January 09, 2015 by The Nation

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News U.S.: no sign Nigeria’ll collapse P5 Sports Yaya Toure is Africa’s best again P7 Business Customs misses N1.2tr target P11

Obasanjo: I can’t die for PDP

NEWS Page 56

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Jonathan: we’ve failed President says his generation has failed as PDP begins campaign in Lagos

•President Jonathan speaking...yesterday. With him are Vice President Sambo (second left), Mark (left) and Mu’azu •All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari speaking during a campaign rally in Calabar...on Tuesday PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH

ROM President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday came a damning verdict on his generation. We have failed, he said, urging the youth to vote for young people. Jonathan spoke in Lagos at the opening of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP’s) campaign ahead of next month’s general elec-

By Leke Salaudeen and Precious Igbonwelundu

tions. He said: “I do not want to address old people like me because we have failed complete-

•Analysis —Pages 4&5 •Editorial —Page 19 ly. We are spent already.” An angry and agitated Dr. Jonathan, who was sarcastic in

I do not want to address old people ‘like me because we have failed completely. We are spent already ’ most of his over 30 minutes speech, told the youth that the election was their opportunity to vote for their relevance. The President addressed insecurity, unemployment and corruption, stating the steps his

INEC distributes 38.7m cards

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued 54,341,610 and distributed 38,774,391.00 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The figure is 71.3% of the cards expected to be issued. The commission has an outstanding 15,567,219 to be issued. The distribution of the cards has just started in Borno State, where Boko Haram is in control of 20 local government areas. The final list of registered voters, to be

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

•15.6m yet to be issued From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

released on Tuesday, will determine the actual figure of those who will vote in the elections. The nation expects about 70.3million voters to go to the polls as from February 14. A breakdown of the top states on the list is as follows: Kano (2,771,185); Kaduna (2,643,517); Lagos (2,159,091); Katsina (1,965,840); Bauchi (1,509,255); Jigawa Continued on page 2

government had taken in addressing them. He promised that the recommendations of the National Conference will be sent to the Eighth National Assembly for passage — if he is re-elected.

Flaunting his party’s governorship candidates, Jonathan, who said he was addressing Nigerians who will be voting for the first time and young people, boasted that his party had provided the youth an opportunity by fielding young candidates. Jonathan attacked past leaders, saying they never bought any equipment for the mili-

tary. Jonathan also attacked those who said the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), disowned him, adding that he has no business with a group whose leader (Henry Okah) is in a South African prison, for killing many Nigerians. Continued on page 2

INEC’S PVCS DISTRIBUTION STATE

SENT

•ABIA 1,241,257 •A/IBOM 1,468,780 •BAYELSA 465,902 •BENUE 1,641,694 •ENUGU 1,005,585 •GOMBE 982,423 •KEBBI 1,306,405 •KOGI 1,189,621 •TARABA 1,180,950 •ZAMFARA 1,100,828

COLLECTED

1,020,601 1,177,910 370,062 1,132,187 662,445 802,959 1,035,780 755,775 921,637 925,302

82.22% 80.20% 79.43% 68.96% 65.88% 81.73% 79.28% 63.53% 78.04% 84.06%

AVAILABLE

220,656 290,870 95,840 509,507 343,140 179,464 270,625 433,846 259,313 175,526

Our plan for Niger Delta, by APC candidate Buhari •SEE PAGE 2

APC promises to restore polluted environment, revive agriculture

•FRESH PLOT TO IMPEACH ELECHI THICKENS P2 700 EKITI WORKERS FACE SACK P8

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS Our plan for Niger Delta, by APC candidate Buhari

•INEC administrative Officer 1, Mr Bawa Kagara (third left) and Senior Executive Officer, Mrs Evelyn Nicholas (middle), distributing PHOTO: NAN Permanent Voter Cards to a prospective voter at the INEC office, Gwagwalada in Abuja…yesterday.

INEC distributes 38.7m PVCs Continued from page 1

(1,460,620); Rivers (1,253,606); Sokoto (1,211,717); Delta (1,260,728); Akwa Ibom (1,177,910); Oyo (1,141,405); Benue (1,132,187); Niger (1,089,002) Plateau (1,072,352); Kebbi (1,035,780) and Abia (1,020,601) They include: Ekiti (481,198); Osun(992,310); Bayelsa (370,062); Enugu(662,445); Gombe (802,959); Kogi (755,775); Taraba (921,637); Zamfara (925,302); Anambra (862,747); Cross River (763,436); Ebonyi (687,402); and FCT (411,935). The others are Kwara (670,694); Ondo (824,715); Yobe (740,336); Adamawa (912,312); Edo (930,276); Ogun (672,017); Nasarawa (799,991); Imo (682,046); Speaking with our correspondent last night, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu said: “We have issued 54,341,610 PVCs to all the states. But the figure does not represent the total number of eligible voters for the Continued on page 60

INEC’S PVCS DISTRIBUTION •Anambra 1,665,342 862,747 51.81% •Bauchi 1,799,952 1,509,255 83.85% •Cross River1,025,760 763,436 74.43% •Delta 1,909,291 1,260,728 66.03% •Ebonyi 918,503 687,402 74.84% •FCT 850,360 411,935 48.44% •Jigawa 1,551,831 1,460,620 94.12% •Kwara 1,032,970 670,694 64.93% •Ondo 1,303,237 824,715 63.28% •Oyo 1,985,370 1,141,405 57.49% •Sokoto 1,398,010 1,211,717 86.67% •Yobe 910,330 740,336 81.33% •Adamawa 1,529,636 912,312 59.64% •Kano 3,198,859 2,771,185 86.63% •Plateau 1,359,805 1,072,352 78.86% •Edo 1,534,098 930,276 60.64% •Ogun 1,175,244 672,017 57.18% •Ekiti 732,166 481,198 65.72% •Osun 1,406,147 992,310 70.57% •Nasarawa 1,135,403 799,991 70.46% •Imo 1,252,307 682,046 54.46% •Rivers 1,956,983 1,253,606 64.06% •Lagos 4,000,000 2,159,091 53.98% •Katsina 2,379,766 1,965,840 82.61% •Kaduna 3,219,994 2,643,517 82.10% •Borno 0 0 0 •Niger 1,526,801 1,089,002 71.33% TOTAL 54,341,610 38,774,391.00 71.35%

802,595 290,697 262,324 648,563 231,101 438,425 91,211 362,276 478,522 843,965 186,293 169,994 617,324 427,674 287,453 603,822 503,227 250,968 413,837 335,412 570,261 703,377 1,840,909 413,926 576,477 0 437,799 15,567,219

EFORE a huge crowd of cheering residents of Bayelsa - President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state - All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, vowed to tackle environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region. Gen. Buhari, who was decked out in Ijaw dress, with a hat and staff to match, said his presidency would embark on thorough cleaning and remediation of degraded Niger Delta environment, according to the recommended standard of the United Nations (UN). The APC presidential candidate spoke yesterday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa. He earlier visited Ogoni land in Rivers State where he also promised to implement the United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) report. He was given a sword and the UNEP report by Ogoni leaders including Senator Magnus Abe. Gen. Buhari arrived at the stadium in company of some party bigwigs to meet a huge crowd of party faithful and other residents, especially youths, waiting for him. He stormed the stadium with his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, his campaign Director and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, former Governor of Bayelsa State and the state’s leader of APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, among others. In a show of solidarity and hunger for change, the crowd waved brooms, the symbol of the APC, and waved their hands as they cheered Gen. Buhari and his entourage. The presidential candidate observed that the region and the state had been neglected for a

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

long time with their means of livelihood which he identified as farming and fishing, deprived them. He blamed the plight of the people on years of oil exploration and exploitation and lack of will by the government to enforce adequate cleaning and remediation of environment polluted by oil. He said his administration would ensure that the environment is restored to enable the people go back to their means of sustenance. According to him, his manifesto includes a robust plan to revive the agricultural sector and reduce Nigeria’s over-dependence on oil. Explaining that oil is limited, Gen. Buhari identified the state as having huge potential for rice farming and aquaculture adding that everybody will be empowered through training and skill acquisition. The presidential candidate promised to ensure stable electricity supply to enable people expand their businesses. Gen. Buhari, who asked the people not to allow PDP to stay one more day in office, observed that many factories had closed and left the country because of the ruling party’s inability to find solutions to power problems. He sympathised with the people for relying on generators to sustain their businesses, saying the APC government will fix the problem. Gen. Buhari reiterated his commitment to zero-tolerance for corruption, adding that anybody who steals government money in his government will be forced to return it. He, however, urged the peoContinued on page 60

Fresh plot to impeach Elechi thickens

HERE is a fresh plot to impeach Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi, it was learnt yesterday. An unnamed Anambra State businessman is said to have released N50million to finance the plot. Ten out of the 24-member House of Assembly were alleged to have collected N10 million each through a colleague of theirs to prosecute the plot. It was learnt that a balance of N40 million would be given to them next week during which the impeachment notice will be served on the governor. These claims, however, could not be verified as at press time.

By Our Reporter

It was also learnt that efforts were being made to bring at least six other legislators on board to meet the constitutional number needed to remove the governor. The move was necessitated by the belief in certain quarters that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have a hard time in the forthcoming governorship election if Elechi is allowed to remain in office. It was alleged that the impeachment move may not be unconnected with the governor’s alleged “closeness” to the Labour Party (LP). Continued on page 7

We’ve failed, says Jonathan as campaign kicks off in Lagos Continued from page 1

According to the President, Okah, the mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja, was hired to assassinate him but his mission was uncovered by security agencies. He was not surprised such a group was not supporting him. Jonathan boosted that it was under his administration that people understood the importance of voter cards, insisting that prior to 2011, elections were never really held as politicians were imposed through rigging and malpractices. He said he had “directed” the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that irregularities in the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distribution are corrected so that no eligible Nigerian is disenfranchised. The President said: “I do not

want to address old people like me because we have failed completely. We are spent already. Listen to what I will say because I am going to address political gatherings in 37 places. Whatever I say, when you go back home, ask your aunts or uncles who are 60 years and above to confirm the things I mentioned. “This election is about the young people. It is either you vote for the young people to be relevant in this country or you vote for you to be irrelevant. Those of you who are voting for the first time should vote for a Nigerian youth to be important and relevant in this country. “We have just introduced our governorship candidates and you can see that many of them are within your age bracket. Which other party will give the youth that opportuni-

ty? “Those who say they want to take over power from PDP have been telling a lot of lies. They have hired people from all over the world. “Do you want to vote for people who want to take you back to the old days? Nigeria is for the youths. It is not for old people like us. “They talk about insecurity. That they will fight insecurity and we ask, are our Armed Forces weak? Ask the man telling you who are about 23-yearold that when he was Head of Government, if he bought one rifle for the Nigerian soldier? “These people did not buy anything for the Nigerian soldiers. Ask them what they did with the defence budget throughout the whole time they were in government; no equipment was bought for the armed forces.

“Nobody equips the Armed Forces overnight. They are built over the years. Even if we spend $10 billion today, it cannot immediately equip the Army, Navy and Air Force because their capacities are built over the years. It takes a period of time. “They refused to build the capacity, instigated crisis and now they are telling us they will fight insecurity. Ask them these questions and they will answer. I will disclose more as we progress.” On corruption, which his administration has been criticised for condoning, Jonathan said: “They say that the government is corrupt and not fighting corruption, but only yesterday (Wednesday) I addressed the corruption agencies (sic) to give Nigerians breakdown of their activities in

the past 15 years. “To fight corruption, you must take measures to establish firm institutions. You don’t just go into the street and arrest somebody and lock him up or show him on television and say you are fighting corruption. “If they succeeded in fighting corruption in their time, corruption would not have been with us today. If they had put in place structures and embraced modern technologies to manage resources, we would not have been talking about corruption today. “Why some civil servants did not receive their salaries in December is because of a software that processes salaries and does not allow money meant for salaries to be diverted for something else. “Sometimes, some ministries and agencies divert funds to

pay some kinds of allowances; so, what the system does is to shut down once anyone tries to divert money meant for salaries. That is why those departments of government were shut down and some people could not get their salary. That is how to fight corruption. “In the past, fertiliser which is an area where the federal and state governments spent billions of Naira, had less than 10 percent of the fertilizer going to the farmers. Sometimes the 10 percent was even adulterated while the money ended up in the pockets of few persons. But today, there is no corruption in the fertilizer inContinued on page 60

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS

Fiery Jonathan ANALYSIS

T •Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle), his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Osun Command, Mr. Balogun Tajudeen, when the Commandant visited the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, Osun State.

•From left: Country Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC)Ltd, Mr Mattieu Seguin, Marketing Manager Coca-Cola, Mrs Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, Marketing Director, Mrs. Patricia Jemibewon and Communication Manager, CocaCola, Sam Umukoro, at the Share a Coke media launch at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

HE last few weeks have been particularly testing for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). From all indications, next month’s general elections will be the stiffest electoral test the ruling party will face since its virtual domination of the political space since the enthronement of civilian rule in 1999. The PDP emphatically won presidential elections of varying degrees of credibility in 2003, 2007 and 2011. However, the country’s political landscape has been drastically altered and transformed in the run-up to the February 14 and 28 general elections. Nigeria now effectively has a twoparty dominant political system as against the former situation in which a PDP behemoth easily overran a motley opposition of sectional and fragmented parties. Against all odds and postulations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has crystalised into a formidable opposition party, posing a credible electoral threat to the PDP at the centre. The APC conducted credible, transparent and competitive primaries leading to the emergence of former military Head of State and three-time unsuccessful presidential aspirant, Gen. MuhammaduBuhari (rtd), as its candidate. Contrary to predictions, the APC did not implode after the primaries but all the other aspirants – former Vice President AtikuAbubakar, Governors Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Kano and Imo states respectively, as well as newspaper publisher, Mr Sam NadIshiah, have rallied round Buhari. It further consolidated on this achievement by the choice of Prof. YemiOsinbajo , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its vice presidential candidate. Osinbajo, a former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Lagos State is also a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria (RCCG). This has blunted the potency of any of the parties, especially the PDP, successfully manipulating the religious card against the other.

•President Jonathan acknoledging cheers from supporters on arrival for his reelection campaign at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos...yesterday. By Segun Ayobolu

Even as the APC launched this week its nationwide presidential campaign with impressive rallies in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states (both states in President Jonathan’s Niger Delta stronghold), former President OlusegunObasanjo chose to launch another of his blistering attacks on the Jonathan presidency. Addressing market women leaders from the South West at his Hilltop private residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo again accused his former protégé’s administration of incompetence, wasteful spending and corruption. It was about the same time that excerpts of an interview former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, granted the in-house magazine of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was widely reported in the media. Debunking the perception that his administration institutionalised corruption in Nigeria, Babangida said members of his government were saints in comparison to the current situation in the country.

U.S. : no sign • Gun attacks in Rivers very sad, says Ambassador •From left: Chairman, Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi (left), General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Sola Omole and Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON),Mr. Olusegun Olaleye at a meeting of Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Elections Debate Group in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Lead Director, Center for Social Justice (CSJ), Mr. Eze Onyekpere, (left), Programme Officer of the Centre, Mr. Ezenwa Victor and Finance Officer of the Centre, Mr. Victor Abel at a media briefing on indiscriminate spending by politicians towards the general elections in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMIN FAYESE

NITED States (U.S.)Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle has said there is no sign Nigeria will disintegrate this year. He denied knowledge of any American government report predicting the country’s collapse. The ambassador, who condemned the gun attacks on All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Rivers State, spoke in Lagos yesterday. He said: “I have been plagued by that question ever since I got this job. I have gone back and looked, I can’t find any government report that said we thought Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015, may be some thinktank or somebody outside the government said it, I don’t know. But, in my opinion as U.S. Ambassador to this country, I am not worried in the least that Nigeria is going to disintegrate in 2015. Do you face big challenges now? Of course you do. So does my country. But, I see a Nigeria that if you can do what needs to be done in the coming years on security, on corruption and all of those things, I think the future for Nigeria

By Olukorede Yishau

is very bright. Whenever I travel around this country, I always try to go to the universities and have big sessions to give talks to students and have questions and answers and whenever I do that, I leave with incredible sense of optimism about Nigeria when I get to know your best and brightest. So, are there challenges for Nigeria under the horizon? Sure, but I have no doubt that Nigeria will muscle them, will move on. Will it be easy? Of course not. Nothing is easy in this life… We are now here in 2015, I don’t know what you see but I can’t see those signs that Nigeria will disintegrate. I see signs of growth and I say that not to minimise the challenges that you have.” He also described as ‘nonsense’ the allegation that his country has imposed arms embargo on Nigeria. Entwistle told reporters that no country has assisted Nigeria in its war against terror more than the U.S., adding that the insistence on the respect for human rights should not be interpreted to mean arms embargo. He also

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS

n launches campaign on defensive note Some of Jonathan’s yet-to-be fulfilled promises •Strengthened anti-graft agencies •Creation of employment opportunities •Fortification of the education sector •Ensure stability and equitable growth •Completion of East-West Road •Building of Second Niger Bridge •Provision of 5000 megawatts of electricity

This was seen as an indirect but devastating put down of the Jonathan presidency. Receiving a delegation of the TankoYakasai-led Northern Elders Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, an understandably enraged President Jonathan launched verbal missiles, obviously directed at Obasanjo, though he did not mention names. In his words, “Making provocative statements in this country, statements that will set this country ablaze and you tell me you are a senior citizen. You are not a senior citizen, you can never be; you are ordinary motor park tout.” It was against this background that President Jonathan was in Lagos yesterday to flag off his presidential campaign from the country’s commercial nerve centre in the Southwest. The Lagos rally was clearly a critical and strategic one for the PDP. From the attendance, the party had mobilised intensively for the nationally televised event. All the party’s prominent leaders including Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, National

Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, PDP state governors and governorship flag bearers in the next election, were all present. In their respective addresses to the crowd, Coordinator of the President’s campaign in the Southwest and Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State and Ekiti State Governor Mr Ayo Fayose, extolled the virtues and achievements of the President while naturally denigrating Gen. Buhari and the APC. Mimiko emphasised Dr Jonathan’s academic credentials as a doctorate degree holder while reeling out alleged violation of human rights under Gen. Buhari as a former military Head of State. A vote for Gen. Buhari, he argued, would be a vote for dictatorship. Fayose contended that Nigerians should not vote for a Gen. Buhari , who he claimed, was in the pocket of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yet, Gen. Buhari emerged in an open and competitive intra-APC primaries while Jonathan emerged as PDP’s flag bearer in a carefully choreographed convention in which he had no competitor, creating the impression that the party was in the pocket of the presidency. Other prominent party leaders, some

Nollywood stars and youth organisations made fiery speeches to drum up support for Jonathan. But the man of the moment was obviously President Jonathan himself. He was clearly determined to utilise the occasion to regain the initiative from the opposition and generate a new momentum for his party’s campaign. His delivery was perhaps the most vigorous, combative and confident of his political career so far. Yet, he appeared, most of the time, to be on the defensive, irritated and visibly angry. Jonathan is clearly a President under pressure. The intense criticisms of his perceived below par performance are certainly getting to the President. Unfortunately, since he spoke extempore, only occasionally referring to bullet points on a sheet of paper, his delivery was often uncoordinated and he resorted to broad generalisation where specific facts and figures would have strengthened his arguments. President Jonathan stated from the outset that his address would be directed at young people, especially those aged between 23 and 24. This was probably a clever ploy to take advantage of the voting strength of this category of the electorate as well as the age difference between Gen. Buhari and himself. While saying that his generation had failed the nation and were ‘finished’’, he still urged the youths to take their destiny in their hands by voting for the PDP. He did not explain how or why a vote for a ‘failed’ and

‘finished’ generation within the PDP would be more beneficial to the country’s youth than a vote for the same category of persons within the APC. Still on the defensive, he vehemently condemned and rejected the allegation by his opponents and critics that his administration was soft on corruption. Pointing to his success in fighting corruption associated with fertiliser distribution, Jonathan said the emphasis of his administration was in preventing corruption from taking place at source rather than jailing those who succeeded in looting the treasury. That he said, was a more effective way of fighting graft. Obviously referring to Gen Buhari’s threat that corrupt persons under his watch would end up in Kirikiri Prison, Jonathan said he would not engage in arresting ‘foes’ and locking people up without following due process. Yet, the President did not address such issues as the criticism of his granting state pardon to former Governor DiepriyeAlaimesigha, who was convicted of corruption, the soft landing he gave the former Aviation Minister, Miss Stella Oduah, indicted for approving the unauthorised purchase of bullet proof BMW cars or the fact that Interior Affairs Minister, Abba Moro, remains firmly in his cabinet despite the NIgerian Immigration Service (NIS) employment recruitment scam that resulted in the death of at least 19 Nigerians. Equally defensive on security, Jonathan said the blame for the poor combat readiness of the Armed Forces

could not be heaped on him. He said he inherited a weakened army, navy and air force that had not been properly funded and equipped for several years by his predecessors. He was, however, not specific on which of the successive administrations. He urged Nigerians to ask ‘them’ what they did with military budgets when they were in power even as he was silent on the impact defence budgets have made during his six years at the helm. Jonathan told his audience that a President who had no plan for the country as alleged by his opponents would not have established nine new federal universities or Almajiri schools to cater for out-of-school children in the north. But was it wise to establish such a large number of universities including one in his village, Otueke, when existing ones were poorly staffed, funded and equipped? Did proper thinking and planning go into this decision? Has it not rather further compounded the challenges of higher education in the country? Speaking on reports that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had endorsed the APC candidate, Jonathan said the leader of MEND, Henry Okah, a kinsman from his Southsouth zone, was in jail in South Africa for trying to assassinate him in the 2010 Independence Day bombings at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Yet, Jonathan had never told the nation before that the bomb attack was an attempt on his life. In any case, the MEND statement was signed by its usual spokesman, Gbomo Jomo. Does the jailing of its leader mean that the group has ceased to exist? The President urged the electorate to vote in National Assembly members who would implement his decisions, which he said the current National Assembly has not been disposed to. But what is the guarantee that the next National Assembly will be optimistic about the National Conference report? Should the sum of N7 billion have been committed to an exercise that the administration was not sure it could get passed into law? The president’s fiery campaign speech in Lagos will certainly be vigorously interrogated by analysts.

n Nigeria’ll collapse this year faulted the claim that U.S. has refused to sell Cobra helicopters to Nigeria to aid the war against terror. He said: “In terms of what is happening in the Northeast and military relationship, we have all seen in recent months a lot of stuff about the U.S. imposing an arms embargo, I am here to tell you as President Obama’s personal representative to this country that that is nonsense; that is not true. “We have given this ship, NNS Okpabana; we have a number of discussions on the way right now. A good portion of the assistance we give every day on the war against terror are things I can’t talk about that much, but I can assure you that no partner is doing more to assist Nigeria in its fight against terror now than the United States of America. We have seen the most unfortunate incident in Baga and that underlines to me the importance of continuing this fight.” Speaking on the Nigerian Army’s abrupt termination of a training arrangement with the U.S. Army, Entwistle said it was painful to the U.S. that it was called off despite the resources his country had put into it. He added that the army was supposed to provide the equipment for the training but failed to before it called it off. Entwistle said: “We are still talking

about a number of equipment, different kinds of helicopters that can be more appropriate to that kind of thing. But, what are our human rights considerations? When I got here about two years ago, there were discussions about the conduct of the Nigerian Army in the Northeast about the treatment of the civilian population. It was reported in your media. This is not something we came up with. Nigerians themselves were focusing on it. So, we have had a lot of discussions with the Nigerian Army about the need to, as you fight terror, you also have to protect the civilian population and keep them on your side. We have learnt the hard way in our own counter terrorism that if you lose the trust and support of the civilian population, you’ve lost everything. So, we have had that conversation. Indeed, much of the trainings that we’ve done with your army in the U.S. has focused on that kind of thing, effective leadership and how do you operate against an enemy that is hard to identify? That mixes into the civilian population, how do you fight that kind of enemy while at the same time respecting the civilian population? I am not a military man but it strikes me that this is a very difficult thing to do.” On the terminated training pro-

gramme, he explained: “We had at Nigeria’s request agreed to train some battalion, in my opinion, some of the best trainers in the world. The agreement was that we would provide the trainers and the Nigerian Army would provide the equipment we need to properly conduct the training and that was agreed well ahead of time as part of our partnership. This was not something we were going to do for Nigeria; it was something we were going to do together as partners. We were able to do a bit of this and it got to a point where we were waiting for these equipment to be provided for us to finish the training, but the decision by the Nigerian government, as I understand it, was ‘no that is enough; we don’t want to finish this training’. Frankly, that was a disappointment to us given that we had provided that symbol of our commitment. As to what motivated your government, as to the reason, I don’t know. I will encourage you to put that question to them.” He condemned the violence in Rivers, saying: “The incident in Rivers was very sad. I condemned it, but that underlines to me why our campaign against violence is so important. “The U.S.’s position on the election is quite clear. For the past years, I have been talking about the importance of

non-violence in the elections. I have been doing that and I have seen that the civil society and the Nigerian media have taken this up too. I even went to one or two of Tuface’s hip-hop concert ‘Vote, not fight’ campaign. So, that is the message the United States will continue to preach, especially to urge all candidates to probably commit themselves that they will not support or engage in violence before, during and after the elections. I think that is key in any democracy. “It has been interesting and I am talking about politicians on both sides, the big parties, sometimes when I bring this up, their response is: ‘I won’t initiate violence myself. I abhor violence but if the other guy starts it or if I am not happy with the results, then may be.’ But, my answer to them is: ‘I’m sorry that is not a non-violence pledge.’ A non-violence pledge means you won’t do it no matter what.” On small arms proliferation, he said: “I think small arms proliferation is something that is difficult to control because the arms are small. They are easy to smuggle. We think that in providing NNS Thunder and Okpabana, they can gradually help against that. But they can also help against the broader issue of security in the Gulf of Guinea, which is a trans-national issue. It affects all the countries of this region.

