from the party. Though the party’s petition challenging Fayose’s victory had been resolved in the governor’s favour at the lower tribunal, APC members are hoping that the party would bounce back. The party has appealed the judgment with the hope of getting justice at the Appeal Court. Apart from the consolidation of its membership, overtures are also being made to members of other parties that are aggrieved after the conduct of primaries in their parties. The emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the APC presidential candidate is also positively rubbing off on the local chapter of the party in Ekiti. Impressed by the transparent manner Buhari emerged at the party’s national convention held on December 9 in Lagos, supporters of the APC in the state see it as a party that holds the ace at the general elections, not only in Ekiti, but the country at large. The belief that Buhari would win the state is growing higher everyday and the APC is leveraging on the “Buhari factor” to rebuild the party in the state. The belief in Buhari as a “symbol of integrity in governance and the right man that could salvage Nigeria from the various ills afflicting it” is the catalyst behind the ongoing realignment of forces across party lines to enthrone a more credible leadership. It is on this premise that the APC

has reached out to the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 2014 governorship election in the state and the House of Representatives member representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele. The APC national leadership believes that Bamidele is a major stakeholder in Ekiti State whose support would be needed to ensure victory for Buhari in the February 14 presidential ballot. It is not an incontestable fact that Bamidele commands a large support base cutting across politicians, civil servants, market women, pensioners, students, youths and other segments of the population as seen in the campaign he ran in the runup to the last governorship election in the state. Although he might have left the defunct Action Congress of Ni-

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The emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the APC presidential candidate is also positively rubbing off on the local chapter of the party in Ekiti State geria (ACN) in acrimonious circumstances and he was never part of the process that led to the formation of the APC, the national leadership of the party believes that Bamidele is an asset that would be useful in securing Ekiti votes for Buhari. The APC cause is also helped by the fact that the LP is not fielding any presidential candidate and he won’t be held down by the moral burden of backing a candidate of another party against his own. Another factor is the leadership crisis that ensued in the LP follow-

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ing the exit of its immediate past National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu and the defection of the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP. It is against this background that the APC and the PDP are seeking the support of Bamidele ahead of the presidential election but the odds favour the former which has led to belief in some quarters that the Iyin Ekiti-born politician would soon join the APC. There were speculations in some quarters after the results of the last governorship election were announced that Bamidele might join the PDP to seek a re-election back into the House of Representatives. According to the rumour believed to have been sponsored by the PDP camp, Bamidele was to seek a re-election with the ultimate aim of being sponsored to run for the the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives which the party believes would still be zoned to the South West. Bamidele would be a ranking member of the House if he wins a

re-election to the Green Chamber and would be in a pole position to occupy the fourth highest seat in the land if the PDP still zones the office to the South West. But, political observers were shocked that when office seekers in various political parties are falling over themselves to purchase nomination forms to run for one office or the other, Bamidele did not signify his intention to run for any elective office ahead of the 2015 general election. What further fuelled the speculation was the fact that the current occupier of the Ekiti Central seat in the National Assembly, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, is not seeking reelection and candidates presently seeking that seat along party lines are considered as “political lightweights”. It was also being speculated that if Bamidele contests for senatorial seat and wins, he would use that platform to prepare for another shot at the governorship seat in 2018. Analysts believe that the last has not been heard on the suit over the 2014 governorship election in which the APC is challenging Fayose’s victory. They believe that either the Appeal Court or the Supreme Court could squash Fayose’s victory and order for fresh election.

APC defends choice of Ortom, Gemade as candidates

•All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Surulere Constituency II Hon. Hakeem Bangbola (right) waxing brooms with House of Assembly candidate Deji Awobotu at a rally in Ijesha, Surulere, Lagos

ENATE Minority Leader George Akume has defended the choice of Dr. Samuel Ortom as the Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate. He described him as a patriot and community man, who is concerned about the plight of the people. Akume also justified the choice of Senator Barnabas Gemade as the flag bearer of the party in Benue District. Senator Akume made the disclosure at the flag off of the APC campaigns at the RCM Primary School, Zaki-Biam, Ukum local government area. The former governor said, having worked closely with the former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, he and other leaders had noticed his passions for development. He said, although it was the consensus of the people that the next governor should come from the Minda geopolitical axis, he subscribed to the position of the late Senator J S Tarka that both the Tor Tiv and Governor should not come from the same lineage at the same time. Senator Akume denied claims that he hated a particular group among the Tiv, saying he loved the entire people and cannot discriminate against them.

Group rallies support for Buhari in Ekiti

GROUP, the Buhari Support Organization (BSO), has intensified the house-tohouse campaign and grassroots mobilization to woo voters for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The group has also been going round markets, motor parks, bus stops, newsstands, palaces, public squares, shops and other public places selling the candidacy of Buhari to the people of the Land of Honour. Reviewing the activities of the group in a chat with reporters, State Coordinator of BSO, Hon. Femi Adeleye, said the group is encouraged by the support so far given to Buhari’s candidacy by electorate in the state. He explained that the sudden postponement of the general elections won’t save President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from defeat at the polls. Adeleye, a former member of the state House of Assembly disclosed

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

that more volunteers have offered to join the group to help project Buhari’s message of change and the need to rescue Nigeria from the brink of collapse. The former state legislator disclosed that many PDP members have expressed their readiness to vote for Buhari on March 28 “in line with the current mood of Ekiti people.” He welcomed the decision of the Council of State to ignore calls for the postponement of the general election, stressing that Nigerians are ready to cast their ballots at the polls and would resist any attempt to “change the goalpost in the middle of the game.” Adeleye said the people of Ekiti State have resolved to vote for Buhari, having identified him as the right candidate that has the experience, pedigree, character and integrity to turn the fortunes of Nigeria around for good.

He said: “Buhari is the right man for the top job and that is why we are working hard to sell his candidacy to the people both in the rural and urban areas. We are encouraged and overwhelmed by the way people are accepting him. “He is a former Head of State who has integrity and honesty; he is not corrupt and he did not use all the positions he had occupied in life to amass wealth and his desire is how Nigeria can move forward from the present sorry state. “Buhari is the face of the emerging new Nigeria The unprecedented reception he had received from all over the country is an indication that he is the man Nigerians want as their next President.” Adeleye urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be above board and conduct a credible, free and fair election that will meet with international standards. He also appealed to security agencies to be non-partisan, adding that they are maintained by taxpayers

money. Another chieftain of BSO, Mr. Kehinde Ajayi, described the situation in the country as terrible. He added that Nigeria needs a personality like Buhari to remedy the situation. He said major opinion polls favour Buhari as the likely winner of the presidential election and that Nigerians are earnestly yearning for change. Ajayi, a former Secretary General of Ekiti Focus Group in the United States, said the world is watching Nigeria. He warned against any attempt to sabotage the election. He revealed that other pan-Ekiti unions in the United States are solidly behind the candidature of Buhari and that Nigerians at home should rally round the APC flag bearer to become the next President. Ajayi said: “We are expecting this poll to be free and fair; it will be a make-or-mar election. With solid preparations from INEC and security agencies, we hope that nobody will allow himself to be used to trun-

•Gen. Buhari

cate the people’s wish. “Opinion polls show that Buhari is on ground, people are yearning for change, people are looking for change because the present system is not working.”

THE NATION THURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

state has been badly run by the PDP ‘ The administration. Right now we have stronger presence of the opposition in Akwa Ibom State because a fertile ground has been laid by the government in power

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...106 D AYS TO GO DA

CLO decries political violence, insecurity T HE Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) is worried about the political violence and insecurity pervading the country’s political landscape. CLO President Igho Akheregha said at a press conference in Lagos that the increasing incidence of violence is not only worrisome but that it is capable of wiping out the progress made so far in the last 16 years. Akheregha said the CLO has interpreted the current developments in the country as deliberate actions by politicians to undermine the huge gains Nigeria has made since 1999. His words: “The majority of Nigerians are now very worried about their safety and enjoyment of their democratic freedoms with escalating incidences of political violence and general insecurity that is adversely affecting citizens’ enjoyment of their basic freedoms and human rights. “This has led to increasing bitterness, acrimony and palpable feeling of insecurity, distrust in the governance process and looming anarchy in the country accentuated by political tension. “All these negative manifesta-

By Leke Salaudeen

tions are against the recent peace agreement supervised by a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and former United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Kofi Annan.” The CLO’s worry, according to him, is that the consequences of these developments may precipitate voter apathy or low turn-out

majority of ‘TheNigerians are now very worried about their safety and enjoyment of their democratic freedoms with escalating incidences of political violence

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capable of creating doubts over the popularity of the eventual winner of the elections which could lead to breakdown of law and order. Despite these challenges, the CLO remains firm in its conviction that this should not be exploited by ambitious elements in the military to truncate the democratic process or for tribal and religious champions to beat the drums of war, he said. “The CLO is dismayed by the lackluster approach of law enforcement agencies in dealing with numerous cases of political violence in spite of the massive logistical support of government. The CLO calls on political parties and leaders to caution their members and supporters to respect the right of other candidates to campaign in their areas without restraint, fear or intimidation.” “The organisation calls on Nigerians to secure their voter’s cards and ensure their votes count. It advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to test run the card reading machines to avoid a repeat of the 2011 embarrassment when the registration machines failed Nigerians.

• Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, Majority Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and one of the G-22 PDP governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State, and his wife, Ekaete, besieged by supporters on his arrival at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo.

Hon. Yinka Ogundimu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, Ogundimu, who represents Agege Constituency II in Lagos State House of Assembly, spoke on developmental projects in his constituency and preparations for the general elections.

‘PDP will lose in Lagos’

HAT developmental projects have you facilitated to your constituency? There are so many. In fact, this is the first time Agege Constituency II will witness rapid infrastructural development. We have a maternity being constructed at Orile-Agege by the state government under World Bank Assisted Projects. There is road network that links Oko-Oba/OjaOba to Egbatedo Street; Ipaja-Ota Road and Ajiboye Crescent that links Ota Road with expressway. When the road is completed, it will decongest Ipaja Road. Soretire Street is now linked with Oguntade Road. There is a canal at Arigbale which used to pose a threat to residents whenever it rains. The Arigbale end of the canal has been constructed. Other roads constructed are Salamotu Street and Adejare Street. There are five major road projects around Agege Stadium that will take you to Akilo Road and link up with Ikeja. The construction of a two-storey building at the Methodist Primary School, Tabontabon has reached 75 per cent completion stage. The Agege Stadium has been upgraded and league matches are now played there. Agege is in the mind of the state government. But, there are still more to do. If you are re-elected, what are your plans for the constituency? The legislative assignment is about experience. It is through continuity that one can gather more experience. Continuity will enable me serve my people better. I know the doors to knock to get what I want for my people. I will ensure that the state government intensify ongoing work on inner roads and drainage construction in Agege constituency II; provide youth employment and create conducive environment for investment. If the economy is stable, investors will come and invest and employment opportunities would be created. Water supply is the major prob-

• Ogundimu

lem of Agege residents. What steps are you taking to reduce the pains? The problem was created by the colonial administrators. The first water works was cited in Iju here in Agege. But the colonial policy was that the water supply was meant for the Government Reserve Areas (GRAs) in Ikeja and Ikoyi. They laid the pipes pass Agege and denied the people the water sourced from their territory. However, the state government has come to the rescue of Agege with water supply from Adiyan Water Works. Some areas in Agege now get water supply while others will also benefit as soon as pipes were laid. One problem associated with water supply in Agege is that many pipes have been destroyed through construction of roads and houses. I am sure the repair of pipes would be completed before the tenure of this administration lapses. Another problem is that our people believe water supply should be free. They don’t want to pay water rate but we are educating them to reason why they must pay. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says with Jimi Agbaje as its governorship candidate, it will win in Lagos. What is your comment? Before you engage in war, you must have your strategies in place. The PDP in Lagos has no structure. They don’t have good antecedents that could help their cause. From 1999 till date, we have always won elections in Lagos State, and we will continue with our winning streak.

Akpan: APC has come to stay in Akwa Ibom Imo Akpan is the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ikono/Ini Constituency. In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, the lawyer agues that the ruling party created a fertile ground for the APC to thrive in Akwa Ibom State.

HY did you abandon your law practice for politics? Like every contest, the primary impetus is personal. The second reason is that I want to serve my people. There are obvious lapses that have been created in my constituency, in terms of providing the basic necessities to improve the lot of the people and the dearth of infrastructure generally. For me, the main reason why attention has not been focused on those areas is because sufficient ‘noise’ has not been made to highlight the plight of the people. Where such attention has been drawn, there is no sufficient political will on the part of those in positions of authority to address these issues. Given my background and training, I believe I have sufficient passion to drive through the process of attracting the necessary infrastructure, to uplift the standard

of our people. In fact, fundamentally, the two local government areas that make Ikoni/Ini federal constituency are regarded historically as the cradle of the Ibibio nation. In the ethnic make-up of Nigeria, the Ibibio race is number four; after the three major ethnic groups. But, ironically, all you hear from the Ibibio nation is the cries of marginalization, lack of development and backwardness. I don’t believe that we have taken our place in the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. How do you intend to attract development, since you would not have executive powers? I am aware of the duties of a legislator and I know that in attracting development to a particular constituency, a lot of lobbying would be required. Lobbying is the essential tool a legislator has to employ. Given my background, not just as a lawyer, but also as someone who has

lived in almost all parts of the country, I would not have problems interacting with legislators from other areas, to get them to see the need to bring development to our area. Inter-personal relationship also comes into play. Healthcare is one of the critical issues. The basic infrastructure for healthcare is non-existent in the two local government areas that make-up the constituency. Though the two local government areas can boast of two general hospitals, but they are nothing to write home about. The one in Ini Local Government Area is a beautiful edifice put in place by the last administration of Obong Victor Attah, but it is not equipped at all. The one in Ikono Local Government Area has been there for at least 30 years, but it is also not equipped. In fact, it has no source of power, no water and its roof has caved in. So, we must make sure that we impress it on the execu-

tive to attend to the yearnings of our people in the healthcare sector. The other area is education. The infrastructure to guarantee qualitative education in my federal constituency is non-existent. Fundamentally you need the manpower; the right quality of teachers who can impact knowledge. The stories you hear about free education in Akwa Ibom State is about renovating buildings and having red roofs put over them. The PDP has been in power in Akwa Ibom since 1999. W hat are your chances? Our chances are very bright. The state has been badly run by the PDP administration. Right now we have stronger presence of the opposition in Akwa Ibom State because a fertile ground has been laid by the government in power. The ranks of the opposition are swelling by the day because of the discontent among the people. If you look at

•Akpan

the calibre of people we have as candidates in the APC, from the governorship down to the House of Representatives, then you will realize that our chances are indeed very bright. A lot of things we hear about the PDP and the uncommonness of its transformation are a media creation, especially your colleagues in the electronic media.

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The Notes are here so that all the masses ‘from whichever tribe or religion will come here record their feelings, needs, demands and go back to their house ‘

...106 D AYS TO GO DA

Osinbajo opens ‘Wish Notebooks’ for masses

Kebbi APC receives defectors

HEAD of the March 28 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has opened a Wish Notebooks in his campaign office on Ojo Road, Ifelodun Local Devalopment Area, Lagos State. Prof. Osinbajo is Vice President to General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in the elections. Osinbajo said: “The Idea of the Wish Notebooks is get closer to the masses, to the people at the grassroots, aggregate their views and eventually carry them along in the process of governance. “This class of people will come to our office, write down their needs and expectations from the government, so when you hear from the masses, you empathise with them and consequently work with them to satisfy their needs.” On why he opened a campaign office in Ajegunle, Osinbajo said: “

• Osinbajo By John Austin Unachukwu

Opening a campaign office in Ajegunle is to stay close to the masses to be able to appreciate their feelings, to feel their pulse and carry them along, this is democracy in action “The Notes are here so that all the masses from whichever tribe or religion will come here record their feelings, needs, demands and go back to their house. By the time they write their wishes here, we shall be able to address and attend to such wishes together.‘’

O fewer than 50,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State have defected to the All Progressives Congress as the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Atiku Bagudu, rounded off his campaign tour. APC Publicity Secretary Alhaji Sani Dododo made this known in a statement in the Zuru. He said the party was overwhelmed by the huge number of defectors from the PDP from various wards in the area. He said the people of the area had complained bitterly to the APC standard bearer over the years of neglect by the PDP administrations in the state, adding that “the people said they were tired of 16 years of deceit.”

