January 06, 2015 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Buhari’s campaign begins in Rivers NEWS Page 4

•APC takes battle to S/south

News Workers’ strike paralyses courts P5 Sports Mikel wins Premier League award P63 Business U.S. crude oil slips below $50 P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3087 TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Some Nigerians...have either called for a transition committee, or expressed open doubts over the prospects of the polls next month...We disagree with this standpoint, and we also see it as influenced not only by opportunism cloaking as principle but also anti-democratic in its impulse. We cannot overthrow a democracy in the interest of democracy...All those who espouse this tendency should stop forthwith or else they would kindle the flame of subversion against the best system of popular persuasion known to humans —Editorial Page 19 •Analysis Pages 2&3

Obasanjo: nothing against Jonathan but vote wisely Ex-President accuses govt of wasting oil money From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

“N

IGERIA does not deserve the position it has found itself today,” former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday. He urged Nigerians to allow sound judgement of candidates’ “track records” determine how they cast their votes in the February 14 and 28 general elections. The presidential election is slated for February 14. President Goodluck Jonathan is facing a huge challenge from Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Obasanjo is unhappy that Nigeria is buffeted by crippling “poverty, sheer impunity, economic downturn and insecurity”. Leaders elected to make things better for the people but chose to do otherwise would “give account to God”, he said in an emotional voice. To him, the solution to Nigeria’s problems is leadership. That the country can only change for better or experience a worse fate based on the calibre of the person at the top, he said. The former President, who spoke in Yoruba, occasionally alternating it with English, was hosting at his mansion on the Presidential HillTop Estate, Abeokuta Southwest women leaders, including the Iyaloja - General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu – Ojo. The election is an avenue for Nigerians to bring about the “change” the country deserves, Obasanjo said. The women leaders, including the NationContinued on page 4

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

•Obasanjo with Southwest market women leaders at the Presidential Hilltop in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital...yesterday.

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Whatever is good for Nigeria is what I'm ready to defend with my life. Whoever...says he would not do anything good to Nigeria, even if he says he's ready to go 'koko below', I'm ready to square it up with such a person

’

Corruption now worse than before, says Babangida STORY ON PAGE 4

‘If what I read...is what is happening then I think we were angels’

•GOVERNORS FORUM CONDOLES WITH JONATHAN P6 PDP TO CAMPAIGN IN BORNO, OTHERS P6

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS

Interim govt •Oyo State Govenor Abiola Ajimobi (second right), his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo (right), Secretary to the Oyo State Government Mr. Olalekan Alli (left) and Oyo State House of Asembly Speaker Hon. Monsurat Sumonu at the New year prayer of civil servants at Governor's office, Ibadan..,yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

•Jonathan

ANALYSIS By Bolade Omonijo, Editorial Board •Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second left), his wife Sherifat, Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye- Tomori (left); and Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo (right) during the Inter-religious Service for the New Year 2015 at Office of the Governor.

•Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha inaugurating the 5km road project from Umuchieze to Umuediabala, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State...at weekend. With him are from left: Chidi Ojinere, NDDC Commissioner Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu, Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe, Mr. Law Biaduo and Mr. Austin Papa.

•Founder, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), Mrs Betty AnyanwuAkeredolu (right) speaking with children during her annual Imagine the Future of Emeabiam party for children in her home town, Emeabiam, Imo State.

RDINARILY, Tunde Bakare is known as a man of the pulpit. His calling is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and this he has done to a notable point for more than two decades. However, anyone who, having observed him pontificating and gesticulating for hours, comes to the conclusion that he is a General would not be off the mark. The mien, the gait and the quick step marching suggest that he gives serious thoughts to his words and would not condone any form of opposition. Pastors are not known to be Generals. So, when Bakare takes on national leaders or colleagues on the pulpit, he seeks to mow down every form of dissenting opinion, even on matters as minor as the arrangement of a church auditorium. It was a surprise when he chose to step on the political dais in 2011. He toured the country; attacked opponents of his political party of choice and insisted on being the running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, even when expediency dictated that taking on the incumbent could require a coalition of forces that could have necessitated a trade-off. Many of those who had come to love or dislike his style had looked forward to his position on the current political setting. It was predictable that he would say something that would provoke a debate. That prediction came to pass on Sunday as Pastor Bakare chose to address the forthcoming general elections. The title he gave his speech at his church, The Latter Rain Assembly, was enough to give away his thought. He provocatively addressed the issues under the headline: “The gathering storm and avoidable shipwreck: How to avoid catastrophic Euroclydon” The thoughts of the leading cleric and probably now retired partisan politician on the way out of the crisis in the land are enough to show that a lot has happened between his last time out and the current juncture. The analysis is certainly slanted. First, he pointed out that

•Babangida

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Pastor Bakare should limit his involvement to praying and preaching for a new Nigeria. If he must get involved in calling attention to the ship of state, he should stay on the side of law and the good order. An interim government is an invitation to chaos, anarchy and purposelessness

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the storm is gathering____an indication that the nation is perching on a tightrope. Second, Pastor Bakare is suggesting that the ship of state is about sinking and that urgent steps must be taken to avoid such a dire occurrence. Three, he considers the situation so alarming that he compared it to a catastrophe. This is probably a good description of the state of the Nigerian state today. But, going further, the former chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), deliberately refused to apportion blames. This could be pardoned because he ostensibly wants to be an agent of peace. But, if he could not explore the path to the chaos and rot in the land, how would he come up with far-reaching suggestions on the way forward? How did he come to the conclusion that the only way out is

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS

t ...A blank cheque to anarchy

•Shonekan

•Obasanjo

putting in place an interim government? In analysing the situation, he concluded that there must be a change. He pointed out that Nigeria could slide into anarchy if concerted efforts were not made to stem the slide. But, his recommendation that the same government largely responsible for the rot should be empowered to spearhead the change stands logic on the head. In advocating the continuation of the Jonathan administration, by whatever description, for another two years, the convener of the defunct Save Nigeria Group is suggesting that the President be rewarded with two unearned years in order to conduct landmark political, social and economic engineering. It could be argued that the pastor is merely advocating a broad coalition of forces that would encompass Nigerians of diverse backgrounds to support the current government, thus injecting capacity, but the critical factor in government is leadership. Has President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated capacity to lead? Would this be a solution or a new dimension to the crisis? What would a government lacking spine do at a time like this?

The Shonekan experiment History could be a worthy guide, when carefully explored in charting the path to the future. But, it could also be disastrous when its lessons are wrongly applied. Pastor Bakare was obviously oblivious of the disaster that the last experiment at hav-

ing a transition government generated. Disgraced and seeking a soft landing, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida decided to put in place a lame-duck administration headed by Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan. It was obvious to all analysts that the edifice lacked any form of foundation, let alone a solid one. It lacked legitimacy, being neither elected but backed by the brute force enjoyed by a military regime. It lasted a mere 82 days. Another general, Sani Abacha, struck at will and the house of cards crumbled. What would make the new interim government better? The interim government headed by Shonekan, too, had been canvassed by many Nigerians; a number of them eminent and considered credible. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, then a former military head of State and an international figure, had canvassed the option of a transition government. Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, an academic of repute, wanted an interim government headed by Chief MKO Abiola as a way out of the impasse. But, as they called for the option, the military strategists were also at work. They had their joker and played it out the way they wanted. Even when Shonekan was ousted like guinea worm, the Gen. Abacha regime pretended to be a friend of the people. To gain legitimacy, it danced to the popular tune for a while. Appointments that appeared to accede to popular demands for a progressive government were made and a “constitutional conference with full constituent power” was promised. The regime, latching on to

•Akinyemi

the credibility of its Attorney-General, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, quickly put together the conference. It was sheer gimmick. That regime was to last almost five years. And, its leader sought a transmutation to a civilian President. His dream was aborted only by the intervention of death. It must be recalled that, in putting the Interim National Government contraption together, leaders of the two existing political parties were involved as were the civil service, the civil society and with the concurrence of the military. Yet, it all led to an abyss.

Legitimacy and governance In the twenty-first century, what makes the difference between a despotic government and a democracy is the mandate freely handed democrats in power. They are expected to decide how the society must run based on a choice freely made at an election where options were canvassed. It is inconceivable that after five years in power, President Jonathan could be handed a twoyear extension outside the people’s mandate? What would be the authority of the hand-picked people to decide members of the cabinet? What role would the National Assembly play? Would there be an extension for the lawmakers, too? What about the states? As the constituent units of a Federation, would there be elections for the lawmakers and Chief Executives at that level? And, if as being suggested, the recommendation is im-

•Bakare

plemented at all levels, what new thing are we introducing? In many states where the people are advocating a change, mainly because of new development on the political scene, how would an extension necessarily tantamount to progress? It would take a new government to mobilise the people for the change necessary in the country. Jonathan might have spent N7 billion on the National Conference jamboree, however, it amounts to another insult to suggest that only his administration could implement it. Why did he wait till the tail end of his tenure to empanel the body? It appears part of an unfolding script. While the conference was on, even when the President and henchmen of his administration insisted that there was enough time to carry through the recommendations of the parley, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the Odumakins were already canvassing the extension option. Curiously, many other leading lights of the Southwest on whom the people had previously counted kept mum, thus suggesting that they were in agreement with the dangerous suggestion. Jonathan was elected for a fouryear term in 2011, after a fortuitous 23 months bonus off the Yar’Adua government. Anything that tampers with the People’s Mandate is a coup against the constitution and the Popular Will. Section 135 quoted by Pastor Bakare does not envisage the situation in the country today. Nigeria is not the only country in the world where insur-

gents have taken arms against the state. In Europe, Africa and South America, the central authorities have been and are being challenged in many countries. It has taken the political will of those in power to curtail the terrorists and ensure that the state survives. Even in Nigeria, it is not new. In the Second Republic, there was the Maitatsine challenge in Kano. It took prompt and decisive action by the Federal Government and the military to suppress it. At another point, there was incursion into the Nigerian territory through Chad Republic; it took a courageous push by the military to check the move. Either of those could have imperiled the Nigerian state as the Boko Haram terror is doing today, if not given adequate attention. The Jonathan administration that had canvassed a single tenure of seven years does not deserve an extension that would fulfill that aim through the back door. The Nigerian electorate should not be shut out of the political process. If, in 1946, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) mobilised Nigerians, under colonial rule, against imposition of a constitution, this cannot be accepted in 2015. Pastor Bakare should limit his involvement to praying and preaching for a new Nigeria. If he must get involved in calling attention to the ship of state, he should stay on the side of law and the good order. An interim government is an invitation to chaos, anarchy and purposelessness.

INEC under pressure over PVCs distribution T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure to dump the use of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the elections. Some of the critics insist that the national average of collection is less than 40 per cent, a record that is creating ripples within the political parties and the civil society organisations Leaders of political parties and civil society leaders are kicking against the shoddy distribution of the PVCs. The Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yinka Farounbi, said: ”Available records showed that less than 35 per cent of registered voters have secured the PVCs. How do you conduct any credible election

with that type of very low voting population?“ Nigeria Civil Society groups under the aegis of Situation Room also expressed concern that the distribution of PVCs and the conduct of the Continous Voters Registration (CVR) in INECs Phase 3 States of Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Plateau, Nassarawa, Niger, Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers are experiencing serious glitches and complaints from citizens who have received very little information on it. The groups said: “Reports received by Situation Room shows that the exercise has been suspended in Rivers State and is being partially conducted in Lagos and Imo States. ”Several registered voters or persons

intending to register have turned up in centres across the states only to be turned back or find that there are no registration officials on hand. “This has heightened tension and apprehension among registered voters and potential voting registrants. In Kano, Ogun and Plateau States where officials have been present, they have had fewer cards than the voters’ register.” The Chairman of Conference of Political Parties in Nigeria (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said the PVCs may not ensure credible elections. ‘’How are we even sure that the PVC distribution will be achieved? Efforts have

been made in the past to make use of the PVC, but without success. We should always review PVCs regularly, but this has not been done. There is no guarantee that this will work in Nigeria in the foreseeable future.” He also urged INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, to fish out those behind the sabotage and sanction them appropriately. ”If INEC is to organise a free, credible and transparent election next February, it must quickly return to the drawing board to fashion out how to ensure that all Nigerians who are eligible to vote are able to do so without hindrance, and also purge itself of the fifth columnists within its ranks, who are bent on sabotaging the elections,” Musa said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Buhari begins campaign in Port Harcourt

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second left), his running mate in next month’s election, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga (2nd right), Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi (right), and Senator Iyabo Anisulowo (left) at Ilaro, during the governor’s tour of Ogun West Senatorial District.

Corruption now worse than before, says Babangida

ORMER Military President Ibrahim Babangida has faulted the perception that he is corrupt. He challenged anybody with proof of corruption during his 1985 – 1993 regime to come forward with them. Gen. Babangida said members of his government are angels compared with what he is reading in the newspapers about what is going on now. He requested any Nigerian with a shred of corruption against him to release the facts to the public. The former military president said the $12.4b Gulf Oil War windfall of 1991 was not stolen. Gen. Babangida made the clarifications in an interview with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s press crew for the agency’s inhouse magazine, “Zero tolerance.” The EFCC released the transcript of the interview to reporters in Abuja yesterday. He said: “Let me tell you something, maybe you have a hand in it. I have been the most investigated President Nigeria has ever had. By now, somebody should have come

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

forward to say here it is. “Every government that came after me investigated me because of that perception as they wanted to retrieve the billions I stole.” He said he and those who served in his administration were saints and angels going by the level of corruption in the country. “Well, we had different approaches. I think my government was able to identify corruption-prone areas and checked them. If you remember in this country, there were things they call essential commodities. These are also sources of corruption. You go and buy Omo or food or whatever it is and we got government to take its hands off such activities. Let people use their own brains, hands and labour, nobody has to do it for them. So we did but I am proud to say that was much more effective. “I don’t have the facts but if what I read in the newspapers is currently what is happening then I think we were angels On the allegation that his military regime institutional-

ized corruption in Nigeria, Gen. Babangida said though he had been aware of such insinuation, the assumption is incorrect. He added: “Yeah, I know. Maybe I have to accept that but anybody with a sense of fairness has no option but to call us saints. I give you an example, in a year I was making less than $7billion in oil revenue. In the same period, there are governments that are making $200billion to $300billion. “With $7billion, I did the little I could achieve. With $200billion, there is still a lot to be achieved.” The ex-President said being branded as corrupt was a question of perception. He said: “It is said that perception is not reality. Why the perception? I should ask you because it is the perception of the media. You believed quite wrongly that we are all crooks and I bear no grudge whatsoever against anybody but I know time will come when they will say after all, they did something and this is what is happening. “Now, even our fiercest critics give us credit for certain

things we did.” Pressed further on his investments, Babangida admitted owning shares in a bank. The interaction is as follows: What are these investments? I would assure you, using my head, I came to the conclusion that the best investment for someone like me is banking. That’s all. You have shares in banks? Yes. How many banks? No, in one bank. A major shareholder, sir? Yes Which bank are we talking of? (Cuts in)…Again investigate…laughs. On how he built his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Babangida said: “I cannot estimate because it has appreciated. I know what my friends spent. No, my friends contributed. “They were friends before we came into government and friends while I was in government. “I started building it in 1991, took two to three years so that by the time I finished, I would have a house to sleep in.” Concerning the $12.4billion Continued on page 60

ORT Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, is wearing a new look for today’s commencement of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign. The event is scheduled for the 40,000-capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta, near the Port Harcourt International Airport. The rally, fixed for 9 a.m., will be transmitted live on major television networks. River State Governor Chibuike Amaechi is the DirectorGeneral of the Buhari campaign organisation, which met last night at the Rivers State Government House. Shortly after inaugurating Buhari’s campaign in the Garden City, the APC team will move to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to campaign in the PDP-controlled state and to present its governorship candidate Mr Umana Okon Umana, a former secretary to the state government. The campaign team will remain in the South South for the next one week, going round states in the region from Port Harcourt. Colourful banners, billboards and posters of Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, were seen all over Port Harcourt yesterday Some kerbs, roundabouts, junctions and other strategic locations in the Rivers state capital were also being repainted and beautified. Amaechi’s ally, Chief Tony Okocha, who is the Chairman of the Mobilisation Committee of Buhari’s campaign launch in Rivers state, said yesterday that today’s crowd will double the one at the October 25 mega rally to mark the seventh anniversary of Amaechi’s Supreme Court victory at the same venue. In neighbouring Bayelsa state, campaign posters of Gen. Buhari and former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, flooded the state capital, causing excitement among workers at the state secretariat. The posters caught the admi-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt and Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ration of many passersby who watched and nodded their heads in acceptance that the opposition had come to stay in President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state. One of the workers who identified himself simply as Johnson said: “The APC has now proved their seriousness. Before, we thought they only existed on paper. It is now a big contest with what we are seeing. When asked why they were not hostile to the campaign materials of the APC, he added: “We welcome this development because it is not going to be business as usual”. Sylva’s posters were boldly displayed at the entrance of the state secretariat annex. The poster carried a colourful picture of the former governor, with a simple message: “A Homeboy for the Home Job in Abuja.” Sylva’s Facebook page was also laced with messages of his ambition tagged, “Timipre Sylva for Senate 2015.” On the page, one of the messages said: “During Timipre Sylva’s administration as the governor of Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta University received significant attention leading to the accreditation of all the departments in the University. “Today, the university has been abandoned and the Faculty of Law, Department of Geology and others have all lost accreditation. “Diete Koki Memorial Hospital is a landmark achievement by his administration. Chief Timipre Sylva remains the best Governor we’ve had. He has been a House of Assembly member in the old Rivers State; Political Adviser to a former Bayelsa State Governor; ministerial aide, and Governor of Bayelsa State. His main opponent has zero political experience. “Clearly, Sylva best represents the voice of the people, and above all, he is a homeboy who understands the needs of the people he seeks to represent.”

Obasanjo: nothing against Jonathan but vote wisely Continued from page 1

al President (Women Wing), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Oyin Sowoolu, were led to Obasanjo’s home by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson. They had, through their leader, Mrs. Lawson, expressed grave concern over the growing insecurity in the land, poverty, the need for credible polls, agriculture as panacea to unemployment as well as the empowerment of women. The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he was still in the party, but elected to remain less active following events in PDP which he can neither defend before man nor God. He did not give details of such events. Drawing an analogy from the account of King Saul of the biblical Israel as recorded in the Bible, Obasanjo said God, who sent Prophet Samuel to anoint him (Saul) King over Israel, also sent Samuel later to anoint David King in place of

Saul, following his rejection by God. He said he harboured no grudges against President Goodluck Jonathan and believed same applies to the President but he (Obasanjo) would remain resolute in his fight against anybody who does not want to do what is right and beneficial to the country and the citizenry. Obsanjo said: “ I’m still in PDP but not active because of what I saw that I can’t defend before man and God. That is why I refrained from PDP a bit; the attitude and characters that I have seen, I don’t think I can defend it before man and God, but that’ll be for a few period. “I explain most of these things in my new book, but we must all pray that God should change our condition for better because Nigeria doesn’t deserve the position it found itself today. That is what you are saying. “Our nation is plagued with insecurity, economic downturn, increase in poverty, corruption and impunity in doing things. People do things because no man can do anything

to them, but God’ll catch them. “I emphasise that whatever is good for Nigeria is what I’m ready to defend with my life. Whoever, I emphasise, whoever says he would not do anything good to Nigeria, even if he says he’s ready to go ‘koko below’, I’m ready to square it up with such a person. “I say again, whoever that person may be, I want you to get that correctly. If this country is going to change for the better, it would start from the top and if it’s going to be otherwise, it would start from the top, too,” Obasanjo said. He went on: “I have served this country as a soldier and as a civilian leader. I cannot just keep quiet when things are not well in the nation. “Good governance comes from voting, from selection of leaders. It is now left to you to decide who you cast your vote for because if you throw away your votes and tomorrow you are saying good governance, once you throw away your votes you have lost out.” The former president event philosophical. He said: “I know that God did not create

Nigeria not to be rich or great. Is it that the people he created in Nigeria are not intelligent enough? Or is it that they don’t know their rights? Our problems in Nigeria, let’s look at the foundation of our leadership. “In the military profession I know very well, the military, what we normally say is that there are no bad soldiers but bad officers. If you see a situation where the soldiers are not doing well, we need to examine the officers in charge. So it is in the family, the community, the town and the country.” He spoke about reactions to the news that he called the meeting. “This year is an election year and I have no fears over the forthcoming elections. I was reading it in one paper today where they said they became jittery when they heard you were coming to visit me; is it that Jonathan and I are not in good terms? There is nothing of such,” Obasanjo said, adding: “I have no grudges against Jonathan and I think Jonathan equally has no grudges against me. I’m not quarelling with Jonathan but all I know is that

whatever is good for Nigeria, that I’m ready to die for. “I have had some little experience about this country. I was a military head of state and I was also a civilian president; so what is left? So, if I talk, I know what I’m saying. Whoever wants should listen to me and whoever feels otherwise, may turn a deaf ear. “But when I’m talking, I’m talking with my understanding and intellect. I’m drawing from my experience and from what I’ve learnt with others and from other countries and fellow eminent citizens of the world that I relate with. “Good governance comes from voting, from selection of leaders. It is now left to you to decide who you cast your vote for because if you throw away your votes and tomorrow you are saying good governance, once you throw away your votes you have lost out. “That is one. The second leg is that you find out the track records of achievements of those you want to vote for. What have they achieved in the past and not what they have said.

•Dr. Jonathan

“If our economy is not good, it would affect those of you in the market everywhere. It takes us back to what we said earlier that if the head is rotten, it will affect the entire body because if there is no good governance, it would affect the Continued on page 60

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THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS JUDICIARY WORKERS’ STRIKE

• Kaduna State High Court... yesterday.

•GOOD GOOD NIGHT: Court of Appeal gate... yesterday.

Workers’ strike hits courts in Abuja, others •‘It’s indefinite, says JUSUN’s leader

OURTS were paralysed yesterday as workers under the auspices of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) began an indefinite strike. The strike followed the alleged refusal of the Executive arm of government at the federal and state levels to comply with a January 13, 2014 judgment delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court. The judgment, among others, upheld financial autonomy for the judiciary and declared as unconstitutional, the piecemeal release of its budgetary allocations. The strike came at a critical stage in the nation’s electioneering process, when many politicians, who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their parties’ primaries, are in court, hoping to have their cases resolved before next month’s general election. This is the second time the nation’s judiciary workers would be going on strike on the issue since the judgment was given by Justice Ademola. The workers shut courts for over two weeks in July. They suspended the strike when the Presidency, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, intervened. Representatives of parties relevant to the execution of the judgment, including the accountant general of the federation (AGF), states’ accountants general, commis-

•Judiciary workers at the gate of High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State...yesterday. From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Adebisi Onanuga, Joseph Jibueze, Precious Igbonwelundu, Lagos, Osagie Otabor, Benin

sioners of Finance, among others, held meetings with leaders of JUSUN, which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November. The MoU, dated November 27, 2014, directed the accountant general of the federation to deduct directly from allocations to states’ judiciaries at the last Federation Account Allocations Committee (FAAC) meeting in December. But yesterday in Abuja, the main gates to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal headquarters (located within the Three-Arms Zone), the Federal High Court headquarters within the Central Business District and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama were locked when The Nation visited. Some court officials, who re-

ported for work after the holidays, were turned back by JUSUN officials, led by its President, Marwan Adamu. The JUSUN officials went round courts to enforce the strike. On the strike, Adamu said: “There is no going back. We will persist until they (the Executive) respect the judgment of the court. This strike is, therefore, indefinite. “Since we suspended our initial strike, the government and its representatives engaged us in series of meetings, where about seven agreements were signed. The last one was the MoU signed in November. “Yet, noting has happened. They promised to comply, but at the last FAAC meeting, we were surprised when they all started shouting no, no, no. “The accountant general of the federation has refused to obey the judgment. We have tolerated and accommodated them enough. “In a situation where courts’ judgments are not obeyed, we

are heading towards anarchy. We are happy that there is total compliance with this strike throughout the federation.” The JUSUN president, who sympathised with litigants and other court users, said the workers had no choice, but to go on strike to compel implementation of a subsisting court judgment and the agreement reached with them. All was quiet at the high and magistrates’ courts in Lagos State yesterday, as workers also complied with the directives of the national leaders of JUSUN. Among cases caught in the industrial action was the application filed by Pastor Temitope Joshua, seeking to stop the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the September 12, 2014, building collapse. Justice Lateefa Okunnu could not deliver her ruling in the matter. Also, the coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, could also not sit. Litigants and lawyers were

Jonathan’s campaign committee’s inauguration shifted

HE scheduled inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) could not hold in Abuja yesterday. The inauguration, which was cancelled at the last minute, is now rescheduled to hold today by 11am at the Legacy House, Abuja. The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Rufa’i Alkali, announced the postponement. According to him, the postponement was due to the death of the President’s younger sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei, at the weekend. Alkali called for a one-

FRSC: 120 died in road crashes at Yuletide

•Mark condoles with President From Augustine Ehikioya, Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu, Abuja

minute silence in honour of the deceased before the guests gradually departed. Many members of the party and other prominent guests were already seated at the Legacy House, Maitama before the cancellation was announced. PDP governors, Senate President David Mark, Vice President Namadi Sambo, and President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage were still been awaited before the announcement.

However, Mark has condoled with the president and his family on the death of his younger sister. Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, expressed sadness over the death, saying that her death had robbed the nation of her worthy enterprise. He said: “I received the news of the death of your dear sister with shock. I earnestly identify with you and share in this painful loss. I pray that the good Lord give you the fortitude to bear this pain and grant our beloved sister eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

prevented from entering the Lagos and Ikeja High court by officials of JUSUN. Judges, who reported early for work and hoping to carry on with court proceedings, were turned back as the gates were locked. The situation was also the same at the state’s magistrates’ courts. Court registrars were around, but they could not access the court rooms. JUSUN’s National Deputy President Samuel Adesanya told reporters yesterday that the strike began on January 2 as scheduled, despite the public holidays. An executive of the Lagos branch of JUSUN, Mr. Adelenu Tajudeen, said the court gates would remain locked till further notice. The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Ikoyi was also locked as the workers stayed off. Those who reported for work returned home. Angry litigants and lawyers, who had thought the associa-

tion would not carry out the threat, expressed displeasure over the situation. They said JUSUN should have considered the implication of its action on the masses. They explained that the strike would cause hardship to those in detention while police cells would witness more congestion. A Lagos-based lawyer, Kayode Bankole, expressed worries that state governments were yet to compile with the judgment several months after it was delivered. When contacted, the National Secretary of JUSUN, Isaiah Adetola, said: “All state high courts will remain closed until they complied with the judgment of the court and grant financial autonomy to the judiciary.” In Edo State, courts’ gates were also locked as the state’s JUSUN officials monitored events to ensure full compliance . Besides the demand for judicial autonomy, the state JUSUN is also seeking the payment of July 2013 salaries to its members. The salary was reportedly withheld because the state government enforced the “nowork no-pay rule” after JUSUN members joined a national strike. Its Chairman, Uyi Ogieriakhi, said his members were being victimised by the state for participating in the strike. According to him, “The July salary is a right Edo State cannot continue to keep. We embark on a strike to fight for autonomy of the judiciary. “The strike we went for was a statutory strike, but workers are being victimised by the government. We are urging the governor to take a look at the July salary. We cannot continue to wallow in a situation, where the judiciary will be caged.”

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

•Dr. Jonathan

He also condoled with the first family and the citizens of Bayelsa over the sad loss. The Senate president, however, urged the family to take solace in the fact that although late Nancy lived a short life, she left a good legacy and impacted positively on her immediate environment.

NE hundred and twenty persons were killed in road crashes nationwide between December 19 and 28, according to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). The figure, FRSC said, translated to 42 per cent reduction when compared to 2013 figure of 208, within the same period. The Corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, said this yesterday in a statement on the FRSC yuletide patrol in Abuja. He said: “The reduction in figures between 2013 and 2014 was a fall-out of the Corps’ massive deployment of personnel and logistics along critical corridors, based on intelligence derived from 2013 yuletide operations.” The corps said it also recorded 48 per cent reduction in road traffic crashes within the period, which stood at 193, in comparison with 368 cases in 2013. The FRSC added that a 53 per cent reduction was also recorded in injuries in 2014, with 733 injured persons as against the 2013 figure of 1,564.

THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS

Osinbajo: Buhari ’ll lead fight against Boko Haram

LL Progressives Congress (APC’s) vice presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will personally lead the onslaught against Boko Haram, if elected. Prof. Osinbajo, who spoke on Channels TV on Sunday night, said: “Fighting insurgency requires the commander-inchief to lead from the front by providing leadership. “Instead of politicising the issue, APC will galvanise all support and ensure that the threat to the territorial integrity of the country is put on check. And General Buhari will ensure that the entire nation is mobilised, irrespective of party affiliation to solve the problem. “We will not be looking for the faults of the PDP or accuse them of sponsoring it, as is presently the case. Everyone knows that the opposition today is not responsible for the insurgency.” Osinbajo also hailed the Nigerian Army, which, he said,

was capable of defeating “Boko Haram in days”. The APC vice presidential candidate promised to provide the necessary equipment and conditions to make the fight effective. He said: “We have some of the best soldiers one can find anywhere. All you need is to equip them well.” Osinbajo, who is also a pastor, spoke about how his church service affects his work as a politician. “The reason I function as a pastor is essentially because I want to touch the lives of as many people as possible with the love of Jesus Christ and we must, in every situation we find ourselves, be able to help the poor, be able to help those who can’t help themselves and stand up for justice. “I will do same as a political leader. All of these roles must be played in the same way and with the same motivation. As far as I am concerned, it is all the same”.

Claiming that “the entire nation is tired of the state of things”, he promised that the APC would bring the needed change, if given an opportunity to govern Nigeria. He dismissed the claim that the APC presidential candidate was a religious fundamentalist, saying that “General Buhari is a very credible individual that does what he says”. Listing Buhari’s antecedents, he said: “He believes he must be careful with the commitment he makes and he always wants to fulfill that commitment. Over the years, he has come to embrace the tenets of democracy. He is in every way someone that should be trusted with democratic governance. “I think that it has been over 20 years since 1983. We cannot judge a man with what he was in 1983 and today. “I think the claim that Buhari is a fundamentalist is unfair. “The PDP has done a fairly

good job in making it appear that he is a fundamentalist. I think that is unfair. No one has ever accused General Buhari of being an Islamist. “He has never been a fundamentalist. When he was in office, his deputy was a Muslim. They were under pressure to join the Organisation of Islamic Countries, but they refused. Seventy per cent of the members of his cabinet were Christians. He worked very well with Christians.” Prof. Osinbajo also exonerated the former head of state from the post-election violence of 2011, insisting that a statement by Buhari at that time could not have triggered the violence. On what the APC would do differently if elected into power, he said the performance of the APC in the states it had its members as governors had demonstrated that good governance was not rocket science. “It is the first time that a party will say that his policies are

guided by what the man on the street wants. “We are looking at how the government can better the lives of the people directly while encouraging business and industry to do the same. “So at the core of the APC’s manifesto is the common man. The man on the street. “We will have social security. We will focus on jobs for the young people, universal health insurance, conditional cash transfers for the poorest people in the society and explore several options for power. Power makes it difficult now for industry and business to take-off in Nigeria,” Prof. Osinbajo said. He also said the APC would further privatise the power sector’s transmission, which he emphasised was an important process in power generation. On security, the APC vice presidential candidate said the party would tackle poverty in the North to ensure that Boko Haram sect did not find young and poor youths to recruit.

•Prof. Osinbajo

Prof. Osinbajo noted that the economy would have grown more if its problems had been tackled. “The problem of the Nigerian economy is management of the resources and that is critical with the way the APC government would deal with issues. One of the issues surrounding the economy is a complete lack of accountability. “What the government needs is accountability. Resources must be managed well. If you don’t fight corruption and make people face the consequences of corruption, you will find the same problem,” he said.

APC, NGF commiserate with Jonathan over sister’s death

•The less-priviledged children with gifts donated to them by Ebi Christmas Smile Initiative at the New Year’s celebration at Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State...yesterday. PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO.

Gana: Jonathan ’ll campaign in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will take President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other states in the Northeast ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents. Chairman of the PDP fundraising dinner and former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, stated this in Abuja yesterday. Gana is also the director, Contact and Mobilisation of the President’s campaign organisation. Towns and villages in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states are under Boko Haram’s attacks. A number of the towns and villages have been seized by the sect members, with hundreds of innocent citizens killed, maimed and abducted. Gana said: “As the director, Contact and Mobilisation, yes, we are going to go to the Northeast. The campaign organisation is going to be inaugurated today (yesterday) and because we are organised, the programme is ready. “Northeast is in our programme and in fact, we are going to campaign in Maiduguri, Yobe and everywhere else. And by the grace of God, we shall

•‘N21b donation for party secretariat, others’ From Gbade Ogunwale and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

come back.” On the chances of the PDP in next month’s elections, Prof. Gana said the electorate will go for capacity and experience. His words: “People will go for experience and capacity and not those that will be experimenting with the new house, because we don’t know whether the new house will last after the election. “People, who want to be stable, build on solid rock, which is the PDP. The other one is the sand; and when you build on sand, it may scatter. Please advise Nigerians to vote for the party that is on the rock. “This is a critical year for Nigeria, but it will all go well. There won’t be violence; the elections will be free and fair. The winner will be clear and Nigeria will not break up. Anyone who says Nigeria will be divided will be disappointed, because Nigerians have become very mature politicians and democrats.” Gana also said the N21 bil-

‘

Northeast is in our programme and in fact, we are going to campaign in Maiduguri, Yobe and everywhere else

‘

lion donated by individuals and corporate bodies towards the president’s re-election campaign at a fundraiser in December would be used to complete the PDP national secretariat building under construction and other party projects. He spoke at a news conference at the construction site of the party’s permanent secretariat building, located at the Central Area of the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, N10.5 billion would be used to complete the building while the remaining N10.5 billion would be expended on capacity building for

party officials at various levels. He added that party projects in the 36 states of the federation would also be financed with part of the money. The party may have made a detour, apparently as a result of the public outrage that greeted the donations, in which the amounts donated by individuals and corporate bodies exceeded what the Electoral Act stipulated. Defending the purpose for raising the N21 billion donation, Prof. Gana said: “The administration of the party resolved that we must complete this project, so that we can move here. “So, part of the preparations for this year’s campaign is for us to raise funds and I had the honour of leading a very distinguished team of Nigerians to prepare for the fundraising. “We raised about N21 billion on that day. And the purpose of this press conference is to say that right from the start, we were raising money for the PDP and the project of the party. “The documents and letters said so, the speeches confirmed

it. During the day of the fundraising, in my own speech and the speech of the vice president who happens to be an architect there was a specific focus on this building; that this is one project we want to complete. “The vice president, being an architect, gave graphic details of where we were on this project and how we desired to go ahead. Therefore, the central aim of the fund-raising was to empower the party to complete this building and other projects. “The second is of course to empower the party to campaign for its candidates. Not for the President alone, but for others. The presidential candidate has the right and he is going to use that right to raise fund for his campaign quietly. “So, we want to make it clear that the money raised was for the PDP and a substantial part of it will be for the completion of this building. “As already noted, we need over N10 billion to complete it and so, even if we raise and we hope that we are going to raise more, half of the money is already going to be for the building and other projects.

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan on the death of his sister, Mrs. Nancy JonathanOlei. The APC urged Jonathan to take solace in God for the unquantifiable loss. In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the “loss of a loved one is always an unfathomable tragedy, which is compounded when such death occurs at an unripe age.” “We pray that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed, comfort the President and his entire family and give them the strength to bear their loss. “We also wish the immediate family of the deceased God’s succour in their moment of darkness,” it said. The Chairman of the NGF and Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi sympathised with Jonathan in a condolence statement by his Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, yesterday. The statement said: “We understand the pain and grief of losing a loved one. The pain of an untimely death is immeasurable, and we pray that God grant Mr. President and the entire family of the bereaved the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. “We appreciate that her demise is a huge lose to the bereaved family. Unfortunately, death is an inevitable constant to all mortals. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. President and the family of the bereaved in their moment of grief. We also pray that the soul of the deceased rest in the bosom of the Almighty.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Ijebu monarchs pray for Abiodun

RADITIONAL rulers in Ijebuland yesterday converged on the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, to pray for the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in Ogun East, Dapo Abiodun. The traditional rulers, who arrived at 7:30am, said the creation of Ijebu state topped the priorities of the people. They urged the APC candidate to treat the issue as a critical mission when he gets to the Senate. The monarchs prayed for Abiodun’s success in the February 14 election. Abiodun said the state ought to have been listed as an oil-producing state, noting that there were oil and gas deposits at Olokola in Ogun Waterside Local Government. He, however, promised to serve the people with all his might and influence. The Awujale hugged and blessed the candidate, upholding him as a promisekeeper. Abiodun’s visit coincided with the New Year prayer session of the traditional council. The APC candidate was accompanied by the Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela and the APC chairman in the district, Mr Elias.

Ajimobi confirms appointment of HoS

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has announced the confirmation of the Acting Head of Service, Soji Eniade and 17 permanent secretaries. He made the announcement yesterday while addressing civil servants at the inter-faith prayer service marking the first working day of the New Year at the Governor’s Office Car Park, Ibadan. Ajimobi also announced the confirmation of the acting accountant-general, auditorgeneral (State) and the auditor-general (Local Governments) while some retired senior directors were also considered for appointment as permanent secretaries. He back-dated their

•17 perm secs, others too •To pay salary this week From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

promotions and promised to pay their December salary this week. The governor’s announcement was received with a tumultuous applause by the excited civil servants. Ajimobi, who thanked God for supporting his administration in transforming the state, said the government had done well when compared with previous administrations. “We thank God for how He has helped us since three and a half years ago. By all standards, our government has

done well when compared with our predecessors. “The restoration of our state to the right status would not have been possible without all stakeholders, especially the civil servants.” The governor urged them to be more committed, dedicated and hardworking in the new year to enable them play their part in fully restoring the state to its glorious position. He highlighted some of the initiatives undertaken to improve the lot of civil servants to include recruitment of over

5,000 teaching and non-teaching staff as well as 30,000 YESO cadets, training for all workers, increase of car loan and promotion of all those who are due. “Today, I’m very proud of the civil service we have in Oyo State,” he said. Eniade hailed the governor for the positive impacts his policies have made on the state. He urged the civil servants to reciprocate by improving on their productivity and dedication to work. At the programme were the Deputy Governor Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ismail Alli.

•Prof. Ajibefun

HE lawmaker representing Ose in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs Fola Olasehinde-Vicente, threatened yesterday to sue the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) for declaring her as its candidate. She denied participating in the party’s primary election. The lawmaker said she remained in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and committed to its victory in next month’s general elections. Mrs. Olaseinde-Vincete lost her bid to return to the Assembly during the APC primary election. A statement by her counsel, Charles Titiloye, advised the UPN leadership to retract the alleged nomination or face legal action. The lawmaker advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)to disregard her nomination by UPN. She said election is not “a do-or-die affair and no matter who wins, APC must move forward and win the general election”.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

‘APC will win in Ekiti’

Ondo varsity gets new VC HE Ondo State government announced yesterday the appointment of Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun as the new vicechancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA). A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, in Akure, said the appointment was with immediate effect. Prof. Ajibefun succeeds Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, whose tenure expired January 4. He was the rector of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), until his appointment. Born July 28, 1964, Ajibefun, a First Class Honours graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), began his academic career in 1993 as an assistant lecturer, from where he rose to become an associate professor in October 2006. He is a member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists, the African Economic Research Consortium, the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists, the Nigerian Economic Society and the Nigerian Participatory Rural Appraisal Network.

Lawmaker to sue UPN

•Students of Government Secondary School (GSS) Garki, Abuja, resuming for academic activities...yesterday. PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

Ekiti PDP aspirant contests result in court

HE controversy trailing the December 6 House of Representatives primary in Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 assumed a new dimension as one of the aspirants, Oluwole Bamidele, filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking a rerun. Bamidele is challenging the declaration of former Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Thaddeus Aina, as the purported winner of the primary. The aspirant, who addressed a briefing in AdoEkiti yesterday, accused Governor Ayo Fayose of

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

imposing Aina. Bamidele and four other aspirants contested the PDP ticket for Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2, which comprises of Moba, Ido/Osi and Ilejemeje local governments, where accreditation continued till late in the night. The aspirant accused the party’s electoral officer, Odunayo Talabi a.k.a. Arinka and the returning officer, Afolabi Akanni, of “eloping from the venue of the primary as they were

12 in Oyo governorship race

WELVE candidates are to contest the February 28 governorship election in Oyo State. Their names were displayed on the governorship list at the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ibadan, the state capital yesterday. They are Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party (LP); Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord; Senator Teslim Folarin of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Oluseyi Makinde of Social Democratic Party (SDP). Others are Hakeem Olayiwola of Kowa Party; Segun Olalere of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA); Adeolu Sosanya of African

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Peoples Alliance (APA) and Sade Mustapha of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP). The rest are Taiwo Otegbeye of Action Alliance (AA); Akinsipe Adebola of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Yinusa Ayandoye of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). The 12 candidates have been cleared by the electoral umpire; their campaigns are expected to hit the nooks and crannies of the state in full swing as from today. The commission’s spokesman, Ayodele Folami, said the display of the list of the candidates during the holidays was in compliance with relevant sections of the Electoral Act, which guides INEC’s operations.

recalled by the governor to Ado-Ekiti”. He explained that after accreditation at 7pm on that day, the development compelled the postponement of the primary to the next day by party leaders in the presence of INEC officials, security operatives and the media. “As law-abiding citizens, I, with other stakeholders, have no choice but to approach the court to seek redress to this fundamental breach. “The matter is waiting for mention at Abuja Federal High Court. “In the light of the forego-

ing, it will be quite laughable if anyone parades himself as the PDP candidate in Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2. “I want to say that such person is merely wasting his time. “Since this matter is before the court, it will be subjudice to comment further on it. “However, let it be told to the good people of our constituency that the PDP does not have a candidate, until the court decides. “After all, I am not asking for automatic ticket, but let the people decide. It is their right, it is their mandate.”

