February 21, 2015 by The Nation

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Bobbi Kristina condition remains unchanged … after three weeks in hospital

•President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right) cutting the tape to inaugurate 750mw Olorunsogo II Power Station in Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ogun State. With him are, from left: Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakili; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Supervising Minister of Information, Chief Edem Duke and the representative of the Vice-President and Governor of Delta, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.... yesterday •Continued from Page 1 during the same period. The said daughter was said to be benefiting to the tune of $300,000 per month in the unnamed deals. Apparently aware of the moves, the immediate past governor of Osun State and former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has warned aides to President Jonathan to leave the expresident alone. He also warned against desecrating the Presidency as an institution. He said at no time did Obasanjo propose the Interim National Government(ING) . Findings by Th Nation revealed that some forces in the Presidency and the PDP had been working round the clock on how to subject Obasanjo to ridicule. It was gathered that the 2009 report of the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel on the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) had been retrieved by the forces in order to hang something on Obasanjo. The committee had said that about $13.278billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007. Also, the committee recommended the termination of 13 contracts and a review of 10 projects. About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies. The committee , it was further learnt, recommended the investigation of 18 people, including Obasanjo , by the EFCC and the ICPC, blaming them for the failure of the projects between 1999 and 2007 . A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “For his daring attacks

Presidency set to move against Obasanjo Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation on President Jonathan, some forces in the Presidency and PDP are out for vengeance. “They are plotting to revisit how $13.278billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007. They said there is a subsisting report of the House of Representatives on the wastage in the power sector. “They said they want to demonstrate the government’s further commitment to the anti-corruption campaign by revisiting the NIPP projects. “They are also placing Obasanjo under surveillance because they believe he is allegedly up to something against the government. That is their perception. “They have accused him of allegedly promoting the ING idea which Obasanjo’s camp has denied.” However, some stalwarts of the PDP are opposed to any move against Obasanjo, believing that the step will heat up the polity and portray the party in bad light. A leader of the party said: “There are moves to demystify Obasanjo in one way or the other, but it might backfire. For instance, the House report on the NIPP recommended the investigation of 18 people, some of whom are loyalists of President Jonathan. Some of them include Governor Liyel Imoke; the late Governor Olusegun Agagu; ex-Minister of State for Energy, Alhaji Abdulahamid Ahmed; a former MD of PHCN, Mr. Joseph Makoju; the CEO of

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo dominated news headlines for a good part of the week. It all began last weekend when the former Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman returned from a five-nation trip and faulted the postponement of the elections on the ground that the military would be engaging the Boko Haram terror group in battle. He alleged that President Jonathan haboured a sinister grand plan to win the March 28 Presidential election by hook and by crook, adding that the president feared that Gen Buhari might jail

TCN, Engr. G.O.P Osakue; Head Transmission, TCN, Engr. Dr. C.E. Ifesie; AGM, Lines, Engr. Mike Ezeudenna; the Chairman of the Technical Committee and General Project Manager, Engr. C. N.O. Nwachukwu; Deputy Chairman, Technical Committee, Engr. I. Onuoha; and the MD, NDPHC/NIPP, Mr. J. A. Olotu, among others. “If they single out Obasanjo, it may become a scandal for the PDP government because many people will be rubbished.” Another source also claimed that the Presidency has drawn a battle line against Obasanjo by placing one of his daughters under surveillance over alleged deals with one of the subsidiaries of NNPC and the Presidency The source said: “The deals involving the daughter of the ex-president at the NNPC subsidiary and the Presidency are allegedly worth $300,000 per month. We don’t know why the girl is now being subjected to investigation because her father criticized the President, “ He said the forces are determined to lay all the cards on the table for Nigerians and the international community to see “ those who criticizing Jonathan .” In a statement yesterday, Oyinlola warned presidential aides against desecrating the Presidency with falsehood and casting aspersions on ex- President Obasanjo. Obasanjo , he said, was not behind the ING project as being insinuated. Oyinlola said in the state-

ment : “On Saturday, February 14, presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, issued a statement in response to an earlier press conference by former President Obasanjo. Abati, who obviously spoke on behalf of President Jonathan, alleged that General Obasanjo condemned the recent postponement of elections in the country because he was scheming with “others within and outside the country” to enthrone an ING which he claimed Obasanjo wanted to head. “I feel it would deepen the current discourse in the country, if I call the attention of President Jonathan and, indeed, the entire country to former President Obasanjo’s position on the ING and all other political arrangements, post 1999, which are at variance with the constitution. “On May 28, 2007, 24 hours before the swearing in of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua as President and Dr Jonathan as Vice President, General Obasanjo made a broadcast to the country in which he clearly stated that in the new Nigeria which emerged after the exit of the military in 1999 and which he was handing over after piloting it for eight years, terminating on May 29, 2007, there would never be a place for coups and the Interim National Governments again. “Indeed, he listed elimination of coups and negation of the possibility of having any ING and other political arrangements that are not rooted in the constitution as •Continued on Page 61

HITNEY Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown has been taken off her ventilator and her breathing tube removed as her condition remains unchanged at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, according to a family source. According to reports the 21-year-old has been given a tracheotomy to help her continue to breathe. The decision to remove her tube does not mean her family has made a decision about her life support, the source told the newspaper. Family on Thursday said Brown’s condition is ‘still critical’ and that the surgical procedure - which opens an airway into the trachea through the neck - was a normal one for coma patients. ‘The tracheotomy is a different place for the tube to go,’ the source told said. ‘Everything else remains the same. It’s a waiting game. The family is hoping and waiting.’ According to the source, the procedure will also reduce the risk of infection. ‘She is still critical and we don’t know what the outcome will be,’ the source said. ‘No one is giving up on this kid.’ However, Bobbi’s father, Bobbi Brown claims the relatives who have been giving media interviews about her medical condition do not have direct knowledge of her treatment. Singer Bobby Brown’s attorney asked media outlets on February 13 to stop speaking with family members unauthorized to discuss the condition of his daughter. She was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub at her suburban home last month. Few details about the aspiring 21-year-old singer’s condition have been made public. Family members have said she is fighting for her life. ‘We continue to request privacy in this matter,’ Bobby Brown said in a statement. ‘We thank everyone that supports Bobbi Kristina and God is hearing our prayers.’ Bobby Brown’s attorney said the relatives giving interviews about Bobbi Kristina Brown are not in communication with her doctors, and in particular asked media organizations to disregard cousin, Jerod Brown. The cousin said in an interview with Atlanta TV station WXIA this week that she remained on a ventilator and the family had no plans to remove her from life support. ‘This is a criminal investigation and we do not need this side show,’ attorney Christopher Brown, who is representing Bobbi Kristina’s father, said in a statement. Jerod Brown was also involved in disputed reports that Nick Gordon, who calls himself the husband of Bobbi Kristina Brown, cannot visit her at the hospital. Lawyers for Gordon said the cousin’s contention that Gordon was pursuing legal action to gain access to Brown was false. They said Gordon, who has kept a low profile since Bobbi Kristina Brown was rushed to a hospital, only wants to see her recover. ‘He remains in constant prayer for his companion and he hopes to be reunited with her soon,’ lawyers Randy Kessler and Joe Habachy said in a statement on Thursday. Police in Roswell, Georgia, are investigating the circumstances leading to Brown’s discovery in the tub on January 31. She had been in a car crash four days earlier, according a police report. The SUV she was driving spun out of control and hit a car on January 27, causing extensive damage to both vehicles and sending her passenger and the driver of the other car to the hospital, the report said. The other driver was listed in critical condition, police said, and one of Brown’s tires was punctured by a nail and appeared to have blown out. Police in Roswell, Georgia, are investigating the circumstances leading to Brown’s discovery in the tub on January 31. She had been in a car crash four days earlier, according a police report. The SUV she was driving spun out of control and hit a car on January 27, causing extensive damage to both vehicles and sending her passenger and the driver of the other car to the hospital, the report said. The other driver was listed in critical condition, police said, and one of Brown’s tires was punctured by a nail and appeared to have blown out. •Source: Mail of London

Man of the moment Innocent DURU APC candidate triumphs at the poll. He went ahead to deal a deadly blow on the President by accusing him of going the way of former President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote’d Voire, who kept tinkering with election dates in his country until he was humiliated out of office. The comment attracted a swift reaction from the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation. The organisation, through its Director of Media and Publicity,

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on Sunday, told former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop playing God over his numerous criticisms of President Jonathan. The former President bounced back on Monday and publicly anounced that he had dumped the party and went a step ahead to ask his ward Chairman, Alhaji Usman Oladunjoye, who led the delegation of party executives to his Hilltop residence, to shred •Continued on Page 6

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Bobbi Kristina’s condition remains unchanged … after three weeks in hospital

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2015

4 News

OR the third time, the Federal Government yes terday failed to arraign 29 year-old Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche accused of being the mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bombing in Nyanya, Abuja. It was the absence of the court’s interpreter that prevented his arraignment yesterday with six others named in a fresh seven-count charge now before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Again, FG fails to arraign alleged Nyanya blast mastermind, Ogwuche Eric IKHILAE, Abuja On November 24 last year, another judge of the same court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, was forced to strike out an earlier charge

brought against Ogwuche for lack of diligent prosecution. The Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force had fought each other over which agency should handle the case. On a few occasions, lawyers from

both agencies openly disagreed in court on the issue. When the seven accused persons were again taken to court on February 6 on the fresh charge, they could not be arraigned because five of them were yet to procure the

•From right: Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Dr Ore Falomo; publisher of Healthcare Magazine, Dr Bola Olaosebikan and Special Adviser on Public Health, Lagos State, Dr Yewande Adeshina at the presentation of three awards: Governor of the Republic on Health, High Achiever and Best Governor on Healthcare Sector to the governor by the magazine to mark its 29th anniversary during 2015 State Council on Health at Sharaton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun ADEYEWA

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the shift in dates of the general elections from February to March saved the nation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a huge embarrassment. A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, added that rather than condemnation, initiators of the shift in the polls dates ought to be appreciated. According to the ruling party, if held in February as initially scheduled, “the elections would have been chaotic and far from fair and credible, as over 23 million registered voters would have been disenfranchised for no fault of theirs”. The statement continued: “The prevalent huge deficit in the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has shown that the development rather saved the nation and the INEC a huge embarrassment. “The fact that millions of Nigerians are still struggling to receive their PVCs a week after the February 14 date clearly shows that the commission would have been thoroughly embarrassed had it gone ahead

PDP: poll shift saved Nigeria, INEC from embarrassment Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja with the elections on that day. “As at February 7, a week to the rescheduled elections, the Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced that only 45, 829, 808 representing 66.58 percent of the total number of registered voters have received their PVCs. INEC’s records also showed that 1.3 million cards were yet to be delivered by the printers, while 1.1 million stolen cards were yet to be replaced as at that date. “Whereas the INEC gave the impressions that all processes, including the PVC distribution will be perfected before February 14, it is disturbing that a week after that date, millions of Nigerians are still struggling to receive their cards which confirms the fears that the commission was not truly ready for the elections in February in spite of its posturing. “Also, had the commission gone ahead with the polls on

February 14, non-indigenes who were being denied their PVCs in select states such as Lagos and Kano would also have been disenfranchised. The shift gave the INEC the time to tackle the issue, which led to the sacking of two of its culpable adhoc staff members in Lagos State. “Furthermore, while briefing the Senate on Wednesday, the INEC Chairman had acknowledged that the postponement was a blessing in disguise which affords the commission and other stakeholders an ample opportunity to perfect all processes for credible elections. “In Prof Jega’s words, ‘the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections to the satisfaction of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. We hope that all stakeholders will continue to join hands with the commission to turn

this disappointment into a blessing to our country. We believe that the effective utilization of this period of extension will enable the INEC to have a flawless and near perfect conduct of elections’. “We note that what is paramount for our nation at this point remains the conduct of credible, free and fair elections where all registered voters are given equal opportunity to exercise their franchise. We, therefore, urge all stakeholders to put the overall interest of the nation ahead of other considerations and desist from making unguarded statements or jumping into hasty conclusions regarding the preparations for the general elections”. The PDP also restated its readiness for rescheduled elections, adding that with its array of credible candidates, numerous achievements and support of Nigerians, the party was assured of emerging victorious at the polls.

CAC pastor warns against thuggery, rigging

cleric, Pastor (Dr) John Olushola Ojo, has called on politicians to keep away from thuggery and rigging in the coming general elections. Pastor Ojo, who is the chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Odi-Ajaye Zonal Headquarters, Ogba, Lagos, said in an interview yesterday in Lagos that “thuggery and rigging are two major vices which are inimical to the nation’s electoral process.” “Both thuggery and rigging are twins. They go together. They give birth to other problems which militate against the rapid advancement of our

country. “In the light of this, I warn our politicians to eschew thuggery and rigging. They are against divine laws,” he said. On the alleged N7billion bribe reportedly given to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Ojo said: “I do not believe this story. But if it is true, it is a desecration of churches which are homes of hope, comfort, peace and holiness. It is bad. It is against the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Bible. “If it is true, those who got

the money are inviting the wrath of God. I do not believe the story. People can say anything to destroy as a result of hatred. A true man of God will not involve himself in bribery. It is a sin to give a bribe and it is a sin to accept it.” On the postponement of elections, he said: “I know that many people are complaining about the shift of the polls. But I want people to be calm and believe that God is in control. We should pray that elections hold on the new dates.” On our youths, Pastor Ojo said: “Our youths deserve special treatment because they are the future leaders. Any govern-

ment in power after these elections must attach much importance to the welfare of youths. They must be empowered. They need jobs; they need training. They should not be left to waste.” Pastor Ojo, who will soon launch a foundation to take care of widows and orphans, said immoralities in our society could be traced to the lack of honesty. “We have challenges here and there because of our failure to embrace honesty in all our dealings with our fellow human beings. And where there is no honesty, God will not be there because He hates dishonesty,” he said.

services of lawyers. Those brought to court included Ogwuche, Akhmad Rufai Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maitirare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (aka Kofar Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar. Yesterday while all the accused persons were represented by lawyers, Justice Mohammed informed parties that the court’s interpreter, Murtala Abdullahi, had travelled to attend to his ailing wife who was critically ill. Stressing why the interpreter’s presence was necessary, the judge said the right of the accused persons to fair hearing would be breached, should the court proceed when they do not understand the court’s official language of communication. With the agreement of parties, the judge granted accelerated hearing in the case. To prevent delay, lawyer to Ogwuche, Ahmed Raji (SAN), equally withdrew the bail application he had filed

for his client. The judge adjourned to March 6. The accused persons are, in the new charge, accused of conspiracy, engaging in an act of terrorism, belonging to Boko Haram, an outlawed group and refusal to disclose to security agencies, information that would have prevented an act of terrorism. Ogwuche was, in count six, accused of rendering support to a terrorist group by giving money at different times and places in Abuja to the widows of members of the terrorist organization known as Boko Haram. Ogwuche and Abubakar (aka Dr Tsiga) were, in count seven, accused carrying out “surveillance and identified Silverbird Galleria and other locations as potential targets of terrorist attack.” The accused persons were said to have committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 1(2)(a) &(b), 5(b),8(b) 16, 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013.

Naira hits N215 to dollar at BDC’s segment

HE Naira depreciated by N5 to the dollar yesterday, trading N215 at the Bureau De Change (BDCs) segment of the official market. It also depreciated by N7 at the black market, selling at N217 to the dollar. A dealer, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the depreciation might be due to the closure of the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) by the CBN. It was closed by CBN on February. 18. The RDAS is a foreign exchange window at CBN where the Bureau de Change and commercial banks buy forex. The dealer said that the CBN’s decision, which was meant to control speculations, had made other currencies to be scarce. He also said that dealers were left to source for forex only at the interbank market unlike in the past when they had three to four segments to buy. Besides, the Naira against the pound at the BDCs exchanged for N332 from the N307 it sold on Monday. It went for N335 at the black market from the N314 it sold four days ago. The Naira lost N5 to the Euro to sell at N240, when compared with the N235 it sold on Monday Feb.16 at the BDCs. The currency, at the black market, traded for N244 as against the N237 it traded on Monday.

Group slams Jonathan over Boko Haram

policy analysis and pressure group, Patriotic Nigeria Now (also known as Patriotic Nigeriana) yesterday demanded explanation from the Federal Government why it must wait for elections to approach before considering effective military actions on insurgency as a priority. The group, in a statement, lamented the thousands of lives of innocent and promising Nigerians that have been wasted by insurgents who had had unchallenged reigns before the current raid by the Nigerian military. The statement signed by the Media Consultant to the organization, Idowu Quadri, demanded to know why it took the President Goodluck Jonathan government to be faced by electoral defeat before realizing the Boko Haram issue is one that could determine where electoral support would swing. “Though it is relieving to hear various stories of the successful raids by the Nigerian Army and the allied forces on the insurgents, every patriotic Nigerian must look at this issue very well and demand to know what brought about the delay in taking the appropriate military actions,” the group said. The group accused the Federal Government of abdicating its responsibilities towards the citizens by failing to confront the Boko Haram menace as timely as was necessary. It added that Nigerians have confidence in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and other security agencies whose collaborations could have brought an end to the carnage. “The United States’ Senator John McCain could not, therefore, have been wrong when he said that the US government needed not to have waited for a practically non-existent government to take action to help Nigeria in the wake of the painful abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok village in Borno State,” the group said.

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Eid-El-Maulud

News 5

Lagos INEC yet to take delivery of 400,000 PVCs , says REC

BOUT 400, 000 Perma nent Voters Cards (PVCs) are still being expected in Lagos State from Abuja for distribution to their owners, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state said yesterday. The Resident Electoral Com-

missioner (REC), Mr Akin Orebiyi, told reporters that PVCs’ distribution has risen to 62.7 per cent from 38 per cent last week. He said: “But we are still working seriously because we

know that quite a number of people are still yet to collect their PVCs; we want to make sure that they are able to collect these cards. “As we speak, out of 5,905, 000 cards for Lagos State, we

EU gives N717m humanitarian assistance to Cameroon

HE European Union (EU) has given a further •3 mil lion (N717m) in humanitarian aid in response to the growing needs in Cameroon. The assistance, according to the regional body, was due to the increasing number of refugees from Nigeria in the Far North of the country, as well as to the deteriorating nutritional situation of resident populations in this region. The new funding, according to EU in a statement issued in Abuja, is beside the earlier •4 million already allocated early January 2015 to address the needs of refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and local populations in the eastern and northern parts of the country. The statement further stated that “EU humanitarian assistance will be channelled via humanitarian organizations working in the country to provide life-

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja saving medical and nutritional assistance, access to safe water and sanitation services, shelter, food assistance and protection to the people in need. In addition to its financial contribution, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) plans to open an office in Yaoundé in March 2015. This will be expanded into a regional office in the second half of the year 2015, in order to also support humanitarian operations in Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria. “We realise the tremendous challenges facing Cameroon due to the influx of refugees and the spill-over of the conflict in Nigeria”, Director of Operations of the European

Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil protection department, Jean-Louis de Brouwer, stated. “We are demonstrating EU’s solidarity with funds as well as with action by deploying our experts here in Cameroon,” he further said. Since January 2014, Cameroon has hosted some 137, 000 refugees from the Central African Republic who have fled the conflict in their country. In addition, more than 41, 000 Nigerian refugees have sought refuge in the Far North region, escaping violence perpetrated by Boko Haram. In the past months, Boko Haram has intensified its attacks in the northern part of Nigeria, leading to internal displacement of several thousands of people and aggravating an already alarming humanitarian situation.

have distributed 3,654,000, but I also need to say that out of 5.9 million, we are still awaiting the arrival of about 400,000 cards. “As soon as we are able to receive them, we will also be able to push them out so that people can come out to collect them. “We are expecting additional cards in practically all the 20 local government areas,’’ he said. He said that commission had outstanding cards in some polling units in Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin, Ibeji-Lekki, Ikeja, IfakoIjaiye, Badagry, Ikorodu, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, Lagos Island, Kosofe, Surulere, AmunwoOdofin, Somolu and Epe. “Also, in Alimosho, we want to urge our people to continue to exercise patience, especially in Shasha, Akowonjo, Idimu,

Isheri-Olofin, Ikotun, Ijegun, Egbe, Agbojo as well as Ipaja. “These are the specific areas where we are expecting cards, but we have been given assurance from our headquarters that as early as Monday next week, these cards would start arriving. “Again, we want to appeal to our people to kindly continue to bear with us and exercise patience; we are working to ensure that these cards arrive in time,’’ he said. Orebiyii said that the commission was compiling the distribution for the outgoing week, which could be released by next week. He said, however, that the commission had no fewer than 1.8 million PVCs not yet claimed in the state.

The commissioner urged owners of the yet-to-be collected cards to find time to pick them up before the deadline on March 8. Orebiyi said that the commission would go beyond the local governments and distribute the cards at the polling units on Feb 27, February 28, March 6 and March 7. He also spoke on the allegation of sidelining some sections of the community from getting their cards. “There is no intention on the part of the INEC or any of its officials to deny any single ethnic group, any single community or any single individual of his card. “But, if any person has difficulties, he should let us know,’’ Orebiyii said. He said that the state had received over 12,000 Smart Card readers and they were being configured specially to each polling unit in the state.

