The Nation February 17, 2015 by The Nation

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Obasanjo dumps PDP •SEE ALSO P AGES 2&3 PA

Ward leader tears his card

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday waved a final bye to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he should not belong to a party that is working towards Nigeria’s destruction. He watched as his ward leader tore his membership card. He accused the party of de-

‘

Some people have started destroying Nigeria and I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

stroying the economy, adding that rather than focusing on the general elections, PDP leaders are planning to impose

’

an Interim National Government (ING) on Nigeria. He rejected this. Obasanjo, who is a former

Continued on page 4

•Obasanjo (left) watching as Oladunjoye tears the card...yesterday. •The torn card on the floor...yesterday.

•HURRICANE B UHARI: Part of the massive crowd that received Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (waving) in Maiduguri for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential camapign rally...yesterday. BUHARI: PHOTO: JOEL DUKU

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

Revealed: PDP’s plan to drag military into rigging plot

STORY ON PAGE 4

‘Insurgency may surface in Northwest’ Another polls shift likely

•TRANSPORTATION P14 •POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •ENERGY P49 •PROPERTY P51

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

MAY 29 ...101 DAYS TO GO

NEWS

Obasanjo: Politics o M

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola signing the Mortgage and Property Amendment Law 2010 at the State House Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. With him are: his deputy Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye...yesterday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (fourth right) with the Chief Observer and leader of the European Union Election Monitoring Team, Mr Santiago Fisas (third left). With them are other members of the delagation when they visited Senate Leader at the National Assembly, Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

• Vice President, Value Added Services, Airtel Francis Ebuchi (left), Co-Founder, Sonbim Games (middle) and Vice President, Data Products and Services, Nitin Anand, at the presentation of the Airtel Catapult-aStartup Prize.

•The Supervising Minister of Information, Chief Edem Duke (right) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr Folashade YemiEsan at the minister’s maiden meeting with Heads of parastatals and agencies under the ministry in Abuja...yesterday.

ATHEW Olusegun, Aremu, Okikiola Obasanjo, civil war hero, Balogun and Ebora of Owu Kingdom, Ekerin of Egba Confederation, former military Head of State, former President and citizen of the world, retired from active politics yesterday. It was the end of an era. It was a very difficult and painful decision for the most active and controversial leader. In his view, it was inevitable. Apparently, combining two antagonistic roles of partisan gerontocratic monitoring with moral reticence is frustrating. Politics, in Obasanjo’s reckoning, has conflicted with his natural role as a statesman and moral voice, which his less politically active colleagues - former President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar - have adjusted to in blissful retirement. In a fit of anger, he marked his transition from politics to retirement with a drama. Obasanjo publicly tore his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card, thereby repudiating the acclaimed largest political party in Africa, on which back he rode to the Presidency almost 16 years ago. In the last two years, relationship between Obasanjo and the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan has been frosty. He has disagreed with the President over his style of administration. He also faulted his party’s management under his watch. In December 2013, he wrote to Dr. Jonathan, accusing him of promoting corruption and keeping a killersquad. Obasanjo also said that the President has surrounded himself with drug barons. He warned that the economy may also collapse under the inept administration. The President returned the missiles in his letter to his benefactor. He said Obasanjo did not lay a foundation for a brighter future. Following the parting of ways, Obasanjo’s loyalists in the PDP were witch-hunted. The PDP crisis reached a climax when five governors, senators, House of Representatives members, and other notable leaders dumped the ruling party for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). The rift deepened recently when after Obasanjo flayed the administration for corruption and lack of direction and the President described him as a motor park tout. Last week, Obasanjo dropped another bombshell. He urged Nigerians to vote for competence, instead of party. He also defended the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, over the allegation of lack of a school certificate. He said the military was up to a curious game. However, when Obasanjo lambasted President Jonathan for postponing the general elections for ulterior motive, it was evident that the chance of reconciling the two leaders was slim. Obasanjo said “the President was playing Gbagbo”, a reference to the shifting of polls by ousted Ivory Coast leader to a convenient time to pave the way for his party’s victory. The former President also warned against moves to sack Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega. He warned that his removal will affect the credibility of the exercise, even, if the President wins the poll. Mixed reactions have trailed the former President’s latest move. The former President has been saluted for his courage to speak truth to power. Many have described him as a patriot

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor

and nationalist, who has always shunned ethno-religious sentiments. Although his cradle is Egbaland, Ogun State, Southwest, Obsanjo’s national outlook has not been in doubt. As a critic, he has, in the opinion of people, struggled to keep the government in check. He has earned the reputation of an advocate of good governance. On the other side of the coin are Nigerians who have also argued that the former President has been a garrulous personality reputed for acidic commentary on the state of the nation. Since he has direct access to the President, many thought he was in a vantage position to advise the President privately, instead of playing to the gallery. Others have attributed the rot in governance to him as the guardian of the broken political system. Their argument is that the master schemer prevent a legitimate PDP congress in 2007 for the emergence of popular presidential and vice presidential candidates at the primaries. His preference was the Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket, which the party obliged him as the power-loaded Commander-InChief. According to critics, if the table now turns against him, he is the architect of his political misfortune. The reaction of the PDP was swift. Rejecting his ‘resignation,’ the Ogun PDP State Executive Committee expelled him from the chapter. The Chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, an engineer, said that the chapter will not miss him. Other chieftains frowned at the timing, saying that the transition from partisan politicking to statesmanship does not entail public tearing of party card. In weeks to come, Obasanjo’s decision to quit politics will be a subject of debate. Analysts will beam their searchlight on his politico-military career. Encomiums and blames will be heaped on the enigmatic figure. However, three basic features were discernable from his involvement in the reshaping of the society. These may be catapulted to the front burner as critics dissect Obasanjo’s personality and public service career. Historically, Obasanjo is part of the symbol of a nationalist military that derailed, following soldiers’ prolonged involvement in governance, an assignment they were not adequately trained or well-equipped for. He was an early beneficiary of an almost clinical liquidation of democracy. He fought for unity. But, he cannot exonerate himself from the political pollution of the polity by the military. While pre-1966 soldiers fitted into the characterisation of modernisers, many post-civil war military men indulged in primitive accumulation, thereby eroding the confidence of those who have uncritically swallowed the substance of military’s political evangelism. Indisputably, Obasanjo’s political worth has also not been exaggerated. The ruling party has lost a colossus, no doubt, to the protracted crisis that has decimated it. But if the PDP is now on the disastrous road to perdition, the Obasanjo factor is not totally responsible. In his 16 years of sojourn in politics, Obasanjo as a person, lacked the essential electoral value and grassroots appeal. He has not been the hero of the masses. There is a deep hollow in his score card as President for eight years. In fact, it has been argued that President Goodluck Jonathan’s abysmal performance has shifted attention from the past in a beleaguered nation that is perpetually assailed by collective amnesia. However, despite his past records, when Obasanjo sneezes, Nigerians nod affirmatively and the government catches cold.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

MAY 29 ...101 DAYS TO GO

of retirement and transition into statesmanship

•Chief Obasanjo

•Dr. Jonathan

Aso Rock at a time the President has come under attacks by stakeholders who perceive him as a burden to the ruling party and the polity, owing to poor performance. Now, the letter may boost the North’s campaign that 2015 should be the terminal year for the Jonathan-led administration. Many disagreed with Obasanjo over the letter. They doubted whether he was on a patriotic mission. They also questioned his legacies as a former President, whose administration left a sour taste in the mouth. Others said that that he fired the letter because President Jonathan accepted his letter of resignation as the BoT Chairman gleefully and without much reflection. They also pointed out that Obasanjo was visiting his frustration on the President because he was indifferent to Obasajo’s loss of grip on the Ogun PDP. Obasanjo’s main allegations against Jonathan were two-fold. He alleged that the President was not tackling corruption. In the past, critics also raised the raise issue with the Obasanjo administration, although it set up anti-graft agencies which targeted perceived foes for political liquidation. The second allegation was that the President wanted to renege on the one-term agreement. But in the past, there were echoes of third term.

Jonathan’s reply

•Mu’azu

•Gen. Babangida

Exchange of letters The December 2013 letter from Obasanjo to Dr. Jonathan underscored the strained relationship between the benefactor and his political son. PDP described it as a satanic letter, wondering why the former President opted for that medium of communication. In the letter, Obasanjo hit the President with his sword. The former PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman doubted Dr. Jonathan’s competence, saying that he is unfit for a second term. Instantly, the President became an orphan after his mentor delivered the deadly blow. Obasanjo’s verdict was that Jonathan’s government is deficient in character, integrity and honour. He cleverly isolated himself from the ad-

ministration, as if he did not lay its foundation. He showcased the weakness of the administration, urging Nigerians to make him answerable for ineptitude. Leaning on public opinion, which had put the Federal Government on the edge, the former leader exploited public emotion and sentiment to nail its coffin. The timing of the Obasanjo’s letter to the President was strategic. The letter at a time the President was facing battles on many fronts. The APC has taken the government to task over the national drift. Also, aggrieved PDP chieftains had challenging the President to a duel. In fact, many PDP chieftains have started perceiving Dr. Jonathan as a burden to the ruling party. The bomb was also delivered to

President Jonathan returned the salvos two weeks after Obasanjo passed a vote of no confidence on his administration. Returning the missiles, he said the former leader was subjective, adding that he was inciting Nigerians against him and subverting his regime. Then, the President turned the heat on Obasanjo by making valid references to his score cards as the military Head of State and civilian President. He dragged Obasanjo to the court of public opinion by pointing out that some of the ills and vices alleged in his letter were associated with the administrations he presided over as a soldier and civilian. The President portrayed Obasanjo as a ruler who laid a bad example for his successors. To that extent, although Obasanjo is a benefactor to Jonathan, the President conveyed the impression that Obasanjo is no more his role model. In one breath, Dr. Jonathan demanded apology from Obasanjo for peddling falsehood. In another breath, he challenged him to prove his weighty allegations. The President said he chose to respond to “the most serious of the charges”, which ques-

tioned his “sincerity”, “personal honour” and the “interest of Nigerians”. Jonathan described his predecessor’s letter as a threat to national security. He said his letter may deliberately set the stage for subversion. The President took exception to Obasanjo’s carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency. Dr. Jonathan viewed the invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa State by the Army as the stick. But, he observed that the “corresponding carrot” was not forthcoming. Thus, in his view, Obasanjo failed in this regard. The court verdict on the Odi massacre may have abolished the rightness of “carrot and stick” approach to militancy. Jonathan made another valid point. He reminded Obasanjo that Boko Haram crisis started as far back as 2002 when he was in power. “Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country then”, Dr.Jonathan said. This interpretation is that, if Obasanjo had nipped the insurgency in the bud, it will not stare successive administrations in the face. On the allegations of political assassination under the administration, the President said the same tragedy happened under the Obasanjo administration. Also, Dr. Jonathan said that corruption was rampant under Obasanjo, making his kinsman, the Afro-beat king, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, to wax a record decrying the menace in the seventies. Dr. Jonathan added: “Even, in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.” In the next statement, Jonathan emphasised that “the seed of corruption was planted a long time ago.” The President also said that Obasanjo dislocated the PDP when he was the party’ national leader. He said his hand was heavy on the PDP founding fathers, including the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the late Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tony Anenih. The message the President sought to convey was that he was not as ruthless as Obasanjo. He even alleged that Obasanjo was a partial Head of State who supported the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) candidate, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, against Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe (both of blessed memory). However, the President was trying to hoodwink Nigerians when he said that he has directed security agents to investigate the allegations against him. If some

Nigeria’s miserable choices Many reasons have been adduced for the postponement of Nigeria’s general elections to March 28 and April 11. However, in its yesterday’s editorial as published below, the New York Times, warns that the nation’s burgeoning democracy cannot afford electoral crisis.

HE Nigerian government was supposed to hold presidential elections this past weekend, which presented voters with the dispiriting choice of keeping a lousy incumbent or returning to power a former autocratic leader. Now they will have to wait at least six weeks to cast votes. The Nigerian election commission said earlier this month that it had pushed back the vote until at least March 28, after the country’s security chiefs warned that they could not guarantee the safety of voters in northeastern areas of the country where Boko Haram, the extremist militant group, captured international attention last spring when it abducted hundreds of schoolgirls. On Friday, Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in neighboring Chad for the first time, an alarming sign of the group’s expanding strength in a region that also includes areas of Cameroon and Niger. Any argument to delay the vote might be more credible if President Goodluck

Jonathan’s government had not spent much of the past year playing down the threat posed by the militants and if there were a reasonable expectation that the country’s weak military has the ability to improve security in a matter of weeks. It appears more likely Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram. By dragging out the race, Mr. Jonathan stands to deplete his rival’s campaign coffers, while he continues to use state funds and institutions to bankroll his own. That Mr. Buhari, who helped launch a coup against a democratically elected government in 1983 and ruled until late 1985, has emerged as potential winner is more of an indictment of Mr. Jonathan’s dismal rule than a recognition of the former military chief’s appeal. Nigerian voters have grown increasingly worried about the stunning rise of Boko Haram, which has committed terrorist atrocities including bombings.

The abductions and attacks by the group have exposed the weaknesses of Nigeria’s armed forces and the dysfunction of the government. Although Mr. Jonathan’s government has in the past been less than enthusiastic, and at times obstructive, in response to offers of American and European aid, he appears to be growing increasingly worried. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, he said he would welcome American troops to fight the insurgency. Beyond security matters, entrenched corruption and the government’s inability to diversify its economy as the price of oil, the country’s financial bedrock, has fallen have also caused Nigerians to look for new leadership. Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, and a relatively young democracy, cannot afford an electoral crisis. That would only set back the faltering effort to reassert government control in districts where Boko Haram is sowing terror. The security forces may not be able to safeguard many districts on election day. But postponement is very likely to make the security threat worse.

of the allegations are true, who will take action against the President? Will the Commander-in-Chief move against himself? The lessons of the correspondence are instructive. It fostered an accountability process. Obasanjo was a oneman battalion in this regard. But the past was also being revisited. Thus, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

Torn apart by 2015 calculations Following the hot exchanges, Gen. Obasanjo and Dr. Jonathan continued to work at cross purposes. The sour relationship contrasted sharply with the previous father-son relationship. Indeed, Obasanjo admired Dr. Jonathan, who was a loyal deputy to former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who neither undermined nor subverted his boss, until the governor was shoved aside, following the his face-off with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The relationship between the two leaders was cordial. In fact, Obasanjo single- handedly nominated Dr. Jonathan as the vice presidential candidate in 2007. In quick succession, he became the vice president, acting president and president, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua. When the President contested for the highest office in 2011, Obasanjo was also a pillar of support for him. He mobilised support for him to defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the PDP primaries and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) at the presidential election. During Yar’Adua’s long absence, a cabal initially prevented Jonathan from stepping in as the Acting President. Obasanjo was among the eminent Nigerians who insisted that the 1999 Constitution should be followed in resolving the logjam. The former President even said that Yar’Adua should resign, owing to his incapacitation. When Yar’Adua died, the same forces were at work, until the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ was invoked to pave the way for Jonathan’s emergence as the President. In those trying period, Obasanjo stood with the President. However, cracks appeared on the wall because of the 2015 calculations. President Jonathan was scheming for a second term. Obasanjo objected to his move, saying that it contradicted zoning. Although President Jonathan visited Obasanjo in his Abeokuta, Ogun State residence, no truce was achieved. The former President also visited Dr. Jonathan in Aso Rock. But, the visits have not engendered mutual confidence. When Obasanjo resigned as the PDP BoT Chairman, the President gleefully accepted his resignation. Party sources said that Obasanjo was dazed by Dr. Jonathan’s reaction. The former occupant of th office, Chief Tony Anenih, instantly regained his lost seat. Instead of prevailing on the former President not to abdicate from the powerful and influential party structure, Jonathan simply welcomed the resignation and wished him the best in his future endeavours. However, crisis broke out between Obasanjo and the President, following the removal of Obasanjo’s men from the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The sack affected the former National Secretary, Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Segun Oni, and the National Auditor, Gbenga Mustapha. They were national officers from the Southwest zone. Oyinlola’s election was not voided by the INEC, which voided the election of other 16 national officers. When the party’s erswhile National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

Continued on page 9

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Jonathan, PDP leaders meet over Obasanjo, poll

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and President ECOWAS Commission Kadre Desire Ouedraogo during the ECOWAS Commission Team’s visit to State House in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Revealed: PDP’s plan to drag military into rigging plot

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears determined to ensure the military does its bidding during the March 28 and April 11 elections despite the condemnation of the Presidency and the military high command for the ignoble roles of soldiers in the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. The caucus of the party, The Nation learnt last night, met on February 9 in Abuja and agreed on how the military will either be used to intimidate voters and key opposition figures or get the rescheduled polls postponed again. The election would have been held on February 14 and

By Bello Imam

28. They were shifted because the Service Chiefs said they could not gurantee security – a stance that drew the criticisms of the Armed Forces. The only agenda of the meeting was a review of recent developments in the polity and the need to re-strategise, it was learnt. A source at the meeting said one of the sensitive issues discussed was how to use the military to create the impression that the security situation in the Northeast is still precarious and, therefore, not conducive for elections. The source said the meeting zeroed in on the Northwest ,

seen as the strongest base of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, and resolved that the zone be made unsafe for the elections . “What they plan to do here is to target markets,football viewing centres and motor parks for attacks , “ the source said. The idea, according to him, is to give the nation the impression that Boko Haram has relocated to the Northwest from the Northeast where the insurgents are being fought by a coalition of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Niger. With the Northwest now target of attacks, the military will

be prevailed upon to ask for another postponement of the election, citing as excuse the contrived security challenge in the zone. The Nation could, however, not confirm if the military has agreed to the plot. The source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter, however, said that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP are determined to have their way and are not bothered about the consequences of their actions. Should this strategy fail and elections become imperative, soldiers will be deployed in Continued on page 57

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Abuja. The reason for the meeting was not immediatelty clear. A source said it was all about the party’s crises in some states and former President Olusegun Obasanjo drammatic exit from the party. The meeting reviewed the campaign of the party in 35 of the 36 states. The PDP has problems in more than 10 states, including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Benue Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Gombe, Adamawa, Oyo, and Kebbi.. Ahead of likely sanctions, Obasanjo was said to have decided to beat PDP to its game. Obasanjo had stumbled on intelligence report that he might either be suspended or expelled from the party. He quit in a sensational manner tearing his PDP membership card. His fast-track approach caught the Presidency and the PDP unawares. There was disquiet in exmilitary President Ibrahim Babangida’s camp over the deteriorating relationship between Dr. Jonathan and Chief Obasanjo. The President, it was learnt, had a meeting with some party leaders at the Presidential Villa. A party source said: “We were all shocked by Obasanjo’s comments on Saturday. We felt the party is drifting again in an election year and

Military blasts Obasanjo, says behaviour unbecoming

HE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that the Service Chiefs were plotting tenure extension for President Goodluck Jonathan. It claimed that the unguarded utterances of the former President were unbecoming and a serious embarrassment to the military. It also said the military was better today than the institution which Obasanjo bequeathed to the nation. The DHQ, which made its

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

position known in a statement in Abuja, said Obasanjo’s comments were short of the standard of discipline expected of an individual who has had the privilege of service in the military and risen to the status of a General. It assured the nation that it was not out to truncate the nation’s democracy. The statement simply posted on the DHQ website was not signed. No military officer also wanted to make any comment on it when contacted. Reporters’ attention was

merely drawn to it. The statement said: “The Defence Headquarters has noted the remarks of a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as reported in the media, stating his views on perceived state of the armed forces and the roles being allegedly played by the military in the nation’s political process in recent times. “The leadership and cross section of the military believe that the former President and retired General has every right to be interested in the actions and fate of the military. Hence,

his views, like many others, will continue to be accorded the well-deserved attention. “It is however noteworthy that most of his utterances lately indicate an attitude of playing to the gallery or indulging in politicisation of serious national security or military affairs. “For instance, the comments credited to Chief Obasanjo alleging that the postponement of the General Elections was to enable President Jonathan to use the Service Chiefs to plot a tenure extension is, to say the Continued on page 57

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

we should mend fences. The President had audience with some of our leaders on how to manage the situation. “But as we are trying to see how to reconcile, Obasanjo again tore his PDP membership card in Abeokuta. You can see that we need to put our house in order. “We hope our leaders will find solutions to challenges facing the party. We will also take stock of the party’s campaign and where we ought to make amend.” Another source said: “As at Sunday night, there was so much pressure on the presidency to clip Obasanjo’s wings by suspending or expelling him. “Obasanjo got wind of plans to deal with him through intelligence sources and hurriedly convened a ward meeting to tear his PDP membership card. “Rather than waiting to be disgraced, Obasanjo opted for self-exit. The fast-track method adopted by Obasanjo however troubled many party leaders and members. A government source said: “We learnt what pained Obasanjo was the way some presidential and campaign organisation aides were abusing him. “The former President said he had no business in PDP again if it would get to a level that these aides will take him to the cleaners. He felt insulted. But he has forgotten that he also rubbished the President. “Having been in government before, he needed no soothsayer to know that the Presidency may play dirty by revealing what an official of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation called ‘personal demands’ on the disquiet in the camp of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida. A source said: “Irrespective of the situation, some people in Babangida’s camp are of the opinion that Obasanjo deserves some measure of respect. “They said Jonathan’s camp ought to have looked at the issues raised rather than personalising the situation. “There is disquiet in Babangida’s camp. Some loyalists of Babangida, especially retired Generals, are unhappy with what is going on.”

•Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

Obasanjo tears PDP membership card as he quits ruling party Ex-president’s action angers party, leaders

Continued from page 1

chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), was elected president twice in 1999 and 2003 – on the platform of the PDP. After resigning as the BoT chair, Obasanjo had been lukewarm to the party’s affairs. He called it quits yesterday – in a dramatic manner. At a meeting at his home with about 350 members of the PDP in his Ward II, Abeokuta North Local Government, the ex-president asked for his membership card, which was handed over to him by Ward Leader Surajudeen Oladunjoye. He instructed him to tear it. The chairman raised the card up in his two hands and went on to tear it into pieces. He was all smiles. The party followers were excited. Some of them also tore their cards. They were singing and dancing. T’Obasanjo lawa o se (we’re all for Obasanjo),

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders reacted angrily yesterday to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s sensational exit from the party. The Ogun State chapter announced his dismissal a few hours after he had publicly torn his membership card. The Southwest zonal chapter described Obasanjo’s public rejection of the party as “childish, self-serving and cruel”, but the national secretariat was conciliatory. Board of Trustees (BOT) Chief Tony Anenih said the party would not miss Obasanjo., “He has the right to leave any party and he has the right to join any party. He is a Nigerian. To us leaders, it is not a loss,” Anenih said.

they sang excitedly. Obasanjo said: “If this is why we cannot have the Nigeria we desire, I am no longer part of this.” According to him, if involvement in partisan politics

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja, Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti, Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

BoT Secretary Walid Jibrin said: “Should Obasanjo, a former head of state, behave that way? Even if you want to take a decision like that, will you do it that way? There is a process of coming out of PDP; you go to your ward, submit your card, give some explanations why you are doing so, not just in the public.” State House correspondents, who waited anxiously to get the reaction of National Chairman Adamu Muazu were disappointed as he rushed into his tinted-glass Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) as soon as he noticed them approaching him. His car sped off. In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, PDP South-

would hinder him from working for a better Nigeria, he is ready to sacrifice his membership of the PDP and become a statesman. Obasanjo said: “This Nigeria belongs to all of us and it must

west Zonal Chairman Makanjuola Ogundipe said Obasanjo had ceased being a member of the party since last year but was only formalising his exit with his action. “In the first instance, he has never contributed a dime to the PDP, a party that made him president. Rather, he has promoted strife and rebellion among members for his own selfish interests. “It was his selfishness that cost us the governorship election in Ogun State in 2011 and it was his high-handedness that led to the exit of key members of the party. We are therefore happy that he has finally bade us farewell and we will not miss him.” In a statement, Ogun State Chairman

not be destroyed. This is my PDP membership card. Where I am standing is that Nigeria belongs to everybody, including babies. “ We must not allow anybody to destroy it wherever

Continued on page 57

they come from, whatever they have and if they destroy it, it becomes our burden to our children and incoming generation. “The question asked is that which party am I? I belong to

the group that believes that Nigeria must not be destroyed. Those of you that are marketers, you observed that there is inflation in the market. “The bureaux de change operators exchanged dollar for N150 then and now it is going to be N250 to a dollar. What it means is that, what you’ve been buying for N150 will be bought for N250. This is not the kind of country we dream of. “There’s no job, no employment. Some people have started destroying Nigeria and I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria. Perhaps, you don’t understand that it is because there’s Nigeria that is why PDP exists. “Without Nigeria, there will Continued on page 57

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THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS

...10 AYS TO GO ...1011 D DA

APC alleges security operatives’ withdrawal from Kebbi, Katsina border posts

ECOWAS warns politicians against hate speeches

•EU election observers meet Jonathan

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged the withdrawal of Customs, Immigration and other security operatives from the country’s border posts in Kebbi and Katsina states through “a strange directive”. Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, wondered what purpose such a directive was meant to serve. The statement indicated that the verbal directive led to the “total withdrawal” of security operatives from the border posts in the two states, leaving them unmanned. The party wondered who would give such an order and for what purpose, urging the Federal Government to tell Nigerians what happened. The APC said: ‘’It will not be enough for the government to tell Nigerians that it is not aware of such a development, because that will be more egregious than what happened in the first instance, and will amount to the government not being able to secure the country’s borders. ‘’It is also necessary to tell Nigerians how many states were affected by such orders. We were only made aware

Customs, Immigration deny leaving positions THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have denied the alleged withdrawal of their officers and men from border posts in Kebbi and Katsina states. The two organisations made the denial in separate statements in Abuja by their spokespersons, Mr. Wale Adeniyi (Customs) and Chukwuemeka Obua (Immigration). The Customs said: “The attention of the NCS has been drawn to reports in the media alleging that Customs operatives deployed in border stations in Kebbi and Sokoto states have been withdrawn. “According to the reports, the directive withdrawing the officers was said to have been given verbally by an un-named official of the Federal Government, raising fears about security of our borders. “In view of the security implication of this development and its sensitivity, it becomes necessary for the service to clarify the situation as follows: • There was no directive whatsoever, verbal or written, to officers of NCS posted to Kebbi/Sokoto and Kaduna/Katsina commands to withdraw from the borders or their patrol bases; • In the same vein, there was no directive of two. But there is the possibility that the directive could have been more widespread.” The party said with no one left to man the borders in the affected areas for as

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

From Yusuf Alli and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

withdrawing Customs operatives from duty posts in other border stations across the country; • In view of the security situation in the country, the comptroller-general only last week directed a reinforcement of patrol teams across the country. The Sokoto/Kebbi axis was beefed up with the deployment of a Special Squad in view of a reported incident between Customs and smugglers; • The service is in consultation with Nigeria Immigration Service and other sister government agencies on this issue. They confirmed that they did not receive any such withdrawal directive; and • We are similarly in consultation with the state governments in the Northwest axis, to reassure them that our officers are at alert at their duty posts, and should regard the withdrawal allegation as baseless and mere speculation.” Also yesterday, the NIS said it was reinforcing its borders and not contemplating abandoning same for a second. It asked Nigerians to disregard and ignore such reports asking officers and men to vacate their duty posts.

long as the directive lasted, which is yet to be determined, anything could have happened. ‘’Who gave the verbal order? Was the order given verbally so that there will be no

evidence of it? Were the Customs, Immigration and other security personnel ordered away to allow the free entry of contraband goods, election materials, weapons, terrorists or what?

•Mohammed

‘’Even with our borders manned, Boko Haram terrorists have been marauding freely along the border areas. Will this illegal order not worsen the security situation, at a time the government is giving Nigerians the assurance that it will deal Boko Haram a mortal blow within six weeks?’’ it queried. APC said the development, coming a day after leaflets were distributed in Gombe asking people to stay away from polling booths on election days, raises more fears about the scheming by the Jonathan administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure the rescheduled elections did not hold. ‘’In pursuit of this objective, these band of desperate people will do anything, including threatening the very existence of the country. Nigerians must not allow them,” the party said.

Edem Duke to oversee Information Ministry From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, to oversee the Federal Ministry of Information until a substantive minister is appointed. This was contained in a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The directive followed the disengagement of Dr. Nuruddeen Muhammad,who was overseeing the ministry. He is now the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State.

•Oyo State Commissioner for Education Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu inaugurating a library and borehole water project initiated by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr. Adedayo Adewole, in Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State...yesterday. With him from left are: representative of the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Olubukola Abiodun; the project initiator; his father, Prof. Isaac Adewole; and grand mother of the initiator Mrs. Florence Adewole.

U.S.-based lawyer to Jonathan: don’t harm Tinubu, Obasanjo, others

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and the military have been warned against taking any action that may endanger the lives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other Yoruba leaders. A United States-based lawyer, Mr. Dele Alade, gave the warning yesterday in New York at a memorial service in honour of the late Rev. Tunji Adebiyi organised by Egbe Omo Yoruba. Alade condemned the deployment of soldiers to survey Asiwaju Tinubu’s house in Ikoyi, Lagos, describing the act as “primitive, intolerance, insensitive, brigandage and fascism which are antithetical to democracy”. The lawyer said the Yoruba would hold the President

and his people responsible if any harm should happen to Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Bisi Akande, Prof. Wole Soyinka and other prominent Yoruba sons and daughters that Jonathan allegedly perceived as his enemies. The Yoruba in the Diaspora, he said, were ready to defend their land and their people against any harassment, intimidation and aggression. Alade stressed that the Yoruba have learnt from the travails and killing of Chief MKO Abiola and would not stand by and watch the Nigerian state victimise, oppress and kill any of their sons or daughters while exercising their legitimate constitutional rights and political beliefs. He alleged that the Jonathan administration had virtu-

ally eliminated Yoruba people from top civil and public service positions in the Federal ministries and parastatals. Alade condemned the corrupt attitude and tendency of those in government to remain in power even when the people had rejected them. According to him, Asiwaju Tinubu and other APC leaders, who were being harassed, did nothing wrong. He said the Yoruba in the U.S. had drawn the attention of Washington to events in Nigeria, adding that the situation was closely being monitored. Yoruba organisations in the Diaspora, he assured, would join other similar Nigerian organisations to mount international campaign against the government, if it decided to arrest opposi-

tion leaders, particularly Tinubu, who he said was a symbol of progressive politics in Nigeria. Alade described Rev. Tunji Adebiyi as a patriot, an unsung hero of NADECO and a humble servant of God. He said Rev. Adebiyi dedicated his life to the service of the people, especially the lessprivileged, rather than enriching himself. Alade decried many self-acclaimed Yoruba leaders, who were enriching themselves at the expense of the people. He called on friends of Rev. Adebiyi to support his wife and the four young children he left behind. Alade called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system to provide quick, efficient and life-saving healthcare services to the people.

Pastor Yemi Ayeni of CAC Agbala Itura in Brooklyn, New York, extolled the virtues of Rev. Adebiyi, hailing Egbe Omo Yoruba for honouring him. Rev. Ayeni called on Yoruba leaders to emulate Rev. Adebiyi’s passion for the poor and God. The cleric called for unity among the Yoruba and prayed for peace in Nigeria. The event was attended by members of Egbe Omo Yoruba and some political friends of Rev. Adebiyi across the Northeast USA, including President Tunde Olatunbosun, Mr. Segun Dare, Mr. Kehinde Kolawole, Mr. Emeka Malokwu, Mr. Wale Adelagunja, Prince Adejuwon Adebanjo, Dr. Wunmi Akintide, Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Alade, Yanju Akinmoyo and others.

HE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged the nation’s political stakeholders to avoid hate speeches in their campaigns for the general elections. ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo and the community’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Salamatu Suleiman, spoke to State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. The commission appealed to the media to help curb the trend since it was unnecessarily heating up the polity. Ouedraogo and Suleiman added that the trend would not augur well for the country. According to them, the appeal was part of the recommendations in the report of the ECOWAS fact-finding mission and long-term observation missions, which the commission established to monitor the Nigeria elections. Ouedraogo said ECOWAS felt obliged to share the observations, including those on the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) with the major stakeholders, like the President, the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, Santiago Fisas, also led his team to meet with the president at the State House, Abuja on the elections. Fisas said: “As the chief observer, I must meet with all the candidates for these elections. I met twice with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Today, President Jonathan very kindly accepted to receive me and my team, the EU ambassador, the deputy observer and other colleagues, just to have an exchange of views about the elections. “I’m very happy to be assured by the President that the inauguration of the next president will take place on May 29. I think this is very good news because this is constitutional.” On whether he believed what the president told him, he said: “Yes. I don’t see why I should doubt that. The president said that publicly and also to us. We asked questions on security and he said to us that in a very short period of time, the security situation will improve a lot.”

•Ouedraogo...yesterday

THE NATION TUESDAY,FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Central African leaders meet over Boko Haram

•All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone, protesting the arrest of their candidate, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako in Yola...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Death toll in Damaturu bus attack now 13

HIRTEEN people have been confirmed killed after a female suicide bomb attack at a bus station in Damaturu, Yobe, on Sunday. “The death toll from the suicide attack at the Damaturu motor park now stands at 13, with the death of six

more victims at the hospital,” Yobe State police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin said. The attack happened in the state capital shortly after 1pm and was blamed on Boko Haram insurgents, who regularly use women and young girls as suicide bombers.

A woman with explosives strapped to her body entered the city’s main bus station and blew herself up among the crowds. Thirty-two people were injured. “Later, six more died from among the injured victims. The remaining 26 are being treated for injuries they sus-

tained in the attack,” said Gbadegesin. The blast came after militant fighters stormed the northeastern city of Gombe on Saturday and as a regional force battles the rebels, who have recently pushed into border areas of Chad and Niger.

Presidency: no timeline for Chibok girls’ rescue

HE Presidency clarified yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan did not promise the rescue of the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted from their dormitories by the Boko Haram since April 15, 2014. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the explanation became necessary to correct a distorted interpreta-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

tion of the President’s comments on the abducted girls. Okupe denied a statement credited to the convener of the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to the effect that Jonathan had, during his media chat, made an affirmative statement that the girls would be rescued alive in six weeks.

Dr. Ezekwesili and her group have started a countdown to the six weeks based on what they construed as Jonathan’s self imposed timeframe for the rescue of the abducted girls. The six weeks fall within the rescheduled general elections’ timeline. Okupe’s statement said: “We wish to state that the statement made by the President during his last media chat was that the combined efforts of new of-

fensive by the Nigerian military and its allies, as well as improved capacity in the operations, have made the chances for the rescue of the Chibok girls brighter than ever before. “This statement cannot be construed as putting a sixweek timeframe for the delicate task of freeing the girls alive, which the President remains very committed to and would definitely wish would even happen in a day.”

Deployment of soldiers for polls unlawful, says Appeal Court

HE Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday held that it is unlawful for the Federal Government to deploy members of the armed forces for election duties. The court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel, held that the Federal Government was wrong to have used armed soldiers during the conduct of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. The pronouncement, which was a confirmation of an earlier position held by Justice A. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto, was in the appellate court’s judgment in an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the decision of the election tribunal on the last governorship election in Ekiti. In the lead judgment read by Justice Abdu Aboki, the court dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the tribunal on the grounds that the appellant (APC) failed to prove its allegation that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, forged his Higher National Diploma certificate. The court held that since the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Ibadan confirmed that the certificate was issued to Fayose, in the absence of any contrary evidence by the appellant, Fayose needed not to further provide any evidence. It held that the burden of proof was on the appellant, which it failed to discharge. The court refused the appellant’s argument that Fayose

•Judges dismiss APC’s appeal against Fayose’s election From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

was not qualified to stand for election having been impeached in 2006. The judges held that under the constitution, impeachment was not a ground for disqualifying a candidate from standing for election. “We resolve that although the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the 4th and 5th respondents (Inspector General of Police and Chief of Army Staff), in the circumstances, that did not stop it from making a pronouncement on deprecating the unlawful role of the military in the conduct of election in Ekiti State. “Since the tribunal had made a finding that pleading by parties revealed a consensus that soldiers were used in the conduct of the election, it must be stated by way of emphasis that armed forces have no role in the conduct of election, must not be involved, except perhaps, in the area of providing logistics services to the agencies of government in the preparation for the election. “They (armed forces) should not be called out on the streets or places of election in the name of security, because that would militarise the process and create an atmosphere of military siege, fear and intimidation of the public,” Justice Aboki said. Justice Aboki held that the position by Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto in his judgment of Jan-

uary 29, 2015 to the effect that the President cannot deploy the armed forces for any purpose, without the consent of the National Assembly, is the law. He added that the provision of the law as related to the deployment of the armed forces “must be adhered to in order to save the electoral process from the virus of illegality, eligibility problem and absurdity”. He added: “The time has come in our learning process to establish the culture of democratic rule in the country and to strive to do the right thing, particularly when it comes to dealing with electoral process, which is one of the pillars of democracy. “In spite of the non-tolerance nature and behaviour of the political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel of whatever status and nature from being a part and parcel of the electoral process. “The state is obliged to confine the military to their very demanding assignment, especially in this time of insurgency and encroachment into the country’s territory, by keeping them out of elections. “The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out the electoral process at all levels. Thus, the state is obliged to ensure that citizens, who are sovereign, can exercise their franchise unmolested and undisturbed. “Even though some of the issues relating to the handling

of the trial by the tribunal were resolved in favour of the appellant, those issues did not occasion a miscarriage of justice. “Thus having resolved the substantive issues of disqualification and return as well as forgery against the appellant, we are of the opinion that there is no merit in this appeal and it is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the tribunal delivered on December 19, 2014 is herby affirmed. “Cross appeal filed by the PDP and Fayose succeed in part.” The court held that the tribunal was right to have held that APC could challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal without its candidate being a party in the petition. The court further held that the tribunal was wrong to have investigated the proceeding leading to the fact of Fayose’s impeachment in 2006. And that it ought to have restrained itself to deciding whether or not impeachment was a ground of disqualification from contesting election under the constitution. The court, while urging the legislature to take a second look at the constitutional provision that allows an impeached governor to re-contest election in the same state, held that it was absurd to allow an individual adjudged to be unfit to hold public office by virtue of his impeachment to be allowed to stand election for the same office.

MACHINE 88 (JOBS)

ENTRAL African leaders began talks yesterday in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, to devise a joint strategy to tackle Nigeria’s armed Islamic group, Boko Haram. Six heads of state attended the meeting that began at 10a.m. under the auspices of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), while four other countries sent delegates. Besides Cameroon and Chad, most countries taking part have not been directly affected by the bloody jihadist insurgency, which is estimated to have claimed 13,000 lives since Boko Haram launched its uprising in 2009. Nigeria - where elections have been postponed by six weeks, mainly because of Boko Haram’s attacks in swathes of the Northeast – was absent from the talks since it is not an ECCAS member. The aim of yesterday’s discussion was to come up with “an agreed solution” concerning the fight against the extremists, a source close to the Cameroonian government told Agence France Presse (AFP). Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon, Catherine Samba Panza of the Central African Republic, Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon attended the Yaounde meeting. Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sao Tome & Principe were represented by government ministers.

Sect issues warnings to Chad, Niger

OKO Haram has threatened Niger and Chad, warning that its fighters are prepared to carry out suicide bombings in the countries sending troops to help fight the extremists. In a translation published by the SITE Intelligence Group, the group sharply criticised Niger for joining the effort and said the country was being dragged into a “swamp of darkness.” Over the last 10 days, Boko

Haram fighters have repeatedly struck the town of Diffa, but not the capital. “If you insist on continuing the aggression and the coalition with the government of Chad, then we give you glad tidings that the land of Niger is easier than the land of Nigeria and moving the war to the depth of your cities will be the first reaction toward any aggression that occurs after this statement,” it said, according to SITE’s transcript.

Troops seize insurgents’ foodstuffs in Baga

HE Defence Headquarters said yesterday that troops had seized truck loads of rice, beans and other logistics meant for supply to Boko Haram members in Baga. It also said the troops had recovered Monguno, Marte and other communities from the insurgents. But, a military source said the battle to reclaim Baga had started. The DHQ spoke in a statement in Abuja by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade. The statement reads: “Troops in a military operation spearheaded by highly coordinated air assaults have completed the mission of clearing terrorists from Monguno and environs this morning. “A number of terrorists as well as truck loads of rice, beans and other logistics meant for supply to the terrorists operating around Baga have been captured in the course of operation. “Casualty inflicted and arms recovered as well as other outcome of the operation in Munguno, Marte and other communities already secured, will be determined after the ongoing cordon and

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

search in the environs. “The air and land operation is continuing with aggressive advance towards other designated communities and locations meant to be cleared in the ongoing offensive against the terrorists.” Meanwhile, a military source said the battle to reclaim Baga from the insurgents has begun. The source said: “We have launched attacks to reclaim Baga, but we are not yet there. As soon as we are there, we will let you know. “We are, however, optimistic that we will reclaim the fish town very soon. You know since January, we have been trying to recapture the town, which the insurgents had turned into a stronghold.” The Amnesty International had said it was in possession of shocking satellite images of the January 3 killings in Baga and Doron Baga in Borno State by Boko Haram. It claimed that over 3,700 structures were either damaged or completely destroyed. It explained that while 620 structures were razed down in Baga, 3,100 others were affected in Doron Baga, which is also known as Doron Gowon.

Sect injures Cameroonian soldiers

OKO Haram insurgents attacked a Cameroon military camp near the town of Waza in the north of the country yesterday, wounding several soldiers. Chad, Niger and Cameroon have begun a joint offensive against Boko Haram militants who have killed thousands of people in a bid to carve out an Islamist emirate in northern Nigeria, and have increasingly staged raids across nearby borders. “The wounded are being evacuated. The insurgents have been stopped. An APC (armoured personnel carrier) was taken from them and several of them were killed,” a Cameroonian military officer told reporters in Maroua, adding the incident was continuing. Earlier this month, Boko Haram fighters killed more than 100 people in the northern Cameroon town of Fotokol, including residents inside their homes and a mosque, a local political leader said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Lagos gets Head of Service By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has appointed Mrs. Folashade Sherifat Jaji as Head of Service (HoS). Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba said her appointment followed the retirement of Mrs Josephine Williams last Friday after 35 years in service. According to Ibirogba, Mrs. Jaji is the 18th Head of Service. She is the most senior of all the serving permanent secretaries. The new HoS was born on March 10, 1957. She attended the University of Ibadan, and obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons) Degree in Chemistry in 1979. She had a post graduate diploma in Public Administration in 1985 from ASCON, also obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos, Akoka, in 1989. She began her career with the Lagos State Civil Service on October 27, 1980 with a stint at the Judicial Service Commission and later the Governor’s Office, Lagos, Political Affairs Department.

Ekiti APC petitions AGF, IG, INEC on rigging audio clip

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the petition by the state Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, the party called their attention to an audio recording by Captain Sagir Koli of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, which was released to the public , capturing the voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, the Commanding Officer of 32 Artillery Brigade, BrigGeneral Aliyu Momoh; Senator Iyiola Omisore, Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan; former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Obanikoro and others at a meeting where they strategised on how to rig the June 21, last year governorship election. The APC asked INEC to investigate the matter and prosecute its officials involved. It also asked the police to investigate their personnel for undue influence, conspiracy, treason and breach of the provisions of the constitution. Awe said: “Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution states that Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. “During the meeting, strategies

and plans to intimidate voters to perform electoral fraud were hatched to take over control of the government of Ekiti State in a manner contrary to the provisions of the constitution and other relevant statutes. “The infractions of the constitution as perpetrated by the accused are as follows: the use of the military to assist in electoral manipulation contrary to the purpose of the military as provided for by the constitution; the use of stickers for the identification of persons not to be harassed and detained by the military; and Ayo Fayose admitting to copying voting materials provided by INEC. “Others include the reprimand of the military personnel for detaining members of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) who were engaged in electoral fraud and malpractices and Obanikoro clearly stating that he was under instructions from the President to influence the election in Fayose’s favour while also offering promises of promotion to the military personnel if the plans discussed were carried out. “The tape has gone viral on the Internet; the link can be accessed via https://soundcloud.com/saharareporters/secret-meetingthat-led-to-the-rigging-of-ekitigubetnatorial-for-fa.” The party urged Adoke to investigate the matter, warning that failure to act would compel the party to approach the court to seek an Order of Mandamus, compelling him to so act.

PDP chiefs call for Jega’s sack By Musa Odoshimokhe

HE Southwest Presidential Contact Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for alleged dereliction of duty and partisan complicity. The committee, which met yesterday in Lagos under the leadership of Chief Olabode George, said having exhaustively deliberated on the state of the nation, resolved that Jega failed in his appointed role of a neutral and non-partisan electoral umpire. The committee also discussed recent statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, calling on Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan. In its communiqué, the committee expressed disappointment at the remarks of the former leader, noting that Obasanjo’s pronouncements were not statesmanlike. Other members of the group include: Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Maj-Gen. A.T. Olanrewaju, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Elder Joju Fadairo, Otunba Adebisi Omoyeni, Amb. Toye Olofintuyi, Sen. Adefemi Kila, Chief Segun Adegoke, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Olayinka Omilani, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Olu Alabi, Dr. Saka Balogun, Alh. Mustapha Omokunm.

Funeral for Ondo APC chairman’s wife From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE funeral details for the wife of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mrs. Tamarauemi Celestina Kekemeke, have been released. Mrs. Kekemeke died last Friday. She is survived by her husband, Isaac and four sons. According to the family, there would be a service of songs on Thursday in Akure, the state capital and a funeral service at the First Baptist Church, Arogbo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area on Saturday. Interment follows immediately. In his letter of condolence, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said: “I received the news of the passing of your beloved wife, Mrs. Tamarauemi Celestina Kekemeke with great shock and I now write to commiserate with you, the entire Kekemeke family and members of our great party on the glorious passing of this wonderful and distinguished woman.”

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left); Deputy Governor Moses Alake Adeyemo (right); Secretary to the State Government Ismail Olalekan Alli and the new Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Musa Kastina , when Katsina visited the governor...yesterday. SEE STORY ON PAGE 8

No unholy partnership with Oyo NURTW, says REC

HE Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Amb Rufus Akeju, has denied engaging in an “unholy relationship” with the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The governorship candidate of Accord, Rashidi Ladoja, on Sunday, faulted the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage the services of commercial drivers in conveying election materials to voting centres. Akeju, who dispelled the allegation at an emergency meeting with election stakeholders in Ibadan, said the commission at the national level, initiated consultative meetings with the NURTW executives at the national level. “After series of meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed upon and signed by the two bodies. Arising from the MOU, the commission instructed the state offices to meet

•Parties kick From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

with the state branches of the union. Consequently, this office held a meeting with the state executives of the union, led by the national officer. “The MOU is designed to introduce some sanity and decorum into the arrangement as the Electoral Officers will only discuss with the union executives at the local government rather than the hitherto time consuming approach of dealing with individual drivers.” According to him, Oyo INEC needed 27,000 vehicles to convey electoral materials and men to the polling units. The REC said the wide expanse of land and the huge number of polling units in Nigeria, coupled with the obvious fact that the commission could not possibly purchase and maintain fleets of vehi-

cles required for the seamless movement of men and materials necessitated the partnership. Akeju assured that the partnership with the union would ensure checks and balances as the erring drivers could easily be spotted and reported to the union for appropriate sanction. Labour Party Chairman Gbenga Olayemi said his party would not agree with the plan because they know what the members of NURTW were capable of doing. “This union belongs to some parties and may plan for the materials to be hijacked. We object to this plan.” Accord’s Publicity Secretary Nureni Adeniran said:” The concept is good but no party will support the idea of using NURTW members to convey INEC materials. We know what they represent and what they do, so using them is a means to perfect rigging.” Social Democratic Party’s (SDP’s)

spokesman Olugbenga Collins said there is a difference between the NURTW in Oyo and other states. “Ours is full of thugs and touts and it is better if the commission makes use of private individuals to convey the materials. Private company vehicles are of good standard when even compared to public transport.” All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretary Mojeed Olaoya said:”We don’t support or condemn the plan because we were not party to the partnership with NURTW. In the past, the government has been using the union to disrupt the election and that is why some parties are not in the support of it.” Akeju urged the aggrieved parties to write a letter to INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega detailing their grievances and why they will not support the process.