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

He hinged the popularity of the APC in the area and the state on “the broom revolution,” claiming that the PDP was now a shadow of itself. Dododo explained that while the APC had carried its campaigns to the nooks and crannies of the state, the PDP had stopped its campaigns at local governments because the people are angry at the bulk of failed promises over the years. The spokesman said over 9,594 defectors from the PDP in Shanga, Yauri, and another 25,000 ex-service men in Zuru Emirate have joined the APC. “When we took stock of the PDP members coming to join us in each area we realized that we got over

20,000 zamfarawas in Zuru, and 6,54 Maitti Allah Association of cattle rearers in Shanga Zuru and Yauri have now joined us,” he said. He however distanced the APC from attacks on the PDP campaign train in parts of the state, explaining that those who attacked the PDP were its aggrieved members. “We preach peace wherever we go.” Bagudu expressed joy as he received the decamped members. He assured them of justice and better developments ahead if elected into office. He urged them not to sell their Permanent Voters’ Cards for a token and make sure that they come out and vote massively for the APC. He urged them to vote on the election day and wait for their vote to be counted.”

ARG: Postponement is untenable

ORUBA socio-cultural group, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the February 14 and 28 elections. The group also said the reason given by the electoral body is untenable. The ARG said the postponement did not come as a surprise because events preceding the announcement lent credence to the fact that INEC was coerced into adopting the position. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, the group maintained that Nigeria’s defence institutions have not convinced Nigerians that it can curb the Boko Haram Insurgency in six weeks. “ Nigeria’s defence and security institutions have not convinced Nigerians that they have the capacity to curb the Boko Haram insurgency and it remains to be seen that the now possess new tactics and intelligence on how to curb it. Therefore, it is difficult to see how a six-year menace will disappear in six weeks.” Famoriyo also said it was clear INEC was working under an “ ex-

By Seun Akioye

ecutive coercion” whose design and intent can only be to subjugate Nigeria’s premier democratic institution. “ Until the security chiefs are able to advance believable reasons and demonstrate renewed commitment to their constitutional duty, Nigerians will remain suspicious of a premeditated plan to subvert democratic process,” he said. The group decried a situation where Nigerians are been made to sacrifice without commensurate sacrifice from the leadership cadre. “ If Nigerians are being asked to be patriotic enough to suffer the attendant cost of poll shift in order to fight insurgency, then is it not normal for an administration that has shown unprecedented lethargy in prosecuting was against insurgency to be equally patriotic enough to admit its failure and step aside? “To continue on the path of impunity and blatant abuse of the democratic right of Nigerians as the handlers of Nigeria state are doing is the foundation for injustice. Yoruba people loathe such insensitivity and will always reject such leadership.”

Agbaje warns supporters against violence

• Agbaje

HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has called on his supporters to eschew violence. Agbaje, who spoke against the backdrop of a peace pact signed by governorship candidates, said no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of violence. He said not a single death has been recorded since his campaign across the state, the PDP abhors any form of violence, Agbaje, who

spoke during his campaign in Mushin and Oshodi/Isolo urged party members to continue to be law-abiding. He urged them not to retaliate when his campaign materials were defaced on the third Mainland Bridge. “I want to let you know that there is no reason for us to be violent because whatever the form the coming election is going to take, we shall defeat them” “Everybody has seen that we have better ideas as a party, let us continue to be peaceful because victory is ours” he said. He blamed the absence of infrastructural facilities after sixteen years on the ruling APC in Lagos, saying the party’s performance has been far from satisfactory, as the people cannot boast of even potable water.

• All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode addressing the audience at the AMBO 2015 Believe Concert at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos.

‘PDP buying time to get support’

HE Campaign Organisation of Simon Lalong, the governorship flag bearer of the All Progresives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, has said the postponement of the elections will work against the People Democratic Party (PDP). Reacting to the change of date of the election, Hon. Festus Fuanter, media coordinator of APC in Plateau said, “The antics of the ruling party cannot prevent the political revolution of the opposition” Fuanter said, “The people of Pla-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

teau state had vowed to make a change in this very election, and the delay in the election will not in any way affect the resolve of the people to make a change. He therefore called on the teaming supporters of the APC governorship flag bearer not to be discouraged with the postponement but they should remain firm with their resolve to make a change. “PDP is only making itself a laughing stock and they are also

playing with the intelligentsia of voters. This is election they must hold, it would have been easier for the ruling party to cancel the election, but they can’t do that. They must hold this election, they can’t delay it beyond May 2015, APC is only waiting for victory which will come soon. According to Barr. Fuanter, even the Plateau voters have been calling the APC governorship flag bearer to assure him that they remain with him as long as PDP continued to postpone the election?

‘Yuguda will ensure PDP’s success in Bauchi’

AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda’s media aide Mallam Danlami Takko has said the governor will use his political structure to ensure the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Takko, who is the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the governor, told reporters in Bauchi, the state capital that Yuguda would “battle fiercely“ in a bid to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost votes in the state. “Mallam Isa Yugua is a force to be reckoned with. We also expect that Malam Isa Yuguda will use his political machinery, use his manoeuvres, and use his tactful strategy in seeing that PDP wins in Bauchi State. “This i am sure, like any other

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

indigene of Bauchi state that whatever Mallam Yuguda set his mind to do, the man does it with all his might. “So. with Yuguda as the leader of PDP in Bauchi State, we should expect a fierce battle, “Takko said. He said Yuguda has established himself as the kingpin and the Godfather of Bauchi politics, adding that he has holds sway to a strong political structure in the state. “Mallam Yuguda has established himself as the kingpin of Bauchi politics and he has established himself as the Godfather of Bauchi politics. “He is selling PDP and Mr President in all the nuke and corners

of Bauchi State and he does this successfully because he is on the ground. “Instead of the Abuja-based politicians from the state to adopt such policies, they resort to instigating and sponsoring youths to embarrass Mr President during his Presidential Campain rally in Bauchi. It is really unfortunate, “ he said. Takko refuted, Senator Bala Mohammed’s claim in Yuguda is an APC agent, describing the allegation as baseless. “If he has any proof that Yuguda is romancing with the APC he should bring it forward, but as far as the world is concerned, and as far as Mallam Yuguda is concerned, it is the FCT minister that is romancing with APC.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

INDUSTRY Govt to privatise transport sector

HE privatisation of the transport sector would soon begin, Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has said. In a statement in Abuja, the bureau’s Acting Head, Public Communications, Mr. Alex Okoh, said the process would begin as soon as the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks were put in place. According to the statement, once this is done, the transport sector will become a viable investment destination for investors from across the globe. It noted that the bureau was concerned with the viability of the transport sector because it was criti-

cal to the growth of the nation’s economy. “We don’t want to repeat the mistake we made during the port reform. Before embarking on the reform of any sector, we will ensure that the legal and regulatory frameworks are in place. “That is why for the transport sector, we have all the seven draft bills undergoing approval process by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), after which they will be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage. From the assurances we are getting from the various stakeholders, these bills will be passed soon,” the statement said.

2,500 seafarers trained in four years

•From left: Mr Awode; Deputy Managing Director Mr. Adedayo Paseda; General Manager (Sales & Marketing) Mr. Fola Laguda; and Alhaji Abduraheem Ajibaye, CEO, Toluwalase & Sons, an award winner at the event.

Paints manufacturer bemoans insurgency, high raw materials’cost

ISING cases of insurgency in the Northeast and and import duties are responsible for the low turnover recorded in the past by paints manufacturer Chemstar Industry Nigeria Limited, its Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Aderemi Emmanuel Awode, has said. Speaking at the company’s Customers Forum in Lagos, the GMD flayed the rising insurgency in some parts of the country, saying such is not healthy for a business growth. “Because of rising insurgence in the north, our turnover has plummeted especially in the previous year from what it used to be,” he said. While expressing optimism for a quick end to the Boko Haram insurgence for business to thrive, the GMD said about 65 per cent of the company’s turnover is from the entire northern states, including Abuja. Awode further hinted that the manufacturing sector was facing difficult times due to the challenge of the slide in the naira exchange, and the sharp drop in the price of crude oil. He said most of the raw materials used in the paint industry were imported. “About 70 per cent of our raw materials are imported, while payment for the raw materials is done in dollars, while the import duties or tariffs are on the high side. These and other challenges are confronting the growth of paints industry,” he lamented.

By Chikodi Okereocha

He noted that though the challenges of the paints industry and manufacturing sector in general were tough, God had been benevolent to the company in the last 20 years of its operations. The GMD, who put the company’s capacity utilisation at between 60 and 65 per cent, while the market share is about 20 per cent, said if considered with the over 1,000 paints industries in the country, and the competitiveness of the industry, the 20 per cent market share was good. Awode, who said the past 20 years had been challenging, yet rewarding, attributed the achievements of the company to the passion for paints business, commitment of the distributors, support of the customers and dedication of the workers. “Today, we are celebrating our 20 years of successful business growth and quality products and services. We owe this to the Almighty God, as well as our dedicated staff, loyal distributors and support from customers,” he said. Awode said the company, which began operations in a room in 1996 with three workers and two distributors, has over 2,000 distributors spread across the country and over 1,000 work force, as well as factories in Johannesburg in South Africa; Accra in Ghana and Turkey.

The paints industry, which kicked off its 20th anniversary this year with the yearly Staff Week, and the fourth National Sales Conference as well as the Customers’ Forum, according to Awode, has its distribution network and distributors in all cities and towns of the country. Describing this year’s customers’ forum as special, as it coincided with the anniversary, the GMD said Chemstar Paints is the only paints industry that rewards its distributors and customers. On the criteria used to reward the distributors, the GMD listed, among others, the rate of their turnover (the volume of what they bought in that financial year); the percentage of appreciation of their business in the previous years; and distributors that have done so well in their different zones. Several distributors were rewarded in various categories fast- growing distributor of the year, outstanding regional distributors, distributors with over 15 years business relationship and Shield paints outstanding distributors. They, however, went home with various gifts and cash prizes ranging from gas cooker, deep freezer, refrigerator, LG washing machine, LG Plasma TV, generator, standing fan, DVD player, electric kettle, home theatre and iron, among others.

Anambra, group sign MoU to build 20,000 shops

HE Anambra State Government and Bukham Group, a firm of real estate developers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop 20,000 units of shops at the Anambra International Trade Centre, Oba, near Onitsha. Governor Willie Obiano and the Chairman of the group, Mr. Bukham Hassan, signed the agreement. Under the MoU, Bukham Group would build 20,000 shops, including 2, 000 warehouses and hotels. The group would also build a primary school, a cinema house, police post, health centre and a fire station in the project, which are expected to be completed in five years. Represented by Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, the state Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Commerce, at the signing, Obiano said the government would build access roads to the centre from Onitsha-Owerri

road and Oba. He noted that the centre would attract infrastructure, boost the economy and continue to generate employment for the community and its environs. “Trade and commerce development is one of the core pillars of our administration and what we have done today speaks volume of the strong desire to make the state a major commercial hub in Africa. Government has agreed to fence the market centre, connect it with electricity as well as ensure adequate security. With this agreement, the developer (Bukham Group) has assured that the market centre will be inaugurated in March with 1,700 shops placed on offer for the public,’’ Obiano said. The governor revealed that N3 billion had been set aside for infrastructure development at the centre. The chairman of the group said

the phase 1 of the project was nearing completion and would be inaugurated in March this year. “The project will gulp about N100 billion and it has been bankrolled by Bukham Group and Enterprise Bank Plc. We already have up to 1,000 youths employed and working to construct the centre in order to meet deadline for the project. When the project is completed, no fewer than 100,000 people will be directly engaged and its multiplier effect will be felt by more than a million families,’’ Hassan said. The President-General of Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, lauded the government for attracting the investment to the state. He, however, urged it and the developer to make the shop rents affordable for traders.

HE Federal Government trained over 2,500 youths as seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) in the last four years, the Maritime Watch Dog has said. The Maritime Watchdog is a pressure group that protects the interest of retired and serving maritime workers. The group’s Legal Adviser/General Secretary, Mac-Johnson Odey, told reporters in Lagos that the administration’s commitment to the NSDP is unwavering. According to him, when Nigerians take over the industry, the country would save the over N3 billion lost yearly to foreign seafarers. Odey recalled that since the liquidation of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), training of seafarers in Nigeria ceased, adding that it led to the dearth of indigenous seafarers. “While

those trained by the NNSL were ageing, there was no replacement and apparently no government thought it wise to invest in encouraging and training young Nigerians to become seafarers until recently,” he said. Odey praised the the administration for building a shipyard/dockyard for repairs and maintenance of ships, barges, and creation of a satellite surveillance centre in Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to fight piracy, oil theft, smuggling, among others. “The Maritime Watch Dog has keenly observed developments in the maritime sector of the economy over the years and is enthusiastic to record and proclaim that in contrast to the years of denial and decay, the Jonathan administration has recorded encouraging resuscitation in the aforementioned areas,” he said.

CPPL hones business owners’ skills

USTOMER Passion Point Limited (CPPL) has concluded the January edition of its Monthly Training Programme for business owners to equip them with relevant skills and tools to thrive. “We have begun to empower businesses afresh this 2015. The January edition was a huge success. More than ever before, Nigerian businesses need to be adequately equipped to survive these very tough times. When people know how to go about doing their jobs, they excel,” says Chief Executive Officer of CPPL, Mrs Chinwe Kalu. Mrs Kalu noted that that although economic conditions in Nigeria may be discouraging, Customer Passion Point believes that with the right tools, businesses can still thrive. She explained that the monthly training was all about imparting business skills that would boost excellence and tenacity, adding that those business owners and their staff must approach the mar-

ket with the confidence it requires to win. Participants were happy with what they got. Mr. Chinedum Amachi, Head of Business Solutions at Customer Contact Solutions,who is responsible for Sales & Marketing, said: “Members of my team will benefit from my training and I also believe my learning will contribute more to the growth of my company. I believe I have become a better marketer fully activated for better success.” Another participant, Abigail Moses Ikhiede, who heads Sales & Marketing at 3 Way Communications (3WC), added: “On the knowledge of the subject matter, I found the facilitators insightful, demonstrative and experienced. They are highly experienced professionals with deep and practical examples to buttress their points. I enjoyed the practical exercises too. Overall, my lasting impression is that the CPPL line of thought is extremely persuasive.”

Powder Three Crowns Milk unveiled

RE you a mother? Here is good news for you - dairy giant FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc has launched powder Three Crows Milk. According to the firm, it is to enable mothers to have more ways of caring themselves and their families. Its Director of Communication, Ore Famurewa, said the introduction followed the demand of consumers, especially mothers. “Three Crowns milk has repositioned as the brand that cares for mothers so they can continue to take extra care of the family,” he said. “The brands new pay-off: ‘Healthy

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

mums, happy families’ define its role as mum’s best friend in caring for the family. Mothers, therefore, choose Three Crowns out of the love they have for their families and their need to take extra care of them,” Mrs Famurewa said. The Sales Director (General Trade), Adewale Arikawe, said: “The new 380g powder is available in the open markets, neighbourhood stores and modern retail outlets. He said an integrated marketing and communication campaign has been developed to support the product.

