February 28, 2015 by The Nation

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Drama as 107-yr-old man takes heartthrob,

95, to altar

•Jonathan

•Buhari

As Jonathan , Buhari take campaign to Baga, London

OUR weeks to the presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari are scrambling for critical votes and world attention. There is a protracted battle for media mileage. There is a clash of propaganda. The competition is laced with bile and antagonism. But, on March 28, the wheat will be separated from the chaff. In the last minute deployment of strategies to get more support, the two leading candidates engaged the attention of prospective voters this week. Gen. Buhari stormed the Chatham House, London, United Kingdom, to engage the world as an opposition candidate canvassing the alternative solution to unresolved puzzles that have starred the nation in the face for 16 years. The attention of the world focused on the former military leader, who has remained popular, almost 30 years after his exit from power. As Buhari mounted the rostrum in the United Kingdom, President Jonathan stormed Mubi and Baga in army uniform for on -the -spot assessment of the anti-terror war, after years of docility in the war against insurgency in the Northeast. His intention was to boost the morale of the soldiers and gain political capital as the election draws near. The Commander-InChief wanted to portray to Nigerians that he is winning the war against insurgency in two weeks, probably with an intention to ask for more weeks to conclude the war.

NEWS ANALYSIS Emmanuel OLADESU, Group Political Editor The two events underscored the partisan nature of the period. But, according to observers, while Nigerians and indeed, the world may take Buhari seriously, the President needs to do more to regain public confidence. Buhari’s visit to London was significant. There are two challenges confronting Nigeria, the most populous African country. These are the challenges of democratisation and nation-building. At Chatham House, the APC standard bearer dissected the two challenges of development. His verdict was that there is hope, if the curtains are drawn on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has held sway for 16 years in this Fourth Republic. The PDP has inadvertently contributed to Buhari’s growing popularity. The propaganda against him has always collapsed like a pack of cards. When the whereabouts of his original certificate was denied by the Army authorities, retired Generals strongly decried the conspiracy. Nigerians said that

they were not interested in the certificate, adding that his ordinary NEPA bill will do. Spin doctors have branded him as an incurable dictator. Millions have been spent on advertisements directing attention to his past as a nononsense military officer and ruler. A searchlight has been beamed on his health, with PDP chieftains peddling the rumour that he is not fit for the highest responsibility because of its rigour. In fact, the governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has predicted that Buhari will die in office. Buhari has also been decried as a spent force. Some PDP leaders have said that he is out of touch with the reality of modern governance. Before an audience of enlightened citizens of the world in London, Buhari had time to tackle these issues. Exuding charisma and carriage, his sense of humour was also applauded. He refrained from attacking personality. Buhari focused on issues and ideas. The General, who described himself as a converted democrat, alluded to an unfinished task of making Nigeria great through democratic change guaranteed

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by the sanctity of the ballot box. By throwing his hat into the ring at 72, the retired soldier is venturing into an area where successive leaders have not lived up to expectation since 1999. But, as he put it, his strength lies in the beauty of his dreams and passion to work for a new Nigeria that will regain its lost stature and pride in the comity of nations. The former Head of State did not play to the gallery. He did not pose as a scholar. But, he held the audience captive as a statesman on a rescue mission in a country that has been misruled. Buhari did not promise what he will not deliver. He spoke as a gallant officer, nationalist, patriot and man of valour, honour and integrity. The people cheered his frankness and sincerity. He justified his billing as an experienced administrator. His responses to questions were lucid, logical and nonelusive. The old soldier was not economical with truth. Even, he admitted his past mistakes as a tough military ruler. He acknowledged his description by the western media as a former dictator. But, he told the audience, without regressing into defense mechanism, that old things •Continued on Page 59

The two events underscored the partisan nature of the period. But, according to observers, while Nigerians and indeed, the world may take Buhari seriously, the President needs to do more to regain public confidence

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I had seven wives

OR 70 years, and 32 children Elder Dikam during my younger Garba Dabo’ok and MrsKa’a Nafung days, but I did so had lived together as because I did not husband and wife. But the couple, now know Christ. But that 107 and 95 years made me great respectively, have found a new sparkle among my to rekindle their contemporaries as marital love in the church. only those who were The church wealthy could do ceremony in Plateau that. But in spite of State, has remained the talk of the town in that, God remained the social diary of the faithful and merciful state and may remain so for a long time. for me. I have a lot of This is particularly so testimonies to show because the that God was so celebrants are the first couple in the history faithful to me. of the state to be administered marital vow at such unusual Yusufu AMINU-IDEGU, Jos ages. bride stepped out dressed At 95, the bride is well in a pure white wedding past her menopause. Her gown with a neatly made surviving first child is 65 hair to match. They drove years old. The groom, to the church in separate popularly known to vehicles, as if they never many in his met before. The groom was neighbourhood as Baba accompanied by cutely Dikam, is 107 years old dressed men and the bride and may no longer be by a long bridal train. sexually active. But all They had a procession that is not enough to and matched into the discourage the couple church separately as if from walking down the they never met before. They aisle arm-in-arm for a new only came together after marital oath. they were wedded by the The ceremony, which officiating pastor. The was held at the Church of officiating pastor of the Christ in Nations church, Rev. Tongwe Sale, (COCIN), Chizu village in congratulated the couple Bwai, Mangu Local and admonished them as Government Area of the if they were young couples. state, was a delight to He said: “Marriage is watch as it was packaged ordained by God and it in the manner that young should be kept sacred.” He grooms and brides would charged them to keep faith walk down the aisle. The in God since they are still groom was dressed in alive, noting that although black suite and a red neck they are old, they can still tie to match, while the •Continued on Page 29

House debate on troops’ deployment for polls It is ?unfortunate that we have a deputy speaker who sees himself as a deputy speaker of a party compared to the speaker who sees himself as a speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is unfortunate –Minority Leader, Hon Gbajabiamila

The attitude of APC Reps members is unparliamentary, uncomplimentary and an attempt to undermine the position of the speaker… The decision of the committee was very objective because two of the members are APC members, who are lawyers. –Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande •Obasanjo

Read The Nation on Sunday for the politics of troops’ deployment

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015

4 News

HE Defence Headquar ters yesterday an nounced the reclamation of Gulak, the headquarters of the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and seven other key towns from Boko Haram by soldiers. Many insurgents were arrested during the battles for the reclamation, while arms and ammunition were recovered. The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in an update on the ongoing campaign against Boko Haram in the NorthEast, said the troops “routed

Boko Haram: Troops reclaim Madagali, seven others Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

terrorists from Bara, the headquarters of the Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State and Gulag, the headquarters of the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the early hours of yesterday.

"The fierce fighting that preceded the clearing of towns and other communities resulted in the killing of many terrorists; the capturing of some of them; and the recovery and destruction of arms, thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition as well as vehicles and other equipment,

including anti-aircraft guns, Ggeneral pPurpose machine guns (GPMGs), grenades, multi-barrel bombs, multibarrel grenade launchers, rifles and mortar guns. "Other locations also cleared in the course of the two-day operation included, Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah,

Buza, Kamla and Bumsa." A military source said the soldiers’ exploits had provided a ray of hope that the North-East would be safe for the forthcoming general elections. The source said: "Virtually

...Jonathan vows to recapture all lost territories

•Senator Oluremi Tinubu (5th left) with members of the All Progressives Congress, Arewa community in the Lagos Central Senatorial District during their visit to the Senator in Lagos ...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Fasheun, Gani Adams, others are political jobbers, says UPN

The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has disowned its National Chairman, Chief Fredrick Fasheun, for endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking through its Ogun State gubernatorial candidate, Prince Rotimi Paseda, and the National Organising Secretary, Dr.Ola Olateju, the party said “the endorsement represents the opinion of Dr.Fasheun and not that of the party.” “Dr Fasheun is not representing the party. He is on his

Adeyinka ADERIBIGBE own and he can never force any candidate down the throat of the party,” Prince Paseda said. He said: “The party is not ready to work either with the APC or the PDP because the two candidates are the same. “Their common ideology does not represent that of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I’m an Awoist to

the core. I’m ready to implement the UPN’s free education programme at all levels in Ogun State, among other programmes.” The UPN gubernatorial candidate, who described the policies of the incubent governor of Ogun State as too elitist, also promised to run a government with human face, if elected into the office. Dr Ola Olateju said Frederick Fasheun, Gani

Adams, Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Femi Okunronmu and the entire Afenifere leadership only expressed their personal opinions on President Jonathan which did not translate into the common preference of the Yoruba. Recently, the National Chairman of the UPN, Dr.Fredrick Fasheun, Gani Adams, Dr. Kunle Olajide of Yoruba Unity Group, Yinka Odumakin and others met in Ondo State to endorse President Jonathan and insist on the the implementation of the National Conference report.

Supreme Court orders Dariye to submit self for trial

HE Supreme Court yes terday ordered former Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, to submit himself for trial on corruption and money laundering charges before the high court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The apex court, by a unanimous decision, dismissed the former governor's appeal for lacking in merit. Two members of the panel, Justices Sylvester Ngwuta (who read the lead judgment) and Chima Nweze, frowned on the delay tactics adopted by Dariye to prevent his trial. Ngwuta described Dariye’s action as a sad commentary on the nation's fight against corruption, while Nweze said the belief by some members of the elite class that they are above the law, was worrisome. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in 2007, obtained

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja the leave of an FCT High Court to prefer charges against Dariye. The commission subsequently filed a 23-count charge against him. He was also accused of diverting state's funds estimated at billions of naira while in office. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, fixed November 13, 2007 for the commencement of trial. Before that date, however, Dariye filed an application, challenging the competence of the charge and the jurisdiction of the court. He argued that he ought to be tried at a Plateau State High Court and not the FCT High Court. On December 13, 2007, the trial judge heard and dismissed Dariye's application for lacking in merit, a decision he appealed to the Court of

Appeal, Abuja and subsequently to the Supreme Court. In the lead judgment yesterday, Justice Ngwuta resolved all the four issues distilled for determination by the court against the appellant. "So, the appeal has no merit. It is, hereby, dismissed. The appellant should go back to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to stand his trial on the charges levelled against him. "This is a sad commentary on our fight against corruption. Appeal dismissed," Ngwuta said. Justice Nweze said: "I have noticed a most worrying trend in most recent time, particularly among the politically exposed citizens of this great country, imagining that they are above the laws of the land, have perfected some awkward and baseless tactics of delaying their trial when they run into conflict with the law.

" The appellant in this appeal falls into this category. In 2007, about eight years ago, leave was granted to the respondent to prefer charges against him. He was duly arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. "On November 13, the date set aside for the prosecution to marshal its witnesses, he implored the trial court to quash the charges against him on the grounds that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the charges. "When the application was dismissed, he proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, which held and dismissed his appeal. Instead of returning to the trial court to face his trial, he appealed against the lower court's judgment. I agree that this appeal is unmeritorious," Justice Nweze said. Other members of the panel that heard the appeal agreed with the lead judgment.

all communities under Boko Haram siege in Adamawa State have been liberated and reclaimed. The troubled Adamawa North Senatorial District has been cleaned up. "Nigerian troops have gained some mileage in the last few weeks. We are hopeful that normalcy will be restored in all the towns and villages in the zone. "Apart from reclaiming these territories, troops have also been mandated to maintain high presence and embark on 24-hour surveillance."

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is confident that the military will maintain the momentum they have built up in the ongoing operations against Boko Haram and rapidly recover more occupied territories from the sect. Receiving the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, President Jonathan said the soldiers he met at the battle fields in Borno and Adamawa states Thursday were in very high spirits, well prepared and determined to successfully complete their operations against Boko Haram. “We have already recovered many territories and very soon our troops will clear the terrorists out of other areas not currently under our control,’’ his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted him as saying. Commenting on a congratulatory message from President Francois Hollande on the recent military success against Boko Haram, Jonathan expressed Nigeria ’s appreciation for

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja France’s support in the fight against terrorism, especially for organising the Paris Summit of Heads of State of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in May 2014 to foster greater regional cooperation against terrorism and insurgency. He pledged that beyond the ongoing military campaign in the North East, Nigeria will continue to implement all agreements reached at the summit to ensure lasting peace and security within its borders and in neighbouring countries. He reassured the international community of his firm commitment to free, fair and credible polls in Nigeria next month. In his remarks, Ambassador Labriolle said that France was “confident in the future of Nigeria and its ability to continue playing a huge role in Africa and world affairs”. The ambassador also expressed delight at improved trade and economic ties between Nigeria and France in the last three years, noting that over 250 French companies are currently operating in the country.

Jega should not be removed, South West group warns

HE umbrella body of self-determination organisations in the South West region of Nigeria, the Coalition of Oodua SelfDetermination Group (COSEG) has warned of the dire consequence, if the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attairu Jega is removed before the conduct of the forthcoming general elections. The group also commended the Senate of the Federal Republic for stepping down the clearance of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister. The COSEG, yesterday in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ifedayo Ogunlana, and Secretary, Rasaq Olokoba, stated that the attempt to remove the INEC boss is part of the grand plot by the Presidency to subvert the will of the people during the next elections. The group said: ”We reject the planned removal of Prof. Attairu Jega through the terminal leave or any other reason whatsoever because it is not only illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, but also he call to anarchy. For the sake of clarity, the chairmanship of the INEC is a tenured position unlike positions in the

civil service.The Chairman of the INEC can only be removed through a resolution of two third members of the Senate.” The group took a swipe at the president for his determination to remove Jega instead of commending the INEC boss for being neutral and proactive. The COSEG also praised members of the Senate for not screening Senator Musiliu Obanikoro for a ministerial appointment. “We must salute the progressive senators who vehemently stood against the screening of Obanikoro. What this indicates is that we have senators who can actually defend the rights of their people. “The fact that Obanikoro, who is fingered in the rigging of the 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti, is being considered as a minister by Mr President speaks volume of his value judgement. Well, we are actually not surprised as he maintained that ‘stealing is not corruption’,” the group said. The group also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on President Jonathan not to remove Jega in order not to plunge the country into a political crisis.

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015

OST of the anti-Buhari protesters at Chatham House, London, on Thursday actually had no understanding of the issues at stake or the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari ,according to reports from England. And in what appears to be a confirmation of the allegation that the protesters were hired by government officials to embarrass the APC flag bearer, some of the protesters were jobless Nigerians and commercial sex workers who were forced to relocate to England as a result of the poor economy at home. A reporter who covered the protest said of the protesters: “They are actually Nigerians who are struggling here.Some of them, actually I’m talking about the ladies, are from the red light district here. “Some of the youths are actually unkempt...and they are obviously struggling.” When the reporter asked one of the protesters why he was taking part in the agitation his response was: “Because we

Eid-El-Maulud

London anti-Buhari protesters:

we didn’t know why they hired us don’t want dictatorship in Nigeria any more.” Prodding him further,the reporter asked: “Why?What do you know about the General?” The protester responded: I just heard about him from the people I saw earlier on. The interrogation continued thus: Reporter: You only heard about him? Have you done your home work? First Protester: Not at all. Reporter: But how did you come about this protest: First Protester: I was told. I don’t know what to say.I’m not prepared for this interview. He stopped talking and walked away. A female protester, who gave her name as Abigail, admitted that “I don’t really

know much about politics.” But asked why she was protesting,she said: “I came here to support Goodluck Jonathan. And to the question on why she was supporting Jonathan, she retorted: “I

HE All Progressives Con gress (APC) yesterday condemned what it called the needless resort to sheer hysteria by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jonathan administration over the appearance of the APC's presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, at the Chatham House in London on Thursday.

•Minister: he’ll leave according to civil service rules

ruling party is scared of General Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity.” Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said of the alleged plot: First of all, Prof Jega is not subject to civil service rules. So it will be wrong to send him on terminal leave based on civil service rules. “Second, this would be the second brazen attempt to destroy the sanctity of the forthcoming elections,the first one being the postponement of the election, and this would be the second brazen attempt. And it will be a second one too many.” He said any such move would cause trouble in the country. “The civil society, the opposition party and Nigerians as a whole, will resist such a move. I am very sure of that, and they will protest against it on the streets of Nigeria,” he said. He asked President Jonathan “ not to use his ambition to destroy the country.” Barrister Fred Agbaje, a constitutional lawyer berated Federal Government for not debunking the rumours which, according to him, has been flying around for over a month. He said: “The story has been flying around in the last one month. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has done nothing to douse that perception. There is need to hear from the Federal Government about what they are really planning to do. “The citizens are justified in their perception of the intention of the government to remove Jega under the guise of terminal leave. It has grave implications for the country. The fears are justified going by the antecedents of the government at denying things of this nature or matters that bother on national interest.” Comrade Debo Adeniran, a civil and human rights activist, said “the speculation is likely to be true because it ap-

Reporter: Can you tell us about this demonstration? Third Respondent: I don’t know. I don’t want to talk. Like the first respondent, she quietly walked away. Another protester said she

was “doing it for the President.” Reports before the protest had said a group had requested $20,000 from the Presidency for the purpose of organising the protest and mobilising people for it.

APC slams PDP, Presidency

...over plan to sack Jega Paul UKPABIO and INNOCENT Duru

don’t know.” She was also asked what she had against Buhari, she sighed and said: “I’m not against anyone.” The reporter’s encounter with a third protester,a lady, went thus:

Buhari at Chatham House:

Jonathan under attack NTHONY Cardinal Okogie and other promi nent Nigerians yesterday berated President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged plan to force the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to go on terminal leave. They warned that such a move would have a devastating effect on the nation’s democracy. The warning comes on the heel of the alarm raised on Thursday by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate caucus about the alleged plot. Cardinal Okogie said it would be wrong for government to get rid of Jega at this point in time. His words: “If he is not due or not meant for terminal leave, which then would be an illegal move, then the court will have to look into it. Prof Jega has his fundamental human right. If he is not meant to be on terminal leave, then he can fight for his fundamental human right.” Prominent jurist, Professor Itse Sagay ( SAN), said it would be rash and irresponsible of government to remove Jega. He said it would not be in the best interest of the ruling party to allow this to happen. “If they do that, they will scuttle the election and that will slide the nation into a political and constitutional crisis.They should leave things the way they are. The polity is not owned by one person. It is owned by all of us,” he said. Retired Police Commissioner Abubakar Tsav also feared that forcing Jega out “will create a lot of problems.” “ If Jega conducted elections in other states very well, especially Ekiti State and the PDP hailed him, why are they scared about this?” he said. “If that happens, it means the PDP is out to rig the elections and obviously sees Jega as a stumbling block to the plan. They should believe in God and allow the INEC its independence to carry out this election. “Any attempt to remove him will create confusion in the country. It will make the international community to see the country as unserious. In fact, it appears the

News 5

pears the ruling party does not like Jega’ s position on the electoral process as he is not compromising”. In planning to remove Jega, he said, “the Federal Government may be trying to create chaos in order to extend the election by another six months and put the country in a state of limbo.” But he warned that : “the civil society will not tolerate such as we have already spoken against it. If they do this, the people will be enraged.” His view was shared by Comrade Shettima Yerima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, who said: “The plan is not good for the country. If going by the constitution, his tenure is over, there would be no story about it. But if it is otherwise, it is unacceptable and we will resist it.” Meanwhile, the Federal Government has denied that the presidency was planning to sack Prof. Jega. Speaking yesterday, the supervising Minister for Information, Edem Duke, said the Federal Government was not planning to remove the INEC boss before the general elections. Duke said the INEC boss would leave office in accordance to laid-down service rules. He said: “On the issue of the INEC chairman, I align myself with what the president said that he has no plan to sack the INEC chairman. “That is not to say that if it is time for the INEC chairman to naturally exit his office, then the natural course of things will not take place. “It is like talking of a civil servant who has done 35 years or achieved the age of 60; we now begin to say that he must not retire or he must retire. I think all of that is in the terrain of the presidency and he has spoken.” Duke also pleaded with the media to continue to do things that will foster peace and national unity, stressing that the media needed to be guided so as not to set in motion things that could endanger the unity of the country.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in London that the PDP and the Jonathan administration were “so stunned and stung by Gen. Buhari's well-accepted presentation,” adding that they “could have saved themselves from further disgrace by simply keeping quiet, instead of exposing their inanities.” ''For the spokesmen of the PDP and the Jonathan Campaign Organization to have rushed to the press to denounce what was a patriotic presentation by a high-regarded Nigerian is not only absurd but a new low, even for those who have lost every sense of propriety in their public actions and pronouncements,'' APC stressed, pointing out that “the level of paranoia of the PDP and the Jonathan administration was so high, even before the General's presentation, that they went to hire some poor folks to protest at the Chatham House over an issue they knew nothing about.” The party said it was just as well that the rent-a-crowd show boomeranged on the PDP/ Jonathan administration, when those among the scanty protest-

ers who were interviewed said they did not even know why they had come there, with some of them hiding behind their placards. ''The fact that the Jonathan administration wasted public funds in hiring people to protest against Gen. Buhari's appearance is another indication of how the commonwealth has been consistently frittered away under the clueless and incompetent Jonathan administration.'' The APC wondered who appropriated the funds that were “wasted on the uninformed and disinterested band of protesters.” It also described as the worst case of double standard for spokesmen of the PDP and the Jonathan administration to question the basis for Gen. Buhari's appearance at the Chatham House, when the same platform was used a few weeks back by the administration, which sent National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki there to push for the postponement of the 2015 general elections. It said: “So it is OK for Dasuki to speak at the

Chatham House, one of the most important platforms for any statesman, but forbidden for the APC presidential candidate to use the same platform? The needless vituperations of the PDP and the Jonathan megaphones against our candidate is precisely the reason the sinking ruling party and the failed administration it sired have become the butt of jokes around the world. ''Instead of apologising for seeking to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians by saying that General Buhari went to London for medical treatment, these band of poor propagandists persisted in dancing naked in the public square. What a pity?'' The APC hailed General Buhari for his “well-crafted, well-delivered and patriotic presentation, and his deft handling of the subsequent question-and-answer session at such a big-league platform as the Chatham House,” saying that despite the barrage of personal attacks and death wishes by the PDP and its agents, the General's stock has continued to rise both within and outside Nigeria.