The mathematics of marriage, by Pastor Adeboye

OUPLES seeking to spice up their marriages may learn a few tips from the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, who has established a link between Mathematics and marriage. Coming from a mathematician-turned pastor, who has been married for 47 years, the audience at the first annual lecture of the Pastor E.A. Adeboye Professorial Chair for mathematics held Thursday evening at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) took him seriously when he spoke about four simultaneous linear equations for successful marital life. He supported each equation with relevant biblical verses as he told the audience that his understanding of the mathematics of marriage is what has kept his marriage strong. "I told my children that why I have remained married for 47 years is because I understand the mathematics of marriage. Mathematics is a science of living," he said. His Equation 1, which states that love is blind, was supported with a biblical passage from Proverbs 10:12, which states that love covers a multitude of sins. Then he said the explanation for Equation 2, which is that "marriage is a miracle worker with special anointing for curing blindness" could be found in Genesis 29:16-25 which gives the account of how Jacob was so in love that he did not know it was Leah that was given to him in marriage instead of Rachel until the next day. When simultaneously calculated, he said the result shows that during courtship, love does not make shortcomings obvious until after marriage, when all doubts about character are cleared. Moving on to Equation 3, which states that "angels don't eat jollof rice"; he made reference

•UNILAG to confer DSC on Redeemed GO

•Adeboye Kofoworola BELO-OSAGIE

to Judges 6:11-21 where the sacrifice Gideon offered to the angel was consumed by fire, while he said Equation 4 is that angels don't marry Matthew 22:30. In essence, Pastor Adeboye explained that the women eat jollof rice so they are not angels and are not perfect, just like men. He advised couples to have reasonable expectations of their spouses and not expect them to be like angels. Pastor Adeboye was the first master’s and PhD student of Mathematics produced by the University of Lagos. The Apapa Family of the RCCG endowed the professorial chair in Mathematics, valued at N50 million at the university on his

behalf in 2009. Prof Samuel Okoya currently occupies the professorial chair. He delivered a lecture titled: "Relevance of Mathematics to Everday Living" at the event. Meanwhile, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, announced at the lecture that the university would confer an honorary doctoral degree of science on Pastor Adeboye for his contribution to life and the growth of his church. "In recognition of Pastor Adeboye's contribution to life and the growth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Senate of the University of Lagos has approved the award of a Doctor of Science (DSc) Honoris Causa to Pastor Adeboye. We look forward to the day the award will be bestowed on him officially," he said. Responding, Adeboye said he would accept the award with joy. "While I have humbly rejected the awards of many universities, I will gladly accept that of the University of Lagos," said the man of God.

Nigerian woman gang-raped in India

35-year-old Nigerian woman has been gangraped in New Delhi, police said yesterday. Four suspects have been arrested. The woman was found in an unconscious state in Mayur Vihar area in east Delhi around 2.43 a.m. yesterday. Police said when the victim was found, she was under the influence of alcohol.She had apparently been raped in a moving car.

The police said they received a call from a passerby who spotted her. “She told us that she had boarded the accused persons’ car in which she was gangraped in south Delhi’s Saket area,” an official said. Police added that the woman did not know the accused and had jumped out of the car in Mayur Vihar area. “We have arrested all the four accused who are residents of Mayur Vihar area,” police said.

Minister of Youth, Mr Boni Haruna, checking the inscription on the armoured tank destroyed by the military during the flushing out of insurgents at Kwarhi in Adamawa on yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

African coalition prepares for Boko Haram offensive

iger, Chad, and Cameroon are seeking to undermine Boko Haram terrorists ahead of a groundand-air offensive by the regional taskforce due to start from the end of next month. A senior Niger military official said military chiefs will meet in N’Djamena,the Chadian capital, next week to finalise strategy for the 8,700-strong taskforce of troops from the African coalition. “All we are doing right now is stopping Boko Haram from entering Niger. If they attack our positions, we push them back a certain distance and Nigeria pushes from the other side to contain the situation,” Colonel

Mahamane Laminou Sani, Director of Documentation and MilitaryIntelligence of Niger’s armed forces said on the sidelines of the annual USsponsored ‘Flintlock’ counterterrorism exercises in Chad. “There are initiatives by our countries to make sure Boko Haram doesn’t get out of control, but we have a deadline of end-March to put the joint force into practice,” he added. Chadian forces have made incursions into Nigeria to push back the fighters, hundreds of whom have been killed. Chad’s army said on Tues-

day evening that they had seized contol of the town of Dikwa, which is about 50km southwest of the Nigerian border town of Gamoru. “When they came into Dikwa, there was intense fighting, but at last, they subdued the Boko Haram fighters,” Bababura Diwa, a resident of the town, said. “They killed many of them, including Abu Ashshe, their commander.” Nigeria’s military said on Wednesday that it had killed more than 300 Boko Haram fighters during an operation to recapture 11 towns and villages since the start of the week.

Group hails NYSC over reduction of service registration fee

coalition of civil society groups, under the aegis of Good Governance Forum, has hailed the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) over its decision to reduce the online registration fees for prospective corps members. The NYSC had two weeks ago announced the reduction of the registration fees from N4, 000 to N3,000, following agitations by stakeholders in the education sector. In a communiqué issued at the end of a sensitization workshop, held in Benue and Lagos states to further seek ways of helping Nigerian youths achieve their dreams,

the coalition said the step taken by the NYSC was a step in the right direction, adding that it would regalvanize the spirit of Nigerian youth in serving the nation. Comrade Bassey Etuk and Igwe Casmir Uche, President, Coalition of Civil Society Groups and Chairman of the organizing committee respectively, who signed the communiqué along with Abubakar Ibrahim, the Northern Coordinator, said holding the workshop in the northern and southern parts of the country was to help sensitize prospective corps members.

The group specifically lauded the disposition of the NYSC Director-General, Brid. Gen. Johnson Olawumi for heeding the request of the Nigerian youths, saying the digitalization of the NYSC service scheme has gone a long way in reducing the stress and challenges faced by prospective corps members. “We call on all stakeholders to embrace this recent initiative as a sign of the good intent of the NYSC DG, just as we also note with great joy the efforts being put together by the DG to ensure the safety of corps members across the country for the 2015 general elections,” Etuk said.

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HE insistence of the Federal Government on deploying soldiers for security duties during the forthcoming elections is all about subverting the will of the people. That is the consensus of a cross section of Northern leaders in reaction to a statement by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation that there is nothing wrong in the planned deployment of the soldiers. Spokesman for the campaign organisation,Mr.Femi Fani-Kayode , had claimed that for opposing the deployment of the soldiers,the APC intended to cause security breaches in the country in the weeks ahead. Responding,however, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie faulted the use of militrymen during the polls,saying it is aimed at rigging the election. His view is shared by Second Republic member of the House of Representatives,Dr.Junaid Mohammed, Deputy Senate President in the Second Republic ,Alhaji Abubakar Mamman Dan Musa,former Governor of the old Katsina state, Alhaji Lawal Kaita,and the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation. They argued that no section of the Constitution prescribes a role for the military in the electoral process. Coomassie said that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation is only afraid of the outcome of the presidential election, hence its call for the involvement of the military in the polls with a view to intimidating the people. “ It is not the responsibility of the other security agencies to maintain law and order in case of any eventuality during elections. It is the duty of the police and SSS. Therefore, until the police and SSS say they cannot do it alone that is when you consider the use of soldiers,” Coomassie said. “Even at that, they are not expected to be at the polling units. So, those calling for the use of the military are only undermining the capacity of the police. It is the duty of the police to write to other security agencies if they require any assistance.” For his part, Dr. Junaid

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

PDP’s insistence to use soldiers for polls ploy to rig—Arewa chair Coomassie

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna; Tony AKOWE, Kaduna; Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano

Mohammed declared the planned use of soldiers during the elections as unconstitutional and irresponsible. His words: “ certainly, I am not surprised by the call, considering those who constitute the Jonathan campaign organisation. They think, in their own senses, that majority of Nigerians are in support of the President and as such, they can use that to intimidate everybody. But, as far as I am concerned, the campaign is not even on ground anywhere in Nigeria. “They believe that because the uniformed men are paid by the government, they will definitely support President Jonathan, but the uniformed men themselves who I believe are not more than 500,000 cannot control 170million Nigerians, in case of any eventuality. Besides, there is no guarantee that everybody in the military and paramilitary is a supporter of the PDP or Jonathan himself. “It is unconstitutional for the military to be used in the election process. Therefore, anyone claiming to be a democrat must also condemn it, because it is a plan to rig the elections. “I am completely opposed to soldiers getting involved in our election. The rigging of election in Ekiti is still fresh in our memory. “I am a democrat. I believe in the rule of law and also believe that democracy without the rule of law is a functional impossibility. There is already a ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal that no soldiers should be deployed for the conduct of the election. “Even before the latest ruling of the Court of Appeal, neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Act envisaged any role for soldiers. “The most honest and prudent way forward for this country and for the President and his party would be to facilitate the holding of honest and credible election—free of violence, free of any intimidation, free of rigging and free of any elec-

•It’s mockery of democracy, say Buhari campaign, Lawan Kaita toral malpractices.” Alhaji Lawal Kaita hailed the recent court ruling precluding soldiers from any role during the forthcoming elections, and said the verdict was in tune with democracy ,while Dan Musa said: “If there is no immediate

threat to law and order, there is no justification for soldiers to be deployed in the election.” On alleged move by the PDP to enlist the support of some traditional rulers ahead of the elections,he said: “To me, really, change

has come; even though they can get the support of all the Emirs in the North, that cannot work. Remember that in 2011 after the election, most of the traditional rulers in the North, those that appeared to have supported PDP— their palaces were

touched in the process.” The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said that placing the fate of the 2015 elections in the hands of the military is a mockery of democracy. •Continued on Page 59

Fed Govt plots to frame northern Islamic clerics over alleged stolen PVCs, Buhari campaign raises alarm

HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has accused the federal government of plotting to use security agents to frame some northern Muslim clerics and traditional rulers for being in possession of stolen Permanent Voters Cards. Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the Organisation said in a statement that the Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has concluded plans through some government controlled security agencies,

Tony AKOWE, Abuja to shift the paradigm of public perception of corruption on them to the camp of the opposition (APC), by witchhunting some Northern Muslim clerics and District Heads as having stolen Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), to rig the forthcoming presidential election in favour of General Muhammadu Buhari, the torchbearer of the APC. The statement said “If this clandestine plan is hatched like the use of the military to rig the polls in governor-

ship election in Ekiti State last year, or the underhand treatment currently being given to INEC and other state institutions, we in the APC and majority of fellow Nigerian men and women would disbelieve it, resist it and question it till such an oppressive decision is rescinded and the anomaly rectified. “Information at our disposal shows that certain state agencies like the Customs, Immigration, Police and so on are waiting on the wings to mop up PVCs across the country (possibly from ille-

gal immigrants) and bundle them on hapless religious leaders and District Heads of Northern extraction, to corroborate PDP’s over-flogged narrative that people in the Northern States have collected voter’s cards by proxy; even though INEC top-shots have publicly denied such allegations. The ploy to also heap this electoral offence on APC cum Buhari supporters is, to say the least, dastardly, cruel and heinous. “Election must not be seen •Continued on Page 7

•People loading traditional mats into a canoe in Yola, Adamawa State, to be transported to Cameroon… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Presidency set to move against Obasanjo •Continued from Page 3 key parts of the legacy he was leaving for Nigeria. “It is, thus, laughable that less than eight years after Chief Obasanjo made his position clear on this matter, the Presidency he left behind would release a response that flies in the face of truth and logic. “That was General Obasanjo’s broadcast containing his position on the ING. The position remains the same today. I appeal to Nigerians to avoid being distracted from the noble goal of ensuring that against all odds, elections are held on March 28 and April 11 as rescheduled by the INEC. “I also enjoin all others around the President who may speak on his behalf to endeavour to do their homework very well next time before levelling allegations

and making claims that diminish the nation’s collective esteem before the civilized world. “The Presidency of Nigeria is a national symbol, whoever holds it or works for it should never desecrate it with embarrassing speculations and shameful untruths.” The statement said: “ For better information and education of all who may have forgotten what Obasanjo said eight years ago on this particular issue, I reproduce here that broadcast of May 28, 2007: Broadcast by HIS EXCELLENCY OLUSEGUN OBASANJO on the eve of the wearing-in ceremony of H.E. Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja May 28

My Dear Fellow Nigerians, Tonight, I wish to bid you farewell as President of our country for the past eight years. Tomorrow, May 29, will usher in a new and glorious dawn for our country. A new generation of Nigerian leaders will take over the great responsibility of running this great and diverse nation. “In the past eight years, you, by which I mean Nigerians, have worked together with me to revive our national image, our economy and to place us firmly on the path of sanity and progress. “For the eight years that I have enjoyed your mandate and support, we changed not only the image of our country in the eyes of fairminded, honest and objective observers both at home and around the world. We have run the longest democratic dispensation and

eliminated the risk of violent changes of government through coups and countercoups in our political culture. “We have made clear to the world that the idea of Interim National Government does not have a place in our political culture and practice. It is something we must continue to detest. We have widened, deepened and strengthened democracy. But democracy is not a destination, it is a journey. We must remain firmly, committedly and undivertedly on the journey. “Tomorrow morning, we will, for the first time in our history, witness a peaceful transition of political leadership from one democratically-elected government and personality to a new set of elected President, Governors and Legislators. “As we usher in our new

•Jonathan President and new Government tomorrow, let us take a moment and reflect on our journey so far. “When we started on this journey on May 29, 1999, Nigeria was at its lowest ebb and shunned not only in the international arena but even here at home. Many Nigerians had lost hope for the future of the country. Our citizens were leaving our shores

in droves in search of better conditions in more advanced countries of Europe, the United States of America and the Middle East. “We thank God that many of these people are now returning home and are beginning to actively participate in the country’s development. “On the Economic Front, we have reformed the economy and are beginning to notice the benefits of the reforms on our development and progress. “We are poised to witness positive changes for the benefit of our people. We have ceased to be one of the most heavily indebted nations of the world and can now be truly independent in all that we do for our country. “Infrastructural facilities, like telephones, which were •Continued on Page 59

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Fleeing Boko Haram insurgents attack villages near Chibok, kill 30

O fewer than 20 people were killed on Thursday by fleeing Boko Haram terrorists close to Chibok,Borno State,from where they kidnapped over 200 school girls a year ago. Attacked were the villages of Gatamarwa, Lehu and Makalawa all of which were torched by the vandals. An eyewitness said the that the attacks began from Gatamarwa market, south of Borno and later spread to the two other communities which are not very far from each other. A security source said that the insurgents were fleeing from the military offensive currently ongoing in the State. “What we observed is that the Boko Haram insurgents attacking in this manner are the ones running from the ongoing military offensive to flush them out from their camps in the state,” the military source said. Shehu Bukar Ali, a local official in Chibok said that the “insurgents entered Gatamarwa market at about 9am on Thursday and opened fire on traders in a crowded part of the market. “He said more than 10 people were killed there. He added that the same attackers moved to Makalawa and Lehu on motorcycles shooting sporadically before setting the entire communities ablaze. The insurgents were passing through the three neighbouring villages as they fled the nearby town of Askira Uba, which they invaded on Monday evening, one resident said. Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters stormed Askira Uba, burning homes and public buildings, despite a regional campaign to crush their sixyear insurgency. Residents who fled the town said they appealed to

Fed Govt plots to frame northern Islamic clerics over alleged stolen PVCs •Continued from Page 6 or taken as a do-or-die affair. Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and the best hands should govern it. After all, the opposition has won elections in Senegal, Ghana, Sri Lanka, among others. Why should ours be an exemption? “What President Jonathan and his party should learn from their multifarious campaign of malice and mudslinging, to which millions of state funds are daily being pumped, is that Nigerians are not buying their lies and they will voice out their anger through the ballot at the polls in March and April. “No amount of cajolement or harassment can bottle the people’s power to elect their leaders. It is a constitutional right that not even the military has the power to remove. General Buhari is a man of proven integrity and honesty. These are the tangible and incorruptible attributes that endear him to the masses.”

Joel DUKU , Maiduguri troops based in Chibok some 25 kilometres away but they allegedly refused to deploy. The militants fled when soldiers were eventually sent. Some left towards Gwoza, on the border with Cameroon, and the Sambisa Forest, where Boko Haram has camps. Boko Haram seized Gwoza in June last year and later declared it a part of their Islamic caliphate. The town is consid-

•40 in Adamawa

ered to be the group’s headquarters. The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that fighter jets had bombarded Sambisa Forest after Chad, which is involved in the regional fightback, attacked the nearby town of Dikwa. Chibok gained notoriety last April when Boko Haram fighters kidnapped 276 schoolgirls, causing global

outrage and a social media campaign to release them. Fifty-seven managed to escape but 10 months on, 219 are still being held. Reports from Adamawa State last night said Boko Haram terrorists also killed up to 40 residents of Gaya-fa and Zang,both close to the Sambisa forest in Borno which has come under severe bombing by the air force in a

bid to smoke out the insurgents hiding and training there. Premium Times quoted a resident as saying that the hoodlums “ ransacked our villages for almost two days, they first attacked Gaya-fa in a killing spree, over 30 people were shot.” The residents were able to regroup and succeeded in repelling the invaders only for the terrorists to return Friday with more fury, killing over

10 people.” “We are set to repel them now,” said the resident, Baba Jibrin, who is the chief hunter of the area. Other residents said the insurgents also set fire on several buildings in the communities, looting home utensils and food stuff, including mattresses. Another fleeing resident said, “They killed over 30 people and burned down several buildings in the community.”

Stable power not feasible until 2017, says Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan hinted yesterday that the nation’s quest for stable light might not be met by the government until after two or more years . According to him, the interface between the federal government and the private sector on full privatisation of the energy sector to make steady power supply feasible in the country, would hopefully be completed in two years period. The president who dropped the hint while inaugurating the 750 Mega Watts Olorunsogo Power Plant Phase II, Papalanto, Ogun State, said that his administration had spent about US$8. 26 Billion in the bid to boost the national electricity generation capacity by over 4, 700MGW. He said: “to stimulate the micro and medium enterprises, government must invest and must show significant concern for power and that is what we are doing. “And we promised this country that surely in the next two years, the interface between 100 per cent government control of

•President inaugurates NIPP Olorunsogo in Ogun Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta power sector and 100 per cent control of the private sector will be sealed properly and

Nigerians would take power for granted.” He explained that of the US$8. 26 billion invested or spent on power, US$ 650 million of the amount was

committed to the Olorunsogo power plant inaugurated yesterday. There are 10 of such power projects spread across the nation including the two

inaugurated in Kogi and Ondo states in 2014,he said. He is scheduled to inaugurate the Egbin power station today .

•Wife of Oyo state Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; seven-year-old Desola Oloko, who donated books to educate a rural child; her parents, Mr and Mrs Oloko; wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bolanle Alli; and the ERC crew at the books donation in Ibadan... yesterday

Refugees in Niger live under shadow of Boko Haram

BOUBACAR, usually a worker for a nongovernmental organisation, has now taken on another, more ominous role: watching out for suicide bombers. “We watch everyone,” he said in Niger’s second-largest city of Zinder. “Last Thursday, a man in a turban whom we had never seen before came to the mosque. We asked him to leave.” His fears reflect the shifting threat of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which has in recent weeks carried out attacks across the border from its base in northeastern Nigeria as regional forces pursue them. In the southern city of Zinder, the hot, dusty streets have seen a trail of refugees from Niger’s Diffa, about 400 kilometres to the east. Since February 6, Boko Haram has launched five bloody attacks in Diffa border territory. Zinder has so far been spared, but residents and local officials fear the violence could further spread. The attacks have come as Niger moved to deploy troops to join a burgeoning regional campaign against the jihadists, who have taken

control of swathes of northeastern Nigeria at a cost of more than 13,000 lives since 2009. While the regional response has led to the beginnings of a fight back, it has also introduced new risks. A recent air strike killed at least 36 mourners and wounded 27 others at a funeral in Abadan village straddling the border with Nigeria. Some blamed the attack on Niger’s own military, which declared that the aircraft’s “origins remain undetermined”. A local elected leader said that the Nigerian army was suspected, but Nigeria’s air force denied all responsibility. North of the Nigerian frontier, Zinder is on high alert. At a main entrance to the town of some 350,000 inhabitants, teams of police officers take turns all day long to inspect vehicles under a blazing sun. Cars, lorries, buses laden with luggage piled on top, minibuses and motorbikes are all systematically searched at a checkpoint marked by a simple rope stretched across the tarred road. When a boy was hauled roughly out of a minibus,

tension soared. People shoved each other and shouted, since Boko Haram is known for using youngsters in its attacks. But a nervous policeman said that the youth had merely been party to a scuffle. The governor of the Zinder region, Kalla Moutari, says that rigorous inspections are vital and have already enabled the security forces “to intercept people who infiltrated the displaced population”. “A few dozen” people suspected of having ties with

Boko Haram have been arrested around the town, which has for centuries been a major trading hub on a trans-Saharan route. THe suspects, all Niger nationals, have been transferred to the anti-terrorist unit in the capital Niamey, where the authorities on Tuesday organised a major protest march against Boko Haram. The extremists “have enlisted many of our young people” in southern Niger, the governor said in the vast reception room of his resi-

dence, stressing that “we can’t minimise the threat”. Concern is all the greater since even before Boko Haram struck in Niger, security forces dismantled several “sleeper cells” of Islamist activists, Moutari added. One man was recently arrested when found in possession of a book “that gave justifications for terrorism”, a member of the security services said. Aboard the buses that arrive in Zinder, “it’s often the travellers who denounce the suspects,” he added.