INEC records 70 per cent PVCs collection in Ondo

HE Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Segun Agbaje, has said 70.7 per cent of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been distributed in the state. “In Ondo State, we were given 1, 494, 169 cards by the national headquarters. “Of these, we have distributed 1,057,066 representing 70.7 per cent. There are 437, 032 cards or 29.3 percent waiting for collection.” Agbaje spoke on a programme

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

on Adaba FM in Akure yesterday. The National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Lagos, Ondo and Osun states, Prof. Akinola Salawu, said there was no going back on the use of PVCs. Salawu, who spoke with reporters when he visited the state INEC headquarters in Akure, said using PVCs would add value to the elections. The national commissioner said the use of card readers will enrich the electoral system and

guarantee free, fair and credible elections. He reiterated that the commission is better prepared for the election than the 2011 election. “There is electronic voting in most countries but the law does not allow it in Nigeria. So, what we did is to use the card readers to add value to the electoral system. “Any electronic item can have problem at any time. But these are new card readers. They have been tested in some area councils in the

Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “We know that they are reliable. We also have backup in case of any problem. “We are going to keep some at the wards so that if there is any problem, they can change the machine to rectify the problem. “We have take delivery of more than 3,060 card readers. We have 3,009 polling unit. “We will have one card reader for each polling unit. The card readers can last for 10 hours. We can’t use it more than five hours, or six hours at most.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Ajimobi: my predecessors’ve a history of failure

‘Stay away from Oyo’

HE Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Musa Katsina, has warned party candidates and their supporters against acts and statements capable of inciting violence. The commissioner gave the warning when he visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Governor’s Office, in Ibadan, yesterday. He warned that no politician was too big to be prosecuted, adding that the command would not spare any effort in ensuring the sustenance of the peace and security across the state. Katsina, who applauded the prevailing peace and political maturity of the governor, admonished parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against being used to foment trouble before, during and after the coming elections. The police boss assured the people that the police were prepared to secure their lives and property. The governor acknowledged that the police had been playing a huge role in the maintenance of peace and security in the state, especially through their contributions to the state security outfit, codenamed Operation Burst.

Fayose accused of contempt of court From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Bayo Orire, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of contempt of court, following the seizure of monetised official cars from former political office holders. He urged the governor to stop giving excuses on the debt inherited from the Kayode Fayemi administration and face the serious business of governance “which has been reduced to a comical enterprise”. Orire was one of the four senior officials of the Fayemi administration from whom officials cars were forcibly retrieved by a task force set up by Fayose on January 30. The Publicity Secretary of the state APC Elders’ Forum said board members who served Fayemi had sued Fayose for the dissolution of boards and commissions. He said: “These vehicles were monetized and there was a repayment schedule going on which should have been negotiated because all the former political office holders are still being owed. “We are still being owed furniture allowances, severance allowances, leave bonuses and salaries that could actually be used to defray the balance. “In fact, the case is in court but Fayose’s penchant for not respecting the Judiciary has shown again by his disdain for judicial process. “The dehumanising manner in which he seized the vehicles in a Gestapo-like manner through a Task Force to harass people speaks volumes about his personality.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin , during Petinrin’s 60th birthday party in Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State...at the weekend

Police van ‘crushes’ woman to death

HE family of a 68-yearold woman, who was allegedly crushed to death by a police van in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have staged a peaceful protest to register their grievance. They marched on the Mapo Hall Police Station yesterday. The deceased, Nusirat Durosaro, and her daughter, Mrs. Saudat Salawu, were on their way to the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan, when a police van reportedly hit them at Oritamerin. Mrs. Salawu, however, survived the accident. She said: “Yesterday, we were standing at a bus stop at Oritamerin, waiting for a bus to Olodo when I heard a loud

•Family protests alleged brutality From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

bang. I fell on top of my mother. It was then I looked back to see what happened. “I noticed that a white police van knocked us down. My mother was bleeding from her nose, eyes and ears. She was unconscious. I was shouting that you policemen have killed my mum. See what you have done. God will request her blood from you. The police took us to Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu. The doctor attended to her and administered drips on her. “She was transferred to the

University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. But, to my surprise, the policemen started threatening me, querying my effrontery to accuse the ‘police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of killing my mum’.” Mrs. Salawu added that the policemen compelled her to give her house address with a threat to deal with her. The woman, who came to the secretariat of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel, Mokola, Ibadan, pleaded with reporters to fight her cause. She said: “Can you believe these policemen are claiming that it was a motorcycle that

hit my mother? They said it was impossible for somebody who was knocked down by a vehicle to know that it was policemen who hit her.” Mrs. Salawu claimed that the policemen dropped them off on the way to UCH. “Even though I was bleeding on my knee, I rushed my mother to Ibadan Central Hospital where the doctor confirmed that she was dead. Please, Nigerians save me from these power-drunk policemen who are threatening me. What type of country is this? This is very unfair.” Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu said he was yet to be briefed about the incident.

Akinjide lied on $2m Oyo water project, says APC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described as false and malicious the claim by the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, that President Goodluck Jonathan released $2 million to the Abiola Ajimobi administration to boost water supply projects in the state. According to the APC, Akinjide said on a national television interview programme that the money was handed over to the state as the Federal Government’s intervention in the provision

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

of potable water for the people. In the statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC challenged Akinjide to prove her claim with details of when and how the money was released or withdraw the claim. “But for the fact that we owe the public a duty to debunk such malicious claims which could only come from a member of a failed and dying administration, Ms Jumoke Akinjide should have been ignored on this is-

sue since it is obvious that she was trying to make voters in the state reverse their verdict of disappointment passed on her principal. “Ms Akinjide has again insulted the people’s sensibilities. Her claim came at a time when the people are still in shock over the fake project list released by the Federal Government as Jonathan’s achievements in Oyo State. “Apparently, the $2 million water project grant falls in the category of the Inland Container Depot at Erunmu and the Ibadan-Ilorin Expressway which President Goodluck

Jonathan lays claim to in his bid to deceive the electorate in Oyo State to vote him for another four years of ineptitude, insecurity and corruption. These are mere lies coming from misfits, who got into power by default. “The truth of the matter is that the PDP-led Federal Government has not made any intervention in the state in the last 16 years. The last time it happened was in 1999 and the water projects cited in Oyo town and Ilero have since been abandoned.”

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his main contenders in the April 11 governorship election have a history of failure and inability to translate their acclaimed dreams for the state into reality. The governor said the Accord Party governorship candidate, Rashidi Ladoja, was fond of claiming that he conceptualised many projects, which never saw the light of the day. The governor spoke at a campaign rally at Oluyole, where he told party faithful and supporters that he remained the best candidate. The governor added that the Labour Party governorship candidate in the April 11 election, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, also had the history of failed and substandard projects when he was governor between 2007 and 2011. Ajimobi recalled how the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, collapsed under construction and killed innocent citizens during the Alao-Akala administration. “The records are there. My main contenders have history of failure and execution of projects that did not stand the test of time. Roads went bad shortly after construction. Buildings collapsed under construction. I want the people to judge all of us on our records of achievements. “With every sense of modesty, I make bold to say that I have surpassed whatever achievement my main contenders lay claim to. Please don’t let us allow retrogressive elements to have another shot at the Governor’s Office. “Let us continue to build this state together. I solicit for your support in the coming election for the benefit of this generation and the generations yet unborn. The projects we have commissioned in the last three and a half years still remain solid till today and I promise to do more if reelected.” He used the opportunity to assure day-old chicks sellers of his support at all times, urging them to dismiss the rumour of planed demolition of their stalls.

N500m spent on Eko Bridge repairs, says commissioner

AGOS State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Obafemi Hamzat has said the state has spent N500million on repair works on the Eko Bridge. Hamzat spoke while clarifying comments made by the Minister of State for Works, Adedayo Adeyeye, on the state of roads in Lagos. Adeyeye, at the weekend, accused the government of neglecting some roads in the state, including federal roads. But Hamzat dismissed the minister’s claims, recalling that officials from the Federal Ministry of Works had confirmed after an audit, that the Federal Government owed the state N51billion. He said if the Federal Government had maintained its roads, the state would have channelled resources spent

•’Fed Govt not living up to responsibility’ By Miriam Ekene Okoro

on maintaining federal roads on other community roads. “They confirmed that they owe us that amount because we have done some federal roads, so, maybe the minister doesn’t know that. I am not sure of the information that he has, but those are details, it was in the newspapers, it was documented and it’s not only in Lagos, but across the country. “So to say that Lagos is not doing anything on those roads, is not true. Maybe the minister doesn’t know, Ikorodu Road is no longer a Federal Government road, that’s why we are doing the expansion we are doing now.” The commissioner said 34 expansion joints were changed on both sides of the

bridge, noting that the state could not neglect the bridge, despite being a federal road. “The contract has been awarded and it’s being carried out by Julius Berger. So these are facts that the minister cannot deny. I don’t know where he got his information and I don’t know the extent of why he said all what he said but Nigerians need to know the truth. “Those bridges are important to the survival of our state and that’s why we have to fix them. We are actually fixing all the bearings on which those bridges actually lie, as a matter of fact, we have lifted the bridge a bit, people might not know, so I don’t know why he said what he said, but this is just to set the records straight.” He also frowned at

Adeyeye’s statement where he said that there would be nothing else left in Lagos, if federal roads are removed in the state. The commissioner said federal roads in Lagos only constitute 11.4 per cent of the 5,500 km of roads in the state. According to him, “About 53 per cent belongs to the state government while 35.6 belong to the local government. So, if you add 53 and 35.6 per cent, it’s amazing that somebody will say 89 per cent is irrelevant and that 11 per cent is more significant. But one is not surprised. It is in this country 16 is greater than 19. He said the state has evaluated Apapa Bridge to carry out maintenance work, however, saying it has to first complete work on Eko

•Hamzat Bridge to minimise gridlock. “When was the last time the Federal Government maintained those bridges? When was the last time the expansion joints were changed? So, we have looked at all the bridges in Lagos, we have looked at their deficiencies, we have sent it to the Federal Government, but we would not allow those bridges to collapse or go into disrepair.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

MAY 29 ...101 DAYS TO GO

Obasanjo: Politics of retirement and transition into statesmanship Continued from page 3 refused to reinstate him, Obasanjo’s camp took up the battle, claiming that it was an orchestrated plan to reduced the former President’s influence by politically eliminating his supporters from the organs of the party. Obasanjo had other grudges. He had lost his grip over the Ogun PDP. It was a victory for his foes in the troubled chapter, who are financed by the billionaire businessman, Kashamu Buruji. As the relationship between Obasanjo and Jonathan deteriorated, the relationship between the embattled President and Nigerians, who voted en mass for him in 2011, also went sour. Their hope was raised by the birth of the Transformation Agenda. But almost four years after, soaring unemployment, collapsed infrastructure, power outage and abject poverty have inflicted pains on the people. Gradually, the President began to lose public goodwill and solidarity . Thus, Obasanjo secured a vantage position to attack the inept government, berating it for shortfall in focus and capacity. At a lecture in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the former President wrote off the younger generation, which Dr. Jonathan exemplified. He said the generation has failed the nation. unlike his own generation, which he said, erected lasting legacies. When Obasanjo was invited to the unveiling of the President’s mid-term score card in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territoty (FCT), he shunned the event. Instead, the former President went to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on the invitation of Governor Sule Lamido. After inaugurating some projects by the governor, Obasanjo praised the governor to high heavens. The extraordinary encomium was perceived as an endorsement of Lamido for the presidency in 2015 by Obasanjo. Also, Obasanjo stayed away from the PDP special convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, to the consternation of the President. Mid-way into the convention, seven governors walked out on the President and Alhaji Tukur, citing irregularities in the conduct of the convention. Among them were the five aggrieved governors, who are loyal to Obasanjo. They repudiated the convention and demanded for Tukur’s resignation as the chairman. Obasanjo was instrumental to the installation of the ‘G5’ members as governors. He had directed Admiral Muritala Nyako to vie for the Adamawa State governorship in 2007 to checkmate Atiku. When Kano State Governor Musa Kwakwanso was dislodged by Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the former President appointed him as the Defence Minister. Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu was a Federal Permanent Secretary before his election. In 2007, Obasanjo advised Aliyu Wamakko to defect from the ANPP to become the governor of Sokoto State under the PDP. Governor Lamido was Obasanjo’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs. All of them have remained loyal to the former President. In fact, before they announced a parallel executive, they had visited Obasanjo to complain to him about the way Jonathan and Tukur have been managing the party. Their visit to Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, coincided with the President’s visit. But, following a tip off, they avoided the President. When the ‘G5’ teamed up with other aggrieved PDP chieftains to form a faction led by the former Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, many believed that Obasanjo was not kept in the dark. When it was evident that Obasanjo had distanced himself from the PDP, the leaders of the APC visited him in Abeokuta to request for his help in

•Turkur

the task of navigating into the future. Although he maintained that he has not changed his party, it was obvious that PDP’s loss was becoming the APC’s gain.

Obasanjo’s place in history For eight years in this dispensation, Obasanjo was the most powerful Nigerian. His word was law and the country his fortress, as it were. Governors and opposition figures trembled before his might. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he brooked no opposition. Court orders were meaningless and the parliament merely existed as a crippled organ of government in an inexplicable atmosphere of decorative checks and balances. In that exalted office, he was perceived as the state. Indeed, the fear of the General was the beginning of wisdom. But power is transient and no condition is permanent. While in the saddle as the number one citizen, he installed governors, legislators and above all, he handpicked his successor in the twilight of his reign. Her daughter, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, former Health Commissioner in his native Ogun State, had a smooth sail to the Senate. The stamp of Obasanjo catapulted numerous politicians to power, demoted others and liquidated those who fell out of favour. Barely four years outside office, the combative General was left in the cold. He regressed to his pre-1999 years when he lacked home support. Obasanjo failed to deliver his ward to the PDP in 2007. His daughter also lost the senatorial poll. His hold on the polity had slipped away. He could not even broker peace and reconciliation in the crisis-ridden Ogun PDP as a former President.

Basking in old glory But the old glory did not fade away. No Nigerian, living or dead, has had that unique privilege bestowed on Obasanjo by benevolence. Not even the giants of Nigerian history - Awo, Zik, Aminu Kano and Moshood Abiola - could achieve the feat in their life time. The opportunity to rule the country eluded them, despite their intellectual fitness and political virtues. When he joined the Army in 1959, little did the ‘poor boy’ from Owu know that the sky is the limit. He had reflected in his famous book: “Not My Will”, although in mockery of the late Chief Awolowo, that he was bare-

•Anenih

footed on the line when the Premier of the defunct Western Region, who was already aspiring to the Office of Head of Government, visited his primary school. His career blossomed in the military. The crowning was his performance as the gallant Commander of the Third Marine Commando, who accepted the surrender of the scattered Biafran soldiers led by Col. Philip Effiong. He took the shine off his seniors; Brig. Iyalla Bisalla and Col. Benjamin Adekunle (aka the Black Scorpion). In post-civil war period, restless soldiers coveted more powers and fame and Obasanjo and Muritala were arrowheads of the agitation for their inclusion in the all-civilian Federal Executive Council headed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon. In deference to their wish, the Head of State appointed Muritala as Federal Commissioner for Communications and Obasanjo was given the Works and Housing portfolio. The highest office landed on the palm of Obasanjo twice, and by chance. In 1976, he ascended to power as the military Head of State, following the assassination of his boss, Gen. Muritala Mohammed. In 1979, he handed power to a civilian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Twenty years later, he was recalled from retirement to serve as civilian President, thus becoming the first Nigerian to have serve as the military and civilian leader of the most populous country in Africa. Before becoming the number one citizen, Obasanjo served as the Commander of the Third Marine Commando that won the civil war. Later, he served as the Federal Commissioner for Works and Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. After retiring as the military Head of State, he ventured into book writing. In his controversial book, ‘Not My Will’, he mocked the indomitable Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of Western Region, who had visited his school when he was bare footed. He pointed out that, despite his ambition and long struggle to rule the country, he missed the opportunity. However, Obasanjo emphasised that the same position landed on his palm without struggle. In fact, in 1979, Gen. Obasanjo had remarked that the best material may not become the President. Many believed that he was referring to Awo. Obasanjo also took on Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe, teacher, philosopher and first ceremonial President. He de-

•The late Yar’Adua

scribed him as a towering leader who fell from the position of pre-eminence nationally, only to carry on with life in his old age as a tribal chieftaincy holder, the Owelle of Onitsha. In his view, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, a First Republic federal legislator and Minister of Health from Borno was a rich businessmen, but an unserious contender for the presidency. The late Aminu Kano, the champion of the oppressed, was described by Obasanjo as a renowned placard carrier, who can even protest against himself. Obasanjo had also dismissed Gen. Buhari and the late Gen.Tunde Idiagbon, his juniors in the Army, as autocratic military rulers who held the nation in its jugular. When they were dethroned in a coup, he criticised their prolonged detention by self-styled President Ibrahim Babangida. He also criticised Babangida’s economic policies. On the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), he disagreed with the military president on the implementation process, saying that adjustment must have human face, human heart and milk of human kindness. When Babangida tinkered with the transition timetable, Obasanjo rallied prominent Nigerians to protest the elongation of military rule. He was one of the leaders who suggested the Interim National Government (ING) headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. He said, the option was regrettable but understandable. The suggestion nailed the coffin of “June 12”. Of course, Obasanjo said the winner of the historic presidential poll, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 2003 presidential election, was not the messiah. In 2007, when the third term project collapsed, Obasanjo threw his weight behind Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket. When Yar’Adua could not cope with the rigour of office, due to health problem, he said at a public lecture that, although a person can help somebody to find job, but when he knows that he cannot perform the task again, he should vacate the seat. His bid for the Secretary-General of the United Nations was however, scuttled. Prof. Wole Soyinka said that, judging by the abysmal human right record of his administration, he was unfit for the global assignment. Obasanjo campaigned for the restoration of civil rule at home by rallying eminent Nigerians into a pro-de-

mocracy group which met regularly at his Ota Farm. Yet, when his Egba kinsman, Abiola, was struggling for the restoration of his mandate, the retired General remarked that he was not the messiah who would take Nigerians to the Promised Land. Instead, he threw his support behind the ING contraception headed by another Egba man, saying that it was unfortunate, but understandable. The regime fell as predicted. Under administration of the late Sani Abacha, the former Head of State was humiliated when he was roped in a phantom coup. He may have been killed in the prison, if the activist-doctor, Beko Ransom-Kuti, had not alerted the whole world on the’ internet’ that that he was about to be either poisoned or injected. Then, a death penalty was hanging on his head for offences he did not commit. Obasanjo survived and fulfilled his destiny. From prison, he returned to power, amid cheers. But the lessons of the past were easily forgotten. Instead of resolving the fundamental national questions, including constitution amendment, restructuring, true federalism. state police, land use, and other issues, he concentrated attention on building a political empire. In 2003, an earthquake, by his grace, swept across the Southwest. The rigging of that year paled into insignificance in the face of monumental malpractices that marred the 2007 polls. Before the election, the third term project of the President stared the anxious country in the face. It collapsed like a pack of cards. Obasanjo left office, leaving the country prostrate. Power outage, water scarcity, collapsed infrastructure and rigged elections became his legacies. While he was celebrated in 1979 for his feats, he was scorned at in 2007.

Is political retirement possible? Human beings are political animals. Can Obasanjo be indifferent to partisan politics? Does it mean that the former President will refrain from moulding political opinion? Does it mean that he will be aloof to request for partisan endorsements? Many stakeholders agree that, although Obasanjo may not attend party meetings again, he may continue to shape the direction of politics as an influential leader of national and international repute.

THE NATION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Bird Flu: Fed Govt pays N140m to farmers From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

GRICULTURE Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina said yesterday that the Federal Government has paid over N140 million as compensation to farmers affected by the bird flu outbreak. The minister, who spoke in Kano, added that of the total amount paid to those affected, Kano farmers got N100 million, representing 72 per cent of those who lost their birds and those de-populated. Dr. Adeshina, who visited Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in his office, said of the 16 states that were affected, Kano had the highest number of poultry farms. He said the farms stood at 58 from a total of 104 nationally, representing 56 per cent. According to him, Kano had the highest mortality rate, which was 21,447 of 72,885 about 30 per cent of the 15 local governments affected. He added: “We have done a lot in de-populating the birds by working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture.” The minister alleged uncontrolled movement of birds from one farm to the other, saying it required the sensitisation and enforcement of quarantine, including security of clustered farms. Adeshina said: “If we don’t clamp down on Kano over the bird flu issue, states, such as Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi and others risk being affected. “The only measure is to have inter-state border posts, where workers of the state and Federal Ministry of Agriculture can man and checkmate the movement of birds through a control measure that will not create panic.” He added that under the growth enhancement scheme, over one million farmers in Kano State in three years benefitted from the subsidy of seeds and fertiliser from the partnership between the Federal Government and the state.

Funeral for Pa Adeyemi

HE death has occurred of a member, Board of Trustees and the Vice President of the Organisation of Deaf Businessmen and Women in Nigeria (ODBMWIN), Mr. Okikiade Adeyemi. He died on February 9. He was 75. The deceased was the first chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons and Disabilities (JONAPWD), Lagos State chapter. He was the national coordinator of the Deaf Support Group (DSG). The family said funeral arrangement would be announced later.

•The late Adeyemi

African Bar seeks free, fair polls

•From left: Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Amb. Rufus Akeju; INEC Administrative Secretary, Pastor Fakororede Aina and Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, Mr Bunmi Ariyo, at a stakeholders’ forum with representatives of the parties in Ibadan... yesterday

By Joseph Jibueze

Huge crowds receive Buhari in Maiduguri

HOUSANDS of residents poured onto the streets of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday to receive Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate accompanied by his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was in the city, which houses almost one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from parts of the state under the control of Boko Haram, to launch his campaign for the March 28 presidential poll. The crowd was so huge and affectionate that the APC team, which also included National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Campaign Director-General Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Mr. Audu Ogbe, Senator Lawal Sha’aibu, Alhaji Umar Faruk Aliyu, Senator Hadi Sirika, APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, Gen. Lawan Dambazau and Hadiza Bala Usman, could not speak at the rally. At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Ibn Umar ElKanemi, the traditional ruler urged Gen. Buhari to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, if elected. The Shehu said the de-

•Shehu seeks action against Boko Haram From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

stroyed communities by Boko Haram in the Northeast should be built to give a new lease of life to the victims of insurgents and their families. He said the federal projects that have been abandoned, such as the Biu Dam Water Project, the Lake Chad Basin oil exploration and the connection of Borno State to the National Power grid should be revived. He advised the presidential candidate to ensure violence-free campaigns and elections. Gen. Buhari assured the Shehu of his unflinching support and assistance in returning the state to peace and the resuscitation of the federal projects and establishments. He pledged to tackle insecurity and improve on agricultural production, revive the oil industry and create job opportunities for unemployed youths, who have graduated and cannot find jobs, if elected. “I was here in 1975 as governor of the defunct North-East State. I’m happy that I received a befitting welcome. If elected, I will

focus on tackling the persistent insecurity affecting Northeast. The damage has been done, but if the APC government is elected, all towns under Boko Haram control will be liberated and rebuilt. It is unfortunate that commercial activities were paralysed. “In the past, hundreds of trailers loaded with goods took off from Maiduguri to various neighbouring countries, but now the reverse is the situation. Boko Haram’s ideology contradicts Islamic principle. Islam does not allow senseless killings of innocent people. It is unfortunate that innocent persons are being killed in mosques, churches and their houses. God willing, if the APC is elected, we will restore confidence in governance and stamp out corruption,” Buhari said. At the Ramat Square, venue of the grand rally, the crowd overwhelmed security operatives and brought the rally to an abrupt end. It took the convoy of the candidate more than an hour from the Maiduguri International Airport to arrive at the Ramat Square. The APC candidate had to abort all efforts at address-

ing the crowd, who kept shouting “Sai Buhari”. Thousands of party supporters, mostly youths, lined major roads as early as 7a.m. to catch a glimpse of the APC standard-bearer. Vehicles were forced to move at snail’s speed after Buhari arrived at the state capital, as supporters occupied the roads in celebration. The equipment of a television station transmitting the event live were vandalised. One of the crew members said: “Our transmission wires were cut. We lost some of our equipment, but I thank God that we came out of that place in one piece.” In an attempt to control the surging crowd of supporters, the military resorted to brutality, beating up supporters attempting to invade the VIP stand. In a show of anger, some supporters threw footwears at security operatives. There was stampede in and outside the Ramat Square. There was heavy shelling of RPG in front of the square, as a measure to control the crowd. Two people were taken out, gasping for breath.

‘Calls for non-use of PVC must be rejected’

HE Buhari/Osinbajo C a m p a i g n Organisation has rejected calls that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) be discarded in the elections. It described the suggestion as reprehensible and totally unacceptable, adding that it would be resisted. In a statement by the office of its Southwest coordinator, the organisation said the latest in the Presidency’s premediated, well-coordinated and heavily-funded campaign to truncate democracy was the call for the abandonment of PVC. It said the PVC and the card readers were procured at enormous cost to thwart the coordination of ‘rigging’ mechanisms, as well as prevent multiple voting. “Besides, they have been tried and tested in previous elections in Ekiti and Osun states and have been accepted by the parties taking part in the electoral process,” the

By Joseph Jibueze

organisation said. It added: “There is, therefore, a vital need to entrench its use in our electoral process for all times.” The organisation said antidemocratic forces would stop at nothing to ensure the election did not hold, including flying the kite for yet another shift in the date of the elections. “Every excuse will be used to prevent a free and fair election from being held. As soon as one set of demands are met, the anti-democrats will bring out another. In effect they are asking those on the side of the constitution and in support of democracy to carry out a policy of appeasing their perenniallyshifting demands. To acquiesce to this demand is fraught with grave dangers to the constitution. For in the course of contemporary, a policy of appeasement has never worked.

“When contrived excuses about inadequate distribution of PVC’s is not used, the problem of security in the Northeast, misgivings purportedly emanating from the security forces and so forth will be put into play; other excuses will eternally be concocted until the whole process is truncated. In the process, the enthusiasm of the electorate will be dampened. This must not be allowed to happen,” it said. The organisation called for vigilance, saying: “In the face of provocation including a contrived state-of-siege, and policies of intimidation against key members of the government-in-waiting, we must insist on the use of the PVC’s and resist any further shift in the date of the election.” The statement added: “The issue we are faced with is that Nigeria faces a tryst with destiny. The issue goes beyond the personalities in-

volved in the current electoral contest. Nigeria for the first time in a long while faces an unambiguous choice between a dismal past of recurring under- achievement and widespread poverty amidst massive earnings from the sale of crude oil. “This is the Nigeria paradox. Opposing this is the possibility of real, decisive and irreversible change to enhance the lives of the mass of the working peoples and their families. It is not surprising that the old order is fighting back to truncate the prospect of profound change and irreversible change. “The Nigerian people are insisting on democratic change through the ballot box, this means that there is both a moral obligation as well as a political imperative to counter-act all the current attempts to stall it. The enemies of democracy must be resisted. For frankly, there is no alternative.”

HE African Bar Association (AFBA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the elections are free and fair. At its maiden news briefing in Lagos by its interim executive committee led by Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo, the association said it would pay attention to the elections, although it was not accredited as an observer by INEC because it applied late due to the reorganisation of its executive. Uwaifo, the interim president, said AFBA would ensure a violence-free exercise. Said he: “We will monitor the election from our vantage point. I know that our colleagues in the African Bar Association are monitoring it, like the director of information and protocol. We’ll issue statements of a broad nature in due course. “We’ll encourage a fair electoral process, an independent umpire, political tolerance and will discourage violence. We’ll urge those who win to be magnanimous in victory and those who lose to take it with a sense of equanimity.” Members of the interim executive are Uwaifo (Nigeria); Mr. Dev Erriah, VicePresident (Mauritius); Mrs. Flavania Charles, General Secretary (Tanzania); Mrs. Obele Akinniranye, Deputy General Secretary; Mr. Nyamordi OchiengNyamogo, Director of Information/Protocol (Kenya) and Mr. George Chisanga (Zambia). Mr. Stenford Moyo of Zimbabwe is the governing council chair, while Mrs. Funmi Oluyede is the cochair.

Church growth conference begins

HE International Institute of Church Growth will between today and Friday host hundreds of church leaders to a leadership training. The objective is to expose the leaders to the dynamics of church growth and how they can lead their congregation to a healthy spiritual lifestyle. The institute’s President, Dr. Francis Bola Akin John, in a statement said the conference would be the first of its kind in the history of the organisation, because the participants would live in Foursquare International Conference Centre, Idimu, Lagos where the conference would hold. Noting that all was set for the conference, Akin John said church leaders needed more training. He added: “We have a crisis situation in our hands. If our pastors are not well trained, they will serve the congregation poison. For us in Church Growth, we don’t want that. We want a church that is well-equipped with leaders that are not only knowledgeable in the word of God, but who have the ability to explain it.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

Why BPE wants to privatise NIGCOMSAT, by Dikki

• From left: Corporate Affairs Adviser Nigerian Breweries, Plc, Mr Kufre Ekanem, Portfolio Manager, North and West African Division, International Fertilizer Development Center, Mr Ryan Roberge, MD/CEO NB, Mr Nicolaas Vervelde, and CEO Psaltry International Company Limited, Mrs Oluyemisi Iranloye, during the signing of partnership agreement between Nigerian Breweries Plc,Psaltry International Company Limited and International Fertilizer Development Center in PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN. Lagos...yesterday.

2015 Budget: Reps warn Jonathan against extra-budgetary spending • Lawmakers to focus on PIB, Electoral Act, Constitutional amendment

The House of Representatives has sounded a note of warning to President Goodluck Jonathan to shun the temptation to embark on extrabudgetary spending pending the passage of the 2015 budget. The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Albert SamTsokwa, said yesterday in Abuja that the country could witness a devastating deficit should the Presidency embark in any reckless expenditure. The lawmaker, who gave the advice against the background of the resumption of the National Assembly today, said though the constitution has given the President the authority to spend

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

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

before budgets are approved, the present financial situation of the country occasioned by the fall in oil price calls for caution, lest the country be plunged into financial crisis. His words: “I am aware that the constitution allows Mr. President to spend an amount of money equivalent to the one that was spent in the preceding year pending the approval of the budget. But the snag we have is that last year’s budget was based on a crude oil price of over $100 per barrel but as we speak, the price is barely $50. “So, if Mr. President is to spend the equivalent of what was spent in a particular period last year, this year, we will run into trouble. “ I will advise that Mr. President to thread cautiosly and I call on legislators to expedite action on the budget and put it behind us before going for presidential and governorship elections” Sam-Tsokwa alleged that the Executive has violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), by failing to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) six months before submitting the budget proposal, adding that the lawmaker said because of this infraction, both the MTEF and the budget are awaiting the approval of the National Assembly when in normal practice, the budget should be an offshoot of an approved MTEF. Section 82 (5) of the 1999 constitution as amended states: ”If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the President may authorise the withdrawal of monies in the

Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government of the Federation for a period not exceeding months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriate Act, whichever is the earlier: “Provided that the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation under the provisions of the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so authorised for the immediately preceding financial year”. Sam- Tsokwa said aside the 2015 budget, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the report of the constitutional amendments from the states, as well as the amendment of the Electoral Act are on the priority list of the House. He said: “Also on the front burner is the issue of PIB, which we promised to pass before the 7th House lapses. We will accord a lot of attention to see what we can achieve before June six. “Also the constitutional amendment, the report of which has been received from the states just before we proceeded on christmas and New year break has been put together and the National Assembly will consider the report of the states on constitutional amendments and approve same as the situation demands. “Before we went on Christmas and New Year break, we had concluded work on the Electoral Act amendment bill; conference committee had been constituted and we are looking forward to re-

ceiving the report of the conference committee of both houses and give effect to it”

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has said the Federal Government is seeking to privatise the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) due to the need to inject entrepreneurial spirit into the company and make it more commercially viable. He said the Information and Communications Technology that encompasses satellite systems and telecommunications is key to the growth of any nation. Dikki, spoke in Abuja, while receiving the Management Team of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) led by its Director General, Prof. Seidu Mohammed. BPE Acting Head, Public Communications, Alex Okoh, in a statement, quoted Dikki as assuring that in privatising NIGCOMSAT, the security of the nation would not be compromised, but that the Bureau would strategise and evaluate how much private sector participation would be required in the company to drive growth. The said BPE would rely on

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

informed guidance from key stakeholders to determine the model of privatisation to be recommended to the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for adoption in the privatisation of NIGCOMSAT. He said in executing the transaction, a Joint Project Delivery Team (PDT), comprising the BPE, the Ministry of Communication Technology, NASRDA and other key stakeholders would be instituted for the purpose. Prof. Mohammed on his part, said the purpose of the visit was to intimate the BPE of the activities of the agency and to seek more clarification on the planned privatisation of the NIGCOMSAT. He said that there was need for a communication satellite for all Nigerians as it is vital, not only for telecommunications, but for earth characterisation to support the agricultural sector of the country. He lamented the poor funding of the science and technology sector of the country and called for more investment in the sector to boost the competitiveness of Nigeria.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

BUSINESS

Young Nigerians get N50m funding

BOUT N50million has been provided to spon sor an entrepreneural development programme for 23 young Nigerians who emerged winners in Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) contest held in Lagos. The programme which focusses on Africa’s largest economic group, Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa last year launched an entrepreneur empowerment programme that is set to identify and tap into the creative intelligence of exceptional innovative African entrepreneurs domiciled in Africa. The organisation with over 12 million members spread across the continent, brought the event to Lagos, Nigeria, as its flagship country.The programme hosted over 4, 000 young entrepreneurs from all over Nigeria. Hundreds of these entrepreneurs were given a platform to pitch their business/ideas to the A.Y.E delegates and international business experts.

The participants also went through the WBC (Web Business Campaign) platform to expose their business/ ideas to international investors across the globe. They were taken through different business workshops, free websites were developed for several businesses and a business recognition certificate was issued to facilitate intratrade and enhance trust in their business reationships. The AYEEN program went on for three days and was a breakthrough for thousands of entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The event was broken into sections and the upper level of the venue was the conference where speakers such as Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, who is the Chief Executive Matron of the organisation, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (Chief Patron), Jason Njoku, MI Abaga, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Sunday Dare, Babajide Otitoju and many others spoke to the participants on different experi-

ences in and the opportunities available for entrepreneurs. 80 candidates were shortlisted from the AYEEN 2014 program out of which 23 were selected for funding. The organisation set aside N50million towards funding these selected entrepreneurs and are planning to invest three times more in their forth coming event scheduled to hold in June this year. The funding presentation was held at the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja on February 11, 2015, where the organisation’s president, Mr. Summy Smart Francis Emphasised the organisations commitment and his commendation for the outstanding business ideas and innovations that were revealed during the program. The empowerment program will take place in selected African countries over the next seven years. A.Y.E executives stated that with such initiatives, Africa can become self sustainable and doing so, would create wealth and job opportunities in the continent.

NERC issues four on-grid 1, 200MW licences

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the weekend issued four on-grid licenses to Zuma Energy Nigeria Limited to operate a combined 1,200 Megawatts (MW) power plant at Itobe, Kogi state. Each unit of the power plant has capacity to generate 300MW, according to a statement from the Commission’s Head, Public Affairs, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi. This brings to two such licenses issued for coal power generation this year. Zuma’s licence is an amendment to an earlier one issued in 2011. The amendment is to enable it assign the licence to four different Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for ease of project financing. NERC’s Chairman /CEO, Dr Sam Amadi, said Zuma Energy is a major stakeholder and a pathfinder in coal-powered generation which is guiding Nigeria towards diversifying electricity generation. “The beauty of Zuma licence is that it is guiding Nigeria towards diversifying power generation,” he said. In line with the Transitional Electricity Market stage recently declared by the Commission, Amadi urged the firm to work towards securing a power purchase agreement through the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading so that it could commence operations in the not too distant time. He urged the company to expedite action on its construction work with the same

• Fed Govt eyes additional 500MW from coal From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

vigour with which it pursued its licences and make electricity available to Nigerians through the power plants. The four entities are Itobe 1-300mw; Itobe 2, 300mw; Itobe 3, 300mw and Itobe 4, 300mw all are coal powered plants. Managing Director, Zuma Energy Power Limited., Dr. Innocent Ezuma in his response, said the amendment to an earlier licence which led to the issuance of four different licences was for ease of implementation. “With this sub-division, it means we can commence work on two plants simultaneously.” Meanwhile, Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has said that an additional 500MW to the national grid via coal is expected to be realised from the agreement with One Nation Energy Platform Limited. He described it as a welcome development for government’s quest for a robust energy mix that would support the nation’s aspiration for development of the power sector. The Minister also noted

that the coal-power project will also provide stable power, devoid of challenges of sabotage from vandals who were determined to frustrate the present administration’s effort at providing adequate and reliable power to all Nigerians. The Minister who was speaking at the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 500MW coal-fired power plant in Enugu by One Nation Energy Platform Ltd, stated that Nigeria was blessed with abundance of coal deposits, with Enugu being the hub. According to the Minister, citing the coal powered plant in the Enugu axis was a welcome development as Ugwuaji, one of the settlements in Enugu State, houses one of the biggest transmission Sub-station in the country, hence evacuation of the power generated will not be a problem. The Minister who described the coal deposit in Nigeria as very clean, stated that the processing of the mineral resource for energy delivery will not be a cumbersome process. He further said that the South East zone alone has enough coal deposits to deliver 5,000MW of coal fired power, adding that the area also provides a veritable corridor of power supply to both the South East and the Northern part of the country.

Customs impounds N2.06b goods

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (F.O.U), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, said it recorded 2,914 seizures of prohibited goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.06 billion in 2014. The Controller of the Unit, Alhaji Usman Turaki, gave the figures in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Mr Uche Ejesieme. It said DPV of the seizures in 2014 was higher than the N1.52 billion for such seizures

in 2013. It said from January to December 2014, the unit intercepted smuggled frozen poultry products totaling 58,611 cartons at a Duty Paid Value of N316.49 million. It also explained that in the period under review, the unit seized bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value of N921.35 million. The unit seized 445 assorted vehicles, 579 units of fairly-used vehicles and 95 scraps with a Duty Paid Value of N451.43 million. It quoted the Controller as

saying that all officers and men should gear up for the challenges ahead as deliberate efforts must be made to surpass the achievements of the previous years. The statement mentioned the zero tolerance stance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Adbullahi Dikko, toward importation of frozen poultry products and rice through the border areas, among others. It advised those engaging in smuggling to look for genuine means of livelihood and desist from illegalities.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

High speed trains take off 2018, says minister T

HE proposed high speed trains for some parts of the country will start operation in 2018, the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar has said. This according to him would improve train services and make the rail system compete with other forms of road transport systems. The trains will start operation from Abuja to Lagos, before hitting other designated cities the Minister said. Umar said feasibility studies for the construction of more standard gauge lines have been completed, adding that seven new corridors would soon be opened up across the country. The government, he said, has been receiving expression of interests (EoI) from private firms within and outside the country for the project. He said: “The consultants, who carried out the feasibility studies, have submitted their reports. Part of the report contains the involvement of the private sector to drive the project. This is because we want to develop these lines under public-private

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

partnership (PPP) arrangement. “We have already received a lot of expression of interests even ahead of advertisement for the purpose from various companies in the country and indeed, in other countries. The idea is that, if we have this in place, the trains can move from Abuja to Lagos and from Lagos to Abuja in a maximum of three hours. We intend to compete with other road transportation system in carrying passengers on the Abuja to Lagos route.” Umar said the government decided to construct high speed rail across selected cities following on the heels of procurement of modern air-conditioned coaches and motorised trolleys by the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC). NRC acquired five 68-seater airconditioned passenger coaches, two 16seater rail buses 18 five-seater trolleys last December. With the new addition, NRC now has 12 air-conditioned coaches in its fleet.

•Interior view of the new air-conditioned coach

The vehicles according to the NRC Managing Director Adeseyi Sijuwade were designed and manufactured in China for the corporation’s narrow gauge railway system by CSR Nanjing Puzhen Company

Limited and a local firm Kintech Nigeria Limited. Sijuwade told reporters that the coaches were tested by the corporation’s engineers and had since been deployed.

New railway bill, others for NASS’s consideration

•From left Sattrak Telematics Business Development Officer, Miss Ogbonna Akudo, Adetunji, Adeyinka, the Command’s Head of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Steve Ayodele and Sagamu Unit Commander, Mr Benedict Akunne and others at the event.

Motorists urged to install speed limiter to avoid arrest

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said it remains committed to enforcing the installation of speed limiter in vehicles. At a stakeholders’ workshop in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Corps said the limiter will help reduce crashes on the roads. The Ogun State Sector Commander, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, said 80 per cent of crashes within and outside the state last year were caused by over-speeding. Adetunji said: “At 100km per hour, a vehicle is moving at 28 metres per second, while the total width of any lane on a standard road is 12 metres. When a vehicle moving at 28 metres per second thus finds itself out of control as a result of overspeeding on a 12 metres width road, the effect could be a fatal crash.” He said the speed limiter device would enable FRSC to check driver’s excesses, address the poor maintenance culture and non-compliance of drivers on speed control urging motorists to install the device.

By Olalekan Ayeni

He said defaulters would have their vehicle impounded. Adetunji said: “The Corps wishes to cut down the speed limit of both commercial and private vehicles. Long buses, trailers, trucks among others would also be made to comply so as to make the roads safe.” He urged motorists to install the device before June 1, to avoid arrest and prosecution. Speaking at the forum, Head, Sales and Marketing, Sattrak Telematics Mr Adeyinka Aderemi blamed crashes on over-speeding. To reduce crashes, he said, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and others resolved to introduce the speed management device to reduce crashes. He said: “A speed limiter is a device used to limit the speed of a vehicle. This could be by controlling the fuel feed to the engine, or by modifying the electronic signal from the electronic accelerator pedal or it could be by disengaging the mechani-

cal accelerator pedal.” The device, he added, is introduced to enhance road safety, increase value for fleet owners and operators and reduce human and material losses in crashes. An assessment by the European Commission, he said, listed other positive effect of the limiter to include; reduction of fuel consumption by three to 11 percent, reduction in maintenance costs (tyres, brakes, engine) and reduced insurance premiums. Other benefits according to Adeyinka were: reducing the number of high speed related accidents and reduction of vehicle downtime. Adeyinka said the more the devise is tampered with, the slower the vehicle. A member of the transport committee, Mr Olufemi Olusegun, of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, hailed FRSC and stakeholders for the campaign. He urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that all limiters to be used in the country are of high quality.

OVES to further strengthen the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) with the Federal Executive Council approval of the new NRC draft bill alongside five other bills for the transport sector. With the approval, the bills, which has been on the drawing board for the past four years can now be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage into law. The new bill is set to abrogate the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s Act 1955, which have been identified as impeding the growth of the railway sector by allowing private sector participants in the rail transport business. The Transport Minister Senator Idris Umar told reporters in Abuja that the bill would further boost the reforms of the sector. According to him, the invlovement of the private sector would mean more funds would be available for transforming the railway. The Minister listed the bills being sent to the National Asembly to include; the National Transport Commission Bill (2014), the National Roads Funds Bill (2014), and the Federal Roads Authority Bill (2014). Other bills are the Nigeria Ports and Harbour Authority Bill (2014), National Inland Waterways Authority Bill (2014), and the Nigeria Railway Authority Bill (2014). Umar said the bills are a demonstration of government’s commitment to involve the private sector in the development of all sectors in the transport system, especially the railway. The bills when eventually passed, he said, would provide guidelines for the promotion of a healthy publicprivate sector involvement in upgrading the standard of the various modes of transportation . He said already, government has started receiving Expression of Interests (EoI) from private firms within and outside the country on different aspects of the railway and hoped this would bring about the early achievement of the modernisation of the railway.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Customs loses over N48b to waivers T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lost over N48 billion to waivers between January and December, last year, The Nation has learnt. An official of the Ministry of Finance, who asked not to be named, said over N25.8 billion was lost between January and May. Justifying the waivers, the official said they were incentives used to support the private sector because of some of the regulatory challenges in the domestic business environment.

• ‘Policy should be reviewed to reflect economic reality’ Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

According to him, sectors that benefited from waivers are hospitality, power, aviation and agriculture. There are also, solid minerals, steel and manufacturing. “There are also additional programmes, such as the Export Expansion Grant Scheme, designed to promote non-oil exports. These sectors are seen as

strategic areas, which can stimulate growth, support diversification of the economy, and create jobs. “In the past, waivers were granted to individual businesses in an approach that resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses. It was precisely the need to stop such a discretionary approach that led to reforms by the Economic Management

Team. “A sector-wide waiver policy was introduced to provide specific incentives for some strategic, job-creating sectors. Under this regime, all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives. “In addition, some waivers and exemptions make up for gaps in our economy; for example, waivers to bring in vehicles for sporting events and conferences,” the

• Customs Area Controller, Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, David Dimka displaying some seized goods in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

official said. On the implication of the waivers to remittances into the Federation Account and seven per cent revenue accruals to Customs, he said: “We have to weigh the balance between putting money into the Federation Account, collecting Customs revenues and providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths to providing the necessary incentives for private sector operators to stimulate growth and development. The government felt it has responsibility to perform in terms of job creation and see to the local production of some of the goods we consume.” But some Customs officers are worried by the loss because of dwindling resources from falling oil price and naira devaluation. About N55.96 billion, N55.34 billion and N59.42 billion were lost to waivers in 2011, 2012 and 2013. A senior official, who pleaded not to be named, advocated a periodic review of concessions and waivers to determine if they are necessary. The official said the concessions should be reviewed in tune with present economic reality. “The government needs to encourage local industries to grow but the concession and waivers agreements must be sealed with the interest of majority of Nigerians at heart,” he said. The official observed that the waivers were being exploited by beneficiaries, noting that the government had been granting waivers and concessions to companies and individuals without consideration for its economic implications. He urged the government to review its tax incentive policies and stop arbitrary granting of concessions and waivers that undermine use of the tax as a means of revenue generation from the ports.