THE NATION

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Ekiti pollgate : Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore, others for probe

•Continued from Page 1 plot were Mr.Ayo Fayose who was declared winner of the election; ex-Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro; Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan; exMinister Caleb Olukolade; the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State , Otunba Iyiola Omisore and a serving Army General . Some of those heard on the tape including Fayose, have admitted being part of the meeting where the recording was made. All of them are expected to come under the police scrutiny in establishing the authenticity of the recording made by Captain Sagir Koli of the 32nd Artillery Brigade of the army. However, Fayose has immunity under the 1999 Constitution except he willingly offers to subject himself for probe. Koli later confirmed to Sahara TV and The Nation in separate interviews that he recorded proceeding at the meeting held on the eve of the election to show his resentment at the involvement of the military in politics. The audio recording and the video of Koli’s interview have gone viral and made available to some foreign missions in the country. The police investigation is expected to be fast tracked and a source said yesterday that its outcome might determine the confirmation of the renomination of Obanikoro as minister by President Goodluck Jonathan. Investigation showed that the AGF ordered the investigation after receiving a February 13, 2015 petition from the Chairman of the All P r o g r e s s i v e s Congress(APC) in Ekiti State, Chief Olajide Awe. Although Awe specifically asked the AGF to prosecute those implicated, Adoke opted for investigation for now. Sources said the minister resolved that he could not prosecute anyone involved

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

in the matter without an investigation by a relevant security agency. An APC source quoted Adoke as saying in his response to Awe that he is “unable to exercise the discretion to prosecute one way or the other without an investigation of the contents of your petition and the accompanying audio recording. “I have accordingly forwarded the petition and accompanying audio recording to the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.” Awe had,in his petition,asked for “the prosecution of persons involved in conspiring and perpetrat-

ing acts of unsitting the incumbent Governor of Ekiti State in a manner other than envisaged by the constitution.” He said: “We write to report to you and formally bring to your attention the recent leak of an audio recording by Capt. Sagir Koli of the 32nd Artillery Brigade in Ekiti State. “On February 8, 2015, an audio recording was released to the general public. This recording captured the voices of Ayo Fayose (the Governor of Ekiti State), Brig- Gen. Aliyu Momoh, who was the commanding officer in charge of soldiers

deployed to give security cover for the June 21st, 2014 Ekiti State Gubernatorial election: Senator Iyiola Omisore, Jelili Adesiyan who is the Minister of Police Affairs and Musiliu Obanikoro (the Minister of Defence at that time), Caleb Olulolade and others in a meeting wherein these persons conspired and strategized to rig the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election in which Ayo Fayose finally emerged the winner. “The import of this audio recording is the revelation of the criminal acts which were planned and perpe-

trated by these men. “The above listed persons conspired to tamper with the constitutionally and statutorily laid down procedures for the conduct of election. Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that; “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.” “During the meeting, strategies and plans to intimidate

Boko Haram: DSS urges vigilance

HE Department of State Security (DSS) has advised the public to remain vigilant as the military continues raids on Boko Haram’s fortresses and hideouts in the Northeast.. Spokesperson for the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar said the terrorists have resorted to taking on soft targets, killing and maiming of innocent and unarmed citizens. “It has become evident,” she said “that following the successful sustained air raids and intense combat operations by the military on insurgents’ positions in the Northeast, which have effectively degraded the capacity of the terrorists, its members are now in disarray and have resorted to taking out their anger on hapless civilians and soft targets. “This development accounts for the recent spate of attacks recorded in Yobe, Kano, Borno and Plateau States with intent of distracting security forces. “Accordingly, this Service wishes to advise members of the public to

Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja be vigilant, especially in crowded environment and when travelling. Commuters should desist from boarding unmarked vehicles along the road and only use designated motor parks. “ The agency asked motor park managers to ensure proper screening of vehicles, persons and luggage entering their premises,and

be on the look out for new faces who show up as drivers and conductors. It encouraged residents of recaptured towns and communities to return to their homes,saying “there is no need for people to relocate from any part of the country because of the forthcoming elections as adequate steps have been taken by security forces to guarantee security of lives

and property. “Members of the public with useful information of untoward activities in their localities are advised to forward same to security agencies. We wish to restate once more, the commitment of security forces to bring to an end the activities of terrorists and unscrupulous elements in our country”.

voters and perform electoral fraud, and other criminal acts, in a bid to take over the government of Ekiti State in a manner contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant statues, were discussed. Below are the key points of what was discussed at the meeting: “The use of the military to assist in electoral manipulation contrary to the purpose of the military as provided for by the Constitution. “The use of stickers for the identification of persons not to be harassed and detained by the military. Ayo Fayose admitted to copying voting materials provided by INEC. “The reprimanding of military personnel for detaining members of the Peoples Democratic Party who were engaged in electoral fraud and malpractices. “Musiliu Obanikoro who was the Minister of State for Defence at that time, clearly stated that he was under instructions from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: and also offered inducements, and promises of promotion to the military personnel if the plans dis•Continued on Page 7

Parents find daughter 17 years after kidnap

newborn was kidnapped from a Cape Town hospital in 1997 but her parents never gave up hope and now, 17 years later, they have found her. The family had always celebrated their missing daughter’s birthday on April 28, and following her remarkable discovery the girls’ biological family is planning a festive celebration for her first birthday with them. “We have to plan something very big,” the girl’s aunt told South Africa’s Cape Talk radio station after it reported that DNA tests confirmed she was the child kidnapped from the Groote Schuur Hospital. A 50-year-old woman was arrested and appeared in court yesterday on charges of kidnapping and fraudulently pretending to the child’s biological mother, police spokesman Andre Traut said. The woman will again appear in court on March 6, after she has gone through an identity parade, according to the South African Press Association.

The girl, who turns 18 in April, was raised by the arrested woman and her husband as their only child. She was living just a couple of kilometers from her biological parents but, as the Cape Argus newspaper reported , the amazing discovery happened by chance when she became friends with her younger biological sister, when they attended the same school. In her final year of high school, friends told her about a new student who had an uncanny resemblance to her, her biological aunt said. The two girls met and bonded instantly, despite the fouryear age difference. “There was just an incredible connection,” her aunt told the radio station. The younger daughter told her parents about her new friend who looked just like her. Still hopeful, the family invited the girl to their home for coffee, the Cape Argus reported. After seeing her, the father immediately contacted the police who revived their investigation into the kidnapping, the newspaper reported.

•APC youths unveil special banner against elections shift on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos... yesterday

US imposes sanctions on Hezbollah's Nigeriabased 'Foreign Relations Department'

HE United States of America (USA) has imposed sanctions on

the Abuja based Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park and Resort as part of a wider move against Hezbollah members and assets. The supermarket and park/ resort are owned by Mustapha Fawaz, Fouzi Fawaz and Abdallah Tahini, who were all born in Lebanon, and accused of being part of Hezbollah’s “Foreign Relations Department” in the Abuja. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S., while the European Union and

the United Nations consider only the group’s armed wing, not its political branch, a terrorist organization. Hezbollah is believed to be operating in at least 45 nations, 11 of them in Africa. Its financial assets are estimated at $500 million. Acting undersecretary Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J. Szubin vowed that the US “ will track Hezbollah’s illicit activities to all corners of the earth.” “Together with our international partners, we are tirelessly working to dismantle Hezbollah’s financial apparatus. Wherever

this terrorist group may seek to raise funds, we will target and expose its activity,” he said. In 2013, security agents arrested four Lebanese said to be of working with Hezbollah after they uncovered an armoury in Kano which they claimed belonged to the organization. Mustapha Fawaz was among the men detained and reportedly confirmed that Hezbollah had a cell in the country. The Fawaz brothers have citizenship in Lebanon, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The statement announcing U.S. sanctions said the Fawaz

brothers are really running a Hezbollah front. “The FRD [Foreign Relations Department of Hezbollah] claims to be in charge of “community relations;” but the primary goal of the FRD in Nigeria is to scout recruits for Hezbollah’s military units, as well as to create and support Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure for its operational units in Africa and globally.” All three men were accused of working with the FRD. Tahini’s responsibilities included, according to the U.S. Treasury, recruiting and supporting Hezbollah’s African networks.

THE NATION

NEWS 7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

HE use of card reader in the forthcoming elections does not violate the 1999 Constitution or the Electoral Act 2010 in any way, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) said yesterday. The commission,in a factsheet to educate voters ahead of the elections, said the introduction of the device is to improve the integrity of the electoral process and add “ value to the process in line with the yearnings of Nigerians for credible elections, and accords with international best practices.” Already ,54, 327,747 Permanent Voters Cards, representing 78.93 per cent, have been collected nationwide. 67,206, 000 PVCs of the 68,833, 476 requisitioned have been delivered to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),it said . INEC said the Card Reader is not a voting machine and will not used for voting. According to the commission it is “ used only for accreditation of voters, and only accreditation (and not voting) data is transmitted by it.” It vouched for the ability of the units to deliver on voting day,saying: “The Card Reader units have been broadly subjected to simulation Quality Assurance, Integrity and Functionality tests and INEC has full confidence in their performance for election purposes. “The device has also been subjected to Performance and Conformance Test, both locally and in Texas, United States, laboratories by the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Research Centre and found to be of the highest quality grade. Besides all these, and with additional time resulting from the rescheduling of the 2015 general elections, the Commission has directed that Stress Test be conducted on the Card Reader device in mock election scenarios – two states in each of the six geopolitical zones – ahead of the new election dates.” It declared that the Card Reader cannot be misused or abused as it is specifically designed for each of the nation’s 119,000 polling units. “ To prevent fraudulent use, the Card Rader is configured to work only on Election Days. In addition, the device is configured to specific polling units and cannot be used elsewhere without requiring reconfiguration by authorized INEC personnel . INEC said that although the Card Reader cannot fail, it has procured more than 26,000 spares and acquired 35,000 back-up batteries, with accreditation of a voter with Card Reader estimated to last an average of 10 to 20

HE All Progressive Grand Allainace (APGA) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku has ruled out any plan to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from where he defected to his present party. Zakari Edego, Director of Publicity, Maku Campaign Organisation, said insinuations that the former minister planned to return to the PDP were “ the manifestation of the desperation in the PDP in Nasarawa state hav-

2015 polls: Card reader does not violate Constitution,Electoral Act, says INEC INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION Distribution of permanent voters cards as at February 26, 2015 S/N States

Number of Registered Voters

Number of Cards Collected by Voters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

ABIA ADAMAWA AKWA-IBOM ANAMBRA BAUCHI BAYELSA BENUE BORNO CROSS RIVER DELTA EBONYI EDO EKITI ENUGU FCT GOMBE IMO JIGAWA KADUNA

1,396,162 1,559,012 1,680,759 1,963,173 2,054,125 610,373 2,015,452 1,934,079 1,175,623 2,275,264 1,074,273 1,779,738 732,021 1,429,221 881,472 1,120,023 1,803,030 1,831,276 3,407,222

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Vincent IKUOMOLA,Abuja seconds . The commission added: “Going by the results of tests already conducted, it is highly unlikely that the Card Reader will fail on Elec-

1,132,928 1,364,804 1,587,566 1,527,045 1,938,192 404,119 1,566,186 1,320,667 919,622 1,795,307 848,392 1,197,829 505,829 1,169,408 552,381 1,064,577 1,352,554 1,794,646 3,159,011

tion Day. Still, INEC has drawn up serial intervention plans in the unlikely event of the Card Readers failing. In the “extremely unlikely and isolated event” that a faulty Card Reader can’t be replaced within the scheduled accreditation hours, INEC has come to a firm agreement with political parties that the exercise be

Remarks

S/N States

Number of Registered Voters

% 81.15 87.54 94.46 77.78 94.36 66.21 77.71 68.28 78.22 78.91 78.97 67.30 69.10 81.82 62.67 95.05 75.02 98.00 92.72

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

KANO KATSINA KEBBI KOGI KWARA LAGOS NASARAWA NIGER OGUN ONDO OSUN OYO PLATEAU RIVERS SOKOTO TARABA YOBE ZAMFARA Total

repeated the following day rather than revert to manual accreditation. “These procedures, which registered political parties have agreed to, have been written into the ‘Approved Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of 2015 General Elections’. INEC said it designed the Card Readers to be used in

4,975,701 2,827,943 1,470,648 1,350,883 1,142,267 5,822,207 1,242,667 2,014,317 1,829,534 1,524,655 1,407,107 2,415,566 2,001,825 2,537,590 1,611,929 1,340,652 1,099,970 1,495,717 68,833,476

Number of Cards

Remarks

Collected by Voters

4,112,039 2,620,096 1,316,656 926,013 858,623 3,693,355 1,026,657 1,642,144 808,590 1,073,904 1,021,169 1,603,168 1,430,852 2,091,132 1,428,098 1,252,491 824,401 1,397,296 54,327,747

82.64 92.65 89.53 68.55 75.17 63.44 82.62 81.52 44.20 70.44 72.57 66.37 71.48 82.41 88.60 93.42 74.95 93.42 78.93

the 2015 elections with 12hour battery life in active usage. On the distribution and collection of the PVCs ,INEC said collection in all the states and the FCT has hit over 60 per cent. Leading in the PVCs collection Akwa Ibom(94.46); Bauchi(94.36); Gombe (95.05); Jigawa(98); Kaduna(92.72);

Katsina(92.65); Taraba(93.42); Zamfara(93.42). They are followed by Kebbi(89.53); Sokoto(88.60); Adamawa( 87.54); Niger (81.52); Enugu(81.2); and Abia(81.15). Those under 70 per cent are:Ekiti ( 69.10); Kogi(68.55); Borno(68.28); Edo(67.30); Oyo(66.37); Bayelsa(66.21); Lagos(63.44); and FCT(62.67).

Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore, others for probe •Continued from Page 6 cussed were carried out. Some of what he said can be quoted thus: “Look here, you can’t get promotion without me sitting on top of top military council. If I am a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit.” The APC chairman party said he chose to write the petition to the AGF because the tape had become an embarrassment to the nation,adding: “It is pertinent to point out that the audio recording has gone viral on the internet with people from all over the

world listening to it and this is a source of embarrassment and shame to the people and government of Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole. “A copy of the recording is hereby forwarded with this letter inclusive of its transcription for our records and information. “The event that you want to verify the viral spread of this recording, you may visit https://soundcloud.com/ saharareporters/secretmeetings-that-led-to-therigging-of-ekiti-gubernatorial-for-fa or https:// www.youtube.com/watch? or any other site to listen to

the audio recording. “In furtherance of the above highlighted disturbing issues which are in clear violation of the provision of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Armed Forces Act and the Criminal Code, we , most respectfully urge you to use the instrumentality of your office to investigate this matter with a view to prosecuting and bringing the persons involved to justice for the criminal acts of conspiracy, treason and unduly influencing electoral process. “This is against the backdrop of the seriousness of

the content of the said audio recording and its implication to the forthcoming general elections. “Please be informed that within 7 days of the receipt of this petition you fail to act, we shall without further recourse to you; proceed to Court to seek an Order of Mandamus compelling you to so act. “While we appreciate your anticipated cooperation, be assured of our esteemed regards.” The AGF’s directive to the police came a few days after President Jonathan said in an interview that the audio

•Fayose recording could not be investigated because Captain Koli had not come forward to authenticate it.

Ibori's conviction gulped £14m, says Senate

HE trial of the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori in England cost £14million (about N3.5billion), it was learnt yesterday. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti- Corruption, Senator Victor Lar, announced this when the anti-graft agencies

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja defended their 2015 budgets before his committee in Abuja. But Lar said the Ibori case was prosecuted at no cost to the Federal Government. He saw no need to amend the enabling laws of the Independent Corrupt Practices

and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) so they could receive funding directly from the Federation Account. Lar said: “ the conviction was secured with very limited or no funds. People are

quick to celebrate the conviction of James Ibori in the United Kingdom. The truth is that to secure Ibori’s conviction, a whooping sum of £14million was expended. “That is more than 10 years recurrent and capital budgets of all the anti-corruption agencies put together.” He added that other countries were able to prosecute

No plan to return to PDP, says Maku ing realized that the party has become an empty shell since Mr. Maku left to pursue his governorship ambition in APGA. “ He asked the people of the state to ignore what he called the lies and blackmail coming from the PDP. Edego, in a statement, also said: “In just two months of Mr. Maku’s defection to APGA, almost 65 percent of the electorate have turned to Maku, making APGA the fastest growing party in Nasarawa State.

“We have also noticed with dismay that some thugs were sent earlier to destroy the billboards of the APGA’s governorship candidate all over the state because of the huge popularity Mr. Maku is enjoying since their own candidate is highly unpopular. “Thereafter, they went on air to spread lies in order to discourage the mass movement in Nasarawa state for the election of Mr. Labaran Maku as governor on the platform of APGA on April 11!

“All the major blocs in Nasarawa State are behind Maku right now. So the best way for the PDP to remain relevant is to be part of Maku’s campaign as a mark of honour and respect for the person who kept PDP alive in Nasarawa State since 2011. “The cause of the trepidation in both the PDP and APC in Nasarawa State is that the scenario has changed overnight with Maku posed to defeat both the APC and PDP in all the three senato-

rial zones! “Right now in Nasarawa state the election is not between APC and PDP. It’s between APGA and APC! The PDP has lost its soul since the defection of Maku and it is evident in their campaign in Nasarawa state, which is like a funeral procession! “The only way for PDP to remain relevant in Nasarawa State is to support APGA since their own candidate, Yusuf Agabi, has no constituency to win elections in Nasarawa State.

financial crimes successfully because a percentage of funds recovered or the proceeds of crime was usually retained by the recovering agency for funding their operations. He stated that most Nigerians are impatient and believe that politically exposed persons are corrupt and should be convicted. He, however said that “the truth is that we observe the rule of law and once you are accused you are taken to court.You have to go through court processes.” He added: “Once you are arrested and taken to court, it is outside the control of the enforcement agencies. “So it is not entirely the fault of the enforcement agencies that there is corruption in the country. “This administration has fought corruption more than any other time because we have more petitions; more people are taken to court and we have more convictions now more than ever before.”

News

Jonathan urged not to privatise NACETEM

GROUP, Ife Youth Vanguard, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to review the decision to privatize National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM), saying implementation of the decision would be a slap on Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. The group in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Oladimeji Tajudeen said: “ We see this proposed privatization as a slap on the face of our highly respected royal father, the Ooni of Ife. “If Mr President’s Transformation Agenda is real, NACETEM must be remove from the list of agencies to be privatized. “We the entire youth of IleIfe, under the auspices of Ife Youth Vanguard, hereby demand an immediate review of the position of the federal government on the issue of funding the agency in order for it to regain its place of pride in the efforts towards national development driven by science, technology and innovation as seen in other nations of the world,” it stated.

Group hails OSPOLY governing council over appointment of new registrar

GROUP under the aegis of Committee for Quality Education has lauded the Governing Council of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, over the appointment of Mr Salawu Busari Moruf as the new Registrar of the institution. In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Mr Aanuoluwa Ifesanmi, the group “We are happy with the Governing Council of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree for standing on the side of the truth and integrity as regard the appointment of the new Registrar for our dear OSPOLY and we shall continue to monitor events unfolding in the institution. We appreciate the council for resisting the lobbying of some godfathers to install fraudulent persons who were indicted for their shameful deeds”.

UPN disowns Fasheun for endorsing Jonathan

THE NATION,

HE Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has disowned its National Chairman ,Chief Fredrick Fasheun for endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking through its Ogun State gubernatorial candidate , Prince Rotimi Paseda and the National Organising Secretary, Dr.Ola Olateju, the party said the endorsement represents the opinion of Dr.Fasheun and not that of the party. Paseda said the party neither presented nor adopted any presidential candidate adding:”Dr Fasheun is not representing the party, he is on his own and he can never force any candidate down the throat of the party. The likes of Frederick Fasheun,Gani Adams, Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Femi Okunronmu and the entire Afenifere leadership only expressed their personal opinions on Jonathan which did not translate into the common preference of the Yoruba.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Ekiti violence: NHRC to invite Fayose, others

HE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said yesterday that it will invite Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and others accused of being behind the increasing violence and right abuses against opposition figures in the state. NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Professor Bem Angwe, said this yesterday while receiving some representatives of the Ekiti State government who were in his office to present the governor’s response to a petition submitted to the commission penultimate Friday by some leaders of the Ekiti chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC members accused Fayose and his supporters of sponsoring violent attacks against members of the opposition party in the state.

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja Angwe said : “We are happy that you have chosen to come to respond to the allegations against Dr. Ayodele Fayose. Upon the receipt of the petition (by the APC), we had dispatched an invitation to the governor and the PDP Chairman in Ekiti State. We are happy that you are here to represent the governor and that the PDP Chairman in Ekiti is here in person. “On the receipt of that petition, we had said that the commission would invoke its powers to ensure that justice is done irrespective of position as there is no immunity when it comes to the

abuse of the rights of Nigerians. We would invoke our powers and involve international human rights bodies to ensure that justice is done. “We had also said if the petition is found not to be true we would not hesitate to punish the conveyors of the false allegation. “We would in due course invite all the parties involved including Governor Fayose to appear before us to state their sides of the story. I want to restate that we would be fair, but firm,” Angwe said. Ekiti State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, who led the government delegation from the state, said the Ekiti government has respect

for the NHRC as a statutory body established for the protection of human rights. “We, as a government, cannot fold our hands when we are being accused of abuse of human rights abuses, we therefore wish to respond to the allegation that there are serious human rights abuses in Ekiti. “If the opposition is sincere, they would have attested to the fact the Ekiti State has been one of the most peaceful states in the federation. “Harly had the new government of Dr. Fayose settled down, when petitions started pouring in concerning flagrant infractions of fundamental rights, abuse of office and injustice meted out to

people in Ekiti State while the Government of Kayode Fayemi held sway. “Notable among these incidents is the case of the alleged murder of one Ayodele Ogudu Jeje by the State Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe and his cohorts on March 30th,2013 at Erijiyan Ekiti. The police investigated the matter and indicted the suspect and four others and charged them to court for prosecution. “Surprisingly the government of Kayode Fayemi using his Attorney-General and Commission of Justice, Wale Fapohunda frustrated justice by filling a nolle prosequi against all the suspects on February 11th,2014,” Ajayi said.

400 PDP members defect to APC, shred membership cards Musa ODOSHIMOKHE

O fewer than four hundreds members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State. They tore their membership cards after dumping the party. Receiving the defected members, the ward chairman of APC, Ajasa Ward B , in Abule Egba area of the state, Chief Adekunle Faworin said the defected members of the PDP have resolved to work for the APC to ensure that the party wins the coming election in the state. He regretted that the new members were not fairly treated in PDP and assured them that they are at home in the APC. He said: “ What happened will go along way to put our party in the lead, though we do not envisage any problem because Lagos is for the progressives. Now that these members of the PDP have joined us, they are fully welcome and we will work with them to ensure that our party triumphs in the coming election. I am so glad that all of them said they have their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Speaking, the spokesperson of the defectors, Mr. Michael Babalola said: “We came here under the banner of Progressives Voters for Good Governance (PVGG). Right from the on set, we have used this group to work for the PDP but the party has not recognised our efforts. “Our members have not benefited anything from the PDP in the state Lagos. Besides, we are not happy with the way the country is being run by the PDP led government at the centre. Given that we want progress in the country and our believe that the APC can change the country, we have to defect to the party to ensure the success of the governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode,” he said. He said PVGG has over 10,000 members who were working for the PDP but would start working for the APC

•A cross section of hundreds of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) decampees to All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ward ‘G’, Agbado Oke-Odo, tearing their party membership cards at Ajasa Town Hall, Agbado Oke-Odo (LCDA), Lagos State... yesterday PHOTO: Biodun ADEYEWA

1.8 million PVCs yet to be collected, says Lagos REC

ITH just a week before the March 8 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards,(PVCs), about 1.8 million registered voters in Lagos State are yet to pick up their cards. This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Akin Orebiyi yesterday when he visited the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to demonstrate the usage of the e-card readers. Orebiyi noted that 5,822,207 eligible voters were registered in Lagos out of a total of 68,833,476 registered voters in Nigeria. According to him, out of the 5.5 million PVCs produced for Lagos State, only 3, 693, 000 cards have been collected, leaving a deficit of about 1.8 million cards. He added that a total of 430,000 PVCs are still being awaited from INEC headquarters in Abuja. He said that INEC staff have been deployed to the 8,462 polling units across the State. “As at yesterday (Thursday), the total number of cards collected in Lagos to date is,3,693, 000 out of the 5.5 million cards that we’ve collected so far from Abuja. At the moment, we are still expecting another 430,000 cards which should arrive by next week. Meanwhile, we still have in our custody 1.8 million cards yet to been collected. “This morning we have again deployed our staff to all the 8,462 polling units across the State to make the collection

Miriam Ekene-Okoro much more accessible rather than stay at the local government offices where we have been for the past three weeks. The Lagos REC also has dispelled the claims that some non-indigenes of Lagos were denied their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). “Collection of cards was done practically by every Ni-

gerian who registered in Lagos, we didn’t register people based on ethnicity and we are not also distributing cards on the basis of ethnic groups. “If indeed there have been issues of delay in collection of cards in certain parts of the state where perhaps non-indigenes populate, it is not a deliberate act. Their cards are coming . They are part of the remaining 430,000 cards yet to be received from Abuja.