Man of the moment •Continued from Page 3 his membership card. Shortly after he made the announcemen, the Ogun State PDP executive council, headed by Chief Adebayo Dayo, announced his expulsion from the party over what it termed his series of anti-party activities. Miffed by the former president’s action and utterances, the military on Tuesday lampooned him and described his comments as an embarrassment to the force he once served.

The DHQ said the comments credited to Chief Obasanjo, that the postponement of the general elections was to enable President Jonathan to use the Service Chiefs to plot a tenure extension, was to say the least, very surprising. The DHQ’s comment attracted serious condemnation from some retired senior military officers, who lashed out at the military high command for describing the former president as an embarrassment to the military institution.

Chief Obasanjo continued to dominate news reports during the week when Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State on Tuesday emerged from a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and gave the impression that the party stakeholders might beg the Owu high chief. The action and comments of the former president remained the subject of debates and discussions both in the print and broadcast media all through the week.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Ogun PDP empowers youths

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward2Ward Initiative, Ogun State chapter, has embarked on a project aimed at alleviating poverty among youths of the state. The first phase of the empowerment scheme which has former Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, as its brand ambassador kicked-off with 150 beneficiaries on Tuesday at the Abeokuta Sports Club, IbaraAbeokuta. The beneficiaries received vocational training from professionals, after which they were awarded certificates and relevant materials to start their own business. The training programme covered photography, soap making, pastry, laundry business and agriculture among others. The coordinator of the project, Prince Bashorun Babatunde, said:”Beneficiaries of the programme were picked from all the wards and local governments within the ages of 18 to 50.Ward2Ward Initiative is created to empower youths and necessary working tools to start them up in business.”

Lagos guber: Non-indigenes organise mega rally for APC MEMBERS of the nonindigenes’ caucus of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Lagos have concluded arrangements to hold a mega rally in support of all the APC candidates in Lagos. The groups comprising of the Arewa, Ndigbo, NorthCentral and South–South people in Lagos State have decided to join forces with professionals and artisan associations as well as civil society groups in the state to stage a mega rally in Lagos. The forthcoming rally is being organised by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Political and Legislative Matter,Hon. Muslim Folami, Arch.Kabir Ahmed; Chief Chris Ekwilo; Otunba Emiyede and Mohammed Kpatako.

New poll portal berths A NEW poll portal has been floated by a group of Nigerian professionals. The site, which is currently attracting huge visitors according to a statement by its founder, says: “NigerianVotes.com is a non-governmental and independent online platform whose mission is to conduct credible election survey using the social media and telephone to capture voting trends, and to encourage eligible Nigerians to vote on elections and other political, social, or economic issues.The site does not promote any political party, candidate or political or social issues.“

Osun APC threatens legal action against Fani-Kayode over ‘fake video clip’

HE All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun State, has threatened to file a legal action against a former Minister of Transport and Aviation and the Director of Media, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organization, Chief Femi FaniKayode, for allegedly fabricating a video clip which suggested that APC rigged the August 9, 2014 governorship poll in the state.

Oshodi/Isolo residents declare support for Lagos APC NOT a few residents of Oshodi/Isolo area of Lagos State, penultimate week trooped out to declare support for the All Progressives Congress(APC), at a political rally organised by a party loyalist in the area. The carnival-like gathering was sponsored by a popular transporter, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya. Apart from being held in support of APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s standard bearer in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, the rally was also organised to drum support for other candidates of the party in the state assembly and national assembly polls. Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, said it was his little contribution towards the success of the party’s candidates at the forthcoming general election. ”I want to declare that Oshodi/Isolo area of Lagos State is not for the PDP. We have agreed and spoken with one voice that the ruling party in this state has performed creditably and must continue with the development they have brought to Lagos State. We have eyes and we can see that Lagos is now a model to other states begging for infrastructural development, thanks to the peopleoriented projects started by our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and consolidated by our governor, Babatunde Fashola. Now, we are praying for and supporting the victory of Ambode to ensure continuity.”

Burial for Ondo APC chairman’s wife, today THE remains of the wife of the Chairman, Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Isaacs Kekemeke, Mrs Tamarauemi Celestina Kekemeke, will be buried today after a funeral service at First Baptist Church, Arogbo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state. She was aged 49. Mrs Kekemeke died penultimate Friday after a brief illiness.She is survived by her husband, four sons, sisters and an aged mother. She was until her death, a legal parctitioner. Service of Songs came up at Kekemeke’s residence on Thursday while commendation service was held yesterday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG),Beautiful Gate Parish, Alagbaka, Akure.

Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo Describing the video clip allegedly posted on the internet as libelous, the party vowed to pursue the suit against FaniKayode unless he tenders an unreserved apology to the party. Addressing a press conference on Friday, the state chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, also said all the collaborators of the former minister would not be spared. Famodun said the APC has resolved to go court to teach Fani-Kayode and his collaborators a lesson that not every-

body has crooked tendencies like them. The chairman also described the accusation of the former Minister as falsehood and unfounded. He queried why the PDP did not tender the fabricated tape at the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime election petition tribunal. He also challenged the Directorate of State Security(DSS) and the Nigeria Police to explain to Nigerians why they have refused to investigate and take necessary actions on the petition by the APC on the fake PDP’s video since November, 2014.

According to him: “It is very clear that the PDP has no shame and that is why they think they can deceive Nigerians. We will not allow this matter to lie low. So, we are demanding for an independent Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the entire process leading to the Osun Election. We demand an exposition of all that happened two weeks to the election,the night before the election and on the day of the election up to the announcement of election result the following morning. “When the panel of enquiry is convoked, it must be given

the power to extract evidence from anybody through invitation and that nobody must refuse to appear before it. Failure by the president and National Assembly to act on this within two weeks, we will call on the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to take up the task of setting up of a panel of enquiry without delay.” The APC showed journalists the purported video footage by the PDP, where some armed men were freely thumb printing the ballot papers allegedly meant for the Osun State August 9 governorship election.

•Former Oyo State governor, Otunba Alao-Akala, during his campaign in Ibadan, Oyo State... yesterday

Violence: Ekiti APC asks NHRC to prosecute Fayose THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Sate wants the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to prosecute Governor Ayodele Fayose, for allegedly promoting violence and intimidation of its members and supporters in the state. The party, in a petition submitted to NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe yesterday, accused Fayose of sponsoring political violence with the aid of thugs. The thugs,the APC alleged in the petition, physically attacked and intimidated members of the opposition. Ekiti APC’s Secretary, Omotosho Ayodele, who led the APC delegation said : “While all Nigerians are busy praying for peace, what we have in Ekiti State is a clear

•Commission vows to move against electoral violence Eric IKHILAE, Abuja departure from that.” “As the commission is clamouring for violence-free polls, it is unfortunate the person, who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer in Ekiti State, is the person unleashing violence in the state,” he said. He said the PDP boys are always on the streets, macheting and scaring people as well as damaging vehicles and houses. He said the situation has persisted regardless of many petitions they had written to the police. He said:”Governor Fayose does his things with impunity and nobody challenges him.

With what we have seen so far, we can no longer guarantee violence-free elections in Ekiti State. The activities of Fayose are undermining the peace pact signed by our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan. “On January 21,2015 Fayose’s thugs and members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), dressed in army and police uniforms and backed by policemen attached to the Government House, ransacked and vandalized the APC Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, while the security guards on duty were physically assaulted. “On January 24th, Adeleke Samsom, a student’s union

leader who attended the APC presidential rally in Ado-Ekiti with his colleagues, was violently attacked by Fayose’s thugs. He sustained life threatening injuries on his head.” Receiving the petition,Angwe vowed that the commission was prepared to bring to book those promoting violence and hate speech during and after the coming elections in the country. “The commission is home for all Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation. I want to commend you for taking this cause of action and not to take the law into your hands. Your allegations are against a sitting governor which has conse

‘Southwest committed to Jonathan’s victory’ THE Chairman of Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has restated the party’s resolve to work for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates in the zone ahead of

the general elections. Prince Kashamu said this yesterday in Lagos on the efforts of the PDP to boost its campaign machinery in the South-West. According to him, “PDP has commenced house-to-house campaign across the country

and especially in the SouthWest. In the continuous discharge of its mobilisation and organisation activities, we are assuring that there will be a united front in the South-West in general. While collaborating with other stakeholders towards

Lagos begins demolition of burnt Balogun market LAGOS - The Lagos State Government yesterday commenced the demolition of the three buildings gutted by fire on January 12 at the popular Balogun Market in Central Lagos. The demolition was being carried out by a firm, Blackrock Construction Company,the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported. Fire gutted the buildings housing about 100 shops and destroyed goods worth mil-

lions of naira. Officials of the company said it was the government that mandated it to effect the demolition. Mrs Uju Agunna, a trader who sold clothes in one of the shops gutted said she planned to return to the market once the shops were completed. ``I will like to go back to my shop. I have been in this Balogun for over 15 years so it is difficult for me to go and rent somewhere else.

``We hope that when the demolition exercise is completed the owners can start building. But now I am sharing a shop with my friend as you can see,’’ Agunna said. She, however, said that she had to begin retail trading to find her feet again because she lost up to five million naira worth of goods to the fire. Another victim, Mr Aliu Gbadamosi, said that since his two shops got burnt, he was yet to rent a place to display his wares.

ensuring the success of our party and its candidates at all levels of the election, I assure you that we would do all that is necessary to resolve all outstanding issues in due course.” Speaking further, he said:”We are encouraged to take this step because of our strong desire to forge a common front for the PDP not just in Ondo State, but the entire South-West geo-political zone and convincingly win the 2015 general elections for the PDP and our amiable President Goodluck Jonathan.” On the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the card readers, he said:”We hope that INEC would stick to its role as an unbiased umpire and allow the true wish of the people to prevail. For us in the PDP, we are irrevocably committed to a free and fair election.”

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Will this woman lose battle against eye cancer?

OME few months ago Yinka Popoola’s pathetic story of a debilitating eye cancer hit the newsstands and she nearly flew for joy as reactions began to tumble-in in rapid succession. Her once deep loss of hope began to dry away as some industrial giants in Nigeria made enquiries about her and her impression of a hopeless situation had began to ebb. About two months after, her sorrow seem to have doubled and now she is gradually collapsing under the heavy yoke of her predicament as nothing has manifested from all the enquiries. Although Dangote Nigeria Limited has been her greatest hope of succor, but this has not yielded any positive result as she has not been able to supply her medical bill as requested by the company. “I have been to the Lagos State University Hospital, Ikeja on several occasions to request for the bill for the surgery, but nobody as acceded to my request. Now I am being helped by the Lady of Africa Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation, who have written on my behalf”, she lamented. Like others of her ilk, Yinka Popoola was born with very high hopes. She grew up in loving and dotting family with the vision of one day raising her own family, living a good life and contributing her quota to nation building whenever and wherever the opportunity presented itself. However, those aspirations have waned considerably as she battles a malignant cancer that continues to threaten her very existence. Once a beautiful woman, she can’t even remember what it means to be beautiful as she is now avoided by family and despised by friends, who once milled around her in a show of the usual African communal bonding. Just as her hope continues to whittle down, her body continues to shrivel daily as the many promises of succor has gone unfulfilled. Yinka however is still hopeful onto God and expectant that good natured Nigerians will come to her help before the cancer snatches her away. Her misery began a few years ago when her husband dismissed a small itchy swelling she noticed close to her nose. Her husband had assured her the swelling was a mere boil that will unleash the puss clogged in it at the right time. In her words, “the ailment started over three years ago. When it started, it was but a small boil by

the side of my nose. It seemed at first, nothing to bother about. But then it continued to itch terribly and I had to regularly scratch it. I showed it to my husband who sooner noticed it anyway. He initially dismissed it as a mere boil too. But when it started growing a little bit bigger, I called his attention to it again and told him that it must be a skin infection. He casually dismissed my suggestion, insisting that it is a mere boil which will soon ripen and pour out its puss.” Soon days rolled into weeks and weeks into months without an end in sight. Disturbingly however, the boil had grown bigger and scary, at which point, her husband, family and friends suggested she seek help. Sadly, months after as the swelling grew bigger her humble background, which stopped her friends and family from assisting her and restrictive knowledge as a result of her little formal education however gravely hindered her intent to find a lasting solution. As she continued to strive for succor from her predicament which had

then become a massive scary swelling, she woke up one morning and her once dotting husband had walked-out on her and her two children. Days rolled into weeks and weeks into months without help from anybody or anywhere, Yinka Popoola having suffered in silence all these while finally hit the streets of Ayobo with her two children aged 11 and 8 in search of their daily bread and in less than a week, they trekked barefooted to Mowe in Ogun State. At the Redeemed Christian Church of God Camp a Good Samaritan crossed their path and gave her some money and directed her to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for diagnosis. Narrating the event, she said, “It was there that a particular man gave me money after seeing my condition, urging me to proceed to the hospital immediately. He actually directed me to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).” “I followed his advice and immediately went to LASUTH with the money that he gave to me. At the hospital, after a scan and

several X-rays, I was told that the sickness can be treated by surgery. What is left now is the actual surgery, but help has not been forth coming from anywhere.” At first, she loafed around the Hospital for several days in the hope of getting enough money for the surgery, but nothing good came out of this and she once again hit the street and trudged for several days, but what she and her children got was often too little to keep away for her primary aim; the surgery. Now she is homeless, helpless and nearing hopelessness. In her abode at uncompleted building somewhere in the metropolis, a dejected Yinka Popoola earnestly cries to the general public to come to her aid before the cancer snatch her away. She needs about N3.2m for the surgical operation which will be performed in stages. To save Yinka Popoola’s live, please send your contributions or donations to GTB Account number 0128760777 or call telephone number 08143122984.

•Yinka

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

CRIME

OTHER STORIES

Mother of three cries out after surviving attack by unidentified gunmen WO months after suspected hoodlums attacked Mrs Olawaseun Jimoh and her three kids Promise, Prosper and Precious, the heartbroken woman has cried out to law enforcement agents for help. The mother of three had been hospitalised since December 30, 2014, after unknown gunmen attacked her in her home town in Ogun State. At a private hospital in the outskirts of Ogun State, where she is now recuperating, Mrs Jimoh recalled the incident saying: "The unidentified gunmen had been trailing us since September 15, 2013 before my husband left the country, after he narrowly escaped being killed by unknown gunmen. "My husband, Mr Jimoh Jamiu Oladele, had a problem with his former boss over a certain landed property in Iju area of Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, which belongs to a public organisation where they were working. The land was to be used to build an ultra modern car park and market, but his former boss altered the master plan and instead decided to singlehandedly allocate a portion of the property to another company that wanted to build a factory. Being the person directly put in charge of the property by the management of the company, the development angered my husband who decided to expose his boss.” She added: "When my husband felt unsecured, he left the country for fear of being killed after he es-

•The suspects

n Kunle AKINRINADE n caped an attack by suspected hoodlums while returning from work in August, 2013. Two months later, some hoodlums stormed our house demanding to see my husband, but I explained to them that he had travelled outside the country, yet, they did not believe me. They ransacked our house; I was harassed and badly beaten up alongside my three children. They told me if they did not see my husband they would come back to kill us. That is the reason why we left our house in Lagos in December 2013 and relocated to our village, Ifetedo village in Aiyetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, which I had thought would be a safe haven for me and my children. She continued: "Surprisingly, about 7.30 pm on December 14, 2014, the hoodlums again came to our village asking for my husband’s whereabouts. My children and I were beaten up until we fell into a coma. We were rushed to a hospital by sympathisers from where we were transferred to this hospital for proper medical attention.’’ She said the incident was reported to the police, but nothing has been done till date despite the assurances by the police that they would get to the root of the matter. The spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for his comments on his mobile telephone number as at press time.

Police smash robbery ga specialises in attacking contribution agents PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command have smashed a robbery gang that specialises in robbing daily contribution agents of the money in their care. Suspected members of the gang arrested by SARS include Opeyemi Emmanuel (19), Sadiq Korede a.k.a. Osama (20), Rabiu Ganiyu (31) and 26-year-old Semiu Afolabi who was said to be the gang’s leader, Police sources said apart from robbing contribution agents, the gang was also involved in snatching vehicles at gunpoint in Ikorodu, Itire and Sele-Ijesha parts of Lagos, with special preference for Toyota Camry, Toyota Prado SUV, Jaguar, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Corolla and Pathfinder SUV because of the high de-

n Stories: Ebele BONIFACE n mand for these brands of vehicles. Luck ran out on the gang after a tip-off received by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, on January 24 that the gang was about to attack a daily contribution agent. He immediately directed the radio house to alert all the divisional police officers about the development and ensure that the gang was intercepted. He also directed the officer in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to draft his men into the manhunt for the gang. The gang was said to have successfully carried out the operation be-

‘Oshodi’s transformation denied us five-man robbery gang, which specialises in house-to-house raid of victims, has been smashed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command. The gang was said to have dispossessed their numerous victims of their hard-earned money, mobile phones, jewellery and other personal effects. Suspected members of the gang include Ibrahim Tunde (25), Friday John (19) and Afolabi Olakunle (19) while Spider and Joy were still at large. Tunde said: “We did house to house raid. We could rob up to four houses in one operation, depending on the area. “I am from Modiunso in Ogun State but live at Agric, 32, Taiwo Omolaja Street. I trained as an iron bender. We attacked houses with wooden doors and used our legs to blow doors open. We didn’t touch iron doors. “I have been arrested by the police four times but had been in prison only once. My job before I joined this gang was burglary and stealing generators. We didn’t operate at places where there are vigilance groups like the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). “We usually started operation at 2 am and ended it at 3 am. I used to sell our loot to one Aboki in Ojuelegba area (Lagos).’’ Asked how he became a robber, he said: “After learning welding, I had no money to open a workshop. I went to the rail line area of Oshodi to smoke Indian hemp and met Friday and Afolabi. They told me that they were armed robbers and I told them that I was into burglary and pick pocket. They promised that they would not expose me to gun.

A •Mrs Jimoh on hospital bed

Two thieves bag one month jail term 25- year- old man, Lawal Azeez, has been sentenced to one month prison term by an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate's Court, for attempted stealing. Lawal, who was first arraigned on February 12, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted stealing and malicious damage. He was apprehended and released for an undisclosed offence he committed before he was later caught while attempting to steal by damaging a drawer belonging to a policeman. In a related development, a 24year-old man, Nnamdi Okike Onua, was convicted by the court for attempted stealing. The convict was first arraigned on February 2, pleaded guilty to two-

n Rukayat JIMOH n count charge of stealing and felony. Onua was said to have stolen one and half bags of fairly used clothes popularly called Okrika worth N80,000 on two occasions before he was apprehended by the police. He committed the atrocity between January 30 and February 2, 2015 in the Ilaje area of Lagos. The police prosecutor, Inspector Asu Feddy told the court that Onua has committed an act punishable under Section 285 and 106 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. The presiding magistrate, E.O Ogunkanmi, pronounced him guilty of the charge and sentenced him to one month jail term with one month community service.