Ex-Newswatch editor bags PhD

EAD of Corporate Communications/Special Adviser to the Managing Director of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Sir Jossy Nkwocha, has bagged a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Marketing at the 44th Convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Nkwocha and Benedict Odigbo have emerged the first PhD holders in that field from UNN.

Nkwocha’s doctoral dissertation is titled: A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of corporate reputation management strategies employed in selected oil & gas companies in Nigeria. Nkwocha is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He is the author of Effective media relations: issues, strategies & dynamics (1999). Nkwocha is former General Editor of Newswatch magazine.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Bridging the workplace gender gap Despite widely held opinion that companies benefit from access to the different but complementary leadership skills, gender inequality persists in Nigeria. The workplace is still largely skewed in favour of men, leaving women oppressed and marginalised, but Lafarge Africa Plc and World Bank are leading the campaign to bridge the gap. TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

HE gospel of gender inclusion is gathering steam. This time, Lafarge Africa Plc is leading the renewed campaign particularly in the workplace. The objective is to allow companies benefit from access to the different, but complementary leadership skills, wider talent pool, and insights women bring to management. Towards the end of last year, the company’s senior executives from various countries, gathered at the Assemblée Nationale (French National Assembly) at the Palais Bourbon in Paris, for the Gender Equality European/International Standard (GEEIS) Awards. Four Lafarge country operations - Nigeria, Spain, Brazil and France - were honoured in recognition for their work on diversity and inclusion. Lafarge Country Organisation and Human Resources (HR) Director, Fidelia Osime, who represented Nigeria at the ceremony said: “For us in Lafarge Africa Plc, it is indeed,` a significant achievement as we are the first company in Africa to be so recognised having been audited on a number of criteria. The question, of course, is how individual companies make a conscious effort to raise gender diversity in senior management. To this end, Lafarge Africa Plc has in line with its sustainability ambitions 2020, responded to these challenges in a way that looks optimistic to the future.” Lafarge, in its articulation of the sustainability ambitions, called for 20 per cent of senior executive management roles to be filled by women by 2014-2015. The company’s inclusive culture is defined as supporting a work environment that values diversity, where all employees are encouraged to share new ideas and innovations, and where equal opportunities exist for professional growth and development. Osime explained that the tenets of these ambitions include the belief that diversity in employees, teams and management is an essential factor in achieving a high level of performance and innovation. “This specific focus on employee diversity and skills development, regardless of gender, nationality, colour or religion, ensures that Lafarge as a group, uses every asset at its disposal to achieve set targets,” she said, adding that the company has expanded this culture of diversity through its recruitment initiatives, partnering with a number of diversity-focused companies and associations to ensure that it tapped the largest possible pool of candidates. Other initiatives introduced by the firm in Nigeria to support diversity, tnclude the activation of Women’s networking groups, flexible work hours in the corporate head office, supporting nursing mothers with crèche allowance, provision of paternity leave, and exclusion of mater-

HE Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, has lauded the performance of the state chapter of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) by promoting and protecting the interest of its members nation-wide. She made this statement while declaring open the 5th Triennial delegates’ conference of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter held recently at the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASSUS) Hall, Leme in

• MD CEO Lafarge Africa, Guillaume Roux

• Osime

• Nelly

nity leave from annual leave entitlement. A Diversity & Inclusion Committee, comprising representatives from Human Resources, Operations and Communications, meets monthly, developing strategies and action plans to ensure that these goals are met in a fair manner, thus ensuring that only credible candidates are chosen to fill these roles while making sure that the sustainability of the business is the main focus. Also, leadership and gender workshops were held across the various business units and locations.The outcome was the introduction of diversity concepts and examination of gender differences and their effects on business relationships. Communication and decision making are organised to make participants generate specific local actions to improve diversity. The belief is that on-going diversity training would help drive employee engagement and create a work environment that visibly values and leverages diversity. The Nation learnt that out of the 12 members of Lafarge Africa Plc’s top management team, four are women. One of them, Adepeju Adebajo, was recently appointed Managing Director of WAPCO Operations. Others include Fidelia Osime – Country Organisation & Human Resources Director, Edith Onwuchekwa – Country Legal Counsel and Viola Graham Douglas – Country Communication Director. The combined wealth of experience and exposure wielded by these amazons is without doubt an asset to the Lafarge family and a justification of the corporate policy of diversity and inclusion. Yet, this representation does not stop at the directorial level of the company. It permeates across board and in key middle management roles where women feature prominently and contribute actively to the overall success rating of the company. Also speaking on the award, and the efforts of the company to close

the gender gap, Senior Vice-President, Talent Management, Lafarge Group, Sonia D’Emilio, stressed that it is something all the recipients should be proud of as it was obtained through committed efforts to engage on the gender balance topic. She said: “We should all be proud of this development as your commitment and efforts made it happen. We have made significant investments in our diversity and inclusion programmes across all our business units and have recorded positive results. This award will serve to further encourage us in our plans to execute more initiatives focused on gender equality in our business.” The Nation learnt that increasing the number of women in senior management positions to 35 per cent by 2020 is a corporate target of Lafarge. As at 2013/14, it reached 18.6 per cent of top management, through the acceleration of the identification of women capable of engaging in career development and occupying leadership positions. At group level, support is given to programmes and initiatives that seek the development of employee skills and key positions and are covered by certification programmes and individual development programmes and training. The World Bank is also involved in the effort to address gender inequality in workplaces. The bank in its latest reports, identified improved job opportunities for women and girls at all levels of productive engagements as key to ongoing efforts aimed at alleviating poverty, increasing Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) in national economies and bridging the gender gap between men and women across the world. The bank noted that policy makers, private sector and other job providers would be contributing to the global socio-economic agenda targeted at closing the gender-inequality gap, if they showed commitment to removing all barriers to women and girls employment and by implica-

tion, adding significantly to the global development values. The report stated: “Jobs boost selfesteem and pull families out of poverty. Yet, gender disparities persist in the world of work. Closing these gaps, while working to stimulate job creation more broadly, it is a prerequisite for ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The report described gender equality in the work place as a win-win on many fronts’’. The report revealed that improved female employment had the potential of increasing GDP by 34 per cent in Egypt, 12 per cent in the United Arab Emirates, 10 per cent in South Africa and nine per cent in Japan, taking into account losses in economywide labour productivity that could occur as new workers entered the labour force. Commenting on the Gender at Work Report, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, said in view of recent revelations about the gender inequality in Nigeria’s workplace, the bank was doing a gender review of its development programmes with a view to ensuring that more women and girls were provided opportunities for productive engagements. When this is done, the hope is that it would reverse the current trend in Nigeria where women in top leadership positions have not attained the desired representation in business and government establishments. It should be noted that despite the large proportion of female graduates and the significant number of women who join various companies at entry level, very few reach the top. Areas of inequality (1) Labour and employment – Women do not generally earn the same wages as men for the same work especially casual or unorganised labour which is where most women are employed. Those in public service are discriminated against in the

area of maternity, sexual harassment and employment practices. (2) Access to finances and credit – Most banks and finance homes do not give loans to women and most times women have to be guaranteed by men before they can access credit for economic activities. (3) Politics and Participation – Women are not equipped to participate effectively in politics because of low esteem and inability to jump the hurdles set by the men. Women do not have the financial resources to compete in the high financial game of politics in Nigeria. They are therefore given positions which the men do not find lucrative or challenging enough. Thus politically, women’s rights are denied because of poor representation at the levels where decisions and policies are made. (4) Education and Health Care – Inadequate education and inadequate facilities for health care hinders women’s quest for equality. Unhealthy and uneducated women cannot produce healthy children or engage effectively in social activities. Available data shows high levels of maternal and infant mortality. (5) Harmful Traditional Practices – Traditional practices like female genital mutilation, widowhood practices, male preference, domestic violence lend weight to discrimination against women. The heavy workload of women within the household and lack of house decision making powers contribute to deprive women of their rights and life. Information on family planning where they exist sometimes produce harmful side effects . Male preference leads to abuse and low self esteem for the female child even from birth and thus she does not develop her full potentials to enable her contribute effectively to the nation. (6) Violence Against Women – Women are still victims of rape, sexual assault, harrassmentt and battery, widowhood practices, forced labour, trafficking, incest, and other forms of gender assaults and abuses. Domestic violence is still regarded as a private affair requiring no legal or official intervention. (7) Access to Justice – Women are politically, economically, socially, culturally, educationally, and legally disadvantaged. They cannot take advantage of facilities and opportunities available to them to achieve and enforce their human rights. They are mostly ignorant of their fundamental rights and freedoms. In many police stations, women are still not allowed to take people on bail. These imbalances and inequalities in gender relations must be redressed if Nigeria must join the league of civilised nations as a country with respect for human rights.

Ogun HoS lauds TUC on performance By Bisi Onanuga

Abeokuta. The Head of Service who was represented by the Consultant to the Governor on Labour, Comrade Julius Ogundipe, said the TUC has been able to meet the demand of workers for better insight into the management of the different unions, adding that it

is becoming increasingly clear in the public and private sectors that the economic growth and advancement of the country required the inputs of not just properly trained workers and professionals, but also union leaders who represent the true and collective aspirations of their members. Mrs. Adekunle urged the TUC members not to sit on the fence even as the

general election is at hand, noting that the conference must demonstrate the truth democratic structure and maturity of the different unions during their election. ‘’The conduct of this delegates conference must demonstrate the democratic structure of our different unions and maturity of our members. I need not remind you

that this congress must be held devoid of violence, we must eschew bitterness, and ensure that the process does not produce a victor nor a vanquished. It is a process to move the congress forward and put it at a vantage position to represent the collective aspiration of your principals and make your voice heard’’ Hos said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

e-Business

‘Outsourcing enables optimal use of IT infrastructure’

HE Chief Executive Officer of Computer Warehouse Group, Austin Okere has described outsourcing as a key enabler of optimal use of information technology (IT) infrastructure. Speaking at the Airtel’s Regional Corporate Customers’ Forum/Dinner in Lagos titled: ‘Is IT and Network a Revenue Enabler or a Call Centre?’, Okere said there are two sides to a coin. He said the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which CWG partnered Airtel and others to build, is a cost to the government, Airtel’s investment on aerial fibre optic cables is also at a cost to the telco. He explained that both are investments which benefits outweigh their costs, adding that while the former connects the country to the global

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

learning and research portal, the latter makes the telco’s network more resilient. “The discussion five years ago was what was appropriate to spend and there was so much research and the pendulum swung to between three and five per cent of revenue, which was adjudged to be a fair amount of money for IT to spend. The issue about benchmarking this amount is that you are taking the median and somebody is spending 1000 when the median is 500. “If am spending the 5000 and citing Gartner figures, you are not being fair to me as a CIO. At the end of the day, those benchmarks ended up just what they were, which were benchmarks. Ecobank has a shared centre which it called e-process, which is eventually turning into an

IT company that is beginning to provide service to all Ecobank’s operations globally. He said in the telecoms sector, the same process is done a little bit differently through outsourcing. IBM does outsourcing for Airtel; Huawei does for Etisaltat. The other one has CWG doing their outsourcing. Okere explained that outsourcing becomes more optimal because the companies doing it are also doing it for all the customers, saying that there is learning that you are going to bring to the table that will make you hit the ground running quicker. “It doesn’t diminish the value of what you are getting because you are not doing it because somebody else is doing it for you. What it does is that it is something that you are good at doing, so your IT people will

sit up and roll up their sleeves,” Okere said. He identified cloud computing as another cost cutting design, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that don’t have the huge funding requirements of setting up an IT centre. According to Okere, the smart thing for SMEs to do is to take advantage of a platform that has been built. “The next level is cloud computing. This is speaking more to the SMEs because they cannot afford the kind of budget that you will need even to set up an IT centre and you are talking about shops in Ikota, in Maitiama, Iyana Ipaja. I am talking about people making tie and dye; people in carpentry and so on. They want to use technology to enhance their businesses and they need to incur a certain cost,” he said.

Okere sais the way forward is for them to take a solution that someone has done for everybody and plug into it just like a utility. It is more optimal to have water from the waterworks than everybody digging a borehole. In Lagos, it is more optimal for power to come from the central grid than everybody having a generator. “We are spending the same amount. When everybody is generating power, the cost does not match the benefit. When the power is coming from the grid, you make an investment in which the benefit outweighs the cost. So, at the end of the day, you will need to spend money for the technology that you need to provide services because you have to look at what is the optimal rate to make an investment so that the benefits far outweigh the cost.”

Aerial cables solution to vandalism, says Phase 3 chief W ITH mounting complaints about incessant optic fibre cables’ (OFC) cut, which aggravate poor quality of service (QoS) by telcos, West Africa’s largest independent OFC infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, Phase3 Telecom, has said the option to terrestrial OFC is aerial which rides on high tension wires of power distribution companies (DISCOs) Its Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Jegede, who spoke on the sideline in Lagos, emphasised the uniqueness of aerial fibre optics technology. He said provides the best and most reliable transmission medium connecting cities in Nigeria and across the West African sub-region. “Phase 3 is offering the reliability of aerial fiber optics platform to connect multiple business locations, residential areas, institutions and government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) with diverse needs locally and across the region in the fastest and most resourceful manner that will broaden full

business and internet potentials. “This is in line with ongoing debate in the IT/ICT space in the country, which revolves around broadband connectivity in terms of access, affordability and speed. Ours is also in line with the Federal Government’s broadband aspirations-ubiquity and access, because of its potential to grow the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).” He said the firm is connecting several cities, including Ibadan and Kaduna to its internet protocol/multiprotocol label switching (IP/MPLS) point-of-access to provide affordable and robust broadband with enterprise solutions offerings, adding that this development means people and businesses in these cities will enjoy network access to several cities globally through the firm’s global IP/MPLS services, leveraging on its long term collaborations and partnerships with organisations such as with PCCW Global. Jegede said the firm is expand-

ing the reach of the company’s network through enterprise solutions and broadband services, stressing that it reinforces its dedication to value creation and solid commitment to providing exceptional customer experience and best in class technological solutions. He argued that the firm will continue to ensure service provision at low cost, making communications simpler and bringing multiple networks together onto a single IP platform that makes them easier to manage. This is because more businesses can connect to all their sites from large offices to smaller ones and choose the right access for each one based on available speed and resilience options. He said the firm’s enterprise solutions remained the best ICT decision that will help businesses cut costs and sustain value creation as well as increase productivity which is a much needed respite for doing business in a country such as Nigeria where the cost of doing business is significantly high.

‘Broadband ‘ll boost GDP growth, reduce poverty’

MPROVED broadband penetration can create wealth and unlock huge opportunities for millions of Nigerians, Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh has said. Ekeh, who spoke at a telecoms forum in Lagos, said enhanced broadband access would equip majority of Nigerians with the freedom to succeed in today’s digital society. He said: “With increased deployment of broadband and more equitable access for the majority, huge opportunities will be created for self-development in the country. Just consider the effect this will have on the cost of doing business and the unlimited resources it will place at our disposal. Presently, a lot of people do not see these opportunities due to the current infrastructural challenges being faced in the sector and the slow pace of ICT uptake in Nigeria.” Ekeh, who chaired the forum, said Nigeria’s population and cultural realities make the country a potentially lucrative market for broadband deployment, urging synergy between the government and private sector. He said: “We must increase the tempo because the market is

very huge. The digital divide must be bridged and access must become a basic human right for everyone in this country. Government has a critical role to play in this regard. With liberalised bandwidth allocation, investor-friendly policies and enabling environment for private sector involvement, the multiplier effect of broadband deployment is unquantifiable and will rapidly transform Nigeria into a digital economy.” Citing infrastructural deficiencies, security issues, multiple taxation and poor network quality as some of the factors hampering mobile broadband operators in Nigeria, Ekeh whose

‘We must increase the tempo because the market is very huge. The digital divide must be bridged and access must become a basic human right for everyone in this country. Government has a critical role to play in this regard’

Zinox Technologies has handled some of the biggest ICT projects in the country, urged participants to see the current challenges as temporary obstacles which will be surmounted with time, noting that Nigeria is a prime investment destination on the continent. The conference, which has Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT Potential for Growth as its theme, also featured a panel discussion involving representatives of major players in the industry. They included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Mathiew Wilshire, Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya and MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr Wale Goodluck The panelists agreed that Nigeria was overdue for 3G/LTE deployment in view of the massive opportunities it holds for unleashing human capital development. However, the government intervention in eliminating impediments, such as the high cost of broadband infrastructure deployment, spectrum allocation and issues of Right of Way, were also deemed crucial to this initiative.