After carefully watching the process, Fashola enjoined INEC to sensitize the various political parties in the country on the workings of the card readers and what the people should expect on the election day. Fashola whose PVC was also used to test-run the card reader promised to extend the knowledge he had got from the process to others stakeholders in the state.

APC youths unveil special banner against elections shift

group of youths within the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday unveiled a special banner in Lagos to campaign against further postponement of the general elections. The banner, which is 50 meters in length (600 feet) was unveiled on the Third Mainland Bridge by the youths under the aegis of “I am ready” movement. No fewer than 300 campaigners held the banner which stretched along the median of the

Joseph JIBUEZE bridge, with commuters marveling at its length. Printed on the banner were pictures of APC presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, with the bold inscription: “I am ready”. The group said since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has achieved over 75.9 per cent Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) dis-

tribution, and the military has been recapturing towns seized by insurgents in the Northeast, the commission and the Federal Government must ensure that the re-scheduled elections are held. Its National Leader Tola Adekunle-Johnson said the “I am ready” campaign will include mobilising at least one million signups through the social media to demand that elections must hold on March 28 and on April 11.

‘No substance in suit against me’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ogun State,Prince Buruji Kashamu, yesterday described a suit filed against him at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, seeking to disqualify him from contesting the March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections as a sheer waste of time. He said: “Basically, their prayers were premised on two grounds: That I had been charged and/or convicted of

some drug-related offences in the United States; and that I presented a forged or no certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “ I have not been charged or convicted of any offences whether here in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. As I have said severally, the Interpol and other relevant agencies, including the courts in the United Kingdom and Nigeria have exonerated me of the unfounded alle-

gations”. “On the second issue of my credentials, I affirm that I hold a West African Senior School Certificate, a Diploma in English from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and a honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Humanities from the Cambridge Graduate University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. My WAEC’s candidate number is 5251320057 and my UNILAG’s matriculation number is 122130002.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Eid-El-Maulud

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

JTF fights oil theft with carrot and stick HE people of Igbemotoro l and ll of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, will forever remain grateful to the Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe-led Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield for giving them water. The people, perhaps for the first time in their history, are having a true-life experience of a military commander with a milk of kindness. The gesture is part of the approach of the task force to find a lasting resolution to the security problems in some Niger Delta communities is yielding positive results. The relationship between the communities and Commader Atewe started when he paid them a fact-finding visit. In the course of the interaction, Atewe discovered that the communities have some problems that needed to be fixed. Chief among the problems, the commander gathered was lack of potable water. And with a determined gesture, he promised to solve their water problem. Unsure of what to believe, the people took the JTF leader’s promise with some level of doubt. But they were wrong, the commander went back to fulfill his promise to them. On February 20, Atewe made good his promise to provide the people with water. The JTF commander’s approach is part of his carrot-and-stick strategy to eliminate illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and other forms of oil theft from the Niger Delta. To actualize this, Atewe has been touring coastal communities to identify with the concerns of the locals. When he visited Igbemotoro communi•Atewe giving out football items to a youth leader in the community ties for his sensitization campaigns against oil theft, the JTF commander was received by a large crowd of young and the old, who trooped out to welcome him. In the full glare of the locals, Atewe fulfilled his promise of not just providing the borehole, he also distributed football kits to the youths. In his new approach, Atewe wants to engage the youths in sporting activities to take their minds away from crime. He also intends to bring the military outfit closer to the people by integrating community participation in the war against oil theft. While addressing the people, Atewe said: "During the last visit, we promised that we shall provide borehole in this community. And as I speak today, you are living witnesses to the borehole. We thank God for that." The commander showered encomiums on the community leaders and their subjects for their cooperation against oil theft. He also lectured them on the evils of illegal oil bunkering, and appealed to them not to allow their communities to be used as hideouts for illegal refineries. He said: "When we enlighten our•Atewe (middle) inaugurating the boreholes with other senior officers selves on the evil of oil theft, we need to know that oil theft leaves a long lasting scar on the people of the and in response, the commander immedin Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n community. Thank you for the useful inately instructed that the roofs should be formation we get from some of you. We replaced without delay. received reports from the people of this nity. If you learn very well, you will beThe pronouncement sent the crowd into community." come professional football players." wild jubilation. The people praised the He also thanked the communities for coThe commander, who further doled out commander for his kind gestures. operating with the workers who drilled the sum of N350,000 to Mr. Job Magnam A representative of the Ijaw Youth the boreholes, but regretted the delay in for cancer treatment, also gave out a Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. James inaugurating the boreholes, saying it was sewing machine to a seamstress, Mrs. PaYague, who spoke on behalf of the people, borne out of his desire to commission the tient Ibitim. The donation, he said was in commended the commander for his kind project himself. fulfillment of his promise to enable comgifts, and urged the youths of the commuThe commander appealed to the elders munities get involved in the war against nities to stop illegal oil bunkering. and parents to discourage their children oil theft. He appealed to the JTF to help train Ijaw from getting involved in illegal oil bunker"Let's stop illegal oil bunkering, so that youths in various vocations and to give ing. He urged the youths to engage in we do not bring any curse upon our soft loans to their women. meaningful ventures and to develop their heads," he said, adding that the Bayelsa He said: "We are very proud and happy skills. State Government had mapped out plans for all you have done for this community. Atewe, while presenting football kits, to develop the communities. This is the first time a JTF commander has such as jerseys, boots, net and balls to the However, the people made further decome close to the people. And we promise youths, said: "Our prayer is that the best mands. They complained that the roofs of to support you in all your efforts to curb footballer will emerge from this commutheir schools had been blown off by storm, all illegalities in the region, especially

When we enlighten ourselves on the evil of oil theft, we need to know that oil theft leaves a long lasting scar on the people of the community. Thank you for the useful information we get from some of you. We received reports from the people of this community

through your campaign against oil theft." After leaving Igbomoturu, Atewe and his entourage proceeded to Brass. His first port of call was the palace of the king, where he met with the Deputy Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Ptts Johnson. Speaking on the reason for the visit, he said: "In continuation of our war against illegal bunkering, we are here to solicit the support of Brass community. We need information from members of the community to combat this.” He also reeled out the environmental impacts of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism, saying the problems are inimical to development. After getting assurances from Chief Jonhson, who claimed that no oil thief was living in the community, Atewe went on to host a town hall meeting with the people.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

The couple

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Few weeks back, Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), was in Lagos to launch his new book ‘Trends in Nollywood’ at the National Arts Theatre. It was a gathering of important dignitaries from the South-South along with friends from other parts of the country. For the playwright and culture diplomat, it was a day of joy and a day of grand speeches. To crown it all, a play which, portrayed the beginning and growth of Nollywood, was also staged to the delight of the guests. Ayakoroma shared the importance of this moment and other high points of his life with us in this interview with PAUL UKPABIO.

Dr Ayakoroma

‘Some friends dissuaded my wife against marr ying a poor lecturer like me who had to sell handouts to sur vive’

As an Ijaw man, somebody told me the other day that he has a suit for me and I told him that I am ‘un-suitable’ (laughs). I wear native dresses as most Ijaw people do. Again in NICO that I represent, we wear native dresses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- places we are showing, the way ODAY, your new book on Nollywood is being preof life of the people we are days, those days are ‘dress Nigeria sented to the public. Tell showing through this medium. days.’ The last time I wore suit was us what would you say are You know, I remember four in 2008 during my PhD convocation. the present challenges in Nollyyears ago, I was in Kenya and a wood? Kenyan commended NollyThe Nigerian dress gives me an I would say funding, capacity wood. They rate Nollywood identity. I go anywhere in Nigeria building, distribution and privacy. highly but listen to this comand people look at me and admire These are four major issues because ment one of them said, she once we have the right funding, said: “Oh Nigeria, your films what I am wearing. Even wearing one can get the right equipment to are very good but there is usuthe adire attracts attention from produce the right kind of films, and ally too much witchcraft. So, those you meet. That is because you there must be many witches in of course, if you have the funds, you can get the right script from the right Nigeria.” Invariably to her, from stand out from the crowd. When I people. You will then be able to rethe films that we are showing, am abroad in adire, people stop cruit the right artistes because you she feels that every old woman in me and ask if I am from Nigeria have to have the right artistes to interNigeria is a witch! That is because, pret scripts to get the right end product. that’s the image that you portray to or Africa; as far as some of How do you relate glamour to Nollythe outside world. It is the image them are concerned, Africa that wood and the Nigerian culture? they will take home with them is one country Glamour and culture! The glamour has as what you are. So, I think that we

more to do with the individual that you are showcasing or projecting through the medium and then culture is talking about the way and life of the people. This invariably means, what we are projecting through these persons through the artistes, through the actors and actresses and all those featuring in a film. That is why one can say that Nollywood is a cultural product. Whatever you are showing to the outside world has to project Nigeria. That is where NICO, that is, the National Institute for Cultural orientation comes in to play. We want Nollywood to be a good cultural brand for the country. We can do that through what we are wearing, through the food we are showing, the

should look at the right perspective, the right messages that we want to send to the outside world about our country. How is NICO working with Nollywood to help the industry in this regard? Agreed that I am the one presenting this book, but by extension, as the face of NICO, the book is a NICO effort. This year, NICO will have the rare opportunity of hosting the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes Conference. The theme of the conference will centre on culture and Nollywood. It will be an opportunity for academics to discuss how Nigerians can propagate culture through Nollywood. We believe that the papers that will be presented will

go a long way in re-inventing the promotion of culture through Nollywood. Among other things, you are a playwright and a culture diplomat. When did play writing start for you? It started in the university campus. Yes, that was in the University of Calabar. I did my first degree there, and my Masters at the University of Ibadan. I got PhD at the University of Port Harcourt. So, educationally, I am bred in Nigeria. Today I teach playwriting, cultural diplomacy, culture and national development. Tell us about some of your works I edited Living Human Treasures in Nigeria; it is a work on UNESCO areas of interest, looking at people above the age of 60 years old that are involved in cultural activities. We looked at carvers, blacksmiths, musicians and so on. The first volume we have published. We are working on the second volume. Apart from that, I have edited Literary Perspectives on Culture, Leadership and Accountability in Nigeria. Those are two major works that I edited. I have also co-edited some works with Prof Ojo Bakare, another edited work with Professor Olu Obafemi who is one of my mentors. We edited Perspectives in cultural administration in Nigeria, Culture, Peace and National Security. And some other works. So, why the need to document Nollywood at this time? What inspired this research? There is a saying that if we do not learn from history, there will be an opportunity for failure. History is what guides us in the sense that, if we know where we are coming from, then we will know where we are going. If you do not know where you are coming from, you won’t know where you are going. So it is a reminder of our past. The need to document Nollywood was about looking at how the industry started. We are talking about an industry that has been privately driven, an industry that has been nurtured by a few individ-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

uals to something great today. So how did this happen? Also, since it has already happened this way, where do we go from here? And to give those who were not there when it started an opportunity to know when it all started. It is for stakeholders in the industry to know more about the industry where they are working. That is because some of us are not interested in academic work. So this book will help to give knowledge about the people in the industry, the practitioners and so on. People have expressed their admiration for the way we rated the films and it will guide people on their future works. I think that the book will serve as a guide to practitioners in the industry. When did you start the research? We took quite some time to study the industry before embarking on this project. I started this work in 2004 with serious doubt as to whether there was an industry that we can truly call Nollywood. I remember in those days somebody like Periwinkle who was more or less my guide, along with my supervisor Prof Ben, Prof Femi Shaka, who guided us in Lagos, going to the places where things were happening. After one or two trips we realised that there was truly an industry that we had to exploit academically. What were the challenges that you faced? Apart from this work, Prof Femi Shaka and I are working on a title: Nollywood Stars Talking, a project where we are going to publish the interviews that we had. We had challenges of people who did not believe in us, they didn’t take us seriously because they said people had come to them like that in time past, and they didn’t get to see the outcome of such works. We had quite some challenges but we were still able to come up with a published book. With the presentation of this book, I want to believe that key players in the industry will believe more in us, and we will then be more able to come up with more works about the industry. Production technology has changed for the better, so there is a better opportunity to do greater works now as against that time when we were working with tapes that can cut and become a problem. Now, with recording sets being miniaturised, we can do better. I am not talking about some foreigners coming to spend two or three days and coming up with all kinds of funny impressions about the industry. We have taken time to study the industry with repeated visits. And of course, watching the films and talking with the people that are actively involved to come out with a rounded view of the industry. With this new book, I believe that we have done an incisive work on the industry. This book is a testimony. How is the writing and reading culture of the past and present generation affecting Nigeria as a nation? As a teacher in Nassarawa State University where I teach as a visiting Professor, I find out that the way students write these days is nothing to write home about as compared to what was then. I have had cause to look back at some of the course work assignments that I did a couple of years back and I realise that I couldn’t have done better. I have very little to correct in those works. But these days, I tell my students that anytime I want to mark their scripts, I keep paracetamol close by. And that is because of the headache that I get from their scripts. The educationist may have a way of explaining this away, but then, the social media is not helping the matter in the sense that, some students will spell words to you the way it is written on social media! It is quite appalling. And about the reading culture, how many people are reading among our youths? So we have a serious reading challenge on our hands. And what we can do to counter that is to come out with books and publicise the books. But writers keep complaining of paucity of funds to produce books. How is this going to improve the writing culture? We are challenged due to the fact that publishing is an expensive business. What we are doing now is self-publishing. By that, I mean that the author has to write the book and the author has to provide the funds to publish the book, which is not what obtains in other climes or advanced book cultures. Over there, if a book is good, a publisher publishes it, markets it and you get your royalty. Here, you write a book, you provide the publisher funds to publish it and then he dumps them on your laps and it is left for you to market them. If you cannot market it,

then water messes it up in your car booth or if you are in a rat infested environment, then you have provided food for the rats! Quite unfortunate. I believe that this is an area that has to be addressed. Publishers need to be well established to publish books that are good and of course pay authors and pay them well accordingly. For over 10 years, I have had two of my plays in the secondary school syllabus in Bayelsa State. And I still have the challenge of meeting up the demand of publishing or printing this book. What inspires you to write? I write to share knowledge, to communicate an idea to the readers, I do not want to keep it to myself. I want to share to people out there, the knowledge I have found. That is the motivation for me. Can you mention two of the trends that you discovered in Nollywood? We looked at the genres in the industry, the generic development, how Nollywood started with occultic practices, going into epics, then traditional stories, comedies and then security issues and so on. After analysing the generic development to 2007, we then picked three, epic and historical themes in Igodo, Egg of life, as case studies. We looked at the failure, the policing system and the rise of vigilantism in Nigeria where we have Isakaba and so on. We looked at Isakaba series, we looked at politics and the political process. Here, we looked at The Senator and Masterstroke. These are the films that we used to analyse the realities in the country and how they were portrayed in Nigerian films. You say your book is as a result of research between 2003 and 2007, will you say that within that period that Nollywood has impacted positively on Nigerians? And with Nigeria’s second position in the film industry in the world, what does that portray for our culture since most Nollywood movies are culture-based? As at the period of study, Nollywood was number three in the world after Bollywood (India) and Hollywood (America), but as at now, UNESCO ratings has taken Nollywood to number two in the world, next to Bollywood in terms of quantity. In other words, we produce more films than Hollywood, Great Britain, France and Germany. Talking about the impact of Nollywood, I can say that Nollywood has impacted positively in the sense that in Nigeria, personally, I cannot remember when last I watched an Indian film. But these were the regular films in those days. I recall in my undergraduate days in Calabar, we used to go to watch films at the cinema; even in my secondary school days, we used to jump the fence to go and watch films in Warri and return at night. They were mostly American cowboy films, Indian films. Then there was Delta Cinema, New Rex and Omega cinemas. People from Warri, we recall those places. We used to go in the evenings, four or five of us squeezed in a taxi, arranging with the taxi driver to return to take us back to Agbaro. I remember it was three shillings to go, three shillings to enter the cinema, and three shillings to come back. The remaining one shilling was to buy anything we liked. It was cheap. As far back as 2007, Nollywood had made huge impact. It has reached the point

I remember when I wanted to marry her, a car was not in sight, but I promised that I would give her one. Then we had one ASUU package that we were expecting and I was thinking that when it is paid, I would use it to buy her a car. So, she went and told her friends that I told her I would buy her a car. They told her: ‘Shut up! Has he bought himself a car tyre, talk-less of a car?’ Though the money did not come through that source, eventually I bought her a car before I bought mine

Dr Ayakoroma where the President now invites the creative sector to a dinner. That is recognition for the industry. And that is because the creative sector has contributed immensely to the GDP of the country. If we are looking at the creative sector, Nollywood is number one. This cannot be contested. If you go outside the country, once you say you are from Nigeria, what comes to the mind of your host is football and Nollywood. That is why most of our star actors and actresses are well admired outside the shores of this country. And I believe that since government has indicated interest and is working towards harnessing the resources through re-training and capacity programmes and so on, very soon, the government too will benefit from the potentials that abound in the industry. I believe also that Nollywood has prospects if key players will improve themselves, look at various programmes that can enhance Nollywood, it will be in the best interest of everybody. You are the Executive Secretary of NICO. Mother tongue is still part of culture. Would you say that it is eroding and if yes, what are you doing so that children and others can learn their mother tongue? Yes, NICO has platforms that we use to encourage Nigerians to learn their mother tongue or Nigerian languages. We have a four week programme in indigenous languages that takes place in August. It is done in all NICO outlets across the country. The training school has a diploma programme which has a compulsory course known as Indigenous Programme. The next platform is the weekend programme which teaches languages and runs till July. The idea is to allow our youths, especially those married to spouses from other ethnic groups to learn

the language of their spouse. And it is not unusual to find the wives of ambassadors attending these classes to learn because they feel the need to learn our indigenous languages. The next phase that we are also going into soon is ‘language in the barracks,’ where we go in there to teach them our indigenous languages. Also we have our language quiz. And people can make enquiries at any of our offices or through our website. We do not charge, but you have to get your study aids and books. It is our responsibility to reorientate Nigerians to find time to learn one or two other Nigerian languages. From your schedule, I can see that you travel a lot for workshops and seminars, as a busy man, how do you combine all that with growing a family? Incidentally, I also have hobbies, I love watching football and wrestling. As an Ijaw man, I am a born wrestler and a born swimmer. Though I have been far removed from the water, so I cannot say right now how good I am as a swimmer. But somehow, if I am to find myself in a river, I will find my way out. I love the modernised wrestling, one gets to learn lessons when wrestlers wrestle. It teaches lessons of life. Do you notice that no matter how slim or small a wrestler looks, he never feels intimidated by the size of an opponent. So, we should never be intimidated by the devil. I love driving, sight-seeing, and playing with my children at home when I am there. In spite of my schedule, I still find time to relax because if I do not relax, I will collapse. You are an Ijaw man; do the Ijaws really have style? And can you tell us about your own style? As an Ijaw man, somebody told me the other day that he has a suit for me and I told him that I am ‘un-suitable’ (laughs). I wear native dresses as most Ijaw people do. Again in NICO that I represent, we wear native dresses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, those days are ‘dress Nigeria days.’ The last time I wore suit was in 2008 during my PhD convocation. The Nigerian dress gives me an identity. I go anywhere in Nigeria and people look at me and admire what I am wearing. Even wearing the adire attracts attention from those you meet. That is because you stand out from the crowd. When I am abroad in adire, people stop me and ask if I am from Nigeria or Africa; as far as some of them are concerned, Africa is one country. If you wear a T-shirt, a shirt and tie, you are part of the crowd. Oh I love wearing a cap. It is my style and always part of my identity. I cannot do without it. What was the attraction between you and your wife when you met? Was your writing skill part of it? I wish she is here to answer that as well. I remember the first time I met my father-inlaw, by the time we talked, he said: ‘I like you, you are quite articulate, you are sharp and I like intelligent people like you. And if my daughter has agreed to marry you, I have no reservations. I think you will be a professor.’ Then I was teaching at the University of Port Harcourt but had not got my Ph.D. But he felt I would get it. Today, I know that he does not regret having given his daughter to me in marriage. How she agreed, I do not know because she had some of her friends then who were dissuading her, because they asked her why she wanted to marry a poor lecturer, somebody that has to sell hand-out before he survives. I remember when I wanted to marry her, a car was not in sight, but I promised that I would give her one. Then we had one ASUU package that we were expecting and I was thinking that when it is paid, I would use it to buy her a car. So, she went and told her friends that I told her I would buy her a car. They told her: ‘Shut up! Has he bought himself a car tyre, talk-less of a car?’ Though the money did not come through that source, eventually I bought her a car before I bought mine. And we have progressed since then. But why she married me in the condition I was then, I do not know. I saw her while I was in a speed boat, while I was consulting for Living Health Nigeria Foundation Project. We were using theatre for enlightening and sensitising communities about environmental issues. I instantly liked her. I actually started imagining what it would look like having her as my wife. Along the line, it worked out. So it was love at first sight for you? Yes it was. I prayed that she should come to me and behold, she came and sat next to me.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Ex-VC Ibidapo-Obe, former Nestle chair Oshunkeye, others honour ex-UNILAG staff school principal @ 70

HRM, the Owa of Oke Oro, Ekiti land, Oba Afolabi Babade (left) with the CEO, Unity Hospitals Group Ltd, Sir Chief Deinde Williams.

•Chairman, LAFARGE Cement, WAPCO Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye and his wife Mrs Abosede Osunkeye.

• Former UNILAG-VC, Prof Ibidapo-Obe and wife Mrs Olusola Ibadapo-Obe.