“I worked successfully with them first at Igbolomo where we robbed three houses; Agric area where we robbed two houses and got N35,000 from each but my share was N50,000. At Agric area, we did not get much money. Even one of the tenants begged us to dash him money, saying that he had no money to feed his children. We gave him N5,000 and he prayed that God would protect us.” The second suspect, Friday, said: “I am from Ini Local Government area in Akwa Ibom State. I grew up in Port Harcourt. It was my sister who brought me to Lagos in 2014 and I secured a job as a bus conductor in Oshodi. I am an orphan and reside in Mile 12 with my sister whom her husband drove away over a little misunderstanding. When I went to smoke Indian hemp at rail line area in Oshodi, Afolabi welcomed me with a long wrap of Indian hemp.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

olukunle87@yahoo.com

fore the police could mobilise their men and robbed the daily contribution agent of the sum of N250,000 and two expensive phones. They were retiring to a hotel in Ikorodu part of Lagos when SARS operatives engaged them in a hot exchange of gunfire. The gang, however, survived the confrontation and snatched a Pathfinder SUV on January 24, 2015. But a team of SARS operatives intercepted them again, forcing them to abandon the vehicle and run into a nearby bush. SARS men gave them a hot chase and arrested two members of the gang identified simply as Afolabi and Opeyemi Emma. Another member of the gang named Ayo however escaped. The arrest of the two suspects and recovery of the gang’s weapons by SARS operatives also culminated in the arrest of one Gani from his hideout in Ikorodu, Lagos. He was said to be supplying the gang guns. The gang, according to police sources, used to park snatched vehicles at Tumeja area of Ikorodu, from where they were transferred to Igode village in Adama area of Ikorodu. At Igode, SARS operatives arrested another member of the gang named Korede Sodiq a.k.a. Osama and also recovered eight live cartridges from him. In his confession, the gang’s leader, Afolabi, said he is a native of Ilorin, Kwara State, and a commercial bus driver squatting with Sodiq. He said: “I went to prison once because I helped my brother, an okada (commercial motorcycle) rider to beat up policemen at Ojo Police Station. They took me to court and after seven months and two weeks, I was discharged and acquitted. “When I came back from prison, I started snatching cars. It was Osama (Sodiq) who spoilt work for us during the seventh operation. Our loot receiver was one Gani and we operated at Ikorodu, Mile 12, Cele Ijesha, Odongunyan and Shagamu Road. We didn’t kill our victims. When we robbed cars we used them to work and later abandoned them.” The second suspect, Opeyemi, said: “I was a bus conductor. I slept in the bus in Ikorodu because of lack of accommodation. My role in the gang was to tell the victim to cooperate while Sodiq pointed a gun to his or her head.” The third suspect, Korede a.k.a. Osama, said: “I am a bricklayer. I joined the robbery gang in order to get money to build my own house because I am tired of building houses for people without having a house to call my own. My role during robbery operation was to point a gun at the victims and block their vehicles.” The fourth suspect, Ganiyu, who claimed to be a mechanical engineer, said: “I didn’t go to operations with them. My role was to help them market their loots after operation. I sold Galaxy phones worth N34,000 for N20,000. A Techno phone worth N19,000 was sold for N9,000. They removed the SIM cards of the phones before handing them over to me. I took 10 per cent of the value of any item I sold for them. I am not a selfish receiver of stolen goods. “If a robber dies in active service, I send the money to his brother or wife if he is married. SARS operatives were able to arrest us because when we ran into a swampy area, we did not know that SARS operatives would follow us. No policeman had chased us into the swamp.”

ng that daily

robbery opportunities’ “We found it difficult to rob in Oshodi because the place has been transformed by the •The suspects Lagos State Government. If we want to rob, we go near Fatai Atere Junction. But the place used to be lonely. We can be there for 30 minutes without getting a victim. “Before now, Oshodi used to be lucrative because many travellers to Lagos used to pass through Oshodi and we robbed without any disturbance from the police.” The third suspect, Afolabi, said: “I am from Igbo-Ora village in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State. I was a student of Gbagada Comprehensive High School. I dropped out at Senior Secondary Two. “My mother sells food items and my father is a tailor, but they are separated.”

( 08167164657 or 08023910970 )

Pain, anger in Calabar as 21-yr-old boy dies in police custody •PPRO: it was a case of ill-health having a little meeting inside and then OR the family of Mr Stanley Etim, a n Nicholas KALU, Calabar n was after then, I pressurised, the doctor came 21-year-old boy who until recently out and I asked them I was looking for was working at a very popular supermarket in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Sparkz Shop, Stanley Etim and in anger, thinking I was one of the policemen, she said the boy had been certified dead. these are grieving times. “I was really devastated at that point. I was so devastated The family is accusing the police in the state of allegedly brutalising him to death and refusing to let them even see his because I never thought and never believed that a healthy young man who had left my house to the shop that morning body. died in that way. When we came out and were crying, there It was gathered that on Thursday, 5th of February 2015, was a van parked there and the dead boy was in there in the two policemen from the D 5 unit of the Cross River State Povan. So when they saw us crying, they immediately drove lice headquarters, Diamond Hill, allegedly barged into the the boy away. I don’t know where they went. The truth of the shop, located opposite the University of Calabar mini gate matter is that, up till now, we have not been given access to along Etta Agbo Road. the body of the boy. The policemen simply identified by their first names, “After that I immediately called the lawyer and said this is Uche and Peter, it was gathered, went to the shop to arrest what had happened and he told me to go to the commisStanley, an attendant at the shop who the previous day resioner. So we went to the police station. As soon as we drove portedly had a misunderstanding with his friend, a girl inside, when they saw it was us, they called Chidinma at the Flour Mills Junction in drove the corpse out again. We saw the Calabar. commissioner and he asked what hapEyewitnesses said the policemen claimed pened. I related this story to him. As I was they were arresting him for armed robbery. relating, he said I should stop and then But the family of the boy alleged that the asked one of the policemen to go and call misunderstanding led to a fight between him the assistant commissioner. When I and the girl, after which the girl allegedly got wanted to continue, he said he was told in touch with another of her friend Uche, who that morning that an armed robber was was a policeman to deal with Stanley. shot at a crime scene at Flour Mill. We The President of Sparkz Shop, Mr Stephen waited for the ACP and when he came, Peters, with whom Stanley lived until his dethe commissioner asked me to repeat the mise tearfully narrated to The Nation: “I called story before the ACP, which I did and the you because of what has happened between ACP was also sad to hear that. us and the police and in our helpless state, we “The commissioner asked him to set up had no option than to present the matter to a panel immediately and they should rethe world through you what we are facing. port to him at 7 o’clock. At seven, we “On Thursday at about 3.30 pm, some powent and they told us the report was not licemen came here and informed me that one conclusive because some policemen inof my boys is involved in a robbery case. Obvolved could not be reached and so we viously I know my employees here and none should come back the next day. The next of them can do that kind of thing. They went day, we went, they told us that one of the ahead and arrested him. Two minutes after, I policemen had written the report and that saw them driving one of my boys who hapa certain girl was involved and he had to pens to be living with me in my house, and see the girl physically. So we came back who has never slept out since he started living the next day. with me over three years ago. They manhan“They said they wanted to take a statedled the boy the way they manhandle crimiment from the store manager so they can nals. But the boy does not have the strength to give an official report. The store manager take that kind of beating, as he was not a crimwanted to write his statement, but we inal. They beat the boy terribly. They lifted were terribly shocked when he wanted to him and threw in the air and he fell to the write and the chairman of a panel set up ground. I had somewhere to go but when I by the assistant commissioner told the saw that, I had to follow them. store manager that for this matter, they ‘’The way manhandled him right from here had to write the statement and read it for got me startled, so I had to drive behind them him and then he would sign. to the police station, as they threw him into “At that point, we really felt something their Hilux Van. We arrived sometime after was wrong and they were out to cover up them and while I was greeting some people, I something. At that time, we started talksaw the head of the D5 at the state CID who ing to news people. Up till now, we have came out with the boy handcuffed and this not seen the corpse.” time, he was badly brutalised. I could not The Store Manager, Mr Itoro Okon, recognise his face. who said he was working with the late “As the man was coming, he was saying Stanley when the policemen arrived, narthe boy had confessed to the crime, so before I rated: “I was with the boy in the shop and could ask anything, they said they were takthen just stepped out and when I came ing him to go and bring other gang members. back, I saw two guys on each side of the I went there with the store manager and anboy dragging him. I asked them what the other policeman came out and as soon as he problem was and that they should leave sighted the store manager, Itoro, he said he the guy. Other people around asked the was the one who obstructed them while trysame thing. And one of them said they ing to arrest Stanley and they immediately arwere policemen. They brought out their rested him. handcuffs and cuffed him. They beat him ‘’Immediately, they collected his shirt and up mercilessly. They threw him in the air he was squeezed inside the cell. They took and allowed him to crash to the floor. Stanley to Etim Edem Motor Park, where we •Stanley “When they got to the Hilux, the one normally receive some of our stock, according known as Uche said if I really wanted to to them, to identify other gang members. know who they are that I should enter the Hilux with them, Again they brutally dealt with him at the motor park and but I did not. So we followed them to the station and they then brought him back. told their OC that I was the one that stopped their arrest.” “Since they said it was a robbery case, we could not bail A petition by the twin brother of the deceased, Kingsley, him that day. So the next morning, being Friday, I went there. through his legal paractioners, Bassey, Opar and Co, adBefore then, I had asked the store manager to go and arrange dressed to the DIC, Investigation Force, CID Complex Abuja, food for him, but he said the policemen said they had taken accused the men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force athim to a chemist for treatment. At about 11am, I went there tached to D5, SCID, Calabar, Cross River State, of the grueand I saw the head of the D5 and followed him to his office and told him I was there for the boy. He told me that at night, some killing of Mr Stanley Etim. The petition sought the ordering of an independent and the boy developed complications and was taken to the hospiunbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding tal. I asked which hospital but he did not give me any defithe death of Stanley Etim with a view to prosecuting same. nite answer. I said I had to see the boy. I followed him The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Hogan downstairs and suddenly, he disappeared and I didn’t see Bassey, reacting to the development, however said: “There him again. was a case of robbery reported by one ChiChi and the police ‘’So I went the General Hospital and Teaching Hospital, investigated the case. In the course of investigating it, that but did not see the boy there. So someone suggested we Stanley was implicated and identified as one of those who should check the police clinic. And then I when I went there took part in the robbery and was arrested. and asked if the patient was there, the nurse asked me the ‘’He made useful statements to us and was detained. In the name and when I mentioned the name, they brought out a course of the detention, he complained of ill-health and he folder and then informed me that that doctor said when peowas taken to the police clinic. It became serious and he was ple came for this particular patient they should inform her. taken to the Teaching Hospital where he gave up the ghost.” At that point, I wanted to meet the doctor but was told she

News Labourer, 31, arraigned over alleged theft of employer’s N750,000

THE NATION,

FROM THE COURTS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Trader, 45, in court over alleged N624,000 fraud 45-year-old trader,

31-year-old labourer, Samson Adamu, was on Friday arraigned for stealing his employer’s N750,000. Adamu, who gave his address as Pelewura Market, Lagos Island, Lagos, is facing a charge of conspiracy and stealing at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor, Sgt. Aondohemba Koti, told the court that Adamu committed the offences alongside others who are now at large, around 12.20 p.m. on Feb. 16, at No. 101/102, Nnamdi Azikiwe St., Lagos Island, Lagos. He said that Adamu, who was employed by one Mr Franklin Okeke, a trader, to do some menial jobs, stole a total sum of N750,000 from his employer, spanning some unspecified period of months. Koti said that Adamu, along with his accomplices, were alleged to be stealing some amounts from a safe in Okeke’s shop, anytime he left the shop to do some transactions. The prosecutor said that luck, however, ran out on Adamu one day when Okeke returned to his shop after a business transaction, only to discover that his safe had been damaged. Koti noted that Okeke confronted Adamu, who admitted to have stolen N750,000 from him over a period of time. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Okeke, the complainant, was in court as a prosecution witness. The Magistrate, Mr. M.L. Owolabi, granted the labourer bail in the sum of N40,000 with two sureties in like sum.

•Burnt and vandalised vehicles after a clash between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), at Oshodi in Lagos... Friday Photo: NAN

Man, 25, docked for allegedly raping neighbour

25-year-old Collins Ezekiel, who allegedly raped a 15-yearold girl and assaulted her with blows on Friday in Lagos appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court. The accused, who resides at the Government Residential Area (GRA) Ikeja, is facing trial on a two-count

then proceeded to forcefully have sexual intercourse with her. “The accused was able to overpower the teenager before defiling her,” Nkankuk said. He said that the offences contravened Sections 137 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 137 prescribes life

imprisonment for offenders. The accused entered a plea of innocence. The chief magistrate, Mr Olatunbosun Abolarinwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned till March 10, for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPPs.

Man, 30, docked for allegedly stealing motorcycle THE Police on Friday arraigned a 30-year-old man, Musa Abudu, 30, who was accused of stealing a motorcycle valued at N114,000. Abudu, a carpenter who resides at No 2, Locust Road, Badagry, Lagos State, was brought before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on a charge of stealing. The prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 26 at Mowo Bus Stop in Badagry. He said that the motorcycle was owned by one Aje Olawale. “The owner of the motor-

Man, 25, docked over alleged extortion

25-year-old unemployed man, Ajid Mukaila, was on Friday in Lagos docked at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly extorting money from motorists. Mukaila, of No. 23, Simpson St., Sura Market, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of demanding property menacingly with intent to steal and disorderly conduct. He denied the charge. The prosecutor, Insp. Livinus Okeke, told the court that Mukaila committed the offences at 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Sura Shopping Complex, Lagos Island, Lagos. He said the accused stood by the roadside in the early hours of the morning and with the use of threats, demanded money from motorists. Okeke said that the accused was apprehended by the Anti-Robbery Squad (ARS) of the Nigeria Police, who had received a distress call about his actions. The prosecutor added that Mukaila also conducted himself in a manner that was likely to cause a breach of the peace when the police tried to arrest him. According to him, the offences violate Sections 166 and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 299 prescribes three years’ imprisonment for anyone convicted of demanding property menacingly, with intent to steal. The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi, granted Mukaila bail in the sum of N10,000 with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case to March 4, for mention.

charge of forcefully having sexual intercourse and assault. The prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, told the court that the offences were committed on Feb. 2, at about 12.15 p.m., at No. 19, Sowemimo St., GRA. Nkankuk told the court that the accused assaulted his victim who was his neighbour by blowing her and

cycle parked it at Mowo Bus Stop and crossed over to the other side of the road to buy something. “The accused spotted the motorcycle and thinking that no one was looking at him, took the motorcycle but was caught before he fled the scene,” Uko said. According to the prosecu-

tor, the offence contravenes Section 285 (10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Seun Abanida, counsel to the accused, pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client, promising that he

would always attend court hearings. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety who must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. He adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.

Police arraigns applicant for threatening friend over plate of rice

20-year-old applicant, Abayomi Ogunbayo, on Friday appeared before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged threat to kill his friend over a plate of rice. Ogunbayo, whose address was unknown, was arraigned on a one-count charge of threat to life. The Prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at Pota Area of Badagry. Uko said that the accused and the victim, Shehu Ismaila, who were friends

were had argument over a pot of rice when the accused threatened to stab him with knife. “Both of them were eating together from the same pot when the accused started arguing with the victim because he was taking more share of the food. “In the middle of the argument, he went to the kitchen, brought a knife and threatened to kill his friend,’’ he said. He noted that the offence contravened Section 56 (1) (A) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. The accused pleaded not

guilty to the charge. The Counsel to the accused, Mr Dapo Omotayo, applied for the bail of his client. . Omotayo promised that his client would always attend further court hearings. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 and a surety in like sum. Etti said that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. He adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.

James Okafor, on Friday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State for defrauding a pharmaceutical company of N624,000 and escaping from police custody. Okafor who resides at No. 5, Fakeye St., Ojodu Berger, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a four-count charge of obtaining under false pretences, stealing, issuing a dud cheque and escaping from lawful custody. He, however, denied committing the offences. The prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that Okafor committed the offences on Feb. 2 at No. 36, Orisu St., Idumota, Lagos Island, Lagos. Ighodalo said that the trader bought three cartons of Atequick drugs, valued at N624,000 from one Mr. Bayo Braimoh, a sales representative of Jeskem Nigeria Limited, a pharmaceutical company. The prosecutor said that the accused after receiving the drugs from Braimoh, issued a dud Diamond Bank cheque with serial number 265337750 for N624,000 to Braimoh. ‘The accused, however, knew that there was no money in his account while drawing the cheque in favour of Braimoh,’’ Ighodalo told the court . The prosecutor noted that when the sales representative presented the cheque to the bank for cash, the bank dishonoured it due to insufficient funds Ighodalo said that the police at the Adeniji Adele Central Police Station, Lagos Island, invited Okafor for questioning following a complaint lodged by Braimoh. The prosecutor said that the accused escaped from the police station to an unknown place under the excuse that he wanted to buy water across the street adjoining the station. Ighodalo said that the offences contravened Sections 106(b), 285, 312 and 319 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 106 prescribes two years imprisonment for anyone convicted of escaping from police custody. The magistrate, Mrs O.M. Ajayi, granted the trader bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till March 20, for mention.

59-yr-old trader charged over alleged assault

59-year-old trader, Makinde Nojeem, on Friday arraigned at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting one Mrs Peace William by inflicting injuries on her face, hand and chest. The accused, whose address is unknown, was arraigned on a one-count charge of assault. The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Uko, told the

court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 15 at Coconut area of Badagry, Lagos State. Uko said that the accused and the victim had a disagreement over the amount of coconut the former sold to the latter. “The victim went to buy coconut from the accused and an argument started after the victim accused the coconut seller of cheating her.

“During the heated argument, the accused pushed the victim, slapped her and inflicted injuries on her face, hand and chest,” he said. The prosecutor noted that the offence contravened Sections 170 and 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The counsel to the accused, Mr Demola Akano,

pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail. He gave an assurance of his client’s presence in court for further hearings. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 and a surety, who must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The case was adjourned till March 24, for further hearing.

buffet

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

An APC Secretariat damaged in Omoku

Continued from Page 13

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Clement, one of the victims

Dynamite extracted from APCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office at Omoku

Another victim

A vanderlised APC campaign bus

A shot protester on hospital bed

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Hoodlums attack petrol stations, injures 65-yr-old guard, others •Suspected gang leader, nine others arrested n Kunle AKINRINADE n ESIDENTS of Itamasa village in Ijofin, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, were thrown into panic on Monday February 9, 2015, when suspected hoodlums attacked two petrol stations, injuring a 65-year-old night guard, Hungbeme Asogba, and customers at the stations. The affected petrol stations are Exalt and Jokuns Petrol Stations. Asogba, who suffered machete cuts on his face and several parts of his body, is now receiving treatment in a hospital in Benin Republic. He was not allowed to speak with our reporter, who visited him in company with other sympathisers last weekend. Eyewitnesses said the hoodlums looted the petrol stations and carted away unspecified amount which was the proceed of the day’s •Pa Asogba on hospital bed sales. The hoodlums were said to have been led by one ing stations. I quickly informed the Ololo Samuel, who claimed to be collecting unof Ijofin, Oba Moruf Awode, and the substantiated fee for an amorphous associ- monarch asked me to inform one Titus ation in the council area. Jide Oppressor, who Samuel claims to be Recalling the incident, the Manager of his boss. When I spoke with Oppressor on Jokuns Petrol Station, Mr Hunpevi the telephone, he said he was not willing Mathew, said the hoodlums who were to reprimand Samuel, because he was no armed with dangerous weapons swooped longer under his authority. Oppressor on the station and dispossessed customers added that he had warned Samuel to deand workers of money. sist from harassing petrol station owners, “We were selling fuel to customers all to no avail. around 6.30 pm, when some members of “About 9pm on the day, distraught resithe gang stormed our station and dedents, who fled from the scene, informed manded for the payment of an unsubstanme that Samuel had led his boys to attack tiated levy for selling fuel to customers. workers and injured a guard at Exalt When they noticed that I was not going to Petrol Station. They even raided some cusaccede to their demands , one of them tomers who were buying fuel into their handed his phone to me and asked me to vehicles and kegs. They were said to have speak with their boss called Samuel, but also robbed customers and fuel attendants insisted that I would not talk to anybody of a lot of money before moving to anbecause I am not the owner of the station. other petrol station called Jokuns, located The hoodlums then forcibly took away in the neighbourhood. They vandalised some jerry cans of fuel from customers. the station, dispossessed customers and “Again, the (hoodlums) returned in a workers of the station of money and Nissan car around 9pm same day, led by wounded a night guard and several others Samuel. They were armed with cutlass, before stealing a Ford bus with number axe and gun and they switched off our plate, XC 961 FST, from a customer. generator before unleashing terror on us. ‘’It was the DPO of Ipokia Police Station They hijacked a Ford bus from a customer that took the night guard that was atand loaded it with fuel stored in several tacked with cutlass by Samuel and his jerry cans and took away all the proceeds gang to a hospital, while a number of cusof the day’s sales. They also robbed many tomers and residents that also sustained of our customers who were buying fuel at various degrees of injuries are now being the time of the incident. We had to run for treated in various hospitals in Ipokia and our dear lives. Benin Republic.” ‘’As a matter of fact, I trekked through It was gathered that Samuel is now at the bush path to town, following which I large, while nine members of his gang contacted Ipokia Police Station for help. have been arrested and are now being The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the held at the State Criminal Investigation station immediately led his men to the Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, scene and they searched everywhere for alongside their operational vehicle althe missing bus that was stolen from our legedly stuffed with dangerous weapons customers, all to no avail. It was much and three motorcycles. later that the bus was sighted in a particuA source, who asked not to be named, lar place in the community, where it was explained that the residents of the comabandoned by the hoodlums.” munity are yet to get over the shock of the The Baale of Itamasa, Chief Suru Poviattack. whede, explained that Samuel and his She said: ”My brother , we have not boys had been terrorising petrol stations overcome the shock which the attack by owners in the community lately.He reSamuel and his boys has left in us. We called the incident: ”Samuel has become fear he might regroup his boys and unthe nemesis of petrol dealers in our comleash terror on this community because munity and beyond. On the day of the inthe residents actually played an important cident, I received information around 6 role in apprehending some members of pm that he (Samuel), was planning to inhis gang when they were trying to escape vade the community and attack some fillafter the attack.”