•Vsat

Council urges implementation of Broadband Plan

HE National Broadband Council has urged stakeholders in the information communications technology (ICT) industry to expedite action on the implementation of National Broadband Plan of the Federal Government. Rising from its meeting chaired by Communications Technology Minister, Dr. Omobola Johnson, it acknowledged the progress made on the implementation of the Broadband Plan in the last 18 months, especially the increased capacity rolled out by telcos and other infrastructure providers, which had resulted in a two per cent increase in broadband penetration last year. The Council also said the successful auction of the 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum, licensing of the first two infrastructure companies (Infracos) for metro fibre rollout were giant

strides, adding that companies that won should quickly rollout to improve the pace of implementation. It commended the trial of TV White Spaces approved by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) geared at reducing cost of internet access. A statement by Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Efem Nkanga, said the Council also commended the telcos for their leadership in the area of base station infrastructure sharing and deployment and resolved that this needed to be extended to fibre. “Of particular concern to the Council, and the subject of extensive discussion during the meeting was the need to increase the landing points of international submarine cables beyond Lagos to other coastal states,” the statement said.

Vodacom signs to Convention on Business Integrity

TECHNOLOGY firm, Vodacom Business Nigeria, has signed into the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), a move which it said underscored its commitment to the observance of the Code of Business Integrity both within the company and in its dealings with customers and partners. Managing Director, Vodacom Business Africa, Douglas Craigie– Stevenson and his Vodacom Business Nigeria counterpart, Guy Clarke signed for Vodacom while the Executive Director, CBi, Mr Soji Apampa signed for his organisation during a ceremony in Ikoyi, Lagos. Craigie-Stevenson said Vodacom has always maintained the highest level of integrity in its business dealings in every country it operated, adding that formally joining the

group is a further manifestation of the firm’s unalloyed commitment of standing on the side of integrity all the time. “Joining the Convention on Business Integrity shows our commitment to conducting all our business affairs with honesty and professionalism,” he said. Apampa commended Vodacom Business Nigeria for taking the bull by its horns, stressing that with firms such as Vodacom joining the CBi, corporate governance will become a reality while corruption will become reduced. He said: “We recognise the necessity to build a strong alliance of companies and organisations such as Vodacom, their collective action will improve corporate governance and reduce corruption in the Nigerian business environment.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

BUSINESS

Odu’a Investment targets 50% turnover in five years

DU’A Investment Company Limited (OICL), is targetting 50 per cent turnover in the next five years, the Group Managing Director, Adewale Raji, has said. He spoke yesterdayat a retreat organised for the management of WEMABOD Estates Limited, at Premier hotel, Ibadan “Typically, I will say the company at its inception has been maintained solely for the heritage of the Yoruba people. And what is important is that when you have a change of leadership, the company should move to the next level. Our focus is

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

that we should get to the next level and we are in that level by bringing out new things that Yoruba sons and daughters will be proud of and also for the benefit of our people. And we are making the turnover move to 50 per cent in the next five years and that is our traget,” he said He said with the kind of ambition we have, with the 50 per cent turnaround, we realise we have to do new things to achieve our target. In areas where we have seen our alignment of value, and also in

value. Raji disclosed that to achieve its target, OICL has ventured into a partnership with a Spanish construction company called TODO Contruccion, adding that:” This is to form a joint venture of 50-50 per cent ownership by both parties to sell, import and market in Nigeria building finishes, in terms of Ceramic, tiles, bathroom finishes as well, bath, shower, cubicles, Jacuzzi, doors, frames amog others” He noted that they will began the partnership from marketing, and later look at the possibility of local

production. The OICL GMD further explained that:” Technically, it is the Spanish companyý that has the connection with about 100 other manufacturing companies, spread across Spain. The view is that we want to be able to get the branded products available for Nigerians, distributors and even private sectors. We are bringing on board, Odu’a Group with these companies. We are bringing market knowledge and at the end we want to ensure we are bringing in new innovations to building finishes in Nigeria”

Speaking on the essence of the WEMABOD retreat, he said the essential thing is for its management to look back at the past and challenge themselves on what they want to do in the future. “The situation today is that we see a lot of people participating in different sectors of real estate business in Nigeria. I believe they should be able to sharpen their focus in terms of the specific area they want to focus on. They should not focus on everything. They should sharpen their skills on the area they want to play and play there.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-02-15

NSE, pharmaceutical sector parley on funding, listing

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and key operators in the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector yesterday agreed on the need to work together to further develop the potential of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry and enhance the presence of the sector at the stock market. Key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector under the aegis of Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) paid a courtesy visit and held talks with the management of the NSE yesterday in Lagos. The NAIP delegation, which was led by its national chairman, Mr ‘Gbenga Falabi, included managing director of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okafor, managing director of Morison Industries Plc, Mr. John Adekoje and managing director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mrs Stella Okoli among others. Both May & Baker Nigeria and Morison Industries are listed on the NSE. Falabi said the visit was meant to strengthen the relationship between the pharmaceutical sector and the stock market noting that

more pharmaceutical companies will be listing their shares on the NSE. According to him, listing the shares of more pharmaceutical companies on the NSE will provide visibility to the industry and also help in deepening the capacity of the industry. He noted that in spite of its huge potential, the healthcare sector has little visibility on NSE due to the numbers of listed healthcare companies listed. “The industry seems to be public shy and we need to break this by bringing a good number of healthcare companies to list on the Exchange,” Falabi said. He pointed out that the healthcare sector has huge potential noting that Nigerian pharmaceutical companies are in the forefront of industry growth in Africa and are taking positions to play active roles in the global drug manufacturing contracts. “The industry is doing quite a lot in term of growth and for pharmaceutical world wide the growth is in the Africa region. N12,000 spent per every Nigeria of 170 million people will lead

to over N2 trillion yearly for the sector, this alone tells the potential in the industry,” Falabi noted. He pointed out that four Nigerian companies were recently accredited with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) certification preparatory to the pre-qualification for production of Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis and other drugs. The companies included May & Baker Nigeria Plc and Evans Medical Plc, both of which are quoted on the NSE. May & Baker Nigeria’s share price rose by 3.65 per cent to N1.42 yesterday. He added that more Nigerian companies are in the line for the WHO’s cGMP accreditation, which places Nigerian pharmaceutical companies at par with other international companies. Chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, reiterated the commitment of the Exchange to support companies in their growth plans, urging the pharmaceutical companies to use the platform of the market to boost the industry.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-02-15

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

MONEYLINK

Banks in Free Trade Zones get tax, duty waivers

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it would henceforth grant tax and duty waivers to banks operating in the Free Trade Zones (FTZs). CBN Director, Banking and Payment System, ‘Dipo Fatokun, who made this known in a circular, said the incentives will further the apex bank’s mandate for the development of banking operations in the country. The incentives, contained in the guidelines for banking operations in FTZ released yesterday, include freedom to move funds in and out of the zone on all eligible transactions, exemption from stamp duties on all its documents, exemption from withholding tax deductions on interest payable on deposits, dividends and royalties and exemption from corporate and capital gains taxes. The lenders, Fatokun said, will also be exempted from payment of duties on imports of furniture, office equipment and other facilities necessary for its operations; and any

Stories by Collins Nweze

other incentives as may be approved by the CBN, from time to time. He said only banks or financial holding companies licensed under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), or licensed foreign banks, shall qualify to apply to the authority for approval to establish presence to carry on banking business in Nigeria’s FTZs. The CBN Director said the provisions of the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) Act, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Act, BOFIA, CBN Act, and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation Act and all guidelines and regulations issued pursuant to these Acts shall apply to banks operating in the FTZs. “Without prejudice to the powers of NEPZA to grant Licenses, no enterprise shall carry on banking business in any FTZ in Nigeria without a prior approval granted to the parent bank and banking license granted to the subsidiary by the CBN. The required minimum paid-up capital to

operate in FTZ of Nigeria shall be $10 million, or such other amount as the CBN may from time to time prescribe. In addition, a bank in the FTZ shall meet all the prudential requirements as may be specified from time to time by the CBN,” he said. Fatokun said a bank in the FTZs shall disclose to the CBN, the equity interests of its directors and key officers in any enterprise in the zones within 14 days of acquisition of such interest. He said a licensed bank in the FTZ may accept deposits; grant to any person, advance, loans, or credit facility, or give any financial guarantee, or incur any other liability on behalf of any person; make remittances of funds abroad or to Nigeria Customs Territory on behalf of any non-resident; undertake any other foreign exchange transaction as may be prescribed by the CBN, from time to time; and carry out any other activity that may be approved by the CBN. However, the CBN stopped such lenders from sourcing foreign ex-

Dealers halt trading as naira value falls

EALERS yesterday pulled the plug on electronic trading in the naira after it slid past the key level of 200 to the dollar on fears the postponement of this week’s election could trigger a constitutional crisis. Deploying for the first time a ‘circuit-breaker’ agreed among themselves last month, leading banks in Lagos halted trade after the naira dropped more than two per cent. At its weakest, it was quoted at a record low of 204.25 to the dollar, a decline of 20 per cent since the start of November. The rout has been driven by the combination of a tumbling oil

price and a rise in political risk, highlighted by last Saturday when authorities pushed back the February 14 presidential election by six weeks, blaming it on insurgency accentuated by Boko Haram militants. It was not clear when normal naira trading in might resume. Although the halt is meant to calm nerves, it undermines Nigeria’s credibility as a smoothly operating capital market and could trigger its ejection from a key JP Morgan emerging market bond index. In the year after Nigeria joined the index in October 2012, foreign bond-holdings jumped from $1.2 billion to $5.4 billion, but JP

Morgan said last month Nigeria’s inclusion was under review because of a lack of market liquidity. Ejection from the index would trigger major capital outflows because investors who track it would have to sell Nigerian bonds. That would exacerbate a budget crunch in Abuja by removing an important source of funding and further hammer the currency. In another sign of strain on the financial system, the rate banks charge each other for overnight lending spiked to 100 percent this week as the central bank sucked up naira to support the currency rather than continuing to leak foreign reserves.

change from the official foreign exchange market of the Nigeria Customs Territory; opening an account for a customer in contravention of the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) principles; undertaking any other transactions which are inimical to the interest of the FTZ; and any other activity that may be specified by the CBN or other relevant authorities, from time to time. Also, banks within the FTZs are required to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Central Bank of Nigeria AML/CFT Regulations for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria, 2013. The sources of funds for the lenders include deposits from non-bank customers such as Multinational Corporations, International Corporations, Non-resident or resident per-

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele sons or entities, approved Enterprises in the FTZs, Regional Financial Agencies or Institutions and Euro-Money Markets; Inter-bank borrowing within the FTZs or with foreign banks; Export Proceeds; Equity Capital; and Such other sources of funds as may be approved by the CBN from time to time in consultation with the Authority.

Overnight rate falls on liquidity boost

HE overnight interbank lending rate fell to 12 per cent from the previous day’s record high of 100 percent, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) refunded naira to dealers who were unsuccessful at its dollar auction. Dealers said a N30 billion budget allocation to some government agencies was also credited through the banking system, boosting liquidity. Banks’ balance with the CBN stood at a credit of N123 billion, from N52.3 billion in credit previous day. The CBN has been tightening liquidity and intervening directly with dollar sales to commercial lenders to support the ailing naira, hit by falling oil prices. Nigeria may have its credit rating cut as lower oil prices and political uncertainty weaken Africa’s largest economy, Standard & Poor’s said. Meanwhile, three-month naira-dollar historical volatility climbed to 21

percent on Wednesday, the highest since March 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That compares with 3.3 percent in September and an average 8.4 percent over the past 12 months. The naira weakened as much as 2.3 percent to N204.10 per dollar and traded at N204.05. The S&P said it is reviewing Nigeria for a possible downgrade, indicating there’s more than a 50 percent chance for the country to lose its BB- rating, or three steps below investment grade. The move came one day after it cut a group of oil producing countries including Kazakhstan, Bahrain and Venezuela and lowered the outlook for Saudi Arabia to negative. “The decline in oil prices has a significant impact on the outlook for Nigeria’s external position,” S&P’s analysts led by Ravi Bhatia wrote in the statement. “Political risks also remain significant.”

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

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,107.56 112.55 121.16 1.67 1.29 1.32 0.95 1.17

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,106.79 111.96 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17

GAINERS AS AT 11-02-15

SYMBOL BETAGLAS JBERGER AIRSERVICE MAYBAKER OKOMUOIL STANBIC REDSTAREX FIDELITYBK FCMB PZ SEPLAT

O/PRICE 28.60 42.65 1.79 1.37 26.64 24.00 3.80 1.15 2.05 26.80 368.11

C/PRICE 30.00 44.40 1.86 1.42 27.50 24.70 3.90 1.18 2.09 26.99 368.20

CHANGE 4.90 4.10 3.91 3.65 3.23 2.92 2.63 2.61 1.95 0.71 0.02

LOSERS AS AT 11-02-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

ASHAKACEM FLOURMILL NASCON DANGSUGAR CHAMPION DANGFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL UBA NPFMCRFBK FO TRANSEXPR SKYEBANK HONYFLOUR

19.24 32.11 6.84 7.15 6.57 4.17 3.33 3.18 0.86 209.48 0.95 1.91 3.28

C/PRICE 18.28 30.51 6.50 6.80 6.25 3.97 3.17 3.03 0.82 200.00 0.91 1.83 3.15

CHANGE -4.99 -4.98 -4.97 -4.90 -4.87 -4.80 -4.80 -4.72 -4.65 -4.53 -4.21 -4.19 -3.96

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 11, 2015

R-DAS ($/N)

168.00

Interbank ($/N)

202.50

Black Market ($/N)

212.00

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: December

CBN EXCHANGE RATES (RDAS) February 11, 2015

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$34.5b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$59

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

11.94

12.18

13.08

13.33

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. 11, 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 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

SHOWBIZ

My biggest desire this year is marriage - Anita Joseph

• Hosts, 2Face (Nigeria), Co-host, Maryse Acotie (Togo) and Davido (Nigeria) at 2014 AFRIMA held in Lagos

AFRIMA holds soiree for creative industry

HE All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, rec e n t l y invited collaborators, partners and friends from the creative industry of Nigeria to an evening event tagged ‘Soiree with AFRIMA’ at the Amber Residence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos. The soiree was an opportunity for the International Committee of AFRIMA to receive feedback from the invitees on 2014 edition of the award ceremony which took place in Lagos, last December, in partnership with the African Union Commission(AUC). The awards was hosted by Africa’s leading contemporary music star, Tuface and Maryse Acotie, a famous broadcaster from Togo. Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr Mike Dada,at the event also appreciated everyone that contributed to

the success of the 2014 edition of the awards ceremony. He also said that all the awards winners will be hosted at the headquarters of the AUC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at a date to be announced soon. Those present at the soiree applauded the AFRIMA organising committee for putting together a spectacular first edition, while suggestions were offered towards a memorable hosting of AFRIMA 2015. The CEO, NowMuzik, Mr EfeOmorogbe said that despite the postponement of the maiden awards ceremony from November 9 to December 27, a peak season of activity for entertainment artistes, it was still a great show. “The interesting thing is that I actually learnt one or two lessons from the awards ceremony that will be

useful when next I am organising a show,” Omorogbe said. AFRIMA Co-Producer & Country Director, Nigeria, Mr Kingsley James applauded the commitment and the turnout of participants while urging more involvement to esure the success of the 2015 All Africa Music Awards. Guests later wined and dined and enjoyed good music at the poolside of Amber Residence. Some guests at the soiree were Mr Dele Esan from Primetime/Kennis Music, MD, Rods & Cones Limited, J o h n A d u l o j u , MrOlusolaAdeyefa of ValuaTech Marketing Limited, Mr Layinka Oyedeji of Reve Entertainment, UzorNdukwu of 2like I Entertainment and MD HUES Consult, Seun Soyinka among others.