•The celebrant, Mrs. Sola Peters; her spouse, Dr. Michael Obafunso Peters and children at her 70th birthday at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

n Paul UKPABIO n

The celebrant's husband, Dr. Michael Obafunso Peters of the EW days ago, the Peter family famed Unity Hospital Group Ltd, rolled out the drums in a Ikeja, Lagos, was about the hapgrand celebration of Mrs Olupiest person at the event apart sola Peters, who turned 70 from his darling wife, the celestill looking hale and hearty. A guest brant. A gentle man of note, he •Mrs. Funke Omole, Obafemi Awolowo •Mr. Tony Ashamu •Mr. Femi Ashamu at the event even went ahead to stood solidly beside his wife University Vice-Chancellor’s wife, tease her that she looked two throughout the event, a proud decades younger! husband, as their children and Indeed, it was a day that was grandchildren serenaded them, to much anticipated, a day that many cut the large four-deck birthday had looked forward to honour and cake. celebrate with Mrs Olusola Peters, And there was a raffle draw to who was the pioneer Principal of the also mark this beautiful day of University of Lagos International joy. From the raffle draw emerged School. The venue was the Banquet winners, who carted home variHall of Sheraton Hotels and Towers ous prizes. Afterwards, the celein Ikeja, Lagos. And for the love of brant and her husband gave the Peter family, the cream of the sowords of advice. They charged ciety came all out to share the joy of parents to take the very formidathe day with the family. ble care and fundamental responAmong them were Ex-Vice-Chansibility on their families, cellor of the University of Lagos, One of the winners of the Raffle Draw, Mrs. Franca Agama flanked by the especially, at the growing formaProfessor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, who celebrant and her husband, Mrs. Olusola Peters and Dr. Obafunso Peters tion of their children, with every came with his gorgeously dressed divine opportunity endowed wife, Olusola. Board room guru and ex Nestle Chairman Chief Olusegun them in parenting the children. Oshunkeye was there too. Oshunkeye who is the current Chairman of LACondemning the unfortunate breakdown of law and order nationwide, FARGE Cement WAPCO Plc, was there with his lovely wife, Abosede. The they were quick to warn parents and guardians not to abandon their responcouple-dominated party also had Venerable Architect Sunday Akinola and sibilities to teachers, the society and the nation, but to actively and functionwife and many others at the event. A touch of royalty was in the royal presally supervise such children, against being used as political thugs or other ence of His Royal Majesty Oba Afolabi Babade vices that may stain the society or the nation’s good image. It was a party and a meeting of old friends as it was obvious that many of While appreciating the efforts of the organisers of such a very grand rethose in the Banquet Hall that day had known each other very well or had ception, they respectively enjoined parents and guardians to give their chilFrom left: Ikeja Rotary Club President, Rotn Lanre Faseun; a past President Rotn •A guest worked with one another at some point in time. dren a worthy education and adequate care at their formative stage. Akin Lewis and a colleague, Rotn Dr. Busola Faseun.

•The Owa of Oke Oro Ekiti land’s wife, Olori Funke Babade with the wife of the CEO, Unity Hospitals Group Limited, Lagos, Lady Funke Williams.

•The Venerable Architect Sunday Akinola and his wife, Mrs Akinola

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Good times for Modupe Ozolua

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

The couple and family members

Children of the couple at the church Continued from Page 29

The couple at the church

Excited guests at the church during the wedding

Church leaders at the reception

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

n Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna n

He added that while they were waiting for the vehicle, a team of policemen arrived from Kibiya and the villagers suddenly IFE of the slain Professor Ahmed pounced on them. Mustapha Falaki of Ahmadu Bello “The professor quickly showed the poUniversity (ABU), Zaria, Hajia Galicemen his ABU identity card and asked datu Ahmed Falaki, is yet to recover from them to stop the villagers. But the policethe shock of her husband's killing, as she men did not, and the locals continued to still can't believe that her husband is gone stab him with knives and inflict machete forever. cuts in many places. I ran into the bush but Falaki, a Professor of Agronomy and Dia police officer shot at my direction. rector of the Institute of Agricultural Re“I thought the bullet had hit me, so I fell search (IAR) of ABU, was killed in a down. The villagers came to where I was controversial circumstance at a Kano viland stabbed me on my face and other lage. places. They threw me and professor into The Nation gathered that Professor Falaki the police van. When we got to Kibiya Powas a victim of circumstance after what lice Division, the policemen were celebratwas reported to be a Boko Haram attack on ing that they had killed Boko Haram a Kano Police Station. members,” he said. It was reported that around 4.30pm last Abbas said he told the policemen that Saturday, suspected Boko Haram members they were not Boko Haram members and attacked Kibiya Police Station in Kano and that the man killed was Professor Falaki of opened fire on the station. Police and vilthe ABU. lagers, however, said on Sunday that two “It was while we were there that the proof the sect members were killed, while runfessor’s driver, who ran into the bush was ning away after their defeat at the police brought in. When operatives of the Kano station. Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) came, According to the Kano Police they interrogated me and the driver and spokesman, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, "two discovered that we were not Boko Haram Boko Haram members who attacked the members,” he said. police station in Kibiya were killed. The inHe said after the SARS operatives surgents, who rode on three motorcycles, left, the policemen at the station were ambushed by villagers who were blindfolded him and the profesalerted by the sporadic gunshots. They sor’s driver before taking lynched one of the militants and arrested them to the Kano police two others. Our men killed one earlier durheadquarters in Bompai. ing the attack at the police station." Meanwhile, the ABU But, it later turned out that, one of the branch of Academic slain persons was Professor Falaki and the •Hajia Gadatu Falaki Staff Union of Universitwo persons arrested and tagged Boko ties (ASUU) has threatHaram members were his brother, Mallam ened legal action, friend. Abbas Mustapha, a should the Inspector According to retired school head General of Police reher, "We met master in Doguwa fuse to bring the culwhen he was LGA and the second prits to book. ASUU, very young was the professor’s in a press release and I was very official driver, Lawal jointly signed by its young too in Ahmad. Chairman and Secremy secondary The Professor's tary, Dr. M.K Aliyu school. And we body was released on and Dr. Almustapha got married Sunday around 3pm Liman respectively, when he was in and has since been said it received with 200 level here in buried in accordance shock, "the brutal the university. So, with Islamic rites. killing of one of its throughout his Meanwhile, when members, Professor achievements, I The Nation visited the Ahmed Mustapha Falaki was with him. I was the late Professor's in the hands of the Nigerby his side, this is our residence in a serene ian Police. Professor Falaki 40th year together. area of ABU, the •The late Prof Falaki was a dedicated Professor of "We have 10 children. house was very quiet, Agronomy and Director Institute In fact, my husband was a despite the influx of of Agricultural Research (IAR) of very good man, a God-fearing friends of the Falaki's ABU and also former Country Director and pious man. I was his first girlfamily who came on of the SASAKAWA Project in Nigeria." friend. He was never......, I don't want to a condolence visit. The statement added: "Professor Falaki use this word, but he was good. You know Hajia Gadatu, who was on an official assignment from ABU how the society is, but he never even got was apparently holdwhen his car was snatched by gunmen at interested in other women. Even his classing herself by her beFala village. He was at Fala for more than mates were saying it when we got married lief in the will of God two hours making calls to officers in ABU that, they must go and see that lucky told our corresponand his family on his predicament when woman who had gotten married to this dent that her hussuddenly some persons, who identified holy boy? That was what they called him. When I received the news that he band lived a worthy themselves as policemen, appeared on the He spent his life trying to improve on his life and died as a was attacked at another route entirely scene allegedly in pursuit of Boko Haram religion and other people's lives," Mrs. Gapious man. members who had earlier laid siege to the datu Falaki said. According to her, that I was not aware of, because we As at the time The Nation left Falaki's res- police station in Kibiya town. Professor "when I heard the didn't discuss it that he would be Falaki identified himself by presenting his idence, the Professor's widow was alone in news of my husABU identity card and drivers licence. His the house with one of her daughters, exband's death, I couldgoing to that route that very day. So, driver did the same. But for some inexplicept for their security guard who was seen n't believe it and I still when my son came and told me that, cable reasons, these policemen ignored the at the gate in a mourning mood as he was find it hard to believe identification, insisting that for all they performing his duty. that my husband is this is what happened to him, I didn't cared, the deceased and his entourage were Meanwhile, reports had quoted Profesgone forever. My believe it, but when the news spread, members of Boko Haram who had escaped sor Falaki’s younger brother, Abbas husband use to go to from Kibiya. Mustapha Falaki, as saying that they were Kano every Friday we were disturbed. All the children "They then began to strike them with returning from Yada-Gungume in Ningi and come back on machetes, clubs and gun butts. Professor LGA of Bauchi State when they had a flat were crying; they wanted to know Sunday; so that was Falaki was struck a fatal blow and died on tyre. how he left me on what happened to him the scene. His brother, Abbas, sustained According to him, “We had a flat tyre in Friday. deep cuts to his head and trunk. The driver Fala village of Tudun Wada LGA of Kano "When I received was unharmed at this point but was later State while returning from Bauchi State. It the news that he was led to his death; only Allah knows, and we beaten after he was apprehended by the was while we were there that Boko Haram attacked at another route entirely that I was leave everything in the hands of Allah. He police. The body of Professor Falaki was members riding on seven motorcycles not aware of, because we didn't discuss it is the best Judge." later transported to Murtala Muhammed came to us and demanded for the profesthat he would be going to that route that Mrs. Falaki continued: "Even his brother Hospital, Kano, by the police. The driver sor’s Toyota Hilux vehicle. The driver very day. So, when my son came and told that was with him, and his driver, I have looked at the professor’s eyes and he asked and Abbas were chained, blindfolded and me that, this is what happened to him, I not been able to extract any meaningful inconveyed to Bompai, Kano, by the same him to give it to them. They jumped into didn't believe it, but when the news formation from them. Each time they tried police assailants. the car and sped off. They did not harm us spread, we were disturbed. All the children to tell me something, they ended up cry"This is a clear case of deliberate murder as we didn’t argue with them,” he said. were crying; they wanted to know what ing. by the police of an innocent citizen carryHe said when the militants left, the prohappened to him. Because, as we were told "The last thing we discussed was about a ing out his lawful duties. ASUU-ABU is fessor asked them to trek to Fala village to he was attacked by Boko Haram. message I had for my last daughter, who is get another vehicle to Kano. While trekking therefore calling on the Inspector General "So, the question I was asking is, what also living in Kano. But, he (her husband) of Police to immediately arrest the culprits took him to that route to the extent of meet- told me he had a lot of work to do in the of- to the village, the professor made some in order to bring them to justice. Anything calls to Kano. ing with Boko Haram? Throughout that fice and that his driver would come and short of that will leave the union no other “When we got to the village, the people night, we couldn't sleep; we were trying to collect the message and the driver later avenue than to seek redress through other started suspecting us because some of know where he was and what happened to came to get the message. I never knew I legal means available to it, including industhem saw us while we were trying to him. But, we couldn't get across to him would not see my husband again," she trial action. It is unacceptable to our union change our flat tyre on the outskirts of the until the following day (Sunday) when my said. and by extension to any lawful Nigeria that village. But we told them that our car had sister told me that my husband is no more. Hajia Gadatu Falaki, who had been marthe police are killing innocent citizens in been snatched by some gunmen. The pro‘’I couldn't believe it, it was a very tragic ried to the late Professor for 40 years, exthe name of fighting insurgency," ASUU fessor told them to help us get another veand pathetic situation. Up till now, I don't tolled the virtues of her slain husband, know exactly what happened to him that saying that she was her husband's first girl- hicle because it was around 6.pm,” he said. said.

The day they killed my husband –Widow of slain ABU Prof Falaki

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

38 No doubt, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Babajide is a woman of many parts. She is the MD/CEO of Yefadot Nigeria Ltd, a real estate development company, the founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation known as Total Peace Foundation and the Lagos State Woman Leader for Buhari Support Organisation. At different times, she also plays the role of a teacher, marriage counselor, surveyor, business woman and politician. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, she recalls her early years, the struggle that moulded her into a woman of substance and strength; a girl child whose parents lived in a mud house but started driving at 14, at a time that only few cars plied the roads in Ile-Ife where she grew up.

‘Couples who their issues to parties are di their graves’ Tell us a highpoint in your early life that you can recall. am from Ile-Ife in Osun State, but my parents lived in Ikire. That is where we were raised but we are indigenously from Sooko in Ile-Ife, Osun State. I am from a family of 10, the fourth born of my father, the fourth born of my mother and the first daughter of the family. I have three senior brothers before and after me. I was trained as a teacher because I went to a Teacher’s Training College and equally went to a College of Education, before I came down to Lagos. I later enrolled for a degree in Business Administration. I can define myself as a woman of so many parts; I like to find myself in men’s shoes despite the fact that I am a woman. I have a lot of things that I am doing for a living, maybe that has to do with my origin. I am from the Source. A lot of people that know me can testify

•Mrs Babajide

to the fact that there is nothing in this world that I haven’t tried or that I don’t know how to do. If you say I am a cobbler, I will say yes, because I know how to show shoes. I am also a professional driver; I have been driving since 1976. And I was the first young lady, unmarried in my town that first drove a car. Then, I was a single girl and I was driving cars like anything. How old were you then? I was 14 when I started driving. Today, I am a professional driver because I learnt driving in Nigeria and I equally learnt driving in the United Kingdom. Which was your first car? A Volkswagen Beetle car, brand new; that was around 1982, I bought it then for N1,100. That was my first car. So, today, I am a professional driver. But I am also a surveyor by profession. Somehow, I developed interest in the profession, and I followed it up with professional studies. At the same time, I am a professional dry cleaner. I did dry cleaning business for 18 years and of course that was the major occupation that helped me to train my self and my only child. I have a son to the glory of God; that is what the good Lord gave me. What were those things that you can say shaped your early life? My growing up was not on a bed of roses, but it was quite an interesting one because I had the opportunity of growing up in the arms of disciplined parents. Both my father and mother were disciplinarians. I pray if there is another opportunity for re-incarnation, I will like to go through them all over again. My father is late, his name is Alhaji Ahmed Adekola, he was a very humble man; he was a father and a mother at the same time; and for reasons best known to the Creator of heaven and earth, my father was equally the only child of his own parents. You know I told you I have an only son. My father had only 10 of us and he taught us and guided us with the best of philosophies in life. He groomed us well, he did not discriminate between a male child and a female child, and he did not put a barrier between a male and a female child. He brought all up the same way; I learned dry-cleaning from my father. I later picked it up as a profession. What about your mother? My mother Alhaja Sarat Adekola is in the catering business. She is a homely woman who taught us everything. She used to tell us that if you have a big portion of meal, you must endeavour to eat small in case of the day you don’t have anything. I grew up in a mud house which my father inherited from his own father but to God be the glory, God used me to turn that mud house into a cement house. I was the one who demolished the old structure and built a new one on it and that is because of the training we had from our mother and our father. They taught us in our early days to see ourselves as nobody: To always remember the son of whom we are. And our parents despite their humble heritage, they believed we would grow up to be successful. My father used to tell us that, ‘three generations cannot be wretched’. That if he doesn’t have money and our mother is not rich, he believes that we are going to amount to something big in life and that is exactly what happened. So, we were brought up in that line and I happened to be the favorite of the family because of my position as the first female child. My parents always refer to me as somebody that is very intelligent. So, they kind of gave me a strong upbringing that prepared me for leadership. And discipline was the hallmark. When I got to Lagos, I picked up a catering business just like I had learnt from my mother. When you talk of cooking, there is no food I cannot cook, including Calabar

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

take third gging •Mrs Babajide

meals, Igbo meals; I used my own money to go to Calabar Kitchen, to learn how to cook. I can cook Afang soup, EdikaIkong, Atama Soup, all the soups. I can cook Hausa meals. I am very conversant with the ingredients. That is the way I was brought up. To cap it all, I got a Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management at Doff Institute because I am a voracious learner. In fact, it took me a very long time before I discovered that it is not necessary to know everything about this world because that was the way I was brought up. I enjoy learning and these days, I enjoy teaching and imparting the knowledge to younger generation. That is what eventually led me to setting up Total Peace Foundation, an NGO for poverty eradication and peaceful living. We teach vocational studies and self-empowerment. Can you tell us about this Total Peace Foundation? It is an NGO that caters for all living beings. Somehow, I have this talent from God to help people discover their talents. When I meet somebody, I can tell what you can be good at. From there, I can aid and direct your path to success. I have done this over time and it has worked for many people. So the NGO guides people into worthy careers. It is not every body that can succeed in a particular thing. God didn’t create us like that. He created us to do different things. So you have to know what he has created you to do. You see a lot of people crying up and down that there are no jobs. If you are being sacked from a particular establishment, probably God wants you to discover yourself and become a boss of your own. When I sit down with somebody in five minutes, I know whom you are, I can categorically tell you what you are fit to do in this life. Tell us about your political side of life, because you are also involved with the Buhari Support Organisation. Oh, I am an extrovert. I cannot sit down in a place for too long. If I am in a particular place, it is either I am reading, I am writing or I am preparing a project, or doing an intellectual work. If I can not do that, then you’ll find me either on a campaign ground or a site. And that is why the political aspect of my life is successful. I am a grass root mobiliser, I can put five towns, 10 towns together within a short time; and if you want to be a practising politician not the type that wants to ruin the world, that is the ones called ojelu, but if you want to be an Oselu, then there is a lot of things to do. You must know your party, and know the candidates inside out. As a mass mobiliser, one thing led to another to get me elevated as a South West Woman Leader for the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO). Why General Buhari and not President Jonathan? NTECEDENTS! That is all. I know General Buhari a long time ago. I used to read about him and I used to follow everything about him. Since the last time when he was Head of State, then I was young and was still living in Ile-Ife. But at that time I was already a teenager wise enough to know what is right. I was already driving a car and could decipher the hand brake from the turtle. I was in Ile-Ife, and at that time, the orientation about Buhari and Idiagbon was very strong among young people. There was a particular meat then, that they were calling Buhari Meat (Eran Buhari) and I even asked my mother to remind me of that meat. They would pack that meat which included fresh intestine of meat (Shaki and Edo) in a pack for sale at very cheap price. I think it started in the regime of Murtala. General Buhari and General Tunde Idiagbon only resuscitated the culture and it was so prominent in their own time. They were selling it at a very cheap price; a family pack was N2 and if you buy you don’t need to go to the market, you would cook a pot of soup and everything was filled up. Is that the only thing you can remember about the Buhari era? No, there are more because that was equally the time no-

Husbands and wives who like to discuss their matter with a third party are only digging their own graves. If husband and wife keep telling third parties about their financial problems and other private issues, they will end up badly. When you play your love inside the room, do you go out and tell people how you do it? Good, if you won’t do that to the public, every other thing between you is equally private

body dared to rush into a bus. Then we used to visit one of our uncles in Lagos for holiday. Then, we just came for one holiday and we discovered that people were not rushing for buses again. You have to queue up at the bus stop. There was discipline. I remember this incident vividly, there was one of our brothers that went to the bus stop to ease himself and he was urinating along the road and officials of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) picked him up. Our uncle that we used to visit, is now a Brigadier in the army; Brigadier Falabi, he was the one that went to rescue this brother of ours at the time and till date I have fond memories of these activities and by my nature I don’t forget things. These were the things that make me to fall in love with General Buhari because the entire country was peaceful and neat at the time, there were no dirts on the roads and everybody behaved well. These are the things that made me fall in love with General Muhammad Buhari. I am sorry to say, Nigeria and Africa as a continent needs an iron hand. Africans are the only set of people that can violate rules any time, any law, any day; they will make a law and they won’t honour the law. You go to the UK, if they make a law, everybody must abide by that law, including the Prime Minister. Nobody is bigger that the law. Everybody patronises the train irrespective of who you are. You might enter a train and even meet a lawmaker sitting with you and when you get to the train center, you must have your card. If you don’t have your card, you are not going to pass. That rule is already there and everybody abides by the rule. But in Africa, they will make a law and the elite will break it. So, we need an iron hand; somebody that can shut his heart on a particular law to make it work. Someone that can close his eyes against his family, his friends, everybody to make sure they implement the law. That is the kind of person we need in Nigeria. That is the General Buhari brand of leadership. I remember not quite long, they were asking the General what he wants to do about our electricity and he gave a very simple and direct answer; he said ‘nothing is wrong with our power generation because Shiroro Dam is still there; the current of water is not

dry. Kainji dam is there, we have the dam running; it is not dried off, why is it that we cannot generate power for ourselves? So, that is the kind of person that we need. You need to know your candidate, know your party, know your constitution, that is when you can excel and make a great nation. How much are you being paid as the leader of BSO in Lagos? I am not being paid. I am putting people together; I am making an image for my party and for my candidate. Let me shock you, we have more pastors, deacons, prophets and prophetess who are volunteers of BSO in every state. This is the first time this kind of thing is happening; to see a lot of Christian leaders coming out to support a Muslim candidate, just because of his integrity. It is marvelous. We are opening the eyes of a lot of Nigerians to let them see where we are coming from, where we are at the moment and where we can go from here, if we have General Buhari. And I am not a jobless person; this is my office. I am a professional quantity surveyor. I am into building; all what I am doing in life, I learnt them, I have certificate and I graduate from each profession I found myself in. What other thing does your NGO do? We are into mediation. I am a marriage counsellor, if you come to me, even if you are a couple and you have problem, I will study you and I will bring out the fact. It is a natural gift. It is my calling to tell people the truth. If you see two friends fighting, it only means something is lost from the relationship and what is that? It is truth and the fact. Truth and fact are not the same thing, there is difference between truth and fact. Truth is lost in Nigeria today and that is why a crop of never-do-wells are deceiving our amiable presidential candidate that he can do it. So, the same thing applies to marriage, when truth is lost the marriage can never stand the test of time What are these truths that get lost in marriage and lead to a collapse of confidence? One of the truths is this one, some women will get married to a man; they will think their husband is a robot. That their husband is supposed to do everything when they push him to do so; no, no, no, your husband is your partner. Sometime ago, I was with a female friend and she was complaining ‘Oh, my husband didn’t give me money’ and I said ‘When was the last time you gave your husband money? Or is your husband a dead man? No, he is not a dead man? He is a living person like you, he is working, and you are working. If your husband didn’t give you money, give your husband money so that you can support yourselves. There is no law that says husbands should do everything at home, no. Most women see men as burden bearers. As a marriage counsellor, do you agree to this? In 2011, God used me to settle and amend 11 marriages; I mean broken marriages. I am good at that, it is a gift. The problem is that majority of our people have got the concept of marriage wrong in Nigeria. First of all, if you are a woman and you are rich, there is nothing disturbing you from getting married to a man that is of an average level. You only need to support him and two of you will come to the same pace and you move on with your life. There is no law that says because I am rich I must look for a rich man, no. That is getting it wrong. We need to support ourselves. Secondly, there is no law that says a man is going into marriage to carry all the responsibilities, why? Do you want to kill him? A man and woman that want to spend their life together as husbands and wives should bring their matter to the table. Two of them should sit down and discuss it, who are you? What do you have? What can you do? Are you ready to support me? As husband is supporting the wife, the wife should be supporting the husband. Two of them should know themselves very well. What they are capable of doing together? If you are a generous man and you marry a stingy woman, you are going to have problem because, when the husband is trying to give out, the wife will be discouraging him. And if the wife is a generous person and you marry a man that is not generous, you are going to have problem. So, two of you should understand yourself very well and know what you can do together. You must be on the same page. The husband must be a giver and the wife should equally be a giver; that is when the equation will balance. What other things do you think can cement the love between a couple? husband should consider his wife as a living soul and the wife should equally consider her husband as a living soul, not a machine. You can borrow your husband money to do business and when the business succeeds, both of you will share the glory. Everybody will agree with me that a prayer done to God by a couple is quickly answered when two of them have the same mind and the same disposition to life. If they pray together with one heart, they will be blessed. So, there is no law that says the husband should be a burden bearer. You don’t expect your husband to be buying clothes for you all the time; buy for your husband too. Husbands and wives who like to discuss their matter with a third party are only digging their own grave. If husband and wife keep telling third parties about their financial problems and other private issues, they will end up badly. When you play your love inside the room, do you go out and tell people how you do it? Good, if you won’t do that to the public, every other thing between you is equally private. Also, husbands and wives should dialogue. If you cannot do it early in the week, then do it on Sunday after church, put what you have been doing from Monday to Friday on the table. ‘Darling, this is what happened.’ Then two of you will exchange ideas and at the end of the day, you will discover you both don’t have problem. A lot of things have gone wrong because of lack of understanding between husbands and wives and that has given large rooms for a lot of fraudsters to defraud them.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

