The Nation February 25, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

...93 D AYS TO GO DA

•Soyinka to EFCC, ICPC, INEC: probe Ekiti rigging plot MORE ON •Row in House of Reps over AIG Mbu •AND PAGES 2-9 &52 •APC to NIMASA: account for $800m cabotage funds •Rep battles House Leader over meeting with Jonathan

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3136 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Kidnappers of American missionary demand N60m

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Senators slam Okonjo-Iweala for poor budget execution

•School owner abducted in Kogi

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S

N American missionary running an elementary school in Nigeria has been abducted from her workplace in Kogi State.

Rev. Phyllis Sortor was snatched by masked gunmen, who stormed the Hope Alive Nursery/Primary School, which she runs in Emiworo, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State on Monday.

“She was whisked away at around 10 am on Monday,” Kogi State Police spokesperson Sola Collins Adebayo said yesterday.

Commissioner of Police Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi said the Continued on page 2

•www.thenationonlineng.net

•Rev. Sortor

ENATORS yesterday berated Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the dismal implementation of the 2014 capital budget.

The senators, who met at various committees with ministers, heads of Federal Government departments and agencies in Abuja, were un-

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

happy that last year’s budget was poorly implemented.

They were shocked when ministers and some heads of agencies told them that they got between 40 to 45 per cent of their capital votes last year.

The senators insisted that the alleged withholding of appropriated funds meant to execute

critical capital projects had gravely retarded the economy’s growth.

Earlier yesterday, the Senate met behind closed doors for about two hours. It resolved to ensure that this year’s budget is passed before the March 28 - the presidential election day.

A source who pleaded not Continued on page 2

•INSIDE: EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT DOWN TO $2B P50 FANI-KAYODE’S TRIAL RESUMES P9

27 die in Boko Haram bus stations suicide bombings

?

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

•THE SCENE OF HORR OR: Some residents at the blast scene of the suicide bombing in Kano...yesterday.

HORROR:

Kano, Yobe hit Jonathan attacks sect APC: govt to blame

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HE Boko Haram bloodletting continued yesterday with suicide bombings in the North’s commercial capital, Kano and Potiskum, Yobe State’s biggest town.

No fewer than 27 people died at bus stations in the cities, giving an indication of a co-ordinated action.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the manner of the blasts point in the direction

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano and Duku Joel, Damaturu

of Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Jonathan criticised Boko Haram for what he described as its focus on “soft targets”, saying the latest action is “an act of a sect facing extinction”.

Twelve persons were killed in the Kano blast. Five others were injured as the explosion rocked the Kano Line

Motor Park at Kofar Nassarawa. Fifteen died in Potiskum.

At about 3.15pm, three suspected suicide bombers walked into the park, disguising as passengers.

It was gathered that the suspected bombers believed to be aged between 17 and 18, carried bags and mixed freely with passengers travelling to various destinations.

An eyewitness account said two of

the suicide bombers stood by the side of an Urvan bus loading passengers and detonated explosives. Ten passengers were burnt to death.

The third suspected suicide bomber reportedly escaped during the pandemonium that followed the blast.

Three vehicles were burnt.

Kano State Commissioner of Police Idris Ibrahim, speaking at the blast site, Continued on page 2

•POLITICS P11 •SPORTS P20 •MONEY P22 •INVESTORS P24 •LIFE P39 •FOREIGN P52

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

NEWS 27 die in Boko Haram bus stations suicide bombings Continued from page 1

said: “As you can see, it involves three vehicles - a Sharon, a bus and a golf car.

We estimated that about 12 people died. It seems that the two suicide bombers came in that Sharon car as passengers from outside the city.

“As indicated, investigation is ongoing.”

An eyewitness, Bello Ibrahim, said: At exactly3:05pm, I greeted some of the people, including the man writing passengers’ manifest. Shortly after, I heard a deafening sound.

I saw bodies being roasted.

“I saw the two suspected suicide bombers. They were strange faces, young boys between 17 and 18. Among the dead were the man writing the manifest of passengers and a bread seller. There were up to 10 dead.

Another suicide attack in Potiskum, Yobe state’s commercial city, killed 15 people.

No fewer than 33 were injured, eyewitnesses said.

Yesterday’s was the third successive attack in Potiskum within one week.

Last year, members of a Muslim sect on procession were attacked. Many died.

The bomb was reportedly detonated by a woman at the roadside Tashan Dan Borno Motor Park along Kano Road.

Hospital sources said 15 people died while some of the injured were transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Ngu-

ru for better attention.

An eyewitness account said the bomber came into the bus station and went straight into the Kano-bound Toyota bus before blowing herself up, throwing the entire vicinity into confusion after the bang.

Speaking on how the blast was carried out, an official of the National Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) said the vehicle was getting set for take-off, when the car went into flames.

“The loaders were getting ready to collect money from passengers because the motor was about to filled when we heard a loud sound and the car went up in flames,” he said.

Another witness said the entire vicinity was thrown into confusion with the loud sound from the explosion.

In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser of Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan condemned “the reversion by the terrorist group, Boko Haram to the callous bombing of soft targets in parts of Nigeria in the wake of the ongoing rapid recovery by gallant Nigerian troops and their multinational allies of areas formerly controlled by the sect.

“President Jonathan commiserates with all families who have lost loved ones in the bombings which continued today with attacks on Kano and Potiskum.

“The President shares the

Kidnappers of American missionary demand N60m Continued from page 1

five kidnappers had tabled N60 million ransom demand.

The kidnappers were “unknown gunmen...(who) came into the school premises shooting sporadically to scare away people before taking (the hostage) away into the bush”, the police spokeperson added.

He added that the gunmen came through the hill at the back of the school and forcibly pulled her out from her office.

The abductors scaled over the fence with her. They all disappeared through the hill “Her whereabouts are unknown but the police have deployed their men to secure the pupils and locate Rev. Sortor.”

The abducted missionary worker is from Seattle in the United States.

The Free Methodist Church in a statement on its website said it received a report on Monday morning that the Rev. Sortor was kidnapped.

The message from Bishop David Kendall said the U.S. Embassy had been notified and the State Department and the FBI were working with local authorities to find and rescue her.

The U.S. State Department said it is aware that a U.S. citizen had been reported missing

•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential running mate Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo (right) with Afrobeat star Femi Kuti during his visit to the musician’s home in Alagbole, Ogun State...on Monday

Continued on page 52

P

ment issued yesterday by its spokesman Lai Mohammed in London, the military deserves kudos for its successful battles against the insurgents.

The “string of successes” in the party’s view, show that the military can defeat terrorism – if well equipped.

The APC said by his own admission that he and his team “underrated the capacity of Boko Haram”, President Jonathan “has finally owned up to his globally-acknowledged incompetence, a development which, in truly democratic societies, should be part of a statement of resignation by a leader whose terrible error of

Continued on page 52

Niger Delta ex-militants reject soldiers’ deployment for elections

APC: blame Jonathan for Boko Haram’s killings RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan should pull the brakes on his re-election bid and apologise to Nigerians for allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to fester for this long, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

The party said the plan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration is to harvest votes but it all went awry.

The war against Boko Haram has cost about 15,000 lives and about $32.88billion, according to the APC. Besides, more than three million people are displaced.

But, to the APC, in a state-

in Nigeria.

“In cases where U.S. citizens are confirmed missing, the U.S. embassy works closely with those involved, supporting local authorities in their search efforts, and providing all appropriate consular assistance,” the agency said.

It wouldn’t release further information, citing privacy concerns.

Sortor’s stepson, Richard Sortor, attended a prayer service on Monday night at Sortor’s alma mater, Seattle Pacific University, telling reporters that “she believes in God, she’s doing God’s work,” KING-TV reported.

Sortor graduated in 1964 from the school affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, said Tracy Norlen, a university spokeswoman.

John Van Valin, who lives outside Indianapolis and has known Sortor for about 15 years, said she’s self-sacrificing, vivacious and committed to missionary work.

“She has a real passion for missionary work and helping people in need,” he said.

“We’re just really saddened to hear the news, but we’re praying a great deal. There are people all around the world who

judgement has caused so many deaths and inflicted so much pain and sorrow on his compatriots”.

The APC believes that Jonathan deliberately allowed the Boko Haram crisis to go on because he and his team saw it as their trump card for winning re-election in 2015 by currying local and global sectarian sympathy with a Muslim-group-killingChristians narrative that totally distorts the fact that Boko Haram is a band of marauders who have no consideration for ethnicity, regionalism, religion or any other thing beyond their mad disposition to

terror.

The party said the marauders are equal-opportunity killers who were not discriminatory in their savagery.

It recalled that the APC had raised the alarm on many occasions, including during an appearance at the British Parliament in 2014 when Lai Mohammed said the PDP and President Jonathan were using the Boko Haram crisis as a trump card to retain power in 2015. ‘’Is it not curious that the same President who has stood by while Boko Haram decimates a whole section of the country Continued on page 52

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EADERS of Niger-Delta Ex-militants have rejected any planned redeployment of soldiers for the elections.

They have also declared that the March 28 and April 11 dates for the elections should remain “non-negotiable”.

According to a statement, the ex-militants said: "We insist that elections must hold on March 28 and April 11 2015 as currently announced. We reject any further cancellation, postponement or rescheduling.

"We inform that it is the failure to hold transparent, credible, free and fair elections on March 28 and April 11 2015 that may lead to chaos, insecurity and problems in the Niger Delta."

In the 10-point declaration issued yesterday, the ex-militants' leaders said processes leading to the elections must be "credible, free and fair".

The statement was signed by 11 ex-militants, including Gen-

By Sulaiman Salawudeen

eral Boni (Burutu LGA), Smart Amola (Warri South-West), Francis Muturu (aka Gen. Aboy), Friday Edema (aka Ijagun 1), Alfred Aniretan (aka Field Marshal), and Sunday Amoma (aka Capone).

Others are Gen. King Jerry, Gen Saturday Emmanuel, Gen Isie Ologbo, Commander Peter Asule (aka Gen Atseluwa, WarriSouth), and Commander Mike Edesemi (aka Gen Blackman).

The group insisted that INEC and its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega must be “genuinely” independent and allowed to conduct the elections without intimidations either from the federal government or the Nigeria Army.

Dissociating themselves from pronouncements from some groups in the region that war would break out if any particular candidate loses, the group Continued on page 52

Senators slam Okonjo-Iweala for poor budget execution Continued from page 1

to be named, said the meeting decided to reduce the oil benchmark for the 2015 budget to $52. The Executive had after series of reviews, pegged the benchmark at $65.

According to the source, the reduction of the oil benchmark by the lawmakers is due to the dwindling oil prices.

Some of the lawmakers who lamented the poor implementation of the 2014 capital budget spoke when the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Mohammed Sada, and others appeared before the Senate Committee on Power and Steel to defend their 2015 budget.

Senator Victor Lar, responding to a presentation made by Sada, said: “A situation where we consider a budget, have it approved, then somebody sits in an office and refuses to make releases is too bad.

“Ministers and heads of various agencies who had awarded contracts could not pay but

somebody would sit in the comfort of her office and declare a surplus. Is that an economy that is growing?

“This is simple planlessness; this is frustrating and it cannot go on like this. The presentation by the Minister of Steel, for instance, is an opportunity to raise the revenue profile of the ministry from a non-oil sector which would have enhanced economic growth; it was frustrated.

“A serious nation would have encouraged this ministry to ensure that everything required was provided but this is the same ministry that had been subjected to the same envelope system, to the same non-releases, among others.

“We need to change the way we do things because if we have a problem and you keep on using an approach that has not yielded the desired results, common sense demands that you change the approach.

“We keep doing the same thing wrongly and we expect to get the desired results. It will not work. It is now becoming

part of our tradition to get budgets approved as a parliament and someone refuses to provide funds for its implementation.”

Senator Chris Ngige posited that the economy would collapse completely if the trend of non-release of funds for projects continues unchallenged.

“We as legislators should be interested in putting in place structures that will enable the country to realise additional sources of revenue apart from the oil sector,” he said.

Another member of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, spoke of an urgent need for the country to harmonise all resources through the development of other natural resources.

Gobir said: “Our internal debt now is too high, which is over N1trillion. The foreign debt is also very high. Poverty is very high and, to worsen the situation, the Naira has been devalued by 30 per cent.

All these are happening be-

cause we cannot sustain production.

“The only way we can move the nation forward economically is to make sure that we diversify our economy to make extra revenue. We budget about N50billion for capital projects and only N20billion would be released at the end of the day because there is no cash backing.

“Something is really wrong somewhere, we cannot continue like this. We have to call a spade a spade.”

At the committee on Lands and Housing, senators were surprised when the Minister Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, said her ministry was owing contractors N39billion.

The ministry could not embark on new projects last year because of the heavy debt burden.

Senators Bukar Ibrahim and Aisha Alhassan wondered how the ministry would tackle the housing challenges confronting the country when there was no provision for it to build a single house due to

non release of funds.

Committee on Establishment and Public Service Chairman Aloysius Etuk, described as shameful, the manner budgetary allocations were released to MDAs. Etok said: “The rate of budgetary releases is shameful and unacceptable. For us to sit down to plan annual budget and at the end of the day, only 41 per cent performance is implemented is like cutting short the expectations of the people.”

The Committee, which took on the Head of Service of the Federation, Federal Housing Staff Loan Board, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria and Public Civil Service Reform Bureau, also expressed concern over zero capital budget that characterized the 2015 fiscal appropriation.

Etok urged the agencies to design means of generating revenue outside government.

He said: “Time has come for MDAs to begin to seek alternative source of revenue for

•Okonjo-Iweala

sustenance. Government is more concerned with paying salaries.

“It may have to cut overhead further to ensure that salaries are paid.”

Etok noted that the on-going defence was crucial to the 7th Senate as it marked the final assignment for most of the senators, especially those who are Continued on page 52

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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MAY 29 ...93 DAYS TO GO

NEWS •Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu (right); Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Umar and Director, National Competitiveness, Policy Advocacy, NIPC, Mr. Emeka Offor, at the NIPC/Media Roundtable in Lagos...yesterday.

The silver l •Nobel laureate calls on EFCC, ICPC, INEC to probe Ekiti rigging plot The controversy triggered by the audio tape of how some politicians met with an Army General to plot the rigging of the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State drew the reaction of Nobel laureate PROF WOLE SOYINKA reaction yesterday. In the literary icon’s view, democracy does not begin and end with the ballot box.

He says the admission by all dramatis personae in the plot is enough ground to spur anti-corruption agencies and the electoral umpire into action.

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•From Left: Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Kankarofi; Representative of the Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr Sola Atere; Managing Director, Nagarta Radio, Kaduna, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf-Saulawa and ex-Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) , Dr Tom Adaba at the NBC meeting with Broadcast Chief Executives in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: Senior Consultant, Tom Associates, Mrs Omolola Adedoyin; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tom Associates, Mr. Abiodun Toki; Senior Consultant, Mrs. Tolu Jegede; Guest Speaker, Mr. Olumide Onakoya and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Miss Olutoyin Osibogun at the 21st Annual Trainers' Clinic of Tom Associates training at the Lagos Office, Anthony, Lagos.

PHOTO:ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•From left: Head, Distribution, Airtel Nigeria, Oladapo Dosumu; Regional Operations’ Director, Airtel, Femi Oshinlaja; the company’s Regional Retail Head, Miss. Edero Daro-Idollo; Alhaji Ajibola Igbalaye and Head, Retail Showroom & Franchise, Airtel, Tolulope Tope-Awofeko at the inauguration of Airtel’s Apapa Mall Showroom in Lagos.

HE “Advertorial” – full front page of Punch, February 23, 2015 - sponsored by Mr. Ayo Fayose (aka “No Apology”) deserves to succeed in its aim of putting an end to all disputes surrounding the Ekiti elections of June 21, 2014. After all, its entire page is dedicated to a press statement from the US (United States) Department of State, which purportedly endorses the results of that election, congratulates the electoral organisation, the winner/loser duo, not forgetting the security forces – all for their laudable contributions. The release could not be more timely; what with the governor’s own exhortations on the virtues of credibility, avoidance of violence, and its special appeal to “ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.” It is that last item in the advertisement to which I am especially drawn, in view of an audio recording that has now become the latest marvel of democratic exposes, internationally.

For those who have nothing to hide, disrobing lies and forgeries and reinforcing truth is regarded as part and parcel of the obligations we owe democracy.

The audio could well be one of such forgeries. We are daily inundated with allegations, evasions, distortions, image plundering and image laundering, all under the permissive canopy of electoral proceeding. Once in a while however, we encounter exposure of an exceptional dimension that appears to strike at the very root of democracy, questions the validity of an entire electoral system and even erodes confidence in the integrity of the state. Such an event need not be regarded as a repudiation of the formal mechanics put in place by an electioneering agency such as INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), but nonetheless extends the scope of its responsibilities, including its projection of looming hazards of future electoral exercises.

This is why, in the absence of a constitutional court or its equivalent, one is left with no other course than to call on INEC to also take formal charge of the recorded incident of this alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of democracy. For those ‘who have nothing to hide’, it is a call that deserves unstinting support. They should not hesitate to assist in calling on the same U.S. expertise to assist us in exposing a forgery. We are speaking here of a development that implicates not only products, beneficiaries or would-be constitutional guardians of the electoral process – that is, an elected governor, a governorship aspirant, but also state agencies – the military, two serving ministers – that is, members of the executive arm of government, one of them in charge of the nation’s defence portfolio – and others. In addition to the logical role of the police, the nation’s electoral commission should undertake an independent investigation and make its findings known to the nation.

Is this perhaps something INEC can undertake while the nation waits out its suspended electoral sentence? It only requires repudiation – or validation – of the findings of an already

advanced forensic enquiry.

So also should the two anti-corruption agencies – the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission) – since material corruption is also implicit in the present instance. At the fount of all electoral manipulation is the grim facilitator – money! Here, for instance, is a lesson drawn from the travails of a former Inspector-General of Police in recent history.

That scandal happened to coincide with a barely concluded electoral exercise, considered by some as a strong contestant for one of the most blatantly manipulated election in the nation’s history. A number of bulging accounts had been traced to that Inspector-General of Police (IGP). During private discussions, I exhorted the then director of the EFCC to go beyond the sensational monetary finds and track each of them painstakingly back to source.

“If you succeed in that”, I urged Nuhu Ribadu (former chairman of the antigraft agency), “you would have done more than merely expose institutional police corruption, you would have done inestimable service to the cause of democracy.

“The IGP”, I insisted, “was a mere bag holder for electoral manipulators inhabiting the most rarefied levels of governance!” I therefore pleaded with him not to stop at the prosecution and conviction of the sacrificial face – in effect, a scapegoat, albeit most willing - of that operation. This was equally my prayer to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during an Abuja lecture at the time.

Anyone who disputes a robust connection between material and political corruption should reflect on the mild slap on the wrist that the IGP received for charges of misappropriation of such staggering dimensions. Now it is the turn of the Army as facilitators for the alleged political crime. Allied to this elite criminal corps – again, as alleged - was a former Chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee turned governorship candidate. The evidence resides in the recording of a conspiracy against free and fair elections, later reinforced by a televised interview with the whistleblower - a military intelligence officer. That recording has been heard by millions all over the world – governments, human rights organi-

•Prof. Soyinka

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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lining in the cloud of postponement

•Sen. Iyiola Omisore

•Fayose

•Ex-Minister of State for Defence Musilu Obanikoro

•Whistleblower Capt Sagir Koli

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Let no one attempt to facilitate the rampaging course of impunity by brushing this aside as just another electoral malpractice – no, in my layman estimation, this approaches criminal subversion and treason •Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan sations, election monitoring groups, business individuals, and even those merely seeking real-life variants on improbable Nollywood fare. The alleged crime is in global domain.

Let no one attempt to facilitate the rampaging course of impunity by

• Chris Uba

brushing this aside as just another electoral malpractice – no, in my layman estimation, this approaches criminal subversion and treason. The accusation is blatant and the demand for rigorous investigation must remain unrelenting. The accounts of the

•Gen. Aliyu Momoh inculpated General and others should be subjected to the same scrutiny as those of the earlier cited IGP. And so on, and so clamorous! Those who have nothing to fear can sleep easy.

If the formal agencies fail, then citizens must learn to assert their right of

access to truth. As is the practice in other societies, a citizens’ trial can be instituted, experts co-opted, and both accusers and accused invited to testify. Even the venue does not have to be internal, since witnesses may require protection. Democracy does not

‘

begin or end with the ballot box, nor is it confined to national boundaries.

There is no assertion anywhere yet of a “Case Proven”, no rush to judgment, simply a craving - as urged in the said governor’s advertorial - to let “facts speak for themselves!”

Bamide to Fayose: stop disgracing Ekiti people

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MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday described as alarming Governor Ayo Fayose’s relentless vituperations on the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Bamidele, who represents the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, said Fayose’s death wish for Gen. Buhari has ridiculed governance in Ekiti and has brought disgrace and odium on the people of the Land of Honour State.

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital yesterday, Bamidele described Fayose as a “cancer to the body politic of Nigeria” and advised the governor to toe the line of civility like eminent citizens of the state rather than offer himself as a hatchet man.

According to the lawmaker, “no decent Ekiti man or woman either in private or public sector or decent Ekiti politician either in People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) Labour Partry (LP) or any other party can be proud of the way Fayose has “continued to portray the image of Ekiti as a community of people with integrity deficit.”

He urged the governor to drop his “oneday-one-trouble style”, saying Fayose’s hate campaign against Gen Buhari and his tantrums against former President Olusegun Obasanjo have not added value to the presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bamidele described as unfortunate that the governor of Ekiti was busy desecrating the exalted office on a day the University of London was celebrating an illustri-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

ous son of the state – Aare Afe Babalola with a honourary doctorate degree.

Governor Fayose has consistently been describing Gen Buhari as too old and sick to be President of Nigeria, the latest being his allegation that the General travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) on medical ground.

Bamidele, who was the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the last June 21, 2014 governorship poll in Ekiti, noted that Fayose’s comment on Gen. Buhari’s health status constitute a “rude invasion of the General’s privacy and a roughneck tactic to try to dog such a national figure that way.”

He argued that the APC presidential flag bearer deserved a rest and even a medical check-up after a rigorous campaign hustings around the country for over 30 days without missing a single rally, even if indeed he has visited a hospital during his foreign trip.

His words: “Just like President Jonathan has a right to contest and legitimately expect to win, he has equally assured all and sundry that if he loses the election, he will honourably handover to the winner, making it clear that neither a military nor an interim regime would be an acceptable alternative.

“If President Jonathan is speaking in this parlance and Governor Fayose is busy abusing former President Olusegun Obasanjo while denigrating the age and person of Gen. Buhari to the extent of wishing him dead, then, surely, Governor Fayose must be weeping more than the bereaved. And when a sympathiser is weeping more than the bereaved, there is definitely a cause for suspicion.

“Let Governor Fayose call himself to order. Let him leave Gen. Buhari alone and

come up with a more positive and decent manner of adding value to our democracy and politics. Right now, he is a like cancer to our body politic.

“Let him stop dragging the name and image of Ekiti in the mud. Ekiti people abhor hate politics and if even Abuja would disown Gov. Fayose’s hate campaign style, then the extent of damage he is doing to the Jonathan campaign in Ekiti State is better left in the realm of imagination.”

Bamidele advised Fayose to settle down and face serious business of governance as Ekiti, according to him, needs a critical, sober and scientific leadership intervention and not jackboot approach as being allegedly applied by the governor.

He added that the precarious situation of the state’s economy called for a conducive atmosphere that would enable all wellmeaning sons and daughters of Ekiti at home and abroad to pull ideas together on what is to be done to rescue the state from imminent collapse and restore its glory back from sabbatical.

Bamidele expressed sadness that many leaders of the political class would rather celebrate a poverty of ideas at the expense of ensuring robust reasoning and proffering perspectives on the way forward for Nigeria in a way that potential voters would be able to make up their minds on which candidate to vote for on the basis of superior postulation and demonstrated strength of character.

He said: “No decent Ekiti man or woman, either in the private or public sector, and no Ekiti politician, either in PDP, APC, Labour Party or any other political party can be proud of how Governor Fayose has carried himself since the beginning of this campaign

•Bamidele or how he has continued to portray the image of Ekiti as a community of people with integrity deficit.

“As an Ekiti stakeholder, I, like other credible illustrious citizens of the State, deal with this issue on a daily basis, taking pain to explain the Ekiti personality and core values to those who care to listen, reminding all concerned people at home and abroad that fine gentlemen and patriots like Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Comrade Femi Falana are indigenes of the State”.

Bamidele also listed other Ekiti icons Prof. Akin Oyebode, Pa Ayo Fasanmi, Sir Remi Omotoso, Prof. MobolajiAluko, Prof.

Jide Oluwasanmi, Justice Ademola Ajakaiye (rtd.), Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Prof. Babalola Borisade, among others whom he wants Fayose to emulate rather than behaving contrary to the core values of integrity Ekitis are noted for.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

NEWS Ojoo community for Alao-Akala From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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ESIDENTS of Ojoo in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have assured the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, of their support.

Their spokesman, Alfa Wasiu Atidade, spoke when Alao-Akala’s wife, Oluwakemi, visited Akinyele Local Government Area yesterday.

Atilade said: “We’re for AlaoAkala because of his good deed during his first term. He has achieved many things.

“Today, we can count the several things that he did for our community. This time around, we have concluded that we’ll pay him back by delivering our votes for him during the April 11 election.

“It is a consensus that all of us here- Hausa, Yoruba and even other tribes have resolved to vote for him.

It is not about sentiment, God has ordained him to rule Oyo State again,” Atilade said.

Adewusi berated for comments

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HE Concerned Citizens Group has disowned Dr. Adebayo Adewusi for what it termed “his unguarded utterances” against Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Adewusi spoke on “State of the Nation” programme on Splash FM, on February 14, where he said he joined Accord Party because the Ajimobi-led administration had abandoned the people of Ibarapa.

A statement by its principal coordinator, Solagbade Egbetokun, said: “It is not in our character to interfere in any political bickering or engage in any ‘political pull him down saga’.

The group does not want to join issues with Adewusi but has the responsibility of setting the records straight.

“The two conceptual issues raised were very complicated and fundamental.

“We appreciate Ajimobi for the incomparable projects in Ibarapa East Local Government, which cut across security, transport, education, health, agriculture, among others.

“Adewusi’s statement misinforms the public. It is a calumny against Ajimobi who stands as an icon of indispensable leadership.”

Group holds voter education rally

By Everistus Onwuzurike and Morakinyo Abiodun

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GROUP, Activista Lagos, under the aegis of Action Aid, held a voter education rally to sensitise the electorate.

At the rally which took place in Ojuelegba, the group’s National Coordinator, Ewebiyi Keye, said the group organised the rally because some people deliberately disenfranchise themselves, which often leads to rigging.

He said: “I urge Nigerians, especially young people, to shun electoral violence and malpractices.

“We should not condemn the government and complain about lack of basic amenities, security when we don’t vote.

“It is high time we made politicians know we own the power and can always vote them out when their policies are anti-people.

“We must not just come out and vote on Election Day, we must also stay behind to ensure that our votes are counted in our presence.”

A member of the national organising committee, Oyinkansola Mabeko, said youths should be involved in the electoral processes.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun addressing party supporters at his re-election campaign tour of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area…yesterday.

Poly teachers suspend planned strike

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HE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), last night, suspended its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin today in all polytechnics across the country.

This followed two hours of meeting with the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and the House of Representatives Committee on Education.

The union had a two-hour meeting with the minister beginning at 11am and another with the committee, which ended at 7pm.

ASUP’s spokesman Comrade Clement Chirman told reporters in a telephone interview after the meet-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

ing at the National Assembly that the union’s negotiation team would relay the outcome of the meetings to ASUP’s national executive council.

While asking members of the union to continue to perform their duties, the spokesman said the union and government would continue to dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues.

The polytechnic teachers were protesting a circular by the Ministry of Education, suspending the implementation of CONTISS 15 and the decisions by the governing councils of the Federal Polytechnics Oko in Anambra State and Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti

State to suspend all union activities in the institutions and the sack of union leaders.

According to him, the minister ordered the immediate withdrawal of the circular suspending CONTISS 15 and the restoration of union activities in the affected institutions.

He added that Shekarau also assured that the ministry will look into other demands, which border on increased funding for polytechnics and improved staff welfare.

The lawmakers, he said, agreed to expedite action on other demands of the lecturers, which also include the passing into law a bill establishing a national polytechnic commission.

AG Moeller tendered ‘forged’ police report, court told

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HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that the Managing Director of AG Moeller, Adeloye Olukemi, allegedly tendered a forged report, which he claimed to be from the police.

Olukemi was charged with allegedly defrauding the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cross Country Limited, Bube Okorodudu, of about N80million between March 2007 and January 2010.

The money was said to be in excess of a capital sum of N140million, which AG Moeller advanced to Cross Country through a contract of finance lease facility “induced by false pretence”.

He pleaded not guilty.

During yesterday’s trial, the prosecution’s witness, Godsday Chukwusa, told the court that the report, dated January 25, 2012 and signed by a deputy commissioner of police in Zone 2 was not genuine.

The command had purportedly concluded in the report that it was Okorodudu who should be prosecuted.

The prosecution counsel, Ralph

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By Joseph Jibueze

Nkem, sought to tender another letter dated February 13, in which the police headquarters disclaimed the report by Zone 2.

The witness said: “After sometime, we noticed some strange actions by the investigating officers at Zone 2 that aroused our suspicion.

“Subsequently, my chairman petitioned the Inspector-General of Police requesting him to step into the matter.”

According to him, the case was transferred from Zone 2 to IGP’s Monitoring Unit.

“I wondered how Zone 2 could issue such a report after almost one year that the case was transferred. We alleged fraud and falsification of the letter in our petition to the IGP. “The police later sent us a reply disclaiming the report from Zone 2,” the witness said.

However, Olukemi’s lawyer Kunle Ogunba objected to tendering the letter, saying it was not relevant and did not support the charge.

But Nkem said the date the letter was written did not matter.

He urged the court to admit it in evidence for being relevant.

Chikwusa had earlier testified that in March 2007 Cross Country wrote the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, EBN Finance Limited (a subsidiary of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc) and AG Moeller for finance lease facilities to enable it buy some vehicles.

He said AG Moeller gave Cross Country N140 million to finance the acquisition of 40 buses for commercial use with a tenor of 24 months at 60 per cent interest rate per annum.

According to him, the total sum payable to AG Moeller Ltd at the end of the tenor stood at N228 million.

“For a transaction of N288million, Cross Country paid about N223million, but AG Moeller said the company still owed N213million,” the witness said.

He insisted that what Cross Country owed AG Moeller, include default charges, was N19million.

Justice Okon Abang adjourned till March 5 for ruling on the admissibility of the letter from the police disclaiming the report.

Court to hear Makinde’s candidacy suit Mar 9

FEDERAL High Court in Ibadan has adjourned till March 9 to hear a case challenging the candidacy of Seyi Makinde as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State.

The suit was filed by Olugbenga Bayode and Rasaq Adegboyega, who claimed to be SDP members.

In the suit by their counsel, Adenle Adeloye, the plaintiffs alleged that Makinde was not the “proper” candidate to represent the SDP in the election because he was not part of the primary conducted last December 6.

They further claimed that Aworinde Oluwafemi Samson emerged as the governorship candidate in the December 6 primary.

At the proceedings yesterday, Makinde’s counsel Yaqub Fadare told the court that the defence had

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

filed necessary documents asking the court to dismiss the suit.

SDP’s counsel Idowu Oyeleke urged the court to strike out the case, saying the party’s defence team had filed notice of preliminary objection, written address, statement of defence and other necessary documents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) counsel, Omoniyi Fayanju, told the court that the screening of all the candidates were done at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, saying he would connect with the Legal Department at the headquarters to obtain necessary documents.

‘Punish corrupt politicians’

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HE founder, Association for Eradication of Corruption in Nigeria (ASSERCORN), Mrs. Oyindamola Anjorin, has called for considerable punitive measures for corrupt political office holders.

She spoke at a workshop titled: “Leadership and Corruption- Which Way Out?”, in Lagos.

Mrs. Anjorin decried the undeserved punitive measures dispensed to erring office holders, especially individuals in government positions, which she claimed were usually not commensurate with their offences.

“It is disheartening and discouraging to note that in Nigeria, as opposed to other parts of the world, corruption is still being treated lightly even as it has become a major bane of the country’s growth and development,” she said.

Nigeria needs APC, says Ashafa

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HE senator representing Lagos East, Gbenga Ashafa, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the “messiah” the nation needs to rescue it from the shackles of poverty and unemployment.

The lawmaker spoke at the inauguration of three newly-converted motorised boreholes to communities in Mutaku, Owu and Ado communities under Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Area.

Ashafa decried the lack of Federal Government presence in the state. “The Red Line of the Light Rail is hanging because the Federal Government has refused to approve the take off of the project for more than two years now.

“Also, the proposed Lekki Seaport is being hindered because the Federal Government has refused to pay its counterpart funding of $117 million. Yet, $20 billion is still missing.”

The lawmaker said if APC comes to power at the federal level, it would serve as the new “messiah” to rescue the nation’s economy.

‘Step up peace campaign’

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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ARENTS, elders and community leaders have been urged to step up the campaign against violence as the nation prepares for the general election.

Various speakers, including traditional rulers, community leaders, policemen and members of the civil society, said a re-orientation hinged on tolerance and perseverance must be promoted and pursued as only these can foster peaceful co-existence.

They spoke yesterday at the Peace and Security Forum organised by the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government in conjunction with the Kunle Olayinka Peace Initiative (KOPI).

KOPI’s founder and Executive Director Kunle Olayinka said the group will work with all security operatives to promote peace, security and peaceful co-existence of all residents.

He said: “Election is around the corner and some politicians have earmarked some youths to foment violence before, during and after the election. This must stop. Our youths must see themselves as peace ambassadors and resist anyone out to truncate their future.”

The Executive Secretary, Olurotimi Adeleye, said the council is collaborating with KOPI because the founder has been involved in advancing the cause of peace.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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NEWS

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Osinbajo to hold talks with young professionals

HE All Progressives Congress Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will on Saturday hold “Conversations For Change” with young professionals interested in the future of Nigeria.

The event takes place by 2pm at Nelos Place Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

To register, young professionals have been asked to visit www.buhariosinbanjo2015.com or text their names, occupations, e-mails and residential areas to 08057457310.

Amended trafficking in persons’ law passed From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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F President Goodluck Jonathan assents to a bill for an Act on Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 (as amended), any persons who permits any place or premises to be used for the purpose of forced labour risks a five-year jail term.

This is contained in the conference committee report on a bill for an Act to repeal the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 (as amended) and to enact the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act to provide measures against trafficking and for related matters, 2015.

Appeal Court to decide Jonathan’s fate •President Goodluck Jonathan (second left); his wife Dame Patience; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (left) and Secretary to the State Government and widower Prof. Edmond Allison-Oguru at a special funeral service for Oguru’s wife and other women who died on February 14 in a road accident in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

Jonathan, PDP caucus meeting: Rep battles House leader over exclusion

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HE floor of the House of Representatives was nearly thrown into confusion yesterday morning, but for the intervention of the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

Trouble started immediately the deputy speaker said the prayers for the beginning of the day’s proceedings when Gerald Alphonsus (PDP, Imo) approached the front row where the House Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, was seated.

On getting there, Alphonsus raised his hand at Mrs. Akande-Adeola, saying: “I will embarrass you”.

Sensing likely trouble, the Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor, who was seated next to the House leader, quickly got up to shield her.

At this point, a number of members that saw what was happening quickly intervened

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

and led Alphonsus to his seat.

After going through and approving the votes and proceedings for the day’s plenary, the presiding officer, who was watching the unfolding event, asked the House leader to approach the chair - a term used by the presiding officer to call on a member for a brief discussion.

After their discussion, the deputy speaker dissolved the plenary into a closed-door session.

It was, however, gathered that the bone of contention between the two had to do with the omission of Alphonsus from the House PDP caucus meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last Sunday.

Insinuation that the presidency gave a largesse after the meeting was rife in the House.

It was, however, learnt that while the members were being conveyed to the State House, Alphonsus was not informed and consequently missed the meeting.

When he could not hold back his anger and disappointment, the lawmaker decided to seek clarification from the House leader on why he was not included.

It was learnt that Alphonsus decided to show his anger on the floor of the House after being allegedly shunned by the House leader.

However, on resumption from the executive session, plenary continued without further drama.

The Deputy Speaker, however, announced that it was the 2015 budget that was extensively debated during the closed-door session that lasted less than one hour.

When Alphonsus was

asked by reporters what informed his action at plenary, he said: “Go and ask her. She is the Caucus leader.”

Mrs. Akande-Adeola, however, explained that the issue that caused the near fisticuffs on the floor was a simple caucus issue.

According to her, Alphonsus was angry that he did not get a text message inviting members to a meeting with the president on Sunday.

She said she had ordered that short message service be sent to members informing them of the meeting and that about 10 members could not get theirs, probably because of network issues.

On the allegation that the president gave some money at the meeting which led to the row, Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi), who was present in the leader’s office at the time, said no money changed hands.

Obasanjo’s exit good for PDP, says national secretary

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s exit from the party as a blessing.

Prof. Oladipo, who spoke with reporters at the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP yesterday, said many people would have voted against the PDP, if the former president remained in the party.

His words: “You know when a big tree exists in a big forest, smaller trees cannot grow. If that big tree leaves, 10 to 20 smaller trees will grow.

“In politics, one big tree has a vote, while 20 smaller trees have 20 votes. If you do the arithmetic, I know that head or tail; it is a win-win situation for PDP.” The PDP National Secretary said the membership card that Obasanjo tore was an invalid one, because it had expired.

According to him, the card Obasanjo tore was the one the party was about to discard, adding that it was signed by a former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abu-

•Lamido: ex-president’s decision ‘a family affair’ From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

bakar Baraje, who is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prof. Oladipo said: “Baba (Obasanjo) did not tear our card. He asked somebody ostensibly to do the tearing and I am assuring you that the card that was torn was not the current PDP card.

“The current PDP card is signed by Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Prof Wale Oladipo. So, the card he tore was a Barage card, which we are going to destroy anyway. So, I think Baba started it.”

He added that people should overlook some of the actions of the former President, adding: “When you reach that age, you do things that only you can explain.”

Also yesterday, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido warned individuals and interest groups against dabbling into the ongoing feud between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the leadership of the PDP. The governor said he did

not regret staying back in the PDP after he had concluded arrangements with six other governors to dump the ruling party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2013.

Five out of the seven PDP governors in the league of G-7 had defected to the APC, as a result of disagreement with the leadership of the PDP. The five governors that eventually defected to the APC are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

Kwankwaso was quoted in a media report to have described Lamido’s action as an act of betrayal.

In response to Kwankwaso’s statement, Lamido said: “I am a betrayer, confirmed. I betrayed them. Yes, I did. I am aligning myself to what he said. I am aligning my answer to what he said. Go and find out from him. I betrayed them in the national interest”.

The governor, in a brief

chat with reporters at the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP, said the friction between the former president and the PDP was strictly a family affair of the ruling party.

Describing Obasanjo as father of the PDP, Lamido added that the ongoing squabble between the former Board of Trustees chair and the party should not be treated as a street discussion.

When pressed for comments on the matter, the governor said: “You have a father and a son. You do not come between a father and a son.

You do not go out in the open to insult your father. It is our business; so leave it. You are not his son; he is our own father. So, leave us alone please”.

Obasanjo had, a few days ago, publicly denounced the PDP and asking his party’s ward chairman to tear his membership card in the presence of party’s faithful, who had gone to his Abeokuta home to plead with him to soften his criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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HE responsibility of determining whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest election has been shifted to the Court of Appeal, Abuja with the transfer yesterday of another suit on the issue to the appellate court.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a ruling yesterday, transferred the determination of another suit challenging President Jonathan’s eligibility to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, bringing to two such transfers in one week.

The judge, on February 9, this year, transferred a similar case to the appellate court upon an application to that effect by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), lawyer to two plaintiffs - Adejumo Ajagbe and Olatoye Wahab.

The one transferred yesterday was filed by Mase Acho, Saeeq Sarki and Murtala Abubakar.

Prior to his decision yesterday, Justice Mohamed had, suo motu (without being prompted), asked lawyers, representing parties to address him on whether or not the court should transfer the case to the appellate court for determination, having earlier transferred a similar one.

M.S Ibrahim (for the plaintiffs), Kenechukwu Nomeh (for Jonathan and Sambo), C.I. Paul (for the PDP) and Ibrahim Bawa (for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were unanimous on the need for the court to shift decision on the issue to the appellate court.

Ruling, Justice Mohammed held that the transfer was necessary since the decision to refer the case to the appellate court for determination was not opposed by any of the parties.

He added that the order was the appropriate one to make in view of his earlier order in a similar case and the fact that judgment had already been reserved by the appellate court in another one.

“This case is hereby referred to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division for the interpretation of section 135(2), paragraphs (a) and (b) and section 137 of the Constitution, in relation to the fact of this case,” the judge held.

With Justice Mohammed’s decision yesterday, the appellate court is now to decide President Jonathan’s eligibility based on three cases on the same issue, now pending before it.

In the suit transferred yesterday, Acho, Sarki and Abubakar want the court to declare that, having taken the oath of office twice, Jonathan and Sambo have exhausted the term allowed under the constitution.

They argued, in their originating summons, that another four-year term for the president and the vice president would amount to a breach of sections 135(2)(a) and 137(1)(b) of the Constitution.

The other case in which judgment has been reserved is the appeal filed on April 16, 2013 by Cyriacus Njoku, who is challenging the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court delivered by Mudashiru Oniyangi (now of the Court of Appeal), who had earlier ruled that Jonathan was eligible to contest in 2015.

Njoku had, in 2012, filed the suit before the FCT High Court and sought among others, a declaration that Jonathan’s tenure of office as president began on May 6, 2010, when his first term began and his second term shall end on May 29, 2015, after taking his second oath on May 29, 2011.

Njoku, among others, sought an order of injunction restraining Jonathan from further contesting or attempting to vie for the office of the President after May 29, 2015, when his tenure ends.

However, two of such cases are still pending before the trial courts, one before the Federal High Court, and the other before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The one before the Federal High Court was filed earlier this year by an author, Nkemjika Nkemjika, who wants the court to determine whether, having regard to the provisions of sections 135(1)(b) and 135(2)(b) of the constitution, Jonathan was qualified to contest this year’s presidential election.

The other before the FCT High Court was filed by Prof.

Tunde Samuel, Junaidu Mohammed, Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu , who want the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of the constitution, it was unconstitutional and not permissible for any person to occupy the office of the president for more than a cumulative and aggregate period of eight years when the country was not at war.

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

NEWS 2,315 matriculate in UNIOSUN From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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WO thousand three hundred and fifteen fresh students took the matriculation oath yesterday at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN).

Addressing the freshers at the eighth matriculation held simultaneously across all the campuses in Osogbo, Okuku, Ifetedo, Ejigbo, Ipetu-Ijesha and Ikire, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguntola Jelili Alamu, counselled them to make use of the opportunity.

“You have to make great sacrifices. There is no shortcut to success; hard work is a prerequisite. God can only bless the efforts you put in, please strive hard to maintain your studentship.

“You must adhere to the words of the matriculation oath which you have taken as well as abide by the code of conduct of dressing. Violation of any would be met with the appropriate sanction.”

Group faults post-confab summit From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation (BOCO) has described last week’s post- confab summit in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as a “failed project”.

BOCO said the summit was against the nation’s interest, noting that the convener of the meeting and the delegates were sponsored to blackmail the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flag bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyedele expressed disappointment over the presence of Chief Ayo Adebanjo at the occasion and his endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group said it was not surprising that many credible citizens, who represented the Southwest in the confab, stayed away from the summit because of their reputations and the circumstances upon which the conference was conveyed.

Osun Assembly passes 2015 budget

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HE Osun State House of Assembly yesterday passed N201billion budget into law.

The House passed the bill after the Committee of Supply amended the bill The motion for the passage was moved by the Chairman, Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Kamil Oyedele.

The budget estimate of N197,082,191,560, christened, “Budget of Renewed Hope” was presented to the House on December 23.

The Assembly adjusted it

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

upward to N201,740,360,700 to cater for the omission of the salaries of middle school teachers to the tune of N4,428,591,350, which was omitted when the estimate was being drafted.

The recurrent expenditure is N90,614,061,690; capital expenditure stands at N111,126,299,010.

The budget will be forwarded to the governor.

LAUTECH (TH) workers begin strike

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ORKERS of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH (TH), Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday began an indefinite strike.

By 8am, the aggrieved workers, including medical and administrative staff, gathered in front of the administrative block.

The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Negotiation Council, LAUTECH (TH) branch, said the strike was necessary to press home their demands.

They lamented that their previous attempts to make the management of the hospital and the government yield to workers’ demands failed.

Activities within the hospital were grounded and some fresh patients were turned back.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

The workers’ spokesperson, Afolabi Abiodun, said they were going through hard times.