•Entwistle

It also affects foreign investments. Oil companies want to get forward, like deep water. Security is paramount. We think it can also help Nigeria’s struggle against oil theft and (illegal) oil bunkering. It is an array of issues in relations to our broad issue of security with Nigeria.” He said the U.S. is helping through trainings and intelligence to find the Chibok girls, adding that kidnappings in the Northeast have continued almost daily. “We will stand with Nigeria to fight this terror,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS

‘Jonathan shedding crocodile tears on nation’s division’

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan was shedding crocodile tears over his lamentation that Nigeria had become more divided along religious and ethnic lines than at any time in the nation’s history. Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, noted that there was no point Jonathan being “sanctimonious” about an issue for which he “bears most responsibility.”

•President bears most responsibility, says APC “You are the most divisive leader in the history of Nigeria, having ceaselessly exploited the country’s fault lines for political gains,’’ the party said. The APC alleged that Jonathan was the first leader to have turned the house of worship to a political arena, using the pulpit to make political and policy statements as well as making a show of what should ordinarily be a very personal religious affair. The party added that the pres-

ident’s belated lamentation was aimed at pulling the wool over the eyes of Nigerians with a view to extracting undeserved political gains, especially a few weeks before next month’s elections. The statement said: ‘’Where was President Jonathan when his spokespersons and party members sought to pit Christians against Muslims by labelling the country’s main opposition party, the APC, as an Islamic party? Where was President

Jonathan when his spokespersons and party members sought to portray all adherents of a particular faith as terrorists? “Not once did this president call his loquacious and sycophantic supporters to order when they were denigrating people of other tribes, calling them unprintable names. Not once did he call his supporters to order when they were threatening to bring the country down, if he is not re-elected.

“President Jonathan led the divisive band by tagging the leaders of a whole people ‘rascals’, just because people dared to protest against his administration’s policies. A man who got a pan-Nigerian mandate turned himself into a tribal leader, running a government that excludes a critical mass of the nation’s demography and pigeon-holing himself into an ethnic cocoon. “A president, who has undermined the nation’s unity with

his actions and utterances, and a president, who has cashed in on all the nation’s fault lines to feather his own political nest definitely lacks the moral authority to preach to anyone about unity. He is the embodiment of divisiveness, hence he has no business being selfrighteous.’’ It called on Nigerians to repudiate the divisiveness that was embodied in the president and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “so that the country’s ‘unity in diversity’ can once again become a reality, rather than a mere saying.”

Health workers vow to continue strike •Union urges Jonathan to resign From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

•From Left: Executive Director, Editorial Operation, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Isaac Ighure; Deputy Director of News, Voice of Nigeria (VON) Ben Adam-Shemang and Assistant Director, Programmes, VON Zubairu Abdulrauf, at the board meeting of Election Monitoring Group in Abuja...yesterday.

North’s elders to Jonathan: sitting leaders are pick-pockets T

HE Maitama Sule-led Northern Elders Forum (NEF) replied President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, debunking his description of some elder-statesmen as touts. NEF’s Spokesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who addressed reporters at his Zariabased farm, said some sitting leaders were worse than pickpockets in a motor park. He added that the president should not have made such abusive statement on statesmen, who fought for the country’s unity. Prof. Abdullahi, who is also a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), also flayed the Tanko Yakasai-led Northern Elders Council (NEC), saying the group lacked principle. According to the NEF’s spokesman, the Yakasai-led NEC was not speaking for the generality of Nigerians. The former Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) vice chancellor and special adviser on Agriculture during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration said NEF was more focused and

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

committed to the political wellbeing of northerners and Nigerians. His words: “President Jonathan should know that in a motor park, there are touts and there are pick-pockets. So, if some past leaders are touts, some sitting leaders are pickpockets and thieves. So, you have to make your pick from that. “This is acountry is complaining about corruption and the President himself has said that stealing is a small corruption. “And so, for him to even come around and refer to some people as touts, he should remember that, some of them sitting there are pick-pockets and some of them are even worse than pick-pockets. “Pick-pockets in a motor

park cheat the passengers as well as the owner of the vehicles, while the touts do some work for a commission. So, you see, these are some of the things that are clearly pointing to the fact that the incompetence that we have been complaining about is the additional basis of rejecting the man’s leadership in 2015. It is now clearly showing across the country. “It used to be Northern Elders Forum, which is seen as partisan, sectional, and divisive and so on. Whenever we say something, it was misconstrued as outright opposition against the government or against the president, because we are not and we are not president at the moment. But thank God, the truth will always be one. People across the country today seem to have agreed that this is an incompetent government that is about to wreck or completely ruin this country, and

sooner Nigerians come to grips with this, the better. “Jonathan may disagree with Obasanjo, he is one of our leaders that come out to say things the way they are. You can criticise him on what he has done or what he has not been able to do, but he should also be seen as he has always been since 1979, since I knew him. “This is a man that has been saying things as he has seen them. It is only very recently, some well-meaning Nigerians like him have come to agree that the country is been put in the wrong direction under the leadership of the present administration... “We have said this before, what is Northern Elders Council? Who are they? Who do they speak for? But, we speak for Nigerians? But more so for Northern Nigerians. We did not hide the fact that, we protect the interest of Northern Nigerians at any stage, without sacrificing the rights of other Nigerians elsewhere under any guise.”

Jonathan condemns terrorist attack on RESIDENT Goodluck French magazine Jonathan has extended

condolences to President Francois Hollande and the people of France as they mourn the victims of last Wednesday’s terrorist attack. A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan joined the rest of the civilised world in “condemning the heinous, senseless and totally unjustifiable killing of journalists and other persons” during the attack on the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. He noted that the attack by the extremists was an assault

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

on the right to freedom of expression. Jonathan also saw the attack on Charlie Hebdo as another manifestation of the depravity and brutality, which the world has to contend with in what must become a truly collective effort by lovers of peace, progress and freedom across the globe to rout “agents of darkness and retrogression”. The president assured

Hollande and the people of France that Nigeria stands in full solidarity with them on their day of national mourning for those who lost their lives in the hands of the terrorists. Jonathan noted that France has been a strong ally and dependable partner in strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa. It also reads: “President Jonathan pledges that his administration will continue to

•Dr. Jonathan

work with the French government and other friendly governments in all continents to end the scourge of global terrorism.

EMBERS of Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) have vowed to continue their strike, which has paralysed hospitals. They blamed the Federal Government for not meeting their six-point demands two months after the industrial action started. NUAHP President Felix Faniran said this yesterday while addressing a news conference at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. But, hospital wards at the UCH, Ibadan were deserted yesterday and some out-patients, who were around, could not be attended to. Those on admission have been forced to discharge themselves as they could no longer access the needed healthcare services. However, Faniran advised the president to resign “because of his seemingly incompetence and failure to handle situations in the health sector.” He asked the government to show some level of trust by implementing the agreements reached with the unions as well as court judgments. Faniran mentioned the minimum conditions for suspending or calling off the strike as including: the immediate release of the circular on adjustment of salary, immediate payment of two months arrears on newly adjusted salary structure with the promise to pay the remaining in 2015 budget and the immediate release of circular on the payment of arrears on skipping of CONHESS 10 salary. Other demands of the aggrieved health workers include: the immediate issuing of circular on retirement age of healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years, payment of arrears of specialist allowance to all hospital-based healthcare professionals, who possess a relevant post-graduate qualification, and release of circular amending the extant circular for medical laboratory scientists interns to include post-NYSC placement on Grade Level 09 Step 2 and stale officers across board.

Fed Govt to bring back national development plans From Tony Akowe, Abuja

HE National Planning Minister, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, said yesterday that the Federal Government will soon bring back the National Development Plan to ensure sustainable infrastructural development. The minister spoke through the commission’s Acting Secretary, Bassey Akpanyung, at a one-day media workshop on “Strategic, sustainable promotion and marketing of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).” Sulaiman said returning the National Development Plan was part of government’s strategy to develop the nation’s infrastructure. He noted that the best infrastructure the nation has had since independence were captured in the first four development plans, which were terminated in the middle 1980s. According to him, what the country has started with Vision 20-2020, Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Transformation Agenda is to return the country to the “golden tradition of infrastructural development”. The minister said: “In pursuance of the ideal of sustainable development, the administration adopted integrated and all inclusive approach to infrastructure delivery as practiced in some other industrialised nations, to systematically facilitate and promote economic growth and development. “For us as a government, we are convinced that the NIIMP, if effectively implemented, will give us a win-win situation. In effect, government understood the NIIMP itself, as a source of massive job opportunity and wealth creation in a manner that recognise equity as well as promotes poverty reduction. However, this can be achieved through the cooperation of all the stakeholders. “Construction of infrastructure projects across the geopolitical zones and linking different sectors potentially translate to economic growth and prosperity.” He noted that in the struggle to market “the unique investment opportunities NIIMP connotes, the foremost among the strategic stakeholders is the media.”

THE NATION FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS God knows who’s best for Nigeria, says Oba of Lagos

Nigeria needs good economic managers, says Osinbajo W HAT the nation needs to grow are good managers of the collective wealth and the political will to fight corruption. The All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said this yesterday in Benin City at an interactive forum with the citizens. Prof. Osinbajo told Edo people that every policy of the APC was geared towards job creation. The former Lagos State Attorney-General assured that Nigeria will grow reasonably well within one year of APC coming to power. He urged President Good-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

luck Jonathan to lead the fight on insurgency by visiting Chibok and acting like the commander-in-chief. Osinbajo said: “It is about being serious about management of the resources. We are looking at all options. We have to stop the bleeding and leakages. There has been no explanation about missing $20 billion and no explanation for the $7 billion paid for kerosene subsidy. “The first thing to note is that in our manifesto, before

writing any policy, we ask: ‘how many jobs will this produce? As the first tier of relief, the APC has agreed that the states, with the backing of the Federal Government, will employ 20,000 young people. That is because it is an emergency that we have. “If we don’t tackle that emergency, we may run into trouble. In fact, if you see the restlessness of the young people, you will know that unless we do something about this, we will be in great trouble”. “We also intend to give a tax break to the people who

give a certain number of persons employments in their businesses. So, they will enjoy tax breaks and they will enjoy recognition of government. “Somebody needs to explain to us how 400 thousand barrels of oil is stolen every day. We do not need rocket science to do that. Somebody sees this theft done; we have to stop it. “If we allow another four years of this kind of theft, nothing will be left. It’s not about tribe, religion or ethnicity. If we want to win a football match, we won’t ask if this man is from Ogun or Edo, we chose the best 11". Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola lampooned the presidential campaign of the

•Prof. Osinbajo

PDP, saying President Goodluck Jonathan could not marshall out any plan after six years in power. Fashola said Jonathan kept blaming everybody, “forgetting that he is the president and commander-in-chief of the country.”

Toure wins fourth CAF Award

OTE d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure yesterday in Lagos equalled the feat achieved by Cameroun’s Samuel Eto’o when the Manchester City midfielder, clinched his fourth consecutive Glo CAF Footballer of the Year award. Toure won the award in 2011, 2012, 2013 before yesterday. Eto’o won in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. The Ivoirien beat Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Nigeria’s golden girl Asisat Oshola was also adjudged the woman player of the year. Nigeria’s Super Falcons were crowned the Women’s National Team of the Year Algeria had their efforts for year rewarded with the National Team of the Year prize. Les Fennecs’ beat Nigeria and Libya to the award of the best senior national team for the year 2014.

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) addressing nursing mothers at the inauguration of Epe Primary Health Care Centre...last Wednesday. With him are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina (second right)and others.

Shell’s $84m payment: Saraki blames Fed Govt

HAIRMAN of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, said yesterday that it was unfortunate that communities affected by oil spill had to seek redress in courts outside the nation’s shores before being compensated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Saraki, who spoke in a statement in Abuja, said Nigerians should be “appalled” that the $84 million compensation was paid by Shell after the heavily impacted Bodo community in Ogoniland took their case to the international arena without any assistance from the Federal Government, which was statutorily empowered to

fight for the people. He hailed the payment of the compensation by Shell even though the Bodo community was left to their fate by the government. The senator urged Nigerians and the international community to note that oil multinationals like Shell were finally taking responsibility for the environmental impacts of

their oil mining actions and accidents in Nigeria. Saraki added: “Such actions serve as needful precedents that will help to ensure that Nigerians do not have to suffer for the activities of foreign corporations in our homeland. “As commendable as these recent developments are, it is also crucial to point out the fact

Fresh plot to impeach Elechi thickens Continued from page 2

A source said: “After reviewing the prevailing political situation in Ebonyi State, it was agreed that the position of Governor Elechi makes it quite challenging for the PDP candidate whom he earlier refused to support to succeed him. Those who backed the impeachment option said despite his much-vaunted support for President Jonathan, Elechi may block the PDP’s chance in the governorship race. Elechi’s Deputy, Chief Dave Umahi, is the PDP governorship candidate. The source spoke of fears that impeaching Elechi may galvanise the Abakaliki bloc against the PDP candidate, who is from the Southern Zone, comprising five of the 13 local government areas. ”The recent appointment of Local Government Caretaker Chairmen and Development Centre Coordinators by the governor was seen as a very big stumbling block for PDP’s plan

to have the election in their favour,” said the source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the sensitive nature of the matter. He said: “The situation was made worse by the tacit support the incumbent governor seems to be showing for the Labour Party candidate, Sir Edward Nkwegu.” The source added: “The fear in the PDP ranks is that the Labour Party has gathered enormous momentum within the short time of its emergence and that if nothing is done urgently to halt its march, the PDP will stand no chance of winning the governorship election in Ebonyi.” Twenty-one members of the Assembly sat for the first time in three months to receive Elechi’s 2015 budget estimate two weeks ago. Last Tuesday, the legislators passed a resolution sacking Caretaker Council Chairmen and Coordinators - a move that was faulted by the State Attor-

ney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Ugwenyi. The group initially backed down from the impeachment plot due to the fear of public backlash as many see Elechi as an old man who is being disgraced by his subordinates. There is also the fear that disgracing Elechi out of office may further galvanize the people of Abakaliki bloc against the PDP candidate. Another source disclosed that the legislators had been given January 15 as the tentative date to impeach Elechi, adding that the recent resolution of the House removing Caretaker Council Chairmen and inviting Elechi to defend his expenditures before the Assembly were part of the schemes to test the ground for the bigger event. The Elechi-must-go plot started shortly after the second attempt to impeach the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Nwazunku and the litigations which trailed the failed exercise.

Ironically, it was Elechi who saved Nwazunku from impeachment in August 2014 when he stood against the decision of the Assembly members to remove the speaker over allegations of corruption and incompetence. Though Nwazunku’s supporters including Umahi, have severally denied that Elechi was the ultimate target of the confusion in the House, events following the recent PDP congresses in the state indicate otherwise. Penultimate week, 21 members of the Assembly sat together for the first time in more than three months to receive Governor Elechi’s 2015 budget estimate and last Tuesday the legislators instead of attending to the governor’s letter requesting a downward review of the budget, passed a resolution sacking Caretaker Council Chairmen and Coordinators. Elechi, who is percieved in many quarters as close to President Jonathan, is seen as a victim of “political betrayal”.

that without clear-cut and sustainable policies in place, such compensations might only be one-off occurrences. “What Nigeria needs right now to operate in line with international best practices is a comprehensive law that works to ensure that oil-spill compensations are not arbitrary, but equitable for all affected parties.”

OBA of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should not be blamed for the country’s problems. Oba Akiolu, who spoke while receiving the president at his Iga Iduganran palace, said fighting corruption was the responsibility of every Nigerian. “What will be, will be; God Almighty will give the best person the opportunity to lead this country. “Mr. President, God knows the best. I am happy. What I want are free and fair elections. “I am happy that Mr. President directed INEC to ensure that voters’ cards are distributed to every eligible member of the electorate,’’ he said. He urged INEC to ensure distribution of voter cards, saying that Lagos had more than six million eligible voters. The monarch urged that security agents should not be unfairly used against any citizen during the general elections. According to him, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode, are his children. He said he had presented Mr. Ambode’s candidature for God’s blessing at the 2014 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, but noted that God would always have the final say. The Oba was confident that Nigeria would be more united after the elections. Oba Akiolu accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of not treating Lagos well during his administration and leaving many problems unsolved in the country. Jonathan, who was accompanied by Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP chair Adamu Mu’azu and other leaders, visited the Oba before their campaign. Jonathan said his administration had revived rail transport system, improved road network, created jobs and implemented policies aimed at economic advancement, among other achievements.

David-West hails APC’s campaign From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

FORMER Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, believes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “is in trouble” given the huge success of the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital last Tuesday. David-West said the PDP underestimated the APC by believing that it would break up due to personal ambitions of its leaders. He added that the “PDP’s woes” were compounded by lack of good advisers and strategies as well as over-reliance on the power of money. The former minister explained that the crowd that attended the Port-Harcourt campaign, in a state bordering Jonathan’s state, and in a state capital, where Dame Patience Jonathan hails from, confirmed how unpopular Jonathan and the PDP have become. David-West added that the zeal for change among Nigerians was becoming widespread, stressing that the APC would win next month’s election. He said: “PDP is in great trouble because the party’s leaders never expected the great support for the APC and Buhari. Dr. Doyin Okupe had insisted that APC would break up, but this huge success is what is starring them in the face now. “They also do not have good advisers and neither do they have good strategies as politicians. They do not do research before they talk. They lie a lot, destroying themselves before Nigerians. “They are also in big trouble because they rely so much on money which they have a lot. But Nigerians are looking for those who can bring positive changes to the country. APC will win in grand style. The more PDP pulls it back, the more it shoots itself in the foot.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS Daniel accuses Amosun of abandoning Ikenne From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ORMER Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has accused his successor, Ibikunle Amosun, of neglecting Ikenne, the hometown of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Daniel said there was no visible government presence in Ikenne and the rest of Remo in the past three and a half years of the Amosun - led administration. The ex –governor, who spoke at the the campaign for the candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for Remo Federal Constituency, Ladi Adebutu, at the Ikenne Motor Park, lamented that the poor state of the road linking Ikenne to Sagamu, which was started by him, has been abandoned by Amosun. Daniel said:”We started the dualisation of the road linking Sagamu to Ikenne to open up the area for industrialisation but our successor chose not to complete the project. This has greatly affected the development of the ancient town of our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. “I challenge Governor Ibikunle Amosun to name any project he embarked on or mention the number of people employed from this area since he assumed office. The model school he promised to build at Ikenne is still a pipe dream with only five months to the end of his administration.” According to him, the Agro Cargo Airport which his administration sited in Iperu, near Ikenne, was abandoned by the present administration. But Governor Amosun had during his tour of Ikenne Local Government late last year, promised to complete the Ikenne - Sagamu road and others around the area as soon as the state’s financial fortune improves.

Agbaje chided for statement

HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has come under fire for saying Nigeria’s economy will be shut down, if President Goodluck Jonathan loses next month’s election. President of the Odua Liberation Front Gbolahan Ajayi Olanihun, in a statement, said going by his statement Agbaje lacks the temperament and the capacity to govern Lagos, a microcosm of Nigeria. Agbaje, in a speech in London, warned that “if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to win next month’s election, the Southsouth could shut down the oil sector and this would affect the nation’s economy which is oil-de-

pendent”. “We take exception to this comment by a so-called democrat who is aspiring to lead a complex and advance state such as Lagos,” Olanihun said. He added: “We want to state categorically that democracy is about freedom of choice. If Nigerians choose not to re-elect Goodluck Jonathan so be it. “There is no justification whatsoever for any group to threaten the nation. Jimi Agbaje should know better. This has revealed the true character of the man who is asking Lagosians to entrust their destiny to his hands. Nigerians should vote their choice in the coming elections. The good people of Lagos should shine their eyes.”

700 council workers face sack in Ekiti, says APC T HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has condemned what it called “the gale of termination of appointments of workers” by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration. The party accused Governor Ayo Fayose of deceiving civil servants that he is their friend. The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, claimed that not less than 700 local government workers have been pencilled down for sack. The statement titled: “Sack of Ekiti Workers, Beginning of Stomach Infrastructure ‘Dividend’”, said Ekiti workers have now realised that they are in for hard times under the PDP government that promised so much but has delivered little. It said the sack of 180 civil servants and permanent secretaries “was an evidence of the definition of stomach infrastructure espoused by Fayose’s deceptive administration to dehumanise and celebrate poverty in Ekiti State.” The opposition party also berated the leader of the PDP faction in the House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi’s role in the workers’ dismissal.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Olatunbosun said the affected workers were duly employed by the House of Assembly Service Commission last April with their conditions of service stated. He wondered how such workers could be summarily sacked immediately after the New Year’s interdenominational service without following Civil Service rules. The APC spokesman said Olugbemi did not have any powers to sack employees of the House of Assembly Service Commission, even if he were to be the authentic Speaker. Olatunbosun said: “How can someone with genuine love of his people behave in a manner suggestive that he is an enemy of the people he professes to love? “Fayose had, in a similar manner, reversed the appointments of eight permanent secretaries appointed by former Governor Kayode Fayemi while he also sacked another

seven perceived as loyal to the former governor. “He had similarly annulled the promotion of about 5,000 civil servants barely three weeks after assuming office. “Eight hundred peace corps members and over 300 staff of the State Traffic Management Agency were sacked. He stopped the N10, 000 monthly allowance to about 5,000 unemployed youths working as volunteers. “The man who said he is a friend of the vulnerable has also stopped the social security scheme where 20,000 Ekiti elders were paid N5,000 monthly to keep body and soul together. “To replace this life-lifting scheme, Fayose chose a seasonal stomach infrastructure scheme that features a handful of Ekiti people queuing up in the scorching sun for two congos of rice, a quarter of a litre of palm oil and a pigeon-sized fowl for Christmas. “He deceived Ekiti people that he won’t live in the new Government House because he can’t be living in a well-lit lodge while the rest Ekiti people live

in the dark whereas he and his wife live in the edifice with 24hour electricity supply while the state is in darkness.” Olatunbosun claimed that the governor, instead of empowering Ekiti contractors and artisans as he promised during his campaigns, all the contracts awarded so far were given to foreigners and his brothers. But the PDP State Secretary, Tope Aluko, said the workers’ appointment did not undergo due process. Aluko accused the opposition of mischief when it knew full well that its (APC) administration engaged the sacked employees “who were without any appointment letters” only to deceive the people in a bid to score political goals. “It is unfortunate that the APC, in its shallow mentality, could think that such mysterious employment and appointment could stand in a rational society such as ours in Ekiti State. “It is only an irresponsible government that will abandon its unemployed youths for three years before giving out jobs without employment letters or follow any known due process in the employment of people into the Ekiti State public service.”

Group campaigns for APC in Ondo From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

GROUP in Ondo State, Change Network Initiative (CNI), yesterday began a campaign to sensitise the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). The group, comprising APC aspirants who lost during the last primaries, was seen at the main market in Akure, campaigning to traders. The State Coordinator, Austin Palemo, said they adopted the door-to-door campaign because of the voting strength of the people. He said there was need for people in the grassroots to be enlightened on why they must not allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rule the nation for another four years. Palemo said: “I do not see any reason, why a party which had ruled for 16 years and failed should be given another four years. “Since 2003, PDP has been demanding that we give it another chance. What chance does it need after it has ruled for 16 years without anything to show for it? “Does it want us to continue living in poverty, wining and dining with corruption, being killed everyday, no jobs and bad image for the country?”