ABUJA ELECTRICITY COMPANY

A scene of crisis in Oshodi, Lagos

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

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Family

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Wisdom: The winning key (4)

with Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Tel: 01-7341546-8 Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

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Methods of bodily relaxation

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

Male infertility

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

CRIME

OTHER STORIES Taraba Police woman police pours hot detain 15 for water on homicide, househelp robbery A

female police officer whose duty is to maintain peace and order in the society last week turned her duty upside down as she wrecked havoc on the househelp engaged to her 87-yearold mother in law. The police officer, Cpl. Ifeoma, was said to have boiled water in a pot and emptied the boiling water on the house help, 18-year-old Ukamaka Ogbuzuru. The police officer lived with her husband in Uwani, Enugu where her octogenarian mother also lives with her two house helps. The matter was not reported at any Enugu Police Station because Ifeoma had been boasting that she can do anything and go scot free because of her connections in the police. The husband’s family reasoned that since she works at the Police headquarters, it was likely Ifeoma would inluence and scuttle the case, hence they engaged the services of a lawyer. The lawyer, Adrian Jude Ekechi, who took up the case promptly petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, Umuahia appealing for justice. In the petition, the lawyer said he was writing on the instructions of the husband of the police officer, Ifeoma. The lawyer wrote in part: “It is our instructions that because of the advanced age of our client’s mother that our client engaged one Miss Ukamaka Ogbuzuru aged 18 years to stay with his mother in order to help with house chores and at the same time attend school. Infact, she is a JS 11 student of the Uwani Girls’ Sec-

n Chris OJI, Enugu n

ondary School Enugu. “Before now, our client informed us that his wife Ifeoma who is a police woman, stationed at the Enugu State Police Command headquarters has been a thorn in the flesh to his mum and all other occupants of their house in Uwani, Enugu. That if any person dares calming or talking to her, that she always threatens to use her connection with the state Police Headquarters, Enugu to •Ukamaka deal with the person. “It is our instructions that matters got out while Ifeoma took to her heels and has not hand on Saturday the 21st day of Februbeen seen anywhere around their house till ary, 2015 at about 10.00am while our now. Because of Ifeoma’s boasts before client and his mum were in Church at now, our client does not have the confiChrist Church Cathedral, Uwani, Enugu, dence to report this matter to the Enugu Ifeoma, without any cause or provocaPolice Command as she will use her contion but out of malice and with intent to nections to ensure that the complaint never maim or kill, poured hot water on Miss sees the light of the day.” Ukamaka Ogbuzuru. But the Enugu state police spokesman, “If not for the timely intervention of Ebere Amaraizu, dismissed the insinuation some street neighbours when Ukamaka that the police woman would scuttle the ran out out of the house in her pains, it is case if brought to the command. our client’s belief that his wife, Ifeoma, He said: “It is not true that she can use would have wrecked more havoc on her position as a police officer to derail jusUkamaka. tice. I will advise the family to make a for“Due to this timely intervention by mal complaint and bring it to my notice neighbours, Ukamaka was rushed to the and watch what the police will do if she is hospital where she is receiving treatment found culpable.”

n Fanen IHYONGO n

HE Taraba State Police Command is detaining 15 suspected criminals who were allegedly involved in armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearm, culpable homicide and other criminal offences. It is a huge success, for a police chief who is only few days in his duty post. Police Commissioner Nyats Jatau is among other commissioners who were recently deployed to various states. He was deployed to Taraba State where he took over from Ademola Omole. In his maiden press briefing in his office -at the State Command, Jalingo, Jatau promised to do his best to protect the lives and property of Taraba residents. "But I will rely on useful information from community leaders and cooperation from journalists to succeed," he said before parading the suspects. Criminal conspiracy and armed robbery Penultimate week, Mr. Otega Oniodi and three of his business associates were attacked and robbed at gun point in their village in Tunga Maji area of Gassol local government. The armed robbery suspects, numbering four, made away with their mobile phones, shoes, N66,000 and fish valued at N39,000. The victims reported the incident to a police station in Gassol. Detectives swooped into action, and with the help of a local vigilante group in the area, the culprits were apprehended. The police commissioner gave their names as: Faruku Bello (28 years), Happy Copray (20 years), Sirajo Mohammed (31 years) and Salisu Musa (25 years). Some of the stolen items including fish

Man stabs 16-yr-old hawker, steals N14,000, handset A •Francis

22-year-old man, Musibau Sulaimon, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a 16year-old hawker, Francis Chukwuemeka. Musibau was said to have attacked Francis and one Sunday Nwuda, while they were selling their wares near the Iddo-Idumota Bridge in Lagos Island. It was gathered that Musibau, who hails from Ogun State, and his partner simply identified as Ahmed (now at large), allegedly used a dagger to hack Francis and Sunday in a bid to rob them of their money and valuables. Musibau was said to have robbed Francis of the sum of N14, 000 and a Nokia handset. He was subsequently arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on threecount charge of conspiracy, stealing and felony. According to the police, Musibau was apprehended as he was leaving the scene while Ahmed is now at large. The charge sheet reads: “That you Musibau Sulaimon 'm' and one other now at large on February11, 2015 at about 0700 hrs along IddoIdumota Bridge in the Lagos Magisterial District conspired with one another to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

n Rukayat JIMOH n

“That, you Musibau Sulaimon 'm' and one other now at large on the same date and time in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal one Nokia handset valued N2, 000 and cash of N6,000 and N8,000 respectively, property of one Sunday Nwuda and Francis Chukwuemeka and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 278 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. “That you Musibau Sulaimon, on the same date and time at the above magisterial district did use a dagger to inflict injuries on one Francis Chukwuemeka, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. He pleaded not guilty to the three charges bordering on conspiracy, felony and stealing. The police prosecutor, Inspector Silas Emmanuel, told the court that the defendant has committed an act punishable under Sections 411, 278 and 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The presiding magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody for fact and sentencing. The case was adjourned till March 23.

•Musibau

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

olukunle87@yahoo.com

were recovered, but for the money, only N36,000 was found on them. They confessed committing the crime. Earlier this month, a fiveman armed robbery gang invaded the house of Murna Ilu in Garin Kobo at about 11 pm. Ilu was not in the house but his wife and children were robbed of many belongings. As if that was not enough, the robbers wrote Ilu to package the sum of N1 million for them to collect the following day. But luck ran out of them as police nabbed them when they returned the following day for the money. A locally made AK47, Single Barrel gun, a cartridge and knife were recovered. The suspects whose names were given as Aminu Bako, Ibrahim Bello, Isah Gebi, Ibrahim Mohammed and Ismaila Ibrahim, confessed the crime. Culpable homicide There are three cases of culpable homicide, according to the police who were also able to arrest the suspects. One Javoh Dubi, 30, had fought with three persons who brought cattle to graze on his farm. Dubi is a farmer in Lanko village of Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State while his invaders are herdsmen from MayoBelwa, Adamawa state. When the invading herdsmen appeared to be over-powering him, Dubi ran to his house and returned with a bow and arrow with which he shot Adamu

• The suspects Umaru -one of the herdsmen. The 20-year old Umaru died instantly and Dubi was arrested. For eating and drinking half a loaf of bread and tea, valued at N130, and refusing to pay the trader cost Danjuma Samaila his life. The deceased, after taking the loaf of bread and tea which was sold by Mustapha John at a joint, refused to settle the bill. Soon there was a fight between the trader and consumer. But John did not waste time in stabbing his client in the stomach. Samaila died in the hospital while the tea vendor was arrested. The incident took place in Gomu, Karimlamido Local Government Area of Taraba. Abubakar Yarima and Yahaya Musa met at

a drinking joint in Kungana, Bali local government area. Rather than drink peacefully, they engaged themselves in an argument which later turned into a fight. Yarima then unsheathed a knife and stabbed Musa in the neck and head. The injuries were fatal and Musa died few hours later. The suspect is being detained by the police. Rape An unnamed man is being detained for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in Technobat, Jalingo. The father of the victim, Amos Dauda, said he had sent two of his daughters to buy fuel and 'pure' water. The other one returned but the whereabouts of his other daughter was not known. After a search, the

•Activist demands justice

resulted in a fight. The money was for diesel for the generator in the shop. It happened that the Mr Stephen now they are talking of armed robsaid policeman Uche was also a boyfriend of the bery. girl. Uche went on to bring other police guys and “He was so honest and trustworthy that his they beat him up to the extent that he died. boss called him to come and live with him in his “Stanley was not a thief. He could not be behouse. Not even the boys quarters but the main cause he was the one who kept the keys of the house. I don’t know why some people just cut shop. If he was a thief, he would have started down somebody like that in his prime for no reastealing from the shop, but he did not. son. It pains me a lot and I am even able to talk be“We have demanded for his corpse to no avail. cause God is the one giving me We also seek that his name be strength. cleared and perpetuators of this “If justice is not done, they dastardly act brought to book.” will do it to another person. We Kingsley Okoma, Chief Execucannot be paying them with tive Officer, Civil Rights and Acour tax to kill us. They just countability Network Initiative wanted to show him that they (CRAANI), who got interested in were men of the police force the matter, said the right of life of and they own Nigeria and Mr Stanley has been denied him nothing can happen. as a law abiding citizen. “Everybody that loves jusOkoma said: “the police contice and truth and wants to trary to their primary assignment fight corruption to an end which is protecting lives and should join hands with me to property have become notorious fight this to its conclusion. Else for snuffing life from innocent citthis will not stop. The police izens which has become a recurwould even protect the life of a ring decimal in Cross River. foreigner more than they “Cases of innocent citizens •The late Stanley would protect the life of a being arrested and killed and fiNigerian. It is very sad. They nally labelled as robbers have bejust beat my brother to death for nothing.” come worrisome. Mr Stanley came to be another Also speaking, Mr Stephen Peters, President of victim in the event that reflects the negative attiSparks Shop said: “Since then some policemen tude of the police. have come here and taken statements from us. We ‘’CRAANI is involved with this matter to get are yet to see the body of the boy. We have not relevant government authorities to take relevant heard anything from the police but some people action of this matter. Our prayers therefore as a have told us that once the police kill someone for civil organisation is to impress it upon the police robbery they don’t normally release the body. The to ensure that they release the body of the boy to truth of the matter is that the boy they killed was their family. not an armed robber. I lost confidence in the police “It should be clearly established that the late when they told us that we cannot write our own Stanley was never and had never been an armed statements in this matter. That they will write for robber. us and then ask us to sign. “On behalf of law abiding citizens in Cross “As it is now we have gotten a lawyer to petiRiver State, we are saying that the lives of tion the Inspector General of Police on this matter. dwellers of the state are no longer safe in the “It is proper for us to know what happened at hands of the police since they don’t know who the this time because some of the friends of the boy next victim would be.” came to us and said he had gone to his girlfriend’s Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr place with N35, 000 and she had taken the money Hogan Bassey, had said the boy died in custody and when he insisted that she should return it, it due to ill-health.

n Nicholas KALU, Calabar n

( 08167164657 or 08023910970 )

father said, the victim was discovered in the suspect's room and investigation revealed that he had sexual intercourse with his daughter. The victim, Miss Sylvia Dauda, said the suspect lured her to follow him to his house to collect N3,000 for their mother. Unlawful possession of firearm Mohammed Ibrahim (20 years) and Ibrahim Audu (40 years) were arrested in Kashimbilla, Takum Local Government Area for being in possession of an SMG rifle, with its magazine loaded with 12 live ammunitions. A team of Army, led by Lt MC Abugu of the 93 Battalion, Ada Barracks in Takum arrested the culprits during a patrol. Ibrahim told police and journalists during interrogation that he bought the rifle in Port Harcourt and that Audu only employed him to rear his cattle. Warning/appeal The Taraba State Command has warned other criminal syndicates in the state to desist from criminal acts and repent. "Any person caught for criminal offence shall be decisively dealt with according to the law," the new police commissioner said. Jatau has appealed that the public should assist the police to serve them better. "Assist us with useful information and report any suspicious character and movement to the relevant authority for possible arrest," he said.

Family yet to get access to 21-yr-old who died in police custody F OR the family of late Mr Stanley Etim, a 21year-old boy who died in police custody in Calabar, Cross River State, it appears the agony is unending as they lament they have not even been allowed access to his corpse. Until his demise, he was working at a very popular supermarket in Calabar, Sparkz Shop. The family has accused the police in the state of allegedly brutalising him to death and refusing to let them even see his body up till the moment of writing this report. On Thursday, 5th of February 2015, two policemen from the D 5 unit of the Cross River State Police headquarters, Diamond Hill had reportedly entered the shop, located opposite the University of Calabar mini gate along Etta Agbo Road. The policemen simply identified by their first names, Uche and Peter, it was gathered, went to the shop to arrest Stanley, who the previous day had a misunderstanding with his girlfriend called Chidinma at the Flour Mills Junction in Calabar. Eyewitnesses said the policemen claimed they were arresting him for armed robbery. They also said the boy was thoroughly manhandled by the policemen too. The family of the late boy alleged that the misunderstanding with Chidinma led to a fight after which the girl allegedly got in touch with another of her friend, Uche, who was a policeman to deal with Stanley. Stanley eventually died in police custody the following day, it was learnt. The deceased’s family have also demanded that it be established that their son was never and had never been a robber, calling on those responsible for his death to be brought to book. The late Stephen, it was gathered, had lost both parents earlier in his life and is survived by a twin brother, Kingsley and a younger sister. Kingsley, a University of Calabar student, who could not hold back tears as he spoke with The Nation said: “They have killed my brother and would not even let us see his body. We need justice. They just cannot come and kill an innocent person and then accuse him of armed robbery. They tortured him to death. They took him from where he was working at Etagbo and beat him up seriously. They beat him up so much he started swelling. When I saw him that day he was swollen and bleeding. “They are talking of robbery, meanwhile they picked him up from where he was working. My brother has been living with Mr Stephens the owner of Sparkz Shop since 2012. The day the police came for him, the night before my brother shared a bed with the someone that works with

Tension in Iseyin over farmer's murder by herdsmen n Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan n

ension is brewing in Iseyin, a town in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State following alleged attacks on farmers and haters by Fulani herdsmen in the town. It was learnt that a farmer, Mr Adisa Ojedokun, was allegedly attacked and killed on his farm by cattle rearers on February 7 during an encounter between the duo. A source informed The Nation that the man was working on his farm located on Odo Ogba, Saki Road in the town, when the herdsmen led their cattle to the farmland and made the cattle to graze on his plants. When he challenged the herdsmen, the encounter went violent, leading to the gruesome killing of the farmer. The source disclosed that attack on Ojedokun was the last straw that broke the camel's back as hunters and farmers had been allegedly attacked by herdsmen in the town. Consequently, the farmers and hunters were said to have come together to defend themselves. Besides, the two groups have started preparing for a peaceful protest on the violent attacks on their members. The aim of the protest, according to the source, is to draw the attention of the government and security agencies to the development. It was also alleged that the herdsmen were behind the increasing robbery attacks on motorists on Ibadan-Iseyin Road n recent times. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Kayode Ajisebutu, confirmed the development. But he said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Iseyin had held a peace meeting with the angry farmers and hunters, stressing that there should be no cause for tension.

THE NATION,

News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom is claiming the sum of N3 billion from Radio Benue, Ashiwaves FM, publishers of National Mirror newspapers, Global Media Mirror Limited and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), for defamation and libel. When the case came up at the Federal High Court, Makurdi, yesterday, the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, granted the motion brought by Chief Dr Ortom’s

Benue APC guber candidate seeks N3bn damages against Benue radio, others lawyers for service out of jurisdiction on Global Media Mirror Limited and the National Broadcasting Commission, while the suit was adjourned till Marchb 31, 2015. In his statement of claim filed by his counsel, Mr Samuel Irabor of Synergy Chambers, Makurdi, Chief

Ortom averred that on Thursday, 25th December, 2014 the first, second and third defendants caused the publication and broadcast of his purported disqualification as APC governorship candidate in Benue State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. According to the statement,

Goodluck Jonathan. Abdulgafar “We supported the present ALABELEWE, Kaduna government in 2011, however Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, chairman of the group, Pastor Aminchi Habu, said the group decided to support Buhari because of Jonathan’s failure as president. Habu stressed that, “Our decision to endorse Buhari was informed by our patriotic commitment to build a free, fair and a secular society where the inheritance should be justice to all. “After the endorsement, our members have continued to receive threatening phone calls and text messages, labelling them a sellout group who has abandoned a Christian candidate in the person of President

after critical analysis, the forum decided to endorse General Muhammadu Buhari because of Jonathan’s abysmal performance, the security challenges, outrageous corruption in public places, coupled with economic downturn. “Our enemies accused us of collecting N500,000,000.00 from General Buhari, this accusation is not only wrong, but a blatant lie from the pit of hell. We charged anybody with concrete evidence of any money collected by anybody on behalf of the forum to come forward with such evidence. “The endorsement of Buhari was done publicly, and not secretly like our accusers will

Two in court for hacking Kwankwaso’s GSM phone

WO persons have been arraigned before a Kano high court , presided over by Justice Hadiza Sulieman, over alleged attempt to dupe the state Accountant- General, Alhaji Danjuma Mahamud in the name of Governor Rabiu Musa kwankwaso. The suspects, Kabiru Ali and Idris Umar were alleged to have made an illegal act by pretending to be the governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, by cloning his

Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano

phone number. The two were alleged to have dishonestly sent a text message to the state Accountant General and instructed him to release the sum of three million naira into a bogus account, which he obliged. According to the prosecution counsel, Barrister GM Bichi, the four-count charge slammed on the accused contravenes section 98 sub 2 , 324 and 325 of the penal

code law. At the time the charges were read out to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty, making the prosecution to adjourn the court’s sitting to 27th, April,2015, for hearing. The presiding judge later ordered the two to be remanded in prison custody. The presiding judge overruled the oral application filed by the defence counsel seeking for bail , and instructed him to file a formal application for bail.

2015 polls: Use of card readers will disenfranchise Nigerians -Sen Nenadi it is going to accredit one per-

ENATOR Esther Nenadi Usman yesterday expressed fear that the use of card readers during the forthcoming general elections will disenfranchise many Nigerians. Speaking shortly after a presidential outreach programme for 300 support groups in Kaduna yesterday, Senator Usman, who represents the Southern Kaduna senatorial district in the National Assembly in Abuja, said the card reader doesn’t work fast enough to be able to accredit many people, hence, it

the aggregate of the publication and broadcasts was that he was ineligible to contest the Benue State gubernatorial election by reason of the alleged disqualification. He stated that “the publication and broadcasts were false, unsubstantiated, unethical, malicious, mischie-

We’re under threat for endorsing Buhari —Northern church leaders

GROUP, Northern Christian Leaders Eagle Eyes Forum (NCLEEF) has raised the alarm that the lives of its officials are under serious threat following their endorsement of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari. The group said its members cannot be intimidated into supporting President Jonathan on mere basis of religious sentiment adding that, if it was about religion, Christians had ruled Nigeria for longer period than Muslims. The Christian leaders said they supported President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, but his tenure in the past six years has been a disappointment to Nigerians; particularly Christian communityý.

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna

might lead to the disenfranchisement of a lot of Nigerians. In her words: “I think the card reader is a good thing, but the only disadvantage is that many people are going to be disenfranchised on the day of elections. From what I saw during its demonstration in the senate, the card reader cannot possibly accredit more than one person per minute. And if

son per minute it means in an hour it will accredit 60 people. This means that in five hours it will do accreditation for 300 people. “So if a polling unit has more than 300 people I don’t see more than 300 people getting accreditation and this is just where the problem lies. The card reader is a good thing; it is just that it doesn’t work fast enough to be able to accredit many people as it is supposed to do. So my fear is that many people will be disenfranchised on that day, she added.

Jonathan mourns late centauthor Victims.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the passing away a distinguished writer and former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA) Alhaji Abubakar Gimba. President Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, ex-

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja

tended his heartfelt condolences to Alhaji Gimba’s family, friends and associates as they mourn the literary icon who left behind a legacy of notable works such as Witness to Tears, Sunset for a Mandarin, Trails of Sacrifice and Inno-

The statement read in part: “President Jonathan urges members of Alhaji Gimba’s family, his fellow authors and all who mourn him to take solace in the knowledge that the much admired writer’s beliefs, views and insights will live forever through the body of works he has left behind for present and future generations.”

do, yet a segment of corrupt minds are employed to water down the good intention of the forum which is to build bridges and promote peaceful co-existence. We shall not betray our trust as religious leaders for any monetary consideration. We shall do everything humanly possible within our calling to protect the interest of our image. We are therefore calling on the Christians not to be deceived by these religious bigots and shun sentiment by voting the right candidate in the forthcoming general election.” “Christians have ruled Nigeria for 29years and three months, as against the Muslims leadership of 23 years and one month.The problem of leadership in Nigeria is not in religion but lack of vision and focus on the part of the leaders. When President Jonathan assumed the leadership of this country, the economy was in sound footing, there was also security but look at what is happening today; the economy is nothing to write home about, so also the security situation,” he added.

APC governorship candidate cancels interactive session John AUSTIN Unachukwu

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Plateau State, Hon. Simon Lalong has cancelled his scheduled interactive session with stakeholders in the justice sector. A statement from his campaign directorate said the cancellation was in honour of victims of the twin bomb blasts which occurred in the state and claimed several lives. The statement added that session slated for yesterday and today’s campaign rally have also been suspended till further notice. Lalong had earlier met with the Jos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where he informed them of his intention to contest the governorship election. He had invited stakeholders to the interactive session before the news of the blast. “My heart goes out to the victims of the blast and their families,” Lalong added

vous and unfounded, in bad taste and faith as well as a figment of the imagination of the defendants.” The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, stated that the publication and broadcasts have seriously reduced his standing in the eyes of the misinformed members of the public and caused him great psychological and physical distress and trauma owing to the measures he took to counter them throughout the

festive period. He is therefore seeking a declaration that the publication and broadcasts are false, mischievous, unsubstantiated, defamatory and libelous, an order for the first, second and third defendants to publish a retraction and apology in two national dailies, as well as orders directing NBC to withdraw the licences of Radio Benue and Ashiwaves as well as for payment of N3 billion as damages.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

South-East Muslims warn politicians against making inflammatory statements n Ugochukwu UGOJI-EKE, Umuahia n head of next month’s general elections, the Muslim community in the South East zone has cautioned politicians against making statements that are capable of creating tension in the country. The Muslim body, under the aegis of South-East Muslims Organization (SEMO), in a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, said the group the warning after a meeting of its national executives. The group said: “Having X-rayed the state of the nation and its concurrent political, economic social and security situations, we find it necessary to caution politicians to avoid problems in the country. “All utterances targeted against the corporate unity and existence of Nigeria in the quest to intimidate and scare Nigerians should be stopped.” The group said that Nigeria remains a multifaceted entity comprising people of different ethnic, political and cultural background, adding that politicians should “in fact begin to see Nigeria first as an endeavour”. “The heating up of Nigeria’s polity in the pretext of seeking for political power is immaterial and self-serving, as only one candidate will emerge as in every supposed contest,” the statement added. SEMO advised politicians to conduct their political and electioneering within the ambit of the law and democratic principles in order no to endanger the lives and properties of vulnerable Nigerians.