Afolabi, who lamented the lack of pension scheme for workers, said the industrial action would go on as long as their demands remain unmet.

He appealed to the public to bear with them.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Femi Fadiora, enjoined the workers to understand the position of the government and be patient.

Fadiora said he was sure workers’ interest was paramount to Governor Rauf Aregbesola but noted that the dwindling and late payment of federal allocation to states is a major factor for the financial crisis.

Hundreds join Ondo APC From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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UNDREDS of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Oba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They were led by former Councillor of Ward 16, Sodiq Mukaila and a PDP leader, Pa. Grabriel Ale. They said they left the PDP because the party has been hijacked by “gangsters”.

The APC leader in the community, Adeyemi Bolarinwa, hailed them for joining the progressives to bring a change to governance.

He said if the APC is elected, the new government would bridge the gap between poor and the rich.

“The nation needs someone who has integrity, who will be sincere with the masses. Someone with great profile and the only person for now in Nigeria is Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.”

• Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right); Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animasahun (third right); Commissioner for Science and Technology Adebiyi Mabadeje (middle); Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti (second left) and the staff of the Information Technology Department at the handing over of an ICT centre to the Area F Police Command by the government …yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Nigeria to access $10m UN climate change fund T

HE Federal Government said yesterday that Nigeria is close to accessing the $10 million United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adaptation fund.

The Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change, Ricky Tarfa, said this in Abuja at a meeting between the Ministry of Environment and key development partners, led by the World Bank and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

Tarfa said the government had fulfilled one of the basic requirements to benefit from the fund.

He said having fulfilled the National Implementation Entity (NIE) requirement,

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Nigeria’s application was now before the accreditation panel of the UNFCCC for processing.

“In accessing the adaptation fund, there are procedures.

One of the procedures is to put in place a national implementing entity and we have nominated the Bank of Industry (BOI).

“And getting an NIE is not an easy task because of the fiduciary standards and other requirements around it. They want an institution that has the capacity to manage international funds. We did a scoping exercise that was supported by DFID for us to arrive at BOI.

For now the application is before the accreditation panel.”

Tarfa explained that the amount that could be drawn by any benefiting nation had been pegged at $10million per project.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, said Nigeria had sought financial and technical support from the development partners on key areas of the environment.

She listed some of the identified areas to include; development of the National Policy Framework on Pollution m a n a g e m e n t , operationalisation of the National Greenhouse Gas Inven-

tory System (NGIS) and establishment of Drought Early Warning System for eight frontline states.

She said the present administration was desirous to create a sustainable environment, calling on all stakeholders to join hands with the government in its quest to bequeath a healthier environment to the nation.

Amos Abu, who represented the World Bank Country Director, Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, promised to assist Nigeria in its prioritised areas.

He said the World Bank had been assisting Nigeria on a number of projects in the areas of climate change and other environmental challenges and would not relent.

Present yourselves for check-up, Oyo SOCIO-CULTURAL candidates told organisation, Oyo

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Patriotic Front, has called on the three leading candidates for the April 11 governorship election in the state to present themselves for medical check up to determine their fitness for the rigours of the office they are aspiring to.

The group challenged Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party to submit themselves to a consortium of medical experts before the election.

A statement by its Chairman, Chief Jare Adepoju, said the consortium should be made up of consultant cardiologists, psychiatrists, neurologists and ophthalmologists, among others, from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The group said this had become necessary because of the daunting challenges of the office of the governor.

It said it had it on good authority that Ajimobi was a workaholic, who stays up till late without showing any visible sign of stress, but insisted that this was not an indication of a clean bill of health.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

It, therefore, said that the governor should also undergo medical examination to determine his state of health having functioned in the office of the governor with its attendant tasking responsibilities for almost four years.

The statement reads: “We heard from a source close to Ladoja that the Accord candidate was diagnosed with a terminal ailment a couple of years back and recently went on a trip to the United Kingdom in pursuit of this health challenge. This might make it difficult for him to perform optimally in office.

“The state cannot afford to have a governor who would junket abroad weekly for the management of his health challenge, at the expense of his duties.

“For Alao-Akala, at the risk of concluding that he is medically unfit, the former governor’s physical appearance at campaign grounds suggests that he is battling with serious ailments as exemplified by his ever swollen legs.

“We observed that the LP candidate appeares to have difficulty breathing throughout a live governorship debate organised by a private radio station in Ibadan recently.

“Information available to us also indicates that Alao-

•Alao-Akala

Akala oftentimes sits inside his vehicle to campaign, owing to his inability to withstand the rigours of standing for hours.

“This is a patriotic call by concerned citizens of Oyo State and should not be misconstrued as an attempt to rubbish any of the candidates or diminish their status.

Ogun PVCs collection rate now 59 per cent

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OLLECTION of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ogun State, which was 40.86 per cent - the least as at February 17 –, has improved.

The collection rate is now 59.1 per cent, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which, however, lamented the poor turnout of people at the collection centres.

INEC’s Administrative Secretary Dickson Atiba said 560,285 PVCs remained to be collected in the state.

Speaking when the Commissioner of Police, Valentine Ntomchukwu, visited the

commission, Atiba said: “The total number of registered voters in Ogun State is 1,795,794 and total number of PVCs we have received so far from Abuja is 1,368,875.

And of this, 808,590 have been distributed as of yesterday, which represents 59.1 per cent.”

“By next week, we believe the number of those who had collected their PVCs will improve, since we are distributing at the polling unit level.”

Atiba said he foresaw an extension of the collection date beyond the March 8 deadline should the collection rate remain poor.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

9

NEWS

Fani-Kayode opens defence in money laundering charge •Aides ‘harass’ Channels TV reporter

T

HE Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, opened his defence yesterday in the money laundering case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos had discharged and acquitted him of 38 of 40 counts of the charge.

Fani-Kayode is defending two of the remaining counts.

But the EFCC said it is hopeful of securing a conviction, even if there was only one count left.

The commission’s lawyer.

Mr. Festus Keyamo, while speaking with reporters after yesterday’s proceedings, warned against trivialising the fact that only two counts remained.

He said: “The defence opened with their first witness today (yesterday). I should cross examine tomorrow (today). I’m getting ready. We have closed our case. So, that means we have made our case to the best of our abilities. The court actually held that there was a case in respect of those two counts.

I didn’t say so; the court did.

“So, that means there is some kind of prima facie evidence and we’re prepared to go on with that. And I’m sure you know that in the world of criminal law, one count is enough to convict. So, no-

By Joseph Jibueze

body should downplay the fact that only two counts are remaining. One count is enough in criminal jurisprudence.”

The first defence witness, Mr. Kola Olapoju, a property manager, tendered some documents on transactions involving some property belonging to Fani-Kayode. He said he made payments into the defendant’s account based on proceeds from the property.

Before the witness began his testimonies, the defence counsel, led by Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) prayed the court to order the release of FaniKayode’s international passport to enable him travel abroad as it was seized by the EFCC as part of his bail conditions.

Ruling on the application about 1pm, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia directed the EFCC to transfer Fani-Kayode’s international passport to the court’s deputy chief registrar within seven days.

Should the defendant wish to travel, he would apply to the court in writing, stating where he wished to travel to, for what business, and must copy the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), the judge held.

Fani-Kayode, dressed in a grey suit, light pink striped shirt, and lilac tie, was allowed to sit in the dock. He was brought to the court before 9am in a black Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with number JJJ-956-BQ.

Senate screens Obanikoro, seven others today From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

F

ORMER Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and seven other ministerial nominees will today appear before the Senate for screening and possible confirmation of their appointments.

Obanikoro, who is a nominee from Lagos State, had resigned his appointment to contest the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded his name to the Senate to be screened and confirmed for reappointment alongside seven other ministerial nominees last week.

Also to be screened are Senator Patricia Akawashiki (Nasarawa), Prof. Nicholas Akis Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (rtd) (Abia), Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).

Findings indicated that the opposition senators are spoiling to oppose the nomination of Obanikoro due to unwholesome role he allegedly played during the Ekiti State governorship election last year.

Obanikoro was said to have used his position to unduly influence the military to manipulate the conduct of the election in favour of the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

Some opposition senators are insisting that instead of nominating Obanikoro as a minister, he should face charges.

Rep to Jonathan: call Fayose, Mbu to order

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MEMBER of House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Abiodun Awoleye, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Police Command Mr. Joseph Mbu to order.

Mbu had directed his men to kill 20 civilians if one of his men accidentally died during the rescheduled general elections.

Fayose has been insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari,

From Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

is not healthy to rule.

The lawmaker said it was unfortunate that such statements could be credited to the influential people in the society.

Awoleye, who spoke in his Ibadan country home yesterday, berated the duo for the statements credited to them, saying “they have proved their worth”.

According to him, Fayose has turned office of governor to the office of disrepute with his unguided utterances.

“It is very unfortunate that a Yoruba state has a man like

•Fani-Kayode (left) at the court...yesterday.

He was accompanied by over four plainclothes security men and about five fully armed riot policemen, who rode in a white Toyota Hillux van.

As the trial was going on, Fani-Kayode sometimes smiled, frowned, relaxed his back on the chair, and gesticulated to his legal team.

The judge had adjourned ruling on the issue of his travel documents till noon. FaniKayode left after the morning’s

proceedings and returned an hour later.

As he sat in the car waiting for the case to be called, he wound down the glass, signalled to the Channels TV reporter, Mrs. Victoria Idowu. to approach his car.

Other reporters looked on eagerly wondering what he could be telling her.

Soon after, she left the car.

Another aide of Fani-Kayode took Mrs. Idowu to a corner

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

and spoke to her.

She later told her colleagues that Fani-Kayode was not comfortable with her line of questioning during an interview with him outside the court.

The Channels Television reporter alleged that she was later harassed by the former minister’s aides.

The reporter had asked FaniKayode how confident he was about being cleared of the

charges, based on Keyamo’s statement that the former minister could still be convicted, even on one count.

According to the reporter, she was accused of being rude to Fani-Kayode, who allegedly threatened to report her to Channels Chief Executive Officer Mr. John Momoh.

She said Fani-Kayode told an aide to “take her away from here” as she made to leave his car. Another aide then asked her “why she asked such stupid questions” as she walked away.

The aide, who took Mrs. Idowu to a corner told her that he had just called Momoh, who was about to board an aircraft. He showed her Momoh’s mobile number on his phone, and said they had “expected her to have done damage control.”

Mrs. Idowu, who appeared very agitated, said she was only doing her job and never intended to be rude to anyone.

EFCC opened its case on March 10 last year and closed it on July 10 after calling six witnesses.

But, Fani-Kayode made a no-case submission, praying the court to discharge and acquit him.

Justice Ofili-AJumogobia on November 17, last year, held that EFCC did not prove 38 of the 40 counts sufficiently. She partially upheld FaniKayode’s no-case submission and directed him to open defence in two counts (25 and 26).

The trial continues today with the cross-examination of Fani-Kayode’s witness.

APC to NIMASA: account for $800m cabotage funds

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has asked the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) management and the Federal Government to explain the whereabouts of $800 million and N50 billion Cabotage Vessel Finance Funds.

In a statement, the campaign organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the money, which was in the control of the agency until recently, has not been unaccounted for.

Shehu noted that the fund, which was set up under the Cabotage Act of 2003, was meant to develop the capacity of indigenous ship owners in coastal inland trade, which was largely dominated by for-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

eign firms.

He said despite the fund, about 90 per cent of 78 registered ship owners are on the brink of extinction as they are submerged in debts without the necessary CVFF to access.

He explained that the “fund was money derived as 2 per cent surcharge for all contracts under the Cabotage regime, which came into force in 2004 by virtue of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage) 2003.

“The Cabotage Act, which was closely modelled after the United States of America’s Jones Act 1938, was to help develop the capacity and participation of indigenous ship owners in coastal inland trade which was largely dominated by foreigners. But to date, that

objective is yet to be achieved as seen in the depleted Indigenous Ship Owners Registry, the mass unemployed Nigerian seafarers, and the prevalence of foreign interest in the Nigerian coastal waters.

“Instead, the Cabotage regime breeds corruption, ranging from request of inducement and gratification from foreign ship owners through their agents for waivers processing by NIMASA and approval of the Federal Ministry of Transport by some top staff of the agency to the disappearance of the CVFF Fund meant to be accessed by the Nigerian ship owners.

“The website of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) shows that 90 per cent of its 78 registered ship owners are on the brink of extinction as they are submerged in

debts without the necessary CVFF to access”.

Shehu said Nigerians deserve to know what happened to the money accumulated under the CVFF Fund amounting to some $800 million and NGN50 billion respectively, adding that the agency should make public the list containing names of beneficiaries and amounts from the “Fund” if any.

He said time was of the essence in publishing the list following fears that the money might have been diverted for other purposes like campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and the submission of a request from the Director General of the agency to proceed on a six months leave of absence from the agency.

NTDC workers’ strike enters second week

T

HE strike by workers of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the country’s apex tourism body, has entered the second week.

The workers have vowed to continue with the industrial action until the agency’s director general, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, is removed from office.

Last week, official activities at the parastatal’s Abuja and zonal offices were stopped.

The workers, through their union, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPC-

•Union insists Mbanefo must go TRE), have made several allegations against Mrs. Mbanefo.

They accused her of starving the agency of fund under the guise that the Federal Government was no longer funding the parastatal.

The workers accused her of “going behind to collect huge allocation from the Federal Government”.

The NTDC Chapel Chairman of AUPTCRE, Sam Unwuchola Okpomo, said as at July 2014, the Federal Government released N52,014,821 as capital budget and N342, 654,807

for training and other logistics to the agency.

However, when The Nation called Mrs. Mbanefo, she denied any wrongdoing, insisting that there was no problem at the NTDC. She said: “There is no problem at NTDC; everything is going on fine.” When told that NTDC chairman of AUPTCRE had spoken to The Nation to confirm the problem in the agency, she said efforts were on to resolve it.

She claimed that she will be meeting with the union

•Mrs. Mbanefo

officials tomorrow.

However, the NTDC chapel chairman said this was not true, asking why she was not coming to the office, if all was well.

10

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

SHOWBIZ Finally, Tonto Dikeh reveals beau

Poland celebrates first Oscar award

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By Ovwe Medeme

N

OLLYWOOD actress, Tonto Dikeh has finally revealed the identity of her lover, after months of keeping it se-

cret.

Since last year, the controversial actress has been keeping the identity of her man under wraps, by referring to him as Mr X. However, earlier on Monday, she finally unveiled him when she posted his photograph on her Instagram page. In the past, she merely showed his faceless body.

She captioned the photo; “Happy new week Beautiful People. MEET MR X AND The CEO Bigchurch Entertainment, CEO Micro Micro Partners #GOD BLESS YOU MORE #MCM #MCM #MCM#.”

Though his real name is still a mystery, information has it that he goes by the name Churchill. And he is known to shower the actress with expensive gifts and lots of love.

In a similar post, Tonto’s best friend and stylist, Swanky Jerry reposted the photo of Mr X saying, “Thank you very much. Now, your fans can stop accusing me of being Mr X.” Only recently, the actress was said to be involved with the CEO of Malivelihood,

Micheal Awolaja.

During their time together, Awolaja showered Tonto with expensive gift such as customised diamond iPhones, Rolex watches and more.

OLAND, on Monday, went into celebratory mood, as its entry for the 2015 Academy Awards, Ida, by Pawel Pawlikowski, won the country’s first-ever Oscar in the best foreign-language film category.

The country is known for producing the world’s bestknown filmmakers. Among Oscar winners from Poland or with Polish connections are Roman Polanski, who was born in France but also holds Polish citizenship (for The Pianist); cinematographer Januzs Kaminski (Schindler’s List); and veteran director Andrzej Wajda, who received an honorary Oscar. The nation of 40 million people had never won the foreign-language category despite nine previous nominations over the past half century, including Agnieszka Holland’s In Darkness in 2011 and Polanski’s Knife in the Wa-

By Mobisola oladapo

ter in 1963.

Pawlikowski, who after postgraduate studies at Oxford University began his career making documentaries for the BBC, first found international fame with Englishlanguage films, including The Last Resort (2000) and My Summer of Love (2004), which starred Emily Blunt.

In comments made in a

Benson Idonije, others to speak on 90 years of Nigerian music

L

EGENDARY music broadcaster, Benson Idonije, is set to speak on 90 years of Nigerian popular music as part of events to celebrate this year’s social media week.

The event holds today, at the Goethe Institut, Lagos.

Idonije, who has over 50 years of experience in the Nigerian music industry, will be speaking on ‘Nigerian popular music: The glory years 1925 - 1960.’

Idonije, one of the first

By Joe Agbro Jr

managers of the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, started his career with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, where he was producer and later Head of Training before his retirement. After his retirement, he has for over the last 20 years gained further acclaim as a music journalist, maintaining a regular column with The Guardian. He is also

grandfather to popular dancehall sensation, Burna Boy. The event which is being organised by Music In Africa, aims to celebrate Nigeria’s popular music heritage over the last 90 years - from its rudimentary origins to the modern digital age.

According to the organisers of the event, 2015 marks the 90th anniversary of the first Nigerian popular music recordings, first

done in 1925, by Ladipo Solanke and Justus Domingo, under the Zonophone label.

Aside Idonije, other confirmed speakers include Mark Redguard, CEO of 960 Music Group, formerly CMO of digital music platform, Spinlet who would be speaking on ‘Nigerian Digital Music Revolution’ , blogger and music historian, Uchenna Ikonne, and special guest speaker, Obi Asika, former chairman of

Storm 360 and Dragon Africa.

The discussions will be moderated by the West African Regional Editor of Music in Africa- Ed Emeka Keazor.

The evening shall also feature a special tribute to eight Nigerian music legends, who have contributed significantly to music growth, over the last 90 years, and whose works laid the foundations of its future.

video interview posted by PISF, Pawlikowski said: “I had wanted to make a film about Poland for a long time. It was a personal return to Poland but also a return to a certain landscape and time that somehow remain close to my heart, my childhood memories,” adding that “one of the reasons I made this film was to re-create the spirit of an era I still remember, through music, photographs etc.”

11

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The governorship battle in Rivers State has assumed a violent dimension. Party supporters have been dispersed, maimed and killed by bombs at rallies. What is responsible for the mayhem? All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said that the violence underscored the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) desperation for power in the oil-rich state. PDP leaders have denied the allegation, saying that it is a fabrication. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, who visited the victims in hospitals, has vowed to bring the culprits to book. Stakeholders are worried that the March 28 election may be marred by violence. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

I

T was a day the people of Okrika, Rivers State, will not forget in a hurry. Suspected thugs invaded the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally, flogging, beating, and wounding supporters. The crowd dispersed abruptly. There was stampede. Many vehicles were damaged. Campaign materials, including banners, posters and billboards, were destroyed. The podium was pulled down. Scores of supporters did not live to relieve the experience. The survivors are still in pain in hospitals trying to overcome the shock.

“It was a peaceful gathering, but suddenly, the thugs came in large numbers with big sticks, broken bottles, cutlasses and guns. We started running. They started beating people,” said Ahiamadi Austin, a victim.

“We can blame the police for the mayhem. We can blame the police for denying APC members protection.

Police is partisan in Rivers,” he added.

Another victim, Sorbari Npebee, who was hit by bullets, narrated his ordeal. He said the attack was unprovoked, stressing that it smacked of intolerance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “PDP and APC are holding rallies in this state. But, only APC rallies are disrupted and only APC members are attacked,” he said, adding that the peace accord signed by leaders of the two main parties have not worked.

A chieftain of APC and former local government chairman lamented what he described as politics with bitterness in the Southsouth state. He said: “It is not by force. All of us cannot be in the same party. You say your own and I say my own. The people will decide who to vote for. This approach will not work. Violence is not the solution.”

Beatice Deemug, one of the victims, is not even a party sympathiser. She was hit by bullet on the road. Narrating her experience, she said: “There are many casualties beyond the imagination of people. I was not at the rally. I was just going on the road when I was shot. I landed in the hospital.”

Kennedy Friday is a Supervisory Councillor in Port-Harcourt Council.

He was one of the mobilisers for the rally. Decrying the mayhem, he said the scars will not fade away for long.

“People were ambushed by thugs.

The bus rammed into the bush and crashed. Many people were injured.

The rally itself was disrupted. Can’t we hold rally again? It is unfortunate,” he fumed.

What bothered Basu Nkpobee, another victim, was the aloofness of the police. He lamented that thugs were not in a hurry to carry out their nefarious assignment with the speed of lightening. Nkpobee said the arsonists behaved as if they owned the state. “Cars were being burnt at will and human beings were beaten to coma. There was commotion. People take to their heels. The crowd was huge. So, you could imagine what would have happened under that situation. They succeeded in truncating the rally. But, our spirit cannot be cowed,” he said.

Information Commissioner Mrs. Ibim Seminetari, who decried the violence, also described it as an unprovoked attack. She said the barbaric attitude was embarrassing, adding that it may give the state a bad name.

“Thugs were chasing people, hacking them down, flogging them, pull-

Averting violence in Rivers elections

•Peterside at a rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital

•Wike addressing a rally in Port Harcourt

‘Our plight is akin to that of a people in a militarily conquered and occupied territory. PDP thugs and hirelings practically commit murders under the watchful and protective eyes of the police. The objective being to antagonise and intimidate our supporters into believing that it is unsafe for them to come out and vote, thus effectively disenfranchising them’ ing down campaign podiums, harassing APC leaders in their homes.

These are condemnable,” she said.

The APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, is worried by the turn of events. He said electoral violence has now become the greatest challenge in Rivers State, adding that anarchy was looming. “Thirty seven people have been killed across the state,” he lamented. The House of Representatives member added: “The situation is the greatest test to the sanctity of the electoral process.

The security situation is degenerating

on daily basis.”

Since the PDP was seized by crisis, the state has not known peace. The crisis reached a peak when prominent PDP chieftains, led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). When five out of 32 members of the House of Assembly attempted to remove the Speaker, other 27 members who protested the move were dispersed by the police. The former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, was alleged to have worsen the situation when he took side with PDP

leaders.

APC Chairman Chief Daveis Ikanya has alleged that the PDP governorship candidate and former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, was behind thuggery in the state. The PDP has denied this, saying that the onus of proof is on him.

Ikanya, who has catalogued attacks on APC members, said the mayhem started when buses conveying supporters to the APC presidential campaigns in Port Harcourt, the state capital, were riddled with bullets. He

said the police attributed the incident to armed robbery. However, masked gun men also attacked APC members in Degema and Sakpenwa, leaving victims in a pool of blood. Also, in Oro-Owo, Rumueme, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, a party chief, Orerehim, an engineer, and other party members were beaten by thugs. The engineer was seriously injured. Ikanya said, lthough the incident was reported at Rukpakani Police Station, the police refused to investigate it.

The party chairman also recalled that on January 11, some monarchs were instigated by the PDP to remove APC posters and billboards in Rumuolumuni. When an APC chieftain, Hon. Kingsley Emenike, protested the action, he was beaten up by thugs. The same scenario was enacted in Ogu/Bolo Council. But, in Tumuwike, the thugs invaded the residence of Cyprian Chukwu, a lawyer and a member of APC, destroying valuable properties. in Ward 9 destroying valuable properties.

However, Ikanya said that the Okrika incident was most shocking.

He said thugs invaded the rally with guns and explosive devices, destroying the public address system, canopies, podium and chairs.

Decrying the role of the police, the politician said: “Most of these heinous crimes have been aided and abetted by the police. In some cases, they simply looked the other way while the crimes were committed. In some others, they arrested the complainants and APC supporters on phantom charges just to neutralize the influence of the APC in the area.” Ikanya said, instead of taking decisive actions, the police has been harassing, intimidating, arresting and detaining APC members.

He also listed , what he described as cases of brutality by the police. The party chairman said: “In Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a former Commissioner and Chairman of Omuma Local Government Caretaker Committee, was arrested and accused of shooting at Mr. President’s billboard. On that day, 25th August, 2014, he was at Joint Allocation Committee meeting in Port Harcourt. He was nowhere near Omuma Local Government Area. He arrested on the 27th August, 2014 by over 60 armed policemen in a commando style, handcuffed in the presence of his children, and detained for two days.

“In Soku Community, five APC supporters were arrested on November 28, last year, on spurious allegations of sea piracy held up in SARS. Only one was released while others are still facing incarceration. In Ahoada East Local Government Area, Mr. Grant Otis Ideozu, the APC party agent for Prison Barracks Unit 6, ward 4, Ahoada East Council, was arrested on December 5, last on the allegation that he had an altercation with someone at the unit during the collection of the PVCs. He was beaten up and locked up for days, transferred to Port Harcourt for further detention and released on the 13th December, 2014 without a single complaint by anybody.

“In Emuoha Local Government Area, Hon. Gowon Emma Wokea, a former Councilor and an APC stal•Continued on page 12

12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

is a not all about money. In the local ‘ Politics government elections that took place here in Edo, there were candidates that spent more money, but those who spent less won

‘

...

93 D AYS TO GO ...93 DA

‘I ‘ll fight infrastructure battle in Kebbi’

‘APC ‘ll win in 30 states’ Omorede Osifo is an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Edo State and a member of its Presidential Campaign Committee. She told DELE ANOFI in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that APC will win 30 of the 36 states during the presidential election.

Y

OU have been working with the APC at the National level.

What are the chances of the party in the general elections?

I see the APC sweeping more states than we currently have. As of now, we have 16 states. After this coming election, I see us sweeping almost 30 states and winning the presidential election. From my interaction with people, everybody is yearning for a change and they see our presidential candidate as the change that Nigeria needs. We need somebody that will be able to stop all the things that are happening, including corruption and insecurity. Nigeria is at a point where we need to make it work. Nigeria is not working. I believe Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is coming to make things straight.

But, Buhari could not raise the half the amount raised by President Jonathan...

Politics is a not all about money. In the local government elections that took place here in Edo, there were candidates that spent more money, but those who spent less won. Sometimes, people look beyond money.

They will take the money and vote for who they want; they will vote for what will make the society work. We have gone beyond money politics.

The Presidency is not for sale. Buhari wants to come and serve. He has not stolen money before. He is an honest man. People are contributing to the APC campaign before they have notice that this is the change. Anybody can spend millions because he is in charge of the federation, but that does not mean he will win. We are not worried about the PDP’s money. We will win with our strength.

Many thought you would defect to another party, when you left office. What informed your decision to remain in the APC?

I am not somebody that jump from one party to another. I was approached, but I refused to move. I believe I am in a party that I believe in its ideology. I will not let my personal issues with anybody change my mind about the party I believe in, I have confidence in. Sometimes, you don’t take decision when you are angry to avoid taking a wrong decision.

I have always learnt to be calm when things happen. I look at the issues. I don’t see why I should leave the APC to go back to the PDP we all started years ago. The APC is a party that believes in the good of the people. The APC is interested in Nigeria and making things work in the country. I saw in the APC what would move my state forward. I am not interested in leaving the party for another party.

This is a party I am well known both at the state level and the national level.

I don’t see why I should I leave a house I have built. This house is better than other parties.

Don’t you think the television adverts by the PDP in Edo will sway victory in the direction of the party?

Edo people will vote for the APC. In politics, people will make up stories. Expect anything in politics. The PDP wants to make sure they win.

They are campaigning aggressively, but that will not make the people change their mind. The people know what they want. They know that the PDP has been there for a long time, they know what the APC-controlled states have achieved. Nobody thought Edo State would be like this.

Go to Lagos and Kano and see changes. The APC has been able to change a lot of things in the states they controlled. We have had over 80 per cent success in what we have done in different states. I don’t think people would be carried away by advert, but let the people decide who they want.

T

•Osifo

Why do you think Buhari will win?

I know that Buhari has all the credentials to make a good President. I believe that when you have a sellable candidate, he has already won an election for you. It is the calibre of candidates that wins elections. Buhari has a good track record. He has been there before. He has done well. We need sanity in Nigeria. I know Buhari will make things work. Things are not alright now in this country. Anybody apart from Jonathan is what everybody wants. An average Nigerian wants change. Our people are impatient. Buhari will not encourage stealing. He will create the right path for Nigeria. Whoever comes after him will know Buhari has set the standard. We need a firm and discipline person that will move Nigeria to the next level. Four years of Buhari will take Nigeria to the next level.

Do you see more women participating in politics?

The men still need to encourage women in politics. The APC gave women free ticket to contest. Having gotten the free ticket, the women have to work hard. Politics has been a man’s world for so long. Women have to work harder. Elections are different from appointments. Any woman going for an election should work harder. They should campaign harder and sell their credentials.

HE Kebbi State People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, has promised to provide social amenities for the people of Yauri Emirate.

He spoke during the rallies in Shanga Yauri, Ingaski and Wara.

He said the people have demonstrated love by coming out to support him throughout the campaign.

The governorship candidate assured the people that his administration would continue from where the governor will stop, adding that he will implement de-

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

velopmental projects across the state.

Yaki emphasised that construction of roads and provision of water would be accorded priority because they are the problems facing the area.

“I would not disappoint anybody; I assured you people that more dividends of democracy would surely be provided” he added.

He called on the electorate to ensure the collection of their PVC and come out on the election day and vote Massively for PDP.

Averting violence in Rivers elections •Continued from page 11

wart in Ibaa, Emuoha Local Governmen,t was arrested on the 10th December, 2014 at Rukpokwu.

They alleged that APC bought guns for Mr. Wokea and other APC supporters.

“In Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Stanley Don Pedron, Ngoye Briggs and Sunny Ereme were arrested on “suspicions of having capacity to cause problems.” All arrests were to pave the way for the PDP to have an edge over the APC during collection of PVCs in the area.

In Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Justice Nwogu was arrested at Rukpokwu over framed up charges of illegal possession of firearms and attempted murder because he had a squabble with PDP members. In Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Pius Wosu, APC Ward 16 Chairman in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area was arrested and detained on on a trumped-up charge of malicious damage of the PDP billboard for two weeks.

“On January 15, in Ward 5, Oyigbo Local Government Area, where PDP supporters removed posters of APC candidates, APC members led by the Ward Chairman, Monday

Omezuruike, protested. The Chairman was arrested and detained in Afam police division.”

Ikanya added: “As the general elections draw near, the magnitude and intensity of the orchestrated violence against members of the APC are assuming a frightful dimension.

Our plight is akin to that of a people in a militarily conquered and occupied territory. PDP thugs and hirelings practically commit murders under the watchful and protective eyes of the police. The objective being to antagonise and intimidate our supporters into believing that it is unsafe for them to come out and vote, thus effectively disenfranchising them.”

The Assistant-Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, who visited some of the victims in hospitals, promised to investigate the mayhem and bring culprits to book.

Peterside, who condemned the attacks, said that the people are ready to resist intimidation. “They are attacking the APC because they know that we are wining. But, the people will refuse to be cowed. Votes will count in Rivers State. We will vote and defend our voted. It is not optional. We are wining. I don’t waste my time on anything that is not viable. APC will win the poll.”

Group secures commitment from Lagos governorship candidates

A

N advocacy group, the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), has secured a commitment from contestants that whosoever emerges as the governor will implement the proposals contained in a document, titled: “Our Lagos: People’s Charter/Social Contract for Post 2015".

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lagos, during the formal presentation of the charter to candidates, the Secretary, Steering Committee of LACSOP, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye, said the document contains development issues submitted on behalf of member organisations, who represent a broad spectrum of pro-change, non-state actors, citizens network, coalitions, community-based organisations and professional associations in Lagos State.

Adebusoye said the charter is derived from the first-hand experiences of members of the groups, from all walks of life. For instance, under transparency, the charter/ social contract states that the Lagos State Government needs to conform to global best practices in transparency and accountability in

By Raymond Mordi

governance.

In this area, there are three recommendations. One, procurement law: “There is the need to enforce due diligence in the procurement system in Lagos State Government.” The second recommendation revolves round the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. It says that the Lagos State Government, as the Centre of Excellence and an evolving mega city that prides itself as an open government and a progressive state should domesticate the FOI Act. In the third recommendation, which focuses on the separation of political party from government entity, it enjoins Lagos State to to immediately embrace international best practices where all tax-paying Lagosians would benefit from public goods and services.

The candidates who signed the document and made a formal declaration before the audience are: Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, the governorship flag bearer of the Alliance for Democracy (AD); Comrade Ayodele Akele and Oloye Victor Adeniji, his National Conscience Party and Kowa

• From left: Moderator, Mr. Henry Balogun; Ms Ransome-Kuti; Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, N.C.P. governorship candidate Comrade Ayodele Akele and KOWA governorship candidate Oloye Victor Adeniyi at the Town Hall Meeting .

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Party counterparts respectively.

However, the standard bearers of the two major parties, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Jimi Agbaje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively, were not present at the town hall meeting.

One of the moderators, Ms.

Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, noted that the two candidates were to be at the event, but had excused themselves at the last moment. She said the organisers would present the document to them for ratifications at separate meetings in their offices.

LACSOP is a forum of civil society networks established since the

beginning of the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration in 2007, to serve as the mouth piece cum watchdog of the citizenry in advocating for effective implementation of critical development issues and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

15

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

When politicians go gaga

Visa restriction •International community should treat partisan military brass with extreme disdain

I

T is odd that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, presumably a democratic government, could run the country ignominiously like a military dictatorship. Until the infamous announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, postponing the February elections, many would wager that President Jonathan’s administration is incapable of obtrusively influencing the electoral body.

But that disingenuous interference, disguised as security challenges, has opened the eyes of Nigerians and the international community to the capacity of the presidency and their collaborators to cause harm to our democracy, unless they are checkmated.

We consider it reassuring that the United States and her democratic allies are considering sanctions for any further infractions against an orderly election. Observably, while the final push for the postponement of the elections came from the security agencies, nobody is deceived that President Jonathan’s party precipitated the move. So, the fact that the announcement came from the INEC chief should not mitigate the culpability of the security chiefs and the presidency, for that unwarranted interference in the electoral process. We are happy that the international community understood that the National Security Adviser and the service chiefs merely used the security bogey, to act out the unpatriotic script of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to media reports, there are already plans for targeted sanctions on certain government and security officials

should the presidential election now rescheduled for March 28, be postponed again. One of such sanctions, according to the report, will be visa restrictions, which the US Secretary of State had hinted on last month, when he made a shuttle visit to Lagos. We welcome the interest of other democracies, towards ensuring that the Federal Government is coerced, if need be, to organise a free, fair and transparent 2015 general elections. It is also appreciated that where there are infractions, those responsible for such intransigencies are singled out and punished, by the international community.

To achieve the expectations of democratic Nigerians and the country’s international friends, we urge the international community, particularly the western democracies, to make it abundantly clear to the Federal Government that nothing short of transparent general elections would be acceptable.

Indeed, should the federal authorities truncate or again undermine the elections, then, officials of state, from the presidency down, should be severely sanctioned. Of course the international community should have more effective ways to sanction anti-democratic offences, than the mere denial of visas.

It is also pertinent to remind President Jonathan’s administration that Nigeria had worked this precarious path before, where government wantonly interfered with the election process, with devastating consequences for the country. But that was under a military aberration, the infamous Ibrahim Babangida regime, as against a democratic government. We recall the rigmaroles of the military Presi-

dent’s administration, to frustrate a transition to civilian government, which eventually culminated in the criminal annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. Regrettably, just as in the present circumstance, the sitting military president was determined to ensure he became the chief beneficiary of that manoeuvre; but like all such misadventures, the entire thing ended in a fiasco.

We hope that the present schemers of similar institutional double dealing will remember that monumental national tragedy, and the pains inflicted on ordinary Nigerians. If they were not around then, they should ask those who fought with all they had, to return Nigeria to a democratic part. Considering that many of them played no part in the struggle, they must be reminded that Nigerians are not ready for any form of autocratic government, by whatever name it may be called. So, those who seek to undermine our hard-earned democracy, must be ready for the consequences.

‘We welcome the interest of other democracies, towards ensuring that the Federal Government is coerced, if need be, to organise a free, fair and transparent 2015 general elections. It is also appreciated that where there are infractions, those responsible for such intransigencies are singled out and punished, by the international community’

Shipshape security • Nigeria’s armed forces must be fully equipped to carry out their duties

T

HE commissioning of four Nigerian Navy vessels by President Goodluck Jonathan last week represents a welcome improvement in the new willingness of the Federal Government to transcend rhetoric in the ongoing battle against terrorism, piracy and other security challenges bedevilling the nation.

The Navy’s acquisitions comprise NNS Okpabana, a high-endurance cutter from the United States; NNS Prosperity, a fishery patrol boat formerly owned by the Irish Navy; NNS Centenary, an offshore patrol vessel from China; and NNS Sagbama. They are expected to enhance the Nigerian Navy’s capacity to protect offshore oil installations, combat illegal bunkering, tackle piracy, undertake emergency search-and-rescue missions, and provide logistical support to the other branches of the armed forces.

A strong navy is the backbone of any nation’s military capability. Given its

‘It is ironic that the navy’s own acquisition of vessels comes some two months after a maritime security company owned by former warlord, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), took delivery of seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships. Even though the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has claimed that the vessels were bought on its behalf, it is still strange that a private firm would be given priority ahead of the navy’

power to project sustained force over relatively long distances, the navy is vital to any strategy aimed at properly confronting the security issues facing Nigeria.

President Jonathan himself emphasised this at the commissioning when he declared that a well-equipped navy was essential because of the nation’s dependence on offshore oil resources and the food security and employment potential inherent in the maritime sector.

In spite of its best efforts, the Nigerian Navy has not been able to fully tackle the problem of oil theft and illegal bunkering to the extent that an estimated 400,000 barrels of oil are being stolen every day. Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea now exceeds that off the coast of Somalia.

To further compound matters, the navy’s role appears to have been diminished by a recent and hideous aberration: the emergence of ex-militants as important actors in the nation’s anti-bunkering security infrastructure. It is ironic that the navy’s own acquisition of vessels comes some two months after a maritime security company owned by former warlord, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), took delivery of seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships.

Even though the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has claimed that the vessels were bought on its behalf, it is still strange that a private firm would be given priority ahead of the navy.

It also appears that Nigeria’s efforts to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east are being hampered by inadequate arms, ammunition and equip-

ment. In spite of repeated denials by the military hierarchy and the Federal Government, several incidents appear to bear this notion out: the so-called “tactical manoeuvre” of August 2014, in which 480 soldiers appeared to retreat into Cameroon in the face of superior insurgent firepower, is a prominent example.

In addition, several soldiers on trial for mutiny and other acts of indiscipline have argued that their actions were motivated by a refusal to go into combat without the standard complement of arms and equipment.

This situation is indefensible, given the trillions voted for defence in recent times, in addition to the U.S. $1 billion loan recently secured by the Federal Government. It is surprising that no attempt has ever been made to undertake a comprehensive audit of all military and defencerelated expenditure, in spite of the apparent disjunction between what is budgeted and what actually reaches combat units.

The consequences of under-funded, poorly-resourced and inadequatelyequipped armed forces cannot be underestimated. Indeed, the ramifications are already tragically apparent in the anti-insurgency campaign: from a local uprising, it has spread to encompass Borno, Yobe and Adamawa sates, with deadly attacks extending to Abuja. Nigeria’s inability to handle the crisis has pulled in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Worst of all, the shootings, bombings and terror continue unabated. If Nigeria is to triumph over the insurgents, it must ensure that its armed forces are properly equipped to carry out their statutory roles.

S

IR: Nigerian politics and politicians are peculiar; comparatively different from other westen democratic political processes. Their style remind of the award-winning play – Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again by Ola Rotimi, a comic swipe at ideological misfits and opportunists who strut over the ever-accommondating political landscape of contemporary Africa.

Those who fail to learn from history are bound to perish in the pitfall of the past generations. Our politicians have shown that they have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing by their daily activities and behaviour.

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi once alerted the nation that the way and manners the two political parties at the forefront of the political contest were going about the race for power is becoming frightening and that whichever of the two that may eventually win could cause violence in the land.

Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General and other great world leaders intervened and caused a peace accord to be signed; little did we know that it was a mere paper work that would not stop violence in our polity. From Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Ekiti, to Rivers, it has been violence all the way. The latest took place in Okirika Local Government Area in River State, where the campaign rally of APC gubernatorial candidate was terminated with rain of bullets by unknown political thugs. A policeman was reportedly killed and 50 others injured despite the guarantee the party received from the Police Commisioner.

The president has not condemned the attack at Okirika. Tension is on the rise daily, but are there no beautiful ones among the political groups that should call for time to heal the wounds, to bridge the chasms that divide the nation in order to build a better and new nation?

The daily pebbles of insultive words at political opponents cannot win an election; it will only inflame the volatile political atmosphere. It is time to call Ayo Fayose, Femi Fani-Kayode and their likes to the banquet of love and peace. Never before have we descended to gutter levels as we have these days, when the very people aspiring for leadership cannot console broken hearted youths with words of hope. Instead of providing the youths with empowerment programmes as it is being done in Osun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who within four years has gainfully employed and empowered over 60, 000 youths; a phenomenal scheme that has received World Bank and international admiration, some feel the best they could do for the jobless youths is to engage them as political thugs, armed them to maim and kill political opponents.

Any government which lay claim to legitimacy is expected to ensure there is a measure of social welfare for its citizens; guarantee their security irrespective of social status and religious beliefs.

It is just and right that people’s right to freely choose the type of leaders they want is guaranteed. That is the more reason, President Jonathan must allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) to perform its duties as electoral umpire.

The military need not be told that their duty is to protect the nation from external attacks, while the internal security of the country lies with the police as provided for in the constitution. Leaders go, leaders come but the nation must continue to exist. We must prove to the world that we have come of age to conduct our affairs without any bloodshed. We must tell the all powerful AIG Joseph Mbu that in a democratic society, a suspect is presumed innocent untill the court says otherwise. Nigerians are saying no to shoot at sight or “ kill 20 men that kill a single policeman”.

•Yomi Obaditan, Osogbo, Osun State.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Bullies are cowards, it is said. They are also empty.

This is why, when overwhelmed in an encounter, they leave the issue and easily resort to throwing mud at their opponents.

This is sadly, the current situation in Abia. With political parties getting through with their governorship primaries, such has been the grave unease in Abia Government House and state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For a party in government and power, there should not have been need for it to be bothered, ordinarily. But that, incidentally, is its nemesis. With a performance record that is still out for the jury, the party further shot itself in the foot by a highly flawed primary that foisted a less-fancied Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on the members as candidate.

In going about the bizarre choice, the handlers of the PDP in the state, had carried on with the culture of impunity that had characterized its activities in the past. Of course, then, the political space was so much circumscribed that any person that picked the party’s ticket, regardless of how intellectually and temperamentally inadequate, readily embarked on victory lap, even before the polls. There was really no opposition, in the true sense of the word. The immediate impact of such odious arrangement was the history of underdevelopment that had trailed the state, especially in the last 16 years.

Consequently, for a state that its founders had, over 23 years ago, envisioned to be a leading light among its peers, its development profile, has remained piteous. But because the beneficiaries derive a lot from this unprincipled rentier system, they treat any attempt at change as an affront.

It is on this backdrop that the onslaught against the aspiration of Dr. Alex Otti, the state governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), by PDP and agents of the state government, will be adequately appreciated.

While taking a dive from his apparent comfort zone where he had successfully led a relatively sure-

S

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Muck raking in Abia politics footed Diamond Bank, for Abia governorship, Otti, had reckoned that the engagement was not going to be a tea party. Confronted with the discovery of a poorly managed entity characterized by acute infrastructure decay, dilapidated education system, bungled health care system and ill-motivated workforce, among others, there would have been the temptation to back pedal. But for a man that interprets perceived problems, rather, as projects, Otti has not been deterred from his dream.

At many forums, he has declared

that service to Abia and not exercise in self-aggrandizement, has been the driving force behind his aspiration. The APGA candidate, has in this respect, laid out a template for fixing the state. In his manifesto, he has established roadmaps towards repositioning the state’s education, health, agriculture, economy and other sectors.

He has also given hints on how he intends to re-engineer Aba, the hitherto commercial hub of the South East and South-South regions that has painfully suffered criminal neglect in recent times.

In going about the agenda, Otti has identified interplay of ideas as the surest way of lifting Abia from its current state of near hopelessness.

The expectation therefore, had been that his opponents, especially the PDP, would have taken his challenge in good faith and come with superior argument, if any. But that is not the case. Rather, the party and its candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu, of course, backed by the state government, have chosen to side step the main issue of the discourse and have resorted to muck raking and

shadow-boxing.

The latest in this regime of misguided undertakings has been associating the APGA candidate with actions and antics that are not in his character. Among this is the curious allegation that he has been going about with hoodlums dressed in military and police uniforms. The allegation had further been extended to the ridiculous extent of accusing him of working with the military to bamboozle Abians. Having failed on that, there had also been an attempt to drag Diamond Bank into the fray, by accusing it of partnering the APGA candidate. The next phase of the propaganda is expected to be the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), being accused of favouring Otti.