Aspirant chided over statement

HE national coordinator for the Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi Campaign Organisation, Oluwole Ajayi, has condemned the statement credited to one of the aspirants who contested for the Oyo South senatorial ticket. Femi Olaore reportedly said the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary was inconclusive. Olaore, Fola Akinosun, Abimbola Aboderin and Omotosho Kingsley have petitioned the National Assembly primaries appeal panel. But Ajayi said: “I wonder why Olaore cannot accept the result. The result was free, fair and credible and the venue accommodated all the

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

3,000 delegates, along with the security operatives. Is it that the delegates were fake or were the candidates unacceptable to the delegates? “And why was it that when they wanted to declare the result that they started shouting and protesting? Akanbi won with 83.5 per cent, others shared the remaining 16.5 per cent. “The delegates’ support for Akanbi was overwhelming. “We really appreciate the outpouring of love. I thank the people of his constituency. He will not disappoint them. APC members rely on God and he will continue to rely on God too.”

HE Ekiti Central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbenga Olofin, has assured that the party’s people-oriented programme will ensure victory for all its candidates. The candidate hinged his optimism on the discipline within APC as the most organised party grounded in grassroots appeal. Blaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for all the woes that have beset Nigeria, the politician said APC had gained tremendous strength from its initial setbacks at its formative stage. “APC candidates are reputable and responsible people with proven record of integrity, which will brighten the party’s chances in the polls. “Above all, Ekiti voters are wiser now and would not want a repeat of suffering and poor governance going on in the state and in the national and state assemblies.” Olofin said it was time Nigerians voted out the PDP and retraced their steps to a party that would guarantee their survival and economic prosperity.

Oguntuase: Police urge caution From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE police in Ondo State have urged the family of the late Dr. David Oguntuase to wait for the outcome of the autopsy. The paediatrician was reportedly burnt to death in his clinic at Oke-Ibukun Area, Akure, on Christmas Day. His relatives are alleging that the doctor was killed by assassins, who reportedly mutilated his body before setting the building ablaze. Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said: “Now that pathologists have come to perform the post mortem, we should exercise restraint and wait for the result.” It was learnt that samples of the late Oguntuase’s remains were sent to the United States for further investigation and the result expected this week.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS APC, INEC close defence at Osun Tribunal •Adoption of final address adjourned till Jan 28

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday closed their defence in a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the August 9, last year, election, Iyiola Omisore, at the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal. The Justice Elizabethe Ikpejime-led tribunal adjourned the case till January 28 for the adoption of final addresses. APC’s counsel Ajibola Basiru, at the resumed hearing, told the three-man panel of his client’s decision to close the case after reviewing the evidence and found out that no case had been made by the petitioners. Subsequently, INEC’s counsel Ayotunde Ogunleye opened his defence and tendered the Certified True Copies (CTC) of Form EC8E (overall result declaration form), summary of the Permanent Voter Cards Distribution list and the certificate of the list. While counsel to other respondents raised no objection to the admissibility of the documents, the petitioner’s counsel, Nathaniel Oke only raised an objection to the Certificate of the PVCs Distribution List on the ground that it was not front loaded. Replying, INEC’s counsel, who argued that the objection could not be sustainable, said the PVCs Distribution List was front loaded but because it was printed from a computer and its certificate produced as provided by law. Subsequently, the tribunal admitted the document as exhibits 395, 396 and 397. After being admitted, the INEC counsel applied to close the commission’s case without calling any witness. He said: “We apply to close our case upon the evaluation

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

of the case made out by the petitioner, coupled with the evidence we have extracted from the witnesses called so far by other respondents and the petitioner. “Also, the documents tendered so far are the documents coming from us and as such, we will need no further oral evidence.” Each of the respondents are to file their written addresses within 10 days, while the petitioners have seven days to file their addresses, just as respondents have another five days to reply on point of law. Addressing reporters after the sitting, counsel to the first respondent, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Wale Afolabi, said it was not necessary for the respondents to call any other witness, saying the evidence on ground was enough to have the petition thrown away. He said: “There is nothing in the petition at all, because if you look at the quality of the witnesses they called and our cross-examination which are all in evidence, you will know that we have no reason to fear at all. “As I speak to you now, I can tell you that our written addresses are ready, because we prepare it daily and we review it often. In fact, we will file before the due date.” Basiru said the witnesses called by the petitioners did not even state the case they brought to court. According to him: “The expert that they brought even admitted that false entries were there in his report and the testimonies he has given. That is to tell you that they have not made any case.” Oke said it was for the tribunal to evaluate the evidence before it and determine which of the parties was right.

PDP to APC: focus on real HE Peoples Democratcampaign ic Party (PDP) has called

on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, to focus on “real campaign” and try to win followers genuinely, instead of applying “cheap diversionary tactics” A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the APC’s change agenda should be based on issues and not on change of dressing and religious gathering. The statement said: “This election is not about political window-dressing and dramatising. What will count is record of performance and antecedents. “It is therefore not surprising that the APC and its presidential candidate will resort to organising a kangaroo opinion rating in a failed attempt to cover up their inadequacies and manipulate public perception in their favour.” The statement described the poll as “phantom”, designed in such a way to make the public believe that 75 per cent of the voting population are in support of General Buhari ahead of the February 14 presidential election.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Abuja

“Our findings reveal that the APC leaders are intensifying efforts to compromise some section of the media so as to ensure that the poll packaged by its foreign consultants is widely publicised. “Part of the strategy is a disguised mobile phone balloting application being circulated by the APC, whereby a curious click elicits a thankyou message from them and automatically register the unsuspecting phone user as having voted in support of General Buhari. “We are indeed shocked at the level the APC and its presidential candidate have sunk in their desperation for power. “We hereby urge Nigerians, particularly the media, to be wary of this plot to deceive the public and truncate our democratic process. “Our final advice to the APC is that it should focus on real campaign and stop playing to the gallery. Lies, no matter how much embellished can never take the place of truth and nothing built on falsehood stands.”

•Fashola (second left); Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Ambode (left) and State APC Chairman, Chief

Henry Ajomale...yesterday.

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

•Sulaimon (third right) with (from left): Sanyaolu; Ayinde; Famiyiwa; Adigun and Ojora taking the oath...yesterday

Fashola swears in 57 executive secretaries

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday swore in 57 executive secretaries to direct the affairs of the state’s 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas. Fashola presided over the ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa. The event was witnessed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, families of the new appointees as well as party chieftains and supporters. The governor explained that the state could not conduct elections to replace the elected chairmen, whose tenure expired in October, due to the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule. “While it is true that it is the State Independent Electoral Commission that is responsible for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the registers used for the election are those compiled by INEC. “Compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the tenure of the chair-

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Tajudeen Adebanjo

men and councillors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voter registration and that records were yet to be completed. “This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity till the end of March.” The governor said the appointment of the executive secretaries was not an electoral process, but an exercise of his prerogative as provided by the constitution to prevent a vacuum in grassroots governance. Fashola said unlike in the past where sole administrators were appointed, the executive secretaries would work with four others. To the new appointees, the governor urged them to focus on service delivery to the people. “We expect you to focus on your primary responsibilities at the local government level. The first duty of any gov-

ernment is to secure lives and properties, so my first mandate to you is to go and integrate all members of your community, whatever part of Nigeria they come from, whatever religion they profess, whatever language they speak. “After this, then you can go ahead with your subsequent responsibilities to improve the quality of primary healthcare, primary education, sanitation and do the roads that you can do within the limits of the funds that will be available to you.” In their acceptance speeches, Omofunmilewa Adejombo (Agege), Jelili Sulaimon (Alimosho) and Princess Opeyemi Akindele (Mosan-Okunola), thanked the governor and party leaders for giving them the opportunity to serve. Adejombo promised to be dedicated and committed to improving the standard of living of the people. Sulaimon said he would introduce free feeding for primary school pupils in Alimosho. Princess Akindele promised to work with INEC officials to ensure that eligible voters in her council collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Some of the newly sworn in Executive Secretaries include: Abayomi Daramola (Iru-Victoria Island); Ismail Bello (Coker Aguda); Sikiru Lawal (Ojo); Bola Olujobi (Oriade); Wale Azeez (IgandoIkotun); Toyin Caxton-Martins (Ikoyi/Obalende); Princess Omolara Oyekan Olumegbon (Eti-Osa East); Mulikat Ajala (Itire-Ikate); Kunle Sanyaolu (Egbe-Idimu); Wahab Adigun (Ifelodun); Tajudeen Ojora (Ajeromi Ifelodun); Rasaq Kasali (Lekki); Habib Salami (Ibeju-Lekki); (Segun Jubril (Isolo), Fausat Hassan (Ojokoro); Moshood Abiola (Onigbongbo); Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu); Bayo Adebisi (Ikorodu North); Princess Aduni Oyefusi (Ikorodu West); Muyiwa Adesoya (Imota); Taiwo Orenuga (Igbogbo-Baiyeku); Toyosi Olusi (Lagos Island); Omotosho Lukman (Lagos Island East); Jide Bello (Mushin); and Rasak Ajala (Odi-Olowo). Others include, Abiodun Oresanya (Somolu); Oyoke Yahaya (Iba); Alabi David (Bariga); Olajobi Dauda (Oshodi); Tajudeen Alabi (Ejigbo); Dele Hussain (Surulere); David Famuyiwa (Agbado Oke-Odo); Ahmed Seriki (Epe); and Ajibola Ojodu (Amuwo Odofin).

Maintain positive attitude, says Ekiti deputy governor

HE Ekiti State government has urged its workforce to maintain a positive attitude and be more diligent in the new year. It assured that it would improve the workers’ condition of service in the year. Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola gave the assurance at a special prayer

session with his office staff to mark the beginning of work in the new year. Olusola urged civil servants to brace up for the challenges of restoring the lost glory of the state. He advised the people to put their trust in God, adding that prayers and hard work are the only ingredients that can change the state and transform it.

The deputy governor said the various negative predictions of hard time and dwindled economic situation being experienced in the country are surmountable, if the people put their trust in God. Olusola said government would reward hard work and accord due recognition to deserving public servants.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

•Life returned to Ikorodu Road in Lagos yesterday after the Christmas / New Year celebrations PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Man alleges police cover-up in ear biting case

MAN whose right ear was bitten off by a trader at the Ladipo and parts market in Lagos has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, over attempts to cover up the case. Sunday Nwali is alleging that the police are conniving with the trader whose name was simply given as Nzube to kill the case. Nwali claimed that Nzube and his friend Samuel attacked him at the market last month. The matter was earlier reported at the Area ‘D’ Police Sta-

By Ebele Boniface

tion in Mushin, but the suspects allegedly sent a petition on the matter to the State Criminal investigations Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland. Since the petition was sent, the petitioners have not appeared at the SCID, The Nation learnt yesterday. In his petition to the Commissioner of Police (SCID), which was copied Aderanti, Nwali said: “I am facing intimidation in the hands of persons who want to deny me justice by claiming that

from December 22 2014, when I went to the SCID with my IPO (Investigating Police Officer) from the Area ‘D’, the suspects had not surfaced up till now. It shows that they want to evade justice by lying and refusing to come to the SCID. I want them to be invited there to explain why they chopped off my right ear without offending them.” The Lagos Command spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said both reports would be looked into.

•Nwali

Workers advised on service delivery

‘Remove politicians’ posters, face the law’

AGOS State Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti has warned thugs to desist from removing politicians’ posters and billboards or face the law. He gave the warning yesterday while addressing reporters at the Command’s Headquarters at GRA, Ikeja. The police chief, who said the ban on campaigns had been lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured all contestants of a level-playing ground. His admonition, he said, followed complaints to the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) by some candidates over the removal of their billboards and posters. Aderanti said the Electoral Act 2010 as amended is clear in Section 100 (2), which stipulates: “State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or

my case has been transferred to SCID, Panti, whereas they wanted to use it to escape justice. Sir, I wish to bring to your knowledge that the persons named Nzube and Samuel (their surnames unknown) can be easily identified and located at the Conference Warehouse, Toyota Area of Ladipo Market. Nzube who bit off my right ear with mouth has been dribbling me with the policemen at Olosan Division and Area ‘D’ in Mushin. “They said that my case had been transferred to SCID, yet

•Aderanti By Ebele Boniface

disadvantage of any political party or candidate of any election.” He said he had directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to arrest anybody that attempts to remove the billboards or posters of any candidate. The command, he said, would not allow anyone to truncate the forthcoming elections.

HE Lagos State Government has charged public servants to render qualitative services. The Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, gave the charge yesterday at the 2015 First Working Day Inter-religious Prayer held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Christian and Muslim clerics led prayers at the event. Mrs Williams urged public servants to reflect on what they did in the past in order to improve. She said many public servants lacked self-esteem, adding: “Self-esteem will make you do a lot of things right. It will make you to do the wrong thing; so, we need self-esteem to do things right. Self-esteem will make you have the right relationship with others. Don’t think others are better than you are. Enjoy whatever position you find yourself and don’t run yourself down.” Mrs Williams stressed the need for public servants to join

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

hands with the government to build a virile and vibrant public service. She said the government remained committed to workers’ welfare and would continue to take steps to improve their lots, noting that Lagos is one of the few states in the federation that paid workers promptly. Mrs Williams urged the workers to reciprocate the welfare gesture, pointing out the state‘s has the wherewithal to always deliver. “You have to resolve to give your best because the state government is paying your salaries despite all odds. Some states even owe up to six months salaries, but that is not our case; we were have paid your bonus. You need to have the ‘can do it’ spirit. I know we are all vibrant, but our best is yet to come. Let us work together in peace and harmony,” she said. Rev. Veras Alawale of the Chapel of the Christ the Light

Church, Alausa, advised the workers to improve their attitude to work, adding: “You need to dedicate your lives to God more in the New Year. You need God to do better on your job. Always do the right things and seek God`s guidance in all you do through fervent prayers.” Imam Babatunde Kassim of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, enjoined public servants to always thank the Almighty Allah and endeavour to seek His guidance and protection in all their endeavours. Prayers were also offered for Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive council, the public service, the state and the nation. The event witnessed the addition of five new staff buses to the existing fleet. Mrs Williams said the buses were part of measures to solve workers’ transportation challenges, urging those in charge to ensure efficient use of the vehicles.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Dollar posts biggest gain as ruble sinks

HE dollar posted its best year since at least 2005 amid speculation the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next year as policy makers in Europe and Japan ease further. The greenback climbed versus all of its 31 major peers in 2014 as data showed growth in the (United States) U.S. economy accelerated to the fastest pace in more than a decade. The yen tumbled for a third straight year as the Bank of Japan expanded currency-depreciating stimulus in an effort to overcome deflation. The euro slid amid mounting expectation that the European Central Bank, which next meets on Jan. 22, will start buying sovereign bonds. Russia’s ruble led the currencies of oil exporters lower. “It has been a good year for the dollar. It’s experienced broad-based gains, the Fed concluded its quantitativeeasing program and signaled that rate hikes are coming. All of these things, along with a positive fundamental outlook and strong economic data, are positive for the dollar,” Eric Viloria, a strategist at Wells Fargo & Co. in New York, said in a phone interview. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the U.S. currency against 10 major peers, rose 11 per cent this year, the most in data going back to 2005. The gauge added 0.2 per cent to 1,131.06 at 5 p.m. New York time after closing at 1,133.13 on Dec. 23, the highest since March 2009. The yen fell 0.3 per cent to 119.78 per dollar after depreciating to 121.85 on Dec. 8, the weakest since July 2007. The currency declined 12 percent this year. The euro dropped 0.5 per cent to $1.2098 today, extending an annual 12 per cent loss, the most since 2005. Japan’s currency rose 0.3 per cent to 144.85 per euro. Financial markets were shut today in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines, and closed early in Australia and Singapore for end-of-year holidays. European markets including the London Stock Exchange and the NYSE Euronext’s European cash markets also had shortened trading days. Russia’s ruble lost the most of the U.S. dollar’s 31 major peers this year, falling 46 percent, as it caved under the pressure of U.S. and European sanctions and sliding oil prices. The nation’s economy may contract about 4 percent in 2015 if oil stays at $60 a barrel, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. Crude touched a fiveyear low of $52.44 a barrel in New York today and slid 45 percent in the past 12 months, the worst year since 2008. Currencies of other oil exporters also suffered, with the Norwegian krone slumping 19 per cent, Nigeria’s naira dropping 13 percent and the dollar of Canada slipping 8.6 per cent.

There is nothing wrong in having a robust renewable energy programme in the country. In fact, government has taken a step in that direction by introducing the: ‘Light Up Nigeria’ scheme. - Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Rueben Okeke

Govt needs 1,584.74Mw to meet power target N EARLY a week into the New Year, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is still 1,584.79 Mega Watts (Mw) away from realising the Federal Government’s 5,000Mw target for last year. The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, however, explained during the 2014 Ministerial Platform in Abuja that the generation of 5,000Mw might not spill beyond this month. His words: “Some people are asking about the completion of NIPP. I have mentioned about Alaoji , Gabrian and Omoku. I don’t think they will spill beyond January for achieving 5,000Mw because the gas is already available.” But in the Power Statistics posted on the website of the Power Ministry yesterday, it

• TCN records 100.22Mw wheeling gap From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

said the Electricity Generation Companies (GENCos) produced 3,415.21 Mw on January 4. The Ministry added that of the 3,415.21 Mw, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) evacuated 3,314.99Mw to the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs). It stressed that TCN recorded a 100.22Mw wheeling gap. There was however no mention of how many Mw

the DISCOs were able to distribute to their customers in a market that is characterised by weak transformers/ feeders and other challenges. The minister had in the last year’s ministerial platform disclosed that some of the companies were rejecting their load allocation. This latest statistics however showed that the GENCOs hit a peak generation of 3,646.80Mw. The market highest peak generated power, according to the January 4 statistics was

4,517.6 Mw of December 23, 2012. Its peak demand forecast is 12,800Mw. In its penultimate power statistics of December 29, the Ministry had said the GENCOs produced 4,112.29Mw from which the TCN was able to evacuate 4,034.48Mw, which culminated to a wheeling gap of 77.81Mw. There was also an energy generation of 4,112.29Mw while the market hit a peak energy generation of 4,389.70Mw on the same December 29. Following the statistics, the electricity market transmission soared from 3,314.99Mw to the current 4,034.48Mw, which increased energy sent out by 719.49Mw within a week.

• Associate Vice President, Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG), Mr. Dayo Abegunde (left) receiving the VMware Solution Provider of the Year award from Nigeria Country Manager, VMware Incorporation, Mr. Emmanuel Adeogun.

U.S crude oil slips below $50/barrel as glut fear deepens T HE sell off in global oil markets showed little signs of slowing in the new year with United States (U.S) crude breaking below $50 a barrel, the first time since April 2009, on fears of a supply glut. Nigeria’s Annual Appropriation Bill (budget) is benchmarked against $65 per barrel crude oil. Analysts have urged a rework of the budget bu the Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, said though the government recognised the likelihood of further slide in oil prices, the government does not intend to revise the benchmark further down. He said the reason for government’s holding on to the $65 benchmark is because is “aware that price intelligence indicates that prices might

By Lucas Ajanaku with agency report

average between $65 and $70per barrel (pb) in 2015. This is anchored on the fact that American shale oil which is largely driving this price shocks also runs the risk of becoming unsustainable as it is produced at a high cost of at least $65 per barrel.” Benchmark Brent crude yesterday tumbled about six per cent, hitting new 5-1/2 year lows after data showed Russian oil output at postSoviet era highs and Iraqi oil exports at near 35-year peaks. U.S oil major, ConocoPhillips, added to the bearish sentiment somewhat, announcing it had struck first oil at a Norwe-

gian North Sea project. The euro‘s tumble to 2006 lows and slower-than-expected growth in U.S manufacturing, meanwhile, weakened prospects for the global economy. “There`s no doubt that we have a combination of supplies hitting their zenith at a time when demand is weakening,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. U.S crude‘s front-month contract was down $2.46, or five per cent, at $50.23 a barrel at 11:48 a.m. ET (1648 GMT), having fallen to $49.95 earlier. Front-month Brent hovered at $53 a barrel, down more than $3, after dropping to $52.66, its lowest since May

2009. Some traders appeared certain that U.S crude will hit the $40 region later in the week if weekly oil inventory numbers for the U.S last week showed another supply build. “We`re headed for a fourhandle,” said Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital Advisors in Laurel Hollow in New York. “Maybe not today, but I’m sure when you get the inventory numbers that come out this week, we definitely will.” Open interest for $40-$50 strike puts in U.S crude have risen several fold since the start of December, while $20-$30 puts for June 2015 have traded, said Stephen Schork, editor of Pennsylvania-based The Schork Report.

LASPEC prepares civil servants for retirement By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

HE Lagos State Pension C o m m i s s i o n (LASPEC), in a bid to adequately prepare public servants for retirement, is organising a seminar for over 1000 workers, who are retiring between January and June, its Director-General, Rotimi Adekunle Hussain, has said. Hussain who made this known to journalist in Lagos said the seminar which is the seventh of its kind will take place at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, the Secretariat, Alausa, January 8, this year. According to the LASPEC boss, the seminar which is usually being organised in collaboration with the state’s approved Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and insurance companies is designed to further broaden the knowledge of the would-be retirees on how best to prepare for their retirement and access their retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Hussain stressed further that the seminar will among other benefits, explain the procedures for processing end of service benefits; how they will monitor and ensure that their Retirement Savings Account is up to date with payment of the statutory monthly contributions and also expatiate on the two exit options of programmed withdrawal provided by the PFAs and Annuity for life option provided by the insurance companies. He added that other areas the seminar would cover include topics such as making good investment decisions and living healthy in retirement. Hussain recalled that as at the 15 th Retirement Bond Certificate presentation ceremony which was held in December, last year the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has paid a total sum of N30.47billion into the RSA of 5,773 retirees under the CPS. He added that the Commission has concluded arrangement for a one-day seminar for Directors of Finance and Administration (DFAs) and Pension Desk Officers on the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 which repealed the Pension reform Act 2004 on which the Lagos State Pension reform Law 2007 was based. The seminar which comes up January 15 will enable Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) of government to have a clearer understanding of the new Act and the implications for pension administration in the state public service.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

HE Federal Government has said it will not abolish payment of royalties by foreign carriers on commercial and bilateral air services agreements. Rather, it is going to review commercial agreements to enable it earn more revenue in view of falling oil prices. Part of the new arrangement will include payment of a new fee on air agreements that would profit the country more than mere royalties. The revenues expected from the review will position the aviation sector as strategic and make it to contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka said the review would bring more revenue for government compared to what was paid into the Federation Account from royalties by foreign carriers. He did not say how much is expected from the new payment regime for commercial air agreements from foreign carriers. There are about 27 foreign carriers operating into Nigeria with some enjoying more than a single entry. The airlines include: British Airways; Lufthansa; Emirates; Air France/ KLM; South African Airways; Ethiopian Airlines; Egypt Air and Turkish Airlines. Chidoka said the new arrangement would generate new revenue for government to address key infrastructure issues in the aviation sector. He said government decided to come up with the review as part of efforts to explore areas where the sector could fetch more money. Chidoka said government is aware of the directive by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requesting member states to further liberalise air transport by abolishing the collection of royalties. Government, he said, is studying the ICAO directive to ensure that Nigeria maximises the inherent potentials of its air transport agreements. Chidoka said: “Government has not abolished the payment of royalties on commercial air agreements. What government is putting in place is a new payment regime that would not be called royalties. Foreign carriers operating into Nigeria will still pay for agreements in an arrangement to be worked out by government. “It is not that foreign airlines operating into Nigeria will stop paying. The Federal Government is changing the mode of payments. So, we are waiting to put that in place. “So, we have extended the commercial agreement to March this year. So they are still paying and they will keep paying till March this year pending when we replace it with a fee that gets Nigeria more income from this strategic asset. That is what our commercial air agreements are to Nigeria. It is a natural asset. “So, we are trying to make sure that as foreign airlines lift passengers from Nigeria, government will get more resources from such operation. The idea is to ensure that government earns more revenue that we are getting under the commercial agreements. For now, foreign carriers are still paying royalties to government till March , after that time it will be reviewed.” Nigeria has over 78 bilateral, multi lateral and commercial agreements with many countries. Conservative estimates put earnings from such commercial and bilateral agreements at about $25 million annually.

•A table representing the flight frequencies of foriegn carriers out of Nigerian international airports .

Minister: why govt plans to review commercial agreements By Kelvin Osa-Okubor

Industry experts say the $25 million accruing annually from such agreements is paltry and urge the government to carry out a review to earn more revenue. Some experts say government could earn as much as N30 billion annually if it introduces slot allocation system at major international airports. Slot is a system whereby the airport management sells landing time and space to an airline for extra slots in addition to the existing frequency agreement between the country that owns the airline and Nigeria. The Ministry of Aviation last year informed foreign carriers of plans to stop the collection of royalties, a development that drew the ire of some experts in the sector. The Ministry had earlier set October 27, last year as the implementation date, but later postponed it to March this year. Domestic operators, acting under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have urged the government to design new measures that would earn it more revenue from the billions carted way by foreign carriers. In particular, the operators say a review of all commercial air agreements is long overdue, arguing that airlines granted multiple entry points into Nigeria should be made to pay heavily for their operations. Airlines enjoying multiple entry points into Nigeria include British Airways; Air France / KLM; Virgin Atlantic Airways; Lufthansa German Airlines; Emirates; Egypt Air; Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) described the proposed review of commercial agreement as long overdue. He said it is impressive that government has realised that it is losing revenue as the royalties paid by foreign carriers are inadequate compared to the money they make

in the country. He said Nigeria is not gaining enough from the 78 bilateral air services agreements it signed with many countries. Ojikutu called for a reversal to the single entry point in Nigeria for foreign carriers in line with the principle of reciprocity under which such agreements are signed. Experts, however, argued that more money could be earned if governments introduce slot allocation system at airports for foreign carriers. Only indigenous carriers will be given “ grand father rights “, priority. Other carriers are expected to apply for and pay to get landing and take off rights at major international airports. Aviation experts such as Mr Chris Aligbe, aviation economist, Mr Taiwo Adenekan and Managing Director, Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole have canvassed slot allocation system for foreign carriers as a window to generate revenue for government. They said the revenue lost to the abolition of royalties and commercial agreements could be regained if the slot allocation system is

adopted. Slot allocation system, according Aligbe, is the right granted by an airport owner, which allows the slot holder to schedule a landing or departure during a specific time. He said: “A landing slot, takeoff slot, or airport slot is a right granted by an airport owner which allows the slot holder to schedule a landing or departure during a specific time period. “Landing slots are allocated in accordance with guidelines set down by the IATA’s Worldwide Airport Slots Group. All airports worldwide are categorised. “Allocated landing slots may have a commercial value and can be traded between airlines. “If an airline doesn’t use an allocated slots then it could lose the rights. Airlines may operate ghost or empty flights to preserve slot allocations. “We should go ahead and create a slot allocation system and move away from bilateral air services agreements (BASA) and royalties because BASA royalties is a disappearing phenomenon that will become anachronistic in many places and they tell us it is commercial, they have transferred earning from

BASA to slots.” Aligbe insisted that payment for royalty or demand for royalty is becoming outdat-ed and no longer obtainable in the industry. Rather than depend on royalties arising from the commercial agreement, the government should commence slot allocation systems for airlines operating into Nigeria. He argued that in today’s global aviation industry, players are requesting for open skies, multiple designations, instead of dual designations and freer air, adding that as a result of open skies agreements, none of the United States (U.S) airlines operating into the country pays royalty to the Nigerian government. He argued that with effective slot allocation system, the Nigerian government would earn much more revenue from the system than it is presently earning through commercial agreements from airlines. He said: “What has come into place now is slot allocation system and the money made from slot, if we have one will be 10 times more than the royalties that we are currently getting from the airlines. In Europe and America, they have created slot as a quota system based on the argument that they have congestion and that slot has become very difficult to get. “That was why when Arik Air applied to London from Abuja, it was asked to pay for a pair of slot, the sum of 9,000 pounds daily. This means if you are going to fly seven times a week; that is 9,000 pounds times seven weekly. “Royalties should be phased out completely and we should put in place the slot system. Even in the books of airlines, the Lloyds did a study on European airlines, the money they earn from the secondary sales of slots is beginning to enter their account books. Some of them make now over 30 million and 60 million pounds. That is even the airlines and not the airport itself in secondary trade of slots”. Experts say Nigeria could make about N30 billion annually from slot allocation to foreign airlines as an alternative to royalties paid on BASA. The accruals will come from extra frequencies given to the airlines as many of them operate from different entry points in the country. For example, when Arik Air wanted to fly from Abuja to London, the airport management in London, the British Airports Authority (BAA) insisted the Nigerian airline should pay for slot amounting £250,000 (N63, 098, 225) per schedule (there are Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring schedules) which is equivalent to quarter of a year.

UAE bank finances Etihad Airbus 380

TIHAD Airways has received financial support from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) for its first Airbus A380-800 aircraft, which was showcased to the public at Abu Dhabi International Airport last week. ADCB is providing financing for one A380-800 aircraft following a competitive global request for proposal. The A380 is the first of a fleet of 10 A380s on order from Etihad Airways to enter service. Chief Financial Officer of Etihad Airways, James Rigney said: “We are thrilled to secure strong interest from Abu Dhabi’s local banks as we continue our journey of expansion. The new A380 marks the pinnacle of our service development with the unveiling of the Residence by Etihad bring-

ing a new level of luxury to the skies never before seen in aviation history. “ADCB delivered competitive, market leading terms and conditions – a reflection of the growing sophistication of local banks’ knowledge and expertise that is now giving them the competitive advantage.” During the past 10 years, Etihad Airways has raised more than $8 billion from 68 financial institutions to fund the purchase of aircraft and engines. Ala’a Eraiqat, CEO and Board Member of ADCB, said: “We are delighted to have financed Etihad Airways’ first A380-800 following a competitive bidding process and share the success of this state of the art aircraft”. Also, Etihad Airways has been selected Abu Dhabi-based FGB and

the National Commercial Bank (NCB) of Saudi Arabia to provide financing for the purchase of a number of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The financing from FGB and NCB is provided through Sharia-compliant facilities following a request for proposal issued in May this year, which saw high levels of interest from global banks and leasing companies. Rigney said: “The deal with FGB and NCB provides financing that enables us to expand our fleet significantly and deliver an unrivalled product on the new Boeing 787, creating an unmatchable guest experience through our first-of-kind, remodelled First, Business and Economy Class cabins”.

TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The die is cast between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State. As the two parties warm up for the governorship contest, Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the strengths and weaknesses of the flag bearers -- Akinwunmi Ambode and Olujimi Agbaje - and the issues that will shape the contest.

Ambode, Agbaje battle for Lagos Govt. House T

HE governorship election in Lagos State will be a straight fight between Akinwunmi Ambode of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But, Ambode, according to observers, may have the upper hand because his party has dominated politics in the state, since the restoration of civil rule in 1999. Indeed, since its inception, the state has been ruled by the progressives, except in the aborted Third Republic when the late Sir Michael Otedola of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) came to power through protest votes by aggrieved members of the proscribed Social Democratic Party (SDP). The odds are stacked in Ambode’s favour. But, the APC flag bearer is also not leaving anything to chance. When he was elected as the candidate at the primaries, he acknowledged that the task ahead is daunting, but surmountable. “We have only just commenced the first phase of the execution of our political agenda. The next phase beckons. We must all work together to usher APC back into power in Lagos State,” he said. Ambode said his intention is to create a more conducive business environment in the state, to attract more investment opportunities. “My mission and vision is to create a clean, secure, prosperous Lagos State that is driven by a vibrant economy and supported by quality service, equity and justice; a Lagos where no one is discriminated against on account of age, religion, creed or origin. “We have a legacy to build upon and it is our collective responsibility to build on the progress that Lagos has witnessed in the last 15 years. In building on the legacies of the last 15 years, it is important to expand the frontiers of doing business in the state that has the potential to be one of the top five economies in Africa. Lagos deserves nothing less and this shall continue to be my message to every Lagosian as we begin to solicit their votes. “On my part, I promise never to waiver or fail. I promise to energise and mobilise our teeming supporters in the next phase of this struggle. I put myself to the task knowing full well that the foundation laid must never be destroyed but built upon. I commit to the continuation of excellence and the upliftment of the lives of all Lagosians.” Ambode emerged through a keenly contested primary. He defeated 11 other aspirants with a wide margin. The primary was held at Onikan Stadium and was transmitted live on television. Ambode polled 3,735 of the total 5, 959 votes. His co-contestants, except two, have pledged to team up with him and work for his victory at the poll. Before the primary, many observers feared that with, 12 aspirants jostling for the APC ticket, there will be implosion, which would be to the advantage of the PDP in its quest to capture the state in next month’s election. The expectation was that the defeated aspirants would defect with their supporters to the PDP. But, that did not happen. One of the aspirants, Tayo Ayinde, described Ambode’s landslide victory as a reward of rigorous campaign, hard work and popularity. “As an APC loyalist, the victory of one of us is victory for all. I shall

• Ambode

continue to work for the interest of our party,” he pledged. On Ambode’s antecedents, analysts noted that he had been part of the Lagos success story in the last 15 years. But, being a civil servant, he was neither seen nor heard. He was in the background along several others, designing and implementing many of the policies that stood Lagos out from the rest of the country. It was under his watch that former Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu survived the war he fought against former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he (Tinubu) created additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which led to the seizure of local governments’ allocations by the Obasanjo administration. Ambode designed a template that revolution-alised revenue generation in the state from N600 million to over N6 billion monthly; thereby ensuring that all civil servants in the state received their monthly salaries without delay. Ambode is believed to have a burning desire to ensure that things continue to work in the state. “I have been part of the transformation of Lagos. I am one of the designers of the structure you are seeing in the state. Now is the time for me to take over the driver’s seat,” he noted. Agbaje, the PDP flag bearer, is another passionate Lagosian who has been yearning to contribute his quota to the state’s development. The strategy to draft Agbaje into the race on the platform of the PDP was devised in February 2013 when party stakeholders had a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on how to tackle the ruling party in the forthcoming general elections. It was at the meeting that it was agreed that Agbaje should be the party’s next governorship candidate in Lagos.

• Agbaje

The Agbaje agenda was said to have been conceived by the late National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi. Agbaje has been moving from one party to the other in the last couple of years. He was among the governorship aspirants in Lagos in 2007 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC). When he failed to get the party’s ticket, he defected to Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA) floated by Chief Olu Falae and Afenifere leaders. Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) de-registered DPA, Agbaje did not bother join any other party until recently when he formally defected the PDP. But, the primary that produced Agbaje as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Lagos was controversial. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro had engaged in a war of words with Agbaje and the leader of PDP in the state, particularly Chief Bode George, over the primary. He had also sued the PDP for not addressing a petition he wrote over the conduct of the primary. Through the intervention of the Presidency, the controversy has been resolved. Vice President Namadi Sambo was deployed to hold reconciliation talks and unite the warring factions. Obanikoro said at a press conference addressed by Jimi Agbaje with Sambo in attendance, that he and other aspirants have accepted Agbaje as the PDP governorship candidate. “Despite the inadequacies of our governorship primary, we have agreed today that Agbaje is the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State,” said Obanikoro. Agbaje told reporters that: “This is a defining moment in the life of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For once in the history of PDP in Lagos, we are approach-

ing a common opponent, as one solid, united and powerful force. All the aspirants in the governorship primary of Lagos State have agreed to smoke the peace pipe and gather under one banner. We listened to the voice of Nigerians, Lagosians in particular. They asked us to give and take. Differences, animosities, divergences are hereby declared dead”. Now that Agbaje has been accepted by other aspirants, can he break the 16-year old jinx and galvanise the party to victory? Agbaje was optimistic when he said “today a new chapter is being written in the annals of the PDP and by the grace of God in 2015, the PDP will record resounding victory in Lagos.” A chieftain of the APC and former Senate Minority leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora has however described the PDP’s hope of winning Lagos State in 2015 as daydreaming. He said: “Lagos is a strong APC state that has been under its control since 1999. We have seamless continuity from administration of Tinubu to that of Fashola. We have many things to show the people to justify the APC power domination in Lagos State. The emergence of Jimi Agbaje can not jeopardise our hold on to power in the state.” Mamora said the wind of change blowing across the country will make it impossible for the PDP to win Lagos in 2015. We are not taking the support of the people for granted. We will work hard for electoral victory. We don’t have any reason to be jittery over Agbaje. He is known to us. We don’t underrate him any way. We will let PDP know that Lagos is no go area. “What the APC has done in the past 15 years in the state will make us win in 2015 and beyond. We recognise Jimi Agbaje as a gentle man who is loved

‘The strategy to draft Agbaje into the race on the platform of the PDP was devised as far back as February 2013 when party stakeholders had a closeddoor meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on how to tackle the ruling party in the forthcoming general elections’

by the people but that will not be enough to make him win the governorship election. The candidate’s platform and the antecedents of the political party would determine who wins. Those factors give APC an edge over other political parties contesting governorship election in Lagos State.” A chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State, Chief Olufemi Williams said that the party has learnt from its past mistakes and that the stakeholders have resolved to ensure that the PDP goes into the coming election as one united front and not as a divided house. “Having united all the factions, the next thing is for all party members to queue behind our governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje. He is a sellable candidate that enjoys wide popularity among Lagosians and a match for the APC candidate”. To observers, it will be herculean for PDP to unseat the APC in Lagos State. They conceded that Agbaje is a credible candidate and a man of high integrity, but the platform on which he’s contesting may pose a problem. The PDP is not popular in Lagos. President Goodluck Jonathan has neglected Lagos more than any other regime presumably because it is being ruled by the opposition party. All the federal roads in the state are in state of disrepair. However, Agbaje is not a pushover. The Afenifere chieftain is a credible politician. He is loved by many people. In 2007, he was one of the aggrieved aspirants who defected from the AD, following the primaries that threw up Mr Babatunde Fashola as the candidate. As candidate of the DPA, he did not make much impact during the election. But the Afenifere has ruled out support for Agbaje. Chairman, Lagos State chapter of Afenifere, Chief Supo Shonibare told our correspondent that: “Afenifere in Lagos State is not part of PDP and Mr Jimi Agbaje has not approached Afenifere for support. Afenifere is supporting Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Southwest and its candidates. Lamenting his defection to the PDP, a chieftain of the APC said Agbaje has joined a bad company. He was alive when the PDP was described as nest of killers. He was there when Funsho Williams, the PDP governorship candidate in 2003 was murdered in his bedroom. Can he stand the sight of blood? Can he handle gun? Can he wait when he sees cutlass and broken bottles at campaigns? How would he achieve his political ambition on the platform of the PDP that is unpopular in Lagos? Agbaje has changed party platforms two times within seven years. His critics say his “inordinate” ambition is pushing him to join any political party that is ready to offer him its governorship ticket. It portrays him as an inconsistent politician. Conscious of this, Agbaje said “PDP is my last bus stop. My back is to the wall. It is forward ever, backward never. Why will I leave the PDP to go where? To me as a politician, such a situation makes no sense”. He spoke on his mission to transform Lagos, if elected. “My mission to serve, to renew and to uplift Lagos State into a true global Centre of Excellence and to transform the lives of residents of Lagos based on my abiding commitment to my city and my state. My mission is to provide people-centred leadership that focuses on transforming the lives of our people,” Agbaje said.

THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

POLITICS

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledginfg cheers from the crowd at the inauguration at the Osogbo Township Stadium

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was sworn-in for a second term last month amidst wild jubilation. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE writes on the challenges he will face in the preceding years.

Consolidating Aregbesola’s second term mandate W

HEN Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was inaugurated for his second term in office at the Osogbo Township Stadium recently, a mammoth crowd besieged the venue to be part of the historic event. From the state secretariat complex, to Freedom Park within the city centre and the stadium, the venue of the oath taking, flowers and other aesthetic materials dotted the streets; suggesting that the city was in a celebration mood. The inscriptions on walls and banners on strategic junctions within the capital also helped to express the feeling of the people over the triumph of Aregbesola in an election where soldiers tried to intimidate the electorate. At his inauguration, Aregbesola was full of praise for the determination and resilience displayed by the people on the day of the election. He described the people as the defenders of democracy, saying that the state would benefit from the confidence reposed in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), by the people through the policies and programmes of his administration in the next four years. Against this background, observers have enumerated the challenges that would confront the administration in Governor Aregbesola’s second term. The educational sector sector is one of such areas. During the electioneering campaign, opponents of the government tried to undermine Aregbesola’s educational policy, saying that it suggested that the governor is a religious zealot. It took the concerted efforts of government officials to explain the rationale of the education policy thrust. The government will have to embark on a more elaborate enlightenment campaign, to allay the fears of those who might have been swayed by the propaganda of the opponents. The government has reiterated that the APC administration did not make any attempt at any point to foist any religion on the people. On several occasions, Governor Aregbesola’s position showed that he accorded due respect to all the major religions in the state, including the traditional African religion that was hitherto relegated to the background. At public functions, due recognition was accorded to Christianity, Islam and the traditional religion of the people. Prayers were usually said by adherents of the three major religions. The task ahead of government is to continue to create the enabling environment for the people to practice their faith, irrespective of their political persuasion or social bearing. The government would also need to intensify its efforts towards transformation of the state, which is one of the areas that gave the administration the upper hand during the recent election. The transformation projects embarked upon by the government are quite enormous, despite the lean resources at its disposal. The

uncompleted ones would have to be completed during the period under review. Apart from the network of roads linking the various communities, the administration is also constructing an international airport. The airport would be the first of its kind in the Southwest. When completed, it would become a regional hub for repair of aircrafts. It is expected to increase the income of the Osun State, which has largely depended on subvention from the Federal Government. It is believed that the commitment towards the airport project would be realized during Aregbesola’s second term. The government is also expected to come up with policies to appease civil servants in the state, who usually show disdain towards government activities. As Governor Aregbesola’s re-election campaign intensified, some elements within the civil service wanted to spoil his return to Government House. The grouse Aregbesola has with the civil servants has to do with the blockage of avenues for wastages since he assumed office. They were so determined that the majority of them openly campaigned for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore. Some of the civil servants had altercation with members of the public in buses and market places while trying to justify their position that Governor Aregbesola did not deserve a second term. The governor would have to find ways to carry them along, despite the role they played during the polls. Though Osun is one of the states with very lean resources, government must improve the condition of service of workers in the state civil service. That is not to say that government should allow corruption in the system. But, there must be harmony in term of the resources at the disposal of government to what it can give to the people. During the heat of the campaign for the August 9 election, Governor Aregbesola’s opponents had stated that the N350 billion worth of loans was secured to finance many projects. They said the loans would mortgage the state and put it in serious debt. But, government officials have stated in several occasions that it is nothing but a mere propaganda to discredit the government. The Director General, Debt Management Office, Mr. Abraham

Nwankwo, has however absolved the administration of Governor Aregbesola of any wrongdoing in that regard, saying Osun State is one of the best states in the country in terms of debt management. He noted that the debt status of the state was sustainable. Observers insist that the state government needs to explain the issues surrounding the Osun debt profile to the people. It also needs to elaborate on the government’s ability to generate revenue to finance some of the on-going projects embarked upon by the administration. Some of the problems faced by the Osun State government include the reclassification and merger of schools. These issues became to a threat to government toward the end of the first term in office. The reclassification offended some religious leaders, but of all the candidates that took part in the election, Aregbesola’s education programme stood out as the best. “Government needs to further harness the success recorded to move the state ahead in the coming years,” an observer noted. Another issue that requires urgent attention of the government is the compensation of those whose buildings were demolished during the expansion of roads and other projects. The issue reared its head during the campaigns, as there were agitations by some aggrieved persons that people should not vote for the incumbent governor because of his refusal to compensate victims. Aregbesola came out of the election victorious. What is now at stake is that those with genuine cases and valid documents should be compensated. The governor must ensure that the deed of titles get to the right person. In doing this, the unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck by government officials must be checked. During the campaign, Governor Aregbesola promised to disburse N4 billion loans to empower the people. But, the opposition maintained that it was an empty promise. The opposition believes that government would not do it after winning the election. Analysts believe that the governor is a man of his words and that he would fulfill what he promised. Now that the second term has begun, his critics and those expected to benefit from various empowerments are warming up to benefit from the promise made by government.