•The All Progressives Party (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside (standing), responding to questions and contributions from the youths during a town hall meeting with youths at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State...yesterday

Edo PDP chieftain defects to APC n Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA, Benin n HE former Chairman of enjoy the dividends of Etsako Central Local democracy, which she said Government Area, Barr have been elusive. (Mrs) Felicia O.Idode, has She said she had to take the defected to the All Progres- decision after due consultasives Congress (APC). tion and also in order to align Barr Idode, who was a with the dreams and aspiramember of the People’s Dem- tions of Governor Adams Osocratic Party (PDP) until her hiomhole. defection, was received along The former chairman also with her supporters at the gave Kudos to Chief Evelyn Government House, in Benin. Igbafe, who she described as She pledged to continually a social mobiliser and crumobilize the people, particu- sader in democratic re-alignlarly the women in order to ment.

T Ebonyi Assembly moves

to impeach Elechi HE Ebonyi State of Assembly yesterday resolved to serve Governor Martin Elechi an impeachment notice as the feud between the lawmakers and the governor boiled over. The legislators accused the governor of gross misconduct in his handling of the affairs of the state. The acting leader of the Assembly, Mr.Francis Nwifuru listed Elechi’s alleged offences as financial misappropriation, lack of due process in the appointment of government officials, establishment of state-owned companies without recourse to the state House of Assembly, acquisition of loans from banks without due process among others. These, he said, “ are in clear violation of the constitution.” The details are that:" contrary to and in violation of the express provisions of the constitution, Governor Martin

n Ogochukwu ANIOKE, Abakaliki n Elechi took a loan of six billion naira (N6bn) in 2013 from United Bank for Africa Plc on behalf of the Ebonyi State government without obtaining the necessary consent of the Ebonyi state House of Assembly. " Ebonyi State government spent six million, six hundred and seventeen thousand naira incorporating the Ebonyi Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd with two hundred million ordinary shares in the year 2013 surprisingly giving 100,000,000 controlling shares to Edon (Nig) Ltd, represented by Edward Nkwegu, 25,000,000 shares to the Governor's son, Elechi Elechi, 25,000,000 shares to Best Southern Global, surprisingly giving the financier, the Ebonyi state government a minority share holding of 50,000,000". The motion for the Governor to be

served an impeachment notice was moved by Hon. Obasi Odefa Obasi representing Onicha East constituency and seconded by Hon. Valentine Okike. The Assembly had, last Wednesday set up a panel to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation against the governor and some of his aides. The decision stemmed from petitions sent to the House by different groups in the state, including Ebonyi Integrity Group. The governor, who seems to have resigned to fate had told a delegation of Ezza Ezzekuna Youth Congress who visited him recently, that top politicians from the state were had been discussing how to remove him from office. “They said I’m a bad person and that if I continue to remain in power they will not have their way of ruling the state. All I can say is that if they sack me, I will relocate to my home.”

Ex-militant leaders back down on war threats, beg Nigerians to vote Jonathan X-MILITANT leaders from the South-South region have backed down on their initial threats to go to war if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the forthcoming Presidential election. Instead, the former warlords are now begging Nigerians to vote their kinsman for a second term in office. Speaking on Friday, the former militants claimed that President Jonathan deserved reelection because he had performed, and begged Nigerians to ignore hate

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n campaigns against the president. The ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI), said President Jonathan had done well in the areas of education, power, infrastructural development and security. The group's National Coordinator, Pastor Reuben Wilson, decried, what it termed as campaigns of calumny and violent utter-

ances, being hurled at the president by politicians. > He said: "We resolved to call on Nigerians, particularly eligible voters to rate the candidates for the Presidential election based on performance and eligibility. "President Goodluck Jonathan has done well and he should be voted in by Nigerians for second term.They should assess him based on performance and not the region he comes from. "Jonathan has done well. Why are people opposing

him? Is it because he comes from the Niger Delta? Would they have shown so much hatred and insincerity if he had come from the Nothern part of the country? "The people of the SouthSouth and the Niger Delta are feeling bad over the rising insults and poor rating in spite of the huge achievement of the present administration. We advise the opposition party and General Buhari to come out open and declare that President Goodluck Jonathan has done well."

Police declare war on criminals in Cross River S part of the strategies aimed at flushing out criminals from Cross River State, the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), in-charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Tunde Johnson Oginsaki, has disclosed that the zone is introducing a stop and search to mop up illegal arms. Mr. Ogunsaki revealed that the stop and search is also intended to flush out criminals from the state due to the sudden increase in crime. The AIG disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit on the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke. According to Ogunsaki, “I have directed the commissioner of police to start a stop and search in the black spots in

Calabar and ensure that all illegal arms are mopped up." The AIG explained that the action became necessary following the sudden rise in crime rate in the state, which hitherto had been peaceful in terms of political violence and criminal activities amongst the states under his command. The AIG, who attributed the development to miscreants from the neighboring states, said: "We have noticed that for a couple of weeks now, people from outside the state have caused havoc and even gone to the stage of snatching guns from policemen. Towards this end, I have called for a joint security meeting to flush out the miscreants from the state.”

On the forthcoming elections, he disclosed that he had held a peace meeting with all the candidates of the political parties in the state and had also directed all the commissioners of police in the zone to transfer all electoral related offences to his office for proper investigation, adding that he intends to organise a workshop on a free and fair election in Port Harcourt, which will be attended by governors and top polices from the zone. He disclosed that Resident Electoral Commissioners from Cross River and Ebonyi States are expected to deliver talks on PVCs to educate stakeholders and political parties in order to ensure that elections are violent free and credible in the eyes of the world.

NAFDAC arrests Indian for importing fake products HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested an Indian national for importing and distributing fake and unregistered regulated products into Nigeria. The arrest was made after a special raid and enforcement operation in some markets and locations in Port Harcourt Rivers State by the Investigation and Enforcement directorate of the Agency from Lagos. Addressing journalists after the exercise, the leader of the team, Mr. Folorunso Idowu, a Chief Regulatory Officer, said the Indian, Mr Prakarsh Mohinani, was arrested along with several cartons of unregistered confectionery worth millions of naira, following a tip-off in one of the hotels in Port Harcourt. Idowu stressed that the confectionery arrested along with the Indian included products, such as "Maliange" mushroom pieces and stems used as spices for delicacies such as fried and jollof rice among others. He revealed that the team also sealed two other shops that were selling fake and unregistered confectioneries which included the "Maliange" mushroom pieces and stems at the popular Fruits and Vegetables market along Kaduna street, D/Line in Port Harcourt.The Chief Regulatory Officer further disclosed that the Indian was arrested along with a Nigerian, Mr. Chibuike Onuoha,who he alleged distributes for the Indian to other customers in the state.

APGA governorship candidate takes campaign to Aba markets HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, continued his campaign tour of the state on Thursday, when he visited markets in Aba, the commercial hub of the state. Otti’s campaign train visited the Asanentu old spare parts market on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the old cemetery road market. At the Asanentu market, the crowd of supporters and admirers spilled to the roads within the vicinity, causing traffic gridlock, while scores of the supporters, mainly the youths, followed his long motorcade along the Port Harcourt Road. The motorcade had hectic time in the attempt to meander through the heavy traffic from the Flyover end of Port Harcourt road to the end of the old cemetery road.

Addressing the traders and artisans at the two venues, Otti said that he had come to wipe out their tears and restore the lost glory of the commercial city. Unveiling his blueprint for the overall development of the state, he assured the people that Aba would be accorded priority attention with the creation of a ministry to be in charge of Aba affairs. He told the people that he would not only fix the almost 135km roads in the city and its environs, but would build three flyovers to be located at Ngwa High School, Port Harcourt Road and Ogbor Hill to ease transportation. Otti also said that he would tackle the problem of flood in the city by building a functional drainage system that would empty into the waterside area of Ogbor Hill.

THE NATION

NEWS 59

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

As Jonthan , Buhari take campaign to Baga, London

•Continued from Page 3 have passed away. He accepted responsibility for the past and reiterated his readiness to fire a democratic challenge. Yet, he is progressively adamant on one thing. In the national interest, Buhari said that indiscipline will not be tolerated, if he assumes the reins. He sounded a note of warning, saying that there will be no room for theft and graft in high places. Buhari is endowed with an excellent gait. He appeared like a father figure on the podium. The audience believed every word he uttered because they were conversant with his antecedent as an officer and gentleman, a civil war hero, an army commander who objected to the annexation of national territory, a former governor, minister and Head of State. The lecture put a lie to insinuations that he went for medical tourism abroad. It is a defining moment for his beleaguered country. As a contender for federal power in a country of illusions, the General is also on the weighing scale. He believes that the election has serious import for the world. But, more importantly, his party believes that the exercise should take the fledgling federation into a new horizon of popular rule where citizens would savour unpolluted dividends of democracy. All eyes are on Nigeria. The envisaged titanic contest is gathering momentum. Thus, Buhari, in his speech titled: ‘Prospects for democratic consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s transition’, reflected on the ballot box challenge. He gave some conditions for a successful transition. The postponement of the presidential elections has provoked outrage. Those who postponed it may attempt to take Nigerians for a ride by shifting it again. Almost three weeks ago, Buhari had to appeal to his supporters for calm. His appeal doused the brewing tension. But, at the lecture, he insisted that the postponed elections should now hold on the rescheduled dates. Besides, he demanded on behalf of all lovers of democracy that the exercise should be free and fair so that their outcomes can be respected by all parties. This has implications. If the poll does not pass the tests of integrity and credibility, danger looms. To avert that, stakeholders must work cooperatively to deliver noncontroversial polls that will be adjudged credible by domestic and foreign observers. As Buhari warned that any form of extension, under whatever guise, is unconstitutional and will not be tolerated, those inside the hall and viewers across the globe nodded affirmatively. If Nigeria succeeds in organising a peaceful poll, or if power shifts to the opposition, according to popular expectations, the country will just be trailing behind smaller countriesGhana, Mali, Senegal, and Mauritius-that have accomplished the feat with minimal stress. The next step will, in Buhari’s view, be how to consolidate democracy. Democratisation, he admits, is a journey. The starting point may be the election, but of more importance is the quality of the elections and fruits of elections. If the quality of the election is not compromised,

•Jonathan the state will advance with less controversy to the next stage, which is the harvest of adeosundemocratic dividends. Instructively, Buhari pointed out that these dividends are still beyond the reach of Nigerians who groan under poverty, insecurity and inequality. In his view, democracy goes beyond allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It goes beyond the promise and assurance of choice and freedom. Democracy, he said, must foster security of life and property. It must allow room for transparency and accountability. It must permit the rule of law, good governance and shared prosperity. Buhari noted that Nigeria has enjoyed stability in the last 16 years. But, of what import is that stability under a system that cannot put food on the table of Nigerians? What is stability, if the patched system cannot provide jobs for youths? What is the import of a stable order that cannot guarantee stable power supply? Answers to these puzzles find expression in the search for the alternative route in a country where the government, according to observers, has failed. Buhari said the alternative to the PDP, which has presided over the lean and boring period, is the All Progressives Congress (APC). He conceded that the elections will hold in an atmosphere of competition. If the election does not fail, he also believes that the prospects of democratic consolidation will be further brightened in Africa. The contest is a huge democratic task. Buhari said the exercise will hold under the shadow of huge security and social and economic uncertainties. To him, it is worrisome that this is the first time that insecurity will drive Nigeria to an edge since the days of the civil war. He expressed sadness over the insurgency by the dreadful Boko Haram sect, which has killed more than 13,000 Nigerians and displaced millions internally and externally. He blamed the Federal Government for ineptitude and inaction. He said what has been consistently lacking is the required leadership. Buhari pointed out that,

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•Buhari when the challenge overwhelmed the military through no fault of the patriotic and nationalist institution, the Nigerian military that has won laurels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Darfur during peacekeeping missions failed at home. He said the government should take credit for the turn of events because it failed to provide the required incentives. Ironically, as the APC candidate put it, Nigeria has been dependent on its neighbours for survival. If elected, Buhari said that he will halt the trend. He said there will be no annexed territory and the world will not have worry about Nigeria. How will he do it? His answer: “We will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with. We will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism.” But, can toughness halt terrorism? Buhari said that his government will also pay adequate attention to the human side of the fight against terror. Through a comprehensive economic development plan, there will be the promotion of infrastructural development, job creation, and the development of agriculture and industry. If Buhari wins the poll, he will inherit a comatose economy. Indeed, Nigeria’s economy is on its knee. The fall in the price of oil has aggravated the perilous times. The former military leader said that, after rebasing the economy, it overtook SouthAfrica as the largest economy. In his view, this is economic growth on paper. He doubted if it can translate to human development or shared prosperity. The reasons are not farfetched. Buhari said mismanagement, profligacy and corruption are the economy’s albatross. Neither can the dual economies of get rich quick for the few and misery for the poor who are many stand. Thirty three percent of Nigerians still live below

poverty line. This is almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. This is unacceptable, said the General, who added that Nigerians must act with speed to halt the trend because delay could be dangerous. If this is treated with levity, he warned that the consequence of youth unemployment will widen the inequality. The explosion will be calamitous. Thus, in the face of dwindling resources, Buhari said the starting point is the stoppage of corruption and other associated ills, which he alleged, the Federal Government has succeeded in promoting. Many Nigerians accept that corruption has nearly killed the country. Buhari promised to lead by personal example by tackling the menace. The holes in the budgetary process will be plugged. Besides, he said the public will vet the books of the critical revenuegenerating entities-the Nigeria national Petroleum Corporation and the Customs, which, many believe, must be more accountable. He said that when he begins to fight the anti-graft war, his detractors should not misconstrue it as vendetta or an attempt to settle old scores. Monies are being recovered from few corrupt officials. How they are being used or what they are used for is unknown. But, Buhari said the recovered loot will be used to fund the APC’s social investment programmes in education, health , other social infrastructure, youth employment and pensions for the elderly. Besides, he said the economy must be repositioned to create equity and justice. Thus, wealth redistribution is his priority. Buhari promised to run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth, not an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alive. Many Nigerians have praised Buhari for his candour. They said he made a patriotic presentation. On poll day, he is likely to harvest a great deal of emotional investment in his capacity to reposition the polity. But, PDP believes otherwise. The Jonathan Campaign Organisation repudiated the platform, unmindful of the fact that Buhari’s appearance at

Before an audience of enlightened citizens of the world in London, Buhari had time to tackle these issues. Exuding charisma and carriage, his sense of humour was also applauded. He refrained from attacking personality. Buhari focused on issues and ideas

Chatham House trailed that of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, who was sent there by the Federal Government to push for election postponement. While Buhari’s popularity soared in London, with paid protesters against him confessing that they were misled and that they did not know why they were protesting , observers believe that President Jonathan’s sudden visit to Baga has not achieved the intended motive. Stakeholders were cautious to cheer the visit because of many unanswered questions . Buhari had alluded to the part of the Nigeria’s territory that has been ‘annexed’ by insurgents, saying that it has a size of Belgium. Why should the President wait for so long to take a decisive action? Can those who have lost their lives be brought back to life? How are those internally displaced people faring? Where are the over 200 girls kidnapped at their secondary schools in Chibok, Borno state ? Borno elders early this week urged the government to take them and journalists to visit the liberated areas to see things for themselves and report back to Nigerians, the appeal has been has fallen on deaf ears. To many Nigerians, that approach is more credible and believable. What with the claim by some that the soldiers the President met in both Mubi and Baga were moved there from other military formations . The President , in an interview with a national paper last Sunday, said that he underrated the Boko Haram sect. Thus, he was lethargic. This admission is instructive, it borders on criminal negligence. Through negligence, thousands of lives were lost and thousands maimed. At what stage did he perceive the sect as a threat to security? Irked by the selfdenial, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka said last year that docility is not a prime art of governance. He urged the President to stop living in denial and seek the assistance of the international community. It is on record too that Buhari called for a coalition of international forces in the war against the insurgents. The media mileage being sought by the President and Commander-In-Chief became a tall order when reporters probed the motivation for the emergency visit. The feat achieved by soldiers is a collective effort of the coalition of forces from neigbouring countries. CNN in a special documentary, reported that Gamboru Ngala in Borno state was freed by Chadian soldiers protecting their country against the marauders. Nigeria’s military high command now seeks to claim credit for successes being recorded while the President wants to be applauded . Nigerians are wiser and not,carried away. If they had acted promptly, if they had listened to wise counsel, the Northeast would not be the killing field that it is today. Besides insecurity, the President also need to address other issues . Can he fix the power sector in four weeks? Can he now provide jobs for youths roaming the streets? Can he revive the economy before the presidential contest? Can the President curb corruption between now and March 28? Can he regain public confidence?

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Bayelsa APC senatorial candidate seeks abrogation of Inland Waterways Act Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Bayelsa central senatorial district, Mr. Preye Aganaba, has called for the abrogation of the National Inland Waterways Act (NIWA). He explained that repealing and amending the law would enable littoral states in the country, especially Bayelsa, to enjoy full potential of the opportunities in the maritime sector. Aganaba said Bayelsa State had been denied a lot of revenue accruing from the maritime environment because of NIWA. He spoke on Friday during his campaign visit to King Joshua Igbugburu, Ibenanaowei of Bomo Kingdom in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa. Aganaba said if elected a senator in the April poll, repealing NIWA would be one of his signature laws. He said: “Everybody is thinking of oil alone. Oil will soon finish. The resources we have is water. That is the major thing that will never dry up. So, at that point, looking at the direction of maximising our water resources will go a long way in boosting the state’s internally generated revenues.

Akwa Ibom varsity gets new VC Uyoatta ESHIET, Uyo A new Vice Chancellor has been appointed for Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, by the state government. He is Professor Eno Ibanga. Speaking during a governorship campaign at Mkpat Enin, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, said in response to the yearnings of Mkpat Enin people the host community, Governor Godswill Akpabio has approved the appointment. The PDP governorship flag -bearer said the move was to cement the wonderful relationship and support the people have given to the PDP administration in the state. He also assured that the Faculty of Engineering in the university, which he started working on when he was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), will be actualized in collaboration with Exxon Mobil and other relevant agencies. Udom said the Technical Collage at Ikot Akata will be revisited and upgraded to a standard skill and entrepreneurial acquisition centre for manpower development and its legacy sustained. On health, the governorship hopeful pledged to develop the cottage hospitals in the area and to reequip them for better service.

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015

60 News

Card reader and the Electoral Act – Any Conflict? T

HE need to instill sanity in electoral activities and outcome in Nigeria has made it necessary for us to move from the antediluvian method of voting where crude force and metal violence reign supreme. The unprecedented clamour for change is not devoid of historical necessity as the volume of condemnation that trailed the 2007 general elections only showed that Nigeria as a nation could not be counted among civilized nations democratically. It was based on the above that Independent National Electoral Commission is required to do everything humanly possible to ensure that we attain electoral transparency that can instill discipline and statesmanship in politicians as for genuine losers to accept defeat and the authentic winners to maintain sobriety in victory. I believe, it is in the light of the above that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced the use of Card Reader to determine the genuineness of the identity of voters during accreditation in order to eliminate voting by proxy and associated malpractices. Unfortunately, while agents of change have been embracing technological advancements recognized and permitted by law to make electoral justice and sanity prevail, we have been inundated by cacophonous calls from various quarters of those who want to maintain the status quo in which electoral violence and brazen rigging are permitted. They have argued that the use of card reader is not allowed by virtue of Section 52 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). Section 52 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended provides thus: “(1) Voting at an election under this Act shall be by open secret ballot. (2) The use of electronic voting machine for the time being is prohibited. (3) A voter on receiving a ballot paper shall mark it in the manner prescribed by the Commission. (4) All ballots at an election under this Act at any polling station shall be deposited in the ballot box in the open view of the public.” The implication of the above in line with subsection 2 is that electronic voting is forbidden in Nigeria. The next questions therefore are: what is electronic voting or electronic voting machine? What is a card reader and is electronic voting machine the same thing as a card reader? A card reader has been defined as “a data input device that reads data from a card-shaped storage medium…. Modern card readers are electronic devices that can read plastic cards with either a barcode, magnetic strip, computer chip or another storage medium.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_reader On the other hand, “electronic voting or e-voting refers to both the electronic means of casting a vote and the electronic means of tabulating votes…. This can include punch card systems, optical scan voting systems, direct-recording electronic (DRE) and Internet voting.” See http:// www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Electronic_voting. Electronic voting machine can then be described as a device or machine by which electronic vote can be cast without the use of ballot papers. Examples of such machines are punch card systems, optical scan voting systems, directrecording electronic (DRE) and Internet voting.