Akinjide to set up committee for Jonathan From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, has proposed to set up a committee in Oyo State to campaign for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. It was gathered that the five-person committee would include a woman from each of the three senatorial zones. The committee would be responsible for sensitising and mobilising voters for the President. The minister has also begun consulting with traditional rulers and other stake holders. A party chieftain, Fatai Shittu Oyalu, said the committee would visit other West African countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin Republic and others, where many Yoruba live.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left) condoling with Chief Alani Bankole (right) and his son, Owolabi, on the demise of Chief Bankole’s wife, Adunni, in Abeokuta...yesterday

Osun tribunal: Accord withdraws petition

HE Osun State Election Petition Tribunal has slammed a cost of N150,000 on the Accord Party’s governorship candidate, Niyi Owolade, for withdrawing his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime lashed the petitioner and his counsel for saying they withdrew the petition because the panel would not be able to conclude its hearing within 180 days. At the sitting of the tribunal yesterday, Owolade’s counsel Jacobs Adedayo, moved a motion dated January 8, to withdraw the petition on the grounds that the panel would not be able to conclude the hearing within 180 days stipulated by the Electoral Act. But Aregbesola’s counsel Wale Afolabi said he would not object to the application but requested for a cost of N5 million to cater for the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

expenses incurred by his client. According to him, since the beginning of the petition, the petitioner had not diligently prosecuted it, saying he had always asked for adjournments. Afolabi also recalled that the petitioner earlier wrote to the president, Court of Appeal to constitute another tribunal only to withdraw the letter, urging the tribunal to award the cost against him. The All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, Ajibola Basiru, did not oppose the application but argued that the grounds of the application were speculative, hypothetical, and calculated to scandalise the judicial process of the tribunal. He told the tribunal that the affidavit in support of

the motion deposed to by Owolade was contemptuous of the court and enough to effect a disciplinary action. Describing the petition as hopeless, Ajibola said: “The idea of this motion by the petition is just to give a decent burial to a hopeless petition.” He requested a cost of N10 million to be awarded against the petitioner. The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Ayotunde Ogunleye, described the petition as the highest form of abuse of court process. He asked for a cost of N25 million against the petitioner. He recalled that the petitioner earlier applied for a subpoena to produce some election materials. After human and material resources were deployed from all the local governments to produce the documents, the petitioner with-

drew the petition. Adedayo conceded that the tribunal should award a cost but argued that the requests of the respondents were too outrageous, suggesting N5,000 cost against him in favour of each of the respondents. When the tribunal judges took him up and frowned at an attempt to undermine the panel, the petitioner’s counsel apologised. Justice Ikpejime said the petitioner was trying to blame the tribunal for his error, instead of admitting that he has failed to diligently prosecute the petition. The chairman, who described the apology of the petitioner counsel as belated, said the tribunal has accepted the apology. She dismissed the petition and slammed a cost of N50,000 on him to be paid to each of the three respondents.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Lagos alerts residents to harmattan hazards

126 traffickers jailed in 2014, says NDLEA T

HE Federal High Court in Lagos convicted no fewer than 126 persons for drug trafficking last year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday. Briefing reporters in Lagos, the state’s Commander of NDLEA, Mr Aliyu Sule, said the convicts comprised 117 men and nine women who bagged between one-day and 15-year jail terms. Justice Musa Kurya sentenced an expectant mother, Kudirat Bello, to oneday imprisonment for pos-

•NDLEA uncovers drug factory By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

sessing 33.3 kilogrammes of cannabis. Obinna Okeke (38), got 15 years with hard labour from Justice M. D. Idris for possessing three kilogrammes of cannabis. 118 cases were pending as at December 31, Sule said. Lanre Salami, who was arrested at Oshodi, was sentenced to10-year imprisonment for unlawful dealing in 400 grammes of cannabis. Salisu Usman (42) was arrested at Iddo Motor Park on his way to his Zamfara

Council boss swears in Advisory Board

XECUTIVE Secretary of Igando/ Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State Hon Wale Azeez has sworn-in members of his Caretaker Committee otherwise known as Advisory Board. Azeez was among the 57 Executive Secretaries sworn-in by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Monday to head the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The swearing in of the Advisory Board took place at the council secretariat, Ikotun. Azeez, the immediate past Secretary to the council, urged the board members to ensure that the people get the dividends of democracy.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

“We have been called to serve, hence we must not disappoint our leaders who deemed it fit to put us into these positions,” he said. He thanked the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership for their appointments assuring that he and his team will not disappoint the people. Those sworn-in include Femi Abolarinwa; Lukman Shodimu; Olatunji Sulaiman and Afariogun Wasiu. The event was witnessed by party leaders, monarchs including Onigando of Igando Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi; Onikotun of Ikotun Oba Afeez Asiwaju and the immediate past council chairman, Morenike Adeshina-Williams.

home with 47 kilogrammes of diazepam. He bagged five-year jail with hard labour. Sule said over two metric tons of illicit drugs were intercepted and an illegal factory used for the production of methamphetamine shut down. He said: “The Lagos State Command seized a total of 2,056.949 kilogrammes and apprehended 434 suspected drug traffickers. The suspects included 413 males and 21 females. Apart from those prosecuted, others found to be addicted were counselled. In addition, a clandestine laboratory used for the manufacture of methamphetamine was discovered and shut down in 2014. “Those arrested include a 53-year-old suspected drug

•Giade

kingpin. The suspect, a businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Best Fellows Nigeria Limited, Charles Okos Chijioke, of Canal Avenue Estate, Okota, Lagos, was arrested in connection with the clandestine laboratory.” Chijioke was allegedly producing methamphetamine on Lateef Adegboyega Street, Ago Palace Way, Lagos. Items recovered from the laboratory include 7.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; nine drums of Toluene; a Toyota 4-Runner Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV); a Toyota Hiace bus and a Pressure Pot.

Container falls on shops

2.9 foot container laden fell yesterday on Ajisegiri Street near, Ladipo bus stop on, Agege Motor Road in Lagos, destroying shops. The container was on a trailer with number-plate KTU 462XF. The incident caused pandemonium in the neighbourhood as residents and shop owners ran for safety. No life was lost. The driver was said to have disappeared, but an eyewitness, who simply gave her name as Blessing, said the driver was trying to

By Medinat Kanabe

avoid falling on a car when the container fell on the shops. Blessing, who sells sausage and drinks at the bus stop, said in pidgin language: “I dey hear accident … accident; I no know say na like this e dey happen. We dey here when the trailer dey try to dodge the car, but the driver no fit control am. So, e fall for landlady and mama Amaka shops.” Those on at the scene blamed the accident on a parked Honda car marked MUS 169 DD.

HE harmattan haze will linger, the Lagos State Government said yesterday, urging residents to take precautionary measures. Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello said the ministry’s weather forecast indicated that the maximum temperature expected all through the week is 31oC, with a minimum of 25oC. The weather, he said, would be hazy, adding that dusty warm days would be experienced early in the morning, followed by fog in the evening. He advised motorists and other road users to be cautious as visibility will be impaired. Bello urged them to reduce their speed and observe road signs to prevent accidents, adding: “As our environment becomes dusty and hazy, we urge residents to also observe basic health and environmental precautionary measures, such as regular hand washing with soap and water as the weather may cause catarrh, pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory illnesses during this period.” He warned Lagosians to avoid bush and waste burn-

ied. Scientists are still battling to identify the remaining 11. The SouthAfrica- based Stellenbosch Laboratory, which was appointed by the Federal Government to analyse the DNA samples of more than 100 victims, said some remains have not been identified because of poor quality of the samples. Chief Executive Officer of Unistel Medical Laboratories

ing to avoid fire outbreak. Residents should ensure that drains around their homes are well cleaned and maintained to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes (malaria-causing parasite), he added. He also warned residents who still patronise cart pushers to desist as it is inimical to the government’s waste management policy. “Our resolve is environmental sustainability and a healthier citizenry; we must join hands in order to attain this goal.

•Bello

NGO empowers 50 women annually

HE Funke Felix- Adejumo Foundation, (FFAF) a non-governmental organisation, has said it empowers about 50 women annually to reduce the challenges confronting women in the society. The foundation’s President, Mrs. Funke Felix-Adejumo said this at a briefing to herald the fourth edition of its ‘Women on the Winning Edge’ Summit.

Seven South African families still await victims’ remains T

HE bodies of seven of the 116 people who died in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse four months ago, have not been recovered by their families. Experts said yesterday that efforts to identify the remains have been hamperred by poor quality of the samples. Seventy-four bodies of the 85 South African victims have been identified and bur-

By Basirat Braimah

Dr Munro Marx, said the firm has requested for repeat samples to help identify the rest of the victims. “The matching of family members was also very difficult. Firstly because you are starting with just numbers say 300 family members - to be tested against 100 and to see which one matches where. That is the problem,” he said.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

She said funds are provided by the foundation to the beneficiaries, who are mainly widows and single parents. Mrs. Felix-Adejumo, said the conference, scheduled to hold from January 16 to 18, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), would focus on issues that will help women realise their potentials. She said 16 speakers, including the wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Emmanuella Fashola, would address women at the conference. According to her, “Mothers summit was born out of a burden to help mothers achieve the best in their role of child rearing and to ensure that children who are the heritage of God are nurtured and nourished in the light of God’s word, so that they may be a blessing to their family and the nation at large.” She said the conference is a non-denominational gathering that brings women together to share real life issues.

•Hon. Omoyele Sulaimon, former Chairman, Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA); Mr. Kolade Alabi, new Executive Secretary of the LCDA and Alhaji Denge Anifowose, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area, during the inauguration of members of the council’s transition committee.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

BUSINESS

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.

THE NATION

- Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Rueben Okeke

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NATCOM pays 30% bid price for NITEL, MTel N

ATCOM Consortium, the preferred bidder for Nigeria, Telecommunications (NITEL) and Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (MTEL), has paid $75,756,300 (N12, 727,058,400)—being 30 per cent of the $252,521,000 bid price for the acquisition of both firms. The payment followed the letter it got from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), mandating it to make an initial deposit of 30 per cent of the bid price not later than 14 days. BPE’s Head, Public Communications Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, in a statement yesterday, said: “With the payment of the 30 per cent, NATCOM is expected to pay

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the balance of 70 per cent of the bid price within 90 days. It is therefore imperative to inform creditors that disbursements to them will be considered only after full payment has been received.” The statement recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), at its meeting of February 27, 2012, approved the privatisation of NITEL and MTEL through “guided liquidation”. The strategy, BPE said, was adopted by the NCP after due consideration of other options and the failure of previous attempts to privatise NITEL and MTEL through Strategic Core Investor Sale

and Negotiated Sale strategies. “Under the guided liquidation strategy, all the core assets and business undertaking of NITEL and MTEL were to be sold as a single or multiple lots to a qualified bidder by the Liquidator under the general guidance of the NCP. “Thus, the bidder that acquires the assets of NITEL and MTEL will pledge to continue to operate the assets to provide telecoms services. This is as against the traditional liquidation of an enterprise by asset stripping. “Consequently, advertisements for submission of Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from prospective bidders for the acquisition of the assets

and business undertaking of NITEL and MTEL were placed in both local and international print media by the Liquidator. At the closing date on June 30, 2014, 17, organisations/consortium submitted EoIs; and only two satisfactorily met the stipulated criteria for pre-qualification. “On September 18, 2014, the two successful applicants, NATCOM Consortium and NETTAG Consortium, that met the minimum pass mark of 75 per cent were prequalified and issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) and allowed to proceed to data room and physical due diligence stage prior to preparation and submission of their technical and finan-

cial proposals. “The deadline for submission of technical and financial bids was Friday, November 7, 2014. The two prequalified bidders, NATCOM Consortium and NETTAG Consortium, submitted their technical and financial bids before the expiry of the deadline. The technical bids received from the two bidders were evaluated. “Unfortunately, one of the two pre-qualified bidders, NETTAG Consortium,was disqualified for failure to enclose a bid bond as clearly stipulated in the RFP. “Following the disqualification of NETTAG Consortium, only the financial bid of NATCOM Consor-

tium qualified for opening on December 3, 2014; having scored an average of 92 per cent in its technical proposal, which was above the minimum pass mark of 75 per cent, and satisfied the requirement of a valid bid bond. “Accordingly, the financial proposal of NATCOM Consortium was publicly opened on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, which it won with a bid price of $252.25million. Consequently, the Chairman of the Consortium, Dr. Olatunde Ayeni, on Monday, December 22, 2014 in Abuja, signed the Assets Sale Agreement and was given the Offer Letter by the BPE.”

Customs misses N1.2tr revenue target

• From left: Adeola Adetunji, MD, Coca Cola Nigeria; Segun Ogunsanya CEO & MD, Airtel Nigeria and Sunil Sawhney, MD, Seven Up Bottling Co Plc at the premiere of Airtel Touching Lives in Lagos.

Why trade among African countries is low, by experts F ORMER Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, Dr Jim O’Neill, has urged African countries to “act as a continent” and end cross–border conflicts to boost bilateral trade. O’Neill, who is the creator of the terms ‘BRICS’ and ‘MINTs’ and also a member, Global Advisory Board, Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Africapitalism Institute’s Inaugural Global Advisory Board, spoke in Abuja at a panel Discussion/ Meeting to Discuss Local Value Creation in Africa. He told African countries to stop “fighting each other and start trading with one another”, stressing that with a population of 1.1 billion people in the continent, there was great opportunity for

• BoI votes N19.8b for MSMEs

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor) and Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

trade. To African political and business leaders, O’Neill admonished them to “do simple things because Africa has not behaved as a continent and should try to do things seriously with one another.” Founder of the Africapitalism Institute’s Inaugural Global Advisory Board Meeting, Mr. Tony Elumelu lamented that inadequate finished or manu-

factured products were the major reasons for the low level of trade among African nations. Elumelu lamented that African countries neither have nor produce enough goods and services to drive inter-Africa trade. He said: “Africa cannot move forward by leaving 50 per cent of its population behind. It is not enough for African countries to produce only raw materials that are shipped to Europe and America to be converted to finished consumer

goods that are eventually imported to Africa. We can only trade with what we have.” He told the audience that he brought $100 million to help young African entrepreneurs with $10,000 each as venture capital to finance creative business ideas to boost trade among African counties and help create employment. Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, who represented the Federal Government at the panel discussion, stated that the bank intends to spend N19.8billion to fund Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in states across the federation.

APC, PDP defer over more refineries

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disagreed over construction of new refineries. The APC said it would establish modern refineries, demanding the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) unveiled in 2009 to tame corruption in the Nigeria National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC). It said for the country to ex-

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

perience new revolution in the oil and gas sector, it must be “unbundled”, adding that the party would establish more refineries for Nigerians’ benefit. But the PDP insisted that building more refineries was not on its agenda if re-elected. The APC was represented by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Dr. Catchy Onanoju stood for

PDP. They spoke during the second edition of the Nigeria Political Parties Discussion (NPPD) series organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in Abuja. Mohammed said: “Anybody that listens to what I read in that manifesto showed that we were going to develop the oil sector capacity and that we will establish modern oil refineries to in-

crease the flow of oil and gas. “We also said we are going to create favourable policy guidelines so that we can take advantage of the petro chemicals and other output.” But Onanoju said: “The private sector should be in charge. That is why we are trying to get government out of it. Where will you build refineries if government want to build? No. Allow the industry to build where the resources are so that the cost can reduce.”

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) raked in about N977.09 billion revenues last year. This is N223billion lower than its set target of N1.2 trillion for the year. NCS’ monthly revenue figure obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja showed that the revenue came from import and excise duties, levies and other fees. It was reported that the revenue figure showed an increase of N143.79 billion over the N833.4 billion NCS collected in 2013, representing about 15 per cent increment in collection. The breakdown of the figure showed that N586.91 billion out of the amount collected was remitted to the Federation Account while N390.18billion was remitted to non-federation account during the year. A further breakdown showed that N511.55 billion was collect from import (cash); N8.59 billion from import duty (NDCC), while N39.76 was collected from fees. The revenue report showed that N203.37 billion was collected from levies; N186.80 billion from Value

Added Tax (VAT) and the Common External Tariff (CET) levy accounted for N24.61 billion. A quarterly breakdown showed that N197.82 billion was collected in first quarter; N265.81billion in second quarter, while N249.29 billion and N264.05 billion were collected in third and fourth quarters respectively. The comparison of the quarterly collection during the year revealed that the second quarter accounted for highest, while the first quarter recorded the lowest collection for the year.The Deputy ComptrollerGeneral,Trade and Tariff, Mr Adewuyi Akinade, had explained that the improvement in the collection was due to the service’s resilience in blocking leakages. He also said the system audit of the service had helped to enhance compliance by traders and blocked the potential areas of revenue leakages. He added that the service carried out capacity building of its officers who had been adequately trained, to understand classification and evaluation of goods to enable them to collect appropriate duty.

Osun, Ogun laud Airtel for Touching Lives initiative OSUN State Deputy Governor, Otunba Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and Ogun State First Lady Mrs Olufunso Amosun, have applauded Airtel Nigeria, for initiating the Touching Lives project to empower the less privileged. Otunba Laoye-Tomori and Mrs.Amosun, who were among dignitaries at the premiere of the Touching Lives TV series in Lagos, noted that Airtel remains exemplary in its efforts to assist the underprivileged, communities and groups. Delivering a goodwill message, Mrs Amosun described the programme as laudable, adding that it has positive impact on the lives of the handicapped. She praised Airtel’s

commitment towards alleviating the suffering of Nigerians. The First Lady noted that Airtel has over the years supported her orphanage. She said: “You do not need to have a lot before you can touch the lives of others. If we all can assist the next person in our community, it will go a long way. Airtel has demonstrated kindness, care and love through Touching Lives and we can all learn to share from the little we have in order to bring smile to the faces of others.” Otunba Laoye-Tomori said: “This is a powerful and touching programme.Airtel has demonstrated its commitment to give hope to the needy in Nigeria. It is a big venture that is highly commendable.’’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

AGRICBUSINESS

‘Fast-track title deeds issuance to aid agric growth’

HE Federal Government has been urged to hasten the process of issuing of title deeds and formulate regulations to promote agricultural investments and economic growth. The Director, Africa Region, Cassava Adding Value to Africa, Prof Kola Adebayo, said there was need to restore sanity within the system to activate agro business growth. He said delays in the issuance of titles led to loss of business opportunities for citizens and private sector players. According to him, mega food processing investment projects, within the sector need to be guided by investment regulations, adding that delays in issuance of

Stories by Daniel Essiet

land title deeds result in delays in the execution of such projects. He said land owners of large companies and farms suffer a lot owing to the incessant disputes between such organisations and the communities, urging the government to step into the situation in the interest of agriculture. He stressed that land is the chief, primary input in all agricultural production. With the demands the population is placing on land resources, the expert said there is need for the government to think about the most effective ways to organise land ownership and use to boost food security. When land users feel secure that

How to improve livestock production, by expert

OW can Nigeria improve livestock produc-

tion? It is by increasing its seed stock, building larger capacity slaughterhouses and launching information systems for animal identification and traceability, an expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo has said. Adeyemo, Deputy Director, Directorate of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), stressed the need to increase the seed stock of commercial cattle which could be distributed to livestock farmers. He explained that farmers were not making much because of the low proportion of pedigree animals, the low productivity of its commercial cattle, small number of dedicated feedlots, and the lack of technical regulations for livestock to meet world standards. Cattle slaughter rate, he said, is increasing, but the number of standard slaughter houses are small to take care of increasing population. According to him, existing slaughter houses should be made to operates under international health and safety

standards. He said operators should be encouraged to use modern technology, that could led to higher-value product for customers. With increased demand for beef, he said the cattle population has declined as farmers are selling more beef than is required to maintain or grow the population. He called on the government to create favourable conditions for farm business, where raising cattle on a farm would be more beneficial than selling them, “and to import cattle population from other countries to achieve an increase in seedstock in the country.” Also, he said the nation could experience beef deficiency, as a result of the insecurity in the North, urging the government to raise to the challenge by creating the conditions necessary for the development of the cattle sector, which included low-cost feed production, high genetic potential and the availability of marketing outlets. In terms of genetic potential,he said the sector needs to develop premium cattle, which is key to the competitiveness and profitability of the sector.

their land will belong to them as long as they wish to keep it, that it will not be arbitrarily seized by other land-using groups, or forced out of agricultural use by encroaching development, then, they more likely to invest in the longterm development . For the government ‘s agricultural expansion dream to become a reality,he emphasised that smallholders’ rights to own and transfer land must be secured so that they can either be officially incorporated into agricultural development schemes . He blamed the emergence of the cartels on past poor regulation and lack of awareness by the farmers. Adebayo said the need to ensure the interests of the farmers are

well protected against exploitation by middlemen and brokers as trade malpractices, have led to price distortion and market segmentation thus barring entry of new players who are ready to offer prices. He said the majority of the cartel groups are to blame for the rampant smuggling of the commodities across the borders, leading to loss of billions of money to the government and farmers. Also, in some industries the cartel groups are cheating farmers to enter into dubious contracts a few months after planting and before harvesting. Through the suspicious contracts, he said growers were cheated to dispose of their produce. The farmers, he added, were

forced to grow the crops on behalf of the traders and after harvest, the grower had nothing to celebrate. This, according to him, has denied the growers full ownership of the crop and equally limit his chances of earning more from produce, thus leading to grinding poverty and under development. The cartels, he noted, trigger artificial shortage of commodities in the local market so that they can exploit farmers through inflated prices and force government and other value chain players to import. He called on the government to improve the distribution and storage structure and to set up marketing boards to assist farmers buy up their produce.

Fed Govt plans strategies to boost agric

HE Federal Government may unveil some strategies to boost agriculture this year, it has been learnt. A source told The Nation that the government would improve funding to agriculture to enhance productivity, market linkages and access to e-extension technology. According to the source, there are plans to improve the private sector distribution of seeds and fertiliser, expand irrigation farming, and introduce crop and livestock insurance policies. The mechanisation policy under the agricultural transformation agenda, which began last year with Zamfara State, is expected to extend to more states this year. It will provide subsidised services to poor farmers to cultivate more land and produce more food. The move, the source maintained, is necessary to stimulate investments in agricultural transforma-

tion and food security and strengthen the country’s ability to achieve sustainable production following the falling oil price. The source expressed the concern of the government about high cost of production in agriculture sector, that the needs to be reduced, erratic rains, a rapidly expanding population to feed, low commodity prices, competition from other sectors, unethical trade practices and poor management, ensuring that these bottlenecks would be addressed and growth attained as an all-inclusive approach will be employed in the year to fully exploit the sector’s potential and maximise farmers’ earnings. Despite the setbacks faced last year, the source disclosed, the sector still recorded growth, food price stability resulting from increase in the quantum of food produced, adding that this year’s key

tactic would be to ensure farmers spend less to produce more. This, he said, would be driven through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework and continued efforts at working with the state governments to confront the challenges facing farmers. The implementation of Staple Crops Processing Zones will create more farm jobs, attract more rural infrastructure and ensure easier aggregation of farm produce at less cost per unit. Focusing on youth, government will build on the launch of Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) to reach more educated youth within the set target of 740,000 to 750,000 all across the country, to entrench the transformation of the sector by supporting the youth to establish and run viable agribusiness enterprises that will add significantly to food production in Nigeria.

‘Why Nigeria cassava chips are cheap’

HINESE importers are pricing Nigerian cassava chips cheap because of the cassav’s low grade, Director-General, African Centre for Supply Chain Obiora Madu has said The price is impeding the execution of the cassava chip export contract between Nigeria and China. The Chinese, it was learnt, are offering Nigerian exporters $250 per tonne instead of $400 it goes for in Europe and $350 in Israel. At that price, Madu said the business would not be viable considering the cost of logistics, including shipping the product to China. He said the high cost of internal logistics (transportation), high cost of shipping, hurdles in

documentations with Customs and all does not make the business profitable. According to stakeholders the cassava farmer, spend on the average N200, 000 per hectare from clearing to harvesting of cassava. The situation right now is worsened by the activities of middlemen, cassava merchants, who buy from the farmers at a cheap rate and sell to processors at a high rate pinning the cost differential on high transportation cost from the farms to the factories. Since the international commodity market price of cassava chips is fixed,Madu said it is uncompetitive for Nigerian processors with competitors in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil etc who are able to produce it more cheaply.

• From left: Cassava mechanisation expert from Brazil, Marcos Develdove; Dr. Oyebola Oyebanji, Mr Felix Kehis, Delta State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Dr. Martin Fregene, Senior Technical Assistant to Minister and Tony Egba, consultant on cassava farming, during the training the trainer workshop on cassava farming mechanisation by the ministry in Abraka, Delta State

Farmers not reaping from falling oil price, says don

HE fall in oil prices has not benefited farmers, a don has said. Prof Ini Akpabio, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, (UNIUYO), blamed this on high cost of production and middle-men. Akpabio said farmers were still suffering from high cost of transportation, which should have reduced if there was a reduction in fuel price. In most of the farming areas, many small holders unaware of the falling crude oil price and those who are informed are at the mercy of agents that dominate the system. According to him, if fuel prices are falling, then it is possible farmers will see their cost of production reduce.

The plight of farmers, he noted, is replicated across the nation, since the economy relies on small farmers for 80 per cent of its food. According to him, the oil’s dramatic decline has not been offset by currency weakness as farmers cannot acquire farming machinery and could cause foreign investors to retreat from the sector because of fear of poor return on investment. Also, while the price of agro export commodities, such as cocoa prices, had jumped by as much as 20 percent since October, stakeholder said cocoa farmers were not benefitting as most exporters are holding forward contracts entered into when a dollar exchanged for N160. Nigeria is the fourth largest producer of

cocoa in the world, after Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia. Stakeholders said Nigeria is merely producing and exporting cocoa raw beans, without paying adequate attention to processing of cocoa to produce chocolates. For this reason, the exporters receive three to six per cent of the final consumer price for a bar of chocolate. The Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said Nigeria should be processing chocolate instead of exporting it as raw beans. This requires investments in chocolate manufacturing companies and transforming the Export Enhancement Grant (EEG) to value addition.

FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is critical to the success of the general elections. But, criticisms have continued to trail its shoddy distribution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The general feeling among Nigerians is that the exercise has been bungled by the commission. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the implications of the flawed process for the polls.

Furore over INEC’s PVC distribution U

NLIKE previous elections, Nigerians appear to be enthusias tic this time around about collecting their Permanent Voter Card (PVC), to enable them to discharge their civic responsibilities during the general elections. But, their enthusiasms seem to have been dampened by the hiccups associated with the collection of the cards from the points where they did their registrations within their localities and later at INEC’s local government offices. The exercise involved voters cross-checking their names in the displayed Voters’ Register and collecting permanent voters cards in exchange for the old ones.