Osinbajo: APC govt will reduce duty on imported vehicles

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to cut tariff and duty on imported vehicles, if it wins the March 28 presidential election. Its vice-presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, at a town hall meeting with political stakeholders in Ondo, Ondo State, said: “We do not agree that there should be high tariff on imported cars whether new or old because Nigeria is not producing cars for now. “What we will do first is to fix power and encourage local production of cars. But before then, we will reduce the high tariff that Nigerians are paying to import vehicles into the country.” Osinbajo said Nigerians should not find it difficult to buy cars, promising that the APC government would ensure that tariff were reduced to make cars affordable. The Goodluck Jonathan administration began implemen-

tation of the new tariff on imported vehicles last year. The policy pegs the age limit for private vehicles at 10 years and commercial, 15. Under the new regime, importers, who hitherto paid 20 per cent duty on used vehicles, now pay 35 per cent duty and additional 35 per cent levy on new vehicles. The tariff is an offshoot of the automotive policy. Under the policy, Customs will collect additional 35 per cent levy, totalling 70 per cent tariff from April. Vehicle dealers and importers in Lagos are lamenting that the policy is hurting their businesses and have hiked prices by about 300 per cent. The policy, they argued, could propel jobs’ cut. Chief Osita Chukwu, National Coordinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNIFFIEC), said the policy is anti-masses and should be resisted.

“We cannot accept the 70 per cent tariff hike. It’s going to kill the masses. How many people will be able to buy used vehicles? How many people can afford new ones as well? We reject this. We are going to shut the ports if the government doesn’t rescind its decision on

this matter. By the time over three million importers, exporters and other stakeholders withdraw their services from the ports, you can imagine the implication.” Osinbajo fingered lack of gas supply for the power problem. He promised that plants

would be sited in neighbourhoods where power is needed and gas supplied to them using trucks and related means besides pipelines. According to him, the model is in use in Lagos State where such plants supply power to designated neighborhoods.

Nigeria, Benin to promote joint border trade

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is ready to strengthen bilateral trade between Nigeria, Benin Republic. Seme Customs’ Area Controller, Ndalati Mohammed made the pledge when he visited Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Benin and Customs formations there. He said the cooperation between both countries is influencing the social, cultural and economic lives of their citizens. Mohammed said Customs officials must work together because of the increasing global security

challenges. His visit, he said, was intended to cement mutual relationship, despite the geographical demarcation. “With adequate intelligence gathering and sharing, we can work to foster trade within our sub-region in pursuant of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) treaties and protocols. We should also insist on compliance by our various stakeholders on the rules of trade within the sub-region. Our nationals are tapping into the benefits of

the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the Joint Committee on Commerce (JCC).This must be encouraged with efforts to detect and prevent abuses,’’ he said. Ndalati hailed the Benin Customs for its support in stemming vehicle smuggling, thereby boosting Seme’s revenue. Colonel Afoudah Idowu, who represented Director-General of Benin Customs, described the Nigeria Customs as an ally. He urged him to reach out to them any time the need arose.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

•Chidoka

•Meggison

•Bankole

•Onyema

Experts applaud policy on indigenous pilots, differ on implementation Government's directive

that airlines flying within and into Nigeria should engage indigenous pilots has received kudos fropm operators. They however differ on its implementation, reports, KELVIN OSAOKUNBOR

HE directive, last week, by the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, that airlines flying within and into Nigeria should engage indigenous pilots may have brought some relief to the growing number of unemployed Nigerian pilots. But while this directive has also received the nod of airline operators, they have expressed concerns on how the directive will be implemented.

Experience One reason aviation experts have adduced for the implementation diffculty is hinged on the concerns over the quality of training acquired by some of the unemployed local pilots. Besides, some of these pilots are said not to have the requisite flying hours to handle commercial aircraft used by most of the operating airlines. From investigations, airlines are favourably disposed to hiring pilots that have between 1,000 and 1,500 flighthours experience for obvious reasons of safety of passengers and also their aircraft. For a young pilot that has just graduated from the training school either locally or internationally, he would have only acquired between 250 and 500 flight-hours. Hence, a reason why foreign pilots dominate the cockpit of domestic airlines. Yet, operators also expressed concern that the most of the unemployed pilots are not rated on the type of aircraft in their fleet. Technicalities as a barrier Some experts have attributed the high number of foreign pilots to the conditions attached to acquisition of aircraft, especially those carrying foreign registration and those acquired on wet-lease basis. Under the wet - lease arrangement, the aircraft carries the registration of the aircraft owner, usually foreign based. Also, under this arrangement, the aircraft ownere provides the aircraft crew, especially pilots, and is responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. This explains why there is a preponderance of expatriate pilots from Eastern Europe and Asia.

Government intervention According to statistics, over 65 per cent of pilots flying in Nigeria are foreigners, even as over 327 unemployed pilots are said to have registered with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) for possible job placement. This includes the over 100 graduates pilots from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in Zaria, Kaduna State. Experts are of the opinion that given the salaries paid expatriate pilots, if 300 young Nigerian pilots are engaged through the implementation of the policy, this could save as much as $96million annually for the payment of salaries and other expenses on foreign pilots. The NCAA, industry sources hinted, is working with the Ministry of Aviation and the Presidential Adviser on Aviation Matters on the timeline for implementing the policy. A list of young unemployed pilots it was learnt, is being complied by the NCAA for negotiation with both foreign and domestic as well as private/chartered operators. This is aside the 66 pilots trained under the Presidential Amnesty Programme for youths from the Niger Delta region. Apart from that, the 327 young pilots registered by the Nigerian Professionals Pilots Association( NPP), another 100 young pilots sponsored by the Kano State Government are on the verge of completing their training at the Jordanian Aviation Academy. Scores are also undergoing pilots’ training under the sponsorship of the Kaduna State Government NCAT. Airline operators say it costs huge sum to employ foreign pilots because of their experience, type rating on aircraft, accommodation, security and other bills, including six return tickets annually. While some airline operators describe the policy as good for the development of local content, others say government should exercise caution in its implementation because most of the indigenous pilots do not have the requisite flying experience to command flights. Some experts have complained over huge capital flight out of the country on account of the invasion of foreign pilots of the Nigerian airspace.

Support Despite the huge cost of expatriate pilots to

airlines, operators remain divided over the implementation of the policy which is due for implementation on July 1, 2015. However, support for the policy has come from the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, who described it as a move that would create jobs for Nigerians. He is convinced that the engagement of Nigerian pilots by airlines would reduce the huge cost spent by airlines on foreign crew as well as develop local capacity. He however said there could be exception to the rule, because not all Nigerian pilots are rated in some aircraft type flown by foreign pilots. He said airlines that have mostly Nigerian pilots would save huge sums of money, as airlines would not be required to provide them accommodation, security, telephone bills and return tickets six times in a year as they provide for foreign pilots . Onyema said experience has shown that the quality of training of pilots is a strong criteria that many operators consider when they are engaging crew members. Onyema said as much as airline owners would like to assist in the development of local capacity by engaging Nigerian pilots, no aircraft owner would spend as much as $50 million to buy an aircraft and give it to an inexperienced pilot to fly. "I am totally in support of the directive by government for airline owners to engage Nigerian pilots in their cockpit. This is one policy of government that would create jobs for our teeming unemployed pilots. "This is good because no economy can develop by dependence on foreign input , including foreign crew on board our aircraft. "We need to start developing out people. When you create job for a Nigerian pilot by extension, you have created opportunity for the industry to grow. It is a good policy, however we must also make sure that there are qualified pilots. "For instance, in Air Peace, we have some DORNIER Jets in our fleet, if you go round the whole country and you cannot find any pilot rated on how to fly such an aircraft, in that kind of situation, you do not expect an airline to abide by the government directive. In our inability to find a Nigerian pilots, we will get a foreign pilot. As airline operators, we know government means well, but for every rule, there is an exception." He explained that when government issued the directive, he knew there would be some exceptions to the rule "it is not a blanket directive, it is a policy geared towards promoting job creation in the country. Onyema said the directive is gradually being

‘I am totally in support of the directive by government for airline owners to engage Nigerian pilots in their cockpit. This is one policy of government that would create jobs for our teeming unemployed pilots. This is good because no economy can develop by dependence on foreign input , including foreign crew on board our aircraft’

implemented in Air Peace, saying any where we find qualified Nigerian pilots, "we employ them," but quicly added that you don't expect any airline to employ a Nigerian rookie pilot to become a captain in its fleet just because you want to comply with the directive on engagement of local pilots. But, if nobody gives young pilots the opportunity to be tested they would not attain the required flying hours. But, employing younger pilots comes with additional responsibility. This is because these pilots bang your airplanes on the runway during landing. Anytime, these young pilots land the aircraft, they bang it on the runway very hard and you will see the difference. This hard landing has effects on the aircraft , its wear and tear when you take the aircraft for major maintenance repairs like the C- check. Such hard landings tells a lot on the aircraft. These are the issues. If you employ a foreign pilot you pay him about $18,000 per month , accommodation, security , proved six return tickets. They work for six months, six weeks in and six weeks out. You provide the vehicles, Internet facilities, six return tickets in one year. He works for only six months and you are paying for one year salaries. That is why we must support this policy of government. Similarly, the executive chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON), Captain Nogie Meggison described the policy as the best for the industry because it would create an opportunity for over 327 Nigerian young pilots to be engaged by both foreign and local airlines. Meggison said such policy is already in place in other countries, which he listed to include: Brazil, India, China and Egypt. He said the policy would be cheaper for Nigerian airlines, which spend huge sums on foreign pilots. He said: "It is only logical and mutually benefitting and makes more sense when any airline operating and taking off from the country creates avenues to create jobs for the people. It is not a novel idea that Nigeria is standing alone to say that any cockpit operator or anybody flying in Nigeria is expected to take Nigerians in the cockpit. This will create jobs and take people off the streets." Also, the Managing Director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, also described the policy as a good development for the aviation industry. He commended government for the directive to airlines to engage Nigeria trained pilots adding that human capacity development is key to the growth and sustenance of aviation. He said domestic carriers will continue to engage Nigerian pilots, berating foreign carriers for engaging in capital flight without giving anything back for the development of the nation's aviation sector. He said: "I think it is a good initiative for all airlines to engage Nigerian pilots in their cockpit. Government must ensure the implementation of this directive. At Medview we will definitely engage and train more Nigerian aviation professionals. This is good for the development of the industry."

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2 015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Ahead of the April 11 governorship election, Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the strengths and weaknesses of major political parties in the Southwest geo-political zone.

OVERNORSHIP elections will hold in three of the six states in the Southwest geo-political zone on April 11. They are Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. The three states are governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Except Lagos that has been consistently ruled by the progressives since the beginning of this dispensation in 1999, the APC reclaimed Ogun and Oyo states from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011. Analysts have predicted that the contest will be very keen as the PDP and other opposition parties will want to test their strength.

Ogun The die is cast between Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and others jostling for his office. The other candidates eyeing Amosun’s job are Gboyega Nasir Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Akin Odunsi, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Prince Rotimi Paseda, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). The main issue in Ogun politics today is will Amosun remain in office beyond 2015? Analysts are of the view that Amosun is the candidate to beat in the governorship race, given his record of achievements in the last four years. Some of the laudable achievements that endear him to the people of Ogun State include: The road expansion projects, financial re-engineering, clean environment, affordable and qualitative education and building of model schools across the state, restoration of peace and orderliness, jobs creation, rural and agricultural development. His critics and opponents are amazed by the pace of transformation in the state, given the fact that he inherited a debt profile of over N70 billion from Gbenga Daniel’s administration. On assumption of office in 2011, Amosun said “with what we met on ground, when we came on board, no financial institution would want to deal with Ogun State in terms of credit facility. But, the administration devised a financial re-engineering strategy that enabled it to secure short term borrowing to execute long term projects. His performance has become a reference point in assessing his predecessors in office. Apparently endorsing Amosun for second term, the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Aremu Gbadebo said: “We are here to testify that the past four years of Amosun’s government have been like 20 years of development in our state. We are appreciating the politics of good roads, the politics of good schools and health facilities. We believe that the person who did all this within a short time will do more if given the opportunity.” The youths under the aegis of the Ogun Youth Professional Forum (OYPF) have also endorsed him, saying his administration’s massive infrastructural development, investment drive, provision of qualitative and affordable education are unprecedented. The leader of the group, Mr. Olamide Agboola said: “We are compelled to make this open declaration and endorse Governor Ibikule Amosun for a second term, having been convinced of his administration’s performance. “Initially, we thought his was going to be another thieving administration, particularly when the issue of obtaining bond to run his government cropped up. But, having meticulously studied his style of administration, we are convinced that he means well for the state and allowing him another term of office will not be out of place.” Even the Yewa people of the Ogun-West Senatorial District, where the PDP’s candidate hails from, are rooting for Amosun’s re-election. Traditional rulers, opinion leaders and youths in the zone lauded Amosun for opening the area with massive road construction that have connected their communities, which were hitherto cut off from each other and the rest of the state. In spite of the acknowledgement of his performance by the people, the governor still has challenges to contend with. The defection of Chief Olusegun Osoba and his group from the APC is a minus for him and the party. Besides, the opposition parties, the PDP, the SDP and the UPN have similar objective: to unseat Governor Ibikunle Amosun. There is the likelihood that the opposition may team up and present a single candidate before the governorship elec-

• Ambode

• Agbaje

• Ajimobi

• Ladoja

• Folarin

• Alao-Akala

APC, PDP, SDP battle for Southwest tion. However, analysts believe the odds favour Amosun. They believe his achievements and popularity among the people of Ogun State will see him through at the poll. Isiaka contested the 2011 election on the ticket of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), but lost. He emerged the PDP governorship candidate, following a deal between his political godfather, Gbenga Daniel and party’s financier in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu. The challenges Isiaka is facing is not unconnected with his link with Daniel, who ran a highly maligned administration and who at the time also engaged in many political battles with the stakeholders. This, according to analysts, was what worked against him during the 2011 governorship poll. The electorate saw Daniel in Isiaka whichever direction he turned. To them, a vote for Isiaka was a vote for Daniel and by extension, a call for the continuation of Daniel’s style of governance, perceived at the time as a debilitating yoke that should be thrown off. Besides, the people of Ogun State have not for-

gotten that, while Isiaka called the shot at the Gateway Holdings Limited, as the Managing Director, he did little or nothing to stop the concession of assets the founding fathers of the state bequeathed to future generations. Under Isiaka’s watch, government assets such as Oduduwa House, Victoria Island, Lagos, Gateway Hotels, Gateway Trailers Parks were given out at ridiculous prices. But, the concessions were later reversed by the Amosun administration. Isiaka’s political fortune may also be affected by the rivalry between his godfather, Daniel and Buruji Kashamu. The two gladiators who agreed to work together shortly before the party’s primaries have parted ways. The fight is over Ogun East senatorial ticket. Kashamu won the ticket through the primary. But, the PDP national headquarters preferred Daniel. In the process, Isiaka is believed to have swung allegiance to Kashamu, an act considered as betrayal by Daniel. The SDP governorship candidate Senator Odunsi is also from Ogun West, but of Awori stock. He was elected into Senate in 2011 on the

We are here to ‘testify that the past four years of Amosun’s government have been like 20 years of development in our state. We are appreciating the politics of good roads, the politics of good schools and health facilities

‘

•Continued on page 18

THE NATION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2015

I have been part of the transformation of ‘Lagos. I am one of the designers of the structure you are seeing in the state. Now is the time for me to take over the driver’s seat ...10 1D AYS TO GO ...101 DA

APC, PDP, SDP battle for Southwest •Continued from page 17

platform of the APC. The crisis that polarised the party led to defection of the followers of Chief Olusegun Osoba to the SDP. Hitherto, the party did not exist in Ogun. Many perceive the SDP as a party put in place by the Afenifere group to undermine Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political influence in the Southwest. The leadership of the party has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan and directed its members to vote for him. The party is faced with many challenges. It came into the race very late as this may affect its chances. It will require a lot of time to convince the people of Ogun State that the party is not an appendage of the PDP. The party’s lack of resources to bankroll campaign expenses may also affect its performance at the poll. Odunsi said the party relies on the goodwill and contributions of its members to offset its campaign expenses. The UPN is also seen as another surrogate of the PDP. Though the party’s flag bearer, Prince Paseda, keeps promising that if voted he will implement late Chief Awolowo’s political programme. Analysts say such name dropping will not take him far in the coming governorship election.

Oyo Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the threshold of making history, by breaking the second term jinx in the state. Before now, no civilian governor has spent more than a term since the state was created in 1976. But, it appears Ajimobi is set to break that jinx this year. Since his assumption of office in May 29, 2011, he has not left anybody in doubt of his desire to leave his footprints on the sands of time through clear departure from the style of the immediate past administration. One of such has been the restoration of peace and an end to the orgy of violence that had become the order of the day in the state before he came on board. He has also raised the quality of infrastructure in the state. The quality of roads constructed by his government cannot be faulted. In fact, observers are of the view that the governor has succeeded in setting a template with which to measure similar works for succeeding administrations in the state. Ajimobi has the distinction of being the first civilian administration in the state to embark on urban renewal programme. This has changed the face of Ibadan, which was hitherto dirty, rough and structurally defective. The current environmental beautification effort of government has been commended by residents and other stakeholders. The urban renewal project has been extended to major towns in the state such as Oyo town, Ogbomoso, Saki and Iseyin. The Ajimobi administration constructed the first overhead bridge to ease vehicular movement within the metropolis. Since inception, his administration has also instituted the payment of 13th month salary to public workers in the state. This is unprecedented even in the private sector in the state. In addition to that was the introduction of free bus services, to convey workers to and fro the secretariat on daily basis. School children are not left out of the gesture, as they now ride free bus to and fro their schools. The government has also put smiles on the faces of the market men and women, as well as artisans, through provision of interest-free loans. In the area of employment, the government recently employed over 5,000 teachers in addition to 2,000 primary school teachers engaged about three years ago. Ajimobi’s ability to hold the party together after the demise of Alhaji Lam Adesina and the handling of the protracted internal wrangling that led to the exit of Senators Femi Lanlehin and Ayoade Adeseun is a plus for him. Besides, the crisis that engulfed the state chapter of the PDP may be an added advantage for him, as he may ride on it to power again the way he did in 2011. He maintains a good relationship with the traditional, professional and cultural elites who

Lagos is a strong APC ‘state that has been under its control since 1999. We have seamless continuity from administration of Tinubu to that of Fashola. We have many things to show the people to justify the APC power domination in Lagos State

•Amosun

’

exercise enormous influence in the politics of Oyo State. Legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola once said the elites and not political parties determine who governs the state. Analysts say everything is working out in Ajimobi’s favour, particularly with projects springing up in all nooks and crannies of the state; with the mood of the people crying for good governance; with the opposition in disarray and with the APC’s determination to maintain its hold in the Southwest. From all indications, he is the man to beat. Former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin is the PDP governorship candidate in the state. He is regarded as the political son of the strongman of Ibadan politics, the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. Folarin emerged from a controversial primary organised by the PDP which was challenged in court by other contestants. Realising that Folarin is the anointed candidate of the powers that be in Abuja, the likes of Elder Wole Oyelese, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Seyi Makinde have dumped the PDP to pursue their political ambition in other parties. Folarin is going into the battlefield without the party’s “field commanders”. The crisis has weakened the party structure. The PDP in its present form does not pose a threat to the ruling party. The Accord Party revolves round the personality of former governor Rashidi Ladoja, who came third in 2011 governorship election. Its strength is restricted to Ibadan division where it won some seats in the State House of Assembly in 2011. The party’s popularity has waned over the years. Some of the party’s chieftains have defected to the ruling party. Members allege that Ladoja is a dictator because no member of the party is eligible to contest for party’s governorship ticket. At 70, Ladoja is taking another shot at the governorship. Many of his supporters have defected to the ruling party. Besides, he lacks the financial muscle to back up his struggle to return to the Agodi Government House. The fourth candidate, Alao-Akala, cannot go far because the platform on which he is contesting, the Labour Party, has no structure in the state. Critics say he is only contesting for record purposes and not to win. The same thing applies to the SDP’s Makinde who is believed to have won the PDP ticket, but was rigged out. The perception of the SDP in the state as a party put in place by the Yoruba elders to undermine the influence of APC in the Southwest may not help his cause.

Lagos The contest for Alausa Government House is mainly between the APC candidate Akinwunmi Ambode and Olujimi Agbaje of the PDP. But, Ambode, according to observers, may have the upper hand because his party has dominated politics in the state since the restoration of civil rule in 1999. Only progressive parties -- the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Action Congress (AC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the APC — have ruled Lagos. Efforts by the PDP to win governorship elec-

•Isiaka

•Odunsi

tions in the past have been futile. APC chieftain Prince Tajudeen Olusi attributed the failure to the fact that the PDP-controlled Federal Government neglected Lagos in the past 16 years. Even at that, the APC flag bearer is not leaving anything to chance. In his acceptance speech after he was declared winner of the party’s ticket, he acknowledged that the task ahead is daunting, but surmountable. “We have only just commenced the first phase of the execution of our political agenda. The next phase beckons. We must all work together to usher the APC back to power in Lagos,” he added. Since then, Ambode and APC leaders like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola and Otunba Henry Ajomale have been traversing every nook and cranny of the state, to sell the party’s programmes to the electorate. What is working in favour of Ambode is the acceptance of his victory at the primary by

‘

11 other aspirants who have joined hands with him in reaching out to the electorates. One of them, Tayo Ayinde said “the victory of one of us is victory for all. We shall continue to work for the interest of our party.” On Ambode’s antecedents, analysts noted that he had been part of the Lagos success story in the last 16 years. But, being a civil servant, he was never seen nor heard. He was in the background with several others, designing and implementing the policies that made Lagos different from the rest of the country. It was under his watch that former Governor Tinubu survived the war he fought against former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he (Tinubu) created additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which led to the seizure of local governments’ allocations by the Obasanjo administration. Ambode designed a template that revolutionised revenue generation in the state from N600 million to over N6 billion monthly; thereby ensuring that all civil servants in the state receive their monthly salaries without delay. The APC flag bearer is believed to have a burning desire to ensure things continue to work in the state when he said: “I have been part of the transformation of Lagos. I am one of the designers of the structure you are seeing in the state. Now is the time for me to take over the driver’s seat”. Agbaje, the PDP flag bearer is another passionate citizen of Lagos who has been yearning to contribute his quota to the state’s development. To realise his ambition, Agbaje has been moving from one party to the other in the last couple of years. He was among the governorship aspirants in Lagos State in 2007 on the platform of the defunct AC. When he failed to pick the party’s ticket, he defected to the defunct Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA) floated by Chief Olu Falae and other Afenifere leaders. He lost woefully in the election. He scored three per cent. It was the quest by the PDP for a credible candidate to fly its ticket that compelled it to settle for Agbaje. His candidacy was said to have been conceived in 2013 by the late National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi. The idea was later ratified by the Presidency and stakeholders within the party. But, the primary that produced him as the party’s governorship candidate was rancorous. His emergence did not go down well with leading aspirant Musiliu Obanikoro, who cried foul and went to court to nullify the exercise. Now that Agbaje has been accepted by other aspirants, can he break the 16-year old jinx and galvanise the party to victory? Agbaje was optimistic when he said “a new chapter has been written in the annals of the PDP and by the grace of God in 2015 the PDP will record resounding victory in Lagos.” But, a chieftain of the APC and former Senate Minority Leader Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora has described the PDP’s hope of winning Lagos this time around as day dreaming. He said: “Lagos is a strong APC state that has been under its control since 1999. We have seamless continuity from administration of Tinubu to that of Fashola. We have many things to show the people to justify the APC power domination in Lagos State. The emergence of Agbaje cannot make much difference.” Mamora said the wind of change blowing across the country will make it impossible for the PDP to win Lagos in the coming election. He said: “We are not taking the support of the people for granted. We don’t have any reason to be jittery over Agbaje. He’s known to us. We don’t under rate him. We will let the PDP know that Lagos is no go area. “What the APC has done in the past 16 years in the state will make us win. We recognise Jimi Agbaje as a gentle man who is loved by the people, but that will not be enough to make him win the governorship election. The candidate’s platform and the antecedents of the political party would determine who wins. Those factors give the APC an edge over other political parties contesting governorship election in Lagos State. From all indications, the problem of PDP in Lagos is leadership. The party has many factions. Some of them who detest the leadership style of Chief Olabode George have dumped the party for the ruling APC. Dr Abayomi Finnih who defected with thousands of his supporters to the APC cited lack of internal democracy in Lagos PDP.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Better be speculations •Any attempt to suspend or remove Jega will not stand

N spite of persistent denial, even by President Goodluck Jonathan, the speculation that the Federal Government may be contemplating to send Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on forced terminal leave from March 1 or cause his outright replacement before the expiration of his tenure, continues to gain momentum. The presidency is purportedly disenchanted with the reasons adduced by INEC for postponing the general elections. Despite Prof. Jega’s debunking, through Kayode Idowu, his chief press secretary, of his rumoured resignation when he said: “Jega is busy preparing for the elections and you are asking about terminal leave. Does anyone planning to conduct elections go on terminal leave? There is nothing like that,” we still believe that the issue should not be treated with levity. We know from the antecedent of the impunities of the current administration that the issue of Jega being sent on terminal leave is not beyond the president. The presidency that could, without recourse to extant law, remove Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor for blowing the lid off the allegedly missing $20billion crude oil money, can go to any length on the Jega matter. Since the postponement of the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, respectively, the polity has avoidably been over-heated. The target of the PDP and the presidency has been Jega that the ruling government plans to

ambush so as to stampede him out of office so that a pliant man could be picked as replacement for him before the rescheduled dates of the elections. Succeeding with this infamous plan will definitely de-legitimise the results of the elections generally and probably lay the foundation for a constitutional crisis that might elongate the speculated stay-in-power plan of President Jonathan. We would not subscribe to the idea or any attempt, whether overt or covert, by the government to overthrow the constitution. Something drastic has to be done to truncate the on-going deliberate official attempt to discredit Jega and by extension INEC, as the rescheduled March/ April elections approach. At a period when all hands should be on deck in ensuring hitch-free elections, it is sad that distracting speculations are rife about possible replacement for the INEC chairman in the person of Professor Femi Mimiko. We expect Prof Mimiko to dissociate himself from such speculation. His silence on this issue, in view of its national significance and timing, is quite disturbing. This country, especially her government must give serious thoughts to how enduring institutions are built in other climes. For instance, in other countries, the head of an electoral institution barely appears in the public domain except where such appearance becomes compelling. But here, the henchman of the electoral commission has become a routine figure in the media for mostly the wrong reasons,

and orchestrated largely by the ruling party. Unlike Professor Maurice Iwu, whose tenure as INEC chairman was marred with scandals, that of Jega, despite his shortcomings, has been quite an improvement over that better forgotten Iwu era. And he should be encouraged to foster more progress on that path in the coming elections rather than be persecuted by the ruling party. As far as we are concerned, Jega has not been found guilty of any serious misconduct to warrant his being forced to go on terminal leave. Moreover, he has the serious task of conducting the forthcoming general elections to a conclusive end. He should be left to concentrate on his job, as anything contrary could only be tantamount to an attempt to avoidably destroy democracy in the country.

‘Jega has not been found guilty of any serious misconduct to warrant his being forced to go on terminal leave. Moreover, he has the serious task of conducting the forthcoming general elections to a conclusive end. He should be left to concentrate on his job, as anything contrary could only be tantamount to an attempt to avoidably destroy democracy in the country’

One scam too many • The scandal that has trailed NLC’s plan to provide workers with affordable houses in Abuja underlines decline in standards

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has to do more than explain its part in what has become an illustration of the sorry state of things in the country. Almost all institutions and sectors have been desecrated and what could be called the national standard is well below even regional standard in Africa. More than 3,000 workers who believe in the integrity of the umbrella Labour organisation had responded positively to an advertisement in May 2013, that it was in the process of building an estate where a deposit of at least 10 per cent of a minimum of N4.6 million would make one own a house in the federal capital territory. To those who immediately paid, it was a dream come true. It appeared all worked out. A developer

‘By these developments, the Nigerian people must have lost a natural ally in the struggle to raise standards. The NLC has lost the moral right to query the state of things. Veteran labour leaders such as the first National President of the Congress, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, and the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole should step in to stem the rot and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the organisation’

who would secure the necessary fund offshore was introduced. The NLC said it was in the process of getting the land and the housing units were to be delivered to subscribers by December 2014. In a short period, about N4 billion had been deposited in the joint account opened for the project jointly by Kriston Lally PLC and the NLC. But about two months after the December deadline for delivery, there is no site in place, let alone development. It is as bad as scams go. It is unfortunate that the NLC is trying to explain away the situation, blaming it all on the developers. The questions being asked by the subscribers include whether due diligence was conducted before the developer was chosen for the project? Who are the developers and what is their antecedence? What has become of the money deposited and how could the developers have made away with it without the connivance of Labour leaders who are joint signatories. More importantly, we ask: what steps has the NLC taken on the matter so far? At what point did it become apparent that something fishy was going on and were the subscribers fully briefed at that point? We call on the Labour movement to get the security agencies involved in the matter at once. Both the Labour bureaucrats and Kristal Lally’s promoters should be grilled for the part they played in this messy scandal. How could a working people’s organisation prey on deficit in housing supply to the same people? By the World Bank

account, there is a deficit of 17 million housing units in Nigeria and most of the poor people cannot even afford decent meals. The bank also says about N60 billion would be needed to provide the shortfall over coming years. Realising this, the NLC plotted to draw in people who saw it as the way out of their predicament. There was a time when the Labour movement was the conscience of the nation; at the forefront of the fight for a better life for the people and the first to lead the struggle for a just society. This seems to be in the distant past now. It seems what we now have in place are a bunch of Labour leaders who are too seized of personal comfort to think of the working people. The show of shame at NLC’s 22 delegates conference last Wednesday is a pointer to how low the Congress has sunk. By these developments, the Nigerian people must have lost a natural ally in the struggle to raise standards. The NLC has lost the moral right to query the state of things. Veteran labour leaders such as the first National President of the Congress, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, and the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole should step in to stem the rot and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the organisation. As a first step, the subscribers and general public must be fully briefed on what went wrong and who played what roles. Thereafter, if the Congress is unable to make good its promise within a short period, a full refund of deposits, plus interests should be made to the subscribers. This is clearly one scam too many.

Oil revenue and Nigeria’s economy

IR: The current fall in global prices of crude oil, a major source of revenue for the country, has serious implications for the country’s economy. Presently, the economic situation is biting so hard in some states in the federation as monthly receipt from the federal purse has sharply declined. Consequently, some of the states could no longer meet up with their financial obligations. Thus, only few states’ governments are able to pay their workers as and when due, while many others are unable to meet their obligations to their workers. Some federal government agencies are equally not faring better in this respect. The private sector is also not totally immune from the gloomy economic reality in the country as it has impacted negatively on the value of naira. With the diminishing fortune of the naira, local industries are facing serious challenges that could actually lead to downsizing of workers if the situation is not quickly redressed. These are, indeed, trying times for the country. One way of addressing the situation is to revamp the country’s ailing agriculture sector. Over the years, as a result of the neglect suffered by the sector, the export potential of cash crops such as cocoa, groundnuts, cashew among others, has seriously diminished. It is sad today that Nigeria is no longer a major exporter of cocoa, groundnuts, rubber, and palm oil. Government needs to really appreciate the potentials of the sector as a catalyst for economic and industrial transformation. To encourage the teeming army of un-employed youths in the country to take to agriculture, government should make access to loans meant for agriculture much easier while large scale farming powered by mechanized infrastructures should be the central goal. Aside revamping agriculture, the tourism sector could also be a boost to the country’s economy. Tourism is a veritable instrument for socio-economic development. It impacts directly on the economy through the provision of resources and income that could be deployed to enhance economic growth, accelerate development and reduce poverty. With its numerous attractive and historical tourist centers, the Nigerian economy certainly stands to gain a lot if efforts are renewed to explore the tourism potentials of the country. However, it needs to be emphasised that the power situation in the country has to improve considerably before significant improvement can be experienced in the economy. For instance, regular and stable power supply will enable small scale businesses to thrive better if more creative schemes are put in place to guarantee unhindered power supply. Equally, multi-national firms that have closed shop in the country because of the epileptic nature of power could be lured back if the power situation improves. This would not only bring back lost jobs, but will certainly restore lost ones. • Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa Ikeja.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Another four years for President Goodluck Jonathan is not a game-changer but a high risk choice. The issue in our political firmament today is starkly a question of moral and political courage. Jonathan who has showed a flair for a finicky, unglamorous side of governance does not have political and moral courage. His is an amorphous, compromise-orientated administration that has no definition of long range goals and no delineation of tactics and strategy for reaching those goals. We really need a change that will end many years of economic underperformance, stop the terrifying accumulation of debt and re-establish a secure fiscal foundation for Nigeria. The threat posed by corruption in Nigeria is alarming. The human capital index in the country at the moment is at its lowest ebb. President Jonathan has failed to take effective measures that will reduce corruption. All we get from his administration is a rambling and

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Crucial change of guard needed solipsistic narrative. About 112 million Nigerians are currently living in poverty. Unemployment is at a record 34 percent and the poverty level stands at 71 percent. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), poverty incidence moved from 69 percent in 2010 to 71 percent in 2011. This is a sad commentary on the state of our economy. The government of Jonathan has been characterized by low growth, high unemployment and high debt profile. The president has done absolutely nothing to close the gap between spending and revenue. According to the NBS, the combined

domestic and external debt of the Federal government is well over $40 billion. The fall in the oil revenue has exposed the government as incompetent and lacking in planning. Despite the unprecedented boom in oil sales, this administration instead of adding to the external reserves ended up depleting it. As of today, the naira has crashed against the United States dollar from 191 to 208 at the parallel market. The dollar is currently selling between N208 and N210 in the black market. This is partly due to the fall in oil revenue and partly due to sheer incompetence of the present government.

Okonjo-Iweala Vs Soludo: Debate aborted?

IR: In a robust and vibrant democracy, debate should not be feared; rather it should be welcomed as a way to sharpen our democratic values as a nation. What former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Charles Soludo wrote about the state of the Nigerian nation was not to cast an aspersion on the person of the Minister of Finance and the coordinator of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as some people claimed. I want to say that this is not a political zinger on the person of the Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy. As a person she is likeable and beautiful. Rather, I want to draw a parallel between the World Bank and the Minister, for Nigerians to know their pedigrees. It was an illusion to think that the World Bank as an institution is a place where any country can depend on for any sound economic philosophy: also to think that just because someone had worked at the World Bank would automatically be a superior mind as far economic matters are concerned. The World Bank is a money making machine for the United States and other advanced

economies. The bank makes roughly over $500 billion yearly from poor borrowers, and in the process plummets these countries into debt and poverty! The World Bank is responsible for 90 per cent of the world’s poverty; a fact that is lost on most people. Any country that adheres to the economic prescription of the World Bank will fail. During the regime of Obasanjo, a former President of Brazil told him to ignore the World Bank if Nigeria was to succeed. The only country in Asia that stood the South East Asian crisis was Malaysia during the Asian crisis caused by the World Bank. Malaysia was the only country that did not take the bait of the World Bank and that was the only country that survived in South East Asia. When President Jonathan said on the campaign trail that there is no one who knows about the economy better than the World Bank, what came to mind is that he is ignorant. No doubt, the President has a good intention to salvage the economy of Nigeria but he has asked the wrong person to do that. Nigeria is in a deep depression and the only thing that the govern-

ment of Nigeria can do is what Franklin D. Roosevelt did as president at the time. Jonathan should have looked at OkonjoIweala’s resume under Obasanjo. That was something that should not have been too hard to do given that she was the person in charge of the economy few years before the President came into office. It is clear that President Obasanjo’s government did not record any economic growth. Today Brazil is an emerging economy with a promising future because they chose to jettison the advice of the World Bank. Until Nigeria does that, we would remain in the wood for a long time. Any country, like Nigeria that depends on the economic expertise of the World Bank would suffer the consequences. Some countries in South America left the World Bank to form what is called the Bank of the South knowing what the World Bank is up to. It’s time to let Okonjo-Iweala go. When she leaves she would look over her shoulder and say that was a shock therapy to Nigeria economy. •Pastor Toate Ganago, jos777@rocketmail.com

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo, recently admitted that oil theft has reached an alarming proportion. She said it has reduced oil output from the average 2.3-2.4 million barrels per day to 1.95mpd. This means that at least 350,000 to 450,000 barrels per day are stolen and it translates to about $60 billion in the past four years. It is obvious we need a better manager of our economy. Let us not be carried away by the fawning praises of the president’s men who are only interested in piling up a considerable personal fortune. We have to blame Jonathan for the political and economic mistakes of the past six years. He is wholly unable to manage the mighty egos he has assembled. At the moment, there is no adult in charge in Nigeria. The president has a problem in decisionmaking. He is making too much mistakes on key economic issues and we need to halt this decline. Under Jonathan, Nigeria is no longer a su-

per-power. It is rather a super-power in retreat. We need someone who will bring back innovative spark in the economic affairs of the nation. We need someone who will bring us out of this death spiral. Someone who will help create plans to generate more income because great opportunities abound in Nigeria. Some people are always pointing at Jonathan meek and gentle nature as an evidence of his capability to lead Nigeria. That is standing logic on its head. That he acts with courtly solicitousness does not translate to competence. Jonathan has met his nemesis in General Muhammadu Buhari. The retired General is a politician who believes more in content than in form, more in reform than in rhetoric. He will ride the economy in the direction that will be advantageous to the Nigerian interest. The man is simply sincere about addressing our economic woes. As president, he will assembly a credible management team that will produce stunning performance. Buhari only wants a political system that is more vigorous and more capable of mobilizing national resources for specific political ends. His path to prosperity is our only hope. • Ikechukwu Orji Lagos

Before another NIS recruitment

IR: March 15, 2014 will forever remain indelible in the history of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise which resulted in the death of 19 Nigerian youths while several were seriously injured. It is very disheartening and regretful that despite the payment of N1,000 from about 520,000 applicants who applied for the job last year, preparation for the exercise was shoddy. Meanwhile, in a desperate move to placate the affected victims, federal government promised each family of the dead victims three automatic jobs but the promise is yet to be fulfilled. Now, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out another recruitment exercise to be assisted

by the presidential committee but the question is, how fully prepared is the coordinating body in order to avert loss of lives and casualties on the part of the applicants? With 520,000 applicants at the last exercise, it is a clear sign that government needs to take pivotal steps towards reducing the level of unemployment to barest minimum. It needs to do more empowerment programme for the less privileged youths who do not have access to higher education. We expect that the government should make adequate preparation this time around, put all logistics in order and provide a convivial atmosphere for the applicants to write interview exams instead of placing them under the hot sun. • Temitayo Taylor, Abeokuta, Ogun State

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

COMMENTS fictive political Southern Nigeria. ROM 12 June 1993 to 14 February Geographically, there is indeed 2015 may have taken 21, going to 22, a Nigerian South. But, as in a long years. But the reactionary forces political North? That is plain billeted in Nigeria’s power chambers have fiction! Still, even with all their changed little. heroics, colluding to stall legitiThat is the long and short of the aborted mate elections, they are only February 14 presidential poll, now moved marionettes. to March 28 — and democratic forces had The real power puppeteers better take notice. are bivouacked behind the While June 12 aborted the result of NiOlakunle scene — and democratic forces geria’s cleanest election ever, February 14 lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola owe Femi Falana, SAN, a debt postponed — but hopes it has aborted — of gratitude for his rare insight the looming electoral demise of a failed in this matter. He insisted that presidency; proven by an increasing mothe noxious, anti-June 12 forces mentum, pointing at a probable Valenare at work again, in the electine Day’s electoral guillotine of President tion postponement gambit. Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Take Sambo Dasuki, President Jonathan’s national security In the Goodluck Jonathan presidential cause, Clark and his Democratic Party (PDP). adviser (NSA). He first flew the postpone-the-election kite in Ijaw lobby have continued to betray their collapsed commuEven after the perils of June 12, February 14 was power magiLondon. Then, even after Jega had won the election debate nity. Elder, Clark would libel the non-Ijaw for even daring to cians at work. Nigeria, we hail thee! before the National Council of State, he was part of the coup de think not voting Jonathan. Youngster, the brash Asari Dokubo, But more electorally significant: February 14 was to mark a grace — with the service chiefs in tow — that claimed the miliwould threaten to levy war. From Jonathan, the supposed novel IT offensive on polls rigging — use of card readers to tary could not guarantee security for the election, thus forcing commander-in-chief, mum is the word. biometrically authenticate the voter. Jega to postpone. Even the sedate and gifted Atedo Peterside would author an That has led to another furious round of debates — tempoSo, for the first time in Nigerian history, not the military-inanalytical fraud, presuming whoever read his piece, on the rary voter cards (TVCs) versus permanent voter cards (PVC). power, not an errant elected commander-in-chief but security supposed bad sides of the two major presidential candidates, If PDP is bearish, and All Progressives Congress (APC) is bullchiefs, sworn to oath under civil authority, gave the diktat — would be too dumb to see through the charade. An ultraish, on PVC use, as Attahiru Jega’s Independent National Elecand the feckless commander-in-chief, rippling with crass power mischievous political analyst never chanced on the polity! toral Commission (INEC) insists, you can guess which of the opportunism, could only gawk and gloriously concur! Clark got his wish to postpone February 14. And with crushtwo has the electoral bounce. Still on Dasuki, but some blast from the past: he was part of ing defeat postponed, Atahiru Jega, the INEC chair, is his next You could also guess which side is hollering, bawling and the IBB palace coup that toppled Gen. Buhari; and was probquarry — to avert looming electoral disaster. How fond! cursing, just to fiddle the vote. PVC has a chip to thwart voter ably part of the IBB ensemble that pulled off June 12. Clark, with his so-called Southern Nigeria People’s Assemimpersonation. TVC has no such in-built check. So, if one side Of course, Col. Dasuki (rtd) is no devil any more than cobly (SNPA), have called for Prof. Jega’s sack and arrest; for now pushes for TVC, on some subversive love for the voter, power players of his generation are angels. But he appears a alleged offences only their jumbled minds can understand! Like you could guess where it figures its electoral salvation is — grim metaphor for intense private fears that force intense pubJune 12 which demonised, abused and sacked Humphrey Nwosu soulless rigging! lic anguish — like the annulment of June 12 and postponement for delivering the cleanest election in Nigerian history, Clark’s The gripping fear of crushing defeat would, therefore, apof February 14. SNPA pushes for Jega’s sack — and INEC’s dissolution — bepear, for the ruling party, the beginning of wisdom — which Even the Afenifere grandees that pressed into Jonathan’s servcause it dreads his election would, for the first time, visit a might soon turn grave folly, for wilful stalling of due elecice, the blanket Yoruba support they don’t have, appear to Nigerian ruling party with free and fair defeat. tions, in a supposed democracy, is grim business, bordering suffer from such irrational fears. The SNPA push is so comical, were it not so tragic. It goads But, at the end of the day, the tragic, cruel joke is on the on treason. a contesting president to sack the electoral umpire. But isn’t Commander-in-Chief. The man who hates to be a General, That is why you must really pity Ijaw elder Pa Edwin Clark that like a football player sacking the referee mid-game, just appears being merrily snared in the generals’ plot. The man and his Southern Nigeria confederates, even if you first feel, because his side is facing a wallop? Only Nigeria could tolerwho balks at being Nebuchadnezzar appears set to be contowards their latest cant, only justifiable anger. ate such buffoonery! sumed by Nebuchadnezzar’s tragic conceit. And the man who Clark is unfazed symptom of a collapsed community. He Worse: that President Jonathan could delude himself he has is riled at being Pharaoh, appears leading his deaf, dumb and has been since when, from Ken Saro-Wiwa’s lofty heights such powers — though in his latest presidential chat he merciblind forces to sink, without trace, in the Red Sea! May the (which the Nigerian state unfortunately visited with a hidefully claimed he never thought of wielding such — is satanic good Lord save Jonathan from Jonathan! ous hanging), militants, many of them no more than miscretribute to gunboat thinking! Still, Nigeria’s democracy would remain hugely suspect unants and equal-opportunity criminals, hijacked the Niger Delta Clark’s SNPA confederates, Alex Ekwueme, Walter til felons behind clear treasonable manoeuvres are direly puncause. Ofonagoro, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Femi Okunrounmu, with ished. If that had been done on June 12, there would not have others, are a perplexing mix: unfazed reactionaries with lifebeen February 14. ‘The Commander-in-Chief that is long devotion to dubious causes; otherwise decent citizens who As for Pa Clark and his misguided Ijaw irredentists, pushing don’t appreciate their due place in the Nigerian epoch; and a vacuous cause, a friendly reminder: the last time such a rasriled at being Pharaoh, appears lead- just reactionary neophytes, newly recruited to the Nigerian wide cality got out of control, a brainless Nigerian state wiped out merry way, that leads nowhere but perdition. innocent Odi villagers, for the sins of a criminal few. ing his deaf, dumb and blind forces and More: all are pledged to a near-fatally damaged presidential What fresh perils bring these present manoeuvres on the to sink without trace in the Red Sea!’ product in Jonathan. And worse: all labour in vain over a polity? Only the good Lord can tell!

epublican ipples

June 12 to February 14

HILE the military-induced shift in the elections by six weeks is increasingly looking like a minor part of a long but complex play, one aspect that seems to have escaped attention is the economic, human and institutional dimensions of the unfolding plot. Six weeks, ordinarily is supposed to be nothing in the life of a nation. Indeed, merely by the assurances of the military’s top brass to whom the nation’s chief steward has outsourced his primary function as commander-in-chief, the nation is being offered a dubious respite from the insurgency in the North-east. Win or lose the war in the North-east, the truth is that the end to our nightmares is nowhere yet in sight. Once the country was described as under-governed, what we have in place at the moment is total abdication. I once described the Jonathan presidency as outsourced only because I was short of words to describe the flight by the Team Leader; today, we neither have a team nor anyone in charge. However, while it seems convenient for our steward of state to abandon state duties to the exigency of tenure renewal, the systematic cooptation of state institutions into the electoral project under his direct supervision would come to the greatest irony of all time. I will return to this issue shortly. Talking about the poll shift, I guess it is no accident that the support for the measure has been loudest among the beleaguered parasitic throng infesting the presidency. The motivations of the legion that have long mastered the art of making wealth without breaking a sweat should not be hard to understand; the perfidious club would rather keep the flush funds flowing under the regime of unearned wealth, till kingdom come. Of course, you can hardly say the same of, for instance, a Dangote, whose wealth under the floundering administration continues to dissipate. Only recently, Forbes reported Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, as losing more than $7.8 billion of his fortune in the wake of the latest plunge in the nation’s capital market. His net worth as at November 7, 2014 was put at $21.6 billion. His entire fortune is currently said to be around $17.2 billion! Whereas Forbes puts the negative trend to: “a general uncertainty regarding the 2015 general elections, Central Bank regulatory headwinds, and weak earnings from large cap companies”, I put it to state-induced uncertainty designed to generate a mad scramble for Abuja’s crumbs! And that is supposed to be one individual’s loss. Can one possibly compute the cost of the postponement to millions of families across the federation? I write here of programmes forced to be put off; meetings that have to rescheduled and the countless other opportunities scuttled – all because

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Who cares? Jonathan and his PDP are suddenly allergic to elections? Does anyone care? What about President Jonathan; does he care – at least not when, in his own words, all his campaign expenses are underwritten by the nation’s treasury? In spite of the dark ominous clouds, I see Divine hands at work. How? I will explain. Doubtless, the nation is already as fractured as can be along the traditional fault-lines of religion and ethnicity. All across the land – no thanks to the PDP’s mantra of the-end-justifythe-meanness – so palpable has been the curtain of mutual distrust across religious and ethnic lines that everyone now seems to appreciate that it would require an ultra-nationalist to heal the deep wounds inflicted by Jonathan and his men. You ask me of the good in this? I say it is in the recognition that the nation currently has a big task of retrieving its destiny from the band of opportunistic wayfarers! I consider that as a significant step forward. On those issues, it seems inevitable that the party would burn itself out sooner than later. Having succeeded up to a point in their play of the opportunistic card of religion and ethnicity, the signs from the wearied citizens would seem to suggest that their days of reckoning is here at last! This is even more so in the economic sphere. Today, the dip in oil prices has since become an alibi for the incompetent administration to explain its glaring failures across the board. Never mind that the plunge in oil prices is barely two months old; how does one explain an economy once deemed as resilient and impregnable like the Titanic succumbing only few weeks after the oil price plunge? Presently, virtually all the indices on which the administration has hinged its claims to superlative performance have continued to unravel right before our very eyes: not only is the naira doing yoyo, down the road, the industrial and manu-

facturing sectors are already under intense strains – not from the traditional sources of inclement operating environment, but from the ill-effects of unmanaged or unmanageable exchange rate fluctuations. And just as one would expect that that high exchange rate would drive up costs; the threat of possible cut-back in industrial/manufacturing capacity has since become one that we must worry even in the near term. That threat has become so real and with it the grim likelihood of factory closures and massive lay-offs that the nation can ignore it at great costs. Trust the administration to choose the difficult time to go AWOL – thereby giving the band of speculators full reign! Guess it’s time to ask – who are those forces fuelling foreign exchange demand? In other words, who are the demanders of forex and to what purpose? A clear answer to the above would obviously reveal a lot that the administration would rather not let Nigerians into. However, it suffices to say that the answer would, at least in part, explain the laissez-faire activities that has left the economy floundering. It is just as well that the administration has suddenly become subdued or less exuberant in its claims of achievement. Guess it’s a measure of the extent to which its inelegantly constructed castle has gone up like the smoke! Back to the issue of the President’s cooptation of state institutions to his electoral project. By now, Nigerians must be sufficiently embarrassed by the revelations emerging from the farce that the Ekiti gubernatorial election has turned out to be. Of course, we have since heard that the Ekiti template was also deployed in Osun – although with limited success. Today, an Assistant General of Police, Joseph Mbu has been telling all who cared to listen that he is neither answerable to the constitution nor the laws of the country but his taskmasters in Abuja. That for me is the limit of state regression – an supossedly organised society in free fall.