•Pa Asogba showing machete cuts on his back

My brother, we have not overcome the shock which the attack by Samuel and his boys has left in us. We fear he might regroup his boys and unleash terror on this community because the residents actually played an important role in apprehending some members of his gang

Several attempts made by our correspondent to get Samuel’s response were futile as he did not respond. A female voice, who answered his call on Tuesday, claiming to be his wife said: “I am Samuel’s wife. He is not around now, he forgot his phone at home. Please drop your identity and comments and he would call you back when he returns.” Samuel did not revert to our correspondent as of the time of filing this report. In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Samuel’s lawyer, who simply identified himself as Barrister Jide, said his client was a concerned resident that was simply fighting against illegal sale of fuel to a ‘petrol smuggling syndicate’ in the community. “As a concerned resident, my client (Samuel) was miffed by the fact that some petrol dealers have been using their stations to perpetrate illegal sale of fuel to trans-border petrol syndicate. “He told me that he visited the two stations to prevent the nefarious transactions and that he was also wounded in the course of carrying out a ‘patriotic’ respon-

sibility. He had lately written several petitions to various police formations and other law enforcement agencies without fruitful intervention. I have, however, advised him not to take laws in his own hands.” Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, explained that the command has arrested Samuel. He said: “ The man called Samuel, has been terrorising the community lately. It will be recalled that he carried out similar attacks on petrol station operators in the community last year. He is fond of attacking people violently and running to the police to claim that he was attacked. This is what he has also done in this case by lying to the police that he had been attacked, whereas he was the one that led his boys to attack people who were carrying out their transactions at the petrol stations. He went to the two petrol stations and attacked the people there, including a night guard, who sustained injuries and has been taken to a hospital by the police.’’ The PPRO, however, said that the police could not jump into conclusion until the ongoing investigation is concluded. “The DPO of Ipokia Police Station said he was surprised to find out that contrary to Samuel’s statement, he was the one that actually attacked the two petrol stations. However, we have also arrested nine members of his gang that participated in the attack and they are now being held at the SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where further investigation is ongoing,” Adejobi added. It will be recalled that Samuel was accused of complicity in the attack on Alpha Petrol Station, Ijofin on April 3, 2014, where a 70-year-old Pa Simeon Hunkokoe and his four sons who were the station’s attendants were attacked with cutlasses. Samuel was said to have stormed the petrol station to demand for the sum of N50,000 as ‘settlement’. Samuel and his gang were said to have been angered by the posture of one of the attendants called Mathew Hunkokoe, who asked for time to get clearance from the owner of the station on the telephone, hence, the gang attacked Mathew and his three brothers with cutlasses and dangerous weapons, while their father, who rushed to the scene to rescue his son, was also severely brutalised.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

26 Professor Adewale Solarin is the Director and Chief Executive of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja. He is a fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (FMAN) and President of African Mathematical Union (AMU). The Professor of Mathematics took up the mantle of leadership of the centre on March 31, 2013. Before his appointment, he was the Coordinator of the Mathematics Programme of the centre. Solarin spoke with GBENGA OMOKHUNU and GRACE OBIKE on the challenges hindering his job and how students can overcome the phobia for Mathematics, among other issues. Excerpts: What challenges have you been facing since you took over the mantle of leadership of NMC? ELL, the main challenge, which still remains as it is with most Ministries Department and Agencies (MDA’s), is finance; we have a lot of programmes that we will like to implement but we have limited funds. As you know that our mandate is to encourage the teaching and learning of Mathematics in Nigeria at all levels and from Mathematics, we are talking of Computer Science, mathematics education, statistics etc. So, the challenge has been that there is the phobia for Mathematics and we have done researches into the causes of the phobia and the need to come up with solutions to the problem. Some of the solutions to the problem include the use of mathematics teaching aids and what we call maths teaching kit, and this maths teaching kit, while it can be really affordable. For public schools, when you look at the number of schools for the government, it becomes like an enormous cost. So, that is the challenge, getting the appropriate funds to disseminate knowledge of this methodology to the schools. Have you discussed those challenges with the minister? The NMC can be said to be a parastatal of the ministry. I know the level of funds at that level because we are getting from the same source. So, the ministry is constrained, more importantly. If you talk of Mathematics at the secondary and primary schools, it is the responsibility of the states; so we don’t have direct control of any serious influence on that level of operation. How far have you gone with stakeholders in impacting Mathematics on states? We are checking the level of recourses that we have at the centre and how we can partner together. A few states have been making attempts like Osun and Taraba. We are discussing at different levels but things are still slow; the only advanced of them is Osun but I still don’t see the green light to show that they are going on with the implementation in the next academic session. So, this is always the problem. What do you think should be done to ginger other states? We will continue the advocacy from time to time. We have brought together the proprietors of private schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to do exactly with the them what we did with the chairmen in various states, because you know that the chairmen are responsible for primary and secondary schools in the public sector; this group now is responsible for private schools and you know that in Nigeria right now, we see that a good percentage of students are actually in private schools. So, we are trying our best, like the meeting we had with the proprietors of private schools in the FCT, we are going to repeat it in every state for private schools in those states for them to see their own responsibility in this global picture and with them, we are likely to get a faster result because at that meeting, we agreed to form a committee of NMC staff and their members to lay the modalities for working together and that we intend to do in every state. At least we can immediately get results with Mathematics in the private schools. If the private schools are doing fine, it will also reflect and be a challenge to the

60% of lecturers in varsities today have no business being there

–National Mathematical Centre boss Solarin public schools or at least we would be able to identify public schools where we have challenges and see how we can be able to make some changes there. What do you think makes students have phobia for Mathematics? The problem of Mathematics is still the same problem of quality of education but it is more pronounced with Mathematics and it cuts across virtually everything. The problem is teacher-based; if everything is okay with the teacher, then the phobia will be gone. When you talk about being teacherbased, it means the teacher must have the right knowledge; the material itself, the curriculum, what he is supposed to teach, he must know it himself, have the right attitude, right methodology, deliver that knowledge that he wants to impact, but they don’t have the knowledge or materials or resources to actually communicate that knowledge at the level that the students will be able to comprehend and then make use of. If you talk of knowledge, you talk of wisdom, wisdom is applied knowledge but you must not acquire the knowledge before you begin to know of how to apply, so it is what you apply now that becomes wisdom. When they acquire the knowledge, they also need to acquire the methodology to communicate with the pupils. When that is right, then the students will not have the challenge and of course the first thing that we are hoping is that the teacher gets all the right motivation because there is still something that we are not getting right, and it keeps affecting the future of this country. Let me tell you, I have been doing this statistics; watch your television station if you see those who are below the age of 30, when they communicate on the television, you realise that some of them cannot speak correct English. It is not their fault, it is the fault of the school system, if the teachers are not adequately prepared, use the right method to teach, the products will be what you are seeing now. So. what I also know is that teachers also need to be properly motivated in order to put in their best. The main challenge which I know is that we have the worst of us teaching our children, preparing our future; that is the problem. Unlike in our own days, teaching was probably the most lucrative job and everyone wanted to be a teacher and the best pupils went to teachers training and they became teachers but now, it’s the worst students who go to teach and teaching is not just the content of curriculum, it is the totality and personality standing in front of the class. So, when the person tries to communicate with the pupils and he is feeling that well, I shouldn’t really be here but I don’t have

The main challenge which I know is that we have the worst of us teaching our children, preparing our future; that is the problem. Unlike in our own days, teaching was probably the most lucrative job and everyone wanted to be a teacher and the best pupils went to teachers training and they became teachers but now, it’s the worst students who go to teach and teaching is not just the content of curriculum, it is the totality and personality standing in front of the class.

another option. The communication will go from him to the students. So. there must be a process to change that; the only way to change that is to now begin to create scholarships for those that want to be teachers, so that the best will become teachers and if the best is to become teachers, there must be proper remuneration to make teaching attractive. For instance, a person should be able to decide to go and teach instead of a medical or engineering job because the teacher is even more important than the doctor. In Canada, it is easier to enter a medical school than go to a teachers college because the conditions are tougher and they want the best and the best get the best remuneration. If you retire as a teacher in Canada, you get more package than a doctor. So, the incentives should be there to get the best in the teaching profession. Is it a fact that more girls have phobia for Mathematics than boys? T is not a fact; just in a meeting, I was showing them that the top 100 West African Examination Council (WAEC) students in 2009, out of the top 100, 62 were girls and that 62% is not by chance. If it is 49% or 51%, then you can say that it is by chance but when you have 62, that is to say that the top 62% are girls, so if Maths was a problem, they won’t be amongst the top 100 and you can go on and find out that there is always the statistics to show that it is not a gender issue as long as Maths is concerned. The only thing is that when you graduate to higher levels of Mathematics, a lot of girls are not involved but that is a question of the motivation that is required because girls don’t have the fighting spirit. I see it because I organise a lot of competitions, so I know. It is not that they are weaker as long as the knowledge of Mathematics is concerned but they don’t have that fighting spirit, where the boys can go the extra mile for competition, not many girls can. But if they get the proper encouragement definitely, the potential is there and the recognition is that we are trying to see how we can encourage them. I began a project which we call PanAfrican Olympian for girls; the first edition is going to be hosted by Nigeria. The idea is to get the best to have competitions for girls; there is al-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

I am saying that 60% of them have no business being there; so, no matter what you try to do, they cannot compete with the best in the world... The survey I want people to do is to look at the university graduates, First Class and Second Class from 1990, where will you find 60% of them? Not in the university system and those are the university materials

ready an Olympian in which boys and girls compete, but we only want to do this one for girls so that girls can be encouraged and they can achieve great heights. The programme itself is titled, ‘More than a mathematician’. There will be full scholarship to study in the best university in the world for the top four representing any country; they will get scholarship to study Maths anywhere in the world, why we used ‘More than a mathematician’ is that we intend to prepare them for leadership positions and we are using Maths as a tool, the scholarship is going to be up to PhD level. Are you worried about the yearly turnout of NECO and WAEC results? What role are you playing to salvage the situation? As far as Mathematics is concerned, we know the problems and solutions and what is required is the environment in terms of resources to simulate this position. For instance, if we have the fund to bring all teachers that are currently in schools to the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) for one month, no matter how bad they are as teachers, they will be transformed and be greater teachers. We discovered that part of the problems in the secondary level is that there are many topics that teachers avoid and when they come for our

•Prof Solarin

•Solarin

trainings, we give them problems, they argue with us, at the end, they see where the fault lies because we use modules to explain to them clearly. When a teacher is avoiding a topic, definitely, he does not teach it and that reduces the possibility of the child passing, because if one third of the curriculum is avoided, the student is constrained, so we have the technology to change that. The other problem is the availability of teachers, putting the existing ones right for them to be able to deliver, like we have this Maths kit which is distributed to all schools. It will aid teaching and learning of Mathematics. Now, there is the unavoidability of teachers, you see a public school with a population of 6,000 with only 15 Maths teachers, that is like 500 students to a teacher. In one of the schools where I did my survey, I discovered that the Further Maths teacher comes into the class once in a month. What I did was to identify a girl in the school then; she was in SS1, a very brilliant girl, I interacted with her. She was by then offering Further Maths and I decided to tutor her and in the process discovered that the teacher only enters their class once in a month, and it was not his fault because in their school, one arm, like SS1, for instance is like 10 classes, so he goes from one class to the other and still has Elementary Maths to teach. So, in the scheme of things, he cannot come to the class more than once in a month so he is busy and it is not as if he is not coming to school; and that was what I realised also with other subjects as well like Chemistry and Physics, the teacher writes on the board and each class goes there to copy the notes; that is all. So, for Maths, we did a survey and found out that the student-teacher ratio in the public schools is 1 to 350 and ideally, it should not be more than 50 but if you can do 1 to 100, it is still a lot of stress because, you introduce a concept, you teach and you give an exercise, every week you give exercise, the students will do it and submit and the teacher will grade. and as you are scoring, you will now discover the areas that they do not understand so that the next time you come to class, you discuss it and give further test. There is no way a teacher can decide to do well if you are teaching Maths to a class of 1,000. And serious scoring for 1000 students, you cannot score more that 50 in a day no matter what. So, the best should have been 1 to 50 and the worst 1 to 100. What we do is that if we want to train teachers, we have a programme, what we call conversion programme for people who have qualification in other areas not Maths. As long as you have credit in Maths, we could retrain you in six months to teach Maths up to Junior Secondary School from Primary School. Then, if you have a degree in science then we can train you within six months to teach up to SSS3 and WAEC levels. So, that is one of the things we can do in arresting the situation. If a state decides that they need 200 additional Maths teachers, we can train all those graduates that are unem-

ployed. when a state government does its study and it needs additional teachers, if it contacts us and is ready to fund it, we will either send our team over there or it sends them to our centre. Are you working with the Minister on this? I am a staff of the ministry, there is going to be the National Teachers Summit and these are things that we are going to discuss. Already, all our papers are ready waiting for the absolute time. For teachers there is the need to have what we call school teachers’ trust fund, which is primary and secondary. In Canada, for instance, if you have a degree in education and you want to teach, you will still go for further training. We will propose the idea of the trust fund at the summit; that will take care of training, numeration and incentives for teachers at school level with more emphasis on primary to be able to attract the best people to teach at that level. You were recently appointed as scientific board member of the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO, how can you bring this development to bear in NMC? I guess they saw my CV, because I have been teaching Maths at the university level for years. I have made many contributions; I have produced more than 10 PhDs who have gone ahead to be professors now and when you talk of masters and postgraduates, I have supervised more than 50 now. Fortunately, the idea of the basic science programme is to promote teaching, learning and research in basic science. You see, the development of basic science is very important in the development in any nation; yes, we can have technology and research at applied science level but basic science is still fundamental in terms of developing knowledge in science and technology. That is why when you talk of developing stem, you talk of science, technology, engineering and Maths and if you are talking of basic science now, for us most of the activities of the National Mathematical Centre, most of them fall into the purview of IBPS of UNESCO because what we do here, teaching and learning of mathematical sciences, in terms of teaching, learning and research is also what they promote at the international level. So, I see that partnering and collaborating with NMC on virtually all our programmes, like this Pan African Olympian for girls, already they have bought into it. The other programme that we are requesting later in the year, that is Pan African Science Olympian, it is also within the purvey of the programme. So, they are also supporting it. From different quarters, there are complaints that Nigerian universities are not among the top universities in the world, at least the top 100. What is your take on this? ELL, I’m worried and the reason is that it should not be. Interestingly enough, there are many factors involved; 60% of those who are in the university system today are not university materials; 60% of those who are called lecturers and professors in the university system today are not university materials and if you look at industrial process, that is why I always say we should not view education as a development programme any longer, lets change the view, let’s begin to view it like an industrial process, because in the industrial process, you know that if you set up an industry today, you care about the output, because you know that if the output is not right, then you are not in business. If your output is not selleable, you are not in business. What do you do? You first make sure that your production process is right and then you make sure that you get the appropriate raw materials. If the raw material is not good, it will be garbage in, garbage out; so get the appropriate raw materials, and then your process is right and then your products will be good, it will be selleable. If our university products are not selleable, which is what we are having now, there is something wrong with the process or raw materials, but in this case, it is the two of them, both the process and the raw material, so we cant get selleable products. When you look at the process, if you take lecturers that are within as part of the process, I am saying that 60% of them have no business being there; so, no matter what you try to do, they cannot compete with the best in the world. If they are the real university materials, even when you see that the facilities are not okay, they will use their ability to bring out something that will still be of world class. The survey I want people to do is to look at the university graduates, First Class and Second Class Upper from 1990, where will you find 60% of them? Not in the university system and those are the university materials. So, if 60% of our university graduates of First Class and 2.1 are outside the university system, then that means that 60% of those that are in the university system are not university materials and until we change the whole process to create an environment that will make the best of us go into the education, the first choice of those First Class graduates should be going back into the university system but the condition is not like that today. So, if we are talking about Nigerian universities not being among one of the best, I know it can’t be, even if the President puts all the necessary facilities there, the human materials there are not the best and only 40% of them will go for the kind of world class that you want if you are talking of world class. Take all the PhD theses that are being passed today in Nigeria, only about one per cent of them will probably meet international, world class standard. So, one is worried but I am not expecting it; if it happens, I will just think that, that is the usual Nigerian miracle. You know, God is a Nigerian so He does a lot of things for us, whether we do the right thing or not. Somehow, God has a way of performing miracles and then it will just happen.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Ajimobi, Obey, others honour Arisekola at 70th post-humous birthday

•From left: Chief Olatunji; Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor and Alhaji Ismail Ali, Secretary to the State Government, (SSG)

•A cross section of Late Arisekola Alao’s daughters

•A cross section of Arisekola Alao’s sons at the Fidau prayer to mark the 70th post-humous birthday of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao in Ibadan, Oyo State... last Saturday

•A cross section of Alasalatu at the Fidau prayer HE name of the late Islamic icon and business mogul, Alh. AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, resonated in Ibadan again last weekend as family, friends and well-wishers gathered to celebrate his 70th post-humous birthday. Alao was the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land until his death. He died on June 18 last year at the age of 79 years. The event, which was held at his Oluwo Kekere home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, attracted notable sons and daughters of the city as well as Islamic clerics. The programme was a special prayer to mark his 70th post-humous birthday During the special prayer, led by a popular Islamic cleric, Shikh Suleiman Onikijipa, from Lagos, he acknowledged the virtues of late Alhaji Arisekola-Alao whom he described as a good example of godliness, who used his wealth in the service of mankind and left behind a household comprising well-trained children that fear Allah. He extolled the virtues of the late businessman and urged the living to emulate him. He emphasized that though Aare would have loved to celebrate his 70th birthday, Almighty Allah chose to call him to eternity before then. According to hm, his death reminds the living that the life of every human being is in the hands of God, and that he could take it at will. The state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, was also at the occasion to identify with the family and values of the late businessman and philanthropist. At the event, Governor Ajimobi announced his administration's resolve to im-

•Evang. Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey (left) and Alhaji Faruq Arisekola, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Oyo State

•Chief (Mrs.) Lanre Otiti (left) and Alhaja Bosede Adedibu

•From left: Chief Bayo Oyero, President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigine; Alhaji

Azeem Gbolarumi, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and a guest

•Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi (left) and Chief Lateef Oyelade

n Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan n mortalise the late business mogul with the naming of the newly-rehabilitated TollGate-Challenge Expressway after him. The governor further disclosed that Oyo State Government, in collaboration with Arisekola Foundation, would sponsor an unspecified number of muslim faithful on Lesser Hajj otherwise known as Umrah, in continuation with the practice of the late Islamic light. He added that other projects would be named after the late Aare. The governor remarked that Alhaji Arisekola-Alao was a special breed who, throughout his life, used his God-given endowments to impact positively on the society, adding that it would take another 50 years to find another person in his mould. Dignitaries from the cross section of the society graced the occasion. They included Chief Mrs Lanre Otiti; Alhaja Bose Adedibu; Amb. Ronke Adefowope; Alhaji Sina Alabi; former minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; Evangelist Ebenezer Fabiyi (Obey); Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi; Alhaji Lateef Oyelade; Chief Lekan Alabi; the Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ishmail Ali; Alhaji Azeem Gnolarumi and Dr Kola Balogun. Others were Dr Kamil Oloso, the Chairman, Muslim Wing of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, Muslim ulamahs and Muslim women under the auspices of Alasalatu. Beneficiaries of his philanthropy, including the physically challenged, beggars and traders, also attended the occasion.