Confusion trails distribution There is confusion about the distribution of the cards and this is creating doubts about the preparedness of the commission to conduct free and fair elections. Some of the aggrieved eligible voters have expressed disgust over the shoddy manner the distribution is being carried out, saying they have done everything possible, but have not been able to get their cards. A legal practitioner and a resident of Surulere, Lagos, Mr. Tekema Wakama, said it is sad that he and many of his neigbhours would not be able to vote due to no fault of theirs. Wakama said although he had complied with directives, by registering again at Surulere Local Government, he has not been able to get his PVC. He added: “When they said the PVCs are out, Surulere’s own didn’t come out. It’s among the local government areas in Lagos State that was delayed. We have challenges here, but I pray that INEC should be able to do what is right, so that people would be able to vote for candidates of their choice.” Similarly, an automobile mechanic Malik Ogunde complained about not being able to obtain his PVC, saying INEC did not organize the distribution of the cards well. But, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, does not agree that INEC has not done a good job. He said heaps of uncollected cards have been deposited at the commission’s local government offices and that there is no reason why anybody should not be able to collect his or her PVC. He noted that the collection of PVCs continues till the end of January and that everyone should be able to collect their cards. Idowu who spoke with The Nation via telephone on Tuesday said the commission placed the December 31, 2014 deadline on continues registration because it is publishing the voters’ register, as required by law, on January 13. He said: “Yes, the three days initially allotted for collection of the cards was short, but since then, collection of PVCs has been ongoing since the collection exercise was flagged off in phases across the country. We have been calling on the public to make use of the opportunity by going to their local governments to collect their cards; the cards are there. In Ekiti and Osun, where governorship elections were held last year, the implication is that collection of voters’ card has been ongoing in those states since March 2014. There is no reason why anybody should not collect his or her card.”

• People queue to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at INEC office, Karo in Abuja, recently.

Enthusiasm waning

Nevertheless, indications are that some eligible voters who felt disappointed because they could not collect their cards from the polling units when the distribution of the PVCs was flagged off have lost interest in the matter. For instance, Mr. Nwachukwu Okeleke, a security officer attached to one of the old generation banks, said there is no guarantee that other problems would not crop up when he decides to travel to Ifo town, his local government headquarters. Okeleke, who resides in Iju-Ajuwon, a border town in Ogun State, said all the persons who registered at his polling unit in Iju-Ajuwon could not collect their cards throughout the period the distribution lasted. He said: “I didn’t see INEC officials at the centre. I was not the only one. I live at Ajuwon and I went to the centre where I registered, but there was no INEC staff giving out cards to anybody. I trekked to other polling centres within the area, but nobody was giving PVC. I later learnt from neigbhours that the registration for the entire area was cancelled. It is terrible. It is true that INEC has asked us to visit our local government headquarters in Ifo, but there is no guarantee that other problems would not crop up when I get there.” Like Okeleke, many residents of IjuAjuwon who are required to do fresh registration do not see why they should leave their jobs and businesses and travel to Ifo to begin a fresh process of securing their voting cards. Many of those who went to Ifo after the end of the distribution exercise in their locality were not able to collect their cards. They were directed by INEC officials to come back at a later date. But, most of them never returned. Mrs. Joke Adebayo, a trader in Ajuwon,

is one of such persons. “How do you expect me to leave my business and go back to Ifo, when it is not guaranteed that I would get my PVC at the end of the day,” she said. Ifo is the headquarters of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State and it is one of the biggest local councils in the state. No less a personality than Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State had equally refused to go through another registration process, when he was confronted with an embarrassing situation, November 28, 2014, on getting to Ward G3 Unit E002 in Surulere, Lagos, where he and his wife Abimbola registered. The governor and his wife, as well as other Nigerians who registered at the polling unit, were informed that there were no cards for them because there was loss of data captured during the registration prior to the 2011 polls. The loss of the data was attributed to the crash of the commission’s computing system. A week later, INEC’s top officials, including the former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, visited the governor’s office to plead with him to rescind his decision because, as a leader, it may have serious implications on the polity. Fashola had argued that not having a disaster recovery system in a national assignment as important as the one it is handling amounted to irresponsibility on the part of INEC. The governor agreed and indeed asked Lagosians in similar situation to see it as a national duty to follow the process to the end.

Polling unit transfer cumbersome Other Nigerians who may not be able to vote because they could not collect their PVCs are those who have relocated from where they registered in 2011 to new abodes. For instance, an estimated 1.5 million Nigerians displaced

• Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) yet to be collected at INEC office in Karo, Abuja.

by the insurgency in the Northeast may not be able to vote in the forthcoming elections. It is not clear indeed whether elections will take place at all the states under emergency rule; in spite of assurances by the INEC that it is committed to organizing elections in all parts of the country. INEC spokesman Nick Dazzang was quoted as saying that the commission has started distributing permanent voting cards to displaced people, many of whom are living in camps. But, he added that discrepancies in the Electoral Act may not allow them to vote, unless this is “reconciled” before the general elections. The President of the Nigeria Voters’ Assembly, Mr. Mashood Erubami said INEC is not ready to entertain the idea of transferring from one place of registration to another and as such has been ignoring persons requesting for such transfer. He said this is because the measures put in place for such transfer is not as easy and simplistic as INEC officials are making people to

‘There is confusion about the distribution of the cards and this is creating doubts about the preparedness of the commission to conduct free and fair elections. Some of the aggrieved eligible voters have expressed disgust over the shoddy manner the distribution is being carried out’

believe.

Low awareness campaign

There seem to be a confusion as to where people can pick up their PVCs. As a result, the initial euphoria has given way to skepticism. There are reports of PVCs belonging to persons in one polling unit being located in other polling units. A Lagos resident Olusegun Adegoke who was also unable to collect his card during the exercise in the state scored INEC low in area of awareness campaign. “The information was not well circulated; the awareness was low. I did not hear about it at all. I was on my way to work when I saw a crowd. I decided to find out what was happening and discovered that a board had been put up with incomplete names,” he observed. Erubami agrees with Adegoke. He said INEC ought to have come up with stronger measures and adequate publicity in alliance with political parties and civil societies, to ensure that citizens were adequately mobilized for the distribution of the cards seamlessly. He added that the shoddy handling of the PVC production and distribution by INEC is a wrong signal about the commission’s readiness to conduct the forthcoming general •Continued on page 16

THE NATION FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

‘

Jega, to my own understanding, is not giving his workers the leverage to work, in the sense that he does not give them the remunerations or allowances they need to operate. Most times, he gives preferences to consultants

‘

Alhaji Dahiru Yabo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Commissioner in Sokoto State, spoke with Managing Editor, Northern Operations, YUSUF ALLI and SANNI ONOGU in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) about the post-primary crisis in the chapter and why the governorship candidate, Ambassador Abdallah Wali, may lose the election.

PDP can’t win Sokoto, says ex-commissioner W

HAT is the strength of the Sokoto State PDP, since Governor Aliyu Wamakko has left the party? You will only appreciate the strength of the PDP in the state, if you have the background of what has happened in the state politically. So ,what is the background? The background is that Wamakko as a person cannot claim to have any popularity in the state right from 2007 when he claimed to have won the election... Claimed to have won? Yes. He claimed to have won the election. I can tell you that Wamakko did not win the election, even in 2007, because at the time he joined the PDP, if the PDP did not have the capacity to win the election, he wouldn’t have joined it. He would have remained in his own party. But, because it was the PDP that had the capacity to win the elections, he accepted to join the party and even after joining the party he did not win the election. I was the Chief Returning Officer of the DPP at that time. Even, when they were doing the collation at the INEC, I was the person who protested after observing a lot of irregularities and rigging and the collation had to be suspended for it to be announced two-three hours later around 9.33pm, when there was nobody there, except his followers and journalists, and he was declared the winner. But, we thank God that a court of competent jurisdiction in Kaduna nullified that election because of irregularities and blatant procedural defects.Then, coupled with the antecedents of his stewardship, which is not in conformity with our moral grounds, Wamakko cannot claim to be popular in Sokoto. But, the problem is that he requires somebody who can give him the needed fight politically. Has the PDP gotten that person now? I don’t think so because the Sokoto State PDP has not gotten the right candidate to withstand the candidate of the All Progressives Congress. The PDP is now fielding the wrong candidate, in the person of Senator Abdallah Wali.

Why are you saying that Senator Abdallah Wali is a wrong candidate? Certainly, he is a wrong candidate because, if you remember, he was a candidate in 2003 and he lost the election woefully. He lost the election because he was not a good candidate. From that time till now, I don’t see any value he has added to his political career. He was a senator, Senate Leader under the Obasanjo Administration, yet, he could not win the election against Bafarawa. Yes, with the support of Muktari Shagari, as very powerful minister that time. How did Wali pick the ticket, instead of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Muktar Shagari? There was a repeat of technical mistake politically by the PDP. What happened in 2007 was the same scenario that is repeating itself today. The PDP had a very good candidate, but due to bad advice, they decided to shift, remove their candidate and put somebody, who is not their own, to become the candidate. But, thank God, those people who did that and who caused the problem have now come back to confess what they did and they did the confession individually and collectively. Recently, when Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman of the PDP BOT chaired a reconciliation meeting in Sokoto with about seven or eight members of his committee, people stood up there to apologise for what they did that time and the person who came second in that election in the person of Ahmed Gusau was among the people who worked against Muktari that time. In fact, he was given the mandate to coordinate the substitution of Muktari with Aliyu Wamakko. Today, he is one of the front runners to make sure that Muktari becomes the candidate. But unfortunately for the second time, the PDP drifted by allowing somebody who intruded into the party to take a bonus of 50 per cent of the structure of the party. Who is this intruder you are referring to… That is Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the former governor of Sokoto State, who was an ardent opponent of the PDP

• Yabo

from the beginning and who wouldn’t have joined the PDP, if not because he was being pursued by Governor Aliyu Wamakko. He was pursued out of the APC to the PDP because he had lost grip of the party and that is a party he had dominated for over a year, only for it to be taken away from him within the first one week or two. So, if he has capacity, if he is influential, if he is a professor of politics as he calls himself, why didn’t he do it in the APC? Why couldn’t he do it in the ANPP? Why couldn’t he do it in the ACN? Can anybody tell me, if he had ever won election in his ward, which is Bafarawa village, since 2007 till date. So, this is same person that came into the party and was given 50 per cent of the structure and that already gave him ans undue advantage over any other person on the promise that he is just going to midwife among these candidates and that he is not going to have any preferred and that he is hoping to treat them equally. And all the aspirants were loyal to him. They all paid allegiance to him and on the premise that he is going to be fair to everybody. Thank God that when the Anenih Reconciliation Committee came to Sokoto, in the presence of

everybody, I pointed it out, because I was privileged to speak for 15 minutes, and I was able to tell the committee the problems and the reasons why we are having a sort of misunderstanding in the party. One of the reasons I gave them was that Bafarawa, being a leader in the party, somebody who has been given the structure of the party and somebody who had promised to help in coordinating the party had already taken sides by sporting Abdallah Wali. I said this in the presence of Bafarawa, Abdallah Wali and other people present at the meeting. I told them that the indicators were that the person that was made the chairman of the party, that is, Ibrahim Maigoma, had already started playing the posters of Wali in from of his house showing that this is where Bafarawa is and nobody could dispute that. So, if that has happened, then, whatever was the outcome of the primaries should not surprise anybody. Personally I am not surprised. Do you see the PDP putting up a good fight and winning the elections? Of course, they will win, but not with the wrong candidate. Definitely, we cannot get anywhere with Wali. Wali cannot win his local government under the present dispensation because, don’t forget that Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is now the governorship candidate of the APC. Aminu is an inlaw to Wali. He is married to his younger sister. Aminu is from Tambuwal town, the headquarters of the local government. Wali is from Seyina. Even, the PDP congress we had ,his candidate could not win even within the PDP. So, when it comes to the general election, nobody in Sokoto can tell you that Wali can win against Aminu Waziri, even in Tambuwal Local Government. So, somebody as a gubernatorial candidate who cannot win an opposing candidate in your own local government then what is the guarantee that he can win anywhere. The reason is that Wali has no structure himself. He is relying on Bafarawa’s structure and Bafarawa, on his own merit, cannot win election in Sokoto. Bafarawa has already been

Controversy over INEC’s distribution of PVC activist noted that INEC’s idea of assigning a single staff to most of the collecting points falls short of what is required to handle the deluge of citizens turning up for the exercise.

Apathy justified

• Fashola •Continued from page 15

elections fairly. Since INEC has reiterated that any voter without the PVC will not be allowed to vote in the forthcoming general elections, Erubami said the implication is that millions of eligible voters who are yet to obtain the card would be disenfranchised. “As things are now, a lot of Nigerians will be disenfranchised, as it was in Ekiti and Osun states,” he said. The civil society

The Southeast Secretary-General of the human rights watchdog, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, believes the apathy being displayed by some Nigerians who are reluctant to go and collect their PVCs at local government offices of INEC is not out of place. His words: “They said people should go to INEC offices in their respective local councils, but when you get there it is another matter; you may not find anybody around to attend to you.” The human rights activist said in an ideal situation one could attribute what happened during the initial stage of the distribution of PVCs to logistic problems on the part of INEC. ‘But, as it is, nobody sees it that way, because of previous experiences,” he added. Chukwuokolo attributes the fear being raised in many quarters concerning this de-

velopment to the do-or-die attitude of Nigerian politicians. He said: “From what is playing out on the political scene, every group is trying to outmanoeuvre the other for unjustifiable reasons. In that sense, people feel that politicians are working on INEC, to achieve their own ends.” The Enugu-based Chukwuokolo is of the view that the Prof. Attahiru Jegaled INEC was given a free hand by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, compared to Prof Maurice Iwu under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also believes that INEC has improved considerably under Jega. He added however: “But Jega, to my own understanding, is not giving his workers the leverage to work, in the sense that he does not give them the remunerations or allowances they need to operate. Most times, he gives preferences to consultants, who are now more or less siphoning the money he should have used to take of his workers. Yet, after all said and done, the workers would still be the ones to execute the job. So, that leaves them at the mercy of politicians, who may induce the workers to do their own bidding.”

Allegation of connivance

After cataloging the problems that trailed the exercise across the states, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu expressed disappointment over the development, saying the situation might have been deliberately contrived by INEC to rig the elections in favour of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). He equally queried the eligibility of INEC to conduct a free and fair election going by the shoddy manner it conducted the distribution of PVCs to eligible voters. Tinubu said INEC had four good years to prepare for the coming general elections and there are laws, particularly constitutional and electoral act requiring certain actions to be taken. Similar tales of woe were echoed by frustrated Nigerians who were initially eager to get their cards across the country. But, Idowu believes the commission has addressed the initial problems encountered by Nigerians in their bid to secure the card. He said INEC has taken care of those who did not find their names in the register initially, with the continuous voter

intimidated by Wamakko. Wamakko seized the ANPP from him when he was a governor. For the second time, he has taken over the APC from him where he even put his own structure. So, what is that magic that he thinks he can perform now to win against Wamakko! Will the Sokoto PDP take the advantage of the extension of time granted by INEC for the submission of governorship candidates by political parties to make a change? One, after Wali was declared, there was a protest in Sokoto. The second ting is that Muktari Shagari was in Sokoto after the primaries because he came to Abuja and went back to Sokoto and the kind of reception he was given showed the direction of the people and their interest. The APC is happy that Wali was made the governorship candidate by the PDP and the simple reason is because they know he has no structure of his own. He relies on Bafarawa’s structure and, as far as as they are concerned, Bafarawa’s doesn’t have a structure of his own because, as a former governor of Sokoto State for eight years, among all the people that worked with him, both in terms of political appointments and party structure, he cannot count five prominent politicians. Let’s start with his deputy governor. He is not with him. His party chairman is not with him. Out of 14 of us that were his commissioners, only two are with him. Every other person has left him and the records are there. What was his performance in the ACN? What was his performance in the ANPP in the 2011 election? Why is it that he could not remain in APC? Even the person he nominated as a member of the national caretaker committee and that guy was his classmate, he was his very close friend and he was his political associate, Danmadami Isa has left and joined Wamakko. The three gubernatorial candidates that he anointed the one he anointed as a sitting governor under DPP who is Alhaji Maigari Dingiadi, who was his former SSG has joined Wamakko and this is the person who contested against Wamakko and who has been fighting Wamakko for seven years, but he has joined him.

registration (CVR). He added that the situation might have arisen because the fingerprints of such persons were probably not fully captured during the 2011 registration exercise. The CVR is primarily targeted at persons who turned 18 years since 2011. But, it also presents a fresh opportunity for those who were 18 years at the time yet did not present themselves for registration, as well as persons who were registered in 2011 and were issued the Temporary Voter Card (TVC), but who for whatever reason did not find their names on the register. The registration process includes collection of the applicant’s bio-data, facial portrait and fingerprints (all fingers). INEC had spent N34.4 billion on the procurement of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines which were deployed for the nationwide voter registration exercise in January 2011. After the registrations, Nigerians who participated were issued Temporary Voter Cards, which was used for the 2011 general elections. The PVC is an improvement on the temporary cards that were used in 2011 because it contains the biometric data of voters. This is to enable the cards to be read electronically with card readers that will be deployed for the forthcoming general election.

THE NATION FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

‘

My experience in the last 31 days after the primary election were held gave the impression that the National Chairman of the PDP did not even listen to himself when he was talking about justice. Who is he to talk about justice

‘ ‘

How Lamido resolved Fulani/farmers conflict in Jigawa

APC RALLIES

“The sad of Jigawa’s misfortune would finally come to an end. In line with our philosophy, we appear only when where there are challenges, but I must admit we are dumb-founded, more than shocked and astonished by the report, and of course we will take it as part of our dark history while putting up a mechanism to forestall all future occurances” — Sule Lamido

LASHES between pastoralists and farmers are worsening in many parts of the country due to disputes over grazing reserves and water sources but the present administration in Jigawa state under Sule Lamido is far ahead of all others in tackling this social problem. The state government has established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted. Grazing reserves tend to be merely unattended bush in other places but in Jigawa State, Lamido has seen to it that they are equipped with facilities such as windmills, power pumps and boreholes as well as improved grass and resting facilities. The effort to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa State was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido early in the day to address the perennial problem of clashes between pastoralists and farmers which claimed many lives in the state. Another aspect of the strategy was the setting up of security and sensitization committees to monitor the situation, as well as the payment of compensation to victims of past crises in order to discourage them from seeking revenge. Similarly, in its effort to encourage and enhance the pastoralists, Jigawa State Government launched the 2014/ 2015 animals vaccination exercise recently in Birnin-Kudu Local government area in the state in which the state government vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases in the past seven and-half-years 2007-2014. Also the state government had immunised 1, 611, 197 sheep and goats, while 53, 450 dogs were also vaccinated against rabies. Due to routine vaccination, the devastating diseases that often affected animals in the state had declined significantly. Also the government has included poultry in the programme to prevent Newcastle disease. Jigawa state government often purchases assorted veterinary drugs for farmers at subsidized prices and modern surgical equipment for nine veterinary clinics across the state. Lamido’s administra-

By Adamu Usman

tion had invested a lot of resources on agriculture as the main stay of the economy. Also, the economic and investment summit in the state in 2013 was convened by Lamido because of his commitment and efforts in the Agricultural sector, in which more than 80 per cent of the investors who participated at the summit expressed willingness to invest in agro-allied industries in the state. An accompanying aspect of this overall social policy also discourages allowing domestic animals to roam freely in towns and cities. Cattle, goats and sheep contribute in making towns dirty, and cause accidents, hence the new policy that makes their owners to tether them in their houses. This far-reaching social policy was not restricted to the animals and pastoralists alone. It also accommodates the children of the herdsmen. Jigawa state government has established many nomadic schools in the state to accommodate a large population of Fulani children. The governor approved that all nomadic schools in the state must be funded, equipped and staffed while ensuring that the children are taught both Islamic and western education respectively. Sule Lamido followed up his initiatives (administrative policies) with another project that facilitates easy access to him. He has a dedicated GSM phone line by which citizens can reach him in order to complain, offer advice, suggest and object or criticize his government’s policies and programs. The Talakawa’s leader, attends to everyone who texts or calls without intimidation, humiliation, victimization or deprivation. It is not for nothing that citizens of Jigawa State speak of the Lamido as a governor, mentor, leader, guardian, father and a messiah. Adamu is Special Adviser to Jigawa state governor on Media

• From left: Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and presidential candidate Gen. Muhammed Buhari during their visit to the Government House, Owerri.

• From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, presidential candidate Gen. Muhammed Buhari, and Akwa Ibom governorship candidate, Mr Umana Okon Umana, at the presidential campaign in Uyo.

Clark’s daughter, students endorse APC in Delta

HE granddaughter of the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Ighosotu Clark, was among tertiary students who campaigned for the All Progressive Congress candidate in Delta South Senatorial District yesterday. Ms Clark, an executive member of the National Association of Delta State Students, was also part of the team that paid a solidarity visit to the APC flag bearer, Prince Yemi Emiko, in Warri. Emiko is challenging Senator James Manager, an Ijaw from Bomadi area, who has been in the Senate since 2003. However, the leader of the student group, Comrade Bolokor Francis, said: “It is not the birthright of an individual or a particular tribe to represent the district for 12 years without proper accountability and transparency.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

“It will be another terrible mistake, if Nigeria students fold their hands and allow the ills of the society to continue. That is why the students of the state are speaking in one voice and yearning for change and we believe that Prince Emiko and the APC can give us the change we need and deserve.” He said the decision to back the APC candidate was taken after a critical assessment of Emiko’s track record in the public service, especially in Chevron Nigeria Limited, where he had worked for over two decades. Emiko expressed joy that the students decided to endorse him without being lobbied by his campaign group. He said: “This is a clear testimony that there is still hope for this country,because what most students do these days is to ping and not concentrate on anything else.”

• APC supporters at the presidential campaign in Uyo.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

Corruption-friendly governance In spite of former leaders’ flaws, Jonathan’s rot is worse

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo and one-time military strongman Ibrahim Babangida delivered a blow to Jonathan individually and in separate contexts, and suggested that his government scandalously encouraged corruption. The nation’s president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had ironically earlier identified corruption as one of Nigeria’s twin problems. At a special New Year service at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, Jonathan had said: “There are two main problems confronting us as a nation: The issue of insecurity in the North where we have the Boko Haram terrorists and in the South where we have commercial kidnapping. The next thing that people worry about after security is the issue of corruption.” It is noteworthy that the country has an undesirable international reputation for official corruption, and Jonathan, perhaps unwittingly, reinforced the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of Transparency International (TI). The assessment was based on the extent of public sector corruption in 175 countries and Nigeria was ranked 136th. The country scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks, and was listed as the 39th most corrupt nation in the world. This has happened on President Jonathan’s watch. Against the background of this ugly picture, Babangida’s interview with the media unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may be appreciated and contemplated. Babangida was quoted as saying, “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.” It is an instructive reflection of corruption perception relating to Jonathan’s tenure. Although Babangida headed a military regime discredited for allegedly institutionalising corruption in Nigeria, it is a statement on the scale of corruption in the country that it could confer sainthood on a Babangida regime that sullied the nation’s moral landscape. So terrible was the corruption and depletion of public treasury in the Babangida era that he once wondered why the nation had not collapsed. In his own case, Obasanjo lamented: “Our nation is plagued with insecurity, economic downturn, increase in poverty, corruption and impunity in doing things.” He told visiting Southwest women leaders at his Presidential Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State: “Nigeria does not deserve the position it has found itself today.” Although, on the surface, his comments had a matter-of-fact ring, it would appear that he conveniently glossed over his own contribution to the observed regrettable state of the nation, especially in his years as a democratic president and even beyond. The truth is that the Obasanjo administration had its own condemnable dimensions of corruption and impunity. However, in spite of the shaky platforms on which Obasanjo and Babangida made their observations about the country’s slide, and their own questionable morality in the context of governance, it must be noted that their interventions are not without a redeem-

ing quality. At least, by their negative evaluation of the performance of the Jonathan presidency they helped to further highlight the present rot, which should be viewed as a positive role. It is remarkable that, while pinpointing the problems of insecurity and corruption, Jonathan boasted: “We are coming out with programmes and plans to clean up. These are things you just don’t use a magical wand to wave off; otherwise even before I became President, there wouldn’t have been corruption in Nigeria.” The disturbing implication of his reasoning is that the country has been a victim of a chain of corruption-friendly governments. Jonathan should be told that words are not enough. His track record offers little hope to a country in dire need of correction. He has been in the saddle for about six years, and if he had no plans for corruption since, how can he boast one now?

‘Jonathan should be told that words are not enough. His track record offers little hope to a country in dire need of correction. He has been in the saddle for about six years, and if he had no plans for corruption since, how can he boast one now?’

A refreshing departure, but ... •The IGP’s visit to wives of slain officers is good but a lot still has to be done to boost morale

HE news that the police authorities would award scholarships to orphans of officers killed in the ambush by the proscribed Ombatse militiamen at Alakyo Village in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on May 7, 2013 must have gladdened their hearts. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, who also promised to ensure that their late husbands’ entitlements were paid soon said all was being done to assure officers that the authorities were behind them at all times. We commend the IGP for sparing time to visit the widows and their children at a time people were celebrating Christmas, the New Year and Eid-el-Maulud. We hope this would, as intended by the

‘We commend the IGP for sparing time to visit the widows and their children at a time people were celebrating Christmas, the New Year and Eid-el-Maulud. We hope this would, as intended by the police, boost the morale of officers and men of the force in particular, and all security agencies in general’

police, boost the morale of officers and men of the force in particular, and all security agencies in general. It is also a refreshing departure from the norm that the IGP took time to address the case of officers who have been missing in the aftermath of the attack on Gwoza by insurgents since August last year. The police chief gave them food items and cash gift of N500, 000 each to wipe their tears, while pledging that the search for them, dead or alive, continues. We urge the security forces to do everything necessary to bring that episode to an end by definitively making pronouncements on the state of the men. However, we call on the Federal Government, the Police Service Commission and related agencies to accord priority to serving, retired and dead officers and men. It is only when the personnel and their dependants know that their entitlements would be promptly paid in case they lose their lives that they would be willing to confront crime with total commitment. The same treatment should be extended to those maimed or critically wounded while combating crimes and other social ills. We are however disturbed that the reach-out to the dependants is seen and treated as a product of the magnanimity of the IGP. It should be institutionalised. It is further disturbing that all the IGP could announce was that the entitlements

were being processed almost two years after the incident. It is better imagined the fate that had befallen the widows, orphans and other dependants since the departure of their loved ones. This probably explains the recent demonstration by wives of officers posted to the battle field in Borno State. They said their loved ones were illequipped for the deadly task. It must be demonstrated in word and deed that the Federal Government, the armed forces and the police have provided the best needed to confront militias and insurgents. Until this is done, embarrassing defections by the fighting forces and even sabotage would continue. It is unfortunate too, that even the scholarships being promised are not fully by the police authorities or agencies of the Federal Government. It is subject to the success of discussions with institutions abroad. Some of the children would have lost precious time already. It should not be further delayed. Schemes such as the Police Pension Fund, the insurance and micro credit for wives of officers should be optimally run for the benefit of those for whom they are established. The police authorities should ensure that scams and corrupt practices are stamped out by punishing those involved.