•Jega

canon of interpretation ‘ Theorbasic construction of statutory provisions remains that what is not expressly prohibited by a statute is impliedly permitted. Thus, since the use of card reader for the purpose of accreditation of voters is not prohibited by the Electoral Act, same is definitely permitted

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Muiz BANIRE From the foregoing, it is apparent that the electronic voting machine and the card reader are two different devices that are not necessarily deployed together for all purposes. The further import of which is that electronic voting or the use of electronic voting machine for voting is not the same thing as using the card reader to determine the identity of voters in the process of accreditation of voters. What Section 52(2) prohibits as indicated earlier is the use of electronic voting machine but not the use of Card Reader for accreditation of

voters and that is where it stops. Thus, for all intent and purposes, a card reader simply verifies and authenticates the identity of the voter. To further buttress the distinction highlighted above, a Card Reader is not an electronic voting machine but is a machine to be used for accreditation of voters only before the actual voting. A distinguishing factor is that in electronic voting, ballot papers are not used and cannot be used, but the forthcoming 2015 general elections are ballot paper-based. The use of card reader for the purpose of accreditation hastens the process as accreditation of a voter does not take more than a few seconds. The use of the Card Reader is based on the use of the Permanent Voters Card of which fake and purloined PVCs can be easily detected, and this will assist in preventing certain electoral malpractices and assist in ensuring free, fair, credible and peaceful elections across the country. It should be noted that none of the above-mentioned methods or technologies by which e-voting can be done is being deployed by INEC for the purpose of voting during the 2015 general elections. The implication therefore is that INEC is not engaging in electronic voting which is what Section 52(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 actually prohibits. The law is that what is not prohibited is permitted. According to the Court of Appeal in Ojo Bolarinwa Theophilous v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2012) LPELR-9846 (CA), “The basic canon of interpretation or construction of statutory provisions remains that what is not expressly prohibited by a statute is impliedly permitted. Thus, since the use of card reader for the purpose of accreditation of voters is not prohibited by the Electoral Act, same is definitely permitted. Furthermore, Accreditation of voters is not the same thing as casting of vote as a person may be accredited without presenting himself to vote. The difference between accreditation and voting is underscored by Section 49(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as follows: 49 (1) A person intending to vote with his voter’s card, shall present himself to a Presiding Officer at the polling unit in the constituency in which his name is registered with his voter’s card. (2) The Presiding Officer shall, on being satisfied that the name of the person is on the register of voters, issue him a ballot paper and indicate on the Register that the person has voted. The meaning of the above is that the process of presenting oneself to a presiding officer with one’s voter’s card and the process of checking of a voter’s name on the voter’s register including the ticking of the name constitute what is referred to as accreditation. In order to separate accreditation from actual voting, the INEC Guidelines and Manual for Election Officials provides that accreditation shall hold between 8.00 am and 1pm or such time as the last person on the queue finishes while , voting commences at 1.30pm or so soon thereafter when accreditation must have been completed till the last person concludes. It is hoped that the elements stuck to the past would liberate themselves from the twigs of yesteryears and allow this commendable step aimed at fixing our electoral troubles. •Banire is the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser

APC fears arrest of leaders ahead of polls

OP members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are being targeted by the Presidency and the PDP in a planned security clampdown ahead of the forthcoming elections,it was gathered yesterday. Slated to effect the clampdown is the Department of State Security (DSS),party sources said. The aim is to scuttle or rig the elections in favour of the ruling party. Under the alleged plan, the DSS is said to have “directed its state commands to compile and submit a list of stake holders and key communicators of the opposition party in all

the local government areas across the country. “The state commands were also directed to identify polling units and wards that are dominated by the opposition party’s supporters,especially in the units they scored above 60 per cent during the 2011 general elections. “Three thousand and eight officers and men of the DSS have been shortlisted to undergo intensive training in shooting and weapon handling in preparation for the operation.” The source also said warrants of arrest may have been procured in respect of those

to be taken into custody ,and detention facilities prepared for them. It was gathered that security agencies have been directed to start digging deep into the past records and activities of those for arrest with a view to “uncovering their negative antecedents that could be used against them.” In the event that the planned arrests trigger mass protests in places like Lagos,Ibadan,Port Harcourt,Kano and Kaduna,these could be used as an excuse to postpone elections in the affected places,the source said.

Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

APC chairman, John OdigieOyegun

NDLEA arrests students with guns

HE Bayelsa State com mand of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassomma and an auto mechanic for allegedly being in possession of four guns. They were said to have been arrested recently along the East-West road. The suspects were, however, said to have confessed to be cult members, saying they were not armed robbers. The NDLEA, in a statement on Friday, said the suspects

Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa were arrested during a stopand-search operation along the East-West road. It said the three suspects were in a commercial vehicle en-route Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, from Ughelli in Delta State. “At the time of their arrest, they were found to be in possession of three locally-made single barreled pistols and one locally-made double barreled pistol, along with two

rounds of live cartridges.” The agency also said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution. The command advised parents, guardians and other caregivers to always pay attention to the activities of their children and wards. It said the command would continue to combat illicit drug trade, consumption and all other related offences with the ultimate aim of making the state drug and crime-

Bakassi indigenes insist on Dayspring, Qua Islands

free. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed that the suspects were handed over to the police. He said they were handed over to the anti-cultism and anti - kidnapping unit of the police in the state. Butswat said: “The suspects are with us. We are working with them to bust their syndicate and arrest more members. Investigation is ongoing.”

NDIGENES of Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross River State have insisted that they want to be resettled in Dayspring 1 and 2 and Qua Islands, maintaining that their people must vote there in the March 28 and April 11 elections, According to them, these locations are the ones the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognizes and also where they registered for their temporary voters cards. It will be recalled that following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon, the State House of Assembly had carved out three wards out of the existing Akpabuyo Local Government Area to create a new Bakassi local government for those displaced. But this had caused controversies, leading the people to demand a virgin location to be resettled. They settled for Dayspring and Qua Islands, which they said was a riverine area and would be ideal for them as they were fishermen, unlike Ikang which is landlocked. The Nation has observed that in the past couple of days, the jetties in Calabar have been quite busy, as the indigenes have been crossing the river to Dayspring and Qua Islands to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, there had been a campaign by government officials that the people remain in Ikang to participate in the elections. But the indigenes have expressed their desire to be in Dayspring. Secretary General of Bakassi People General Assembly, Elder (Ndabu) Eyo Nakanda said, “In the first instance, it is INEC law that you vote where you registered, and we all registered in Dayspring and that is where we have to vote. So whatever anybody does, it would be against the law. So we have to go to Dayspring to vote. “The PVCs is very necessary for us, otherwise we would not be able to vote, and without voting, we cannot get the leaders we want. It is very necessary for us. We plead that we should get it.” A woman leader in Bakassi Local Government Area, Lady Ame Bassey also said, “It is the law that everyone should vote where they registered. So we need to go to Dayspring to vote in the forthcoming elections. We cannot vote in Ikang, which is overpopulated. We need our own land for our generations yet unborn.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

COMMENTARY 61

Who wants Buhari dead? T

he All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in the re-scheduled March 28 election, General Muhammadu Buhari, must have grown tired of reading news about his failing health and imminent death mostly hyped by political interests that would stop at nothing to frustrate his ambition to rule Nigeria again. Indeed, it is a miracle that Buhari is not only alive but also remains a candidate in an election that has shredded all bounds of common sense and morality. Never in the history of this country has a general election been this divisive, bitter and brimming with biting hate. If Buhari had not tried his luck thrice in the past to mount the saddle of leadership through the ballot box, you would have thought that he is one character from Mars that has come to upset the apple cart. It is, to say the least, benumbing that some people have elevated political buffoonery to a craft in governance. Pity! As I write this, there are over ten cases filed at various courts in the land against the Buhari candidacy. Some of these cases are being handled by renowned legal luminaries who continue to feed off a warped political arrangement in which alleged corrupt politicians conveniently retire to the National Assembly to doze on the couch of slush funds; others are under the care of the popular 'charge and-bail' lawyers scattered across the Federal Capital Territory. At first, it was the long-running rant about his eligibility to contest based on the spurious allegation that neither did he attend a secondary school nor possess the requisite secondary school certificate. You would have thought such allegations, hollow and irritatingly mundane as they were, would naturally pale into insignificance after Buhari eventually made public a Certified True Copy of his secondary school result. Instead, it fired up other issues that confound the senses. The wailings of Buhari's detractors continue in decibels of needless noise. That simple document had gone through different forensic analyses in the laboratories of the 'Jonathanians' with divergent findings to the consternation of many Nigerians. In fact, the 'findings' as espoused by the lackeys of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party are parts of what the courts would have to determine in the next few weeks. Ordinarily, one would have thought that those pushing for Buhari's disqualification from the presidential race would allow the courts do its constitutionally assigned responsibilities on the conviction of the 'evidence' before the judges. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It appears some of them would prefer a natural or, better still, faster exit of the enigma called Muhammadu Buhari. Do not get it wrong please. By all shades of imagination, Buhari, a former military dictator and strict disciplinarian, should not be an issue in this election. At least, not after three failed shots at the exalted seat with a crushing humiliation by a victorious President Goodluck Jonathan in his last attempt. That was in 2011. At that time, Buhari had his own crowd but he was not anywhere near the besotted bride he has transformed into in the last six months. Needless to say that, in 2011 and other elections before then, no one cared about the genuineness of Buhari's certificates if he had any neither did anyone give a second thought to his age or health. It was immaterial who his friends were. He was simply a man of his own crowd, testing the murky waters of politics thatalmost drowned him. Four years after, the story has changed. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and that has thrown some people into palpable tension. A presidential candidate that the dull-witted ones at the PDP had described as a 'no contest' and an easy pie for Jonathan to take to the cleaners has suddenly become a dreaded dictator that must be stopped by all means possible. Sadly, this election campaign has been enveloped in unduly negative

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Sadly, this election campaign has been enveloped in unduly negative sentiments; this election has been riddled with the bullet of seething hatred. The gloves are off and bare-knuckle punches are unleashed on the nation. It got to its infamous best with a muckraking documentary on Buhari that was serially aired on a popular television network

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sentiments; this election has been riddled with the bullet of seething hatred. The gloves are off and bare-knuckle punches are unleashed on the nation. It got to its infamous best with a muckraking documentary on Buhari that was serially aired on a popular television network. It was a hatchet job carried too far. Buhari, his life, his family and his anguish as a father became subjects of odious political propaganda. In that documentary, he comes across as an anti-establishment figure and a revenge-seeking bigot out to inflict a damaging blow on the waning psyche of a nation in turmoil. His second coming, when it happens, is projected as the real Armageddon. Then, you ask, why this rush of hatred for a man who had always been dismissively labelled an underdog in his last three attempts? The answer is simple. The sudden outpouring of support for Buhari by millions of Nigerians jolted the authority to the reality of an 'underdog' pulling the rug from under their incompetent platform. For, if the truth must be told, the Buhari phenomenon and acceptance even in geo-political zones where he wouldn't have mustered significant votes in the past developed due to the failure of the ruling government to walk the talk of its electoral promises. At a point, nearly all the indices of development with which the electorate would have assessed the performance of the government fell through. Clearly, the shoddy handling of the general insecurity in the land, especially the deadly activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, contributed to the low rating; coupled with the misfortunes of a rebased economy with the highest number of the employed grappling with survival. The situation is not helped by the perception, in spite of the persistent denial by the government, that corruption continues to grow in leaps and bounds as rentseekers and shady portfolio cabal control the levers of business in the oil sector. The cry for change, which was borne out of despair and alienation, marks the beginning of a campaign that has been anything but issue-based. Now, the concern is no longer about Buhari's certificate. That should be settled by a court of competent jurisdiction. His eligibility or otherwise should also be by a verdict from the court since key members of the PDP believe he should be disqualified. In a democracy, litigants are free to test the veracity of their arguments, no matter how tendentiously mundane or pedestrian such arguments are, in the law courts. What they do not have a right to is the resort to blackmail and falsehood without any empirical basis or justification. That is exactly what Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has been doing through his devious fixation to a Buhari terminal sickness and likely death. It is one thing to play politics with an opponent's credentials and past conduct. It is another

thing to play god with that person's health and life. Ever since Buhari left for the United Kingdom, Fayose continues with his mockery of that visit. Not satisfied with his doomsday prediction of a likely death on the throne should Buhari win the general election, Fayose now stalks Buhari. He has become a leech. He insists Buhari is sick and undergoing treatment in the UK. Earlier in the week, he vowed to release a picture of the retired General on his sick bed in the UK. In addition, he says that with such relish and sense of conviction that I doubt if Fayose would flinch should Buhari fall dead today. In fact, that should be his greatest joy. Then, we ask why? It is surprising that no one among the ranks and file of the PDP has deemed it necessary to rein in Fayose in his bestial, demeaning and vicious propaganda against a man whose only sin is picking another party's ticket to give Jonathan a run for his popularity in a presidential contest that still runs neck-to-neck. Vacuous as it may sound, Fayose has said that he is not particularly against a Buhari presidency. His greatest wish would be to see that such emergence must be based on the truth. He said he loathes the propaganda of deceit by the opposition party. That is fair enough. However, what elsecould be more dubious propaganda than when a man spends millions of naira to sponsor newspaper advertisements predicting the imminent death of a fellow citizen on the altar of political chicanery? What do you call Fayose's commitment to scurrying the end of the world in search of the photograph of a sickly Buhari on his deathbed in a UK hospital? Moreover, how would the ruling PDP have reacted to it if the table has changed and the opposition is the one attempting to make political capital out of this no brainer? Would the hawks at the PDP have kept mum, believing that it is all fair and square in politics to throw decorum to the dogs? By the way, this is not in anyway to say that the APC should not come clean on candidate Buhari's health if indeed it is true that he suffers any debilitating illness. Anything contrary to this would be tantamount to a direct abuse of the term, political expediency. It would be a disservice not only to Buhari but also to the millions of people who have decided to vote for him.Besides, it is a disservice to a nation that had travelled the same road in its penultimate presidential election.However, the concern is that even if the party comes clean, the likes of Fayose would not just be content with allowing a sleeping dog lie. Buhari's medical report, no matter the reputation of the institution that issues it, would still be another subject of litigation. That is the sickening part of this election; nothing seems to be genuine to the ruling party unless what its propaganda machinery reels out to the public. That is why theysay the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is no longer competent to supervise the election. That is why they are no longer comfortable with the use of the Permanent Voter Cards and the Card Readers. That is why they want Buhari disqualified on the excuse that Muhammadu and Mohammed are two different names with diverse meanings. That is why they say the death of his children because of a terminal illness should be an election issue. That is why they want him out before Election Day, by whatever means possible. The fear factor is driving those who fear change to nuts. And that's scary. Really scary because of the length they are willing to go, even at the risk of putting all else asunder!

Onafowokan: Essentials of an exemplary prince at 90

ne is bound to see old age as desirable, beautiful and graceful when you encounter a remarkable Nigerian in person of Prince Babatunde Adedapo Onafowokan (BAO), the founding Chief Executive Officer of Ladgroup Nigeria Limited. His carriage every Sunday, natural calmness, structured lifetime priorities, well-coordinated and simple disposition to human endeavours over the years point to one fact that he has been truly blessed by God for a distinct purpose, among others; so that his life can minister to people around and younger generations. For someone of my age who came to settle in Lagos in 1990, I could only see a tiny part of Baba Onafowokan in his LADGROUP days. In order to get a full picture of his amazing profile, it took me some research to place Baba Onafowokan in proper perspective in this write-up put together to celebrate him on his 90th birthday anniversary. It is amazing to record that within the past 90 years, BAO has been tested as a teacher, multinational company executive, diligent entrepreneur, humility and empathy personified, selfless philanthropist and a keen man of God worthy of emulation. Through his grace, Baba having committed most of his hard earned financial resources in old age to God's work, he continues to

Seye ADETUNMBI dedicate his time and every other substance at his disposal as a gracefully aging old man to Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. The prince of the Moko royal dynasty, Ikenne and the Tunwase royal family of Ijebu-Ode, BAO was born on February 28, 1925 at Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria. He had his early education at Wasimi African Primary School at Ijebu Ode and St Paul's Anglican School in Sagamu. His secondary education took him to Abeokuta Grammar School and Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. BAO gained admission into the University College, Ibadan on scholarship which attested to the fact that he was a brilliant student among his peers which is evident among his children to the glory of God. He was to train as a Surveyor, but changed the course of study to Mathematics in 1951. He passed the London Matriculation Examination in 1950 and the University of London Special Honours Degree in Mathematics in 1954 when he graduated from the University of

Ibadan. His short stint in teaching started at Ogbomoso Grammar School in 1954 and left in 1955 for King's College, Lagos. On August 6, 1956, Prince Onafowokan got married to Chief Mrs Victoria Abimbola Onafowokan nee Ogunlesi (1931-2008). She was a remarkably resourceful wife, servant of God and a great blessing to the family. He joined Shell Nigeria Limited as a Management Trainee between June 1956 and December 1957, was appointed Head of Marketing Service and Statistical Forecasting between 1958 and 1959. The hardworking prince was promoted Manager, Shell Nigeria Limited in charge of the Mid-Western Region of Nigeria in 1959 and Manager, Western Region in 1960. BAO was sent to London, Norway and Kenya in 1963 through to 1964 for Advanced Management Training Courses. He was subsequently seconded to British Petroleum to work in the retail division of the National Petroleum between 1965 and 1966. On return to Nigeria in 1966, he was promoted to the post of

Retail Sales Manager. This position placed him as the first Nigerian to move that high up in the hierarchy of Shell. The visionary and perspective prince studied the economic environment and the entrepreneur in him took better part of his decision to go for early voluntary pensionable retirement in 1973. He founded Ladgroup Nigeria Limited as a commodity trading company in 1971 to essentially focus on international trade based on comparative advantage economic principle. Ladgroup was the biggest exporter of cocoa and other agricultural commodities till 1996 and it won national awards and enjoyed immense financial support from local banks. Record has it that Ladgroup was the first indigenous private company that imported rice from Thailand in Nigeria. The Head Office of Ladgroup was at 24, Abimbola Street, Isolo. I recall my first visit to the premises in the mid-1990s at the instance of his son, Kunle Onafowokan when Baba gave me an assignment. I was so inspired seeing Mama VA Onafowokan, the inestimable jewel of Baba Onafowokan and other family members working hard in the office for Ladgroup. May Baba see things of joy for the rest of his earthly journey as the family marks the 90th birthday with thanksgiving service at Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi Lagos, today.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

SPORT EXTRA Echiejile warns Arsenal not out yet

ONACO ace Elderson Echiejile has warned Arsenal are still in with a shout in the Champions League despite his club’s stunning 3-1 win in a Round of 16 first leg match in London. Monaco despite missing several first-team regulars shocked Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates on Wednesday with the return leg fixed for March 17 in the French Principality. “We have to stay focused for the second leg in three weeks so that we can finish the job at home,” said Elderson, who played from start to finish in London. “There are not many teams

Oboabona to drag Rizespor out of relegation • Echiejile

who could come to England to beat Arsenal, but we did so and should not get carried away by this feat because Arsenal will always be a dangerous team.” The Nigeria international also saluted the Monaco travelling fans. “They may not have been many but they were wonderful as they cheered us all the way to victory” he praised.

Fans may force Emenike out of Fenerbache

UPER Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike may quit Fenerbahce prematurely as he is being frustrated by the club’s booing fans, according to his brother. Emenike’s older brother, Ebuka, told AfricanFootball.com the AFCON 2013 top scorer was disappointed the fans booed him when they lost 2-1 Monday night to Akhisar Belediyespor. "Fenerbahce fans are ingrate and disrespectful to Emma, their negative emotions towards him contributed to his goal drought," Ebuka told AfricanFootball.com. "This is a player who has given the club and fans everything on and off the pitch, and all they could do is to keep insulting him even when it was obvious he is doing his best. “As a matter of fact, he's not happy. The fans do not even appreciate him when he scores. He has become a target of boos by the fans whenever Fenerbahce play

• Emenike

T. Agnes House has emerged as overall winners at the16th biennial Inter house sports festival of the Maryland Convent Private School, which ended at the weekend in Lagos. Spotting radiant red colours, the St. Agnes house assumed absolute dominance, carting away a total of 10 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals to emerge top in the school games, which was sponsored exclusively by the flagship Chikki noodles brand. Chinasa Elebeonu also of St. Agnes house was adjudged

at home.” He added:"When a player is not getting respect from his club fans,which means he's not wanted, then they should allow him to go. Emma has never experienced such thing in his career. It’s not right for fans to keep booing their players, it will frustrate the player.” "What is the big deal about missing chances? Is he (Emenike) the only striker who misses chances? What happened to Lionel Messi when he lost a penalty against Manchester City on Tuesday? Will Arsenal fans stone Olivier Giroud for missing that crucial chance against Monaco? “The truth is that they cannot get his best when they behave in that manner. They need to stop and rather see how they could lift his spirit." Ebuka further disclosed that his brother is not happy in Turkey again and fans should stick with whoever they want in the team. "Even when he scores, there is no happiness because they still boo him. I can tell you categorically that Emenike is tired of insults from the fans every week. "He has tried to be good player for the team every week and give his best for this club but the insult is becoming too much,he may be forced to leave the club.” In the offseason,Emeneike attracted interest from Russia,England and Qatar, but Emenike opted to stay put at Fenerbahce. He scored 13 goals in the league last season and has scored four this season.

UPER Eagles and Rizespor of Turkey defender, Godfrey Oboabona has submitted that he needs to keep playing well and avoid injuries if he is to help his side overcome their relegation troubles. Speaking to footballlive.ng, the Eagles’ defender hopes that God will see his team through come the end of the season. Oboabona being celebrating with teammates after scoring in one the league games this season. Oboabona celebrating with teammates after scoring in one the league games this season. “I just need to continue playing the way it is and don’t need to put anything at the back of

my mind, keep playing the special role that I play and by the special grace of God apart from injuries, God almighty will see us through.” This has been one of the poorest campaigns for Rizespor in the Turkish topflight with only four wins in the season. The Rize based team has racked up six draws to be left in 16th position in the topflight. Oboabona has made twelve appearances this term scoring only one goal in the process, far from his tally last season. Rizespor will go into the weekend hoping that they can improve on their fortunes when they face Eskisehirspor on Saturday at the Yeni Rize Sehir Stadi in Rize.

• Oboabona celebrating with teammates after scoring in one the league games this season

Theophilus Solomon back on PSG radar

NK Rijeka winger Theophilus Solomon, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, is set to turn down an offer of a fresh two year deal, from the Croatia side following in-

terest from France Ligue 1 giant Paris St Germain. The 19 year old was courted by the Parisians one and half years ago, before his 18th year birthday, but a move to the Parc De Princess failed to

materialize, following complexity in the way that he was meant to be transferred. PSG were willing to give him a three year deal on his 18 year birthday,but one of the youth coaches at HNK Rijeka

NFF unveil big plans for Eaglets; the youngest side in 2015 CAF U-17

ITH the Eaglets seeing their dreams of clinching the AJC title cut short at the ongoing CAF U-17 championship in Niger, president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, has saluted the courage

of the boys for going this far, even though they were one of the youngest set of players in the championship. He further revealed that the aim of the competition is not to win the trophy, but to serve as a

• Kelechi Nwakali in action against Zambia

developmental process to help harness talent for the U-20, U23 and the Super Eagles. ” Unfortunately they couldn’t get to the finals, they a very young team matter of fact they’re the youngest team in the tournament and they displayed enough football artistry. ” We’re proud with what they’ve been able to achieve,we’ll keep them together and make sure in 6 months time they’ll win us a medal in Chile. We are not deterred though, we want to keep encouraging them as young players. ” I have always advocated development rather than the knack for titles at the level but we want to do things professionally and ensure there’s a smooth transition from here to the U-21, U-23 and subsequently to the Super Eagles.”

Barca youngster Balogun ready For Flying Eagles

ARCELONA midfielder Boluwatife Balogun has thrown his weight behind Nigeria's Under 20 national team, and has tipped the Manu Garba led side, to qualify for this summer's World Cup. Understandably,the 18 year old has a soft spot for the current Flying Eagles,as he was supposed to join forces with the Golden Eaglets before the 2013 FIFA Under -17s, but club commitments prevented him from making the trip to Nigeria. Now,he is prepared to right a

wrong by making himself available for selection if the Flying Eagles qualify for the tournament in New Zealand. ''Of course,the Flying Eagles will qualify for the World Cup, they possess the qualities'' Boluwatife Balogun said to SL10.ng. ''I have been following the team lately, and they have star players there, mostly from the previous Under 17 squad, which triumphed in the United Arab Emirates two years ago. ''I have not yet had any con-

tact with the Under 20 national team coaches, but I would prefer to play for the team than the Under 23 squad. ''Christian Pyagbara is my favorite player in the squad. I think he'll catch the eye during the African Youth Championship.'' Boluwatife Balogun has spent the last two years playing for the youth teams of Barcelona. Born in Nigeria,the exciting prospect is also eligible to represent two other countries, France and Holland.