‘The government would also need to intensify its efforts towards transformation of the state, which is one of the areas that gave the administration the upper hand during the recent election. The transformation projects embarked upon by the government are quite enormous, despite the lean resources at its disposal’

The Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) has done a lot for the people during the first term of the government. The programme has been hailed in the across the country in view of the number of youths taken off the streets. The governor had promised to double the number of youths engaged in the OYES scheme. If this is done, with the present capacity of over 40,000 youths earning their livelihood from the OYES programme, during the second term another 40,000 youths would join the scheme. This will be additional burden on the resources of the state. But, the effort would impact positively on the populace; by helping to arrest youth restiveness and other social vices. The government’s Opon Imo scheme has been hailed as a landmark achievement by the government. The beneficiaries have equally hailed government for simplifying education. To sustain the efforts, additional funds would be needed. However, the positive impact makes it worth the resources being expended on it. Students now have something engaging at school hours and leisure time, instead of wasting time browsing the internet, where they may come across pornographic and other irrelevant materials that would not add value to their lives. The O’meal programme of government has also received kudos across the African continent. Some countries have indicated interest in the scheme and have initiated plans to learn how the government of Osun State is making this possible. This makes it imperative for the government to take further action to ensure that the programme is sustained. For instance, the South African government has commending the Aregbesola administration as a modest government working to enhance the living condition of the Nigerians. There are also plans by the South African government to partner the state in area of agriculture and manufacturing. The cooperation between the Aregbesola’s government and South Africa would definitely boost development of the state. To this end, the Osun State government must ensure that it lives up to the expectation in terms of counterpart funding and implementation, to ensure that the cooperation sees the light of day. There are clear indications that the average pupils in government public schools are always willing to go to school every day because of what they gain in term of knowledge and feeding. The food has been certified as nutritious with capacity to enhance the good health condition of the pupils. Now that the people have returned their governor for a second term, the unfolding socioeconomic and political development in the state would explain whether the hopes and aspirations of the electorate have been met.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

No to transition •The calls to postpone polls and set up an interim committee lack democratic or patriotic merit

ITH the elections around the corner, some Nigerians are articulating views intended to change the course of this democracy. They have either called for a transition committee, or expressed open doubts over the prospects of the polls next month. These views leap out of platforms of those known to be patriots, or statesmen or politicians with a measure of respectability. But their premise derives from the age-old tendencies that truncate the tide of our politics or frustrate our optimism as a people. This misguided fervour gained currency during the national conference convoked last year. Some of the participants called for the postponement of the elections, while others thought that it was wise to set up a transition body to oversee the nation’s move towards a stable political era. We disagree with this standpoint, and we also see it as influenced not only by opportunism cloaking as principle but also anti-democratic in its impulse. We cannot overthrow a democracy in the interest of democracy. It is a philosophical absurdity. We believe all those who espouse this tendency should stop forthwith, or else they would kindle the flame of subversion against the best system of popular persuasion known to humans. The fulcrum of their position is that we are not institutionally ready for the elections. Some have argued that The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) lack of readiness means we are not going to have satisfactory elections. Some others have adverted to the turbulence of the northeast where the ravages of the Islamic sect Boko Haram have cut through large swathes of Nigerian territory. Some oth- • Jonathan ers say that the period between the emergence of party nominees and the elections were brutally short, making campaign time insufficient for the people to assess their candidates and for the characters, programmes and philosophies of the candidates to trickle down the electorate. Others have latched on to a prediction by a United States think tank that Nigeria would not survive 2015. The implication of these views is clear. It would mean that the transition from the present corps of office holders to the new set would be abbreviated. Basically, they are calling for the suspension of the Nigerian grund norm, the 1999 constitution. They are calling for the extension of the rule of President Goodluck Jonathan. They are setting an indefinite date for the end of this political dispensation, or they are calling for the end of this political dispensation. In clear terms, they are calibrating a coup against the constitution and against the democratic order. We also recall that the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan had toyed with the proposal of a one-term presidency for seven years, and it did not enjoy widespread support in the country. In fact, it came across as self-serving and opportunistic.

In some detail, the “transitionists” have called for the appointment of some prominent Nigerians to head this transition, and have suggested a sinecure status for President Jonathan. His role, they say, would be merely a conciliatory role. He would by implication be coerced into the exalted pose of a statesman. In order words, Jonathan may not have to run for president after a transition that might even last as long as two years. This position comes across either as naïve or cynical, depending on who is espousing what. Some of the proponents are trying to craft a new platform of relevance for themselves in the new proposed state. Others are trying to choreograph revenge against those who have gained prominence in the present state of things. Or is it a back room implementation of the Jonathan seven-year agenda? There are some questions that bear being asked. Under what legal canopy are we going to operate the transition system?

Who would be the enforcer? For, if that transition programme exceeds May 29, President Jonathan would not have any authority to govern as president. He would be a dictator by committee, and the constitution would have been overthrown. The only time we had such an arrangement was by fiat, and it was after the debacle of the 1993 June 12 election. The military installed the interim transition under the control of the army, and it turned out to be a failure. It ushered in one of the darkest tyrannies in human history under General Sani Abacha. They are calling, in a civilian era, for a transition regime that is based purely on trust. That is why we believe that it is either inspired by naivety or opportunistic

cynicism. No democracy works on the trust of a few men. Yes, a few men enrich the system but they work without a sense of entitlement. They thrive on rules. Even when the United States started their democratic experiment, their founding fathers operated under rules. The claim that the campaign time is short may be valid, but it calls for a more intense and creative campaign by the candidates. The INEC has shown a lot of incompetence over the issue of personal voter cards and it creates unease when it said it was not ready in event of a runoff in a presidential race. We are not going to deny that there are problems, and there is disquiet in some circles about the prospect of violence and subversion in the aftermath of the elections. Rather than focus on the doubts and negativity, those naysayers should turn their energies to emphasise suggestions on how we could turn these fears into hope, concerns into peace. The national conference that took place in 2014 was a long exercise in debates, perorations, circumlocutions vapours of rhetoric that resulted in a document now gradually gathering dust like its predecessors. The National Assembly has distanced itself from it because they saw it as a plot to overthrow them. The fear that the election of either President Jonathan or General Muhammadu Buhari would touch off violence derives from the activities of two militant groups: the Boko Haram insurgents in the north and the Niger Delta militants. Are we to surrender because these groups would bring us to our knees? Is it not by engaging our democratic strengths that we can eventually vote in those who can provide answers? We have had committees, changed military commanders, declared state of emergencies but the Islamic militants are not about to surrender. Rather, they are waxing strong and making mincemeat of our soldiers. The Niger Delta militants are also doing havoc, in spite of the amnesty granted them. As the so-called “transitionists” suggest, a transition committee would provide a template to change the country. It would have been idealistic if it was not naïve or cynical. On what powers or laws are they going to operate? Who would approve their decisions and on what document would implementation take place? Democracy is a system of laws and not of men. If violence or sectarian prejudice sullies our political landscape, we have to be ready to confront them as a people within the ambit of law. We have no choice but to have faith in the democratic process. Any alternative will be either anarchy or tyranny. We want neither.

‘We disagree with this standpoint, and we also see it as influenced not only by opportunism cloaking as principle but also anti-democratic in its impulse. We cannot overthrow a democracy in the interest of democracy. It is a philosophical absurdity. We believe all those who espouse this tendency should stop forthwith, or else they would kindle the flame of subversion against the best system of popular persuasion known to humans’

Making Osun the scapegoat

IR: At the close of last year, it was widely reported that the federal government and some states were owing workers up to, and in some cases, more than three months salaries. This allegation was first made by the secretary general of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Alade Lawal. His concern, on which he gave details, was the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government. However, The Punch in its usual mischief and antiAregbesola diatribe added some states to the mix, prominent of which is Osun. A few days later, regrettably, the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) just took the newspaper’s false report verbatim and also included Osun prominently on the list of states owing workers three months salaries and in which industrial action could commence. This is unfortunate. If The Punch had done any investigation as it claimed, it would have known that as at the time of the report, it was only November 2014 salary that was outstanding since the October salary had been paid. So much for mischief and adversarial reporting that makes no distinction between truth and falsehood. We must however have a holistic understanding of the salary situation. When Governor Rauf Aregbesola was sworn in November 27, 2010, the total wage bill in the state was N1.6 billion. The following year, the minimum wage act was passed into law and it became binding on all states. By 2012, all states of the federation had complied, making Osun wage bill to rise to N3.6 billion. By the same token, with higher oil prices and increase in the pump head price of refined fuel locally, Osun’s revenue jumped to N4.6 billion, which was relatively safe, wage wise. However, by July 2013, Osun’s revenue had dropped to N2.8 billion. Within the same period, Aregbesola had shored up internally generated revenue from the meagre N300 million he met to N1billion, thus he was still able to pay salaries usually by the 26th of every month. However, allocation has dropped progressively since then and the last allocation Osun got for November 2014 from the Federation Account was N1.03 billion. There is no magic to this. Aregbesola should be commended for the astute manner he has managed the state’s economy, implementing wondrous projects and still fulfilling obligations to workers in spite of dwindling revenues. The grim options before any state in this situation is either to reduce its workforce size to a sustainable level or find creative ways to generate revenue. The governor has chosen the latter and should be commended. Dwindling state allocation is a time bomb that portends the grave danger of state meltdown and the federal government should be held accountable for the malaise of oil theft and underproduction, which brought this about, not states trying to cope with the consequences. • Adekunle Ajayi, Mushin, Lagos

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: It is impossible for an individual to save a country from ruin and disintegration, the reason why genuine statesmen at swearing-in ceremonies into offices the world over are all in agreement that they can never solve all of their country’s problems but that they will set the direction to liberate their people from deprivation and promote social stability. It is no longer shocking to hear and read ridiculous smear campaigns against office-seekers like we read daily these days in Nigeria. Over $2 billion dollars was spent in the last US mid-term elections on television advertorials that were not on issues but the pouring of sludge and flak on political opponents. But the electorates in the US were sensible as they filtered the facts out of these tall tales on the screen of truth and chose their candidates. These wise selections led to the recordings of some firsts: Mia Love became the first black republican woman elected to congress and Sarah Blair at 18 years old became the youngest state lawmaker (West Virginia Legislature). Will the US account be duplicated in Nigeria in the February 2015 presidential elections? Especially since the central government has been led by the PDP since 1999? Many commentators these days have been cheering the Buhari candidacy for the reason that he has always genuinely aspired to be president. He’s not like other candidates who have transformed over time to becoming simply establishment dramatis personae. These pundits have associated Buhari with John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln who in fact wanted to be presidents. These men won elections and went into the presidency with agendas that have outlived their terms of office and left a mark for posterity. For emphasis they say, Kennedy asked for the civil rights act which Lyndon Johnson signed into law on his death allowing blacks to vote and be voted for and Lincoln fought the American civil war in 1861 with the south that led to the end of slavery. Others have also said that this country is too complex to govern effectively and needs the character of a Buhari, whose term of office is likely to bring

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Buhari as Nigeria’s El Libertador? conflicting parties together to unite Nigeria. Under powerful leadership, Nigeria could become a great nation that would be built using federal power to shirt-front daring regional leaders believed to be sponsoring terrorism against Nigeria, as well as the numerous rabble-rousers for painful division within the nation and end insurgency. Buhari’s training in armament and military strategy they say will be needed to promote security and keep the country secure bearing in mind that he played a major role in a war that led to the unity of Nigeria and

also ensure that the armed forces remain apolitical during elections especially as those units have been reported to look the other way when trouble-shooters rig elections in times gone by. Maybe like George Washington, Buhari only wants to put the country on the right course away from incitement to rebellion. Buhari had already proved his intentions when he didn’t promote himself beyond Major General when he was head of state and he never energetically stopped a coup that toppled him even with fore knowledge because it could have led to many deaths.

It remains to be seen if these calculations and anticipations will come true. I have had to ask some analysts what chance Buhari has in view of the massive elitist incidences of blackmail against him, some of which are funded. I was told by these doyens that the late Simon Bolivar of Latin America was blackmailed as well, but he is in our day celebrated in that part of the world and outside it, including the US, India and many other parts of the world. Buhari and Osibanjo, pundits hope, in combination with other stakeholders, will help prevent Ni-

geria from breaking up. They expect them also to form an all-inclusive government which they suggest does not exist at this time under the present regime. They also hope that the team can promote tolerance of other faiths and rule Nigeria with a firm hand. They go further by supposing that under Buhari’s and Osibanjo’s stewardship, there might be a scrapping of security votes especially in a country that has not been at war from external aggressors, monies for which can be used to develop the polity instead of being used as a personal fiefdom. After all, if Buhari can give away a major part of his pension only to subsist on a fraction when many would not buck the current trend, it is presumed that he can sacrifice so much more for his country. • Simon Abah, Port Harcourt.

That letter from Akinyemi to Buhari, Jonathan

IR: The open letter by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs and deputy chairman, 2014 National Conference, to the two major contestants in the next year’s presidential election; President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to generate mixed reactions in the polity because it touched on issues that border on our corporate existence as a nation. Akinyemi, a Professor of Political Science, had written that shortly after the appointment of the late National Security Adviser to the President, General Owoye Azazi, he met with him (NSA), at his own request, to discuss the state of the nation on the eve of the 2011 general elections. At the said meeting, he allegedly told the General that he was neither worried about the conduct of the elections nor its outcome, which he expected President Jonathan to win. Rather, what really worried him was the management of the purported vio-

lence that would ensue after the elections, which he said would be massive. He disclosed that he suggested to Azazi the ways, in which the violence likely to be ensued, could be contained but that his advice was not acted upon and at the end, elections took place, Jonathan won and “all hell broke loose” because the conflict-controlled measures offered to Azazi were not adopted. Akinyemi averred that now that the nation was “back at the same crossroads again” and this time, it was likely to be more precarious, dangerous and severe than the 2011 experience due to the “very notorious prediction from the United States of America’s semi-official sources that the world is expecting a cataclysmic meltdown of the Nigerian nation come 2015". Akinyemi concluded his letter by offering two ways out of the gloomy situation: That both presidential candidates should meet and sign a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) that would commit them to civil and peaceful campaigns devoid of threats by preaching the imperative of peaceful

elections, taming of party supporters, preventing violent protests and holding of a pre-election meeting between the candidates and the assemblage of 10 “council of wisemen” that would assist in managing the envisaged postelection conflicts. Despite the stark reality that all is not well with us as a nation, the options propounded by the well-respected Professor may, however, not be too helpful in finding solutions to the identified problems. We should ask: to what extent are the presidential aspirants truly liable for the conduct of their supporters? At the root of the identified problems is the current structure of the federation. Over the years, the various geo-political zones have never ceased to complain of one form of marginalisation or the other bordering chiefly on resource allocation, infrastructural and political advantage. That is why every ethnic or tribal group wants to gain power at all cost in a bid to redistribute national resources to regions. These agitations as pointed out by Akinyemi, did not just start now. So, why should the presidential

aspirants sign any MoU and be held liable for the perceived injustice in the system? The real solution to the nation’s problems include the practice of true federalism, good governance, promotion of the rule of law, conduct of free and credible elections and the smooth functioning of our public institutions as opposed to the glorification of individuals, personalities or “council of wisemen”, as recommended by Akinyemi. When public institutions like INEC, the judiciary, police and other law enforcement agencies are made to function efficiently and effectively, most of the problems afflicting us as a nation will be surmounted. This is what is obtainable in other progressive nations around the world. He should join others to ensure that the identified problems facing us as a nation, and the way forward - as highlighted in report of the National Conference, of which he was an active player - are implemented without further delay. • Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

COMMENTS military governor of old Ondo N Jimi Agbaje, suave gentleman and State (now Ondo and Ekiti states), pharmacist, as Lagos candidate, the George’s record was nothing to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has crow about. altered its preference for roughnecks as South Mr. Obanikoro too would follow West gubernatorial hopefuls. Mr. Ogunlewe’s template of Witness: Ekiti’s Ayo Fayose, demagogue defecting to PDP with his Action of the first rank; and, from his gubernatorial Congress (AC) senatorial ticket, deeds so far, constitutional outlaw, if he can after ironically replacing the late get away with it — for which gubernatorial Wahab Dosunmu, who committed kind would get his budget “passed” by a Olakunle a similar electoral perfidy by taking rogue parliament of seven ultra-minority his AD ticket to PDP. Like Mr. lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola members (less than a quorum of nine in a Ogunlewe too, Mr. Obanikoro legislature of 26); and claim to be in sought election (though as Lagos constitutional governance? governor), but was defeated by Mr. And Osun’s Iyiola Omisore: a truly Fashola. controversial figure, with suspect Ironically too, both George and community value, that ran a truly menacing Obanikoro appear doomed to the That Chief George and former Senator Ogunlewe broke into an gubernatorial campaign, complete with hooded gunmen, even if that Ogunlewe script. While Ogunlewe used FERMA to traumatise Lagos, involuntary embrace, after Mr. Agbaje’s win over Mr. Obanikoro, campaign eventually failed. Obanikoro has accused George of using the SURE-P cadre, a bric-a-brac spoke volumes. Why? In Mr. Agbaje, however, it is something refreshingly different. federal corps noticeable on Lagos roads, as alleged armed bouncers to fix No prize for guessing right — for it needs no especial perspicacity: Obviously, Eko o ni gba-gba ku gba (Lagos won’t take any nonsense)! elections. some merry real-politik trade-off was afoot. Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Agbaje’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Obanikoro himself, as short-lived Defence minister of state (Army), Both George and Ogunlewe need Mr. Agbaje’s good name. Mr. equivalent, is made of no less stellar stuff. wasn’t shy of despatching his soldiers to disrupt work at the Ilubinrin, Agbaje, on the other hand, needs the twain’s political structure, on A famed civil service technocrat and professional accountant, the Lagos Island housing project of the state government, aside from trotting which to erect his own gubernatorial run. Quid-pro-quo: a sweetheart former Lagos Accountant-General and permanent secretary, Lagos them to try and fix elections at Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections in deal was born! State Ministry of Finance, was reportedly the silent wheel behind the 2014. Yet, from that initial merriness, Mr. Agbaje’s brand appears heading financial re-engineering that kept Lagos afloat, when President This would appear Mr. Agbaje’s exalted company in his gubernatorial for collateral gloom, considering the duo’s rather unflattering public Olusegun Obasanjo bared the fangs of his imperial presidency, over quest! perception, when the issue is Lagos. the creation of additional local governments in Lagos, under the Bola Mr. Ambode’s company? Former Governor Tinubu and the incumbent, Mr. Ogunlewe, as a senator of the Federal Republic, was one of the Tinubu administration. Governor Fashola. first sets of renegade Alliance for Democracy (AD) Lagos senators, that Still, whatever Mr. Agbaje did as a private investor; and Mr. Ambode, Now, in the eyes of the other camp, Tinubu is the worst that could ever gifted PDP their AD mandate, resulting from former President as a public sector technocrat, are all in the realm of supposition, since afflict any polity. And Fashola is nothing but his eternal stooge! That Obasanjo’s AD destabilisation plot. The senator had the temerity to neither had taken direct charge as the Lagos chief executive. might well be. Besides, one man’s meat is another man’s poison; and, in come back, in 2003, to re-contest the Lagos East senatorial seat on the Therefore, their first point of contact, with the electorate, at least, war, all would appear fair! PDP platform. would have to be their proxies — mentors, if you like: show-me-yourStill, on a less emotive plane, the Tinubu-Fashola lineage has brought a He was electorally guillotined — his seat given to Senator Nimbe friends, fashion. 1999 Lagos from its abyss of infrastructural decay, environmental paralysis Mamora, who after two distinguished terms, rose to become widely For Mr. Agbaje is the triumvirate of Olabode George, Adeseye and sheer anomie, depressing results of years of hopeless military rule; to acknowledged as one of the finest senators of his age. Ogunlewe and Musiliu Obanikoro. a 2015 near-financially independent Lagos, renascent and vibrant, confident That 2002 sweet poison of soulless defection would come back to In a spade of a few weeks however, Mr. Obanikoro has turned Mr. of facing its future, even if it is always work-in-progress. purge the federal ruling party, with the APC defection of Speaker Agbaje’s co-contestant for the Lagos governorship ticket; sworn virtual Inversely, the PDP at the federal level, has brought a 1999 Nigeria, flush Aminu Tambuwal, prompting the rash police invasion of the National enemy, on the allegation that the primary was rigged in Mr. Agbaje’s with cash but nevertheless inefficient and wasteful, to a 2015 Nigeria, Assembly. Talk of parents eating sour grapes and children’s teeth favour; and now a supporter of a sort, on account of some post-primary broke and beggarly, set to enter again the debt trap, it only exited in 2005/ being set on edge! intra-PDP entente. 2006. That is Mr. Agbaje’s preferred space shuttle into governance. Wish Still, Mr. Ogunlewe was not done with Lagos. As President Obasanjo’s For Mr. Ambode would appear former Governor Bola Tinubu and him the best of luck! Works minister, he levied virtual war on Lagos, with his Federal current incumbent, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. There is partisan muck, of course; of which both camps are not necessarily Roads Maintenance Authority (FERMA) corps, that tried to elbow the Though Asiwaju Tinubu said before the Lagos APC gubernatorial guiltless. Still, Mr. Ambode would appear rooted in an already established Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) corps from Lagos primaries that he backed no candidate, whispering campaigns persisted tradition of developmental Lagos, tested and proved, with verifiable roads, claiming they had suzerainty over federal roads in Lagos. Mr. Ambode was his man. Since the candidate emerged, Governor results. That, with all due respect to his good name, cannot be said of Mr. In one of the senseless skirmishes, Mrs. Derin Disu, then chairman of Fashola, from his public comments and actions, appears backing Mr. Agbaje. Lagos Island Local Government, was thoroughly assaulted and Ambode to the hilt. Ambode’s reported rich contribution to Lagos’ financial re-engineering harassed. Her “crime”? Having the temerity to confront Mr. So, where stand the two, proxy-wise? is reassuring, giving the impression that with him, Lagos would remain Ogunlewe’s FERMA corps! in safe and tested hands, and not just passing to partisan rivals, bustling ‘Both George and Ogunlewe need Mr. Mr. Ogunlewe’s partner in the Jimi Agbaje project, Chief George, with a me-too syndrome, but hardly exhibiting any cogent reason it could has contributed little to the public space, except military conceit and Agbaje’s good name. Mr. Agbaje, on the other raise Lagos higher. arrogance. He invented the word “capture” for winning hand, needs the twain’s political structure. insufferable That is the clear choice Lagos must make, between Mr. Agbaje and Mr. elections, so many times thundering the PDP would “capture Lagos”, Ambode. Quid-pro-quo: a sweetheart deal was born!’ a diction that has a ring of do-or-die, foul-or-fair menace. Even as

epublican ipples

Between Agbaje and Ambode

N the intervening days before Christmas and the New Year, a friend posted on his Facebook page what he called the wonder of the Jonathan revolution for which he believes the rest of us should consider ourselves in debt. His abode, somewhere in Otta, Ogun State had until that morning, according to him, not experienced outage in electricity supply for eight days running. Like most Jonathan die-hards, he saw this as a signal not just to a new dawn in the power sector but of the infinite possibilities in the coming years should Nigerians be persuaded to gift their lucky President with another term! My friend is lucky; he has a job. Asides, he got his December check early enough to make his preparations for the yuletide unlike most Nigerians who had to endure dry fast! Days after, I would be a guest on a breakfast television programme in which two other invited guests would sing the praise of the Jonathan administration to high heavens for what they considered as the laudable foundations being laid across all facets of the nation’s life. They spoke about the administration’s efforts to get the economy moving on an even keel. One even talked about our new found freedom under the man with the Goodluck charm. Copious references were made to the ‘revolution’ in the agricultural sector that has seen Thai rice exit family menus – replaced by Abakaliki Rice. Petrol, once elusive, they reminded, is now available. Gone are the days when spent days on queues in search of the essential commodity, they chorused. The refurbished Lugardian contraption –the Jona’ wonders on the rail are not only back, so also is an ambitious 25-year programme to transform them to world class railways. This is aside the massive road rehabilitation programme that has transformed the highways to a beautiful driving experience. And for those who cared to know, they were also too eager to point at the administration’s record in Foreign Direction Investment! Ever heard of Transformers’ Nigeria? For once, I thought we are finally getting around the main issues around which the February elections ought to be woven. This is obviously a far cry from the exertions of the legion of cyber rodents – if you like cyber assassins – on the payroll of the administration who have done pretty little else than put down anyone who dared to hold up the administration’s record for public scrutiny. To the extent that the issues are finally emerging on the front burner, and given that we have barely six weeks from the Presidential elections, we can at least claim to be making progress just as we do well to remind ourselves of the promises given against what the administration claims to have delivered. To be sure, this administration can hardly be accused of rigour of policy let alone of execution. In essence, it is not about holding it to any lofty standards in global best practices but simply to invoke its avowed standards as benchmark for measuring how well it has done in a little more than four

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Are you better than you were four years ago? years of being in charge. For this, yours truly’s gratitude – as indeed that of every Nigerian –go to Premium Times for reminding us of the “Goodluck Transform Nigeria” document. As it appears, a good number of Jonathan supporters may not have had the benefit of sighting let alone reading the 28-page document prepared by the transformers. Today, I serve some samplers from the document. Prominent on the bill, as one would expect, is the electricity generation target of 16,000 MW to be achieved by 2013. Well, this is 2015! Has the President achieved? You be the judge! Next is the promise to rehabilitate all existing power generation, distribution and transmission assets to give a minimum of 6,000 MW of electricity. In this, the National Integrated Power Projects, (NIPP), were to be completed to inject another 4,000 MW to the grid by 2012. Twenty-four months after, it is still a case of transformation-in-the-works! So also are the promises to harness alternative sources of energy such as coal, wind and solar with another 13, 000 MW target. Gone with the wind. Lest I forget, once upon a time, the administration celebrated the achievement of its attainment of peak generation of 4, 322 MW, which it claimed was “the highest ever attained.” That was in December 2011. By September 2014, it was again time to celebrate a two-year high of 4,044 megawatts (MW) in what was supposed to be progress! In the President’s transformation booklet, he had assured among other things to achieve balanced national economic development, with specific focus on increasing oil production and refining capacity. According to the document, the President’s goal was to “stimulate local value-addition and strategically position the nation to meet the domestic demand

for the refined products and take advantage of a new market niche-export of refined products”. So what happened three years on? The answer is – aplenty. Instead of a boost in oil production, what we have is massive plunder of the oil resources, an industrial scale theft under which the nation is bled to the tune of billions of dollars annually. Don’t ask me what the administration has done to stamp out the menace. The last thing we heard was that the government had farmed out the pipeline-protection contracts to former militants – a case of using the thief to catch another! As for the prospects of enhanced local refining, the only visible ‘transformation’ is perhaps the spectacular Turn Around of the fortunes of the regime contractors – minus the real TAM – Turn Around Maintenance – of the refineries. And what about the gas sector which the President promised would be “developed with special focus on meeting the domestic and individual demands of gas within the country, especially with the anticipated increased demand due to the Visions 20:2020 intent of rejuvenating the manufacturing sector”? If what the administration has been saying is to be taken with a pinch of salt, the nation is still running deficit in gas supply to power plants ordered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as far back as 2006/7! What about the world-scale petrochemical and fertilizer companies which the administration promised? Isn’t it the same old story of apathy, neglect and indifference? I can go on and on! Today, instead of creating a durable framework for road construction, maintenance and rehabilitation, the administration celebrates as achievement, the award of contracts for building and rehabilitation of roads! It seems about time the administration’s record is tested with fire. Time to confront the singular question: are you better off today than you were four years ago? I invite you, dear reader, to join the debate.

‘This administration can hardly be accused of rigour of policy let alone of execution. In essence, it is not about holding it to any lofty standards in global best practices but simply to invoke its avowed standards as benchmark for measuring how well it has done in a little more than four years of being in charge’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

COMMENTS

UBLIC procurement can be defined as a strategy to provide infrastructure for the welfare of the people. Public procurement efficiency is the essence of good governance. The current economic situation in Nigeria, being an oil-exporting country, is not palatable. This is because Nigeria’s income is highly dependent on petroleum export which price has fallen mainly because of over-supply and reduction of fuel consumption as a result of climate change campaigns and discovery of alternative energy sources. This trend may continue over time because of inventions and innovations in energy generation and consumption. Nigeria expenditure is financed by over 90 per cent of proceeds from petroleum products and less than 10 percent from income from other sectors and internally generated revenue (IGR). The internally generated revenue from taxes, direct investments, levies and fines is not adequate to balance positively the expenditure for the same period. Nigeria’s over-dependent on income generated from petroleum is affecting the development of other sectors like agriculture, tourism, solid minerals and manufacturing. Nigeria and Russia are two of the countries that have been predicted to suffer immensely from the crash in the price of petroleum products. Rouble, the Russian currency has fallen to a new low against American dollar and Russia’s central bank hiked interest rate to 17 percent. Nigeria has declared that the country is going through difficult financial times but ‘not broke’. As usual, the country will go through series of public expenditure reduction exercises while it is struggling for fund. Austerity is imminent and an already battered economy requires tactical methods in its cost reduction so as not to further aggravate the sufferings of the poor masses. Not all public procurement costs can be reduced in a period of austerity especially, costs of on-going projects. In China, as a measure to improve income, three new free trade zones were commissioned. If some costs are cut, it will backfire. In most cases where cost reduction has been effected to keep leaning budget, it had been found out that the reduction did not help the economy. Cost reduction may hurt productivity of the employees and production of quality goods and services. Cost reduction is not the first tool to be applied in troubled economy but should be applied traditionally to ensure value for money in public expenditure. For effective cost reduction

Cost reduction in public procurement By Olufemi Adedamola Oyedele in government expenditure, the following points must be borne in mind. First, those in authority must realise that the catalyst for meaningful development is the provision of hard and soft infrastructures. There can never be excuse on the part of government for not providing infrastructure especially the maintenance of the existing ones so that they can be functional and for the public to derive value from them. The development strategy and what the country stands to gain and lose if costs are reduced must be evaluated. Cost reduction in this case must be from top to down and not vice versa. Second, cost reduction should be done by reviewing all items in the budget and then reducing those items that can be reduced without having side effects and not pro rata. In most cases, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) make provision for expenditures that they may not necessarily need. The costs and benefits of reducing costs should be reviewed item by item as reducing cost of some expenditures will have higher implications than others. Reducing cost of entertainment will have fewer implications than reducing cost of security. Reducing cost of launching will also be better than reducing the cost of maintenance of assets. Third, the impacts of costs reduction should be measured using economic and management tools against factors like employment rate, gross domestic product (GDP), deflationary rate, housing stock, employees’ motivation level, citizens’ satisfaction level, crime rate and consumption level. Government’s aim should not be to kill industry for costs reduction’s sake. Costs reduction should have human face and be gradual instead of been sharp and unbearable for cost centres. Cost reduction usually starts with public awareness on the need to cut costs. Fourth, expenditures that aid income generation, for example, investing in provision

HE current administration and board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, came into office in December 2013. To celebrate this landmark event, the board and management of the commission rolled out the drums on Tuesday December 16, 2014. The venue was the prestigious five-star Port Harcourt Presidential Hotel. The event was indeed a grand affair. There was plenty to eat and drink. Amongst the artists that featured at the event were Mighty Duncan, Gordons and Terry G. The event, however, ran into a hitch towards the end as the over 2000 participants, mostly youths from the Niger Delta region, started a mild protest which later erupted into a fullblown uprising which necessitated the officials of the organisation being smuggled out of the venue. The grouse of the youths was clear: While NDDC officials have reason to celebrate, the commission has failed woefully to take good care of them(the youths). One of the youths angrily informed that the NDDC had abandoned its mandate of developing the nine beneficiary states, while its officials are busy enriching themselves. According to the irate youths, it was time for the officials to allow the goodies to go round so that people of the Niger Delta can begin to enjoy their commonwealth. One was heard loudly complaining that since the exit of the first managing director, successive administrations had just been feeding fat on the agency with little or nothing to show for it. They also believe that all these administrations have allegedly taken steps to ensure that they

‘Since President Goodluck Jonathan is from the Niger Delta, he should either make NDDC to live up to its billing or scrap it and put the resources to the states rather than just allowing it to stay as a drain pipe. I also cannot understand why all successive board members and management staff of the NDDC have not been made to give account of their stewardship if the federal government is sincere in fighting corruption’

of social infrastructure, may be increased if they are sure to bring more income. In a time of cost reduction that affects employment, crime rate will definitely be higher. Government should consider increasing expenditure on crime prevention and control instead of reducing it in a period of higher unemployment rate. Government can also think on investing in infrastructures that will increase employment and schemes that will keep lot of people in work with the aim of generating more income from taxes. Fifth, reducing costs in a period of high corruption rate is of no consequence. If costs are being reduced and corruption in some quarters is still high, then the reduction of costs will have no positive consequence. It should be remembered that the whole country kicked against subsidy removal on petrol despite the fact that Nigerians are aware that petrol subsidy removal will generate more income into the purse of the country. Cost reduction should not be the paramount solution to troubled economy but being pragmatic and searching for alternative means of income generation. Efficient tax management is an alternative. Sixth, wastes and financial loopholes which are letting out money should be reviewed to see ways of practically reducing costs instead of reducing budget. Some government functions are critical more than others. For example, agriculture and food security is important more than external affairs. Provision of security is required more than sports and provision of transportation infrastructure in a nation is needed more than travelling by government officials. Government should move towards creating a sustainable economy that depends less on oil and gas diversifying the economy is a good way to do this. Seventh, procurement officers should not undermine the power of negotiation. In procurement generally, the three most important factors are: negotiation, negotiation and negotiation. Clients should negotiate with contractors and service providers instead of delaying payment and distorting cash flow.

NDDC – One year after By Alfred Daukoru are never probed by the EFFC, the Police or the ICPC. In other words, the hands of the security agencies have been tied such that NDDC officials are free to indulge in excesses with no one to call them to order. Indeed, the local people now believe that the NDDC has become a drain pipe instead of being a change agency, while accusing the federal government of complicity in the rape of the agency and shortchanging of the people of the Niger Delta. The youths also claimed that their hopes were raised when the new administration came on board, even branding themselves as the new NDDC. But no sooner had they settled down than it became obvious that it would be business as usual. Instead of the promised development of communities were widely circulated stories linking some NDDC officials to the skyrocketing prices of properties in Port Harcourt, especially in GRA Phase 2. To buttress this claim, one of the aggrieved youths had informed that it was on account of this that landlords prefer giving accommodation to NDDC workers. A resident of Port Harcourt was also quoted as saying that they know NDDC staff by their flamboyant lifestyles and the security apparatus around them. It should be recalled that the NDDC was set up by the General Olusegun Obasanjo administration as an intervention agency to address the many years of neglect of the Niger Delta region comprising the nine states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Abia, Bayelsa, Imo, Edo, Delta and Ondo. Precisely, the agency was to address the issues of infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals etc. However, after 12 years many in the beneficiary states are of the opinion that there is not much to cheer. Indeed, an indigene of Delta State recently queried thus: Where are the schools built by them? Where are the roads? Where are the hospitals? He believes that if they had addressed most of the needs of the Niger Delta, the militancy could have been curtailed as there would be adequate jobs for the youths. One observes that even contracts are not awarded in line with due process as they are awarded to cronies of govern-

In 2005, a consultation paper on improving payment practices in the construction industry was published by the United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The main aim of the Act with reference to payment was to: provide a right to interim, periodic or stage payments, making clear when payments become due, their amount and a final date for payment; prevent the payer from withholding money from the ‘sum due’ after the final date for payment unless he has given a withholding notice; provide a statutory right for the payee to suspend performance where a ‘sum due’ is not paid, to properly withheld, by the final date for payment; and prohibit ‘pay-whenpaid’ clauses which delay payment until it is received by the payer. Costs reduction is not an easy task. A country that has good reserve can cushion the effect of costs reduction by applying part of its reserves. Austerity period should serve as a period of sober reflection when people in financial authority, especially the procurement and planning officers, should realize that budget is not cash. Nigeria needs to be financially prudent. The aim of spending everything provided for in the budget so as to get what is asked for in the following year’s budget should be over. Government should provide Project Implementation Committee (PIC) with representatives from Ministry of National Planning, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, National Bureau of Statistics, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), a representative of civil society organizations and the presidency. • Oyedele is a public affairs analyst

‘Costs reduction is not an easy task. A country that has good reserve can cushion the effect of costs reduction by applying part of its reserves. Austerity period should serve as a period of sober reflection when people in financial authority, especially the procurement and planning officers, should realize that budget is not cash’

ment and the agency. The jobs are either abandoned or poorly executed. And so no employment is generated in the process. In fact, the argument of the restive youths is that if NDDC contracts are properly awarded to reputable companies and professionally executed, restiveness in the Niger Delta would be over in no distant time as a lot of jobs would be created in the process. But this, unfortunately, is presently not the case. On further investigation, one notes that some roads have been built by NDDC. Some schools have been built and some renovated. There have also been half-hearted interventions in the health sector. They spend fortunes annually on medical training and medical outreaches using several agencies and hundreds of millions of naira are spent but with nothing to show for it. So far, no major hospitals have been built or equipped. All annual budgets on medicals simply ‘walk” away, according to an informed source. Ditto for huge budgets on roads and other infrastructural projects. It is true that NDDC has done some good works but nothing compared to the huge sums of money which have accrued to it since its inception. One wonders what will happen to it now that the oil revenues are dwindling so badly!! I strongly feel that since President Goodluck Jonathan is from the Niger Delta, he should either make NDDC to live up to its billing or scrap it and put the resources to the states rather than just allowing it to stay as a drain pipe. I also cannot understand why all successive board members and management staff of the NDDC have not been made to give account of their stewardship if the federal government is sincere in fighting corruption. In fact, the NDDC has so far failed to justify its existence. I understand that this is also the perception in Abuja, the seat of government. This is because the NDDC is one of those agencies whose impact has not really been felt in the beneficiary communities in spite of the huge funds yearly committed to their operations. In fact, I was shocked when one constant traveller to Port Harcourt claimed ignorance of the existence of the NDDC and what it stands for, saying he has never noticed its impact. This is why the federal government, including the National Assembly should endeavour to exercise due oversight functions in monitoring the activities of the NDDC and similar agencies of government to ensure that they discharge their responsibilities creditably. Those founding wanting or unable to live up to expectations should be discarded. By so doing, government would have demonstrated seriousness about its war on corruption and wastage of public funds. • Daukoru wrote from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

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The “offence” proved against the accused soldiers was that they demanded for adequate weapons to fight the well-equipped and well-motivated troops of the dreaded Boko Haram sect

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See page 28

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

With elections coming up next month, all eyes will be on the judiciary, which will handle post-election cases. How will the election tribunals acquit themselves? Ensuring that they live up to expectation will be a major challenge for Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed,who assumed office last November. Lawyers argue that his management of the tribunals and other vital issues will determine how the judiciary fares in 2015. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

Future of judiciary, by lawyers T

HE handling of post-election cases may turn out to be the baptism of fire for Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed, who assumed office last November following the retirement of his predecessor, Justice Aloma Mukhtar. Lawyers and politicians hope that Justice Mohammed will ensure that election tribunals are not put under pressure. To some analysts, Justice Mukhtar enforced discipline in her time by dealing with judges who were found wanting. They recall that some judges were dismissed, retired, suspended or warned for misdemeanours.They also noted the improvement and upgrading of courts and infrastructure as well as landmark judgments that helped in strengthening the judiciary, all under Justice Mukhtar’s watch. Will things be better under Justice Mohammed? What should be done to ensure that justice is done without fear or favour in 2015 and beyond?