Amosun: Enigma in Ogun State

IR: Now that the dust has cleared and the contestants for the Ogun State governorship elections are known, it is time for comments and opinions on the contestants. Let me declare, without equivocation that incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun comes head and shoulders above the opposition. With him at the helm, Ogun State can now boast of having gotten out of its perennial political quagmires. Amosun deserves a second chance for a number of reasons. First, in four short years, he has stabilized the rather volatile political environment of the state. Let the people of Ogun State be reminded that, before Amosun, there was an administration that permanently grounded the state’s affairs in crisis. Governor Daniel and his House of Assembly were at loggerheads and the House of Assembly carried out its statutory functions everywhere but the House of Assembly. The mace was transported around the state as members looked for a “hideout” in various public places to meet. Lawmakers were made to swear “oaths of office” in their birthday suits carrying ritual sacrifices in place of the Bible or Quran. It was a maddening political theatre that made anybody from the state vomit. And people laughed at the state throughout the world. All that stopped when Amosun assumed office. Once peace and tranquility was brought back into the executive and legislative arms of government, the governor proceeded to make unbelievable advancements in the state. He spearheaded a remarkable and fantastic road infrastructure revolution which has now become the flagship of his administration with implication for job creation in the state, foreign and local investments and rapid industrialization. Where there was a foundation, he built on it and where there was none, he laid one. In addition, he has brought his experiences as a chartered accountant along with whatever “financial engineering” wizardry he could muster to the assignment. Because of these, other sectors have benefitted under his administration; affordable qualitative education, improved and efficient healthcare services and delivery, agricultural production, industrial development and affordable housing and urban renewal to name a few. One feels very proud reading of Governor Amosun opening new factories on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Sagamu and other places in between and beyond. He has been able to accomplish all these against all odds, especially, the on-again-off-again posture of the federal government denying and mismanaging much of the federal contributions due to the state. His critics, in good conscience, cannot but give him credit for what has been a five-star performance. It is for all these reasons, plus, that the governor deserves consideration for a second term. He must be appreciated and assured. It is my personal conviction that his opponents in this race are political neophytes; very light on the ground and wet behind the ears on the Ogun State political terrain. It is a terrain that angels fear to tread; slippery when dry. In Governor Amosun, Ogun State has finally found that elusive enigma in its puzzle. There is, simply, no one better! He is the definite and right choice come February. • Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: The need for change of government was in the air. One Father Mbaka had reversed himself from support for President Goodluck Jonathan to General Muhammadu Buhari in a sermon. Nigerians being vaingloriously responsive to prophecy drifted in massive support of Buhari. His visit was described by some as evidence of Divine intervention. Party faithful were mustered with GSM invitation to Governor’s office and they thronged out to hear what the governor had to say about the visit. Elders were invited to boost authenticity. I was among the invited. Governor Rochas Okorocha had invited us to develop an advice to him on what he would raise before the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our discussions on what was to be presented to the prospective president, was marshaled out in dilated offerings that denied aged people their promise of breakfast. Table had been laid. Consensus was reached on two people to make presentations on behalf of Imo Council of Elders after some contentions were raised on persons within the fold. The candidate was believed to be on board and landing time was long since reached. All of a sudden alert came that entourage of the candidate was on ground at Governor’s private residence. The governor in his usual reverence for visitors almost

IR: Nigerians are perennial critics of those in position of authority. Of recent, religious and respected former leaders now top the chart of spokespersons of political parties and politicians seeking elective positions. Our religious, past and present political leaders who are supposed role models must guard their utterances on burning national issues. For religious leaders specifically, they should endeavour to preserve and maintain absolute neutrality, poise, solemnity and serenity known for their vocation by shun-

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Buhari in Imo Government House dashed out to receive them and forgot that he had assembled at least 20 seniors in his home from timebarred breakfast time of 7.30 up until alarm blew. Some seniors were on medication that demanded food before using. They suffered through the long period before Buhari came and after 11 a.m. when his entourage moved in. The seniors were abandoned in separate parts of Okorocha’s mansion to their pains. It was necessary after breakfast with the hallowed guest to move to Sam Mbakwe Chambers for a formal meeting with the visiting guest and his entourage comprised of top executives of APC and some of their board members. Chief of extemporization, Governor Okorocha opened up at Sam Mbakwe Hall formally welcoming candidate Buhari to Owerri. His wits about his defeat at primaries set up a mild uproar. He himself rushed through what could have been presented by the nominated duo for time to return on a scheduled flight had come. Governor

Okorocha could only speak about roads-Enugu to Port Harcourt, Aba to Calabar and Owerri Port Harcourt as primary arteries. He wanted direct contract on Second Niger Bridge. He forgot Petrochemical Plant that had huge employment and subsidiary industry potentials. He did not dwell enough on national insecurity and the threat on Igbo people with amazing potentials for dispersal all over the world and the need to ensure their safety and productive life wherever they may dwell and make positive contributions. He forgot to stress that the real responsibility of leadership is protection of the led and assurance that only the best technocrats should be engaged without discrimination to fend for the betterment of the majority. Those who qualify to add multiples to national wealth and well being should be engaged without qualms as to origin. The bottom line of good governance is pervasive wealth and well being of all in the land. If one tribe can assure that why should a president

bother? The decline of Nigeria should be levied on Quota. Buhari did not address any of the issues raised to him by Governor Rochas. He spoke of his military exploits and precipitately landed on his quip on Jonathan that corruption was growing in leaps and bounds under his watch and something drastic had to be done about it. I believe he will choose the right technocrats for the job if he lands it. He did not address the price Ndigbo have had to pay through the war years and the losses of relevance their loss of the third position in Nigeria has cost them. Neglect of Ndigbo will always count as Nigeria’s loss any time into the far future. The disintegration proclivity was not even on Buhari’s radar. The Boko Haram debacle did not feature. Famished like desert dwellers, elders dispersed with glum faces and utter revulsion for the treatment meted out to them. • M A C Odu, Owerri, Imo State

A call for decorum ning any bait capable of knowingly or unknowingly dragging them into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Nigeria should not be written off despite obvious challenges. Her situation can be salvaged not by condemnation but by patriotism, good works and good behaviour of all, fervent prayers and supplication for those in position of authority. One statement that epitomises the concept of good leadership and followership was offered by Abu Bakar, the first person according” Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters

Standard” to lead the Muslim Community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in his first address as Khalifa – or head of the Islamic state. He told his audience “I have been chosen to rule over you, though I am not the best among you. Help me if I am right; correct me if I am wrong. The weak among you will be strong until I have attained for him his due… and the strong among you will be weak until I have made him give what he owes…” Nations grow and develop by concerted effort of all citizens; not only by policies, programmes

and endeavours of those in positions of authority. Do we regard the powers that be as ordained by God, speak mildly to them perhaps they may accept admonition or fear of God? This election year should rekindle in all of us the burning desire for collaborative effort, unalloyed support for our government; fervent intercessions and passionate interventions for our leaders. • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, Zaria, Kaduna State

Why we must get it right, this time

IR: The entire world would focus on Nigeria in February when the country would go to polls to elect another set of leaders that would pilot the affairs of the country for another term of four years. What is paramount in the minds of Nigerians is that the votes are made to count. The enthusiasms shown during the voter registration exercise have shown clearly the urge by Nigerian to use their votes to choose those who will govern them. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the onerous duty to live up to the expectation of Nigerians in being seen to be credible, transparent while ensuring that votes of Nigeria do count. Many Nigerian are still in skeptical about the INEC’s preparedness to conduct credible election come next month going by the shabby way the issue of permanent voters cards (PVCs) was handle in most states across the country. The myriad of problems facing the country make this election uniquely different from any election ever conducted since the country embraced the presidential system of government. Nigerian politicians should do the country a patriotic duty by ensuring the credibility of this election by going against any form of electoral malpractice. We need to show the world that we can get it right without rancor and other undemocratic norms. Relevant stakeholders should partner with one another to ensure the best election to be conducted in the history of this country. This country must tell the world by this election that we can enthrone best practices in the management of our electoral process. • Bala Nayashi, Lokoja, Kogi State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 16

COMMENTS

Gang of Ebele Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

IRST meet with wisdom is like taking first breath but the Ebele gang throttles sense in the womb. Thus they mature in tedium, spinning tiresome yarns to dull the Nigerian psyche. Other sub forms of sycophancy may acknowledge their reality as blisters but Ebele’s gang, or sons if you like, manifest as cosmic aberrations to virtue; some would simply explain them away as vice-stung, currencymaddened hooligans. Many more would say that their forelock got drenched and their manhood got drowned in the torrential downpour of currency that extinguishes brilliance like embers. Their darksome night permits no day and their cloudy thoughts befog the dawn. Even the habitual drunk for a rare moment affects a lucid interval but Ebele’s gang never deviates into sense or somberness. Apology to Dryden. Besides their flowery drivel uttered to benumb fair logic, their insolent protestations manifest as maple shoots that shade the grave. Despite the tiresome scourge Ebele’s administration has become, Ebele’s gang never cares; like savage chthonian mutations of the grotesque, they descend on every trivia with tedious rant, forcing petty strife down our collective psyche. They want us to keep faith with Ebele and thus entrust our heartfelt

dreams to the incumbent undertaker in Aso Rock. Femi Fani-Kayode, Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati and company earnestly ask Nigerians to vote for Ebele. They lure Nigerians to wage infinite wars with truth and wisdom; they would like us to establish ageless monuments to Ebele in the spirit houses of flaws. These comic characters cum presidential court jesters pray that Nigerians reelect their principal come February polls. Simply put, they want us to save their jobs. Should we? Will you? Its 40 days to presidential elections, but Ebele’s gang wish that we forget the Chibok girls. They want us to forget the NNPC scam, $9 million illicit arm deal, immigration job scam and death of innocent, jobless graduates. They want us to overlook Ebele’s tacit approval of Stella Oduah’s aviation cash fraud. They wish that we forget Otehgate, devaluation of the Naira and rising PMS pump prices. They urge that we applaud the shady sale of NEPA, declining standards of education and health services, bloody bomb blasts, thousands of unaccounted corpses and the persistent scourge of Boko Haram. In this prevalent osmosis of death and despair, the Ebele gang attempts to justify that which is unjustifiable: they mount the soapbox,

‘As we go to the polls, we shall experience spurious arguments by the Ebele gang; Okupe thinks Ebele is Jesus, Fani-Kayode thinks he epitomizes goodness even as Abati recounts all the ways he has made our lives better..’

HE day double-portfolioed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala heralded the dawn of austerity, she sounded like an amateur ventriloquist. She broke the news with a borrowed pathos. It was so unlike her. She was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the one who always looked through her rose-colored spectacles, the one who always medicated our doubts with a cocktail of statistics. We didn’t quite need her help to awake to the times. We could see the superpowers toying with the price of crude oil. They are using oil price as a lever for diplomatic interests. They are equal matches in resoluteness, stamina and pride; contesting for energy and for power. They will fight to no end. The depression will linger. We would need prudence to survive since crude oil is our national lifeblood. However, Okonjo-Iweala emerged a few weeks later, brandishing a dare-devil budget. A budget that negates the reality of the hour. A budget that ignores the fall of Nigerian crude production. A budget that pretends that the crash of the price of crude below $60 per barrel doesn’t matter. A budget that covenanted half a billion naira to pamper the bellies of President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other cadres of Abuja aristocrats. A budget that earmarks N174.6 million to meals and refreshment in the State House, 7.4 percent or 11.98 million naira higher the sum approved in a relatively prosperous 2014. For me, the most frustrating challenge of being Nigerian is that the government is always gnawing at the little faith one has in its capacity for seriousness as guardian of the state. The government constantly requires you to scavenge for some scrap of sense in its horrific stupidity. The government keeps demanding that you reconcile its voice of Jacob with the hand of Esau - to marry its words with its contradictory actions. Yet this open-ended food allocation is provocative. The message is overly loud. The appetite of the powers that be is sacrosanct. The tables of the mighty must increase in season and out of season. Their kitchens have no excuse to look lean and ordinary. This is part of the immunity privilege. When Jonathan and other incumbents campaign on the theme of continuity, they mean to say they have yet to eat to their heart’s content. They actually plead like Oliver Twist, “I want some more”. And “more” is an elastic word, amenable to stretching even in the oddest, incongruent times. Looking at the item, one is tempted to ask whether the VIPs would risk suffering kwashiorkor if they make do with one third of that amount. Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, has been singing about the revolution he wrought in Nigerian farmlands. He declares that “our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million tonnes within three years” and food import bill has “declined from 1.1 trillion naira in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira by December 2013 and continues to decline in 2014”. Why is the government propos-

garnishing prevalent ills with bouquets of insolence and desolate wit. Their love of grandstanding and pretensions to candour rankle an ominous note. It conveniently deserts when the situation demands that we actually speak truth to power; which brings to mind how we accommodated Mr. President’s justification of N16.4 billion…then N10 billion and then N6.5 billion worth of independence celebrations ‘conscientiously’ explained as follows five years ago: N950 million worth of anniversary parade; N350 million National Unity Torch tour; Special visits to orphanages, prisons and hospitals – N50 million; special session of the National Children’s Parliament – N20 million; party for 1000 children – N20 million; presidential banquet – N40 million; calisthenics performance – N50 million. Then cultural, historical and military exhibitions – N310 million; food week – N40 million; design and unveiling of 50th anniversary logo – N30 million; secretariat equipment, accommodation logistics and utilities – N320 million; special reports on Nigeria in local and international media – N1.2 billion; jingles, adverts billboards, documentary and publicity – N320 million. And more: accommodation and transportation of guests – N700 million; souvenirs – N450 million; variety gala night and fireworks – N210 million; international friendly football match – N200 million; design and publication of compendium on Nigeria – N400 million and security and protocol – N500 million. Lest we forget the presidency’s recent allocation of almost N1 billion for its meals and $1 billion (about N165 billion) to its office to fight Boko Haram. Is it just me hyperacting or did we all somehow, somewhere along the line, irredeemably turn stupid and docile?

The blood of the departed and the corpses still breathing stirs and elongates our malfeasance of nature and filth of fate. Thus today our official history, flaunting total disaster, speaks with the wind. It magnifies our defects and gives them to us gratis. It acknowledges that our afflictions are borne of individual and institutionalised folly, contemptuousness and treason. Consequently we wade through atrocious stew and stink of yesterday into the age that grudges and grieves. Today, the ill-wind blows certainly and quite generously across our land; it peels back every glamorous lie we decorate as truth, to reveal what is left of all that we pinch and plunder. And despite the tragedy we suffer, Ebele’s gang urge us to summon strength in will and number to re-enact our compulsive story of ruin and grief come February. As we approach the coming polls, Ebele’s gang urge us to re-elect the one who will dig deeper, our grave, and maul our bruised, chewed-off ribs till we remain nothing more than broken husks incapable of everything and small things, like casting a shadow in twilight. The choice is ours to make; we either choose to remain a bunch of fools and clueless agitators or we could chart fresh paths to the future of our dreams. Some of our greatest problems in this country, besides corruption, are racism and greed. However, we need not be handicapped by these. The future of Nigeria lies in our hands. It is time to heal. It is time for the Nigerian youth and electorate to take rightful place in the scheme of things. It’s about time we identified General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) as our candidate – the untiringly just and humane candidate. But choosing him is hardly the solution, we

need to challenge him and ascertain his immunity to the madness of materialism, racism and intractable wile currently ravaging the incumbent leadership silly. Buhari needs to identify the demons that drive the incumbent ruling class and dispossess his mind of every vanity that could make him habitable to similar fiends. Yet he needs our support. Let us not desert him at election time for the tragedy of our generation subsists in our seemingly uncontainable prospects and our desperation to be lured, lorded over and contained, at a price. Let us all irrespective of personal politics and tribe, attempt to strive, united in common effort, in pursuit of a humane leader and common government sensitive to mutual thought and feeling, yet subtly separate in matters of politics and individuality. If this unusual and unpredictable development is to flourish amid peace and order, reciprocal respect and budding intelligence, it will call for that truest and most dependable social surgery. I advocate revolution through the ballot boxes. As we go to the polls, we shall experience spurious arguments by the Ebele gang; Okupe thinks Ebele is Jesus, Fani-Kayode thinks he epitomizes goodness even as Abati recounts all the ways he has made our lives better, but can you really say from personal experience, that such argument is as cogent as the offer made by the March Hare during the Mad Tea Party in “Alice in Wonderland?” “Have some wine,” the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. “I don’t see any wine,” she remarked. “There isn’t any,” said the March Hare.

Budget for gluttons and the tortoise By Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu ing to pay more for food when our barns are bulging with bumper harvest? Has the price of foodstuff gone through the roof? Would President Jonathan not go on whirlwind tour of Nigeria, collecting samples of the fruits of his transformational labor in huge sacks - salt from Abakaliki, rice from Adani, yams from Zaki Ibiam, plantains from Ikom, tomatoes from Jos, crayfish from Oron, chickens from Ota and corn from Zurmi? What’s the basis for hiking the Presidency’s food bill? Are the gains in million tonnes of food still accumulating in the airwaves, yet to fall, like manna, on terra firma? Do we import cassava bread? Is the government plagued by bulimia? Do we anticipate a surge in the numbers of eaters this election year? Of course, eating has grown beyond satisfying a biological need. These days, it’s more serious than ingesting a plateful to fuel the body’s metabolic processes. Eating has morphed into a bizarre political phenomenon. It’s been renamed stomach infrastructure, to reflect its transcendent significance in our worldview. We have heard that invitation to assume a public office in Nigeria is basically a summons to the fattening room; a call to come and chop. This budget affirms that that the concept of leadership as opportunity to feast is as valid today as when candor erupted out of the rage of then Internal Affairs Minister Sunday Afolabi and impelled him to castigate his Justice counterpart, Chief Bola Ige, a pick from the opposition, for criticizing government instead of minding his cutlery. Afolabi revealed that in the realms where the affairs of the country are decided, the default mentality is hedonist. People are tapped for positions so they can eat. They are redeemed from Adam’s curse. They don’t have to earn their meals from the sweat of their brow. They could keep vegetating at their post and never be fired. They are there to eat. A cursory look at the physique of our leaders shows that their mental and physical energy are rarely tasked. Their term in office is usually the best time of their lives. They look more nourished than they have ever been. One of the governors in the South-east exemplifies how a leadership position can revive dead bones. When his predecessor anointed him in 2007, there was a great stir. What energy did the elderly man have left? He had already traveled far into hoary years. A couple of months later, he had reversed his age. He became two decades younger. Leaders who bear who bear the weight of their post are easy to spot. Their very frame shows that there is a government upon their shoulders. Their faces have lines of worry. So work-

ing in the Oval Office alters the boyish looks of the rockstar. He is aging fast. His hair is growing grey. The job is sapping him of youth. President Jonathan is different. Nothing about him suggests that he is doing anything more challenging than holding a sinecure. Without doubt, he fulfills the easy part of his duties. He can wave at a crowd and dance at rally. He speaks animatedly when the Super Falcons visit for dinner. He is a nice leader in the comfort zone. But he feels offended and irritated when he is reminded that he is not on paid vacation to Aso Rock. He so detests the pressure of his office that he combats it with aloofness. He would skirt questions as though he was too shy or timid to proffer an answer or to be quoted. Still, he won’t brook any suggestion that he needs to embrace his job. No, he is a victim. A creature buffeted by bullies, in constant need of pity and sympathy. That budget estimates the hypocrisy of the Jonathan administration. He and his aides are ballooning out their consumption while priming citizens to fast more. Austerity measures are bad for advocates of austerity measures and good for others. The poor can skip one more square meal so that advocates of austerity may add one more course of one instance of eating. The Nigerian dream is to live Pharoah’s dream. To create a bifurcated country of fat, sleek cows and thin, bony cows. This appeal to executive gluttony has soiled the budget. It has subtracted legitimacy from a document that should speak to the greater need of the citizenry. In its present state, it resembles a fraud hatched by a selfish clique in the name of the people. This budget could well have sprung from the fabled cunning of the Tortoise. The tale goes. People of the firmament invited the birds to a banquet. It was a season of famine. The tortoise begged to join. The birds agreed and contributed their feathers. They made him one solid mass of rainbow. Midway into their flight, he advised that they needed to answer new names for the event. He appropriated the name ‘’All of You’’. When the meals were served, the Tortoise asked the hosts who all the meals were for. They told him that they were for All of You. The Tortoise claimed he was the single plurality, the only one eligible to eat. He gulped the whole food while the birds watched and salivated. They paid him back. They took back their feather donations and left the Tortoise stranded. He returned to earth by falling from the heights and breaking his shell. The budget purports to represent All of You. But the figures show it represents the gluttony of a few. It literally taunts the electorate to withdraw President Jonathan’s wings. • Ugwu is a public affairs commentator

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

COMMENTS “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” –¯ Mahatma Gandhi

HE much awaited year 2015 is just unfurling. Just nine days ago, year 2014 yielded ground for this new season. Among individuals, especially the occupants of exalted positions in the corridors of power, the way last year ends might vary but we can only hope and pray for the best in 2015. Now that the merriment of Xmas and the New Year celebrations have ended, there is need for deep and sober reflections. As private persons or as public personalities, how far have we gone in meeting set goals; for self and society, in the vanished year? We should not become victims of excuses, even though there is never enough time to do all we set out to achieve; we should strive to be nothing but conqueror of objectives: And by objectives, this column mean those deeds that could stand the test of time and benefit humanity. Time is of essence in life. It is what keeps everything from happening at once. Every living being has own time or better putmagic moment. The year is ending and now that individuals have their time in their hands, how best have they deployed it. Is it used for egocentric purposes or for more enduring ventures? Whether you are president, governor, minister, commissioner, local government chairman or directing mind in an organisation among other powerful positions, by the turn of May, 2015, your days in office would come to an end, except for re-elected first term politicians in office. The crowd of people you see around you today would not be there forever. They throng around your position, not your person. When another person occupies the seat tomorrow, you automatically become history and what you live on subsequently is your good deeds-or better put legacy. Have you, despite your present position, ever given this inescapable looming reality any deep thought in the midst of privileged reverence that you are daily accorded by virtue of your position? Let us all remember in whatever grandeur it might currently please God to place us as another year runs evolves that there comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is our own hearts- the ultimate judge of human conducts. The earlier we learn the sound of our hearts, the better so that we can correctly decipher what it is saying and follow it. The problem with powerful men is that they have avoidably failed to be loyal to their conscience and have failed to discern inevitable change and challenge when about to occur. The saddest words that could ever come out of the mouth of once-upon-a-powerful-fellow are: ‘It

ISTORY has bequeathed to some an avalanche of experiential knowledge, that speaks multitude for those who remain dogged at realizing purpose, for their nations. As the saying goes “the downfall of a man is not the end of his life”, and another, “…live to fight another day” – all pointing to the reality before the Nigerian state, in the person of General Muhammadu Buhari, and another man in remote history of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. Both holding synonymous traits, in the pursuance of purpose and desire, ultimately guided by wild principles based on convictions. These convictions rule their thoughts, mannerisms and followership in their various times. The story of Abraham Lincoln has been taught in schools, and universities across the world, and has been entertained, over and over again, at various points of intellectual and political history. A phenomenon of immense courage, exuding fervor for the stubborn pursuit of nothing short of the actualization of vision, for dear fatherland. And so, in March 1861, after several attempts at clinching elective positions, Abraham Lincoln became the16th president of the United States. That glorious and earnestly sought after victory did not capitulate the mission, on the altar of vain jubilation or celebrations. He went straight to the mission, for which he had fallen several times, and eventually made history.The uniqueness of his victory orchestrates for Buhari, a platform to locate, for himself, a historical identity. An identity that shall permeate the annals of Nigeria’s geo-political history, bringing to view a comradeship of historical semblance with President Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln came into power at the time in America, when a break-up seemed imminent, as the case is with the Nigerian state today. He saved the Union during the Civil War and then fostered the emancipation of slaves. Nigeria today is faced with a new reality that craves for a binding leadership – a leadership that would fanatically sustain her

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For tenants in power, a reflection

•Jonathan

•Fashola

might have been.’ As this year begins, you still have the power to shape you today and the future. Whatever part you deliberately chose, whether of self perdition or sentence to irreverent oblivion should not be subsequently called mistakes? Remember as the year commences that there have been tyrants and slayers, and for some time, they can seem insuperable, but in the end, they always fall. Remember that it is your action, not the fruit of your action that would count against or for you on judgement day which is why you must endeavour to always do what is importantly right. Let your action not be informed by personal gains alone because that may not be in your power to decide. God in His infinite mercy might decide to let your action benefit only humanity and nobody can stop that? But you would be remembered, long after you have gone as the harbinger of that good action, and would be duly celebrated one day. But that doesn’t mean you should stop doing the right thing because there may

not be immediate personal gains. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result to celebrate in the world. As 2015 unravels, remember that yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream. What dreams do you have as a leader- for the country as her directing mind and the world at large so that there can be a peaceful global village for all to cohabit? Do not be deceived by the false friends or deterred by true enemies that success usually attract. Just make sure you put in your best in all you do in whatever position you might presently be privileged to occupy. Having gone this far, it is pertinent to remind our privileged men of power on the need to engage in pertinent self reexamination. The president, governors and other political appointees by now would be buying time in power. The president and most of the governors would have become lame duck in their positions since fresh

elections have been fixed for February, 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Political parties have nominated candidates that would stand for elections into these exalted positions and the likely candidates that would take-over power would be seeking the hands of the people. That has been the tradition of change of baton in the political firmament. But those that did well by the end of February would be filled with certain sense of fulfilment. How would our current crop of elected and appointed public officers want to be remembered? What future have they built for their families through their handiwork while in government? Is it one that will invite opprobrium or acclaim from members of the public? Is it not probably too late for them to remedy their avoidable pitfalls of the past now that the elections are just weeks away? And for Nigerians: Are they ready to tolerate the misfits in government that continue to rigmarole them with bad governance? Are Nigerians going to over look any failure whatsoever from the presidency, from governors and even INEC in the imminent 2015 general elections? We should continue to fervently pray for God’s special grace in Nigeria so that the coming 2015 general elections would not be the last to be held under this dispensation because of insinuations of violence that rents the air. This column believes in such prayers and would continue to do everything to seek divine protection and blessings for the country. But above all, the ruling class must stop its destructive do-or-die politics with which our polity has been replete with in the about 16 years of democratic rule. In conclusion, this column is wishing all its readers, once again, a belated merry Xmas and hopefully gratifying New Year, in prayerfully a peaceful country post May, 2015. Let us all do things in this political season with moderation and more importantly, love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We must respect and allow the people’s votes to count in the coming general elections.