For Abia PDP and its candidate, there seems to be no limit in the muck-raking.

• Emma Ogbuehi Umuahia, Abia State

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Playing politics with human lives!

S

IR: After months of turning the blind eye to the criminality in the north-east, President, Goodluck Jonathan confessed last week that his government all along took Boko Haram for granted! The president even issued a presidential order to Nigerian troops to get Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, before Eday! This is a radical departure from the president’s usual recriminations! It is as well proof, if more was needed, that the government all along took Nigerians for granted by playing politics with an insurgency that has claimed more than 13,000 lives, placed hundreds in captivity, displaced thousands, and virtually grounded the economy of the north-east.

Of course, Boko Haram is not Jonathan’s creation; he inherited it!

But then, the Boko Haram insurgency was one of the inherited ills the president consistently swore to tackle since his inauguration in 2011. What is more, he has effectively been in the saddle for five

years. Is it the blood of 13,000 Nigerians that suddenly awoken the president to the danger posed by Boko Haram? Or, is it the reality of March 28 that suddenly stirred the president? For all Nigerians cared, he could have passed the buck as usual, especially as he did with shifting the February 14 elections, by claiming that he was not consulted on the security situation!

If anything, recent ‘gains’ against Boko Haram further firm the belief that the civilised world was not unduly hysterical in accusing Nigerian authorities of playing politics with the insurgency. It is repulsive enough for a clueless government to resort to intimidation of voters in its attempt to cling to power! But the line is crossed the moment government turns the blind eye to, and is even desirous of scoring cheap political point, from the decimation of its mostprized resource! Whoever turned the blind eye as Boko Haram members abducted, raped, maimed and killed Nigerians and despoiled the

north east is complicit! And much of the blame should be placed at the doorstep of President Goodluck Jonathan, a man who has a special knack for regional and parochial politics.

Now, a word for attention-seeking publicists who flaunt President Jonathan’s veiled meekness as his main qualification for leadership.

Lest we need being reminded, no great leader was ever described as meek, unassuming or incapable of hurting a fly! Nelson Mandela never turned the other cheek and, despite his gentle disposition, Mahatma Gandhi was never meek! So were the world’s best-known political leaders in whose class starry-eyed publicists lamely wish to place President Jonathan! When the chips are down, what really matters is when supposedly good men prove incapable of doing any good.

The choice before Nigerians on March 28 is clear: it is either to back a tested race horse or an untested, patently incompetent cart horse!

Sadly, even some of its best known

supporters consider the idea of Nigeria’s present ruling class and vision as a contradiction! Four years ago and, for obvious reasons, a dark, cart horse was chosen for a crucial race. The decision left Nigerians in a lurch! Today, those who backed the race horse are not standing alone; next month, they will be joined by millions who were fooled, cajoled and threatened into making a costly mistake.

After the self-imposed and avoidable miasma of the past 16 years, the election of an incorruptible and visionary statesman will be a welcome balm on the country’s jaded nerves.

Now, a prayer for Nigeria: God! Direct Nigerians to elect leaders who will not play politics with the lives of their subjects. May March 28 not produce ill-prepared and divisive leaders who employ religion and ethnicity to cloak their incompetence! Can somebody say Amen?

•Abdulrazaq Magaji, Abuja

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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COMMENTS

Our Girls; Politicians, bankers: No corruption difference?

Fight ‘Illegally legal’ NASS salaries for life ‘O

UR girls and many of our people have been missing on, before and since April 14, 2014.

Many others, over 10,000, lie dead in mostly unmarked graves and there Tony are the perhaps millions Marinho displaced or injured. The recent King of Saudi Arabia was also buried in an unmarked grave even though he had almost $20 billion, not as rich as Dangote whose name appears in the Swiss branch of HSBC discussions about international tax evasion and undisclosed secret bank accounts confirming international bankers’ fraud.

In the 60s, the magazine West Africa advertised Swiss Accounts.

Corruption has been around forever.

The civil service, political and economic banking class all stink of manipulative corruption igniting the historic anticorruption stance of the Buhari campaign facing the reactionary ‘who-is-who’ in ‘Who is afraid of Buhari?’ on the other side. Millions of Nigerians are frustratingly sick of the personal and public service cost of corruption consuming as much as 50% of budgets of most LGAs, states, federal government organisations. This cost of corruption is murderous and is an election issue and an affront to national pride. Corruption thought is seen in the high political wages; bankers’ corruption is seen in high bank rates and destructive naira value.

Political corruption includes a weak security strategy, nearperpetual darkness, potholes filling our roads, poor education and health delivery systems, high graft in government functions and services, cost of doing business, the greedy open hands of all uniformed organisations, poor return on the contract naira, the education exodus to Ghana, the growing Diaspora population and even worse – the corrupt funding of political parties by government/ contractor corruption.

African leaders could have directed the Africa Union to declare ‘2015-2025 -The Solar 10 Years’ and negotiated the cutting edge solarisation of Africa as an ‘African-Anti-Poverty, Job Creation’ strategy against the invasion of fortress Europe

I

T all started like a joke, a joke that soon took on the pattern of a witch-hunt. Now, the push has come to shove, the bubble has finally burst. In the beginning, it was as if the whole country had been zoned to both President Goodluck Jonathan and his kingmaker, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the man who likes to dominate his environment and every other thing therein either living or dead.

At one time or the other, I have been privileged to observe, at close quarters, these two important Nigerians who are now locked in a fratricidal war which is capable of ruffling political feathers in the country. My knowledge of Obasanjo dates back to the mid-1970s, precisely shortly after the coup through which the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon was ousted on June 29, 1975. It was at the end of my fourth year in the secondary school – St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife. That coup thrust the late General Murtala Muhammed to the pinnacle of leadership as he succeeded Gowon as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That also brought Obasanjo as his second-in-command.

From then on, Obasanjo became a regular visitor to the palace of the late Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, one of the most respected and highly revered traditional rulers of his time. Having been born and brought up in the palace, I had the privilege of being around most times Obasanjo paid his numerous visits which were mostly done incognito. He usually came in just one car, a Peugeot 504 saloon car marked SHQ 2 accompanied only by the driver and one other person at the

and as a priority of development from village to Presidential Villa. Of course very few African countries have the criminally low power supply that Giant of Africa, Nigeria, has.

The Nigerian citizen has been punished by politics for ever.

All our powerlessness, suffering, falling naira, high interest rates are all caused by a lack of true leadership. It seems the leaders have got well ahead of the followers in ‘benefits’. In Nigeria we have a ’Politicians’ Paradise’ Vs a ‘Citizens Cesspool’ of preventable suffering from which we foolishly smile and applaud when we get chairs in a classroom or a few potholes filled or a 31% pass in WAEC or ‘only 20 deaths from Ebola’ or a 50kmph slow-train while they get a new presidential plane.

People wake up!! Do not applaud at the dregs given you while they steal us blind. Nigeria was never supposed by God to be so bad. God gave us oil, geological minerals, millions of hard working people, 12 hours daylight a day, a good climate filled with solar energy, a naira valued at $1.2:1Naira in 1970. Where have they gone?

Last week the National Assembly, NASS approved for themselves new salaries-for-life for certain national officers within the NASS. This is after receiving huge unknown Salaries and Perks, while in office which are SAPping our budget dry. All this in a country where politicians are regrettably the highest paid in the world while they cannot pay others their salaries and pensions. All this in a country whose currency has plummeted from N150 to 200+ or 25% and whose oil revenues have fallen by 50% through falling oil prices and reduced demand. Is this ‘Salaries for life’ law a copycat law from the USA, EU or UK? Is there not a body which fixes Salaries and Perks for political office holders? This body perhaps called the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal something has failed yet again to curb the politicians who are drinking greedily from the near-empty well of Nigeria’s budget. But these politicians are already stupendously wealthy at the nation’s expense. How greedy can a man get? How many golf courses, private jets or mansions in different continents does a man need while fellow Nigerians are protesting seeking unpaid salaries and stolen pensions and food for children? This law giving life salaries and perks to even one

NASS member is an insult to our sensibilities, morally reprehensible and though NASS may make it legal, it is an illegality and must be challenged in the courts as ‘ILLEGALLY LEGAL’. Today officers, tomorrow everyone in NASS. This must be challenged in court and some political parties must take this as a key policy strategy like the excessively high political salaries and the need to cut the NASS and state and LGA from ‘full time’ to ‘Part-Time with Sitting Allowances’. The politician appears as a blood-sucking leech on Nigeria’s budget.

This political class must be stopped before there is nothing left. Nigeria has had seven+ years of plenty stolen and faces politically induced seven years of resultant famine. We need a change.

Apologies for a missing sentence on Feb 18. The full paragraph was: Nigeria’s builders must visit The Pan Atlantic University Lekki, Lagos has a fantastic eco-friendly building, Enterprise Development Centre, powered by solar energy.

All Nigeria’s buildings must be eco-friendly buildings. Of course Africa’s traditional mud and grass buildings were ecofriendly. There is a new National Solar Policy suggesting that all new houses under the new Nigerian Housing Policy and all new government and corporate buildings must include renewable energy, solar. These are huge policy steps

‘The Nigerian citizen has been punished by politics for ever. All our powerlessness, suffering, falling naira, high interest rates are all caused by a lack of true leadership.

It seems the leaders have got well ahead of the followers in ‘benefits’.

In Nigeria we have a ’Politicians’ Paradise’ Vs a ‘Citizens Cesspool’ of preventable suffering’

The Obasanjo-Jonathan tango front seat of the car, all wearing mufti. The reason for those visits was first, to seek the support of the Ooni in the policy implementation of the new government such as the land use decree and others which the government initiated and also, to seek advice and tap from the great monarch’s fountain of wisdom. In all the visits, Obasanjo cut the image of a humble, quiet and easygoing person. Even when he later became Head of State, he still maintained his close contact with the monarch. Such was the respect Obasanjo had for elders and traditional institutions. I was also around him during the 2011 elections.

As for President Goodluck Jonathan, I had the privilege to observe him closely when he was the deputy governor in Bayelsa State.

My good friend and brother, Prof.

Steve Azaiki, was a two-time Secretary to the State Government of Bayelsa during that period. Each time I visited Azaiki at that time, we would both end up either in the governor’s office or in his lodge.

And each time the deputy, Jonathan, appeared on the scene, either in the governor’s office with files to treat or in the governor’s lodge for some official functions, Jonathan was always humble, quiet and very reserved. Sometimes, when he opened the door to the governor’s office and saw people waiting, he will quietly shut the door and go back to his office. In some instances, Azaiki will run after him, shouting “HE...HE...HE..” (His Excellency).

As soon as he caught up with him, he would either persuade him to come in and see his boss or take over

‘In the current Jonathan-Obasanjo tango, I am quite sure that one of them must have pushed the other to the wall which has necessitated the other one to turn back and say, ‘Not anymore’’

the files from him and take them straight to the governor for his signature. Azaiki was like a go-between for both Jonathan and his boss at that time. Jonathan was humble, honest and shy, while the governor was a no-nonsense man. This, notwithstanding, they both had an excellent working relationship.

What am I trying to say here? Remember the Yoruba proverb: “When a goat is pursued to the wall, it will turn back and face its pursuers.” In the current JonathanObasanjo tango, I am quite sure that one of them must have pushed the other to the wall which has necessitated the other one to turn back and say, ‘Not anymore.’ We are all aware of the political permutations that threw up the ticket of both the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan. While in the case of Yar’Adua, Obasanjo must have seen an honest and God-fearing person, in Jonathan he must have counted much on the man’s humble disposition, sense of contentment and his decent composure, even in the face of provocation. As vice president Jonathan suffered all forms of humiliation but like the humble man he is, he waded through that period without causing any form of commotion. He was truly an obedient servant.

For everything good or bad, there is always a reward. I believe God must have rewarded Jonathan with the presidency of Nigeria. Why? I am not sure that if Yar’Adua had fully completed his two terms, it would have been possible for Jonathan to succeed him. Even when Yar’Adua was critically ill, it took the invocation of the doctrine of necessity by the National Assembly to enable Jonathan become Acting President and later, President following the eventual demise of Yar’Adua. We should take cognizance of the fact that, in the choice of Jonathan as Vice President, Obasanjo may have been thinking

of a way to placate the restless militants who had then held the country by the jugular through their activities in the Niger Delta area of the country, an area that is responsible for more than 90 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings through the oil in its underbelly. Obasanjo could also have seen Jonathan as a humble fellow who would not rock the boat. In that case, Obasanjo must have possibly nurtured a hidden agenda which he expected to unfold as time went on.

I believe things started falling apart between Jonathan and Obasanjo well before the 2011 election that produced Jonathan as President. Before that election in which the candidate of the ruling party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State lost out, there was no love lost between Obasanjo and the leadership of the PDP. The fallout between Obasanjo and the then governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, was fuelled by the leadership of the PDP and key actors at the presidency at that time, notably Mike Oghiadomhe, the then Chief of Staff to the president and others.

Backed by the other conspirators, Oghiadomhe, who was the go-between between Jonathan and Daniel, played a significant role in that messy arrangement all for reasons better known to him.

Nevertheless, Jonathan still found a way to accommodate Obasanjo in his new government in 2011 when he appointed late Prof. Olugbenga Ashiru and Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Obasanjo’s two nominees, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Agriculture respectively. Though the two men were eminently qualified, they were single handedly picked by Obasanjo without any input by any party member from Ogun State. Remember, Obasanjo’s appetite for globetrotting and his entrepreneurship interest in Agriculture. These were

Dele Agekameh the two reasons he brought the two men on board. While Jonathan had to drop the late Ashiru from his cabinet when he finally fell out with Obasanjo, Adesina held on because he had succeeded in dazzling the President with all his razzmatazz as Agriculture Minister.

With Obasanjo’s penchant for dominating his environment and people around him, he may have over reached himself and forgotten that Jonathan is no longer the boy who could be tossed around. He is the President of the country. The fact is that Obasanjo will always want to have his way even if it means walking or stepping on other people’s heads. He cares no hoot.

Besides, the current face-off between the two leaders shows the composure and comportment of those who are privileged to rule us. There are so many nauseating things that happen in the corridors of power especially in Africa and particularly in Nigeria, so nauseating that people will be wondering that such things could ever happen in high places.

That is the way we are. Like late Ronald Reagan, former American President, once said: “I have learned that one of the most important rules of politics is poise, which means looking like an owl after you’ve behaved like a jackass.” Now, who blinks first?

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

COMMENTS ‘I had reserved some respect for President Jonathan despite his shortcomings as a man and as president. But that respect vanished completely when during the last presidential media chat the president said he knew nothing about the request of the military seeking postponement of the elections. Haba!!!By that statement, the president exposed himself as an incurable (?) or at worst a president who is not in charge. That he gleefully uttered that statement is a pointer that he does not credit us with any common sense; in his mind, Nigerians are nothing but a congregation of morons. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso’ From Omololu Joshua.

Obasanjo is a great man with good intentions for Nigeria. He expresses fear of Almighty God in all his doings hence he is one with God, therefore he is majority and will always be. God will continue to protect, guide and bless him. I was with him during the civil war. Anonymous

•Buhari For Gbenga Omotoso The man ObJ is a God-sent to Nigeria. May he be blessed, and may his life be long. From Okwute My Attention was drawn to the interview granted The Nation newspaper By Gen Olusegun Obasanjo rtd. The decision Obasanjo took as state manly, and the antecedents of Obj as a former military Head of State and a two term civilian President of Nigeria are enough reasons for Obj to place Nigeria above whatever political party. Obj has done right to quit politics, he can’t continue to watch those political jobbers castigate and blackmail his person. The former president has taken the right decision to leave politics at this moment. I personally grew up in Lagos and I knew what Nigerians benefited from government then; we had free education, there were consumer shops in every strategic location where you could buy a packet of Omo at 25.00 kobo, frozen chicken and other essential commodities. Such pleasant moments are seriously missing in Nigeria today. Obj decision is patriotic and applauded by those who saw the days of oil boom. The military should not be politicised. From. From, Abu Dan Shabayagi, Lokoja,Kogi Obasanjo is a true stateman. From Okadigbo, Abuja.

What are we afraid of- Truth. Jonathan lacks the ability. Anonymous I have said it that Baba OBJ is an icon and crusader of peace and unity of modern Nigeria.

Anonymous Nothing but the truth, we can only reject ObJ, in person, but we cannot reject the words coming from him. A good statesman needs to be angry with GEJ government failure. From Joshua, Lagos Obasanjo: A chance encounter. A very good one from whose pen I read sound comments.

From Acho, Port Harcourt.

It is democracy but Obasanjo should not forget that if Jonathan fails he is the one that fails and to be blamed Nigerians didn’t know (Yar’adua and Jonathan) he brought them into power and now he is “leaving us at the middle of the sea for us to sink”. May God lead us. From Sunny, Abuja.

All what Baba said is absolute true, Obasanjo remains man of highest honour in the world no doubt. Aremu has torn the umbrella and that is all because Baba Iyabo is a man of his word. From Alh Rafiu Aderomola, Ayobo On Obasanjo!: a chance encounter. Blame Obasanjo for our woes. He robbed us of good election in 2007, we are just reaping the corruption he sowed. He institutionalised corruption by 2007 electoral fraud. If he is truthful as he shows to be, he should explain how the crooks got hold of government since 2007 at both states and federal levels. Also, his do or die in election then with what we have now. Anonymous ‘Toso, considering OBJ’s mannerisms, your conjecture was, in fact, too real and correct. I doff for you. From Ofem, E. Sir, your writing on Baba is wonderful, Baba did not only enjoyed ‘’Goodluck’ but ‘Goodwork’ and ‘Good destiny ‘’, Baba Awolowo laboured to be President for one day but no way, Abiola fought and died for it but never, Atiku tried but no way but Baba Obasanjo had worked in heaven and he is only here to reap the fruits as God ordained it; he took the glory of ending the Civil war, Murtala’s death and that of Abiola even while in Prison for saying the truth. Fayose’s attack on Baba is understandable as Baba caught and expose him when he stole Ekiti money in the poultry scandal as he cannot escaped the eleventh commandment which says ‘thou shall not be caught ‘, Baba ‘dey campe’ and will surely laugh last.

For Prof. Olatunji Dare It is but a shame for a sitting president and commander in chief of any nation to play politics with insecurity, the job which he (the President) was chosen to do. Blaming it on past leaders is clearly explained that he (the President) is not fit, incompetent and lacks the vision to lead any group of persons including his parlour. He should either resign or stop talking recklessly.

Anonymous.

Since Buhari left office, the Nigerian soldiers have fought in Liberia with honor, in Congo with integrity, in Somalia with success and in Rwanda with glory: All through with accolades, such that the Nigeria Armed forces are rated the most efficient in Africa, up until 2010. What did PDP take away or added that has made the Armed Forces this bad? Anonymous Mr Olatunji, thank you for that write up on the back page. Hatred, selfishness and unreasonableness remain our problem. From Johnbul, Abia Good day, sir. Still in a frantic effort to disparage Buhari, the GEJ camp would blame him (Buhari) for instigating Allison Madueke for frittering away N10b on private jets or that GMB must have dissuaded Jonathan from building the second Niger bridge. Anonymous.

Truth is what is always seen in your column.

While they peddle nothing but falsehood in order to cling to power by all means. Nigerians can no longer be deceived. Change by God’s grace is certain this time. From Alfa Katamba Sharada, Kano “The selling of the front page” sir, I totally agree with your article. Please can you proffer solution to these unethical behavior? Thanks.

Anonymous Mr Olatunji Dare, thanks for reminding your colleagues some of the principles of journalism. The PDP presidential campaigns create enmity than followers, it always diverting from the main issues. This is a wonderful write-up.

‘Keep the flying’. From Anas Bajau,Warri,Delta State.

Re-the selling of the front page. Massive advertorials on the cover page meant huge money for the newspapers. Publication of political campaigns on the cover page of newspapers means sale of some candidates with much gains by sponsors if the candidate wins! Era of journalistic ethics is eroding by all Nigerian newstands because almost all, are corrupt and dishonest today. Sir fume not, on cover page for adverts in recent times. It is consequent upon corruption the same columnists and the papers are writing against, that they are also guilty of; otherwise you won’t see what you have noted.

From Lanre Oseni.

Truth is a weapon of freedom. Covering it with stolen wealth spell doom. There is God! From Victor, Akwa-Ibom State.

Thanks for your frank, sincere and patriotic article. Gen Buhari is the one who reclaimed our land from the Chadian soldiers in 1982. But Today Jonathan can’t reclaim our land fm Boko Haram. It’s unfortunate. Let him face his tragedy. From Edet Ekoi, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

Bravo; Mr. Olatunji Dare was beginning to think that the front pages was for the highest bidder even if it is to the detriment of common citizens like me and others who spend our hard earned money to buy some filth called newspapers! Innocent citizens like yours truly saw this garbage and believing it still had integrity like in the good old days spent our hard earned money to buy it only to discover that it had lost its lustre and value or should I say integrity?

Please NUJ or Committee of CJ should exercise some disciplinary measures to restrain such egocentric editorial impropriety from contaminating our news stand. From Adeola, Port Harcourt.

Front page advertisement is avenue to make

huge money to run the company and pay salary for workers. Truth of the matter is that news in front pages cannot pay bills with the situation in the country for now. From Gordon Chika Nnorom For Prof Segun Gbadegesin Thanks to you for the message on the nation news paper old warriors and new alliances on the issue on warding southern Nigeria republic my choice is yes but on the issue of relection please Sir let there be a change in the partysan political fighting, my choice once again I recomend thanks. From Odio Ekuase.

Re-old warriors, new alliances. Asiwaju had his reasons for not followng the afenifere’s style 2003. He won lagos. Opinions differ hence it is not compulsory a minority accepts the majority’s opinion. Remember Awo on our economy in 1980! Let Afenifere hold their reasonng and wait for verdict before march 31, 2015. Don’t condemn president Jonathan. His achievements include listening ability, systematically tackling problems, national conference and freedom of speech. Open mind and peace. from lanre oseni.

Your very inspiring write up in the back page of the Nation today refers. I just want to add that on the Issue of June 12 election the North voted massively for the late Chief MKO even in Kano where his Opponent hail from. Thanks.

From Ismail, Abuja Sir: The piece is controversial. If a Yoruba nation exists, show me her national flag? It is disgusting that some writers seem patriot and intelligent but cannot interpret the body language of neo-colonialism. Now they wander in the wilderness. The days of those who use tribe and religion to deceive the masses are numbered. What about the writers who have taken sides with the pro-imperialists? Thanks.

From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna The northerners believe they are the rulers while others follow. If the present president is from north everywhere would have been calm; they used Boko Haram take back power because they taught that the power has gone out of their hands for many years. Again, it is to spoil Jonathans name we believe in Jonathan and we will vote for him and not Buhari.

Anonymous All these groups endorsement is for stomach infrastructure. Endorsement when Nigerians are suffering of hardship, insecurity and so on. Who is fooling who? From G.C.nnorom This president Jonathan ‘administration was full of unchecked corruption. Though, Mr. President may be aware or not but what was happening at the Port-Harcourt refinery since his regime was a good evidence. How can you borrow money from the bank only to be hijacked by the Area manager, Depot manager and his sales supervisor. Could you believe that people’s money was trapped at the PortHarcourt refinery since last year August? Is Mr. President not aware? Let those wicked administrators be told to release kerosene tickets for people to recover their borrowed money from the bank. Anonymous Sir, we are very grateful for your action taken to dump PDP to APC. We the students of Benue state College of Education Katsin-Ala are believed that, the change will come and our strike will be called off. Thanks. From Mgbanyi Gabriel.

For Tunji Adegboyega You guys forget the antecedents of Col Dasuki (rtd). He was Babangida’s ADC. He was deeply involved in his oga’s manoeuvrings. He will surely teach his new oga those tricks.

Anonymous.

I have just read your “our good man’. After reading the whole work, I said waow! This is classic. You clearly spelt out all we need to know. Keep standing tall. From Nuhudeen Umar.

Nigerians will be deceiving themselves if by now they still think the president has good intention for the country. A leader who pretends to be good but is sending wrong signals by proxy has no business calling

• Jonathan himself a leader. Nigeria is being governed by a leader who often denies the happenings in the country and will still be telling Nigerians that he is in charge. It is very sad that the president who got massive support from Nigerians when his shoes were in a rotten state is now in a company of many Italian shoes and does not care about the country again. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Well said, Tunji. But please be informed that all those that attend church are NOT Christians.

From Tony Mmuo.

I had reserved some respect for President Jonathan despite his shortcomings as a man and as president. But that respect vanished completely when during the last presidential media chat the president said he knew nothing about the request of the military seeking postponement of the elections. Haba!!!By that statement, the president exposed himself as an incurable (?) or at worst a president who is not in charge. That he gleefully uttered that statement is a pointer that he does not credit us with any common sense; in his mind, Nigerians are nothing but a congregation of morons. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

You have said it all. The money and materials sharing to woo voters is our resources. So, the electorate should collect whatever that comes their way and vote wisely in a way that they won’t be mortgaging Nigerians’ future by never do well leaders for the sake of ‘stomach infrastructure’. We should vote based on track record knowing that Nigeria’s future is at stake.

From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

Re: Our good man. I am yet to see any past Nigerian head of state that was free of criticisms.

That was ever given ‘above average’ mark for performance while in office. Somebody did not win the primaries of his political party in 1999 yet became a two-term governor. Nothing was written against that. The real winner is late. No leader can be 100 percent excellent in the world.

What will happen if Jonathan wins between 28 and 30 March because election would take place.

Then you would fear Nigerians the more. The president is doing his best. He needs to do better.

From Lanre Oseni.

Gbogbo ibi ni a ti nko (not) ji adiye ale. The cultural tradition is to pack the chickens to safety from wherever they may have retired to once it is nightfall. The packing to safety is done by the rightful owner. Please note that this observation did not take anything away from your incisive write-up. Cheers. Anonymous.

Jonathan is a terrible leader who wasted all the goodwill we bestowed on him. My wife was one of the people given the useless fertiliser last year in the dry season, with Jonathan’s picture. It is still in our store. Let Jonathan and the drowning PDP come and collect their fertiliser.

It is useless to us. In fact, about 15 bags of the said fertilizers are lying in one store uncollected. We are Christians and we shall vote for Buhari and not Jonathan who surrounded himself with criminals (names withheld). Please let Jonathan and the unserious element he surrounded himself with know that the day of reckoning is around the corner. Let them allow this nation achieve greatness. A word is enough for the wise.

The truth is, give the president 10 years more, he cannot repeat; he cannot perform beyond his intellectual ability and psychological capacity.

A president denying the audio of ‘Ekitigate’; the kidnapping of Chibok girls! Nigerians are not animals. Anonymous You will soon see GEJ in a white garment worshipping in a white garment church just for re-election. He will also be shocked that the Afenifere endorsement will amount to nothing.

He also has no power to create states. That function belongs to the national Assembly. From Tony.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

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

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

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

598 capital market operators have expired S fidelity bond, says SEC

ECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) has indicated that 598 capital market operators including several high-brow law firms, reporting accountants, banks, investment management firms and advisory firms are operating with expired fidelity bond, underlining potential risks to the system.

A status review undertaken

by The Nation on the condition of capital market operators showed that some 598 capital market operators pose potential risks to capital market operations by not providing fidelity bond against internal malpractices.

Operating in the capital market without a valid fidelity bond is a contravention of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) No. 29, 2007 and SEC Rules & Regulations.

A fidelity bond is essentially is a form of insurance against internal fraud, malpractices and willful professional negligence. It provides cushion for various losses that might arise from employee's dishonesty. In line with international best practices, the Nigerian capital market regulation requires operators to possess subsisting fidelity bond.

The expiration of their fidelity bonds makes the functional registration of the companies and individuals as capital market operators in-

Taofik Salako

complete.

According to SEC, about 50 per cent of operators with expired fidelity bond, and as such incomplete registration, are solicitors including high-brow Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) law firms.

At least, 120 law firms registered as solicitors have expired fidelity bonds.

Accounting firms are the second largest group of culprits with several well-

known accounting firms, with registration as reporting accountants, operating with expired fidelity bonds.

At least five banks, which were registered as issuing house or investment adviser, were listed among the defaulters while several fund managers, registrars and brokers were also listed in the search.

A source in the know of securities regulation said the operators with deficient fidelity bond might not be al-

lowed by SEC to handle transactions.

The source said what the defaulting operators do is to rush to renew such deficiency whenever they have capital market transaction for regulatory approval cautioning investors, issuers and other users of capital market services to request for evidence of full clearance and subsisting complete registration before engaging the service of any operator.

The deficiency in the registration of the operators violated SEC's policy on fidelity bond, which requires operators to renew their fidelity bond annually, in line with the Gregorian calendar year.

The fidelity bond policy requires that all registered capital market operators must maintain a fidelity bond which has a validity period from January to December of each year.

The apex capital market regulator had indicated that any fidelity bond which falls short of full-year coverage will not be accepted.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/ troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

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

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc, Mike Uzoigwe; Chairman, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina; President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu; and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo at the re-commissioning of the 220MW capacity ST Unit 6 in Egbin Power Station by the President in Lagos at the weekend.

Egbin to generate 2670Mw by 2019

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AHARA Energy Group and its technical partner, Korea Electric Power Company of Nigeria (KEPCO), have promised to increase Egbin Power Plc’s capacity by 1350 megawatts (MW) to bring its cumulative installed output capacity to 2670MW by 2019. The plant currently has an installed capacity of 1320MW. Sahara Chairman Kola Adesina made the pledge last weekend when President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the rehabilitated sixth steam turbine of the plant with 220MW capacity.

Kola said: “We have commenced an ambitious plan to double the capacity of Egbin within the next four years, with the addition of 1,350MW Combined Cycle plant of which we have commissioned the Front End Engineering Design Study (FEED).

All these have been possible because of your Excellency’s

CBN begins restructuring of e-payment system

- P22

•Plant seeks govt’s intervention in gas supply, power transmission

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

commitment to the power sector reforms and dogged determination to give our citizens a new lease of life through the provision of reliable power supply.”

He said besides repairing unit 6, the company has also carried out the overhauling and retooling of Unit 4, which lost 20MW out of its 220MW capacity. Egbin is the largest power plant in West Africa comprising 6 x 220MW units of turbines with a total capacity of 1,320 MW. The Egbin Power Plant is critical to the nation as it accounts on a daily basis for about 20 per cent of the power generated in the country, he added.

Adesina said: “Mr. President, the Unit that you are here to commission is an example of the benefits that privatisation of the power sector is bring-

ing to our nation Nigeria. The unit broke down in 2006 and for seven years could not be rehabilitated due to sundry challenges. On handover of the Egbin Power Plant to its new owners, KEPCO and Sahara Power Group in November 2013, we immediately made its rehabilitation a priority culminating in completion of the repair works.

“Recognising the importance of commerce and industry to your transformation programme, Egbin unit 6 output is to be made available under an innovative bilateral commercial arrangement to Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies to help improve power availability in Lagos and its industrial outskirts. We are indeed leading a new dawn in job creation within Lagos and its environs; and fostering gains in the gross domestic

Demutualisation: SEC may defer new capitalisation deadline - P24

product of the economy and reduction in crime rates.

“In addition, supporting the ideals of a cleaner and greener state, with reduced use of generators leading to healthier environment and improved quality of life and also achieve the noble objectives and unravel the bottlenecks in the power supply value chain, we seek government’s help in terms of gas availability and expansion of the transmission network. In the light of paucity of funds faced by the government, the hands of the private sector need to be strengthened by allowing significant investment in both the transmission and gas infrastructure. With appropriate models and investment recovery mechanism, this holistic public, private partnership (PPP) approach will engender a faster, cheaper and more productive result in rapidly growing value chain.”

Ghana disagrees with IEA’s economic projection POLICY thinkthank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) feels the Mahama-led administration is over borrowing and that could spell doom for the young oil-producing nation.

“Should we continue on this path, our national debt will grow to about 70% of GDP by 2016 and close to 100% by 2020, returning our nation to where it was some thirty years ago, at the brink of financial collapse,” the IEA said in a statement last week.

“Ghanaians should require the adoption of fiscal policy rules with ceilings on annual fiscal deficits,” it added.

However, the Finance Minister Seth Terkper has downplayed that argument, insisting the policy think-thank failed to look at the other side of the coin.

“We, therefore, disagree with the IEA’s dire projection of a debt/GDP ratio that does not take account of potential rapid GDP growth and the new debt management policy.

“The IEA statement also ignores various fiscal stabilisers that have become active in a few years only: These include the establishment of the Stabilisation Fund under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA, Act 815), the hedging of crude oil imports and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)’s use of a price stabilisation margin in the petroleum price build up,” the finance minister said in a statement.

It added: “Furthermore the analysis fails to consider the optimum impact of projects such as the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo in the Western Region, which has the capacity to supply 120million standard cubic feet of gas per day from the Jubilee Fields to off takers for the generation of 500MW of power.

“The Gas Processing Plant will also produce 500tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas to meet 75% of our present national demand per day.

“This project saves GHC500million annually in crude oil imports for the purposes of firing thermal plants. Potential tax revenue flows into the Petroleum Holding Funds, especially the Budget Funds under the PRMA has also not been taken into account by the IEA’s analysis.”

A

Making millions from cashew export - P36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

CBN begins restructuring of e-payment system • Urges MDAs on remittances T HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun the restructuring of the Nigerian payment system, starting with the ongoing review of the Payment Systems Strategy Board (PSSB) to replace the National Payment Systems Council (NPSC).

The restructuring will focus on ensuring that end-to-end electronic channels are adopted for all forms of salaries, pensions, suppliers, individual and business taxes pay-

Stories by Collins Nweze

ment and collection of revenues by private and public sector organisations.

To achieve this, the CBN has asked Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt e-payment channels for their transactions, insisting that salaries, pensions and suppliers and taxes be

paid using the electronic channels.

The policy also applies to organisations with over 50 employees.

Draft guidelines that will ratify the policy have been sent to commercial banks and payment service providers. The exercise is in line with the CBN Act, 2007, Section 47, Sub Section 2(2d).

The CBN Governor, Godwin

•From left: Group Chief Executive Officer, Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, Ike Chioke and Managing Director, Afrinvest Asset Management Limited (AAML), Ola Belgore, during the award for “Best for Asset Management Nigeria” to AAML at the Finance Awards 2014 organised by the Wealth & Finance International.

‘Closure of forex window’ll save naira’

T

HE Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) has lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN), decision to close two of its foreign ex-change windows namely the Retail Dutch Auction Sys-tem (RDAS) and the Whole-sale Dutch Auction System (WDAS).

The body said the step would help to reduce pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves arising from sharp practices and market arbitraging.

The group said the decision would definitely curb the risk posed by JP Morgan, which threatened recently to throw Nigeria out of its key emerging currency bond index, as a result of dwindling foreign reserves, which called to question the country’s current credit ratings.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, CSOs President, Comrade Etuk Bassey Williams, said experts’

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

analysis showed that the closure would effectively end round-tripping, speculative demand, rent-seeking and spurious demands for foreign exchange.

He said since the intention is to save the nation’s currency, Nigerians should rally round the apex bank at this trying time instead of castigating every move of the bank.

“As an organisation, we have sought experts’ opinion on this and have been assured that the motive behind the closure were purely on national interest, we therefore, give our support and urged Nigerians not to play politics with such important issues as it will affect every aspects of the nation’s life.”

He said analysts at FBN Capital have assured that it was a necessary move towards ensuring that the naira stabilises and reflects demand

and supply dynamics, and should assist in improving market depth and efficiency.

The CBN said the move is aimed at averting the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and pre-serve the country’s forex re-serves, which have plummeted in recent times.

It said all forex should be channeled to the Interbank Foreign Ex-change Market, lamenting that its huge foreign exchange disbursement over the years has so far not had any signifi-cant impact on the economy hence the decision to close the window.

Bassey said the bank’s decision was positive news that should help create more transparency in the Nigerian market, saying experts have revealed that with the current oil pric-es levels with FX reserves would be difficult to replenish, CBN’s appetite for continued support of the inter-bank FX rate would be closely monitored.

StanChart forms board to check financial crime

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TANDARD Chartered Plc (the Group) has confirmed the formation of a Board Financial Crime Risk Committee (BFCRC), which will have Boardlevel oversight of the group’s financial crime compliance programme.

The establishment of the committee is in line with its priority to combat financial crimes and commitment to improving conduct.

The BFCRC, it said in a report, is responsible for oversight of the Group’s policies, procedures, systems, controls and assurance for anti-money laundering, sanctions compliance, and prevention of bribery, corruption and tax crime,

alongside its oversight of the group’s financial crime compliance programme, including the financial crime risk mitigation programme and its commitments under the 2012 and 2014 Orders.

The BFCRC which assumed its responsibilities since January, builds and replaces the Board Regulatory Oversight Committee (BROC), which has been in place since the beginning of 2013.

Sir John Peace, Chairman of Standard Chartered Plc said: “Over the past two years, we have dedicated an enormous amount of resources, investment, training and management attention to our financial crime compliance programmes. The for-

mation of this committee, together with the substantial build out of our financial crime compliance function, demonstrates our commitment to strong conduct and compliance at all levels of the organisation.”

Throughout 2014, Standard Chartered made a number of significant enhancements to the capacity. The lender said it is committed to investing in compliance, conduct and remediation improvements. Investments include systems upgrades, policy development, process improvements, capability building in sanctions compliance and anti-money laundering controls, as well as combating bribery and corruption.

Emefiele, who made this known at a meeting with stakeholders in Lagos, said the PSSB will henceforth, be recognised as the pinnacle organisation for the governance, management and operation of the Nigerian Payment Systems, pointing out that this would provide strategic direction for the National Payments System in the country.

The project, he said, will make payment platforms available to all sectors and geographies, banked and unbanked, and conforming to internationally accepted regulatory, technical and operational standards.

Emefiele said plans are ongoing to design and develop an electronic fund transfer system which utilises multiple channels in processing electronic payments that support the educational ecosystem with components such as grants, scholarships, consultancy services, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), tuition and administrative fees.

On the health sector, the CBN boss said the regulator will provide solutions that support the provision of personal and medical information and payments for health and medical services. He called for increased usage of bill payments programmes across suitable industry segments such as insurance, pensions, telecommunications, Cable TV and utilities.

Emefiele said that under the previous PSV2020 plan, the manage-

ment of the payment systems and reporting structure was that of the Infrastructure and the Initiative Working Groups, reporting to the Payment Infrastructure and Strategy Committee (PISC). The CBN boss said that the implementation of the new structure will result in a significant increase in participant’s engagement in the development and operation of the payments schemes.

CBN said, henceforth, payment instructions and associated schedules are no longer to be transmitted to banks by organisations in the public and private sectors through unsecured channels, such as paper-based mandates, flash drives, compact discs, and email attachments.

The apex bank said the process would reduce time and transaction costs, minimise leakages in government revenue receipts, provide reliable audit systems, and make it comply with global payment standards. The policy is also expected to ensure confidentiality of transactions.

The transactions, the bank said, must be routed through bank approved electronic platforms, which transmits the instruction to debit a payer’s account and credit that of a beneficiary, mobile account, electronic wallet or other electronic channels.

It will include the ability of a payer to monitor and obtain electronic feedback on the status of any payment, without depending on any third party, manual or semimanual means.

Discount Houses grow assets, liabilities to N187b

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HE total assets and liabilities of discount houses stood at N187 billion in 2014, showing an increase of 20.4 per cent above the level attained the previous year, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report on the subsector has shown.

The development was accounted for largely by the 43.5 per cent and 24.9 per cent rise in claims on banks and the Federal Government, respectively.

Correspondingly, the increase in total liabilities was attributed largely to the 66.4 per cent and 29.5 per cent rise in borrowings and money-at-call, respectively.

It said discount houses’ investment in Federal Government securities of less than 91-day maturity rose to N69.0 billion and accounted for 45.7 per cent of their total liabilities.

At that level, discount houses’ investment in Treasury Bills rose by 31.1 per cent above the level at the end of the preceding month.

Thus, investment in Federal Government securities was 14.3 percentage points below the prescribed minimum level of 60 per cent. Total borrowing and amount owed by the discount houses was N58.4 billion, while their capital and reserves amounted to N28.6 billion.

AfDB partners Bloomberg on bond index

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HE African Development Bank (AfDB) through the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) has launched its AFMISM Bloomberg® African Bond Index. Calculated by Bloomberg Indexes, the composite index is comprised of the Bloomberg South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya local sovereign indices.

AfDB Director of the Financial Sector Development Department, Stefan Nalletamby said the launch of the indices comes as a welcome development at a time when African countries are increasingly looking to domestic capital markets to source much needed financing for economic development.

He explained that the current index includes an African sovereign bond index comprised of the four most liquid bonds in Africa and three sub-indexes for different maturity ranges.

To be included in the index, a security must have at least one year

remaining to maturity and withstand price stability tests. Further liquid markets are expected to be added to the index this year.

Head of Emerging Markets Product, Bloomberg L.P, David Tamburelli said there is a clear need for a transparent and objective benchmark for sovereign debt in Africa. Well-crafted indices are essential in the assessment of value in markets while contributing to liquidity by giving investors a benchmark to evaluate their performance.

He said the AFMI works to deepen the continent’s local currency bond markets and also strives to create an environment where African countries can access financing at variable terms.

“By providing transparent and credible benchmark indices, the AFMISM Bloomberg African Bond Index provides investors with a tool with which to measure and track the performance of Africa’s bond markets,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

23

MONEY With the June deadline for customers to get their Bank Verification Number (BVN) drawing near, banks are racing against time to complete the exercise. The BVN is expected to guarantee transactions and strengthen the system. However, poor turnaround time, network hitches and poor awareness remain a challenge, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

BVN deadline: Banks race against time T

HE rising cases of fraud in the financial sector and need to protect customers’ transactions are major concerns to stakeholders.

For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) report for the first half of 2013 contained in the ‘KPMG 2014 Customer Satisfaction Survey,’ indicated that there were 2,478 fraud and forgery cases involving over N20 billion.

The figure represented an eight per cent increase over the previous year, and represented a significant increase in value of over 200 per cent from the 2012 figures. It also showed that two per cent of retail bank customers were defrauded in the last one year.

It was not surprising therefore when the Bankers’ Committee collaborated with the CBN, Deposit Money Banks, Nigeria Interbank-Settlement System (NIBSS) to inaugurate a centralised biometric identification system tagged, Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, explained that the biometric technology involves the process of recording a person’s unique physical traits such as fingerprints and facial features. This record, he said, can then be used to correctly identify the person afterwards.

He said the BVN became exigent following the increasing incidents of compromise on conventional security systems like password and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of bank customers which have led to loss of funds. There is therefore, a high demand for greater security for access to sensitive or personal information in the banking system.

Also, once a person’s biometrics data has been properly captured, the person is given a BVN which protects bank customers, reduce fraud and further strengthen the banking system.

He explained that fraud is reduced because no two people have the same biometric information. “Banks will therefore be able to check the features of a person doing a transaction against the record which the bank has captured thereby correctly identifying the owner of an account,” he said.

A statement from the Bankers’ Committee insisted that all bank customers in Nigeria are required to register or enroll for a BVN

by June. However, to enroll, they must visit a branch of their bank, but the BVN given to a person by one lender will apply to that same person for any bank in the country.

The committee explained that since the BVN captures physical features, it is also very helpful for people who cannot read and write, thereby making sure that everyone is included in the financial system.

“It is expected to help the banking system identify customers who have been blacklisted by one bank and who move to other banks. There is also need to inspire confidence in the BVN registration process and use of information collected as well as helps public to distinguish between genuine BVN communication and requirements and the activities of fraudsters,” it said.

Customers, other stakeholders speak Despite the drive to enroll customers, network challenges still prevalent in the banks.

Some of the customers who spoke with The Nation said the turnaround time for the exercise is high. Okafor Sunday said he spent 30 munites to complete the registration process.

Another customer of a new generation bank, Moses Abiodun said he visited his bank three times before he was able to enroll. “I think that the demands are just too much.

They are asking for all sorts of ID cards and they have my details in their system. This causes unnecessary delays,” he said.

Bukola Salaudeen, who banks with GTBank however said it took him only 10 minutes to complete the registration. He advised that customers should endeavour to register because of the benefits that come with it.

FCMB has also revealed that in the second

and facial imagery is recorded; acknowledgment slip with transaction Identity is issued; BVN is created and customer is alerted to arrange for pick-up,” it said.

The committee said the project protect customer bank accounts from unauthorised access, as biometric information is not easily manipulated. It strengthens the financial system by reducing the risk of unauthorised access to customer bank accounts. It also increases the efficiency of the banking industry as it reduces incidence of fraudulent/ duplicate bank accounts, and easily highlights blacklisted customers.

“Besides, full integration of BVN provides standardised efficiency of banking operation. This means that all banking operations will be verified using the same method, reducing cases of human error or inconsistency. Implementation of BVN means transaction authentication without the use of cards, but instead using only biometrics and a Personal Identification Number (PIN),” it added.