Lawyers’ expectations

INSIDE:

Arguing that lawyers should ensure free and fair elections next month, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Augustine Alegeh (SAN) said: “We must individually and collectively shun any action that may negatively affect the 2015 general elections. Our development and advancement as a nation are dependent on the leaders that we elect as well as the entire electoral process.” A maritime law expert, Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN), urged the CJN to speed up justice delivery, especially in admiralty cases, and to focus on workers’ welfare. His expectations from the CJN and the judiciary include: “Taking all reasonable steps to ensure speedier administration of justice than we have now as justice delayed is justice denied; and ensuring the empowerment of the judicial officers and staff to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently, thus avoiding denial of justice by delaying justice.” He said the universal principle that admiralty matters must be expeditiously heard and determined must be encouraged. “Since 1999 when election matters started rising and taking the attention of the judiciary, the hearing and determination of admiralty matters by the trial and appellate courts had gradually been relegated to the background,” Igbokwe said. For Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), the judiciary has an important role to play in the settlement of election cases. “As expected, members of that arm of the government at all levels would face a myriad of pressures and temptations from the political class and their beneficiaries. I advise the CJN to find a framework that would insulate these judicial officers from opportunities to pervert

Court adjourns ruling in Nnamani’s trial -Page 28

•The scale of Justice

justice. “A well thought-out and implemented framework would deepen the independence of the judiciary and drive the democratic process towards a more rewarding and sustainable end. It will also be important for the other agencies of government charged with law enforcement to collaborate with the Judiciary in this regard. “Considering the level of which the politicians have heated up the polity along primordial and religious lines, the opportunity to pervert justice is now more prevalent than before. “It is for this reason that all willing and unwilling hands must be put on deck to ensure that the fabric of modern

UN may seek clemency for 54 convicted soldiers -Page 28

Nigeria is not distorted this year,” Nwobike said. Constitutional lawyer and author Mr Sebastine Hon (SAN) said Justice Mohammed would deliver. “Without mincing words, I would quickly say that the CJN has a track record of avowed humility, intertwined with professional courage and unrivalled sagacity in the discharge of his functions on the Bench. I have no single doubt that he would take our Judiciary to the next level. “I have always said that it is Herculean to reform the judiciary in Nigeria, no thanks to the institutional and statutory impediments that have laid lethal land mines •Continued on page 26

Convicted soldiers deserve praise not condemnation, says Falana -Page 37

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued from page 25

on the pathway. In other words, without a complete overhaul of our constitutional and legal framework, it will amount to merely paying lip service to carrying out reforms in the Judiciary,” Hon said. According to him, as the head of judicial arm of government, the CJN should throw his official weight behind enacting legislation that would enhance sound justice administration in the country. ”One crucial area he should focus his energy on is in the sphere of dispensing electoral justice. He should synergise with the President of the Court of Appeal to ensure that aggrieved persons from the various election exercises who approach the courts go home satisfied that justice has been done in their various legal disputes. This will go a long way in stabilising the entire system and avoiding bloodbath. “There should also be more transparency and objectivity in the appointment and discipline of judicial officers. More competent private hands should be employed as judges as against the current ‘promotion’ exercise, where once a judicial officer attains seniority by dint of being the first to be appointed among his colleagues, he is promoted to the next higher court regardless of his competence and professionalism,” Hon said.

‘

•Justice Mohammed

Often times, we find that real brilliant lawyers never get the opportunity to be appointed judges rather you find family, friends and relations being given the opportunity. This of course leads to a fallen standard of justice dispensation

•Justice Mukhtar (rtd)

New performance assessment criteria needed Hon also urged the CJN to revisit the performance assessment criteria for judges and justices. His words: “Currently, I understand that rulings and judgments delivered on interlocutory matters do not count in the performance indices set up by the CJN’s predecessors. Yet, out of every 100 cases, about 99 have interlocutory issues to contend with; and at times, such interlocutory applications which keep rearing up as the need arises, take months and years to be settled one way or the other! “Mind you there is settled law that no court of law should ignore any interlocutory application no matter how unmeritous it might be! Again, judgments in consolidated suits and appeals are reckoned as one instead of the two or more suits/appeals that have been consolidated! “Yet, each of such consolidated suits/appeals has its facts and different papers are filed for each of them! The net is that halfbaked justice is being dished out to litigants just because the judges qua justices are operating under these onerous and irksome conditions of service. The CJN should please revisit this issue urgently.” Hon also wants an enforcement of the two Federal High Court judgments which ruled in favour of financial independence for the judiciary. “The CJN as the head of the judiciary, the Attorney-General of the Federation as the official leader of the Bar, the various State Chief Judges and Attorneys-General, the NBA led by Augustine Alegeh, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, all Judges, Magistrates, lawyers, the press and indeed all Nigerians should stand up in unison and insist that these judgments are implemented without further delay! “This will solve most of the problems we are facing today. Everybody should support this noble cause please, and urgently too,” Hon added.

Task before state courts A human rights group, Access to Justice (AJ), believes not much has changed in the administration of justice, particularly in the judiciary, in spite of the remarkable efforts and leadership of the former CJN. The group said this is because Nigeria is yet to develop the systems and procedures that drive change on their own, and support stronger accountability of judicial and court staff at both federal and state levels. The group, through its Executive Director Mr Joseph Otteh, said: “The immediate past CJN was exemplary in creating the kind of leadership that was responsive and exemplary. But she is no longer there! We hope her successor can demonstrate that kind of astute leadership. No. We should not hope, and that’s the problem. “We should by now, have the rules, reforms and the framework that guarantees this: a framework that institutionalises a different way of doing things, a different way of running the judicial system and which ensures that different actors in the administration of justice deliver expected performance results and do so transparently and accountably.” According to Otteh, with a new CJN in the

‘

•Alegeh

•Dr Nwobike

Future of judiciary, by lawyers saddle, there is a new opportunity to reinvent the approach adopted to fix the old problems to get them right from the foundation, and ensure that those at the states can be mobilised to follow suit. “Why should courts be constantly accused of sabotaging the anti-corruption war because of the interminable delays (seven, eight years and still counting in some cases) encountered in concluding those cases in spite of new powers conferred on them by the amended Constitution? “We need to see more reforms at the state level, stronger oversight and accountability of lower courts judges and court staff. Corruption is still a major issue in the courts, and Justice Mukhtar and Justice Amina Augie have lamented this. “Performance and case management measures should be introduced to improve performance levels and ensure court users have a meaningful and efficient time in court,” Otteh said. The human rights group identified what

it described as two other sticking points: the situation in Rivers State, and the need for the Bar to fulfil its role.

The role of the Bar

The Rivers crisis, AJ said, is deplorable and needs urgent resolution. “The leadership of the judiciary and the Bar must make this a priority. The Rivers people have suffered innocently as a result of the impasse,” the group said. According to AJ, it is time for the Bar to fulfil its role as a major driver for change. “For too long, the Bar has remained a ‘consumer professional community’ and ipso facto, a victim of poor leadership. “Lawyers face tremendous hurdles discharging their professional duties, face constant extortion, appear in courts that many times do not sit and give no prior notice, and bear the brunt of a loss of public confidence in the justice system. “At best, the Bar has been a reactive stakeholder and voice in the administration of justice. The Bar can, and should do better. It

‘

Let the Judiciary have its budget, managed by it and not wait for salary from the executive. Let it not be a situation of ‘He who pays the piper dictates the tune’. Allegiance of the judiciary should be to God and the common man in the building of a virile Nigeria and nobody, not even the leaders should be above the law

‘

can and should catalyze good policymaking and enforcement by the leadership of the judiciary at both the centre and in the States. This could be a 2015 priority,” Otteh added. Former Anambra State Attorney-General, Peter Afuba said the judiciary performed fairly well last year, urging the new CJN to sustain the tempo. He said: “The immediate past CJN came up with lots of reforms that improved productivity of judicial workers across the country. I expect the trend to continue with these reforms. The judiciary will be faced with a lot of challenges this year with the general elections coming up soon. “There will be a lot of election petitions and so, I expect that these challenges will be handled dispassionately and justice dispensed without fear or favour, so that at the end of the day, the Nigerian masses will see that justice has been done and their faith in the system restored. This will make the aftermath of the elections acceptable and conducive. “If petitions are handled as should, there will be stability in our country in this trying year. The judiciary has a crucial and delicate role to play this year and I expect it to do so without fear or favour.” Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch Mr Yinka Farounbi urged the judiciary to prepare adequately for the challenges of the elections. “Like Caesar’s wife, it is required of it to be above board. The head of the institution should consciously constitute men and women of proven integrity to head the various Election Tribunals across the country. “The independence and neutrality of the body will go a long way in assuring the citizens of this country that it is worth of being relied on. “I equally advise that the welfare of other judicial workers should be taken into account with view to commanding their respect and loyalty. The issue of the embarrassing strikes or threat of same should be rigidly addressed. The institution is too important to always be involved in strikes,” Farounbi said. The Tiger Branch’s chief also wants to see more use of information technology. “All over the world the IT is the real thing now. I thus urge that our courts should be computerised at whatever cost. Writing in long hands should be discouraged and done away with. “I urge the CJN to call all the stakeholders in the institution and finally agree and set the guiding rules in the appointment of a Chief Judge. What is presently playing out in River State should not be allowed to repeat itself in any other state again. “The judiciary should examine itself and flush out the bad eggs therein. This done, the people will repose more confidence in the system,” Farounbi added. Lagos lawyer Theophilus Akanwa said: “I expect a judiciary totally free from corruption; a judiciary with an improved speed in dispensation of justice; a judiciary that will be IT compliant and an independent judi•Continued on page 27

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW COVER CONT’D

•Hon

•Dr Odutola

•Farounbi

•Igbokwe

•Omoyinmi

•Omodele

•Otteh

•Egbuji

Future of judiciary, by lawyers •Continued from page 26

ciary with the focus of delivering justice without fear or favour.” A lawyer, Dr Fred Odutola, said in 2015, justice must not just be done, it must be seen to have been done, adding: “Let our judges act unfettered by the executive and or the legislative arms of the government. “The hope of the common man before the courts must not be slaughtered on the altar of undue influence over the judges. Judges should pronounce judgment without their ‘hands being tied’. They should remember that they will still give account before God, the ultimate judge.” Odutola also wants to see a swifter justice delivery, as ‘justice delayed is justice denied. “A situation of adjournment and adjournment until the litigants start to die is undefendable. Many times, the courtesy is not even there for the Court Registrar to phone or email the counsel that the court would not sit, only for the counsel and litigants to travel to court and be told to take another date as the court would not be sitting,” he said. The judiciary, Odutola said, must be financially independent, as well as review antiquated laws. “Let the Judiciary have its budget, managed by it and not wait for salary from the executive. Let it not be a situation of ‘He who pays the piper dictates the tune’. Allegiance of the judiciary should be to God and the common man in the building of a virile Nigeria and nobody, not even the leaders should be above the law. “The CJN should catalyse the review of obnoxious laws and fines, some dating back to the times of Mungo Park. Fines in lieu of times in jails should be punitive and commensurate with the offences committed. “A situation where someone who has em-

bezzled billions of naira of pensioners would be asked to pay a fine of N750,000 is unexplainable to the layman. This makes people cast aspersions on the judges as taking bribes, whereas, the judge cannot conjure fines not stated in law,” Odutola said. A member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Mr Abayomi Omoyinmi, said the judiciary should improve on speedy dispensation of cases especially criminal matters. “It must also avoid situations where conflicts in decisions, pronouncements and judgments are beginning to be noticeable in our justice system in the recent times. “Priority should be given to appointment of more magistrates and judges where necessary as the population is growing. This will bring confidence in the people in the hope that justice is not delayed. The autonomy of judiciary is also essential in the times ahead,” Omoyinmi said. For Mr Ikechukwu Ikeji, there is the need to revisit the mode of judges’appointment and to closely monitor their social engagements. Also needed, he said, are strict regulation on participation of judges in social activities, review of the CJN’s constitutional powers regarding the membership of, and appointment into, the National Judicial Council (NJC), stricter regime on discipline for erring judges, improved conditions of service, computerisation of the recording processes, less executive interference and quick dispensation of justice. “It goes without saying that today most of the judges appointed are so appointed by reason of who they know not necessarily their competence. Moreover, the appointment of judges should be by means of an advertised notice in national media, which will lead to a strict examination and interview process devoid of favouritism, tribe

or religion. “Often times, we find that real brilliant lawyers never get the opportunity to be appointed judges rather you find family, friends and relations being given the opportunity. This of course leads to a fallen standard of justice dispensation. “Regarding social functions, it is common sight to see our judges shamelessly socialising with all manner of people including politicians and businessmen who surely would have some form of litigation at one time or the other before the judges or the colleagues of the judges. “These social interactions whittle down the resistance strength and level of our judges and should either be outlawed or regulated. You easily see judges in family birthdays, memorials, weddings and so on. This does not augur well for the mindset of the judges as to guarantee their neutrality. “Again, in this age, you still find our judges engaged in long hand recording of proceedings. The result is that most judges lose the meat of the cases while trying to catch up with the presentations of counsel. The recording system of the courts ought to be computerised as obtained in some jurisdictions and in very few courts in Nigeria. “Another fetter on the judiciary is the awesome power of the CJN to appoint members of the NJC. This means that 75 per cent of members of the apex administrative body are bound to follow the thought pattern of the CJN. This is worrisome and ought to be reviewed,” Ikeji said. For Mr Yemi Omodele, besides the need for quicker determination of cases through refusal to grant frivolous adjournments, court infrastructure also need to be improved. “A situation where lack of power supply makes a judge not to sit is bad. Also, impromptu seminars/conferences, meetings/

appointments that make a judge not to sit cause set backs for cases. These areas should be addressed. “2015 is an election year in Nigeria. Definitely I expect the judges who will handle those cases to do their jobs according to their oath of office and law. They should do the work without having sympathy for any candidate or political party. They should not think of incumbency or not. They should work based on the facts and evidence placed before the court/tribunal. “I suggest that the CJN should ensure that people appointed to the magistrate/ High Court bench are seasoned private practising lawyers. Practising lawyers know a lot in terms of litigation and going to the bench will surely assist in performance. I also state that counsel with clean records be appointed to the bench. “Seminars, meetings, ceremonies and others for the judges/judicial workers should be fixed for weekends, closing hours/holidays so that it will not affect court work. The principle of integrity should be maintained,” Omodele said. According to him, the CJN should also bring an end to incessant strikes by judiciary workers. “Workers in the legislature hardly go on strike, so how come judicial workers go on strike often? The welfare of the judicial workers must be improved so that they will be willing and ready to work. This will guard against corruption in the judiciary. The judicial workers could be given house and car loans as an encouragement,” Omodele added. For Mrs Gloria Egbuji, a lawyer, the jud i c i a r y s h o u l d r e m a i n “ u p r i g h t and unbiased in their judgments and ensure that judgements delivered in record time because justice delayed is justice denied.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW PERSONALITY

Court adjourns ruling in Nnamani’s trial

ILL the trial of a former Enugu State governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani make progress this year? This is the question on the lips of observers. The trial has been stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos severally due to Nnamani’s absence. The case was stalled again at the last hearing because a ruling on a pending application was not ready. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had prayed the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Yunusa to separate Nnamani’s trial from his co-accused so that their trial can go on. Nnamani’s trial is yet to take off because he was said to be suffering from a heart defect. He was charged along with his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms - Rainbownet Nig Ltd; Hillgate Nig Ltd; Cosmos FM; Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School. EFCC said a speedy trial was necessary as the companies’ assets and liabilities could be adversely affected if the charge against the defendants continues to hang. Ruling on the application was fixed for December 16 last year, but Justice Yususa said it was not ready. EFCC had earlier described Nnamani’s trial as a “scandal” because it has been seven years

By Joseph Jibueze

since he was arraigned for alleged money laundering, but trial is yet to begin. EFCC’s lawyer, Kelvin Uzozie, regretted that the trial has been delayed because of Nnamani’s frequent applications to travel abroad for medical treatment. Nnamani’s lawyer, Chief Rickey Tarfa (SAN) opposed EFCC’s application to split and try the defendants, saying it would affect the former governor’s trial if separated. On November 3, last year, Nnamani had told the court that he was still unfit to stand trial, and Justice Yunusa granted him another leave to travel overseas for a medical check up. Earlier On April 17, 2013, the judge had permitted the former governor to travel overseas for medical reasons. On May 28, 2013, the court granted an application seeking to extend the time for him to conclude his treatment abroad. On September 25, 2013, Nnamani was absent in court, and the judge further adjourned till December 12. The judge happened to be attending a conference that day, and the trial was fixed for March 5 this year. The trial suffered another setback as defence counsel sought an adjournment because, according to him, the case was not slated for trial, but for “mention” (for further direction/reports).

On June 17, last year, Nnamani’s lawyer said his client was suffering from “chronic” heart problem, having undergone surgery and was yet to recover. He prayed the court to permit him to travel abroad for a checkup. Mr Oluyele Delano (SAN), who represented Nnamani that day, argued that the principle of fair hearing required that his client must be well enough to defend himself. He said: “The first accused is ill. He has undergone a quadruple bypass, an open heart surgery, and while there was relative success with regard to the surgery, he has embarked on a slow, tedious recovery process. “Unfortunately, he recently suffered a setback to his health in that he continues to suffer chronic chest pains, which the doctors suspect, it may be that his heart is rejecting the pacemaker that has been installed there. “My Lord, a dead man cannot be tried. I humbly crave the indulgence of the court to give us more time to be in a position to defend the allegations against us. “The doctrine of fair hearing acknowledges the need for the accused not to be prejudiced in his ability to defend the accusations against him on account of ill health.” EFCC re-arraigned Nnamani last on March 7, last year, before Justice Yunusa on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes involving about N4.5billion state funds. Part of the alleged laundered money was

•Nnamani

from the Excess Crude Oil Funds meant for some local government areas, including Aninri; Enugu South; Agwu; Igbo Etiti and Isi Uzor, which was allegedly transferred to Nnamani’s bank account in the United States (US). The crime was allegedly committed while Nnamani was governor between 1999 and 2007. The defendants pleaded not guilty. The case has passed through four different judges due to transfers and retirements. Justice Yunusa adjourned till January 23 for ruling on whether to try the accused persons separately.

Murder suspects get bail

•Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (right) and Head of the Family Court, Justice Yetunde Idowu during a visit to Lagos State Lions Village Motherless Babies Home District 404, Admiralty Way Lekki as part of activities marking the new year.

UN may seek clemency for 54 convicted soldiers By Adebisi Onanuga

•Mumuni

HE United Nations (UN) may intervene to stop the execution of 54 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny by a military court martiaL. The Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns, stated at the weekend that “appropriate action including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is being considered regarding the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.” The move to intercede and save the lives of the convicted soldiers was in response to a petition sent to the body by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in December 2014. In the petition, SERAP had requested from

Mr Heyns, five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to urgently request the Nigerian government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54 Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.” Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni who disclosed this in a statement dated 4 January 2015 said the organization, “SERAP “has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions both on the telephone and via email. “Johel Dominique has confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country. We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers to file the petition.” “SERAP welcomes the decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter. Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Mr Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives

to do that,” Mumuni stated. It would be recalled that SERAP had in a petition dated 23 December 2014 and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated that, “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows. Imposition of mass death sentences is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party. This Covenant limits the circumstances in which a state can impose the death sentence.” The five special rapporteurs include Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Mads Andenas, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism. SERAP had described the courts-martial held in secret were “a mockery of justice” and ignored issues raised by the condemned men that “suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies” in the handling of the security budget and arms purchases.

USTICE Toyin Taiwo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has granted bail to three, out of the six persons standing trial for alleged murder. Justice Taiwo granted bail to Joel Ajiboye, Yusuf Akinwale and Yakubu Olayiwola. The fourth accused person, Adigun Oriyomi, was denied bail. Ajiboye was granted bail after the court heard his application, which centred on ill health and admittance of his medical report from the Nigerian Prisons Service and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja. A statement by the Ministry of Justice, Alausa Ikeja, last week and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Bola Akingbade, explained that the court reviewed its earlier ruling on November 17,last year and granted Ajiboye bail on health grounds and was bond over to keep the peace in accordance with provision of Section 35 & 36 of the ACJL 2011 amongst other bail conditions. The other two defendants, Yusuf Akinwale and YakubuOlayiwola were also granted bail with same conditions. However, the court refused to entertain the review application brought in respect of Adigun Oriyomi and ordered that he be further remanded in Ikoyi Prisons. A case of murder was instituted against Ajiboye and five others by the Lagos State government on behalf of the state. The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Taiwo of Court 28, Criminal Division of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos on November 5, last year. Ajiboye, Akinwale, Olayiwola and Oriyomi, through their counsel, applied for bail and the application was heard on November 13. The court delivered its ruling on November 17, refusing to grant bail to all the defendants. A subsequent application was brought before the court on December 19, 2014 applying for a review of the ruling of the court refusing bail to the defendants. The trial judge has, however, adjourned further hearing in the murder charge brought against the defendants till February 4, 2015.

•Lagos AG, Ade Ipaye.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

PAGE 29

Jobs for 2,550 Kaduna youths •PAGE 30

Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger

•PAGE 31

•Children at the ice cream centre, Rayfield

ESIDENTS of Plateau State did something unforgettable this season. Despite the terror unleashed on the capital Jos or elsewhere in the state, the people were simply determined to celebrate the Yuletide. In the run-up to the festivities, security agents had issued several warnings that terrorists could yet strike again. The people would have none of it. Not that they were foolhardy; only that they seemed resolute that bloodthirsty gangs would not take away their joy. They could well have been inspired by the Holy Book and asking, Terrorists, where is your terorr? Last year, bombers believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect detonated devices in the heart of Jos, which killed scores of people and injured many more. A few weeks back, they hit again. It was, therefore, reasonable to approach the festivities with caution and avoid crowded places, more so when law enforcement agents had warned that there could be more attacks. Jos residents, and even those outside the capital, would not be intimidated. They reached for their best clothing, got together with relatives and friends and made the most of the holidays. They visited parks, the zoo, even went on a boat sail. They came out to celebrate like they never did. Considered as a largely Christian community, residents of the Tin City made this Christmas the biggest festival of their lives. A resident, Michael Mannah told The Nation that Boko Haram cannot stop them from celebrating.

Memorable Yuletide on the plateau ‘Look, my brother, we have to celebrate this Christmas because we cannot throw our joy away because of the fear of Boko Haram, suicide bomb or whatever attack aimed at Christians. We must celebrate. There are calculated attempts by enemies of Christianity to always deprive us of the joy of Christmas and New Year. But this time we are not scared, come what may. We have to celebrate’ From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

He said: “Look, my brother, we have to celebrate this Christmas because we cannot throw our joy away because of fear of Boko Haram, suicide bomb or whatever attack aimed at Christians. We must celebrate. There are calculated attempts by enemies of Christianity to always deprive us of the joy of Christmas and New Year. But this time we are not scared, come what may. We have to celebrate”.

Another resident, Rev. Isaac Thomas, said, “Plateau people are so religious, they believe in the words of their bible, they believe in the protection of God Almighty and so they fear nobody. All these attempts to scare people from their religion will no longer work. In 2010, Christians were bombed on the eve of Christmas, in December 2014 again they made more attempts to create fear in them with more bomb explosions. People are already used to all this, so they are no longer scared.”

The people ate, drank and made merry. Popular tourists centres across the city were filled as residents took time off to cool off. There was no age limit in this outing; the old and young were out for fun. The Solomon Lar Amusement Park, the Jos Wild Life Park, Jos Museum, Rayfield Resort, etc, had more visitors than ever during the Yuletide. In the past few years, Christmas celebrations in Jos were marked under tension due to the ugly experience of 2010. It was on the eve of Christmas of that year that the first major bomb blasts went off simultaneously at a pub, killing about 90 people. The bombs were discretely planted in three different locations and all of them were detonated at the same time. Most families in the city therefore spent that Christmas and New Year holidays burying loved ones or catering for the wounded at various hospitals in the city. The incidents marked a dark era in the history of the state. Residents of Jos city who never experienced such attacks lived with horrific memories of the blasts for a long time. The horror dampened the •Continued on page 33

Ahmed’s wife helps 400 women •PAGE 31

Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency

•PAGE 33

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Memorable Yuletide on the plateau •Continued from page 20 festivities of the following three years in succession. This time, though, the people decided to put the ugly past behind them and celebrate to the fullest. As soon as they returned from church services, they headed for their relaxation spots across the city. Some families moved out of their homes with their foods to tourist spots of their choice for a picnic. Some families, Christian groups, organised parties at the Jos Wild Life Park, some at the Rayfield Resort or the spacious Solomon Lar Amusement Park. It was a Christmas to remember in the city. The celebration was, however, not about visiting the Wild Life Park or the Amusement Park alone. Some preferred to go for a boat ride. Yes, boat ride because the city is not all about rocks. There are dams in the city that give you the exact feeling of a beach. One such is located at the Rayfield Resort which is a large body of water. It is a lake of a sort, but large enough to travel around it and to also travel through it. The lake was created through the historic mining exploration carried out by the Colonial Administration in Nigeria between 1902 and 1970. It is one the numerous mining ponds reclaimed by the Plateau State government because of its large size. There are two speed boats anchored on the lake which take tourists on a fun ride through the length and breadth of the lake. It has a good beach suitable

•Yuletide fun seekers at the Rayfield Resort for ceremonies. Churches go there ties. There are offices for bookings to perform baptism on their memfor any of the services. But the most bers, couples too for their wedding patronised was the speed boat ride. receptions, while others prefer their That particular section attracted chilbirthday parties there and the like. dren, adults, young and old. Every The site, owned by the Plateau residents took their time to go there State Tourism Corporation, has a and have that kind of Sea-side expewell-decorated pub, complete with rience. a life band section, barbecue corner Most fun-centres in the city came and restaurants, among other facilialive during the Yuletide. Places like

K-Rocks in Tudunwada, West of Mines, Rayfield Resort, Avis at Yakubu Gowon Way, La Pink at Zaramaganda, Uptown Garden at Hwolshe, Solomon Lar Amusement Park along Lowcost Road, Civil Service Club, etc. There are also several Garden located around the Forest Reserves of the Jos Meseum and Zoo. Exotic wine shops were the most patronised during the celebrations. The cold weather creates such markets. Residents go for foreign wines, gin, Whisky, Brandy, Vodka, Rums and the like. Popular among them is the Exclusive Wine Centre at DB Zang Road by Hill Station Hotel Junction. The place gets busy at dusk and is mostly patronised during festivities like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas or individual programmes. The patronage was more during the Christmas. The locals did not lack places to obtain the home-brewed wine known as ‘Burukutu’ in local parlance. There are numerous brewing centres for that and the product was

available throughout the period and even beyond. At the same time, palm wine was in abundant supply. There were categories of Jos residents that preferred the golf clubs. For them, three standard facilities came in handy: the Rayfield Golf Club, Laminga Golf Club and the military-owned Rhino Golf Club located at Rukuba Barracks. These clubs are mostly patronised by retired Generals, administrators, retired a civil servants and top politicians. After going round all the holes and obstacles on the green grass field of the gulf club, they ended up at the Bar of the Club where all brands of beer and wine were readily available. The clubs were a beehive of activities. Another centre of attraction in Jos was the state government-owned Solomon Lar Amusement Park located along Domkat Bali- Ratya Road. Residents flocked there, but they also went elsewhere, a testament to their resolve to make the make the most of the Yuletide.

‘It was a Christmas to remember in the city. The celebration was, however, not about visiting the Wild Life Park or the Amusement Park alone. Some preferred to go for a boat ride. Yes, boat ride because the city is not all about rocks. There are dams in the city that give you the exact feeling of a beach’ •The boat cruise

S part of efforts to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness, the Kaduna State government has employed about 2550 women and youths under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). This is in addition to over 7000 of the women and youths previously engaged by the government. Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero expressed relief at the occasion, saying that the employment of a sizeable number of youths help keep many from thuggish behaviour and drug. Many believe that this development will reduce the volatile nature of the state especially ahead of the 2015 general elections. Analysts believe that

Jobs for 2,550 Kaduna youths From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

since the government has given the youths a life, as it were, by making them vital in nation-building, they will certainly reciprocate the effort. They argued that previous governments in the country, particularly Kaduna State, introduced many policies aimed at empowering thousands of unemployed youths which did not yield much result, as unemployed youths still

roamed the streets. It was some of these youths who ended up in the hands of unpatrotic politicians who used them as thugs. The employed youths were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state comprising six males and four females from each of the 255 wards of the 23 Local Government Areas. Clad in SURE-P jackets at Umar Musa Yar’Adua Hall where they were given employment letters, the youths who are to be responsible for sanitation on major roads and

public institutions, also act as security watchdogs in the community just as they will control human and vehicular movement during occasions and public functions. That is not all. They will equally sensitise and enlighten the public on peace, unity, drug awareness, good governance and civic responsibilities, were happy to be government employees. Governor Yero, while speaking during the flag-off of the Youth and Women employment Development programme held at Shehu

Yar’Adua Multi-Purpose Hall, urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity offered them seriously. He urged them to add values to their lives and not solely rely on monthly allowances alone. Yero said government’s efforts was geared towards ensuring that youths were gainfully employed in order to encourage productivity and guide against involving in social vices such as drug abuse among •Continued on page 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

T was a bold step across the international border, but it was one worth taking. Members of the Boko Haram sect have since unleashed such terror on the Northeast, killing so many, injuring many more, but also displacing a large chunk of survivors. Many of such displaced people fled to Cameroon, some to Niger Republic, among other places. The trip of Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to Niger to comfort the refugees there helped to dull the pain of displacement and horror of the insurgency. The governor also visited his hometown Gaidam, headquarters of Gaidam Local Government Area, which was attacked by the Islamists, bringing succour to the residents. He has set up a committee to provide immediate relief and support for the people, whose town is following the attack more than a week ago. The governor inspected the damage to public and private property caused by the attackers. The Nation reports that the Gaidam Market, one of the largest in the northeast, and a local government secretariat, were completely burnt down by suspected Boko Haram attackers. The Divisional Police Office, military camp as well as several houses, shops and vehicles belonging to residents were also burnt down. Speaking on the ruins of the burnt down Gaidam Market, Governor Gaidam sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, describing the attack as “heinous, evil and barbaric”. As part of measures to ameliorate the suffering of the displaced population, Gaidam directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide foodstuff for the people of the town within three to four days. He also ordered that a committee comprising SEMA officials, two State Assembly members and two commissioners from the

•Gaidam

•The Yobe refugees in Niger Republic

Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

Gaidam area, chairman of the Gaidam Market Association and other elders be formed immediately to assess the level of damage with a view to providing a report which the government will use to assist victims. He said: “SEMA should bring in officials immediately and, along with members of the committee I just formed, they should come and start work immediately. They should compile a comprehensive report on losses incurred so that the State Government can provide support to those affected”. Gaidam said. The governor also directed the Gaidam local government chairman to address immediately the complaint of lack of water in the town that some residents have made to him and also directed the State’s health commissioner to deploy drugs and additional health workers to the town to attend to injured victims.

‘I have been assured by military authorities that they are deploying additional soldiers and all the needed military hardware to Gaidam area within the next few days. In fact some of the soldiers have already started arriving’ Governor Gaidam visited Maine Soroa in Niger Republic where more than 4,000 Gaidam, Kanamma and Yunusari residents had fled to and was conducted round by the Prefect (Governor) of Diffa region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman who said over 4000 people were offered shelter in the area with 1,385 camped and fed by Niger Government while 3000 refugees live with friends and relatives in Maine Soroa town.

Governor Gaidam while addressing the victims described what happened as “unfortunate and a test from God Almighty,” urging them to take heart and pray to God for the return of peace in Yobe and the country in general. He promised the refugees that the State Government will extend support to them even as he urges them to return home. “I have been assured by military authorities that they are deploying additional soldiers and all the

needed military hardware to Gaidam area within the next few days. In fact some of the soldiers have already started arriving. By the Grace of God and with your prayers, we will not see a recurrence of the abominable thing we had seen in Gaidam. I urge you to return to your homes. We will remain with you and support you,” Gaidam told them. Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam had earlier in his visit inspected the Military base of the area, the Divisional police station, the Local Government Secretariat and the Geidam market as well as damage to public and private property burnt by the insurgents assures them of every support. Some of the displaced persons expressed regrets that security forces during the evasion of the town run away as the insurgents continue to rain terror on them unabated and call for timely government’s intervention to enable them return to their homes.

Ahmed’s wife helps 400 women

IDOWS and other lessprivileged persons have been the most beneficiaries of the LEAH Foundation jobs plan in Kwara State. In the wee hours of 2014, no fewer than 400 women smiled home with jobs tools, thanks to the non-governmental organisation founded by wife of the state governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed. The items distributed during the empowerment programme included 250 grinding machines, 80 sewing machines, 73 deep freezers with 73 generating plants. Others are hair dryers and coolers. Besides, 200 women received cash to boost their trade, while scores of women from the South-South and South-Eastern parts of the country resident in the state received a start-up capital of N250,000 each. In all, the Founder of LEAH Foundation, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed said that no fewer than 200,000 widow and less privileged had benefited from the NGO. Speaking during the programme in

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Ilorin, the state capital, Deaconess Ahmed said “today, 400 women selected from different walks of life are benefiting from items that will soon be distributed. Every beneficiary of these equipment got the exact thing that they needed in accordance with a needs assessment which has earlier been conducted all over the state by our field workers. “Our sisters from the South-South and South-East zones of the country who have found a home in Kwara will also receive financial support for their businesses.” She added that LEAH Foundation has established 29 basic breast and cervical cancer screening centres in government hospitals across the state. She added that “954 primary school pupils have been enrolled on the ‘adapt a child programme; 1,038,000 people across the state have been attended to on sundry medical issues by the clinic on wheels initiative.

“An ultra modern breast and cervical cancer diagnostic centre has been established in Ilorin. It has the full complement of a laboratory. As at date, a total of 8886 women have presented themselves for screening at the centres. “On our empowerment drive, over 3,500 women have been empowered at various times with different tools of trade.” She said that “our sole desire for this programme which we are rounding up today is to ensure the welfare of all our children as an important requirement for the wellbeing of our families.” Her words: “The significant thing about the exercise is that the equipment were not randomly given. Every beneficiary of these equipment got the exact thing that they needed in accordance with a needs assessment which has earlier been conducted all over the state by our field workers. “Let me reiterate that our soul desire for this programme is to ensure the welfare of all our women as an important requirement for the

•Some of the items distributed at the event wellbeing of our families. new seeds of care and kindness, most “I therefore want to enjoin all ben- especially in forlon groups- women, eficiaries of this programme to make widows and physically challenged judicious use of the items that have persons. Someday, the harvest will be been given to them. It is only by do- different. We would have frustration ing that it would bring benefit to the replaced with hope, the seed of defamily and our communities as we spair will go into extinction and the anticipate. It is also the only way to paradise we ever hoped for will be encourage us and other people and handed over to us.” see that more people can benefit from In a remark at the event, Governor this gesture in the near future. Ahmed hailed the foundation for “To all and sundry, it is time for all touching the lives of the widows and of us to sincerely collaborate to plant less privileged in the society.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

T had the trappings of a military parade. Some 2,200 youths filed past in a well-coordinated march. Taking the salute was Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako. It was the graduation day of the state’s special marshals who would help manage vehicular traffic, ensure public order and keep the state tidy. It was a well-thought-out plan to fight unemployment as well as help other existing personnel in public duties. The people watched and cheered as the youths savoured their day. The Wamakko administration said the establishment of the Sokoto Corp Marshals was part of its pledge to create employment for the state youths. The training was financed with the state’s share of funds from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The Marshals are under the watchful eye of a retired Commissioner of Police, Sa’idu Madawaki. For seven weeks, the youths, drawn from the 23 local local government areas of the state, underwent intensive training in paramilitary exercises before being posted to their duty post after being paid some stipends. The Nation was informed that the Marshals will help in security duties. Five hundred of them have been deployed to strategic locations within the state capital while others have been posted to other local government areas. They have also been placed on a money salaries in accordance with the regulations in the state civil service. Investigations revealed that those in the state capital have already begun working in the areas of their posting within the metropolis such as roundabouts, junctions, public places such as markets and related areas where traffic congestion and activities are high for control and orderliness. It was also discovered that this measure is already paying off as activities of motorists and other road users who are always in the habit of violating traffic laws have being reduced to the barest minimum. In the past, road users especially commercial tricycles were in the habit of violating traffic laws. But since the since the introduction of the marshals, activities of such groups have reduced. Their presence at public events for crowd con-

•The corps marshal graduates

Sokoto graduates special marshals From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

trol and maintaining orderliness in recent times has been commended by residence of the state. A commercial car driver, Malam Almu Dan Ige told The Nation that the people of the state need to cooperate with Marshals in the discharge of their duties. He said, “As you can see, the traffic is under control with the coming of these corps marshals. They are now everywhere in town

and we are seeing their positive impact. Their coming has reduced some risks on the roads and install some level of sanity at public places. They are working side by side with the traffic wardens and the lights are functioning too to avoid accidents and disobedience of traffic laws. We need to cooperate with them”. He said that the creation of the Marshals has also helped in checking social adversity and redundancy among a significant number youths

‘The measure is already paying off as activities of motorists and other road users who are always in the habit of violating traffic laws have being reduced to the barest minimum’ in the state. They have been equipped with patrol vehicles to monitor and control as well as

Jobs for 2,550 Kaduna youths •Continued from page 30 others. To achieve this and similar programmes, the governor revealed that the state government has deposited the sum of N2billion with Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and

Bank of Industry (BOI). The implementation of the programme rested on Ministry of Youth and Sport and Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. On the forthcoming general election, Governor Yero urged youths

•Asphalting of Osuman Street in Makurdi

in the state to shun politicians who are bent on causing trouble. He said there are certain group of politicians whose planning day and night is to clinch the seat of power through any means particularly through violence and all sorts of trouble-making. Yero also urged

the youth to be law-abiding citizens, shun all social vices and be respectful to elders according to him doing so would guarantee a secure future for them. Speaking further he said “my administration give priority to human capacity building than road construction, if we build roads and failed to build the capacity of people, who then would used the roads,” Speaking earlier, the state commissioner for Youth and Sports Dr. Yari Peter Everton said a total of 2,550 youth and women across the 23 local government areas of the state benefited from the youth and women empowerment programme. He said the programme was conceived to transform and Improve the quality of lives of the youth and to also provide the youth opportunity to contribute their own quota to the development in their various communities. “The youth and women would be engaged in the following areas, Sanitation of major roads and public institutions, act as security watchdogs in the community, control of human and vehicular traffic, sensitise on peace, unity and drug awareness, among others”. He

check excesses of road users, public attitude to discipline and environmental sanity.

‘The youth and women will be engaged in the sanitation of major roads and public institutions, act as security watchdogs in the community, control of human and vehicular traffic and sensitise the public on peace, unity and drug awareness’ urged the beneficiaries to avail themselves the opportunity to serve their community for development socially, politically and economically. One of the beneficiaries, Bulus Iliya expressed gratitude to the state government for the kind gesture and promised to carry out their duty diligently to justify the confidence the government have in him. Haruna Usman and Talatu Yakubu also promised to be alive to their responsibility, just as they commended the state government for the gesture.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 33

•Defence Spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade (right), former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro next to him in white, and the children of late military personnel with members of the Support our Troops Foundation

“I

T is difficult trying to survive without one’s parents...It is our prayer that the insurgency in the Northeast will soon be a thing of the past and the areas affected would be rebuilt.” This was the prayer of Master Abdullahi Mohammed, a primary school pupil who lost his father to insurgency attack. Mohammed was one of the pupils who largely depend on humanitarian support from Support Our Troops Foundation. He continued: “Laying down one’s life in the interest of one’s nation is largely regarded as a national honour and we pray that their labour put in while containing the insurgents will not go in vain. We pray that their souls continue to rest in peace. May the almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest.” Mohammed’s voice wavered as

Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency ‘Laying down one’s life in the interest of one’s nation is largely regarded as a national honour and we pray that their labour put in while containing the insurgents will not go in vain. We pray that their souls continue to rest in peace. May the almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest’ From Olugbenga Adanikin

he said that prayer on behalf of other children whose fathers also died while fighting Boko Haram insurgents. It was clear they need help.

•An overloaded vehicle on Gombe-Bauchi Road

Madam Patience Atekhide also lost her husband last year to the unrest in the Northeast. Her husband was in the military. Since then, she has trying hard to take care of her two female children. She hails from Edo State.

Succour has come her way, as the military responded. About 150 bags of rice, 300 branded school bags, 1,000 books and 50 computers were given to all the children and widows by Support Our Troops Foundation. The late soldiers were indeed heroes who died for a good cause in line of duty. The event was put together to support the victims’ family especially, children of military personnel who died in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation. The widows got bags of rice and other relief materials. Prior to this period, another beneficiary who did not want her name in print said the military had shown much love by offering them clothing materials, groundnut oil, bags of rice among others. Meanwhile, the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which embarks on this initiative was initiated by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, supported by the Defence Minister, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau but founded by Mrs. Funmi Ogbue to cater for the needs of these people left behind by their father. While the beneficiaries commended the foundation for the gesture, Ogbue emphasised the need

to support the vulnerable group. She stated that it was the vision of the foundation to create a national culture of pride, patriotism and belief in the brave people who make up the nation’s Armed Forces – and to see that pride demonstrated in the practical support it offer them. When it was time for the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, represented by Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade to give his speech, he sought the opportunity to restore hope of the deceased families. He was particular about providing every needed support to motivate the military and their family. To him, generousity of the founder was one that has backing of the entire red brass in the military. His appreciation appeared insufficient when he called other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative. “I will like to appreciate this expression as it is coming at a time that our children are beginning to prepare for school. There are families that are either victims or involved in curtailing the activities of terrorists. We are aware that the federal government has a package to address the situation of victims, •Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT •Continued from page 33 to see this as directly supporting our troops. “We sincerely appreciate it and identify with it. I can only give a commitment on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff that we will continue to encourage not just the activity to support our troops but all Nigerians who will like to express their supports for our troops in a trying period such as we are going through.” The gathering, which had in attendance other top military officers served as an opportunity to rekindle spirit of the men and women in uniform. Badeh restated his commitment assuring the people that the ‘Nigerian military is committed to ensuring that it does not disappoint this nation in a crucial time such as this.’ “All we need from Nigerians are understanding and supports for us to achieve our constitutional mandates of ensuring the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian citizens wherever they are found in the world.” A beneficiary who did not want her name in print described the gesture as ‘very nice’ and reasonably good. However, she implored the military to endeavour to assist in paying tuition fees of their children. According to her, the military has done excellent job by providing them with foods among other needs but the future of their wards, she said was much more important. “They promised us that they will pay for the school fees of our children. Like mine, it happened last year. Up until now, I am the one trying to pay the fees. I have never seen their support for the school fees.” Asked if deliberate efforts were made to contact the ap-

NDIGENOUS people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiatives (GG-DIN) have stressed the imperatives of unity and fighting marginalisation. Prince Gimba Gbaiza, President of GG-DIN, who spoke on behalf of the organisation at its annual convention in Abuja, said that the aim of the convention was to assess the impact of the struggle for the liberation of Gbagyi people to determine whether it has succeeded or not. According to Gbaiza, the convention was also to speak about the unity of FCT indiginenes in actualizing their desired goals,

•Beneficiaries on the queue for relief materials at the event

Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency propriate authority, she said, “I have been to the army headquarters more than twice but they promised to pay the fees by next year.” The Former Defence Minister, Obanikoro thrilled the gathering with words of motivation. He enlightened the public on immense sacrifices made by the military to ensure safety and unity of the na-

tion. The sacrifice, he emphasised should be replicated by supporting their wives and children they left behind. “This gesture is to show an expression of love, appreciation and recognition for men and women in uniform, those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our nation Nigeria. When I con-

ceived this idea, I invited Mrs. Ogbue to come up with programmes to achieve this aim, she has not disappointed me. “This support for the military is something that is embedded in the innermost part of me. It comes naturally because service to humanity itself is the best service you can render anywhere in the world. But

when you are now prepared to support rendering of that service with your life, then you have taken it to another level completely.” ”I salute those who have lost their lives to ensure that this great country remains a stable and progressive society. I want to say with more emphasis that those fallen heroes must always be celebrated. That Nigeria is stable, that we are progressive to a reasonable extent is the work that these men and women are doing in every part of the country. We Nigerians need to encourage them by giving blind support. We appreciate you and we love you.”