‘And just as one would expect that that high exchange rate would drive up costs; the threat of possible cutback in industrial/manufacturing capacity has since become one that we must worry even in the near term. That threat has become so real and with it the grim likelihood of factory closures and massive lay-offs...’

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

COMMENTS

AJOR General Mamman Vatsa, remember him? He was General Ibrahim Babangida’s friend and a member of the ruling junta that held sway over Nigeria when the former military president fought his way into Dodan Barracks in 1985 and installed himself president and commander in chief. Vatsa, a poet, was, along with some other military officers and men, convicted of a coup plot against Babangida and was executed, military style, in spite of his denying being part of the plot. Not even a plea from notable members of the literati in Nigeria such as Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and late Professor Chinua Achebe could make the then Armed Forces Ruling Council to temper justice with mercy. Vatsa was killed, but before his execution he was reported to have told his colleagues in the junta that the day the military decides to mess itself in the public others will join in laughing at it. I don’t know what you make of the recent and may be on going involvement of the Nigerian armed forces in the game being played by our politicians. But suffice to say that Vatsa would be laughing in his grave now at what the revered institution he was privileged to be a part of has been turned into by politicians in military uniform. May be he saw today when he was making that statement that time about the Nigerian military. By now you must have read about the tape recording of a secret meeting between a Brigadier-General in Nigerian Army and his

‘Am sure if the projections had signaled a landslide victory for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP on February 14 that election would have gone ahead not minding the security situation in the northeast’

HERE is no doubt that the age-long problem of bad leadership at various tiers of government has over the years, been the bane of Nigeria’s development, even after 55 years of independence. This is why Nigerians, most of whom are povertystricken in the midst of plenty due to mismanagement of the country’s vast resources and large-scale corruption in high places, especially during the past 16 years, are yearning for good leaders that will hopefully, take the country to the next level from May 29. It is strongly believed that if Nigerians can for once, get it right by voting wisely and using their votes to elect a detribalized, focused, dynamic, intelligent, visionary and honest personality as president, a firm foundation would have been laid to move the nation forward. This is why Nigerians cannot afford to treat the issue of the forthcoming presidential election with levity. There is the urgent need for eligible voters to troop out in large numbers to cast their votes for their preferred candidates to ensure the right candidate finally emerges winner of what promises to be the most keenly contested presidential election in Nigeria in recent time. It is also hoped that whoever emerges winner of the presidential election will not only be roundly acknowledged locally and internationally as a product of a fair, free, credible and transparent election but will also be unconditionally acceptable to majority of Nigerians. The presidential election will be interesting but the outcome remains largely unpredictable, especially due to the overwhelming influence of each of the two major candidates - President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former military Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Although 14 candidates are in the presidential race but the “men” have since been separated from the “boys”. From all indications, the serious contestants whose participation will make the election to be profoundly lively and highly competitive are Jonathan and Buhari. From all indications, either Jonathan or Buhari has chances of emerging winner but since only one vacancy exists in Aso Rock, it is only one of them, based on the total votes

Politicising our military team with some politicians on how to rig the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. Present at that meeting with General Aliyu Momoh was Captain Sagir Koli, an Intelligence Officer in the Army. They met at Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti with former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of Police Affairs, Adesiyan, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 21 election, Ayodele Fayose, (now the governor having ‘won’ the election) PDP candidate in the governorship election in neigbhouring Osun State that was to follow last August, Iyiola Omisore and a host of others. The modalities on how to ensure victory for Fayose by hook or crook were discussed and agreed, using General Momoh and his boys. I don’t wish to bore you with the rest of the story but final outcome as you know is Fayose in the government house in Ado Ekiti, The manner of his ‘victory’ left so many Nigerians shocked and disappointed especially given the high performance ratings of the defeated government of Dr Kayode Fayemi. But because it was ‘victory’ for PDP in all the 16 local government areas, very few people were bold enough to challenge the result, which was ‘hailed’ as victory for peoples power. Now we know that Ekiti people did not speak on June 21, 2014 as we were made to believe, but that the military spoke and installed Fayose using a band of thugs supported by Federal Might. How the election was rigged to favour Fayose would not have been known but for

Captain Koli, who, driven by his belief that the Nigerian military should not be drawn into partisan politics decided to tape the conversation to expose the unholy alliance between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level and the military high command. Now in exile on AWOL, Captain Koli decided to make the tape public when his bosses decided to move in on him following his reluctance to help them and the PDP repeat the Ekiti formula in the Osun governorship election that was to follow soon. How the Ekiti election was rigged or how the PDP and its armed wing led by General Momoh failed in Osun is not the issue here. My concern is how the Nigerian military is increasing debasing itself by allowing the institution to be dragged into politics by desperate politicians who would do anything to hang on to power. And this is why I had to recall the admonition Vatsa reportedly gave his colleagues as he was about to be shot for the coup plot. Now our military is the butt of jokes everywhere just because it has failed to carry out its primary responsibility of securing not just lives and property, but most importantly, the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Instead of going after Boko Haram in the northeast and chasing the terrorists out of our country, which it has failed to do in the last six years, the Nigerian military had the time and resources to deploy a battalion of soldiers to Ekiti State to provide a conducive environment for its principal and his party to rig the

Will it be Jonathan or Buhari? By Ayodeji Ajayi cast on election day that can be declared winner by INEC. However, it is noteworthy that this will not be the first time Jonathan and Buhari would slug it out in a presidential election. In 2011, Jonathan who contested on the platform of PDP won after defeating Buhari who contested on the platform of a very young and weak party - the Congress for Political Change (CPC), now defunct, which he founded. He came second in the election. However, despite the fact that CPC was then less than two years old, it recorded an impressive performance, especially in the North where Buhari beat Jonathan convincingly. Since Buhari is currently contesting on a very formidable platform – APC as against tottering CPC in 2011, he would likely record more votes in the North to enable him floor Jonathan there again. Buhari is certainly not a new comer when it comes to participation in presidential elections in Nigeria. He participated in the 2003 election, on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but was defeated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo of PDP. In 2007, he was defeated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of PDP in a highly controversial election which Yar’Adua himself admitted was flawed and promised to introduce electoral reforms to ensure future elections are credible. It is noteworthy that despite his consecutive losses in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections, Buhari remained undaunted. This perhaps is why he is pursuing his current presidential ambition with unwavering commitment and unswerving determination. If he wins on March 28, he will not have only achieved his age-long ambition of directing the affairs of Nigeria as a democratically elected president, but he will also have broken the enviable record of Obasanjo who till date, remains the only past Nigerian leader who had ruled this country

as a military head of state and as a democratically elected president. Ex-military President, General Ibrahim Babangida’s bid to return to Aso Rock through the ballot box to break Obasanjo’s record was truncated during his party’s primaries in 2010. In 2011, Jonathan’s chances were boosted when the South-west states unanimously voted for him despite the fact that Nuhu Ribadn was presidential candidate of the then ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now defunct with Lagos State alone giving Jonathan 1.2 million of his total votes. Now, the scenario is different. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun of APC are likely to vote massively for Buhari. Kwara of APC will likely vote massively for Buhari. Same goes for Edo. Ekiti and Ondo votes will likely be shared between Jonathan and Buhari being PDP – controlled states. In Rivers, there will be stiff competition for votes between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of APC and governorship candidate of PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike. Many of the south-eastern states which are under the control of PDP will likely vote for Jonathan while some votes will also go to Buhari. Anambra of APGA will likely vote massively for Jonathan following Governor Willy Obiano’s declaration of his party’s support for the President but some votes will still go to Buhari. Expectedly, Imo which is under the leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha who is also chairman of APC Governors’ Forum and governorship candidate of APC will likely vote massively for Buhari. Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta, all of PDP, will likely vote massively for Jonathan but Buhari will still get some votes. Most of the states in the North, including those controlled by APC, will likely vote massively for Buhari but Jonathan will also get some votes. Meanwhile, as the clock ticks, the generality of Nigerians are waiting patiently to cast their votes for their preferred candidates. Whoever merges winner should accept his

election. This was at a time that the boys fighting the insurgents in the northeast could do with more boots and equipments on ground. The military high command could deploy soldiers to Ekiti to help the PDP provide security for its thugs to win the Ekiti election, but the same military is now incapable of providing security across Nigeria for us to cast our votes and pick leaders of our choice on February 14 and 28 as earlier scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, just because the PDP was headed for defeat. Am sure if the projections had signaled a landslide victory for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP on February 14 that election would have gone ahead not minding the security situation in the northeast. But because their commander-in-chief was likely to lose the election, the security forces had to come up with an excuse why the February 14 and 28 elections should not be allowed to go ahead. What a shame. It is not the business of the military as a body who becomes the President and Commander-In-Chief, that is in the business of the electorate. It is this brazen show of partisanship by the military that is giving one cause for concern. If the general political divide outside is allowed to influence decisions taken by our security forces then I have my fears over the integrity of the military as a great institution of national unity. And the way the present military high command is seemingly bending to the whims and caprices of its civilian masters especially dabbling into politics does not bode well for that institution at all. In what was previously unheard of, the head of the armed forces in one of our neigbhouring countries was reported recently as mocking our troops for ‘abandoning’ the front in the fight against Boko Haram at the first sight of the terrorists. This was the same Nigerian army that was feared and respected everywhere in the past now being made fun of. This is what Vatsa was probably talking about. This is the result you get when you drag the military into the political arena. victory with humility while the loser should also accept his defeat as a responsible sportsman since in such an electoral contest where there is only one vacancy, one contestant will emerge winner. An election is not a do-ordie affair. After every election, there will be a winner and a loser. Whoever is aggrieved should go to election tribunal for redress rather than resort to actions capable of destabilizing the country. Those characters constantly threatening to set the country on fire if Jonathan was not allowed to contest or if he loses the election should be warned by the security agencies as nobody has the monopoly of violence. No Nigerian, no matter how powerful or influential, is greater than Nigeria which belongs to all Nigerians. All parts of the country contributed to the victory of Jonathan in 2011. The South-south votes alone could not have led to the president’s victory that year. This is why if care is not taken, further provocative pronouncements and threats from the direction of the Niger Delta ex-militants will not only make them incur the wrath of other Nigerians, but can actually jeopardise the ambition of the president. Nigeria is a free society where voters have the inalienable right to vote freely for their preferred candidates without coercion from any quarters. INEC should put in place measures that will ensure all the elections are free, fair, credible and acceptable to majority of Nigerians with discerning minds. •Ajayi is a journalist and public affairs analyst.

‘Those characters constantly threatening to set the country on fire if Jonathan was not allowed to contest or if he loses the election should be warned by the security agencies as nobody has the monopoly of violence. No Nigerian, no matter how powerful or influential, is greater than Nigeria’

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

raise or build strong institutions to conduct free, fair and ’ To credible elections in the country, the electoral umpire must be independent of the control of the executive or any political class

’

- See page 28

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

•Army Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) at the entrance to the Government House, Imo State

The Goodluck Jonathan administration deployed troops and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in the homes of key opposition leaders last week, heightening tension ahead of the forthcoming elections. Lawyers are querying the legitimacy of the government’s action when there is no war. ERIC IKHILAE reports.

Rolling out tanks against opponents ‘illegal’ T

INSIDE:

HE Federal Government last week deployed troops and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in the homes of key opposition leaders, including the Imo State Government House in Owerri. The telephone lines of some of them were also bugged. Besides, the Abuja home of the National

N2.7b suit: MTN used me, ex-manager alleges -Page 27

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyekun, was invaded by security operatives. For the better part of last week, the Ikoyi, Lagos home of APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was under soldiers’ siege. The General Officer Commanding

‘No constitutional role for army in elections’ -Page 37

(GOC), 81 Division, Maj-Gen Tunmi Dibi claimed that the military deployment was “routine” describing it as part of a joint security measure to secure Lagos. Last Thursday, policemen were deployed in the Abuja home of APC’s Presidential Campaign spokesman •Continued on page 26

NBA Commission to partner agencies on corruption -Page 39

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LAW COVER CONT’D

•Prof Odinkalu

•Magaji

•Ngige

Rolling out tanks illegal, say lawyers •Continued from page 25

Garba Shehu. Shehu’s residence at the NNPC Quarters, Area 11, Abuja, was surrounded by armed policemen about 3 a.m throwing members of his family into panic. Bothered by this turn of events, the APC, in a statement, raised the alarm that its leaders were being intimidated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government. It accused security agents of placing some of its leading lights under surveillance and bugging their phones. ‘’As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones bugged. ‘’We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped up charges. “We know our lives are in danger. But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box. Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute,’’ the APC said. Okorocha was reported to have petitioned President about the unsolicited deployment of soldiers to the Imo Government House. But, many President Jonathan believe that it is time wellmeaning Nigerians speak out against the government move, which they see as threat to multi-party democracy and citizens’ right. Going by courts’ decisions, the President’s deployment of the military for purely civil duties is illegal and it imperils democracy, they said, adding that it is illegal because it is done without recourse to the National Assembly as required under Section 218(4) of the Constitution. Although Sections 218 (1) - of the Constitution - and 8(1) - of the Armed Forces Act - empower the President to “determine the operational use of the armed forces”, Section 218(4) of the Constitution subjects the powers so granted the President to the control of the National Assembly. It gives the legislature the power to

make laws for the regulation of the powers exercisable by the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, which includes determining the operational use of the armed forces. On several occasions, the court declared illegal the arbitrary use of the military for civil duties by the president. The latest of such declarations is contained in the January 28 verdict by Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Sokoto, in the case marked: FHC/S/CS/ 29/2014 between Honourable Bello Mohammed Goronyo and one other vs the Attorney-General of the Federation and one other, prosecuted by Mahmud Magaji (SAN). “My view is that so long as it is outside the mainstream functions of the armed forces as spelt out in Section 217(2) of the Constitution, it would be unlawful for the President to authorise the deployment of any branch of the armed forces for whatever purpose without some regulations by the National Assembly. “I hold the view that a combined reading of the provisions of Sections 217(2), 218(1)&(3) would show that apart from the mainstream functions spelt out by Section 217(2) of the Constitution, it would be outside the contemplation of the law for the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to order armed forces to perform any other function without an impute of the National Assembly, in the form of a legislation, including their (armed forces) participation in the security supervision of any form of elections in Nigeria. “In my opinion, so long as there is no Act of the National Assembly regulating the deployment of the armed forces in the election process as required by the provisions of the Constitution variously referred to earlier, it would be right to argue that such deployment, apart from its general unlawful nature, is also usurpation of the functions of the police, which

‘

is the security outfit charged with maintenance of law and order in this country,” Justice Aikawa said. Two past Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Justices Umaru Abdullahi and Isa Ayo-Salami had expressed similar views in the past. They suggested that the armed forces should be detached from the electoral process in view of the danger they pose to the sustenance of democracy. In his judgment in the case of Buhari vs Obasanjo (2005) 1 WRN 2000, Justice Abdullahi said: “In spite of the non-tolerant nature of our political class in this country, we should by all means, try to keep armed personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of the election process.The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out fully, the electoral process at all levels.” Justice Salami, in his decision in the case of Yusuf vs Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR part 956 at 96 declared that: “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarised.” Lawyers also frowned at the deployment of the military by the Jonathan-led government. Emeka Ngige (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN) and Dr. Chuka Chikezie urged the President to exercise restraint and learn to accommodate the opposition in the interest of the democracy. They described the illegal use of the military as unconstitutional, an abuse of power, and a threat to democracy. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Dr. Chidi Odinkalu said the commission would investigate these cases of right abuses and make known its findings. Ngige said the President missed the opportunity of his last media chat to clear the air on the redeployment of soldiers to intimidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Owelle Okorocha, among others. “The activities of the soldiers are sug-

We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges

‘

gestive that the Presidency will use them on the day of the election to rig the process. It is a bad signal which can lead to unimaginable consequences. Soldiers should be kept out of politics in the interest of peace, unity and progress of this country. “What happened to Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast during the 2010 election of that country should serve as a lesson to any ruler, who would want to use soldiers to subvert the electoral process,” Ngige said. Magaji argued that the attitude of the security agencies portends danger to democracy. He said it appears that those at the helm of affairs do not know what sacrifices were made to achieve this democracy. “They seem not to know what it took us to get this democracy. If they were active players in the struggle against military rule, I am sure they would not be acting the way they are doing now. “My advice to the government and the current political actors is to avoid what could endanger this democracy. The powers, rights and privileges of every citizen of Nigeria are defined in the Constitution and each arm and level of government, and the citizen should know its boundary and act accordingly,” he said. Chikezie argued that the practice of deploying military in the homes of individuals is frightening. He said it amounts to an arbitrary use of powers, adding that it is anti-democratic, and offends every known rules of civil engagement. “The most worrying aspect is when the President often feigns ignorance of these abuses. You recall, at the last media chat on the television, he (the President) denied the letter written by his Chief Security Adviser (CSA) to INEC, warning that the military could not guarantee security should the INEC Chairman proceed with the elections as earlier scheduled. That formed the basis for the rescheduling of the elections dates. Yet, he feigned ignorance of the correspondence by his CSA. “What manner of Commander-in-Chief will deny knowledge of such monumental occurrence? It betrays the character of the President, who wants to be seen as an angel, yet habours evil intents always. This resort to arbitrary use of the military is undemocratic; it is unlawful and should be condemned by all right thinking persons. “Whatever the motive of those behind the unlawful deployment of the military is, they should remember what it cost the Nigerian people to reestablish democratic rule in the country after years of arbitrary rule by military. They should learn that democracy thrives in an environment where different approaches to governance are freely traded; and that, a democracy that abhors opposing views is imperiled,” Chikezie said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

FROM THE COURT

Appeal Court fights delay •Inaugurates new rules, case management system

HE Court of Appeal has unveiled new rules to frustrate delay by lawyers. The Court of Appeal (fast track) Practice Direction, 2014 and Active Case Management Process – were unveiled before stakeholders, comprising members of the Bench and Bar in Abuja. President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, told the gathering that the Fast-Track Practice Direction is a set of directions, with the fundamental objective of enabling the court to deal with fasttrack appeals quickly and efficiently through the introduction of the Active Case Management (ACM). She explained that the ACM process allows the court to adopt the best skills and case management techniques to secure efficient and speedy administration of justice. According to the PCA, the court is empowered, under the new Practice Direction, to sue motu (without being prompted), exercise the various case management techniques to abridge time for compliance with any rule, practice direction or court order; brig forward a proceeding, convene a case management conference and consolidate proceedings. Also, Paragraph 8 of the 2014 Practice Direction retains the provision in the 2011 Rules, which stipulates the size of briefs. Briefs in interlocutory appeals are limited to 15 pages, while final appeals are limited to 25 pages. It also stipulates the type of paper to be used, the font size and line

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

spacing to adopt in preparing a brief. Paragraph 14 provided that the requirement that a document should be signed is satisfied and the signature is printed by a computer or other mechanical means. For instance, a document served via electronic means will be deemed to have been signed by the person, who owns or subscribed to the electronic source account if the signature appears on the document or its cover message as the sender. The Fast-Track case management process will be applied to appeals relating to debt cases, corruption, human trafficking, kidnapping, money laundering, rape, terrorism and appeals involving agencies involved in the protection of human rights, intelligence, law enforcement, as well as prosecutorial or security agencies like the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the department of State Services (DSS). Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, Justice Amina Augie said the innovations were informed by the need to curb the

•From left: Justices Augie, Bulkachuwa, Auta and Abdul Aboki of the Court of Appeal at the event

delay being experienced in the handling of cases in the court. She was optimistic that the measures would go a long way in curbing delay in the court process. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta agreed with Justice Augie’s observation that lawyers use the Court of Appeal to stall cases by filing interlocutory appeals, which they mostly do not prosecute. He urged Justices of the court to be firm in applying the new Practice Direction and case management system because lawyers will

try to resist the innovations. He assured that appellate court Justices of the support of his court in ensuring the success of the new ideas. The Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ibrahim Bukar, said similar measures introduced by his court some years back failed because the lawyers resisted. He said the success of the initiatives by the appellate court was dependent on the willingness of the judges to ensure they succeed. “What we need most to ensure that these initiatives succeed is

‘According to the PCA, the court is empowered, under the new Practice Direction, to sue motu (without being prompted), exercise the various case management techniques to abridge time for compliance with any rule’

N2.7b suit: MTN used me, ex-manager alleges •’He’s a gold digger’

FORMER Network Group Operations Manager at MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Mr Paul Odunewu, has urged the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to order the firm to pay him his entitlements, including a share option worth over $13.14million (about N2.7billion). He is demanding N100million in general damages for alleged wrongful termination of his contract. Odunewu said he worked at MTN for over four years, and was responsible for the network’s outstanding achievements, which continues till date. He said he was responsible for the entire pre-paid and post-paid revenue, subscription, voucher management and real-time charging. “I built the engine of the defendant’s business in Nigeria including people, process and technology,” Odunewu said, adding that MTN made over N5.15trillion in revenue as at December 2013. At the resumed hearing before before Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, the claimant under cross examination by MTN’s lawyer Mrs Ayo Obe, said he was a key employee and was promised the long-term incentive. Obe said: “I put it to you that you were not designated a key employee,” to which Odunewu replied: “That is not true.” Odunewu said when MTN terminated his appointment, he was forced out of his premises, and his effort to reach the management for compensation proved futile until he engaged a lawyer. “They did not respond to my letter until I engaged my counsel who had a meeting with them in July 2006. “I wrote to them and made attempt

By Joseph Jibueze to see the CTO (Chief Technical Officer), but did not succeed. The threat to eject me was real until I engaged the services of a lawyer,” he said. Odunewu said he was employed as an expatriate after MTN pleaded with him to return home from the United Kingdom (UK) and help develop telecommunications in Nigeria. He was promised, among others, a Share Option, a long-term incentive scheme being developed by MTN. Odunewu said when he complained that the Share Option was not contained in his offer letter, MTN persuaded him to accept the job as he would be entitled to the share after three years. The claimant said even before he sued, MTN refused his settlement moves. “The defendant was not interested in settlement.” Obe, however, asked Odunewu to produce evidence of the share option incentive made to him, as it was not contained in his office letter. The claimant said he was promised the long-term incentive via a letter by the CTO, adding that his grade level entitlement him to the share option. “It was an inducement to attract me to come and work in Nigeria. My Lord, before I joined MTN the CTO informed

me that I was entitled to the share options scheme. He fixed my salary, which was half of what I earned in the UK. “The CTO told me in an e-mail that the long term incentive for Nigeria was still being developed and needed to be adapted to the local situation. “We have served MTN notice to produce the electronic mail because all mails with staff are archived,” Odunewu said. MTN, however, denied the claims. “I put it to you that you were not entitled to the long term incentive,” Obe said, adding: “I put it to you that the long-term incentive is only open to localised staff.” Odunewu’s response was: “That is not correct.” MTN Group Limited, South Africa; MTN Nigeria and MTN International, Mauritius are other defendants in the suit. Odunewu, in his statement of claim, said his position came under attack when a group of white South Africans was posted to oversee Network Group management in 2005. He said there was an “onslaught” against him as his superiors suddenly became “disturbed that a Nigerian could possess such incredible experience and exposure…” Matters got to a head when he received a letter dated February 28, 2006 purportedly terminating his appointment and his access to the MTN net-

‘They did not respond to my letter until I engaged my counsel who had a meeting with them in July 2006. I wrote to them and made attempt to see the CTO (Chief Technical Officer), but did not succeed. The threat to eject me was real until I engaged the services of a lawyer’

the judges coming together to ensure its success in achieving quick dispensation of justice. I want to believe that if the leadership of the Judiciary will stand by the judicial officers, some of these abuses will reduce,” he said. Justice Bukar said where lawyers intimidate judicial officers by writing frivolous petitions to the NJC was not only distracting, it was discouraging. He said judges, who go about their duties conscientiously, will only be encouraged where he is sure the leadership of the Judiciary will protect him/her. The General-Secretary of the NBA, Affam Osigwe, who spoke for lawyers, said it required the commitment and collaboration of the Bench and Bar to eradicate delay in the judicial process.

Estate agent jailed 18 months for N12m fraud By Adebisi Onanuga

J •NIC President Justice Babatunde Adejumo

work as a staff was revoked. But MTN, in its defence, said Odunewu’s contract was of limited duration and was due to terminate on December 12, 2003. MTN said: “The letter of offer of employment with the second defendant expressly warned against any expectation of continued employment, nor was it ever at any time suggested to the claimant that he was to be made or had been made a permanent employee of the second defendant or any of the defendants. “In the circumstances, claimant knew and expected, or ought to have known and expected that his employment was not a long-term or permanent appointment, and that the same was also liable to be determined within 60 days of the receipt of written notice. “The defendants say that the claimant’s claim is speculative and gold-digging, that he is not entitled to the reliefs claimed or at all and that the claim herein should be dismissed with substantial costs in favour of the defendants.”

USTICE Lateefa Okunnu of the Ikeja High Court has sentenced an estate agent, Mr. Olasupo Alimi, to 18months imprisonment for defrauding a client of N12 million. Delievering judgment, Justice Okunnu found the defendant guilty of the two-count charge of fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge ordered the convict to refund N8 million to the complainant as restitution. The EFCC arraigned Alimi on a twocount charge of obtaining money by false pretence and intent to defraud. According to the EFCC, the convict in August, 2009 fraudulently obtained the sum of N12 million from Mrs. Francisca AireOaihimire for the purchase of six plots of land at Okun-Aja, Lekki, Lagos. The commission said the convict converted the said money to his personal use. Defendant’s counsel Mrs. Ifeoma Odo, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that the convict was a first offender. Justice Okunnu ordered that the convict should serve at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY Lawyers seek further amendment of electoral laws By Joseph Jibueze

•From left: Mr Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), Ferdinand Orbi (SAN) and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president OCJ Okocha (SAN) at the NBA NEC Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Alleged N80m fraud: ‘How firm was defrauded’

FOREMOST transport company in Nigeria, Cross Country Limited, last week told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that it was not indebted to a leasing company, A.G. Moeller Limited to the tune of N80 million. The company told the Justice Okon Abang court the details of how his former company was allegedly defrauded by the leasing company. Mr. Godsday Chukwusa, a former Chief Accountant with Cross Country Limited, told the court at the resumed hearing of an alleged N80 million fraud charges brought against the company, A.G. Moeller Limited that Cross Country Limited had sometimes in March 2007 written a Finance Lease request letters to some financial institutions for finance lease facilities for various acquisitions of motor vehicles. He listed the financial institutions to include the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, EBN Finance Limited (a subsidiary of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc) and AG. Moeller. The witness said as the Chief Accountant during the period of the transaction, he was privy to all the documents to the transactions, which was to acquire 40 units of Volkswagen mini buses at N3,500

By Adebisi Onanuga

million for commercial services within Nigeria. According to him, AG Moeller Limited offered it the sum of N140 million to finance the acquisition of 40 transport buses for commercial use. He said AG Moeller like the other banks and finance houses, replied via an “Offer of Finance Lease Facility” letter dated March 29, 2007, approving the request sum of N140 million for a tenor of 24 months at 60 per cent interest rate per annum. He said the total sum payable to AG Moeller Ltd at the end of the tenor according to the witness stood at N228 million. The witness further told the court that out of this sum, Cross Country had paid N223 million as against N228 million payable, leaving an outstanding balance of N19 million including due, default charges. He said the leasing company, through its Managing Director, Mr. Adeloye Richard Olukemi, wrote a demand letter requesting to be paid an outstanding sum of N213 million. He said it was this development that made his former company to petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requesting for proper

investigation into the claims of the leasing company, AG Moeller Limited. At the last sitting of the court, an assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ben Okoro, told the court that the defendant and his company, AG Moeller Ltd were investigated for allegedly running an illegal finance house that was neither licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nor registered by the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN). According to Okoro, police investigation revealed that AG Moeller had acted like a finance company licensed by the CBN and as a member of Finance Houses Association of Nigeria. He said AG Moeller should not have indulged in any business of such with Cross Country Limited in the first place. He said the Nigerian Police resolved to arraign AG Moeller and its promoters on a five-count charge before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on receipt of the response from the CBN with reference number “Our Ref: OFID/ GDB/GEN/FIN/01/535” dated May 23, 2011 denying ever licensing AG Moeller for such business and another from Finance Houses Association of Nigeria letter dated March 4, 2011.

The charge read in part: “That you Adeloye Richard Olukemi ‘M’and others at large on the 29th day of March, 2007 at No. 2 Ebun Street, Surulere, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offence to wit: transacting financial business without a valid license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. “That you Adeloye Richard Olukemi ‘M’ between March, 2007 and January 2010 at the same place in the aforesaid Judicial Division with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Eighty Million Naira from one Bube Okorodudu, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cross Country Limited in excess of the capital sum of One hundred and forty million naira (#140m) advanced to him through the medium of a contract of finance lease facility induced by false pretense and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 1 (a-c) & section 1(2) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud & other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.” Justice Abang has adjourned the matter till Thursday, for continuation of hearing.

Don, others hail Osinbajo on campaign strategy

UNIVERSITY don from the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Mr. Olatoye Adebayo, has commended the Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for opening the Peoples’ wish notebooks in his campaign office in Ajegunle, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. Osinbajo, General Mohammadu Buhari’s running mate, opened the books in his campaign office in Ajegunle where he urged Nigerians irrespective of their religious, ethnic or political affiliations to go and write down their wishes and expectations from the government. He promised to work with the people and translate their wishes into reality if he and General Buhari are elected into office. Many, who wrote on the book, expressed happiness that he could come down to their level to seek their views and inputs on how they would like to be governed. Some of them, who wrote in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, Efik, Bini and other Nigerian languages, asked for improved power supply, strengthening of the anti-corruption war and

‘

By John Austin Unachukwu

making more food available for the masses among other things. In a chat with The Nation, one of those who wrote on the book, who gave his name as Mr Olatoye said: “I applaud this move by Professor Yemi Osinbajo for opening the people’s wish notebooks, especially in an area like Ajegunle, which is known as an abode of the masses, is quite revealing and expedient. “This kind of approach to politics gives hope to the masses that they have someone who could listen to them, empathise with them and feel their pulse from time to time. This is what I call scientific politicking, a research oriented politics. You need to carry out a thorough research about the people you want to serve so as to reveal their needs and that would make you to be able to serve them more effectively.” Olatoye continued: “What Professor Osinbajo has done by opening the people’s wish note books is a research component adopted to get to the minds of the masses, to feel their pulse, know where the shoe pinches them in order to determine how to serve the people

HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch has called for further an amendment of electoral laws relating to litigations. In a communiqué issued at end of its law week, the association regretted that pre-election and election cases still drag on for too long. “Pre-election matters have been known to survive election petitions. Electoral laws should, therefore, be amended to prescribe a time-frame for the trial of pre-election matters as they need to be treated with the same level of dispatch as the post-election matters. “To raise or build strong institutions to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the country, the electoral umpire must be independent of the control of the executive or any political class,” it said. The communiqué was signed by the branch chairman Stanley Chidozie Imo; Secretary Chris Ihentuge and Law Week Committee chairman Dr Amaechi Nwaiwu (SAN). The branch said there exist no conflicts between the provisions of sections 285 (6) and (7) and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as both sections complementary. It noted that Section 285 (6) and (7) merely provide parameters for the exercise of the right to fair hearing, while Section 285 (6) and (7) places more stringent requirements on the petitioner than on the respondent with respect to the time allowed to the parties to file and exchange pleadings. “Section 285 (6) and (7) should be amended to provide a time frame within which the respondent should file his processes. It should be amended create exceptional circumstances that could warrant a deviation from the 180 days and 60 days rule as the rigid application of the sections could lead to grave injustice,” it said. The branch said this year’s elections place responsibilities on lawyers to embark on massive sensitisation of the electorate on the need to elect credible representatives. “They should ensure that they give proper advice to their client before proceeding to court. They must be willing to choose mediation or negation where necessary and avoid unnecessary litigations. “Judicial officers on the other hand are enjoined to ensure that their courts do not become dumping sites for frivolous processes. They should adopt bolder interpretations of the provisions of the law that will meet the justice of the cases before them,” the communiqué said. On insecurity and insurgency, the NBA branch said unemployment and lack of opportunities for the youth are factors that has not only birthed “this monster” but encouraged its growth and spread. “The battle against terrorist activities in the country must be fought with united strength. We, must therefore, put aside all our political, ethnic and religious differences and confront these insecurities. “As we approach the 2015 general elections, politicians and their supporters should refrain from making statements that could heat up the polity. “We therefore call upon politicians to comply with the contents of the Abuja Declaration Accord signed by all the presidential candidates for the 2015 presidential elections,” the communiqué said.

•Osinbajo

•Adebayo

satisfactorily . This is an impressive move by an academic of repute, a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). I commend this unique and novel idea and I think this marks the beginning of good things coming the way of Nigerians.” Another respondent, Dr. Noah Jinadu said: “This is a new dawn in Nigerian politics. Prof Osinbajo and his presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by this move are now marked out as grassroots political tacticians. This move to open people’s wish note books is a new idea in Nigerian politics and

will carry people along in governance in the country. This is a symbol of change starring us in the face and we must embrace it.” Speaking in the same vein with Dr Jinadu is Mr Musliu Oladepo, who said: “I can see happiness radiating on the face of the people. Everyone is happily putting down their feelings, observations, and suggestion in the people’s wish notebooks in an atmosphere of conviviality. I like this approach by Professor Osinbajo and his Presidential Candidate, Muhamadu Buhari and I appreciate them for a job well done.”

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

PAGE 29

N3m car for Kaduna trader •PAGE 30

Burnt Sokoto market regains vibrancy •PAGE 31

•Some of the rice-milling machines distributed to women in Maiduguri

Resilience in Borno

Beautician Ozolua to rehabilitate IDPs

Amid unrelenting attacks by insurgents, the Borno State government keeps reaching out to its people. JOEL DUKU reports that the Kashim Shettima administration has just provided rice-milling machines for women farmers

F, by their ceaseless attacks, Boko Haram fighters meant to cripple Borno and subdue the people, the state government is certainly not lifting their spirits. Suicide bombers and gunmen have hit the state, including the capital Maiduguri, but the Kashim Shettima administration seems far from cowed. The government has just distributed rice-milling machines to women farmers in the rural parts of the state, looking determined to drive its jobs policy through and support farmers in order to keep the state in good supply of food, despite the insurgency. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hajiya Inna Galadima said the state government was equally intent on providing jobs. The milling machines were given out to 50 women farmers at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Government House Maiduguri. It was the first phase of the scheme. The women also got 50 power generating sets. Hajia Galadima explained that the machines were distributed to support rural women

‘The milling machines were purchased by the Shettima administration in large quantities for improved processing of farm produce, and no kobo would be paid by the beneficiaries’ farmers and help them become more self-reliant. She added that it would also boost the women’s petty trading. She said the milling machines were purchased by the Shettima administration in large quantities for improved processing of farm produce, stressing that no kobo would be paid by the beneficiaries. She also warned government officials not to commercialise the materials.

To the beneficiaries, she said they too should not sell the items but rather make judicious use of them. She said her ministry officials would continue to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries and assist in the maintenance of the machines where needed. Hajiya Galadima further explained that the occasion only marked the first phase of the distribution with three pilot local governments comprising Jere,

•PAGE 32

•Governor Shettima

Dikwa and Marte which are predominantly rice farmers. She added that the second phase would soon be held for southern Borno comprising Biu, Shani and Hawul areas where rice is equally farmed in commercial quantity. She said that the ministry will organise a one-day training exercise for the beneficiaries on the use of the equipment. She urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of government’s gesture to be innovative in their trade, stressing that the machines given to the women could also be deployed in their other ventures such as selling soft drinks and ice blocks. This, she •Continued on page 30

New look for 42-year-old community school •PAGE 33

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

N3m car for Kaduna trader “I

NEVER dreamt of owning a ‘Tokunbo’ (used) car, not even in three years to come,” said Mrs Bola Johnson, a petty trader in Kabala West, Kaduna. Now, she has a brand new vehicle worth over N3m. It did not come from the proceeds of her small shop. The trader took part in a raffle draw organised by Nestle Foods and her ticket number hit the top prize: a 2014 Hyundai Accent. Mrs Johnson said she could not afford sitting it out with the raffle crowd at the premises of ‘S&S’ Shopping Plaza in the Barnawa area of the city, believing “the game” was not really worth the trouble. Even when her ticket won the prize and she was called on the phone, she still did not believe it. The organisers had decided that anybody not present would be contacted twice on the phone, thereafter the winning ticket would be discarded and another draw made. She told The Nation that she could not answer the first call placed to her, but was lucky to pick the second call and the caller informed her that she has won a brand new car. Although she felt it was 419, she decided to take the next available, but quickest means of transport to the place. Since Okada does not operate in the city anymore, she decided to hire a tricycle from Kabala West to Barnawa, a distance of almost 10km. Even when she got to the venue and was shown her car, she still could not believe it until those present started congratulating her. Apparently read-

‘When her ticket won the prize and she was called on the phone, she still did not believe it. The organisers had decided that anybody not present would be contacted twice on the phone, thereafter the winning ticket would be discarded and another draw made. Mrs Johnson did not answer the first call managed to take the second call and was promptly told that she had won a brand new car. She hired a tricycle and rode a distance of almost 10km’ From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ing her mind, one of the people present told her “Madam, you are not dreaming, it is real”. That was when she immediately called her husband, shouting in Yoruba, “otito ni o, won ti ko kokoro moto funmi o” meaning “yes, it is real o, I

•Mrs Johnson and her car have been given the car keys”. She told The Nation that: “I was totally amazed when I received a call that I have won a car. In fact, I didn’t believe it because this is Nigeria and it is very easy to fall ‘mugu’. But, since I was asked to come to a popular plaza, I felt there was no harm in trying. I was actually informed by Charles, the sales representative who usually supply me Nestlé products that, there will be ýa draw to-

day, but I never believed I could win anything from here. So, I decided that I cannot close my shop where I get little daily income and go and sit down at one draw. I am a petty trader, I run a small provision store in Kabala. So, Charles come to supply me Nestlé products. When they started the promo, he will tell me, Aunty, buy more products from me, so that you can ýget more raffle tickets to participate in the forthcoming

draw. He would tell me, you can win anything including a car. I will just tell him, Charles go and sit down, that kind of promo is always fraudulent, the companies have their way of giving prizes to their family members and even staff. So, I was just patronising him, because at least •Continued on page 32

Resilience in Borno •Continued from page 29

•The women

170 women trained in Plateau A

JOBS training exercise is afoot for women in Plateau State. No fewer than 170 women have been selected for the first phase of a workshop on skills aimed at raising their economic profile. Wife of the state governor, Ngo Talatu Jang is behind the training, supported by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office. At the end of the exercise, the selected women would supported to start up small-scale businesses. Mrs Jang has been running a project known as Women in Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE) since 2008 and has the required facilities to train the women, hence the skill training at the WAYE Foundation in

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Doi village in Jos South Local Government Area of the state. Over 5,000 women have been trained at the Centre. In her welcome address to the participants on the opening day, Mrs Jang said, “I am delighted to be here to witness the flag-off of the skill acquisition programme organised by the MDGs Office, Plateau State, in collaboration with WAYE Foundation. I am also proud to be associated with this project because it has to do with women and the less privileged which was why I established this foundation. Indeed, the 170 women assembled for the training is unprec-

edented. It is a clear indication that the present government at federal and state level is so concerned with issue of women empowerment. She said, “I am aware of the MDGS achievements in Plateau State particularly in the construction of classrooms, hospitals, potable drinking water, books, drugs, etc. I was so impressed with one of MDGs’ most recent programme, which is a free medical care to citizens of the state particularly women and children. I also need to applaud the efforts of the MDGs in areas of poverty alleviation through its empowerment programme. “Personally, I consider this skill acquisition training for 170 women

of Plateau State as a vital instrument for the empowerment of women. I urge all the benefiting women to dedicate their time for the training so as to make maximum use of the training for their economic independence. “I must thank the President of the Federal Fepublic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan for lifting Nigerian women through political appointments and various economic empowerment policies and programmes. Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang also deserves commendation for funding of MDGs Office for the running of rural development programmes. Governor Jang •Continued on page 31

said, will help cushion the harsh effect of the economy. Presenting the materials to the beneficiaries, wife of the state governor, Hajiya Nana Shettima said the milling machines will greatly change the living condition of the women and also boost their sources of income. She added that the gesture will serve as a supporting tool to the women in many ways while welcoming any programme or project that will directly alleviate the sufferings of the womenfolk in the state from any individual or organization. Hajiya Shettima also seized the opportunity to call on all eligible women in the state to ensure that they obtain their voter cards from the national electoral body INEC in order to vote for the candidates of their choice. ”Without the PVCs, there is no how the womenfolk who are the mothers of the society can effect change in the leadership of the country and continuity of governance of Governor Kashim Shettima in office at the polls,” he advised. She also urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items as the commissioner had cautioned them earlier. Mrs Shettima further thanked the state chief executive for empowering the women in the state by not only appointing them into his cabinet but also procuring and financing women programmes and projects across the state. That sounds like courage in the face of violent distractions.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Burnt Sokoto market regains its vibrancy

HERE was a reason Sokoto traders and residents despaired when the popular Kara Market went up in flames one year ago. It is one of the biggest markets in the state where most residents bought their livestock for festivities. Grains were also in good supply there. So when the fire came in February, traders wailed because they lost over N1 billion in goods. Their clients were equally worried. The gloom is over. The market is back to life, thanks to donations from government, corporate bodies and public-spirited individuals. The market, believed to be as old as the Sokoto Caliphate itself, attracts patrons from across Sokoto. Kara Market is also said to substantially boost the economy of the state. In its second life, the market is attracting more business and patronage than before, though not many believed it would recover from the inferno which reduced it to rubble. It is difficult to believe that market could record such a huge volume of traders hurtling to do business there. The market is known for a range of products which have distinguished the caliphate from others. The caliphate is famous for its hides and skin, among which are conference bags, wallets, purses, shoes, belts, among others. Also, several petty side businesses such herbs, wood, second-hand clothing are not in short supply in the market. One of the traders at the market Mallam Altine told The Nation that even though the market functions on a daily basis, it is always at its peak on Fridays. On peak days, the human traffic is always huge, with little or no space for smooth movement of any kind right from when the market opens in the morning till it closes in the evening. The trader said that the recent introduction of Sokoto Corps Marshals by the Aliyu Wamakko administration has also helped to regulate traffic flow in and out of the market to ensure smooth movement. With the presence of the Marshals, order is gradually being restored in the market. He disclosed that every proud Sokoto indigene believes that the market is a model •Continued from page 30 has also opened so much opportunity for women in the state to explore their potentials and contribute to the economic growth of the state. “Let me also comment the state coordinator of the MDG Barr. Peter Nyam Gai for providing quality leadership to MDG in the state, I am not surprised that the Plateau state MDG emerged the best in the North Central in performance assessment conducted by the House of Representaive Committee on rural development. In his remarks, State coordinator of the MDGs Mr Peter Nyam-Gai, a lawyer, said, “Today marks another epoch event in the history of the MDG in Plateau state with the training of 170 women in skill acquisition in the field of Catering, Beads Making, Knitting, etc. it is imperative to note that the selection of the women were carefully selected from all the 17 local government of the state. The women will undergo intensive training in various skills after which they will be given the incentives to practice what they learn. He said, “At the end of the training, these women will be provided

‘The designs are excellent because I have the talent, while prices are unique because I offer customers quality work. I do traditional design especially for brides who use them for interior decorations in their homes. There is also one we do using paint of different colours to design them. The ones we design with fire attract more money than others’

•A stand for colourful calabashes at the market

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

and symbol of its cultural heritage. The market is also known for its elderly master calabash-makers who specialise in carving and design. They are mostly aged 60 and above, though you will still find younger craftsmen there. They produce all sizes and shapes with different designs. While some of the products look ordinary with little or no design, others are painted while some others are designed using fire and are fancied by visitors who buy them for use as gifts and souvenirs. Abu Dange, seen making calabash, told The Nation that he had been in the business for over two decades. According to Dange, those engaged in the business come from within and outside Sokoto State. He said, “We source some of our materials from Gumi in Kebbi State while others come from Kebbe in Sokoto State. I design all shapes and

•The livestock section is lively once again sizes of calabash for customers and sell at different prices”. He said further that the calabash come in two categories, pointing out that the designed ones are more expensive and sells between N1,000

and N1,500 depending on the size, while those without design sells between N300 and N500 each, depending on the size. Mamman Bala Mai Kwarya said his 60 years experience has kept

him thriving in the calabash business, pointing out that he started making calabash as a young man. “My designs are excellent be•Continued on page 32

170 women trained in Plateau cash to rent a shop for them to start a small scale business of their own. Within the duration of the training, the women will be paid N10,000.00 training allowance and be offered feeding and free accommodation for the two months the training will last. “It is my expectation that participants will take the training seriously as it will guarantee their economic independence. Since the participants will be given funds to begin their own business, there will be a monitoring mechanism to avoid diversion of funds or mismanagement. “May I use this opportunity to state that MDGs has done well in other sectors in the state, for instance in 2014, we constructed 64 class room blocks across the state, we also constructed 23 standard primary healthcare centers, we provided two bore holes as well as instructional materials. We have recruited 90 women as village health workers and they are been paid monthly for the services. This year alone we have engaged the services of 60 other

‘is my expectation that participants will take the training seriously as it will guarantee their economic independence. Since the participants will be given funds to begin their own business, there will be a monitoring mechanism to avoid diversion of funds or mismanagement’ women as village health workers bringing the total to 150 numbers of women trained to serve as village health workers. “One major intervention aimed at alleviating poverty is approval of grants to cooperatives societies. Last year we were able to disburse N21 million to 30 cooperative societies. This year 2015, we have forwarded names of 30 other corporative societies to the federal government for approval. We have plans to empower each of these cooperative societies with N1 million. “The MDGs in Plateau state em-

barked on aggressive medical outreach in 2014 to rural communities in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association. While the NMA provided the medical personnel, the MDGs provided the drugs and other logistics. We have attended to at least 3, 870 people in sic local governments including Bassa, Kanke, Jos South, Quan Pan, Langtang North and Langtang South. These services will be extended to all the 17 local governments of the state. “I must commend the First Lady of Plateau State Ngo Talatu Jang who have proved to us that she is a true

mother with strong passion to serve humanity. The participants were full of gratitude to the sponsors of the training, one of them Asabe Musa said, “I am so delighted to be selected for this training, I never expect a poor woman like me will be selected for a free training like this, that is why I will take the training serious” Mrs. Mary Dadu, a young widow, said, “To me this is miracle in my life. Since my husband died and left me with two kids, life has been so difficult for me and my children. I’ve been told that after this training they will help us start business. This is an opportunity I have been praying for God has provided answer to my prayers” All the women participating in the training gave the impression that their lives is witnessing a turn around, some said it is turning point of their lives. This is because most of the participants lack the resources and knowledge to start a business of their own.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

•Children received toys, clothing and food

•Seamstresses assembling their machines to prove they can sew

Beautician Ozolua rehabilitates IDPs

HE horrors of Boko Haram have spurred a renowned body enhancement expert, Modupe Ozolua into action. Her organisation, Body Enhancement Foundation, has brought relief items to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gombe State. Ozolua and her team visited the IDPs with consumables as well as jobs tools such as sewing machines to help them lead productive, independent lives. She spoke at the premises of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) where she donated empowerment materials and food items IDPs in the state who have now been sent out of camps to fast-track their rehabilitation into the society after about seven months of camping. “The right way to tackle the situation is not to continue with relief in the sense that it makes people dependent and they are not able to get back to their feet because everybody’s integrity as a man or a woman is being able to see they can feed their families,” she said. Princess Ozolua visited Gombe to State to find out how she, through her non-governmental organisation (NGO), could help reposition victims of insurgency from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in Gombe. She went to the Wuro-Juli IDPs Camp and the Mini-camp at Federal Low Cost in the state capital where she took a census of essentially women with needs and what could be done to get them into the next stage of their lives. The protocol with her NGO was to take the IDPs’ names and anyone randomly picked would get relief materials.