From left: Risikat Arisekola-Alao, Alhaja Rasheedat Arisekola-Alao (widows) and Abu Arisekola-Alao

•Prof. Taoheed Adedoja (left) and Dr. Kola Balogun, former •Oloye Lekan Alabi and Ambasador Ronke Adefowope Chief of Staff

PHOTOS: Femi ILESANMI, Ibadan

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

These days, it is not unusual to see top fashion designer Nikki Odu-Khiran around Adetokunbo Ademola area of Wuse in Abuja, a choice district for highbrow lovers of fashion and style trends. Nikki Khiran, as she is also fondly called, has settled into the jetset community in Abuja. But not long after she arrived, word let loose in the society scene about what she could really be up to, considering that she also holds a sizeable clientele in the highbrow districts of Lagos Island. More importantly, with so much to do with her new label, shuttling around her offices in different parts of the country and then shuttling her homes in Lagos, Abuja, Europe and America, does she really have a private life? Nikki who returned in few days ago from a holiday in Dubai, simply smiled at the question and settled down to this interview with PAUL UKPABIO.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

SENATOR SEKIBO

MINISTER OF POWER

WAEC REGISTRAR

PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Provide language laboratories in schools A language laboratory

PROF JEGA

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

•Segun Toriola •Ese Brume

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

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THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

with Email: bineharriet@gmail.com

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

NE day, nearly five months after our first meeting, Chief Simon called to invite me for an international business conference he was attending. "I will be away for about two weeks. I could use some company so how about coming with me?" he asked over the phone. It sounded tempting especially since he disclosed he would be taking a short vacation in the U.K after the conference in Canada. Then I remembered my job and also Lucas, my boyfriend. "Would have liked to but duty calls. Can't take time off work now as we are rather busy at the office. Even my leave this year was cancelled," I explained. The company had just brought out a new product and I was deeply involved in its marketing. But I had reckoned without Chief's influence. Some days later, my big boss, the Marketing Director of the company called me to his office and informed me that the annual leave I had applied for sometime time before and had been turned down had been approved. "You can go on your leave now if you still want it," were his words. I left his office, wondering what was going on. This was the same man who had told all of us in the department just weeks before that no one could take time off work until the new product that had been launched was doing well in the market. I did not have long to wonder. That same evening, one of Chief's P.As Patrick came with a note from Chief with instructions to give him my international passport since I had been given my leave. After the man left, I called Chief on phone. "How did you know my leave had been approved?" were the first words I uttered. He laughed and said: "Well, let's just say the Chairman of your company is a friend and tennis partner at the club. We had a game yesterday and I had a word with him concerning your matter and here we are!" His explanation sounded reasonable and I wondered at how the rich and powerful in the society often got their wishes and desires just by the snap of a finger. *** "Don't tell me you have accepted Chief's invitation!" said Helena a few days later at her house. I had just told her my leave had been granted and I was going with Chief on his trip after all. "Of course I have! Free ticket, accommodation and everything. What's not to like? I think it will be fun," I told her happily. "What sensible person will turn down such an opportunity?" put in Hilda, a mutual friend of ours. "If I were her, I would grab at it with both hands. So, let her go and enjoy herself. I envy you o, Rosie," she added turning to me. "But what about Lucas? Have you told him you are travelling soon?" asked Helena with a frown. I shook my head. "No. I'll do that some days before I leave," I said. "Well, I don't think he will be too pleased to know you are travelling abroad with your sugar daddy," she said. "What's your problem? I have told you several times that Chief is not my 'sugar anything.' We are just friends. Besides, Lucas and I are not married. We are just dating. We are not engaged or anything and I can see whoever I want. If he doesn't like it, well too bad," I said, shrugging. "I hope you know what you are doing," she said. "Your problem, Helena is that you worry too much. Lucas is my boyfriend, not yours. I know how to handle my love life," I said. I did not tell my boyfriend the full details of the trip- I lied that my

I told him about the party and said he could join us when he was done at his relative's place. He was a total stranger to me but I felt inviting him to the party was my little way of expressing appreciation for his help with my car

Escapades of fun-loving city ladies Co-ordinated by Patience Saduwa 08023201831 (sms only) psaduwa@yahoo.com

Finding Rosie (2)

other precious stones that glittered in the soft light in the room. I was admiring the ring in its case when a voice said behind me: "I think that will look better on your finger." I turned sharply to see Chief coming down the stairs, a broad smile on his face. "What do you mean, Chief?" I blurted out. He drew close, took my hand and led me to the sofa. company was sponsoring me for the "I know this must have come as a surprise to conference I was attending. you. But the truth is, I want you as my wife. So, "I'll miss you," he said, stating that he would have loved to come with me if he had some free will you marry me, my lovely Rose?" he said. He took my left hand and slipped the ring on it. time from work. To say I was surprised was stating the "Hey! I'll only be away for a few weeks. You talk as if I'm relocating abroad," I said, laughing. obvious. I had thought of many things Chief could have wanted from me. Marriage was not "I know. But those few weeks will be like a among them. year to me. Make sure you call as soon as you "But Chief, you have a wife and many get there," he said hugging me tightly... children already! So, why this?" I asked. "You are quite correct, my dear. But listen to On the trip what I have to say and you will understand the What can I say about the trip other than it reason I'm doing this," he said. went well and Chief gave me a surprise I was "You see, dear, my wife and I live virtually not expecting? We arrived safely in Montreal separate lives. We are husband and wife in where the conference took place, after a stop name only. We've been separated for years. over in the U.S. Patrick, Chief's Personal The breakdown of our marriage did not begin Assistant who travelled with us, had made today. It all started long ago. To be fair to my hotel reservations for us and we drove down wife, I'm partly to blame for what happened. there on arrival. Over twenty years ago, I met this young lady, I had a separate room and I was a bit surprised as I had thought I would share Chief's very beautiful. One thing led to the other and I fell in love with her. An affair started and suite with him. before long, she got pregnant for me. I wanted Anyway, while he attended the conference during the morning and afternoon, Patrick and I the baby so I got an apartment for her where she stayed with my daughter after she put to went round exploring the city and doing some bed. shopping accompanied by a French speaking "Soon, my wife got to know about my guide he arranged for us. mistress and the child. As expected, she was It was on getting to London that Chief sprang not pleased at what had happened and she his surprise on me. One evening, a few days made her views clear. It caused a lot of quarrels after arriving in the U.K, I had gone to visit an and fights between us. Even many years after old school friend who lived in another part of the incident, my wife has not forgiven me or let the city. When I returned to his house, I saw a parcel addressed to me on the centre table in the bygones be bygones. Unfortunately, my mistress died from a terminal illness when my living room. daughter was about five years old. I had to 'Who could be buying me gifts in London?' I wondered as I opened the parcel. Inside was an bring my child to our home so I could raise her engagement ring, encrusted with diamonds and myself. That's my last child Claire, you've met her a couple of times at my house in Lagos.

"Anyway, bringing Claire into our home was like the last straw for my wife. She refused to accept the girl, stating she would rather die than bring up 'a strange woman's child'. She moved out of our home and has stayed out ever since. All entreaties from our relatives and even our children to make her return home have been rebuffed by her. You see, my wife is a very stubborn woman and is difficult to convince once she has made up her mind about something. "All this happened many years ago and since then, my relatives have been advising me to remarry. But I have not been keen. I have instead focused on my business and making money. "But in the past few years, I have been giving the idea serious thought. The only problem is finding the right woman. Luckily for me, I found her along the road one day, standing by her car which had a flat tyre," he said, smiling at me. "Why me, Chief? There are so many ladies out there you could choose from; why did you pick me?" I queried. "Good question. I don't know what it is, but as soon as I saw you, I knew you were the one I had been searching for. I know at your age, you will want to marry a young man in your age group. But marrying an old man like me won't be such a bad idea, considering what you will gain. Financial security for life, for instance with all my worldly possessions at your disposal among other perks. I won't rush you, dear. I will give you enough time to think about it, whether here or when we return to Nigeria. Finding you Rosie, hasn't been easy. But I'm prepared to wait for you to make up your mind..." To be continued Will Rosie accept Chief's strange marriage proposal? Don't miss the hot details next week! We welcome comments/suggestions from readers. All correspondence should be sent to 08023201831(sms only), psaduwa@yahoo.com or psaduwa007@gmail.com Names have been changed to protect the identity of Rosie and the other individuals in the story.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Family

Forum

Wisdom: The winning key (3)

in your home. Similarly, one word spoken something good would come out of the convention. foolishly can destroy the peace in your Formerly, whenever he wanted us to have our home. It's time to apply wisdom to your morning prayers, I would shun him and tell him to words, and as you do, I know your home say his own prayers that I would pray whenever it will be preserved! pleased me. However, the next morning, I was the one that woke him and the children up for prayers.” Are you born again? For you to be born again, you need to confess your sins Omotosho, O. and accept Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour. Let me say that the reason a lot of If you are set for this, please say this prayer people get into trouble in their homes, is that Tel: 01-7341546-8 Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org they know the right thing to say, but they say it of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and at the wrong time and in the wrong place. So, cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from instead of bringing solutions, it causes more EAR reader, welcome again to and edifying words to your spouse. It sin and Satan to serve the living God. I accept another time of refreshing in the will also help you to relate well with your troubles. God's Word says: A fool uttereth all his You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards Word of God. This week, we will in-laws. of God today. Thank You for accepting me into be looking at Communicating in Wisdom. There is no way you can separate a man's (Proverbs 29:11). Your Kingdom.” Wisdom tells you when to talk and when wisdom from the words of his mouth. Just Whenever you are faced with a situation that If you prayed this simple prayer, you are to keep quiet, what to say and the right requires wisdom in your home, ever before you listen to somebody speak for five to 10 now a child of God. He loves you and will time to say it, where to go and at what minutes, and you can easily pick whether take any step, just pray a simple prayer, asking time, etc. It is possible to say the right God to give you wisdom to handle the situation, never leave you. Read your Bible daily, he or she is wise or foolish! obey God's Word and seek Christian thing at the wrong time, thereby causing a and it shall be given you. God's Word says: If A woman shared this testimony: fellowship (John 14:21). lot of trouble at home. “Some time in 1990, my husband lost his job any of you lack wisdom, let him ask Congratulations! You are Someone came to ask me a question and from then, our struggles started. Later, a of God, that giveth to all men I came for one of now born again! All-round sister in Christ gave me some money to start a liberally and upbraideth not; and it sometime ago. She and her husband got the International rest and peace are guaranteed shall be given him (James 1:5). married as Christians, but somehow, they business. Since then, I began to ignore the Women you, in Jesus' Name. Call or teachings of the Bishop and his wife on pride, were having many problems with the The word of prayer may be for Convention, and write, and share your and I no longer respected my husband. relatives of the husband. One day, they just a minute, but you can trust testimonies with me through I insulted him whenever he talked to me, there was a decided to go and bare their minds to God to send you the wisdom to contact@faithoyedepo.org, and those relatives. Ah! Ah!! By the time they because I was the one fending for the family. handle the situation. May be as a miming He began to complain of the way I talked to conselling@faithoyedepo.org; finished their discussion, there was more man, your wife has said presentation on him, saying that there was no sign to show that something that has really OR 07026385437 and trouble "on ground" than they could the use of the I was born again, that I was behaving like one 08141320204. handle. The more they spoke, the more annoyed you, instead of slapping tongue. I learnt of the worldly women. For more insight, these books everything seemed to "scatter!" or abusing her, use wisdom. That However, I came for one of the International how to speak authored by me are available "What was the problem?", they asked is why Proverbs 19:11 says: The Women Convention, and there was a miming at the Dominion Bookstores in me. I told them that it was their discretion of a man differeth his correctly to my presentation on the use of the tongue. I learnt all Living Faith Churches and anger and it is his glory to pass over presentation. It was simply done in husband, and how to speak correctly to my husband, and a transgression other leading Christian foolishness. They knew what to say, but regretted the regretted the indecent ways I had treated him bookstores: Marriage Covenant, said it wrongly, so it ended up adding Woman, watch your words! in the past. indecent ways I Making Marriage Work, Building more salt to the injury! One word spoken in wisdom can On reaching home, I knelt down to greet him had treated him in A Successful Home and Success Knowing how to apply the knowledge dissolve any tension building up and he was surprised, because I had not done in Marriage (Co-Authored). the past of the Word of God is wisdom. It will that before. There and then, he believed that help you to know how to speak positive

with Pastor Faith Oyedepo

‘

FOR

Only Sisters

with Mercy Michael sms or call 07034722111 forsistersonly@yahoo.com

Much ado about Valentine's Day

APPY Valentine's Day! How did it go? For me, I didn't leave my house on that day. Was the Val any less romantic, no! In fact, it couldn't have been more romantic. But I guess I'm just indifferent about going out with my man to celebrate Val or planning that special Valentine's Day occasion because personally, I think we should have as many Valentine's Day in a relationship/marriage. I'm usually not an early riser; I woke up and realized it was just a few minutes past 8:00 am. I wanted to be the first to send my man a Valentine's message but of course I couldn't be, not in the days of social media, BBM, facebook, name it. Nevertheless, I sent him a beautiful message. He's special! Very special to me!! Just like me, he also didn't rise early and so he didn't get to reply my

message until about two hours later. Once I didn't see his text, I knew he was still sleeping and I wasn't going to disturb his sleep just because of Valentine. I understood his job; he has this very erratic work schedule so Valentine or not, he deserves his rest. The text came as soon as he woke up and it was so romantic. I have read it like thrice or more since he sent it. I read it over and over on Val Day's. Don't blame me, this man made me feel loved. He always does. God! I can't thank you enough. Hmm, I'm not about to share his text with you but just for you to know that we can make it special without necessarily losing an arm and a leg. Oh yes, we can. It's not in the clothes that you buy or the gift that you share that makes it a special day. It's in the love that you truly feel for each other that really makes it a special day.

‘HOOK UP’: Are you single and searching? Look no further, send in your profile and give a description of the kind of girl/lady/woman you want and your request will be published here. Please sms only to 08023630001 or 0703472211, Email: forsistersonly@yahoo.com. And, if you have ever been 'hooked up' on this column, please I need feedback. Thank you! Hi Mercy, my name is Shola, 42, a police officer. I live and work in Abuja. I need a caring and responsible lady, 35 plus from any tribe, for a serious relationship. 07059368595 Hi Mercy, my name is Lara, 24, I stay in Lagos, need a serious relationship between the age of 28 to 30. 09095305225 Hi Mercy, I'm Michael, an educationist. I need an Edo or any South South or South East working-class, mature and God-fearing lady who is ready for a serious relationship. She must between 20-30 not fat, but

If the special celebration comes or the gifts then it's okay. It makes it all beautiful too. But you don't feel loved in your relationship, spending the entire day dinning won't do much. Everyday can be Valentine with the right person. Relationship shouldn't be stressful. You should feel peaceful in your relationship. If there are too many issues, you might as well remain friends. You are dealing with crazy issues like your man doesn't care about you, he barely visit, he doesn't trust you, he doesn't feel concerned about your endevours (like wise you should so same to him), it just about the sex or the money as the case maybe of what use is that table for two? I'd love to set the dinner table with the best cocktail, exotic wine, cake and a special dish to go and most of all appear in that touch of red sexy dinner gown or lingerie, mind you if the relationship is working. Yes I'd love to. I'm a romantic. But in this case when he has to attend to work, it not a lost day. Make the best of what is available email, phone call, text message, get a card, just do something. Can you imagine that I'm just settling dispute between this couple that I know just because her man insisted he had to go and take care of some business which she felt could wait until after Valentine. A day before Val she had spent the entire day at the

moderate and well-endowed. 08131539717 Hi Mercy, my name is Ernest 33, working class, Christian, single dark, 5ft 9inches tall, base in Abia. Need a lady for a serious and sweet relationship between the age of 40 and 46 years. 08099881707 Hi Mercy, my name is Obi, 42, a single father and civil servant. I need a responsible single mum for a relationship.81315688381

Re: Dealing with ‘monster’ called ex: Hi, there is really no way to tell. You can only tell from his attitude towards you when he's on holiday. If he tries to communicate with you often while he's available, then you will know he likes you very much. Hi Mercy, You gave the impression that in any broken relationship, girls are victims. That is not always true; it makes your male readers uncomfortable. Thanks. Offiong, Uyo Mercy: Thanks Offiong

saloon, trying to make her hair and guess what he was the one who suggested the kind of hair-do, only for him to run off to attend to business oh! That got Desola mad! Not after all the preparation. They started preparing ahead, especially that more so the Val fell on a weekend. “Didn't he know he had to attend to business? Mercy, my husband doesn't love me anymore. All this men cannot be trusted you know, he may have gone to be with someone else”, she said. Then at that point, I had to chip it in, “Desola, I was home alone yesterday”. It was my choice because after we exchanged text messages, by 12 or thereabouts, my phone battery ran out. I had left my pin mouth at work so there was no way I could charge my phone. So for the next 4 hours or so, my phone was down. I had to send someone to get me a charger. But before I did that, I had tried to charge my phone briefly with a desk top knowing he might have been calling to speak with his baby. And quite true immediately my phone came on, it was him calling. He wanted to squeeze himself and see if we could hangout. “Why did you switched off your phone. I have been calling since. I called the other line too you didn't pick”. I didn't know I abandoned my other line in my bag. That was also very sweet. Even though he wasn't there, he wanted me to know he would have loved to spend the day with me, but a man has got to do what is got to do. I understood. It was just as simple as that. I could have been the one who was very busy on that day and I would want him to understand too, sefini. The big question now: Is Valentine an expression of love? Please write in and let's have your views on this. I would also like to know how you celebrated your Valentine.

By Professor Dayo Oyekole Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD, FNCP Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION,

News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Acting drama: You lied, Niger deputy governor tells Aliyu

IGER State deputy governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto yesterday faulted claims by the state governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu that his absence in the state informed the appointment of the Speaker of the House of Assembly as the Acting Governor of the state. Ibeto who defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Party (APC) last month was denied to serve as acting governor when Aliyu left for Lesser Hajj on Wednesday, rather he asked the Speaker, Barrister Adamu Usman to act

•Says I never travelled •’Speaker’s acting appointment is unconstitutional’ Jide ORINTUNSIN, Minna under the guise that the deputy travelled. The deputy governor told newsmen in his Tunga residence in Minna, the state capital on Friday that he has always been in town. “I want to say with all emphasis that I never travelled. I have been in Minna and I was in Minna the day the governor travelled”. The deputy governor who was reacting to a statement by the governor through

his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, that the decision to make the Speaker acting governor was on account of Ibeto’s absence. The statement further said that the deputy governor had travelled for lesser Haj since Monday. Ibeto who described the appointment of the Speaker unconstitutional said he has never travelled out of the town talk less of out of the country without the express permission of the governor. He stated that he was surprised at the position of the

governor, arguing that the deputy chief of staff in Government House, Hon. Saba that work directly with him knew he has been in town and wondered why the governor would want to tell the world what was not. Ibeto recalled that he had apply for permission to use 15 days of his leave to travel but the application was never acknowledged or approved. “I wrote 3 weeks ago for permission to use 15 days of my leave to travel to Dubai, UK and for Lesser

Hajj. I wrote another when I did not hear anything but I gathered my application is still on my boss table untreated. I don’t know where the story of my leaving the country came about. “A Journalist called to ask me yesterday (Thursday) if I am in town and I told him I was not only in town, I was in my sitting room. It was only on Monday that I went to Abuja for a party meeting, returned same day and have been in Minna all this while,” Ibeto stated. The deputy governor also said that despite repeated assurances that his rights and privileges will not be denied for dumping the ruling party complained that government had started to order the withdrawal of his personal aides who are civil servants. According to Ibeto, “Though, I have not been denied anything neither have I been stopped from entering my office only that my personal aide, a civil servant was withdrawn and I graciously release the officer”.

Over 71, 800 PVC unclaimed in Jigawa —Rec

•From Left: Emir Of Jama’are, Alhaji Muhammed Wabi III; Bauchi State Commissioner for Social Development, Alhaji Umar Giade and Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh, during the Deputy Governor's condolence visit to the Emir, over the death of his wife, Hajia Amina Muhammed Wabi III, who died at the age of 69 in Jama'are LGA of Bauchi State...yesterday Photo: NAN

Gunmen attack Benue APC guber candidate’s vehicles GUNMEN in Adikpo on Friday shot and damaged three vehicles on the convoy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom, at the funeral of the late Dr Samson Sambe which they also disrupted. Chief Dr Ortom was delivering funeral oration when sporadic gunshots were heard and sympathizers started to scamper for safety. Elder brother of the de-

ceased and Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Asen Sambe, had to appeal for calm as the funeral was hurriedly concluded. In spite of the shots which intensified, Chief Dr Ortom concluded his speech before he was informed that three of his vehicles parked near the Magistrate Court close to Adikpo Comprehensive College, ACC, Adikpo had been targets of some of the

shots. The glass on the owner’s side of a branded Ford Hillux van was shattered and the bullet exited through the roof even as another branded pick up was hit at the tail board and the bullet went through, came out of the left side and brushed a journalist’s car parked close by. Another bullet flattened the right front tyre of the third vehicle. The gunmen sped off

through the street that passes by the side of ACC. While inspecting the vehicles an informant told Chief Dr Ortom that the gunmen belonged to a group headed by a prominent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thug in Adikpo town. The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, proceeded to the Adikpo police station where he lodged a formal complaint to the Divisional Police Officer.

‘Why we declaredsupport for APC governorship candidate’ A COALITION of youths from Plateau south senatorial zone in Plateau state has declared their support for the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) Barr Simon Lalong in the governorship election. The youths insist they will replace PDP with APC in the state since PDP has decided to work against the zoning interest of the people through imposition of governorship candidate. The youths made their declaration during their emergency congress meeting held at the Youth center Shendam. The communique which was signed by the Chairman political awareness

committee of the youths, Mr. Koppah El-Koppah said, “having discussed, deliberated and digested, the youths reiterated the necessitation of the bond of unity among the youths so as to achieve the project of enforcing existing power rotation of governorship position in the state. “As youths, we grew up to meet a zoning arrangement in terms of the governorship position among the diverse ethnic groups in the state. But to our greatest surprise, we saw the ruling PDP imposing a governorship candidate on the people as against the wishes of people of the state.

“We have therefore set up several committees to raise the awareness among youths of the zone to ensure the next governor comes from Plateau south in accordance with the zoning formula that has guided the choice of state governor since 1979. “We have therefore recommended that, all the Youths of Southern Zone should be seen as stakeholders in rescuing Plateau State against impunity of the ruling party “The Southern Zone Youths encourage Youths from Northern and Central Zones to come out en mass and support APC in the forth coming Gubernatorial election.