Indigenous people urged to fight marginalisation

From Gbenga Omokhunu

saying that FCT indigenes have been suffering marginalization in the hands of government for a very long time. “Unfortunately, we are still experiencing marginalization in the FCT. We are saying that by the grace of God, as other states indigenes are benefiting from the state and federal government, we the indigenes of the FCT, should also be benefiting in the FCT and

•People shopping at Shoprite at Silver Bird complex in Abuja

the federal government. “Inasmuch as we are concerned, the government is still marginalizing our people, because other states of Nigeria have three to five senators and more members in the House of Assembly. But, in the FCT, we have one senator and two House of Representatives members. “We are also appealing to the

government to always to carry along traditional rulers and indigenous youth associations in the FCT, to see how we can move the people forward. We need to reach out to our political office holders and make them more responsible to fight for the plight of indigenous people of the FCT,” he said. GG-DIN Head of Operations, Baba Elisha, also explained that they are using the convention to let the people and government know that the spirit for the fight for freedom is still in GG-DIN, urging FCT indigenes that whatever has been taken from them by government, they should not resolve to self help or violence.

“We are doing everything possible to liase with relevant authorities to alleviate the plight of people of the FCT. We are using the convention to let the people know that the government in power is willing to listen to our plight that self help will not work, rather, it will only destroy us,” he said. Alhaji Musa Barde, the Hakimi of Galadimawa, who was present at the convention commended GG-DIN for the struggle, saying that would encourage FCT indigenes on how to take care of their culture, that despite the globalization going on in the country, they should not forget their culture.

‘Inasmuch as we are concerned, the government is still marginalizing our people, because other states of Nigeria have three to five senators and more members in the House of Assembly. But, in the FCT, we have one senator and two House of Representatives members’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

•Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Kennedy Opara (second right). With him, from left: Federal Government Delegation Leader, Chief Reginald •From left: Chairman, Forum for the Patriotic Members of All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Amadi; Senator Matthew Nwagu; Senate Leader Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and others at Lawal Garba; former Kaduna State Governor, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) and the Forum National the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja before the departure of part of the 2014 Organising Secretary, Umar Jibo at a conference in Abuja contingent to Israel PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN

•Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi (left); Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of Secretary to Federal Government, Dr Habiba Lawal; Managing director, Aso Savings Hassan Usman; National President, Real Estate Developer Association of Nigeria, Bode Afolayan and project coordinator, Ebenezer Adebisi during Unveiling of FRSC Housing 20,000 project in Abuja

•Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (second right) cutting the tape to commission TOP Galaxy Hotel Limited, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna. With him are Chairman, PDP, Kaduna State, Hon. Abubakar Haruna (left); Engr. Sylvanus Anene; HRH Igwe Charles Nwoye and Chairman, Top Galaxy Hotel Limited Kaduna, Chief John Onwe (right)

•Initiator, YellowJerrycan,, Save a Child Foundatiion, Adaora Onyechere(middle) Coordinator, Amaka Ude(left) and one of the displaced person, Mrs Ramatu Peter at a press briefing on the increase in the internally displaced persons in Abuja

•Chief Executive, Communication and Knowledge Management Consultant, Dr. Abiodun Adeniyi (left); Ondo State APC chieftain, Olumide Ogundipe; Mr Ernest Okpeku; founder, Association of Criminal Justice Practitioners, Juliet Ibekaku and the author, Emmanuel Onwubiko during the unveiling of the book “Who Cares About Human Rights” in Abuja PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Boko Haram can’t stop elections, says Eze Igbo B OKO Haram cannot stop the 2015 general elections, especially in the Northeast, His Royal Highness, Eze Ibeh Nwosu, Eze Igbo 1 of Abuja, has said. He disclosed that series of meetings are on to ensure that the election is free and fair, advising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to think of postponing the ballot. The traditional ruler spoke in Abuja as politicians visited him to inform him of their interest to run for positions in the elections. Among those who visited the

From Gbenga Omokhunu

monarch was Mr Maxwell Opara, an Abuja-based legal practitioner and human rights activist, who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He is the party’s candidate for House of Representative, AMAC/Buwari Federal constituency. Eze Nwosu was optimistic that the Boko Haram sect could not unleash any worse terror on the country.

He said, “This is a political era and top politicians are coming to inform me of their intention and to also seek my blessing. I gave many of them my word and prayed for them. “We are making efforts to ensure that the 2015 general election is peaceful; that is one of the most important things I am preaching. In all fairness, there is security; President Goodluck Jonathan is serious from the look of things to see that nothing goes wrong in 2015 and also to see that people are secure. “The insurgents can’t do more

than this. The insurgents cannot stop 2015 election. It cannot be postponed. Plans are ongoing as scheduled. Nobody should think that there will be no election. There must be election constitutionally and there should be no going back. “As a traditional ruler I hold meetings here almost everyday to deliberate on security and how the 2015 election will be peaceful. We have been praying to God for a successful 2015 election and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has been assuring Nigerians of conducting a peaceful election. Election must be free

and fair. INEC is better now in conducting elections compare to before.” Opara said: “I have also visited other traditional Rulers in Abuja for blessing and to make my political moves known. I have used my legal profession to assist FCT poeple and I know what they want and what is needed to be done. I have been able to stop government from carring out series of demolition exercise. I have also submitted some bills to the National Assembly on the FCT laws. I have also helped the FCT residents in educating them on their rights.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

OVERNMENTS’ development economic plans have protected their economies through periods of certainty and uncertainty. Such economic plans allow a country to influence, direct, and control changes in principal economic variables such as investment, savings, consumption expenditures, exports, and imports, over a period of time in order to achieve a pre-determined set of goals. The development plans are often classified into four broad categories, including short-range plans, medium-range plans, long-range plans, and rolling plans. Nigeria has not been left out of this practice as it has in the past strictly followed various lengths of economic plans from pre-independence to the post-independence era. The first attempt at development planning in Nigeria was the TenYear Plan of Development and Welfare (1945- 1955) it was followed by the Second Pre-Independence National Development Plan (1955 – 1960). Development plan in Nigeria, after indepedence include the First National Development Plan (19621968), the Second National Development Plan (1970-1974), the Third National Development Plan (19751980) and the Fourth National Development Plan (1981-1985). This was followed by the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the regime of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. The national rolling plans in the country began with the First National Rolling Plan (1990-1992), the Second National Rolling Plan (19911993), the Third National Rolling Plan (1993-1995), the Fourth National Rolling Plan (1994-1996) and the Fifth National Rolling Plan (1997-1999). But some economic analysts have identified many problems that mitigated against successful implementation of development plans in Nigeria over the years. The problems, according to them, include corruption, lack of feasibility studies and/or project analysis and effective coordination of development efforts, lack of suitable economic and political environment, lack of consultation and involvement of the local communities and the private sector in planning efforts and plan implementations. Other problems, they said, include shortage of specialised skills, dearth of reliable data, technical changes and unforeseen economic fortunes, lack of properly defined economic and social goals, over-ambitious estimates, balance of payments problems and the nature of international economic environment, and bureaucracy in the Government administrative machinery. These problems could have informed the decision of those

Reviving long-term economic plan adminstrations that avoided such economic plans and went ahead to run their government on emergency basis. But President Goodluck Jonathan, on the first day of this year, noted that such emergency plan has resulted in wobbling economy. Speaking at the New Year Service of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, he said: “For you to achieve anything, you must have a clear vision. Even if you look at what we have been doing as a nation, you will really see that before this time when the country used to have this 25 years plan, the budget was based on 25 years clear plan for the country. So you know where you are going for 25 years. Then it is broken down into 5 years plan and annual budget and we knew where we were going.” “But after sometimes, things collapsed and we run government on emergency basis and you see government start wobbling. We are going back to those good days when we have vision. We have plan for agriculture, we have plan for industry, we have plan for automobile and many other areas.” he added.

Jonathan’s kinsmen and emblem Next week Thursday is the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrace Day,

From the Villa By Augustine Ehikioya which is a day specially dedicated for remembering fallen heroes, their relations and injured soldiers. Towards supporting the relations of the deceased and the living heroes, President Goodluck Jonathan had last month launched the 2015 emblem to raise fund for the Nigerian Legion. Not only did Jonathan encouraged Nigerians to buy the emblem but he made it mandatory for members of his cabinet and visitors to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “I, personally, will put on the emblem from today till January 15, and in the State House it is a tradition that for you to come in from tomorrow, you must wear the emblem.’’ Jonathan stated The security officials manning the

key entrances leading to the President’s office and residence have not failed to enforce the directive as it would be a miracle for anybody without the emblem to pass through such points. Jonathan’s kinsmen including royal fathers from Bayelsa State were not exempted from the directive when they came to wish him merry Christmas and happy New Year at Aso Rock last Tuesday. Apart from the normal security checks on Jonathan’s kinsmen at the gates, the security personnel had to make sure they were all hanging the emblem before heading to Jonathan’s residence. Since most of them did not come with the emblem from Bayelsa State,

they had to quickly buy one to gain entrance. This is just one of the sales strategy for the emblem and it will really go a long way if all the proceeds from the emblem really get to the Nigerian Legion for the benefit of those who are entitled to it. The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gayya had complained during the launching in December that N75 million out of the N105 million pledged in 2013 for the emblem was yet to be received after over one year. Hear him: “The saddest thing is that these pledges are made in the pubic eye leaving us with no avenue to tell the world that such pledges have not been redeemed. We call with loud voice on those who did not redeem their pledges to honourably do so.” “We had our Legion Humanitarian Day on 27 November 2014 during which we empowered widows and gave bursary to the children of the fallen heroes. Our emphasis was on the victims of the current insurgency operation in the country especially those who are yet to be paid their benefits.” “We lost over 100 members to the current insurgency in the Northeast and the affected families are in dare need of help.” he stated. It is really hoped that this year will be different for the Nigerian Legion.

‘Nigeria needs prayers’

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has urged Muslims and Christians to pray for the country as the 2015 election approaches. He also asked Nigerians to pray for peace and continued unity of the nation. The Minister gave the advice in his Maulud Nabiu message. Mohammed admonished Muslims to reflect on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, which is primarily premised selflessness, sacrifice, patience, modesty and spirituality. He urged Muslims to adhere to the scardinal principle of peace. The Minister noted that the celebration that marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad calls for so-

From Gbenga Omokhunu

ber reflection and spiritual rejuvenation, as the Prophet has remained a role model worthy of emulation for all generations. His words: “As you pray for the nation, I enjoin you to also pray for its leadership, for God to continue give and protect guide, to President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and the wisdom to steer the affairs of the country”. The Minister assured that the FCT Administration would continue to guarantee the security of the lives and property of all residents of the Federal Capital Territory. He, however, enjoined residents to always report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents.

•Victims of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) after insurgents chased them out of their home

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Convicted soldiers deserve praise not condemnation, says Falana

AGOS lawyer, Femi Falana has said that the 64 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny by a court-martial deserve commendation and not condemnation. Falana, who made this declaration in a statement titled, “Soldiers’ legal right to protest” issued on Sunday in Lagos, said their conviction and sentence should be quashed by the confirming authority. He argued that the convicts soldiers would have been guilty as charged if they had vamoosed or deserted the army when ordered to advance. “They never said that they won’t fight. But having regard to the casualties of July 9, 2014 due to the superior fire power of the terrorists, they rightly demanded for support weapons. And when adequate weapons were made available on August 18, 2014 they fought with courage, commitment and loyalty to their country and routed out the insurgents. “They deserved commendation and not condemnation. Having requested for weapons in exercise of their constitutional right, the convicts did not commit the offence of mutiny or any offence whatsoever. In the circumstance, they ought to have their conviction and sentence quashed by the confirming authority,” he said. To buttress his view, he cited the case of Oladele & Ors v Nigerian Army (2003) 36 WRN 48, which dealt with the matter of the appellants who were injured in the ECOMOG peace keeping operations in Liberia flown to Egypt for medical treatment. He recalled that on the day they were to return to Nigeria, they protested violently at the Cairo Airport over the non-payment of their estacode noting , “they were brought home and charged with mutiny, convicted and sentenced to various prisons terms including life imprisonment by a Court Martial. In setting aside the conviction and sentences passed on the appellants, the Court of Appeal observed thus: “Mutiny is a criminal offence of a serious dimension. The pieces of evidence that l have reviewed supra have not shown that the appellants disobeyed any order deliberately nor did they use any violence. If anything at all, all they did was to protest the non – payment of their estacode. Such a protest finds justification on the admission of PW4 that he had paid some soldiers who earlier travelled with some estacode and was emphatic that the appellants were not prohibited but there was no express provision for the payment of estacode to them ”In the light of the reasoning of the Court of Appeal in the Oladele’s case, we submit that in demanding for adequate support weapons, the convicted soldiers did not engage in violence. To that extent, their demand found justification in fact and in law”, he said. The erudite lawyer also recalled that in an oral evidence before the Court Martial, Lt-Col. T. Opurum, the Commanding Officer, who was the first prosecution witness stated that the unit was ambushed on July 9, 2014 by the terrorists and that a total of three officers and 23 soldiers were killed in that attack while about 82 others had various degrees of injuries. He recalled that the witness further told the court that on August 4, 2014 when he ordered

By Adebisi Onanuga

the convicted soldiers and others to advance and capture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa, they demanded for adequate equipment to avoid another tragic encounter with the terrorists. According to him, the convicted soldiers, in their defence, admitted that they demanded for equipment to fight the Boko Haram insurgents who were armed with weapons like Anti Aircrafts, APCs, BMGs, RPGs and AK47s. Each soldier was only armed with aAK47 and 60 rounds of ammunition. “They said that sequel to the tragic development, PW 1 promised that adequate weapons would be provided for any other operation as the terrorists “have superior fire power.” He was quoted as saying, “ I, Lt-Col Opurum will not take soldiers in my battalion to the war front again without adequate weapons.” The promise was not kept when PW 1 asked the convicts and other soldiers to confront the terrorists on August 4, 2014. “Unlike the eight soldiers who deserted the army, the convicted soldiers responded to the call for reinforcement on 18 August 2014, when Delwa was attacked by the insurgents. As the army headquarters in Maiduguri had provided weapons, the convicts extricated the commander and others from the terrorists . During cross examination, PW 1 admitted that the minimum strength of a Battalion in the Nigerian Army is about 750-800 personnel whereas he had just 174 soldiers and that the terrorists were equipped with “superior fire power”. On the allegation that the convicts requested for weapons, PW 1 admitted that all other soldiers involved in the operations against insurgency had made a similar demand. In view of the lack of equipment which led to the tragic killing of three officers and 23 soldiers by the insurgents in July, it cannot be said that the demand for weapons to engage in the operations against the enemy constituted mutiny. Indeed, the request for adequate support weapons is justified by Section 217 (2) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate .. “ No doubt, the accused had subscribed to the oath of allegiance to defend the territorial integrity of the nation but the oath is not a license to commit suicide. It is a solemn undertaking to defend the nation based on the expectation that the Federal Government would have complied with Section 217 of the Constitution on the mandatory requirement to equip the armed forces adequately. The failure of the Federal Government to provide adequate weapons recently led President Jonathan to request for a loan of $1 billion to purchase military hardware for the armed forces to fight the terrorists. Although the request was granted, there is no indication that the weapons have been acquired! “In 2008, 27 soldiers were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a court-martial which sat at Akure, Ondo State. The sol-

•Falana

diers who had taken part in the United Nations peace keeping operations in Liberia embarked on a violent street demonstration to protest the diversion of their operational allowances by some officers. Based on the representation made by us on behalf of the convicts, reason prevailed and the confirming authority commuted the life imprisonment to seven years. On a further review of the case the convicts were pardoned. As in the instant case, the authorities initially believed that soldiers had no right to protest against injustice”, he stated. The lawyer drew the attention of the military authorities to section 179 of the Armed Forces Act 2004 which permits a soldier, rating or aircraftman “to make a complaint to his commanding officer who is obligated to address the complaint. Under no condition shall the complainant be penalised for having made a complaint so far as the complaint does not contravene any provisions of the Act. “In this case, the complaint of the convicted soldiers pertaining to lack of adequate weapons to fight terrorism was made in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and the Constitution. In the circumstance, the charge of mutiny is illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular. To buttress his argument, the erudite lawyer again referred to the case of Cpl Segun Oladele & 22 Others v Nigerian Army supra, where the Court of Appeal held that: “Let it be said that members of the armed

•From left: Senator Gbega Ashafa; former Lagos Attorney-General , Olasupo Shasore (SAN) and Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade during the swearing in of new judges. PHOTO: Moses Omosehin

forces in this country have not denounced their membership of the Nigerian society and it seems to me that they cannot do so in a manner calculated to jettison the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the grundnorm. The members of the armed forces are not excluded from the application of the provisions of the Fundamental Rights the likes of right to life, right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing, right to freedom from discrimination etc.” Falana recalled that in the last three months, two sets of soldiers totaling 64, were charged with conspiracy to mutiny and mutiny before a court-martial which sat in Abuja. “The “offence” proved against the accused soldiers was that they demanded for adequate weapons to fight the well-equipped and wellmotivated troops of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. “Although there was no scintilla of evidence to substantiate the charge of mutiny against them, the military judges discharged and acquitted 12 of the accused soldiers and convicted and sentenced 58 others to death. “As the verdict is characterised by gross miscarriage of justice, the defence team has strongly urged the confirming authority to quash the questionable conviction and the sentence. “In challenging the death penalty imposed on the soldiers, some persons have defended the right of members of the armed forces to request for equipment in fighting the war on terror in the north east region. Piqued by the growing rejection of the death penalty by prominent Nigerians, the military authorities issued an angry statement last week, warning politicians and activists against actions capable of inciting or endorsing indiscipline in the Nigerian Armed Forces. According to the Director of Defence Information, Maj.General Chris Olukolade, the call became necessary in view of the statement credited to a politician that “ soldiers have the right to protest for the Federal Government’s failure to fully equip them”. He advised those commenting on the matter to realise that the actions of the military authorities were justified in law. However, a retired army general, Ishola Williams, has said that the convicted soldiers were right in disobeying orders that would lead to certain death as a result of the failure of their commanding officers to provide them the necessary equipment. The respected general who was the Chief of Defence Operations, Planning and Training, at the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army before resigning in 1993 said that “Those playing politics with the lives of these soldiers who were being sent to commit suicide in the name of fatherland and they refused, have to be ashamed.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Court orders police to charge officer over ‘fraud’ T

HE Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the police to charge a dismissed police officer, Victor Banor, who allegedly stole his colleagues’ N20million salary. Banor allegedly earned salaries from 15 different police commands through fraudulent means. He had been in police detention since his arrest, but Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said he must be charged without fail. The judge made the order while delivering ruling on an application by the applicant seeking to enforce his fundamental rights. He said he was unlawfully detained by the police. The judge refused the applicant bail considering the gravity of the alleged offence. Justice Aneke held that the continued detention of the applicant was in breach of constitutional provisions which required a person to be charged to court within 48 hours. He, therefore, ordered that the applicant be charged to court within the time stipulated, or the applicant would be released on bail unconditionally. Banor allegedly stole N20million meant for salaries of officers of the Enugu State Police Command, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the court. Banor was dismissed while serving at the Umunede Police Division in Delta State for allegedly stealing an exhibit vehicle in a

By Joseph Jibueze

criminal case under investigation. He escaped from detention and resurfaced at the Enugu Command with a falsified signature, claiming to be a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). When the officer-in-charge (O/ C) of the command’s Mechanised Salary Section (MSS) retired, Banor assumed office as the “O/ C MSS”. It was while holding this position that in March 2011, he allegedly absconded with the money. “While absconding from office, the applicant (Banor) dropped a note stating that nobody should look for him because he has resigned to join his militant groups at the creeks of the Niger Delta region,” Abba said. These were contained in an affidavit filed in opposition to an application by Banor praying the court to release him from police detention. The applicant said he had been held for over eight months without charge, and prayed the court to either order his release or direct the police to charge him in a court. Banor, who said his continued detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution, joined Abba, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Solomon

Igwe as respondents. In the counter-affidavit filed by the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department (O/C Legal), Zone 2, Mr Justin Enang, the police are urging the court not to release Banor because investigation into his alleged crime is still ongoing. The police said several officers under Banor complained that their salaries were diverted, and that he did not turn up until he was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on April 15 last year. When he was arrested, he claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), flashing a police warrant card and demanding to be shown respect as a “senior officer”. Photocopies of forged police Identity Cards were found on him, with “CSP” Afamefuna Banor V. and “W/SGT” Hannah Markson Banor, among other names. The police further found badges and insignia of a Deputy Commissioner of Police at his home, adding that he absconded from the Enugu Command with a Police Barretta Pistol loaded eight rounds of ammunition. “Ongoing investigation has revealed a barrage of forgeries leading to monumental fraud by the applicant who opened more than 25 bank accounts using fictitious names with which he has been collecting and still collects monthly salaries from over 15 command payrolls across the country,” the respondents said.

•Abba

Banor allegedly opened different accounts in various banks and one in Onitsha, using police letter-headed paper with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police Logo, claiming to be residing in the police barracks as a Superintendent of Police. Igwe, who deposed to the counter-affidavit, said: “The applicant forged office stamps of various commissioners of police, including CP Awka, Enugu, Lagos and Kogi states with which he forged and signed fake documents which he altered and presented to the various banks to open salary accounts for himself. “If the applicant is released on bail, the prosecution of the charges will be at risk and he will

not make himself available for trial as he will run away as usual. “Counsel for the respondents, Justine Enang informed me that under Section 35 (1) (C) of the Constitution, a person’s liberty can be curtailed in order to prevent him from committing further offences. “Releasing the applicant will jeopardise our investigation as he is still dribbling us over the service pistol in his possession, thus taking us on a wild goose chase. It will be in the interest of justice to refuse this application as many lives are still at risk since the applicant has refused to produce the police automatic weapon he absconded with,” said Igwe. Justice Aneke adjourned till February 3 for report of compliance by the police.

•Obianuju Chukwuma-Okafor (right), Uche Ubochi (middle) and Chief S.Y.Z Olando at a seminar on terorrism organised by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Badagry branch. PHOTO: Solomon Adeola

LEGAL JOKES • Offer legal advice Taylor was desperate for business, and was happy to be appointed by the court to defend an indigent defendant. The judge ordered Taylor, “You are to confer with the defendant in the hallway, and give him the best legal advice you can.” After a time, Taylor re-entered the courtroom alone. When the judge asked where the defendant had gone, Taylor replied, “You asked me to give him good advice. I found out that he was guilty, so I told him to split.”

Dow told the men who he was, and that he had recently had a vision where he had been given a tour of Hell, much like the traveler in Dante’s Inferno. When one of the lawyers asked him what he had seen, he replied, “Very much what I see here: All of the lawyers, gathered in the hottest place.”

• A cold winter night Lorenzo Dow, an evangelist of the last century, was on a preaching tour when he came to a small town one cold winter’s night. He entered the local general store to get some warmth, and saw the town’s lawyers gathered around the pot-bellied stove, discussing the town’s business. Not one offered to allow Dow into the circle.

• Helping a criminal When a person assists a criminal in breaking the law before the criminal gets arrested, we call him an accomplice. When a person assists a criminal in breaking the law after the criminal gets arrested, we call him a defense lawyer.

• Christmas bonus Boss: Who said that just because I tried to kiss you at last month’s Christmas party, you could neglect to do your work around here? Secretary: My lawyer.

• What should they get? Mrs. Applebee, the sixth grade

teacher, posed the following problem to one of her classes: “A wealthy man dies and leaves 10 million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?” After a very long silence in the classroom, Little Johnny raised his hand. The teacher called on Little Johnny for his answer. With complete sincerity in his voice, Little Johnny answered, “A lawyer!” • Who handles cases? Nugent needed legal advice, so he walked into the office of Gregory, Ellis and Gregory. Nugent sat down at the desk of the senior member of the firm. “If you’re not rally in bad trouble, I’ll take the case,” said Gregory. “If you’re in a real jam and want to get out of it, my partner will handle it. If, on the other hand, you’re not involved and want to get in trouble, my on, who just graduated from law school, will take it!

Police ‘shooting’ of man: Coroner accuses officers of contempt

HE Ikeja District Coroner, Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias, has ordered that contempt forms be served on four senior police officers for allegedly refusing his invitation to an inquest. It followed their failure to appear as witnesses before him despite the summons to testify in respect of the killing of Azeez Omotosho. Omotosho was allegedly shot and killed by a police officer identified as Corporal Godwin Emejo on November 2, 2013. The diseased was killed while he was returning in the company of his wife and children to his 5, Jimmy Thomas residence in Shogunle Lagos. Among the officers who may be cited for contempt are a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Oyegbade Joseph of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

By Joseph Jibueze

(Homicide Section), Area 10, Garki Abuja. The officer in Charge of the Legal Department, State CID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, Mr Chukwu Agwu and Inspector Fatai Sadiku of D4 Team B, Homicide Department, State CID Panti, Yaba were also invited but allegedly failed to attend the inquest. Also invited was the Divisional Police Officer, Shogunle Police Station, Oshodi Lagos. A human rights group, the Access to Justice (AJ), had applied to the Coroner to investigate the circumstances of Omotosho’s death. But since the commencement of the inquest, none of police officers honoured the coroner’s invitation. In view of their absence, the Coroner directed that they appear before the Court to answer why they must not be cited for contempt.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LEGAL OPINION

NGO seeks end to violence against women, children

NON-govermental organi sation, Hope For Life Initia tive, has embarked on a campaign to end violence against women and the girl-child. The NGO, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and the Lagos State Ministry of Education, have within the last four weeks, led the initiative to propagate the “HeForShe” campaign in three schools. The schools include Oduduwa Junior High School, Gbagada, Anyangburen Senior Secondary School in Ikorodu and Isawo Junior High school, located at Agric area of Ikorodu. Director, Hope For Life Initiative, Kendi Aig-Imoru called for an end to violence against women and the girl-child, urging boys to assist girls to jointly sustain the ideals of the HeForShe campaign. She reiterated the importance of the project and the opportunity of spreading the message outside the school particularly to the community. An Education officer, from District

By Adebisi Onanuga

11, Maryland, Mrs. Bunmi Olanrewaju, reiterated the importance of the project and the opportunity of spreading the message outside the school particularly to the community. The initiative began at the Oduduwa Junior High School, Gbagada in Bariga on November 26, last year where representatives from Hope for life initiative led by Aig-Imoru introduced the details of the campaign. Aig-Imoru spoke on the importance of not only taking the message to at least 10 persons outside the school, but to their brothers, sisters and families, stressing that it was important that the change to end violence against women and the girl child must began at home with every one present. She emphasised the importance on saying “No to Violence” and the ideals of the campaign. The students then presented a drama piece which was followed by words of wisdom by the stu-

dents on the need to stay away from gender violence. The event also witnessed discussion session with the students and question and answer session. The campaign also moved to Ayangburen Senior Secondary School, Ikorodu, on December 4, last year. At the event, a representative of the Ministry of Education was on hand to assure government’s support for the campaign at both schools. Fron Ayangburen Secondary School, the team proceeded to Isawo Junior High school where everyone, including participants, had an interesting walk. At the end of the exercise, the students in all the schools visited promised to uphold the ideals of the HeForShe campaign. The organisers of the initiative have, however, expressed their appreciation for the support by UNIC, which was represented in all the schools visited by Envera Selimovic and Mrs. Folashade Ogunnaike of the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Lawyer’s death: Imo inaugurates Coroner’s inquest

HE Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chukwuma- Machukwu Ume (SAN), has said the government has taken steps to unravel the mystery behind the sudden death of a lawyer, Appollos Nduka Anyille. Ume spoke at the valedictory court session held in honour of the late member of the state’s House of Assembly, Mrs. Eudora Igwe, a lawyer, who died, describing the late Mrs. Igwe as “a strategic thinker, brilliant, innovative, creative visionary and a good lawyer.” He said the state government has constituted a coroner’s inquest to help unravel the circumstances that led to Anyille’s death. Anyille’s lifeless body was found in the pool of his blood in his bedroom on October 16, last year. He was the immediate past Secretary of the Orlu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The Attorney-General said the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has appointed a lawyer, Chuzzy Attama, as the Coroner to undertake the task of investigating Anyille’s death “The inquest is on now. From information so far available, the Coroner is professionally doing the state proud in the way and manner he is carrying on

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

with the inquest. I request all to please, co-operate with him,” Ume said. On the importance of the inquest, Ume said the Coroner’s report, when submitted, will assist the state in reviewing “some salient occurrences that should make each of us live in a safer environment”. He noted the late Mrs Igwe was always forthright and “never left one in doubt about where she stood on issues”, recalling that the late Mrs. Igwe distinguished herself as an administrator (during her tenure as the Chairman of Ideator North Local Government). He said the late Mrs. Igwe was elected in 2011 as a member of Imo State House of Assembly, representing Ideator North State Constituency. “Her service in Imo State House of Assembly is an eloquent testimony to the fact that she left a legacy of excellence of service marked with courage, discipline, integrity and great industry,” Ume said. The Attorney-General canvassed the establishment of a Legal Practitioners Exigency Fund to cushion the effect on dependents where a lawyer died suddenly or suffered any other form of disaster.

•Secondary school students performing a stage drama during the ‘HeForShe’ campaign.

Community leader, other sued over land trespass

PIECE of land measuring about 146 hectares at EwuOdofin Village, off Simawa road, Sagamu, Ogun state purportedly sold to the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) has become a subject of dispute between the Ayodeji family and the Baale of Mowe. Alhaji Jamiu Adewale Ayodeji, on behalf of himself and Olowoto-Olisa chieftancy family, has sued his niece, Adunni Babatunde Shodiya-Ayodeji and the Baale of Mowe, Chief Babatunde Ojelade before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu contesting ownership of the land. In the suit before Justice J. Balogun through his counsel Yemi Omodele, the claimant is praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents or privies from selling , allienating and or leasing any portion of the land without the consent of the other members of the family. He is also praying for an order of the court that the defendants do not own any portion of the land cov-

By Adebisi Onanuga

ered by survey plan number OG/ 854/2011/02 (MISC) drawn by surveyor K.A. Lawal and dated February 23, 2011. He in addition prayed for an order of the court that nobody in the Olowoto-Olisa chieftaincy family has the right to sell, alienate, give out or lease any part of the land. The claimant prayed the court for a decalaration that the said land belong to the entire OlowotoOlisa chieftancy family and not to an individual in the family and for a sum of N500,000 as cost of the action. In his 19 point statement of claim, the claimant averred that some time ago, RCCG invaded and tresspassed on his family land at Ewu-Odofin village. He claimed that consequent upon this, he filed a suit, number HCS/114/2010 against the church. The claimant claimed to have finance the trial up to Court of Appeal in Ibadan before the RCCG

called for out-of- court settlement. He averred that it was when the RCCG opted for settlement that the first defendant wrote the church and claimed that 100 acres of the land belongs to his father called Shodiya. According to him, the second defendant who was part of the negotiating team of settlement with RCCG did not raise any objection. He claimed to have decided to prosecute the suit in order to preserve and protect the name of the family from embarrassment and that he has a stake in the land in dispute. In their nine paragraph statement of defence filed by their counsel, M.A. Akolade, the second defendant, the Baale of Mowe, Ojelade averred that the claims of the claimants are frivolous, speculative, abuse of court process and that they be dismissed by the court. Baale Ojelade said that con-

trary to the claims of the claimant, the land in dispute belongs to various branches of Odofin family who have been on same from time immemorial. He stated that the situation on the land has since changed as various persons, corporate and individuals, including the Kings Court Estate now occupy various portions of the land having derived their title from different branches of Odofin family. He averred that the RCCG did not any time, trespassed on the disputed land and alleged that the first defendant wrote a letter to the church when she discovered that the suit instituted against the church by the claimant was intended to extort money. He also denied being part of the team that negotiated out-of-court settlement with the church and averred that the claimant was not prosecuting the suit protect the family”s name as he claimed. Claiming to be a principal member of the Odofin family, the first defendant maintained that 100 acres of the disputed land belongs to her father.

The pre-trial conference on the suit was held on December 2, 2014 with the trial judge, Justice Balogun presiding while hearing was fixed for January 15.

•Mrs Olatokunbo Olapade

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

LAW REPORT

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

•Continued from last week Evidence of Parties LHAJI Kashim Mohammed Mabo was the only witness called by the claimant. He adopted his two amended statements of witness on oath in which he affirmed the 4 th defendant’s membership of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) i.e. the 9th defendant. According to Cw1, the 4 th defendant’s membership of the 9thdefendant would not make him to be fair or be seen to be fair in the discharge of his functions as the chairman of the 3rd defendant. He stated further that if the 4th defendant was allowed to conduct the local government elections,the claimant would be highly prejudiced as he said the 4th defendant, as the chairman of the 3 rd defendant, was still attending PDP political meetings both in Kabba and Government House, Lokoja. CW1 attested to the fact that the 4th defendant contested the primary election for the Kogi State House of Assembly held on 4/1/2011 on the platform of PDP (9th defendant). He testified to the fact that the 4th defendant flooded his Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area with posters to contest the said primaries which he lost by scoring only ten votes. Notwithstanding these facts, CW1 stated further that the 4th defendant was still re-appointed the chairman of the 3rd defendant as a way of compensating him. He describes the re-appointment of 4th defendant as irregular and unwarranted. He contends that the composition of the 3rd defendant, headed by the 4th defendant, a card-carrying member of the 9th defendant is unconstitutional, null and void. 9. CW1 traced the political antecedent of the 5th defendant (Hon. David Apeh) from 1996 to date. He described him as an experienced, old, astute partisan politician and a card carrying member of the 9th defendant. The 5th defendant’s political exploits, according to CW1 included, chairman, Idah Local Government Council in 1996; chairman Ibaji Local Government Council under the Congress for the National Consensus, (CNC); member ANPP; General Manager, Environmental Protection Board of Kogi State (a reward of his political patronage of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first elected Governor of Kogi State); member PDP, where he was again rewarded with a political position as a member, Federal Hospital Management Board until he was appointed member of the 3rd defendant in 2008. He asserted that the 4th – 8th defendants are members of 9th defendant, who according to him, have interest, inclinations, leanings, preferences and bias for their political associates and therefore, incapable of conducting free and fair elections. CW1 tendered the following documents. (1) Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) 2013 Local Government Election Time Table – Exhibit P1. (2) Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Press Release dated 10th April 2012 – Exhibit P2 (3) Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Press Briefing dated 18/6/2012 – Exhibit P3 Minutes of meeting at KOGSIEC held on 24/1/2012 – Exhibit P4 Minutes of meeting of KOGSIEC held on 10/4/2012 – Exhibit P5 Document titled; Adjustment of Local Government Council Election Date: A shift from December 8th 2012 – May 4th 2013 – Exhibit P6 Peoples Democratic Party Result of State

House of Assembly Primary Election 2010 – Exhibit P7 Independent National Electoral Commission Report on PDP Primary for Kabba/Bunu House of Assembly Election dated 7/01/2011 Exhibit P8 Letter of Resignation of Party Membership by Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Samari – Exhibit P9 Letter of acceptance of Alhaji Adamu Ahmed’s resignation of Party membership of the 9th defendant dated 30/3/2010 – Exhibit P10 Notice of Appeal in Motion KG/KK/17m/ 2013 dated 25th April 2013 – Exhibit P11 Counter Affidavit of the 1st – 8th Defendants/ Respondents dated 20th March 2013 – Exhibit 12. Solicitors’ Letter from Ocholi James (SAN) & Associates dated 26th April 2013 – Exhibit P13. Certified True Copy of Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction filed at the Court of Appeal Abuja, No CA/A 197/M/2013c – Exhibit P14. Notice of Withdrawal of Party membership of Barr. Abraham Ayo Olaniran dated 6/1/2011 Exhibit P15 And PDP Letter of Acceptance of Withdrawal of Membership – Exhibit P16. 10. When cross-examined, Cw1 could not remember the date APC was registered. He, however, insisted that the merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP had materialised and that from the day APC was registered the three parties no longer existed as individual parties. His attention was, however, drawn to paragraph 18 of his 2nd witness statement on oath of 28th October 2013 where he stated that the merger of the three political parties was yet to materialise and that the right and liabilities of the claimants still subsisted. In answer to another question CW1 stated that the original claimants came to court in respect of the 4th May 2013 local government election. He stated further that the parties presented the names of their candidates to KOGSIEC for the election with the hope that the government would be sensitive enough to re-constitute it (KOGSIEC). 11. At the commencement of the defence, Mr. P.A. Akubo, SAN, learned counsel for the 1st – 8thdefendants applied to tender some documents from the Bar, without any objection from Mr.Ocholi, SAN, learned counsel for the claimant and Mr.EmejeAruwa Esq., learned counsel for the 9th defendant. Other documents were also tendered. The documents are: Certified Trued Copy of Judgment of Hon. Justice N.A. Ajanah in suit No HCL/ 57/2011 - Exhibit D1 From 49 initiating contempt proceedings in Suit No HCL/57/2011 - Exhibit D2 Counter Affidavit in opposition to contempt proceedings dated 25th July 2012 - Exhibit D3 Prerogative Writs for orders of Prohibition, Mandams AndCertiorari dated 24th October 2012 Motion No HCL/303m/2012 - Exhibit D4 Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Results of May 4th 2013 Local Government Elections - Exhibit D5 Letter dated 26th March 2013 from Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) submitting list of candidates for local government election -Exhibit D6 Thirteen Separate Letters dated 28th March 2013 from Action Congress of Nigeria ad-

dressed to Chairman, Kogi SIEC submitting in respect of Ibaji, Lokoja, Omala, Ofu, Bassa, Yagba West, Igalamela/ Odolu, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Okene, Yagba East, Olamaboro and Ajaokuta form 002 admitted and marked -Exhibit D7AM Letter dated 25th March 2013 from ACN submitting names of the party’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates to the Chairman, Kogi SIEC with the attached lists. -Exhibit D8 Letter dated 25th March 2013 from ACN submitting names of the Party’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates to the Chairman, Kogi SIEC with the attached lists - Exhibit D9 Mr.Amoka Suberu the 8th defendant gave evidence for the 1 st - 8 th defendants. He adopted his witness statement on oath dated 4/2/2014 as his evidence. He denied ever being a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at Lafia/Obessa ward, Okene Local Government Area. He also denied ever contesting election into the House of Assembly in respect of Okeneconstituency or any constituency for that matter under the platform of any political party. He further denied ever having any election case or cases at any election tribunal or Court of Appeal, Abuja as PDP candidate at all. 12. The 8th defendant was aware that Kogi State Government invested enormous time and resources in order to see that the local government election conducted on4th May, 2013 succeeded. According to him; the 3rd- 8th defendants made adequate preparations to guarantee a free and fair local government election on 4th May, 2013. He stated that the 3rd – 8thdefendants were not interested in who won or which political party would win the election. The interest of the 3 rd – 8 th defendants,according to him,was to create an enabling environment for equal participation in the process by various political parties and their candidates. The 8 th defendant denied the 4 th , 5 th , 6 th and 7 th defendants membership of the 3 rd defendant or any political party since becoming chairman and members of the commission. 13. The original claimants, according to the 8th defendant, actively participated in the 4th May 2013 local government election. He stated further that the original claimants conducted their primaries, screened their various candidates and forwarded lists of their chairmanship and councillorship candidates to the 3rd defendant in respect of the 21 local government areas in Kogi State. 14. The 8th defendant asserted that his appointment and that of the 4th 5th, 6th and 7th defendants were tenured and as such, none of them can be disqualified from holding offices as chairman and members of the 3rd defendant having not violated the terms of their engagement. He described the local government election of 4th May 2013 as the direct obedience to the judgment delivered on 20th December 2011 by the Chief Judge of Kogi State in suit No HCL/57/2011 (Exhibit D1) directing the 3rd defendant to fix a date for the local government election. He also referred to Motion No HCL/151M/2012 in which Isaac E. Ekpa Esq initiated contempt proceedings and even applied for bench warrant repeatedly against the 2nd – 4thdefendants

in this case for failing to conduct local government election as directed in Exhibit D1. He also referred to Exhibit D4 in which the Action Congress of Nigeria, the original 1st claimant, and its chairman sought to compel the 3rd and 4th defendants to conduct local government election in Kogi State by way of judicial review or through prerogative order of Mandamus. 15. The 8th defendant stated that the present claimant did not sponsor any candidate for the local government election which took place on 4th May 2013. He identified the 4th – 8th defendants as public officers whose appointments were made by the 1st defendant as part of official act in their normal course of duty and that a period of three months had elapsed between the times of the appointment of the 4th – 8th defendants and the time this case was instituted. 16. When cross-examined by Mr.Aruwa, learned counsel for the 9th defendant, the 8th defendant stated that he was appointed a member of KOGSIEC in November 2008 and by 26th February 2014, other defendants and himself ceased from being members of the 3rd defendant. He described the ascription of membership of a political party to him by the claimant as a mix-up as, according to him, it was his cousin, Hon. AmokaIsah, who contested election into Kogi state House of Assembly in 2007 under the platform of ACN. According to him, his case went before election tribunal and the Court of Appeal. He stated further that it was that same Hon. AmokaIsah who was Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Idris, as he later decamped to PDP from ACN. At the 4th may 2013 local government election, which the 8th defendant described as the best election ever held, the 8th defendant stated that he was in-charge of Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopa/Amuro Local Government Areas where ACN and CPC won some councillorship seats. 17. When cross-examined by Mr. James Ocholi, SAN, learned counsel for the claimant, he stated that he was appointed a member of the 3rd defendant commission on 26th November 2008 for a five-year tenure. In answer to a question, he stated that he did not know when the 4th defendant was appointed the chairman of the 3rd defendant as he said he didn’t go through his letter of appointment. He would also not know if the 4th defendant left office in 2011 to contest primaries in his constituency under the platform of the 9th defendant. In answer to another question, he stated that he left office along with the 4th – 7th defendants and handed over to their successors. He added that between 2008 and 2014, there was never a time the 3rd defendant had an acting chairman but he would not know if the 4th defendant maintained an unbroken chain of tenure as chairman of the 3rd defendant. While denying his membership of PDP, he said he could not speak for other members of the commission. The 9th defendant relied on the evidence of the 8th defendant and therefore called no witness. Written Addresses of Learned Counsel for the Defendants 18. At the end of the oral evidence presented, learned counsel for the parties filed and exchanged written addresses on the order of this court. Mr. P.A. Akubo, SAN, formulates seven issues for determination. •To be continued next week

•From left: Mr Ola Oresanya; The Nation Editorial Board member Mr Mobolaji Sanusi, Ayo Olugbemiga and Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association Lagos Branch reunion dinner/award night

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Despite the Federal Government's strategies, such as insecticide treated nets and indoor residual spray, to curb malaria, the disease remains a killer, reports WALE ADEPOJU.