‘We should continue to fervently pray for God’s special grace in Nigeria so that the coming 2015 general elections would not be the last to be held under this dispensation because of insinuations of violence that rents the air’

Are you Abraham Lincoln…No, I am Buhari By Osarumen Izevbokun unity and territorial integrity, in the face of a rising challenge of terrorism, lawlessness and wanton corruption. Nigeria has been drawn into a religious battle ground, with a political flavour. Meanwhile, no historical justification supports the new political dynamism in this direction. It only points to a new reality, of a ‘politico-religious strategization’ for the heart of the Nigerian state. A binding leadership has become necessary for a peaceful Nigeria. A leadership supported by a majority of regions, and craved by the poor majority. It must be a leadership that would emancipate the Nigerian people, from 21st style of slavery, to a freedom quest for self-realization. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln said. Buhari had only began to sharpen his axe, as a military leader, when 604 days (December 31, 1983 – August 26, 1985) into his administration he was overthrown from power. In that short period of time, Nigeria had acquired some developmental speed (and of course, discipline), and had gradually become a force to be reckoned with, internationally. His zero tolerance for corruption was second to none. In no distant past, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had embarked on a mission to become a democratic President that would foster a developmental agenda, that would bring Nigeria to the international limelight of relevance. Prof Tam David-West, a former Minister of Petroleum resources, lending his voice to the crusade for truth, had stated clearly that, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, had never lost in any election in the country – pointing out that he had been ‘serially rigged out’ when he contested in 2003, 2007 and 2011. This reality

was further corroborated, when, in 2007 after the elections, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua admitted that the election that brought him to office was not free and fair. As he stood before delegates, at the third National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), laden with emotions in his voice, he had this to say: ”We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC. Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future”. Meanwhile, the major catastrophes bedeviling Nigeria today are Boko Haram, corruption, and over dependence on oil resources. Buhari a zero-corruption-tolerant leader, during his 604 days as military head of state, dealt a deadly blow to the institution of corruption (that had just began to develop at the time), but corruption fought back, and he was overthrown from power. Within this very short period of his administration, he commissioned two of the six units of the Egbin Thermal Power Station. The Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station was officially commissioned on April 13, 1985 under Buhari. With unwavering fiscal discipline, he took inflation down from near 23% to 4%. According to Index Mundi, the inflation rate of Nigeria in 1983 was 22.222%. The EconStats, of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) data (IMF) veritably lays out the figures, displaying that by 1985 when he was overthrown from office as President, inflation rate had come down to 3.226%.

These are, but a few. These were all during his term as military head of state, for just 604 days. General Muhammadu Buhari’s environmental sanitation policy has remained a landmark influence on the Nigerian state till date. The no-nonsense attitude of General Muhammadu Buhari has also earned him serious opposition, in the corrupt Nigerian society of today. For these reasons, and more lies, he had been denied electoral victory all through the Nigerian democratic years. These lies may have created a soft-landing for the reasons why he was ‘serially rigged out’ when he contested in 2003, 2007 and 2011 as opined by Prof. Tam David-West. It is important to note that General Muhammadu Buhari, may not be in line with the political reality of today, which is rife with gross anomalies. A political system that births terrorism, and lays blame on the innocent to score undeserved political goals. In all these, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has also lent his voice to the call for a Nigeria ruled by Muhammadu Buhari, saying that at this critical time that Nigeria has been driven to a precipice just as he (Buhari) came at the nick of time in 1983 when the conservative National Party of Nigeria (NPN) had crippled the country through bad leadership. Abraham Lincoln’s historic victory to become the 16 th President of the United States of America, is a fore-warning to many that a man who rises up after every fall, is well fortified to understand the value of victory. General Muhammadu Buhari understands the value of the Nigerian mandate, and maintains a direction to the democratic relevance of development in a Nigeria of the 21st Century. He is not Abraham Lincoln, he is General Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

AN SEVEN-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Enyimba City ticks again after holidays •PAGE 27

Good Yuletide for Imo women

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

PAGE 25

3,000 kids celebrate in Anambra community •PAGE 40

•PAGE 38

•Item people at the mini-stadium

Community rallies youths at feast ‘ I

T was much more than merrymaking at the end of the year. The most revered masquerades were about. The teeming crowd kicked up clouds of late December dust. Muscular, barechested cultural dancers thrilled with as much good music as breathtaking foot work. Local delicacies were also abundant. Yet, the Item Cultural Day was not just about eating and drinking. Nor of meeting dignitaries who, though, were not in short supply. At the Jane Oteh Mini-Stadium, Amaokwe Item, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, where the event held on December 30, Item community evaluated its progress over 12 months, addressed challenges and tired to peer into the future. Perhaps, the best part was the focus on youth development, on which the feast theme was based. Not only indigenous people turned up. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

honoured on the day, as was host state Deputy Governor Chief Emeka Ananaba. The day provided the opportunity not only to showcase a rich cultural heritage, but also for the people to take stock of their progress in the outgoing year, come to terms with their challenges, and, perhaps, proffer solutions. The people saw huge gaps in growing their youths, and moved to fill them. For instance, it was noted that the community was not leveraging on the potentials of youths due to their lack of skills. How to correct this? Apart from their academic qualifications, Item people made a case for helping youths to acquire skills and become entrepreneurs. This will enable them to feed themselves and their families, employ indigenous people and develop their land. Item natives who distinguished themselves were honoured. Apart

The people saw huge gaps in growing their youths and moved to fill them. For instance, it was noted that the community was not leveraging on the potentials of youths due to their lack of skills. How to correct this? Apart from academic qualifications, Item people made a case for helping youths to acquire skills and become entrepreneurs. This will enable them to feed themselves and their families, employ indigenous people and develop their land

from Dr. Alex Otti, former Managing Director, Diamond Bank, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in

Abia, Rear Adimral Emeraku Ijioma (rtd), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former Deputy General Manage,r Abia State Environmental Protec-

tion Agency (ASEPA) and Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa were equally decorated for outstanding service. The performance from various traditional dance groups, the entrance of Item masquerades into the venue of the event, shooting of fireworks at the event, made it even more interesting. One of the unique things about the event was that it provided visitors the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the community and as well serve as a boost to the economic life of the people of the area as volume of trade increased by over 50% per cent. For instance, the reporter visited one of the local delicacy outlets with a view to sampling one. Sorry, the attendants said, everything has been eaten up. The reporter left disappointed. The suya spot and bars were agog as connoisseurs inundated attendants with demands. •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT Community rallies youths at feast •Continued from page 25 Many indigenous Item people especially those from the Diaspora who spoke with the reporter, said that the event offered them the opportunity to meet their loved ones and also appreciate their culture which they hoped to pass on to the next generation. Commending the organisers for organising the programme and choosing the theme: Youth as Enduring Asset in Community Development, they expressed the hope that the programme would be sustained and youth activities incorporated to make it more colourful and attractive. In his address, the President General of Item Development Association (IDA), Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha said the programme, which holds every December 30 since its inception in 2007, serves as a unique platform for the community to celebrate God’s goodness in the affairs of Item people in the outgoing year. Equally important was the imperatives of taking stock and ascertain the progress the community made in the outgoing year as well as plan for the New Year. Onuoha thanking Governor Theodore Orji for getting contractors back to site to complete the Akanu and Okai Item roads. He also lauded the efforts and contributions of their sons and daughters who used their positions to attract development to the community. The cleric described the community as one of the most peaceful in Abia State and promised that they will continue to work with the police and other security agencies to maintain peace in the community appealing to well spirited individuals to assist the officers and men of

‘

•A dreaded masquerade making its way to the arena the police force in the area to work optimally by providing them with logistics. He also used the opportunity to appeal to Governor Orji to reconstruct the Alayi-Item-Nkporo roads as a parting gift to the community, recalling that many parts of the road especially the Amukabi, Amaokwe Item and Iyechi-Ugwu School Amaeke sections have failed. The Methodist Bishop also called on the federal government to provide the community with potable water, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure the speedy completion of the Amaokwe-Akanu-Okai and Okoko road projects. On the award to be given to some individuals the IDA president said “I must draw the attention of the

Outside the formal educational system, the youths should be encouraged and assisted to acquire skills that will enable them to be self-reliant. This could take the form of sponsoring them to undergo training in various vocations, with a view to equipping them to become entrepreneurs. Their energy should be channelled into productive ventures

awardees of today, that IDA as a cultural and non-political organisation; her awards are de-

•War Dance Group performing at the feast

EPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed concern over the perennial gridlock at the Ninth Mile Corner in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State especially during festivities, promising to find a lasting solution to the problem before the next Yuletide. Motorists and holiday makers have been encountering serious difficulties passing through the Ninth Mile Corner, which is a major gateway for travellers from Northern and Western parts of the country due to heavy traffic and absence of alternative

signed to recognize tangible and verifiable contributions of the recipients to social and economic progress of our community and Nigeria at large, the ultimate aim being to encourage them to do even more. Most of those honoured under this platform in the past seven years, have always vindicated us their further superlative performance in service to humanity. So we urge all our awardees of today to know that we are throwing them up for greater service to humanity and additional recognition and elevation in future”. A guest lecturer, Dr. Emole Oteh in a paper which discussed the youth as an enduring asset to community development, described them as the most vibrant segment of every population with vast potentials that need to be harnessed. He said that by getting them involved in developmental efforts in the community, they will contribute meaningfully towards attaining the goals and aspirations of the community.

Oteh identified some of the challenges facing the participation of youths in community development efforts in Nigeria to include insufficient training, lack of encouragement by chiefs and elders of the community, intermittent change of government and selfishness among youth leaders opined “As a way forward, it is hereby suggested that adequate awareness programmes should be put in place to encourage youths participate more in community development projects. “Outside the formal educational system, the youths should be encouraged and assisted to acquire skills that will enable them to be self-reliant. This could take the form of sponsoring them to undergo training in various vocations, with the view to equipping them to become entrepreneurs. Their energy should be channeled into productive ventures. They should not be abused. Parents should under no circumstance allow their children to be used as thugs by politicians seeking elective posts”. In his remarks, former MD of Diamond Bank thanked the Item community for deeming it to recognize them, stressing that the recognition would spur him and others to do more in their different capacities. Otti however used the opportunity to urge youths in the state and the country at large to reject being used to cause breach of peace or political thugs, reminding them that as leaders of tomorrow and ambassadors of their various homes, they should be conscious of their actions and avoid anything that would tarnish the image of their families, communities and country at large. He also prayed that 2015 elections in the state and country would be fruitful.

I’ll clear Ninth Mile gridlock, says Ekweremadu From Chris Oji, Enugu

routes. Holiday makers who travelled through the commercial town during the Christmas and New Year season had a very bitter experience as they were held up for several hours, forcing some to seek alternative routes through bush paths in neighbouring villages at great risk. The Chimaroke Nnamani government had few months before leaving office in 2007 attempted to tackle the traffic problem by

creating the Ebeano Bypass intended to divert traffic from Nsukka highway through the Ama Brewery junction to Enugu – Onitsha Expressway in order to decongest Ninth Mile. Although only the earthwork was done before the administration left office, some motorists used the road as alternative route especially during the Christmas season. Travelers from different parts of the country and the people of some neighbouring communities have continued to lament their plights on account

of the perennial traffic crisis in the area during the yuletide. In spite of the contingent arrangements put in place by the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission to ensure free flow of traffic in the area this yuletide season, the problem persisted mainly due to the deplorable condition of the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway axis and the absence of alternative routes to decongest the only single carriageway used by motorists.

Experiencing the incessant difficult traffic situation at Ninth Mile, Senator Ekweremadu, who represents Enugu West senatorial zone, promised that everything possible would be done this year to ensure that the traffic gridlock in the area was eliminated. Ekweremadu, who visited the Amandim-Olo community in Ezeagu local government area to inspect progress of work on the road project he attracted to the •Continued on page 27

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Enyimba City ticks again after holidays

HE hum lessened during the Yuletide. You could hardly hear the clang and jangle of the workmen’s metals or the sustained din of hagglers. Aba, the commercial headquarters of Abia State, lost much of its bustle. But now, it is ticking back to what the people used to know. Artisans, traders, commercial drivers and other residents who travelled out to their hometowns are returning and the Enyimba City is filling up again. Some returnees, especially parents making purchases for their children and wards lamented that the economic crunch was still taking its toll on their finances. One such parent, Mr. Frank Olewe, said, “I returned to Aba from Item on January 1 because one of my daughters’ school resumed on the 4th and her other siblings including those at the university will be resuming soon. So I am here to buy some of the things that they will need for the term. We thank God for granting us the grace into 2015, but the truth is that majority of the civil servants are finding it hard especially as some of us are yet to receive our salaries”. Another parent, Gideon Offor who said he worked in a private firm, said, he was in the market to buy things for his kids before prices of goods and other commodities

•Usually busy Cemetery Road gradually regaining its character From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

got out of reach of low income earners as was usually the case in January when most traders capitalise on the limited goods to exploit traders.

“Most companies from my experience usually take stock from December until sometime mid-January when they will start supplying goods in the market. So some of the traders who stocked products that are in demand will always hike

their prices because from experience, it is usually like that in January and that is why I am here before the market gets crowded”. A trader who sells textbooks at Ariaria International lamented low patronage blaming publishers for

supplying books and other learning materials to schools that persuades parents to buy from the school instead of coming to the market to patronize them. •Continued on page 28

I’ll clear Ninth Mile gridlock, ‘ says Ekweremadu

•Continued from page 26

senatorial district, said that his presence at the senate was not just to make laws but to use the mandate to seek ways of assisting his people. He said: “So many of you have been waiting for us here but we came late because of the traffic problem at Ninth Mile. There was a serious traffic gridlock there which delayed our journey. I know the problem the people of this area have been passing through at Ninth Mile particularly this time of the year. I have experienced the problem today and I want to tell you that the Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall see them no more. “It will be a major issue that will be address this year. So, by Christmas 2015 there will be an easy movement at Ninth Mile.” Thanking the people of Amandim for their tremendous support for his cause, Senator Ekweremadu assured that he would continue to regard the problem of the community as his, adding that he would endeavour to identify with them. He said: “God has been very kind to us, he has answered our prayers and that is why we are celebrating. I thank the Reverend Fathers for their prayers. I am very close to this community. I remember that I gave this community a transformer sometime ago. I have just inspected the road project we are doing here and I am happy that it is moving well. I will like to assure this community that before this time next year, we will be able to have

I remember that I gave this community a transformer sometime ago. I have just inspected the road project we are doing here and I am happy that it is moving well. I will like to assure this community that before this time next year, we will be able to have asphalt overlay on that road

asphalt overlay on that road. We can only do this because the contractor is doing a good job and he is interested in completing the work. “So, we are going to fund the project in the 2015 budget so that there will be enough resources to complete the project for our commissioning before this time next year. I am also aware that you have a challenge of drinking water in this community; again, we are going to address that problem. “ Responding to a request by Amandim community to come to the aid of their dethroned traditional ruler, Igwe Harford Agana, who they said “is being persecuted for being on the side of the truth” by the state government, the Deputy President of the Senate assured that the matter would be amicably resolved. “We don’t want trouble in the communities. We want peace so

that there will be progress in this community. No matter the level of provocation, we must need peace in this community. There is no problem that cannot be resolved on the roundtable. I know about the issue you have raised and I want to assure you that it will be resolved. There is nothing to worry about, so we will resolve it,” he said. Earlier, the Amandim Community had in an address presented by the Secretary of the Town Union, Dr. Maxwell Odumeh expressed gratitude to Senator Ekweremadu for his tremendous assistance to the community and appealed to him to come to the aid of their embattled traditional ruler, who they said had ensured the progress of the community. “Under the leadership of Igwe Harford Agana we witnessed rapid infrastructural development like the express linking us with Uzo Uwani and Iwollo, elec-

•Motorists making a detour from 9th Mile to Enugu

trification of the community, provision of pipe borne water, quick dispensation of justice and more importantly security of lives and properties. All these are in the past now, crime has increased and nobody is safe as the community is left without effective leadership. “It is worthy of note that Igwe Harford Agana has been the Igwe of the community for over 13 years and rose to become the chairman Enugu West Council of Traditional Rulers due to his excellent leadership qualities despite his youthful age. “He has helped in mediating peace in Amandi, Olo and the entire Enugu West, his advice is sought far and wide and that he gladly and freely gives. However, the peace and tranquility we enjoy was shattered when on 12th August, 2014 an impostor was

imposed on us without consultation, the community protested but was not heard instead we were brutalized. We are therefore crying out for justice and redress of this injustice by restoring to the throne the rightful owner and we are confident that justice will be done,” the community told Senator Ekweremadu. Also speaking, the embattled royal father, Igwe Agana, who had challenged his dethronement in court, noted that Ekweremadu has shown great interest in the affairs of the community and had assisted them with the provision of infrastructure. He urged the people of Amandim to pray for Ekweremadu’s success in all his endeavours so that he would continue to assist the community, which is part of his constituency.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

HE Ambassadors Club of Awka, capital of Anambra State, has welcomed new members into its fold, presenting them with membership certificates. The club, since its founding in 1991, has, against all expectations, become the vehicle of development in the capital city. It has, for instance, immortalised three outstanding indigenous people of the city through scholarships established in their names. The three people are the late Prof. Kenneth Dike, first Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI) who majored in history; former Minister in the then Eastern Region, Dr. Nwoye Otuo, who was the first Awka person to study medicine in Nigeria, and Chief Amanke Okafor, first law graduate in the community and first Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Nigeria. Every year, three students win the scholarships and go on to study the course in which those departed icons distinguished themselves. The late Okafor served when legal luminary, Chief Rotimi Williams was the NBA’s President. The club is under the leadership of Collins Iloanya, who holds a Master’s degree from Unilag. Some of the new members included the member representing Awka South I Constituency in the State Assembly, Hon. Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka, who is also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Others were Chuka Anueghuagu, Kene Ejiofor, Charles Nwakalor, Obinna Achusi, Omerah Odum and Jekwu Ikem whose names were reeled out by the night’s compeer Chuks Nweke amid sustained cheers from the audience. It was also, a display of cars and of food and wines and of the latest dance steps by the members and their wives including their young guests. One-time governorship aspirant

‘ Club inducts members in Awka From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

in the state, Chief Emma Nweke, a shipping magnate, was equally in attendance. T he only Awka name that was obviously absent was that of Chief Ben Ndi Obi, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Matters. His associates, however, were present. Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, former state chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was in attendance, with the former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Kelue

The club, since its founding in 1991, has, against all expectations, become the vehicle of development in the capital city. It has, for instance, immortalised three outstanding indigenous people of the city through scholarships established in their names

Molokwu. Speaking with The Nation, State Coordinator, Transform Nigeria

Movement (TNM), Comrade Obi Ochije, a member of the Ambassadors Club, said it had been a rally-

•Continued on page 38

‘

•Stalls razed at Ehi Road

Enyimba City ticks again after holidays

We have enjoyed a robust relationship with Aba residents which also yielded to the success we recorded during the festive period and to ensure that we maintain the standard, we are going to organise routine seminars and lectures for our officers and men to ensure that they didn’t drift from the attitudinal change

•Continued from page 27 The situation was not the same at school road market where parents and people that sells school bags in commercial quantity were seen making choices of school bags for sell and their kids. Some of them who commented said school bags were part of the inevitable that children needs and can be affordable for parents of any class depending on the person’s choice and taste. However, visit round some of the commercial park reveal that until the time of this report people are still coming back the hinterlands and other places where they spent their Christmas, a few of the commuters including Mrs. Ngozi Chika told our reporter that she was coming back from one of the northern states and would not be going until the 2015 election ends. According to Chika, there is so much tension surrounding this election. My family (Children) came back December. My husband is no more and I can’t risk my life and that of my children staying in the north until this coming election passes by. Until the election ends and swearing-in of whoever that will emerge the president takes place, we are not going to go back. At least, we can talk about feeding for now and talk about how

ing point for the community. He commended the leadership of the club for peace in the land and urged them to continue in such manner, adding that with such a situation, very soon, the capital city would be a heaven on earth. Also, Molokwu told The Nation that the club was attached to the three Awka indigenes who made the community proud in discharge of their duties in their endeavours. He said the mission of the club was to be good ambassadors of the

•A section of Eziukwu Market slowly coming back to life my children can continue with their studies later”, she said. However, while the Christmas returnees were enjoying a relative peace and secured environment, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara in a chat with The Nation attributed the peace recorded within his command during the festive period to the commitment of men and officers in his command towards achieving the instructions and directives of the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba and Abia State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim that police in Ni-

geria and Abia State should humble, loyal and dedicated to their duties. According to Wagbara, “we also adopted a proactive operational strategy such as visibility policing; where police were seen in almost all the nooks and crannies of the city, because we believe that high visibility policing will scare hoodlums from taking the advantage that people left their homes for the hinterlands to come and loot their properties. Our men patrolled with their vehicle and on foot including stop and search points, all in a bid

to ensure a crime free festive period. “Adhering to the IGP’s and CP’s directives has helped in the reduction of crime and criminality drastically within the Aba and Abia Command. It might interest you to know that in this command (Aba Area Command) throughout the festive period and ass the moment that I am talking with you (Tuesday), we have not recorded any crime in the command. “We have enjoyed a robust relationship with Aba residents which also yielded to the success we re-

corded during the festive period and to ensure that we maintain the standard, we are going to organise routine seminars and lectures for our officers and men to ensure that they didn’t drift from the attitudinal change. “We are also collaborating with other security agencies in Aba, its environs and the state at large to ensure that we synergized to curb crime rate in Aba and its environs”. He further appealed to the general public to provide the police with valuable information that would to the minimal reduction of crime rate in the commercial city that host a lot of business groups and economic activities on daily basis.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

AMNESTY DEAL

PEA CE AT LAST PEACE

URHOBO N ATION NA

HE has been quiet since he left office as the Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (INEC). Chief Sam Edem is now back. What does he have to do with the amnesty programmes? Plenty, he says.

FOR the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu in Benin City, the Edo State capital, heads have rolled. Will this now guarantee the peace that has eluded it since 2012? Or will those fired fight back in the New Year?

MANY Urhobo people in Delta State feel their nation is going through trying times, especially in relations to political advancement. The President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene, speaks on this and more.