‘The right way to tackle the situation is not to continue with relief in the sense that it makes people dependent and they are not able to get back to their feet because everybody’s integrity as a man or a woman is being able to see they can feed their families’ •Beneficiaries of oil scheme By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

“But on seeing these people and their plight, she decided to set aside “this balloting thing,”said one of her field staff, Desmond. Eighteen women were given sewing machines; five got a bag of groundnuts each and other implements for groundnut oil processing; four were set up on cap making; 18 were given wrappers to sell, and the same number of people got N10,000 each to start micro businesses. Other items distributed were food items, toys and children’s clothes, as well as clothes for men while the tailors and groundnut oil makers were given additional cash to transport their items home. Also, women who indicated interest in acquiring sewing skills were told to go ahead with the foundation promising sponsorship. Ozolua said, “Most of you already know we met last week and promised we will come back; now we are

here. The items you see here were based on the list of skills we were informed on by the men and women at the two camps that we are working with right now which is the one at Wuro-Juli and also the Federal Low Cost mini-camp “The assistance is targeted at women because the woman is responsible for her children and of course the men too. But we want to be able to empower the women so they can feed themselves, feed their families and be able to get back on their feet.” Receiving the princess and her team, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukujei extolled the intervention as very timely and impressive because it was coming in at rehabilitation phase in the management of the IDPs. “I am more impressed because you are coming in and keying in at exactly the phase of rehabilitation. “It is in the light of this that Gombe

Burnt Sokoto market regains vibrancy •Continued from page 31 cause I have the talent, while prices are unique because I offer customers quality work. I do traditional design especially for brides who use them for interior decorations in their homes. There is also one we do using paint of different colours to design them. The ones we design with fire attract more money than others,” he said. Kara market is one of the biggest livestock market in the region. Aminu Sarkin Yaki Mai Tumaki who claimed to have spent not less than 35 years in livestock business at the Kara market said most of the livestock particularly, rams and goats are brought in from

neighbouring Niger Republic while some are sourced from within the state and Kebbi, he said. “We get some supply from Tambawal, Illela, Shinkafi and Goronyo. But those from Niger Republic are less expensive because they have them in large quantity and different species. Most buyers go for them and we don’t have any problem in transporting them to Sokoto, Nigeria because we adhere to the laws and we have a trusted association which helps the business to grow. Usually, at the end of the end year their prices are low because the supply is on the high side in the market. A ram the sells N50,000 during Sallah festival can go for as low as N30,000 or N25,000. Also, the prices of cows are moder-

ate”. The traditional beauty of the livestock market for commoners remain tops with opportunities for middlemen (Dillalai) to participate in all bargains after which they collect commission on every sale. “This is the only avenue through which we feed and manage our families. Sometimes, I network my business from the village with those prospective sellers of their animals to make it easier for me,” said Malam Mudi DanWauru, who said he has been in the business for over 20 years as Dillali (middleman). Traditional pot making is not left out. These pots known in local palace as randa are commonly used for water storage, cooking as well as serves as flower pots. In the same

State government deemed it right that we needed to get the people off camp, so that people can begin to get on their feet and you have come at such a very appropriate time. “There is nothing we will tell this woman and her team, than to appreciate them. It is not we that invited her, she came on her own, made enquiries and we told them we had gone beyond the stage of giving us just food or relief materials,” he said The SEMA Boss also appreciated the IDPs for having been law abiding since arrival and made them realise that the time had come for them to go and start looking for what to do, asking: “Should one give you a bag of rice, what if it finishes?” “But if you’re given something that will enable you generate income as this woman is doing today, that person would have contributed to bettering your lives,” he added An elated beneficiary of a sewing machines, Ndzarwa Bitrus, a tailor

of over five years experience from Michika in Adamawa state. She lost her grandmother and uncle and had their house in Michika burnt by the insurgent. She said her husband is in Yola, jobless and homeless. “So, I didn’t come here with anything. I didn’t know what to do or how to start off again, but I was just praying. So I thank God who can make a way where there is no way. I thank this woman and her group that He has used. May God multiply them,” she said. Also a beneficiary, Fanna Bulama who hails from Damboa in Borno state is happy and satisfied with the presentation and prayed God to greatly the reward the giver. She plans to take her produce to Gombe main market as she had been doing at Damboa where she used to process the groundnut oil while her husband sold the produce and other by-products. She promised to use her gift appropriately.

vein, farmers from the 23 local government areas of the state patronise the market, bringing their goods and farm products for sale. Many described it as second to none in Sokoto State where the business of blacksmiths is also thriving and have produced modern iron gates by specialised welders. Some of the welders who are mostly young, energetic men, graduated through the skills acquisition training programme instituted and boosted for youth empowerment by the Wamakko administration. Waste products collectors who go round town to pick from bins and assemble for buyers for eventual recycling are not left out. They assemble bottles, perfume and fragrance containers, used rubber products, iron, copper, minor spare parts, aluminum, pieces of roofing sheets, etc.

N3m car for Kaduna trader •Continued from page 30 I sell the products” Mrs Johnson who is in her late 30s, said further: ”I only see things like this on television with people winning cars and other big prizes, but I never believed it could be real until today. I believe it is not what I sell that earns me this; it is just God in His powers that said this will happen to me. “If someone had told me that, I will own a ‘Tokunbo’ car I won’t believe it, not even in three years to come, but here I am with a brand new car. This is a big favour from God Almighty and I return all the glory to Him. God has favoured me, He has surprised me on this day, 4th February, 2015. “This is a sign that, 2015 is my year.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

Page 33

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

•Pupils of Garam Secondary School

New life for neglected school I

T may shock the missionaries that the school they founded 42 years ago started declining shortly after they left. The paints started fading off, walls cracking and creaky furniture not replaced. In time, goats and other livestock found a veritable hibernating ground and would endlessly chew their cud there without any hindrance. Teachers and pupils feared the roof might suddenly cave in on them. Everyone was worried about the fate of Garam District Community School, where many children of workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) studied. No one looked its way, not the state government nor federal authorities. That left the community chief and residents with huge responsibilities. They kept making requests for assistance. No one answered. Now, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has scaled back the rot by renovating the institution and everyone is happy again. Supporting the Commission, was the Niger State

From Olugbenga Adanikin

government. Until recently, there had been misconceptions concerning the jurisdiction under which the community belonged. Some believed it was under the supervision of Bwari Local Council of the FCT while others considered it a district in Niger State. The traditional ruler, Esu Garam Tafa, Chief Sabo Philip clarified the situation, revealing that the community made up of over 500,000 residents was actually under Tafa Local Government in Suleja Emirate Council of Niger State. During a visit to the school, a portion of the dilapidated structure was still standing but clearly showed it may collapse any time soon. However, four blocks of classrooms, gave the school a fresh appearance. The atmosphere really depicted a school environment with a large field, good toilet facility and staff rooms. Some of the students were in class when Abuja Review visited. Aside

‘Before this school was renovated, we could not stay in any of the classrooms, let alone teach the pupils because of the fear of sudden collapse of the building. But after it was fixed, we were happy, even to teach the pupils…We are looking forward to seeing if the school could be fenced. We need more teachers. We were taken unawares by the Federal Government through the UBEC. Before the renovation, the school was totally dilapidated’ from good educational materials such as furniture, the classrooms were equipped with standard teaching aids, thanks to UBEC. The Head Teacher, Mr. Patrick Jo-

seph told our correspondent that there was need to provide more teachers aside from those already employed by the Niger State government.

Mr. Patrick said it was imperative considering the new development of deploying federal teachers to schools. For him, the gesture would not only complement efforts of the existing workforce but will also improve the learning ability of the students. “Before this school was renovated, we could not stay in any of the classrooms, let alone teach the pupils because of the fear of sudden collapse of the building. But after it was fixed, we were happy, even to teach the pupils,” Joseph, who further appealed for more infrastructural facilities and perimeter fencing of the school said. “We are looking forward to seeing if the school could be fenced. We need more teachers. We were taken unawares by the Federal Government through the UBEC. They formally informed us about the school renovation. Before the renovation, the school was totally dilapidated. Goats were sleeping and mating there and we could not use the blocks. But today, it’s the most cherished block as you can see. “We thank the Federal Government for the gesture. We hope to see more developments such as fencing of the school, more furniture and more qualified teachers since the Federal Government is now posting federal teachers to complement the regular ones,” he said. Monarch explains The traditional ruler described the renovation of the school as the most significant achievement ever recorded after resuming leadership in the past eight years. But he added that it was the least government could do for the community. The school was built by missionaries who did a follow-up on one of the villagers. The villager had visited another community where the missionary domiciled. However, after being introduced to Christianity, they sought to pay him a visit in Garam community where they eventually realised the need to build a church followed by the school. “I was in primary school when the first six classrooms were built.

•Garam Health Centre

•Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT •Continued from page 33 At the commencement of the 6-3-34 education system of education, four more classrooms were built. “It was in September last year that we mounted great pressure on government to renovate our ancient primary school that our forefathers built. My father was on the throne then. “So, it’s been long because I entered primary school in 1977 and already the school was in existence. The missionaries came to settle in Dikko and extended to Garam community. We used to go there for treatment. So, from there, one man gave his life to Christ. They had to follow him down to this place and built a church and a primary school,” the monarch said. He further said that since the renovation of the school, government had built a senior secondary school and a permanent site had been provided where more classrooms had been built. He urged the appropriate authorities to provide more teachers, classroom blocks and perimeter fencing for their schools. “People are beginning to encroach on the school land; claiming it belongs to their forefathers. If the school is fenced, no one will want to lay claim to its land. “It is an ancient primary school that we are proud of and we don’t want anybody to take it away from us. Our great forefathers gave the land for the school, so government should come to our aid to do the fencing,” he pleaded. On discrepancies about the territory, the traditional ruler said: “I want to state it clearly that this community is under Niger State government. It is only part of Kuduru that is under Abuja. Most of Kuduru communities are also part of Niger State.” Needs The Garam traditional ruler stressed the need for potable water in the school. “You can see how large this community is; unfortunately, we don’t have water. There is no river around. So, all we depended upon

•Chief Sabo Phillip

•One of the remaining old structures of the school

New life for neglected school is borehole being operated on commercial scales,” he said. For him, the need for water was the paramount necessity the community craves. He said the community occasionally lacks water, especially when the commercial boreholes get damaged. “Those that have money to sink borehole in their compound often come to the rescue in those periods of scarcity. This is one thing our people are crying out for,” the monarch added. The community is hopeful that by the time the Ushafa dam is completed; the community would also have access to potable water. Apart from lack of water, Garam community also lacks health care facilities. The traditional ruler said the community has only one national primary health care centre. The centre, according to residents, lacked adequate staff, drugs and resident doctors. For the past seven months, security officials engaged by the local government council to safeguard the PHC were yet to be paid. The PHC is close to the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna rail project which passed through the community. It was gathered that in extreme health situation, residents go as far as two hours journey to the town to get proper medical attention, just as the traditional ruler complained of insufficient health officials in the centre. A visit to the PHC confirmed the

•Garam residents reportedly sought refuge in this rock during a war

‘You can see how large this community is; unfortunately, we don’t have water. There is no river around. So, all we depended upon is borehole being operated on commercial scales…For him, the need for water was the paramount necessity the community craves. He said the community occasionally lacks water, especially when the commercial boreholes get damaged…Those that have money to sink boreholes in their compounds often come to the rescue in those periods of scarcity’ situation. Abuja Review gathered that the hospital has about three personnel; two women and a young man. Unfortunately, the Medical Director and the Chief Matron were not available for comments. “We lack so many things here. There is no manpower. We need drugs even a permanent doctor that will be here with us. If we have a serious situation that is more than their capacity, we always run to Bwari or Wuse General Hospital,” the traditional ruler said. The doctor in charge of Garam PHC, Dr. Ahmed Bako described access to water as a major challenge. He lamented over shortage of power as well as security. The chairman of the local council responsible for the facility up-keep had made promises which were yet to be fulfilled. “Our serious need is water be-

cause as a hospital, we cannot do without it. Most times, we operate in darkness because we lack electricity here. Our watchmen have not been paid in the past seven months. So,

our security apparatus is porous. I have the opportunity to meet the deputy chairman but he promised to do something about it,” Bako said. For decades, after so many years of making requests for the construction of a police post in Garam, the community never had any. “For about 30 years,” said the community ruler, we never had any police post. “We have written severally to the Niger State Commissioner of Police, through the Divisional Police Officer of Tafa but nothing was done until recently when it was approved,” he said. “Even if you bring thousands of security men, it is God that determines safety. So, we have been in the hands of God for protection.”

Vigilance group seeks support

HE vigilance group in Kuje Area Council has sought help from the government in order to better secure the council and its residents. This call was made by the Deputy Superintendent in charge of Kuje command, Andrew Danladi during a training session organised for the members of the group in preparation for the forthcoming election. Danladi, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of the group, Jeremiah Orhena, said

From Gbenga Omokhunu

that vigilance personnel in the country were not adequately supported by the government, adding that the group survived through the sale of membership forms and contributions from concerned citizens. “The group has attached to SUREP where we earn our living and we call on government to absorb us,” he said. Danladi said his group lacked logistics, and appealed to the Kuje Area Council authorities to give them two vehicles and four motorcycles to help them operate smoothly. He added that most of the duties of the group include assisting the police and other law enforcement agencies to curb crime, protect and preserve public property, help the police in crowd control and maintenance of peace at public functions. “We also give information to the police and other security agencies of criminals or wanted persons residing in the ward or local government. We locate the primary and temporary residences of receivers of stolen properties and 419 practitioners for the purpose of enabling the police to arrest or monitor their activities, “ýhe said. Also speaking, Inspector Joshua Danladi from Rubochi, said finance has been one of the challenges of any security outfit and called on the council to assist the group to do their job better.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

•Mrs. Bilikisu Usman (left), President Helpline Foundation, Jumai Ahmadu, presenting •Members of Physically-challenged during a solidarity rally for President Goodluck food items to widows during the launching of food bank to the needy by helpline foundaPHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE tion in Abuja. Jonathan at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

Prisons chief cautions drug merchants

HE Controller General of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Peter Ekpendu has warned drug merchants to steer clear of the prison yards and their environs. He also threatened to sanction any staff caught trafficking any prohibited items including hard drugs. He gave the warning at the drug abuse and preventive education programme held in Kuje Prisons. It is an annual event that involves series of activities organised by the Directorate of Health and Social Welfare for staff and inmates. The event aims at creating awareness on the ills of illicit drug use and abuse in the prisons. Speaking further, he said: “If the reformation mandate is to be achieved, prohibited drugs must be kept out of the prisons. And to achieve this, there are set standards that staff must comply with to prevent drugs from entering the prisons, know how to detect drugs that manage to enter into the prisons and what to do with the drugs once they have been detected. “It is a known and established

From Gbenga Omokhunu

fact that there is a correlation between illicit drug use, drug abuse and criminality and re-offending. Therefore programmes such as this, that sensitize inmates on the harmful effects of dangerous drugs and keep them engaged among other things, help in improving inmates’ physical and mental health, reducing relapses, recidivism, misconduct and criminality. “As prison officers, we must ensure that our jobs are done according to set rules and regulation, and that our prisons are kept free of illicit drugs. Let me sound a note of warning that trafficking in drugs, in and around the prisons yards will not be tolerated. Sale of all forms of illicit drugs in the barracks is hereby prohibited. Any prisons staff that compromise on this will be promptly dealt with. This would serve as deterrent to other traffickers. “I implore our dear inmates to stay away from illicit drug use and I urge you to take advantage of the various lectures and activities organized during this

•Kuje Prison

programme and also leverage on the numerous life changing educational and skills acquisition programmes available in the prisons to equip you for a better life after discharge. “I therefore implore each and every one of us to do all we can to corporate with the prisons service and help in making the pris-

•Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu (left), presenting a key of Honda Accord car to the winner of Nigeria’s First Culture and Tourism Reality Show “Heroes Back to Root” Happiness Ododung from Akwa Ibom State in Minna Niger State . With them is the Associate Producer of the Project, Joe Onyeabor

ons free of illicit drugs for the collective interests of both the inmates and the society at large because drug addicts are dangerous not only to themselves but to all who come in contact with them, bearing in mind that morally, drug addicts and traffickers set bad examples for other, especially, the younger ones.” Assistant Controller General (ACG), in charge of Pharmacy, Mrs. Kori Bah told Abuja Review that inmates are well taking care of and are educated on the bad effect of hard drugs. The ACG advised the inmates to stay away from drug especially those that are not prescribed by doctors. She disclosed that some of the

inmates come into prison with the withdrawer symptoms of hard drugs. Her words: “We are educating prisoners about the use of drug abuse in our prisons. We have told them that using drugs without prescription is bad for them and it has bad effect on them. When an inmate is on drugs it is a bad example for others. Some have been getting this information and other are just getting more knowledge. “Generally people usually perpetrate criminal act under the effect of the drugs before coming into the prisons. They come in usually with the withdrawal symptoms of the drugs. We carry out this awareness across the country.”

‘We are educating prisoners about the use of drug abuse in our prisons. We have told them that using drugs without prescription is bad for them and it has bad effect on them. When an inmate is on drugs it is a bad example for others. Some have been getting this information and other are just getting more knowledge’

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

HE stoning incidents attending President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign convoy in some northern states last month ignited a mild drama among some ministers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. His convoy was first stoned on January 20 in Katsina State, home state of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, under whose tenure Jonathan was a Vice President. Jonathan, accompanied by VicePresident Namadi Sambo; the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; and Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema, among others had paid a courtesy visit to the late President’s mother, Hajiya Dada. Youths from the state, who had gathered around the area, attacked the President’s convoy with stones as he was leaving the Yar’Adua’s residence. There was, however, no casualty recorded in the attack. This was not the case when the President took his campaign tour to Bauchi State on January 22 as six operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) covering the President were hospitalised after sustaining varying degrees of injuries from stoning after the rally. These were the basis of the mild drama at the second Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of the year which was held last Wednesday. Since some of the ministers have not seen each other throughout the one month’s duration of the campaign tours, they went round before the FEC meeting started to exchange pleasantries. Some of them had to wish each other ‘Happy New Year’ again since they were seeing for the second time in the year. While some ministers also joked about the stoning incidences with some of the ministers who hail from the states where the President’s convoy was stoned, others tried to know how it happened and those behind it. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mohammed Sada (who hails from Katsina State), left his seat in the Chamber to greet some of his colleagues on the other side of the hall. As he was going back to his seat, he was stopped by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who held his hand and said: “I learnt that you people are doing APC in your state, stoning the President’s convoy.” Before Sada could reply, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, who was standing by, drew the attention of Moro to another discussion and dragged him away. Sada then proceeded to his seat. Other ministers also gathered around the other minister who

Stoning drama at FEC hails from the other state where the President’s convoy was stoned in similar discussions before President Jonathan arrived at the council chamber for the meeting to begin.

Empowerment, training programmes in one online window Many Federal Government’s empowerment, funding and training programmes currently could be accessed from separate online websites. Accessing all the packages through one website is seen as an innovation that will bring them to the doorstep of Nigerians, especially the youth and women who are the main targets of the programmes. To this end, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday last week, launched the single website, NYENET.COM, under the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy (YES). He said: “I am therefore particularly excited that we are launching a broad-based public-private partnership called the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy that will re-define the way we engage and support the empowerment and employment of our young people and women going forward.

From the Villa By Augustine Ehikioya “The goal of this strategy is to speed up an already fast moving train called Entrepreneurship, running across our nation to empower our youths and women. That is why the Federal Government of Nigeria is proud to partner with the Anabel Group to promote and manage the NYENET.COM portal. “NYENET.COM, an online portal, is a one stop shop to empower and support Nigerian youths. By going to one online portal, NYENET.COM, our young people can access hundreds of federal and state governments’ empowerment programmes. Besides enhancing the ability of our young people to choose the programme that is right for them, this portal will also en-

hance the Federal Government’s ability to reach out to our young people. Continuing, he said: “So, whether you require education or you require funding for your business, or in some cases, all you require is a mentor to guide you through the tough economic conditions, you can find support with this strategy and by using this portal. The Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy goes further to fill the gaps in many of our entrepreneurship programmes by providing bankable business ideas to support young people that do not have ideas, or those that their great ideas have not found interest with the banks and financing institutions.

“I am particularly pleased by the fact that the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy does not leave the support work for government alone. A major pillar of the strategy is the partnership with the private sector, in which private organisations and private successful business people can support youths in their own communities by signing up and providing funds for selected young people to own and operate their own businesses. “I also want to encourage all of us here today and the privileged ones all across Nigeria to support our young people all over Nigeria by signing up and joining the coalition of Super Mentors on the NYENET.com portal. I already consider myself a Super Mentor and I expect that many more of us will follow in this direction, as it will improve the lives of millions of our young people.” he added The initiator of the portal, Nicholas Okoye maintained that it will completely eliminate stress and make the process of seeking and obtaining empowerment support easy and uncomplicated.Nigerian youths can’t wait too long for the strategy to start yielding the desired positive results and may it be a right step in the right direction.

Community appeals for infrastructure

HE traditional ruler of Kpakuru community in Gwagwalada Area Council, Chief Usman Aliyu has called on the FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed to provide potable water for the community. The secretary, speaking for the community head, Mr. Musa Haruna, appealed to Senator Mohammed to urge the council chief to make the community his priority, adding that a borehole was urgently needed in the community. The monarch further stated that the only borehole in the community which was constructed by the area council a very long time ago, was no longer functioning, which has left the residents of the community to depend on unhygienic stream water. He also appealed to the FCT min-

From Gbenga Omokhunu

ister and the chairman of Gwagwalada council to build Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the community to enable the children to have access to education. Aliyu also called on the council chairman to provide transformers to boost power supply for the people of the community. “The chairman should help and build a health care centre in the community to enhance proper medical treatment in the area. Also, the Giri led administration should gear up to provide the needed facilities for the hospital constructed by the leadership of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Anguwa Liman, for the benefit of the inhabitants,” he said.

•From left: Japanese Deputy Head of Mission in Nigeria, Mr Masaya Otsuka (left) and Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education, Alhaji Umar Ningi, inaugurating a block of four classrooms at Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Kotongora Estate in Gwagwalada donated by Japanese government.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LAW PERSONALITY

‘No constitutional role for army in elections’ Being the Memorial Lecture delivered by Femi Falana (SAN) in honour of Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. The event was organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos Branch Introduction AST weekend, the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) conspired with the security chiefs to sabotage the general election scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015. In a provocative manner, the military hierarchy blackmailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the elections to March 26 and April 11, 2015. With the rejection of the card readers for the elections by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the uncertainty in the operations in the north east region it is doubtful if the elections would not be further postponed or cancelled to pave way for interim national government or coup de tat. In my conclusion I shall call on the members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and other genuine democratic forces to be prepared to return to the barricades.

Illegality of election postponement In his characteristic manner of allowing his aides to exercise powers on his behalf President Goodluck Jonathan allowed his National security Adviser and the security chiefs to coerce the Independent National Electoral Commission last week to postpone the 2015 general election by six weeks. A regime that has waged a war on terror in a cavalier manner for six years has undertaken to defeat the dreaded Boko Haram sect within six weeks. On account of the military operations in the northeast ast region the security chiefs claimed that the armed forces would not be in a position to provide security during the election. Having been blackmailed the Independent National Electoral Commission found itself in a fix in justifying the postponement. Embarrassed by the military tactics the chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega claimed that the postponement was anchored on section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended. In my reaction to the development, I did point out that “The provision does not support the postponement of a general election in the entire country but ‘in the area or areas’ where there is violence or actual threat of a breakdown of law and order. Since the reason for the postponement of any election must be ‘cogent and verifiable’ it is crystal clear from the press conference addressed by Professor Jega last night that the INEC did not verify the bogus claim of the NSA and the security chiefs as required by the law.” The reason adduced for the postponement cannot be said to be cogent as the military operations against the insurgents are limited to 14 out of the 774 local government council areas in the country By forcing the INEC to postpone the election the security chiefs violated section 158 (1) of the Constitution which stipulates that the electoral body “shall not be subject to the directive or control of any other authority or person.” By subjecting the INEC to its whims and caprices in the circumstance, the security chiefs equally breached sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2) of the Constitution which have vested the power to fix election dates on the electoral body. As if that was not enough, the security chiefs undermined the authority of the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces contrary to section 130 of the Constitution and usurped the powers conferred on National Security Council set out under Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. It is indubitably clear that the security chiefs

conspired with the presidency and the ruling party to stage a coup against the Constitution. In the Peace Accord signed by political leaders in Abuja last month it was expressly stated that security forces shall maintain neutrality before, during and after the elections. By using the National Security Adviser and the security chiefs to cause a postponement of the election President Jonathan has violated the Accord. No doubt, the cowardly conduct of the security chiefs has emboldened the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Having been made to believe that the sect has made it impossible for Nigeria to conduct a national election its notorious leader, Abubakar Shekau has threatened to deal ruthlessly with the multinational joint task force. In rejecting the cock and bull story of the security chiefs they should be reminded that elections are held in Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya where governments are fighting terrorists. Or are they not aware that the Yobe State electoral body conducted local government elections in 2013?

Illegality of deploying soldiers for election duties Contrary to the misleading bravado of the security chiefs I wish to submit, without any fear of contradiction, that the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Armed Forces Act have not provided any role for the armed forces in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. It ought be realised that in peace time the armed forces have no constitutional role in the maintenance of law and order. Even in the north east region where the war on terror is being prosecuted the President had to declare a state of emergency to authorize the adoption of extra-ordinary measures, including the deployment of the armed forces, for the restoration of law and order pursuant to section 305 of the constitution. To prevent abuse of powers the President is required to seek and obtain the approval of the National Assembly for the declaration of a state of emergency in any part of the Federation. No doubt, President Olusegun Obasanjo engaged in the illegal deployment of the army for the manipulation of the 2003 general elections. However, the courts have consistently enjoined the Federal Government to desist from involving the armed forces in the conduct of elections. Thus, in the leading judgment of the Court of Appeal in Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) the Court of Appeal held that “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarised. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious step or steps should be taken to civilianise the polity to ensure the survival and sustenance of democracy”. The court reiterated its views in the case of Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 1 WRN 1 at 200 when it stated that “in spite of the non-tolerant nature and behaviour of our political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of our election pro-

cess. The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out fully the electoral processes at all levels”. In upholding the judgment of the lower court the Supreme Court stated in Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 50 WRN 1 at 313 that the State is obligated to ensure that “citizens who are sovereign can exercise their franchise freely, unmolested and undisturbed”. Notwithstanding the clear pronouncements of the courts on the illegality of involving the armed forces in the conduct of elections President Obasanjo decided to deploy several battalions of soldiers to many states for the 2007 “do or die” general election. It is on record that President Jonathan has continued the practice of deploying the armed forces for intimidation of voters and the rigging of elections in favour of the ruling party. I am not unaware that the armed forces are currently engaged in ensuring internal security in at least 28 out of the 36 states of the Federation. The anomalous situation has now been extended to the maintenance of law and order during elections. Unlike what obtained under the defunct military dictatorship in Nigeria the armed forces are no longer permitted to perform police duties in any manner whatsoever. A fortnight ago, the Federal High Court, sitting in Sokoto, declared the involvement of the armed forces in elections illegal and unconstitutional. The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Rilwan said that “other than for the purposes of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity, there is no constitutional provision that allows for the deployment of the military for elections.” If the President is desirous to deploy soldiers for the 2015 elections the judge advised him to request the National Assembly to enact a law to that effect. It is submitted that the deployment of the armed forces for the maintenance of law and order during elections cannot be legally justified in view of section 215(3) of the Constitution which has vested the Police with the exclusive power to maintain and secure public safety and public order in the country. However, the President is empowered by virtue of section 217(2) of the Constitution to deploy the armed forces for the “suppression of insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore law order”. This, in effect, means that before the armed forces may be involved in the maintenance of law and order there must have been insurrection or civil disturbances which cannot be contained by the Police. The Constitution never envisaged that the armed forces will usurp the powers of the Police with respect to the “preservation of law and order” in any part of the country. Thus, by the combined effect of sections 215 and 217 of the Constitution it is abundantly clear that the power of the President to deploy the armed forces for internal security is limited to (a) the suppression of insurrection including insurgency and (b) aiding the police to restore order when it has broken down. To that extent, it is illegal and ultra vires on the part of the President to deploy the armed forces to maintain law and order during elections. In the circumstance, the Police should be strengthened to discharge the duty of ensuring internal secu-

‘In the circumstance, the Police should be strengthened to discharge the duty of ensuring internal security in the country while the armed forces are restricted to the defense of the nation’s territorial integrity’

•Falana rity in the country while the armed forces are restricted to the defence of the nation’s territorial integrity.

Conclusion In defending their illegal interference in the democratic process the authorities have asserted that the armed forces are neutral and that they should not be dragged into politics. They should be advised to tell that to the marines. When the speaker of the House defected to the APC last year did the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Abba not declare his seat illegal and unconstitutional? Did the police chief not withdraw the police orderlies attached to the Speaker? Did the Police not attempt to prevent the speaker from presiding over the proceedings of the House? The partiality of the armed forces has been confirmed in the shameful alliance of the ruling party and the army headquarters in embarrassing the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd). From the information at my disposal the revelations of a serving army captain on the criminal involvement of senior army officers in rigging the Ekiti state governorship election conducted by the INEC on October 15, 2014 in favour of the candidate of the ruling party led to the postponement of the election. since the Ekiti formula was to be adopted for the general election the ruling party and the security chiefs decided to go back to the drawing table to plan new rigging tactics. Apart from forcing Professor Jega to proceed on terminal leave the ruling party has decided to reject the use of card readers for the election. The well planned confusion is designed to pave way for a coup. It is hoped that the anti-democratic forces will listen to President Obasanjo who has cautioned the military hierarchy to desist from subverting the fragile democratic process. Finally, I have confirmed that the gang of power mongers who annulled the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Bashorun M.K.O Abiola have been recruited to truncate the rickety democratic process. The greatest tribute we can pay to Dr. Beko Ransome-kuti, the foundation President of the CDHR is to rededicate ourselves to the struggle for popular resistance against unending military dictatorship in Nigeria I call on the CDHR and other progressive forces to be prepared for the struggle against the anti-democratic forces that have resolved to hijack political power with the connivance of the military wing of the ruling party.

Cynthia: Judge chides defence counsel By Adebisi Onanuga

•Late Cynthia

USTICE Olabisi Akinlade has expressed displeasure with the defence counsels over the way they have been handling the defence of the accused persons in the ongoing trial of the alleged killers

of Cynthia Osokogu. The trial of the suspected killers at a Lagos High Court, Igbosere last week suffered another setback as the counsel representing the second defendant, Michael Ajayi from the chambers of Mike Igbokwe (SAN) declined to proceed with his defence. At the resumed hearing of the case, Ajayi, who is the counsel to the second defendant was initially reluctant to proceed with the cross examination of the first defendant because of an application for stay of proceeding awaiting hearing at the Court of Appeal.

However, Justice Olabisi Akinlade insisted that he must proceed. After cross examination, Ajayi had declined to proceed with his defence. Rather he informed the court that he would not be able to open his case because his client had “shingles”. Justice Akinlade, however expressed disappointment with the counsel’s attitude, saying the defence had on different occasions given excuses to stall the case despite the priority accorded the matter. She sais counsel to the second defendant in this instance ought to

have notified the prosecution prior to the court session to enable him attend to other pressing State matter instead of coming to court to waste precious time. Not pleased with this lackadaisical approach of the counsel, Justice Akinlade admonished the defence to conduct his case diligently next time. The Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in his reaction also expressed his displeasure in the way counsel to the second defendant was conducting the case. The judge consequently granted the request of the defence for an adjournment of the matter till Febru-

ary 18, 2015. It would be recalled that the prosecution had closed its case since the September 19, 2014 having called eight witnesses including a Pathologist who had given testimony as to the cause of death. Cynthia was allegedly murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, FESTAC Town, Lagos by friends she met on the Facebook. Lagos State government had taken up the matter and charged Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33 and Ezike Nonso, 25, to court two years ago for conspiracy, murder of Cynthia and other related offences.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY LAWYERS, PROFESSIONALS HOLD INTERACTIVE SESSIONS FOR PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO (SAN) IN LAGOS AND WARRI

•From left: Mr. Osaro Eghobamien (SAN); All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and Mr. Tolu Aderemi.

•APC governorship candidate, Delta State Chief O’tega Emerhor (left), his wife Tina and APC Chairman, Delta State Prophet Jones Erue.

•Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) speaking at the Lagos interactive session

•From left: Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and Chairman, Lagos State Trust Fund, Fola Arthur-Worrey.

•A cross-section of lawyers at the Lagos event.

•Seyi Akinwunmi (left) and Ebun Sofunde (SAN)

•From left: Patrick Osu, Mena Ajakpovi and Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) Olumide Akpata.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LEGAL OPINION

Synagogue: Coroner sits today

HE coroner conducting inquest on the collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) may resume sitting today. The coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe announced the new date following the poor turnout of lawyers and interested parties last week. He expressed the court’s determination to see to the end of the matter within the next two weeks. He, therefore, urged lawyers and interested parties against using delay tactics in the proceedings of the court. He urged the interested parties to use last week to view the CCTV footage already filed as evidence before the court. It would be recalled that the strike embarked upon by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), between January 5 and 25 made it impossible for the court to resume sitting after the Christmas and New Year breaks. At the last hearing December 23, last year, SCOAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Sunday Okogie, in his testimony confirmed that both NEMA and LASEMA officials were not prevented from rescuing people trapped under the collapsed guest house. The CSO also submitted the unedited Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footages of the incident from September 12 to September 16, to the court. Okogie pointed out that both agencies arrived at the church about an hour after the building collapsed and gained access to the scene in less than a minute. Also the National Executive Co-coordinator of Life Savers Foundation (LSF), Mrs. Fola Shoetan, had told the court that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and

By Adebisi Onanuga

the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were not well equipped to manage disaster situations in the country. The court had on December 23, adjourned till January 6, this year when it hoped that Justice Lateefa Okunnu would rule on an application filed by SCOAN founder, Pastor Temitope Joshua. Joshua, in his application had prayed Justice Okunnu’s court for an order of prohibition against the Coroner’s Court of Lagos State and Magistrate Komolafe from exceeding their jurisdiction in the conduct of coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building within the premises of SCOAN on September 12, 2014. He had also urged the court to issue, “An order of Certiorari to quash the proceedings of the 1st and 2nd respondents in the conduct of the coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos on September12, 2014 in suit number CR/AL/01/2014 concerning matters, issues and circumstances other than what directly caused the death of the victims and the manner of their death for having been conducted without or in excess of the statutory jurisdiction of the 1st and 2nd respondents. “A declaration that the decision of the coroner to summon the applicants to give evidence at a time when no materials were placed before the coroner against the applicants is a breach of the applicants’ right to fair hearing. “A declaration that the coroner, who relied on his personal knowledge of the facts of the case, is not a proper person to preside at the in-

quest into the death of people at the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations. “A declaration that the coroner who relied on extraneous matters not borne out of the records to reach his conclusion that the 2nd applicant is a necessary witness when in fact is not, is in breach of the rules of natural justice and fair hearing guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “An order prohibiting the coroner from conducting further inquest/ proceedings relating to the construction of the collapsed building, which facts are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest. “An order quashing the proceedings of the coroner’s inquest in its entirety for being conducted in breach of the rule of natural justice, likelihood of blade, and for taking proceedings clearly outside the scope of the jurisdiction of the respondent. “An order prohibiting the respondent from insisting on the personal attendance of the 2nd applicant as such will be without or in excess of jurisdiction, unconstitutional and unlawful. “An order of injunction to restrain the respondents as presently constituted from further conducting any inquest into the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations, as the 2nd respondent has demonstrated personal interest in the subject matter and his neutrality clearly compromised. “An order of injunction restraining coroner from taking and continuing to take evidence/proceedings on the issue of approval and construction of the collapsed building, which issues are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest.” Owing to the strike of JUSUN, the court could not deliver its ruling on January 6, on the application.

•Former Chairman, Nnewi Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) O.J. Okeke (left) and Former Secretary NBA Onitsha Branch Mr. Steve Ononye at the NBA NEC Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

NBA Commission to partner agencies on corruption

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Commission has said it would embark on necessary interface with appropriate agencies and organisations to duly imbibe best practices in order to tackle corruption in the country. Its Chairman, Dr. Theo Osanakpo (SAN), disclosed this in Abuja, at the inauguration of the committee by the NBA President, Augustin Alegeh (SAN). The event held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) Auditorium Abuja, the nation’s capital. Alegeh said: “It is imperative for NBA to properly address decadent corruption issues in the

By John Austin Unachukwu

country,” adding that the NBA Anti Corruption Commission is headed by a spotless Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the person of Dr Theo Osanakpo. Dr Osanakpo, in his response, said: “The Commission will duly assist the NBA to take informed position on corruption issues prevalent in the Nigerian State. “The Commission will embark on necessary interface with appropriate agencies and organisations to duly imbibe best practices in order to effectively tackle endemic corruption issues in the Nigerian State.”

•Osanakpo

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

The plot against Jega

ROF Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent Na tional Electoral Commission (INEC) is in the eye of a storm. Ac cording to the Peoples Democratic Party, the electoral umpire is cavorting with the opposition, and should resign. On the other side, the All Progressive Congress insists that it will be unfair to change a referee, in the middle of a match, just because one partyis afraid of losing the election. To distract the electorate, the INEC chair has become an object forodious attacks, even when those accusing him, are yet to present convincing evidence of the man’s partisanship. Prof Jega who conducted the highly regarded 2011 elections, stoically maintains his innocence, assuring all that he will rather resign that compromise his position. Those accusing him of compromise however continues to muddle up the process. The main plank of their argument is that states considered to be the stronghold of Buhari have collected more permanent voter cards than where Jonathan has more supporters. The Director-General of President Jonathan’s campaign, Ahmadu Ali, gave example of Bornu in the northeast, where the blood thirsty Boko Haram are reigning, but has collected more permanent voter cards than Lagos. But that argument is untenable, because Kano, an APC stronghold suffers similar faith with Lagos. Even the believe that President Jonathan of PDP has better chances in Lagos, than Gen. Buhari of APC,is not based on any empirical evidence. So, why all the fire directed at Prof Jega. Again, the PDP claims that Professor Jega had an untoward rendezvous with the APC in Dubia. In making this claim, the PDP did not bother with providing date, persons or agents of the party involved in this unholy alliance. Unless the proponents of this tale have facts to buttress their claim, it cannot amount to anything, but mere rumour. Another unfair cut against the Professor, is that because he is from the north, he has been coerced by the Emirs to unconscionably work to return Gen. Buhari, a fellow northerner, as the winner of the upcoming presidential election. The proponents of this argument have not mentioned instances of change in attitude by Jega, considering that he conducted the last presidential election in 2011, won by President Jonathan, against Gen. Buhari and other northern candidates. Again, there is no suggestion as to where and whenthe meeting took place, and those present. As the partisans recklessly trade claims as to the sincerity of Prof Jega and his election management body, the Nigerian electorate is left confused as to who to believe. Unfortunately, former President Obasanjo while rightly insisting that Professor Jega should not be sacked, gave himself away as a partisan, whose real intent, as the PDP claims, is even scarier.In his unstatesmanlike tantrums against President Jonathan and their party, the PDP; Obasanjo claimed that Jonathan is scheming against Jega and the electoral process, because he is afraid that an elected Buhari could send him to jail. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo went on to disingenuously ask Buhari to reassure Jonathan, as if the election has already been won and lost. I guess that if Jonathan should be scared about jail under Buhari, then Obasanjo too should;after all, while late President Yar’Adua presided, there was real fear that Gen. Obasanjo had many infractions to answer for. In his further interrogatories, former President Obasanjo rightly condemned the military intervention in the electoral process, but INEC also bears responsibility for allowing the initiative to slip away. Considering that INEC was not truly ready, it should have on its own, postponed the election for just about two or three weeks, instead of the lie that it was ready. Now with the valentine day presidential election truncated, President Jonathan,must like the Roman Emperor, Julius Ceasar, confront the Idesof March.If he is misguided to go for the legs again instead of the ball, that will be a second foul, and it will be fair to give him a red card. Never mind that INEC was insincere as to its readiness, the reason why the elections were shifted, is the one given by the security agencies, that they are not in a position to provide security, during the election. As President Jonathan duly acknowledged during his recent media chat and the cocktail with the diplomatic corps, no sensible person would accept the security bogey, to push forward the elections again. If President Jonathan is however persuaded to remove Professor Jega, at the risk of plunging our country into chaos, then he can only do so under section 157(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, which requires the president to act “on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he [Professor Jega] be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office….”Again if the President chooses that road to Golgotha, he must contend with the Supreme Court verdict in Bamgboye vs University of Ilorin, to wit “When an office or employment has a statutory flavour in the sense that its conditions of service are provided for and protected by stature…. In the matter of discipline of such a person, the procedure laid down by the applicable law must be fully complied with….” But for me, considering the good luck that came President Jonathan’s way, to thrust him up,first as vice president and then acting president; and the fact that against all odds, he won the 2011 elections as President, gifting him, six years as Nigeria’ president, it wouldbe silly and suicidal for him to agree to any unconstitutional conduct to hold on to power. While President Jonathan is entitled to enthusiastically seek a fresh term, if he chooses, it would amount to eternal foolishness, to play desperate games about that.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

LAW REPORT

State electoral commissions must be properly constituted IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF KOGI STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE KOGI STATE JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT KOTONKARFE THIS MONDAY 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2014 BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE ALABA OMOLAYE-AJILEYE SUIT NO: HC/KK/002 CV/2013 Between: ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) -CLAIMANT And 1. KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT 2. ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, KOGI STATE 3. KOGI STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (KOGIEC) 4. BARRISTER ABRAHAM A. OLANIRAN - DEFENDANTS 5. HON. DAVID O. APEH 6. HON. HARUNA IBRAHIM 7. HON. AHMED A. SAMARI 8. HON. AMOKA SUBERU 9. PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) JUDGMENT

•Continued from last week

Consideration of Issues

PON a deep reflection of the totality of this case and the submissions of all learned counsel for the parties, I have come to the conclusion that the disputes in this case can be resolved upon determination of the following questions: 1. What is the proper interpretation of section 200(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)? 2. Has the claimant succeeded in proving that the 2nd – 8th defendants are members of the 9th defendant (People’s Democratic Party (PDP)? 3. Was the 3rd defendant properly constituted to conduct the 4th May 2013 local government election as required under section 200 (1) of the Constitution (as amended)? 4. If the answer to issue No 3 above is in the negative, what is the effect of such improper constitution of the 3rd defendant on the local government election of 4 th May 2013? 57. Before I consider these issues, I shall, at this stage, look into the submissions of learned counsel for the defendants that this suit has becomeacademic. Learned senior counsel for the 1 st – 8 th defendants and learned counsel for the 9th defendants have argued that this suit has become academic as a result of what they refer to as the retirement of the 4th – 8th defendants from the 3rd defendant and the fact that the local government election that forms the subject matter of this action had held. This may well be. However, one should not overlook the fact here that, from the issues formulated above, the interpretation of a particular section of the 1999 Constitution (section 200(1), is involved.In Agbakoba v. INEC (2008) LEPLR 232(SC), the Supreme Court stated that an action becomes academic “when there is no live matter in it to be adjudicated upon or when its determination holds no practical or tangible value for making pronouncement upon it; it is an otherwise an exercise in futility (P. 63). Also, in Plateau State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2006) 3NWLR (Pt 67) 346, the Supreme Court, nevertheless, stated that a suit does not necessarily become spent or academic merely because it was heard after the act or conduct which gave rise to the action. And, of more particular relevance is the pronouncement of the apex court that issues relating to interpretation of a living constitution, as in this case, cannot be dead, academic, speculative or hypothetical (See Plateau State v. A.G. Federation (supra). Consistent with these authorities, therefore, I hold that having regard to the character, nature, and contents of this suit, the retirement of the 4th – 8th defendants from the 3rd defendant and the holding of the local government election on 4th May 2013 cannot render this suit an academic exercise. This is more so, as this court is being called upon to interpreta particular section of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which is a living constitution. It is crucially important to determine the issues formulated. I so hold. Interpretation of Section 200(1) of the Constitution 58. Section 200(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) forms the fulcrum of this case.