Why malaria remains a killer, by expert M

ALARIA, a disease transmitted by anopheles mosquito, is still killing many Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas where access to tests and modern drugs is limited. The Deputy Director, Research and Head of Malaria Research Programme, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr Sam Awolola, said the disease is endemic in Nigeria because it is a tropical area. Besides, the disease is ancient and common in Africa, especially in Nigeria. “It is responsible for absenteeism at workplaces and, as such, affects productivity because of loss of man-hour,” he said. Explaining the mode of transmission, he said: “Malaria is caused by a parasite called plasmodium carried by an anopheles mosquito. “There are several species of plasmodium depending on where people are. (here are some that even attack animals, the one that attacks human is called plasmodium falciparum, this is found in Nigeria, other Africa countries and Asia”. Besides, 98 per cent of malaria is caused by mosquitoes having plasmodium falciparum. Malaria has become widespread in Nigeria because most environments are dirty and therefore become breeding ground for anopheles mosquitoes. Awolola went on: “An anopheles mosquito gets the parasites from an infected person through bites, then the parasites go into the mosquito to develop into what is called the infected stage and after two or three days the mosquito goes back to bite again and transmit the parasites into human body, so the gets the parasites it goes through the blood it gets from human and goes to digest the blood and the parasites multiply in the mosquito and the subsequent blood meal which the mosquito gets is to introduce the parasites into another person, it might be the same person or another person.” The researcher said the most efficient mosquito, which transmits malaria parasites, is common in the country because of its geographical location. Awolola said artemisinim-based combination therapy (ACT) is the most effective drug for malaria treatment. Talking about cure, he said, chloroquine has failed. This, he said, is because there are parasites that have become resistant to it, particularly owing to its mismanagement, he added. He said chloroquine is still a very effective drug, however, but most people take substandard dosage while some do not take the required regimen and so the parasites have developed resistance to the drug. “This is why we changed from chloroquine and other monotherapies to ACT. ACT is a combination of two different drugs of two varying modes of action therefore it is very effective against the parasites. In Cambodia and other parts of Asia they have also resulted to ACT. That cannot mean there is no resistance to ACT. What we try to do at NMIR is to be vigilant. This effort is called pharmaco

•Mosquito

vigilance. We monitor the use of chloroquine in the field, and the parasites with reaction to chloroquine, we’ve researched into how the drug has been effective over the parasites over the years,” he said. For the prevention of the disease, he said there are three things which people must do. The first, they should use long lasting insecticide nets. There is also indoor residual spray where people put chemical on the wall of the houses thereby killing the mosquitoes that come in. Another method is to use personal preventive measures where people can use aerosol in the houses, people can wear long Expectant mothers, he said, can prevent malaria. “This is called preventive measure in pregnancy, in intermittent preventive treatment . For children there is intermittent preventive measure. This is because many children die from malaria. Drugs are also meant for that. “The best prevention however which is better than cure, is the one that prevents you from having malaria and the best method is to sleep under LLINs or your house gets treated with IRS,” he said. Besides, they are very effective and must be used according to instructions. “However ,there are challenges in this area because mosquitoes are also adapting to the environment as the getting resistant to the insecticides. Atimes, you see some mosquitoes on the net and don’t die after being sprayed with insecticide that is called insecticide resistance. This is a major concern in health sector and it has become another key area of research in Nigeria, we are looking at this across the country with the assistance of WHO, we want to know the problem of resistance. We are doing that to support the National malaria control programme. “The best solution is to have a

‘There should be environmen-

tal management and protection. Also, there should be re-engineering. The way people build their houses are wrong and it encourages mosquito breeding’ vaccine for malaria but for now there is none, however there are clinical trials. They are stiil at the trial stage because it has not got to the market where people can buy.” Awolola said further that the malaria burden in Nigeria is huge. Describing it, he said: “Every minute a child dies of malaria in Africa. 60 people every hour. Then multiply that by 12 hours. So on daily basis, we have about 10

crashes of fully loaded passengers’ plane daily. One out five deaths from malaria in Africa is a Nigerian.” He said health is not the absence of diseases; it is the wellbeing of life. People should try as much as possible to prevent coming down with malaria because “it is better than cure” which is expensive and not easily come by. Awolola said some people

stopped using net because they think it is too hot when under it but this should not deter them. Part of the challenges, he said is that many people, especially the Fulani herds men still sleep outside in the north. He urged the government to fund malaria more, adding that providing nets or drugs alone cannot solve the problem but rather the environment where mosquitoes breed should be taken care of. There should be environmental management and protection. Also, there should be re-engineering. The way people build their houses are wrong and it encourages mosquito breeding. People should ensure there is environmental sanitation and avoid those practices which encourage mosquitoes, such as putting eaves in houses built, especially in the villages where we have the most burden of the disease and about 60 per cent of the country population. He said the hues and cries of rural dwellers cannot be heard on malaria. Awolola advised against taking local herbs. “I don’t know their content, but the truth is that some of them have anti-plasmodial activities,” he said. He said in dogoyaro, there are antiplasmodial, adding that his mother used to give him the herb whenever he was ill but usually there was a relapse. “So if somebody says I have a herbal cure for malaria, I won’t advise people to take it because it is not scientifically proven and whatever it is done should be ‘evidence-based’,” he said. The researcher said the country is not yet ripe to use vaccines against malaria as the best method is what is presently being done. Moreover, people should use the prevention prescribed and those having the disease should be promptly diagnosed and receive treatment. “They must be tested to be sure they are carrying the parasite before they are given the drug, if not, it will mean they are misusing the drug, which may cause some problems later in life,” he said. Awolola said a patagoral vaccine was developed in the 80s but it never worked against malaria. “Our people don’t know that it is not all mosquitoes that carry malaria parasite, most mosquitoes that transmit the disease usually bite at night” he said.

WHO’s factsheet on malaria MALARIA is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines. Key interventions to control malaria include: prompt and effec-

tive treatment with artemisininbased combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes. About 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria. In 2013, there were about 198 million malaria cases (with an uncertainty range of 124 million to 283 million) and an estimated 584 000 malaria deaths (with an uncertainty range of 367, 000 to 755, 000). Increased prevention and control measures have led to a reduction in malaria mortality rates by 47 per cent globally since 2000 and by 54

per cent in the WHO African Region. People living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to malaria. In 2013, 90 per cent of all malaria deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, mostly among children under 5 years of age. Global malaria mortality rates have been reduced by 47 per cent between 2000 and 2013, according the latest World Malaria Report launched. New analysis reveals that parasite prevalence rates have also significantly declined, which means that fewer people are carriers of symptomatic or asymptomatic infections.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

HEALTH Cancer victims are on the rise. They include children, who die of the disease almost daily nationwide. Experts describe the development as disturbing. WALE ADEPOJU writes.

Kids on cancer ‘death’ row H IS voice was laden with sadness. "My boy is gone! Joseph has gone home! Thank you for writing about him,”says Pastor Sunday Olorunlagbara, when his 13 year-old son, Joseph died last Tuesday at the Paediatric Oncology Ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). His son's case is one of many experienced daily in teaching hospitals nationwide. Many kids are on cancer death row. Some are dead and more may yet die, unless something is done to stop the trend. The late Joseph and Chioma Ukanwa were two cancer patients, who could not make it. They battled for their lives, all to no avail. First, it was Ukanwa who died in June last year. Joseph passed away last Tuesday on his sick bed in LUTH, after being bedridden with cancer of the bone, known in medicine as osteosarcoma, for over a year. The list of children who could not live through cancer is endless. This, experts said, is a precarious situation parents are grappling with. Although oncologists often say cancer is not a death sentence the number of children who are dying from the disease is alarming. Master Olorunlagbara’s father said it was not easy paying his son’s hospital bills. “I sold everything I had to pay for his bills yet the money was not enough. People, church members and friends also gave their widow’s mite. Yet, he still died,” he said. Pastor Olorunlagbara said since his son was hospitalised, he had not done any other thing than to stay in the hospital. “The only time I am not there is when I go to look for money,” he said. His mother too, he said, could not do anything meaningful as she had to be around the boy. According to him, it costs a fortune to treat cancer in Nigeria. “People sometimes sell their houses, among other property, to pay for treatment. I have spent my life savings for my son to access care. Yet, the financial commitment is endless,” he said. The parents of Miss Ukanwa were also always present at her bed side. They said their daughter’s disease sapped their income. Her father, Mr Charles Ukanwa, said a lot of money was spent, adding that they are always in need because of the financial demand the disease placed on them. Her mother, an auxiliary nurse, waited on her since she took ill. She could not work. Master Timothy Olaonipekun is battling with leukemia, cancer of the blood. Last year, some patients, especially children, died because of their inability to raise money for treatment. A businessman, Mr Charles Ukanwa, lost his nine-year-old daughter, Chioma, to leukaemia, as he could not fund the treatment. His daughter missed her treatment a couple of times. Also, a trader, Mrs Ann Ekpo, almost lost her 19-month-old baby Esther, to the disease but for the timely intervention of well-meaning Nigerians who supported her. Mr Muyiwa Olaonipekun, a civil servant, is still struggling to pay

for the treatment of his son, Timothy. The boy may have died but for the expertise of doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Olaonipekun said his son would have 120 weeks of chemotherapy, adding that he is on 63rd at the moment. He enjoined the government to assist children living with cancer financially to cushion the effect on their parents. “A bed in the hospital costs N5000 daily. This does not include drugs and tests. Daily, I spend about N16000 on my son treatment. Thanks to my old school mates for their kindness towards preserving my son’s life,” he said. Head of Department, Paediatrics, LUTH, Prof Adebola Akinsulie said government cannot do it alone. He called on well-meaning people, companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to lend a hand. Akinsulie said cancer could be devastating when a patient is made to pay out-of-pocket, adding: “Every Nigerian could be asked to donate N100 to support cancer treatment. This would translate to over N1 billion.” More children, he said, are coming down with cancer these days unlike in the past that it is common among adults. Advising children, he said, they should tell their parents anytime they notice changes in their body. Akinsulie said an estimated five children visited the hospital as cancer patients weekly. Over the years, a paediatrician, Prof Edamisan Temiye has been clamouring for Federal Government’s intervention in cancer management. He said cancer should be included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or subsidy by the Federal Government because of the high cost of treatment. LUTH Consultant Radiotherapist and Oncologist, Prof Remi Ajekigbe advised that people should check for cancer regularly for early detection, stressing that prompt medical attention would make treatment much easier. “With early detection, the possibility of patients being cured of cancer is very high,” he said. The oncologist said no fewer than 100,000 new cancer cases are recorded every year, adding: “About two million people are living with the disease.” According to him, cancer in children can be cured if presented early. The country, he said, should have cancer centres in all parts of the country, saying it only has three at the moment, to manage the disease. He said: “If the country can have at least one machine in each geopolitical zone, it will ameliorate the cancer problem.” The machines, he said, are expensive but the country could procure some to increase access. “Government needs to subsidise the cost of treatment or include the disease in the NHIS. It is very expensive to manage it through outof-pocket payment,” he added. He identified junk foods and sedentary lifestyle as factors that predispose people to the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO), which observed that more than 70 per cent of cancer deaths

‘People sometimes sell their houses, among other property, to pay for treatment. I have spent my life savings for my son to access care. Yet, the financial commitment is endless’

occur in low and middle income countries, is urging the government to subsidise treatment cost. The WHO noted that the risk of coming down with or dying of cancer is higher in the developed world. The Managing Director, Children Living With Cancer Foundation (CLWCF), Dr Nneka Nwobi, said many children are plagued with cancer without knowing what to do. “They keep the problem to themselves until it is fully blown. So, more awareness was needed to reduce paediatric cancer in Nigeria,” she said.

•The late Joseph

•The late Chioma

Possible causes of cancer in children

HE causes of most childhood cancers are not known. About five per cent of all cancers in children are caused by an inherited mutation (a genetic mutation that can be passed from parents to their children). For example, 25 to 30 per cent of cases of retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye that develops mainly in children, are caused by an inherited mutation in a gene called RB1. However, retinoblastoma accounts for only about three per cent of all cancers in children. Inherited mutations associated with certain familial syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Fanconi anemia syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, also increase the risk of childhood cancer. Genetic mutations that cause cancer can also arise during the development of a foetus in the womb. For example, one in every 100 children is born with a genetic abnormality that increases risk for leukemia, although only one child in 8,000 with that abnormality actually develops leukemia. Children who have Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop leukemia than children without Down syndrome. However, only a very small proportion of childhood leukemia is linked to Down syndrome. Most cancers in children, like those in adults, are thought to develop as a result of mutations in genes that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and eventually cancer. In adults, these gene mutations are often the result of exposure to environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke, asbests, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, environmental causes of childhood cancer have been difficult to identify, partly because cancer in children is rare, and partly because it is difficult to determine what children might have been

exposed to early in their development. Many studies have shown that exposure to ionizing radiation can damage DNA, which can lead to the development of childhood leukemia and possibly other cancers. For example, children and adolescents who were exposed to radiation from the World War II atomic bomb blasts had an elevated risk of leukemia, and children and adults who were exposed to radiation from accidents at nuclear power plants had an elevated risk for thyroid cancer. Children whose mothers had x-rays during pregnancy (that is, children who were exposed before birth) and children who were exposed after birth to diagnostic medical radiation from computed tomography scans also have an increased risk of some cancers. Studies of other possible environmental risk factors, including parental exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, prenatal exposure to pesticides, childhood exposure to common infectious agents, and living near a nuclear power plant, have so far produced mixed results. Whereas some studies have found associations between these factors and risk of some cancers in children, other studies have found no such associations (8,13-15). Higher risks of cancer have not been seen in children of patients treated for sporadic cancer (cancer not caused by an inherited mutation). •How do cancers in adolescents and young adults differ from those in younger children? Cancer occurs more frequently in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years than in younger children, although incidence in this group is still much lower than in older adults. According to NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (3), each year in 2001-2007 there were: •32.1 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 children ages 0 to 14 years •138.6 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years

•2,053.8 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people aged 40 years or older About 70,000 adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. Adolescents and young adults are often diagnosed with different types of cancer than either younger children or older adults. For example, adolescents and young adults are more likely than either younger children or older adults to be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and sarcoma. However, the incidence of specific cancer types varies widely across the adolescent and young adult age continuum. The five-year overall survival rate among adolescents ages 15 to 19 years with cancer exceeded 80 percent in 2003-2007, similar to that among younger children. However, for specific diagnoses, survival is lower for 15- to 19-yearolds than for younger children. For example, the five-year survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2003-2007 was 91 percent for children younger than 15 years compared with 78 percent for adolescents ages 15 to 19 years. Some evidence suggests that adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia may have better outcomes if they are treated with pediatric treatment regimens than if they receive adult treatment regimens. The improvement in 5-year survival rates for 15- to 19-year-olds with acute lymphoblastic leukemia—from approximately 50 percent in the early 1990s to 78 percent in 2003-2007— may reflect greater use of these pediatric treatment regimens. In 2000-2010, mortality rates for 15to 19-year-olds declined at a slightly faster rate than those for younger children (by 2.6 percent per year versus 1.8 percent per year). •Source: www.cancer.gov

Stop patronising quacks, says ophthalmologist

IGERIANS have been advised to stop patronising quacks for eye treatment to avoid blindness. Vice President, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Dr Sherifat Bamidele said they should seek care from ophthalmologists. Mrs Bamidele, an ophthalmologist, spoke at a free eye screening organised by the Alimosho branch of the association, saying the use of battery water and charcoal for eye treatment is not ideal. She said people should patronise

By Amidu Arije

only qualified personnel to treat eye problems. Dr Bamidele said: “The use of urine, salt sugar solution, battery water and the use of concoction as eye medication are wrong. Also, patronising quacks should be stopped. People must use the normal health care means for eye treatment to prevent sudden loss of sight.” The ophthalmologist called on the Federal Government to educate people on the dangers of ac-

cessing eye treatment from quacks. “We call on the government and nongovernmental organisations to carry out massive health enlightenment campaigns to sensitise the people on the dangers therein,” she said. She said the health of members is of utmost priority to the association. “We organise this for the welfare of the people in the community in line with our organisation’s priority for health improvement of our members and the public,” Dr Bamidele said.

THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

‘

We will first of all put in our best to maintain law and order. The issue of security will be given top most priority, because peace is the only key to any meaningful development in Nigeria

‘

House of Representatives member Hon. Auwal Mohammed Jatau is the Bauchi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate. The legislator defeated Senator Babayo Gamawa, Dr. Mohammed Pate and Alhaji Bappah Azare at the primaries. He spoke with reporters in Bauchi, the state capital, on the outcome of the shadow poll, his plans for the state and chances at the poll. AUSTINE TSENZUGHUL was there.

Jatau: Reconciliation is on course in Bauchi PDP H

OW are you relating with other governorship aspirants who lost at the primaries? Most of these aspirants are my very close associates; they are my elder brothers and I have been relating with them cordially. Even during the primaries, if you observed closely, we were discussing. If you recall, during my brief acceptance speech, I appealed to everyone to put heads together for our common good, because we are here for Bauchi State. We are all Bauchi State sons and I believe all of us have a positive agenda for the development of the state and our people. It was not about Auwal Jatau winning the primary election, but it’s a victory for all of us; for democracy. After the election, I was able to get in touch with most of them. I have called them on phone, I have also greeted them and I have proposed appointments with them, so that we will have more discussions on how to chart the way forward and develop our dear Bauchi State and deliver the state for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels because they are all PDP members. Being PDP members, most of them have benefitted from the party; some were commissioners for eight years, others members of the state House of Assembly or the National Assembly, former ministers, deputy-governor and senators. So, if you look at the positions they occupy or have occupied, the issue of their leaving the PDP is out of the question. We are all sons of the PDP. So, if you lose today, I believe there is always another opportunity to win tomorrow. I also believe they are responding to my appeal for reconciliation. Last week, I spoke with Senator Babayo Gamawa, he used to be one of my closest associates and I still believe he is. We proposed a date to meet this week. But, unfortunately, I had to leave Abuja for Bauchi. We will meet very soon, I believe. I called Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, I

sent him an SMS and he replied. So, I believe something positive would come out these proposed meetings from the brotherly way we started. Dr. Bappah Azare has already congratulated me and he has expressed his readiness to cooperate. I discussed with him on how we can collectively serve our people. Senator Adamu Ibrahim Gumba also is ready to cooperate with me. What about Alhaji Aminu Hammayo and former Secretary to the Federal Government Alhaji Yayale Ahmed? Alh. Aminu Hammayo and Alh. Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed did not contest; they voluntarily withdrew. So, if somebody has voluntarily withdrawn from election, he cannot be part of the aggrieved contestants. But, my relationship with them is cordial and we are doing everything within our reach to ensure that we continue to work together as one family, so that we can all contribute to the success of the PDP in 2015 general election and the development of Bauchi and Nigeria. What are your plans for Bauchi State? We will first of all put in our best to maintain law and order. The issue of security will be given top most priority, because peace is the only key to any meaningful development in Nigeria, Bauchi State and each segment of our communities and individuals. We thank Almighty Allah for the peace we are enjoying in Bauchi, which is one of the most peaceful states in the country, despite security challenges in the Northeast. This is due mainly to the efforts of the present administration led by Gov. Isa Yuguda, and we intend to consoli-

• Jatau

date and build more on this concrete foundation so that we will continue to secure the lives and properties of our fellow citizens. We will give priority to education, we will address education more attractively, and make it more affordable to our people. We will also pay serious attention to agriculture, I remember within my two years at the National Assembly, I was able to mobilise over 2000 irrigation pumps for my people under this irrigation scheme. All a farmer needed to do was to show us his farm and we would sink a borehole or dig a well for him and give him the irrigation pump free. This scheme yielded very positive results in in my area among my people whom I am representing at the National Assembly. If you are able to discuss with my people, they will tell you that there is a project of over N2 billion, in which I engaged a consultant that worked on river embankment in Madifa because of the gully erosion

that destroyed the villages and a lot of farm lands. The consultant had compiled my people’s problems right from when I was at the State Assembly, but due to lack of funds I did not succeed in addressing these problems. Fortunately, when I went to the National Assembly I raised the issue again and today fantastic work on this project has been done and completed, and the issue of river erosion is now history. I have touched the lives of my people in so many ways using agriculture and I want to believe that my approach to solving some of their challenges is the reason they accepted me. So, if by the grace of Allah, I become the governor of Bauchi State, I will pursue vigorously the issue of youth and women empowerment. This will be similar to what I did in my constituency. But, this time I will use agriculture. We will encourage dry season farming, throughout the state, it pays a lot, because if you go to my place in Zaki Local Government Area, you will see how young men are getting wealthy,and changing their life style through dry season farming, and I believe with irrigation scheme our people will live in peace , they will have more and better quality life. How are you going to cope with the financial demands of the campaigns? If you have the Almighty Allah and you have people and good friends around you, you don’t need to fear anything, I if you recall the way the governorship primary election was conducted you will believe that God can do everything for you. And look at what happened the explosion in the Bauchi Central Market. Immediately after the incident, friends and well-wishers contributed over N30 million, which I gave to the people

that were seriously affected. The sum of N5 million was also contributed by friends and well-wishers in Bauchi this time around, which I equally handed over to the victims who sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in the hospital. So, its not the issue of going into politics with or without money. But, if you have Almighty Allah and you have people who have been very supportive, people who always rally around you, you will move forward. Even the money we used fuel our cars to interact and reach out to the delegates and party stake holders before the primary election was contributed by my supporters, friends and well-wishers. With Allah’s help, we have won the primary election. Many people said that you won the primary election because you are Governor Isa Yuguda’s anointed candidate.... I don’t know what they mean by annointed candidate. At the primary election, delegates who came from different parts of the state voted; it’s a real election, nobody was imposed on the delegates. If I were made a commissioner, adviser or given a ministerial appointment, it will be right to say this is an anointed person. But, when people willingly vote at an election without intimidation, and during the election. And before the election, the candidates came together and decide on how the election should be conducted, and you eventually emerge as winner, it would be wrong to describe such a winner as an annointed candidate of the governor. Even at that election, the committee preferred to use 20 ballot boxes, but the aspirants disagreed; they did not want many boxes and Senator Stella Omuh had to reduce the number of boxes to five and finally we settled for two ballot boxes.

Olusola Balogun, Special Assistant (Print Media) to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was a House of Assembly aspirant in Yewa South Constituency. He spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on the Amosun Administration and why the governor will get a second term.

‘PDP, SDP have no place in Ogun’

• Balogun

OU aspired to be a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC? How was the contest? It is really an enriching experience. I saw first hand what politics is and how it is played. I now understand what moulds the thinkng of an average politician. Its a new experience different from the world of journalism i am used to. How is the ambition now? Its over at least for this next legislative assembly. Why is that so? I withdrew in deference to the wish of my governor and my party. Can you please explain that? There is nothing to explain.It is a dead issue, so let’s not reopen it. I am focusing

on how to assist all the APC candidiates win their various elections for my party . Why did you withdraw from the race? I withdrew in deference to the desire of the governor, who is the leader of my party and my own personal hero and political mentor. He wants the incumbent officeholder to continue on the seat, so i complied.I agree completely with him and I am 110 per cent behind him in his quest to rebuild our state. He is doing a swell job of it and i am ready to hand him all the support he needs to reposition of our state. But, some people alleged that the APC in the state imposed the candidates? That is not true. It is far from what happened. I am in the thick of it, so, I can talk authoritatively on it. That allegation is a lie from the pit of hell. I am sure it is the type of discussion our detractors peddle around. Our detractors believes and expects the Ogun APC to be engulfed in crises after the primaries; but they were disappointed. God gave Senator

Ibikunle Amosun the wisdom of Solomon to tackle the notty aspects of it. There is no truth whatsoever in that. All our candidates emerged through transparent process which explained why the appeal panel sent from Abuja to look into complain was largely idle in ogun state. Nobody complained. The opposition believes the exercise would explode in violence, but that didnt happen. Despite the departure of Osoba and his followers, will you say Ogun APC is in a good position ahead of the polls? The APC in Ogun State is in great and united shape. It is unfortunate that they went to the SDP, but I can assure you it won’t affect the fortunes of the party. We will also win the elections. Are you sure of that? I am very positive. But, it is believed those that left are core politicians... That is not true. We will soon see who are the real politicians connected with the voters. February is around the corner. But, one of the allegations is that the governor runs a one-man show in Ogun.... Thats another tissue of lies. Senator

Amosun runs an all-inclusive government. He brought all Ogun indigenes he feels are needed to assist in rebuildng the state on board. It might also interest you to know that a whooping 72 per cent of this present state executive of the APC are from the AD and the AC. Two of the three senatorial chairmen of the AC are serving commissioners. So, where is the basis for the allegation? But, most of those in the SDP are National Assembly members. Don’t you think it looks somehow that all of them are opposing the governor? Not all are against the governor. Some are with him. However, there is no big deal in that. There is freedom of association in our constitution.They were elected to make laws in Abuja, while the governor was elected by all the people of Ogun State to steer the ship of the state away from its ruinous past. Does it speak well of the governor that he is not able to manage his National Assembly members? I won’t want to go into the details of what caused the crisis, but suffice to say that no one can clap with one hand. It is not possible. It needs two people to make peace and two people

to fight. If the truth must be told, Governor Amosun made all efforts to ensure a united and cohesive Ogun APC. But allegation is that the problem arose because he took over the party from the original owners... Original owners? The APC, if you remember, is an amalgam of the ACN, the CPC, the ANPP, a fraction of the PDP and a section of the APGA. The ACN, the ANPP and the CPC all returned their membership registration to the INEC, so in the APC, there is no original owner. We all joined the APC afresh. No old member or landlord.We are all co-founders. Those who are saying that will want to forget that because they are out to promote their mischievous plans. By the way, it 72 per cent of those from AD and AC are in the state executive, where is the basis for this charge of taking over the party? They also allege that the governor runs a government of family and friends. How will you react to that? As I said ealier, I don’t want to comment on the nitty-gritty of the crises, but it will be irresponsible of me not to correct that erroneous impression. It is a lie.

THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

‘

Abia has become a banana republic where one will come and do whatever he likes. They came here to commit illegality two days after court of competent jurisdiction had restrained Umeh from parading himself as the APGA national chairman

‘

Bauchi APC candidate not alien, says monarch

Okey Ezea, a lawyer, is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. In this interview with TONY AKOWE in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he speaks about his plans for the state and how he intends to win the poll.

From Austine Tsenzighul, Bauchi

‘APC has better plans for Enugu’ Y

OU emerged as a consensus can didate in the recently conducted governorship primaries in Enugu State. How did this happened? Actually, we had another aspirant in the race by the name of Dr. Ifeanyi Asogwa, but a few days to the nomination, he graciously said there was no need for us to dissipate energy and so he withdrew from the race to contest for the House of Representatives. We come from the same Federal Constituency. That was how the consensus arrangement came about. This was done with the consent of our supporters. I remain grateful to the party for the privilege accorded me. You are running against the PDP, which has been in power in Enugu in the last 16 years. How do you intend to defeat the party? I have no doubt in my mind that we will defeat the PDP in Enugu State because the people are not happy with the party and they want a change. The PDP has been in charge of Enugu State for the past 16 years and there is nothing to show for it. Our people have remained impoverished year by year. They have remained in poverty and disease, in hunger and illiteracy all these years. So, the people of Enugu state are yearning for a change. The PDP has zoned the slot to your zone. Don’t you think this is a set back for you as you will be contesting against your kinsman? The only advantage the PDP will have is the power of incumbency. But in terms of acceptability of the people, in terms of the belief of the people in our party and our programme, in terms of their confidence in the person of Okey Ezea and in appreciation of the fact that this is a person who can deliver and have the courage to tackle the issues and have the idea of tackling the issues in the state is not in doubt. The fact that we come from the same Senatorial zone will not in any way hamper our chances. Governor Sullivan Chime is believed to have performed. Don’t you think this will rob off on the elections? I disagree with you on the popularity of the government of Sullivan Chime. The mistake people always make is that the end up comparing Sullivan with the government before him. When you do that, you are bound to say that he has performed marvelously. Meanwhile, they have not compared the revenue accrued to his government and the one that accrued to the first democratic government from 1999. I don’t think that the government before Sullivan got about 30 percent of the amount of money available to Sullivan and he was able to resurface some urban roads in Enugu metropolis and that is where it ended. The next urban community in the state after Enugu is Nsukka which is impassable cause there are no roads, no drainage, no street light, no good hospital, no secondary schools. So, where is the performance? Even within Enugu metropolis, you can talk about. Bissala road, Okpalla Avenue, Presidential road, Oguiyi road and that is where it ends. Go to Abakpanike, there is no road, go to Emend, there is no road. The same

applies to Uguaji and Amechi which are adjourning communities to Enugu metropolis. In any case, the measurement of the performance of any government does not begin and end with resurfacing of roads and putting street lights or awarding contracts. The people have more fundamental problems such as dealing with poverty, the ability to put food on their table, pay school fees for their children; issues of students who have graduated for the last 10 years with jobs. We have those who have learnt one trade or the orpther, big cannot start any business because they are not economically empowered. We have people who are sick and cannot get medical attention. These are the things that touch peoples’ lives and not resurfacing of roads. Any “imbecile” can resurface roads. If it is about resurfacing roads you can seat down in Abuja and run a government in Enugu state., you can seat down in Lagos and run a government in Katsina because the contractors will come to you I. Any hotel you are staying and you award the contract there. You must get down to the people, know the peculiarity of each community, know their problems, know the nature of their terrain, know the kind of roads you can build there and lots more before you talk about performance. With due respect, it is not that because we are running a campaign, you must castigate your opponent. We are saying that the government of Enugu state has not positively affected the lives of our people, especially the youths. These are the same youths they use all year round. They call them out every four years, give them all kinds of drinks give them Indian hemp and even guns and use them to manipulate elections, dump them thereafter and go away. So, what is the plan of the APC for Enugu State? The mission of APC in Enugu State is summarized in the quest for wealth creation and poverty alleviation. APC is out to create wealth in Enugu state and alleviate poverty. Anything we are doing that is not tailored towards this objective is outside our mandate. In achieving this, agriculture will be a priority area of governance. Enugu state is an agrarian society with 60 percent of the people being farmers. Once you address their problem, you have

‘I disagree with you on the popularity of the government of Sullivan Chime. The mistake people always make is that the end up comparing Sullivan with the government before him. When you do that, you are bound to say that he has performed marvelously’

• Ezea

addressed the essence of governance. Once you make them happy, government has performed. Most of these farmers don’t use these resurfaced roads and don’t even come to Enugu, even though the roads are also important. We are going to give these farmers the implements in other to make farming an enjoyable venture. We are going to have extension workers and clear large portion of land through Mechanised means parcel these lands out to young farmers. We will get the graduates interested in farming and have their own parcel if farmland and when they produce, the government will buy the produce from them and create income for them immediately. We will make sure that in these farms, there is irrigation because there are rivers and lakes in Enugu where we can pump water for all season farming for these people. We will provide fertilizer at very subsidized rate and provide good seedling for them. We will create the impression in them that farming is a good business. Outside agriculture, the next thing we will look at is education. If is a cardinal principle that there must be free education in all states controlled by APC. In Enugu state, our target is for there to be free education up to senior secondary school level. If is going to be free and compulsory. It is not that if you like, you go and learns trade in Nnewi. No, you must acquire secondary school certificate and depending on your performance , we will then decide whether you go to university or polytechnic or you go for vocational education. We will provide vocational education so that people can learn skills for people to help themselves and create wealth. We have two technical schools in Enugu state with one in Nsukka and the other in Enugu state. We will revive these schools and get equipment for the schools. If they have these skills, they can become entrepreneurs. We intend to reduce the cost of school fees in our tertiary institutions so that a lot of parents who cannot take their children to IMT and other institutions should be able to do that. We will also support them with some bursery award. You may ask where the money is going to come from. The money will come from an articulated process of revenue generation because all these people, when they have jobs, they will create income from where they can pay rates and taxes and government will be able to recover some money. My government will apply strict discipline and accountability on funds accruing to the state. Enugu state has collected more than N544 billion from the Federations Account between 2007 and now and nobody gives us account of these money. Enugu state does not look like a place where that kind of money has been spent. When we apply discipline and accountability in the management of government resources and funds, there should be money to take care of these problems.

HE Village Head of Jahun, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu, has debunked claims that the All Progressive Congress (APC) governor ship candidate, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, is not an indigene of Bauchi. He described the claims as “a non-issue based political and useless campaign designed to divert the candidate”attention and deny the state of good governance. Also, Alhaji Aliyu Saidu, the Coordinator of Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, said: “The allegations are baseless. Mohammed Abubakar has worked in the state as a junior state counsel and rose to the position of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. Why was he not told to leave because he was not a Bauchi son? He is an indigene.” He added: “Abubakar represented the state as a member of the Constitution Review Committeeand the Constituent Assembly, and he was appointed as the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC)representing Bauchi State. Why was he given that position without opposition as it was meant for the son of the soil? The allegation is false.” Saidu said he has known the politician for 35 years as a patriot and an astute administrator. He added: “Abubakar also contested for the Bauchi South senatorial slot when Senator Bala Mohammed was appointed as the FCT Minister. Yet, nobody raised any objection. Whether he is from Bauchi State or not, he was born here in Bauchi State and he grew up in Bauchi and his relatives and relations that attended his naming ceremony are still alive here in Bauchi.” “We must forget about such unprogressive talks. Bauchi people will elect people they do not like. They are making the allegation to create confusion so that they can drag us backward in our determination to beat them at the polls” Another community leader, Mallam Musa, said: “Abubakar is not only a true indigene of Bauchi State, he is from Galadiman Bauchi family and he is qualified to contest for the traditional stool of Galadiman Bauchi, whenever the seat is vacant.” Another elder, Alhaji Musa Abdulkareem, said: “Everyone knows me in Bauchi and I know Barrister M.A Abubakar very well. He is my uncle. My mother is his elder sister. Their family house is here in Jahun and, once you ask of Abdullahi Sarkin Gero, everybody in Jahun knows the House and that is Abubakar’s family house. There is a mosque in front of their house.”

I’m APGA’s authentic candidate in Abia, says Ufomba From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

BIA State All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship as pirant Chief Reagam Ufomba has said that he is the authentic flag bearer of the party. He said the primary election that produced him as the candidate received the approval of the party leadership. Ufomba spoke with reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, shortly after he was presented to the public at the Aba Recreation Club by the Acting Chairman, Chief Ejike Uche. The party leader said the former Diamond Chief Executive, Dr. Alex Otti, was pronounced as the candidate by Chief Victor Umeh and Governor Willie Obiano in error. Ufomba said Otti has visited him for a truce, adding that the bankerturned politician has not become a card-carrying member of the party. He said Otti is yet to register as an APGA member in his ward as provided for in the party’s constitution. Ufomba added: “Otti came to my house to beg me and I told him that since I am a child of God, let us use the wisdom of God to do things, that I don’t have any secret when it comes to politics. They came here some days ago to commit illegality which they are still doing till today. “By the APGA constitution, a governorship candidate is the leader of the party in the state where we have no governor and that is what I am. I have been building this party since 2010. I had a cease fire agreement with Otti, but he has violated it and I will tell him so right here that he is not a member of APGA. “You have seen our national chairman and the 17 local government chairmen of our party present in this occasion and none of them are working with Otti. Democracy is different from military rule. It is different from dictatorship it has tenets, rule and procedure of governance. If all the 17 local government chairmen are here, who is with Dr. Alex Otti? His ward 5 chairman is here. He told me and I believed him that as I speak, Alex Otti has not registered in his ward. I am aware that he just left PDP, went to Abuja on Nov 11 to obtain his card in Abuja, they gave him receipt and that receipt became the party card. I know which I am sure every other person knows that before one vies for any elective post, that you must be a member in your ward. What I am saying is that Alex is not a member”. “Abia has become a banana republic where one will come and do whatever he likes. They came here to commit illegality two days after court of competent jurisdiction had restrained Umeh from parading himself as the APGA national chairman. It is unconstitutional and impeachable offence to hold BOT position and still be the governor of a state. “Abia has overgrown a situation where some persons that have been ordered by court to stop parading themselves will come and present someone that is not a registered member as the governorship candidate of our party and we can never allow that to happen”. •Ufomba

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

DPR, SON to sanction erring gas plants T

IME is up for erring Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of Nigeria (LPGAN) have resolved to deal with plants not following gas rules. Also under scrutiny are cooking gas retailers, unauthorised importers and marketers of gas cylinders. DPR, SON and LPGAN officials in separate interviews with The Nation, said they had started investigations into the activities of operators nationwide to determine thier level of compliance with safety guidelines. Head, Gas Department, DPR, Antigha Ekaluo, said the department had made arrangements to get all the stakeholders in the LPG sub-sector involved. The agency, it said, is auditing all the licensed gas plants to know those that were complying with the rules. He said owners of plants who failed to operate in line with the statutory provisions provided for the sub-sector risked being sanctioned. Ekaluo, who spoke on the sideline of a stakeholders' conference in Lagos, said part of the measures to rid the industry of quacks is the licensing of retail outlets. He said: “Our inspectors have been directed to ensure compliance. The DPR in the coming months shall commence facility audit of licensed plants nationwide to ensure compliance with statutory provisions on plant operations.'' Many of the marketers, Ekaluo said, sell and store LPG without licences, and in the process, contravene the laws guiding the operators. He said DPR is putting a stop to the menace to promote safety and healthy environment. He directed all plants to ensure that resale outlets have valid licenses to be able to operate well, adding that the body has directed its officials to move against illegal operators.’’ SON’s Head of Enforcement Bede Obayi said the agency had started what he described as 'search and fit' exercise to know people behind the

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

operation of illegal LPG plants and check their excesses. He said the body has officials in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Authority (FCT), working to rid the country of sub-standard LPG cylinders, among other products. Obayi said the body relies on external sources of information to deal with illegal sellers and importers of gas cylinders. He said: “Apart from the fact that SON's officials have been deployed to check the activities of illegal importers in the country, the agency relies on 'informants' to get information on the hideouts of perpetrators of such crimes. Informants have been of great help to us in this regard. We have informants in ports across the country, and they oblige us with information needed to tackle the issue. “When we get information that a container carrying gas cylinders is leaving the ports, we mobilise our men to intercept the container. Once we discover that the products lack neceesary details, we impound them immediately.” Obayi said SON has intercepted several containers carrying substandard gas cylinders, seized and taken them to designated warehouses from where they were taken to steel firms for grinding and conversion into other metal objects. “The importation of substandard gas cylinders is the handiwork of some operators. We have directed people to apply to the Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, for approval to import gas cylinders. There are procedures for bringing gas cylinders into the country. People that meet the guidelines have no problem. Once you are not complying with the guidelines, we stop you from importing the product. We are on top of the game,” he said. According to him, when arrests are made by SON, suspects and their goods are usually handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. The President, Liquefied Petro-

•Gas cylinders

•Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke

leum Gas Association of Nigeria (LPGAN), Dapo Adesina, said the association has directed his members to report anybody contravening procedures for engaging in the business to the nearest police station. Adesina said there are 200 gas filling plant owners and 4,000 retailers in the country, noting that they have been certified to do the business. He added that the group's duty is to pass safety information and other relevant data for growth to the operators.

Shell blames vandals for oil spills

HELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has linked crude oil theft to the breaking of pipelines. In a paper titled: ''Shell in Nigeria: 'Unlocking Nigeria Energy Potential', it said oil thieves broke pipelines to achieve their aim. The oil giant said its pipelines were destroyed by vandals. It said 92 per cent of oil spilled from its facilities between 2009 and 2013, was caused by pipeline vandals. It said about 208 kilometres of pipelines were vandalised in 2011; 312 in 2012; and 250 in 2013. The company said it would single-handedly supply gas to the 225 megawatts (Mw) Gbairan power plant, one of the 10 National Independent Power Projects (NIPP) undertaken by the Federal Government, to generate 5,000Mw of electricity and further

improve power supply in the country. The firm said: '' Shell will be the sole supplier of a new 225 megawatts power plant being built in Gbairan by the Federal Government under the Nigerian Independent Power Project. In 2010, SPDC began producing from the Gbairan-Ubie integrated oil and gas plant in Bayelsa State. Gbairan is designed to process one billion standard cubit feet of gas per day. In addition to supplying gas to the Nigerian Liquefied Gas (NLNG), Shell also supplies gas to the Bayelsa State power plant at Imiring.” It said the Gbairan Ubie plant is helping to reduce flaring of associated gas from nearby fields, thereby contributing to the SPDC flares reduction programme. ''The Gbairan Ubie project has created a legacy of skills and

capacity in complex gas projects, which will be vital in meeting Nigeria's electricity supply challenges in the years ahead,'' the firm added. Shell said its Okoloma gas plant supplies gas to the Afam power plant, adding that the plant also supplies gas to the domestic market in the east. ''Shell Companies in Nigeria remain a crucial part of the overall gas energy mix, with SPDC's Afam VI power plant alone contributing 14-20 per cent of Nigeria's grid connected electricity generation. Afam is an example of the integration of new technology in domestic power generation. It used 40 per cent less gas than plants using older technology and has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially,'' it said. Gas is a major problem, hindering the power plants from performing at optimum capacity.

•Odumodu

He said illegal operators of gas filling plants are not members of the association, and are treated as such. According to him, the power to approve LPG operators lies with the DPR, noting that the body regulates the sub-sector. Adesina said his members were aware of the safety procedures, and ready to comply. ''One way of tackling the menace is to educate members on the dangers of operating gas plants or selling the product without approval. “Through training, we enable our members to know gas compo-

sitions, how volatile the product is, and how to prevent explosion. The training is ongoing because we want to get to a level that the activities of fake operators are curtailed,’’ he said. There had been cases of gas explosions in some parts of the country that had resulted to fatalities. There was a gas explosion in Akure, the Ondo State capital a few weeks ago. The incident, which occurred at a gas station, drew the ire of stakeholders, including the state government, owners of LPG plants, among others. The group called on the Federal Government to ban any operator that is disobeying the rules.