Dermalog/Charms Plc

• A customer trying to resgister during the launch of Biometric Solution in Lagos

phase of the Bank Verification Numbering exercise which has fully begun, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has selected 1000 branches from 21 money banks in Lagos State with First City Monument Bank Limited having its 44 branches already conducting the registration exercise.

Speaking in Lagos, Mr. Nath Ude who is FCMB’s Executive Director, Service Management and Technology said “Our Head Office branch, Wuse Zone 4 branch in Abuja which were both selected during the first phase are fully carrying out the exercise as well as 42 other FCMB branches that are also fully automated with necessary equipment to capture biometric data of customers.”

Mr. Ude said all the bank’s customers, including staff are required to enrol and obtain their Biometrics Verification Numbers (BVNs). The exercise which has been described as seamless only requires a valid means of identification such as National ID, International Passport or Drivers‘ License.

Examining the exercise, it is confirmed that for Tier 1 customers, any ID or even without identification is acceptable for that category of customers whose registration can be processed in line with the documentation done when they had opened their account with.

CBN Director, Banking and Payments Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun said the apex bank will monitor lenders to ensure compliance. He explained that where an existing customer wishes to register the BVN with his/her bank, capturing his signature and photo

identification document may not be necessary, as the bank is expected to have those records during account opening.

CBN Director, Banking & Payments Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun said that all bank customers should have the BVN by that June, otherwise they will be considered to have incomplete documentation.

He said that by March, money transfers, loans, contingencies among others valued at N100 million and above should only be allowed for customers with BVN. He directed lenders to sensitise their customers on the policy and also submit details of compliant customers to the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Findings also showed that the CBN is collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the execution of the project as there is possibility of harmonizing the BVN with NIMC identity project in the long run.

Why BVN? Biometric security identification is a secure method of identification that eliminates issues with identity theft and fraud. Since it is unique to an individual, biometrics provides a strong link between the individual and the claimed identity.

“The process of enrollment is simple. Customers are to visit any branch of their bank; fill out and submit the BVN enrolment form; biometric information such as fingerprints

‘The committee said the project protect customer bank accounts from unauthorised access, as biometric information is not easily manipulated. It strengthens the financial system by reducing the risk of unauthorised access to customer bank accounts. It also increases the efficiency of the banking industry as it reduces incidence of fraudulent/ duplicate bank accounts, and easily highlights blacklisted customers’

For the CBN, the excercise is a continuation of the $50 million biometrics project it instituted with the Bankers’ Committee, Dermalog and Charms Plc. However, not until May ending last year, did banks commence issuing BVNs to their customers mainly at their headquarters.

Managing Director of NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi said that to ensure an efficient implementation, a phased rollout approach was adopted beginning in Lagos.

The NIBSS provides the infrastructure for automated processing, settlement of payments and fund transfer instructions between Banks, Discount Houses and Card Companies in Nigeria. The firm is owned equally by all licensed banks in Nigeria, and the CBN. Discount Houses operating in Nigeria also hold substantial shares.

Shonubi explained that biometric data capture machines were initially deployed to about 1000 bank branches in Lagos, before the ongoing national rollout. When The Nation visited some of the bank branches of Diamond Bank, GTBank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, the customer services officers were busy registering customers. The banks have designated branches and desks handing the BVN project. Also, the BVN has already been deployed in all head offices of banks in Lagos, where their members of staff started enrollment since March 31 last year.

Shonubi explained that the BVN enables each individual to have a single identification within the financial system and gives each customer maximum protection and security of transactions. “In many advanced countries, biometric technologies have been used to analyse human characteristics as an enhanced form of authentication for realtime security processes. Biometrics refers to identifying an individual based on physiological or behavioural attributes – fingerprint, signature among others. The customers unique BVN is accepted as a means of identification across all banks,” he said.

Benefits to customers Biometric Project Manager at NIBSS, Oluseyi Adenmosun said that BVN gives a unique identity that can be verified across the banking industry making it easier for customers’ bank accounts to be protected from unauthorised access. It is expected to address issues of identity theft, and reduce exposure to fraud in the banking sector.

The manager added that the purpose of the project is to use biometric information as a means of first identifying and verifying all individuals that have account(s) in any Nigerian bank and consequently, as a means of authenticating customer’s identity at point of transactions.

Adenmosun said the BVN would also provide a uniform industrially accepted unique identity for customers and authenticate transactions without the use of cards using only biometric features and PIN.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Demutualisation: SEC may defer new T capitalisation deadline HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might consider a deferral of the September 2015 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum capital requirements for capital market operators to enable stockbrokers and dealers accommodate their shareholdings in the proposed demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in their valuations.

SEC, last weekend, released draft rules on the demutualisation of the NSE, a member-owned, limited by guarantee self-regulatory organisation (SRO), under which the membership rights of stockbrokers, dealers and other members will be converted into shareholdings in a demutualised Exchange.

Sources in the know said the apex capital market regulator has indicated it might consider a deferral to allow stockbrokers

Stories by Taofik Salako

and dealers at the NSE determine the actual values of their membership rights and use such as part of their valuation in any capitalisation measurement.

The draft rules on the demutualisation, among others, require that a demutualising securities exchange should initiate a process for determining the accurate list of members of the Exchange and the process of demutualisation should include an exchange of membership rights for ownership of shares.

According to the rules, application for demutualisation must include a valuation report of the securities exchange, the proposed authorised and paid-up share capital of the

Financial regulators seek better understanding of rating products and services

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HE International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has launched a project specification for its Committee 6 on Credit Rating Agencies (C6) to gain a better understanding of the credit rating industry and in particular of certain other products or services To begin work on this project, C6 is undertaking a series of successive information gathering exercises.

The information collected through this exercise will serve as a base for discussions between C6 members, issuers of Other CRA Products and other interested parties.

The second stage will focus on gathering information on how issuers and investors and, more generally, users of the Other CRA Products and services utilise and understand them.

Other CRA Products are distin-

demutualised securities exchange with the number of shares to be issued, the names of members of the Securities Exchange proposed to be the initial shareholders of the demutualised Securities Exchange and the number of shares to be allotted to each shareholder.

The rules stipulate that the trading participants who are shareholders of the securities exchange shall with effect from the date of demutualisation reduce their cumulative shareholdings in the demutualised securities exchange to not more than 10 per cent within five years.

A large segment of the stockbroking community had kicked against the timeline for recapitalisation arguing that the proposed demutualisation should be done before the recapitalisation to give a more realistic valuation of the stockbroking firms.

Sources said SEC is favourably disposed to the inclusion of the determined stockbrokers' holdings in the NSE as part of the valuation of each stockbroking firm.

The board of SEC had extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements for various capital market functions from December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015. As at the last count, 262 capital market operators had met their various capital requirements.

SEC had in December 2013 announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital market functions under a new minimum capital structure that was initially scheduled to take off by January 1, 2015. Minimum capital base for broker/dealer was increased by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million.

Broker, which currently operates with capital base of N40

million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent. Minimum capital base for dealer increased by 233 per cent from N30 million to N100 million.

Also, issuing houses, which facilitate new issues in the primary market, will now be required to have minimum capital base of N200 million as against the current capital base of N150 million. The capital requirement for underwriter also doubled from N100 million to N200 million. Trustees, rating agencies and portfolio and fund managers had their minimum capital base increased by 650 per cent each from N40 million, N20 million and N20 million to N300 million, N150 million and N150 million respectively. A Registrar will now have a minimum capital base of N150 million as against the current requirement of N50 million. While the minimum capital base for corporate investment adviser remained unchanged at N5 million, individual investment advisers will have to increase their capital base by 300 per cent from N500,000 to N2 million.

guishable from the traditional credit ratings that CRAs publicly disclose or disseminate to subscribers. They may include, for example, private ratings, confidential ratings, expected ratings, indicative ratings, prospective ratings, provisional ratings, preliminary ratings, one-time ratings, regional ratings, national ratings, point-in-time rating, scoring, credit assessments, rating assessments, assessments, or research.

Market participants may use other CRA products to help assess the creditworthiness of an entity or obligation. Or they may be used for different purposes. For example, they may be used to understand the impact that a hypothetical or proposed transaction would have on a traditional credit rating or to understand how a CRA would ultimately rate a new issuance.

Guinness Nigeria appoints new directors

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HE board of Guinness Nigeria Plc has appointed Thomas Dogonyaro, Cephas Afebuameh and Ronald Charles Plumridge as directors of the company. Dogonyaro is a non-executive director, Afebuameh is the Supply Chain Director while Plumridge is the Finance and Strategy Director.

According to Guinness Nigeria, the appointments are coming on the heels of the resignation of Lisa Gillian Nichols from the board of directors of the company with immediate effect. “Until her resignation, Nichols was the Finance and Strategy Director of the company,” Guinness said.

Similarly, Rotimi Odusola, currently the company’s Legal Director, resumes as the Deputy Company Secretary with immediate effect.

According to the company, Odusola will combine this position with his role as the Company’s Legal Director and supporting the Company Secretary in the management of shareholder and investor relations and the board.

The brewer affirms that Dongoyaro, holds a First Class Honours degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Business

Administration. He also attended the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom where he graduated with an MSc degree in Economics with emphasis on Human Resource Management. He joined Guinness Nigeria over twelve years ago as Packaging Shift Manager.

In November 2008, Cephas was appointed the Plant Manager, Benin Brewery in which role he provided exceptional leadership to deliver great performance for the site. In August 2010, he was appointed Operations Director, Tusker Plants in Kenya Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), Nairobi and, in that role, he made a significant impact across the business leading to his being celebrated as the most inspirational leader/ employee of the year in 2011. He was promoted the Supply Chain Director of Guinness Nigeria in 2012 and became a member of the Guinness Leadership Team. While Plumridge holds an honors degree in Economics from the University of Exeter and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1985. He was admitted to fellowship in 1997. He joined Guinness as Commercial Director in 2004.

•From Left: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; Nigerian High Commissioner to Singapore, Nonye Rajis-Okpara, and Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko during the visit of Rajis-Okparaa to the Exchange in Lagos

Seplat, Oando, others becoming big players

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NDIGENOUS independent oil companies such as Seplat, and Oando have what it takes to play at higher level, following their acquisition of big assets in the oil and gas industry, a Professor of Energy Economics, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Wunmi Iledare, has said.

He said the companies are raising their game amid the sale of assets by Shell, and other International Oil Companies (IOCs).

Iledare said the industry, which has long been dominated by the IOCs, is seeing the emergence of indigenous firms that acquire the assets divested by these IOCs resulting in increased production levels from the locals.

Speaking against the backdrop of the acquisition of ConocoPhillips by Oando, the listing of Seplat in London and

By Akinola Ajibade

Nigerian Stock Exchanges, and the decision of Seven Energy to secure $225million of new equity investment from Singapore Investment Company- Tamasek, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) among others, Iledare said local firms have got what it takes to undertake bigticket transactions in the oil and gas industry.

Iledare, who is also the President, International Association of Energy Economics (IAEE) globally, said plans by IOCs to abandon onshore for offshore activities have opened up opportunities for indigenous firms to play better.

He said: “Unfolding events in the industry show that local firms have stepped up their game through various acquisi-

tions in the industry. Most of the acquisitions have helped the local companies to play better and bigger. They can now venture into areas hitherto dominated by the foreign-owned companies such as Shell, Chevron and others.

“The only area where the domestic operators are yet to wield considerable influence is in exploration. There are Nigerians who can handle exploration activities well. They have gotten the exposure, skills, funds, and other attributes, which foreigners have.

However, they need to improve on what they have going by the everchanging methods, ideas and technology in the industry.”

Iledare said local firms played important roles in oil and gas industry in United States, adding that Nigerian companies can as well do the same thing.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

PAGE 25

12 months after the death of 19-year-old Toba Falode in Dubai, the United Arabs Emirates, his family members are still waiting for the man they said was responsible for his death to be brought to justice, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

•President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, senior Pastor, Trinity House Zion centre, Pastor Itua Ighodalor, Aisha Falode, her daughter, Tolu and Mrs. Sanmi Awobuluyi at the first memorial and thanksgiving service in commemoration of Aisha’s son, Toba who died in Dubai, at Trinity House Zion centre, Lekki, Lagos.

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One year after, justice for Toba Falode uncertain

INSIDE

HOUGH a year has passed since the death of Toba, the 19-year-old son of renowned sports journalist, Aisha Falode, the family is still in grief.

For 12 months they have waited, cried, prayed and hoped that justice will be served the killers of the young man who was gruesomely murdered last year in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

And even in the face of Federal Government’s seeming lack of committment to finding Toba Falode’s killers, the family has not stopped hoping that one day the man they claimed killed their beloved son and brother would be brought to book.

Ms Falode has in the past one year cried out to the Nigerian government to prevail on its UAE counterpart to reopen investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of her only son on February 16, 2014.

Toba, according to witnesses, was pushed down from the balcony of his 17th floor apartment by a rich Saudi Arabian teenager,

Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser, who today parades the streets of Dubai freely.

This past year for Falode has been one of anguish and despair; the harrowing realities of not just losing an only son, but watching his killers let off the hook with not even a slap on the wrist, has compounded her agony.

Despite efforts by Falode and her family to put together oral and pictoral evidence from witnesses that could nail Toba’s killers, the sheer lack of commitment by the Nigerian Embassy in the UAE to prevail on the Dubai police to revisit the case, made her queried the worth of a Nigerian life.

To Falode, while the Dubai police was more concerned in protecting the suspect as a result of his father’s huge investments in the UAE, the Nigerian mission in the

Warring Osun communities state conditions for peace

PAGE 26

Arab country for reasons best known to it, has continuously frustrated efforts to ensure justice.

Although she managed to wear a smile during a thanksgiving service and reception held in memory of Toba at the Trinity House Zion Centre, Victoria Island, Falode’s pain was still very obvious.

Narrating the events of the past year to The Nation after the reception, she admitted it has been so difficult.

“When you play back the tape of the event of the last one year, it is so difficult more so when you know that you have so many questions that could lead to a breakthrough in bringing to justice those who did this terrible thing.

“It breaks my heart. It makes me feel helpless that in spite of what we have been able to do on our own and with the support of God, people

who should really push the case forward are the ones who do not want the case to progress.

“Particularly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be asked a lot of questions about what they have done with not just Toba’s case but all Nigerians who have to die in similar circumstances in the last couple of years across different countries.

“We have had the Ministry of Justice make a case for Toba, it is such a complex situation that they cannot push it without the input of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is where we are having a stumbling block.

“We need the Foreign Affairs Ministry to be able to get to the justice department of this country and they are the ones slowing down the process. I do not know what their excuse is; it is beyond me. Is it their

Synagogue founder boosts police operations with patrol vans

PAGES 29

foreign relations that is not making them push for investigation?

We know of other countries whose foreign relations become nothing when a citizen of that country is touched. The life of a citizen is paramount before any foreign relations or partnership.

“We have given the ministry of foreign affairs all the facts as they are. We have given them written, oral and pictoral statements of witnesses. We cannot do more than that, they have all these documents with them because we submitted them,” said Falode.

The sore part Continuing, the bereaved mother said the sore aspect of the whole issue was the fact that the prime suspect, Faisal was moving freely in Dubai as though nothing

•Continued on page 30

Road as new year gift for Lagos community

PAGE 32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

The two parties to the crisis rocking Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities in Ife North Local Government Area of Osu inquiry set up the state government to look into the matter, ADESOJI ADENIYI reports.

Warring Osun communities state conditions for peace T HERE is a semblance of peace in Ipetumodi and Ashipa, the two communities in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State that literally went to war recently over their common boundary.

But beneath the relative peace is the hardening of positions by the two warring parties as both communities have stuck to their guns on the issues that brought about the violent clashes in the area last month during which no fewer than 20 people were severely injured and properties destroyed on both sides.

The peace was restored at the instance of the Osun State government which has set up a six-member judicial commission of inquiry to look into the crisis and proffer lasting solutions. The commission is headed by Justice Jide Falola of the State High Court.

The commission, The Nation gathered had received memoranda from interested parties to the dispute, especially leaders of the two warring communities stating the position of their people.

It was gathered that the Ipetumodus in their memorandum are demanding among other things that the Ashipa people should stop their aggression against their community.

Speaking with The Nation on condition of anonymity, a leader of Ipetumodu disclosed that the Supreme Court’s judgment of 1984 on their disputed boundary was in favour of Ipetumodu.

As a result, he said, the Ipetumodus are demanding that the boundary between their community and the Ashipa community should remain the Okooko River and must not be extended as the people of Ashipa are demanding.

He said it was an insult for the people of Ashipa to want to claim the land that belongs to the Ipetumodus. In his words: “The land

T

which the people of Ashipa are fighting over belongs to Pa Ayoola of Ajae Compound in Ipetumodu.

The family took the Adeniyi Odofin family of Ashipa to court and was favoured by the Supreme Court judgment of 1984. The case was not between the people of Ipetumodu and people of Ashipa but between two families in the two communities. The case started from the Customary Court and ended in favour of the Ipetumodu indigene at the Supreme Court. So, what are the people of Ashipa looking for on the land if not trouble?”

Speaking on the clash of the market day in the two separate markets in the two communities, the Ipetumodu leader said his people would neither agree to a shift in their own market day nor a shift in its location. He insisted that the new market at Ipetumodu must remain because the community consulted the Ifa oracle before arriving at the name, the date of trading and location of the market.

He said there should not be any reason for anyone to start crying over the coincidence of the day of trading at the newly created Akinola market in Ipetumodu with that of Ashipa market.

According to him, the Apetumodu together with his chiefs made spiritual consultations before the market was established where it is now and the time for trading in the market. “Today we are in a competitive world and no one should complain that our market day is the same with theirs. Is that a crime, requiring violence? Not far from us there are many markets sharing the same day for trading and there is no problem.

For instance, market day at Obada market in Ipetumodu coincides with that of Edun-Abon and Owode markets. Olufi Market day coincides with Moro market Day, likewise Sekona Market Day coinciding with Akinlalu market Day. Also, Ode-

•Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, Congratulating the Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Ipetumodu and Ashipa Towns Communal Clash/Disturbances, Justice Olajide Falola and his members. With them are, Governor Rauf Aregbesola (in white) and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti,during the Commission’s Inauguration at Governor’s Office, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 27-01-2015

Omu Market Day coincides with that of Ashipa Market. The Akinlalu and Moro markets’ Day too coincides.

He said hitherto the people of Ipetumodu and Ashipa were friendly and trading together in same market until the Ashipa (people) started being hostile to the Ipetumodus after the latter had helped developed and gave life to their (Ashipa) market. According to him, when the Ipetumodus could not cope with the hostility they decided after consulting the Ifa oracle to establish their own market on Akinola land within Ipetumodu and named it Akinola market.

Ashipa’s position now

Speaking on their demand before the commission of inquiry, a leader of the Ashipa community Ojediran Olaleke said his people want the Ipetumodus to vacate the disputed land which he claim to be a Ashipa territory while the boundary be-

tween the two communities should also be extended beyond the Okooko River. He said the Ipetumodus should stop invading Ashipa land and allow peace to reign in the area.

According to him, the Ashipas are peace-loving people and therefore maintained that their demands are realistic.

On the clash of market day, he said the Ipetumodus deliberately chose the market day of their new market to coincide with that of Ashipa Market in order to ‘kill’ the Ashipa Market. He therefore demanded that the Ipetumodu market day should be changed.

He also alleged that the people of Ipetumodu are kidnapping Ashipa people and demanded that this must stop for peace to reign in the area.

He insisted that the people of Ipetumodu must listen to the paramount ruler of the area, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, and ensure there is peace.

At the commission of inquiry The two warring parties last week appeared before the commission of inquiry where their representatives continued to trade accusations.

Counsel to the Ashipa community, Mr. Funminiyi Adeyemi, asked the commission to recommend the removal of the Akinola Market from Ashipa territory identifying the location and the market day as the cause of the crisis. He said the removal of the market could provide a solution to the crisis between the two communities.

Appealing to the state government through the panel to render assistance to the victims of the crisis, he submitted that those linked to the crisis and already apprehended by law enforcement agents should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to other would be troublemakers.

But counsel to Ipetumodu community, Chief Afolabi Adedeji, in his submission faulted Ashipa's de-

Court declares sack of FAAN GM illegal

HE National Industrial Court, (NIC), Lagos Division, has declared the sack of the former General Manager, Legal, of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Bayo Alabidun, by the government as illegal and wrongful.

In a judgment delivered by Justice B. B. Kanyip, the court held that the sudden retrenchment of the claimant, Alabidun, from service on October 4, 2011 by the authority of FAAN was wrong.

The court ordered the full payment of his salary from October 4, 2011 to May 29, 2015 within 30 days of the judgment.

The court also awarded N50, 000 to the claimant as cost of the action filed in court.

Justice Kanyip stated that failure to pay the damages and the salaries as ordered by the court “shall attract interest at ten percent per annum.”

Alabidun was the General Manager, Legal department of FAAN, until the termination of his appointment Joined as defendants in the suit are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Minister of Aviation. * Among other reliefs, Alabidun prayed the court to declare that he is still a staff of FAAN, until his appointment ceases by due process of law and in accordance with the staff conditions of service governing his contract of employment with FAAN., Besides, he prayed the court to declare that the “defendants’ letter Ref. No. FAAN.CA/CPF 4949/1/15 dated Ocober4, 2011 purporting to ‘disengage’ the plaintiff from his public service position or as public servant is unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The claimant also prayed the court to grant him damages in the sum of N1billion for abuse of office by the defendants “in unlawfully interfering with plaintiff’s employment as a public servant.”

The defendants, in their response, had stated that “the claimant was relieved of his position as General Manager, Legal of FAAN in 2011 along with others,

By Adebisi Onanuga

who the Interim Board believed, after a careful study, could not fit into the Transformation Agenda in the Aviation sector of the current administration.” * In his judgment, Justice Benedict Kanyip, held that Alabidun did not succeed in proving that he is a statutory employee of FAAN, but that FAAN was wrong in terminating his appointment.

The trial judge held that the reasons given by the defendants for the disengagement were not justified.

He held further that the evidence tendered by the defendants did not justify the claim of re-organisastion on which Alabidun’s sacking was hinged. , “Throughout the submissions of the defendants, I did not read anywhere where it was stated what the nature of the re-oganisation was, other than that it is line with the Transformation Agenda of the government and reform of the Aviation sector.

“I repeat once again, I cannot blindly use the word reform or re-organisation as justification without stating what it entails and its components. , “The defendants appeared to have simply found the word convenient to use and so that to them is sufficient justification. To be such, the defendants must prove the need for the reform or re-organisation, its component parts and how they succeeded in doing that in regards to the case at hand.

“The claimant in the instant case was the General Manager, Legal Services. In disengaging him from his employment, was the office he occupied scrapped in order to justify the re-oganisation? The defendants did not tell the court. If anything, Exhibit MBA5 in paragraph 2 had even asked the claimant to hand over the affairs of his unit to the Deputy Manager, Legal Services, presupposing thereby that the office of the General Manager, Legal, was still intact.

“All of this means that the defendants have not succeeded in justifying the reasons for which the claimant was disengaged, and I so find and hold!”, the judge stated.

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Save us from multiple taxation,

N appeal has gone to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to save the tourism and hospitality sector from multiple taxation.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of a five-star hotel in Ado-Ekiti, De Jewel Apartment, Chief Oyedeji Olajubu, who made the call at the weekend said multiple taxes by agents of local, state and federal governments is killing tourism and hospitality sector.

He advocated tax relief for investors in appreciation of their roles in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and creation of employment of opportunities Olajubu regretted that the tax being imposed on hotels by the State

Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

and federal governments is killing the industry and dissuading investors from investing heavily in the sector.

The hotel owner pointed out that aside from looking into the crippling and burdensome taxes affecting the hotel industry, the Federal Government should also improve power supply across the country, saying his hotel spent over N2 million to buy diesel monthly, a situation he said has been affecting his profit margin.

He said he decided to establish the 5-star hotels in Ado Ekiti as part of his efforts to confront unemployment among graduates and skilled youths to reduce the burdens on the govern-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

27

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT Smoking hemp with impunity in Akure

nt Area of Osun State have presented their positions to the commission of

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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•From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Member National Assembly representing Ife/Ijesa Federal Constituency, Senator ?Babajide Omoworare; Member House of Representatives, Honourable Rotimi Makinde; Baale OkokoIpetumodu, Chief Julius Adeboye; Immediate past Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun and others, during a visit ?to Ashipa and Ipetumodu towns as part of his effort to resolve conflicts between the two warring communities.

mands for removal of the Akinola market. Adedeji asserted that the power to shift the market was beyond the discretion of the panel. Also, Ipetumodu Progressives Union in a letter written to the commission urged the panel to see the request of Ashipa people for the removal the market as unacceptable.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Oyejide Falola in his short ruling, said that the commission will look into the matter and make its recommendation to the government without favour. He however, gave an order that the Akinola market, which he said the commission has identified as the source of clash of economic interest between the two neigbours, be stopped from operating on same date with the Asipa market.

Falola blamed the Ife North Local Government for not asserting its authority on the establishment of the market. "The crisis might have been L-R, General Secretary, Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union (FOSSU) Comrade, Olaniyan Adedamola, Vice President, Comrade Yusuf Imran, Vice President II, Comrade Hassan Fatimah and Treasurer, Comrade Adekunle Yusuf at a press briefing by the union on Monday at NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan to disassociate themself from belonging to any political party in Oyo State.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

averted if the council authority had done its job effectively by making sure Ipetumodu community did not erect a market on government land unless with due approval of the government," the judge submitted. He said the commission may recommend sanction against the council to serve as deterrent.?

Call for memoranda

At a press conference preceding the public hearing, Justice Falola had called on stakeholders, including communities, academics, traditional rulers and chiefs to come with their memoranda to the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, Osun State capital, venue of the sitting of the commission. According to him, the commission had received memoranda from the two communities adding that the members of the commission had also visited the two communities on a fact finding mission.

Crisis rocks Ondo RTEAN over suspension of nine officers

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OR their alleged involvement in a N1.5m scandal, nine officials of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Ondo West have been suspended.

The affected officers are Taye Adebanjo, Babatunde Olagundoye, Oladayo Damilola, Famakinwa Toluwalase, Foluso Fatusin, Paulina Olowoyo, Femi Alaba, Adelanke Olofin and Akinmutimi Rufus.

They were alleged to have defrauded the union of the amount said to be proceeds of the sales of the union’s items such as State Government Emblem, tickets, state identification cards, RTEAN identification cards, monthly dues as well as government

taxation, hoteliers urge NTDC ment.

Stressing on the need for investors in the sector to be creative in the provision of facilities, Olajubu said the provision of ultra-modern conference Hall, Gymnastic and Sauna facilities , swimming pool for children and adults as well as Internet Service and other facilities , makes the De Jewel Apartment a 21st century hotel in Ekiti.

He said the hotel has discharged its corporate Social Responsibility to the people by providing electricity to the residents within the vicinity of its operation and made donations to a police station in the Odo Ado Division of the Nigeria Police urging investors in the sector to emulate this virtue.

The chairman, who noted that the commission will carry out the job without any fear or favour, adding that it also received memoranda from other communities such as Osogbo Ede, Edunabon, Yakoyo and Moro; Songbe and Ede; Origbo communities; Ikirun and Oke-Ila; Gbongan and Osunjela among others where pocket of crisis exist.

He said: "The memoranda submitted so far are not limited to Ashipa/ Ipetumodu communities, but from different parts of state of Osun where communal crisis over land are brewing. This is in line with one of our mandates which is to develop a template to be used to tame the monster of communal crisis across the state.

But we are assuring that the commission would not apply its full weight of power on the affected communities but we have decided to employ persuasion and dialogue to the raging crisis, so, we are pleading with the two communities to cooperate with the commission.”

HERE is an upsurge in the sales and consumption of Indian hemp in Akure, the Ondo State capital and environs, giving law enforcement agents sleepless nights.

Of particular concern to law enforcement agents is the involvement of youths, especially teenagers, including girls in the smoking of hemp particularly in the open at different black spots spread across the city where the drug is on sale.

Findings revealed that young individuals between the ages of 13 and 25 in many parts of the state are either involved in the sales of the drug or are actively engaged in smoking it.

According to a source, residents in areas where the culprits have turned to smoking spots have reported the development to security agencies in the state but no firm action had been taken to combat the situation.

Though Indian hemp is sold in different parts of Akure, the major markets for the drug where the smokers also operate in the open are in Iludun, Igbogi and Oja Oba areas of the state capital.

Sources said some students in the tertiary institution within the community are allegedly patronizing the hemp spots at nights, a development which made the sellers to open a spot close to the campus of the university.

A visit to one of the hemp spots at Iludun Ala in the heart of Akure metropolis where the drug is sold at night showed that the addicts of the illicit drug smoke it publicly as some young individuals were seen moving around with wraps of Indian hemp in their hands.

Also, young ladies who were also in the system were seen dancing at the spot, which was an indication that not only men smoke Indian hemp, but ladies also get involved in the bad habit.

It was learnt that the owner of the house where the drug was being sold who was nicknamed “Papa” died last year and one of his children has since taken over the illegal business.

Also, efforts by relatives of the late papa to stop the illegal business have not yielded any positive result.

An addicted smoker of Indian hemp who refused to volunteer his name boasted that he had been smoking it for years, saying he did not see anything wrong in smoking it as it improves his agility and senses.

It was however gathered that the state command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is making frantic efforts to curb the sales and consumption of Indian hemp in all parts of the state.

An officer of the NDLEA who spoke in confidence hinted that officers of the agency would soon be deployed to various hideouts in the state to arrest those involved in the sale and consumption of the illicit drug.

The officer recalled that the agency had last year discovered an Indian hemp plantation in the state and arrested the owner of the plantation.

He said smokers of Indian hemp have been arrested in different parts of the state.

The NDLEA official noted that the increase in the sale and consumption of Indian hemp in the state might be attributed to the presence of different tribes in the state and heavy presence of youths, adding that the agency was prepared to curb the illegal acts.

The state commander of the NDLEA, Mr Ibrahim Abdul confirmed that the consumption of Indian hemp was high among teenagers in the state.

He added that the State Command of the NDLEA would not relent in its efforts at ensuring zero hard drug consumption in the state.

Abdul said since he assumed office less than a month ago his command had identified various Indian hemp joints in the state and destroyed hectres of hemp plantation in Akure and its environs.

He assured that the command would intensify efforts at ensuring that young individuals are enlightened on the dangers inherent in illicit drugs.

“The NTDC as a regulatory body must fight for us in this area of taxation.

“The Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the State Government through its tax collectors always approach us for taxes. We also pay tenement rate, which are affecting our investment and reducing our ability to expand.

“The Signage and advert agency will come and impose its charges. The NTDC needs to do a proper registration of all hotels and come up with recommendation to the State and Federal governments on a definite tax that can be paid and this should be based on the services being rendered.”

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

approved apron jacket.

According to a letter dated February 12, 2015 and signed by the Ondo State Secretary of the union, Enikanoselu Megbowon, the decision to suspend the affected members was as a result of their ‘unruly’ behaviour by walking out of the meeting in annoyance.

Besides, the letter said the affected members refused to pay the union’s funds in their possession.

Megbowon also said the association decided to suspend the affected members for quitting the RTEAN and joining the National Association of Commercial Motorcycle and Riders Asso-

ciation of Nigeria (NACOMORAS).

However, in their own reaction, the nine affected persons denied the allegations, stressing that their decision to leave their former union was in exercise of their right of freedom of association as embedded in the Nigeria constitution.

They supported their position with a letter dated 11, February 2015 signed by their lawyer Barrister Bode Akinkoye, and addressed to the National President NACOMARAS,RTEAN and other stakeholders.

The letter stressed that the suspended members decided to leave their former union because of alleged

mismanagement and high-handedness in the operational activities of their leaders.

Meanwhile the national leadership of union through the National Secretary of RTEAN, Yusuf Adeniyi has directed the state chairman of the body to stay action on the fraud allegation and maintain the status quo until the final determination of all issues and complaints by the national headquarters of the association in Abuja.

Adeniyi also ordered all the nine suspended members to be reinstated to their former positions immediately, while further action on the issue would be communicated to the appropriate authority.

Man, 65 docked over possession of Indian hemp

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65-YEAR-OLD man, Sheu Ashaolu, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti over illegal possession of two kilogrammes of Indian hemp.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) prosecution counsel, Charles Ugwuja, told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 3, last year.

Ugwuja told the court that Ashaolu was caught in possession of the illicit drug at Oke-Odo Street of IgbaraOdo, in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The charge sheet reads: “That you, Sheu Ashaolu on December 3, 2014 at Oke-Odo Street of Igbara-Odo, in Ekiti SouthWest LGA under the jurisdiction of this court without lawful authority did possess two kilogrammes of narcotic drug.”

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

by the accused contravened Section 19 of National Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Ugwuja then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him properly prepare for the case.

Earlier the accused had pleaded not guilty to the one count charge when it was read to him.

His counsel, Ibitoye Ogunyemi made an oral application, praying the court to grant bail in favour of his client in a liberal terms and it was not opposed to by the prosecution.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ishaq Sanni granted bail to the accused in the sum of N800,000 and one reliable surety in like sum.

Justice Sanni added that in the alternative the surety should be a Grade Level 10 Civil Servant.

He later adjourned the case till March 30, for trial.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

A National Youth Service Corps member in Oyo State has been conferred with a chieftaincy title by his host community for his contributions to the development of the area during his service year, BISI OLADELE reports.

•Some of the The patrol vans donated by Pastor Joshua

From left: Representative NYSC Coordinator, Oyo State, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun; Project Initiator, NYSC Corp Member, Mr Adedayo Adewole; his father, Prof Isaac Adewole; Commissioner for Education Oyo State, Prof Solomon Olaniyonu; Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye; at the inauguration of the library project donated by Adedayo Adewole at Iroko Community in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo State.

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T 29, and about completing his compulsory one year national service, the last thing on Adedayo Adewole’s mind was a chieftaincy title.

All he wanted was to serve his fatherland with all his strength during the service year and leave a lasting legacy with his host community as part of his contributions to the development of the area.

But his efforts in this regard in Iroko, a large community on the outskirts of Ibadan the Oyo State capital has earned him the chieftaincy title of Oluomo Iroko.

Adewole, a graduate of Medical Microbiology from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (UK) was honoured with the title last week by the Oniroko of Iroko, Baale Olasunkanmi Abioye for building a public library provided with a borehole for Iroko as part of his community development project for his service year.

Iroko is the centre of many other smaller communities in Akinyele Local Government area of the state.

The young chief was honoured by the Oniroko, Monday, last week at the commissioning of the project. Baale Abioye surprised all the members of staff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Commissioner for Education in the state, Professor.

Solomon Olaniyonu, officials of the University of Ibadan, other corps members, teachers, World Bank officials, friends and wellwishers who gathered to witness the inauguration of the project when he announced the conferment of the title on Adewole.

The traditional ruler could not hide his joy and satisfaction with the project, describing it as one of the best things that are happening to the community during his tenure.

He disclosed that a legal battle over the throne was fought for 32 years before it was resolved, paving way for his emergence four years ago.

“Within these four years, Iroko is changing for the better. It is enjoying cooperation from the government, chiefs and other stakeholders.” The traditional ruler said.

For the unique project and for choosing Iroko for the public library among many other communities in and around Ibadan land, Baale Abioye said ‘Dayo,’ as he fondly called the corps member, deserved a chieftaincy title.

He said: “For this important project that will bring succour to the people of Iroko, I hereby confer on you the title of the Oluomo of Irokoland.”

Reward for excellence •Corps member earns chieftaincy title for building N6m public library, borehole for Ibadan community The chairmen of Akinyele Local Government, Mr Ope Salami, emphasized Adewole’s determination to see the project completed.

He said he is unlike some other Nigerian youths who run after material wealth.

The Assistant Director, Community Development Unit of the NYSC in Oyo State, Mrs Obiageli Okpalifo, said Community Development (CD) project is one of the key points in national service. She identified sponsorship as a major challenge facing CD ideas generated by corps members and called on Nigerians to support them to enable them make meaningful impacts in local communities.

She also called for inclusion of

community service into the nation’s education curriculum to stimulate CD interest in youths.

The representative of the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the Oniroko for embracing the project by providing land and supporting Adewole from the beginning to the end of the project.

Mrs Abiodun appealed to the local government authorities to continue to support the project in order that it will not be abandoned. Specifically, she requested the council to provide electricity to power the borehole and light for the library. She also urged the council to initiate programmes that will attract stu-

dents and researchers to the library.

In his comment, Adewole, who is the son of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed satisfaction for accomplishing the dream of providing potable water for the community. He also instituted scholarships for indigent students from the fund realized from donors. The new chief said more initiatives were on the way.

He said he believes in giving back to the society.

According to him, he chose Iroko, believing that the community can as well produce some professors and other successful professionals in the future. He added that he chose a library project to widen up oppor-

tunities for the young ones who, if supported, could become highly successful in their education in future.

The representative of the World Bank at the event, Prof. Foluso Okumadewa, also pledged to bring more projects to the community. He disclosed that the bank was already supporting similar projects in 26 states in the country with 76 communities benefiting in Oyo State. He said Iroko community has joined the list of beneficiaries with the library and water project.

He emphasized that the bank would not allow the library project to be abandoned.

Professor Olaniyonu, who represented the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, explained that the new library would add value to education and also facilitate teaching and learning in the community.

He reeled out some of the achievements of the Ajimobi administration in education and commended Adewole for the project.

The police in Ondo State have been given a boost in their operations, with the donation of nine patrol vans equipped with modern communication gadgets by the Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Pastor Temitope Joshua, DAMISI OJO reports.

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S part of his contributions towards enhancing security in the Akoko area of Ondo State and boosting police operations across the state, the President/ Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Pastor Temitope Joshua has donated nine Toyota Hilux patrol vans to the state police command.

The donation by the ArigidiAkoko born cleric came on the heels of continuing deterioration in the security situation in Akokoland following series of armed robbery attacks across the four local governments in the area.

Pastor Joshua was particularly piqued by the recent robbery attack on banks in the ancient town of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It would be recalled that last month, a gang of armed robbers invaded Ikare community and operated with impunity in three

Synagogue founder boosts police operations with patrol vans banks, killing at least 21 people including four policemen, one undergraduate, two secondary school pupils and five bankers.

This ugly development quickly spurred the Synagogue founder to action to tackle the problem headlong in order to prevent re-occurrence.

While donating the vehicles to the police command, Prophet Joshua sympathized with the command and the family of those that lost their lives during the Ikare Akoko banks robbery attack.

The cleric put the cost of the vehicles at N215 million during a brief presentation ceremony at the police command headquarters, Akure

where he handed them over to the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke. He said the gesture was aimed at reducing crime rates in Akoko area of the state.

Pastor Joshua said the people of the area cried to God for help which prompted him as “a son of the soil” and man of God to donate the vehicles and renovate the damaged Police Station during the attack to further encourage the men of the police command.

The SCOAN founder who was represented by Mr. Mayowa Oluwayomi promised to fast track the completion and installation of communication gadgets across po-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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N

•Opesanwo (in suit) decorating Bamidele with his new rank at the ocassion. With them are Sangofadeji (right) and Mrs Sophia Bamidele

your eyes, you don’t have to sleep so that we can deliver the job assigned to us”, he said.

Sangofadeji advised the officers to be more effective and efficient at their duty post to ensure that safety is guaranteed and to always respect their uniforms wherever they may go. He urged them to ensure that they lead well and show good example to their junior officers. He also urged the officers who are yet to be promoted to continue work harder, be prayerful, diligent and dedicated to duty, believing that one day it will be their turn. He said no sentiment was permitted in the promotion pro-

Joshua for the provision of the vehicles and urged other prominent sons and daughters of the state to rally round the command to stamp out criminality across the state.

Eke said the gesture would boost their morale in the command to further discharge their duty effectively.

He said “if this kind gesture is coming now from (a man with) religions background, it is a sign of good things to come and at the same time a challenge to others to emulate him”.

He therefore promised on behalf of the command that the vehicles and the money that was given as a backup would be used to fight criminality in the area.

MTN donates patrol vans to Ekiti police

TRACE decorates new officers O fewer than 83 officers of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), were last week promoted and decorated with new ranks at the Corps Headquarters, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The officers promoted to the rank of directors were: Director, Traffic Training and Public Education, Commander Sola Bamidele, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Commander Babatunde Michael Ajayi and Director, Finance and Account, Commander Ijiola Aliu.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the officers’ elevation, the Commander/Chief Executive Officer of the Corps, Commander Ayo Sangofadeji said their promotion was a reflection of their hard work and commitment to their assigned duties, while imploring them not to rest on their oars.

Sangofadeji, while expressing delight at the decoration exercise, maintained that their ranks came with more responsibilities, loyalty and dedication to duties. He said ‘’A journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. Your promotion, although is a thing of joy, has given you more responsibilities. If you think you will have more freedom at the top, the reverse is the case.

“Those at the lower ranks even have more freedom than those at the top. You deserve to be promoted as such; I implore you not to rest on your oars, as there is more work to be done. You have to open

lice divisions in Akoko land to be able to connect the area directly with the Command Headquarters in Akure, the state capital.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers of the area, the Olubaka of Okaland, Oba Adebori Adeleye thanked Pastor Joshua for the kind gesture and urged other prominent sons and daughters of the area to emulate the man of God. Oba Adeleye noted that apart from the unfortunate robbery incident that occurred recently in the area, the state has been relatively peaceful since assumption of office of the incumbent Police boss.

Receiving the vans on behalf of the command, Mr. Eke appreciated

cess.

The Chairman, TRACE Board, Chief (Major) S. O. Adejinmi (rtd), while felicitating with the officers on their new ranks, urged them to improve their quality advice, quality of comradeship, quality of companionship that would enable the agency surmount the challenges vested in it. He warned them to remember that “victory has a thousand fathers while failure is an orphan.”

Continuing, he said “At this rank, ego should be your biggest challenge. I expect you at this level to be peacemakers. The road to the next promotion begins today, which

means you have to be impeccable in actions and avoid mistakes and all forms of indiscipline that could tarnish the image of the Corps. Remember that you are the ambassador of the Corps anywhere, anyday, he said.

The Ogun State Senior Special Assistant on Transportation, Mr Gbenga Opesanwo, also felicitated with the newly promoted officers, advising them to be more committed to their duties and also take care of their families.

While advising the road users to obey traffic rules and regulations, he said safety on the roads is not the

•From left: Ijiola, Ajayi and Ajibade after being decorated with their new ranks

responsibility of the corps alone, but also individuals’ responsibilities. He added that government was committed to constructing modern traffic lights across the state to enhance the corps’ efforts to curb the lawlessness on the roads. He appealed to all road users to cooperate with the traffic managers to ensure end to road crashes within and outside the state so that lives and properties lost on a daily basis can be saved for development and posterity.

The newly decorated senior commanding officers were: Commander Adedayo Omonayajo, Commander Abayomi Ajibose, Commander

Taiwo Ajala, Commander Adekunle Rosanwo, Commander Adekunle Ajibade, Commander Teslim Adedeji, Commander Olabode Abdul, Commander David Abiola, Commander Morolake Filani, Commander Akinkunmi Ebunoluwa, Commander Lawal Umoru, Commander Kazeem Temitayo and Commander Surajudeen Olukoga.

And the superintendent officers were: Azeez Popoola, Adesina Ayodeji, Olajumoke Adeyeye, Waheed Kareem, Adeola Monayajo, Adekunle Awonowo, Peter Oridota, Mary Ogunkile, Rotimi Adenaike, Olubunmi Akano, Iyabo Odebudo,

Temitayo Odejoke, Seye Oguntula, Rufus Oyejimi, Bisi Odidi, Olumide Amusan and Oyetayo Otukoya, among others.

Dignitaries at the event include: Director of Service Matters, Mr. Adebowale Oyetola Oyeneye, General Manager, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Engr. Tunde Awolana, General Manager, Ogun State Parks and Garages Development Board, Alhaji Ayo Ogunsolu, Chairperson, TRACE Officers’ Wives Association (TROWA) Mrs Bosede Sangofadeji, Director, Cassava Revolution, Mrs Jokotoye Kehinde among others.

HE MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of MTN Nigeria, has invested over N10 billion in executing various projects in 341 locations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital while handing over five patrol vehicles to the state government to boost security.

The five Toyota Hilux vehicles fully equipped with communication and security facilities were commissioned by Governor Ayo Fayose who promised to utilize the vehicles to boost security in the state.

Goodluck said the gesture was MTN Foundation’s gesture to partner with the government to ensure security of life and property and create a safe business climate.

He pointed out that the donation came under the MTN Foundation Security Support Project to collaborate with governments across the country to boost security.

The MTN chief explained that security of life and property was critical to the growth and development of the state which should not be left to government alone.

According to him, security is a major challenge not only in Nigeria but in West Africa which cannot be done by government alone but with collaboration with other stakeholders.