Kuti brothers to perform together at Seun’s album launch

FROBEATS music lovers can get ready for a double dose of fun as scions of the late Afrobeat musician FelaAnikulapoKuti, Femi and Seun, are set to go on a tour together. Seun, the younger of Fela’s sons playing Afrobeats, had recently posed the possibility of such a tour on his facebook page. H o w e v e r , AdeyinkaTondu, SeunKuti’s manager, confirmed that the Kuti brothers are indeed going to be performing together. He said the event tagged ‘The Twin Giant Con-

By Joe Agbro Jr

cert (TTGC)’ which is billed to take place at Eko Hotel, Lagos on March 14, is part of activities lined up to launch Seun’s most recent album, A Long Way To The Beginnin,g in the country. The show which has the support of Alliance Francais also ties in with the Francophone week, which is celebrated in Francophone African countries, and starts on March 14. According to Tondu, the concert will feature both Kuti brothers performing on the same stage as well as a line-

• Femi

• Seun

up of other Nigerian music stars such as Tuface, Olamide, Wizkid and Dbanj. “It is going to be explosive having both Kuti brothers on stage,” said Tondu. “It is also Afrobeat meets new school, a night for everybody to find something to enjoy.” The album, A Long Way To The Beginning, was produced in 2014 under the Knitting Factory Records label and has seven tracks which includes IMF, African Airways and OhunAiye. The other tracks are Kalakuta Boy, African Smoke, Black Woman and Higher Consciousness.

ARING and controversial Nollywood actress, Anita Joseph, has said that apart from her wish to experience speedy progress in her chosen career of acting, she hopes that 2015 will not pass by without her walking down the aisle with her Mr Right. However, she would not reveal much about who she is dating. “I do not talk about my relationship on the pages of newspaper but I really want to get it right with him this year. So join me and pray,” she said. The year also started on a busy note for the actress. “It is a new year and I am not a fan of new year resolutions,” said the Anambra State-born actress, “but by the beginning of the year I prayed that It will be my year of speedy attainment and already I believe God is doing that for me as I have done a good number of jobs with colleagues that I respect a lot.” The actress revealed she

By Mercy Michael

had fun working with Queen Nwokoye on a story about an abandoned girl child who struggles between prostitution and other crimes in a bid to sur-

vive. “What I enjoyed most is the fact that I was a paraga (local gin) seller and a tomboy,” she said. “Then there is the other job with FunkeAkindele but I am not allowed to talk about it.”

• Anita

Beyonce, JayZ plan new album

EYONCE and Jay Z are said to be working on a joint album together from their producer Detail. The long-speculated mega album collaboration between Jay Z and Beyonce may just be around the corner. As evidenced by the award-winning music producer Detail who took time after his Grammy win last night to drop some heavy hints to fans who may just be anticipating the album “I’m working with a couple

of new projects that I don’t want to unveil, and then me and Beyonce and Jay Z are actually doing something together this year.” “When you think of Jay and Bey together, you think ‘album.’ You should already know,” he said. Well there you have it. Beyonce and Jay z are going to drop something pretty awesome for fans by the end of the year. Hopefully by then we can expect a single or maybe even an album

drop from the two. Detail walked away with a Grammy last night for the two couple which won Best R&B Song. The producer was also nominated for Best Rap song for We Dem Boys with Wiz Khalifa but lost out to Kendrick Lamar. Beyonce and Jay Z have worked together in the past, touring last year in the On The Run tour after the release of their albums Beyonce and Magna Carta ... Holy Grail respectively.

Amina Atairu dumps acting for broadcasting …Says I got tired of the whole madness happening in Nollywood

OLLYWOOD actress, Amina Atairu has finally dumped acting to pursue her dream as a broadcaster. The actress, who was spotted recently at an event in Victoria Island, Lagos, said she’s glad she’s finally doing what she has always wanted to do. According to Atairu who now works with Agatha Amata’s Rave TV, she called it quits with acting after her birthday in June 2013. “I just made up my mind not to do it anymore,” she said. “I got tired of the whole madness that was happening in Nollywood. People give you script and they want you to go nude in front of the camera. Then if you reject it, they tell you, okay, choose a role that you want and pay for it. People pay for role that is what is trending right now. Or you bring part of the money and come as executive producer of the movie.” Asked whether she would have continued if the terms were right, the actress replied in the negative. “Entertainment is my thing but I just wanted something more serious,” says the actress who had a stint with oil and gas before

By Mercy Michael

finally pitching her tent with Rave TV inJuly, 2014.”I’m fulfilled as a broadcaster. I have always been in and out of broadcasting. Acting is fun, acting is interesting but • Amina with the way it’s going, I don’t think I want to get myself involved in their happy. It is difficult for a dirty business. I don’t want broadcaster to say that they to be part of the people that are comfortable. We are have to pay to get a better comfortable here.” role in the industry.” On challenges as a broadThe former actress de- caster, Atairu said her role scribed her present boss, as a broadcaster also inAgatha, as an interesting volves marketing. “You are character and a mother. in front of the TV, (but) be“As your mother she scolds hind the camera you are exyou and teaches you to do a pected to market your prodwhole lot,” she said. “Work- uct,” she said. “I mean, they ing with Rave has been fun are paying for airtime now. and interesting because you It’s not easy. Marketing is just discover that there cer- crazy because you have to tain things you do not get speak to different kind of from other broadcasting out- people. The annoying ones, fit that you are getting here the very rude ones, the ones and you just tell yourself, if you are not supposed to call, this is what I have been get- you will be begging them, ting, I don’t think I would calling them sir, sir, because have left were I was. So far you are looking for someAgatha does everything to thing. The marketing aspect make sure all her staf fare has really been crazy.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS Elechi: I’ve not stolen govt fund From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to examine the state’s finances to determine if he has stolen funds. He spoke yesterday when inaugurating the Oferekpe mega water scheme. Elechi said: “I urge the indigenes to bring pressure to bear on our House of Assembly members, who have vowed not to allow us get the funds to do projects for our people. Our expenditure profile is under scrutiny and we invite anti-graft agencies to examine our books and tell us where we have stolen government money. “I believe we have discharged our responsibilities. We have acquitted ourselves. The rest is left to God to decide. But we believe we have the capacity, the zeal and the vision to transmit water to every community in the state.” EFCC and ICPC have been grilling government officials, including Governor Elechi’s son, Prince Nnanna, for alleged fraud.

Confusion in Ebonyi as House declares four seats vacant

BONYI State House of Assembly has declared the seats of four members vacant, for defecting to another party. Speaker Chukwuma Nwazunku, reading a resolution, said the lawmakers violated Section 109, Sub-section 1G of the 1999 Constitution as amended, by defecting to another party without stipulated guidelines. He said: “The affected members include: Chief Eni Uduma-Chima (PDP-Afikpo South West), Mr. Sam Nwali (PDP-Ikwo North), Mrs. Helen-Nwaobashi (PDP— Abakaliki South) and Mrs. Mabel Aleke (PDP—Ohaukwu South). “They defected to another party without due consultation to the laid down rules stipulated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform they were elected. “Their actions bring the integrity of the House into disrepute, as the declaration of vacancy to their seats takes

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

effect from February 11. “We, therefore, inform the commissioner of police, State Security Service (SSS), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies on the matter for appropriate actions.” But Eni said the Speaker and members, who attended the sitting, might have erroneously and foolishly shot themselves, as the resolution meant that the 24-member House had wound up, as it no longer had the minimum required number as stipulated in the constitution. His words: “The purported declaration of four seats vacant in the House of Assembly will mean the end of the activities of the Fourth Assembly until a by- election is conducted, because by the provision of Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, ‘a House of Assembly shall consist of not less than 24 members and not more than 40’.

“If the purported declaration was to stand, it will mean technically that the House has come to an end because only 20 persons will be members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.” Eni, who briefed reporters with nine other legislators, said: “The issue of declaring seats of members vacant cannot hold, on the grounds that it is a subject matter of a suit pending before the Federal High Court holding in Abakaliki between Rt Hon Blaise Orji and others V Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku and others. “By virtue of Section 109(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the Assembly if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a party, he becomes a member of another party before the expiration of the period for which he was elected; provided that his membership of the later party is not as a result of a division in the party of which he was previously a member or a merg-

er of two or more parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored. “The suit, among other things, for the court to determine or not there was or and is crisis and factions in the PDP as at the time some members defected to the Labour Party (LP). “All processes were filed and all the parties including INEC, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Nwazunku and others were duly served. The matter is properly before the Federal High Court, Abakaliki and delving into it is obviously the height of the display of contempt, which Hon Nwazunku and his cohorts have for the judiciary.” The Nation learnt that the Nwazunku faction initially planned to begin impeachment proceedings against Governor Martin Elechi during yesterday’s sitting, but was forced to shelve the plan as it could not get the stipulated two-third number of lawmakers needed for such action. Only 14 members were

By Aladelokun Dada

Vehicle owners get ultimatum

HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of all accidented and abandoned vehicles parked at Oke-Odo police station to remove them within 21 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public. They are: Volkswagen Bus with registration number YD 412 KJA, Volkswagen Car BC 164 AAA, Volkswagen Vento Car FF 223 ABC, Chrysler Car NF 965 AAA, Mazda Car BT 516 KTU, Pontiac Space Wagon GGE 853 AE and Altima Car unregistered.

Onwuliri under fire for Govt House invasion From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

APC candidate donates buses SENATORIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ogun East, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has pledged to improve the lot of the people if elected. Abiodun, an oil and gas magnate, presenting two 18seater buses to the Market Women and Men Association of Ijebu land, at Oke-Aje Market, Ijebu Ode, yesterday, said the action became necessary to assist market women and men in the nine local governments (Ikenne, Remo North, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Ijebu Ode, Ogun Waterside, Sagamu, Odogbolu and Ijebu East) in Ogun East. The senatorial candidate, who a week ago during his campaign in wards in the district donated four transformers valued at N12million to four communities-Okesopen, in Ijebu Igbo (Ijebu North Local Government council), Emuren (Sagamu Local Government Council Area), Isonyin and Irewon towns (Ijebu North East Local Government council Area), which had been without electricity for almost two years, promised to look into the introduction of microfinance scheme, which would give market women and men access to funds at zero interestfree rate.

present at the sitting presided over by Nwazunku, which fell short of the required number of 16. The House also elected to declare only four seats vacant of a total nine seats, whose occupants defected to the LP. They did not declare the seat of Joseph Nwobasi (Ezza North East), who defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the PDP, vacant. The House, during the plenary, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the principal officers of local governments, the commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Finance, among others; if they fail to appear before it at the next plenary. Moving a motion on the matter, Mr. Frank Onwe (PDP—Ohaukwu North), noted that the affected officers should appear before the House to explain the financial rot in the local government system.

•Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Hyginus Omeje, greeting the Parish Priest of St Leo's Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. John Aniagwu, at the command's thanksgiving service at the church in Ikeja, Lagos. With them are: the Co-ordinator, Special Marshal and Partnership, Mr Toyin Kadiku and the Sector Head of Operations, Deputy Corps Commander Kikelomo Akinnusoye.

How to empower youths

HE only way the country can grow is to develop its youth, build their capacity and expose them, so that they can cope with world-class best practices, a Senior Trade Advisor/ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Dr Nelson Olatunji Olaniyi, has said. He said exposure has a way of refining one’s thoughts and thinking processes

By Nneka Nwaneri

Olaniyi spoke at a breakfast forum organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), with the theme: ‘Youth Empwerment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation’. The event was chaired by the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade. Dr Olaniyi said building youth capacity must be the

collective responsibility of the private and public sectors. His words: “Youth development is the main engine for hope. It is likened to laying a good bed for future rest.” Olaniyi advised that a multidiscipinary case study should be introduced into the universities’ curriculum, to produce IT-certified graduates. Making reference to the “Igbo boy model”, who be-

gan multimillion naira industries from little or no capital, he said the model worked despite the challenges. Said he: “Igbo businesses are sustainable because of Ndigbo foundation. They neither need a bank loan nor wait around for employment before they start businesses. “They believe in growing their capital. This is why the millionaires among them are increasing.”

APC to Fed Govt: don’t shift new polls’ dates

HE National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Mai Mala Buni, yesterday urged the Federal Government to stick to the new polls’ dates and allow the will of the people to prevail. He demanded a level-playing field for the parties to make the elections credible. Buni, who addressed reporters in Abuja, said the government was inconsistent in its reasons for polls shift. He said: “All we are asking for is a level-playing field where every voter will not be stampeded or prevented from discharging his civic responsibility. The will of the people has always been the will of God, and should be allowed to prevail during and after the elections. “Nigerians are increasingly becoming more and more sophisticated with their

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

electoral rights and obligations, and will not accept any arbitrary interference with that right. “The APC has confidence in our men and women of the Armed Forces, who have made tremendous sacrifice to defend and protect the territorial integrity of the country and the constitution.” Buni said the Jonathan government has disappointed Nigerians and the international community by shifting the polls against popular demand that the elections should hold as scheduled on February 14 and 28, He said the government should “not worsen the matter by further manipulating the electoral process or blocking a levelplaying field.” He faulted the inconsistency of

government, citing inadequate distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and insecurity in some states as reasons for the shift. Buni said the electorate can no longer trust the government that is always playing with the people’s intelligence. He added: “Remember that there are 774 local governments in the country and according to the authorities, only about 10 councils or thereabout in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa may be unsafe for elections because of the Boko Haram activities. “Does that justify the claim by the National Security Adviser that polls cannot hold in the entire country, simply because of threats to security in one or two local government areas? This is unfair.”

HE invasion of the Imo State Government House by alleged supporters of the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, has been condemned by politicians and students. They described the action as the height of recklessness by a top government official. The students, under the umbrella of the National Union of Imo State Students (NUISS), cautioned politicians against actions that could disrupt peace and security. The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Godstime Samuel, who alleged that students who came to observe what was happening were brutalised by security operatives, warned that they would work against politicians disrupting peace. The police command criticised the organisers of the anti-Okorocha protest, which left scores injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed. It said they did not inform it or secure its approval to embark on the protest.

Ex-UI VC urges professionals to aid policy making From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ORMER Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, has urged professionals to be involved in policy formulation and implementation, to ensure development. He was a guest speaker at the 2014 annual dinner and induction of corporate members of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibadan branch. The don, represented by Prof. Olajide Olorunisola, said: “The role of professionals in national development cannot be overemphasised. The society expects them to be a repository of knowledge and contribute to nation building. They should have sound character and obey professional code of ethics without faulting the law governing the profession. “They need to be involved in policy formulation and implementation.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS Response to Boko Haram inadequate, says Obasanjo •. ‘I didn’t endorse Buhari as such’

HE growth of the Islamist group, Boko Haram and its campaign of violence is a consequence of an ineffective state response to the insurgency, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Wednesday. “That can only be as a result of inadequate action, both in terms of stick and carrot,” Obasanjo told reporters in London at an event to promote his memoirs. Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in its six-year campaign to impose Shariah law on the country, has also claimed control over huge swathes of the northeast. Troops from Chad, Cameroon and Niger, as well as Nigeria, are fighting the rebels. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delayed this week-

end’s election by six weeks after security forces said they couldn’t guarantee safety in the northeast. Obasanjo said he had not endorsed opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, who is President Goodluck Jonathan’s main challenger in next month’s election. “I didn’t endorse him as such,” said Obasanjo, who represented Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party during his term as elected president. “I will determine based on the track record of candidates who are contesting and who ask me for support.” The PDP, in power since the military ceded control of Africa’s top oil producer in 1999, faces its stiffest challenge in a presidential vote set for March 28, after the poll was postponed from its original date of Feb. 14.