Angry youths attack electricity firms officials, others

LECTRICITY consumers in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have allegedly attacked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials, and the Police. It was gathered that some youths from the community, which was disconnected for owing BEDC Auchi Businesss District N3,361,717,95, stormed the Business District and Urban Service Unit, demanding immediate restoration of supply. This resulted in an attack on the workers and security personnel drafted to restore peace in the area. A police officer and NSDC

were said to have been hospitalised with a broken ankle and a broken arm. The development prompted the state Commissioner of Police and Director of the Department of Security Service(DSS) to broker peace between the community and BEDC. It was gathered that the row over unpaid bills was one of the challenges facing the firm. Meanwhile, BEDC has petitioned the Nigerian Electricity Distribition Company (NERC) over the alleged tripping of the 33Kva line that passes through Iyahmo community each time supply was restored.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

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How can Nigeria reenergise its economy in the face of falling oil prices? Experts are voting for the property market, which they say can drive the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year, MUYIWA LUCAS writes.

HE United Nations (UN) predicted that between 2010 and 2030, a growth of 113.4 million would be recorded in Nigeria’s population. This increase is greater than the combined population of Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania in 2010. But a twist to the forecast for the country, which was perhaps not envisaged so soon, is the emergence of Nigeria as the largest economy on the continent, a feat that has been it overtaking South Africa. As at last April, the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at N80.22 trillion ($509billion), leading to ranking as the world’s 26th largest economy with a per capita income rising from $1,555 to $2,688. To ensure that Nigeria remains on top, the Nigerian Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020) has been developed to attain the country’s goal of reaching a GDP of $900 billion by 2020. For the government, the continuous fall in the international crude oil price poses a great danger for this dream.This is because oil revenue constitutes about 90 per cent of government’s revenue. Now, to continue to make this dream a reality, especially with the tumbling oil market, the government and, indeed, investors will now have to look at other areas of investments this year. One area that will prove fertile for investment is the real estate sector.This is because since the recovery from the global economic meltdown in 2009/2010, the property sector has witnessed resurgence, particularly in the south. Also, a New World Wealth report buttresses this position. The report says there are more than 200,000m² of retail development under construction, particularly concentrated in the south. The projects include Port Harcourt Mall measuring 11,000m2 and the Owerri and Delta Malls measuring 12,000m² and 15,000m². According to the Federal Government, the real estate sector contributes about 15 per cent of the rebased GDP, while the growth recorded in the domestic real estate sector on a yearly basis stood at 11 per cent in 2012. Therefore, investing in housing, experts reckon, is considered to provide a significant multiplier effect on the broader economy as it contributes to GDP through two main drivers - private resi-

• Real Estate ... cashcow for investors this year.

The shape of things to come dential investments and consumption spending on housing. These activities will be more pronounced in Lagos State, going by a report by Agusto & Co. a Pan-African credit rating and research agency, which reported that activities in Lagos account for at least 40 per cent of the real estate market. The UN has also predicted that with about 58 million people moving to cities in sub-Saharan Africa this decade, Nigeria will be at the heart of the continent’s urbanisation. These predictions may have spurred the Federal Government’s planned massive investment in the housing sector, an initiative that is billed to commence this year. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, presented what she described as housing roadmap for the country. Though the document is still awaiting the government’s ratification it seeks to provide about one million housing units per year over the next 30 years. Under this initiative, the private sector is to provide 800, 000 housing units yearly, while the Federal Government will provide the remaining 200,000 units.This makes for ample investment op-

portunities for the private sector, on whose shoulders the sector squarely lies. Experts said given the poor records of the government over the years to provide affordable and sufficient accommodation for the citizens, the private sector may have to provide more than the 800, 000 units in the initiative.This reasoning is right going by the fact that in the last four years, the Federal Government, through its various housing agencies and parastatals, have been able to build a paltry 43,126 housing units nationwide. A boost for investment in the real estate sector this year is also captured in a report by Lamudi Real Estate Agents. In a survey by Lamudi last year, 81 percent of respondents agreed that there is a great demand for more houses and apartments in the country, while 52 per cent said more than one million new units are required to meet yearly demand. But to ensure that the sector brings good and speedy return on investments this year, property developers will have to consider building truly affordable houses which will be within the

earning capacity of the middle and low income class. Lamudi further revealed that the majority of housing units targeting the country’s middle income earners are priced at between N20million and N35million, whereas their earning capacity is between N30, 000 and N100, 000 monthly. In this regard, the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) is expected to play a vital role by providing funds to facilitate housing development. An interesting development across the country has been the rise in capacity and execution of state-level property development corporations in both residential and increasingly commercial developments. The real estate is also expected to take advantage of the crude oil situation to impact well in the stock market. Experts say while the share value of some oil firms are falling as a result of a slide of crude oil price, the real estate firms would benefit from divestments. This means there is likely to be more players in the real estate sector of the capital market, which may likely swell the number from 10. Dolapo Omidire, in her analysis for Estate Intel, a real estate

‘The private sector may have to provide more than the 800, 000 units in the initiative.This reasoning is right going by the fact that in the last four years, the Federal Government, through its various housing agencies and parastatals, have been able to build a paltry 43,126 housing units nationwide’

online survey firm, noted that of the 10 listed real estate firms in the capital market, four, including Julius Berger, UPDC REIT, UAC Property Development Company and Union Homes REIT account for 96 per cent of the sector’s market capitalisation; with Julius Berger alone accounting for 57 per cent at the end of 2014, with a market capitalisation of over N80 billion. Omidire noted that of the 10 listed, UPDC is the only property developer, while the other three are run-of-the-mill REITs, demonstrating that the listed real estate sector is still very rudimentary when compared to the New York Stock Exchange, where hundreds of REITs, real estate service providers and real estate investment funds/firms are listed. Though the sector accounts for 1.22 per cent of the market capitalisation; that is, N139 billion of N11trillion at the end of last year, it is expected that this will increase in the year. The beginning of construction works for the Centenary City development in Abuja is expected to impact on the sector. The project will include 260 luxury villas, 265 apartment buildings, 139 office buildings, 308million high mixed use Africa square and tower, five major retail centres and much more. Much as the year holds bountiful return for investors, experts say this could only happen provided government, developers, construction firms and financial institutions work together to ensure the success and development of the sector.

THE NATION JANUARY 6, 2015

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Why housing gap hasn’t been bridged, by stakeholders

PERATORS and stake holders have suggested ways of moving the sector forward. Rising from a workshop on the Fourth National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, participants said there was need to scale up the national cadastral and township mapping. This would be by facilitating the provision of Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS), adopting singular mapping control network and establishing an Enterprise Geographic Information System (GIS) for the country. The theme was Creating enabling environment for private sector participation in affordable housing delivery in Nigeria. The forum agreed that the Office of Surveyor-General of the Federation should be supported to provide at least one CORS Station in four states to fast-

By Muyiwa Lucas

track cadastral mapping and create an Enterprise Geographic/ Land Information System (GIS/ LIS). They called for a National GIS/LIS summit shouldbe organised early this year to enable the placement of state and various agencies’ GIS to operate on the same template to facilitate inter-operability. Approval was also given for the use of exchange of letters, supported by a survey plan, signed by the state surveyor-general.This is to serve as a uniform and standard instrument for transfer of land between the states and the Federal Government to overcome the procedural and administrative lapses. The exchange of letters is to be circulated to the states before the end of the first quarter of this year for their input to ensure uniformity of application.

The workshop, which was presided over by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. George Ossi, had in attendance 182 delegates (including 23 commissioners responsible for lands, housing and urban development matters in the states, as well as 159 senior officials of relevant federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), representatives of professional/regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders). At the end of deliberations, the Council adopted some resolutions on some issues.

Housing finance It was noted that despite the significant progress made by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and management of mortgage industry, the bank is still constrained by the failure of some states to embrace the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme,

•From left: The Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Olutayo

Oguntoyinbo, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), during the AVM’s courtesy visit to the governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos ... yesterday.

Lagos family warns land speculators

HE Osu-Apena family has warned land and property owners in Mushin community, Lagos State to beware of speculators who may approach them to renegotiate their properties. The family, through its spokesman, Alhaji Gaffar Raheem Apena, also spoke on its partownership of the Ojuwoye communal land in Mushin. The spokesman said the warning became imperative following a Supreme Court judgment allegedly being used by the Odu-Abore and Aileru families to claim ownership of the land. According to Apena, the action of the said families is a mis-interpretation of the apex court’s judgment about the property as it was a pronouncement on two plots of land being occupied by two individual members of the Apena family and not binding on the entire family since they were not parties to the suit. “The Supreme Court judgement was won on two plots of land at 28, Cash Street, Olorunsogo, Mushin, and 33, Amu Street, Olorunsogo, Mushin, and not on the entire land belonging to the Apena family. So the judgment was against two individual members

By Muyiwa Lucas and Ayetoto Temitayo

of the family- Ramoni Rufai Apena and Jimoh Rufai Apena; and not the entire family,” Gaffar explained. He said the Osu-Apena family has instituted a fresh suit to stop the claims of the OduAbore and Aileru families, who, he said, falsely claim ownership to the communal land and also that the two plots of land built fell on their family portion of the land. Gaffar blamed the pleadings of the defence lawyers, which he said were grossly inadequate, leading to the loss of the case. He said six families owned the Oju-Woye communal land. They include OsuApena, Osu-Olowu, Ajose, Odu-Abore, Asesewon and Aileru. Gaffar explained that sometime ago, a daughter of Odu-Abore, Dada Iyalode, once gave evidence at a trial to the effect that Odu-Abore was neither the founder nor owner of Ojuwoye community. The statement further averred: “The Osu-Apena family of Ojuwoye cannot because of the negligence of the lawyers that handled the case for two of our family members

sit on the fence and let go of what belongs to the family. Having sensed the insincerity, mischief and callousness on the part of Aileru and Odu-Abore families to encroach on the land of not only the Osu-Apena family but that of other families that constitute Ojuwoye, the family has decided to institute a suit with the Lagos State judiciary in order to stop these two families from parading themselves as the only families that constitute Ojuwoye community.The new suit no is ID/7960/2014.” Last year, the Osu-Apenas being dissatisfied, appealed against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos wherein the lower court set aside the judgment of the High Court. They appealed on six grounds of which four were dropped based on the rejection of their argument to own a large parcel of land situated at Amu Street, Mushin, Lagos State by the apex court. In their depositions in court, the Odu-Abore and Aileru families said the land was first inhabited by them. According to them, their progenitors gave customary licence to one OsuApena, the grand father of the appellants (Romoni and Jimoh) for farming.

non-passage of critical mortgage related bills, and delay in the recapitalisation bank, urging the six non-participating states (namely Lagos, Kano, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Oyo) to return to the NHF Scheme. The Federal Government was also implored to consider the recapitalisation of FMBN.

Adequate /affordable housing delivery The Council noted that there were serious factors militating against delivery of the housing stock in Nigeria. It added that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects could be better deployed in overcoming impediments to affordable housing delivery if the government comes up with policies to overcome the challenges of high cost of land, transfer fees and registration processes as well as promotes training of labour, provision of ancillary infrastructure and recapitalisation of mortgage institutions. Besides, it also noted the need to promote the unfolding paradigm shift in national housing delivery by further creating the enabling environment for private sector participation in affordable housing with special emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient appliances as viable options for reducing the costs of buildings. It urged the need to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), anchored on Home Ownership Property Development Cooperative Societies driven by partnership with land donors, cooperative members as ‘off-takers’, contractors, investors/financiers, shareholders, Primary Mortgage Institution (PMIs), and Bank of Industry (BoI) as practised by Ondo State Development and Property Corporation. The council regretted that the impact of the housing deficit is, particularly grievous on the low income group, resulting in more urban slums and higher crime rates, and approved the setting – up of a Joint Action Task Team (JATT) of stakeholders to work

out the modalities for implementing the proposed Social Housing Programme.

Urban development The council praised the proactive initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development towards the preparation of the National Physical Development Plan(NPDP) aimed at engendering sustainable and integrated development of the nation as well as ensuring regional balance and optimisation of the use of national resources. It also urged the populace to desist from engaging the services of non-town planning professionals in carrying out town planning functions, urging the state governments and other key stakeholders to further support and collaborate with FMLHUD in its efforts to prepare and produce the first National Physical Development Plan (NPDP) as well as its efforts at eradicating slums across the country.

Others Other issues raised in the communique include that the National Building Code Advisory Committee had concluded action on the review of the National Building Code and that the approval of the Code by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is awaiting the incorporation of additional input by other MDAs and relevant stakeholders as suggested by FEC. Approval of the draft housing roadmap outlining the sets of actions to be undertaken for the sustainable Transformation of the Housing and Urban Development Sector in Nigeria over a 30year period (2014-2044). Also, the forum gave approval to MDAs to demand for Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) Licence as a condition for the pre-qualification of engineering frirms, offering services in engineering contracting, manufacturing/ production, fabrication/repair/maintenance, service provision, and as vendors of engineering machinery, equipment, plants and materials.

Residents reject plans to turn Regent’s Park Crescent into apartments GROUP of 200 residents have rejected plans to turn an elegant stucco crescent close to Regent’s Park into apartments. The group, including several elderly tenants, fear the impact on their health from being “trapped” in the middle of extensive building works planned by developer PCW Property Holding. The residents have jointly rejected the proposal to completely redevelop the John Nash-designed Park Crescent West, which surrounds their 60s-built block. PCW Property, which is backed by a group of investors and counts Mike Jatania — one of Britain’s richest Asian businessmen — as a non-executive director of its development company PCW Planning and Development, bought the site for £105 million last year and submitted plans in May to turn the offices at the crescent into 64 flats and build eight houses in green space behind it. Tenants in the block at 22 Park Crescent — within the 2.4-acre scheme – argue the redevelopment of the 19th century crescent

building will lead to about five years of massive disruption, will deprive them of the green space at the bottom of their homes, block their natural light and will be sold to wealthy overseas investors who may leave them empty. Carlo Seidel, director of 22 Park Crescent, which manages the block, said: “Many of our residents are elderly, have limited means, and would feel abandoned by Westminster city council if, despite the listed status of the Regencystyle buildings, the plans were approved.” A spokesman for PCW said: “We are continuing detailed consultations with residents and are sensitive to their concerns. During the construction phase we will do our best to minimise disruption to residents.” PCW said it was targeting “UK persons” as buyers and will “appeal to families looking to downsize”. Widow Catherine Osborne, 79, who has lived in a flat at No. 22 for more than 12 years, said: “I have developed a lung disorder which will inevitably deteriorate.” •Culled from London Evening Standard

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 05-01-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 05-01-15

Nigerian equities open New Year with UOTED equities on Nigeria lost N3.03 to N241b loss Berger the Nigerian Stock close at N57.63. Guinness

Exchange (NSE) opened this year with a strong bearishness, raising the spectre of the previous year when equities recorded double-digit loss. Equities lost N241 billion on 3,807 deals in the first trading session of 2015 with most indices at the stock market indicating widespread sell pressure. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed yesterday at N11.237 trillion as against its opening value of N11.478 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index at the NSE, declined by 2.1 per cent to close at 33,943.29 points as against its opening index of 34,657.15 points. With the exception of the NSE oil and gas index, which rose by 0.42 per cent to close at 381.73 basis points, all other major market indices closed on the negative. The NSE 30 Index, which measures the perfor-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

mance of the 30 most capitalised companies on the NSE, fell by 1.72 per cent to close at 1,536.30 basis points; the NSE Banking Index declined by 1.28 per cent to 346.88 basis points, while the NSE Insurance Index was down by 0.60 per cent to 148.74 basis points. Also, the NSE Lotus Islamic Index dipped by 2.65 per cent to close at 2,184.46 basis points, while the NSE Industrial Index closed with a loss of 2.82 per cent at 2,097.16. Large-cap stocks led the bearish trading. Seplat Petroleum Development Company recorded the highes loss of N19.51 to close at N351.50. Nestle Nigeria dropped by N16.15 to close at N995.60. Dangote Cement declined by N10 to close at N190. Julius

Nigeria dropped by N2.85 to close at N165.30 while GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria lost N2.59 to close at N47.41. Analysts at Afrinvest Securities said the bearish opening was in line with expectation as investors sought to take profit on the earlier rebound. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Broadly, we expect the market will trade sideways with an overall bearish tone as contrarian investors continue to position in cheap value counters even as we expect simultaneous profit taking,â&#x20AC;? analysts stated. Total turnover yesterday stood at 299.41 million shares valued at N5.46 billion in 3,807 deals. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated was the most active stock with a turnover of 97.39 million shares worth N1.80 billion in 72 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 05-01-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

MONEYLINK

Naira opens year with two per cent slide

HE naira opened 1.9 per cent down on its 2014 close at 185 to the dollar, Thomson Reuters data showed. The naira has been sliding in recent months following continued fall in Brent crude oil prices and also decline in foreign exchange (forex) reserves. In the last one year, currencies of other oil exporters also suffered, with the Norwegian krone slumping 19 per cent and the dollar of Canada slipping 8.6 per cent. The naira has been devalued by over 35 per cent in the last 13 years. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2001 cut its value by 27 per cent, followed by the eight per cent slash in the last monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting. To stop the naira from further slide, the MPC had at the November 25 meeting, moved the midpoint of the official window of the forex market from N155/dollar to N168/dollar. It also widened the band around the midpoint by 200 basis points from plus or minus three per cent to plus or minus five per cent. The Committee also increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the base lending rate, by 100 basis

Stories by Collins Nweze

points from 12 to 13 per cent while the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on private sector deposits also rose by 500 basis points from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. It also retained public sector CRR at its current level of 75 per cent. The CRR is a portion of banks’ deposits kept with the CBN. In a country stricken by 8.1 per cent inflation, one of the world’s worst; and declining forex reserves, now at $35 billion from about $42 billion a year ago, the last devaluation was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Many analysts see the naira’s fair value at N200 to a dollar. That confirmed the widely held view that it had indeed fallen from its Olympian heights both at the interbank market (official rates) and at the black market. Less than 24 hours after CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele announced the devaluation, the price of household goods, including bread, wheat, fish and rice, among others, shot up by 40 per cent or more. The services industry was also affected. Emefiele said the CBN under his leadership remains committed to

safeguarding the value of the naira. For instance, the lender had last month, banned the sale of forex by banks to importers without requisite shipping documents. It also directed that only imports, which are backed with evidence of shipment and other relevant documents, will qualify for purchase of forex. Only such transactions will be eligible for forex purchase via the RDAS or the interbank window, it said. The apex bank also said henceforth, all importations involving electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment and invisible transactions would be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only. The policy, the CBN said, was to maintain the existing stability in foreign exchange market and strengthen the various policy measures, already initiated, including the regulation of the Bureau De Change (BDCs) that cut dollar supply to operators from $50,000 to $15,000 weekly. These measures, Emefiele admitted, would help conserve the foreign exchange and

‘Private health firms need $3b financing’

HE International Finance Corporation (IFC) has estimated that the bankable need for private health institutions within the country is currently worth $3 billion. The global lender also said in a statement that with an available leveraged funding potential of about $1 billion that could be tapped for investment into health. This is according to a new Study by the IFC, the private sector arm

of the World Bank Group, which is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and James Daniel Consulting to organize the Nigerian Healthcare Infrastructure Investment Summit holding this month in the country. “This summit targets the private sector in healthcare and aims to showcase the best practices of what works within the private health sector in Nigeria and other countries. The IFC will also be launching her maiden edition of the study, Nige-

ria Health Market Studies, which details investment opportunities within the Nigerian health sector and how to create value for Nigerian patients through private sector investment. “The private sector in Nigeria has a bigger chance of excelling more than other countries both in terms of intellectual capacity and in terms of potential resources that are not harnessed yet.” said Khama Rogo World Bank Group.

support the naira. The former Executive Director, Keystone Bank Plc, Richard Obire, said the common man does not understand devaluation, but knows when his purchasing power has reduced. He explained that when a currency is devalued, consumers’ ability to demand and buy products would be drastically reduced. “It also means that people’s ability to spend on discretionary products will decline, as they focus on essential goods like food and shelter,” he said. Obire said such a policy usually leads to salary delays in private and public sectors, as cash crunch set in, adding that the common man would be adversely affected. “Vital liquidity in pocket of people is crucial. The common man is already feeling pangs of hunger and with the devaluation, a bad situation can only get worse,” he said. He said middle class earnings

• CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele will also be affected. “The middle class send their children abroad for schooling. They are also the ones that feed the common man. They will now spend more money sending their children to school, and may have little left for the common man. The common man has very little flexibility for maneuvering at this time. He is at the receiving end,” he said.

Visa Europe to cost over $10b

ISA Inc., a global payments network provider, said it may have to pay more than $10 billion to buy Visa Europe Ltd. if the banks that own it decide to exercise their option to sell. Visa may seek third-party financing or sell debt to help pay for the purchase, the Foster City, California-based firm said today in its annual regulatory filing. The company said last year that London-based Visa Europe’s perpetual put option could cost several billion dollars or more. “This is a significant increase” from the 2013 estimate, Jason Kupferberg, a Jefferies Group LLC analyst, said today in a note to clients. Visa Inc., which has $7 billion of unrestricted cash and an untapped $3 billion line of credit, could be exposed to European Union regulations and future litigation involving Visa Europe if the option is exercised, Kupferberg wrote. For the purposes of valuing the option, Visa assumes a 40 percent probability that it will be exercised “at some point in the future,” the company said in the filing. The European firm split from Visa Inc. prior to the United States company’s 2008 initial public offering. While purchasing Visa Europe could introduce new risks, it would add about $1.2 billion to the United States firm’s annual revenue, Tien-tsin Huang, a JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst, estimated last year.

DATA BANK AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 2,237.65 1.39 1,710.65 1,092.63 115.26 121.16 1,117.51 1.1841 1.2569 0.7009 1.1047

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 10/12/2014 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 1,116.70 1.7777 1.2569 0.6899 1.1047

GAINERS AS AT 05-01-15

SYMBOL RTBRISCOE OANDO UAC-PROP CHAMPION TOTAL NASCON AIICO STANBIC UBCAP UNILEVER NAHCO

O/PRICE 0.77 16.11 9.50 6.98 142.50 6.22 0.81 27.00 1.64 35.80 4.96

C/PRICE 0.84 17.50 9.97 7.32 149.00 6.50 0.84 28.00 1.68 36.48 5.00

CHANGE 0.07 1.39 0.47 0.34 6.50 0.28 0.03 1.00 0.04 0.68 0.04

LOSERS AS AT 05-01-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

SEPLAT GLAXOSMITH JBERGER DANGCEM ASHAKACEM INTBREW CCNN SKYEBANK DANGSUGAR LIVESTOCK STERLNBANK CUTIX WEMABANK

371.01 50.00 60.66 200.00 21.90 23.37 10.39 2.66 6.35 2.28 2.54 1.30 0.96

C/PRICE 351.50 47.41 57.63 190.00 20.81 22.21 9.88 2.53 6.04 2.17 2.42 1.24 0.92

CHANGE -19.51 -2.59 -3.03 -10.00 -1.09 -1.16 -0.51 -0.13 -0.31 -0.11 -0.12 -0.06 -0.04

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: November

7.9%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$61.12

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES December 5, 2015

$35b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

US Dollar

167

168

Pounds Sterling

261.9395

263.508

Euro

206.2617

207.4968

171.546

172.5732

Yen

1.3838

1.3921

CFA

0.2944

0.3144

242.3484

243.7996

Yuan/Renminbi

27.1505

27.314

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

17-12-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 18-12-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

13.08

13.33

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

Dec. 18, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

13.65

T-bills - 182

13.88

T-bills - 364

13.65

Bond - 3yrs

13.81

Bond - 5yrs

13.85

Bond - 7yrs

13.83

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

SHOWBIZ

NDEED, it was a night of excitement as King of Comedy, Ali Baba, welcomed Lagosians to the new year with unrivalled performances from some of the finest Nigerian talents, at an event held in Eko Hotel and Suites tagged Alibaba January 1st Concert. Among the entertainers at the event are D’banj, 2Face, Adewale Ayuba, Waje, Omawumi, Bez, Yemi Alade, Blackmagic, DJ Cuppy, Dj Cass, Basorge, Bovi, Tee A, Kofi, Yaw, Okey Bakassi, Seyi Law, Gbenga Adeyinka, Reuben, Senator, Mc Abbey, Egos, Bash, Peteru, The Don, Damola, Funny Bone, Mandy, Chigor and Helen. The concert which pundits have adjudged as the mother of all shows had several wow moments. It kicked off in a never-seen-before roundtable discussion, dwelling on issues that everyone was familiar with. The issues ranged from politics to sports and major events that made headlines in the year past. No fewer than 12 top comedians participated in the ‘Roast and Toast’ segment, throwing jabs at some eminent personalities from different walks of life. Some of the Jabs that will resonate with the guests for a long time to come include the ones on Hon Patrick Obahiagbon, Joseph Mbu, Labaran Maku, Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati, Aminu Tambuwal, Asari Dokubo, Iyiola Omisore, Stella Oduah and Dele Momodu among others. According to Okey Bassaki, “Asari Dokubo is the only man that would appear on National TV and threaten the whole country and nothing will happen. “Get ready because I’m going to threaten the whole country this year and nothing will happen,” he joked to the delight of the guests. He also took a jab at Iyiola Omisore, referring to one of his pictures where he was seen eating corn. “This is what they do when they want your votes. After the vote, they start taking

• Ali Baba

• Bovi

• Okey Bakassi

Best and worst jabs of Ali Baba’s January 1 concert By Mercy Michael

cornflakes.” However, there was a twist when Ali Baba himself was ‘roasted’ by Bovi who told everyone that Ali Baba was 2Face Idibia’s mentor, as he (Ali) is a serial divorcee who ended up marrying the same set of women twice. He also called Ali Baba a mother f..kr for marrying a mother

of five at some point. It was the most amusing jab of the night, coming from a fellow colleague. One of the best jabs would be that of Hon Patrick Obahiagbon. It was something everyone could resonate with, but coming from Reuben, it was one of the most interesting, as it referred to a time when he was campaigning for election. “After he finished, one of the guys asked

Francis Duru, others for presidential novelty match

The amiable side of Tonto Dikeh

ANY have seen what can be termed the wild side of Nollywood’s controversial actress and singer, Tonto Dikeh, but they are yet to experience her generous nature first hand. Last week, the actress began the year with a charity tour, in which she offered scholarship to five kids, through her Tonto Dikeh Foundation. Her first stop on January 1 was Jamido Children Orphanage, Ota, Ogun state. Aside presenting gift items to the home, she announced a four-year scholarship for the kids, while also celebrating with children born in the month of January durin g her visit. For those who are not familiar with this aspect of Tonto’s life, it was also surprising, how she could also express soberness

By Ovwe Medeme

about the less privileged, when she posted a picture of herself on her Instagram with a touching caption from Whitney Houston’s popular song, Greatest Love of All. She wrote: “I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadows. If I fail, if I succeed, at least, I’ll live as I believe. No matter what they take from me; they can’t take away my dignity, because the greatest love of all is happening to me. I found the greatest love of all inside of me .The greatest love of all is easy to achieve; learning to love yourself. It is the greatest love of all… Now I understand the message preached by Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. May their souls rest in peace IJN.”

By Ovwe Medeme

• Tonto Dikeh

Funmi Fibresima plans campaign against female genital mutilation

• Funmi Fibresima

HEN fast-rising actress and movie producer, Funmi Fibresima, released Onikola, her cinematic debut on female circumcision last year, she avered that the film will serve other purposes - it is now clear what the entertainer meant, when, in a chat with The Nation, she revealed her decision to embark on a youth advocacy campaign against female genital mutilation. According to Fibresima who is presently in Okrika, she will be working with some international donors and clients to launch an anti-FGM campaign, “but I have also been working with another artistic team in Lagos, putting something together for the United Nation’s Day of zero tolerance to FMG, coming up on February 6, 2015,” she said. Asked why she is yet to release another film after Onikola, Fibresima recalled how she was in talks with a filmmaker with the aim of shooting a film before last Christmas and how she was billed hugely for the project. “The budget he sent to me was just outrageous. Because people heard the amount I spent on Onikola and all that I went through and

his friends what he had been saying and that one said to him, e say make we no vote for am.” He also took a jab at Reuben Abati saying, “He used to write very well, but now, he chops very well.” The show which was produced by Bunmi Davies also witnessed the presentation of awards to deserving people who are pioneers in their fields of endeavour.

By Mercy Michael

they just see me as a stupid girl that could be extorted. Who shoots a film in Nigeria for N9m?” She said although she spent about N14million on Onikola, which she is yet to recoup, she is consoled by the advocacy nature of the film. “It was also a learning curve for me,” she said. “I don’t think I am going to be shooting any film that is so expensive anymore. I have learnt that to stay in the business, you have to work towards making profit.” Speaking further on the FGM project, she said, “I am working with a guy in Abuja. His name is Kelechukwu Nwachukwu, and we are working on calling all young people that want to lend their voices to the fight against FGM. I know some people are going to come after me for trying to kill this culture that has been there long before I was born, but research has shown that FGM increases mortality rate. It has also been an identified reason most women live with reproductive diseases. It’s just not right,” she said.

IO15, a national support group for President Goodluck Jonathan, is organising a novelty football match in Asaba, Delta State, as part of its re-election campaign strategy. According to a statement signed by the Chairman, National Organising Committee, Ejike Obioko, the novelty match is one of the group’s way of appreciating President Jonathan’s strides in sports and women development. “It is only a mischievous person that will conclude that President Jonathan has not advanced the course of Nigerian women since he came on board. Our women at the grassroots are smiling because he has been so kind to them. Women are holding sensitive positions all because President Jonathan is gender-friendly. There will be a raffle draw for participants who come to the venue with their voter’s card,” he said. The match is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, January 14, at the Squash Club, located at Government House, Delta State. Expected to grace the event are, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Jay Jay Okocha as well as Ann Chiejine. According to Obioko, top entertainers will also be a part of the novelty match while Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, will be the Mater of Ceremonies.

• Francis Duru

THE NATION TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Imo to be industrialised, says Okorocha

2015 election will be turbulent, says Fayose

•500 PDP members defect to APC

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has assured the people of his determination to industrialise the state, if re-elected. The governor, who spoke at a campaign at Enyiogugu Central School/Ngor High Secondary School, Umuneke, said the project would create jobs for unemployed youths. He said his administration, having focused on the health sector and education, the next phase would be how to eradicate poverty through industrialisation. Okorocha assured Enyiogugu people of the readiness of his administration to transform Enyiogugu market into a modern market and Aboh Mbaise into a mega city, saying government would embark on the building of rural roads. The Commander-General of the Okorocha Campaign Organisation, Ihukwumere Alaribe, assured the governor that APC would win the general elections. One of the party’s stakeholders, Ben Akalefu, said he was in the party to contribute to the development of the state and ensure Okorocha’s victory. The APC candidate for Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Mr. Pascal Nwogu, Chief Matthew Nwogu, who is contesting for Aboh/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency and the senator representing Owerri zone, Uche Onyeagocha, said they were confident that they would win with a wide margin so that the opposition would have no reason to go to court. Five hundred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mr. Tony Mbakwem, who defected to the APC, were presented to the governor at the rally.

‘Shun politics of bitterness’

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged parties to eschew bitterness and ensure free and fair elections. The governor, who spoke at a live interactive programme on Heartland FM, Hot FM and Orient FM, told politicians that power was a trust and a privilege. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) believed in free and fair election and enjoined other parties to desist from acts capable of causing havoc during the poll.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

•From left: Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Azubike Odukwe; Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, during a visit to the Obi of Onitsha... yesterday

Alleged N350m scam: Poly workers demand rector’s sack T

HE Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti was shut yesterday, following protests by the workers, who demanded the removal of the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande. They accused her of embezzling N350million cooperative funds. The workers, who blocked the entrance to the polytechnic, also accused the rector of illegal pension deductions from contract workers’ benefits, “in flagrant disregard of the polytechnic’s financial regulations.” The protest, which began at 7am, was organised by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU). The union leaders, who addressed reporters and workers, also accused Dr. Akande of autocratic tendencies, favouritism and nepotism in workers’ promotion, saying the polytechnic would remain closed until she was cleared of the allegation of corruption by the Federal Government.

•’Embrace dialogue not confrontation’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

The ASUP Chairman, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, urged Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau to order the rector to step aside for investigation into the allegations of corruption levelled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He also demanded Mrs. Akande’s sack for alleged “nonimplementation of CONTISS 15 as directed by the Federal Government, non-remittance of workers’ contributions to cooperative societies, deduction of pension from contract and casual workers, non-refund of pension deduction, highhandedness in policy implementation, award of contracts without due process and over-employment. Owoeye said: “The polytech-

nic community is tired of her administration and leadership style. Several times she has tried to polarise the institution and de-unionise us, using devices including divide and rule and tribal sentiments. “Most recent is the use of new workers against the old, which accounts for why she over-bloated the system with frivolous employments. “As we speak, CONTISS 15 is operational in all the polytechnics, except Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti. She cajoled us in October 2013, promising to start when the finances improved, but only to tell us that there was no such plan for us.” NASU chief Adekunle Adeniyi also accused the rector of placing workers of the same cadre on different grade levels, based on the fraternity with her. He said this had promoted acrimony among the workers. Adeniyi said: “We want the

Federal Government to set up a panel to investigate the activities of the management. Pending that time, we appeal to the Minister of Education to suspend Dr. Akande to prevent the investigations from being impeded.” The rector refuted the allegations. She accused the workers of having a hidden agenda and advised them to wait for the outcome of the EFCC and ICPC investigations. Speaking through the Deputy Registrar (Information and Protocol), Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, Dr. Akande, who claimed that her administration was transparent in its financial dealings, accused the workers of pursuing a parochial and a selfish agenda. She accused them of acting arbitrarily by not following due process before embarking on an indefinite strike, urging them to toe the path of civility and embrace dialogue, rather than confrontation, which could disrupt peace.

Otti assures electorate of free, fair elections

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured the electorate that the innovation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would make rigging difficult in next month’s elections. Speaking with reporters in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government, he said the innovation introduced by the electoral body would make it difficult for rigging to succeed.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Otti said with the introduction of the biometric card reader by INEC, it would be difficult for anybody to rig, adding that he believed votes would count. The APGA governorship candidate urged the electorate to vote. He attributed voter apathy to rigging in the past, stressing that it would be difficult this time.

His words: “Many people were disillusioned by election because of rigging. But this time, votes must count.” Otti said he had mobilised the electorate to obtain permanent voter cards and vote for him during the election. The APGA governorship candidate said he would win because the party had a structure and enjoyed support at the grassroots. He added: “Anybody who loves Abia and detests underdevelopment will vote for

me. Many people are not happy with the situation in the state. So, the best thing is to vote for me for that change.” The former managing director/chief executive officer of Diamond Bank Plc said he joined the governorship race to stop maladministration and develop Abia. Otti said: “I entered the governorship race not as a politician, but to rescue the people from poverty. I will ensure that the resources of the state are utilised.”

EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has predicted that the February 14 presidential election will be turbulent, but he believes President Goodluck Jonathan will win. Besides, Fayose, who has been accused of not possessing the academic credentials he claims to have, challenged All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to present his certificate to Nigerians. Speaking to airport correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on his arrival from overseas, Fayose said the forthcoming presidential election would generate reactions if either of the two major contestants won, but warned that nobody had the monopoly of violence. On the dwindling crude oil prices in the international market and the call for diversification of the economy, Fayose insisted that the present government should not be blamed, rather, put the blame at the door steps of former leaders who didn’t lay the foundation for diversification of the economy. On the crisis in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose insisted that some members decided to stay away from their duties and said he would not appeal to them to come back, but maintained that any attempt to turn the state into a crisis would be rejected by the people. “Are you supposed to be a honourable member in Ekiti and sit in Lagos or Osun? If that is their position, I should go and beg them? Forget that. Let them remain in exile. I was in exile for a period of time and heaven didn’t fall. They should remain in exile. If they want to come, let them come. “The Speaker just called me recently and asking for their Christmas gifts, I told him they should collect from Lagos and Osun State governments or the speaker of those states. But in my state, you were elected by some people and the people had read out the riot act to them that they will not come and destabilise the state. If you attempt it, the power of the people will rise against you because their power is higher than those of us who are in power.

Igbo group, CLO back Mbaka on Jonathan

N Igbo group, the Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) Worldwide, has backed Enugu State-based Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s comments on President Goodluck Jonathan. The Chairman of the forum, Augustine Chukwudum, yesterday told The Nation in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, that the cleric spoke the truth because the president had misruled the country. He said: “What Rev. Fr. Mbaka said is true because President Jonathan has spoilt this country. His administration is corrupt. “Government is not doing anything to stop the suffering

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

of the masses. The Catholic bishop, who said if Mbaka were to be under his diocese, he would sanction him, must be one of those benefitting from the Federal Government. “But for Mbaka to show that he is not relying on anybody or government’s patronage, he is telling the truth. This is what is expected of priests. They should guide the people. Today, you hardly hear our leaders listening to the voice of God. “I’m warning those people criticising Mbaka because he has told the truth that they are

attracting the wrath of God. Let people tell the truth. Jonathan promised to build refineries. This is five years. Not even a stone has been laid for the refinery and we are clapping that the man should continue. Now we are buying a litre of fuel at N110 or N120. Kerosene is sold for N130 per litre. It is supposed to be the cheapest, but it is now costlier than petrol. And the bishop and other sycophants are not seeing what the masses are experiencing. Instead, they are praising the President. “Even if Jonathan is allowed to continue for the next 30 years, this country will get worse. We are not seeing any

good luck in his government. I urge those criticising Mbaka to have a rethink. Let them re-examine themselves, search their conscience and analyse what Jonathan has done since he took over leadership. “Today, they are talking about subsidy. What are they subsidising? Nothing. They are just sharing billions of naira. Those people, who stole our money in the name of subsidy, how many of them have been convicted? None. They are now political patrons of the President, donating money to enable him run for a second term so that they will be allowed to continue their illegal businesses.

“This shows his government is corrupt. So, my stand is that Ndigbo Unity Forum backs Rev. Fr. Mbaka. We condemn whoever slams him. The wrath of God will come upon them.” Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Southeast chapter, has supported the New Year message of Rev. Fr. Mbaka, saying the cleric told President Jonathan the truth. In a statement by the Southeast Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo, CLO noted that the neglect of federal roads in the Southeast and the decayed of federal institutions were no news, but it was important and surprising that for the first time in the last eight years, a cred-

Dr. Jonathan

ible and respected son of the zone joined the campaign by civil societies and pressure groups to condemn the decayed state of infrastructures in the zone.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS

Seven die in Kogi road accident

EVEN persons died yesterday and 13 others sustained injuries in an accident at Gidan-Bassa village on the Lokoja-Ajaokuta highway in Kogi State. Eyewitness said the accident occurred when the driver of a Toyota Hiace bus overtook another vehicle dangerously and rammed into a Corolla car, killing seven people on the spot. The 13 others in the ve-

•13 injured From James Azania, Lokoja

hicles were seriously injured. The Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Godwin Omiko, confirmed the accident. He said it involved a Toyotal Hiace bus, with reg-

istration number AKL73YP, and a Toyota Corolla car, marked AA264SNA. The FRSC sector commander said 20 people were involved in the accident, adding that seven died while 13 others were injured. According to him, among the dead were a man, four women and a child. Omiko said the bodies of the dead had been deposited at the Kogi Specialist mortu-

ary at Zenith, ASCL and Ankuri hospitals. The sector commander said the injured were taken to the same hospitals for treatment. He said the accident was caused by wrong overtaking and drunk driving by one of the drivers. Omiko added that the belongings of the victims were in the custody of the Ajaokuta Police Command.

Buhari sure of victory in Kano, says Ganduje

HE Kano State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the victory of the party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is a done deal. Ganduje, who is Kano State deputy governor, told reporters in his office that APC would win in all the elections next months. The APC candidate said he was sure of the party’s victory because of the response his campaign team was getting from the people. He said the party’s leadership had placated aggrieved candidates, who vied for the deputy governorship position. Ganduje said: “I can confirm to you that they are coming back to the fold. The selection of my running mate created a lot of outcry from some contestants. That is normal in politics. The office of the running mate is not an office for open contest. It is done according to the rules and regulations of the party. The candidate chooses his running mate, but must consult widely. So, this is a nogo-area. We know the parameters, attributes and attitudes — all these have to be put together to have a workable team. “But take it from me that all of them who expected to be appointed as my running mate were duly qualified. But we have to take only one of them. I have made contacts with them because they are very important. They have a very big role to play. They are still members of APC. I am

We’ll deliver Taraba to Buhari, say APC chiefs

ONCERNED members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State have pledged to deliver the state to the party’s presidential candidate in the February 14 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari. But they promised to work against the governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Alhassan, if the party failed to replace her ahead of the elections. The group, in a letter by its Chairman and Secretary, Alhaji Sanusi Maigari and Bitrus Danjos, to APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, accused Alhassan and State Chairman Hassan Jikan Ardo of antiparty activities. Although they hailed the party’s leadership for a successful presidential primary, which led to the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari, the party chieftains alleged that the primaries in the state were characterised by irregularities. From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

personally heading the team to appeal to them publicly and privately.” he stated. Dr. Hafiz Abubakar has emerged Ganduje’s running mate. On the chances of Gen. Buhari and other APC candidates in Kano, Ganduje said: “The die is cast. We are ready for the race and, In shaa Allah, we shall succeed. “For our President in-waiting, Gen. Buhari, we are working very hard to give him the maximum votes here in Kano. “If possible, all those who registered, even those who are not in APC, we are begging them. We are soliciting their support. We are appealing for them to vote for our presidential candidate because of the shortcomings in

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

They said these led to the emergence of Alhassan as the party’s governorship candidate. They expressed their resolve to remain in the party, even if the party’s leadership refused to address their complaints. But they warned that they might vote against the party in the governorship election. The aggrieved APC chieftains alleged that injustice was meted out to other aspirants in the governorship race, leading to their withdrawal from the race. According to them, their complaints on the alleged injustice had been ignored. They also said even though APC national leadership had set up a reconciliation committee after the party congresses, the committee had not been seen in the state. They expressed dismay about what they called the lackadaisical attitude of the party’s leadership in Taraba State.

the country, the various manmade calamities in the country. “We require somebody who is upright, somebody has the political will, somebody who is strong, somebody who can fight injustice — no matter what will hap-

pen to him or to any other person. So, we shall continue to do that to ensure that we contribute our quota, being the most populous state in the federation. We want to lead in giving him (Gen. Buhari) the maximum votes. May God help us.”