•PAGE 35

•Edem

•PAGE 33

•Olotu

•Peterside addressing Ogoni people at the event

HIS year’s Ogoni Day has come and gone. But, its memories will linger on for a long time in the minds of many. Environmental justice, politics and the need to actualise the Ogoni dream took the front seat at the event, which was attended by community leaders and politicians. Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was represented by his preferred successor, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), which organised the event, called for the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the oil pollution of Ogoniland. The speech of Mr. Pius Barikpoa Nwinee on behalf of the National Un-

ion of Ogoni Students’ USA , undelined the people’s quest for justice. Nwinee said: “On behalf of the National Union of Ogoni Students’ USA, I humbly present to you a message of goodwill, hope, and assurances this January 4, 2015 as we celebrate “Ogoni Day” the United Nations’ World Indigenous Day. The students’ organisation is honored to be a beckon of hope for our people and our assur-

•PAGE 32

•Omene

Justice, politics take front seat at Ogoni Day

PAGE 29

ances is that we will emerge from political, environmental, and economic enslavement “Together.” “We are here today to rekindle the position of the Ogoni people highlighted in a letter to Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company, world leaders, and institutions all over the world on 10/ 25/2014 pertaining to divestment of Shell Oil Blocks in Ogoniland. • CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Joy as Ewohinmi gets hospital after 25 years From Osagie Otabor, Benin

WENTY five years is not a short time to wait. That is what the people of Ewohinmi in Edo State had to endure. For 25 years, they were told a modern health facility was on the way. Land was acquired. Skeletal work was started. But it took all of 25 years for their joy to come. The journey to the final realisation of their dream for a better health care started in 2008 shortly after Adams Oshiomhole was sworn-in as governor-- after a long legal tussle to reclaim his mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After he assumed office, Oshiomhole visited the site of the hospital . The state of the hospital saddened him. His reaction at the sight of the hospital was perhaps informed by the fact that N58 million was spent on it by his predecessor. The contract was awarded to a former Chairman of the PDP in the state. Nothing was on ground to show that such amount was spent on the hospital, a development which forced residents to seek medical care elsewhere. The hospital was conceptualised 25 years ago to provide secondary medical services to the people, but the project was abandoned. It later started as a cottage hospital and was upgraded to a district hospital in 1992. It then had a medical doctor and five nurses . There were no adequate medical facilities. Oshiomhole revoked the contract and re-awarded it . Now, 60-bed hospital stands on the land. It is fitted with stateof-the-art medical equipment and facilities. Commissioner for Health, Heregie Aihanuwa, said the government recruited 94 additional employees, including eight consultants and medical officers, 25 staff nurses/midwives and other medical personnel. Modern equipment have been provided for radiology, surgery, pathology and neonatology. Three electricity generating sets and a dedicated transformer were provided. • CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Amnesty deal, Jonathan and I, by Edem The former Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem, has kept silent for a long time. In this interview with reporters at his residence in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, he broke the silence. KAZEEM IBRAHYM was there. INSECURITY in the land

T’S on record that I conceived and delivered the Amnesty being enjoyed today (in the Niger Delta). (Militancy) was a serious security challenge and was not an external challenge but an internal challenge. Boko Haram started as an internal challenge but somehow it has accorded quasi external involvement. Now, in conflict resolution, you must use the carrot and stick approach. So, government must continue to use carrot and the stick to address Boko Haram.

Lessons from Niger Delta Amnesty During the peak of the Niger Delta security crisis, I did what nobody did. I took a flying boat to the Creeks to sit down with the militants to understand their problem because I had told the then President that nobody was born a militant. While in Rwanda, one of the ministers told me he loved the Nigerian proverb that says, ‘Na something make crayfish bend!’ Incidentally, I sat down with them and saw their problems, I almost shed tears. There was no drinking water, what they drank was as black as charcoal. There was a hall, which served as a classroom during the day and at night they all slept there. The ground was permanently wet. My shoe was soaked all through and when I returned I told Mr. President, we have a problem. We had a listening president, so we started working on the problem. I told them they were living in sub-human conditions; mosquitoes were our guests, even drinking water was a severe challenge so why don’t we have a piece of understanding? I got all the assurances that the militants will honour the Amnesty and went back to inform my bosses that the boys had accepted a conditional Amnesty, which was what I asked for. It’s was “embrace liberty, surrender arms” and today there is peace in the Niger Delta. If there is a problem you don’t overreact, you address the problem. If you travel on the road and the bridge collapses do you curse the river or God? No, you see how to build a bridge to cross the river. That was what I did and thank God today everybody is crossing it happily. I believe with a good approach something good may come out of this problem with Boko Haram. Also, confident building is very important. The first thing I learnt in Management was Peace Building, Peace Enforcement and Peace Sustenance. You build the peace, enforce it and sustain it.

Power sector reform His policies are good, the power sector reform is very vital. Without power there is no industrialisation, you cannot build industries running on generators. He is taking on the power sector head on and we must recall when this problem started. It started right from when Nigeria abandoned Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, ECN. ECN was compartmentalised;

every city or state in Nigeria had ECN, Ibadan had theirs, which powered the entire city just as the one in Lagos powered the entire metropolis. ECN functioned very well and there was no power failure, but then the whole system was abolished and centralised, when Kanji came on board, it became a problem. Once, in my interaction with a former president of this country, who was my guest in Uganda, I told him, ‘Sir, if we had a Mercedes Benz bus, mechanically fitted, running from Sokoto to Lagos every day, with Mercedes engineers running the car, after a year the car will start breaking down and will affect the journey between these two cites but, if there are 50 Mercedes buses, running alternatively on the same route, we will have transportation between Sokoto and Lagos forever’. So, diversifying the power sector, as we are doing now, is the best thing to do. You can see that there is a lot of improvement. Nigeria cannot industrialize without power, so the President knows that the power sector is so vital to the growth of the economy, he tackles it equally.

Railway reform In reforming infrastructure, he makes sure that the roads are no longer death traps and there are improvements. Above all, you have the rail way system because no country in the world can undertake haulage on the road. I was in Russia, Canada, India and other countries. In Russia, the major system of transportation is the rail system. What hundred trucks would carry, one coach in the railway system could carry it. So, he is tackling the railway system seriously too, except someone who does not want to see it. Like the biblical story of Moses and the bronze snake, there are some people who do not want to see what Jonathan is doing at all no matter how commendable they are because of their mindset. Nevertheless, that changes nothing because he is doing a good job.

Aviation reform The aviation industry is another instance; if you were to go round the airports to see what is happening there, considering how they were ten years ago, compared with what they are today, you will appreciate that somebody with good vision is tackling its reforms and that Jonathan has done a good job.

Education reform There was an industrial action in the school system for about 11 months, there were “need assessment” by all the Universities, but all those challenges have been solved. When I spoke to my professor friend recently, he told me with a smile that they are doing well. They are faring better than before because government shut its eyes and gave over N100 billion for the reform of the University system, that is a statement for you. You cannot solve all the challenges

in one day. The President is not a magician, even if he was, for those who read the Bible, they say God, created the world in six days, he was so tired that he rested on the seventh day. So, those expecting Jonathan to transform Nigeria in one day are not realistic. It cannot be done in one year, not in two years, not in three years; I believe that in eight years the President can make a history. Eight years is almost like one decade, we can make our history and when you look at his score points in the past four years then there is hope for the next four years. Let us say he has scored 60 percent these past four years, by the time he ends the second term he might have scored about 95 percent because he is not starting but continuing with the projects. He is heading towards the continuation and finishing point for the projects. So, this group (Good Governance Support Group) totally supports President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term. We appeal to all Nigerians to support him for a second term.

Building legacies Let us look at national problems as national problems and not the president’s problem. He is only trying as an umpire to see how best he can rally resources to solve these problems. Once in India, I was in a big park called Gandhi Park. In the park was a small house, inside which was a pair of eye glasses, a loin cloth and a pair of slippers, that is all the property Gandhi left behind yet he left something more than the eyes can see. He left a name behind; Nigerians should be working toward leaving a name behind. It is said ‘when wealth is gone, nothing is gone, when health is gone, something is gone but when character is gone, all is gone’. Let us therefore stop apportioning blame, let us identify national problems and address them, and let the president be. He is doing his best being at the helm of affairs of this terrible class room called (Nigerian) politics as the head master.

war should be given a chance. If the region had worked against Nigeria during the civil war there would have been no Nigeria today. So, the Southsouth, which had been on the fore front of Nigeria’s unity and progress, is today asking the whole country to support its son, who is aspiring to contest the presidency for a second term. I have this to say, if you are driving a car on a rough terrain you adjust you gear as you drive along. There is something called the starting gear and the driving gear, so wherever the road is very rough you slow down and change gear. As you approach your destination or midway, you also wish to repair the bad portion of the road that has been giving you stress, that is g o v ernance.

ture, head on. Oil sector, he tackled head on, so I believe that he needs the support of everyone. I stand by the conviction that he needs the support of everyone, people should support him. If you look at him as a person, he is a very humble person, very considerate and humane. I have a quotation at the entrance of my house by one great historian, which says “Of all the manifestations of power, restraint impresses m e most”. So, to restrain the use o f power is an a t tribu t e o f leade r ship a n d that is what t h e president does. From a hum-

Good Governance Support Group This Good Governance Support Group (GGSG), which I have initiated, will be in support of President Goodluck Jonathan, standing on the principle that governance (in Nigeria) is by rotation, for the first time in the history of this country as a nation state the Southsouth (Niger Delta) has produced a president. I also believe that the region has the full right to complete its mandate, which are two terms per zone; the South West completed theirs, the North West’s mandate was interrupted (in the first term) by natural intervention and Goodluck Jonathan, who was the vice president then was constitutionally appointed to complete that term before being elected to start his mandate for the Southsouth. Looking at the issue from two concepts firstly, that the Southsouth has a mandate to complete, they have finished one mandate and now about starting its second mandate. The Southsouth, which has been at the fore front of Nigerian unity since the civil

•Edem

Meeting challenges As you go along in governance, you meet a lot of potholes and challenges, so you slow down and change gear, but come back to address those challenges. I believe in my heart that Jonathan is doing well, very well. But, Nigeria is a rough terrain that he is driving through. He cannot go at full speed, the car could break down. He has to drive very carefully and where he takes note of bad portions of the road he comes back to repair them, that is why we have the transformation agenda today. He is coming up with new ideas. Such rough terrain was the power sector. It was a rough terrain, which he tackled head on. He tackled infrastruc-

ble Christian family, taking on the rough terrain called Nigeria. He cannot go at reckless speed, he has to drive carefully. He has another four years, by the grace of God, to repair some of the very rough terrains and by the time he is through very few terrains will be left which are rough. I see that some criticism of Goodluck Jonathan is borne out of sentiments, ethnic analysis and religious convictions. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious therefore to harmonize these conflicting interests together and make it work is not an easy task. From all indications our president is doing that very well.

Need for unity I have served in a country, as an Ambassador, where the president was a Muslim and the wife was a practicing Christian. So, on Sunday the wife goes to church while on Friday the husband goes to the mosque, it never affected their home. Therefore, if our central point is Nigeria, the focus is Nigeria, our interest Nigeria, our vision Nigeria, whether somebody is going to a mosque or to church should not be a factor because when they come back they will be under the same umbrella, the same building called Nigeria. Whether you speak Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Efik or Oro, you do so under the same umbrella called Nigeria. Without this umbrella, where will you speak from? So, it is so pertinent and important that we must protect this umbrella called Nigeria and in doing so, we must be realistic with leadership because leadership habours challenges. Even in the home there are challenges between the husband and wife, how much more for one man to take responsibility for over 160 million people? Akwa Ibom politics When I was in War College as a participant, we visited Nigeria Army 1 DIVISION Headquarters, Kaduna at the Auditorium there is an inscription saying “When you come here, what you see here, what you hear here, what you say here, when you depart here, leave it here”. I found that so wonderful. So that is my principle. Let me state it here clearly and stand to be challenged that if I had wanted to be the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2006, there were no serious challengers. P e o p l e came to me saying ‘Sir, if you are contesting, we would like to step down for you’. I told them I’m not greedy for power that I have the challenge to bring peace to the Niger Delta and I’m not finished with that project, so I will not get in inv o l v e d with the government of Akwa Ibom State in terms of governorship but will support whoever that the people believe will be a governor and I did exactly that.

Relationship with Akpabio I don’t think we have told the world that we are quarrelling. Governor Akpabio is running a government and I don’t interfere in his government and I’m running my home and Akpabio is not interfering in my home. He minds his business and I mind my business. On my interest in the state, I’m seeing development in the state and I’m happy about it. I have seen the airport, the roads and stadium and I’m clapping for him.

Justice, politics take front seats at Ogoni Day • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

“W

E wish to strengthen our position by asking Royal Shell Oil Company to bequeath its 45 per cent interest in NNPC as equitable relieve for its liquidated debt and unliquidated damages. As a common practice the world over, Ogoni is entitled to rent, royalties, and proceeds for landownership; this has been denied us for over fifty years and therefore bequeathing the said 45 per cent to Ogoni will serve as compensation for the Ogoni people. “May we also reiterate on this occasion that, ‘Ogoni Oil mining license (OML 11) is not for sale.’ NUOS International USA recently discovered a sinister move by a pseudo Oil Company, (Belema Oil), an oil firm with link to Mr.Mutiu Sunmonu, the Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC), and Mr. Precious Okolobo, the Spokesman of Shell Oil Company Nigeria Plc., collating signatures in Ogoni areas to influence the sale of oil in Ogoni land. Some Ogoni community leaders were recently flown to Lagos where they held secret meetings on Ogoni Oil sale. They were bribed with N3 million and giving documents with which to collect signatures from the Ogoni people as consent to the sale of Ogoni Oil. We are restraining from naming names but we know all parties and agents involved from Tai, KenKhana, Nyo-Khana, Gokana and Eleme. We are humbly advising the leadership of MOSOP to distance itself from Belema/Shell Oil deal because we will fight it to the last man.” He added: “On the political situation in Ogoniland, the Ogoni students in Diaspora advise Ogoni people to re-strategise and re-position themselves to access the dividends of democracy. Ogoni people should negotiate their future with our votes. As democratically oriented people, we should start to engage our political arrowheads what their candidature would mean to Ogoni. Ogoni politicians should be accountable and answerable to the massive developmental and infrastructural stagnation in Ogoni. Importantly, Ogonis should no longer be subservient to the political class and therefore should monitor and expose public corruption, unethical practices (including ghosts and duplication of names on payroll in Ogoni Local Government Councils), and sharing of public funds in Ogoni. Silence means complacency. “The demand for the creation of state is still on the front burner in Nigeria. We hereby encourage you not to give up on the creation of Bori State as Bori State is the only remedy to the institutional enslavement of our people. “The issue of politically masterminded cultism in Ogoni is limping into national and international arena. Ethnically, we are losing greater number of youths in Ogoni area to politically master-minded cultism than any other ethnic group in Rivers State. The Ogoni youths must ask themselves, whether it is worthy to carry AK-47 for the sake of politicians, Belema/SHELL oil that means no good to Ogoni. Ogoni youths should ask for books and employments rather than guns. We urge Ogoni people to give priority to tackling security menaces in 2015 to bring normalcy into Ogoni Kingdoms. Ogoni people must live in peace because it is a universal right as declared by the United Nations.” The need to implement the UNEP Report did not escape Nwinee, who said: “On the issue of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), we hereby call on the Federal government and SHELL OIL to empower UNEP herself to come and handle the cleanup in Ogoniland as we shall not accept any Chinese firm that

Wike (left) and Peterside

has no technical know-how and capability to clean up Ogoniland.” He also had nice words about the man regarded as the fathers of modern Ogoni: “In conclusion, the generation of Paul Timothy Naaku Birabi left a legacy for Ogoni as pioneer nationalists and pathfinders, those of Ken Saro-Wiwa brought Ogoni out of the dirt and shadows enabling us to celebrate a day for the Indigenous peoples as it is today. The question that begs an answer is what will be our legacy? I leave this with us as a food for thought. NUOS INTL.USA call on Ogoni people to unite as we shall not fold our hands nor blind our eyes and watch SHELL OIL Company auction the remains of our heroes in the name of divestment of OML11. We also call on Belema oil to stay clear from OML 11 as it is not for sale.” Another memory that will not be easily forgotten was the emotion displayed by Ogoni people when Dr Peterside, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, arrived in Bori for the celebration. Peterside said watching the Ogoni fight for justice, equality and right while growing up as a lad on the streets of Bori, the Ogoni heartland and political headquarters, helped to mould his life. While addressing a mammoth crowd of Ogoni natives and guests during the 2015 Ogoni Day celebration organised last Sunday, January 4 at the Birabi Memorial Grammar School open field, Dr. Peterside described his visit as “homecoming”. Peterside grew up in Bori where in the cause of time, built a bond with the famous Wiwa family of Bane. Dr. Peterside, who was the representative of Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, at the event, praised the Ogoni for remaining resolute in the search for a better and cleaner environment. He recalled that when the debate on the UNEP Report for the clean-up of Ogoni land was on the floor of the House of Representatives, his voice stood in total support of the Ogoni. “I will remind you that when the issue of the clean-up of Ogoni land came up on the floor of the House (of Representatives), I was among the few voices that spoke extensively on what the Nigerian State owes Ogoni people. And I said on that occasion that we would do everything humanly possible to ensure that Ogoni land is

cleaned-up and that if Ogoni land was not cleaned-up, we would not rest.” The APC flag-bearer, who received record-breaking reception from the crowd, told the people how, with the support of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, he, for the first time, constructed every road in Bori. “The Ogoni Struggle became my life and my life became intertwined with the Ogoni Struggle. That was why when I had the opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Works of Rivers State, I, personally, with the support of the Governor, constructed for the first time all roads in Bori. Today, the roads I constructed in Bori are a living testimony of what I will do if given the opportunity (to serve as governor)”. Recalling what it was growing up on the streets of Bori, fetching and drinking water from Ogoni rivers and streams; cultivating their farmlands made rich by natural manure. Dr. Peterside said his heart is always broken much as any Ogoni to see such once fertile lands and rivers ruined and devastated. “I have drunk from the waters of Kpor. I have participated in farming in the farmlands of Nyortem, of Zaakpon, of Kaani. “And so, if they talk about social justice, I understand what it means.” Dr. Peterside said peace, justice and progress of Ogoni land were uppermost in his heart and would work, if elected governor of Rivers State next month, to ensure Ogoni’s environment was cleaned-up. “This place (Ogoniland) gave me the formative days of my life. As a young boy growing up on the streets of Bori, I admired the courage of the Ogoni people, their resilient spirit; their spirit of industry. And I can tell you those rare qualities in the Ogoni which I observed while growing up in Ogoniland inspired me to the point where I am today. “We have come in solidarity with the Ogoni people; in solidarity with Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People. If we were here for politics, I will remind you that when the issue of the clean-up of Ogoni land came up on the floor of the House (of Representatives), I was among the few voices that spoke extensively on what the Nigerian State owe Ogoni people. And I said on that occasion that we would do everything humanly possible to

Mr. Legborsi Tsaro

ensure that Ogoni land is cleaned-up and that if Ogoni land was not cleanedup we would not rest. You will recall that my relationship with the late Pa Chief Jim Wiwa of Bane and that I participated in most meetings that led to the birth of the Ogoni Bill of Right not as an outsider but as a son with rights. So my brothers and my sisters, I have not come for politics but I must say that this is like a home coming for me. “To you our brothers and sisters, as we mark another Ogoni Day, please know that what is uppermost in our mind is peace, justice and progress of Ogoni land.” Peterside and Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, ‘put politics aside’ and exchanged pleasantries. Wike declared that he would work with Ogoni people to actualise their dream. He noted that as an administrator who believes in development, he would ensure that all the programmes meant for Ogoni development are brought to fruition. He stated that as governor of Rivers State he would develop Ogoniland and all other ethnic nationalities across the state. Wike said: “We are committed to the development of Ogoniland and the entire Rivers State. The emerging Rivers State Government under the platform of PDP will address the challenges being faced by Ogoniland. I will personally lead the struggle to develop Ogoniland.” The Ogoni people will have to wait till after May 29 to see what their next governor will do for them. For now, they are preparing to go to the polling booths on February 28 to choose Amaechi’s successor.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Quick Lane debuts in Calabar

HE investment profile of Cross River State has risen a notch with the arrival of Coscharis Group, a representative of some of the top brands in the automobile industry, in Calabar. The company promises world class services. The company has introduced the Quick Lane Auto and Tire Centre. Calabar is the second place in the country the service has been introduced, the first being in Lagos in 2013. Addressing reporters in Calabar on the development Head, Dealer Network Development of the company, Adenuga Olalekan said: "Buying a brand new vehicle is just like a young man that is wedding on the wedding day, the woman looks gorgeous and is beautiful but whether she is going to remain that way for a long time to come is a question of maintenance. We as an organisation recognise the importance of after sales service of enjoying any new vehicle that you buy. And that informs our investment in after sales facilities nationwide. "Accidents are not act of God as we are often made to believe in the country. Often times it is a product of human error. Road accidents generate the largest number of accidents. We recognise that the human error in question involves either the use of substandard spare parts or trace the problem to poor maintenance or rickety vehicles. The objective if citing this facility is to be able to address

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

these challenges. We want to through this facility produce certified parts to be able to maintain all the vehicles that you have bought from us, so we can maximie the enjoyment. We have four key sections. One I have mentioned is the one that provides certified parts for vehicles you have purchased. The other one is the Quick Lane, which is not just Coscharis invention. It is a Ford franchise and established in several places around the world. It is just coming to Nigeria. The first one came to Lagos last year. This is the second one we would be having in the country today. It is an all brand facility. It does not have to do with any of the vehicles here. You can bring other brands and it would be accepted for quick servicing. That indicates that we have on ground well trained professionals that have theoretical and practical experience in the maintenance of the vehicles. The other facility is a fully equipped auto-service centre. Then there is of course the auto sales showroom. Our main emphasis really is the Quick Lane. Nearly everybody can sell any vehicle, but the maintenance of the vehicle is a job meant for professionals. Coscharis Motors I can tell you today is the only indigenous automobile company that has invested so much into after sales maintenance. It is our experience that we are bringing into this environment."

•From left: Olalekan, Babarinde and Odongharo.

General Manager, Marketing/ Corporate Services, Mr Abiona Babarinde, said they were out to create value in Calabar and environs. He said they represent seven global automobile brands. He said: "It is not just about the selling the car as a company. It is not about buying. It is about the aftersales. The issue is not just getting the parts but the right parts. If you walk into any of our facilities nationwide it is as good as walking into the manufacturers' workshop of the brands we represent.We are already relevant in Calabar already and we are bringing the brands

closer to the people.” He said the company was going to provide opportunities for qualified indigenes of the state to get employment with the company. He emphasized the need for training of the staff they would employ. South-South Regional Manager of the company, Owumi Odongharo, said, "We have been in Calabar but were operating from afar. So we found it expedient to come on ground which is what we have done, but other than that we have also been in the South-South region as long as Coscharis has been in existence. Port Harcourt hap-

pened to be our first port of call. We are going to have the same in every other state in the region. The whole idea is that wherever you find yourself, wherever you take hold of our product by way of buying, you have no reason to be afraid of how to maintain it. "I am talking of the south-south but we are replicating it in every other region of the country. Our coming is to ensure you don't hold any of our products with regret. This facility would be up and running in the first quarter of next year completely."

A psychiatric hospital’s search for peace

UNDAY Olotu, the Medical Director of the Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital, Uselu in Benin City, the Edo State capital, can now sleep with both eyes closed. At least for now. His supposed ‘enemies’ within the hospital cadres have been kicked out. The hospital has known no peace since 2012 when Olotu was appointed Medical Director. Some of the hospital’s employees who felt that the most senior officer in the hospital should have been made MD put up a fight against Olotu. Moments after news of his appointment was leaked, the workers embarked on a three days warning strike to press the Federal Government to rescind its decision. Leaders of the workers union then said the appointment did not follow due process. At a joint press conference by the former chairman of Senior Staff Association (SSA), Kennedy Oriakhi, chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Clement Ogbezuode, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nosa Osatohanmwen, they said interview for the position “was tainted with massive fraud”. They had alleged then that a special promotion interview was conducted for Olotu few minutes before the interview for the post of an MD. Olotu resumed duty but the workers who felt former Acting Medical Director, Dr. Charles Ikeji, should be confirmed as the substantive head of the hospital, put up a fight. The petitions forwarded to former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu were much that the minister on a working visit to the hospital said the medical centre was not a designation for politicking. Prof. Chukwu warned workers of the hospital against raising unfounded allegations against Dr. Olotu and said Dr. Olotu was qualified for the job.

For peace to reign at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu in Benin City, the Edo State capital, heads have rolled. Will this now guarantee the peace that has eluded it since 2012? OSAGIE OTABOR reports that all seems well now

‘

There’s no gain when workers are on rampage or instigate media reports. I therefore implore trouble makers who want to play politics to resign because I will not tolerate such in a work place

‘

He said: “There’s no gain when workers are on rampage or instigate media reports. I therefore implore trouble makers who want to play politics to resign because I will not tolerate such in a work place. “But if you have genuine petitions, be bold enough to put your name; and I assure you that the petitions would be looked into”, he added. Last month, four of the employees opposing Dr. Olotu’s appointment were sacked. The four affected employees were Mr. O.J UgiagbeOgbeide, Theophilus Osifo, Dr. Ambrose Lawani and Pharmacist Kennedy Oriakhi. Two others including the former Acting MD, Dr. Ikeji and Mrs. O.U Morgan were placed on suspension. Trouble started for the affected staff when they were allegedly

caught attempting to steal an official file belonging to a co-worker, Mrs. Taiwo Ifueko Agho, a former staff of the Edo State Primary Education Board who transferred her services to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric hospital. They were alleged to have given N2000 to one Sunday Adeche to help steal Mrs. Agho’s file and a driver to Dr. Ikeji, Onero Akerele was arrested at the scene of transaction after a tipped-off. Three days later, the hospital management pasted photographs of the affected staff around the hospital premises announcing their dismissal and suspension but the action did not go down well with the affected staff. Some of the affected employeesd a peaceful protest to the hospital

and sealed up the premises. It took the intervention of policemen from Okhoro division before the hospital gates were opened. They were arrested, handcuffed and taken to the police station. Orhiakhi, one of the protesters said: “Management has been maltreating us. We only came here to demand why our names were removed without any letter and they beat us up. “We were kept at home for five months illegally without pay. I have never seen this kind of thing before. Those of us that came here were beaten up. We don’t know if it is a crime to ask for our money.” Dr. Ambrose who denied attempting to steal file said he was being victimised to be eased out of service. He urged the Ministry of Health and Federal Civil Service Commission to take necessary steps to redress all acts of injustice meted out on imaginary enemies of Dr. Olotu. Explaining why the staff were sacked and suspended, Chairman of the hospital management board, Dr. Abieyuwa Osemwenkha, traced the problems to the appointment of the Dr. Olotu as the hospital’s MD. According to her, “Some staff believe that appointment should be based on seniority and I made them understand that in the Civil Service, there is nothing like seniority in the appointment of MD. It is strictly a political appointment. All you need to qualify for MD is to have post five years of the field you belong to. You must be a consultant. You must be a psychiatrist. “The current MD came first, then acting MD came second. The President appointed who took first and that did not go down well with some staff who believe that the oldest person should be made the MD. The interview was done with guidelines

from the Ministry of Health. These same individuals went to court and the court threw the case out. “We appeal to them and had meetings for them to sheath their sword. The cause of this recent incident was that a staff here transferred her services from the state to the federal. When you do a transfer of services, you merge your services and when you are due for promotion, you are promoted. She went for promotion interview and passed. These persons went to her former place of work and wanted to get her document. They paid money to a staff there and the persons they paid informed the woman.” Olotu said it took him six months to realise that the actions taken against his emergence were distractions. He said: “I decided to jettison all those side issues and focus on the mandate of Mr. President. I still see them as distractions. The extant rules of civil service has taken care of those distractions. “The dismissed staff remained dismissed and those suspended remained suspended until investigation is concluded. They had criminal charges preferred against them by the Nigeria police. They have been charged to court for falsification, threat to life and attempting to steal official document of a worker from where she was transferred from. It is a serious offence to be charged to court under the Public Service Regulations. “Talking about the past really doesn’t help, so the focus of my administration and management team is to move this hospital forward. I have been in this institution since June 1994. I started my training here and I finished my training here. I have been working as a Consultant for the past 12 years.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

‘It is a very trying period for Urhobo nation’ ‘ T

The President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene, in this interview with BOLAJI OGUNDELE, highlights the challenges facing the Urhobo nation, especially the so much talked-about marginalisation of the majority tribe in Delta state.