The case of the claimant is that the 3rd defendant is not properly composed in accordance with section 200(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The claimant hinges her position on the allegation that the 4th– 8th defendants belong to the 9th defendant political party (PDP), contrary to the provision of section 200(1) of the Constitution (as amended). It is argued that once it is established that any or all of the 4th– 8 th defendants belong(s) to the 9 th defendant, then, the 3rd defendant would not have been properly constituted to conduct the 4th May 2013 local government election in Kogi State. This position has been vigorously contested by the defendants. 59. Originally, section 200(1) of the 1999 Constitution read as follows: No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of the bodies aforesaid if (a) he is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a member of a House of Assembly… Item 21of the First Alteration Act No 1 of 2010 provides: “Section 200(1) (a), line 2 of the Principal Act is altered, by inserting immediately after the word Assembly” the words, “provided that a member of any of the said bodies shall not be required to belong to a political party and in the case of the State Independent Electoral Commission, he shall not be a member of a political party” With effect from the commencement of the amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (First Alteration) Act No 1 2010, section 200(1) now reads: “No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of the bodies aforesaid if (a) he is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a member of a House of Assembly provided that a member of any of the said bodies shall not be required to belong to a political party and in the case of the State Independent Electoral Commission, he shall not be a member of a political party (Underlining mine for emphasis) The question that arises here is what is the true meaning of this provision? 60. In PDP V. INEC, (1999) 11NWLRP (Pt 626) 200, the Supreme Court dealt with the approach to be adopted in the interpretation of statutory provisions which is the same as interpretation of constitutional provisions. It gave its approval to an approach which seeks to ascertain the legislative intent of the law makers. The apex court declared: “The current approach in construing statutory provisions requires judges to ascertain the legislative intent of the law makers, a task somewhat akin to pinpointing the intent of a testator or disputing parties to a contract. It is the modern view that proper judicial construction of statutory provisions requires recognition and implementation of the underlying legislative purpose” (Wali J.SC at pp 248 - 249). The essence of this approach is obviously, to maintain and sustain the fabrics of constitutionalism and constitutionality (see INEC v. BalarabeMusa (2003) 3 NWLR (Pt. 806) 72. 61. But then, how does court discover the intention of the law makers? Again, the Supreme Court gave a guide in Ishola v. Ajiboye (1994) 6NWLR (Pt 352) 506 where the court statedthat in construing a Constitution some meaning or effect should be given to all the words or language used

•Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed

therein if it is possible to do so in conformity with the intention of the framers. If the language used is clear and unambiguous, its meaning and intent are to be ascertained from the instrument itself by construing the language as it is written. Unless the context suggests otherwise, words are to be given their natural, obvious or ordinary meaning. 62. It is also recognised that one of the most useful guides to interpretation is the application of mischief rule which considers the State of law before enactment, the defect which the legislation sets out to remedy or/and prevent, the remedy adopted by the legislature to cure the mischief and the true reasons of the remedy. The duty of the court therefore is to adopt such interpretation that will enable the suppression of the mischief and promote the remedy within the true intent in the legislation (See Ifezue v. Mbadugha&Anor (1984) 5SC 79. 63. In attempting to interpret the provisions of the Section 200(1) of the constitution (as amended), I am being properly guided by the principles of interpretation enunciated above. 64. The provision of section 200(1) of the Constitution (as amended) quoted above clearly bars or excludes a member of a political party from membership of a State Independent Electoral Commission. The amendment changed the old order where it was possible for members of a political party to populate or constitute a State Independent Electoral Commission. The amendment of section 200(1) of the Constitution, in my view, reveals a determination on the part of the Legislature to ensure that membership of a State Independent Electoral Commission consists of persons that are politically neutral who will discharge the responsibilities of organizing, undertaking , and supervising all elections to local government councils within the state with transparency, thereby securing the confidence of not just the political parties involved in such elections but also that of the general public. To construe the provision of Section 200(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) otherwise would be contrary to the letter and spirit of the constitution. Issue No 2. Are the 4th – 8th Defendant Members of the 9th Defendant? 65. The evidence of the claimant’s witness on this relates issues to the 4th and 5th defendants. Facts were pleaded in paragraphs 17, 18, 19 and 20, specifically alleging that the 6th and 7th defendants. However, in his oral evidence before the court, nothing was mentioned about the said defendants membership of the 3rd defendants. It is trite that pleadings, however strong they may appear to be, without evidence or proof thereof, go to issue. Evidence must be led to prove facts relied upon by a party or sustain the allegations raised in the pleadings. (see UBN Plc v. Astra Builders (WA) Ltd (2010) 2SCNJ 84.

A mere averment in pleadings without evidence proves nothing unless admitted. (See George v. Dominion Flour Mills Ltd (1963) 1SCNLR 117. The averments paragraphs 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the claimant’s amended statement of claim, in so far as they relate to the allegation of the 6th and 7th defendants’ membership of the 3rd defendant are hereby discountenanced for want of proof. 66. In respect of the 4th defendant, Barrister Abraham A. Olaniran, Chairman KOGSIEC, CWI testified to the fact that he is a member of the 9th defendant who contested the primaries of Kabba/Bunu constituency of Kogi State House of Assembly under the platform of the 9th defendant on 4/1/2011 for the April 2011 general election but lost. CW1, indeed, described him as “a stalwart of People’s Democratic Party”. He tendered a certified true copy of INEC Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area Report on PDP primaries for the Kogi State House of Assembly. The document shows that seven aspirants contested the primaries. The name, Barr. Abraham A. Olaniran, the 4th defendant, is No 3 on the list. It is indicated therein that he scored 10 votes. The highest number of votes in the said. Primaries went to TaiwoOjo Nathaniel, who scored 203 votes. 67. It is significant to mention here that, although, the 4th defendant against whom such formidable and strenuous allegations were made never came up to give evidence. And DWI, Hon. AmokaSuberu, the 1st – 8th defendants’ sole witness never did as little as alluding to any fact in defence of the allegations. It is elementary that a statement on oath that is not adopted at trial is moribund as it is deemed abandoned. 68. Similarly, 5th defendant, Hon. David Apeh, who is alleged to be a card carrying member of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) i.e the 9th defendant and had enjoyed and continued to enjoy political patronages in the form of plum appointments from PDP governments at various times, gave no evidence, in spite of the fact that he filed an elaborate 20 – paragraph witness statement on oath. It is hardly necessary for me to state here that by its very nature and character, a witness statement on oath cannot speak. It speaks through a witness, and as long as a party refuses or fails to adopt it to articulate its content, it remains a dormant process in the court’s file. 69. The implication of the foregoing is that I am left with no other option than to accept the evidence of the claimant’s witness on the points relating to the membership of the 4th – 5th defendants of the 9th defendant/ political party (PDP). Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act 2011 is clear on this point as it provides. “Whoever desires any court to give judgment as to any legal right or liability dependent on the existence of facts which he asserts must prove that those facts exists”. In Baba v. Nigerian Civil Aviation &Anor (1991) LPELR – 692(SC), the Supreme Court stated clearly that “wherever on an issue evidence comes from one side and this is unchallenged and uncontradicted, it ought normally to be accepted on the principle that there is nothing to be put on the other side of the balance, unless of course it is of such quality that no reasonable tribunal should have believed it. So, when evidence goes one way, the onus of proof is discharged on a minimal of proof”. (Nnaemeka-Agu, JSC, P. 32). Flowing from the above principles, I am bound to accept the evidence of CW1 that both the 4th and 5th defendants are members of the 9th defendant (PDP). I accept same. Issues Nos. 3& 4 - Was the 3rd Defendant properly constituted or composed to conduct the 4th May 2013 Local Government Election in Kogi State? If notwhat is the Effect? 70. The issue at stake here calls for the application of the provision of section 200(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to the facts established in this case. At the risk of repetition but for purposes of clarity, the said section is reproduced hereunder: “No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of the bodies aforesaid if (a) he is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a member of a House of Assembly provided that a member of any of the said bodies shall not be required to belong to a political party and in the case of the State Independent Electoral Commission, he shall not be a member of a political party(underlining mine). •To be continued next week

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NATION SPORT

Luiz: I won’t celebrate against Chelsea B

RAZILIAN centreback Luiz scored an own goal in this fixture last year, when he was in Jose Mourinho’s back-four. On Tuesday he will line up against his former club for Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of this last-16 clash. Luiz said: 'Last year I scored my first goal for PSG and I want to do my best for the team and the club. I’m happy to be here. Maybe if I score against Chelsea, I don’t celebrate out of respect but of course, I’ll be happy.' Despite his departure for £50million in the summer, Luiz said he felt Chelsea are a stronger prospect this year

than they were last season under Jose Mourinho. 'They are stronger this year,' he said. 'They understand more the philosophy of Jose Mourinho and in his second year it is easier to pass the message. And they have players joining with amazing quality like Diego (Costa) and (Cesc) Fabregas.' Comparing his new manager Laurent Blanc with former boss Mourinho, Luiz said: 'To compare them, they are both ugly, just that,' before smiling as he looked over to Blanc alongside him. 'I hope this is the year we win it (the Champions League),' he added. 'We have an amazing team but it is not

easy to win the Champions League. 'We need to be strong, play an amazing first leg because it will be decided there. Not many players have opportunities to play these games. Everyone’s excited to play. Tomorrow can be a great moment for us. 'It doesn’t matter where you are in this kind of game, you need to be focused, mentally and physically, everything. It will be a difficult game. I want to qualify, like I did last year but now I want to qualify for PSG. And Luiz thinks the tie will be played on a level field, despite PSG's struggles in Ligue 1 this season.

Di Matteo can beat Real Madrid - Choupo-Moting •Luiz

CHALKE striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting says Real Madrid are not unbeatable, especially with "master tactician" Roberto Di Matteo around. Madrid crushed the Bundesliga side 9-2 on aggregate in last season's Champions League on their way to lifting the trophy and begin the knockout phase this term with a trip to Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday. However, 25-year-old Choupo-Moting insists Schalke are looking to take a first-leg win to Santiago Bernabeu for the return match as his side prepare for their clash with the holders. "We have been working hard and Madrid are not unbeatable," he told AS. "Everything and anything can happen and that’s why football is so special. We ideally don’t

want to draw or lose the home game. "Di Matteo is a master tactician. Not just for what he has done with us but for his results in general. We realise that his style of playing may not be the most attractive and we want to play better. We are getting better as time goes by. "I’m not sure what the Real Madrid players are thinking. I would imagine that they are anxious to show the world that the game against Atletico Madrid was a blip." Choupo-Moting also warned his team-mates not to become obsessed with finding a way to stop the vistiors' star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo. "We need to focus on all Madrid players, not just single out any one individual," he said.

•Choupo-Moting

•Drogba

Ibrahimovic not selfish says Drogba

HE Chelsea star believes the striker has matured on a personal level and now understands the need to play for the collective rather than just himself Chelsea striker Didier Drogba believes Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has changed for the better since shedding his selfish streak on the pitch. The Sweden international has developed into the Ligue 1 champions' undisputed star player since joining them from AC Milan in 2012 and Drogba has hailed the way the 33-yearold has matured over the years. Ibrahimovic received his fair share of criticism in the early years of his career at Ajax for his tendency to chase individual glory rather than play for the team, while he was unable to make an impact at Barcelona as Pep Guardiola felt his style of play did not suit his philosophy. However, Drogba feels the Sweden international has learnt the error of his ways and is a better player as a result. "Ibrahimovic is a player who has changed a lot," Drogba told

Canal Football Club. "He has come to understand that he will have to play for the team in order to help them forward. "I like his style of play and aggressiveness a lot. We are similar in a lot of areas." Drogba then went on to stress that Chelsea should not underestimate PSG in their Champions League round of 16 tie, irrespective of the Ligue 1 side's injury problems, which sees them go into the game without Lucas Moura, Marquinhos, Yohan Cabaye and Serge Aurier. "I do not agree with those who claim Paris Saint-Germain are wounded. Absolutely not. They are preparing themselves for this Champions League tie and they will be ready for it." The first leg takes place at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, with the return scheduled for March 11. The two sides met in the quarter-finals of the competition in 2013-14, with Chelsea eventually progressing to the final four. The Premier League side were beaten 3-1 in Paris in the first leg, only to record a 2-0 win at home and advance on away goals.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

SHOWBIZ

Stella Damasus advises ladies on marriage

EBRUARY is regarded as the month of love and for ladies seeking to settle down to marital life, Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus, has a few words of advice. The actress, speaking on her online radio show, Stella Damsus Diaries, which airs on I2Radio.net, urged young women not to be pushed by emotions, as they pick a life partner. “The one thing that I find that is a recurring thing with women is that, ‘he has potentials’. You cannot marry potential.That is why we fall into all the issues that we fall into every day in marriages. One thing I have learnt through experience; through people around me is that, when you meet a guy, you start to date, you fall in love. Even before you get to that point where he pops the question, way before then, your dating period must be a time where you get to know each other. I’m talking about who

he is as a man, in terms of his goals in life. If his goals in life don’t work with yours, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it,” she said. Stella advises ladies to not just know who their partner is, but be interested in knowing what his goals are and how he intends to achieve them. “I’m not saying he must be wealthy, he must have a great job or he must be perfect because really, there is no perfect person. But he must be doing something, he must have focus. Something must wake him up in the morning and get him excited. He doesn’t need to have all the money in the world. He doesn’t even need to have started doing the business he wants to. But at least; see that he is putting plans together, he is meeting people. He is going out there. A man with-

• Stella Damasus

out a brand is no man to marry. Every man is a brand in his own right,” the actress added. To drive her point home, the actress recounted a situation she found herself in a relationship with somebody who wanted to be a celeb-

• Kanye West

Will Smith considering rap comeback

By Ovwe Medeme

• Will Smith

RAMMY awardwinning rapper and iconic actor, Will Smith, is thinking about hitting the studio

Nigerian writer appointed Juror of WIFF

By Ovwe Medeme

once again to release a new rap project. Smith, who is rated as one of

Hollywood’s leading artistes, says he is considering making a comeback to the rap scene after recently hooking up with

rity and everyday he doesn’t move out of the house, but goes out at night. “And I was stupid enough to believe all of that. When it comes to marrying someone, potential is not what you should be looking for,” the thespian concludes.

Kanye West in the studio. Will Smith who was a popular rapper in the ’90s, is one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. After making numerous box office hits, the actor is thinking of returning to rap. His last album, Lost And Found, was released in 2005. “I went into the studio with Kanye. I’m thinking about it. I’m exploring,” said Will Smith at the screening of his latest movie, Focus. He also revealed that he is taking writing tips from his son, Jaden Smith, who is also a rapper and actor. “My son tells me I have to write out the things I don’t like. I can’t write and stop. I have to keep going and going and write them out. I’ve never worked like that before but I think I might give that a shot,” Smith said. Will Smith has released nine studio albums. Under the name Fresh Prince, he won the first rap Grammy with DJ Jazzy Jeff in 1988 for the song Summertime.

Foluke Daramola, hubby mark wedding anniversary

EBRUARY 15, 2015 marked the second wedding anniversary of Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola and her husband, Kayode Salako, which the couple celebrated with pomp last Sunday. The occasion, which was a two-in-one celebration, offered her hubby the opportunity to tell the world how he feels about his wife. He said: “It is exactly two meritorious and challenging years I have lived with her. Exactly on that occasion of Wednesday, February 15, 2012, I took that bold and delicate decision to start another journey of lifetime with her, knowing full well it is all about God and our destiny.” Concerning the controversy surrounding the union, Salako who described the situation as noisily controversial and image desecrating, said, “God has been faithful for our sur-

By Mercy Michael

vival. The world did not believe we were convinced about it. So, tongues and condemnation wagged. Some even said it cannot last for more than six months. But in all, we kept to that conviction that we are meant for each other and that we could sustain it. “It is exactly two years today and graciously our conviction is still as solid and fresh as ever. And Folu still remains my buxom wife.” He described her as a woman with a pure heart and someone straight forward to a fault. “She is intelligent, strong and bold, though could be extremely stubborn and daring sometimes,” he said. Present at the celebration which took place at the couple’s Omole Estate residence, were other celebrities such as Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, Laide Bakare and Fathia Balogun.

• Salako and Daramola

IGERIAN writer, filmmaker and teacher, Onyeka Nwelue, has been appointed jury member of Woodpecker International Film Festival, India. The author will be working alongside famous actor, Avjit Dutt, who has appeared in Mira Nair’s Kamasutra and Fire. This was made known in an email from the festival director, Narender Yadav to Mr. Nwelue. The letter reads: “I am really thankful to you for kindly accepting the request to be the member of the Festival Jury for 2015 Woodpecker International Film Festival. Your rich and diverse experience in multifaceted cinematic endeavours will add a great value and credibility to the entire selection process.” Nwelue is an award-winning author of the book, The Abyssinian Boy, a novel

By Ovwe Medeme

about a Nigerian woman married to an Indian man, set majorly in India, where he lived. The author currently resides between Puebla, Mexico and Paris, France. His latest book, Hip-Hop is Only for Children has been described by one of India’s finest writers, Shobhaa De as ‘beguiling’ and ‘superbly researched.’ The Woodpecker International Film Festival is a youth focused, infotainment based initiative focusing on films and documentaries on a wide spectrum of development issues like environment, education, gender, livelihoods and children among others. This year’s edition of the festival will focus on Nigerian and Mexican cinemas. It is slated for September 2015 in New Delhi.

• Onyeka Nwelue

‘No help from AGN,’ says ailing actor • We’ve tried our best for him -Ibinabo

GAINST claims that he is being helped by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), ailing actor, Prince James Uche, has denied receiving any form of assistance from the Guild. The bearded actor confirmed that he is about being thrown out of his rented apartment and that he is fast losing his sight, pleading with Nigerians to come to his aid. “It is true my bags are packed and I do not have where to go…and I am really ill and I am losing my sight, I need help.” Reacting to Uche’s statement, AGN President, Ibinabo Fibresima, insisted that she did her best for the actor. “I can tell you I have helped him the much I can, even though he said I did not help him. We have done our best and he is still running us down in the press. Anybody that wants to help him should go ahead and do so. There is nothing we can do, we are only a Guild, not a hospital,” she said in a chat with The Nation. Corroborating Uche’s claim, his neighbour, who identified himself as Praise, insisting that no help has come to the ailing actor from the AGN. “You can come around and see for yourself. Even yesterday, we spoke about it and he insisted that he cannot remember anytime AGN reached out to him; and in fact if they have helped him in any way, I would be in the

By Mercy Michael

know and that it is the truth. On my own I have sent text messages and called the president of AGN with no reply at all,” Praise said. According to him, the actor who is suffering from hypertension and Diabetes might lose his sight if nothing is done to help him. “As we speak, his sight is so blurred, very blurred. In fact he cannot help himself. Somebody needs to be there to help him,” said Praise.

• Ibinabo

• James Uche

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

How to protect sperm, by endocrinologist H

OW can sperm be protected for making healthy babies? It is by running a healthy lifestyle, avoiding unprotected sex and the use of pesticides and insecticides, says a Reproductive Endocrinologist/ Fertility/ IVF Specialist, Prof Oladapo Ashiru. “A well protected sperm is all that is needed to improve male fertility and even avoid the need for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment,”he said. According to him, sperm is produced in a man’s testes. It takes 10 weeks for a single sperm to reach maturity. “Mature sperm can wait up to two weeks for them to fertilise an egg as they hang out in the epididymis, which is the coillike structure that runs across the top of each testicle. If they are not ejaculated, those poor little sperms are broken down and reabsorbed by the body. The semen only contains about 10 percent sperm and the rest consists of enzymes, vitamin C, calcium, protein, sodium, zinc, citric acid and fructose sugar.” Ashiru said what men eat can affect the taste of their sperm. Red meat, dairy products, soya beans, onions, garlic, and coffee may not go down as well as foods containing natural sugars, such as fruits. “Healthy men produce about 70 to 150 million sperm a day, but when they ejaculate, they lose three times of that. When inside a woman’s body, a sperm can live up to five days. There are male and female sperm - the females are slower, but stronger, while the males are faster, but weaker. The X chromosome - or female chromosome - has a longer life span than the male sperm (with the Y chromosome). That is why men ought to mind their lifestyles, as to improve the health of their sperm,” he said. According to Ashiru, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to improve the health of your sperm, such as not having unprotected sex as sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, can damage the spermproducing cells that block the tubes carrying sperm from the testis to the penis. Avoid pesticides that control pests in the garden and on the farm. Such chemicals can damage the sperm-reproducing organs. He said: “It is also good to avoid insecticides sprayed to kill mosquitoes. Such chemicals can damage the sperm reproducing organs. Therefore, if you must spray your room against mosquitoes, allow at least one hour before going back to the room. Avoid exposure to lead fumes generated in the manufacture of small cell batteries and in bullets. Such fumes can reduce sperm count through their negative effects on the hormones and the testis. Avoid exposure to heavy metals like cadmium from the manufacture of heavy batteries, as they negatively affect the hormones. Avoid exposure to paint fumes and plastic softening chemicals like phthalates, hydrocarbons such as ethylbenze, benzene, toluene, and xylene, as they destroy the sperm-producing cells and hormones. Minimise exposure to Earth radiation (e-rays), as the sperm

Stories by Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

germ cells are very easily damaged by the gamma rays. Avoid fumes generated by welders and iron smelters, as their heat can affect sperm production and lead to low sperm count. Avoid exposure to accumulated old newsprints, as the carbon can lead to low sperm count. “Reduce your exposure by incorporating organic fruits and vegetables into your diet; avoiding use of pesticides; wearing a face mask/ ventilator when working in an environment that exposes you to toxins; using natural personal care products and buying non-toxic household cleaning products.” Ashiru said: “Men should also avoid wearing tight pants and trousers, as the heat generated can cause low sperm count. Your scrotum area needs to be four degrees lower than your body temperature. It needs to be able to sweat to facilitate healthy sperm production and if you wear tight trousers or underwear - especially synthetic materials - you’ll prevent heat dissipating and possibly increase the temperature of your scrotum. Cotton boxer shorts are the best option and you should avoiding taking regular hot baths or spas. Even working for prolonged periods of time with a laptop on your lap can potentially cause issues. “Avoid children with mumps as having mumps in childhood can cause irreversible damage to the testis. Therefore, never allow a male to visit other children that have mumps. Minimise your consumption of alcohol as drinking to excess can cause low sperm count and also reduce libido, causing you to have a low sex drive. Do not smoke, as cigarette smoking can damage the testis and lower sperm count, lower the ability of sperm to move and lower the lifespan of the sperm. Do not eat too much saturated fat, as they reduce the efficiency of the hormones and enzymes that help in the sperm production process. Do not eat food or supplements with soya beans, as soya beans convert to the female hormone oestrogen, which tends to

•Prof Ashiru

neutralise the male hormone testosterone, which is needed for men to reproduce sperm.” On other preventive measures he said:“You should minimise your intake of refined carbohydrate like white flour, white bread and white rice, as they reduce the efficiency of the hormones and enzymes that help in the sperm reproduction process. Instead, eat more of the unrefined carbohydrate like brown rice, wheat bread and oats. Do not become constipated, as this can obstruct blood flow to the testis. Therefore, eat more dietary fibres. Do not eat a poor diet, as this affects the quality of the sperm. Instead, eat more whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Do not take artificial sweeteners like nutrasweet, candarell and sweetex, as they reduce sperm count. Avoid excessive consumption of raw lemon, as this may inhibit the enzymes responsible for sperm production and libido. Do seek immediate medical help if one or both of the testes are un-descended from the abdominal cavity into the scrotal sac, as this can significantly reduce sperm production.” Other ways of protecting the sperm, according to Ashiru, “is not to sit for long periods of time in one position. If you are a long distance driver, drive a small sport car, or if you are a chief executive hav-

ing many board meetings and sitting in leather chairs, as this can increase the temperature around the scrotum which can reduce sperm count. Avoid traumatic injury around the testes, as this can damage the sperm-producing cells. Avoid bicycling, as this can damage the tube carrying the sperm. Avoid stress, as this can decrease the sperm count and lead to production of abnormal sperms. Avoid obesity as this can reduce blood flow to the testes, making the sperm production process more difficult and significantly reduce libido. Men with a higher body mass index (BMI) have a significantly higher risk of being infertile compared with men who are a normal

weight. “Avoid substance abuse like cocaine or heavy marijuana use, as this can lead to low sperm count and deformed sperms. Illicit drugs, such as anabolic steroids, marijuana, cocaine and heroin all affect your sperm health by altering testosterone levels and impairing your sex drive. They can also have an impact on testicular size and weight gain, which both impair sperm production. Avoid poor nutrition, as this affects the quality of the sperm. And do not have children at a late age, as the quality of the sperm decreases with age, leading to more difficult conception and greater possibility of having children with deformities.”

NAFDAC‘s registered water ‘unsatisfactory’, says analyst

LARGE percentage of packaged water registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is unsatisfactory, it has emerged. To safeguard consumers’ health, the agency in collaboration with Emani Global Network (EGNL) has begun on the spot analysis of packaged water, using mini mobile laboratory, starting with Rivers State. The duo will screen and ascertain the quality/standard of packaged water being sold to the public. The Chief Executive Officer of ENGL Mr. Emmanuel Osiegbu, a renowned international consultant the exercise is geared towards safeguarding public health due to unsatisfactory re-

sults of NAFDAC laboratory analysis of some registered packaged water in the country. Osiegu said, “Laboratory analyses of packaged waters by NAFDAC have shown that some packaged waters in the country are below standard without the right ph, acidity, lead and other parameters. This exercise will find out and address all the shortcomings observed and proffer solutions where necessary.” He said that most packaged water producers lack mini lab in their facilities to ascertain the quality of water being produced, adding that the exercise has the backing of the National Assembly’s Committee on Health and will be conducted throughout the federation. The exercise which will be an-

nually has been conducted in South-South states of Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River among other states in the country. NAFDAC coordinator in Rivers State Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe said that the annual water monitoring exercise is mandatory for all packaged water products in Nigeria and charged producers in Rivers state (sachet and bottled water) to participate, adding that this is to ensure that safe and wholesome water is given out to the public. “All packaged water producers (about 400) in Rivers State are expected to take part in this exercise and this will exempt them from going to public analyst during the renewal of their products. Sanctions will be meted out to those

whose products were not analyzed which may include shorting down of the affected water factory and or withdrawal of NAFDAC license”, Ndukwe warned. She said that “NAFDAC has been waging a relentless war against unwholesome water producers in the state and will not hesitate to clamp down on any producer who compromises standards.” The chairman of Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) Rivers State chapter, Engr. Alex Erikosima lauded the initiative and urged his members to cooperate with NAFDAC to make the exercise a huge success. He implores water producers in the state to maintain proper GMP and adhere to laid down standard to prevent water borne diseases.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

HEALTH

Ebola response workers still owed by Fed Govt M ONTHS after Nigeria was declared Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)-free, many volunteer response workers hired by Port Health Service in Lagos under the Federal Ministry of Health, are yet to get their pay. No fewer than 110 makeshift workers staff hired employed to respond to EVD issues at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MM2) and Grand Aviation Terminal (Local Airport) are yet to get their September and October salaries. Besides, there are disparities in mode of payment and amount payable to the workers. The reason for this treatment, however, is unknown. A volunteer response worker, Mr Kolawole Gbolahan, 31, said workers only received salaries for November and December, adding:

By Wale Adepoju

“We were paid 90,000 and N75, 000 for the two months, but when we demanded for the initial two months, some of the officials of Port Health Service said we had been discharged and should forget the money.” Some of the volunteer response workers, who do not want to be named, said efforts to get redress proved abortive. Gbolahan said volunteer workers who served at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport received salaries for the four months they worked with the parastatal. “They were paid N50, 000 for September; N60, 000 for October and N75, 000 for November as well as 75,000 for December before they were asked to go on January 12,” he said. The personnel, he said, worked

from September 5 to January 7 before they were asked to go finally because the country was free from EVD. “Initially, we were asked to leave on October 20 but we protested and we were reinstated the third day.” he said. A letter dated October 27, 2014, headlined Engagement as Volunteer Response) Staff, said the monthly allowance of staff is fixed as determined by the Federal Ministry of Health (currently at N50,000) payable to your account at the end of each month of service. It also stated that: “Your willingness to volunteer during this National Emergency is duly recognised as service to God and country.” The letter, he said, negates the initial pronouncement that staff will be paid N5,000 as daily allow-

ance, adding that they were still not deterred from doing their job despite government’s failure to fulfil its promises. Mr Kassim Olumuyiwa, 31, said the inconsistency of their employer made them petition the ICPC, National Human Rights Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State. Also petitioned was the Office of the Governor of Lagos State who transferred the matter to the Office of Public Defender because they were asked to leave without complete payment. Similarly, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Justice/ Office of Attorney General were also petitioned through the letters. He said nothing has been heard from the institutions copied, add-

ing that Nigerians should prevail on the government to pay their salaries. “Our relations did not know we took such risky job. It is now that they know what manner of job we took during that period. But see the way the government wants to pay us back. This is shameful,” he said. When the The Nation sought for clarification on the matter at the Lagos Office, the Director/ Head, Port Health Services, Lagos, Dr M.O Alex-Okoh said through one of the first contact staff that she would not be able to entertain any reporter as she was locked in a meeting with staff of the parastatal from Abuja. The reporter waited until close of work when staff departed for their different destinations. Some staff said madam does not answer questions from reporters unless told to do so by authorities in Abuja.

•From left: A Professor of Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Adeyemi Olusile; President, Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Bode Ijarogbe; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. David Okeme; Director/Head, Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs) Bimpe Adebuji; Senior Dental Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olubunmi Okunnu and Regional Brand Development Director, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Kosala Hewamadduma at the Oral Health Expert Forum organised by Unilever

Nigeria in conjunction with the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA).

WHO Board appoints Regional Director for Africa

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board, currently holding its 136th session, has appointed Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti as the new Regional Director for WHO’s Africa Region. Dr Moeti was nominated Regional Director by the health ministers of the 47 Member States of the WHO African Region at the annual Regional Committee for Africa in Cotonou, Benin, in November 2014. Dr Moeti will take

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

up her appointment for a five-year term on First of February 2015, succeeding Dr Luis Gomes Sambo who has served as Regional Director for the past 10 years. The new Director for Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Moeti is the first woman ever to hold this position. Dr. Moeti begins her five year term at a critical juncture, as the WHO begins major reforms adopted in the wake of the Ebola

crisis. Speaking after her appointment, Dr Moeti, who is from the Republic of Botswana, pledged to accord the highest priority to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa as she takes office. She will work with WHO colleagues and partners to help the affected countries halt the spread of the disease and reach zero cases, while starting on the recovery agenda, including the building of resilient health systems able to withstand

similar shocks in the future. The new Regional Director noted that the outbreak, with its devastating impact on health, families, livelihoods and security in the worst-affected countries, had been a tragic reminder of the importance of investing in good quality, fair health services that reach all citizens in countries, and of building up preparedness and capacity to contain infectious diseases. She will also help countries in their efforts to make faster

Firm urges improved personal hygiene

PHARMACEUTICAL firm, Troop Pharmacy Limited, has urged Nigerians to embrace improved hygiene in their day- to-day activities to avoid contracting diseases. Its Managing Director, Mrs Chizomam Emeje, who gave the advice during a community health talk in Okota, a suburb of Lagos, as part of activities to mark the firm’s 17th year anniversary, said although the World Health Orgnaisation (WHO) has certified the country Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)- free, its emergence has brought to the fore the need to take health consciousness seriously. She stressed the need for advocacy for personal hygiene among rural and semi-urban dwellers, adding that health is wealth. She lamented that some companies have now stopped providing hand-sanitisers for their clients. She said:”We have to even pass the culture of hygiene consciousness to our children. You would observe that even the medical doctors, each time they attend to pa-

By Dorcas Imah

tients, they make it a point of duty to wash their hands. That was the practice when I was growing up. But now, that practice is gradually fading away as some of them attend to one patient and move to the next without making efforts to wash their hands. Even when medical personnel counsel a patient and touches them, they must wash their hands. That is a tradition that has been established from time immemorial and we must continue with it.” She urged relevant authorities to address the scourge of quackery in the profession, adding that it is threat that is common among health practitioners, especially in the community pharmacy space. She said: “The profession has been bedeviled by quacks. Here in the pharmacy, we have a prescription printing machine. It is heartbreaking when some ignorant practitioners come around and tend to make mockery of knowledge. They see you as masquerad-

ing. However, we are not giving up, because community pharmacy is a call to serve the people. “In the last 17 years, we have existed in this environment; the challenge has been lack of knowledge among some members of the community. Most Nigerians do not read so when some of them come to see the pharmacist and bring doctor’s prescription and you probably do not have the prescribed drug in stock and you are giving them an alternative, they will insist it is the one the doctor recommended that they want. This attitude is borne out of the fact that they do not know who a pharmacist really is. “Pharmacists are not there just to dispense drugs. They engage in counselling. We have more time with the patients than the doctors. So, the dwindling reading culture is affecting our understanding of health matters too. However, we have been able to build up the culture among the community members to listen when you are giving advice on prescribed drugs.”

progress in reducing deaths among mothers and children and tackling HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, while working hard to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent non communicable diseases. “I will fast-track the implementation of WHO’s global reform programme in the African Region, driving towards our being an even more effective, fast-acting and accountable partner to our Member States” she told delegates at the Executive Board.

Rights groups seek anti-tobacco bill

IGHTS groups, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) are calling for quick passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB). In a town hall meeting tagged: The passage and implementation of the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB), the groups said the bill must not be allowed to go the way it previously went when it was not passed and making stakeholders to begin the process all over again. They said the bill presently at the National Assembly, did not survive under two legislative assemblies, stressing that it should be passed this time around and assented to by Mr President. The rights groups also said stakeholders should be vigilant so that the provisions in the bill are not tampered with. CISLAC’s Okeke Anya said the tobacco industry is always ready

By Wale Adepoju

to subvert the process, and as such people should monitor it. Presenting the update on the status of the bill at the national assembly, he said, efforts should be geared toward the realisation of the passage of the bill. Director of Corporate Accountability, ERA Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi said people should resist the interference of tobacco industry in the process of getting the bill passed. He said Nigerians must insist on the bill sent to the legislature and not allow it to be changed or manipulated. Oluwafemi said if they lose sight of the bill, key players in the tobacco industry may influence the legislature to introduce weak and ineffective provisions. He advised that rights groups must continue to work with politicians and legislature to ensure that the bill is passed.

THE NATION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2 015

These resolutions, if eventually put into the ‘constitution, will go a long way toward restoring confidence in the Nigerian project ‘

...10 1D AYS TO GO ...101 DA

Igbo group endorses Jonathan

DIGBO, the umbrella body of Igbos in Lagos, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan should be given a second chance to govern the country. In an 11-point communique, the group noted that the decision to endorse his second term ambition is in the best interest of the Igbo race adding that, he would protect the corporate interests of the ethnic nationality in future. The group, which is made up of professionals, artisans and business men and women, said it made the move after reading the manifestos of the various political parties. The group maintained that Dr. Jonathan has shown commitment toward addressing imbalances in the political structure of Nigeria. It added: “We are cognizant of the importance of the forthcoming elections to the future of the Igbo nation and also conscious of the

By Sulaiman Salawudeen

imperative of a united, sovereign Nigeria.’’ The group attributed the ills that have bedevilled Nigeria to lack of equity, fairness and justice arising from the current political structure. Ndigbo Lagos noted that an unfair political structure, which enthrones mediocrity in place of merit, promotes indolence, corruption and lopsided federal presence, should be corrected. “The 2014 National Conference, which President Jonathan set up, produced a report that was unanimously adopted by all delegates across all the geo-political zones and nationalities. The communique was jointly signed by the group’s PresidentGeneral, Prof. Anya O. Anya, and Secretary-General, Mr. David Nwachukwu. The resolutions of the confer-

ence included the creation of more states in the Southeast, for equity and fairness. The group also cited other conference resolutions, including rotation of presidential power between north and south and among the six geo-political zones as well as creation of state police for more effective fight against crime. “These resolutions, if eventually put into the constitution, will go a long way toward restoring confidence in the Nigerian project,’’ the group said. It noted that Jonathan had shown much enthusiasm in the outcomes of the National Conference. “We, therefore, adopt President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan as our preferred candidate for the 2015 election. “We enjoin Ndigbo everywhere and indeed all Nigerians to come out en masse on election day and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan,’’ Ndigbo Lagos said.

‘Postponement ‘ll not change our decision’ By Musa Odoshimokhe

•Oluseye

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ayodele Oluseye has urged supporters to stand firm in their quest for change. Oluseye, who made the declaration at a rally to drum support for the APC presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and the

Igbo traditional rulers endorse Buhari, Ambode

Ebonyi community backs Umahi

GROUP, Ishinkwo Youth Assembly (IYA), has reiterated its support for the Ebonyi State governorship candidate, Chief Dave Umahi, saying that he will be a good governor. Umahi is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The IYA National President, Mr. Innocent Elum, assured Umahi of 100 per cent votes at the poll. He said the group is not backing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate because they support the enduring philosophy of power rotation among the three senatorial zones. “Ebonyi North and Central have produced governors. It is the equitable turn of the South. Chief Umahi is from the South and so we are voting him en mass.

By Joseph Jibueze

“I call on all Ishinkwo people, young and old, to vote Umahi for Ebonyi governor,” Elum said. He said Umahi has the capacity to take Ebonyi to greater heights. “Ishinkwo has secured a commitment from Umahi to use his office to ensure the construction of F113 Road if elected. We shall give him all our votes to end the nightmare the neglected federal road has continued to cause Ishinkwo,” he said. Umahi is the Deputy Governor, and former PDP Chairman in the state. He has promised to develop the state, create jobs for the youths, harness the mineral deposits across the state and create an enabling environment for small and medium scale industry to strive. “Go to all the 13 local govern-

Lagos State governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, said the shift in date would not affect the peoples’ resolve to vote continuity in Lagos. He said: “I enjoin all of us not despair, but to redouble our efforts in ensuring that the APC wins at all levels because the interest and success of our party is above that of any group. “What lies ahead of the party in terms of electoral success will eventually translate into better standard of living for all Nigerians.” He added that if Buhari wins the election Nigeria will enjoy abundant glory because the government will benefit the masses. “With the calibre of our presidential candidate and the vice, Nigeria will be in safe hands. We cannot afford to jeopardize the gains ahead for personal and selfish interest.”

•Ngama

ment areas in the state, you will see no meaningful development; our people are suffering, no employment for our youths,” he was quoted as saying.

GBO traditional rulers in LaBy Musa Odoshimokhe gos, have endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking at a conference in Lagos, the spokesman for the group, Eze Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, said Ndigbo in Lagos will vote for Buhari and Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC governorship candidate during the polls on March 28 and April 11 respectively. He said Ndigbo has enjoyed robust and cordial relationship with the APC administration since 1999, under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Mr Babatunde Fashola. He said Igbo have been given appointments during the period and held strategic positions in the state. He said: “After a strategic meeting of Ndigbo in Lagos, we have resolved to massively vote the APC. Our interest in the state has been protected and we equally want to show appreciation by voting the APC candidates in the coming election.” He described as unfortunate the postponement of the election, urging the electorate to be patient and use their votes to correct the challenges facing the country during the elections. Nwachukwu maintained that the APC-led administration has performed and deserved continuity.

Isoko endorses Okowa for Delta governor

HE people of Igbide, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, have endorsed Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the next governor, after an extensive review of all the candidates jostling for the position. Rising from the executive meeting at Owodokpokpo-Igbide, the Igbide Political Elite Forum (IPEF) also called on the people to vote for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Senator James Manager for Senate. For the House of Representatives seat, the group urged Isokos to vote for Hon. Leo Ogor, the incumbent member representing Isoko Federal Constituency. Similarly, it also endorsed the reelection bid of the Deputy Majority Leader in the Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Isoko South Constituency II, Hon. Prince Johnson Obokparo Erijo. The forum in a communiqué signed by Chief Daniel Egwero, Prince Godspower Obukeni and Alex Ovie, Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer respectively, said that having read and studied the development blueprint of Okowa and considering his past antecedents as a former commissioner, Secretary to State Government and a distin-

...Urges Isokos to vote for PDP candidates at all levels guished Senator of the Federal Republic, the group considered it very imperative to endorse his aspiration for the coveted seat. The group stressed that Igbide people should no longer be in the opposition as it was the case in 2011, adding that IPEF which championed the opposition in 2011 have now deemed it fit to flow along with the tide of transformation currently being witnessed in the country. “The time for the Igbide people to come out of political darkness is now. Politics of opposition brings no development,” the statement added. While reviewing the performance of Hon. Erijo, the group noted with satisfaction that the lawmaker had attracted several projects to the community. It cited the Uto road rehabilitation project, Igbide Primary School renovation project, as well as other empowerment programmes for youths and women of Isoko South Constituency II. “In a democratic dispensation, the dividends of democracy can only benefit the populace through good leadership, credible and effective representation and Hon. Erijo no

doubt has personalized that”. The group stated that it believes that continuity drives development and so this time around, Igbide people must rally round to ensure Hon.

Erijo’s victory at the polls. The group, whose objective is to galvanize Igbide people politically by giving full backing and support to credible candidates, stated that

it has mapped out strategies aimed at ensuring total victory for all PDP candidates from the House of Assembly to the Presidency. Those at the meeting include Chief Lucky Ogba, Engr. Lucky Okolosi, Mr. Sylvester Obaduemu, amongst others.

•Dr. Dakuku Peterside, APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, addressing supporters at the Mile Three Market.

THE NATION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2015

company or organisation can operate in ‘anNoenvironment that is not politically stable. Election brings about such conduciveness that will further impact on the economy

‘

...10 1D AYS TO GO ...101 DA

PVCs: Case for work-free days

HEAD of March 28 and April 11 presidential and governorship elections, the Federal Government has been urged to make Fridays before these elections work-free-days to enable workers collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) Former Special Adviser to the President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters Senator Florence Ita-Giwa made the case yesterday for prospective voters. Ita-Giwa, who is the Convener, Action Women Empowerment initiative (AWEI), is concerned that many Nigerians may not be able to exercise their voting rights, if em-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

ployers of labours do not give them more opportunities to get their PVCs. In a statement in Lagos, Ita-Giwa said that the only way Nigerians can actively participate in the electioneering process is by ensuring that they vote for candidates of their choice. She also urged the private sector to set aside off-days for their workers to collect theirs cards. Ita-Giwa added: “ I am still worried that many Nigerians are yet to get their PVC’S. I want to use this medium to plead with the federal government and the private sector

to make Fridays before the general election work free days to enable massive collection of this cards. “No company or organisation can operate in an environment that is not politically stable. Election brings about such conduciveness that will further impact on the economy. “I shall continue my campaign for a free and fair election and ensure that women play active role in this process. “My town hall meetings to sensitise women is still in progress and it shall hold in all the geo-political zones and I am so impressed at the turn-outs and the undying willpower of women to contribute

•Jega

•Ita-Giwa

their parts in nation building. “President Goodluck Jonathan is a woman friendly President judg-

ing by the large number of women in his government. That’s why he shod be encouraged to do more.”

Hon. Paschal Ugbome is the Edo North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, he said the people would vote for him because of his consistency, credibility and performance. He spoke to OSAGIE OTABOR.

My plan for Edo North, by Ugbome

HAT are your chances, since you are running against a candidate of the ruling party? It is a matter of choice. We are offering our people the choice of consistency, better performance, excellent track record, dependability, discipline, trustworthiness and dynamism. We are offering them charismatic representation. Our people have an opportunity to make an informed choice. It is very interesting because it is not business as usual where the people are left with very few choices. This time around our people will analyse three of us based on our pedigree, based on personality and the candidate’s disposition to people, our relationship with the people and management of the responsibilities that we have handled in the past. I believe that one would be able to carry the day because one has been able to demonstrate trust in one’s dealing with them. What is the critical issue that is likely to determine the outcome of the election? The issue that grabbed the attention of the electorates is infrastructural improvement of the environment. That is what governance is all about. We are not doing the people a favour anyway when government attempts to construct roads. There are areas like Somorika in need of roads. I went there and one of the vehicles in my fleet got damaged by the road. I can’t forget such experience and I promised

• Ugbome

them that as a senator one of the first things I will do is to attract Federal Government presence to the district. It is a difficult thing for the rural dwellers when there are no access roads. Those are fundamentals of what government should do for its people. I am passionate about changing the psyche of our people. I will ensure that whatever belongs to us in terms of white collar jobs, we will get them, but I also make them understand that the white collar jobs are no more available. I want to change the psyche of our people from thinking of becoming an administrator to be creator of jobs. I am driven by a passion to help remove poverty and promote the entrepreneurial spirit in our people. We are a very enterprising people. I will encourage them not to rely on government for jobs. As a Senator, I will ensure that the Ojirami Dam becomes functional. Peo-

ple do not need to spend their hard-earned resources to sink boreholes. The dam use to be a valuable resource for our people. The middle class is practically not in existence in the country right now. Any society without a middle class is poor. In my campaigns, we are rejuvenating that spirit of industry in our people. We are blessed with solid minerals and other natural resources. My job is to help them unlock these abilities. There is nothing fantastic about the Asian Tigers, except that they need leadership to help them look inwards and to start in a small manner. When I was a council chairman, we had to pay people to come and learn skills. My politics is about the enhancement of the quality of life of the people. What has shaped your career in life? My father was a teacher. He retired as a school principal. Growing up, I was an outgoing person and communal. I was always with the elderly. Perhaps that influenced the way I see life. I have also travelled a lot. On top of that, I am spiritually-inclined. I have a perfect harmony with my Creator. Once you begin to see things from the spiritual point of view, your focus in life would be how to make your neighbours happy. This election is a contest of political gladiators … There is no doubt that it is going to be a keen contest. Abubarkar Momoh is my friend. We have been in the House of Assembly together. He were in the PDP together, but he joined the SDP to realize his ambition. The other candidate is Major Francis, who I usually call my uncle. I have tremendous respect for the two of them. The keen competition in the offing shows the level of sophistication of our people, the Afenmai people. I defeated Momoh in the PDP primary, but he defected to another party because he believes he can win. That is democracy. My unique selling points are consistency, discipline, trust and dependability.