Sokoto PDP governorship candidate picks running mate •Hails Jonathan for resolving party’s crisis

OKOTO State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ambassador Abdallah Wali, presented yesterday a former member of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Garba Yusuf, as his running mate. The PDP candidate explained that Yusuf was chosen, following wide consultations among party members and elders in the state. Yusuf was the Assembly’s Minority Leader from 2007 till 2011. Wali said: “You know it cannot be an individual thing. Therefore, stakeholders of the party had to come in to ensure the best possible choice was made for it and the state. “He (Yusuf) is very disciplined and loyal to the party,

Sokoto

just as he has a big heart.” The governorship candidate hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for resolving the state’s post-primary election crisis. The candidate described Jonathan as a true leader whose sense of unity for the party and Nigeria remained resolute. He said: “We must really commend the vision and mission of the President for dispatching Vice President Namadi Sambo to Sokoto last Sunday.” Wali, who addressed reporters in Sokoto, added: “By such singular move, the President has helped in brokering peace between myself and the three other defeated governorship aspirants of the party.”

Ortom condemns Gboko violence

ENUE State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Samuel Ortom, has condemned the crisis among rival parties in Tyeku, Gboko Local Government Area, last Saturday. A number of people were injured and some property destroyed in the clash. Ortom noted that the crisis was unfortunate, as it happened when the leadership of the Mdzough U Tiv and the Prayer Pilgrimage for Peace, convened by Catholic Bishops in Benue State, were asking political leaders to ensure violence-free polls. The APC candidate said the leadership of the two dominant political parties in the state - the Peoples Demo-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

cratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) - Governor Gabriel Suswam and Senate Minority Leader George Akume, had promised peaceful, free and fair elections. He said the party leaders spoke last Saturday in Gboko before God, the people of Benue State, in the presence of the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Dr Alfred Torkula and other royal fathers. The former minister of state for trade and Investment stressed that the promise was binding on the members and supporters of the two parties and all Benue State residents. Ortom said there is need to end hostilities and keep to the terms of the peace deal.

•Kaduna State Governor Muktar Yero (middle) fielding questions from reportersin Zaria ... yesterday. With him are the Director of Press, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki and Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashar Aminu (right).

‘My petitioners are impostors’ R Benson Abounu, the running mate to Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Samuel Ortom, has said party members who petitioned the headquarters for his replacement were impostors. He noted that the signatures on the petition were fake. Some APC members, under the aegis of APC council Chairmen and Stakeholders, last Saturday protested the nomination of Abounu as running mate to Dr Ortom, the party’s governorship candidate. Addressing reporters yesterday at his Makurdi home, Abounu described the petition as self-serving and instigated by someone he said was interested in the office of the deputy governor but lost out. He said contrary to the claim by the petitioners that

From Adamu Suleiman,

PHOTO: NAN

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

nobody was consulted in Idoma before he was picked as Ortom’s running mate, Abounu said the law stipulated that it is the prerogative of the flag bearer to choose his running mate. According to him, Benue State APC went the extra mile to consult with party leaders, including Chief Audu Ogbeh and others. Abounu said the party’s Women Leader in Otukpo Local Government Area was Joy Odeh and not Oowoh Okpani, whose signature was on the petition. He said: “They are impostors; those who signed the petition. So, the petition lacks merit. Owoh is not the Women Leader; the person is Joy Odeh. The chairman of Otukpo is Abu Eigege; Boniface has since been suspended as chairman.”

Abuja IDPs warned against selling materials

NTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been warned against selling the materials given to them by the Federal Government. The Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, spoke yesterday at Durumi, in the outskirts of the FCT, at the agency’s distribution of branded materials. The NEMA chief said the move was to prevent nonIDPs from impersonating genuine displaced persons, who might sell the items in the market. He said: “Contrary to specu-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

lation that the NEMA-branded materials is aimed at IDPs, who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has planned to issue with the permanent voter cards (PVCs) to vote for a particular candidate, is not true. The branded materials are meant to stop the

products from being diverted to the market for sales. “We branded the materials because a lot of non-internally displaced persons, who had settled in Abuja before this incident, take the shared materials to the market for sale. “As you can see, the product is clearly marked ‘Not For Sale’. So, anybody selling these

ones in the market should be reported to the appropriate authority because they are clearly tagged ‘Not For Sale’. “Some of the branded materials distributed include 25 litres of groundnut oil, packs of tomato paste, packs of soap, a number of plastic buckets, bags of rice, beans, millet, guinea corn and salt.”

Aliyu: ensure victory for PDP in Niger

IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday urged members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the rules of engagement to win next month’s general elections in the state. The governor spoke in Minna,

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the state capital, when he inaugurated the party’s governorship campaign organisation. He said: “The state PDP has a sellable candidate who is willing, who has learnt the ropes of leadership and is willing to

work. But the 2015 elections will be different from that of 1999.” Aliyu advised the party members to use all legal means to win the elections because the party was facing new issues that were not similar to those of the past elections.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

NEWS Corruption now worse than before, says Babangida Continued from page 4

oil windfall from the 1991 Gulf War, Babangida insisted the money was not stolen. “First of all, that war lasted three months, about ninety something days. It didn’t last up to a year. So get the facts straight. “Secondly, the oil price at that time was below $18 per barrel. So, there is no way you could make $12.4billion in three months. “We could not have made that amount of money but Pius Okigbo knew what he was doing. He had brains and he said between 1986 or 1988 to 1994, monies accrued to the Federal Government at that time was about that money you are calling windfall. He said so. It is there in his book. “Then the other thing he said, the monies could have gone into generative investment. I am not an economist but I have an understanding of what this is. “Our argument then was if you have the money, why keep it and be looking at it when you have a lot of things that will benefit the ordinary man. So that money was not stolen. “It is what you see now in the country. Thank God most of the infrastructure we put in place are what you are using today and proudly so.” Asked to identify the infrastructure, Gen. Babangida said: “Abuja for example, I built Abuja. Today, we have a brand new capital. We used that money. “I gave you a Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. You cannot build it now for all the money Nigeria is making. And what did it cost me? N500million, N600million, N700million. “For the first time, a dual carriage way was seen in the Northern part of the country between Kaduna and Kano

and then linked it up from Abuja. You cannot afford to do it now; you cannot even afford to touch it because there are a lot of competing needs.” Despite the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he admitted that the poll was the most credible in the history of Nigeria. He also opened up on why a former Minister of FCT, Gen. Mamman Vatsa was killed after his involvement in the 1995 coup d’etat. He said his hands were tied by military law which was inevitably applied by his regime. The annulled poll was won by the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who later died in detention while struggling to reclaim his mandate. Babangida said: “Yes, it (June 12) is a day in the history of Nigeria and the day the most credible election was held “We gave you a lot of reasons but I understood the passion. At that time, everybody was fed up. The sentiment was: just pack your things

and go. Our thought process is very limited. “First of all, on June 23, 1993, I was on the air and I told Nigerians why we had to do what we did but I was sensible enough to know that whatever I said nobody was interested. So, the important thing is get out.” He admitted that the annulment was supported by some Nigerians and pro-June 12 activists. He added: “I hate to say it but when we annulled June 12 poll, the same Nigerians supported the intervention of the military, true or false? “True because you saw it, you are old enough. All those who fought for June 12 ended up serving the military government they didn’t like and that perpetuated a longer stay of the military in government.” Asked why he used the phrase ‘step aside’ to leave power in 1993, Babangida said it was a military parlance. “Everyone of you though that I was not keeping pace with the Nigerian dream. We have a tradition in the mili-

tary. If you are marching in a column, when they say left, you should obey the command. If you right foot, somebody will shout at you because you are affecting the column, you should step aside so that the column will continue. That was what I did.” On why Gen. Mamman Vatsa was killed, Gen. Babangida said he was hamstrung by the law. He added: “Because others before him faced the same law, the only change in that law was introduced by us to give room for appeal. “If I was involved in that coup and it flopped, I would have been shot too. So it is the application of the law but then it is painful. “We made the law, others suffered the consequences.” Responding to a question, Babangida said the military indulged in coup d’etat each time there was frustration in the society. He however described military interregnum as a phase that the country was going through at that time.

Obasanjo: nothing against Jonathan but vote wisely Continued from page 4

economy. “Our economy should not have been this bad. When I was leaving office about eight years ago, I left a very huge reserve after we had paid all our debts. Almost 25billion dollars we kept in what they called excess crude. The excess from the budget we were saving as reserve for the rainy days. “When we left in May 2007, the reserve was said to have been raised to 35billion dollars. But today, that reserve has been depleted. The reserve we left when we finished paying all our debts, our debt that was about 40billion dollars, that is including debt forgiveness, the remaining debt was not more than 3billion dollars. “Our reserve after we had paid off this debt was about 45billion dollars. As I said, they continued till the end of 2007. I heard that the reserve increased to almost 67billion dollars before the end of that

year. Our reserve now, I learnt, is left with around only 30billion dollars. “That is why the Naira has been falling against the dollar. What would now happen? I learnt if you want to buy a dollar now, it’s about N192 or N195. What it means is this, what you have been buying at N150 to a dollar, now you need N192 or N195 to buy it. That is the real situation. Is there any remedy? There is but it does not come overnight because it means we have to give up all the bad things we have been doing.” Obasanjo agreed that falling prices have hit the economy badly, but he did not believe the situation could not have been tackled. He said: “Truly, the price of crude has fallen, but anyone who is wise enough should know that since we depend on just one resource and since we have no control over its pricing, we should be planning for this type of situation and the way out of it. Our inability to have reserve has brought us into this economic quagmire.”

How Ogoni people gave Peterside a rousing welcome in Bori

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has said he got tumultuous reception in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland, during the 22nd Ogoni Day, organised by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni Peoples (MOSOP). He declared that no political leader in recent times had received the kind of reception he was given in Bori-Ogoni. Peterside spoke late Sunday evening at his campaign office, the Greater Together campaign Organisation at the old Government reservation

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Area (GRA), near the Government House in Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of his campaign committees. The inaugurated committees are the Campaign Advisory Council; the Special Standing Committee on Legal Matters, which has Cyprian Chukwu as member and the Fundraising Committee. The Director-General of Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, who is also Rivers Commissioner for Works, presented the members of the committees, who

were inaugurated by the Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya. The inauguration fixed for 4 p.m., could not start until late in the evening, with the APC’s faithful patiently waiting. Peterside said: “Let me apologise to our elders. It is not in our character to keep elders or anybody waiting. This (Sunday) morning, we were all preparing to go to Bori to participate in the Ogoni Day, but when we got a call from the Governor (Rotimi Amaechi), that in addition to our participation, we should represent him and it had to be taken more seriously. We had

to stay in Bori till the end of the programme. “I am happy to inform our elders that when we got to Bori, it was a tumultuous reception. I am happy to inform our leaders that no political leader in recent times has got the kind of reception we got in Bori, to the glory of God. I sincerely join the DirectorGeneral to apologise to all of you.” The APC’s governorship candidate said the members of the campaign advisory council were seasoned men and women, who were experienced in politics and who truly represented the conscience of the people.

He said: We are promising Rivers people that we will run an issue-based campaign. We will not go about attacking personalities, because it will not solve the problems of Rivers State. We will offer to Rivers people how we will consolidate on the legacies of the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We will offer to Rivers people how we will help them to solve their complex problems and take Rivers State to the next level. “We will offer to Rivers people ideas on how to put Rivers State on the path of prosperity, so that all our people can be lifted out of poverty.”

THE NATION JANUARY 6, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Burundian army kills 95 rebels

URUNDI’S army says it has killed 95 members of a rebel group who crossed into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo recently. Colonel Gaspard Baratuza, an army spokesman, said the fighters from the so-far unidentified rebel group died during clashes over the past week. Two soldiers and four civilians were also killed in the fighting, he said. The clashes in Cibitoke province come about six months before Burundi is due to hold presidential elections. A month before that, on 26 May, Burundians will vote in parliamentary and local elections. President Pierre Nkurunziza (seen here in 2005) is widely expected to seek a third term The governing coalition and its opponents have disagreed over whether President Pierre Nkurunziza can run for a third term. He is widely expected to seek another term in office but has not confirmed whether he will do so. Col Baratuza said the motive of the rebels was not immediately clear but there were suspicions the group may have been planning to disrupt the elections. He said nine members of the group taken prisoner had refused to give details about their loyalties or intentions.

China protests North Korea killings

US charges two for Gambia ‘coup plot’ against Jammeh

WO men have been charged in the US with attempting to overthrow The Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh, the justice department has said. The men, who are of Gambian origin, will appear in court on accusations of conspiring against a friendly nation and conspiring to possess firearms, it added. Gambian authorities said they had thwarted an invasion on 30 December. Mr Jammeh seized power in the tiny West African nation in 1994. He is accused of not tolerating any opposition. Mr Jammeh was abroad when heavy gunfire broke out near the presidential palace in the capital, Banjul, on 30 December. He later returned home and accused dissidents based

in the US, UK and Germany of being behind the attack. Between 10 and 12 people had entered The Gambia to overthrow Mr Jammeh, “with the expectation that others in the country would join and assist them,” the justice department said in a statement. They included US citizen Cherno Njie, 57, and USGambian dual national Papa Faal, 46, it said. “These defendants stand accused of conspiring to carry out the violent overthrow of a foreign government, in violation of US law,” US Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. “The United States strongly condemns such conspiracies. With these serious charges, the United States is committed to holding them fully responsible for their actions.”

Mr Njie, a Texas businessman, was in charge of the conspiracy and would have been appointed interim leader of The Gambia had the coup attempt succeeded, according to documents filed in court. Weapons, including M4 semi-automatic rifles and other military equipment, were last year shipped to The Gambia for use in the attempted coup, US officials allege. The coup plotters met in the woods near the presidential palace on 30 December before splitting into two assault teams, the justice department said. “Njie was not present at that meeting, instead waiting in a safe place until the assault teams took control of the facility. However, when one of the assault teams ap-

• Jammeh

proached the State House and fired a shot into the air, the team began taking heavy fire from the guard towers,” it said. “Although numerous conspirators on the assault teams were killed or injured during the failed attempt to take control of the government building, Faal was able to flee the scene and he ultimately returned to the US. Njie also returned to the US.”

Greek oil tanker bombed in Libyan port

Libyan air force jets have bombed a Greek-operated oil tanker chartered by Libya’s national oil company, killing two crew members. A Libyan military spokesman told the BBC that the ship’s movements at the port of Derna had aroused suspicion. The oil company rejected this, saying the ship was delivering fuel to industrial facilities there and the authorities had been kept in-

formed. Derna has been controlled by Islamist militants for the past two years. The Libyan military attacked the port several times last year in an attempt to weaken militant groups there. The military spokesman, Colonel Ahmed Mesmari, said the tanker had been targeted because it had failed to submit to an inspection before entering the port. He said the vessel was

supposed to dock at a power plant in Derna but instead “took a different route”, entering a “military zone”. “We asked the ship to stop, but instead it turned off all its lights and would not respond so we were obliged to strike it. “We bombed it twice,” he said. Libya’s National Oil Corporation said the tanker had picked up 13,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in Brega, a

port south of Libya’s second city, Benghazi, which it was due to deliver to a power plant and water purification facility in Derna. It said the vessel was attacked before it could enter the port to unload its cargo. There were 26 crew members on board the ship, Araevo, including nationals from the Philippines, Greece and Romania. Two were injured in Sunday’s attack, in addition to those killed.

AirAsia QZ8501: Search efforts to resume

Libya violence: Coptic Christians ‘freed’

HE search mission to find the flight data recorders from the crashed AirAsia passenger plane has resumed, as weather conditions improve over the Java Sea. Flight QZ8501 was flying from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore on 28 December when it disappeared from radar. Search teams have recovered 37 bodies but the remains of most victims are thought to still be in the plane. Bad weather has hampered attempts to reach large objects thought to be the body of the plane. Officials told the BBC’s Indonesian service on Monday that sonar equipment had been deployed underwater, but that the weather meant no divers were yet back in the water. The head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, Bambang Soelistoyo, said in a news briefing that three more bodies were recovered on Monday. He added that weather conditions had improved since last week, but that the currents underwater were still strong. Dozens of ships and aircraft are involved in the operation. The families of the passengers have been offered a chance to fly to the location believed to be the crash site and lay flower wreaths, the commander of the Armed Forces, Gen Moeldoko, said in Surabaya.

CHINA has protested to North Korea following reports that an army deserter killed four people in a Chinese border city. The soldier crossed the border in late December, stealing money and food before killing residents in Helong, local media reported. He was later arrested north of the Tumen River that divides China and North Korea. The river has been used for years by people trying to flee North Korea. The Chinese foreign ministry gave no details about the incident, but said it has lodged a protest with North Korea. “China’s public security bureau will handle the case according to law,” a ministry spokeswoman said, suggesting the suspect will be prosecuted in China rather than handed back to Pyongyang. It is not unknown for North Koreans to cross the porous border into China in search of food. Many trying to escape the country cross into China before seeking to travel onto a third country and then into South Korea. China often repatriates defectors back to the North, ruling them economic migrants. Activists say North Korea has strengthened border security to prevent defections since Kim Jongun took power in 2011.

Abbot (left) and his Iraqi counterpart al-Abadi

Australia PM Abbott in surprise Iraq visit

USTRALIAN Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the military campaign against Islamic State (IS) during a surprise visit to Iraq on Monday. He met his Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad as part of his first visit to the country. Australia is part of a USled coalition targeting IS in the country. IS controls a broad swathe of territory, spanning a borderless stretch of Syria and

Iraq. Australia has deployed around 200 special forces advisers and aircraft including six F/A 18 Super Hornets, along with support personnel. “We are determined to deepen our cooperation with the government and the people of Iraq in the weeks and months to come, not because we are a country which goes forward, seeking foreign fights, but because where our vital national interests are threatened, where universal values are at stake,

Australia should be a strong partner,” Mr Abbott said at a press conference on Sunday. “It’s a struggle not just for the people of Iraq, and not just for the people of this region, but for the whole world - because the Daesh death cult, the ISIL death cult, has declared war against the world,” he said, using alternative names for IS. IS militants overran large areas in Iraq following a lighting advance in June last year that lead to internation-

al military action. Mr Abbott also addressed Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel at a lunch and announced a A$5m ($4m, £2.6m) increase in humanitarian aid to Iraq. This brings Australia’s humanitarian assistance to Iraq to A$22m since June last year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Abbott also said a planned trip to Iraq in the lead up to Christmas was cancelled after a gunman took hostages in Sydney café resulting in two deaths.

THIRTEEN Coptic Christian workers from Egypt have been freed after being seized in Libya, an official said. On Saturday, eyewitnesses in the northern city of Sirte said gunmen took the Christian men in the middle of the night from a residential compound. But a tribal leader insisted on Monday that they had been detained by people smugglers, not kidnapped. The incident was the latest in a series of recent attacks on Egyptian Christians working in Libya. Local residents said the masked gunmen had separated the Christians from the Muslims before handcuffing them and taking them away in cars. Muftah Marzuq, head of the council of elders in the coastal city of Sirte, said the men were released after negotiations between the gunmen and local officials. “The Egyptians were held by a group that deals in illegal people smuggling, because of a dispute involving money and transportation to the Harawa region east of Sirte,” Mr Marzuq told reporters. News of their disappearance emerged when a source close to the government accused Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia of having kidnapped the 13 Christians.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Farah withGOLF: draws from W Edinburgh race M ESTWOOD targets maiden Omega Dubai Desert Classic

•Farah

O Farah has pulled out of the Great E d i n b u r g h XCountry international challenge because of illness. The 5,000metres and 10,000m Olympic champion was due to compete for Great Britain and Northern Ireland against the United States and Europe at Holyrood Park on Saturday. Farah told Athletics Weekly: "Unfortunately I have to cancel my participation in the Great Edinburgh

XCountry as I had the flu over the Christmas and New Year period and had to take some days off training. "My main goal for 2015 is the IAAF World T&F Championships in Beijing and I will keep training hard to defend my 5000m and 10,000m titles." Farah also withdrew from last year's Commonwealth Games due to illness before winning double gold at the European Championships.

Kiwi boxer to spar with superstar Wladimir Klitschko M ISING New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has accepted an invitation to spar with world champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Parker will help the giant Ukrainian prepare for his next title bout at a camp in Austria in April. Parker has turned down two previous invitations to work with Klitschko because the timings didn't suit his own

schedule. Parker featured on Klitschko's undercard in his successful title defence against Australian Alex Leapai in Germany last April where relationships between the two fighter's promoters expanded. Parker's handlers, Duco Events, now believe his 2015 schedule will allow the invaluable experience to happen. Parker's trainer Kevin Barry sees many positives in getting his fighter in the training ring with the champ. "The biggest thing is it will give us a real indication of where Joe is after two years as a pro," Barry said. "And it will give us a realistic appraisal of how much we have to do to compete at the highest level. "Part of my plans for 2015 were to have Joe work with a big, tall guy and you can't get a better giant than Wladimir Klitschko." The training camp will come after Parker opens his year with a March 5 fight against American Jason

Pettaway in South Auckland. The 34-year-old from West Virginia has fashioned a decent record as a counterpuncher since turning professional in 2005 on the back of a 130-fight amateur career. Pettaway has won 17 of his 18 fights, with 10 coming via knockouts. His only loss came at the hands of unbeaten Russian southpaw Magomed Adbusalamov via a fourth round stoppage. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds with Parker's WBO Oriental and WBA PABA heavyweight titles at stake. Barry believes Pettaway is a good opponent to start another busy year with the campaign aimed at manoeuvring Parker into the top five in the rankings and towards a title shot. Parker is ranked No 10 with the WBA and 12 with the WBO. "If you look closely at his previous 17 fights you will see that Pettaway has power in both hands - so it's not the one power shot you have to look out for," Barry said.

Tiger now has a Plimmerton prodigy

•Parker

INT-SIZED golfing prodigy Samuel Wood shares more than just (most of) a surname with the game's biggest star - the fouryear-old has also nicked one of Tiger Woods' self-berating catchphrases. Sometimes when the Plimmerton pre-schooler with the demon swing miscues a shot he's been known to yell "Tiger Woods you suck!" after seeing the 14-time major winner mouth the phrase on TV. Samuel's coach Dean Kingsbeer said his young charge - should he want to had the potential to one day enter the world's top 50. Kingsbeer knows what raw talent looks like, having coached another rising star in nine-year-old Zhuoyi Hu, who has impressed top European coaches and been tipped to follow Kiwi superstar Lydia Ko in to golf's elite. With the ability to drive 100m and hit the crossbar of

a rugby post with alarming frequency Samuel already has what many golfers spend a lifetime striving for - temperament, poise and a controlled short game. "He's got a nice natural swing and we just work on the fundamentals, which is the set up and finish and making sure he has fun," Kingsbeer said.

title Westwood's best chance to win the Middle East Swing finale was three years ago, when he narrowly missed a birdie putt on the final green and finished a shot adrift of Spaniard Rafael CabreraBello. The former world No 1 has finished second on three occasions and in the top 10 eight times at the Emirates Golf Club, but he believes he has the opportunity this year to finally lift the prestigious trophy. “Hopefully, I will be able to get the job done this time,” Westwood said. ”All I can do is keep getting into contention. “I know my game is good enough to win when I play well enough. That's what I try to do. After that it's out of your hands. The plan is the same - just to go out there and enjoy it.” The Worksop veteran heads into 2015 on the back of a

strong finish to last year, when he collected his 41st career title at the Maybank Malaysian Open. "I have always enjoyed playing in this tournament. It’s a big event that attracts some of the world’s leading players each year" The 41-year-old will be among the favourites in Dubai, although he faces a tough test against a high-quality field featuring the likes of world No 2 Henrik Stenson and his Ryder Cup team-mate Stephen Gallacher, who is bidding for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins in the event. “You have to be at your best if you aim to succeed against a deeply talented field,” added Westwood, currently ranked 27th in the world. “I have always enjoyed playing in this tournament. It’s a big event that attracts some of the world’s leading players each year. “If you look at the tournament’s roll of honour, it includes so many great names and that’s a tribute to the growing profile of the event.”

TENNIS Williams bagelled, says coffee helped

ORLD number one Serena Williams credited an oncourt coffee for her recovery after she stormed back from a first set bagel to beat Italy's Flavia Pennetta in her opening match of the year at the Hopman Cup. The 33-year-old American looked all at sea during the opening stages of the early morning match in a sweltering Perth but the caffeine hit did just the trick as her serve clicked into gear for a 0-6 6-3 6-0 win. "I'm so jet lagged and Flavia played really, really well and yeah, everyone needs coffee every now and then. I needed coffee to get my feet moving," Williams said in an on court interview to roars of appreciation from the crowd. "I told them to just give me a shot of espresso. I asked them if it was legal - 'Is it illegal to have a shot of espresso?' - because I had never done it before. "I needed some espresso. I needed to wake up - the jetlag gets you all the time." "I wanted coffee with my bagel and whatever coffee it was, it was really good." The 18-times grand slams singles champion is aiming for a sixth Australian Open in Melbourne later this month and is using the round robin mixed team event as preparation for the year's first grand slam. Compatriot John Isner was taking on Fabio Fognini following Williams's win with the big-serving American duo teaming up for the mixed doubles against the Italian pair later on Monday. The Australian Open runs from Jan. 19-Feb. 1 with Williams aiming for a first singles title in Melbourne since 2010 after early exits in recent years. "Its been too long," she said.

"Hopefully I will at least get past the quarters."

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

SPORT EXTRA COTE D’ IVOIRE, SUDAN CLASH

Only five Eagles ready, says Amokachi S

TAND in Coach of the Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi spoke with NationSport shortly after his team bounced back from two goals down to beat a resilient NYSC Team in a friendly encounter that was decided at the Abuja National Stadium’s Goal Project Center yesterday. After scoring the Eagles low still believes that the team would be ready for the two friendly games against Cote d’ Ivoire and Sudan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates this month Excerpts: How do you rate your team despite fighting hard to beat NYSC 5-2 in today’s (Monday’s) friendly match? I think the score line is not what is important, the important thing is the tactical angle of what we have been working on for the past 5-7 days and it showed some of it and all the negatives and mistakes we saw in today’s friendly match against NYSC team is what we are going to continue working on as from tomorrow (today). Looking forward to the match against Cote d’ Ivoire, do you see your team pulling a surprise against the national team of Cote d’ Ivoire? We are not going to the match to out stage the Ivoirians because this is an home based (Super Eagles) team that are off season because this is just seven

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja days in camp for players that are off the pitch for two months, it will take a lot to get them back but with what we did see in training so far, they are coming up gradually but you cannot compare them with a team who are playing already in the league and those that will be representing their country in (2015) AFCON definitely they will be fit but football is 90 minutes game and 11 players against 11 players. What is your ultimate target for this team? This team is not my team; I am just sitting in and taking these players to two games in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. We represent Nigeria, not myself, as a coach and a member of the team’s technical crew we know there is a tough task ahead, we all know that so when we step into the field and game is on, we know what to do to fire up the players to give their best and win matches. Do you regret Nigeria missing AFCON IN Equatorial Guinea? I am a Nigerian, I will love Nigeria to be there but that is football for you, you will win some games and you lose some

that is how we have been brought up in our profession. But it is painful we just have to watch from the stands. But all the same we wish all the teams that will participate in this year’s edition, all the best and we are looking forward to be there in the next edition. Will you tip Vincent Enyeama to win CAF Africa footballer of the year crown? I think if he wins it, he deserves it, for the last few years, he has been the best keeper in the continent and at the same time he has been doing wonderfully well in two or three seasons in the French league and even emerged the best foreign goalkeeper in France. Though he will be against a tough opposition like Yaya Toure, who is probably in the best form of his life playing for Manchester City Football Club of England, the English Premier League’s defending Champions. But if justice is being done why not, Enyeama might end up in wining it but we always seem to give award to the striker who are doing pretty well I think that is the only disadvantage that may work against him, but performance wise I am sure Enyeama will win it. Have you picked your final 19 players for the two

friendlies? I cannot just pick them like that, because player are off season, we just have to keep working, but definitely there are five players who have showed that they are ready to work and they will make the team but others are on the tiny-line but we don’t want to pick players based on big names. We are going to pick considering players’ fitness level. After this exercise will you retain the team? That is an administrative question. Will you drop any of your big players that are not fit? I told you, we don’t look at the big names here; we just have less than10 days to prepare for the matches. We are looking for players that are fit and also out of the 24 players that we have in camp now only five or six have shown that they are good to go any other person is on the tiny-line. We will just keep monitoring them because we still have more days in camp that is an advantage for those players who are not 75 percent fit to be fit. Which player impresses you the most? They all played well, but I told you we have five players here who are good to go.

Mikel wins English Premier League award

FA CUP DRAW Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal avoid one another

HE draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup was made shortly before Monday's live TV clash between AFC Wimbledon and Liverpool - the winner of which will host Bolton in round four. The major highlights of the draw include the fact that the top six clubs in the betting avoided one another, although Spurs will face

another Premier League club in Leicester City if they knock out Burnley first. Another potential all Premier League clash is Southampton versus Crystal Palace if the Saints beat Ipswich in a replay. All in all its a good draw for the Premier League sides although Stoke City who struggled to get past non-league Wrexham will not fancy a trip to Rochdale who put Nottingham Forest out on Saturday. Manchester United face another lower league side - this time Cambridge United away from home. Arsenal face an even tougher test - away at Chris Hughton's Brighton and

HELSEA star Mikel Obi has been named the English Premier League’s African Player of the Month for December. In a statement by the organisers New African Soccer, Mikel was voted and selected ahead of West Ham’s Cameroonian Alex Song and Southampton striker, Senegalese Sadio Mane in a tight vote process. Awards director ‘Tunde Adelakun said “as always, it was a difficult choice, but a lot of factors came into consideration before we selected Mikel”. “Mikel has endured a difficult start to the season, falling down the pecking order in a star-studded Chelsea team that is riding high in the Premier League. After all, we all know that no one likes changing a winning team. However, the spirit of professionalism which he displayed in waiting for his chance, and taking it well with some solid performances in a difficult month, tipped the award his way this month,” Adelakun said. Commending the performances of Alex Song and Sadio

Mane, the statement said, “Mane has settled into his role in the Premier League like if he has always been here. The way he took his goals against Crystal Palace and the might of Chelsea proves that the Senegalese will be a force in this League for some time to come. “And as for Song, he is just solid as ever; and if he was not rested in some of the games over the festive period, he would have made the decision even harder for us”. Adelakun commended the level of the African performance in the English Premier League this season so far, stating that “the Africans have been a real credit to the continent, and when we watch them in the League, it is with pride’. The presentation of Mikel’s award will be done in the coming days. The statement also added that the New African Soccer Awards has been merged with the Africans Abroad Recognised (AAR) Charter, which seeks to recognise the exploits of Africans in Diaspora in all walks of life.

FA CUP DRAW IN FULL Southampton or Ipswich v Crystal Palace Cambridge Utd v Manchester United Blackburn Rovers v Swansea City Chelsea v Millwall or Bradford Derby County v Scunthorpe or Chesterfield Preston North End v Sheffield United Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion Aston Villa v Bournemouth Cardiff City v Reading AFC Wimbledon or Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers Burnley or Tottenham v Leicester City Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal Rochdale v Stoke City Sunderland v Fulham or Wolves Doncaster or Bristol City v Everton or West Ham Manchester City v Middlesbrough Tony Pulis could have hoped for a better draw than a Mid-

lands derby - away to inform Birmingham City.

• Eduok

NFF: no foreign club has requested for Eduok’s ITC • Esperance to confirm Nigeria's move after friendlies

ASIRU Jubril, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Transfer Matching Manager, has picked holes in the statements of Emem Eduok, where he alleged that Sarpsborg 08 attempted to get an ITC from the NFF. Nasiru Jibril , who was the former Personal Assistant to the ex NFF President, has stressed that he has not received any request from the Norwegian Federation as regards to the processing of Emem Eduok’s ITC. “I have not seen any request from anybody requesting for International Transfer Certificate in respect of Emem Eduok. “If a transfer is completed, the buying club will contact their own national association . It is the association that requests for the ITC not the club. Norwegian Federation have not contacted us. “Without the ITC, a player can not play for his new foreign club, ” Nasiru Jubril told allnigeriasoccer.com. Under the regulations of Fifa, ITC’s can only be generated through Transfer Matching System. Both Esperance and Sarpsborg have not contacted the Nigeria Football Federation, meaning the transfer of

Emem Eduok has not yet been validated by the Tunisian FA and the Norwegian Federation. Tunisian side, Esperance, look to have confirmed the signing of Nigerian forward, Emem Eduok. The transfer saga involving Eduok took another twist over the weekend, with Norwegian side, Sarpsborg 08, claiming the Nigerian had signed a deal with them and that they would take the matter to FIFA if he does not honour the contract. However, Eduok denied he had signed a deal with the Norwegian-based side and Esperance are now set to confirm the deal after Nigeria's friendlies against Ivory Coast and Sudan. A statement on http:// www.esperance-de-tunis.net read: "Last Wednesday we announced the transfer of the Nigerian Emem Samuel Eduok was prone to complications related to a third party. "Things are now officially back to normal, following the signing by the player a contract in favor of our club (as confirmed by Laurasboxx) and he will be available to the team after his international commitments with the Nigerian national team."

• Umar

Umar joins Iranian club

ANO Pillars’ striker Kabiru Umar has told AfricanFootball.com he has agreed a contract with Iranian club Saipa FC. The former Nigeria B international also maintained he was not axed by Pillars but instead his loan deal with the club expired. "I was on loan at Kano Pillars, so my deal with the club has expire already, so there is nothing like dropping or sacking,” he told AfricanFootball.com. “I have now agreed a twoyear deal with Saipa FC in Iran

and I will join them this month to put pen on paper to formalise the deal. "I think I have paid my dues in the Nigeria league and need to move on. I thank Kano Pillars for the chance and opportunity given me to play for them." Due to a series of injuries, he played 13 games and scored six goals last season as Pillars won the Nigeria Premier league for the third time in a row. He has also played for JUTH FC, Enugu Rangers and Heartland.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3087

‘Both George and Ogunlewe need Mr. Agbaje’s good name. Mr. Agbaje, on the other hand, needs the twain’s political structure. Quid-pro-quo: a sweetheart deal was born!’

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

DON'T envy Dr Goodluck Jonathan's propaganda brigade This past week, its operatives have been striving to outdo each other in a frenzied race to demonise and pulverise General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who will be squaring off with their principal in the February 13 presidential election. In this season, that is probably the easiest of political assignments. Among politicians aspiring to higher office, Buhari is probably the softest of targets. And they are sparing no effort to paint him, with help from his record as military head of state nearly three decades back in the most repellent hues. The irony is that, while they are busy excoriating Buhari, their principal has been busy exhuming questions that had never lain far beneath the surface about his intellectual preparation and competence for the post he has held for six years Now, it is one thing to raise questions about the academic credentials of a career military officer-turned politician; it is quite another for the holder a doctorate and former academic to raise at every outing questions and doubts about his own intellectual competence. Yet, that is what Dr Jonathan does every time he speaks without a prepared text, even when his audience is a friendly church congregation. He delivers himself in a speech pattern of which non sequiturs, dubious analogies, mangled syntax, and thoughts arrested in mid-sentence are the distinguishing characteristics. "Jonathanism" is the provisional term that a researcher in linguistics in one of our universities has bestowed on that pattern of speech, in honour of our GEJ. He tells me he is assembling an anthology of Jonathanisms, and would gratefully acknowledge examples of the phenomenon from readers. No fake entries, please. The entries must be based entirely on words that Dr Jonathan actually spoke, where and on what occasion he spoke them, and of course, the date. Entries should be sent to "Jonathanisms," c/o P O Box 419, Abuja, or jonathanisms@yahoo.com Here is the latest example, of how Dr Jonathan has been undermining his own campaign in ways that his most outspoken critics will be hard put to match, in remarks made at the Dunamis International Church, in Abuja, on New Year Day, as reported in several national dailies: "President Goodluck Jonathan has identified lack of vision as one of the main reasons government policies have often failed and pledged a return to the good old days when things were done with clear-cut vision. . ." Nobody can blame you for holding it right there and slowly exclaiming: Holy Molly! We cannot enter into Dr Jonathan's mind

RIPPLES

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

GEJ and the 'vision' thing

•Dr. Jonathan at his swearing-in.

to ascertain what he really meant. Nor should we second-guess him. Going by his actual words, an objective analyst would have to say that Dr Jonathan came across as yearning for a return of "the good old days" when planning was based on, as he phrased it, "clear-cut vision," unlike today, when government policies founder and fail for "lack of vision." By way of clarification, Dr Jonathan added: ".. . If you look at what we have been doing as a nation, you really see that before this time when Nigeria used to have what we call 25-year rolling plan, we used to budget based on a 25-year clear plan for the country, so you know where you are going for 25 years then it was broken down to five years plan and now an annual budget." "But after sometimes things collapsed and we run governments on emergency basis and you see government started wobbling and I can assure you that we are going back to those good old days when we had vision." Nigeria never had a budget based on a 25year plan, by the way. But there you have it. In the good old days, there was vision. But

NIGERIANS ‘LL PRAISE ME AFTER LEAVING OFFICE –Jonathan

HARDBALL

We’ll praise ourselves for surviving BOKO HARAM, BLACKOUT and ‘BADLUCK.’

now, in the Age of Transformation, there is no vision. This lack of vision explains so many things that define the Nigerian condition. It explains what happened to Vision 20/20, and what is likely to happen to Vision 2020/ 20, despite the creative re-basing of the economy and all that. It explains why national budgets drawn up and presented with ritual fanfare every year fail miserably to achieve their targets. It explains why Benin Republic is cashing in bigtime on duties on imports destined for Nigeria, at the expense of the Federal Government. It explains why some inter-state highways look like tracks on the lunar surface. It explains why the power supply varies inversely as sum of the public funds pumped into power generation. It explains why eight months after some 250 school girls were spirited from their school hostels in Chibok into the infernal bowels of Sambisa forest, their traumatised parents and a jaded public are treated to nothing but threadbare assurances

AS President Goodluck Jonathan speaking consciously when he said, "I don't expect praises now, until I leave office"? Or was he consciously trying to impress his guests? It's been a long night of irredeemably poor governance by his administration, and the fact that he is still in power may explain why he has interpreted the fiasco in amusingly positive terms. To choose to see the comical side of his perspective is to play down its shocking quality. He made this remark, among other equally ludicrous comments, while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from Bayelsa State at his presidential residence in Abuja. Jonathan further said: "People don't often give credit when the man is still there. They often do it when he has left and another man is in charge. When they make comparison, they will begin to see the great things the former man did." Thankfully he said "people" and not "the people". What's the difference? Well, of course, there are people who are likely to shed tears when Jonathan leaves office because it would mean that the door to their ill-gotten wealth has been shut. With Jonathan out of power,

that the girls would soon be brought home. It explains why fuel has to be imported in a country that procures more than a million barrels of crude daily and has four oil refineries. It explains the mess called SURE-P. It explains why a president who grew up without shoes has made a fetish of acquiring executive jetliners. It explains why hundreds of millions of Naira is allocated each year for procurement and maintenance of electric generator sets for the so-called Presidency and why, until there was a public outcry, that institution voted one billion Naira every year for food and refreshments. It explains why Nigeria abstained from delivering a crucial vote that would have aligned it with those countries seeking an end to Israeli annexation and occupation of Palestinian territories in defiance of United Nations resolutions going back to 1967, and other policies that have turned Gaza into what British Prime Minister Donald Cameron in one moment of lucidity called "the world's largest open-air prison." Lack of vision explains why Dr Jonathan and his predecessors-- would rather travel abroad for medical treatment than build and equip even one world-class medical facility in Nigeria. Given the lack of vision that has historically doomed Nigeria, what can be expected in the long run of Dr Olusegun Aganga's Industrial Revolution that seeks in essence to reinvent the wheel, or Dr Akinwumi Adesina's Agricultural Revolution founded on statistical flights of fancy? For that matter, what is the future Dr Jonathan's Transformation Agenda that was conceived in this era of no vision? Given his new resolve to return to the good old days when there was vision, will he now jettison it? And here is a bit of presidential wisdom for all those institutions that provide training without giving any thought to creating jobs: "You are rather frustrating more people and increasing the number of criminals in the society," Dr Jonathan admonished them. "I always say that if you train a young man as a fitter and he has no job to do, he will use that skill to break into banks, because you have trained him on how to handle iron and how to handle complicated locks." There you have it again, a classic Jonathanism. Taken together, the lack of vision for which Dr Jonathan has entered a damning indictment on himself and his administration, the pattern of thought and speech that the researcher we encountered earlier has christened "Jonathanisms," and his failure of leadership on some key issues of national existence, it is no injustice to say of Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan that he cannot lead Nigeria to the Promised Land. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan the Great those who have exploited his tenure for personal profit at the expense of the masses, and who are unsatiated based on their gargantuan greed, will naturally sink into a depressive state. Such socio-economic wreckers constitute a circle that is certainly anti-multitude. It is a disturbing reflection of Jonathan's shaky grasp of democratic essence that he apparently believes the people, the actual custodians of political sovereignty, cannot recognise good governance or appreciate creditable governmental performance. Even more alarming is the clear implication that Jonathan considers his own self-rating significantly more credible than how he is graded by the majority. Imagine Jonathan suggesting that he has done "great things" as president! Ordinarily, his exaggerated sense of self-worth and official achievement could be excused as a manifestation of sheer confusion. But it is probably a sign of a deeper and more serious condition, perhaps a sickness of the mind. Don't

forget that this is the same man who continues to equate himself with indisputable political greats at the international level, in a long-running comedy of grandiose delusions. It is laughable that he was quoted as saying, "people do not often give credit to great men when they are still in charge." So, Jonathan is a great man, in his own imagination. Surely, it requires a stretch of the mind to accommodate the thought of Jonathan the Great. "If Nigerians didn't want me to be here, when I contested elections in 2011, I wouldn't be here," he reportedly said to the visitors. "But they voted for us and we are here." Without exploring the purity of his alleged win in 2011, it is sufficient to highlight what he himself hints at in his reasoning, if he may be credited with a logical thought process, which is that the people have the power to vote against him and deflate his dream of a second term. If and when that happens, it would be bye to a grandiosely delusional character.

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