Goodluck disclosed that through the previous phases of the initiative, the MTN Foundation had provided 115 fully-equipped security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to 18 state governments and the FCT. States which benefited under the first phase were Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and the FCT. Bayelsa, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Ondo and Lagos benefited under the second phase while Ekiti, Abia, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara benefited under the third phase.

Speaking at the event, a Director of MTN Foundation, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi, expressed concern over growing insecurity in the country.

Adelusi-Adeluyi who was a one time Minister of Health described insecurity as a threat that must be tackled by all stakeholders.

He said, “We are here to show our support for the state. We are aware of the security threat throughout the nation.

“We have tried to make provisions to facilitate the work of security agencies”.

Responding, Fayose expressed appreciation to the foundation for the gesture which he said was timely.

He praised Adelusi-Adeluyi, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Adesina who were all present at the event as leading lights in corporate Nigeria.

The governor noted that the intervention will enhance security and add value to development.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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A National Youth Service Corps member in Oyo State has been conferred with a chieftaincy title by his host community for his contributions to the development of the area during his service year, BISI OLADELE reports.

•Some of the The patrol vans donated by Pastor Joshua

From left: Representative NYSC Coordinator, Oyo State, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun; Project Initiator, NYSC Corp Member, Mr Adedayo Adewole; his father, Prof Isaac Adewole; Commissioner for Education Oyo State, Prof Solomon Olaniyonu; Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye; at the inauguration of the library project donated by Adedayo Adewole at Iroko Community in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo State.

A

T 29, and about completing his compulsory one year national service, the last thing on Adedayo Adewole’s mind was a chieftaincy title.

All he wanted was to serve his fatherland with all his strength during the service year and leave a lasting legacy with his host community as part of his contributions to the development of the area.

But his efforts in this regard in Iroko, a large community on the outskirts of Ibadan the Oyo State capital has earned him the chieftaincy title of Oluomo Iroko.

Adewole, a graduate of Medical Microbiology from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (UK) was honoured with the title last week by the Oniroko of Iroko, Baale Olasunkanmi Abioye for building a public library provided with a borehole for Iroko as part of his community development project for his service year.

Iroko is the centre of many other smaller communities in Akinyele Local Government area of the state.

The young chief was honoured by the Oniroko, Monday, last week at the commissioning of the project. Baale Abioye surprised all the members of staff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Commissioner for Education in the state, Professor.

Solomon Olaniyonu, officials of the University of Ibadan, other corps members, teachers, World Bank officials, friends and wellwishers who gathered to witness the inauguration of the project when he announced the conferment of the title on Adewole.

The traditional ruler could not hide his joy and satisfaction with the project, describing it as one of the best things that are happening to the community during his tenure.

He disclosed that a legal battle over the throne was fought for 32 years before it was resolved, paving way for his emergence four years ago.

“Within these four years, Iroko is changing for the better. It is enjoying cooperation from the government, chiefs and other stakeholders.” The traditional ruler said.

For the unique project and for choosing Iroko for the public library among many other communities in and around Ibadan land, Baale Abioye said ‘Dayo,’ as he fondly called the corps member, deserved a chieftaincy title.

He said: “For this important project that will bring succour to the people of Iroko, I hereby confer on you the title of the Oluomo of Irokoland.”

Reward for excellence •Corps member earns chieftaincy title for building N6m public library, borehole for Ibadan community The chairmen of Akinyele Local Government, Mr Ope Salami, emphasized Adewole’s determination to see the project completed.

He said he is unlike some other Nigerian youths who run after material wealth.

The Assistant Director, Community Development Unit of the NYSC in Oyo State, Mrs Obiageli Okpalifo, said Community Development (CD) project is one of the key points in national service. She identified sponsorship as a major challenge facing CD ideas generated by corps members and called on Nigerians to support them to enable them make meaningful impacts in local communities.

She also called for inclusion of

community service into the nation’s education curriculum to stimulate CD interest in youths.

The representative of the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the Oniroko for embracing the project by providing land and supporting Adewole from the beginning to the end of the project.

Mrs Abiodun appealed to the local government authorities to continue to support the project in order that it will not be abandoned. Specifically, she requested the council to provide electricity to power the borehole and light for the library. She also urged the council to initiate programmes that will attract stu-

dents and researchers to the library.

In his comment, Adewole, who is the son of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed satisfaction for accomplishing the dream of providing potable water for the community. He also instituted scholarships for indigent students from the fund realized from donors. The new chief said more initiatives were on the way.

He said he believes in giving back to the society.

According to him, he chose Iroko, believing that the community can as well produce some professors and other successful professionals in the future. He added that he chose a library project to widen up oppor-

tunities for the young ones who, if supported, could become highly successful in their education in future.

The representative of the World Bank at the event, Prof. Foluso Okumadewa, also pledged to bring more projects to the community. He disclosed that the bank was already supporting similar projects in 26 states in the country with 76 communities benefiting in Oyo State. He said Iroko community has joined the list of beneficiaries with the library and water project.

He emphasized that the bank would not allow the library project to be abandoned.

Professor Olaniyonu, who represented the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, explained that the new library would add value to education and also facilitate teaching and learning in the community.

He reeled out some of the achievements of the Ajimobi administration in education and commended Adewole for the project.

The police in Ondo State have been given a boost in their operations, with the donation of nine patrol vans equipped with modern communication gadgets by the Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Pastor Temitope Joshua, DAMISI OJO reports.

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S part of his contributions towards enhancing security in the Akoko area of Ondo State and boosting police operations across the state, the President/ Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Pastor Temitope Joshua has donated nine Toyota Hilux patrol vans to the state police command.

The donation by the ArigidiAkoko born cleric came on the heels of continuing deterioration in the security situation in Akokoland following series of armed robbery attacks across the four local governments in the area.

Pastor Joshua was particularly piqued by the recent robbery attack on banks in the ancient town of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It would be recalled that last month, a gang of armed robbers invaded Ikare community and operated with impunity in three

Synagogue founder boosts police operations with patrol vans banks, killing at least 21 people including four policemen, one undergraduate, two secondary school pupils and five bankers.

This ugly development quickly spurred the Synagogue founder to action to tackle the problem headlong in order to prevent re-occurrence.

While donating the vehicles to the police command, Prophet Joshua sympathized with the command and the family of those that lost their lives during the Ikare Akoko banks robbery attack.

The cleric put the cost of the vehicles at N215 million during a brief presentation ceremony at the police command headquarters, Akure

where he handed them over to the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke. He said the gesture was aimed at reducing crime rates in Akoko area of the state.

Pastor Joshua said the people of the area cried to God for help which prompted him as “a son of the soil” and man of God to donate the vehicles and renovate the damaged Police Station during the attack to further encourage the men of the police command.

The SCOAN founder who was represented by Mr. Mayowa Oluwayomi promised to fast track the completion and installation of communication gadgets across po-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

T

N

•Opesanwo (in suit) decorating Bamidele with his new rank at the ocassion. With them are Sangofadeji (right) and Mrs Sophia Bamidele

your eyes, you don’t have to sleep so that we can deliver the job assigned to us”, he said.

Sangofadeji advised the officers to be more effective and efficient at their duty post to ensure that safety is guaranteed and to always respect their uniforms wherever they may go. He urged them to ensure that they lead well and show good example to their junior officers. He also urged the officers who are yet to be promoted to continue work harder, be prayerful, diligent and dedicated to duty, believing that one day it will be their turn. He said no sentiment was permitted in the promotion pro-

Joshua for the provision of the vehicles and urged other prominent sons and daughters of the state to rally round the command to stamp out criminality across the state.

Eke said the gesture would boost their morale in the command to further discharge their duty effectively.

He said “if this kind gesture is coming now from (a man with) religions background, it is a sign of good things to come and at the same time a challenge to others to emulate him”.

He therefore promised on behalf of the command that the vehicles and the money that was given as a backup would be used to fight criminality in the area.

MTN donates patrol vans to Ekiti police

TRACE decorates new officers O fewer than 83 officers of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), were last week promoted and decorated with new ranks at the Corps Headquarters, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The officers promoted to the rank of directors were: Director, Traffic Training and Public Education, Commander Sola Bamidele, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Commander Babatunde Michael Ajayi and Director, Finance and Account, Commander Ijiola Aliu.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the officers’ elevation, the Commander/Chief Executive Officer of the Corps, Commander Ayo Sangofadeji said their promotion was a reflection of their hard work and commitment to their assigned duties, while imploring them not to rest on their oars.

Sangofadeji, while expressing delight at the decoration exercise, maintained that their ranks came with more responsibilities, loyalty and dedication to duties. He said ‘’A journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. Your promotion, although is a thing of joy, has given you more responsibilities. If you think you will have more freedom at the top, the reverse is the case.

“Those at the lower ranks even have more freedom than those at the top. You deserve to be promoted as such; I implore you not to rest on your oars, as there is more work to be done. You have to open

lice divisions in Akoko land to be able to connect the area directly with the Command Headquarters in Akure, the state capital.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers of the area, the Olubaka of Okaland, Oba Adebori Adeleye thanked Pastor Joshua for the kind gesture and urged other prominent sons and daughters of the area to emulate the man of God. Oba Adeleye noted that apart from the unfortunate robbery incident that occurred recently in the area, the state has been relatively peaceful since assumption of office of the incumbent Police boss.

Receiving the vans on behalf of the command, Mr. Eke appreciated

cess.

The Chairman, TRACE Board, Chief (Major) S. O. Adejinmi (rtd), while felicitating with the officers on their new ranks, urged them to improve their quality advice, quality of comradeship, quality of companionship that would enable the agency surmount the challenges vested in it. He warned them to remember that “victory has a thousand fathers while failure is an orphan.”

Continuing, he said “At this rank, ego should be your biggest challenge. I expect you at this level to be peacemakers. The road to the next promotion begins today, which

means you have to be impeccable in actions and avoid mistakes and all forms of indiscipline that could tarnish the image of the Corps. Remember that you are the ambassador of the Corps anywhere, anyday, he said.

The Ogun State Senior Special Assistant on Transportation, Mr Gbenga Opesanwo, also felicitated with the newly promoted officers, advising them to be more committed to their duties and also take care of their families.

While advising the road users to obey traffic rules and regulations, he said safety on the roads is not the

•From left: Ijiola, Ajayi and Ajibade after being decorated with their new ranks

responsibility of the corps alone, but also individuals’ responsibilities. He added that government was committed to constructing modern traffic lights across the state to enhance the corps’ efforts to curb the lawlessness on the roads. He appealed to all road users to cooperate with the traffic managers to ensure end to road crashes within and outside the state so that lives and properties lost on a daily basis can be saved for development and posterity.

The newly decorated senior commanding officers were: Commander Adedayo Omonayajo, Commander Abayomi Ajibose, Commander

Taiwo Ajala, Commander Adekunle Rosanwo, Commander Adekunle Ajibade, Commander Teslim Adedeji, Commander Olabode Abdul, Commander David Abiola, Commander Morolake Filani, Commander Akinkunmi Ebunoluwa, Commander Lawal Umoru, Commander Kazeem Temitayo and Commander Surajudeen Olukoga.

And the superintendent officers were: Azeez Popoola, Adesina Ayodeji, Olajumoke Adeyeye, Waheed Kareem, Adeola Monayajo, Adekunle Awonowo, Peter Oridota, Mary Ogunkile, Rotimi Adenaike, Olubunmi Akano, Iyabo Odebudo,

Temitayo Odejoke, Seye Oguntula, Rufus Oyejimi, Bisi Odidi, Olumide Amusan and Oyetayo Otukoya, among others.

Dignitaries at the event include: Director of Service Matters, Mr. Adebowale Oyetola Oyeneye, General Manager, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Engr. Tunde Awolana, General Manager, Ogun State Parks and Garages Development Board, Alhaji Ayo Ogunsolu, Chairperson, TRACE Officers’ Wives Association (TROWA) Mrs Bosede Sangofadeji, Director, Cassava Revolution, Mrs Jokotoye Kehinde among others.

HE MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of MTN Nigeria, has invested over N10 billion in executing various projects in 341 locations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital while handing over five patrol vehicles to the state government to boost security.

The five Toyota Hilux vehicles fully equipped with communication and security facilities were commissioned by Governor Ayo Fayose who promised to utilize the vehicles to boost security in the state.

Goodluck said the gesture was MTN Foundation’s gesture to partner with the government to ensure security of life and property and create a safe business climate.

He pointed out that the donation came under the MTN Foundation Security Support Project to collaborate with governments across the country to boost security.

The MTN chief explained that security of life and property was critical to the growth and development of the state which should not be left to government alone.

According to him, security is a major challenge not only in Nigeria but in West Africa which cannot be done by government alone but with collaboration with other stakeholders.

Goodluck disclosed that through the previous phases of the initiative, the MTN Foundation had provided 115 fully-equipped security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to 18 state governments and the FCT. States which benefited under the first phase were Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and the FCT. Bayelsa, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Ondo and Lagos benefited under the second phase while Ekiti, Abia, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara benefited under the third phase.

Speaking at the event, a Director of MTN Foundation, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi, expressed concern over growing insecurity in the country.

Adelusi-Adeluyi who was a one time Minister of Health described insecurity as a threat that must be tackled by all stakeholders.

He said, “We are here to show our support for the state. We are aware of the security threat throughout the nation.

“We have tried to make provisions to facilitate the work of security agencies”.

Responding, Fayose expressed appreciation to the foundation for the gesture which he said was timely.

He praised Adelusi-Adeluyi, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Adesina who were all present at the event as leading lights in corporate Nigeria.

The governor noted that the intervention will enhance security and add value to development.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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One year after, justice for Toba Falode uncertain •Continued from page 25 ever happened.

“That is the sore aspect for me because he should be held questionable for his action. And if the government is not helping one to get that, it just breaks you,” said Falode.

Moving on While hoping that with the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan following a letter sent to him by activist Dr. Joe Odumakin, justice will be done in her son’s case, Falode said she was working on starting a foundation to give succour to people who have suffered similar fate.

“We are working on starting a foundation to give succour to bereaved families of young people whose lives were caught short untimely,” said Falode.

A sister’s memoire Falode was not the only one still pained by Toba’s death, the deceased’s only sister, Tolu, in a poetic eulogy, said it was still hard to believe her brother was gone.

“It has been one year since Toba passed. One year since the voice of Tyler Fray became silent. One year since the story of my family changed forever. I am not sure how to begin to describe the pain, grief, pressure, and scar this death has left on my heart.

“How do you quantify a lost dream into words? How do you begin to share the memory of a lifetime? How does one begin to map out a story of a family?

•Pastor Itua Ighodalor praying for Aisha Falode, her daughter, Tolu at the first memorial and thanksgiving service in commemoration of Aisha son Toba who died in Dubai at Trinity House Zion centre, Lekki, Lagos.

“We are still fighting the battle for justice. We still carry the banner of truth...

“This day (February 16) last year remains vivid in my memory for so many reasons. It was a day that carried the weight of death on its shoulders and crashed into my paradise of peace. It was a day that was filled with silent screams and violent echoes of pain. It was a day the spirit of Toba was called back to be with the LORD. A day that my family will forever remember and would never be able to forget.

“This day last year-our lives changed forever and we started a new unfamiliar and unwelcome chapter in our routines outside our comfort and outside our horizon of peace.

“It is a terrain that is unfamiliar to the senses because it was very much a layer of pain and grief we were standing on. But I thank God for His support and His mercy that has shielded

my family this past year. I thank Him for the grace and guidance He gave us to survive the threat of destruction.

“I would however miss my brother, friend and confidant, Tyler Fray. It pains me that so many did not get to experience the joy he brought into life, the smiles he managed to bring out of sadness and the laughter he birthed from tears.

“It pains me that he did not have a chance to tell his story himself without my words that fail to encompass the bulk of a man that was Toba. But I would try my best to give you an idea of the man that has brought us all together for a reason that would otherwise be avoided because in our presence is the memory of his death.

And in his death is a story of sorrow and tears and pain. It is the grace of God that enabled us to survive this loss.

“Toba was a young man full of life

and dreams and ambitions. He was a man filled with hope for the future and packaged with lessons from the past. He was a spirit and a soul ready to fill the world with his gift. He was determined, focused and ready to leave his footprint in the sands of time.

“Toba was a mischievous brother, who always knew just the right words to say to get under my skin.

He was a man that walked in the path of his dreams and trusted them to lead him to his destiny. Toba was a quiet, caring and loving son who was extremely protective of our mother. His words carried the weight of wisdom and he always knew what to say and how to say it to get his unique point across.

“He had an admirable perspective for life and believed it rewarded those who worked for success. And he was determined to be part of the successful. He could write down his dreams

and paint them into pictures to give you a vision of his desired reality. He paid attention to his love for music and was inspired by different ideas and situations. His mind was a den of imagination.

“Tyler Fray was an alter ego he created to house his dreams. Tyler Fray was a young man that was sociable, loved, adventurous and keen to mix with people and hear and share different ideas. He was a musician.

Tyler Fray was the man that would grow into the dreams Toba had painted from childhood. He was a talent waiting to be discovered, a voice eager to be heard. Tyler Fray was my brother.

“This is a glimpse of my brother Toba Falode. A man that was so eager to explore life and had his pathway lit with purpose. And in that purpose he was led to the peace of the Almighty so early in life...

“For 19 years I had the pleasure of watching a young keen loud boy full of laughter chase and annoy me in childhood before he became a young man I deeply respected and admired him for the courage and fearlessness he had in following his dreams.

For 19 years I was honoured to be his sister as I watched this beacon of dreams become a man filled with purpose and passion for life. For 19 years he coloured our lives as a family with the foundations of love, strength and joy and for those 19 years I am grateful,” said Tolu.

Failure of government The Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who was at the gathering admitted that the government has not done well in its responsibility of protecting and looking after its citizens.

Uduaghan was however quick to admit that there was improvement under President Goodluck Jonathan, highlighting the steps taken by the president when he learnt about questionable deaths of some Nigerians abroad including Toba Falode’s.

The governor said he felt particularly connected to the Falodes because he also has two children- a boy and a girl- and could imagine the pain and grieve being felt by the family.

Road as new year gift for Lagos community

F

OR residents of Fagbile Phase Three Estate in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, their years of sufferings due to lack of amenities may be about to end.

They have been assured that the road linking the community with the new Ijegun-Jakande Estate Expressway would be constructed before the end of the current administration in the state.

Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) of IkotunIgando Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Elder Ademola Oshibeluwo said the leadership of the council in concert with the state government had finalised arrangements for the construction of the road, adding that workers would be mobilised to site sooner than the community imagined.

He spoke at the weekend at an end-of-year party organised by landlords and tenants Association of the Estate for the residents, clarifying that the current administration was aware of the importance of roads to socio-economic development which, according to him, was why a large chunk of the states’ revenue had been committed on road construction and rehabilitation.

Oshibeluwo said: “I have the word of the LCDA chairman to allay your fears in respect of the road for which you have been clamouring. You may not believe it, but arrangements have been made for it and you will soon see confirmations of that. In the next few weeks we will be riding on an expressway”, he said.

Earlier, the CDA chairman, Mr. Chris Onioha had lamented the troubles experienced by residents as

By Sulaiman Salawudeen

a result of the bad state of the road, noting “efforts have been made to call attention to the plight of the residents not only regarding the poor state of the only road serving the community but the absence of other amenities like a health centre and primary and secondary schools”.

His words: “This is a fairly large community. But, we have not felt government presence here at all. No road, no hospital, no schools for our children, nothing. When the rains come, it becomes war for us here to either go out of or return to our houses.

“We have clamoured and shouted about it several times. We have written letters also. No one has responded yet.

“Whenever the rains prepare to fall, it brings sadness rather than joy to us. We want a direct road to the Ijegun-Jakande Estate with well-laid drainage channels. We deserve it.

This is a big community with thousands of houses and millions of people.

“When we were doing self help project, we won an award from the Lagos State Government as the best CDA in Lagos state in 2013. The government recognised us as the best CDA in project development and execution. Based on this, we deserve the mercy of the state government”, Onioha said.

Alhaji Jimoh Ismael, an ex-officio member of the CDA said: “Here in Phase 3, there is no school, no primary health centre, no road, no drainages. During rainy season, you witness war getting to your houses”.

•The only road into the estate

The event also witnessed awards of certificates of recognition to some members of the community including Mr. Simeon Inwanyi Agubanze; Comrade Imo Walter; Mr. Opebiyi Jelili; Comrade Wale Adegboye; Mr. Tajudeen Afolabi ; Mrs Omolara Idowu; Mr. Rode; Chief Dare Akinlade, Lukosi of Arigbajo; and Malam Musa Ibrahim.

Others were Pa Ogungbayi Joseph; Alhaji. Dele Olanipekun; Mr. Segun Olajubu; Mr. Thomas Onarinde; Mr. Sunday Adegoke, Mr. Kayode Ajiboye, Mr. David Oloso, Baba Atelumatu Ajala; Barrister Momodu Tokunbo; Engineer.

Olalekan Omibekun; Tewogbola Alade; Mr. Akinbola Joseph; Mr. Adewumi Jubril; Mr. Jimoh Ismael; Pastor Sekoni Emos Tola; Mrs. Omolara Idowu; Mr. Williams

Neverest, Coordinator, Odua Peoples Congress; Ahmed Koleoso; Mr. And Mrs. Chris Nwanne Oniawa, Chairman, CDA, Fagbile Awards of merit were equally conferred on Comrade Wale Adegboye; Mr. Martins Odusanya; Mr. Thomas Onarinde; Alhaji and Alhaja Dele Olanipekun; Mr. Kayode Ajiboye; Baba Ajala Yekinni Atelumatu; Alhaji Jelili Babaoja; Chief Dare Akinremi, Likosi Arigbajo (A community in Ogun State; Alhaji Jimoh Ismael; Comrade Walter Imo; Alhaji Adegbenga Kasali, 2nd Vice Chairman, Fagbile Phase 3; Alhaji Kehinde Opebiyi; Secretary to the CDA, Mr. Segun Olajubu; Post humous awards were given to Femi Adebanjo represented by his wife, Victoria Adebanjo; Late

Mukaila Sanusi represented by his wife Sidikat Sanusi.

Olajubu and Sekoni noted the party was meant to sustain brotherly love among members in the community, adding that “It was the grace of God which has sustained every one of us. Just a day celebration to demonstrate our love will not be too much”.

Olajubu’s words: “We are celebrating as a community an annual event which started three years ago.

It is meant to bring together landlords, landowners, tenants and friends from within and outside the community.

We also use the occasion to thank those who have been particularly helpful to the community and to thank leaders who have been providing guidance.”

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‘Council workers are engine room of grassroots development’ C OUNCIL workers as the engine room of grassroots development have been charged to redouble their efforts at bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State.

The Executive Secretary of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area Rotimi Adeleye, dropped the charge in his message on the New Year prayer/award giving ceremony of workers of his council, held last Tuesday at the council’s area office.

Adeleye who assumed office 43 days ago said if government must succeed in its commitment to improve the infrastructure and state of social welfare of the people, it must have the backing of a workforce that is ready to eschew civil service mentality and be service-driven.

He said: “As the engine room of this administration, the task before us is enormous and I would implore you all to key into the vision of Governor Babatunde Fashola who by example has convinced us that every good thing is achievable through determination, unity and perseverance. Let us work as one indivisible entity to place this council in an enviable position among other local governments.”

He also charged them to go and collect their permanent voter’s

•From left: former PRO of the council and retiree, Mr Joshua Oladapo Okeniran, being presented with his award by Otuniyi. With them is council’s NULGE Chairman, Morakinyo

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

card and support the All Progressives Congress (APC) party in its determination to bring the good things of life closer to the people of the area.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the council’s branch of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Comrade Mayowa Morakinyo said the workers’ forum was organised to motivate all workers to continue to put in their best, adding that series of awards were introduced this year to boost worker’s morale and enlist their commitment to the continued growth, success and development of the council.

He listed that his leadership has achieved a number of successes within his short tenure in office, ranging from upward review of monthly imprest, continuous assistance to members during promotional examinations, conversion and confirmation, and the acquisition of land for members’ estate.

He called for the prompt completion of the proposed council secretariat which he said would resolve the lingering issue of office accommodation, even as he challenged the management to provide the workers with new staff bus, more work tools and make the present offices more workerfriendly.

The workers under his leadership he pledged, would continue to renew their efforts in making the council a reference point in the delivery of government’s programmes and manifestoes in the grassroots in the state.

He said over 40 retirees and 22 outstanding workers drawn from all the departments and agencies of the local government would be celebrated for their diligent service to the people of the council and the state.

The Council Manager Alhaji AbdulAfeez Adeniyi Otuniyi lauded the NULGE leadership for putting the event together and adding to this year’s package, an award ceremony, which was tar-

geted at not only all outstanding workers across all the departments and agencies of the council but also retirees.

He described workers welfare as being very critical to the government adding however that the only way a worker can show appreciation for all that have been done for him is to throw everything to the job that gives him his sustenance and provides him with daily living.

He said the council will no longer brook absenteeism and will continue to reward diligence, and hard work, adding that besides the Christmas benefit, the council has put in place a welfare initiative to take care of the financial needs of its workers.

He assured that all within the council’s financial capacity would be done to ensure that the ongoing secretariat building does not become an abandoned project adding that when the secretariat is completed the council would be able to have all its workers in one place, which he said would enhance the workers’ productivity.

In his goodwill message, the Human Resources Officer Alhaji Yusuf Ibitoye called on all workers to be more dedicated as the wind of reforms sweeping through the state’s civil service has berthed at the council and will likely affect all truants and those handling their official assignments with levity.

He said: “Let me warn all of you that attendance at work is now compulsory and part of your assessment. Anyone who wants to be promoted must come to the office as this now carries 50 percent of your total assessment.”

Highpoint of the event which was attended by the over 1,000 workforce, top management staff of the council and the four councilmanagement team were the prayers from Christians and Moslems and gift awards to all retirees and best workers of the council.

A campaign to re-orientate Lagosians to do the right thing is on by a group called the Spirit of Lagos, DADA ALADELOKUN reports.

A

Group steps up efforts for Lagos’ rebirth

RE you one of those who delight in disposing of wastes anyhow, anywhere? Or as a prospective voter, are you expecting a candidate to grease your palms before voting? If yes, you are a pain in the neck of the society and indeed, a case in the hands of the Spirit of Lagos, an organisation that is committed to rebuilding the society through behavioural rebirth.

For weeks now, the body has stepped up its intensive campaign against anti-social activities that breed disorderliness across every nook and cranny of Lagos urging people to “do the right thing.”

The non-political and non-religious organisation, through the state-wide road tour that was rounded off last week, saw its ambassadors traversing key locations including parks, markets, major bus stops and terminals across the state, admonishing residents to imbibe the right attitudes that could midwife sane democratic governance and effectual social participation.

At the populous Mushin market, Ojodu Berger, Ijesha Bus Stop, PakoAguda, Festac, Ajegunle, Oke Ira in Ogba, Anthony, Badagry, Epe and Okokomaiko among many other places the group took the campaign to, residents listened with rapt attention as they gleefully collected the leaflets.

“This is a worthwhile crusade that will surely restore the past glory of Lagos. We as a people must key into

these people’s efforts in our collective interest so that all the societal ills that combine to cause tension in the society will become things of the past. To regain sanity in this society, there must be orderliness and a good measure of discipline. I, therefore, appreciate what these people are doing,” Chief Omotola Ariyo, a community leader, said, after listening to the ambassadors at Anthony.

The group’s Project Director, Olaniyi Omotoso, who led its other ambassadors on one of their outings in Lagos, defied the scotching sun to distribute leaflets and address residents in groups and individually.

“What we are doing is in line with civic responsibility, which is one of the four cardinal points of this association. We are out to urge Lagosians to change those attitudes that negate the spirit of Lagos. We remind them that it is wrong for them to dispose off their wastes arbitrarily; dash across the roads where there are pedestrian bridges; evade taxes and so on. And as the elections are around the corner, they must collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote according to their conscience and not spurred by parochial sentiments. The people of Lagos must be actively involved in the process of electing those who will be in positions of authority. It is part of their civic responsibility,” Omotoso explained.

The Project Director, who said the group had also preached attitudinal

•An ambassador speaking with bike riders

change through ‘Change Your Thinking’ campaign, added that it has the sole objective of restoring the unique values that made Lagos a safe, just, prosperous and neighbourly place to inhabit and visit in the past.”

Omotoso further advised Lagosians: “Care for your neighbours like you would like to be cared for. Call 767 or 112 in emergency situations instead of just observing. Treat everybody around you fairly. We are all valuable citizens regardless of our cur-

rent positions. Obey the laws of the land so that we can all live safely and peacefully. Vote peacefully. It’s the right thing to do. Do not take your right to vote for granted. It is the way to choose those who lead and serve us See public utilities as your own.

Do not destroy, deface or do anything that would put them in bad light/position/situation. Dispose off your refuse properly. Use the waste bin and cooperate with the state waste management agency (LAWMA) officials. Remember,

cleanliness is next to Godliness. Use the pedestrian bridges. They were built with public funds to save life of individuals. Always use the pedestrian bridges where available instead of dashing through the express roads. Your life is valuable to the state and your loved ones.”

Maintaining that the spirit of Lagos is that of love, Omotoso said that from time immemorial, the main binding value shared by Lagosians is love, adding that they loved themselves, their surroundings and the state.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

32

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Court battle continues as families fail to agree on new Ayangburen of Ikorodu T HE dispute among the princes of Ikorodu over the next Ayangburen is not about to end any time soon as the warring factions of the Adegorushen royal families have refused to shift ground on their opposition to Odofin Kabiru Shotobi.

Odofin Shotobi was the choice of the kingmakers for the vacant stool of the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, having been allegedly picked from a list of nine candidates from the Lasunwon ruling house.

Counsels to the various royal houses told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikorodu last week that a meeting of the families held at the instance of the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs failed to agree on the choice of Shotobi for the stool.

The counsels told the court presided

by Justice Akintunde Savage that they have forwarded their communiqué to the Commissioner informing him that their meeting was stalemated.

Mathew Adetayo Shodipo, Omobo Sokelu, Shakiru Shodipo, Nurudeen Fakomaya and Albert Aina have, for themselves and on behalf of the Lambo arm of the Lasunwon ruling house of Ikorodu challenged the nomination of the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabiru Shotobi for the stool of the Ayangburen.

The first to 12th respondents in the suit are Ezekiel Shodipo, Tajudeen Odofin for themselves and on behalf of the Adegorushen arm of Lasunwon ruling house.

Other respondents include the Odofin, Chief Kabiru Shotobi; the Olisa and regent of Ikorodu, Chief Oludele Odusoga; Solomade of Ikorodu Chief Afolabi Adekayaoja; Apena of Ikorodu, Chief Karimu Ore; the Oponuwa, Chief Jacob Kolawole Adaraloye for themselves and the kingmakers of Ikorodu.

Other respondents are the Ikorodu Local Government; Ikorodu Division of Council of Obas and Chiefs; Secretary, Ikorodu Chieftaincy Committee; Lagos State Ministry Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

At the resumed hearing of the matter last week, counsel to the claimants,

The battle for the throne of Ayagburen of Ikorodu Kingdom in Lagos State between the princes of Lasunwon ruling house has taken a twist, ADEBISI ONANUGA; reports.

John Osighala told the court that the meeting of the various branches of the Lasunwon ruling house was deadlocked and that this was why they did not report back to the Ministry in charge of chieftaincy affairs on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 as expected.

“Every family division refused to shift ground”, Osighala told the court. Counsel to first and third respondents, Gbenga Hassan supported the views of Osighala as he also told the court that parties were unable to agree on the Obaship tussle.

Hassan said they had written a letter to the Ministries of Local Government, Justice and the Solicitor General informing them of the development.

“The claimants said since the matter is in court, they are opposed to settlement”, when asked by the trial judge why the families failed to agree.

Kazeem Adebanjo, counsel to the second respondent, Tajudeen Odofin also told the court that his client was not informed of all that has been happening within the royal families especially the meeting that was supposedly held that stalemated and the one with the government.

Adebanjo told the court that two persons, Prince Owolabi Sunday Ogede and Prince Adegboyega Odofin, said to be representing the Adegorushen royal family and who signed the communiqué sent to the government on the stalemated meeting of the families are not parties to the suit.

“My Lord, the area I am concerned with is that there is a plan to keep my client in the dark on this matter…I am aware there is no application to substitute my client before the court.

The two persons that signed the communiqué and claimed to be representing Adegorushen are not parties to the suit. It justifies my earlier

position that there is an attempt to keep the second respondents out of the happenings on the matter”, he stated.

Counsel to the government representatives, the 11th and 12th respondents, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya told the court that at a meeting held February 3, 2015, the ruling houses were directed to go and meet and discuss the issue.

“They were to meet again at a meeting scheduled for February 17, 2015 but nobody showed up. So the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government and others are still expecting them”, she said.

Reading from the letter (communiqué) sent by the warring families to government, she said, “the message is that they have been unable to reach an agreement; that they wish to continue with the hearing of the case.

But I believe the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary can still play a role”, she said.

Mr. O. Fabunmi, representing the fourth to the seventh respondents (king makers) said his clients are unbiased umpires. According to him, “they deliberated on the candidates submitted and they chose the third respondent.

So, they had to stand by the candidate they have chosen”, he stated.”

The trial judge, Justice Savage said he still wants the Ministries of Local Government, Justice and the Permanent Secretary to play a role in the matter. He therefore directed the counsel to the government, Mrs. Akinsanya to tell the parties concerned that the court instructed them to still play a role in the matter before the next adjourned date of March 5, 2015 and to report back to the court.

In their originating summon, which was supported by a 22-point affidavit and filed through their lawyer, John Osighala, the claimants asked for six issues to be determined by the court.

They want the court to determine “whether the consent judgment of a

Lagos High Court, Ikorodu division in suit IKD/57/2007 (Mathew Adetayo Shodipo and others versus Ezekiel Shodipo and others) is subsisting and valid; whether parties and privies are bound by the aforesaid judgment until same is set aside on appeal; whether fourth to eighth respondents-kingmakers are bound by the aforesaid judgment being parties in suit no IKD/57/2007 and whether eighth and ninth respondents are not bound as well being parties/ privies thereon”.

They also prayed the court to determine “whether third defendant/ respondent is not bound and stopped from being presented, nominated and selected as a candidate from Lasunwon Ruling House to any future chieftaincy title” and “whether indeed the Adegorushen Branch of the Lasunwon Royal Ruling House is not precluded by the decision in IKD/57/ 2007 from presenting a candidate for the now vacant title of Ayangburen of Ikorodu?”

The claimants also sought five reliefs which were hinged on the affirmation of the six issues raised before the court. They sought a declaration that the consent judgment of the Lagos High Court dated April 1, 2009 in suit IKD/57/2007 is subsisting, binding and in force; a declaration that by clause 2 of the consent judgment, the first, second and third respondents conceded the right to the claimants in future to the next chieftaincy title that is due and available to the Lasunwon Ruling House.

They also sought a declaration that the kingmakers, fourth to seventh respondents were bound by the decision in suit IKD/57/2007 as the seventh to tenth defendants and that they cannot now consider any candidate from the Adegorushen branch of the Lasunwon ruling house and a further declaration that the third respondent,

having by the aforesaid judgment, been installed as Odofin of Ikorodu cannot in defiance of the judgment, present himself as a candidate for the vacant Ayangburen Royal Chieftaincy title “and he is thereby stopped from contesting any other vacant Chieftaincy title available to the Lasunwon family.

They therefore prayed the court for an injunction restraining the fifth to tenth respondents by themselves, agents, privies from considering the third respondent nor any candidate from the Adegorushen branch of the Lasunwon Chieftaincy family for the candidature of the vacant Ayangburen.

But in their counter affidavit to the originating summon, the deponent Prince Odofin Adegboyega Aliu, averred that contrary to paragraph 17 of the affidavit in support of the originating summon, the first to the third respondents and all other defendants are not in breach of the judgment in exhibit A, paragraph 2, the first to fourth defendants conceded the right to the next chieftaincy title that is due and available to Lasunwon ruling house to the claimants and listed the titles available as Otunba of Ikorodu.

He said that contrary to paragraph 18 of the affidavit in support of the originating summon, the defendants ought not to be restrained as they have not breached the order of the court.

He said counsel to third to seventh defendants informed him that judgment in suit IKD/57/2007 relates to chieftaincy title and not an Obaship stool or position; that a chieftaincy title is different from Obaship stool or position and that the nomination/selection of the third defendant by the family and kingmakers is not a breach of the judgment in suit IKD/57/2007.

He urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ originating summon.

•Sitting in the front row: From left: The Consultant, MR Fatai Oluwole, The Council Manager, Mrs Florence Omotunde Peters, The Executive Secretary Rt Hon (Mrs) Bola Badmus-OLujobi, The Human Resources Officers, Mr Kunle Johnson-Agiri, The Chairman, Oriade LCDA Chapter, Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Falilu Olukolu and the Secterary, Comrade Idowu Moshood at the event.

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Council organises training workshop for staff

ETERMINED to enhance the professional competence of its workforce for greater productivity, the Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has organised a three-day workshop on “Effective Office Management Practice for Higher Productivity” for staff of the council.

The event, which held at the Lagos State Building Investment Corporation (LBIC) Conference Hall, Ikeja aimed at providing office administrators, supervisors of clerical and administrative staff, executive secretaries and personal assistants the opportunity to review and develop the interpersonal and professional skills they need to carry out their duties effectively.

While flagging off the workshop, the Executive Secretary of the council, Hon. Bola BadmusOlujobi, said it will enable members of staff to contribute to the council’s growth and development. She implored all participants to avail themselves of the opportunity which the work-

By Ibrahim Adam

shop provides for individual development and to deploy the knowledge gained at the training workshop to enhance the well-being of the council.

The former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly urged the participants to always observe the official dress code of the public service, adding that they should be proactive in the discharge of their duties.

Contributing, the Council Manager, Mrs. Florence Omotunde Peters advised members of staff to adhere strictly to the provisions of the public service rules and regulations.

Speaking at the event, the consultant for the programme, Mr. Fatai Oluwole said participants would learn how to manage a network of working relations, effective communication; time management; manage the per-

formance of administrative staff; improve on written communications, manage and present information; organise and improve office systems for all administrative personnel and people newly appointed to supervisory roles, along with secretaries and personal assistants within the office environment.

He noted that for any organisation to make tangible progress, it has to ensure that its mission, policies, and objectives are developed and clarified; establish formal and informal organisational structures as means of delegating authority and sharing responsibilities; it should set its priorities right; review and revise objectives in terms of changing demands; maintain effective communications within the working group, with other groups, and with the larger community; select, motivate, train, and appraise staff periodically.

Continuing, Mr. Oluwole maintained that management functions include planning,

which he said translates to outlining philosophy, policy, objectives, and resultant things to be accomplished, and the techniques for accomplishment; organising which is establishing structures and systems through which activities are arranged, defined, and coordinated in terms of specific objectives, staffing and fulfilling the personnel function, which includes selecting and training staff and maintaining favourable work conditions; directing which he said manifests in making decisions, embodying decisions in instructions, and serving as the leader of the enterprise, coordinating or interrelating the various parts of the work; reporting that helps in keeping those to whom one is responsible, including both staff and public, informed and budgeting which he said is making financial plans, maintaining accounting and management control of revenue, and keeping costs in line with set objectives.

2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

33

THE NATION INVESTORS

Zenith Bank: Building on historic value I

NVESTORS in Zenith Bank Plc have earned about N81.95 billion in new capital gains in six trading sessions at the stock market. The capital gains highlight investors and market pundits' confidence in the banking stock as quoted companies begin to roll in earnings and dividend recommendation. Zenith Bank's market capitalisation, which opened last week at N490.41 billion, closed on Monday at N572.36 billion, representing an increase of N81.945 billion.

This implied average gain of 16.71 per cent over the six trading sessions. This was more than double of the average weekly return of 6.52 per cent recorded by the benchmark index for the stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), last week.

Zenith Bank is riding on the momentum of increasing positioning by investors ahead of the release of the full year audited report and accounts of the bank for the full year ended December 31, 2014.

Already, key extracts of the ninemonth interim report and accounts of the bank showed profit before tax of N87 billion and profit after tax of N71 billion. Total assets stood at N3.408 trillion and shareholders' funds N523 billion. The third quarter report built on above-average performance in the previous quarters. Interim report and accounts for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 showed that profit before tax rose by about seven per cent to N57.85 billion in first half 2014 as against N54.08 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last year. Profit after tax also rose to N47.45 billion as against N45.42 billion for the same period in 2013. Gross earnings rose by 7.8 per cent from N171.02 billion in 2013 to N184.43 billion in first half 2014. The six-month results also showed that within the period, Zenith, Nigeria's biggest bank by Tier-1 capital grew its assets by 15.2 per cent from N2.78 trillion to N3.20 trillion. Also noticeable was the 7.43 per cent increase in shareholders' funds, up from N458.31 billion as at the end of June last year to 492.38 billion.

The interim reports for 2014 further strengthened the performance outlook of Zenith Bank, which had increased cash dividend to about N54.94 billion for the 2013 business year as against N50.23 billion distributed for the 2012 business year. The breakdown of the dividend indicated that shareholders received a dividend per share of N1.75 as against N1.60 received in the previous year. The expectation of appreciable dividend, in spite of industry-wide headwinds, has been cited as one of the reasons for the share price uptrend.

Strong fundamentals Audited report and accounts of Zenith Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 had shown that gross earnings rose by 14 per cent while pre-tax profit increased by 8.0 per cent. However, profit after tax dropped by 5.0 per cent. Gross earnings closed 2013 at N351.47 billion as against N307.08 billion recorded in 2012. Interest income rose by almost 18 per cent from N221 billion to N260 billion, while net interest income rose by 21 per cent to N156.8 billion compared with N189.3 billion in 2012. Profit before tax stood at N110.6 billion in 2013 as against N102.1 billion in 2012. However, high operating expenses and tax payment led to a drop in profit after tax. The bank paid a tax of N15 billion, indicating a jump of 977 per cent from N1.419 billion in 2012. Consequently, profit after tax fell by five per cent from N100.68 billion to N95.32 billion. Balance sheet of

Amidst concerns about the impact of the monetary and fiscal changes on banks' earnings, Zenith Bank appears primed for better performance as investors and market pundits repose confidence in the bank's resilient performance. TAOFIK SALAKO reports

‘According to analysts, given its strong deposittakingfranchise, Zenith Bank could offset any possible decline in forex revenue by increasing margins’

•MD, Zenith Bank Plc, Peter Amangbo

the bank also appeared stronger as customers' deposits rose by 18 per cent from N1.929 trillion to N2.277 trillion. Return on average equity stood at 19.6 per cent, while return on average asset was 3.3 per cent.

A medium-term analysis of the fundamentals of the banks showed a positive trajectory over the past five years. Gross earnings grew from N277 billion in 2009 to N244 billion in 2010, N307 billion in 2012 and N351 billion in 2013. Profit before tax rose from N35 billion, to N50 billion in 2010, N61 billion in 2011, N101 billion in 2012 and N111 billion in 2013. Also, the bank has grown shareholders' returns consecutively over the years. Gross dividend more than doubled from N11 billion in 2009 to N26 billion in2010 and subsequently rose to N29 billion in 2011, N50 billion in 2012 and N54 billion in 2013.

A vote of confidence Exotix Partners LLP, a global finance and investment firm with offices in major global financial centres and significant imprints in Africa, said Zenith Bank has potential return of 72.9 per cent over a 12-month period. Exotix coordinates its global operations through five major offices in London, New York, Lagos, Dubai and Nairobi. Exotix stated that Zenith Bank's share price could reach N28.6 per share with a possible dividend yield of 6.6 per cent, within the highest bracket in the banking industry. While analysts at Exotix said the devaluation of Naira would put pressure on banks' earnings, they noted that

Zenith Bank is one of the two banks that are favoured to weather the headwinds. According to analysts, the devaluation could lead to lower foreign exchange trading volumes and increasing cost of risk, which could negatively impact the earnings of banks.

However, the devaluation also holds possible silver linings for Zenith Bank. Analysts said devaluation could lead to higher inflation, which could subsequently push up interest rates on government securities and thus lead to higher net interest margins (NIMs) for banks with high liquidity ratios and strong deposittaking franchises such as Zenith Bank. According to analysts, given its strong deposittakingfranchise, Zenith Bank could offset any possible decline in forex revenue by increasing margins.

Exotix also stated that the bank's strong risk management track record should enable it to maintain a below average cost of risk and thus earn higher than average profitability. So, the devaluation will have almost no negative impact on the bank.

In the beginning With network that includes subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Zenith Bank currently has a shareholder base of about one million shareholders. Aside listing $850 million worth of its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), via a technical Global Depository Receipt (GDR) programme, the Bank, in April 2014, recorded a massive over-subscription of about

200 per cent in her $500m Eurobond issue under a $1bn Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) programme announced on 1 April 2014. The bank was also in June 2014, declared the Most Customer Focused Bank 2014 by KPMG; where the bank won in all three categories namely: Corporate, Retail and SME. Zenith was also rated the Biggest Bank in Nigeria by tier-1 capital by the FT of London and Best Nigerian Bank in Corporate Governance by the World Finance. It should be noted that The Banker Magazine, a publication of Financial Times of London, has also awarded its 'Bank of the Year' award to Zenith Bank.