St. Agnes House wins Maryland Convent sports meet overall best athlete of the year 2015. Also, Infant Jesus House in green coloursemerge as second best team of the competition having a total of 8 Gold, two silver, and 10 bronze medals, while Our Lady of Apostles House In white colours took the thirdposition with 6 Gold, 5 Silver and 7 bronze medals. In addition, St Augustine house spotting blue colours assumed forth position with a total of 5 Gold, 8 Silver and 7

bronze medals and St. Antony House in yellow colours coming last with 5 Gold, 8 Silver and 5 bronze medals. The events which took place at the sports ground of Maryland Comprehensive secondary school kick started with a touch of unity relay race involving representatives of the five participating houses and was witnessed by a huge crowd ofspectatorsthat included parents, teachers, and visiting students of neighbouring schools

in the area. It was indeed a mix grill of sports, fun and entertainment as the event featured various hilarious activities such as match past, fashion and cultural parades, Slippers race, Tiny Tot games, Filling the basket, Lime and Spoon race, Threading, The Needle as well as Parents and Teachers relay race. The participating teams had engaged in very fierce competition involving several sporting activitiesincluding Football, Bi-

cycle Race, Sack Race, Chubby Race, Dressing for School, High Jump, Long Jump, athletics among others. There was also invitational relay events amongst visiting schools in the area namely St Francis Primary School, St. Agnes Nursery and Primary School, Command Nursery and Primary, Maryland Nursery and Primary School, and St. LeoNursery and Primary School, Ikeja. Others include St Gloria Nurs-

feeder team in Nigeria Football Academy, Abuja Renzo Goobo who was close to the then coach of the team, Carlo Ancelloti told the Italian the speedy ace was under contract with Rijeka, which was not true as he was yet to sign his professional terms. However few months after the deal was broken, he committed himself to a two year deal with Rijeka,with the option of another two years but, he no longer wishes to take up the option of staying in Croatia any further. SL10.ng scooped his agent Jairo Pachon, which is due to meet with officials of PSG, who contacted him after watching the player in a winter camp training in Bosnia, a few weeks ago where ironically, they were there to run the rule on another player. There is also interest for his services in Switzerland and already a line of communication has been opened, with a scout from FC Basle for the soon to be free player. On loan at NK Zadar, he has battled with a thigh muscle problem all season, which has limited him to just a few appearances for the team, with four goals to his team including a hat trick in the cup away at NK Zagora.

• Solomon ery and Primary School, Maryland, St, Cathering Model School, Ojuelega, Our Lady of Appostles Nusery and Primary School, Yaba, Handmaid International Catholic School, Aguda and Our Lady of Fatima Akoka, Yaba. In her address, Head Teacher of the School, Reverend Sister Gladys Osagie Ola recalled the visions of the school’s founders which centred on developing well grounded future leaders of tomorrow not only in academics but more importantly in morals and sports development.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Everton battle CSKA Moscow for Samuel S

L10.NG understands that Everton have joined CSKA Moscow in the race for the signature of Guangzhou R&F's Nigeria international Aaron Samuel. The Russian Premier League champions were thought to be nailed on favourites to land the much-coveted striker in the winter transfer market. But the proposed deal was screwed up after the Chinese Super League side's supremo demanded 10 million euros. With the Russian transfer window expected to close for business on Friday, the Army Men have not called off their pursuit of Aaron Samuel despite Guangzhou R&F rejecting a bid of 5 million euros earlier this month. Having agreed personal terms with the former Sarpsborg 08 man, CSKA Moscow are optimistic that the player will sign a preliminary contract ahead of the summer transfer window,

• Samuel

that is if their Chinese counterparts agree to play ball. The other stumbling block is that Everton are also interested in Samuel, with The Toffees higher-ups putting heads together in order to beat the strict red tape rule in England. Guangzhou R&F are not prepared to lose the Nigerian starlet without a fight, and they have offered him a carrot to compensate him for the failed move to CSKA Moscow this winter by increasing his wages. Previously,the 20-year-old pocketed 650,000 euros per season excluding performance- related add- ons, but his pay packet has now been increased to •1 million. Aaron Samuel has not been registered for the Asian Champions League because the coach of Guangzhou R&F thought his proposed move to CSKA Moscow was in the bag,only to be vetoed by the owner of the club.

Eaglets prepared for game of pride — NFF

EAD of Nigeria’s delegation to the 2015 CAN U-17 Championship in Niger, Dr Mohammed Sanusi says the Golden Eaglets have had their final training session

and set for tomorrow’s losers final. ” The mood is okay and the players are ready for the match, there’s no problem what so ever. ” The Coaches have spoken

Spurs want Yahaya back in London

L10.NG understands that English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur want their youth teamer Musa Yahaya to return to London immediately to start his rehabilitation. The Mutunchi Academy product had to pull out of the Flying Eagles African Youth Championship squad after tearing his knee ligament in a friendly against Ghana on February 18. And an examination by national team medics after the team returned to Nigeria revealed that he faces six weeks on the sidelines. Musa Yahaya is still in camp receiving treatment from Flying Eagles doctors, but it is understood that Tottenham Hotspur have been in touch with his minders,informing them that they want the

midfielder back in London as soon as possible. The White Hart Lane outfit have opined that the attacking midfielder will get the best treatment when he returns to the United Kingdom.

Manu: We selected the best players

ITH names like Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfried Ndidi and Musa Yahaya missing from the final list of players to the Africa Youth Championship, Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba says he has chosen only the best players at his disposal. The final 21-man list for the tournament was announced on Thursday, the some of the team’s stellar names expectedly missing, and

IkeUche: Draw against Sevilla will be tough

• Victor Osimhen

AFRICA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (AYC)

EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 16

KECHUKWU Uche has admitted that the Europa League draw that pitted Villarreal against holders Seville in the round of 16 was tough. To get to this stage, the Yellow Submarine defeated Red Bull Salzburg 5 - 2 on aggregate while Seville sealed a 4 - 2 aggregate win over Borussia Monchengladbach . “Sevilla FC wait us in @EuropaLeague round of 16! Will be hard! ” said Ikechukwu Uche on his personal Twitter account. In the La Liga this season, Sevilla defeated Villarreal 2 - 1 at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on October 26 on match day nine.

to the boys, the team have been training and preparing well for the 3rd place match,” Sanusi said. Nigeria lost 1-0 to South Africa in the semi-finals on Wednesday and will now face Guinea; that lost 2-1 to West African neighbours Mali on Thursday. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) though expressed disappointment with the defeat to the Amajimbo but have thrown their weight behind the coaching crew of the Eaglets.

Both teams will face each other three times in March, including two games in the Europa League.

Manu has explained that the 21 players selected are the best he could have chosen from what he had available. “We have always said that only the best players would be selected and that is what we have done,” he told sl10.ng. “It is quite unfortunate that we do not have the likes of Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi but we have confidence on the abilities of the players we have at the moment. “And when you have very good players, you can only choose the best out of them and that is what we have done for the Africa Youth Championship.”

Beach Eagles set for South African tourney

S • Ike Uche

The Flying Eagles coach however admitted that they will miss some of the players that have failed to make the team, but maintained that the selected players can also get the job done. “We surely will miss them, like Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Ndidi but we must focus on what we have. “Hopefully if we qualify for the World Cup then they will join us,” Manu said. Kelechi Iheanacho and Musa Yahaya have both failed to make the team due to injuries, while the NFF have failed to secure the release of Ndidi from Belgian club, Genk.

UPER Sand Eagles coach, Audu Adamu has served up the latest concerning his team as his camp bubbles in Badagry, Lagos ahead of an invitational tourney in South Africa. In a chat with footballlive.ng, Adamu disclosed that Warri Wolves duo of Abu Azeez and Bartholomew Igbenegbu are expected to join the team this Sunday after their CAF Confederations Cup game before they all travel to South

Africa for the invitational tourney. “The spirit is high for the competition coming up; all players are in camp expect for Abu Azeez and Bartholomew Igbenegbu aka mosquito.” “After their CAF Confederations Cup game against a Burkina Faso team, they will be in camp on Sunday. We will travel on the night of the third and arrive Johannesburg on the morning of the 4th.”

Lessons of Eaglets’ loss <<<<<<Continued from back page prepares. It isn’t enough for the I changed this view because when Eaglets to play a string of friendly lies are allowed to go games. We need to also evaluate unchallenged, they are termed the the coaches and see if they have truth. I know for a fact that Keshi learnt anything from the refresher and his assistants were settled all course they underwent, if they their claims till July 2014, when do. President Goodluck Jonathan Coaching is a practical job. This gave out $3.8 million to the Eagles Eaglets’ ouster provides the best in Brazil for all outstanding issues platform to integrate all the soccer before the second round game academies to chart the way against France, which Nigeria lost forward for our football. 2-0. In fact, the players and Teaching kids or should I say coaches spent the wee-hours to younger ones anything in life the France game sharing the $3.8 requires special skills. It is from million. these academies that we should What this simply means is that normally pick our age-grade NFF had paid Keshi et al their coaches. The registration of entitlements because the caveat academies will also provide the was for the National Sports basis for organising Local Commission (NSC) to deduct that Government Areas (LGAs), states $3.8 million from NFF’s account and national soccer competitions at source. which would help uncover the Indeed, by the end of the Brazil raw talents at the grassroots. 2014 World Cup, Keshi’s contract Our academies should be had lapsed, awaiting renewal by structured in such a way that the NFF chiefs who were being pushes out quacks and those set hounded by the government with up by shylock agents to transfer the NFF President Aminu Maigari Nigerian kids outside the country arrested on arrival at the airport for pittance. This initiative will help in Lagos from Brazil. The furore the NFF collect the data of players, at the NFF continued, culminating coaches, agents and owners of in the partial burning of the soccer academies. federation’s Glasshouse in Abuja. Soccer academies shouldn’t be There was the campaign that the left in the hands of untrained Maigari-led board should be people. If the kids are not taught removed by those purporting to the proper way to do things at the be close to those in the seat of level where they mostly copy their government. role models, it would be difficult This “arrest today and release for them to change their style of tomorrow” saga continued as the play at adolescence. This is the days drew nearer for Nigeria’s major problem of most of our qualification series for the 2015 domestic league stars. They only Africa Cup of Nations held in start to embrace how the game is Equatorial Guinea. Need I say that played properly when they go to Nigeria lost her first game to Europe. Those who are not lucky Congo DR, with members of the end their careers without Maigari-led board not watching actualising their dreams. the game? If the foundation of our football Pained by the loss, the Sports, is right, then the production line Minister Tammy Danagogo, of talented Nigerian kids ready decided to handle the affairs to to shake the world would be guarantee Nigeria the phenomenal. In the past, European qualification ticket, which turned agents stormed the country to fish out to be a mirage. As Danagogo out talents themselves. Those they took charge, words filtered out cannot spot they see whenever that Keshi was paid N14 million Nigeria registers for any big sequel to the deal he struck with competition. We appear to have the minister to handle Nigeria’s lost that era, largely because the qualification. NFF has paid lip service to this The minister was lampooned aspect of regularising soccer for giving out such huge sum to academies. the coach, especially as he was The future of the Eaglets and being paid N5 million monthly. Amuneke should be seen as a Those in this school of thought felt wake-up call for Manu Garba and strongly that since the coach was the Flying Eagles, not forgetting out of contract, it was wrong for Samson Siasia and the U-23 him to be paid such a lump sum Olympic Games squad. If Garba rather than pro-rate his and Siasia are not busy, then they entitlements. But the minister should be taken for refresher didn’t want any reason for failure; courses or attachments to big he gave the coach what he European clubs. I digress! demanded. Bottom line: Nigeria I have been very reluctant to didn’t get the ticket and everyone discuss former Super Eagles chief wanted the technical crew out. coach Stephen Keshi in this One is, therefore, miffed that column. I reckon that having the coach could be talking about served his term as Nigeria’s coach, being owed October and one had to close his file until he November salaries and renews his contract. entitlements. He also went on to I have decided to talk about say that he wasn’t paid his Keshi this week following his allowances for the victory over seeming malicious jibes at the NFF Sudan. Keshi must tell us who President Amaju Pinick on paid him during the period when Wednesday night. Keshi threw we had no NFF? I feel strongly caution to the wind when he said: that is the body that should “I heard also Amaju said he has authorise the payment of the paid us everything, that he isn’t outstanding salaries and owing us. It is a lie, big-time lie. allowances. Keshi must be told He is owing us two months, plus that this is the fallout of his our winning bonus for the game insistence on dealing with against Sudan. constituted authority not his “What is he talking about? Is it immediate bosses. because I am keeping quiet? I The immediate question to ask don’t want to talk. Now if they is- what was the N14 million paid want me to talk, I will start talking to the coach for? His salaries and and let Nigerians know what is allowances or what? Is it right to happening. pay a man who is out of contract “I will let Nigerians know what salaries? Thank God Danagogo is is happening. I don’t understand; a Phd holder in law. He should how can Amaju, who says he is be able to tell us what the rules the president of Nigerian football, say, especially against the be lying to Nigerians? Is that how background that the coach was he wants to run Nigeria football? paid N14 million. Except that “They are owing us money, payment was never made. Who they have not paid and instead of do we believe? NFF, Amaju, him to say okay there is no money Keshi or the minister? I hope all yet or something, he is telling the parties know that Nigerians everyone he has paid everything.” won’t forgive them, if we don’t My first reaction wasn’t to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of glorify Keshi with a response. But Nations.

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3139

If Odikanlu knows this much, and still proceeded to advise as he did, it should be quite reasonable to conclude that he deliberately wants the forthcoming elections rigged in favour of both the PDP and President Jonathan who gave him his present job

UT for the desperate, last minute shifting of the polls earlier scheduled for this month at the behest of Nigeria's military high command, acting obviously on behalf of an embattled President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), state governorship and House of Assembly elections would have been taking place today across the country including Lagos. The electoral battle in Lagos would have been a two-way affair between Mr Akinwumi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Olujimi Agbaje of the PDP. Both men are household names in Lagos. Their posters, billboards and other souvenirs dot the landscape of the Centre of Excellence. Their variegated messages dominate both the electronic and now ubiquitous social media. They have a new date of engagement scheduled for March 11th if the electoral magicians do not abort the elections once more. Jimi Agbaje is not new to the Lagos State governorship race. In 2007, he contested for the position on the platform of the Democratic Parties Alliance (DPA). Despite having run what was widely considered a brilliant and innovative campaign, he emerged a distant third in that election to the incumbent, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). The latter's widely adjudged two-term brilliant tenure comes to an end this May. Some analysts contend that Jimi Agbaje is contesting on a firmer, surer, more solid platform this time around. Even though, the PDP has never succeeded in supplanting the progressives from power in Lagos since 1999, it is still perceived as a more viable dais for competing effectively in Lagos than Agbaje's defunct DPA. Yet, others argue that the PDP platform is indeed Jimi Agbaje's albatross. Agbaje is often described as a good candidate running on a rotten platform. The PDP has monopolised power at the centre since 1999. In the period, it has controlled the bulk of the country's resources. Yet, all the country has to show for it is illusory statistical growth without concrete content in terms of their material well-being. Indeed, under the PDP's watch, Nigeria lies humiliatingly prostrate and subject to mass poverty, hunger, chronic insecurity, monumental corruption, unbearable unemployment, unbelievable impunity and utter ignominy in the comity of nations. Can Agbaje convince the people of Lagos to entrust their fate in the hands of a party with such a deplorable record of performance especially given the undeniably impressive strides the state has taken under the guidance of the progressives in the last 16 years? It is improbable. It is possible to argue that there is really no big deal about Agbaje jettisoning his professed commitment to structural change in Nigeria throughout his political career only to pitch his tent with a PDP so obviously committed to maintaining Nigeria in her current dysfunctional shape and structure. After all, political vagrancy and promiscuity have become part and parcel of our political culture and no party can self-righteously cast the first stone against the other. In any case, have the Afenifere old guard not assured us all that President Goodluck Jonathan will implement the recommendations of the moribund National Conference if he is re-elected for a second term in office? Of course, this is sheer baloney. The Jonathan National Conference was an

Curriculum vitae: Between Ambode and Agbaje

•Ambode

•Agbaje

illegal and illegitimate contraption, a sheer waste of time and resources and a wily tactic for an administration running out of options to buy time. If the Jonathan presidency could do nothing concrete with the National Conference report when it had near total dominance of the National Assembly, is it now that it is much more considerably weakened in both chambers that it will get the recommendations of the conference through the national legislature? Anyone who cannot see that Dr Jonathan enjoys the centralized and excessive powers of the Nigerian state and presidency as it currently exists to genuinely desire any meaningful structural change in the country deserves a doctoral degree in political naivety. But then, the thrust of this piece is to seek to find out in who's hands - Agbaje or Ambode it will be safer and wiser to entrust the almost one trillion dollar economy of Lagos State especially at this crucial period of the state's evolution? A careful examination of the curriculum vitae of the two candidates as gleaned from their respective websites should give us a clue. Let us start with the PDP candidate, Mr Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje. He was born on March 2, 1957, to late Chief Julius Kosebinu, a banker and Mrs Margaret Olabisi Agbaje, a teacher. Agbaje obtained his secondary school education at St Gregory's College, Lagos, and graduated as a pharmacist from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). Agbaje's CV does not tell us what he did between his graduation from Ife and the setting up of his company, JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and chemical company in 1982. However, he was Managing Director of the drug manufacturing and distribution company between 1982

and 2005 when he decided to venture into politics. Again, we have no indication of the net worth of the company or the expansiveness or complexity of its operations under Agbaje's guidance. Agbaje served as a Member, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999-2006); National Secretary, Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (1987-1990); National Chairman, Nigeria Association of General Practice Pharmacists (1987-1990) and Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch (1994-1997). Other non-executive public service appointments Agbaje has held include Member, Lagos State Task Force on Fake and Adulterated Drugs (1989-1993); Member, National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List (1986-1993); Member, Lagos Hospitals Management Board (1994-1999). In addition to being a Faculty Member of the African Centre of Leadership, Strategy and Development Centre, Agbaje is a Merit Award Winner of the Lagos State Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists. Agbaje has participated in various international programmes including the Executive Management Programme at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg, Cape Town Business School, South Africa and the World Health Organization training course on good manufacturing practice in the pharmaceutical sector. Now, what about Mr Akinwunmi Ambode? Born on the 14th of June, 1963, at Epe General Hospital, Epe, Ambode had his primary school education at St Jude's primary school, Ebute Meta. His father served as a teacher in Lagos State before retiring after 34 years in service. Ambode passed the National Common Entrance Examination in primary five and gained admission into the Federal Government College, Warri. Ambode recorded the second best result in West Africa in the Higher School Certificate Examinations in the Social Sciences in 1981. At the age of 21, Ambode graduated with honours in Accounting from the University of Lagos. He scored a double when he both qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed his M.Sc degree programme in Accounting from the University of Lagos specialising in Financial Management at the age of 24. Ambode started his public service career in November 1985 as Accountant Grade 1 at the then Lagos State Waste Disposal Board (now

—Femi Orebe Lagos State Waste Management Authority). Over the next 10 years, Ambode acquired considerable experience serving as Council Treasurer in several Local Government Areas of Lagos State including Alimosho, Shomolu, Mushin, Epe, Badagry and Ajeromi-Ifelodun. In 1988, Ambode earned the award of the United States Fulbright Scholarship for the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program in Boston University, Massachusetts, on Public Leadership with emphasis on Finance and Accounting. In 2000, Ambode was appointed as the youngest ever Auditor-General for Local Government in Lagos State. Thereafter, he was elevated as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance in January 2005 and in February, 2006 he was given the additional responsibility of Accountant General of Lagos State. At the time, he was the youngest Permanent Secretary in the service and only the second person to hold both positions of Permanent Secretary and Accountant General at the same time. Under Ambode's leadership, the State Treasury Office (STO), raised the state's budget performance at an average of 85% annually, ensured payment of civil service staff salaries before the end of each month, launched the eplatform for the payment of monthly staff salaries, ensured prompt payment of gratuity and pension arrears of the State Universal Basic Education Board and Local Government old pensioners. Apart from initiating and sustaining the annual retreat for Heads of Accountants in the Lagos State Public Service as well as Local and International training for staff, Ambode co-organised the first ever National Tax Retreat in association with the Joint Tax Board/Federal Inland Revenue Service in 2005. He was the Chairman of the Technical Committee that produced the Lagos State Economic, Empowerment Development Strategy (LEEDS) document and helped achieve the feat of clearing and publishing arrears of statutory audits of Local Governments in Lagos State from 1995 to 2004 within 12 months. His financial ingenuity has been publicly acknowledged as a key factor that enabled Local Governments in Lagos State survive the illegal seizure of their statutory allocation for over one year by the Obasanjo administration. Ambode is an Alumnus of Wharton Business School and also attended courses at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England, Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland, INSEAD, Singapore and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, Massachussetts, USA. On voluntarily retiring from the Lagos State public service in August 2012, Ambode successfully transited to the private sector by establishing Brandsmiths Consulting Limited, a company that is presently consulting for Federal, State and Local Governments on the transition to the new International Public Service Accounting System and offering other financial advisory services. These then are the profiles of two illustrious and accomplished sons of Lagos State seeking the consent of Lagosians to pilot the affairs of the state after Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola's distinguished tenure. Who has the requisite experience and expertise to build on current achievements and lift Lagos to a new pedestal of excellence in a world characterised by unpredictable financial and economic turmoil? I leave the answer to you, dear reader.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Lessons of Eaglets’ loss

MMANUEL Amuneke must be sulking now. He must be wondering where he got it wrong against the South Africans on Wednesday in Niger. He will be scratching his head to figure out how the Golden Eaglets couldn’t score the equaliser against the Amajimbos despite his half time talks. Take heart brother. That is the baptism that you need to appreciate the fact that coaching goes beyond being a great player, especially after excelling at Barcelona FC in Spain. Coaching is a different gamut. It involves

spying on your opponents religiously to know who they set up against different opponents. Here is the lesson of the Golden Eaglets’ loss - the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should immediately send Amuneke for refresher courses or attachments, preferably at Arsenal with Arsene Wenger. We have been told that Wenger is ready to re-train our coaches. And Amuneke should be his first student, given the importance of the Eaglets in the development of the game here. Wenger would be excited to hear that Amuneke played brilliantly for Barcelona - if he didn’t watch Amuneke play. Wenger

would happily teach Amuneke the basics of the game, knowing that he couldn’t have fitted into Barca’s seamless pattern if their coaches didn’t grill him in the act of trapping and passing the ball, shooting etc. Wenger would know that Amuneke won’t be left mopping, if thrown into Arsenal Academy to see how coaches prepare teams for matches. The Nigerian coach won’t be inferior to the coaches at Arsenal. Many would look at Amuneke with awe, knowing that he played for Barcelona FC that had its present coach Luiz Erinque as Amuneke’s captain.

Our coaches don’t do enough homework on opponents before games. That is because we don’t have technical study groups trained for such an exercise. What these groups do is to dig out all the data of the coaches and the players, if they are the popular ones, and fashion out strategies that would render them otiose during matches. But, we approach matches blindfolded. Nigerian coaches gleefully announce that they don’t know enough about their opponents. I’m glad that NFF chiefs won’t sack Amuneke. It shows that they understand what the problems are. I want to see what they would do between now and the World Cup with the coaches and how the team

•Continued on Page 61

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