“We have resolved that no member of the Youths in the Zone be seen to mar this unity of purpose. If such happens, such person or group of individuals should blame themselves. The only way of having peace in the state is make sure power shift from the Northern Zone to the Southern Zone. “No youth would support PDP since they never support the rotation of power which was clearly outlined in their own constitution.” The communique was also signed by leaders of youths from the six local governments comprising the zone

THE Jigawa state Resident electoral commissioner, Alhaji Haliru Tambuwel said there is 71, 831 permanent voters cards (PVC) under the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state that are yet to be collected by the owners. The Resident Electoral Commissioner made the disclosure yesterday in his office while speaking to news men in Dutse capital city of the state over the commission’s preparations on the general election. Alhaji Haliru Tambuwel explained that, “according to our record a total of 71, 831 PVCs that are so far ready are yet to be collected by the owners”. Alhaji Haliru Tambawel explained that there was appreciable improvement in the collection of PVCs among eligible voters since the postponement of February 14 poll. According to him, Dutse and Kaugama local governments had the highest uncollected PVCs which stood at 9,951 and 5,951 respectively. He disclosed that 1,738, 875 voters out of 1,838,186 registered voters had so far collected their PVCs in the state. The REC said that the figure of those collected represented 96 per cent of the registered voters in the state. He maintained that: “We do not want a single PVC to be with us and that is why we have intensified awareness campaign to mobilize those who have not collected to do so before March 8, the deadline.”

Kano signs MOU with two NGOs to combat VVF

Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano THE Kano State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Non-Governmental Organisations to support Versico Vagina Fistula (VVF) patients in the state. The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Binta Tijjani, who made this known to reporters yesterday in Kano, said that the two NGOs are Forward Foundation and African Fistula Foundation. The Commissioner said the partners would take care of the treatment of the patients in addition to empowering them after the treatment to enable them start small businesses for self-reliance. She added that after the treatment, the patients would also receive training on some skills and teach them how to read and write. According to her, the NGOs would conduct sensitisation awareness on the dangers of prolonged labour and the need for pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinic. Also, the Kano State Government has converted Imam Wali Conference Hall situated at forestry in Gwale Local Government Area of the State to a General Hospital. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government, Alh Abba Ladan Kailani, while presenting keys and other documents of the hall to the Ministry of Health yesterday, said the development was part of government’s effort to reposition its properties for maximum utilization of the premises. He added that the premises will henceforth be

KEDCO orders 500,000 prepaid meters KANO Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has ordered for 500,000 pre-paid meters to be distributed to its customers this year. The Head of Corporate Communication Unit of the company, Alhaji Muktar Baffa, who disclosed this to the Nation in a chat in Kano yesterday, said the first consignment of the meters totaling 100,000 is being expected in March. Baffa said the meters would be distributed to customers in the zone comprising Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states. On shortage of power supply facing the zone, Baffa explained that the company currently receives about 300 megawatts from the national grid against the 600 megawatts it required daily. He however pledged the company’s commitment to quality service and urged customers to ensure prompt payment of their bills.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Two feared killed in Calabar jailbreak attempt WO people are feared dead in a jail break attempt at the Calabar Prison, along Iman Street, in Cross River State, on Friday. The state Prison Controller, Clement Udosen, said contrary to earlier reports, there was no invasion in the incident that occurred at about 11.30 am, adding that no inmate escaped, as was earlier believed. Udosen did not confirm the fatalities, which he said was for the doctors to do. However, a staff of the prison,

n Nicholas KALU, Calabar n who spoke in confidence, said at least two inmates who attempted to escape were killed in an exchange of gunfire with the prison guards and other security agents. Narrating what happened, Udosen said, “By 11 o’clock in the morning, I was in my office in the headquarters, and the officer in charge of this prison called me that there was serious problem in the yard. So, I came and the whole place was filled with people with rifles,

people who had come here to help us, the soldiers, police, civil defence, secret service and others. “What happened was that when they went into the yard to bath, the inmates in two cells of about 70 each, organized themselves and overpowered the prison staff and rushed to the armoury and seized the rifles there. They started firing at the staff. In that confusion, they broke other cells and the whole yard was filled with inmates. They carried what they could get to break the fence and create a hole in the fence.

“For now, they have all been rounded up and nobody has escaped. A lot of people have been injured and one staff had been rushed to the hospital. Right now, the doctors with their teams are treating those injured. On deaths, it is the doctor that would ascertain that, because he is treating them.” He explained that the prison warders, with the help of the other security agents, responded with gunfire, leading several people being hurt in the ensuing melee. “Most of those injured are the in-

mates. Three of our staff were wounded and one was rushed to the hospital. There was no external invasion. It was an attempted jailbreak, and luckily, nobody escaped. The other security agencies helped us, especially the 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, because they stationed 10 solders here, morning and night and these are the ones that really helped us. They encircled the perimeter fence, as the inmates tried to come out of the hole, the soldiers were there and they could not come out.”

Edo APC youths protest Okrika rally shooting n Osemwengie BEN n OGBEMUDIA, Benin EMBERS of the youths’ wing of the Edo State chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), on Friday, marched round some major streets in the Benin metropolis to protest the violence that marred the rally organized by the APC in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. The youths, led by Comrade Emmanuel Yakubu, the Executive Director, Youths Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said Nigerians are being taken for granted by what he termed as acts of impunityt by members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The youths urged the leaders of the PDP to reign in their followers, saying the era of impunity should be stopped.

Ijaw group drums support for Okowa n Osemwengie BEN n OGBEMUDIA, Benin group of Ijaw indigenes resident in Edo State, under the aegis of Ijaws Progressive Agenda for Change, on Friday, stepped up their support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of next month’s general elections. The president of the group, Comrade Goddey Money, said the exercise became necessary in order to ensure that every indigene of Delta State resident in Edo go back home and collect their Permanent Voters Card. While describing the governorship candidate and his running mate, Kingsley Otuaro, as humble and committed, Comrade Money said the duo were most suitable for the job. "We urge them to go for their PVCs. This is the best pair of candidates we have had since 1999. We, as a group, are making these efforts to ensure that our people go home to collect their PVCs, so that together we can build a better Delta State.”

•NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii (l), setting ablaze a heap of substandard, unwholesome drugs, foods and cosmetics products in Awka, Anambra...yesterday

‘NYSC scheme is a unifying factor’ HE Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol, Delta State, Mr. Benson Oburoh, has said that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) has remained a unifying platform for youths in the country. Oburoh, who stated this on Friday in Asaba, during a send-forth party organised by the directorate for the Batch A corps members, explained that the NYSC scheme had created the opportunity for individuals from across the country to experience and appreciate the diverse cultures in Nigeria, especially given the present political climate. “The NYSC scheme is one of the

best initiatives that have happened in the country. It is a scheme that is unifying us, especially at this time when there is political differences,” he stated. While commending the outgoing corps members for their exemplary service to the directorate, the permanent secretary charged them to be self-reliant and put the entrepreneurial skills learnt throughout their stay in the state into use, and not to wait for white collar jobs. He said: “The rate of unemployment in the country is high. So, I advise you to take up the challenge of creating job opportunities for yourselves, rather than sitting idle and waiting for white collar jobs.” He urged the corp members to

be ambassadors of Delta State and portray the positive aspect of the state whereever they found themselves in the country. Also speaking, the Chief Protocol Officer, Mr. Kingsley Olumukoro, commended the outgoing corps members for their service to the directorate, and advised them to be resourceful and focused in their future endeavours. Responding on behalf of the corps members, Mr. Izuagba Tochukwu, expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception accorded them during their time with the directorate. The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of souvenirs to the outgoing corps members.

Rivers, Shell partner on youths employment S part of the efforts to reduce the worsening rate of unemployment in Ogoni land, the Rivers State government is collaborating with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to set up 100 youths in various skill-acquisition programmes. The youths, who recently passed through the 2013/2014 LiveWire skill acquisition programme, were presented with starter-packs to start their own businesses. The oil giant also distributed grant of N21 million to the youths to assist them start off their businesses. The state Commissioner for Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, Owene Wornodi, praised Shell for making the youths self-reliant in the face of increasing unemployment. Represented by a director in the

n Rosemary NWISI, Port Harcourt n Kingdom, who is also the President of Supreme Council of Ogoni Tradiministry, Festus Ugwuzor, Wornodi tional rulers, Godwin Gininwa, apsaid the move would, apart from im- pealed to the youths to make good proving the economic wellbeing of use of the opportunity given to them. the people, also reduce restiveness Earlier, the country chairman and among the youths. Managing Director of Shell, Mr “Shell has truly executed its social Mutiu Sumonu, said he was happy responsibility on Ogoni youths. with the development, and explained LiveWire is an important pro- that it was meant to give meaningful gramme, and it has the capacity to re- means of livelihood to the unemduce the level of unemployment ployed youths. among the youths. Sumonu said: “It is indeed a re“Youth restiveness and unemploy- markable day for the 105 trainees ment cannot be ameliorated in our who are graduating today after three society, except by skill acquisition months of intensive training in variprogrammes, entrepreneurial capac- ous skills areas. We are happy about ity building like this, and diversifica- the successful completion of the tion of the economy. LiveWire training programmes, and “I want to advise the beneficiaries are pleased to see this group of young to make proper use of the trade they entrepreneurs start up business that acquired.” will contribute to the economic deAlso speaking, the monarch of Tai velopment of communities."

Get your PVCs, group urges voters n Uyoatta ESHIET, Uyo n socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom State, Obodom Iman Ibom, has called on registered voters in the state to use the period before the new election dates to ensure that they get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). Speaking yesterday after the launch of a ward-to-ward sensitization tour in Etinan and Onna local government areas by the group, its spokesperson, Koko Udonquak, said the postponement of the elections was a blessing in disguise and will enable thousands of registered voters to finally get their PVCs and be able to vote on March 28 and subsequent elections. He urged community and religious leaders in the area to amplify the message in their domains by encouraging their people to go to the nearest INEC office to obtain their cards. The group also called on statutory agencies, such as National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM) and socio-political groups to join hands with the group in taking their enlightenment campaigns to the grassroots, as many rural dwellers are misinformed about the process. “You cannot vote without your PVC. Your card is your power. Rather than sit back and complain, our people should be actively involved in choosing their leaders, because that is the only way they can guarantee their stake in the governance process.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde, (11th left) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (7th right), in a group photograph with the Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba (8th right) and the Ndigbo in Lagos State, during their courtesy visit to endorse and declare their support for the APC candidate in Lagos State in the forthcoming general elections, at the Lagos House, Marina, on Friday

Chime signs 2015 budget into law OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has signed the state’s 2015 Appropriation Bill of N96.735 billion into law. This followed the passage of the bill by the state House of Assembly after a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Sunday Ude Okoye and seconded by the Deputy Leader, Hon John Kelvin Ukuta. Performing the function at the Government House in Enugu, Governor Chime promised a speedy implementation of the budget and the continued delivery of good governance and dividends of democracy to the people until his last day in office. A breakdown of the budget, termed “Budget of transition”, the last to be administered by Governor Chime, shows that a total sum of N54, 939,980 (fifty four billion, nine hundred and thirty nine million, nine hundred and eighty thousand naira) has been set aside for

capital expenditure, representing 56.8, while N41, 795,319 (forty one billion, seven hundred and ninety five million, three hundred and nineteen thousand naira) is for recurrent expenditure. Speaker of the House, Hon Eugene Odo, had shortly after the passage, urged the speedy implementation of the budget, saying that this would facilitate a smooth transition to another administration by May 29. He enjoined the various committees of the House to exercise effective oversight functions of relevant ministries, departments and agencies in the state to ensure its proper implementation. It will be recalled that while presenting the budget to the House last December, Chime had noted that the government was committed to the completion of on-going projects in urban areas and the payment of liabilities to contractors. He had said, “When I took office in

2007, we visited all the 472 communities in the state and identified the key development needs of our people as chosen by them. The good news is that all the communities have had some or all of their chosen projects executed for them by government. “We are committed to completing and handing over the various on-going urban and inter-local government roads currently at various stages of completion.” He also thanked the state House of Assembly for the support it had given to his administration since its inception, saying, “Today’s event fills me with immense pride of what we have achieved as a united team stitched together by destiny. The credit belongs to all of us – the executive, legislature and judiciary. More importantly, the bigger credit goes to all our people. All I can offer is to say thank you to all concerned.”

NAFDAC destroys goods worth N500m in Anambra •Warns manufacturers, importers HE Anambra State command of the National Agency for Food, drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has destroyed products said to be worth four hundred and eighty-four million, two hundred thousand naira (N484.2m). Some of the products, including expired drugs, were voluntarily handed over to NAFDAC by the Head bridge drug dealers Association in Onitsha. Other products destroyed included counterfeit and adulterated drugs seized from importers and manufacturers. Director General of the agency, Dr Paul Orhii, who

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n supervised the destruction at the dump site in Awka, warned those involved in fake and expired drugs to be careful, saying that the long arm of law awaits them. He commended Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, security agencies and paramilitary organizations for their show of support in the fight against fake drugs. The products destroyed included fake and counterfeit anti-malaria; anti-hypertensive; antibiotics; anti-diabetics; analgesics and multivitamins among others.

‘PDP’s insistence to use soldiers for polls ploy to rig’ •Continued from Page 6 The organisation said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Garba Shehu, that while it appreciated the readiness of the military to deploy troops for the election, democracy and the military are not complementary as subjecting the fate of a democracy to the military is a coup against the people. Shehu said the service of the military would be better utilised in other pressing areas, especially in the combat of insurgency and protection of the territorial territory integrity of the country. He said that the position of the campaign organisation was prompted by last Wednesday’s testi-

mony at the Senate by the Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, that the military service chiefs will have to ratify the March 28 date for the coming elections in the country and the military’s expression of readiness to deploy troops for the polls. While calling on INEC to take cognisance of the superior courts’ ruling on the role of the military in elections and the military’s own commitment of its readiness to deploy troops for the 2015 elections, Shehu said: “We are not comfortable with any attempt to draft the military into election function and are reassured by the declaration by President Jonathan that the elections would hold as scheduled by INEC on March 28 and

April 11. “We have carefully studied positions made by the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday and we want to put it on record that we are not in any way comfortable with the idea that the military service chiefs will determine whether the March 28 date of the presidential election is feasible or not. “The concepts of democracy and the military are never complementary, and to say that the military will determine when an election will hold is antithetical to the very idea of democracy. It is akin to a coup against the people of Nigeria to subject the fate of our democracy in the

hands of a few military service chiefs. “For the avoidance of any doubt, the APC presidential campaign organisation will not accept any attempt to subvert the electoral processes of democracy in the country. “The Nigerian constitution is very clear about how the electoral processes in the country should be run and there is no single clause of the constitution that makes the military service chiefs to preside over the conduct of elections. “Furthermore, there are extant judicial pronouncements specifically at two Courts of Appeal, the recent being that on the Ekiti governorship election that bars the military from

undertaking any role whatsoever in the conduct of elections in the country. These are in addition to a similar pronouncement by the Supreme Court. “The only role that the constitution assigns to the military is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and not to determine if and when an election should hold. “As far as we are concerned at the APC presidential campaign organisation, we are ready for the elections on March 28 and April 11, and INEC is ready as confirmed by Professor Jega during the plenary of the Senate and Nigerians are also ready for the election.”

Presidency set to move against Obasanjo •Continued from Page 6 once regarded as the preserve of a privileged few, are now commonly accessible to all. These are solid foundations upon which future governments can build. “In Science and Technology, in Agriculture and Food Security, our nation has made tremendous and noticeable progress. Nigeria is not only becoming a food sufficient nation but also a food-exporting nation. “Our industrial take-off is today more assured than at any other time in the past years. There still remains a lot that we must do. I have confidence that we are well on our way to a glorious destination. “With determination, with tenacity and with the courage of our conviction, we can continue to face the future with confidence. We have set for ourselves ambitious targets that will make us one of the largest economies in the world by the year 2020. It is attainable and achievable but if we divert

from the path of economic prudence, reform and realities, we can miss the road. Then, the year 2020 will be a mirage. God forbid! “We have waged relentless battles to correct many of the ills in our society. We have demonstrated our determination to bring about a more moral society. We see a bright and prosperous future for our country. “I am particularly gratified to note how united our country is today, better than any other time in the past. In the past few months, Nigerians, from every corner of the country have amply demonstrated their yearnings for national unity, for harmony and for progress. “The recent events have indicated that we are no longer divided along ethnic, tribal, religious lines or north-south divide. We have become simply Nigerians interested in the development and progress of our country. This is a great gain. Let us respect this

spirit of oneness and unity in all that we do from now on. “Tomorrow, I will hand over the instruments of governance to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, our newly-elected President. He is a man in whom I have great confidence. I have worked with him and observed him at very close quarters. I know his track record and his pedigree. I have confidence that he will discharge his mandate to the satisfaction of all Nigerians. I pledge my continued support for him and his Government. “Nigeria is in a better shape today than any time since 1979. We have started to move to the glory that God has ordained for us. Let me end this farewell address by thanking all Nigerians for eight years of working together for our fatherland. I am particularly grateful to my critics for keeping me constantly on my toes. Let us continue in the same spirit of what is best for our country motivated by patriot-

ism and fear of God. I bid you good night and goodbye. God bless you. God bless Nigeria.”

Findings of Elumelu’s panel “Additionally, the total commitment of the NNPC and its Joint Venture partners (of which the Federal Government, through the NNPC, has an average of 51% interest) towards IPP power plants, gas sources development, gas transmission and metering of JV IPPs, PHCN power plants and NIPP power plants, according to the submission of the acting GMD of the NNPC is US$7billion, out of which about US$1.62billion has been expended, leaving outstanding commitments of over US$5.5billion out of which the Federal Government will provide about US$3billion. “Recognition of these unfunded commitments would bring the total (funded and

Continued on page 62

60 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

‘ Bitterness, trust and 2015 elections T HERE is no doubt that the postpone ment of the February 14 and 28 , 2015 elections to March 28 and April 11 has created a huge political divide of bitterness and mistrust amongst Nigerians who constitute the electorate of this great nation. It is a huge gulf of sharp disagreement on the pros and cons of the postponement and tempers run high on any discussion on the postponement depending on whether you are for it or against it. Today I want to do some fence mending quite voluntarily . Not because I regret any thing I have written on the postponement for which I blame INEC for negligence and inevitable disenfranchisement of about 20m Nigerians if the elections had not been postponed, but because of the admission of the INEC boss Professor Attahiru Jega at his Senate appearance this week at which even he admitted that the post ponement has been a blessing . It with that as a premise that I appeal to Nigerians especially those who see nothing wrong in going ahead as earlier scheduled, to shield their hatchet of condemnation of the other side , and concentrate on pooling our enormous resources on having a free and fair election as rescheduled or open themselves to charges of being more catholic than the Pope on the postponement . Perhaps then it is with this background that I want to compare a financially beleaguered nation like Greece that has used it last elections to position itself against austerity measures imposed on it because it borrowed money like Nigeria and other developing nations from the IMF , and in the case of Greece from the EU and the European Central Bank . In Greece at their last election in January this year the party called Syriza and led by Alexis Tspiras won but campaigned on an anti austerity agenda to renegotiate Greece’s loans and won the election massively to move Greece to the left politically .This has put Greece in direct confrontation with the EU and especially Germany the frugal and very strong financial member which had been adamant that the Greeks must cut

their coat according to their cloth and swallow the bitter pill of austerity in paying their over due loans and debts However it is in the way that Greece’s new finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has been pursuing the anti austerity agenda against a very uncomfortable and highly embarrassed EU and ECB establishment that has caught my fancy . Especially his choice of words which can provide succour for us as Nigerians as we too face an election on which the main issues to determine who to vote for are corruption and security . In Greece’s last election the issues were austerity and corruptio. I believe that the issues that I will draw out from the Greeks metamorphosis from a helpless but involuntary austerity swallowing nation to an anti austerity nation arising from a democratic election, can provide some impetus for us as Nigerians , to steer our nation on a decisive corruption free and secured environment course, similarly arising , very hopefully from the results of a free and 2015 election as now rescheduled. It is a tall order but it is a possibility very much after my heart . Let me now dissect my admiration of the new anti austerity leaders voted into power against all odds in Greece . On austerity measures against Greece the finance minister Varoufakis complained that it is as if the EU has decided to place the greatest burden of bankruptcy in human history on the weakest shoulder in Greece and that is the Greek tax payer and that is unacceptable . When Syriza won the election Varoufakis said notably that the Greeks have refused ‘to go gently into the night’. The outcome of the election in January he said meant that the Greeks ‘ have angrily refused to allow anyone to put out their light’. On the austerity measures and loan agreements he said Greece was like a customer who checked out of an hotel but can never really leave because it could not settle its bill. The Greek Finance Minister has since become a champion of the masses in Greece because of the way he is brilliantly taking on Greece’s debtors and leading the way to renegotiate the terms of Greece’s loans so

that it does not ruin all Greeks economically . On the past leaders that brought Greece to its present debtor status Yanis said that his government is going to destroy the network and basis on which for decades they have sucked the energy and economic power from every body in society. Varoufakis is a Marxist Professor of Economics who has taught in Australia and the US before returning to Greece to join the party that won 36% of the votes to take power on an anti austerity ticket last January . He has shown Greeks and the world that there can be life outside the IMF conditionalities that have ruined nations like Somalia and have crippled others fatally and economically like Nigeria. He has shown that nations can renegotiate their debts with dignity and that austerity measures can have a human face without the present very high social costs. At the outset of the Greek debt crisis I gloated that at last the Europeans were having a bitter taste of their palliative for repaying debts this time in the Euro zone their own backyard . Varoufakis has shown that the past and present fears of the developing world that IMF and World Bank repayment terms were killing their economies were human and genuine. It is economists like him that should run global financial institutions and bring debt reliefs that do not cripple debtor nations like Nigeria which imported Nigerian expatriate World Bank experts on austerity economics to run and ruin our economy even as they got paid in hard currency which too perhaps was an austerity reward for their open rape of our debtor economy. For now Varoufakis had blazed a trail in debt renegotiation and repayment at low social costs and I urge Nigerians to take note judiciously and vote a party in that reflects that way of running the Nigerian economy at the 2015 election . Undoubtedly any party that favours the present bunch of Economic planners and Coordinators of our present prostrate economy should not be allowed anywhere

Undoubtedly any party that favours the present bunch of Economic planners and Coordinators of our present prostrate economy should not be allowed anywhere near the corridors of power in Aso Rock after the elections

’

near the corridors of power in Aso Rock after the elections. Again since no less a person than the INEC boss has admitted that the postponement is a blessing , one would assume that this is an opportunity for the electoral body to put its house in order in terms of getting as many as possible PVCs to the electorate to maximise voter participation in the elections. However the scenes or pictures of Nigerians protesting on not having seen or received their voters cards have multiplied in the media since the postponement . Such scenes should decline rapidly if INEC fulfils its obligation and raise further concern , mistrust and distrust of INEC ‘s intention and capabilities if they persist too long into the six week relief or postponement . In which case what has been deemed a blessing and accepted in good faith as such can be another signal for resurrecting bitterness and rancour. INEC must ensure that the social capital of trust that the INEC boss bought for it by calling the postponement a blessing is not whittled away by daily reports nation wide that people have not been getting their voters cards or are getting them in trickles . That will erode that trust which the INEC boss has awakened d and retooled . It is the type of trust that creates goodwill and progress for any society especially in a testy election period such as this. It should not however be allowed to degenerate to the type of trust that the Mafia man taught his son when he took him up a wall and asked him to jump down promising to catch him when he did. When the son jumped the Mafia boss did not catch him but allowed him to fall. Actually what he wanted his son to learn is not to trust anyone including his family . With these rescheduled elections Nigerians need no such lesson on mistrust and distrust . Our rendez vous with a free and fair election requires that we trust ourselves on this 2015 elections and that every Nigerian does his or her duty to that effect, especially INEC. Amen.