The Banker stated that Zenith Bank was selected based on the overall performance of the institution and the opinion of leading financial analysts from the world's financial markets. According to the magazine, nominees for the award were judged by their ability to deliver shareholder returns and gain strategic advantage in terms of market visibility and positioning.

Established in May 1990, Zenith Bank began operations in July of the same year as a commercial bank. The bank became a public limited company on June 17, 2004 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on October 21, 2004 following a highly successful Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The bank has a shareholder base of about one million and is Nigeria's biggest bank by tier-1 capital. In 2013, Zenith Bank listed $850 million worth of its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Zenith Bank Plc blazed the trail in digital banking in Nigeria, scoring several firsts in the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to create innovative products that meet the needs of its teeming customers. The bank is verifiably a leader in the deployment of various channels of banking technology, and the Zenith brand has become synonymous with the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies in banking.

Zenith Bank Plc is one of leading banks in Nigeria and a pioneer of many innovations in service delivery. Zenith Bank has been known as leader in financial solutions in most facets of banking and cater-

Also, the bank has grown shareholders' returns consecutively over the years. Gross dividend more than doubled from N11 billion in 2009 to N26 billion in2010 and subsequently rose to N29 billion in 2011, N50 billion in 2012 and N54 billion in 2013’

ing to the banking needs of its customers in the public and private sectors. Over the years, using technology as one of its major advantages, Zenith Bank has successfully served customers and delivered impressive returns to shareholders.

Having established itself as a leader in corporate and investment banking, Zenith Bank appears to be preparing to play deeper in the retail end of the banking industry, using its high technology and innovative products.

Market analysts believe this move will not only enhance Zenith Bank's corporate profile, it will also enable more customers in the retail category to have access to efficient service delivery and boost the financial inclusion policy of the Federal Government.

Looking forward Zenith Bank has benefitted from stable board and management.

With the assumption of the chairmanship of the bank by its founding managing director, Mr Jim Ovia and the appointment of Mr. Peter Amangbo, who has spent more than two decades with the bank, as managing director, Zenith Bank has further strengthened its managerial edge. Amangbo experience with Zenith Bank which cuts across corporate finance and investment banking, business development, credit and marketing, financial control, strategic planning and operations. He was a pioneer non executive director of Zenith Bank UK. According to the management of the bank, the overall vision is to build the Zenith Bank brand into a reputable international financial institution recognised for innovation, superior performance while creating premium value for all stakeholders. The strategic objectives thus include the continuous improvement of its capacity to meet the customer's increasing and dynamic banking needs as well as sustain high quality growth in a volatile business environment through: continuous investment in branch network expansion and thus bringing quality banking services closer to our teeming existing and potential customers; continuous investment and deployment of up to date and state of the art technology; continuous employment of the best people available and motivating them; continuous investment in training and re-training of our personnel; maintaining and reinforcing our core customer service delivery charter.

"At Zenith Bank, we do not just see our organisation as an entity solely concerned with wealth creation for the shareholders. Our strategic alliance with the various stakeholders, government and nongovernmental agencies centre round institutional building and capacity development in the following areas: Strong commitment to the support of Small and Medium Enterprises as well as development of indigenous industries. Entrepreneurship incubation for the youths through sustained funding of institutions responsible for entrepreneurial development. Development of the real sectors of the economy through provision of funds to industry players at competitive costs," the bank stated.

The bank envisions that as Nigeria's information technology infrastructure improves, its leading edge in information technology will keep it well positioned in the global banking community to sustain its offering of exceptional e-banking services.

This will continue to be complemented by the bank's risk management system that creates a blend that not only grows customers' businesses but also strengthens them.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

34

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Euro zone business picks on rising orders

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HE euro zone private sec tor has expanded at the fastest pace in seven months this month led by rising new orders, surveys has showed, but firms are still cutting prices, suggesting the ECB will have a tough time spurring inflation.

The jump in activity will provide a glimmer of hope for policy makers who have struggled to steer the monetary union towards growth with modest inflation, but may also support the European Central Bank’s decision to buy sovereign bonds.

“For the first time since mid2011 we’re seeing a broad-based improvement in growth,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at survey compiler Markit.

“This in part reflects increased confidence after the ECB an-

nounced quantitative easing, and we’ll see more improvements once asset purchases start in March.”

Markit’s Composite Flash Purchasing Managers’ Index, based on surveys of thousands of companies and seen as a good growth indicator, rose to 53.5, its best since July, from a final reading of 52.6 last month.

That beat even the highest forecast in a Reuters poll and marked the 20th month above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction.

Williamson said the PMI pointed to 0.3 per cent GDP growth in the current quarter, matching a Reuters poll, adding that a followthrough in March could push it up to 0.4 per cent.

In a positive sign for future activity, the gauge of new orders growth at services firms rose to 53.3 from

51.7. Growth in order backlogs rose to the highest level in nearly four years.

The PMI covering the dominant service industry also beat all forecasts by rising to 53.9, while the factory PMI nudged up to 51.1, less than expected, with output increasing slightly faster.

But continued price cutting by firms, although at a slower pace, underscored the difficulty policymakers face in bringing inflation back to the ECB’s target rate of below but close to two per cent from January’s record-equalling 0.6 per cent.

The ECB is set to start buying •60billion worth of government bonds a month from March to ward off deflation, although the majority of economists in a poll this month said that is not likely to be enough to spur price growth.

Switzerland flexes parliamentary muscle as scrutiny of HSBC intensifies

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WISS lawmakers plan to ques tion the country’s financial watchdog about HSBC’s Swiss bank to determine whether parliament needs to take a more active role in investigation of a trove of details on alleged tax evasion by some of the bank’s wealthy clients.

The Alpine nation’s banking sector is back in the spotlight after media reports said that customers of HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary had been helped to conceal millions of dollars of assets, sparking regulatory inquiries and an admission by Europe’s largest lender of failings in compliance and controls “The committee wishes to inform itself of the situation directly in order to be able to judge whether any parliamentary action is needed in terms of oversight,” a control committee of Switzerland’s upper house of parliament said in a statement.

The move is an unusual show of parliamentary influence over Swiss financial regulator FINMA, which said that it had taken note of the committee’s decision and would make itself available for inquiries.

In addition to the tax evasion allegations sparked by whistleblower HerveFalciani, a former IT employee at HSBC, the

bank is also the subject of a separate criminal inquiry into alleged money laundering, instigated by Geneva’s public prosecutor on Wednesday.

FINMA had first investigated HSBC as long as four years ago, when it criticised the bank’s internal controls, and it said that two previously unpublicised investigations had found that HSBC violated money laundering guidelines.

The regulator said it had ordered remedial measures, which HSBC implemented, though FINMA gave no further detail.

“These are cases from the past,” the watchdog said on Thursday.

“FINMA has since investigated the bank’s anti-money laundering procedures thoroughly.”

The previous investigations have come to light at a time when FINMA is adopting a far more public approach to sanctioning errant bankers under new head Mark Branson.

Ursula Cassani, a Professor of Law for the University of Geneva, said HSBC could face a fine of up to five-million Swiss francs ($5.28 million U.S.) if it is proved to have been complicit in money laundering, adding that the reputational fallout would be far more damaging.

Honda CEO Ito to step down

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•Participants at the Diplomatic Workshop by the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by Linklaters in Belgium.

Apple to spend $1.9b on data centres

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PPLE Inc said it would spend 1.7 billion euros ($1.9-bil lion) to build two data centres in Europe that would be entirely powered by renewable energy and create hundreds of jobs.

The company said the centres, in Ireland and Denmark, will power Apple’s online services, including the iTunes Store, App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for customers across Europe.

The lawsuit Apple faces for poaching battery engineers from A123 Systems is a further sign it may be developing an electric car.

Fred Katayama reports.

The investment is set to be evenly divided between the two countries, with the Irish government confirm-

ing that 850 million euros would be spent in Ireland. The two data centres are expected to begin operations in 2017.

“This significant new investment represents Apple’s biggest project in Europe to date,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.

“We’re thrilled to be expanding our operations, creating hundreds of local jobs and introducing some of our most advanced green building designs yet,” he added.

The data centre in Ireland will be located in Athenry, close to Galway on the west coast while in Denmark, it will be in Viborg, western Denmark.

In a sign of how important Apple’s investment in Denmark was, the

country’s trade and development minister issued a statement mirroring that of the iPhone maker’s, adding the two data centers would be among the largest in the world.

Ireland’s government also reacted to the announcement, saying 300 jobs would be added in the county of Galway during the multiple phases of the project, a boost as it seeks to cut the unemployment rate below 10 percent this year.

“As the Government works to secure recovery and see it spread to every part of the country, today’s announcement is another extremely positive step in the right direction,” Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said in a statement.

Deutsche Bank to boost investments by $1.4b

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EUTSCHE Bank AG said it’s working to boost its in vestments in green bonds to •1billion ($1.4-billion Canadian), joining competitors including Citigroup Inc. and Barclays PLC in tapping profit from the quickly growing market.

The Frankfurt-based institution has invested •200million in green bonds and intends to expand that starting with purchases of a 10year issue from the World Bank, according to a statement from Deutsche Bank. The funds are for the bank’s liquidity reserves.

The decision adds to evidence that the green bond market is blooming after issuances of securities linked to climate projects more than doubled to a record $38.8 billion last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The securities are earning “attractive returns,” said Alexander von

zurMuehlen, the bank’s group treasurer.

“The Green Bond market has matured during 2014, and the size and number of offerings has substantially increased making green securities viable and prudent liquidity buffer investments,” von zurMuehlen said in the statement.

Investors are snapping up bonds to finance the global expansion of clean energy, promoted by governments from the U.S. to China to tackle climate change. The debt, issued by development banks or by project sponsors themselves, offers investors an alternative to volatile equities.

It’s also increasing the flow of cash for clean-energy developments in nations from Spain to Romania, which have reined in support for the industry. Investment in clean energy rose 16 per cent last year to a record $310 bil-

lion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

KfW Group, Germany’s stateowned development bank, sold $1.5billion of green bonds in the U.S. in 2014 after receiving demand for $2.5 billion of the securities.

Deutsche Bank ranked eighth in terms of underwriting green bond deals last year, trailing SkandinaviskaEnskildaBanken AB, Bank of America Corp. and CréditAgricole SA, according to Bloomberg data. Investors included BlackRock Inc. and Calvert Investment Management have bought the securities.

Deutsche Bank’s goal is cautious compared with other banks. On Wednesday, Citigroup said it would lend, invest and facilitate deals worth $100-billion by 2025 to support projects that will fight climate change and protect the environment.

ONDA Motor Co Chief Ex ecutive Takanobu Ito will step down in late June after six years in the top post and be succeeded by Managing Officer Takahiro Hachigo, a low-profile engineer with global experience, the company said in a surprise announcement.

Japan’s No.3 auto maker has hit a rough patch over the past year with quality problems that have led to multiple recalls of its popular Fit hybrid subcompact, which Ito conceded earlier this month could have been caused at least in part by an aggressive sales target.

Such self-inflicted setbacks had been compounded by multimillion-vehicle recalls to replace air bag inflators made by top supplier Takata Corp that have so far been linked to six deaths, all in Honda cars.

For the past three years, Ito, 61, a feisty former supercar engineer, has shaken up Honda’s decadesold, tightly-knit supply chain as the auto maker sought to trim costs and find more cutting-edge technologies. That has predictably rankled local suppliers, and some retired Honda executives manoeuvred to have Ito removed, sources have told Reuters.

“I think this move is an attempt

by Honda to tread a different

course, with someone who upholds harmony,” said Takaki Nakanishi, a veteran auto analyst and CEO of Nakanishi Research Institute.

A former senior Honda official said he was surprised by the announcement. Hachigo had been widely expected to join Honda’s board, but “like many inside Honda, I’d thought Ito was ready to continue as CEO at least for another term.”

The former official said he thought Ito’s resignation was his own decision.

Hachigo, who worked on the popular U.S. Odyssey minivan and CR-V crossover, would skip several ranks to become CEO after Honda’s annual shareholders’ meeting in late June. He joined the company in 1982 with a career spanning several countries including the United States, Britain and China. He is currently Vice President of Honda’s R&D arm in China.

Ito, 61, became CEO in 2009 as the auto industry was licking its wounds from a crushing global financial crisis.

The ensuing years were no easier, as a disappointing launch of the Civic model caused many to question whether Honda had lost its edge. Natural disasters in Japan and Thailand also hit production and profits hard.

Zambia to safeguard jobs at Lumwana mine

Z

AMBIA eased regulations preventing tax refunds to ex porters as President Edgar Lungu said the government “won’t allow a single mining job” to be lost in Africa’s second-biggest copper producer.

The new rules, effective on Monday, allow exporters to provide import documents from transit countries instead of requiring paperwork from the final destination, a Government Gazette signed by Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner-General Berlin Msiska shows. The document was sent to Bloomberg News.

The edict only applies to future payments and not money already owed, with the revenue authority planning to start talks over a backlog of disputed claims “on a company-by-company basis,” said Jackson Sikamo, president of the Lusaka-based Zambia Chamber of

Mines.

Lungu said the government was also in talks with mining companies over a new higher-royalty tax system that became effective in January and which operators say may result in 12,000 job cuts this year. Barrick Gold Corp. said it would start the process of idling its open-cast Lumwana mine in the northwest of the country because of low copper prices and the new royalty system that replaces a tax on profits with levies on sales of as much as 20 per cent.

The government “won’t allow a single mining job to be lost and has accordingly directed the Ministry of Mines to ensure that operations at Lumwana mine are not idled,” Lungu said in a statement posted to the presidency’s Facebook account.

Zambia is “rapidly addressing” concerns over the higher mineral royalties, he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

35

BUSINESS

‘Coal power generation will eliminate pipeline vandalism’ The current challenge in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is vandalisation of oil and gas pipelines. Power production from coal will check the menace of vandalism said the chairman, One Nation Energy Platform Limited, Chief Uzoma Obiyo, when the company inaugurated coal-powered plant that will generate 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Enugu. JOHN OFIKHENUA was there.

Background

O

NE Nation Energy Platform Limited signed a memoran dum of understanding (MoU) last week to kick-start a 500MW power plant that will be fueled by coal at Enugu in Enugu State. The chairman of the company Chief Uzoma Obiyo, said the project will not be abandoned as is the case of many MoUs signed in the past to generate power with coal. Obiyo stated that because he is a Nigerian and knows how critical power supply is to the country, he should ensure that the project is delivered on schedule.

He said: “I am a Nigerian. I was born and bred in this country. I know that power is critical. I passed through the eye of a needle to stand where I am, and I know that part of the setback Nigerians always had is lack of power. If there has been power supply, small scale industries would have been emerging, so, it is a familiar environment for me. I know power supply is essential and critical for us, so we will ensure we flag-off this project as fast as possible. Before signing the MoU, we had conducted a lot of research nationwide. We have done a couple of consultations, we have engaged the Federal Government and we know how important the project is. The Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Power have assured of their support to the project, and coming from a telecom sector that has evolved from 2000 till date, we will change the power landscape. I am sure you know where the telecom industry was in Nigeria before 2000 or 1999. There were no telephones; Nigerians were suffering from serious lack of access to telephone services. I remember that former President Olusegun Obasanjo took telephoning issue seriously and ensured that the appropriate licences were given to some GSM companies who came from all over the world, and today every Dick and Harry in Nigeria has access to telephone. What the telecom sector suffered is the same thing the power sector has been suffering over the years. So we should be very grateful to the President, the Minister of Power, and all the people who have made it possible to ensure that the sector was unbundled. We are part of the immediate beneficiaries of the unbundling of the power sector. We are giving Nigerians the assurance that we will work very hard to ensure that the coal power project in Enugu becomes a reality.

Why coal?

Obiyo said that there is enormous coal deposit in Enugu. He stated that coal is available and sustainable and we do not have to deal with the issue of pipeline vandalism, which is one of the greatest challenges that face the power sector. But my company is also involved in the renewable energy. We are involved in solar power generation. Also, I came into the sector because of the zeal and determination that I have witnessed in the present administration. The government has critically developed a policy for energy mix, which essentially looks at other areas that power generation could be made possible apart from the conventional hydro and thermal power generation. My company saw the opportunities and moved to partner with the Federal Ministry of Power. We are also intending to expand into other value chain of the power sector as we see the entrepreneurial and manufac-

turing opportunities as we did in the telecom sector through one of the companies in the Group, Multinet Systems Limited. Also what motivated me is the genuine zeal, will, honest determination that I see in President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power and all the directors and officials of the Power Ministry to really make a sustainable and visible impact in power supply to the Nigerian populace.

As an entrepreneur and a Nigerian, I believe that the only way we could achieve our industrial, economic growth is through achieving available and sustainable power supply, and that is essential for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth and cluster industries. This is what made China an industrial giant that it is today.

Many developing countries and even developed ones, also face power and energy challenges, but what is essential is that they have an implementable and achievable plan to overcome such challenges and I do believe that the present administration has such plan and my company: One Nation has decided to partner with the government in achieving this goal. This step will help in making the agenda and goal of the government a reality. This formed our reason and decision to branch into the sector. I could also see that the privatisation process was genuine and sustainable and that the government was genuine and honest about involving the private sector in the power industry while it retains the policy development, regulatory functions and transmission aspect of the sector.

Challenges Obiyo stated that there are always challenges in every venture but noted that if all the parties work together, they will overcome the challenges and even if there will be challenges, it will be minimal.

However, he said that the company has a two-year plan adding that the management has already achieved more than it had planned. “Prior to the signing of the MoU, the minister, perm sec and directors of the ministry have assured us that they are going to partner with us to ensure that all the appropriate licences are secured. And I can tell you that we are very fast. Most of the licenses have been secured at the moment. And we are not losing any sleep.

On whether the power plant will be built where this coal deposit or to be transported to the plant site, Obiyo said: “Coal to power is a very simple operation. Remember in the case of gas, there has been a lot of vandalism of gas pipeline.

This coal to power project eliminates such practice because there will nothing to vandalize by any criminal.”

He however refused to disclose the cost of the project. He said: “The only thing you should know is that it is a multibillion Naira project. It is running into several billions and we have the appropriate capacity to

• Obiyo

ensure that the required funding is put in place. That is all I can say.”

But on the technology that will be deployed, I can tell you that we are renewable energy experts. It is our calling, and coming from the renewable energy environment, I can assure you that we have the required clean energy technology to embark on this project. And we are also going to ensure that there are no any environmental hazards as long as the project exists. So, all of those assessments must be carried out to the later and we will make sure that we do what are required to ensure appropriate implementation of the project. Also be informed that the power plant will be located in Enugu but the entire South- East region will benefit from it and it will serve the nation. We are talking about 500MW. We have secured the mining licence and have put all arrangements in place. We will be getting coal from Onyeama coal mine.

Everything is in place, and there won’t be any transportation difficulty as you may envisage. There will be several means of transportation. We have our own haulage systems, there are commercial systems and all of these are in place.

Managing emissions, financial challenges Let me restate that we are not going to have any funding issues. We understand the process; we have engaged the necessary sections and financial institutions to ensure that the right things are put in place. And our company is an international company. We have a very sound access to funding. Also we don’t need to have done this kind of project

before undertaking this. There is always a mileage to everything that a human being wants to do. The most important thing you need to know from us is the fact that we have done well in other sectors such as the telecom sector. We are in power generation and we will also go beyond that limit. We have technical partners who are sound and from South Africa. Currently they are building the largest coal power station in the world now. The company is called Stefani Saluti in South Africa. They are our major partners and they are the best everywhere in terms of coal -fired power plants.

Government’s involvement The Federal Government is still the policy maker and the regulator of the power sector. The consumers are the beneficiaries of the products.

There is a process in place. It is like a partnership of which the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power has made sure that the process has no bottlenecks in terms of certification and licensing. Why has it made it possible? It is because this administration has the commitment to Nigerians that with the power sector acquiring the necessary focus we need, it will boost the achievement of economic goals. Despite what people may say about the coal technology, you can gasify coal now, and Stefani Saluti, our partner is already acquiring that technology in South Africa. Coal gasification is a cleaner process, it is a cleaner source of power, it is even better than gas.

As aresult of our expertise, we have drawn a three -year plan. One year has been used in feasibility study

‘As an entrepreneur and a Nigerian, I believe that the only way we could achieve our industrial, economic growth is through achieving available and sustainable power supply, and that is essential for small and medium enterprises growth and cluster industries’

and we are in the process of licensing, which is almost through. On tariff, we are going to apply government’s tariff. Like everybody that generates power, we are not going to use all our power. Once you generate power above 1megawatt, it goes to the grid but the main beneficiaries will be the industries in the South East especially Nnewi.

Nnewi is a big industrial town.

Also as part of the progression in the ongoing privatisation and transformation in the power sector, the government has seen that diversification of our power generation is of essence if the current gains and achievements already made are to be sustained. Therefore, the Federal Government has gone into generation of power from solar under its Renewable Energy Policy Programme and also coal-to-power generation, which our company is an integral partner. Coal generation has been long neglected until the present administration deemed essential to revive. Coal generation and the revival of the coal industry will lead to industrial revolution not just because of the power generation that will revive industries in the South East but the by-products from coal mining and processing will lead to economic growth. It is through more industrial growth that we will revive cluster industries that will fuel SME’s that will be similar to that of China. Coal to power development will also lead to eventual emergence of Nigeria as an industrial hub and also lead to the actualization of the Federal Government’s industrial and economic revolution. Therefore, the construction of this coal power plant is timely bearing in mind our target and goal of becoming one of the top 20 economic powers of the world. Coal is an essential part of Nigeria energy mix plan and it should be lauded.

Coal unlike gas should be a critical source of our power generation because the Federal Government and the private sector will not have to expend scarce resources on pipeline protection and repairs nor will we be at the mercy of the international oil companies for gas supply.

Coal is available and accessible and could also be turned to clean fuel as there is a plan to apply clean coal to power technology in development of our plant.

Nigerians should realize that significant work, planning and implementation have been put in place to make coal to power an achievable project within a very short period.

And this coal development for power is part of making Nigeria energy sufficient and self-reliant country. It also further illustrates the Federal Government’s genuine intention in making the industry private-sector friendly, while the government continues with the critical and essential role of regulation. Privatization of the power sector when fully implemented will lead to significant improvement as we have seen in the telecommunication industry.

I personally believe that with the current zeal and commitment of the federal government in developing coal and also utilizing same for power generation, it will not be long before 24 hours power supply will become realistic and the norm.

China which has now become the economic power house of the world still uses coal as a main source of power generation and so do other main economies of the world. Therefore, my company One Nation Platform Limited is pleased to be partnering with the Federal Government in developing the coal sector.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

36

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Nigerians are making millions from cashew export yearly. DANIEL ESSIET reports that the commodity has high economic and nutritional value.

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Making millions from cashew export

OR the few Nigerians who export cashew, the business has been of instant success.

Driven by the rise in demand from China, India and other fastgrowing economies, the global cashew boom has generated profits at most trading houses.Together, some cashew exporters are worth millions of dollars in annual revenue. One of them is the Chief Executive, Universal Quest Nigeria, Mr Sotonye Anga, one of many of the quiet giants in commodities business, who export cashew nuts. He has been a success story in the business but this is not without its challenges. For instance,he faces challenges from companies such as Olam that command great influence in commodities marketing globally. This notwithstanding, Anga said there are more opportunities to make money in cashew exports with the reported sharp rise in imported raw cashew nut prices from East Africa. This is encouraging buyers to look for greener pastures in other countries.

With the government and the private sector campaigning to farmers to increase local cultivation , cashew exports could be inching closer to a new peak of 400,000 tonnes.

Anga said there are high profits from cashew, buoyed by high demand.

And with world price rising and expected to remain steady, he said life is changing for Nigerians who are ready to invest in cashew export.It requires an investment of N1.5 million but the returns ranges from 10 to 30 percent per transaction.

He said Nigerians can end their drudgery if they take to cashew exports. The demand for the crop is high locally and internationally, and this will hopefully continue to rise.

According to him, exporters can get enough supply because cashew can grow very well in more than 24 states of the

•Cashew

federation.Maintaining high quality cashew nuts, he said, is very critical to an exporter, and as such, he believes in partnering with producers with good cashew plantations,best production processing, and marketing practices.

This,he added, is central to ensuring that cashew businesses will develop into highly profitable ventures.Cashew is currently exported to India and Vietnam where it is processed and then either consumed in those countries or shipped to the US or to Europe for further processing and packaging. Currently, the crop enjoys considerable patronage around the world.

His company ships cashew to several European countries. To this end, he works with local farmers, to improve the quality of the cashew nuts by sharing new farming methods, planting techniques, pre- and post-harvest handling methods and many other skills.

This is because local farmers

•Sotonye

need to produce high quality cashew nuts, which in turn give them the financial gains needed to lift them out of poverty.

Going into cashew business, is not an easy task for a new begin-

ner because of lot of things .The major consideration is the amount of capital one is willing to invest . If there is enough capital, one can export himself. It is also good for one to buy and supply export companies in Lagos and major shipping towns .

For him and others, a beginner needs to undergo some form of training or mentorship to enable one understand cashew business / terms and how many cashew nuts are sold per tonne.

Generally, 2.13 bags make a tonne. 30 tonnes make a truck / long trailer.One needs to know how cashew nuts is graded or scaled. The standard and quality required by foreign buyers and how it should be packaged.

Anga said the cashew trading and export, still has more room for investors. He said exporters can also make money from cashew apples, which could be processed into fruit juice, which is being wasted annually because the focus was on the nuts alone. He said:

“The wastage is just too much. We are talking about 90 per cent of our cashew apples. The cashew shell liquid that is used for a lot of industrial applications is wasted because we do not use it. This is one industry that we need to explore which has not been tapped.”

Instead of being shipped abroad in their raw form, some Nigerians roast cashew nuts and sell on the streets.

Chief Executive, Centre for Trade and Export Development, Mr Titi Olukayode said his company is ready to train more Nigerians get involved in cashew export.

According to him, the company holds training sessions to expose would-be exporters to international buyers.

Meanwhile, cashew is not the only produce that his compnay supports.

The company offers integrated support to new and existing exporters interested in sesame, cocoa, soybeans and other non oil exports.

The rise of the student entrepreneurs Startups on campuses are on the rise as students flock to entrepreneurial pursuits, BUSOLA ADESUNLOYE reports.

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LATUNDE Samson was a busy bee while on campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State. He observed there were so many students without knowledge of computer usage. He started running private lessons and was making money to sustain himself. He was into many things until he graduated and went to run his company, Business Impact Limited.

As an entrepreneur, he wished he had the opportunity to take part in any incubator programme in school that help students and alumni launch their business ideas.

The mentorship and guidance he got then to launch his business idea was mostly from outside the campus. His entrepreneurial education came from textbooks. Having a mentor could have helped him avoid the common pitfalls of entrepreneurship. He made lots of mistakes himself. But those mistakes have proven to be valuable learning experiences. He now owns many businesses.For Samson, there are thousands of students across the country who can build and run sustainable businesses, all while staying in school. He wants students to start businesses while they’re in

school, a real business. Overall, a growing interest in entrepreneurship is a nationwide phenomenon.

Whether it’s securing a car, offering mobile barbing service or hair making, college students are exploring every business opportunity on campuses. It’s not surprising then that there are a lot of pocket and portfolio business run by university students.

With the current rate of unemployment, it is only wise that youths start looking inwards to harness their various abilities to make their lives better. One of them is Adetutu Aiyewunmi, a 400-level Economics student and fashion designer in AdekunleAjasin University Akungba Ondo State who started sewing even before she got to school.

“Ive been sewing before school but not really for business, I was just sewing for myself and my sisters”.

She said that she had to bring the business habit to school to help minister to her needs. She said: “My father is retired and I don’t want to depend on him too much, I need to start taking up my responsibility”.

When asked what the business environment looks like on campus, this is what she offered: “business environment is good, if you can

market yourself well, you will have more customers, but less pay and mostly, I do adjustments more and that brings in little income. At the same time, I have to be careful about the number of clothes I sew so that my studies will not be affected”.

Adetutu hopes to intensify publicity on the business as she targets at least 40 per cent of the population in the school before she graduates. Currently, she works in her room which she shares with two other ladies.

Opeyemi, a 300-level student of Botany in UNILAG runs an outfit organising events on campus.

He was with an entertainment company that organised pageantry outside Lagos. He said: “When I got to school, I looked at UNILAG and said I could use my experience to start a personal business”. He said he started with N150,000, raised by him and friends to organise a fresher’s award. “We just wanted to be known, it was not about the money.

Currently , people will just give me a call about something they want to do, so it is lucratve but time consuming,”he said.

Opeyemi describes himself as a business mogul, who has love for fun and passion for entertainment

•Opeyemi

•Adetutu

and the business affords him the platform to take care of himself in school, and prospects of making a name for himself in the entertainment business.

Samuel Adeise, a 300-level Maketing student of Redeemers University, owns a clothing line called Invashion which he started in 2013. He said: “ The capital for fashion is very high unlike any other business. I had to source for funds from my family to start the business and even at that, the funds were not enough for a standard clothing line”.

He does not accept jobs that clash with lecture time. Although the profit which he puts in is between N5000and N10000 per outfit,this

does not cover his tuition but can take care of his upkeep. He also spoke about competition in school, saying that a lot of people also are now into fashion business. “I try my best to make sure that the products speak for themselves and just last week it got an award for best dress original in school,”he said. Samuel said he has a passion for fashion because it makes him a complete person. So, he wants to make a career out of the effort.

“Government and other corporate institutions should make it a priority to encourage young, creative business minds especially as we seek to diversify the nation’s economy,”he added.

38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Life

39

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

Text only: 08023058761

•Chairman, Kwara State University (KWASU) Governing Council, Senator Muhammed Sha’ba Lafiaji (left) and KWASU Vice Chancellor, AbdulRasheed Na’Allah

Wanted: Honourable leaders What Nigeria needs now are leaders with honour, dignity, totally selfless and knowledgeable in commitment to the development of the country...My advice to them is to fear God Almighty, be sincere to our dear country and work truly towards building a robust future for many generations yet to come... -SEE STORY ON PAGE 40

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Kwara State University (KWASU) Vice Chancellor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah is a passionate and determined scholar.

He is not only passionate about his job and country, he is determined to etch his institution’s name on Africa’s scientific map. Interestingly, he is an ardent fan of the Nigerian Film Industry. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, Na’Allah shares his thoughts on the industry and other issues.

Wanted: Honourable leaders

creating digital archives for all sorts of films.

As you know, the Nigerian Film Industry is now the second largest in the world and that reality has automatically given the Nigerian academia an enormous responsibility. The KWASU’s Film Village, the annual African Cinema Conference and the KWASU Nollywood Studies Centre, all are dedicated to attracting the world to our state, our nation and helping to shape the industry of whatever language and tradition to attain its utmost best in the world.

W

The philosophy that life is for service, to God, to your family, your people and your community, and the philosophy that selfless service, dignity and integrity are direct products of personal happiness, fulfillment and favour of the Almighty Allah.

HO is Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah?

AbdulRasheed Na’Allah is the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. I was born on December 21, 1962 in Ilorin. I studied at the “Better by Far University”, “the Greatest” University of Ilorin, obtaining BA (Hons) in English and Education and MA in Literature in English, and taught there for some years before I went to Edmonton, Canada, for my PhD at the University of Alberta.

I write poetry and have finished a draft of two plays that I will soon get reviewed, edited and hopefully published. I see myself as a scholar, critical thinker, creative writer and performer and I have published quite a number of poetry books, Almajiri (2001), Ahmadu Fulani (2004) and Ilorin: Praise Poetry (2011). I love the drum, but I cannot say that I am an expert in it by imagination, but can make it sound a bit beautiful to the ear.

I also taught for many years at the Western Illinois University where I became Full Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies. I was appointed Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University in 2009. The Kwara State House of Assembly after public hearings changed the law establishing the University to give me a second term as Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, as was recommended by Council and approved by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, and now I am in my second term as KWASU’s Vice Chancellor.

His philosophy of life

Literature’s economic viability Literature is useless if it’s not concerned with or relevant to life, and especially African literature is primarily concerned with life and social being. So, literature and culture have been in many parts of the world and can be for Kwara State and Nigeria sources of abundant wealth. We are particularly interested because it’s the vision of our state government, to ensure that KWASU is creating wealth, huge wealth, and empowering our young people to create wealth.

Creative muse

•

Just thinking about my childhood does that for me, and interacting with my childhood friends, with family, and driving the streets of my community early morning or in the evening, at Oja Abayawo, Ita-Ogunbo, Oja Omoda, Oloje, Oja Oba, and more, attending cultural events in Ilorin, and listening to recitations from the Qur’an in Ilorin voices, all these and many more ignite my creative muse.

Growing-up

Experience as Vice Chancellor Well, it has been rewarding. Our university has, within its few years of existence, made tremendous strides for our state and for Nigeria. Even at five years old, we are proud of being a pioneer university in many areas! We are focused in achieving the ambition of the state government in setting up the university; to be a different kind of university, in creating wealth for our state and nation, in developing our students without exception with entrepreneurial skills and ensuring that none of them roam the streets upon graduation, to assist our nation in realising its vision of scientific and technological development and much more.

KWASU is the only university in Nigeria with a degree programme in Aeronautic and Astronautic Engineering, it is the only university in Northcentral and if not the only one, then one of the very few ones in Northern Nigeria with a degree programme in Tourism. We are the only Nigerian university, being the leading one in Entrepreneurship, to develop a programme to produce teachers for secondary schools in Entrepreneurship Education. The university is the first to create a Film Village, as we have created the Malete Film Village for assisting Nollywood and African filmmakers to acquire more sophisticated training and produce films using the MFV facility, from beginning to finish, and the list is really long.

Inspiration behind the university’s scientific feats Well, as Vice-Chancellor, I am the leader for all academic programmes in my university and it doesn’t matter whether a ViceChancellor is in the arts or sciences, his or her job is to understand all the rudiments of the academia and be knowledgeable enough to articulate and represent very clearly and unambiguously the thrusts of all academic disciplines in his University, including any new ones that might be established. A VC must be a defender of academic vigour and academic sophistication and even beyond

•Na’Allah

INTERVIEW that, he or she must know how to ensure that the university focuses on helping the immediate and larger community to grow and develop according to the aspirations of the people and the government. In the area of science, technology and aerospace, KWASU wants to be the Georgia Tech of Nigeria, where people that matter in Aviation, Air Force, Space research and many more for Nigeria would be products of KWASU! We collaborate with the Georgia Institute of Technology, the US University with the largest aerospace engineering programme in America. We are similarly determined at KWASU’s energy research. Our energy team is working on solar energy and many areas of alternative energy research, and we can’t wait for the new solar company, RanaPower, to start producing solar plants and solar farms and distribute elec-

tricity from here in Ilorin. KWASU is UNESCO Chairholder in Alternative Energy and other members of our energy research team are collaborating with Heifel University in China and working out strategy for joint work with the energy team of Georgia Tech. With research support from industries and others, we will lead the way for Nigeria in energy research.

Interest in the film industry We are indeed, excited about our new Centre for Nollywood Studies, and I am proud to announce that Dr Carmen McCain was recently appointed as Director of the Centre.

We are mindful of the existence of various film traditions in Nigeria, from Yoruba movie to Hausa, Igbo, Nollywood and Kannywood, and more, and the film traditions across Africa and beyond, and KWASU’s Nollywood Studies Centre is dedicated to all film traditions, and has started

‘Growing up was very memorable...whatever I become in life, all these cultural upbringings and especially, the Ilorin tradition of multi-culturalism and its identity as a multi-cultural and multi-lingual Muslim, is responsible and has defined me.The confidence and dignity of an Ilorin person is from his or her upbringing and the peaceful nature of his or her cultural life...It has inspired the person I became’

???

Growing up was very memorable. First in Ilorin, attending the Ansarul Islam Primary School, after a very brief stint at Baboko Primary School; later, in Sokoto, Koko and Yelwa-Yauri and Birnin Yauri. In Sokoto, I attended the Demonstration I Primary School located between the Sultan Abubakar College and Sokoto Teacher’s College. In Koko I attended Mala Salihu Primary School, and in Yelwa-Yauri and Birnin Yauri, I attended the then Government Teacher’s College, Birnin Yauri, now Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri. When I started in Yelwa-Yauri, at its temporary site, Yauri was in Sokoto State. It is now in Kebbi State. It was marvellous being born into the multicultural tradition of Ilorin; a city of knowledge. It is even more extraordinary acquiring Islamic and Western knowledge first from my Ilorin home and later from cities across the Northwestern Nigeria. I feel proud and privileged to have lived my early lives in Ilorin and Sokoto and Koko and YelwaYauri and Birnin Yauri, and whatever I become in life, all these cultural upbringings and especially, the Ilorin tradition of multiculturalism and its identity as a multi-cultural and multi-lingual Muslim, is responsible and has defined me.

Upbringing that inspired the man I became The confidence and dignity of an Ilorin person is from his or her upbringing and the peaceful nature of his or her cultural life.

I am grateful to Allahu Ta’ala for this Ilorin upbringing that I enjoyed. It has inspired the person I became. I started from Kewu wala, the Quranic School, where we used wala, the slate to learn and memorise the Glorious Qur’an. I remember how at completion of any major chapter, we would celebrate the wolimat, and felt proud of our knowledge and our Islam, and our Ilorinness. We will go around the community and sang with pride, “Toba sepe aiku laye o/ Ababa Muhammadu/ Ababa Muhammada/ Oke mefa legbaji/ Awa o bakan ma laye/ Toreta ti Musa o/ Injila fun Yisa/ Sebura Fun Dauda/ Al-Kur’ani fun Onsenla!

Meaning in English, If only no one dies in this World/ We would have met Muhammadu/ We •Continued on page 41

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Rotary Club gives Smart canes to blind

T

HE Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate, Lagos Mainland has flagged off the distribution Smart canes to the blind. The club’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ravindra Kamat, said it takes pleasure in inaugurating the special project in empowering the blind community by providing them with the Smart canes.

He said: “This is the first time Smart canes are being donated in Nigeria and we are happy to be the ones to take up this initiative towards supporting the blind community. Smart cane is a battery operated cane, which vibrates on sensing any obstacle, thus assisting the navigation and guiding of the blind. As a club we have decided to donate 100 smart canes and the flag off to the first set was given to members of the Nigerian association for the blind at Ojuelegba. The project is a gesture from our club in honour of our Past President, Rotarian Naran Bhai Patel, on receiving a National Honours. By the support of the members and the community we do plan to continue to drive this as a major project done every year.”

The Smart canes, according to him, cost more than $1,000. “We have the blind in mind and so far, 18,000 eyes have been operated on, and in order not to ignore those whose eyes cannot be operated on, who had been confirmed blind, Smartcane is given to them to aid their movement,” he said.

Mrs Nike Abdul Azeez, who spoke on behalf of the District 9100 Governor, Bamidele Balogun, said the Smartcanes are devices that will allow the blind live independent lives and in carrying out the normal things of life.

The club, according to Kamat, also distributed artificial limbs, adding that, the club always distributes free artificial limbs every first Saturday of the month and about fifty of such artificial limbs have been distributed.

He said: “Those with artificial limbs also come weekly for maintenance.” According to him, the cost of a limb is 250,000 naira, but it is done freely to help people.

A beneficiary of the limb, who identified herself as

•Mrs Azeez presenting a certificate of ownership to one of the recipients

By Dorcas Imah

CHARITY Rose Ominiyi from Benue State, said she knew what it took to live without a limb and with the acquisition of an artificial limb, courtesy of the club, she would be able to pick any job to help herself, “because it is giving me a

new lease of life. I am no longer limiting myself. And once I have the financial capability, I, too will like to help people with similar problems”.

Kamat said the next project by the club is the completion of “Rotary Eye Hospital”. According to him, it is a N300million project. The site is located at Airport road.

He said doctors would be brought from India to work permanently at the hospital to serve the public.

Supreme Court director bags doctorate degree

T

HE Director of Press and Information at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr. Akande Aweneri Festus, was among the graduands conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the 44th convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka last month. He has, by this feat, ranked among the first set of PhD holders in Public Relations in Nigeria; a programme pioneered in Africa

by the University of Nigeria.

Dr. Akande, a graduate of Mass Communication, holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, MSc Degree in Public Relations and MBA Degree in Marketing from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also has a BSc (Hons) Degree in Marketing from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). He bagged the Chartered Professional Certificate and Diploma in Public Relations

from Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Business Education Examinations Council in 1990 and 1992 respectively. A Journalist, Public Relations Practitioner and Teacher of over 25 years, Dr. Akande had been involved in the training of Journalists and Public Relations practitioners in Lagos State University (LASU), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Times Journalism Institute, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations School (NIPR); and was the pio-

Wanted: Honourable leaders •Continued from page 40

would have met Muhammada/ Hundreds of them (who were Prophet’s companions)/ We met no one in this World/ Toreta is for Moses/Injila is for Jesus/ Sebura is for David/ Al-Qur’an is for the Seal of the Prophets!”

The truth is that from that age, the idea of diversity of beliefs and religions through the various prophets were imbed in us, and we celebrate the prophets of religions, Moses, Jesus, David and Mohammed! It was an inherent culture transmitted to the young Ilorin person. “Talole de, talole de ohe/ Talole de/ Fila tannabi bo le/ Ta lole de/ Afi Iyanda Oni wolima/ Sohun lole de/ Who else can wear it, who can wear it/ Who can wear it/ The cap worn by Muhammed/ Who can wear it/ It’s only Iyanda the celebrant of Wolimat/ He (or She) it is that can wear it!”

neer Director of Lagos Public Relations Academy (LAPRA).

Dr. Akande also worked with the now defunct Abuja News Day Newspapers (the first print mediumin the Federal Capital Territory), Nigerian Tide Newspapers (Rivers State Publishing Corporation), and TELL Magazine, where he rose to management cadre. He also established the Special Project Unit of FAME Magazine in Lagos. He is an accomplished Speech Writer, Public Speaker and Author of robust international repute, having to his credit the following books: In-Road into Public Relations; Contemporary Media Relations Management; Effective Speech Writing and Public Speaking; Principles and Techniques of Public Relations; Application of Industrial Psychology and Sociology to Public Relations Management; Public Relations Strategy in International Marketing; International Public Relations Management; Dance of a Dead Man; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti: The Man, The Myth and The Mystery; Darkness At Noon (which was published in United States (US) and got the certification of the Library of Congress); among others. He has also published many research papers in different International Academic Journals and co-authored several monographs in the United Kingdom (UK) and the US respectively.

The leader Nigeria needs now What Nigeria needs now are leaders with honour, dignity, totally selfless and knowledgeable in commitment to the development of the country. Nigerian businesses, social and economic sectors need leaders that would understand that abandoning the Oyo-Ogbomoso road for decades is not a good business sense, even if many of them are rich enough to fly and avoid those roads, or many of them have trailers that can bamboozle their ways sometime causing fatal accidents and many days of blockade on the way.

Imagine the great business that could be attracted to Ilorin and Kwara State if that road was good, and if the roads in Mokwa and Jebba are good, imagine the great additional profits that can come to the businesses of our nation. A person once told me that perhaps if these roads are reconstructed and made perfect and enjoyable express-road all the way to Kano, Borno, Lagos and Port Harcourt, trailer owners would cease to make the kind of money and profit that they currently make. I believe this is shortsightedness and myopic thinking. With fixing of those roads would

• Na’Allah

emerge even new and greater business ventures for the trailers as connec-

• tors of goods to shorter distances and markets, making their trips shorter

and their profits greater, and the profits and productivity of Nigeria greater.

Advice for those gunning for public offices My advice to them is to fear God Almighty, be sincere to our dear country and work truly towards building a robust future for many generations yet to come.

•Akande

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘It took me 10 years to write 10 per cent of my book’ Director, Risk Management, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Folakemi Fatogbe, wrote Inspiring a Generation, a motivational book, to impact lives, TOYIN OLASINDE reports.

B

EFORE returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom (UK) in 2009, Mrs Fatogbe had finished work on the first draft of what has now become her first book. But, she got a job that slowed her down getting the book published.

While she was special adviser to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, and later Director of Risk Management, she practically had to give all her time to the reform being carried out in the financial sector then.

But the subject of the book was so dear to her that it could not wait forever. The publication derives from and builds on the success of President Barrack Obama in the 2008 election. When Obama was re-elected in 2012, Mrs Fatogbe could not resist the urge to complete the work.

“As I told my colleagues at the CBN, it took me just six months to write 90 per cent of the book, but the other 10 per cent took me 10 years,” she said.

As the writer puts it, Inspiring a Generation is a motivational book woven around the election campaigns of President Obama, which, many people believe, was unprecedented.