My purpose of being in politics is to serve; it is not about me, but the people. The people ought to look deeper to decipher who is committed more to their welfare. We have a history. They will look around our history. I have been in the PDP. I have never jumped ship. That is an indication of my character. Are you happy about the distribution of PVC? I sympathize with INEC. If the body gets it right now, the process of having an enduring democracy revolves round having credible electoral process. We need to jettison desperation. What is making INEC to fail is the desperation of our people. Why do people want to acquire more than one card? There are some genuine cases where people have not been able to collect their cards. We cannot be hoarding cards, encouraging underage youths to register and expect that process will take us out of electoral quagmire. As a people, we need to come to a point where we will say let us do things the right way. People have developed cold feet because INEC said come and thumbprint and collect your voter card. Based on what I have seen, only about 20 per cent of registered voters are yet to collect their cards. People know that cards were being collected. It is either they are not interested or they are ghosts. INEC has its own problems, but the political class has theirs too. Do you support the use of TVC or PVC? If we do not use Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCS), we are back to square one. Those clamoring for the use of Temporary Voter’s Cards (TVC) want to manipulate the process. The people should go and collect their cards. There are few cases, but it is not as monumental as it is being trumpeted. Many of those yet to collect their PVCs are ghosts; they don’t exist. We need to move forward. This is 2015 and we need to catch up with the world.

Don’t derail democracy, pro-democracy warns

HE Oodua Liberations Movement (OLM) and the Network of Yoruba Alliance have alerted the nation to the danger of derailing the electoral process. The National Coordinator OLM, Comrade Olugbenga Awosode, at a conference in Lagos, said Nigerians should not allow the political elite to put the country at risk. He said it is the responsibility to stand up against civil rights groups, undemocratic forces, militating against the elections. Awodose said: “The fear and anxiety gripping our people on the coming elections are anchored on the previous experience, more so when character which dominated the scene and worked towards the

By Musa Odoshimokhe

annulment of the 1993 June 12 election have started playing their destructive role again. “They have started agitating for postponement of the elections and have temporarily achieved their aimed and some have gone ahead to court to ask for disqualification of the major presidential candidates.” He warned that Nigerians will not tolerates anything short of conducting elections, stressing that OLM will defend the constitution. Awosode said the excuse by the military that it will not protect the lives of Nigerians during the elections was laughable, noting that it was the duty of the police to pro-

•From left: Members of Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Joke Sholaja; Organising Secretary, Akindele Akinnuoye; National Coodinator, OLM, Comrade Gbenga Awosode and Board of: Trustees Secretary, OLM, Mr. Popoola Ajayi, during the press briefing by the Oodua Liberation Movement and the Network of Yoruba Alliance in Lagos. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

tect voters. “If the recent postponement is test the people’s reaction as to what is

likely to happen if the election is out rightly cancelled and an Interim Government miscalculated.

“Nigerians will resist it as they have vehemently resisted June 12, 1993 election annulment.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Reps urge electricity firm to cut consumers’ losses

HE House of Representatives Committee on Power has urged the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) to upgrade its equipment to reduce consumers’ losses. Its Chairman Patrick Ikhariale, who spoke to The Nation during the committee’s visit to the remodelled National Meter Test Station and the Technical Inspectorate Service Field Office in Lagos, last weekend, urged EMSL to ensure that its services meet global best standard. The meter test station is part of the units and services under EMSL. Ikhariale said: “EMSL is a centre that was set up to test and ensure that meters deployed to our various homes and offices meet the best standards globally. Meter is a fundamental asset of

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

electricity distribution, to that extent, the committee and the National Assembly ensure that this agency addresses the shortcomings in that area. We are satisfied with the nature of the equipment we have seen here, including the calibre of men and women trained to do the job. The meters you see here are comparable to what you can see anywhere in the world and that is the essence of having them in place. “Beyond that is the fact that they do routine check of any meter that is coming into the market whether local or outside to ensure the meters meet the standards they are expected to have. The gains cannot be over emphasised. We have had issues of transformers catching fire or

$1b local investments in Egina project, says Content Board

VER $1 billion has been invested in the local content scope of Egina Deepwater, says the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). NCDMB Executive Secretary Ernest Nwapa said in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last weekend that $60 million is the worth of Saipem’s Nigerian Content scope on the Egina project. He was speaking at Saipem’s new double quadruple joint plant. The $15 billion Egina deep water owned by Total Exploration and Production, according to Nwapa, is the first major oil and gas project to be started under the Nigerian Content Act and it includes a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, an oil offloading terminal and subsea production systems such as risers, 52km of oil and water injection flowlines, 12 flexible jumpers, 20km of gas export pipelines, 80km of umbilicals and subsea manifolds. He said the Saipem’s plant was worthy of celebration as it confirmed that the Board’s strategy to include Capacity Development Initiatives (CDIs) in major projects was working. He informed that CDIs would promote opportunities for training, knowledge and technology acquisition, adding that shop floors were expanding and capacity to execute work in Nigeria has increased substantially. Nwapa also said over $5 billion worth of investments have been made in Nigerian fabrication yards since the signing of the Nigerian Content Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, especially by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) member companies and other firms like Aveon, Cameron, Ladol, Nigerdock, FMC, Tenaris, EWT, among others while about 40,000 technical jobs were being created per annum. He hailed President Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke for providing the political support and conducive environment to implement the Nigerian Content Act. “Their support strengthened the Board to overcome local and interna-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

tional resistance from very powerful forces,” he added. NCDMB chief also praised Total for its investments in Nigeria, despite the challenging economic environment, particularly the fall in crude oil prices, adding that the Board was focusing more on its developmental roles to collaborate to achieve the targets set by the Act. The Managing Director of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited (SCNL) Mr. Giussepe Surace, confirmed that the company is in Nigeria to stay and invests to demonstrate its commitment to the nation. He said the company sees Nigerian Content as an opportunity for development rather than a requirement for compliance. Representatives of international oil and gas companies, service providers especially local partners of Saipem on the Egina project attended the event. Saipem’s local partners expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to build their businesses and acquire new capabilities. Another company, Mudiame also secured accreditation to carry out high tech qualification tests on the project.

getting burnt as a result of faulty meters. It was such nasty experiences or occurrences that actually contributed greatly to our being very supportive of this agency, so that the colossal losses that are often suffered in both human and material whenever it happens if not eliminated, should be reduced drastically to the barest minimum. He continued: “Since their inception they have been able to checkmate one or two events that could have led to nasty incidents but there is always room for improvement because technology continues to evolve as science is one thing that is very innovative.” On the EMSL bill, Ikhariale said: “The most critical aspect of a bill is the second reading where you debate it in principle and I can tell you without fear of any contradiction of any kind that when this bill was first introduced, it got the necessary support through the first reading, then the second reading when it was being debated in principle, we had only one dissenting voice

out of the entire members that were present on the floor to debate it, so 99 per cent of those who contributed to this bill supported it because of the place and importance of the role that the agency is meant to play in the energy sector of Nigeria. Beyond that there was a public hearing and that is the icing on the cake when you talk about bill. In the course of the public hearing, 8590 per cent of those who contributed to the public hearing which was elaborate supported massively the essence and need for this agency to be in place. That has taken place and the committee of the house has evaluated, assessed and appraised the content and the outcome of the public hearing and has since submitted the report for consideration before the House. The National Assembly, I can tell you to all intents and purposes have completed 90 per cent of what it needs to do as far as the bill is concerned. Once the consideration has taken place, it becomes a matter for the executive to do the needful but the National Assembly would have

discharged its responsibility. Considering that the issue is a matter that touches the root of the energy sector, I believe the executive arm of government will not be insensitive to the essence of the bill.” EML’s Managing Director, Peter Ewesor, said: “The EMSL was established in line with the power sector reform so that it will handle those functions that needed to be dealt with in the power industry to ensure that electrical materials and equipment have the right standard and quality from generation, transmission and to distribution. It also ensures that the processes of putting those infrastructures in place are properly executed in line with designed specification and international standard. He added:”When projects are conceived starting from generation, this agency needs to be informed with relevant design documents which we will review and find out whether those designs will materialise into fruition to deliver the service that is meant to deliver.”

•From left: Committee clerk, Jekop Dan-Alih; Hon. Mohammed Ricco; Hon. Ikhariale; Ewesor; and Hon. Simon Arabo, during the visit in Lagos.

Fed Govt seeks states’support for solar energy

HE Federal Government is seeking the 36 states’ support to ensure that new houses use solar energy for lighting, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Minister of Power on Access to Power/Renewables Dr Herbert Okorodu has said. He said the development was to enable Nigerians maximise the potential in renewables, especially solar, to ensure that people depend less on conventional sources of energy, such as thermal and hydro. He said if new homes were powered by solar and use Light Emitting Diode (LED) energy saving bulbs, Nigeria’s electricity consumption will reduce from 35 per cent to 20 per cent. Okorodu said getting the support of the state governments on the issue was vital to the realisation of the Federal Government’s objective on solar energy in the country. Okorodu told The Nation that the

By Akinola Ajibade

state governments have the power to control some activities in their domains, hence the decision of the Federal Government to seek their approval on the issue. He said: “The Federal Government through the Ministry of Power is buying into or seeking the consent of the state governments to achieve success in getting every new house to use solar for lightning. The reason is because state government exercise some level of control over their domains, a development which requires the Federal Government to seek their approval on the issue. The use of solar energy is part of the National Building Planning Policy coming up soon. Once it is ratified, the government needs to seek endorsement from relevant authorities, and partnership with stakeholders in the real estate sector to ensure new houses use solar for lighting among others. The Presidency has bought

the idea and has issued a directive to that effect.” He said the plans by the government to mandate owners of new houses to use solar energy for lighting, was borne out of the need to conserve energy. He said when this happens, industrial clusters and the economy would be able to access more electricity for growth. “The electricity situation in the country has worsened, which informed the decision of the government to manage electricity to achieve a reasonable level of development. To achieve this, the government is working out modalities on how to ensure that every new house uses solar energy for lighting,” he added. Okorodu said findings have shown that any house that uses more than one kilowatt of power needs solar power to save energy. He said a kilowatt is made of 1,000 watts of electricity, stressing that people waste several kilowatts of electricity by switching on lights

for hours, air conditioners, freezers, and other appliances. He explained that people use bulbs of 60watts in a conventional energy system, noting that they could replace such bulbs with LED energy saving bulbs which has six watts. ‘’There are millions of 60 watts bulbs across the country. The moment people use energy savings bulbs of six watts, they have saved 54 watts of electricity. When you multiply 54 watts of energy saved by millions of electricity consumers in the country, you would realise that billions of watts have been saved. This can be channelled into industrial clusters, to enable the industries to operate well,” he said. In recent times, campaigns for the use of renewable energy have been intensified, with countries such as Germany, United States and others, which are ready to provide technical assistance to Nigeria on the issue.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

ENERGY

Lagos, firm to partner on technology, solar energy

HE Lagos State Government will partner Eaton International Industries Nigeria Limited, an American energy solutions firm, to boost technology development and its solar power project, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, has said. Speaking at Eaton’s inaugural West Africa Technology Day in Lagos, Mrs. Oworu, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, said: “Sustainability and energy-efficiency are vital requirements for the economic viability of businesses around the world. As Nigeria works to continue and accelerate its economic promise, we are pleased to be hosting a premier power solutions provider like Eaton, for the benefit of business and economic development across Nigeria and the West Africa Region.” Eaton’s West Africa Sales Manager, Electrical Sector, Charles Iyo, said: “The emergence of Nigeria as an economic powerhouse is dependent on developing innovative technolo-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi & Lucas Ajanaku

gies to solve our country’s toughest power management challenges. Our vision is to establish Eaton as one of the premier power management companies in the region providing customised, innovative solutions that enable our Nigerian and West African customers to use electrical, fluid and mechanical power more reliably, efficiently, safely and sustainably.” Eaton’s Managing Director Africa, Electrical Sector, Mr. Shane Kilfoil, said: “The West Africa Technology Day represents another key milestone in Eaton’s 78-year history in Africa. Technology Days are one of the most important platforms Eaton uses to raise market awareness of the company’s extensive power management capabilities and we are delighted to host it here in Lagos where we can showcase our innovative solutions to our customers from Nigeria and Western Africa. We are tremendously excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in this dynamic and fast growing

market.” Kilfoil announced that Eaton would also leverage its expertise and capabilities in Africa through its manufacturing facilities in South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia, its extensive distributor network and a dedicated team of 900 employees across the region to support the US Government’s Power Africa initiative in Nigeria as well as in Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Eaton’s team at the Technology Kurt McMaken, President Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Frank Campbell, President Electrical Sector EMEA; Shane Kilfoil, Managing Director Africa, Electrical Sector; Yishay Weissman, Sales Manager sub-Saharan Africa, Eaton Hydraulic Sector and Charles Iyo, West Africa Sales Manager, Electrical Sector. Eaton has specialised solutions in Oil and Gas, Data Centre and IT, Mining, Electrical Utilities, Solar and Wind. Eaton’s Nigeria office opened in Lagos in August, last year and serves the needs of Eaton’s customers in Nigeria as well as Western Africa.

Investment, local content key to Nigeria’s goals

IGERIA’S dream of becoming a hub for offshore business in West Africa can only be realised when it is able to resolve its local content problems, increase crude oil production, and investment opportunities in oil and gas, the Chief Executive Officer, Ladol Nigeria, Dr Amy Jadesimi has said. She said the country is losing its aspirations to neigbouring countries, such as Ghana, Gambia, and others that are creating new investments, and addressing local content issues. Jadesimi at a forum in Lagos urged the Federal Government to step up efforts in resolving its infrastructural problems that inhibit the growth of the industry. She said: “Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves used to be the largest in Africa. But that is no longer the case. The level of investment coming into Nigeria has gone down. The level of investment in Nigeria should be 10 per cent times bigger than what go to other countries. It is disheartening to note that the country gets only close to level investments that go to her neighbours.” “Full enforcement of the Local Con-

By Akinola Ajibade

tent Act and the swift passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be major drivers because they will help to attract investments into Nigeria.” Jadesinmi said investors could be secured only when Nigeria has an enabling economic environment. She said when this happens, investors would be able to choose from array of service providers and facilities available to carry out their businesses. She said Nigeria does not have enough facilities to service its market, let alone the West African market. “The market in Nigeria is very under-served that means the country cannot serve bigger markets. We have demonstrated that indigenous participation is the key to success. Paying foreign companies to come and build facilities themselves as part of their contracts, as previously done, does not work,” she added. She said there were immense opportunities in the Free Trade Zones (FTZ), urging the government and private sector operators to tap into them for growth.

Shell advances work on Bonga Southwest/Aparo project

HE Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has said it is committed to the implementation of the SNEPCO-operated Bonga Southwest/Aparo (BSWA) project. It debunked reports that it has stopped the development of the project due to the slump in oil price. “We can confirm that we are progressing the tender for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts to support the project,” said the Managing Director, SNEPCo, Tony Attah. “Although, the process has encountered some delays, we are optimistic for a final investment decision in the 2015/16 timeframe under the right conditions,’’ he added. The Corporate Media Relations Manager, Precious Okolobo, said the BSWA project includes the construction of a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility with an expected peak production of 225,000 barrels of oil per day. The BSWA field straddles Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 118, 132 and 140.

SNEPCo is the Unit Operator of the BSWA Unitisation project pursuant to a Pre-Unit Agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited, Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Sasol Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited. The Bonga project, which began oil and gas production in 2005, is Nigeria’s first deep-water development in water depths of over 1,000 metres. Last year, SNEPCo also started oil production at the Bonga Northwest deep-water development, with the oil transported by a new undersea pipeline to the existing Bonga FPSO and export facility. In November, last year, SNEPCo announced plans to drill eight more wells in the Bonga field in the third phase of the Bonga Main development. Bonga has produced over 500 million barrels of oil to date.

Oando Energy achieves five years’ safety

O •From left: President, Electrical Sector, EMEA, Frank Campbell ; Managing Director, Africa, Shane Kilfoil; Regional Sales Manager, West Africa, Charles Iyo; General Manager Africa, Yishay Weissman and President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Kurt McMaken, all of Eaton Industries, at the Eaton West Africa Tech Day in Lagos.

Court adjourns suit on FPSO contract

HE Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned a suit by Mr. John Iyene Owubokiri against the Attorney-General of Federation and others over the construction of Total's Egina floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit. Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria, one of the defendants, was alleged to have flouted a subsisting court order that the status quo be maintained. The plaintiff is challenging the process that led to the award of the Egina FPSO contract to Samsung Heavy Industries. He prayed the court to set the contract aside. At the last hearing before Justice Okon Abang, Owubokiri's lawyer Olukayode Enitan, informed the Court of the flagrant Samsung Heavy Industries Ni-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

geria and Total Upstream Nigeria Limited allegedly continued to breach the court's order. He asked the Court to make orders of interim injunction to restrain the Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction. Enitan said he would proceed to do the needful by bringing appropriate processes with a view to citing the defendants for contempt. Samsung Heavy Industries, in a Notice of Preliminary Objection, is challenging the court's jurisdiction on ground that the plaintiff does not have locus standi to institute the action, especially since he was not a party to the events that led to award of the contract.

It also filed a Counter Affidavit in opposing the Plaintiff's motion for interlocutory injunction, while requesting an extension of time to file their processes. Total Upstream Nigeria's lawyer informed the Court that he has just been briefed by his client. He sought an adjournment to enable him file his processes. The fourth and fifth defendants also sought adjournments to enable them tidy up their paperwork before the Court. The Defendants requested an adjournment to the middle of March but Enitan objected, noting that a date in February would be preferable subject to the convenience of the court. Justice Abang adjourned till February 25 for hearing of all pending applications.

ANDO Energy Services Limited (OESL), a subsidiary of Oando Plc, that operates swamp drilling rigs services, has achieved five years of continuous operations without Lost Time Injury (LTI) on its flagship rig, ‘OES Teamwork.’ LTI is a measure of injury sustained on the job, capable of preventing a worker from performing or continuing a task or resulting in operational downtime. It is an oil and gas industry benchmark that evaluates adherence to safety and environmental requirements in the course of operations. As a result, LTI is a critical Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Oando’s conformity with best practices within the oil and gas industry. The ability of the ‘OES Teamwork’ crew to maintain five years of operations without witnessing an LTI is a reflection of Oando’s commitment to service excellence to both its internal and external stakeholders, Head, Corporate Communications, Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune said. The ‘OES Teamwork’ swamp rig has drilled 19 wells, since it commenced operation in 2010. The rig is the first 3,000 HP modern swamp drilling barge to operate in the Niger Delta, and is equipped with 15,000 psi Blowout Preventers (BOP), which are designed to drill High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) wells to depths of 30,000 ft.

OESL’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bandele Badejo, said: “Congratulations to the ‘OES Teamwork’ team on the achievements of five years without LTI.This noteworthy achievement is a validation of the safe work culture and compliance to Environmental Health Safety Security and Quality (EHSSQ) processes on our rigs notwithstanding a rig’s operational status. I commend the team’s unrelenting commitment in maintaining an incident free rig in spite of challenges instigated by the current downtown in the industry. We envisage a positive outlook for the industry in the second quarter of this year and urge our rig teams to continuously maintain the implementation of world class safety standard activities will pick-up thereby easing our cash-flow challenges.”-99 Oando’s Chief Environmental Health Safety Security and Quality Officer, Mr. Chjioke Akwukwuma, praised the achievement, saying: “This is a significant and laudable feat in the history of OESL and within the Oando Group. It is further proof of our dedication to always inculcate an enduring safety culture amongst our employees, and our exemplary adherence to best practices. We will continue to integrate safety processes in our day-to-day business operations across all our locations, and where possible improve on these processes so that we consistently surpass past achievements.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

THE NATION

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BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

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FHA set to transform FESTAC, Gwarimpa, others

HE FESTAC housing scheme in Lagos which was built in 1977, and the Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja, are to be rehabilitated under the Federal Government’s urban renewal initiative. Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Managing Director Prof. Mohammed AlAmin said under the initiative, projects to be worked on have been prioritised, based on the estate’s age. FESTAC, he said, is among the first generation of estates that deserve FHA’s attention. He said many issues would be resolved before the project starts, adding that for instance, there were issues of non- payment of statutory fees, allocations and multiple uses in lands restricted for extension. Al-Amin said a four-prong approach has been adopted for Gwarimpa Estate, pointing out that this is because there are four native settlements/villages that are still part of Gwarimpa. Hence, negotiations are on going, trying to convince the locals to accept relocation to another place temporarily, while the government tries to remove their shanties, construct high rise buildings, and then allocate a certain unit of those blocks to them. “This is a new system of urban regeneration, where you integrate the original inhabitants of urban communities.We are starting it for the first time in Nigeria. The so called neighbourhood centres that we have both in FESTAC and in Gwarimpa are going to be

Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

transformed to not only market type of barrack stalls and shops, but into modern mini-malls where you can get in there, buy almost all you want and then come out within a beautiful parking lot with all the security or facilities that you have that is what we are planning and that is what is coming to FESTAC,” Al-Amin explained. He said just as modern estate around the world have fantastic facilities, utilities and services, which he said, are absent in FESTAC estate as well as in other estates in the country, the FHA is determined to create a very large area of its estate and erect solar farm, which he reckons will take the estates off the national electricity crisis, and making electric power available for the occupants of the estates 24 hours. Other services to be improved on include the fire service, the landline telephones for houses and excellent security system with CCTV cameras, a dedicated line for water system. These are to start with Gwarimpa scheme, and then taken to FESTAC.

Also, the landscaping issue, for instance, in Gwarimpa, will see the environment benefitting from a planned planting of seven million trees in the area this year alone. This, according to the FHA boss, is in line with the thinking of bringing Gwarimpa to a standard of the neighbourhood that is known as Surrey in England, where most of the rich live. “Most of the millionaires don’t stay in London really, they migrate to Surrey because of the fantastic things that are there. This is exactly what is going to happen in Gwarimpa and FESTAC and not only in these two places, but across the country,” Al-Amin added. But the regeneration of an estate as huge as FESTAC or Gwarimpa involves huge capital. This is a source of worry for stakeholders who said the government alone cannot muscle the financial requirement for this initiative. The FHA boss explained that the financing of the scheme would not be handled by an entity, and that FHA as facilitators for this urban renewal programme, has its own budgets, just as the private developers that

are participating in the project also have a certain amount of money that they have injected. Besides, the residents will have to bear certain costs, which are normally the commitment that they are owing the authority. “If you have spent 10 years without paying, we will ask you to pay just for five years and then we will wave the rest. If you have altered the structures that we have provided, you will need to pay us planning fees. We are going to subsidise it, but ensure within certain period that fee is paid. If there are some other contraventions that attract penalties we will encourage you to pay,” he said. On FESTAC, Al-Amin said some issues were being sorted out; work on the FESTAC Phase II development had been okayed by the Federal Government under a new model by conceding a certain part of the area to private developers to provide services, come up with a fantastic designs and allocate the lands to people under strict supervision. This area will be competing with Dubai up to Geneva, or even Los Angeles in terms of structures, when completed, Al-Amin added.

Firm holds investors’ forum

HE promoters of Rainbow World Estate, Port Harcourt, Rainbow Town Development Limited, has concluded a subscribers’ and investors’forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event was organised to showcase the state of the project, which has recorded about 80 percent in completion and development now in its second phase. According to the Managing Director, Rainbow Town Development Limited, Chima Ucheya, the forum became imperative to bring the subscribers under one roof for an assessment of the project. He reiterated the firm’s commitment to delivering a world-class housing project, which has been touted to be the biggest housing estate in the sub-Saharan Africa region. “This forum provided an opportunity for subscribers and interested investors to undertake a facility tour within the estate and ask important questions to which satisfactory answers were provided,” he said. Ucheya reiterated that RainbowWorld is the choice destination for investors seeking attractive and enduring returns as well as residents in need of a home they can call their own. Boasting the best in premium residential and business infrastructure, the estate combines a unique blend of nature with an integrated world-class community that provides an unparalleled advantage for families to conveniently live, work and play within the same environment when fully completed. The housing units in the estate include duplexes, terrace houses, exquisite apartments and penthouses, among a myriad of recreational, medical, social and businesssupport facilities. The range of housing options are the point block tower, the city block tower, terrace house and detached house which are all built to world-class standard and luxuriously finished. “Rainbow World is Nigeria’s flagship urban renewal scheme that re-images and transforms a blighted neighborhood in metropolitan Port Harcourt, Rivers State, into a regenerated brand of premium mixed-use community of residential, commercial, healthcare, educational and recreational facilities set in a contemporary urban environment,” Ucheya said.

•Lagos State Low Cost Housing Estate, Isolo, Lagos ... a mass housing project.

Mortgage costs fall by £1,700 in four weeks

MORTGAGE rate war among banks has reduced the cost of a typical home loan by £1,700 in just four weeks, figures show. Dozens of new deals have been unveiled since the turn of the year, offering borrowers lower rates and cheaper fees. The latest round of cuts made by First Direct, allows borrowers to lock into a 2.89 per cent rate for a decade – a record low for such a long period. The announcement follows similar moves this week by HSBC, Barclays and Norwich & Peterborough building society. Calculations for The Telegraph showed families who remortgaged a £200,000 loan would be as much as £1,689 better off over the next half-decade compared to a month ago. Costs are being driven down by fierce competition between lenders and indications that the Bank of England will keep interest rates low for longer. Mortgage brokers are predicting even cheaper deals to come, with twoyear rates tipped to fall below one per cent and five-year deals below two per cent “within weeks”.

Mark Harris of broker SPF Private Clients, said: “Lenders are keen to advance more money this year and they’re cutting their prices to attract customers. Banks will hope to make money by selling customers other products such as current accounts and credit cards.” Aaron Strutt, of Trinity Financial, another broker, said: “For fixed rates to go below 1 per cent would be extraordinary, but that now looks likely to happen very soon.” The best new deals since January include a 1.19 per cent two-year fix from HSBC for someone with a 40 per cent deposit, down from 1.29 per cent before. For someone with an 80 per cent deposit the best two-year rate has fallen from 1.98 per cent to 1.79 per cent, following a move by Marsden Building Society to undercut the Post Office. The cheapest five-year rate is First Direct’s 2.28 per cent, which was one of a number of cuts made on Friday. The biggest savings from the mortgage rate war were for people with a 10 per cent deposit, figures from broker London & Country showed.

A month ago, borrowers could get a five-year loan from Skipton Building Society for 3.99 per cent with a £1,055 fee. The cheapest rate is offered by Norwich & Peterborough, which charges 3.84 per cent with a fee of £1,285. Over the course of the loan, the borrower will repay £1,689 less. The calculations showed every type of borrower taking a mortgage today would be better off than in January. The rate reductions would give them at least an extra £200 over the course of their loan, regardless of the size of their deposit. Mr. Harris said banks were able to offer cheaper deals partly because the outlook for interest rates had changed. The Bank of England voted to hold interest rates at 0.5 per cent for the 71st successive month. Economists said falling inflation, driven by the slump in oil prices, had reduced the urgency for rate rises. Martin Beck, an economist at the EY ITEM Club, the respected financial forecaster, said: “We are of the view that there won’t be an interest rise in 2015.” •Culled from The Telegraph

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-02-15

Bargain-hunters boost equities amidst tight trades

IGERIAN equities opened this week on the upside as bargain-hunters moved into low-priced, undervalued stocks. Against the background of the N801 billion loss last week, the market heaved a sigh of relief yesterday with a modest gain of N48 billion. With 20 gainers to 26 losers, transactions remained tight and the bears continued to lurk around several stocks. The overall market situation was however impacted by gains by several highly capitalized stocks including Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Dangote Cement, Forte Oil, Seplat Petroleum Development Company and FBN Holdings. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) increased from N9.204 trillion to N9.252 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index for the stock market, inched up by 0.52 per cent to 27,728.63 points as against its opening index of 27,585.26 points. Seplat recorded the highest gain of N19 to close at N404. Forte Oil followed with a gain of N7.91 to close at N220. Nestle Nigeria rose by N7.25 to close at N753.50. Dangote Cement added N2.09 to close at N143.99. Seven-Up Bottling Company rose by rose by 85 kobo to N150. Zenith Bank gained 53 kobo to close at N16.15. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria gathered 51 kobo to close at N10.71. Guaranty Trust Bank rose by 40 kobo to N17.40. National Salt Com-

pany of Nigeria rose by 30 kobo to N6.30 while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company added 22 kobo to close at N4.72. Banks were the most active stocks with FCMB Group leading the activity chart with a turnover of 82.25 million shares valued at N164.62 million in 47 deals. Guaranty Trust Bank followed with a turnover of 31.88 million shares worth N548.74 million in 415 deals. United Bank for Africa (UBA) placed third with a turnover of 25.90 million shares valued at N77.58 million in 226 deals. Altogether, financial services stocks recorded a turnover of 256.44 million shares worth N1.30 billion in 2,081 deals. Total turnover stood at 316.51 million shares worth N2.83 billion in 3,786 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-02-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

MONEYLINK Naira devaluation looms as CBN sells FX outside target band

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened in defence of the naira yesterday by selling foreign exchange (FX) outside its official band for the second time, a sign that the apex bank could weaken the currency to save its dwindling foreign reserves. The naira crashed through a psychologically important level of 200 to the dollar last week in a rout triggered by weak oil prices and escalating tension over the postponement of a presidential election, prompting the CBN to step up the intervention. The bank sold dollars in a special auction at N198 to the dollar, similar level to Friday’s sale, and once again banned banks from reselling dollars bought at the currency auction to other banks. “The special foreign exchange auctions are not sustainable in the current setting until and unless oil prices rise significantly, there is little the authorities can do to pre-

Stories by Collins Nweze

vent the naira from weakening,” Angus Downie, Head of Research at Ecobank told Reuters. Both the Monday and Friday trades by the bank were outside a target band of N160 to N176 to the dollar it set in November when it devalued the currency by eight per cent to save its foreign reserves. The devaluation failed to ease pressure on the naira in an economy reliant on oil for more than 90 percent of its dollar inflows. Meanwhile, the Aberdeen Asset Management Plc has said that the naira is still overvalued and it needs to depreciate more before foreign investors are tempted to buy naira assets again. “You’re probably looking at something closer to 225 or 230" per dollar as the fair rate for the naira, Kevin Daly, who helps manage $13 billion of developing-market debt

Barclays seeks investment banking licence ARCLAYS Africa Group Limited’s Corporate and Investment banking unit has approached Nigerian authorities for approval to convert its representative office to a fully fledged business in the country. The bank has been increasing its staff in Lagos in preparation for receiving the license, Temi Ofong, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking outside of South Africa for Barclays Africa, said in a February 13 interview in Gaborone, Botswana. The Nigerian licensing process could take at least 12 months, Ofong told Reuters. “We have an ongoing strategy to expand our footprint and we

Empire Trust MfB begins operation

have formally engaged with the authorities in Nigeria to apply for licenses,” he said. The Barclays Africa unit’s representative office has been expanded to have a staff of 20, Ofong said. “These include investment brokers and a trade finance team of four people out of Lagos.” Standard Chartered Plc, Standard Bank Group Ltd and the investment banking unit of FirstRand Ltd., Africa’s biggest bank, all have operating licenses in Nigeria. The country’s economy will probably expand by 4.8 percent this year, more than twice as fast as South Africa’s projected 2.1 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele at Aberdeen said by phone from London. “Clearly the central bank is trying to prevent a larger devaluation before the elections.”

MPIRE Trust Microfinance Bank has commenced operation, the Managing Director, Seun Durojaye, has said. He explained that the emergence of the financial institution was a product of eight years of study of the sub-sector, having been involved in other forms of businesses revolving around micro and small enterprises and financing. Speaking during the opening of the lender in Lagos, Durojaye said: “In our target areas, we know many of the people are bank-shy, but with our model and mass marketing strategy, we would rave up the market and provide access to finance to our customers with ease. “We are in partnership with Stanbic IBTC Bank for now, in the area of correspondent banking. The agreement is that every

FirstBank attains ISO22301 recertification

IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited has achieved the recertification of the international Business Continuity Management - ISO22301 (Societal Security: Business Continuity Management System) certification. This feat, the bank said in a statement, accentuates the it’s commitment to constantly delight its customers through excellent service delivery whilst ensuring the safety and protection of customers’ investments and the bank’s assets. The recertification was achieved after successfully completing the three-year certification maintenance cycle which encompasses the annual surveillance audit for two years and a rigorous recertification audit recently conducted by the British Standard Institute (BSI). Having been the first institution in Nigeria to achieve the BS25999,

global Certification on Business Continuity Management in 2011, and upgrade to the new international certification on Business Continuity Management - ISO22301 in 2013, this recertification has again demonstrated the Bank’s sustained leadership position in the industry and its continued investment in business architecture designed to withstand the full spectrum of downside risks to our operations. FirstBank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bisi Onasanya, said the bank’s attainment of this feat reassures our customers of the bank’s resilience and continuous improvements in line with global best practices. Ultimately, this elevates the FirstBank brand, underpinning its competitive advantage and reinforcing the confidence of its stakeholders in their relationship with the bank.

customer of our bank can withdraw money from their account and as well put money in their account in any of the 300 branches of the bank.” He said all of the MfB’s customers can use MasterCard, such that wherever they are in Nigeria and outside the country, they can have access to their account, without the protocol of coming to the head office or branch for transactions. “This is important because people believe that once you put your money in microfinance bank, you should forget about it since they have only one or two branches where you can make transactions and that does not apply to us, especially for those who go to other states to conduct their business and may not want to carry their cash around,” he said. Durojaye said the bank would offer competitive rates both to lending and deposits, but noted that to some extent, the challenge in the development of small businesses is not basically lending rates, rather it is access to finance, especially for viable ideas that are left unsupported. LCCI President, Alhaji Remi Bello, who was also the guest of honour at the inauguration of the microfinance bank in Lagos, said the chamber is happy with the promoters of the financial institution and will identify with any effort directed at boosting the activities of small businesses especially in the area of finance and credit. “Lack of access to credit by small and micro enterprises businesses has been identified as a major reason for the growing level of poverty in many developing countries. This further underscores the crucial role of microfinance institutions in the economic growth and development process, especially in their service to small businesses,” he said.

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 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 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 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17

GAINERS AS AT 16-02-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

CCNN NASCON IKEJAHOTEL SKYEBANK SEPLAT NAHCO FO ZENITHBANK TRANSCORP GURARANTY

10.20 6.00 3.02 1.82 385.00 4.50 212.09 15.62 2.28 17.00

10.71 6.30 3.17 1.91 404.00 4.72 220.00 16.15 2.35 17.40

0.51 0.30 0.15 0.09 19.00 0.22 7.91 0.53 0.07 0.40

LOSERS AS AT 16-02-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

UAC-PROP CHAMPION HONYFLOUR BETAGLAS AGLEVENT CAP OANDO FIDELITYBK LIVESTOCK RTBRISCOE FLOURMILL CUTIX

11.94 5.94 3.15 30.00 1.20 38.75 13.50 1.25 2.09 0.84 29.00 1.54

10.79 5.37 2.85 28.50 1.14 36.82 12.83 1.19 1.99 0.80 27.67 1.47

CHANGE -1.15 -0.57 -0.30 -1.50 -0.06 -1.93 -0.67 -0.06 -0.10 -0.04 -1.33 -0.07

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 13, 2015

R-DAS ($/N)

169.680

Interbank ($/N)

199.100

Black Market ($/N)

210.000

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: December

CBN EXCHANGE RATES (RDAS) February 11, 2015

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$33.2b

US Dollar

167

168

$60.91

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

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) 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

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

15.033

15.977

15.809

17.177

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates

WAUA

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

Amount

T-bills - 364

13.92

Offered in ($)

Sold in ($)

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

03/02/2015 3/12/2014

500m 400m

499.93m 399.97m

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

1/12/2014

350m

349.96m

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS Revealed: PDP’s plan to drag military into rigging plot Continued from page 4

the Northwest to arrest leading members of the APC as was the case in Ekiti State in the last governorship election. The meeting, attended by PDP governors and other caucus members, resolved to compile the names of key APC members to be placed under security watch from now till the elections. The Nation learnt that the meeting also discussed how to discredit the chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega. INEC and Jega , the meeting resolved, must be presented as incapable of conducting free and fair elections . To do this, the party must not relent on its opposition to the use of the Permanent Voter Card and card readers for the election, it was resolved. The meeting also resolved that the PDP must sustain its campaign against Gen. Buhari, “who must be discredited and all means used to douse his popularity”. In the Northeast, voters must be scared from voting so as to “ depopulate the APC. “This strategy has been criticised by APC’s spokesman Lai Mohammed who accused the PDP of dropping leaflets in strategic places in Gombe, warning voters not to show up for the elections. It was learnt that the meeting, blamed the party’s Presidential Campaign Committee( PCC) , headed by Dr. Ahmad’s Ali , for the low turnout at many of the rallies. “It was clear from the discussion that the main concern of those present is the votes of Northwest which they believe the APC candidate will sweep in a free and fair contest, “ the source said . “ They are determined to deny him this block vote, “ he added. The Northwest, Northcentral and Northeast have a combined voters’ strengthe of 37,120,011. The Northwest alone accounts for 18,616,499 voters. This is more than the Northeast’s figure of 10,447,510. The Northcentral has 8,056,002. The APC and its candidate enjoy huge support in the Northwest. This, said a source, is disturbing to the PDP which is ready to decinate the APC’s hold in the geopolitical

zone. The defection of Governor Aliyu Wammako, who is a “grassroots politician and games master”, and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to APC has made a mess of the electoral fortunes of PDP in the caliphate. The dilemma of the ruling party heightened with the persistent crisis in the PDP over the choice of a governorship candidate. Sokoto State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, who has been the unifying factor of the party, was denied the ticket, leaving room for protest votes. Vice-President Namadi Sambo has gone to Sokoto for reconciliation but the warring factions remain adamant. Sokoto is a natural political habitat of Gen. Buhari, who scored 540, 769 to Jonathan’s 309, 057 when PDP was intact. To shore up its image, the PDP wooed ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa to its side but he is yet to add value to the party till date. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), is also under pressure to return his state to the ruling party. Though not a politician, Col. Dasuki could wield influence in the ruling party. The imposition of a former Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre in the Presidency, Maj-Gen Sarki Yaki Bello (Kebbi Central) as the party’s governorship candidate has become an albatross for PDP in the state. Governor Saidu Dakingari cannot deliver the state to Jonathan, going by the gale of defections from the PDP to the APC. Although the state voted for Gen. Buhari by 501,453 to Jonathan’s 369, 198 in 2011, PDP’s rating has fallen drastically. The APC has the sympathy of the likes of the political godfather of the state, ex-Governor Adamu Aliero; ex-Secretary to the State Government Ahmed Samma; Dr. Yahaya Aliyu; Malam Bukhari Bello; Dr. Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi, Abubakar Atiku Bunu, Abubakar Chika Malami, Ahmed Mohammed Sama, Salihu Isah Nataro, Bala Musa Sakaba, Mohammed Nasir Sala Koko, Sadeeq Sule IkoSami, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu, ex-Military Administrator Col. Inuwa Bawa and

Sadiq Yelwa, among others. Complacency and intra-party wranglings were the lot of the defunct CPC in Katsina State in 2011. But, even at that, Gen. Buhari earned 1, 163, 919 votes to beat Jonathan with 428, 392. If PDP has anything to salvage its image, it is the record performance of Governor Ibrahim Shema. Yet, with the cult following of Gen. Buhari, he will still defeat the President again without blinking an eye. The people of Katsina are desirous of returning power to the state following the death of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua in May 2010. Gen. Buhari’s luck is brightened by the support from the Yar’Aduas and their loyalists in the state. Kaduna is a familiar battleground where Vice-President Namadi Sambo is spiritedly struggling to deliver to prove critics wrong that he is a paperweight politician. Without Permanent Voter Cards in 2011, Jonathan-Sambo secured 1,190, 179 votes to lose the state to Gen. Buhari, who polled 1,334, 244. The defections of Suleiman Hunkuyi and some die-hard supporters of ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi may deplete the votes of PDP. The emergence of ex-Minister of FCT Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the anger of the people of Southern Kaduna against Governor Ramalan Yero over the incessant killings in their area by gunmen have created electoral obstacles for PDP in the state. Most supporters of the late Governor Patrick Yakowa are unhappy with Yero’s style for allegedly not creating a sense of belonging for all. The removal of the former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu (a Southerner from Kaduna) has fuelled the anger against PDP. With the political sagacity and organisational ability of Governor Sule Lamido, Buhari still defeated Jonathan in 2011 with 663,994 to 419, 252. The 2015 scenario is more interesting in Jigawa State as the governor is only keen on how to retain PDP’s control of all elective offices, except the presidency. It is also difficult to place Lamido who also recently abused Buhari and other key opposition leaders. A few weeks ago, Lamido rejected his appointment as the

Northwest Coordinator for Jonathan’s campaign because he was not consulted before the appointment was made public. Apart from being angry about the arrest of his son for money laundering, Lamido is also unhappy with the ongoing public spat between President Jonathan and his political godfather, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Given the choice any day, Lamido will pitch his tent with Obasanjo. He has consistently said Jonathan is yet to redeem the promises he made to the people of the state in 2011. Jigawa is an open electoral mine for Jonathan and Buhari to explore. But Buhari has mass followership in the state. He is likely to gain more votes. Kano is another Northwest electoral enclave of Gen. Buhari who got 1,624, 543 votes in 2011 to Jonathan’s 440,000. The defection of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to APC and his growing political popularity (having come second to Gen. Buhari at the APC presidential primaries) have weakened the PDP further. Expectedly, the PDP played a fast one to draw ex-Governor of Kano State Ibrahim Shekarau to its side to curtail the influence of the APC. But nothing has changed as Kwankwassiyya (the nickname for Kwankwaso’s political ideology) is the rave of the moment. Shekarau cannot confront Buhari and Kwankwaso at the same time and win. He was a beneficiary of Buhari’s mass support base in 2003 and 2007. INEC records confirmed that Shekarau got 917, 012 votes (2.40%) as a presidential candidate in 2011 of the 38, 209, 978 votes cast. Other factors against Jonathan in Kano are the Boko Haram insurgency, which is the state, the Presidency’s faceoff with ex-CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the gang-up of Kano elites against PDP. A source added that the plan to use the military to cut APC to size in the Northwest will take the same format as was used in Ekiti State, where the commander of an army division was detailed to work with PDP agents to ensure the emergence of Mr. Ayo Fayose as governor. It will involve the arrest and intimidation of key APC chiefs in various parts of the country.

Military blasts Obasanjo, says behaviour unbecoming Continued from page 4

least, very surprising. “It is surprising indeed, considering the fact that the retired General chose to ignore the clarification and emphatic assurances of non-partisanship of the military as declared in a DHQ statement on the position of the Armed Forces in the ongoing political activities.” The DHQ said Obasanjo’s motive was less than noble or well-intentioned. The statement added: “His motive, as usual, remains unknown but it is certainly less than noble or well intentioned. We dare say again that Chief Obasanjo’s assertions are false. “Much as the military desires to respect the old General and his views, it has become necessary to point out that his conduct and unguarded utterances of late have fallen short of the standard of discipline expected of an individual who has had the privilege of service in the military and risen to the status of a General. “The behavior of retired General (Chief) Obasanjo has been so unbecoming and continues to

constitute a serious embarrassment to the military before all who have reasonably and rightly adjudged the essence of military background in terms of the high value and standard it tends to contribute to statesmanship.” The DHQ asked Obasanjo to rid himself of parochial mindset he had been used to. It also said that officers and men in the military today were far better placed today. It added: “We feel constrained to remind the old General that the world has moved beyond that parochial and selfadulating reasoning and mindset, which he seems stuck to. “Indeed, he needs to be told that by virtue of their better training, exposure, education, assessment and environment, the military personnel of today are already far beyond his level in their appreciation of democracy and it’s indispensability for the stable and prosperous society which Nigerians cherish. “In this instance, the military wishes to inform the retired General, that the institution which he bequeathed to the nation has .certainly developed

beyond how he left it.” The DHQ insisted that the military had been non-partisan in the political development of the nation. The statement said: “The Nigerian military is now better placed to strive for the maintenance of the legacies and ethos of service, valour, subordination to constituted authorities, and non-partisan commitment to duty and fatherland. “It has to be restated that the military, as an institution, is neither as inept in the discharge of its duties, nor is it being misused for political ends in the manner the retired General Obasanjo, who is also a former President, has possibly been made to believe. “Indeed, the system now strongly believes in Democracy as well as its structures and institutions to the extent that it will do nothing whatsoever to undermine or truncate the steady growth and development of the nation’s democracy.” The military assured the nation that it would continue to work for democracy and stability of the country.

It advised Obasanjo to be genuinely interested in the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s democratic credentials. The statement said: “The military will remain professional as it keeps doing its best along with others to ensure adequate security and defence of the nation’s territorial integrity in this auspicious period in the country. “The Defence Headquarters will like to encourage Chief Obasanjo to be genuinely interested in the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s democratic credentials. He is also enjoined to endeavor to improve in his understanding of intricate issues and try to encourage the military rather than continue with this tendency to indulge in imputation of ulterior motives to every effort, all for the purpose of discrediting well thought out policies or decisions related to the military’s roles in the polity. “The support of all well-meaning elderly Nigerians remains vital in the onerous duty of working for the stability, defence, and peace of our country under duly constituted authorities in a democratic environment.”

Obasanjo tears his PDP card

•Chief Obasanjo Continued from page 4

be no PDP any more. What some of us should be concerned about is how to make Nigeria stronger and our economy will witness growth. “They said they want to expel me from the PDP, although I have not been told, but I have my ears to the ground. We’ve been trying to run away from a man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river. I have told you before that I became president on the platform of the PDP and once I leave the PDP, I will not join another party. “ I will only be a Nigerian. I’m ready to work with anybody, regardless of political

affiliation. Why would some people say they want to send me away? They don’t need to bother themselves, here’s your membership card; take it. “From today on in the presence of all of us and with your support I’m not going to be in any political party in Nigeria. I’m no more a politician but a statesman both internally and externally. The issue that they want to expel me from the party once you people are with me what other people am I looking for. “And on the day of election, whatever it takes, the PVC must be obtained. You don’t need to be a politician before you get your PVC. On the day of election, you can vote for your choice, but I will vote for those who repair Nigeria and not those who will destroy it. “What is important is that we should hold Ward 11 community together. What we are going to do now is that after I don’t have burden of PDP again help me tear into pieces my membership card. “How can anybody in his right senses talk of Interim National Government (ING) in a democratic setting? Some of them are working for it. God will not allow it. In my ward, we’ll be meeting from time to time to discuss and interact on whatever you want and what I want. “Nigeria will be okay. Ogun will be okay.”