Vandalism: Fed Govt cries out as power lowers to over 2,000MW From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

OWER Minister Prof. Chinedu Nebo yesterday blamed the reduction in power generation to vandalism of oil and gas pipelines. The power generation stood at 2,000 megawatts yesterday. Speaking at a world news conference in Abuja, the minister said the extensive nature of pipelines has made the facility cumbersome for policing. He, however, said President Goodluck Jonathan “is working to ensure that resources are deployed for remote monitoring” of the oil and gas pipelines. According to the Permanent Secretary in the Power Ministry, Godknows Igali, the power reduced to 2,000 and something megawatts and something mega watts today. The ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) throught the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Affairs, Jude Imhagwe with a popular musician, Charlie Oputa (Charlie Boy) on the propagation of secure pipeline campaign. Other measures adopted to tackle the vandalism of power infrastructure, according to him, were collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the National Security Adviser. He said: “Gas infrastructure vandalism and crude oil theft are the causes of significant economic loss to the Nigerian nation as well as the cause of insufficient power supply. “vandalism of oil and gas and power infrastructure always results in loss of crude oil and revenue, loss of gas and revenue impacting electricity tariff.”

•From left: Zone 7 AIG, Mr Patrick Dukumor; Kaduna State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Husani Mahuta and Director, State Security Services, Mr Abayomi Zamba, at a meeting on security for general elections in Kaduna...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Plot to remove Dickson thickens

HE First Lady’s camp in Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is holding meetings on new strategies to allegedly remove Governor Seriake Dickson, it was learnt yesterday. The crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the party had worsened, with Mrs Patience Jonathan’s camp allegedly bent on impeaching the governor. It was learnt that the crucial meetings followed the outcome of the party’s presidential rally in Yenagoa, the state capital; the postponement of the general elections and the sudden removal of Police Commissioner Valentine Ntomchukwu. Members of the camp include the state chapter of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Women for Change Initiative (WCI), Abuja-based politicians, especially members of the National Assembly

•First Lady’s camp plans new strategies From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

from the state and aggrieved PDP members. They were said to have been surprised by President Goodluck Jonathan’s public support for Dickson and his administration at the rally. Jonathan also publicly declared those working against the governor his enemies. It was gathered that the postponement of the general elections had put a spanner in the works of the camp, especially its alleged plan to continuously attack Dickson after the presidential election. Besides, the camp is said to be worried that Ntomchukwu, who was deployed in the state through the First Lady’s influence to assist the group’s activities, had been

transferred. A source said the Presidential Adviser on Domestics, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, who is said to be the First Lady’s choice to replace Dickson, called a two-day meeting of the group in Abuja. The source, who spoke in confidence, said the First Lady ordered Dudafa to convene the meeting to review the group’s setbacks and plan new strategies. The source said: “It is a two-day meeting. The first meeting, which involved a smaller group, held on Wednesday (yesterday), while the enlarged gathering will hold today (Thursday). “A shift in the elections, as it affects the group’s earlier plan to intensify its attacks on the governor after the presidential election, will dominate discussions at the

meeting. “Among the key issues slated for discussion is the strategy to ensure that all Dickson’s candidates fail in the National and House of Assembly elections. “The group is also worried that the First Lady was unable to stop the redeployment of the police commissioner.” The source stressed that the group was planning new ways to hijack the state structures of the party from the governor. The source added: “They (group’s members) are complaining about the governor’s grip on the party’s structures. A part of the strategy is to prevail on the First Lady to wrest the party’s structures from the governor or deploy security on Election Day to stop the governor’s candidates from winning.”

Jonathan’s campaign attacks INEC over PVCs’ distribution

HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of discriminating against its supporters in the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in certain states. The PDP has also accused the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega of holding secret meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and undisclosed locations within the Nigeria. Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, made the allegations at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday. Fani-Kayode listed Benue, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Plateau as some of the states where INEC had discriminated against PDP supporters in the distribution of the PVCs. In Lagos State, the ruling party accused INEC of denying non-indigenes of the cards. The non-indigenes, FaniKayode said, form the bulk of PDP’s supporters in Lagos State. A pro-Jonathan group, com-

Commission insists on use of PVCs

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) insisted yesterday that there is no going back on the use of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the rescheduled general elections. The Director General of the Goodluck// Sambo Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, on Tuesday, called for the jettison of the use of the PVCs, saying Nigerians were yet to master the new technology introduced by the electoral body. Also yesterday, Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged discrimination against PDP supporters in the distribution of the PVCs. But, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said the commission

had concluded plans on the use of the PVCs for the elections. “The commission’s stand on the issue had always been known that the PVCs will be used for voting during the elections,” he said. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had insisted at different occasions that the PVCs remain the only full-proof against electoral fraud. He argued that allowing the use of the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) would be a setback to the country’s democratic process. Prof. Jega had also assured Nigerians that the shift in dates would enable the commission resolve issues relating to non-collection of the PVCs. INEC had also announced extension of deadline for the collection of the PVCs till March 8, 2015.

•Party says Jega meets with opposition From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

prising Chief Edwin Clark; former Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; former old Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and Archbishop Ayo Ladigolu had earlier accused Jega of holding secret meetings with members of the Arewa Consultative Fo-

rum (ACF) at an undisclosed location. Clark and his group called for Jega’s resignation and arrest by the security agencies. But, the INEC chairman, during a question and answer session with reporters at his last news conference, described the accusation as a distraction, baseless and unfounded. Yesterday, Fani-Kayode de-

clined reporters request to substantiate the allegation of Jega’s meetings with APC leaders in Dubai and other secret locations in the country. When some reporters at the briefing reminded Fani-Kayode that Jega had since refuted the allegation at a previous briefing, the campaign spokesman insisted that the INEC chair must still answer the charges.

Fani-Kayode: “It is left for Jega to come out and defend himself. It depends on how he responds; perhaps, he may confess. He must respond before people lose confidence in him. We have our facts and figures. “We cannot say everything at a single press conference. Chief Clark, Dr. Ekwueme, Dr. Ezeife and others have already called for Jega’s resignation. “I want him to answer us. Then, we will take him up from there. When he answers, we will know the next step to take.” In a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, in a text message said the INEC would not join issues with political parties because the commission remained a dispassionate umpire. However, the President’s campaign spokesman described as “asinine” accusation of purchase of PVCs levelled against the ruling party by the opposition. He stressed that the PVCs once purchased, could not be used by any other person other than the original owners, adding that the cards would require the thumbprints of the

original owners to be valid. Reacting to the endorsement of the APC presidential candidate by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a function in Nairobi, Kenya, as reported in the media yesterday, Fani-Kayode said Obasanjo was entitled to his views. He added, however, that it would be a surprise for Obasanjo to endorse Buhari, in view of what he (Obasanjo) knew about the APC presidential candidate. Fani-Kayode said: “Obasanjo is entitled to his views. It’s about one man, one vote. It is unfortunate that Obasanjo knows Buhari and still endorsed him. We wish him well”. The President’s campaign spokesman denied the military siege to the Ikoyi, Lagos private residence of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying: “It is a pernicious lie. It is untrue. “How can it be possible to monitor him? What threat does he present to our nation? It is a sorry time that a leading opposition is making such allegation. Nigeria is not a police state. We don’t prosecute people with police, with soldiers, with SSS”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS Yero, El-Rufai, others sign peace pact in Kaduna From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ADUNA State Governor and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and other flag bearers with their party stakeholders yesterday signed a peace pact to ensure violence-free campaign and elections. The peace accord was facilitated by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, comprising Niger and Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Patrick Dokumor. Dokumor, who spoke at the Police Officers’ Mess on Independence Way in Kaduna, said political campaigns were increasingly becoming violent. The police chief said there was need for all to embrace peace. He promised to bring to prosecute anyone who breaks the peace pact, no matter how highly placed. Dokumor said: “Campaigns, in recent times, have been characterised by violence. An election should seen as a game in which no one uses weapon or unleash terror on another. “This country is greater than any individual or group. Therefore, no group of people will be allowed to set this country ablaze. We will not spare anybody. Whoever it may be, we will not tolerate that any longer.” Yero, who said the peace pact was in the interest of the people, urged other candidates and their supporters to desist from destroying his posters.

Millions gone in Sokoto market fire

ROPERTY worth millions of naira were destroyed on Tuesday night when fire razed 11 shops at Sokoto Central Market. The fire was still burning yesterday when our reporter visited the market. It was learnt that the fire was the second in nine years at the market. The first was in 2006. Last Tuesday’s fire, which started around midnight, could not be put out until 3am on Wednesday, despite the combined efforts of firemen from the state fire service, the Nigerian Security

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police, some traders and nearby residents. A fireman, Mamman Dan-Tullo, spoke with our reporter on the incident. He said: “There was no electricity supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) when the fire started. But investigation will reveal the likely cause of the fire. “But nobody died in the fire. There was no injury; only the heavy losses incurred by the affected trad-

ers.” One of the affected traders, Abubakar Murtala, said he lost cosmetics, foodstuffs, detergent and cash, to the fire. But he was happy that nobody died in the fire. Murtala said: “We have been taken back again because we lost all we had laboured in the first fire about two decades ago.” Another victim, Alhaji Aminu Maisuga, urged the government and publicspirited individuals to come to their aid. He said: “We want assistance in cash to restart our

businesses. We are appealing to the state government to immediately renovate the burnt shops.” A worker in market, Alhaji Bashiru Isa, said the management would write a report on the incident to the government. He said: “The state government will surely rehabilitate the burnt shops. It will also give necessary financial assistance to the victims.” NSCDC’s State Commandant Yusha’u Yamel promised that his officers would continue to guard the affected the section of the market to prevent looting.

He told the newsmen,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged retired military men to join hands with other security agents to tackle the security challenges. The governor spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, when the leadership of Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers (RANAO) visited him. He noted that the nation could still tap from the wealth of experience of the retired officers. Ahmed urged RANAO’s leadership and members to come up with strategies on how the country could overcome the prevailing security challenges. He said: “As senior citizens with very rich wealth of experience in military tactics and strategies, members of RANAO have important roles to play in driving good governance in the country.” RANAO’s Chairman Captain Ibrahim Ahmed (rtd) said his members were ready to work for the security of life and property in the state.

Plateau APC may withdraw from peace pact From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Lagos ‘ll remain safe, say Police AGOS State Police Command assured residents yesterday of their readiness to ensure that the state remains calm and peaceful, saying they would work in collaboration with other security agencies to make the environment safe for trade and commerce. Fielding questions from reporters after the weekly State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, said the Police and other security agencies were alert to ensure the security of life and property in all parts of the state. Noting that there are some security challenges currently at hand, the Commissioner said his Command and other security agencies were addressing such challenges “frontally and in a very comprehensive manner” assuring that in a couple of days and weeks Lagosians would see the results of their efforts.

Ahmed: help in fight against insurgency

•The market after the fire...yesterday

Wamakko: Nigeria ‘ll become stronger

OKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko has said Nigeria will come out stronger from the present security challenges. He said: “We will soon overcome the shock and get stabilised. We will be stronger.” The governor urged Nigerians to shun violence and embrace peace, progress and political growth of the country. “It is only by so doing that the country would be more united and become stronger now and for future generations,” he said. Wamakko addressed reporters in Sokoto on the state of the nation and the need for Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful. The governor noted that Nigerians had no other major task ahead of them than to seek divine intervention. He said: “We really have to be committed to and be fervent in prayers for God’s intervention in the nation’s quest for socio-economic and political growth.” The APC governor

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

stressed that “seeking God’s intervention” would rid the nation of those responsible for the present insecurity. Wamakko urged Nigerians to be more security-conscious by reporting the movements of suspicious characters to the nearest security agencies. He said: “The time has come for all Nigerians to be watchful and vigilant in confronting the present security challenges facing us as a nation.” The governor called for patience and understanding among Nigerians on the postponement of the February general elections to March 28 and April 11.He also sought political tolerance and understanding among politicians for the overall political growth of the nation. Wamakko also promised qualitative representation in the National Assembly, if elected.

The governor said he was not aspiring to make money but to further build the nation through the Senate. He said: “I am aspiring to become a senator not to get money or buy new cars for myself and my family but to go there for the country and work for improved lives for Nigerians.” Addressing reporters yesterday in Sokoto, Wamakko said he would use his wealth of experience to initiate Bills that would have direct impact on Nigerians. The senatorial candidate promised to ensure that such Bills are promptly implemented for the benefit of Nigerians. He called for the devolution of more powers and resources to the states and local governments because of their proximity to the grassroots. Wamakko noted that entrusting more powers and resources in the hands of the Federal Government would stagnate the implementation of vibrant policies and programmes at the states and

local government levels. The governor said the concentration of most powers at the centre “will not enable them (state and local governments) carry out laudable programmes for the good and well being of their people.” He added: “I will come out with a strong legislation that would enable states and local government areas to have sufficient allocations from the Federation Account to ensure massive rural development.” Wamakko regretted that the huge expenditures by the Federal Government on security were not having the desired impact. He said: “The state governments are assisting security agencies with vehicles and communication gadgets. What happens to the Federal Government’s budget on security matters? “I will ensure strict compliance with budget implementation in this direction to ensure good democratic governance.”

HE Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to withdraw from the election peace agreement it signed with other parties. The pact is meant to guarantee peaceful and credible elections. But the opposition has expressed concerns about the peace pact because of alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the March 28 and April 11 elections. APC State Chairman Latep Dabang spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, when he led the party’s high-powered delegation on a visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office. He said: “If the allegations that the PDP in the state is buying off the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and giving out food items are not investigated, APC will pull out of the peace pact. “The PDP has resorted to underhand tactics, including the purchase of PVCs in the wake of the postponement of the general elections. We in the APC are aware that there are plans by the PDP to rig the governorship election.” Dabang urged APC members and supporters not to sell their PVCs under any guise. The chairman explained that it was the only power they had to change their conditions for the better and get democratic dividends from their preferred party. He said: “Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP councillors in Plateau State have been collecting PVCs in exchange of money. We saw people queuing to collect bags of rice and fertilisers in exchange of their PVCs. “

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Obama seeks IS ‘war powers’ resolution

Ukraine conflict: Putin shakes hands with Poroshenko as talks begin

RGENT talks on ending the deadly conflict in east Ukraine have opened in the Belarusian capital Minsk, after a week of EU shuttle diplomacy. As talks began, Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko. Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing proRussian rebels in east Ukraine - a claim it denies. Brokering the ceasefire bid are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. The talks are set to focus on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone. Fighting claimed more than 20 lives in the hours leading up to the talks. Shelling killed at least five people in the rebel-held city of Donetsk while 19 Ukrainian soldiers died along the front line.