She explained: “It wasn’t anything that anybody expected and whether we are going to see a black man do that again in our own lifetime is extremely debatable. So, I in particular and many of those around me found it very inspiring; it motivated us. Following his journey, one could see that there were many lessons one could take and imbibe into our own lives. The fact that this man came from ‘nowhere’ and was able to beat the establishment; beat the Clintons and beat Bush, who was actually in power, to become the most influential man in the world is Phenomenal.”

She believed that she is inspiring more than a generation with the publication. Quoting from Confucius, as she does at the beginning of the book, she noted that to put the world in order, you must first put the nation in order. Also, to put the nation in order, you must

first put the family in order; while to put the family in order, one must first personally cultivate oneself.

She added: “Essentially, it’s saying to make the life that we want to live, to have the country that we want to have, to have the family that we want to have, we must first cultivate and improve ourselves. So, it’s a motivational one.”

Apart from telling the story, the author said it has quotations mapped into different sections, serving as a library of quotations for readers.

“It also has lessons from Obama. It draws out elements from the man’s campaign, his life, personal attributes that could be beneficial to people. It has a section that has about 60 lessons and at the end of each lesson, it says what you and I need to do; that brings very practical advice on how we can imbibe some of the strengths of Obama into our own lives. It also has elements from my personal life because I have also walked the walk.

When I was writing that book, my life was changing in a way that I had not expected. I had certain challenges so I needed inspiration and I got them from the book as well,” she explained.

Even if she eventually has time, Fatogbe is not sure if she will ever write a literary book.

But, she is convinced that the direction her pen has gone so far is apt, based on the need to get Nigerians into thinking right.

“Look at our economy right now; 95 per cent of our foreign exchange comes from oil.

If we had people who allowed themselves to be multi-dimensional, using different skills that they have. Yes, I’m the director of risk management. I love seeing the shock on people’s faces when I say I have written a book. They say it’s on risk management, right? So, their faces sort of look uninterested.

But when I say ‘No’, that grabs their attention.

“So why did I write on this? First and foremost, I did it before I came to the Central Bank. I started writing the book at the end of 2008. I joined CBN in October 2009, prior to that I worked extensively in the UK, in a

•Mrs Fatogbe

number of banks, including the Bank of England. Even though I was doing banking in the UK, I was also doing other things; I was doing property development.

“I didn’t write, but at that particular point in time, I had a particular challenge with one of my children so I had to stop working and

Meet the Artist 2015 makes its debut in Lagos

A

RTISTS have been advised to think less of pecuniary gains and embark on the expansion of ideas. Winner of the 2011 National Art Competition Uche Uzorka gave the advice at the maiden edition of this year’s “Meet the Artist”.

Artists, he said, should create value in their works, adding that their efforts art will yield money. “Artists should always strive to explore and increase in knowledge and not see themselves as an island,” he said.

The event, held at the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos was attended by artists and art lovers.

At the event Uche Uzorka displayed his works that include Where were you when I was here? and It feels strange to pay for Nigerian food’.

The works are products of his residency at the Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth and Savvy Contemporary, Berlin in Germany.

Where were you when I was here? is a collage achieved through cutting up images that represent works stored in the Iwalewa-Haus archive; works that are familiar, yet disconnected from their origins. Uzorka focuses on the simultaneous presence and absence of contemporary African art within and outside the continent.

He hopes to raise questions bordering on daily relationships, consumption of archival art, and the problem faced in Nigeria and many countries where access to original works is limited.

It feels strange to pay for Nigerian food is a three-piece installation on his experience as a Nigerian in Berlin. According to him, the theme explores alienation, inclusion and the external perception of a subject by addressing anonymous authorship and the free archive that the web represents.

He worked with phrases and search captions on internet search engines. The artist relied on the internet for information about his chosen subject, Nigeria. By employing im-

being caught up in an office setting. Whatever you do in life you have to find a way of succeeding. I enjoy making art first before the money comes in. Make the ideas macro and the money micro.”

Uzorka a mixed media artist, lives in Lagos. He was born in 1974 in Delta State, and graduated in 2001 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, practice incorporates painting, collage, cutting, pasting, charcoal, and ink drawing in an examination of processes of urban street culture. Uzorka won first place in the National Art Competition in 2011 for his collaboration with artist Chike Obeagu.

His first solo exhibition, The Organic, was held in October 2012 at the Goethe-Institut in association with AAF Artists’ Foundation.

Line.Sign.Symbol, Uzorka second solo exhibition, was held at the AAF in January 2013.

•Uzorka

By Chinasa Ekekwe

VISUAL ART age re-presentation through shredding, the images gain a new form and meaning when grouped into smaller, more manageable quantities. The idea was to process images in multiples of small units and store them in bags and sachets for visual presentation.

Uzorka said he was inspired by various environments. “Challenges have always been funds. So, materials like papers and fabrics I find around I use them to tell my story. So far I have worked with African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and the Goethe-Institut”.

He said he derives joy in making art pieces , adding that art makes him to reflect and understand things better.

His words: “I decided to become an artist because I wanted freedom to express my imagination and not be an employee. I wanted to be able to dig into ideas and understand life better. It was all about freedom and not

‘I decided to become an artist because I wanted freedom to express my imagination and not be an employee. I wanted to be able to dig into ideas and understand life better. It was all about freedom and not being caught up in an office setting. Whatever you do in life you have to find a way of succeeding. I enjoy making art first before the money comes in. Make the ideas macro and the money micro’

I said, ‘This is not going to defeat me, I need to focus my brain on something.’ I took on two major things. I took on a major property to do and I also decided to write because that’s what I could do in that time when I had a child that was ill, that I had to be the primary carer for.”

Photography training begins April 13

By Toyin Olasinde

AQUARIAN Consult Limited is holding a photography training. in order to add values and change to lives positively, in collaboration with Africa’s influential photographer, Paul Ukonu.

It will hold in Lagos from April 13 to 16.

At a briefing in Lagos, Aquarian Manager, Business Development and Marketing, Mr. Ademola Balogun, said: “This training is to raise photographer that will change the image of Africa and show the world the beauty that lies within, he added. “ The forum will help participants to sharpen up their skills of learning in their profession and also to empower job seekers”.

“This is a great opportunity for people residing in Lagos in order upgrade , in their photography.

“The company plans to add a new item to its training programmes. “ Mystery Shopping, which is among the new, is targeted at marketing research strategy used internally by an organisation in order to detect operational lapses and make recommendations to management, where necessary. “ Mystery shopping is right now only in use for fast food in Lagos and Abuja, and we hope to extend it to telecommunication companies and the banking sector.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘We reject the repression of a party’ Turkish Islamic scholar, writer and activist Fethullah Gülen, 76, is one of the most vehement critics of President RecepTayyip Erdogan of Turkey. He accuses him of restricting the liberties and removing the separation of powers in Turkey.

D

O you still feel safe here in the USA? The Turkish government demands your extradition of Barack Obama.

The USA is a democratic state of law. Nobody can be convicted without any statutory regulations and there is no space for despotism here. There is no legal basis for the Turkish president’s extradition request. In this way international law is being violated and Turkey’s reputation in the world is being damaged.

Once you have been a supporter of RecepTayyip Erdogan’s conservative-Islamic AKP. What has changed?

When the AKP had been founded they promised democracy, human rights, the EU-membership, an end of corruption and stigmatization of dissidents, and economic upturn.

In the first years all these promises were kept. That’s why participants of our movement supported them. However, after the AKP had come into power for the third time in 2011, they made a radical U-turn. Today we recognize political pressure on the media, sprawling authorisations for the intelligence agency MIT, profiling of citizens, contempt of judicial decisions, and mistreatment of protesters. Currently the government is trying to characterise me as public enemy in order to hide their corruptions and to form an authoritarian system. However we have got the saying: A liar’s candle only burns until sunset.

Together with Erdogan you have forced back the influence of the army on the Turkish politics. Is this all forgotten?

In the past Turkey has experienced four different military coups. Governments have been brought down, ten thousands of people have been interrogated and arrested, and many of them got tortured. In Turkey terrible things have happened which are not imaginable in the EU (which we want to join).

In a 2010 referendum 58% of the Turkish population voted for a change in the law. This constitutional change allowed bringing officers who had attempted a military coup to a civil court. If the AKP hadn’t politicized the referendum so much, maybe 70% would have approved it. For the first time in my life I had voiced a recommendation back then. I had said, even the dead should raise and take part in this referendum.

After the country had been freed from the repression by the military, the AKP consolidated all powers for the executive branch. They neutralised supervisory authorities and tried to eliminate the independence of judiciary. Earlier we had rejected the repression of the military. Today, in the same way, we reject the repression of a party. That’s why we are slandered as traitors.

Where is Turkey heading for?

Currently, the Turkish Republic conveys the impression that it is no longer a social, secular and constitutional democracy. It has rather become a one-party state and even a oneman state. The separation of powers has been suppressed except for the constitutional court which is still putting up resistance. Today, Turkey is experiencing a national polarisation and is losing its international reputation. Turkey is getting lonelier. My country’s situation makes me sad.

Erdogan claims he wanted to bring up a religious generation. Don’t you want the same?

It is not the task of a government to raise a religious generation. Such a policy gives rise to pressure on dissidents.

Freedom of faith is part of the fundamental human rights.

The state has to assure all individuals of the right to learn and to teach their beliefs – no matter which religion it is. In twelve years of government people have expected Erdogan to ensure these rights legally, making no discrimination among religious minorities. It’s open to dispute to which extend these goals have been achieved. Yet, a devout person should observe the law. With this in mind I wish a religious generation that has both deep spirituality and respects the rights and freedoms of all human beings. But if you mean a generation which has depth of understanding of its own religion, which discriminates and easily spreads hatred, then I say: No. And we don’t call such a generation religious in the first place.

Recently you have taken a stand against the Islamic State in five major US newspapers. How dangerous is IS? In the history of Islam radical groups have repeatedly come up. In fact, these groups suppressed other peoples, murdered humans and hereby betrayed their religion. A few years ago there was Al-Qaida. Now there is IS; that’s all we needed! IS defiles the image of Islam. This is nothing but barbarism.

Whoever was prejudiced against Islam feels vindicated now.

This situation won’t let you sleep. Unfortunately, scholars in the Islamic World did not take an unequivocal stand in this matter, neither in Mecca and Medina, nor in Egypt and Turkey.

Had you wished more protests on the streets?

Sadly I haven’t seen any large demonstrations. Furthermore it is alleged that the IS is being supported from other countries with weaponry and logistics. If these claims are true, world peace and the future of Islam are in danger.

Are IS fighters Muslims?

They are victims of a mass psychosis. In Europe this phe-

•Gülen

nomenon is well known. People had followed movements which later were responsible for massacres. The IS members are ignorant people who don’t know their own religion in the least. They make up a holy war. It is a system of madness.

How can young Europeans be protected from this madness?

Endangered youngsters should be better observed, although this might contradict the ideals of freedom in the Western world. One should enlighten them, provide workshops and conferences. In addition, young foreigners’ home countries should not escape their responsibilities.

What do you recommend to the politicians of the Turkish government in this subject?

I cannot recommend them anything. They will not listen to me. They have brilliant minds and know everything.

How do you like Erdogan’s palace?

Every state needs buildings that serve its needs. However, instead of erecting a palace with 1000 rooms, one could have renewed the existing buildings. A court had even decided to stop the new construction. The Prime Minister ignored it.

Such a behavior shakes the citizens’ respect for the justice. In the Ottoman Empire the most splendid palaces were built during the time of their decadence. Today many heads of powerful states work in modest buildings. That’s why this magnificent building did harm to Turkey’s reputation. 60% of the Turks regard it as wastefulness. From a religious perspective this is waste, and waste is a sin.

Erdogan accuses your movement of infiltrating justice and police.

A citizen does not infiltrate the institutions of his own country, but he can take his rightful place in them. Everybody who provides the necessary qualifications can be a civil servant. Is it possible that they feel threatened because many people did not bow to the power? The current political system does not only stigmatise people who sincerely support our movement, but almost everybody who doesn’t stay close to their power and who doesn’t cooperate. They see us as harmful elements in the state. Such a thing is called witch-hunting.

Thousands of civil servants have been moved and dismissed. How many of them were Hizmet-members?

I don’t even know a tenth of the people who feel connected to this movement. After a certain time one will recognise that many of the concerned prosecutors, police officers and teachers have nothing to do with us. On the one hand, they try to present us as a big danger by stigmatizing so many people.

‘In a 2010 referendum 58% of the Turkish population voted for a change in the law.

This constitutional change allowed bringing officers who had attempted a military coup to a civil court. If the AKP hadn’t politicized the referendum so much, maybe 70% would have approved it. For the first time in my life I had voiced a recommendation back then. I had said, even the dead should raise and take part in this referendum. After the country had been freed from the repression by the military, the AKP consolidated all powers for the executive branch. They neutralised supervisory authorities and tried to eliminate the independence of judiciary. Earlier we had rejected the repression of the military.

Today, in the same way, we reject the repression of a party. That’s why we are slandered as traitors’

On the other hand they want to get rid of everybody who doesn’t pledge complete allegiance to them. Most recently a vice-chairman of the AKP even admitted this strategy.

The officials had collected corruption allegations against sons of ministers and pro-government businessmen. What do you think about these allegations?

Despite concrete evidence that was publicised, the corruption proceedings have been closed. Because of that to this day, nobody knows what really has happened. In the West, governments would have resigned, if there were such charges. Ankara went so far to portray the investigations as an international conspiracy – again, a typical strategy in authoritarian regimes.

Is your movement weakened?

Indeed, it is hard to deny the effect of the propaganda by the state-controlled media. People who send their children to our schools and support us with donations are being threatened.

But some day this propaganda,which relies on a web of lies,will eventually turn against their producers.

The government plans to close down all your schools in Turkey.

Our schools won high praise and several awards. If Turkey is a state of law, we expect that nothing bad will happen to them. Otherwise Turkey will lose.

Recently Gülen-Schools have been closed down in Central Asia. Is the Turkish government’s influence responsible for that?

The Turkish government tries to find different arguments against us in each country. In the republics of the former Soviet Union they say we were American spies. In the USA they call us religious fundamentalists and in Islamic countries they allege we were alluring their children from the religion. In fact, that is a very pragmatic strategy. Yet, in this way Turkey is breaking down bridges of friendship and is harming its international relations. Hereby the Turkish paranoia is being transported abroad.

A former US ambassador once described you as second most powerful man in Turkey. How do you see yourself?

I seek refuge in God from any such claim! Everybody who slightly knows me can confirm that I had never wanted to be famous. I have never tried to obtain spiritual or material benefits. My life of 76 years is a witness to this. If the successes of this movement deserve any praise, it is due to the many volunteers.

Will this movement exist without Fethullah Gülen?

People supported us who didn’t even share one percent of our worldview. But we shared universal values. In Africa people who I had never met, have co-financed schools and hospitals. They were rich people and you hadn’t expected their support. Every night when I go to bed I think for myself, maybe I won’t wake up again. But I am not worried in the least about the future of this movement.

Do you think about returning to Turkey?

I miss my country very much. I am an emotional person. I have got family and friends. And I did not come to this world out of nowhere. I was born to a family. Recently my brother passed away and I wasn’t able to attend his funeral. This was also the case with other relatives. I have spent 60 years of my life in Turkey. I easily attach to places and even to objects.

The village I was born in, the graves of my father and my grandparents, the neighborhood in Izmir where I have lived for years, the books in my library there… All these are in my mind’s eye and I can’t hold back my tears. If I returned to Turkey today, some people working in the highest departments of the state would abuse this for their dark purposes.

Can you imagine reconciliation with Erdogan?

We didn’t start this fight. That’s why they have to make the first move for reconciliation. If some day Erdogan confesses to all his bald lies and slander he disseminated in rallies and in media, I will be ready to make my peace with him.

Is there anything which makes you happy nowadays despite all difficulties?

I have never been happy for a long time. After each military coup I was being persecuted. But what I experience today is even worse. Still, the bright side is that coal and diamonds get separated (Turkish saying). The world is recognizing the meaning of this movement.

Many in America were amused about Erdogan’s recent statement that Muslims had discovered America before Christopher Columbus. What do you think about that?

Scientists of different disciplines should decide what was discovered by whom first. Some people might say: “Who is Einstein anyway? And who is this Edison? We Muslims knew all this already in the fifth century, even the nuclear fusion.”

It is absurd to say that these discoveries were only made by Muslims.

•Culled from SüddeutscheZeitungGermany

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

But for the sitting arrangement, the mood of guests and the decorations in the hall, the 50th birthday celebration of the Director-General to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos last Sunday would have been mistaken for an art exhibition or auction. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there.

Behold ‘Mother Theresa’ of our day

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BOUT 10 large size-mounting boards on each side of the walls accentuate the all-purple coloured blinds. Displayed on them were over 150 paintings ranging from abstract to realism, impressionism, surrealism and landscape. The artworks done by Sally in over two decades were also rendered in small, medium and large size-formats. Complementing the arts were a three-volume coffee-table books on Sally and her daughter, Solange: The portrait of an artist; Life and Work and Introducing Solange-the architect and the photographer that were being presented to the public. Flanking the book stands to the right was a giant birthday cake, which symbolised the essence of the gathering. Banquet Hall, Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos was the venue of the celebration anchored by former newscaster at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Patrick Oke. Like an appetizer, guests were treated to large screening of The Sally Mbanefo Foundation vision, testimonials, goodwill messages and felicitations from friends and relations who showered encomiums on the celebrator who many described as kind-hearted and warm mother.

The evening also provided opportunity for Sally’s close associates especially her brethrens from different Catholic Church Parishes across the country to appreciate and celebrate one of their own.

Among the guests that attended the celebration included delegations from Holy Cross Cathedral (Catholic Church) Lagos, business mogul Chief Mike Inegbese, Mary Inegbese, Mr. George Uwechue, Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Victor Osibodu, Mr. JK Randle, Otunba Gani Adams, Oscar Onyema, Chief Ekesi, Mr. Wande Akinboboye, ABC Ojiako and Tonye Cole.

Others were Atedo Peterside, Nike Akande, Alfred Okumagba, Nkiru Animodu, Mimi Akinkugbe, Joe Obiago, Greg Mbadiwe and Dr. Mrs A. Abakada.

Rev. Father Anthony Oyeniyi of Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos congratulated Sally on her 50th birthday anniversary saying ‘as you celebrate the gift of life, we ask the Giver of all life to bless you, keep you, guide you, guard you and shield you from all harm and may He multiply your days on the face of the earth.

More so, I wish to thank you most sincerely for the great work you have been doing with the youths of Holy Cross Cathedral especially in the area of youth development and empowerment and the regular support you give to

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FTER months of searching for culture advocates, winners have emerged in the culture-based reality show, tagged: Heroes: Back To The Roots.

At the end of 60 days of co-habitation among other activities, Ms Happiness Udodang from Akwa Ibom State, has emerged queen and winner out of the 37 culture gladiators that the show began with.

The 37 contestants, according to the organisers, were picked after 104-day of painstakingly traversing many states, adding that Ms Udodang won due to her in-depth understanding of her culture.

Ms Udodang said she was more than happy she won, adding that emerging winner was more than a dream-come-true.

According to her, in addition to having her dream of becoming a movie star, she went home with a car, N2million and a role in a film that will be shot with 10 finalists of the show.

But Ms Udodang was not alone. Like her, the second and third place finalists - Luther

•From Left: Uwechue, Mary Inegbese (second right)and Mike Inegbese at the books presentation on Sunday

•Some copies of one of the books on display at the event

indigent students.’

Proprietor St Paul’s School, Lessel, Oshungo local government area, Benue State, Rev. Father Okoro Onyebuchi Basil recalled that ever since meeting Sally in 2010, she has lifted the burden of running the school away from him.

“She has consistently provided for the running of the school on monthly basis. That notwithstanding, she has reached out in many other charitable works that I am involved in.

Sally, your power of love is contagious! Your ‘Christ-likeness’ is Eucharistic! Your Christianity is practical! Let me borrow the words of the Psalmist. ‘He wiped away our tears and taken our sorrows away’. You have literarily

PHOTOS: OZOLUA UHAKHEME

wiped away our tears and taken away our sorrows. Ride on daughter of Zion! …Mother Theresa of our day! Your lies are rare,” he said.

To the celebrator, the 50th birthday anniversary is not a merrymaking event per se, but a time to give back to the society, especially putting smiles to the less privileged peoples’ faces. According to Sally, her birthday celebration is designed to raise funds through art in order to give back to Southwest where she spent about three decades of her amazing career life. This, she said, would be through Youth Education Fund, supports to charities and empowerment programmes.

“For over eight years in Delta State, we have

been lending monthly support to two charities in building Refugee Homes for Widows, Rehabilitation Homes for the Mentaly ill and the empowerment of the youth. On a much smaller scale, we continue to support on a monthly basis eight other institutions and churches with charitable aspirations in Lagos, Abuja and Rivers States…

“The proceeds from the sales of the books will be used to build schools for vocational skills acquisition for the under-privileged, starting with Lagos State. Subsequently, it is intended that the school will be run from proceeds of the annual auction of my paintings and sculptures,” she said of the foundation’s contributions.

Grassroots’ Heroes gets new queen

By Evelyn Osagie

REALITY SHOW Emmanuel Ikyobo from Benue State and Chelsea Chinenye Oguejiofor from Anambra State – each got N1.5million and N1million alongside roles in the film.

The show, which was aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), is produced by Chinyere Ogbukagu, who also heads Plateau-based Havilla Timeless Production; and directed by famed filmmaker Ifeanyi Onyeabor.

According to Ogbukagu, the folk reality TV show aims at promoting peace and interethnic understanding, adding that it also highlight the various tourism potential abundant across the country.

She said: “Apart from re-awakening the interest in our culture the show also highlights the various tourism potential

abundant in the various states where the cast and crew of the show are visiting. After auditions, five persons were selected from each of the states and FCT for the final screening to arrive at the 37 finalists - one from each state and FCT- to compete in the house where they would co-habit for 60 days.

Contestants who have great understanding of their culture are usually on an advantageous pedestal to emerge victorious.”

The 2014 edition of the TV show also culminated in an award’s event to recognise individuals and institutions that have contributed in no small measure to a better understanding of our cultural legacies in Nigeria, with great emphasis on cultural tolerance.

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu was honoured as the “Best Supporting Governor”; Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio as” Best Governor”;

•Queen Happiness

Cross River State got the “Cleanest State” award and Niger State was “Most CultureFriendly State” “We award is our appreciation of their support. We also got support from other individuals and organisations and governments for this project to come to fruition. We especially thankful to Niger State for being a great host, IMO state for seeing the vision.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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BUSINESS EXTRA Seplat shuts Oben gas plant

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• From left: Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Saratu Umar and Director, National Competitiveness, Policy Advocacy, NIPC, Mr. Emeka Offor, during the NIPC/Media Roundtable, in Lagos ... yesterday.

Govt to bridge $2.4tr infrastructure funding gap T

HE Federal Govern ment is to begin imple mentation of a strategic investment master plan to bridge the country’s huge infrastructural funding gap estimated at about $2.4trillion.

The Executive Secretary/ CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Saratu Umar, who made this known yesterday in Lagos, said infrastructure funding is a priority under the proposed Nigerian Investment Promotion Master Plan being developed by the Commission to drive investments in critical sectors of the economy.

Already, the agency has commenced stakeholders’ collaboration which is aimed at bridging the infrastructure funding gap.

Mrs. Umar said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has come to be globally acknowledged as the easiest and cheapest source of development financing because of its attendant benefits of creating employment, ensuring technological transfer, conserving foreign reserves, en-

• NIPC initiates investment masterplan

By Simeon Ebulu

suring availability of quality goods and services among others.

She explained that these, amongst other reasons, have made the competition for FDI very stiff among nations, particularly in recent years due to globalisation brought about by technology.

“One of the strategies adopted by most countries to attract FDI is the establishment of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), with over 170 already in existence world wide, competing to attract often limited FDI to their various countries.

“Nigeria needs over $2.8tr infrastructure funding over the next 30 years, whereas the estimated budgetary provision will be about $45billion. This leaves a huge shortfall of about $2.4trillion,” she said.

In terms of FDI, Mrs. Umar said, Nigeria receives an aver-

age of $7.5bn yearly, saying if this is constant over the next 30 years, $223billion would have accrued to the country over this period, a figure she said is rather paltry when compared to the infrastructure investment requirement of the country.

“Therefore, a massive FDI inflow is required to service the implementation of the various strategic master plans across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. The implementation of the NIPC’s Investment Promotion Master Plan is being designed to address the sector-specific funding gaps,” she observed.

This, according to her, is why the Commission is repositioning to enable it be in a position to facilitate bridging the country’s infrastructure funding gap, estimated at about $2.4tn over the next 30 years.

But if the Commission is to achieve its purpose, there is the need for effective collaboration

N264b subsidy payment for March, says MOMAN

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FTER a meeting with the Major Oil Market ers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) on Monday, the Federal Government reached an agreement with the marketers to fully pay them (marketers) their outstanding unpaid N264 billion subsidy debt between this month and end of March.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN Mr. Obafemi Olawore told reporters yesterday in Lagos that members of the Association had a

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

meeting with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss mode of payment to encourage marketers to continue making fuel available in the country. At the end of the meeting, the minister assured that the debt will be fully paid by end of March.

Olawore stated that the government last year paid the marketers N345 billion,

which was subsidy for 2013 and part of 2014. He noted that the N264 billion currently owed the marketers comprises of the pending unpaid 2014 and January 2015 subsidies, foreign exchange and bank interests.

According to him, part of last year’s and January this year’s subsidies is N164 billion while the accompanying foreign exchange differential and interest on loans from banks is N100 billion, making a total of N264 billion.

TCN records 73.48Mw evacuation gap

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F the 3,734.55Mega Watts (MW) which the Electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) produced on February 22, 2015, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could only send out 3,661.07MW, resulting in a wheeling gap of 73.48MW. But Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo had last month said that TCN has a capacity of 5,500MW. The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), said

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the Federal Ministry of Power that made this disclosure on its website yesterday, hit a peak power generation of 3,874.5MW in the period under review.

Following the statistics of February 17, 2015 that showed a power transmission of 3,424.11MW, the current energy sent out by the TCN increased by 236.96MW. Generation which was

3,494.96MW on February 17, 2015, rose by 239.59MW within five days.

The Genco produced 3,494.96MW in the penultimate statistics with an evacuation gap of 70.85MW gap that the TCN could not wheel to the Discos.

The market hit a peak generation of 3,768.2MW .

NESI had on February 10, 2015, sent out 2,869.84MW to the Discos for onward distribution to the customers.

with stakeholders for mutually beneficial purposes. To achieve this, the Commission is reviewing its strategy with respect to partnerships, image, investment targeting, client servicing etc, in a coordinated fashion that facilitates steady and sustainable growth of FDI in Nigeria.

The executive secretary noted that the agency had also streamlined its investment promotion drive through the promotion of country specific and sector-specific investment opportunities, and in line with Nigeria’s investment priorities.

EPLAT Petroleum De velopment Company Plc Joint Venture has shut its Oben gas plant to enable tie-in of its expansion unit with the existing plant.

The company said the 10 day long shut down is scheduled for February 22nd to March 5th and will enable the company tie in its newly installed, 2 x 75 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) unit into the company’s existing gas plant.

In a statement issued by the company, the Chief Executive Officer, Austin Avuru, said: “Post tie-in operation, SEPLAT will have a single homogenous plant consisting of 2 by 45 MMSCF and 2 by 75 MMSCF trains and will be able to deliver 240MMSCF/D West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) specification gas postcommissioning, from the Oben node. This facility expansion and upgrades will bring the company’s overall daily gas production capacity to slightly over 300mmscf/d.”

During the shutdown, Seplat’s current daily production of 135MMSCF, from Oben node will “not be available, however, the company will maintain gas availability of 60mmscf daily from its Sapele node.”

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

The shut-down, provides the company an opportunity to enhance its current gas delivery into the national gas grid.

This achievement aligns with Seplat’s short to medium term domestic gas commercialization strategy, while facilitating greater power generation in the country, Avuru said.

Last November, SEPLAT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Electricity Regulatory commission (NERC) as well as the Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Limited for gas supply.

Improved gas production enables the company meet its obligations and achieve its short to medium term gas objectives.

Avuru noted that indeed “the company’s investment to develop its gas infrastructure buttresses our commitment to boost gas supply to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and support the Federal Government’s commitment to the reform of the Power Sector.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-02-15

Global securities regulators elect Nigeria’s Gwarzo AMERC chairman

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HE Africa and Middle East Regional Commit tee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has elected the acting director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo as its chairman.

IOSCO is the global body of securities regulators and its membership regulates more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets in over 100 jurisdictions. AMERC represents a major bloc in IOSCO. Gwarzo’s election took place at the on-going annual meeting and conference of the regional body in Muscat, Oman.

His term will run for two years. With the election, Gwarzo is to serve on the Executive Committee of IOSCO, the highest decision making organ of the global securities regulatory organization for the next two years.

In his acceptance speech, Gwarzo appreciated AMERC members for the vote of con-

•Nigerian equities rally to N10tr Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

fidence on him and stated that his election was a further commitment of AMERC to build on the foundations laid in advancing IOSCO and AMERC. He called on members to continue to promote mutual support and cooperation for the benefit of investors, markets and the world economy noting that there is still a lot of work to be done despite the progress made so far by IOSCO. He stressed the need for improved participation in IOSCO work streams and other relevant activities to enhance visibility of AMERC members within the organization.

He noted that the Committee will continue to deepen discussions and debates on topical issues including but not limited to long term financing, financial inclusion and lit-

eracy, risk based supervision, corporate bonds market and regional integration.

Also, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SEC Nigeria and Angola. The MoU covers technical support and information sharing between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Nigerian equities crossed the N10 trillion mark yesterday as the bullish sentiments continued to dominate transactions. With 35 advancers to 11 decliners, aggregate market value of all quoted companies at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rose from its opening value of N9.941 trillion to close at N10.058 trillion.

The benchmark index, the All Share Index (ASI), also trended upward to 30,145.60 points as against its opening index of 29,793.13 points.

The average daily gain of 1.18 per cent moderated the average year-to-date return at the NSE to -13.02 per cent.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-02-15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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MONEYLINK

Real estate earns N2.9tr in three years G ROSS earnings for the Nigeria’s real estate sector in three years have been put at N2.9 trillion, a report by FBN Capital released yesterday said.

Head of Markets at FBN Capital, Olubunmi Ashaolu, said the gross earnings were received across all real estate establishments between 2010 and 2012.

He said that residential properties raked in the highest commissions, accounting for 42 per cent of the total, while non-residential properties and warehouses accounted for 33 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively. Based on the report, approximately 7,343 establishments make up Nigeria’s real estate sector.

He said that Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) combined, accounted for over 50 per cent (31.89 per

FCMB Capital wins award

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CMB Capital Markets Limited, the invest ment banking arm of FCMB Group Plc, has been adjudged the “Best Local Investment Bank in Nigeria” at the 2014 African Banking Awards, organised

by EMEA Finance magazine.

This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of FCMB Capital Markets over the past year, having supported the successful execution of landmark transactions of major corporate organisations across various sectors of the Nigerian economy through the provision of capital raising and advisory services.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held in London, United Kingdom, the Executive Director of FCMB Capital Markets, Tolu Osinibi, said that, ‘’this award further validates our strategic focus on consistently supporting our clients by providing objective, expert advisory and execution services, thereby helping them to become market leaders and increase shareholder value.”

Looking ahead in 2015, our client promise remains to deliver the highest quality advice with discretion, integrity and insight; we will therefore proactively engage our clients to better understand how the current economic headwinds impact them, and assist them with crafting solutions that will help them get through this challenging period.”

The EMEA Finance African Banking Awards annually recognise financial institutions that have demonstrated leadership in their sectors, within their country and across the EMEA region.

The Editor of EMEA Finance magazine, Mr. Tim Burke, stated that, ‘’we were greatly impressed with the in-depth submission and the variety of high-profile deals handled

by FCMB Capital Markets, including project financing, DCM deals and acquisition funding. It’s a fantastic performance in a competitive market, and we hope the award is a welcome recognition of the hard work entailed.”

Stories by Collins Nweze

cent and 22.84 per cent respectively). Borno and Jigawa states, located in the northern region, have the lowest at seven per cent each.

Ashaolu however said that property registration in both states is relatively easier when compared to others, adding that the national housing deficit stands at 17 million units.

The World Bank estimates that the cost of bridging this gap is N59.5 trillion. Industry estimates suggest that 100,000 housing units are built each year, but the annual demand is as high as 700, 000,” he said.

Ashaolu said over 50 per cent of the country’s housing

projects are undertaken by the private sector and that access to finance remains a constraint. Also, mortgage loans from deposit money banks (DMBs) account for less than one per cent of total lending compared with 30 per cent to 40 per cent in other emerging markets.

The analyst said that the estimated cost of building a house in Nigeria is $50,000 while for South Africa and India this is estimated at $36,000 and $26,000 respectively. He said that bad road networks across the country as well as poor power supply push up the cost of producing and transporting building materials.

“We expect a slowdown in real estate activities in the near to medium term. Issuance of new contracts by the government is likely to see a marked

Fitch affirms 10 Nigerian banks on peer review; stable outlook

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•Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi

reduction as a consequence of declining oil revenue. The proposed budget already reflects this new reality. We believe that recurrent spending will be spared, however, even with oil prices as low as $60/ barrel,” he said.

ITCH has affirmed the Long-term Issuer De fault Ratings (IDRs) of 10 Nigerian banks. They are Zenith Bank Plc (Zenith), FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH), First Bank of Nigeria Ltd (FBN), United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB), Access Bank Plc (Access), Diamond Bank Plc (Diamond), Fidelity Bank Plc (Fidelity), Union Bank Plc (Union) and First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB). All Outlooks are Stable.

Fitch has also affirmed the National Ratings of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (SIBTC) and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc (SIBTCH).

The ratings are all in the ‘B’ range, indicating highly speculative fundamental credit quality, and factor in Fitch’s ex-

pectation of increasingly challenging economic conditions and market volatility in Nigeria. The operating environment is affected by persistently low oil prices, continuing pressure on the domestic currency naira, likely further monetary policy and regulatory actions and increased political uncertainty.

At the same time, the ratings are underpinned by continued strong underlying economic growth in Nigeria, particularly in non-oil sectors. Fitch expects nonoil GDP growth of 5.5% in 2015 (2014: 7.5%), driven by continued economic reforms and limited impact from public sector austerity.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

49

NEWS Jonathan names DG for NESREA

Fire guts Ebonyi Assembly

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Anukam as the Director General/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA).

A letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, said the appointment, which takes effect from February 17 is for a term of four years as stipulated in the NESREA Establishment Act 2007.

In a statement in Abuja by the agency’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sule Oyofo, Dr. Anukam assumed the post of the Acting DirectorGeneral of NESREA last December, after he took over from Mrs. Ngeri Benebo, whose tenure expired on December 18 last year.

Until his new appointment, Dr. Anukam was the Director, Planning and Policy Analysis in NESREA.

•Members accuse Elechi, executive of complicity •Governor: it’s a tragedy •APC: inferno an attempt to cover up financial misdeeds

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ART of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly were yesterday

gutted by fire, which destroyed equipment worth millions of naira.

Also destroyed were financial records in the Accounts section and undisclosed amount of money kept in the office by the Assembly workers.

The deputy speaker’s office and the majority leader’s were affected.

Other items destroyed included furniture, computers, refrigerators, air conditioners, TV sets, ceiling fans, standing fans, among others.

Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said the command received a distress call about 1am concerning the inferno.

“We immediately sent our men to the scene and they with members of the Fire Service, put out the fire.”

The command, he said, had begun investigations.

The Assembly, however, held its plenary about 11am, with members accusing the executive arm of the government of complicity in the incident.

Chief Obasi Odefa (PDPOnicha-East) accused Governor Martin Elechi, his son, Nnanna, commissioners, among others, of setting the complex on fire.

He alleged: “The governor met these people days ago and they resolved to set the Assembly on fire and kill all of us for performing our constitutional duties.”

Mr. Chike Ogiji (PDPIkwo South) urged the Inspector- General of Police to provide security for members, their families and the Assembly complex.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

His words: “Our lives are in danger. We want people to know that if anything happens to us, they should hold Elechi and his cohorts responsible.”

Speaker Chukwuma Nwazunku thanked the members for their contributions and urged the security agencies to investigate the incident.

He declared the seats of Deputy Speaker Blaise Orji and the member representing Abakaliki North Constituency, Mr. Oliver Nwachukwu, vacant for defecting to another party.

The Supervising Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Ike, who visited the scene, condemned the act, saying people should wait for the outcome of the investigation.

He said the allegation of complicity in the act against the governor and others was ridiculous.

“This has shown the extent some disgruntled persons can go to demean the Office of the Governor. Members should not allow themselves to be used to smear the governor’s name.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the leadership of the House of masterminding the inferno to cover up misappropriation of funds, financial recklessness and other issues relating to the House activities.

The Publicity Secretary, Chief Ngaji Nwodoh, alleged that there was a petition against the leadership of the Assembly over misappropriation and embezzlement of government funds

•Elechi (right) and other government officials...yesterday

Iyalode of Osogbo dies at 74

•The Accounts section...yesterday

and wondered why the fire would gut the complex immediately the petition was sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

About 1:40pm, Governor Elechi visited the complex.

Row in House over Mbu’s statements HE House of Representatives resolved yesterday to investigate controversial police officer, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu, over his threat to kill 20 or more civilians should any of his men be killed in the general elections.

The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion moved

by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki with the title: “Violation of the Constitution and disrespect to the rule of law by AIG Mbu Joseph Mbu”.

The motion, which caused a row on the floor of the House, was eventually referred to the House Committee on Police Affairs for investigation.

Madaki, arguing the motion, said the statement by Mbu, which was widely reported in national dailies, amounted to a violation of the 1999 Constitution.

He said the Constitution guarantees immunity of governors and their deputies and, therefore, no authority or person, including courts of law,

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From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

has the right not to accord governors such privileges.

The lawmaker noted that the AIG “allegedly directed all officers and men in his command to disregard any immunity being enjoyed by any governor, an action, he said, amounted to a violation of the constitution.”

Madaki, among others, added that the way and manner Mbu had been discharging his duties was “in utmost disrespect to the rule of law.”

He expressed concern on the statement allegedly made by Mbu that “if one police officer is killed during the 2015 elections, between 20 to a 100 citizens would be killed in return.”

Madaki stressed that the utterances and antecedents of AIG Mbu were “unbecoming of a police officer.

But a lawmaker Linus Okorie (PDP, Ebonyi) faulted the prayers of the motion, saying it was judgmental and

should not be allowed to pass.

This caused a serious row as other members mostly from the opposition shouted him down.

The leader of opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila, also faulted Okorie, saying that the lawmaker’s argument did not hold water.

But Gbajabiamila’s submission also incurred protest from other members, who were in support of Okorie.

However, when Okorie was eventually allowed to speaking, he was again abruptly interrupted by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha who was presiding.

Ihedioha told Okorie to “save his breath” and this caused another row from those that were supporting the latter.

Ihedioha eventually ruled that it was an investigative motion and referred it to the House Committee on Police Affairs.

Many disagreed with him.

Gbajabiamila wanted to know what happened to the resolutions of the motion, which were not ruled on.

Elechi, who returned to the state from Abuja a few minutes earlier, was received by Nwazunku, who conducted him round the destroyed sections of the complex.

He described the inferno as a tragedy.

The governor warned against tampering with exhibits on the disaster so as not to compromise investigations.

Reps pass Cyber Crime Bill

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HE National Cyber Crime Bill passed second reading yesterday at the House of Representatives.

Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the sitting, referred it to the committees on justice and information for further legislative input.

House Leader Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, while leading the argument on the bill, said it seeks to provide “an effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cyber crimes in Nigeria.”

According to her, the bill would further ensure the protection of critical national information from criminal hackers and infiltrators as well as promote cyber security and the protection of computer systems and networks, electronic communications, data as well as computer programmes.

Cyber crimes, she said, have become phenomenal in

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

global socio-economic lives, as well as tool for international terrorism and money laundering, adding that this was the reason the Federal Government found it necessary to come up with the bill.

Akande-Adeola said cyber crimes also involve cyber bullying, stalking, internet paedophiles and other sexual crimes, which have become central to commerce, entertainment and government.

The bill, which was sent to the House early last year by President Goodluck Jonathan, was unanimously passed.

THE Jaiyeola family of Osogbo in Osun State has announced the passing on of its mother and daughter, Chief Bernice Alake Kolade (nee Jaiyeola). She died on February 12. She was 74.

In a statement, the deceased’s younger brother, Tunji Jayeola, said she was born on February 20, 1941 and until her death was the Iyalode of Osogbo (traditional head of women in Osogbo land) and the only woman in the eight-member of the council of kingmakers in Osogbo land. She was also the vice president, Association of Iyalodes in Osun State.

A retired nurse, Chief Kolade was the President of Customary Court, Grade C, in Olorunda Local Government, Igbonna, Osogbo.

Mr. Jayeola, the Manager, Ecobank, University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch, said the deceased would be buried on March 6 after a funeral service at the All Saints Cathedral, Balogun Agoro, Osogbo.

•The late Alake Kolade

Abia varsity lecturers begin work-to-rule From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abia State University, Uturu chapter, (ABSU), has begun an indefinite work-to-rule following the inability of the management to pay in their check-off deductions into the union’s account.

It said the authority owed members arrears of salary, which must be settled before they would call off their action.

The work-to-rule has paralysed academic activities. The university was about starting the first semester examinations before the lecturers began the work-to-rule.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

50

NEWS

Three Delta chiefs die in road crash

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HREE kinsmen of former Delta State Governor James Ibori in Oghara died yesterday in an auto crash.

The accident occurred at Okhuaihe Bridge, on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway, in Edo State.

The victims were identified as: Vincent Majemite, John Aponenene and Takpor.

They were said to be travelling to Asaba, the Delta State capital, when the accident happened.

An eyewitness said their Prado, a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), lost one of its tyres and skidded off the road.

The vehicle reportedly somersaulted several times

Three die in Edo multiple accidents

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HREE persons died on Monday in a multiple accident at the Okhuahie River Bridge on the Benin-AgborOnitsha Expressway in Edo State.

Among the vehicles involved in the accident were two trucks, with registration numbers: ABS 91 XA and XB 995 UKP. A Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Lexus, with registration number SAP 135 AA, was also involved.

Among the dead were a lawyer and a retired policeman, who were said to be heading to Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Three others were critically injured in the accident.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

into a bush path and burst into flames.

The huge fire prevented passersby from rescuing the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

It was learnt that the accident occurred when one of the trucks hit the Lexus car from behind; the SUV crashed into another truck.

Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Familoni Oluwasusi confirmed the incident.

He said the dead were taken to a hospital at Ore-Ogbeni, near Benin, the state capital.

The sector commander said the police took away the victims’ property.

Oluwasusi added that the road had been cleared of the gridlock the accident caused.

occupants.

“The most painful aspect of the accident is not that the SUV they were travelling in was gutted by fire but that they were burnt beyond recognition,” a

resident of Oghara, who spoke in confidence, said yesterday.

It was learnt that six prominent chiefs died in similar circumstances on the same bridge about six years ago.

$2b left in Excess Crude Account, says Fed Govt

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NLY $2 billion is left in the country’s Excess Crude Account (ECA), Minister of State for Finance Ambassador Bashir Yuguda said yesterday.

The minister, who spoke after the meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) which he chairs, said there is N19 billion in the Domestic Excess Crude Account.

But he insisted that the country is not broke because it is able to meet all its salary obligations and honour bond obligations.

State governments yesterday threatened not to consider next month’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) report if the $1.48 billion refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Federation Account is not addressed.

Speaking to reporters at the February FAAC meeting in Abuja yesterday, Chairman of Finance Commissioners’ Forum Mr. Timothy Odaah ruled out any peaceful deliberation of next month FAAC if the recom-

From Nduka Chiejina and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

mendations of PriceWaterhouseCoopers audit of the NNPC is not implemented.

Nigeria has lost $159.88 million as a result of the financial crisis rocking the country, Amb. Yuguda said loss of revenue due to the drop in crude oil prices and a 33 per cent decrease in export volume between November and December, 2014, translated to a loss of $159.88 million.

He said: “The shut down and shut-in of trunks and pipe lines at various terminals continued to impact negatively on the revenue performance.” Non-oil revenues, he said, performed below the 2014 budgetary provisions”.

Yuguda linked the fall in nonoil revenues to fall in the price of crude oil in the international market which he said other revenues are tied to.

This financial loss, he said, has resulted in the continued shrinkage of available funds shared by the three tiers of government.

The Federal, state and local gov-

ernments shared N500.130 billion for January from the Federation Account.

Despite this, Yuguda insisted that Nigeria is not broke because the Federal Government has continued to pay salaries and honour its bond obligations.