Ex-president’s action angers party Continued from page 4

Bayo Dayo said “the totality of the executive, leaders and members of Peoples Democratic Party family in Ogun State hereby state categorically that as from today Monday 16th February, 2015 Olusegu Aremu Obasanjo stands expelied and excommunicated from the party. “He thereby loses all rights to previous privileges and respect of our teeming Party members. The general public, especially the media are to take note that whatever Obasanjo does or says must no longer be seen from the prism of a PDP leader. “His Ward 11 Abeokuta North Local Government has earlier sent in letter dated 12th Febuary, 2015 espressing serious concern at his numerous anti - Party activities and uncomplimentary utterances targeted at the leader of the party, President Jonathan. “It is ironic that this is the same Obasanjo who when he was president never tolerated nor accepted any opinion, suggestion or criticism of his tenure. “Members of the public, zonal organs of our party and the National Executive Committee of the PDP are to take note.” But the party’s national secretariat took a measured response. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, it said: “The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received the news of the decision of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to withdraw his membership of our great party. We have also carefully examined the circumstances and the reasons adduced for this unfortunate decision. “While we concede to the inalienable rights of every citizen to hold opinion and to decide who to associate with, we are however deeply saddened that Chief Obasanjo, a revered leader of our party, our first presidential flagbear-

er whom the PDP offered the platform to rule our nation for eight years, could decide to abandon this party at this critical point in time. “This is especially as Chief Obasanjo, who was also the Chairman of the highest advisory organ of the PDP, the Board of Trustees (BoT) discountenanced all pleas by elders and leaders of our great party with regard to his reservations on certain issues within our fold. “Many Nigerians are still bewildered as to what manner of provocation could have led a former president to lose his composure and go to the extent of tearing the membership card of the party that he once led. “Indeed, the PDP is hugely at loss as to how the decision and action of the former President who had enjoyed the benefits of being elected to the highest position of leadership will assist in deepening our democracy and stabilising the polity. “It is our considered opinion that no matter the provocation, a statesmanly disposition from a person of Chief Obasanjo’s status could have encouraged our citizens and help in stabilising system. “We believe, however, that what this country needs now is patriotic actions that engender national unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence of our people, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious persuasions. The overall interest of our nation and wellbeing of our citizens must remain paramount and above all personal and group interests. “Finally, we direct all our members across the country to remain focused on our campaigns and not to be distracted on this issue. With an array of credible candidates led by our presidential flagbearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, we are sure that we will emerge victorious come March 28 and April 11, 2015 general elections.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS

Flood destroys 50 houses in Edo community

VER 50 houses at Ogiso community in Oredo Local Government Area have collapsed due to flooding and erosion in the community. The community has been battling flooding and erosion for the last 20 years. Youth chairman of the community Odion Obasohan spoke yesterday when he led members of the community on a peaceful protest on the construction of the Second East Circular road. The community said the protest followed fears that the state government planned to channel flood

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

water from the road construction to the community. Odion said the community would cease to exist if the flood water from Second East Circular road emptied into the community. He said: “We are doing a peaceful protest. Since 2008, Oshiomhole promised us that he would solve flooding in our area. Now Oshiomhole is constructing Second East Circular but our fear is where will they channel the flood to if not Ogiso community. “We want them to explain where they are taking the

flood from that area to. Over 50 houses have collapsed because of erosion. Is he also constructing Ogiso?” Works Commissioner Osarodion Ogie said the state government did not take water from one community to dump on another. Ogie stated that all roads constructed by the Oshiomhole administration were done with proper design and plan on how to tackle flooding. He said: “We don’t start work unless there is a proper design done by a reputable consultant. In designing our roads, all the flood challenges

are taken care of. There is nothing we are going to do at Second East Circular that will aggravate what is happening at Ogiso.” “Every road construction we do, we make sure that all surrounding communities are protected. If they want to know the consequences of the road we are constructing, they know where to go. It is not by blocking a major road. The design of the road is on my table. “We have done the design for the flood challenges at Ogiso. They did not demonstrate before we commissioned a consultant to do the Ogiso flood challenge design. When we will award the contract will depend on the availability of funds. We did not tell anybody that we are going to solve all flooding problems in one day.”

Peterside assures Mile 3 Market traders, others of safety

IVERS State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has promised to defend the interest of traders and non-indigenes. The APC candidate spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at the popular Mile 3 Market. It was the continuation of his shop-to-shop campaign. Peterside said he was in the market to reassure them of their safety. The APC candidate, who was accompanied by his running mate, Honourable Asita; members of the Greater Together Campaign Organisation and notable party supporters, urged the traders and non-indigenes to discountenance the rumour on their impending “deportation” by a certain candidate. He said: “Some people said when they come to power, they will pursue non-indigenes. My father was a merchant for many years in Aba,

Abia State. As children, we enjoyed our stay in Aba because we were never molested or reminded of our non-indigene status. “So, I want to assure you of your safety because I am one of you. I will continue to support you. “I will assist non-indigenes in every way possible because we are brothers and sisters. We promise that Rivers State indigenes and non-indigenes will have access to free education, free health services, support for small businesses and other opportunities for the residents.” Peterside noted that the primary duty of government all over the world is service and protection of the citizens, without punishment, intimidation or harassment. The APC candidate described the traders as patriots supporting the economy by their legitimate contributions to the state. He added that they were helping to reduce unemployment and insecurity.

‘Rivers JUSUN won’t resume until...’

•Marketing Manager, Cussons Baby, Mildred Bagshaw (left); Marketing Director, Family Care, Sandy Griffiths; mother of the winner, Mrs Funmi Davids, with the winner, Little Morireoluwa Modesire Davids; Dehinde Olayokun (and not Oluyinka Davids, the father of the winner as errorneously published on February 9, 2015) and Brand Manager, Cussons Baby, Oluwaseun Ayeni, at the Cussons Baby Competition Season 2 Grand Finale and Awards in Lagos.

HE Rivers State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has vowed that its members will not return to work until security is guaranteed at the courts. JUSUN’s National Publicity Secretary Kayode Agbarago spoke yesterday on the resumption of Judiciary workers, following their national strike. The JUSUN chief said although the Judiciary strike in Rivers State had been suspended, the union would not force its members to return to work in an unfriendly environment. Agbarago, who spoke in an interview in Port Harcourt

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

yesterday noted that the judiciary staff would resume when the courts were free from bombings and safe for the workers. He said: “Wherefore our suspension order, for the strike remains, all judiciary workers in Rivers State should not go to work because you don’t expect a worker where you have series of bomb blasts. “It is the responsibility of government to provide security, so until the worker is sure that when he goes to work, it is safe for him, the man cannot force any worker to go to work because security comes first.”

First Lady’s condolence visit confirms rift with Dickson

IRST Lady Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday visited some families of the 11 prominent women from Bayelsa State, who died in the multiple motor accident that occurred on Valentine’s Day, near Ahoada on the East-West Road in Rivers State. Mrs. Jonathan’s visit to Bayelsa State may have confirmed the cold war between her camp and that of Governor Seriake Dickson. The visit, it was gathered, was dominated by groups in her camp, such as the Women for Change Initiative (WCI) and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). Neither Dickson nor his wife, Rachel, was in the entou-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

rage of the First Lady, who went to homes of some of her loyalists to condole with their families. Also, the representatives of the Government House, including the Press crew and other loyalists of the governor were said to be absent. It was gathered that the 11 women, who were members of WCI, died while returning from an enlarged meeting of their group in Okrika, the hometown of Mrs. Jonathan in Rivers State. The camp of the First Lady, has been holding meetings to finetune its strategies against Dickson and his loyalists. The anti-Dickson campaign

•Jonathan’s wife mourns her loyalists has split women in Bayelsa State. While a faction identifies with Dickson and his wife, the other pledges its loyalty to Mrs. Jonathan. The Nation had reported that the First Lady’s camp was to hold a two-day meeting in Abuja to formulate its strategies against the governor. The enlarged meeting was, however, reportedly shifted to Okrika to enable home-based members of the group to attend. Among those who died in the accident were wife of the secretary to the state government (SSG) Mrs.

Elizabeth Allison-Oguru; member of the House of Assembly from Brass Local Government and Special Adviser to Governor Dickson, Mrs.Ruby Benjamin and a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Gimbra Panowei. Others are a Woman leader from Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government, Madam Consider Amadi; wife of the owner of the popular Ayakpo International Schools, Mrs. Inamamu Ayakpor and the Head of Liaison, Oti Abila. The only survivor is a former commissioner, Ebisinte Ayabowei.

But Mrs. Jonathan was said to have cried when she visited the homes of some of her late loyalists. She was reportedly dressed in a black attire and accompanied by prominent members of her NGO. Wife of the first executive governor of the state, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha and the former Bayelsa Transport Commissioner, Marie Ebikake, were said to have accompanied the First Lady. At the home of one of the deceased, Mrs. Ayakpo Otolo, she was said to have spoken in a tearful voice and continually wiped her face with a white

‘Cross River is being negotiated for sale’

ROSS River State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Cross River State, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, has launched his campaign in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, where he said the state was being negotiated for sale. Addressing a large crowd at the rally, Ugbo, a former Secretary to the state government and until recently a strong member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said, “Cross River today is being ne-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

gotiated for sale. Do you want to sell your state, do you want to sell your future, do you want to sell the destiny of your children? You must say no to negotiating Cross River State for sale. We must stand our grounds because we are not slaves, we have passed the stage of slavery, nobody can enslave us any longer.” The governorship candidate, who was flanked by all the candidates of the LP said, if voted

into power the people of the state would witness positive changes. Ugbo said the state would witness steady power supply because an LP government would ensure that a good percentage of power generated at the Power Plant in Odukpani Local Government Area would be allocated to the state to ensure steady power supply to residents and small, medium and large scale industrialists. He said farmer and small scale investors would be afforded opportunities to get

loans to facilitate the growth of their industries. “You know that I am not somebody who will begin to think before I do what I am doing because I will only do what I am used to doing. I served you in the CBN for 20 years, I served you as secretary to the state government for four years, I served you at the national planning commission for three years, I have what it takes, I served you as commissioner for finance, budget and planning. That was the period of glory for civil servants. Today

what you are seeing in the civil service is the reverse. We must reform the civil service. We must return the civil service to make it effective. A situation where civil servants are no longer entitled to their wages is not acceptable. A labourer is entitled to his wages. Civil servants must get their salaries; our pensioners must get their pensions because they have served us and in their old age we must respect them.” Ugbo urged the electorate to vote for all the candidates of the LP.

handkerchief. Mrs. Jonathan prayed with the family for God to be with them in their time of grief and asked God to give everyone, including herself, the fortitude to bear the loss. She was said to have described the women as her friends and sisters. It was gathered that the First Lady also visited the homes of a former member of the House of Assembly from Brass Local Government and Special Adviser to Governor Dickson, Mrs. Ruby Benjamin; a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Gimbra Panowei. Others were Mrs. Oguru; Madam Amadi and a retired Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Pere Kalama and Mrs. Clara Abila. Also, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide, has expressed shock and disbelief on the death of the 11 Ijaw women. “It is shocking to lose about 11 women to the cold hands of death in one swoop”, the youth said. IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, condoled with the families and prayed that the Almighty God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. Omare said: “We also console Governor Seriake Dickson, the government and people of Bayelsa State on this unfortunate incident.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

NEWS ‘Don’t sell your PVCs’

Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Plateau

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

HE Emir of Wase, in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, Alhaji Sambo Haruna Mahammadu, has urged the electorate not to sell their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to desperate politicians before the March 28 and April 11 elections. The emir spoke yesterday in his palace when he hosted the campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the governorship candidate, Simon Lalong. The APC campaign train visited the monarch before addressing its supporters. The monarch said: “My advice to all eligible voters is that they should hold on to their PVCs firmly and guide them jealously. They should not sell their PVCs because it is with the cards they can change how they are governed...”

UNMEN have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Kurra Falls Ward, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Samuel Doro. The deceased’s wife, Mrs Lyop Samuel Doro, escaped from the killers’ bullets but sustained injury. She is recuperating at a specialist hospital in Jos, the state capital, after she was shot on the left arm and chest. The gunmen stormed his home at Kurra Drong early yesterday and allegedly shot him twice. Mrs Doro said: “We were relaxing in our sitting room at 8pm on Sunday night when we heard a gunshot. My husband switched off the electric light. We immediately hid in our bed room. But we locked the doors and went

•Widow: my husband was killed in our bedroom From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

inside. We never knew my husband was the target of the gunmen. “The gunmen forced a neighbour at gun point to lead them to our house. The neighbour mentioned my husband’s name. He was apparently forced, at gun point, to lead the gunmen to our house. “On getting to our house, the gunmen released the neighbour and forced our door open. They came in and started searching everywhere for my husband. “But while they were forcing the door to open, we hid behind the door. But the gunmen came in and went straight to our inner room.

They could not find us. But when they turn back to go, they saw me and my husband hiding behind the door. They immediately pull the trigger and shot my husband twice on the chest. They also tried to shoot me on the chest but I turned and the bullet hit me on my left arm. “The gunmen left immediately, escaping into the darkness.” The police command confirmed the incident. Police spokesman, Abu Emmanuel, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Doro died when he was being treated at the hospital. He said: “The man was attacked at his home and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. “The police are working round the clock to track down

the perpetrators and bring them to book.” APC Media Committee Chairman and Simon Lalong Campaign Organisation, Festus Fuanter, condemned the killing. He urged security agencies to probe the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice. Fuanter said: “This attack should not go as other attacks in the local government. This was apparently a targeted man. No other person was attacked in the village. The victim was the sole target in this attack. “So, I feel the police should get to the root of this attack. There could be a political background to this attack.” The Doros married in 1982 and have six children.

Kwara courts resume work From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ORMAL activities resumed yesterday in Kwara State courts, following the weekend suspension of the strike by the state branch of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). When our correspondent visited the State High and Magistrate courts, new dates were being fixed for stalled cases while new cases were being assigned. It was a beehive of activities at the popular High Court Road in Ilorin, the state capital. Lawyers expressed delight with the suspension of the strike, which had stalled many civil and criminal cases. The police command, which had complained about its inability to prosecute suspected thugs arrested in connection with politically motivated violence, heaved a sigh of relief.

Action Alliance gets new leaders

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

HE Chairman of Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday called for a speedy determination of defection cases in courts to stabilise the polity. Aliyu, whose deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, and over 300 elected and appointed members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last month, challenged the Judiciary to expedite action on the defection cases. The governor spoke in Minna, the state capital, when he received last year’s Hajj report from the State Amirul-Hajj, Prof Sheikh Abdallah. He said: “We need morality in politics. We need the courts to properly interpret the section of the constitution on defection. I believe that you cannot go to another party with the mandate given in another political party. “If you are dissatisfied with what is going on in your party and you, an elected politician, resign your position before joining another political party. Otherwise, the public will see politicians as people who should not be respected.”

Borno youths burn ex-governor Sheriff’s office From Duku JOEL, Maiduguri

A From left: Ezeudo Ndigbo, Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Eze John Ezebuadi; Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho, Eze Samuel Udoh and Ezeigbo Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Dr Anthony Elu, at a meeting of Igbo leaders with Lagos Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate Mr Jimi Agbaje, in Lagos...yesterday

Suspected cultists kill two in Kwara

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

HE Action Alliance has endorsed its Deputy National Chairman, Malam Isa Aaladu, as the Acting National Chairman. A statement yesterday by the party’s National Secretary, Abdulmallak Abdulrahman, and Publicity Secretary, Bobb Rekke, said Rev. Ayozie Johnson was appointed the Acting National Leader. The statement said the development followed the leave of absence granted the former occupiers of the affected positions to pursue their political ambitions. The statement added: “The national think tank of Action Alliance has unanimously granted a leave of absent to two of our national leaders, pursuant to various article of the party’s constitution.” The statement named the affected officials as Taiwo Otegbeyi and Senator Tunde Anifowose Kilani, the National Leader and National Chairman. It added that the leave of absence is from February till May.

Aliyu seeks speedy hearing of defectors’ cases

USPECTED cultists have killed two persons in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The incident was said to have happened last Sunday. It was gathered that while one of the victims, simply identified as Abu, was killed near Tupex Market Mini-Mart on Taiwo Road, the other was killed by the same cultists at Gambari. The killers were said to have ensured that their victims died before they fled on their motorcycle. It was gathered that the five assailants arrived at

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Abu’s home at 8pm, shot sporadically into the air and later dragged Abu out and killed him with matchetes. The same suspected cultists were said to have later killed another man at Gambari area the same Sunday night. Police spokesperson, Okesanmi Ajayi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident. He said the command had begun investigation into the killings.

Niger APC decries arrest of members

HE Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called for the release of five of its members arrested and detained for raising the alarm over a vehicle suspected to be carrying ballot papers. APC State Chairman Mohammed Imam condemned the police for the arrests. The party chairman, who expressed shock at the development, said the party members should have been hailed for their patriotism rather than being arrested.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

He said some eagle-eyed members of the party at Kateregi, near Bida, last Saturday night, suspected that an unmarked Peugeot J5 bus was carrying Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election materials and reported the matter to police. It was learnt that the police transferred the matter to the zonal headquarters in Bida. Imam said the vehicle

and its occupants became more suspect when the residents noticed that there was no security escort with the materials. As the news spread round Bida, the residents trooped out to ascertain the content of the bus, discovering that they were ballot papers. But the police reportedly fired tear gas canisters at the curious crowd. Imam said: “But to our dismay, we learnt that the police released the man, who claimed to have been contracted by INEC to print the

election materials and the bus driver. Our members were compensated with arrest for being patriotic. We condemn their arrest and we demand their unconditional release. “If the police will continue like this, people will be scared to offer useful information in future. We are committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The police should keep to the letters and spirit of the peace accord recently signed.”

NGRY youths in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday burnt the campaign office of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. The Ali Sheriff Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign office is located about 500 meters from the Ramat Square. It was learnt that a policeman at the campaign office could not stop the angry youths from accomplishing their mission. A resident, who spoke in confidence, for security reasons, said: “We saw the policeman struggling with the boys. He tried everything in his powers to stop the rioting youths, but they came in their hundreds. “It was very sad.” The youth also reportedly vandalised PDP campaign billboards and posters. Our correspondent spotted some youths moving round the streets with a mock coffin dressed in PDP colours. They shouted as they marched about that they had buried the PDP. The former governor’s media aide and ex-Information Commissioner Inuwa Bwala said the attack was unfortunate. The former commissioner, whose reaction was monitored on the BBC Hausa Service, said: “We do not blame the attack on the campaign office of former Governor Ali Sheriff on the visit of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate…”

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

CITYBEATS Pastor held over N609m worth of narcotics A

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

CLERIC, Prophet Michael Raji, has been arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials for allegedly attempting to exporte 174kg of narcotics valued at N609 million. Raji, who is the resident pastor of a church in Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, was arrested following the detection of the drugs at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos. They were being taken to South Africa. It was learnt that the drugs were concealed inside large bags of foodstuff. The Nation gathered that the bags also contained 91kg of Methamphetamine and 83kg of Ephedrine with an estimated street value of N609 million. A statement by NALEA spokesperson Ofoyeju Mitchell said the drugs were discovered during preshipment investigation, adding that investigations have revealed the pastor as a top member of a drug syndicate operating in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. NDLEA alleged that the 60-yearold pastor has three international passports with his photographs bearing different names. “He has three international passports bearing his photographs. One of the passports bears the name Michael Raji while the other two bear the name Kadigun Fatah Ola. “It was equally discovered that the church premises where he

•The substance. INSET: Pastor Michael

•EFCC traces drugs to his church By Precious Igbonwelundu

ministers also serves as a warehouse for narcotics. “The seized drugs concealed inside large bags of foodstuff were found to contain 91kg of Methamphetamine and 83kg of Ephedrine with an estimated street value of

N609 million. “A Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was also impounded during the operation,” Mitchell said. But, the pastor in his statement, denied ownership of the narcotics, saying he collected them from a friend and kept them in his

•Court dissolves 10-year marriage

•One of the victims By Adebisi Onanuga and Peace Iyere

the charge. The judge granted her request. Justice Ipaye ordered the DPP to ensure that all the defendants are in court at the next adjournment date. The judge also directed the Zonal Director of the Legal Aid Council to provide representation for the defendants to accelerate their trail. She consequently adjourned the matter till March 3. The DPP said the defendants tortured Nike Salami, Juliana Agomo and Joke Agomo, for allegedly

pect as a smooth operator with a bag of tricks. He said: “I can tell you that this suspect is a smooth operator but we have uncovered his bag of tricks. The drugs were brought to the airport for export to South Africa where it was detected. Investigation eventually traced the movement of the drugs to his church premises where he was arrested.”

‘He chases anything in skirt’

Ejigbo torture: Suspects trial begins March 3 RIAL of 10 persons accused of inserting sticks and noxious substances into three women’s private parts in 2013 was stalled at the Lagos High Court yesterday because of their absence. Their trial was moved to the high court from the magistrate’s court because it lacks jurisdiction to try the case. They were charged by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye. They are Isiaka Waidi, Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Adekunle Adenuga, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Harun and Oloruntoyin Dauda, the only woman among them. They are facing a 19-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija, told the court that the defendants were granted bail by a magistrate court and were probably not aware that their trial would begin yesterday. Mrs Alakija asked for an adjournment to enable the prosecution personally serve the defendants with

church since October. He said: “I received the drugs from my friend and I kept them in the church since October 2014. I am the resident pastor of Cherubim and Seraphim Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun branch, Lagos. I was ordained a full time pastor in 1977. This is a great temptation for me and I pray to God to overcome it.” NDLEA Airport commander Hamza Umar described the sus-

stealing pepper at Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, Lagos, on February 11, 2013. The prosecution said the women were beaten up, stripped and rubbed with pepper by the suspects, who are members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC). The defendants were also alleged to have inserted sticks and noxious substances into the women’s private parts, and the incident recorded with a mobile phone. They were also accused of obtaining N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, a relative to the victims for the payment of traders whose pepper was stolen.

N Orile Agege Customary Court dissolved yesterday the 10-yearold marriage of Sandy and Nwamaka Emmanuel for infidelity and battery. The court’s President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola told the court that the union had broken down irretrievably. Omilola said: “Starting from today, you cease to be addressed as husband and wife; you shall go your separate ways and maintain the peace. “If there is any contention over the custody of the children, it is referred to the Ikeja Family Court for final decision, but in the interim, the children remain with their mother. The man shall be paying N6, 000 for the upkeep of the children monthly and also will be responsible for the educational and medical bills of the children.” Omilola also directed Emmanuel to provide a decent apartment for the woman for a year and also give her N30, 000 within a month from yesterday as compensation. Nwamaka approached the court on December 4, seeking the dissolution of her marriage. “My husband chases after anything in skirt and phones his

By Basirat Braimah

lovers even in the midnight; he is a drunk. He has turned me to a punching bag. At the slightest provocation especially when he is drunk, he beats me mercilessly.’’ The petitioner, who lives at Atanda Akinremi Street in Orile-Agege, a Lagos suburb, also accused Emmanuel of neglecting his family. She said: “He has contributed very little to the payment of the children’s school fees and we share the payment of the house rent and feeding. When the beating was too much and I thought I might lose my life, I parked out of his house with my children.’’ The mother of two between ages six and nine, urged the court to grant her the custody of the children after dissolving the union. Emmanuel, 40, who lives at 23, Ajani Akingbogun Street, Egbeda in Lagos, denied the allegations, saying: “All she said are lies, I did not beat her. I pay all the bills and school fees. I still love her and I want the children back, but if she does not want me again, I am ready for the dissolution.”

I made statement under duress, witness tells court

N Ikeja High Court heard yesterday how a witness was made to make a statement under duress by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Testifying on the trial of a marketer, Opeyemi Ajuwah, for N1.1 billion subsidy fraud, Quechukwu Okpo said the EFCC coerced him to lie in his statement. Ajuwah is standing trial with her company, Majope Investment Limited, Abdullai Alao, Axenergy Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi.

By Adebisi Onanuga

Okpo, a surveyor at the General Marine Oil Services (GMO), said EFCC asked him to change his earlier statement to indict the defendant. He said he signed the Empty Tank Certificate (ETC) of MT Brave Vessel, adding that EFCC asked him to deny signing the certificate which indicated that the imported oil was fully discharged. Okpo said: “I signed the ETC. When I was invited by EFCC to their office in Abuja for interroga-

tion, my first statement where I wrote that I signed the ETC was torn in their office. They asked me why I wrote that I signed the ETC. They threatened me that they would detain me if I agreed that I signed it. They said I am a young man with a bright future and that I should write a second statement that the ETC was forged. That was why I wrote that it was forged because I feared for my life.” Okpo said he witnessed the signing of the ETC and haulage report by other government agencies at the port after MT Brave vessel had

discharged its content. At the last hearing, EFCC alleged that the ETC was forged. Another prosecution witness, Yayah Zon Kassim, who is the Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of GMO, told the court that on September 3, 2012, his firm received a letter from EFCC requesting authenticating the ETC and the haulage report. He said the firm declined to authenticate the documents because they were not its. “We saw a signature of one of our members of staff who signed

it.

After we read the document, we contacted Q and Q, and told them we had seen a document from them signed by our staff but that we they could not authenticate it,” he said. Kassim claimed his company refused to “authenticate the document because they did not issue the Empty Tank Certificate.” “Since it has to do with investigation, we told the EFCC to reject the Empty Tank Certificate issued by Q and Q,” he added. The case continues today.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

CITYBEATS Auto dealers protest A

UTO parts dealers protested yesterday the closure of their association’s secretariat by the police. Under the aegis of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), the protesters accused the police of violating a court order by their action. The police, they alleged, violated an order recognising Chief Daniel Offokansi as ASPMDA president. Gun-totting policemen from Mobile Police Force and Trade Fair Police Division manned the locked Trade Fair Complex entrances on Lagos-Badagry Express-way. A detachment of police manned the union’s padlocked office. There were arguments and exchange of words between the protesters and the policemen but the market leadership ensured nothing untoward happened. The protest resulted in heavy traffic around the complex. According to the association’s officials, a group in the market was using the police. “All this is to frustrate the administration of Chief Offokansi which the law has recognised”, they alleged. The protesters led by the association’s Vice President, Chief Models Ezeamama, accused Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) of supporting what he called “illegalities” in the market with the heavy presence of policemen. An influential politician, he said, was

secretariat’s closure

•Police: we’re there to ensure peace

•The protesters...yesterday By Sulaiman Salawudeen

among those fueling the ASPMDA crisis. Ezeamama who addressed the traders at a spot within the market said: “You have reasonable and sensible leaders that is why we insisted that we don’t want to shed blood; that was why we went to court. There is a court order that our president and his executive members should continue in office and we expect the other faction to obey the court order, but rather than do this, they resorted to vi-

olence. “But we are responsible people. We will not fight them; we expect the police to do the right thing and open our office. As far as this market is concerned, nobody will take our position from us. Go back to your shops and conduct yourselves peacefully.” A court order by Justice M.N Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, recognising the Offokansi leadership. But, a trader, dismissed the protest as a “mere storm in a tea cup”, adding:

“They should just do the right thing by vacating the seat and conducting a fresh election”. Lagos police spokesman Ken Nwosu, defended the police action, saying: “There is intelligence report that there would be a break down of law and order in the market, that was why we went there. We understand that there is a court order but we have to ensure that our men are deployed to the place to ensure peace and we would remain there until normalcy returns to the market.”

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Man, 25, jailed for drug trafficking

USTICE Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a 25year-old man, Sani Abarshi, to six-month imprisonment for dealing in canabis sativa, a banned narcotic similar to cocaine. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) charged Abarshi with unlawful possession of 850 grammes of the substance. The NDLEA prosecutor, Orji Kalu, told the court that Abarshi was arrested last September 15 at Marwa Roundabout, Lekki Phase II, Lagos. When he was arraigned on January 31, Abarshi, who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty and asked for mercy. Reviewing the facts of the case yesterday, a witness of the NDLEA, Odede Lawrence, explained to the court the circumstances under which he came to know the accused. Lawrence said: “On September 15, 2014, while in my office, the accused person was brought by two operatives of the NDLEA in persons of Elias Sikari and Ibinola Samuel, with substances suspected to be canabis sativa concealed in a

By Joseph Jibueze

pink-coloured polythene bag, which was alleged to have been recovered from the accused person. I conducted a preliminary field test on the substance and it proved positive. I also weighed it and found it to be 850 grammes.” The court admitted the seized drug and other materials tendered by the prosecution as exhibits. Consequently, Kalu urged the court “to convict and sentence the accused as charged in line with sections 218 and 285 of the Criminal Procedure Act.” Justice Aneke said he was inclined to temper justice with mercy because the convict, who has been in prison since September last year, must have learnt his lesson. The convict, he added, deserved a second chance because he has no criminal record and pleaded guilty without wasting the court’s time. He warned that if the convict was ever brought back on a similar offence, he risked going to jail for life. The judge held that the six months jail term would begin from last September 15, when Abarshi was arrested.

FOREIGN NEWS

Egypt bombs IS in Libya after beheadings video

GYPT says it has bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the militants released video of apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians. State TV said the dawn strikes had targeted camps, training sites and weapons storage areas. A second wave of strikes was reported hours later. Libyan officials said Egypt hit targets in the militantheld city of Derna. The strikes came amid widespread condemnation of the killings. The US and UN described them as “cowardly”.

A video emerged on Sunday showing militants forcing a group of men to the ground and decapitating them. The kidnapped Egyptian workers, all Coptic Christians, were seized in separate incidents in December and January from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, under the control of Islamist groups. The video of the beheadings was posted online by Libyan jihadists who pledge loyalty to IS. It was one of the first such videos to come from an IS group outside its core territory in Syria and Iraq. The video describes the

Copts as “crusaders” and refers among other things to two women, wives of Coptic priests, whose alleged conversion to Islam triggered a sectarian dispute in Egypt in 2010. IS militants claim to have carried out several attacks in Libya, which in effect has rival governments. Thirteen of the dead men came from the village of AlOur, in Minya. Screams of grief come from several houses in the dusty back streets, and groups of black-clad women go from house to house to offer condolences. One woman, wailing in the street, tells us she

has lost five relatives. In the packed courtyard of the church, mourners are gathering for a memorial service. Local men say they are desperate for work and Libya is their only hope of a job. Many say they still have relatives working there, and that villagers will continue to go there in search of work. Egypt did not give the locations of the air strikes, but a spokesman for Libya’s internationally recognised Prime Minister Abdullah alThinni told the BBC that Egyptian jets had taken part in co-ordinated air strikes on Derna.

Ukraine: Debaltseve clashes undermine ceasefire

IGHTING is continuing in eastern Ukraine more than a day after a ceasefire was supposed to take effect. The Ukrainian military command said the pro-Russian rebels had attacked 112

times since early Sunday, mostly in the bitterly contested Debaltseve area. A Ukrainian officer said there was also fighting near Mariupol, a port city. The rebels accused Ukrainian forces of shelling Do-

Hong Kong Lamma ferry disaster captain jailed for eight years

HE captain of a passenger ferry that collided with another boat in Hong Kong, killing 39 people, has been jailed for eight years. Lai Sai-ming, who captained the Sea Smooth in the 2012 collision, was convicted of manslaughter on Saturday. His vessel hit a pleasure boat, the Lamma IV, which then partially sank. The captain of the Lamma IV was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of endangering the safety of others at sea. The crash, near Lamma Island, was Hong Kong’s worst maritime accident since 1971. It happened on 1 October, China’s National Day, when the Lamma IV was carrying employees of Hong Kong Electric and their families to watch a firework display.

netsk airport. Meanwhile, further EU sanctions against Russia have gone into effect. The new sanctions list targets 19 officials - most of them in the pro-Russian separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, but also two Russian deputy defence ministers and a Russian celebrity singer and MP, Iosif Kobzon. Armed separatist groups are also targeted, including a Cossack formation. Those listed are now subject to visa bans and asset freezes across the EU. Russia is accused of fomenting the revolt in eastern Ukraine and giving the separatists reinforcements and heavy weapons. Russia denies doing so, but admits that Russian “volunteers” are fighting there.

The Russian foreign ministry said the latest sanctions showed that “again the EU preferred to walk on a leash behind the ‘party of war’ in Kiev”. “Such decisions look especially ridiculous against the background of the Minsk [ceasefire] accords.” In the past 24 hours, five Ukrainian soldiers died in fighting at Shirokyne, near Mariupol, the Ukrainian military said. Observers from the OSCE security body are to try again to reach the besieged Ukrainian town of Debaltseve. They said they were denied access by the rebels on Sunday. The rebels say they have the town encircled so it should be considered theirs.

Ebola crisis: NGO backs reopening of Liberia schools

HE international nongovernmental Organisation working with children, Save the Children, has applauded the long-anticipated re-opening of hundreds of schools in Liberia yesterday following a sixmonth educational interruption due to the Ebola crisis. The move is coming after weeks of steady declines in the number of new Ebola cases in Liberia, which, at the peak of the epidemic in mid2014, was reporting more than 300 cases a week, but recorded only three new cases by February 8, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). More than one million children in Liberia were affected by the closure of schools as a result of the Ebola outbreak. Over the last six months, Save the Children has been working with local communities

By Evelyn Osagie

to help spread Ebola prevention messages, and develop innovative approaches to learning, including teacher training, radio-based education, and the distribution of learning materials to children in their homes. According to a statement by the NGO, Save the Children’s Liberia country Director, Greg Duly, the move is obviously a time for much celebration for a country that has been ravaged by the worst Ebola outbreak in history. “However, we must be sure that schools re-open safely so that students and parents won’t fear a flare-up of the disease. It is more important than ever to remain vigilant as we send Liberia’s most precious resource back to school.”

Yemen crisis: UN demands Houthis cede power

HE United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Shia Houthi rebels immediately cede power in Yemen. But the resolution is not enforceable militarily, something Yemen’s Gulf neighbours had been pressing for. The Houthis ousted the government in the capital Sanaa earlier this month. They have been expanding south from their northern stronghold, putting them in conflict with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP) and other Sunni groups. The UN has warned that Yemen is “collapsing”. The US and other countries have closed their embassies in Yemen in response to the unrest. The resolution calls for the Houthis to “immediately and unconditionally” withdraw from government institutions. It demands the release of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi from house arrest and warns UN member states against “external interference”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Flying Eagles held by Black Satellites F

LYING Eagles of Nigeria were forced to a thrilling two-all draw by the Black Satellites of Ghana in an international friendly game played on Monday at the Ohene Djan Stadium.

Nigeria coach Manu Garba had demanded a strong performance from his players before they embarked on the trip to Ghana. Despite the result - the Flying Eagles delivered and played good football.

However, the technical crew won't be happy with the manner in which the defence line responded to pressure at some situations in the game. Nigeria U20 team went into the contest fresh from winning the Super Six. As expected, Garba fielded a strong side with goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo the preferred choice for the number one spot. Chidera Ezeh, who impressed in recent matches of the Flying Eagles partnered Taiwo Awoniyi in attack. Captain Musa Muhammed was the preferred choice at right back, while left back Mustapha Abdullahi kept his place in the starting line up. The quartet of Idowu Akinjide, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Musa Yahaya and Ifeanyi Matthew started as the four midfielders. Ghana had the chance to grab the first goal, but it was Nigeria who took the lead through Musa Yahaya's 22nd-minute strike. Some misses by the Nigerian side proved costly as Ghana equalised in the 35th minute as an effort went pass the hapless goalkeeper. The Nigerian side went in front five minutes later. Striking sensation Chidera Ezeh found the

Egypt, Portugal, Russia, others for Lagos ITTF World Tour

ITH the expiration of players’ registration for this year’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour (Lagos Open), Egypt, Portugal, Russia and seven others as well as host – Nigeria have been confirmed for the 5-day tournament holding next month in Lagos. According to the list of confirmed players by ITTF, the Egyptian team will be led by ITTF Africa Senior champion Omar Assar who will be joined by 12 compatriots, including African women champion, Dina Meshref. Portugal has the trio fo Diogo Silva, Andre Silva and Jieni Shao. Russia will be represented by Irina Ermakova. Iran will make her debut at the tournament with the duo of Afshin Noroozi and Nima Alamian, other teams, such as Benin, Cameroun, Congo DRC, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Togo, will also be part of the $46,000 prize money championship holding on March 10 to 14 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium. Nigeria will be led by ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri. Veteran and six-time Olympian, Segun Toriola will also be part of the contingent. For the women event, Nigeria will be represented by Germany-based Funke Oshonaike, Portugal-based Edem Offiong and the winner of the maiden edition of the tournament, Cecilia OtuAkpan. Over 100 players have been

listed for the tournament, which is the second challenge series in the ITTF World Tour calendar after the Hungary Open held in January. According to the Tournament Director, Oluranti Lajide, this year’s tournament is unique as all eyes will be on Quadria and Egypt’s warlords led by bespectacled Omar Assar, who made the biggest move in the latest ranking this month from 57 to 43 in the world. “From the quality of players coming for this year’s championship, it is obvious that the feat

achieved by Quadri has really attracted more players to this tournament and everybody is eager to face the ITTF Star Player. The Egyptians will surely be aiming to defend the title they won last year and for the Nigeria female team, this is another opportunity to prove critics wrong about the dwindling fortune in the game. Being the year of the All Africa Games, most Nigerian players knew that this is an avenue for them to play their way into the national team and it is going to be exciting,” Lajide said.

Yakubu targets ‘unfinished business’

ONDON - Reading forward Aiyegbeni Yakubu says he is targeting an unfinished business in England, which is playing at Wembley, Express reports. Yakubu scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Derby on Saturday, a result the ensured Reading qualified for the final eight of the FA Cup. The former Super Eagles’ striker spent nine goal-laden years plying his trade in England with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester and Blackburn before spells in China and Qatar. Meanwhile, he finally made a return to England, and after recording his goal, Yakubu now eyes playing at the prestigious Wembly stadium.

Yakubu said he feels at home returning to England.

back of the net for the Flying Eagles. Ghana drew level early in the second half. They equalised in the 51st minute. Both teams had their share of chances to win the game but were denied by great goalkeeping. The Flying Eagles used the international friendly game as part of their preparation ahead of the 2015 African Youth Championship to be staged in Senegal. The two team would clash again on Thursday 19th February at the Tema Astroturf Stadium.

Arsenal’s Iwobi eager to represent Nigeria

RSENAL U-21 skipper, Alex Iwobi has declared himself available for Nigeria's Olympic National Team, ahead of the All Africa Games qualifying fixture against Gabon this weekend. In other words, The Gunners hierarchy has authorized the offensive all-rounder to fly down to Nigeria to join his international colleagues ahead of the trip to Libreville. There were doubts surrounding Iwobi's availability for the fixture against the Central Africans, as Arsenal Under 21 side will tackle Reading Under 21 in the U21 Premier League Division 2 on tomorrow. ''Excited To represent my country this week. Happy when I see a smile on my family's faces,'' said Alex

Iwobi. The 18 - year - old, who is the nephew of ex Super Eagles’ skipper Austin Okocha, has 11 caps for the youth teams of England.

•Iwobi

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

OME 18 years ago, the Committee of Concerned Journalists, comprising 25 of America’s most influential journalists, media chiefs and journalism educators, produced a manifesto they called Elements of Journalism, to replace the Social Responsibility Theory that had served as the dominant ethos of American journalism for 50 years and influenced media practices worldwide. A distillation of the Committee’s research, surveys of readers, listeners, viewers, editors, and journalists, the manifesto contains 10 principles. In this examination of newspaper political advertisements in the on-going presidential election campaign, I will draw on five of those principles, viz: The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. Journalism’s first loyalty is to the citizens. The essence of journalism is a discipline of verification. Journalists must serve as independent monitor of power and offer a voice to the voiceless. My concern is to examine how well newspapers are adhering to or departing from these principles in the placement of political advertisements on their front pages. The front page is a newspaper’s chiefest asset. There on display is, or should be, a report of the day’s events and intelligence, rooted in time-tested news values, carefully vetted, ordered, and rendered in a context that gives it meaning. Nigerian newspapers have parlayed the back page into a platform for their finest columnists and commentators, thus making it an important platform – for opinion and analysis. But the back page has also been turned into a platform for political advertisements. But the front page is the best advertisement for any newspaper that wants to be taken seriously. That is why, on most newspapers, the editor who signs off on the final product takes personal charge of what goes on to the front page, or delegates the task to a trusted senior aide. On some newspapers, a conference is held around mid-day, at which senior editors and staffers negotiate what stories will go on to the front page. They call it the Page One conference. The front page, then, is far too important to be left to mid-career journalists, much less interns. And it is emphatically too important to be bargained away to whoever is ready to pay hard cash for it, regardless of whatever content is plastered on it to masquerade as authentic editorial

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The selling of the front page material. Even if such material carries a disclaimer, the trade-off is still a pernicious bargain. If you cannot vouch for it, why publish it? When advertisement copy masquerading as editorial material carries no disclaimer, the newspaper is more or less ceding its prestige and authority to advertisers and announcing to its entire public that money is the measure of editorial propriety. I was driven to these reflections by the following material which occupied the entire front page of several newspapers last week. Titled “Let’s talk about Change: National Security (1), it is the first installment of a series of political advertisements placed by the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign. I could have picked on any among the dozens of sinister political advertisements doing the rounds in this election season, but this one ranks among the most repellent. Now, the text: “Thirty years ago – Under General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria stopped equipping the Armed Forces in a major way to protect our military regimes from coups. “Once the Boko Haram insurgency took hold, our Armed Forces could not cope, mainly due to lack of equipment, lack of intelligence from local communities, and cross-border escape of insurgents. “Today, President Goodluck Jonathan has fully re-equipped that Armed forces, working with the international and local communities and has built an allied coalition of our neighbours and global partners —taking the war to Boko Haram, town after town. “As of today, Boko Haram is on the run and we are making steady progress to secure Nigeria “THAT IS CHANGING THE NATION FOR THE BETTER.” Since this claim, Boko Haram has staged deadly strikes in Gombe and Yobe. But no matter. Those newspapers which plastered this

RIPPLES

DON’T VOTE MEDIOCRE AS PRESIDENT–Obasanjo

Yes don’t depend on mere ‘GOOD LUCK’

’

Buhari was in power for roughly two years. Yet Jonathan’s proxies seek to hold Buhari responsible for the lack of equipment that made the armed forces wilt in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency that broke out some 25 years after Buhari left office

‘

advertisement on their front pages and made it look as if it is content generated by its staffers, content that has been vetted, did their proprietors, the sponsors of the message, and their principal, President Goodluck Jonathan, a great disservice. The publication flagrantly violates the five journalistic principles I cited from the 10 enunciated by the Committee of Concerned Journalists. It is a transparent falsehood false, made with actual malice, with reckless disregard for the truth, and with knowing falsity. Buhari was in power for roughly two years. Yet Jonathan’s proxies seek to hold Buhari responsible for the lack of equipment that made the armed forces wilt in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency that broke out some 25 years after Buhari left office. In those 25 years, Nigeria had four presi-

HARDBALL

ARDBALL, this morning, returns to the terrible beauty of the two Ifa political “donations” to Ekiti. One did good — at least by common infrastructure parameters — but was electorally(?) thrown out. It is, however, thanks to the Ekiti rigging audiotapes, emerging that the socalled rejection would appear a farce, cooked by desperate politicians, aided and abetted by dishonourable soldiers, claiming an illicit charter from the Presidency — the apex of democratic Nigeria. That one is Kayode Fayemi. The other did bad — and still, despite a rare second chance, however procured, is doing bad. His first chance ended with an ignominious impeachment, with a sweeping after-odour of alleged sleaze, murder of innocent citizens, and gargantuan abuse of office. Even, his second coming is appearing terribly cursed. As candidate, his decorum was equivalent to that of a tout. As governor-elect, he invaded, thugs in tow, the courts to shred court records, beat up judges and assault lawyers. As governor, he is the very essence of a gubernatorial cad. He is Ayo Fayose. But with the Ekiti rigging audiotapes, Fayose’s unsung end appears at hand. Only Fayose himself cannot see it! To recap, the Ekitigate rigging tapes: Ayo

WAHEED ODUSILE

dents who doubled as commanders-in chief of the armed forces, two of them serving generals and one of them a retired general, and two heads of state, one of them a doddering civilian and the other a general in active service. This listing does not include Dr Jonathan, who has served as president and commander-in-chief during the past six years. The syndicated columnist Sonala Olumhense reckoned that, in just the past 10 years, the Ministry of Defence spent well over N260 trillion. Where did all the money go? Jonathan has for several years declared on any number of platforms at home and abroad that Boko Haram’s days of murder and mayhem were numbered; in one instance he went so far as to assure his audience that it would be “destroyed” within two months. When foreign military personnel and sophisticated equipment arrived to help search for the Chibok girls, Jonathan was all exultation. With that development, he said, Boko Haram was finished. That was almost a year ago. The Chibok girls have not been found, and Book Haram has waxed stronger and stronger. It even tied down the military high command in negotiations with fake agents while it seized more territory and consolidated its hold on the towns and villages it had overrun. And all this happened, Jonathan’s proxies tell us, because Buhari neglected to equip the armed forces in the two years he was in power three decades ago. Haba, Dr Jonathan and company! This is Jonathanism taken too far. Newspapers all over the world are going through hard times. Readership has declined, and so have advertisement and sales revenue even as production costs escalate. Many titles are locked in a grim struggle for existence. The capacity to sustain loss repeatedly rather than the ability to turn a profit is now the measure of a newspaper’s standing. Still, that is no excuse for turning over their chiefest asset – the front page – to peddlers of transparent falsehoods or hate or religious bigotry to anyone who can pay for it. Newspapers that do this repudiate the primary purpose of providing citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing, they renounce their obligation to the truth and the loyalty they owe to citizens. They disavow the imperative of verifying information, and the duty to monitor power in its many guises and disguises. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Ekiti: Ifa cannot be shamed Fayose, then the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, was recorded, allegedly in his Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti, with the likes of Jelili Adesiyan, Police Affairs minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, then Defence minister of state (Army), Iyiola Omisore, then Osun gubernatorial wannabe, with others, trying to hustle, muscle and bustle a truly pathetic Nigerian Army officer, Brig-Gen. Aliyu Momoh, on how their rigging manual was not being applied to the letter. Capt. Sagir Koli, the consciencestricken intelligence officer attached to Momoh, secretly recorded the proceedings; and blew the whistle on the alleged electoral felons. True to type, Fayose first flatly denied his voice was on the tape, claiming — more of lying, really — that a voice software was used to fake his voice. When Fayemi upped the ante, and played the tape on air on Adaba Radio, Akure, a Fayose side-kick challenged Fayemi to a public debate, though Fayemi boasts a PhD, and the Fayose sidekick, a proud NIJ diploma in journalism! Then the latest: Fayose, in a bad stutter, ad-

mitted he was indeed at the alleged plotters’ meeting. But insisted he was there to rebuke the army officer to make the election more equitable! Haba! Whoever spewed out sweet nuts thrown into their mouths by malevolent spirits? The same Saharareporters that Fayose lied against to have invented his voice, via a voice software, had the special pleasure of broadcasting, online, Fayose’s recantation. The same news portal claimed, in the Fayose follow-up report, that President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly told the Wallstreet Journal — quoting Saharareporters now — “that the tape was not ‘real’, stating that the incident will not be probed.” It is up to the Jonathan presidential spokespersons to clear the air on that allegation. Now, back to Fayose, the Ekiti gubernatorial cad. It is indeed sweet to hear he of stomach infrastructure, for once, stutter and cough, to execute an especially hard bluff and bluster. But he must realise he must lay on his bed — bayonets and all — exactly as he had laid it. Fayose can be as caddish as he wants. But this he must know: Ifa will not be mocked!

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