Rival agenda at Ukraine talks

KRAINE: Restore government authority over breakaway areas, though Donetsk and Luhansk regions could get greater self-rule; disarm rebel forces; withdrawal of Russian troops; restore Kiev’s control over Ukraine-Russia border; full prisoner exchange. Pro-Russian rebels: Separation from rest of Ukraine and recognition of “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk; no disarmament of separatist forces; amnesty for separatist leaders. Russia: Legal guarantees for rights of While the Ukrainian government is seeking a demarcation line based on the failed ceasefire agreed on 5 September in Belarus last year, the rebels want a new truce to reflect the gains they have made in recent weeks, the BBC’s James Reynolds reports from Donetsk. More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began, and there has been a

Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine; full autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk in a federal system - not necessarily independence; no return of Crimea to Ukraine; withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from combat zone. EU and US: Restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity; end Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine - withdrawal of all Russian troops and heavy weapons; effective monitoring of Russia-Ukraine border and demilitarised zone between the combatants; full democracy in Donetsk and Luhansk.

dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February. Donetsk may be the tidiest city-at-war in the world. In the centre of town, the streets are swept, the benches are clean, the bins are empty. From the city centre you can hear the regular, deep boom of artillery fire in the distance.

“We want to live alone,” insists one woman who puts down her shopping bags to talk. “Most people here don’t want to be ruled by Ukraine and [President] Poroshenko,” she concludes. “We’re hoping for a resolution,” says another man, “But it all depends on Ukraine.”

•Obama

RESIDENT Barack Obama has asked Congress to formally authorise the use of military force against Islamic State (IS) militants. The president says he already has the statutory authority to attack IS, but he wants the clear backing of lawmakers. This new measure would expire in three years and would not permit “enduring offensive combat operations”. The US has carried out air

strikes against IS since last year. It’s the first time an American president has sought Congressional approval to use military force since President George W Bush in 2002, ahead of the invasion of Iraq. Under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, Mr Bush sent military forces into Afghanistan so they could track down al-Qaeda commanders. Afterwards members of Congress passed a resolution for the use of force in Iraq. It was controversial, to say the least. After the 2002 authorisation was passed, many Democrats said they wished they had voted against it. Up until now Mr Obama has been conducting the fight against Islamic State (IS) under these two authorisations. Now he wants a new one. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said Mr Obama wants the “rightsized” authorisation for IS.

Migrant tragedy in Med ‘kills 300’

T least 300 migrants are feared to have drowned after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa this week in rough seas, the UN says. UNHCR official Vincent Cochetel said it was a “tragedy on an enormous scale”. Survivors brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa said they were forced to risk the bad weather on ill-equipped vessels by human traffickers in Libya. They were rescued from two of four dinghies that got into trouble after leaving Libya for Europe on Saturday.

The Italian coast guard rescued 105 people on Monday after one of the dinghies overturned but 29 died after spending several hours in the water. Those rescued on Wednesday morning had spent days drifting without food or water in two of the other dinghies - with each said to be carrying more than 100 people. The survivors said the fourth dinghy, carrying an estimated 100 migrants, disappeared at sea. Carlotta Sami, a spokeswoman for the UNHCR, said the victims had been “swallowed up by the waves,” with the

youngest a child of 12. “This is a tragedy on an enormous scale and a stark reminder that more lives could be lost if those seeking safety are left at the mercy of the sea,” Mr Cochetel said in a statement. The UN said the latest incident should be a message to the European Union that the current search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean was inadequate. “Europe cannot afford to do too little too late,” Mr Cochetel added.

NEWS Don’t deploy soldiers for polls, says Buhari Continued from page 4

though he had been severally and consistently vilified and maligned, he had no personal religious agenda and neither would he support any moves by anybody or group of persons to either Christianise or Islamise Nigeria. Gen. Buhari, who was accompanied by his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a host of other members of the party’s PCC, said he “will not condone any initiative that seeks to promote one religion over the other”. He traced the cause of many of the challenges confronting the nation to unemployment, saying “in a country where a large percentage of the younger generation is unemployed and where no immediate respite is in sight, these challenges are prone to abound.” “Give them self improvement opportunities; offer them a view of a greater tomorrow and all these will be in the past,” he said. Gen. Buhari told the religious leaders that his administration would pursue a well planned agricultural programme in conjunction with development of the rural areas to exploit the multiplier benefits of agriculture, empower citizens and curtail rural-urban drift. Besides, solid mineral exploration and exploitation would be given a boost to generate employment. On corruption, Gen. Buhari maintained that “we already have laws and institutions empowered to fight against corrupt practices. All we need is the will to activate these structures and utilize them appropriately.”

Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Chairman Bishop Ignatius Kaigama said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria believes in the unity and progress of this country. He regretted the wide communication gap that exists between the leaders and the people. He hoped that the conversation was an indication of the willingness to establish a sustainable communication platform. At another meeting with a delegation from the United Nation (UN) and the African Union (AU), Gen. Buhari said that since the signing of the Abuja accord, he had, several times told his supporters to respect the law. “That is where we stand,” he added. He said INEC had played its last card and that there would be no room constitutionally for further postponement of the election. “We will continue to act responsibility but they should not tamper with the constitution of the country,” Gen. Buhari said. Gen. Buhari dismissed speculations about interim government, saying: “My party and I, as the presidential candidate, have made a statement on that issue; unless you want me to contradict myself. Our expectations are very clear, we said INEC has played its last card and that is the limit. Certainly, this 28th of March, there must be election and it is up to the government to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.” UN Special Representative in West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambers told reporters: “Nigerian stakeholders have accepted the fact that there’s a postponement and they are working in that context. All we

need to be mindful of now is the constitutional limit for the elections and this should be respected.” While expressing deep concern over the postponement of the general elections, Chambers praised Nigerians for not resorting to violence, which he said normally follows such postponement. “We also expect the security agencies to be fair to all the parties, act professionally and to ensure an atmosphere in which Nigerians can freely express their free will in voting a candidate of their choice. “We have commended General Buhari, just like yesterday we had the opportunity to do same with President Goodluck Jonathan and his party the PDP. Both parties and their leaders have acted with great sense of maturity and we are very pleased with what we have seen. “We want Nigeria to continue to surprise the world and to come out of this election to set a high standard which will give Nigeria a moral authority that will enable it to continue to lead and be regarded as genuine and natural leader in West Africa and Africa.” The Chief of Mission of the EU Election Mission in Nigeria, Santiago Fisas, said: “We appreciate the commitment of the General to ask people to accept the postponement of the election. The most important thing is to stay and comply with the provisions of the constitution. “We think that it is not a good thing to postpone elections because that will erode the confidence of the people. If the parties have accepted the postponement, we have nothing to say again on our part.”

Jonathan: I’ll quit if I lose

•INEC chief Attahiru Jega Continued from page 4

ing of elections to misinform Nigerians,” he said. On the elections postponement, the president said he was not consulted before the decision by INEC was taken. He said people were not being fair to him by insinuating that the elections were postponed for sinister purposes. He added that he sympathised with the international community who thought the postponement was to elongate his tenure as had been done by some African leaders. “There were issues requiring the electoral body to adjust date. I do not decide date for elections. INEC works with security agencies and they need them to ensure peace and security. There are a lot of safety implications in conducting elections. I was not consulted and I don’t want to be consulted.” The president said the postponement should not affect the electoral fortunes of a candidate, adding: “Election is like a tournament or soccer march. If FIFA says they will play it in March, April or May, the winning team will still win. So I don’t see a big deal about it.” Besides, he said the issue of security was beyond Boko Haram as there had been utterances from politicians which no security chief would take lightly. Denying that he influenced the shift to favour his party, Jonathan said: “I am not the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) that

wrote the letter (not guaranteeing security for the polls) ,” he said, adding that he was briefed on the security situation. Jonathan expressed confidence that there would be improvement in the security situation in the Northeast. He said the insurgency began with the killing in 2009 of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf, yet elections were held in 2011, adding: “No one is saying they must wipe out Boko Haram completely, but what they want to do is to configure the security architecture.” Jonathan said he was hopeful the military would reclaim the territories under Boko Haram control before the election, and that the May 29 handover date remains sacrosanct. On the Chibok schoolgirls, Jonathan said: “I believe that in the next few weeks, the story will be better. We are working with our neighbours; we will comb the whole of that area. I am more hopeful now than before. It’s unfortunate that people play politics with the issue of Chibok girls. It’s not like that elsewhere. In other countries, political boundaries collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in Nigeria.” According to him, insurgency persisted because Nigeria did not get the required equipment needed to combat terror. “Our neighbours were not too committed, but now Chad and Cameroun have moved in, so there will be no hiding place for Boko Haram The president, however, did not give any guarantee that the girls would return alive. “About 200 girls were kidnapped over a period and you want the president to tell you they will be rescued alive. Of course, we will recover them alive. I’m not God, but as President, I’m more hopeful now than before because of maximum

coorperation we are getting from other countries,” he said. Asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can be won in six weeks even though the war had raged for six years, Jonathan said new weapons, and support of neigbhouring countries would boost the Boko Haram. He said Chad waited for the African Union (AU) approval, which they recently got. Jonathan also explained his statement that stealing is not corruption. He said he was in fact quoting a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher. He said Musdapher explained to him that his analysis of corruption cases in Nigeria showed that most of such cases in the files before him were on mostly about stealing. He argued that referring to stealing as corruption minimises the crime. “Ole (thief in Yoruba) should be called ole and given that treatment. It is not actually my quotation. I quoted the former Chief Justice,” he said. On his supporters who threaten that Nigeria would boil should Jonathan lose, the president said some people get carried away, adding: “We will make sure things are done so that nobody goes to war.” “That is one of the things the heads of security services need to re-examine, the security architecture and the elections. It is beyond Boko Haram. You would agree with me that that aspect of the attempt to pelt the presidential convoy by young ignorant people because I saw them myself is treason. So if people could instigate small children because that is what I describe as the key area of the whole political process. And some of the provocative statements that people make.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

backs Lampard´s I’m the best Premier League VillaManchester stay manager - Allardyce F

EST Ham manager Sam Allardyce argues that there is no manager in the Premier League "more sophisticated" than he is. Allardyce has overseen a remarkable transformation at Upton Park this season, with the Hammers flying high in eighth place following Sunday's 1-1 draw against Manchester United. The 60-year-old was on the verge of being sacked last year amid unrest from the stands due to his longball tactics but, with West Ham now playing a more stylish brand of football, such talk has been dispelled and he now believes that he is as good a boss as anyone in the division. "I don't think there is any coach more sophisticated

than me anymore," Allardyce told the press. "That's not trying to criticise any other coaches but there is only Arsene Wenger who has done it longer than me. "They may well have gained more experience by managing abroad like Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and people like that but, in this country, with the experience they've got, I don't think there is any coach that would be in that position as more sophisticated. I'm just as good as everybody at this stage. "That comes from the amount of time you do the job, how much experience you gain in the job and how much knowledge you strive for on a regular basis to keep the cutting edge.

RANK Lampard staying at Manchester City is not a worry to New York City team-mate David Villa. New York City star David Villa is unfazed by Frank Lampard remaining on loan at Manchester City, but admits in an ideal world the Englishman would be with the MLS outfit. Villa was on the scoresheet

•Allardyce

Top-four race will Mourinho: I would have been banned… go to the final weeks - Walcott T

HE fight for places in the top four of the Premier League will not be decided until the closing weeks of the season, according to Arsenal's Theo Walcott. Arsene Wenger's men suffered a disappointing 2-1 reverse in the north London derby on Saturday, with Harry Kane's double helping Tottenham come from behind to win the match. The Gunners set about moving on from that defeat by beating rock-bottom Leicester 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with England international Walcott scoring the second shortly before half-time as his side moved fourth, level on points with Southampton and one above Manchester United both of whom play on Wednesday. "I think the race for fourth will be tight," the Arsenal

star told reporters after the game. "I think you can see every year the teams are getting better - who would have thought Southampton would be right up there, considering the players that left this season? "I think it's going to go all the way; that's why it was so crucial to bounce back. The performance wasn't there but the three points was all we were determined to achieve." Arsenal were not at their fluent best against Leicester but Walcott was unconcerned by the manner of their victory. "After the disappointment of the local derby it's always nice to get a result," he added. "The performance wasn't the best at times but we got the three points and we ground it out in the end. "It was a very scrappy game but three points is crucial now."

•Walcott

HE Football Association is once again Jose Mourinho’s target after the Chelsea boss blasted perceived evidence of double standards. Jose Mourinho believes he would be hit with a stadium ban if he were involved in the kind of touchline scrap that saw Nigel Pearson appear to choke James McArthur. Leicester City boss Pearson escaped punishment for a bizarre tangle with the Crystal Palace midfielder, and subsequently clung onto his job despite intense reports of his sacking at the King Power Stadium over the weekend. Mourinho is no stranger to a touchline scuffle and clashed with Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. The Chelsea boss has courted controversy for much of the season with repeated claims of a “campaign” against his side perpetuated by the Football Association. A £25,000 fine has seemingly done little to quell the Portuguese’s frustration, however, as he once again took aim at the authorities when asked for his thoughts on Pearson’s indiscretions. “I have only thoughts about myself, not about Nigel,” he said, before referring to his spat with Wenger. “If I push a manager in my technical area, you know that I will be stadium banned,” Mourinho said. “We all know. Why? We don’t know. You can’t say we don’t know why, but I think we all know that if I do something like that I would be in serious, serious trouble.” Mourinho could be set for further punishment after suggesting Robin van Persie should have been retrospectively punished for throwing an elbow at West Ham’s James Tomkins on Sunday – an incident not deemed worthy of on-field action by referee Mark Clattenburg, or post-match by the FA. Despite having already been hit in the pocket over his comments this term,

•Lampard

as City claimed a 2-0 friendly win over St Mirren in their first ever competitive game on Tuesday. Manchester City's Academy Stadium hosted the clash, but Lampard – the MLS team's other marquee signing – was in Stoke preparing for a Premier League clash. Villa said it was best for the City Football Group to have the former England international helping Manuel Pellegrini's men challenge for the title. "It would have been great if he was here now, but obviously for the football club the best thing is for him to stay in Manchester," the Spaniard said. "We are only going to be focused to work hard so that when he joins in July, we can be a team that is really good and he can only improve us." New York City coach Jason Kreis believes the club's fans will eventually move on from the Lampard saga. But he is eager to see a broader focus on his team, not just their two star signings. "I think at the end of it all when everybody is calmed down and settled down a little bit that everybody can forgive and forget," Kreis said. "It's my dream really that at some point very quickly the fans of NYC aren't talking about the individual players, I'm hopeful they understand that this is about a team, it isn't about David Villa or Frank Lampard or Jason Kreis. "This is about a squad and a club and what we can do for the community."

Lallana: Liverpool can finish third

•Mourinho

Mourinho suggested he will not look to curb his outbursts when facing the media. He explained: “I can be very defensive and say nothing, or I can be myself and say what I feel. “And then there is a line where you never know the way they [the FA] analyse it and they think you can or can’t say that.

IS team may be sitting seventh, but L i v e r p o o l midfielder Adam Lallana is confident of finishing in the Premier League's top three. Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is eyeing third place after his team continued their good form with a 3-2 win over Tottenham on Tuesday. Mario Balotelli's first Premier League goal for Liverpool guided Brendan Rodgers' side to the key win at Anfield, seeing them close the gap to sixth-placed Tottenham to a point. Lallana set up the matchwinner after coming off the bench, and he has set his sights on a top-three finish with his side on a nine-game unbeaten league run. The 26-year-old believes the return of striker Daniel Sturridge, as well as improvement from the club's off-season signings, should have them eyeing third place. "That's a massive three points for us," Lallana told the Liverpool Echo. "We're only one point behind Tottenham now and we have got everything to play for. "We can go higher than fourth, we can hit third place. We've got Daniel Sturridge back now and it was great for him to get through 70 minutes. "I was itching to get on tonight. It was a great game

and a great atmosphere and against my old gaffer [Mauricio Pochettino] who I have a lot of respect for. "It was end to end and at times it could have gone either way. It was nice to get on the pitch and contribute to the result. "I'm pleased for Mario and that goal will be great for him. He needs to keep working hard. If he does that and keeps putting the effort in then the goals will come." Rodgers' off-season signings had been questioned, with the majority struggling to settle into his team. But the likes of Emre Can and Lazar Markovic in particular have improved, and Lallana said he never doubted the signings would eventually step up. "We've got a great squad and we're gaining momentum," Lallana said. "We were missing Raheem [Sterling] tonight but Lazar came in and got his goal. "You look at the likes of Lazar and Emre, a lot of the new players are settling in well and we're seeing that out on the field. "People were questioning the new signings at the beginning of the season but not for one minute was I questioning them. "It was always going to take a little bit of time as they're young players. Now they've settled in we're starting to see the rewards."