Oluwole SOLANKE

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015

SPORT EXTRA ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFER

Siasia gingers Dream Team ahead Gabon clash

HE chief coach of the national U-23 men's football team, Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia, has charged his wards to go all out for victory against their Gabonese counterparts in the first leg of the 11th All Africa Games qualifying game to be played at the Stade Augustin a Sibang, Libreville. Addressing players after breakfast on Friday, coach Siasia said from the calibre of players at his disposal he is not expecting any thing less than an outright victory come Saturday, " Nigerians expect nothing short of victory from you guys come Saturday, you guys should put in mind that you are the next generation of Super Eagles players, but for Nigerians to accept you as such, you al must show that on the field of play, that is the only way that you can convince the nation that you have what it takes to take over" Appealing to the players to play to instructions, the U-23 gaffer said, they should not bother about what the Gabonese have to throw at them, but to follow his instructions and the rest will be history, adding that they should not be expecting any favors from the match officials so should be brave. Coach Siasia reminded the boys that Nigeria did not qualify for the football event of the last All Africa Games, and as such will not entertain any excuse

• Dream Team players during their breakfast after training Libreville, Gabon on Friday its only when they are disciplined from this set of players, as noththat they can carry out all the ing short of picking a ticket for instructions handed out to them the games is good enough for the by their coach. nation, and also will be a good While commending the playreward to the NFF for providers for their high level of disciing all the team needed so far. pline so far exhibited, Dr. Ikpeme Also speaking the assistant said one of the greatest undoing Secretary General technical, Dr. of the past team was indiscipline Emmanuel Ikpeme urged the that is why he is hammering on players to be very disciplined as

ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFER

NFF drops Alex Iwobi A

RSENAL'S talented striker, Alex Iwobi has been dropped from the Nigeria's U- 20 national team that would confront host team Gabon in today's All Africa Games' qualifier. The 19 year old gangling attacker had shown great passion for playing for his fatherland Nigeria with his father Chuka Iwobi who hails from Anambra a major backer of his son's preference for Nigeria instead of his adopted country England. The NFF has not revealed to NationSport the major reason for dropping him from the team. But NationSport gathered exclusively that although the General Secretary of the NFF Barrister Musa Amadu has communicated with world football governing body FIFA on the eligibility of the Arsenal's U- 19 team Captain, but Amadu has not gotten a written clearance from FIFA a reason for dropping the player in order not to jeopardize the qualification of Nigeria. The spokesman of the NFF Ademola Olajire when contacted yesterday on the matter he simply told NationSport "On the issue of Alex Iwobi the only thing I can tell you is that we (the NFF) asked the coach (Samson Siasia) to drop him from the

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

team that will play Gabon tomorrow (today). So he has been dropped from the team", he disclosed without further explanation. In as much as the player would be disappointed for coming this far and not having the opportunity to play, the Chief Coach of the team Samson Siasia has never hide his love for the player and to play for him. "Nigeria is blessed to have players like Alex Iwobi. The boy

is the next real deal for Nigeria. He is immensely talented and he would be next booming star in the national team. I am happy to have him I'm my team. I am also very grateful for his Dad0 Chuka Iwobi who really encouraged Alex to come and play for this team", Siasia had told NationSport in Abuja a fortnight ago. It is hopeful that Siasia and the NFF will do everything humanly possible to clear the boy for the return leg of the AAG qualifier early next month in order not to lose the player to England.

‘No margin for errors against Zambia’

IGERIA'S U-17 Head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke , would be the happiest man on Saturday should his wards put up a spirited performance to ensure qualification for a ticket to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile later this year. Amuneke is best remembered for his brace in the 2-1 defeat of the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the Final Match of the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Though the setting today between the Golden Eaglets and the Junior Chipolopolo is different, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year has said there would

Officials of the match between Gabon and Nigeria (eliminatoires All Africa Games) Match commissioner: Agrah W. K (Ghana ) Arbitrator Central: Denis Dembele ( Cote d ' Ivoire ) 1 Assistant: Moussa Bayere (Cote d ' Ivoire ) 2 Assistant: Pelako Toure (Cote d ' Ivoire) 4 th referee: Tangba Kambou (Cote d ' Ivoire)

be no margin for errors. He was optimistic his boys would do everything to gain a semi final berth at Niger 2015. "Our expectations (against Zambia) is to win and secure our ticket for the World Cup in Chile," former Barcelona winger told thenff.com. "We have to psyche up ourselves and forget about the draw against Guinea, we have to be optimistic to play much better." Amuneke was of the view that the Golden Eaglets could play much better since the decider against Zambia would be played on the artificial turf of Stade Municipal. "What we are doing is to lift their spirit and not being hard on them due to the last game and I want to believe they would be ready to play their usual normal game." "We are hopeful of a better performance against Zambia tomorrow," he said.

in Stade Augustina Sibang, that aspect, because he knows that Nigeria is blessed with a lot of talents. He urged who ever is picked on Saturday to see the game as a war of pride that must be won for the nation, assuring that the NFF will always do every thing withing it's limited resources to ensure the team is properly catered for in their pursuit to qualify for both the all Africa Games and Olympic Games next year in Rio.

Man City eyes Kelechi Nwakali

L10.NG understands that Manchester City are among clubs based in Europe keeping tabs on Golden Eaglets attacking midfielder Kelechi Nwakali at the ongoing CAF Under 17 Championship. Just after two games in Group A, the Emmanuel Amuneke Academy product has caught the eye of a number of high profile teams, and it appears The Citizens are in the driving seat for his signature. Manchester City have already opened a line of communication with Kelechi Nwakali's camp regarding the offer of a preliminary contract. Should defending champions Nigeria qualify for the FiFA Under 17s, as widely expected, the Etihad Stadium outfit are aware the 16 - year - old's stock will rise even further, and have taken the first step to snapping him up from his nursery team. Kelechi Nwakali is skillful, has a good range of passing, and has an eye for a pass, which has drawn comparisons with ex Bolton Wanderers midfielder Austin Okocha, though he is faster than the retired Nigeria international. The Golden Eaglets skipper would welcome the chance to join the Nigerians on the books of Manchester City, including his elder brother Chidiebere Nwakali and Kelechi Iheanacho. He has found the back of the net in both matches played by the Nigeria Under 17s in the Republic of Niger.

Lessons from the Elephants <<<<<<Continued from back page Will the coaches invite biggest problem. Those only those doing well in who led did so because their European clubs for they were the oldest in the the two matches? Can our team, in terms of the period coaches shun sentiments spent playing, not because and invite Brown Ideye they were the best. The and Odion Ighalo, who captains who performed plays for Watford FC in couldn’t control the others England and those young because the team, most boys in Arsenal e.t.c to play times, was broken between for Nigeria? those in the coaches’ camp To whose benefit would and those who were it be if we parade the bulk oppressed. of players who failed to get The only time the Eagles us to the 2015 Africa Cup stuck together was when of Nations? We don’t need issues bothering on their to camp 60 home-based welfare arose. Such a players for months before divided group cannot win major competitions, only to laurels. It is true that the pick the same five players Eagles clinched the 2013 for the real team. We must Africa Cup of Nations, yet do things differently, if we it must be said that the hope to improve on our events thereafter seem to poor past, otherwise we suggest that the feat in will achieve the same 2013 was a fluke, given the result- failure. abysmal showing of the It is barely 33 days to the team less than 10 months two international friendlies after. against Bolivia and Ghana, The Ivoriens did as well yet no word on who will as the Eagles at the Brazil lead the Eagles. My advice 2014 World Cup. But they to NFF chiefs is for them to returned home to appraise allow Dream Team and their performance and took Flying Eagles’ coaches to drastic decisions, which pick the best in their groups helped to rejuvenate the for the two matches. squad to what it is todayIf this happens, Samson champions of Africa. The Siasia and Garba Manu Ivoriens changed their will take charge of the coach, introduced younger team. What Siasia and players into the squad and, Manu could do is to include most importantly, picked those Eagles players doing their best players on well in their European current form. Little wonder clubs, such as Ighalo, they improved with every Ideye, Ahmed Musa, game, largely because the skipper Vincent Enyeama, new Elephants side was Victor Moses and “work in progress.” A Emmanuel Emenike. We colleague of mine need to introduce new marvelled at the calibre of players into the Eagles and European clubs that the it should start with the two Ivoirens were chosen from. matches on March 26 and He noted that all of them March 29 in Uyo and played regularly for their London. teams. One must commend NFF The Ivoriens went for the President Melvin Amaju former Zambia coach who Pinnick for touring Europe didn’t get the Zambians a to speak with the parents World Cup ticket. But of the Nigeria-born lads Renard had guided Zambia who have played for ageto lift the Africa Cup of grade European countries Nations, a trait which on the need to play for showed that he understood Nigeria. The first the African terrain. Renard advantage such a move did the basic with the gives to our football is that Elephants. He picked the it guarantees growth, since best and made spot-on we know the true ages of changes that strengthened these Nigerians. The other the team during matches. gain is that they are well Put simply, Renard is a grounded in the rudiments good match reader, a trait of the game, making the Super Eagles coaches lack. job of grooming them very Thank God the NFF has easy for the coaches. started exposing technicallyAgain, these Nigeria-born minded people to refresher lads will be coming with a courses. It has also developed new mentality that should a programme that will rub off on our local players. integrate all that these people One cannot but agree with on refresher courses have ex-Green Eagles midfielder learnt into practice with all Friday Ekpo who said: our national teams. “The national team cannot be We expect to see the dependent on a few players impact of these refresher abroad. We are more than courses soon. One only 150 million people in this hopes that the Eagles country. The camp will not coaches don’t jettison the be in Europe, the camp will information provided by be in Nigeria. If Europethese eggheads on grounds based players are good, they that they call the shot in the will be brought in, but if the team and would be held best players are in the local accountable whenever league, we should stick with things go awry. them.” Can the Eagles coaches With adequate and indeed the NFF use the competition for shirts across two friendly matches all our national teams, no one against Bolivia in Uyo on will hold us to ransome nor March 26 and the one would any group have the against the 2015 Africa temerity to play pranks with Cup of Nations runners-up invitation letters to play for Ghana’s Black Stars in Nigeria. NFF chiefs, please, London on March 29 to let us turn a new leaf. overhaul our senior team?

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3125

those whose Christian conscience or Moslem conscience, or even pagan conscience can stomach it should not hesitate to take whatever money, fertiliser or rice, etc. that the ruling party or any party for that matter offers them now for the sake of the election. It is our common wealth —Tunji Adegboyega

ILL elections hold on the new dates of March 28 and April 11 an nounced by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, at the behest of the country’s Service Chiefs? Professor Jega told the Senate on Wednesday that he could give no such guarantee. His words while briefing the upper legislative house on the postponement of the elections from the earlier announced dates of February 14 and 28 respectively were instructive. According to Jega “I have said consistently that there are things under the control of electoral commission and there are things that are not under the control of electoral commission. For things that are under our control, I can give definite and categorical assurances. On what is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless and useless to give a definite guarantee on them. I think the question should be directed appropriately. The question of security, I will leave it. I don’t think I am competent to answer it sufficiently”. In terms of the preparations for the exercise, Jega is confident that INEC is fully ready. Indeed, when he briefed the last National Council of State (NCS) meeting in Abuja before the forced postponement of the polls, Jega had insisted that the commission was in a better state of readiness to conduct the election than it was for the 2011 election despite the logistical problems in deploying the Permanent Voters cards (PVC). However, the postponement of the election for six weeks on the basis of the claim by the Service Chiefs that they could not provide security as they intended to launch a full- fledged onslaught against the insurgency meant that it all now depends on the military when the elections will hold. If the military high command claims that the security situation is still not conducive for elections on the new dates, what can Jega and INEC do? It is this frustration and helplessness that he betrayed during his appearance before the Senate. This is indeed one reason why some analysts have described the Security Chief’s action of aborting the election and forcing a six months postponement as a coup of sorts. The truth of the matter is that if February 14 and 28, fixed about a year ago for the elections were not sacrosanct, there is little cause for optimism that the May 29th hand over date will be sacrosanct. It is obvious that by forcing the postponement of the election by six weeks, the military high command was doing the bidding of the presidency. The General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s movement for change had become practically unstoppable. There is little doubt that if the elections had held last Saturday as previously scheduled, Jonathan and the PDP would probably be out of power at the centre by

Beyond President Goodluck Jonathan

•President Jonathan

•Jega

now. The postponement is thus meant to slow down the APC momentum and enable President Jonathan’s campaign gather more momentum. In a way, the postponement of the election has its own positive side. For one, it shows that an incumbent President and party are jittery about their performance at the polls and thus ensured it does not hold. This is unprecedented in Nigeria’s political history. The implication is that elections are getting more credible and government increasingly unable to manipulate the results. Again, it shows that the Nigerian electorate have become significantly more sophisticated and difficult to lead by the nose. Thus, all the intensive media campaigns and rallies by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) likening Dr Jonathan to such worldhistoric figures like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi or Barak Obama did not deceive the vast majority of Nigerians. The tendency by power hungry politicians to divide

the people on the basis of religion, ethnic group or region in order to rule them is also beginning to lose its efficacy. In a meaningful sense we have every cause to say that an appreciable degree of political development is being achieved in Nigeria in spite of all the constraints. Ironically, it is the opposition APC that has expressed readiness for elections and vehemently condemned the postponement of the polls. This is a sign of confidence in its capacity to wrest power from the PDP at the centre. On its part, the PDP, which controls and has not hesitated to misuse all organs of state coercion against the opposition is scared stiff of elections. Yet, this postponement is only likely to further anger millions of Nigerians and make them more determined to vote for change at the centre whenever elections are held. Even after the postponement of the election, the PDP and groups in support of President Jonathan such as Afenifere and the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA)

have continued to vehemently denounce Professor Jega all in a bid to hound him out of office and enable the emergence of a more pliable INEC chairman who would do the bidding of the PDP. Yet, it was this same Jega that conducted the 2011 elections, which President Jonathan won emphatically! If the elections are not held on the new dates as announced by Professor Jega, then the constitutional handover date of May 29th may no longer be feasible. In that case, we will have a constitutional crisis on our hands with President Jonathan being the prime beneficiary if tenure elongation is thereby achieved. But then, we must look beyond the person of Dr Jonathan to interrogate and understand the brewing constitutional crisis that is staring us in the face. Why is it that with the exception of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979 and General Abubakar Abdulsami in 1999, all other Nigerian leaders since independence, civilian and military, exhibited sit tight tendencies even though they always failed and the will of the people eventually triumphed on all occasions? Is there an iron law of Nigerian politics that compels leaders to want to continue in office by all means despite the constitutive and regulative rules of the game? I think the answer lies in the utilisation of state power as a means of material accumulation both by occupants of public office, particularly the President and governors, and their close friends and relatives. Those who are in power thus seek to continue in office beyond their constitutional terms or rig elections brazenly in order to continue to enjoy the honey of power. Incidentally even when the incumbent leader is willing to bow to the will of the electorate, he is held captive by a cabal which insists, for selfish reasons, that he is the country’s Messiah who must remain in office for the public good. In the case of Dr Jonathan, he is held hostage by an Ijaw cabal whose brash noisiness, stupendous accumulation of unearned wealth and utter lack of respect for other nationality groups, including the Itshekiri and Urhobo of the Niger Delta, have earned widespread opprobrium for Jonathan even in areas where he won an emphatic victory in 2011. If wisdom prevails, Dr Jonathan will allow the elections to hold on the new dates as scheduled and accept the will of the people whether he wins or loses. In the alternative, if he seeks to perpetuate himself in office, against the will of the people, that will also have its good side. It well help reactivate and re-energise a slumbering civil society to go back to the trenches to resist dictatorship and fight for democracy. For every action, there is always a reaction. Throughout history, fighters for democracy have always triumphed no matter how long it takes.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Lessons from the Elephants

’m excited that the country with the best players starring in Europe clinched the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. The Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire have always been the favourites to lift the African diadem from the time the golden generation emerged in 1990. That generation had Didier Drogba, who must be sulking that he doesn’t have the gold medal of the Africa Cup of Nations in his wardrobe. But that career minus by Drogba doesn’t take anything away from the awesome contribution of easily the best African to have played in the Barclays English Premier League. Cote d’ Ivoire ranks among the few African country to have many of their nationals playing regularly in Europe. The difference between the Ivoirens and Nigerians is that they appear more committed than our boys

to playing for their national team. Drogba, Yaya Toure, Salmon Kalou et al don’t hold their country hostage for trivialities. It isn’t a surprise that they have the Africa Footballer of the Year in Yaya Toure, who, with the way things are going in Europe and in Africa, will become the first African to be decorated as the best for five consecutive times. If Yaya Toure was a Super Eagle, maybe NFF chieftains would have been lying on the ground for him to walk past. Yaya walks away from Manchester City’s matches when it clashes with his country’s games. He plays no games with his English team to join the Elephants at his terms. Yaya hasn’t compelled the Ivoiren FA chiefs to give him concessions that make his English side bigger than the national team. No special arrangement for Yaya to fly in-and-out of competition venues like some of our big boys did with the Eagles in the past. The Elephants are as troublesome as the

Eagles during competitions. But theirs isn’t about holding the nation hostage over allowances. They enjoy themselves during competitions. But in Equatorial Guinea, it dawned on them that this was going to be the last active appearance for most of their players and they made it count by winning the trophy. That is the difference between the Eagles and the Elephants. The flipside to this attitude is that Yaya reports immediately after his country’s matches to play for Manchester City in the next game. What this signifies is that he is a disciplined player. With such a man as captain, it is easy to explain the seeming stability in the Elephants side despite its bumbling at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Yaya is such an incredible person to both club and country that it would be difficult to sideline one for the other permanently. On the pitch, Yaya is exemplary. He fights for the ball, directs his mates to give their best

and doesn’t fail to watch the sidelines to take instructions from the bench. The synergy between Yaya and the coaches is notable. This explains why the team held its own during the penalty shootout against the Black Stars of Ghana, despite losing the first two kicks. Yaya kept motivating the next penalty taker that the game was retrievable, especially when they lost the first two kicks. He also held those who lost their kicks under his towering height to console them. Yaya kept talking with his elder brother Kolo Toure. That was emotional. The Ghanaians, also had two brothers, the sons of legendary Abedi Pele. The Elephants had a leader in Yaya, who led by example. The players respected him and listened to his counseling on the pitch. Having no leader on the pitch is the Eagles’

•Continued on Page 63

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