According to him, our economy is resilient. We are not there yet but the economy is working.

He also responded to claims that some individuals or the government depleted the country’s foreign reserve stressing that “nobody has deflated our foreign reserves except when the CBN was defending the Naira.”

He admitted that state governments were having challenges because of the fall in what is shared every month but he appealed to them to diversify their revenue bases.

With regards to the expected $1.48 billion which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was asked to refund to the Federation Account, Yuguda said he was in dialogue with the minister of Petroleum and the Managing Di-

rector of NNPC to fashion out the modalities of how and when the money will be paid back.

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers report he said will be made public very soon The sum of N580 billion was shared for the month of December 2014 indicating that the federal, state and local governments will have financial difficulties to overcome this year.

For January 2015, N480.031 billion comprising of statutory allocation and Value Added Tax (VAT) proceeds was shared among the federal, state and local governments while N8.5 billion was shared from Exchange gain proceeds.

Also, there was an additional distribution of N4.419 billion from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), N6.330 refund to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)

by NNPC and another N0.776 billion from the residual balance of N450 billion. In January, nothing was shared from the Excess Crude Account and SURE-P.

•Former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale (left) addressing executive members of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) after an interactive session with the association on the general elections, in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Jonathan, Buhari greet Shagari at 90 From Tony Akowe and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, have eulogised former President Alhaji Shehu Shagari as he marks his 90th birthday today.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described Shagari as a committed patriot and outstanding leader.

According to him, the administration will continue to count on his support and solidarity.

President Jonathan prayed that Almighty Allah will continue to bless the former President with good health and long life.

The president wished him very happy birthday celebrations.

General Buhari described Shagari as the grand old man of Nigerian politics.

In a congratulatory message to the former president personally signed by him, General Buhari said: “Although I am physically unable to be present as I am abroad on previously arranged assignments, I wish to send my good wishes to former President Shagari on his 90th birthday.

“Alhaji Shagari is now the Grand Old Man of Nigerian politics, having been in the frame of public affairs since the colonial days. Although my government forcibly removed his government, he has always shown me civility and much courtesy.

“His contributions at the National Council of State meetings, which I attend, have always been constructive and eloquent. I wish the former President many more years of good health and peaceful retirement.”

Bayelsa command probes NSCDC’s ‘impostors’

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HE Commander of the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu, has begun investigation into the alleged impersonation of the command’s personnel.

The probe, it was learnt, would fish out those committing crimes in the guise of the corps members.

Agu was reportedly jolted by a report that gunmen, who kidnapped Chief Collins Adikoko, the deputy paramount ruler of Ikeinghenbiri a coastal community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area - wore NSCDC’s uniform.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

In a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Dauzuo Izonfate, the command said Agu had set up a special surveillance team to fish out the impersonators of the corps members.

The statement said the team was mandated to find those who were illegally in possession of NSCDC’s uniform and other materials.

It warned tailors to desist from sewing the corps’ uniform without identifying their owners.

The statement added: “We cannot allow miscreants to use our uniform and other materials to commit crimes or deceive the public.”

Cleric to monarchs: let’s assist FRSC

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By Olalekan Ayeni

HE Bishop of the Diocese of Awori Anglican Communion in Ogun State, Rev. Akin Atere, has urged traditional rulers and religious leaders to cooperate with traffic managers to spread information on road safety.

The cleric, who spoke at a prayer meeting organised by the church for officials of the Ota Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), noted that this would reduce road crashes in Nigeria.

He said the church organised the event to seek God’s guidance and wisdom to enable the FRSC officers perform their duties.

Rev. Atere said the officers were always on the road without guns or other weapons to protect them.

The cleric said they relied on divine protection in the face of their job hazards.

He urged motorists not to stop see the officers as their enemies but their friends, who work for their safety.

Rev. Atere advised them to comply with traffic laws, adding that doing so would save lives and property of road users.

The bishop urged traditional rulers, transportation unions and religious leaders to join the campaign for the safety of road users.

Stressing that safety is individual’s responsibility, not mainly the commission’s duty.

The Ota Unit Commander, Matthew Olonisaye, urged motorists to exhibit utmost discipline on the wheels. He warned road users against driving with fake drivers licence and picking and dropping of passengers on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

He said the disobeying traffic laws and misusing the road was among the causes of daily traffic gridlock on the expressway.

Alleged substitution: Edo SDP ‘candidate’ heads for court

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MEMBER of the Edo State Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oarhe Dickson, is challenging in court the alleged substitution of his name without his consent as Owan constituency’s “authentic candidate” for the House of Representatives election on April 11.

The politician alleged that he emerged the party’s consensus candidate at its primary on November 29, 2014.

Dickson said those who later defected to SDP from other parties wanted to usurp his candidacy.

His lawyer filed the suit at the Federal High Court in the Benin Judicial Division.

The suit has Ekeinde Stephen Obas, SDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second and third defendants.

It is seeking an “originating summons for the interpretation of sections 87 (6), (4)(c), (1) and 33 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, and a letter to Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) at Ikpoba Hill, Benin, and received by the third defendant on January 19, brought pur-

suant to Order 3, Rule 9 (1) & (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009”.

The plaintiff is asking the court the following questions for determination: •Whether the plaintiff, who was confirmed as the second defendant’s candidate by consensus during a special congress of the second defendant, is not the proper candidate of the second defendant to be sent to the third defendant as the second defendant’s candidate for the House of Representatives, Owan Federal Constituency

in Edo State; •Whether the second defendant can remove the name of the plaintiff after same had been submitted to the third defendant as the candidate of the second defendant for the March 28 National Assembly election (House of Representatives), Owan Federal Constituency, Edo State; and •Whether the first and second defendants can circumvent the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

The plaintiff said if the answer to Question One is in the affirmative and the an-

swer to Two and Three are in the negative, he is seeking the following reliefs: •“A declaration that the purported withdrawal of plaintiff’s name and the subsequent submission of name of 1st defendant as candidate of the second defendant to the third defendant is illegal, null, void and of no legal consequence or significance.

•“A consequential order mandating the third defendant not to act on the subsequent submission of the first defendant as the candidate of the second defendant representing Owan in the House of

Representatives.

•“An order of this court compelling and/or mandating the third defendant to act on the letter of the plaintiff, dated January 19, in which the plaintiff was named as the candidate of the second defendant for Owan Federal Constituency; and •“An order of the court that the plaintiff is the valid candidate of the second defendant for the election into House of Representatives, Owan Federal Constituency, and the third defendant should treat him as such.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

51

NEWS Suspected robbers kill one in Benue •Disarm police, attack bank

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USPECTED armed robbers have invaded Vandeikya in Benue State, disarming a police officer and robbing a first generation bank.

A witness said they blocked Vandeikya-Obudu Road, deflated the tyres of the vehicle of a security outfit, ‘Operation Zenda’, took a strategic position to avert any eventuality and headed for the bank.

The suspected robbers disarmed the police officer on duty and carted away huge sums of money.

It was learnt that during the operation, which lasted for over an hour, the suspected

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

hoodlums shot dead one person and injured another, who has been hospitalised.

A man, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that the bandits later drove towards Vandeikya-Korinya City Road to Konshisha Local Government.

Residents converged on the bank premises to discuss the incident.

The police in the Vandeikya Division and the bank manager refused to comment on the incident.

Abuja land swap initiative to cost N560b

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INISTER of the Federal Capital Territo-

ry (FCT) Sen. Bala Mohammed has said 15 investors are expected to invest over N560billion in the Abuja land swap initiative on nine new districts.

He said they are expected to provide the engineering infrastructures for the new districts of Ketti North, Sheretti, Ketti, Sheretti Chechi, Waru Kpozaima, Burum, Burum West, Ketti East and Gwagwa Mohammed said arrangements had been completed for President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the district

From Grace Obike, Abuja

tomorrow.

He said ceremony for the provision of engineering infrastructure in the districts of Phase IV (South) within the FCC was on the basis of the FCT initiative of leveraging on its land resource for infrastructure provision; thereby freeing the funds in possession of the government for other social services, such as education, health and environment.

The Assistant Director/ Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Sule, made this known in a statement.

CAN collected N7b from Jonathan, pastor insists

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ASTOR Kallamu Musa Dikwa, who recently alleged that the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) collected N7billion from the presidency to support President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid, has re-echoed his allegations.

The pastor, who addressed a larger news conference in Kaduna yesterday, said he was once an associate pastor with a northern-based church, but has since resigned from the ministry to run his own Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, under which he interfaces with CAN. Dikwa holds a Diploma in "Bible and Theology" from the All Nations For Christ Bible Institute International, Benin, founded by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa.

Dikwa insisted that the national leadership of CAN collected N7 billion from President Jonathan Goodluck Jonathan on January 21, 2014

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

but that only N3 million was sent to each of the states' branches of CAN. He also alleged that it was not the first time that CAN was involved in corruption.

According to him, in 2013, CAN got $50,000 (N10 million) from Nigerian Christians in the Diaspora but that only N500,000 was given to five victims; the national leadership of CAN pocketed the rest.

He said he was shocked that CAN was denying knowing him and the allegations of the bribe: Said Dikwa: "I greet you all in Jesus' name. . . I know that some of you know me or have been hearing me on some of the things that I said and National CAN has denied.

They even have denied me and say I did not exist. That is why I came to you to confirm that what I said is true. This is not the first time that they are collecting money, but not

from Jonathan.

"In 2013, some people came from America. They are our children, Christians from Nigeria living in America. We call them CANAAN (Christians Association of Nigerian Americans). They gave $50,000 to the victims of Boko Haram. After that the CAN leadership invited three people from Maiduguri and two from Damaturu and gave them N100,000 each. The victims know how much they (CAN) collected. Many of the leaders (Yobe and Borno CAN) started calling me. They said what happened was wrong and we have to correct it. . I have documents here to show you some of the things I have been saying. (The documents were his past press cuttings and petitions, with no relationship to any of the two allegations)."

He said after confronting CAN leadership with newspaper evidence and threatening to drag it to the Economic and Financial Crime Com-

mission, EFCC, CAN said it was going to look for space, buy, build and resettle some of the victims, which was never done.

According to Dikwa, all his sources are usually players in every issue he throws up.

He continued: "It was the same way that it happened when Jonathan went to Kwara in January. Someone there told me that CAN leadership was given money. I asked him if they called newsmen. The man said they did not. I said, ok, let us wait. After some time somebody called me. He said he has been giving his share. He said he has been given N3 million.

He said each state was given N3 million. I called someone in the leadership of National CAN. He told me that it was a confirmed happening. I will never give the name of that person even over my dead body. The states branches of CAN collected the money. But they don't know how much it is, whether it is N6 or N7billion.”

Free food in Borno

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ORNO State government yesterday launched the 29th edition of the Free Food Distribution (FFD).

The ceremony was performed by Governor Kashim Shettima, who hailed the dedication of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).

He praised the agency for its commitment in free food distribution in the metropolis since its inception.

Shettima sympathised with the people.

He noted that “the prevailing challeges in the state are beyond religious and regional or ethnic problems”, assuring that “government will do its best to cater for the people and restore peace.

“Insurgency in the state and in the Northeast requires constitutional responsibility.

The state government will

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

show its concern and care for the welfare and living condition of its citizens.”

Deputy Governor Zanna Umar Mustapha slammed the Federal Government for the insecurity in the state and in the Northeast.

He said it was sad that the insurgency had displaced many people.

The deputy governor lauded the initiative of the free food distribution by his boss, stressing that the programme had touched lives.

He enjoined the people to vote credible candidates, who would deliver the dividends of democracy.

The Executive Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Shani Grema Terab, said the exercise was the 29th in the series of the FFD.

Fuel queues resurface in Kwara

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ONG queues of vehicles, waiting to buy premium motor spirit (PMS) resurfaced yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The development, which was reminiscent of the dark days of fuel scarcity in the country, made many motorists to groan, following the nonavailability of petroleum products in most filling stations across the state capital.

Attendants at most of the petrol stations visited by our reporter said they had no product to sell and blamed the development on their inability to access products from Ibadan since the last few days.

The development started a day earlier, but was restricted to stations owned by independent marketers, as the major operators were dispensing fuel.

It was also limited to the state capital then. At that time, the independent marketers were said to have had disagreement with officials of the Pipeline Product Market-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ing Company (PPMC), which forced most of them to close their gates while they still had products.

The situation degenerated yesterday, as even the major operators closed their gates and claimed they had no supply. At press time, only two stations, one private and another major, were selling along the popular Murtala Mohammed Road in the metropolis.

A drive from Stadium through Oja-Oba indicated that only one private station was attending to customers.

It was the same situation at stations on Ola-Olu-GaaAkanbi Road. Only two stations sold the product near Odota-Airport Road when our reporter visited.

A cafe operator at Murtala Mohammed area, Juwon Medaiyese, said his assistant spent three hours in the queue to buy a 10-litre of petrol.

•A cross-section of new permanent secretaries taking their oath of office at the Executive Chambers of the Governor's Office, Ibadan, on Monday.

Ministerial slot: Abuja indigenes sue Jonathan

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HE indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have sued President Goodluck Jonathan and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, for failing to appoint them as ministers.

The suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by the General Counsel of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), Mr. Musa Baba-Panya.

It has OIDA President, Pastor Danladi Jeji, as the second plaintiff.

The defendants are the President and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

In the summons, the Abuja indigenes said they were seeking a declaration that the indigenes of FCT-Abuja were entitled to ministerial appointments.

According to a statement by the Media Adviser, Sumner Shagari Sambo, OIDA also wanted a declaration that the continuous refusal, failure or default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister was a flagrant violation of the rights of indigenes of FCTAbuja.

"We want a declaration that the continuous refusal, failure or default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister, is

•Seek N1.310b damages From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

a flagrant violation of the rights against discrimination against FCT-Abuja indigenes. Since 1999, our people have not been appointed, even as a personal assistant, in the presidency. Meanwhile, some states have two or more ministers and senior presidential aides,” Baba-Panya said.

The indigenes are seeking "an order compelling the President (first defendant) to the immediate appointment of an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister and an award of the sum of N50million per year since May 1999, being compensation and damages for the violation of the fundamental and constitutional rights of plaintiffs and indigenes of FCT-Abuja.”

They also wanted an award of the sum of N500 million in exemplary damages.

The plaintiffs wanted "a consequential order entrusting the compensatory damages/awards into a Trust Fund Account (in name of second plaintiff) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the benefit of all indigenes of FCT-Abuja and an award of the sum of N10million in legal costs."

Pastor Jeji said the group is also demanding "a public

apology for all the years of deprivation and denials of our constitutional rights, entitlements and privileges in the print and broadcast media."

The plaintiffs are seeking the determination of the case by the court on whether by the combined provisions of sections; 147(1) (3), 14(3), and 299 of the 1999 Constitution, the indigenes of FCT-Abuja are entitled to ministerial appointment into the Federal Executive Council.

They wanted to know whether the continuous refusal, failure and default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as minister was tantamount to a flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and a breach of the rights of the indigenes of FCT-Abuja.

The indigenes said: "The recent nomination of eight ministerial appointees sent to the Senate by President Jonathan without the inclusion of any Abuja indigene is an assault on our collective intelligence, especially when placed with the fact that our traditional and political leaders were promised a ministerial slot when they visited President Jonathan last year."

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

NEMA donates relief materials to victims From Duku Joel, Damaturu

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HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday donated relief materials to the victims and families of women and children, who were unconditionally freed by Boko Haram in Yobe State.

Yobe State government last week assisted the victims with cash and relief materials worth over N20 million in Damaturu, at a ceremony, which marked their reunion with their families.

The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA in the Northeast, Mohammed Kanar, said their “intervention is to complement the efforts earlier made by the Yobe State government.”

Court sends suspected killers to prison From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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OUR persons were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Government over their alleged complicity in the February 1, 2014 murder of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheik Auwal Adam Albani, his wife and 18-year old son.

They include: Yakubu Abdullahi (alias Alhaji Bala), Yasir Salihu (alias Dan Birnin), Bilyaminu Usman (alias Bilya) and Musa Abubakar (alias Mallam).

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

LENT

IS 'abducts 90 Syrian Christians'

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SLAMIC State (IS) has abducted dozens of Assyrian Christians from villages in north-eastern Syria, activists say.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 90 men, women and children were seized in a series of dawn raids near the town of Tal Tamr.

Some Assyrians managed to escape and made their way east to the largely Kurdish-controlled city of Hassakeh.

It comes as Syrian Kurdish fighters backed by US-led air strikes continue to advance into IS-held territory.

Hassakeh province is strategically important in the fight against IS because it borders both Turkey and areas con-

trolled by the group in Iraq.

Activists reported that IS fighters swept through a string of villages along the south bank of the Khabur river before dawn on Monday.

Residents of villages on the north bank fled, with about 3,000 believed to have headed for Hassakeh and Qamishli, another city to the north-east.

The militants have reportedly taken the male captives to nearby Abdul Aziz mountain, while the women are being held in the village of Tal Shamran, where activists say most of those captured came from.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the fouryear conflict in Syria, said at least 90 Assyrians had been tak-

en captive.

Meanwhile Nuri Kino, the head of the group A Demand For Action, which focuses on religious minorities in the Middle East, said between 70 and 100 had been abducted.

Islamic State's online radio station, al-Bayan, reported yesterday that its members had seized "tens of Crusaders".

Osama Edward of the Sweden-based Assyrian Human Rights Network, who has relatives in the area, told the BBC that his wife's elderly aunt and her cousin were among the hostages.

"My wife tried to call her cousin's house and there was somebody who picked up the phone and said: 'This is not Akram's house. This is the Islamic State's house'."

California train derails after collision with truck

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COMMUTER train and a truck have collided, causing three carriages to derail northwest of Los Angeles.

The vehicle became engulfed in flames and at least 28 people have been injured, a fire department spokesman told the BBC. Police in Oxnard, California, say the crash was first reported at 05:44 local time (13:44 GMT).

A helicopter from a local television station is showing emergency responders treating multiple people.

A spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department told the BBC that it is believed no one had died in the accident.

Captain Mike Lindbery said the train was carrying 51 passengers, and 28 of those were trans-

ported to several local hospitals.

The driver of the truck that collided with the train fled the scene, and was "taken into custody south of the scene less than a mile," Capt Lindbery said.

The National Transportation

Safety Board (NTSB), the agency that leads transport investigations for the US government, said in a tweet, "We are aware of the rail accident near Oxnard, CA and are currently gathering information about the event."

Czech shooting: Gunman kills eight in Uhersky Brod

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GUNMAN has opened fire at a restaurant in the Czech Republic, killing eight people before shooting himself dead, officials say.

The man burst into the restaurant in the eastern town of Uhersky Brod around lunchtime, "shooting indiscriminately", the town's mayor Patrik Kuncar said.

The incident is not believed to be terrorism related.

Several people were injured in the attack, with one woman said to have suffered serious chest wounds.

Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said the incident was the work of a "crazed individual".

The gunman has been described as a local man aged 60.

Theme: Your best may not win the race Text:”......Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither ( 1 Samuel 16:11)

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GNORANCE of who God is and how He works facilitate desperation in the world. It is this lack of knowledge that makes people get severely competitive in the race of life, run down peers, peddle damaging rumours, damage campaign platforms of opponents, bomb offices of co-competitors, abduct opponents ahead of election, harbour death wish for other contestants and even go to the satanic extent of murder,forgetting that God has the final say (Psalm 62:11).

Ahead of the 1979 Second Republic election among the five political parties of Greater Nigerian People’s Party, National Party of Nigeria, Nigerian People’s Party, People’s Redemption Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria, the aspirants to political offices under the parties’ platforms traversed the length and breadth of the country to canvass for votes. Their campaigns were devoid of ambiguities, they were issues based, more engaging and focused than what the present political terrain has sliced into.

The Unity Party of Nigeria’s Presidential flag bearer, Chief Obafemi Awolowo presented the most coherent plan of action during the electioneering campaign which was predicated on 5 cardinal points and was consequently touted as the person that will very likely win that election. But, ahead of that election, someone in corridors of power, who probably had knowledge of times and seasons, spoke prophetically before the election that, “The best candidate may not win”. That statement was a verbal bombshell that drew the ire of all and sundry but when the election result was announced, the words of that man was proven to be veracious.

While it is good to be as swift as an athlete, it is axiomatic that God determines the race of life; oftentimes, the person that breasts the tape is not always the best athlete, and many times, it is the person God wants to use for a purpose that comes top. His ways are unknown and incomprehensible to man (Is. 55:89). When He decides to do whatever, none can hinder Him or ask Him why?(Job 9:12).

From our text, God asked Samuel to go to the house of Jesse the Bethlemite to anoint a King for Him that will replace the disobedient Saul. Jesse brought out his best candidates that were suitable in physique, warfare, intellect, age and composure but God disapproved of them and told Samuel that “..... Look

not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. ( 1 Samuel 16:7). Rather, God chose David, the seemingly useless and of course the youngest of Jesse’s children as King.

When the Israelites cried unto God to deliver them from the hardship under Pharaoh that they had been subjected to for 430years, God chose Moses, who had committed murder in Egypt and had been declared wanted by Pharaoh to be convicted of his murderous act, to return to Egypt and negotiate the Israelites’ release from bondage ( Exodus 2:11-15; 3:710). Furthermore, against norm and logic, God chose to send Moses, a stammerer, to be the deliverer and Chief Negotiator ( Exodus 4:10-12).

King Solomon, in his wisdom expanded this further that “..... the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Eccles. 9:11).

When God decides to favour a person, He suspends all human calculations and expectations like tribal, family or educational background. In fact, when His favour comes, He overlooks human limitations and life is enriched with flavour. When God decides to favour you, for instance, He takes over the driver’s seat of your life, He takes you to the real destination of stupendous testimonies and not where you, in your limited human knowledge, want to go.

When He takes over, He compels all the elements of life to cooperate with you. His favour makes you a person of valour.

Gideon was a nobody, a timid and completely hopeless man but His favour changed his story. He saw himself as someone who was incompetent, a man from a poor family in Manasseh and the least in his father’s house (Judges 6:15) but God’s favour conferred a mighty man of valour on him ( Judges 6:12). His favour makes you the best for a great assignment What does His favour do? When God favours you, He separates you from your peers. He lifts your head up and above other people. When Joseph was in prison, God gave him “......... favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison

NEWS 27 die in Boko Haram bus stations suicide bombings Continued from page 2

grief of all the bereaved families and is deeply saddened by the continued loss of many innocent lives at the hands of misguided and desperate fanatics who are now feeling the heat of the intense counter–insurgency operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“The President assures all

Nigerians and the people of the North-Eastern states in particular that the days of mourning victims of incessant terrorist attacks in the country will soon be over as the tide has now definitely turned against Boko Haram.

“President Jonathan further assures the people of Nigeria that the gallant, courageous

and patriotic officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, supported with new platforms, equipment and logistics provided by the Federal Government will carry the ongoing operations against the terrorists through to a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time.

“He affirms that his admin-

istration will continue to take all necessary action to guarantee the success of ongoing military operations against the terrorist group and drastically reduce its ability to take and hold territory or recruit, groom and brainwash young persons to undertake suicide bombing attacks on soft targets.”

APC: blame Jonathan for Boko Haram’s killings Continued from page 2

over the past six years has suddenly realised there is something he could do to crush the sect in six weeks? Is it not curious that a military that has been globally acknowledged for its successes in peacekeeping at regional and international levels has suddenly found itself unable to tackle a band of criminals? Is it not curious that the necessary fighting equipment that have not been made available to the military, despite the injection of over 32 billion US dollars into the defence and security sector since 2008, have suddenly become available? ‘’There are more questions to be asked: At what point did President Jonathan begin to have a clear idea that Boko Haram is a major threat to the very survival of our country?

Was it after about 300 innocent girls were abducted from their school in Chibok or before? Was it after hundreds of boys were slaughtered in a secondary school in Buni Yadi or before?

Or, was it before or after the Nyanya bomb blast that led to the deaths of hundreds of people? Just when did our President wake up to his primary

responsibility? ‘’The truth is that after their Boko Haram-as-a-trump-card strategy blew up in their face and their electoral fortunes plummeted, the PDP-led Jonathan Administration came to the realisation that a steppedup campaign against the insurgents is needed to revive their electoral fortunes, hence they then decided to pep up the military and rally regional troops the same suggestions from the opposition that the Administration has pointedly ignored over the years - to combat the terrorists. ‘’President Jonathan, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, must take responsibility for the monumental cost, whether of his incompetence or his political strategy-gone-awry or both, apologise to the nation and immediately back down from seeking re-election. The President must not be allowed to profit from an error of judgement that has cost 15,000 lives, forced over three million out of their homes and cost the taxpayers $32.88 billion,’’ the APC said.

The party also expressed concern at the efforts of the Jonathan administration to

make Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau look invincible, with the President’s statement that Shekau will be caught before the elections. ‘’It is no longer news that the authorities have gleefully announced the killing of Shekau at least twice in the past, with the picture of the supposedlydead Boko Haram leader widely circulated in the social and traditional media. That raises the question as to which Shekau is to be captured. Or are we to believe the stories making the rounds that the government plans to capture a ‘Shekau’ who will then be used to implicate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as a sponsor of the sect, just to pull

the brakes on his runaway acceptance by Nigerians?’’ it queried.

APC said while Nigerians will undoubtedly be happy and relieved to see the end of Boko Haram, they must be wondering what would have happened if the plummeting electoral fortunes of President Jonathan had not forced his Administration to push for the six-week postponement of the general elections.

They must also be wondering what would have happened if the elections have been scheduled for 2016, instead of 2015.

The party praised the “longsuffering, gallant Nigerian soldiers” and urged Nigerians to continue to support them.

Ex-militants reject soldiers’ deployment Continued from page 2

stated "We assure and promise that the Niger Delta will be peaceful and accept the result of transparent, credible, free, and fair elections that will occur on March 28 and April 11".

They condemned “statements or plans that convey the Niger Delta as being undemocratic or supporting one particular candidate exclusively", noting that indigenes of the region could freely express their rights to associate with any party or candidate of

their choice.

Warning that deploying the army or intimidate/harrass indigenes of the region "prior to, during and after the elections" would be resisted and might lead to a breakdown of law and order", the ex-militants insisted "We individually and collectively on behalf of our communities and people solemnly sign this declaration and also put the country on notice that these demands are the only conditions for peace in the Niger Delta".

Senators slam Okonjo-Iweala Continued from page 2

not returning.

“As such, it should be taken seriously,” he noted.

Head of Service of the Federation Danladi Kifasi told the Senate Committee that N11.5billion was budgeted for the Head of Service of the Federation in 2014.

Of this, he said, N5.1billion was for Personnel Cost, N1.9billion for Overhead Cost and N4.1billion for Capital Cost.

The lawmakers at the closed door meeting also resolved to ensure that any official who deliberately refuses to release funds to execute projects is sanctioned.

According to the source, most of the senators who spoke at the session were angry with Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, for deliberately stunting the economy’s growth.

The source said: “All of us are not happy that most of the MDAs could not execute any

reasonable capital project this year because the little money released to them by the Finance Minister was not enough to pay the contractors who had executed projects for them in the past.”

Other senators, who spoke to our reporter after the meeting, said lawmakers were concerned over allocation of N387billion for capital projects in the 2015 budget.

This, they said, is unprecedented even as the recurrent component is allocated over 90 per cent of the N4.3 trillion budget.

The lawmakers, it was gathered, insisted that they will not approve such a lopsided budget.

Consequently, the committees were directed to liaise with the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cut down on recurrent votes to make more funds available for capital projects.

Kidnappers of American missionary demand N60m Continued from page 2

are praying for her.”

According to the church website, Sortor is the financial administrator for Hope Academy; works with International Child Care Ministries, a child sponsorship programme in more than 30 countries; and recently opened a school for the children of nomadic Fulani herdsmen, who are Muslim.

Sortor’s stepson, Richard said: “Here’s a country 5,000 miles (away). You’ve got to drive a plane a day and a half to get to, they are over there doing good for other people and then this happens.”

Sortor’s missionary work is credited with changing lives in

Africa. She has also been instrumental in launching several Christian schools in Nigeria, which may be tied to her possible abduction.

“She’s had a lot of opposition,” said Judy O’Brien, a friend from Sortor’s college days at Seattle Pacific University.

“She’s grown up with dangers. She knows full well what she’s involved with,” O’Brien said.

Sortor is described as a woman of prayer, a gifted story-teller, and fearless in her Christian faith. Family and friends hope that light within her soul can change hearts among her captors.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Synagogue: Coroner inquest to end March

‘Fate dealt me a cruel blow’ •Widow relives slain husband’s last hours

“

HE was a responsible husband and father to his children. He was humble to a fault. I am finished now. My life is empty without him. They have robbed me of my joy. Where do I start from now? I don’t know why fate dealt me a cruel blow.”

These were the words of Mrs Angelina Otomewo whose husband, Charles died in hospital two days after he was reportedly shot by some uniformed men near Ikorodu, Lagos.

The late Otomewo, 50, is survived by a widow and three children.

Last Wednesday when he and other motorists ran into the uniformed men at Majidun near Ikorodu, the late Otomewo, who was a businessman, was returning from his Fadeyi, Lagos office.

Speaking with The Nation at their Ishawo, Ikorodu residence, yesterday, Mrs Otomewo recounted the circumstances surrounding her

T

HE police have arrested a 30-year old Nigerien, Garuba AbdulRaman, for allegedly defiling a two-year-old girl.

The incident occurred last Saturday at 11am on Ogunmola Street in Shomolu, Lagos where he works as a security man.

Abdulraman was said to have conveyed the girl’s mother on his motorcycle to where he planned to sell her firewood.

While the mother and the girl’s elder sister were packing the firewood, he reportedly disappeared with her.

By Adebisi Onannuga and Peace Iyere

T

By Basirat Braimah

husband’s death: “Around 9pm, I received a phone call from my husband saying “I dey Agric they don shoot me ooo”. I was shocked but I managed to drive to Agric bus stop. When I couldn’t find him at the place, I checked the nearest hospital where I saw him receiving treatment. The following day, we got a referral letter to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-araba where we were told he will undergo surgery. About 2am on Friday, we were asked to get some pints of blood.

“I thought my best friend was going to survive. It got to a point he put off his clothes on his hospital bed because he was writhing in pains. But, on Friday evening, four hours after the surgery, he died.”

She said her husband plied Ikorodu road for over 12 years without an incident before last Wednesday’s

•His bullet-riddle car. INSET: The late Otomewo.

tragic event.

“At times, I am yet to believe my joy of 17 years is really gone. We celebrated his birthday last month. He was full of joy. He kept thanking me for being a good wife. He plied that route for over 12 years. This was our first experience. I am not suspecting anyone but God knows and destiny will always prevail.”

One of the late Otomewo’s tenants, who simply identi-

fied himself as Tosin, described him as a nice person.

He said: “I have always heard some landlords are trouble to their tenants but Mr Charles was different. He made us feel at home. Since the incident, those who rented shops in the front of the house have not opened because they are still in shock.

He treated every issue with utmost importance. After his family, his tenants came next. I will miss my ‘nice’

landlord.”

The army yesterday sought direction to the scene from survivor, Alhaji Aminu Salis, who is recuperating at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

He was called by one of the soldiers who visited him on Monday at the instance of General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Lagos, Major-General Tanmi Dibi.

Nigerien ‘defiles’ two-year-old girl

By Rukayat Jimoh

He was reported found with the child naked after having carnal knowledge of her in an uncompleted building.

The infant was weeping with injuries on her private parts when they were found.

Medical report showed that she was defiled.

AbdulRaman was said to have threatened to harm the mother, Alimat Muazu, if she reported the matter to the

police.

He has been arraigned in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on a four-count charge of assault, abduction and unlawful sexual intercourse.

The charge reads: “That you Garuba Abdulraman on the 21st day of February 2015 at about 1130hrs at Ogunmola Street Lagos in Shomolu magisterial district did abduct a two-year-old-girl with intent to have sexual intercourse with her and thereby

committed an offence punishable under Section 267 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you Garuba Abdulraman on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did threaten to injure one Alimat Muazu with a cutlass and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56(1) of the Criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”.

Abdulraman pleaded not

guilty.

Prosecuting police Inspector, Richard Odigie, told the court that the defendant committed an offence punishable under Sections 267, 137, 170 and 56 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The defence counsel, F.C Osorei, applied for his client’s bail in the most liberal terms.

Magistrate O.I Adelaja granted Abdulraman N30,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the case till April 8.

HE inquest into last September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse will end next month, the Coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe said yesterday.

He, however, said the inquest could not proceed yesterday because of a letter from SCOAN’s counsel Olalekan Ojo, praying for an adjournment.

Chief Magistrate Komolafe adjourned till tomorrow for cross-examination of SCOAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) Sunday Okojie.

Lagos State government raised the inquest to unravel the cause of the building collapse in which 115 persons mostly from South Africa died.

In his letter, Ojo claimed that he was appearing in another case at the Federal High Court and appealed to the coroner to adjourn to a more convenient date for him.

Ruling, Chief Magistrate Komolafe said: “This court cannot continue indefinitely.

I just want to say that I am not going to sit for more than two weeks. Anybody that will not come during that period, we will skip his or her testimony and move ahead.”

•Pastor Joshua

LUTH resident doctors protest unpaid salaries

A

SSOCIATION of Resident Doctors (ARD) yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over alleged unpaid salaries and management negligence.

They carried banners bearing inscriptions, such as Many sufferings of LUTH doctors, Non-payment of our salaries and Many doctors are still being owed up to seven months.

Their president Moronkola Ramon said all the doc-

By Everistus Onwuzurike and Alvin Afadama

tors have not been paid.

Ramon said members who did update courses with their own money have not been refunded.

He said: “The management normally pays for the update courses, some of us went ahead to pay on our own with the hope of getting the money back from the management, but up till now they are yet to be refunded. It is quite unfortu-

nate that Nigerians don’t know what we are passing through.

“When doctors sit in the clinics to attend to patients, it is not as though all is well; doctors are going through a lot.”

“When you come to the ward and there is no light and you see a doctor attending to patient using torchlight, he or she is exposed to so many things including Hepatitis, HIV and it takes a lot to handle such conditions with no one caring for our

needs,” he added.

The situation, Ramon said, might get to a stage where members won’t be able to pay their way to works.

“The management can’t continue to run the institution with the blood of the doctors,” he said ARD Vice president Omodara Olaniran said the doctors have been suffering in silence.

The protest, he said, was not against patients, but the management and the government.

Olatunde Olagbemi, a Senior Registrar, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) wondered why similar institutions were not having the same problem, saying their colleagues in Lagos State Government have received their December salaries.

Olagbemi said doctor’s salary is prepared by the local management which is the administrative staff of a particular institution. Even if the money is released centrally, the eventual payment is done by the management, he said.

Reacting, LUTH Medical Advisory Committee Deputy Chairman Dr Olufemi Fasanmade said the issues raised by the resident doctors were already being addressed by Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Health (FMOH).

“As we speak, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) is in Abuja to follow up on these issues. The doctors have been carried along in all these and thus the reasons for the protests are strange,” Fasanmade said.

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015

55

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3136

‘The Nigerian citizen has been punished by politics for ever. All our powerlessness, suffering, falling naira, high interest rates are all caused by a lack of true leadership. It seems the leaders have got well ahead of TONY MARINHO the followers in ‘benefits’.’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

W

HEN the Chinese want to curse you they say “May you live in interesting times,” or some words to that effect. It is hard, if not impossible, to dispute the fact that these are indeed interesting times in Nigeria, as in much of the world, where impunity seems to have become the bye-word for politics.

Politicians everywhere lie a lot and all too often try to cut corners. But in few countries, if any, do they do so with so much impunity as in Nigeria. Worse still, ours seems to be a country where not only does impunity, by definition, attract no punishment but, on the contrary, is even rewarded.

Which explains why a top police officer would abuse his uniform, as Joseph Mbu did during his long tour as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State - there he once, for example, stopped the governor from driving into his residence through a particular route at the behest of the First Lady - and a short spell at the Federal Capital Territory where he once illegally tried to stop a demonstration for which he was rightly denounced by the Inspector General at the time, Mohammed Abubakar, and yet get promoted instead of getting sacked.

This also explains why, now as Assistant Inspector General of Police based in Lagos, Mbu had the nerve to instruct his men to kill 20 civilians for every policeman killed in the event of a breakdown of law and order in the March and April general elections. Happily he has since been quickly denounced once again by his boss, this time Suleiman Abba.

Sadly, however, he still remains in his post, and for all you know, may be the next Inspector General, given his purported intimacy with the powers that be in Abuja.

This level of impunity in the country also explains how a governor-elect would invade the sacred chambers of a court room in his state with a mob, tear court papers and even rough up of a judge, all in a bid to stop the hearing of a petition against his election, and all you get from all three arms of government, the desecrated Judiciary in particular, is pindrop silence.

It is the same high level of impunity which explains why the authorities in Abuja would give conflicting and hardly tenable excuses for shifting of the dates of this year’s general elections. First they said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not ready because it had not distributed enough permanent voters’ cards (PVCs). But when it transpired that INEC had distributed more cards than the average turn-out at Nigeria’s elections since the very first one, they resorted to the bogey of insecurity even though the role of the armed forces has always been the secondary one of last resort in case of serious breakdown of law and order during elections.

And now that all but few Nigerians have their PVCs, INEC is being told to allow the use of temporary voter cards in a situation where card readers, as a great check against impersonation and rigging, can only read PVCs. Clearly, someone, somewhere, is frightened that for once he would not be able to write results of elections as he has been used to.

One can go on and on with even more tell-

RIPPLES

SENATE ENDORSES CARD READER FOR GENERAL ELECTION–News

Yes, anyone against this is a ROGUE, FRAUDSTER THUG and ARMED ROBBER

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

Impunity: Like Nigeria, like Niger State

‘

It is the same high level of impunity which explains why the authorities in Abuja would give conflicting and hardly tenable excuses for shifting of the dates of this year’s general elections

’

ing examples about why these are indeed interesting times in Nigeria, but AIG Mbu, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and the conflicting explanations by the authorities in Abuja for postponing our elections are sufficient evidence that the country has indeed been labouring under a curse.

And what is true of the country seems to be perhaps even more so of one of its 36 constituent units – Niger State, my home state.

Nearly one and a half years ago, on October 9, 2013 to be precise, I speculated on the outcome of this year’s governorship election in the state on these pages. My reference point was a full page advert in Daily Trust, which tried to promote the prospects of the deputy governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto. I said then that Ibeto’s chances of even winning his ruling party’s governorship ticket were slim and his chances of winning the election itself even slimmer, in case he proved me wrong about his chances of clinching the PDP governorship ticket.

“Chances are,” I concluded in the piece, “the next governor of Niger State may be Abubakar Sani Bello.”

Since that piece, for which I was widely denounced by friends and foes alike, Bello, the son of Colonel Sani Bello, a former military governor of Kano State and a business mogul from Kontagora, has clinched the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and, from all indications, the governorship of the state is his to lose.

However, even in my wildest imagination I

I

T could be described as a weekend of power, by power, and for power. This is one way of speaking about the power-related activities of President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20 and 21. Ironically, there was no powerfully believable statement by Jonathan at the inauguration of the 750 megawatts Olorunsogo Power Plant Phase II, Papalanto, Ogun State. He said: “And we promised this country that surely in the next two years, the interface between 100 per cent government control of power sector and 100 per cent control of the private sector will be sealed properly and Nigerians would take power for granted.”

It is interesting that, the next day, Jonathan continued his sweet talk at the inauguration of the 220 megawatts rehabilitated gas turbine at the Egbin power station in Lagos. Jonathan boasted: “Very soon, the problem of epileptic power supply will be history in this country. We shall be out of darkness. With the progress we have made, there will be no going back, we must stabilise power in the country.”

Is Jonathan aware of the elasticity of words and the possibility of a variety of interpretations?

never thought Ibeto would lose his party’s ticket to someone who, until he was foisted on the party by Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, was virtually an unknown quantity in the politics of my state, except, of course, for the fact that he is the son of a prominent member of the so-called “Bida Mafia” namely, the Class of ’62 of Government College, Bida, which has produced possibly the single largest number of army generals in Nigeria, including former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and former head of state, General Abubakar Abdulsalami – incidentally, the father in law of Bello. Col Bello, the father, was also a member of the class.

When I wrote my piece in question, I never, again in my wildest imagination, thought that the relationship between Aliyu and Ibeto would deteriorate to the extent that it has, with Ibeto decamping to APC in frustration and his boss ejecting him from executive council meeting last month and going over his head this month to appoint the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly as acting governor for a period of 10 days while he was away on Umra, the lesser Hajj.

Governor Aliyu has laboured hard to defend his moves against his deputy but, as is usual when people attempt to defend the indefensible, he and his men have been giving conflicting reasons. In any case, before he moved against his deputy, the governor had given his word that he would never allow his deputy’s defection affect their official relationship. This probably explains why his spirited denial of media reports that he recently said there is no morality in politics has met with widespread skepticism, even cynicism, from the public.

When the governor announced Umaru Nasko, the son of Major-General Muhammadu Gado Nasko, a former military governor and minister of FCT, as his preferred successor, there was widespread consternation in the state, not least even among its elite. This was first, on account of Nasko Jr’s short-lived and mixed record of public service as a commissioner in the state, and second, on account of unflattering gossips about his rather exuberant lifestyle. Such was the depth of consternation in the state that even his father initially objected to the governor’s intentions of anoint-

ing his son as governor.

However, in the end blood proved thicker than principle – the principle that merit rather than mere pedigree should be the overriding factor in determining who leads society. Here, it must be said that General Babangida deserves fulsome praise for firmly keeping his son, Mohammed, out of the race, essentially on account of the son’s perceived lack of experience in public service.

What now remains to be seen is whether Governor Aliyu will realise his wish to be succeeded by someone whose main qualification is that he will ask few questions, if any, about the last eight years of virtual stagnation, if not decay, in the state, to put it nicely.

Given the justly angry mood in the state against the incumbent, as in the entire country against the president - coupled with the fact that the courts on January 30 nullified the election of Dr Nuhu Zagbayi, the PDP candidate widely regarded as the governor’s proxy in the bye-election, which followed the death of Dahiru Awaisu as senator of the governor’s senatorial district, and awarded same to David Umaru, the governor’s APC rival in the March 28 election - it is highly unlikely that the governor will realise his wish.

As I said nearly 18 months ago, chances are that Niger State’s governor on May 29 will be Abubakar Sani Bello – for better or for worse.

Re: Unlearn lesson of “June 12” Sir, With due respect to an eminent columnist, the title of your column (of February 18) should have been “The unlearned lesson of “June 12” not “unlearn.” +2348053215757.

Sir, You had nothing to say today (February18) and even simple caption was “unlearnt” (not unlearn). +2348038720742.

Both readers are right on account of the title.

It was an inexcusable slip.

MH. Sir, In your column of today (February 18) you inadvertently referred to NRC as the National Republican Party instead of National Republican Convention.

Sa’idu Liman, +2348036220413.

Sir, Have you ever tasted alcohol or perhaps got drunk on it? Please go ahead and indulge yourself on a bottle of wine – you will discover why it is difficult for our leaders to learn from “June 12”.

K. Banjo, +2348033192254.

Sir, It is now evidently clear that Jonathan plans to use the army to rig the polls as in Ekitigate and damn the consequences. The recent attack on OBJ by DHQ points to that and Jonathan’s kinsman is COAS. The polls postponement is to perfect this strategy. +2348075476140.

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan’s dark power

made. And this is part of our transformational efforts in the power sector.” More than what Jonathan says he feels, what matters is whether the people have been encouraged by the progress, if any, that his administration has supposedly made not only in the power sector but in general.

Jonathan said his administration had spent over US$8 billion to boost the national electricity generation capacity; but talk is cheap, even when it’s about such expensive expenditure. It is paradoxical that the result of this publicised spending is a reflection of the power of darkness.

Again, it is useful to reflect on the figurative use of language. Doesn’t the power of darkness suggest the darkness of power? When the corridors of power are not brightened by any moral lamp, darkness follows. The guiding light is that the people need to pursue the enthronement of the morally enlightened.

Jonathan is entitled to his power timetable and his 2017 target; but it is food for thought that his dates for the achievement of stable power continue to be unstable. Isn’t that why he represents dark power?

In particular, when he declared, “We shall be out of darkness,” did he understand the words beyond the context of the ceremony? In other words, did Jonathan grasp the illumination that darkness could be understood figuratively?

Indeed, the reality is that there is a deep darkness across the land, which is not just about the state of electricity supply. To illumine this thought, it is sufficient to highlight the darkness of inexcusable backwardness despite the country’s enviable resources and the darkness of official corruption that is a veritable blight on the land. These are dimensions of darkness that the people cannot wait to escape; and the chance to do that is here, speaking of the expected general elections, which have been rescheduled by six weeks.

It is noteworthy that Jonathan was quoted as saying: “Since we launched the roadmap in 2006, I have been encouraged by the progress we have

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