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Flying Eagles wallop Babayaro FC 9-0 T

HE Flying Eagles trounced Babayaro FC of Abuja 9-0 in a test game played at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja on Wednesday. The Nigerian U-20 team are preparing for two warm-up matches against their Ghanaian counterparts later this month in Accra. Bernard Bulbwa and Usman Hassan scored a brace each, while the other goal scorers were Izu Omega, Ifeanyi

Matthew, Obinna Nwobodo, Samuel Okon and Gabriel Ikechukwu. The Nigerian U-20s started slowly and could only score twice in the first half. But after the interval, the Flying Eagles stepped up their game to score seven goals. The team are expected to leave for Accra via Lagos Friday afternoon. They will play their first warm-up match against Black Satellites on Sunday, before they

a second game against the same opponents on February 18. They are expected back in the country on February 19. The Flying Eagles are drawn in Group A of the 2015 African Youth Championship, which kicks off in Dakar, Senegal on March. The other teams in that group are hosts Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo, while Ghana are in Group B along with South Africa, Mali and Zambia.

Impressive Eaglets beat Fasbir Academy 4-1

IGERIA'S U-17 team, Golden Eaglets, rounded off their preparation towards Niger 2015 with an impressive 4-1 win against Fasbir Integrated Football Academy at the Giginya Memorial Stadium in Sokoto on Wednesday. Golden Eaglets scored twice through Victor Osimhen and Suleiman Abdullahi via penalty in the first half with additional

• Amuneke

two goals by substitutes Christian Charles and Samuel Chukwueze while Fasbir's was also a first half penalty goal by goalkeeper Yusuf Yusha'u who was adjudged the Man-of-the Match. The match was watched by an enthusiastic crowd including Mallam Muhammed Nasiru Saidu, Chairman of Sokoto Football Association; Coach Siji Lagunju of the NFF amongst others. But the stadium did not come alive until the 20th minute when Suleiman Muhammed waltzed his way into the box and flicked the ball on the path of Victor Osimhen whose twicetaken shot was stopped by agile goalkeeper Yusha'u. Six minutes later, Suleiman Abdullahi who wore the captain's band broke free from the right flank but was brought down in his stride inside the box; Osimhen converted the resultant penalty kick to give the Golden Eaglets the lead. But four minutes later, the Golden Eaglets conceded a pen-

alty after the ball bounced off the hand of a defender following a corner kick and Goalkeeper Yusha'u stepped forward to fire the penalty behind Goalkeeper Amos Benjamin. Eaglets took the lead towards the end of the first half courtesy of another penalty in the 44th after Osimhen was brought down with only the goalkeeper to beat and Suleiman smartly dispatched the ball behind Yusha'u yet again. The Golden Eaglets virtually took control of the match on resumption of the second half following the introduction of Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze and Orji Okonkwo but Yusha'u foiled their attacking initiatives time and again. But with ten minutes to spare, the Golden Eaglets added two quick goals courtesy of Christian Charles at the end of a triangular pass involving Abdullahi and Ayodeji Bamidele in the 80th minutes. Two minutes later, Chukwueze slotted the last goal during a goalmouth melee.

Azeez grateful for playing in La Liga

UPER Eagles and UD Almeria midfielder, Ramon Azeez says he is ever grateful to God for playing in the Spanish topflight. The 22 year old says he remains happy as a player and will also look to do his utmost best for Almeria to retain its status of playing in the topflight. “As a football player, any situations you find yourself in you just have to give God thanks. I feel very happy and fortunate to be playing the La Liga” he told footballlive.ng. In 2012, after one full season with the B-side in Segunda Division B, Azeez made his debut with the first team when he came on as a

RESULTS England - Premier League Chelsea 1 - 0 Everton Man Utd 3 - 1 Burnley S’ampton 0 - 0 West Ham Stoke City 1 - 4 Man City England - Championship N. Forest 3 - 0 Wigan Italy - Serie A Parma 0 - 1 Chievo Spain - Copa del Rey Barcelona 3 - 1Villarreal France - Cup Yzeure 1 - 3 Guingamp Monaco 3 - 1 Rennes Inter’l - Club Friendlies Mordovya 2 - 0 CS Universitatea Craiova Ural S.R 5 - 1 Suduva Nsjaelland 3 - 1 Ujpest Lokomotiv 1 - 0 Videoton Silkeborg 1 - 4 Bellmare Stabaek 3 - 2 Stroemmen Gefle 1 - 2 IK Brage

substitute for Javier Casquero in the 55th minute of an away fixture against FC Barcelona B for the Segunda Division championship. A year later, Azeez was promoted to the Andalusians’ main squad, with the club having just recently promoted to La Liga. He made his debut in the competition playing roughly 20 minutes in a 2–2 home draw against Elche CF.

• Azeez

West Ham gives up Yobo chase

OSEPH Yobo's proposed move to West Ham has collapsed, SL10.ng has been specially informed by the agent thrashing out terms with the powers that be at the London club. West Ham had earmarked the former Nigerian skipper as one of the defensive targets they hoped to sign at zero cost after being faced with a defensive crisis.

• Yobo

Indeed, defenders Winston Reid and James Collins have both been struggling with hamstring complaints in recent days, and it is all but confirmed that they will sit out Wednesday's Premier League clash against Southampton. It is noteworthy that The Hammers did not table a contract offer to Joseph Yobo as they did not want to put the cart before the horse. To put it another way, the Boleyn Ground outfit had wanted to discuss with the central defender before drawing up an agreement in black and white. The response from Joseph Yobo's camp was negative, meaning West Ham need to turn their attention to other targets. Assuming the transfer materialized, it would have been his third club in England, having previously defended the colours of Everton and Norwich City.

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 Measurement of Poverty and Unemployment TATISTICAL information in Nigeria about income, employment and unemployment is very inadequate. This deficiency cannot be remedied quickly, as the necessary work is both complex and costly. But this deficiency should not be considered a pre-condition for action designed to alleviate the most serious conditions of poverty. Often, available but unused statistical information may be used for policy purposes at comparatively little cost. The important thing is to identify the extremely poor sections of the society, and seek to alleviate their miserable conditions. In Nigeria, as well as in other developing countries, the economic gains of the 1970s have been virtually wiped out by massive foreign debts, declining national income, and growth rates. The problems of mass poverty are massive, growing and urgent. These problems require urgent attack despite our present economic difficulties. Radical courses are needed. We must formulate and implement policies that seek to move our poverty-reduction and employment goals from the periphery towards the centre of our development plans. We must become as concerned with income and output distribution as with income and output generation. We must adopt programmes with direct benefits for the very poor.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

The Process of Industrialisation It is imperative that we continue to regard industrialisation as an essential part of our development strategy and a vital component of our development strategy to counter poverty and unemployment, as industrialisation will, in the long run, play a most important role in the economic growth and social transformation of our country. This is not to suggest that we should pay less

RIPPLES

THE ISSUE OF BOKO HARAM’LL SOON BE HISTORY, SAYS JONATHAN

…and let HISTORY not forget to tell us HOW LONG BOKO HARAM ‘RULED’!

VOL. 10, NO. 3123

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

DAPO FAFOWORA

Development Planning The urgency of finding solutions to our acute problems has been recognised at all levels of our country. But this should not create the illusion that much can be gained by us through rhetoric, or by appeals to nationalism or patriotism. Important as these are, they are not a substitute for plan discipline, or for the dangerous notion that industrialisation need no longer serve as a vehicle for useful technological transfer and, or, adaptation. Any such notion is a pure fallacy. Despite our present economic difficulties, our long-term objective must be to assist the industrial sector of the economy to recover from its present slump, so that the present level of unemployment may be reduced by the creation of jobs in the industrial sector. Our ongoing planning efforts should guide development activities and allocate resources to those sectors of the economy that have a multiplier effect on the economy, particularly for the purpose of generating employment. In addition, to our efforts to carry out economic reforms should include a close examination of the functioning of the existing market mechanisms which have tended to distort the economic structure in Nigeria.

TODAY IN THE NATION

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Eliminating mass poverty, unemployment (II) industries. This is one of the key factors militating against the use of local raw materials.

•President Goodluck Jonathan

•General Muhammadu Buhari

attention to the agricultural sector of our economy. Far from it, for a vibrant agricultural sector is itself a pre-condition for a viable and strong industry. But industry is the most dynamic sector of the economy, where productivity usually increases at the highest rates. It can make a very important contribution to the development of other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, but also transport and services. Industrial production requires skill and organisation; therefore, its expansion promotes desirable work habits. We need, therefore, to keep our national investment rate in industry sufficiently high so as to promote employment. One important qualification is that we need to make our industries more labourintensive, and more cost effective. Our industrial policy should be closely linked with policies that are not only aimed at output expansion, but employment generation. Hence, the importance of small-scale and rural-based industries. Many types of simple equipment and machinery can be manufactured in small and medium-sized enterprises, using local materials and labourintensive techniques. In addition, we need to take a closer look at the structure of incentives and tariffs which tend, on the whole, to favour capital intensive and consumer-oriented

Agricultural and Rural Policies As we have pointed out, our stagnant agriculture is an inherent weakness of the Nigerian economy. Until recently, Nigeria was spending on food imports the staggering sum of N2billion, or 25 per cent of its GNP. Even with the recent reforms, a sizeable chunk of our foreign exchange is still being spent on the procurement of food imports. Yet, the population growth rate is such that by the end of the century, Nigeria’s population, now estimated at 100 million, will be close to 150 million, or more; thus imposing a further strain on an economy that appears to be so totally dependent on external sources even for its food supplies. A vigorous agricultural expansion is clearly needed to give impetus to economic growth, to relieve food shortages, to combat malnutrition, to curb inflation, and to alleviate pressure on the balance of payments. Indeed, the objective of a prosperous rural sector needs to be at the centre of our strategy against mass poverty. To ensure the continuation of the present agricultural momentum in Nigeria, however, considerable changes in agricultural policies are required. First, we need to review the provisions of the Land Use Decree, so as to facilitate acquisition of land for farming. Land remains one of the major constraints to agricultural expansion in Nigeria. Many local and foreign companies that would like to go into agriculture on a big scale are faced with the practical difficulty of getting land at prices they can afford. Many of the state governments regard the quest for agricultural land as an opportunity to charge exorbitant fees that are totally unrelated to the actual value of the land being sought. In addition, great care should be taken not to adopt policies that may be detrimental to the small scale

HARDBALL

ODAY, Hardball has a short-and-sharp puzzle: In the North, I am Muslim. In the South, I am Christian. In the Middle Belt, what am I? This might sound stranger than fiction, but I am PDP! Before official electioneering, Olisa Metuh, chief spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had dubbed the main opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), a Muslim party. The party, through its top hierarchs and own corporate body language — if you believe in corporate metaphysics! — was echoing that allegation; and was salivating on how it would bomb, with that explosive religious blackmail, its chief rival for federal power. But Yemi Osinbajo’s emergence as APC vice presidential candidate crumbled all that. When the professor of Law, and Pentecostal pastor teamed up with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (PDP’s baleful northern hegemonist and Islamist bigot), that plot collapsed. Like a bubble, it vanished — like dew before the morning sun! Worse: How Buhari’s message of Change resonated all over the country was well and truly scary; Kano, with its intimidating crowd, being a depressing reference point. Might he then have positively benefited from the PDP’s reckless religious baiting, making the northern

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

farmers. Experience in several countries, such as Zimbabwe and Kenya, with more successful agricultural sectors than Nigeria, has shown that output per acre in many important food and cash crops is usually higher on small holdings than on large farms. In addition, small scale cultivation can not only lead to greater production, but also to more rural employment and better distribution of income. But much more important to a successful agricultural policy are the provision of extensive services, and the application of the results of the research institutes, particularly with regard to the development and distribution of high yielding crop varieties. It is a matter for regret that the government decided recently to reduce the subsidy on fertilisers by another 10 per cent. The financial gains accruing to the government as a result of this measure in no way compensates for the inevitable loss of momentum. This measure is bound to have a deleterious effect on the small scale farmer, who remains the back-bone of the agricultural sector. As in industry, there is a growing tendency in Nigeria today to favour mechanisation in the agricultural sector. While mechanical equipment have valid uses in agriculture in meeting the cycle of sowing and harvesting, we should be careful to avoid a situation that could lead to the under-utilisation of abundant labour in the rural areas due to a preference for mechanical equipment. It is also important to treat our agricultural policy as part of our rural development programme, which should encompass many activities besides farming. Complimentary employment possibilities may be found in a number of agro-industrial activities. These ancillary activities which should include handicrafts should give a spur to the modernisation of the rural sector, and thereby help to bridge the gap separating it from the urban sector. The creation of job opportunities in farming and in ancillary activities in the rural areas should continue to be supported by the provision of credit on favourable terms, the provision of extension services, the improvement of transportation, the construction of feeder roads, the expansion of marketing facilities, and the provision of training and management advice. Conclusion It is evident from the remarks that I have made that I see the whole question of increased productivity more in terms of man than goods. I believe that the best measure of productivity is the extent to which jobs are created, and basic human needs met. To conceive of, or define productivity in terms merely of output of goods is, in my judgment extremely narrow. As the late renowned economist once said, ‘development is about people, not the output of goods’. Thank you for your attention. • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

North: Muslim; South: Christian; Middle Belt? Take a guess! street voters to bond with him and his party even more? Meanwhile, down South, from the crowds at Buhari’s campaign, Christian antipathy, which the hate message in religious guise should have driven, seemed not gathering traction. Indeed, the more the hate message and scaremongering, the less, it seemed, its impact on Buhari’s street value. Might the APC candidate then be beneficiary of his running mate’s Pentecostal bona fides? Nothin’ spoil, the president and his men seemed to decide, as they pounced on a new strategy: not so different from the brazen original, but no less bizarre, sinister and ridiculous. So, Mr. President, start a new round of southern churches electioneering blitz. From Winners Chapel, to the Redeemed Christian Church of God Camp, to the Lord’s Chosen Church vigil, the message was the same. My people, I have not come to campaign, but to do thanksgiving. Your president worships in your midst. Your president wears his humility as a gown. Surely, that should count for something — in raw votes? Surely, it makes Christian sense to vote for a Christian

brother? Of course, it needed not be put that way, but the message was crystal clear. In the North, however, Vice President Namadi Sambo felt no need for such subtleties. “Buhari ya dauko pastor a matsayin mataimakinsa kunsan coci nawa yake dashi? Yanada coci 5000, do haka karku zabesu” he told his audience in Hausa, meaning: “Buhari has selected a pastor as his running mate, do you know how many churches he has? He has 5000 churches, so based on that, don’t vote for them”! From Dutse in Jigawa, to Minna in Niger and other northern cities, the message was unchanging on the stumps — the message of redemption, from the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! How deep into infamy can a high officer of state sink? But pray, after a pretence to Christianity in the South and a pretence to Islam in the core North, what will the “largest party in Africa” be in the Middle Belt? Good question — and guesses are welcome! But if you call this farce the largest unravelling of the largest party in Africa, you may not be wrong.

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