HE last few months you assumed the office of the President General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), how has it been? It is very challenging and interesting, challenging in the sense that this is a very trying period for Urhobo nation, the challenges have been there. In 2015 we are going to have the governorship election and nobody will want to be a loser and Urhobo nation will not want to lose the governorship race. So that is how it has been, we work around the clock to make sure we get it. You said something about it being a trying time for the Urhobo nation, besides the 2015 general election, any other … (Cuts in) For example, after war, there are also the spoils of war, even the time of sharing the spoils of war, you are cheated. You won’t be happy in trying to correct the abnormality. We see it as trying time; we really need to reposition ourselves properly in order to be accorded the recognition that is due us. Prior to this time, the UPU started a bridge building relationship with other tribes, in your terms how far? Yeah! We are working on that and then this bridge building relationship, we want to be friendly with our neighbour and I am sure that our neighbour did not disappoint us, the Itsekiri did not disappoint us, the Isoko did not disappoint us, the only place we had disappointment is the Ijaw neighbour. We have over the years been thinking that they are our close pals, neighbours but what they just demonstrated baffle us. You see in any relationship there should be a spirit of disastic and if the Urhobos voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan being our Ijaw neighbour. I saw no reason why the Ijaws will vote against us in the recent primaries because one good turn deserves another. Now, if for example we want to pay back, they are either telling Urhobo nation not to vote for Jonathan. If for ordinary primaries they decided to vote for us and they are so proud about it, so proud and happy that they did not vote for us. And they are indirectly telling us not to vote for the President in the forthcoming Presidential election. UPU said that the resolution of the Urhobo is that whoever gives its governorship ticket to an Urhobo aspirant will have Urhobos support. Now PDP has shown it is not ready to give support to Uvwiamuge Declaration. Does it mean that the President should be afraid? No! You see in any system there can be saboteur maybe some overzealous people who could be so close to the President can saboteur his effort, I don’t think that the President himself will want to make sure that Urhobos suffer. Sometime, your Aide can cause problem for you, some of your aide can cause problem for you. PDP is not just a carry go affair, the President should explain or discusses with the Urhobo nation and tell us why certain thing happened, and then we will understand. If the APC or any other party can gave us the governor-

ship ticket, it’s equally your right for you still need to discuss with us. What is going to be our own if we vote for you? We will not just go out blindly and vote but such people may have a better chance. The two, Mr. President and the Presidential candidate of APC and any other Presidential candidate will need to discuss with the Urhobo nation first and foremost before we can make up our mind, if you don’t talk to us we will not blindly go out there and throw our ballot papers into your box, it won’t happen. It looks like the mainstream of the Urhobo elites is not pleased with the former Governor James Ibori. Why? No Urhobo man, except maybe his agents, apart from his agents and cotravellers, no Urhobo man is happy with him. When this new executive (UPU) came, the first thing we did was to set aside the curse that was placed on him and he assured us that we will work together to produce an Urhobo governor because that is one of the anger we had against him, other than that one we had no other problem. What Dr. Omene said is the correct thing. His (Ibori) own daughter, Mrs. Erieh Atake, was at the venue, campaigning to everybody, including delegates from Ethiope West that her father said they should vote for Dr. Okowa. Again, recently at a marriage party held by one of the PDP Chieftains in Urhobo land, Chief Ighoyota Amori was at that party and right there at the party, he placed a call to Chief Ibori after which he handed the phone over to the organiser of that party that James Ibori was telling him who to vote for and also pleading with him, telling him to vote for Amori and also to Okowa. If he says that it is not true, he can come out to say it. After all he has been talking to people, let him come out and deny it and talk publicly that look ‘oh my stake is for the Urhobo’. What Urhobo elites say and what they believed is that he does not want any Urhobo man to grow politically. He wants the highest placed Urhobo politicians to dance around here at Asaba and his local government. None of them should become the Iroko tree like he used to. That is the anger of the Urhobo elites with him. Some believe that what happened at the primaries of the PDP is an indicator to the general election in February… It cannot and it will not because for example in the last local government election, in Ughelli local government alone, about 70,000 plus voters voted. Compare that to a local government like Bomadi, compare it to any three local governments put together in the North that is only one local government. See, very few local governments can beat Ughelli in terms of voters’ strength. You have the voters in Urhobo land. Genuine voters you have them in Urhobo land, the people are there and there is no faking there. Delta North, because of the mago-mago of the past when they gave them many local governments, they have about 440 delegates to Urhobo’s about 410 delegates, but their voting strength they are not more than one quarter of that of

After war, there are also the spoils of war, even the time of sharing the spoils of war, you are cheated. You won’t be happy in trying to correct the abnormality. We see it as trying time; we really need to reposition ourselves properly in order to be accorded the recognition that is due us.

•Omene

Urhobo. Burutu for example, the voters in Burutu are not up to a quarter of that of Ughelli local government, but Burutu is a local government. Urhobo people produce more votes for Jonathan than many or over twenty states in the federation in their separate capacities. Can UPU count on the faithfulness of Urhobo voters by the time the election comes? The case in party primaries is different from the general election. Primary is like delegates and delegates are controlled by their owners, delegates are controlled by the amount of money you give to them. So general elections are different and I can tell you it will be all out electoral war even the non-registered. Those who did not register whether you are in Ghana, you are in Sokoto, you are in Osun state or you come home, if you did not register, cheer up those that registered, push them to go and vote, it is not a question of as it used to be, no! We are not going to have dry votes by the grace of God, the people, their spirit is high, they will come out to vote. Just few hours to the primaries of the PDP, the governor threw his weight behind the UPU choice to emerge with the PDP ticket. Does it mean that his relationship with Urhobo nation has be mended or what happened then? He is an Urhobo man now, is he not? The governor is an Urhobo man, it does not mean that if your father does not come from Urhobo you are not Urhobo, if your mother comes from Urhobo, you are also Urhobo. He is partly Mosogar, he grew up here; he had his primary education here. So the thing is that at times, you have misunderstanding and at times you put this misunderstanding behind you. For example, if anybody wants to maltreat him now, Urhobo

will come out stoutly in his defence. I can assure you that. If anybody wants to rubbish him because of this or that, we will come out to defend him because he is one of us. There were times I have spoken bad of him too and at times he may have spoken bad of us, but the most importantly thing is the ability to reason together, to come together not to support Urhobo, but to only give everyone level playing ground. We said okay don’t support an individual, you are the governor, give everybody a level playing ground and that is what happened. So if somebody was carrying you before and you based all your strength on that person and the person now decides to be neutral you will fall. If you rely on your strength that is exactly what is going to happen at the general election. We are not saying everybody should come out and favour us. We are not saying the Governor should come and favour us because he is an Urhobo man. He should give everybody a level playing ground because democracy is all about number. See, the minority can have their say, but the majority will always have their way. In Benue state only Tivs have been in government, the Tivs have produced the government of Benue state right from the beginning of this democracy, they did not part with it and that does not mean the minority there did not have their say. You cannot have the state capital and be thinking of having the governorship, it’s unfair and if you want to do that you must come and convince us, don’t tell us it is the issue of strength. It is not long, this is just primaries and see the arrogance in them already, how their people talk, go and read the Anioma papers and how they have started insulting the Urhobo, they are not yet governor, they are not yet in Government House and

they have started talking rubbish about us. So why do you think Urhobo should feel comfortable by allowing them to be in Government House. How comfortable can we feel? Instead of them to say well the thing has come and gone, we are all the same, Urhobo we want to appeal to you, their papers and the so-called social media started insulting UPU, insulting my humble self, laughing at us, they are not good sportsmen. Who, between the candidate of the APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and that of the Labour Party, Chief Great Ogboru, will the UPU support? I can tell you which of the two. Before the primaries you had about seven and few days before the primaries, Urhobo came up with one and about that one who polled about 299 votes, the next person polled just 10 votes. When the time comes, UPU will tell the Urhobo nation what to do; so if we are able to bring seven people and we were able to shortlist them to one what is difficult then in asking one to step down for the other between the two people. It is not a problem. Urhobo knows what to do when the time comes and unlike the primaries we will not wait for the last hour before we take the decision. The elections are just eight weeks from now after the elections when the dust is settled what is going to be the focus of the agitation of the UPU? If UPU is 83 years old and all the 83 years old we are not devoted towards elections, it is just that these are the elections time otherwise there are other skirmishes between kingdoms against kingdoms even within kingdoms there are skirmishes here and there. UPU will look into this for it is a socio-cultural organization to further the interest of the people since government is not listening to the yearnings of the Urhobo people. UPU will still appeal to the government to

‘

please do something about it not confronting the government anyway, appeal to the government to look into the problem. We are there because of the collective welfare of our people not just there for name, not there for politics, we say politics, UPU is not a political party that is what people say but there is no socio-cultural group in this country that is not into politics. Let me give you an instance during the last constitutional confab, the Aferifere were there defending the interest of the Yorubas; the Arewa was there defending the interest of the Hausas. You have the Middle Belt defending their own interest. You also have the one Eze Ndigbo defending their interest. Is that not politics? If an Urhobo man is only an adulterated Urhobo man that will say UPU cannot play politics. How would you defend the interest of your people? If a group of people using politics to suffer you, to deny you of what is due you and you have a socio-cultural group like UPU. Are you saying UPU should not cry out? And in crying out what are you doing you are playing politics, so there is no socio-cultural group that is not into politics in Nigeria but there are some people who put their personal interest first before the interest of the general or the entire Urhobo people. Like a situation, is it not laughable for somebody to say because he was to be a Speaker? Urhobo man should not be a Governor because if Urhobo man becomes a Governor, he cannot be a Speaker, is it not laughable? Can you call that one a good Urhobo man? In other word, he is now thinking of his personal interest and that personal interest is over riding the interest of the entire Urhobo people but he forget to note too that it is God that gives position to man. If you fight for a position you will not get it; if God say this position is for you; you will

get it. Today if one and half years ago, somebody told me that look you are going to be a prominent member of UPU or a member of UPU Exco, I will say how? I will doubt it but I became a UPU member because when election was coming I did not know. You see I was invited to come and contest. I did not know that they were going to have an election, I was invited to come and contest and specifically told to contest for the 1st Deputy President General. Some people in UPU rose from Ex-official member to Deputy President General. I entered as 1st Deputy President General, not even Ex-official not even other ranks. I don’t know but I think its God own arrangement. We lost our President General. Even after the election so I am now the President General. I am the President General today because I did not dream to become one. I did not even dream to become 1st Deputy not to talk of President General. So whatever you will be you will be and you cannot be what you are not and if God has anointed you to become a Speaker you cannot be. People become Governor because it is the approval of God. Look at our incumbent governor, he is from one of the minority tribe in Delta State, a tribe that is considered somehow being unfriendly. Though not real not that they are unfriendly, people think they are unfriendly but they are not as people think and yet they produce the Governor, it is the hand work of God, it is not by the power of that individual who became Governor because ordinarily if an Itsekiri man wakes up to say he wants to be Governor, people will say you are joking but he is the Governor and people say they cannot be trusted, they are this, they are troublesome, they are this. People may not understand them but God understand them. You see is like that. This people if you want to get to any level, first and foremost put it in prayer. If God say it is your own, it is your own but my advice to the politician is that you should see yourself first and foremost as an Urhobo man before you become a member of that your party because at the end of that your party, you still remain an Urhobo man; if you occupy any position in your party after some time it will still expire and you go back home as an Urhobo man. So that is why they need to look at the Deputy Governor against all odds, he became an aspirant. UPU decided after setting up a Committee to say it is this person that can go. A whole Deputy Governor was gracious enough to lift up the hand of the chosen one by UPU and say I step down for you. That is somebody that is honourable and Urhobo nation will remain to appreciate that gesture that is why in our report after the primaries. Look at another Urhobo man James Ibori, the Urhobo nation put food in a plate for him, go and eat this food (that is the governorship) at the end of the day bring the plate so that we put another food for another Urhobo man, he carried the plate and give to another person and told us he is given it to that person because that person is also an Urhobo man and looking at it deeply the incumbent Governor is also an Urhobo man because maternally he is an Urhobo man. Okay no problem, after the tenure of that person, he now James says it should go to Delta North despite our appeal, despite our initial anger. This is the point; this is where we are angry with him. So today he is saying if at the end of the day he eventually gets the governorship which eyes is he going to look at Urhobo after selling out?

Joy as Ewohinmi gets hospital after 25 years

• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 O make the staff comfortable, three-bedroom doctors’ quarters and two-bedroom Nurses’ quarters were provided. The traditional ruler of Ewohinmi, Lord Peter Ojeifo, who spoke at the inauguration of the hospital project, praised Governor Oshiomhole for bringing development to his community. He said Ewohinmi would have remained in the backwater of underdevelopment but for the projects the APC led administration have inaugurated in the community. His words, “Today, we are hardly able to contain our joy over what Oshiomhole has done for us as a people. We can now talk of good roads in Ewohinmi and here we are celebrating the commissioning of a hospital that has raised the status of our town in no small measure.” Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who inaugurated the hospital project praised Oshiomhole for introducing infrastructural development revolution to the state saying, “it is regrettable that the 16 years of the rule of the Peoples’ Democratic Party at the federal level has been a colossal waste. He said “What you have in Edo State is common sense development revolution. Good security, employment, potable water supply, agriculture, good road infrastructure, vocational jobs to train and develop your mind and become independent in life. That is common sense development revolution. “The only way you can get it at the federal level is to have the voter’s card and vote out the PDP. The 16 years of

the PDP did not produce anything. They were here and they did not do roads to reach your communities and they could not give you boreholes. “We have spent six years now and six years of our arrival with our broom, we have been sweeping the dirt away. We say change from deceit; change from lies; change from excuses. Today the country is in darkness because of the deception of the PDP. When you pay a policeman, pittance how do you expect him not to take bribe? “We have built new hospitals and schools in six years. If you want continuity of this development, go and collect your voter’s card and vote for APC. You want water to flow; you want good roads; you want potable water supply, then vote for APC. “The reward for hard work is more work. So as the APC is doing well in Edo state, you expect more work. You must vote for more work and more facilities. Democracy is not a spectator’s game. If you have no card, go and collect one and vote against the PDP. There can be no running water if you don’t vote for APC. The PDP has failed and they will continue to fail”, he said. Asiwaju Tinubu said “Glory be to God we now have a government that build hospitals that would save lives; emergency sections that would ensure that accident victims are attended to; that premature babies would be taken care of . Thank you Adams, thank you for leading a government that works”. In his remarks, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the hospital project is one of the dreams of this administration to extend development to the rural communities. He said “For us in Edo State, the fact

of being rural does not mean the people are inferior. Rural life is a function of location and not of quality and consistent with the commitment of our party to have an all-inclusive development, the one that seeks to make people feel the impact of governance regardless of location, what you have seen is a practical statement that this is possible beyond rhetoric. “When I visited here in 2009, the previous government had awarded it, in fact several governments after government had awarded it and they were just using it to siphon money in the name of the people of Ewohimi and the blocks they were using were so bad. We had to demolish that foundation and build a completely new hospital. “His Royal Highness informed me that this project has been on for over 25 years and somehow they have given up. I am happy that God has used us to translate this to reality. We have built road connecting Ewohimi to other major towns in Esan and shortly we shall be commissioning them.” On the poor power supply in the community, Oshiomhole said “It is important for the people to know that as long as the PDP is in power, the people would be out of power. So whenever you have the opportunity, let the young and old know that the problem of power supply cannot be solved unless the PDP is voted out of power.” The inauguration of the hospital was part of activities to mark the six years anniversary of Oshiomhole’s administration. Tinubu also inaugurated the rebuilt 6-lane New Lagos road, complete with walkways and street lights.

Joy in Rivers community as foundation empowers 571 Widows

T was a time of giving, receiving, excitement and thanksgiving in Rundele Community of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State as 571 christian widows drawn from churches in the community were empowered by the Alice Worluh Widows Foundation. The event, which took place last at St. John Anglican Church, Rundele was not the first outing of the foundation. It was gathered that it was the fifth edition of providing relief materials and financial assistance to widows in the state. The event was particularly significant as it was done at the yuletide season, which is a season of giving and receiving. Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Niger Delta Report said the gesture of the foundation was very important and thanked God for sustaining the founder and the programme since inception. “One thing about this gesture is that it broke us down emotionally each time we come together to receive these items. This is because the chairman of the foundation is not the only man who has money in this area but out of the little that God has provided for him he will always share it among the widows,” Mrs. Ogbu Priscilla said. Another beneficiary, Mrs. Theresa Woferi, prayed that God Almighty would meet the needs of Worluh. “God has been using him to provide for us; today is a special day different from other days. The widows in Rundele community are receiving rice, wrapper and cash from the benevolence act of our son, Worluh Lucky. I am not happy being a widow, but I am happy to be one of those receiving. Every widow in this land is testifying that they use new wrapper at the end of every year. I think Worluh has found blessing in giving alms to wid-

•Worluh giving gift to one of the beneficiaries From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

ows.” Queeneth Lucky Worluh, the wife of the Chairman of the foundation, said she was very happy to know that God was using her family and the foundation to restore joy to the hearts of the widow. “It has been my prayers that God should use me to save souls and this dream has been achieved by His grace. I have always supported my husband morally and financially, so I use the same opportunity to call on other wellmeaning Nigerians to always remember the poor. I know that it takes the grace of God to give alms, but one can as well develop the habit of giving. If we imbibe the culture of giving Nigeria will become a better place for all of us.” Lucky Worluh said the purpose of the outreach is to reach out to those who are in need, adding that the outreach does not have any political undertone, but is purely a work of God. He said his interest is for peace to be in Rundele even in the forthcoming election, maintaining that he is not biased in the selection of the beneficiaries.

He said: “Today is a different day. When I remember my past today, I would have liked to sing and dance with you here. Widows are the people of God, and I am interested in their welfare. One who gives to widows God replenishes him or her. Based on some biblical testimonies, I am still striving to be like people of old who gave their all to the service of God. We are reaching out to 571 widows today. This has been a yearly programmme, and I derive joy in reaching out to widows. The programme is a kind of covenant my family has with God. I prefer giving to the widows at this time than partying with the rich. “This is the only way we can appreciate God for all the numerous blessings he has freely given to my family. My own mother was also a widow. She suffered to bring up her children just that death couldn’t allow her eat the fruit of her labour. So, the only thing we the children can do for her is to immortalize her name through this Foundation, Alice Worluh Widow Foundation. We do this yearly and it has been helpful, in fact it has become a ministry.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Oron Nation threatens to shut down oil operations

From Rosemary Nwisi

HE Oro Nation in Akwa Ibom State comprising of five oil producing Local Government Areas is not finding funny the zone’s exclusion from the governorship race by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) . Last month, the peopleheld peaceful protests at Oron and Lagos. The Oron protest, which started from the Oro Development Union House, went through most of the major streets in Oron town with markets, shops and other businesses closed by their owners for hours, to join the protest. Old men and women, Okada riders, taxi drivers and even pregnant women joined the protest. Everybody was in one accord and they were heard complaining of Oro nation being marginalised and deceived by the state government and the PDP. The Oro Nation, the third largest ethnic group and the third leg of the tripod on which Akwa Ibom State was created and stands, said the protest was an announcement to the state government and the PDP in the state and national, that they reject in totality the result of the’ stage managed’ governorship nomination of the state where about 95 percent of the votes were allocated to the governor’s candidate, Mr Udom Emmanuel. The ‘Save Oro Group Initiative” who initiated the protest said the Oro nation must produce the next governor of the state come 2015 despite the political permutations of the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio, otherwise the centre will no longer hold. They said they have waited for 27 years since the creation of the state, supported the other two ethnic groups, Ibibio and Annang to produce governors in turn and as such will not accept or support Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as it is the Oros’ turn to produce a governor for the state. The youth leaders from the five local government areas which make-up the Oro Nation stated emphatically that the Oro people in the state totally reject the deliberate attempt by Governor Akpabio and the state PDP to rob them of the opportunity to produce the next governor for the state come 2015. The group said they stand by the decision of their elders that the Oro people ‘must’ produce the next governor of the state at the expiration of the incumbent Governor, Godswill Akpabio’s tenure May 2015. The Prime Minister of the’ Save Oro Group Initiative’, Prince Victor Uweh said the Oro people will not jettison their just demands and advised the party to do the right thing now for the sake of peace. He said the people should not be forced to go violent. “The Oro people supported the Ibibio of Uyo Senatorial District to produce Governor Victor Attah between 1999 to 2007; supported the Annang of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to produce the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio, 2007 to 2015, it is logically the turn of Oro Nation to produce a governor in 2015, going by the State’s ethnic tripod arrangement “, Victor stated. At Uya Juncion in Eyo Abasi community, near the compound of Mr Nelson Effiong who was given the Senatorial ticket by the PDP, the protesters announced that Oro people are not interested in a senatorial seat but in producing a governor for the state come 2015. Mr Victor Awanakak, a former Counselor in Udung Uko Local Government Area said whoever collected a senatorial ticket from PDP is on his own. He said the Oros’ interest for now is to produce a governor for the state like her other two counterparts. He vowed that the Oro people will dump the PDP for APC if their demands are not met. “The Oro is not supporting Udom’s candidacy, we

‘Trado-medicine is the answer to all ailments’

•The protesters in Lagos.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

THE District Superintendent (DS), of Assemblies of God Church (AG), in Rivers State, Rev. Joseph Kalu, has condemned men of God who preach an aspect of the gospel to the detriment of salvation of their members. Kalu, who spoke at the Media Day celebration of AG Silver Valley Parish, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said such one-sided messages make their members' stereotype, half-baked and tightfixed against real message of salvation. He expressed regrets that most people who parade themselves as "born again" Christians don't have the real gospel and are not also ready to open their hearts to receiving it; instead they stay under cover of a church as excuse. He said: "The major challenge in reaching out to people with the gospel today is the problem of many church goers who would not want to open up to salvation message. They hide under the cover of 'I am a member of this church or that church and will not want to be preached to'. "There are so many things people are preaching that are not the gospel, there are so many things people are preaching that could be regarded as part of the gospel, but when I say real gospel I mean we have in mind the entirety of the gospel, which include the gospel that reaches out to the soul, body and finances of the individual. "What we may call error in preaching may not be that one was telling a lie, but when you emphasize one aspect of truth to the detriment of others it turns to error." He explained. He said the programme was initiated in the 90s to sensitise their members on the role of the media in spreading the gospel of salvation.

Our roads have no maintenance contracts, says NDDC From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

•The protesters back home. By Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo and Nneka Nwaneri

are insisting on producing a governor for the state come 2015. If PDP does not give us chance, we will pull out from PDP and fully support APC in the coming elections”, Victor said. Over 20 placards were carried with specific messages on them some of which were: If Oro is not allowed to take the governorship, we will block all oil wells; Oro 2015 or militancy; Oro Youths are ready for war; Oro will resist any attempt to deprive Oro of 2015;Oro 2015 is non-negotiable, on the tripod we stand; Oro must be heard; Ibibio and Annang have taken their turns, 2015 is Oro turn; we will fight on until Oro 2015 is restored; Oro contribute 80 percent of the revenue of Akwa Ibom; Godswill Akpabio – give Oro her right in 2015 and PDP should do justice for Oro governorship among others. The Oro nation also held a similar protest in Lagos. Armed with placards, banners and dressed in their native attires of red caps, uniformed

wrappers, the young and old people of Oron nation last Friday morning stormed the premises of the Akwa Ibom Liaison Office in Victoria Island, Lagos. They were there for a peaceful protest against what they called the marginalisation of the Oron people in the governorship primaries of the state. On some of the placards was written: “Akpabio, stop forcing candidate on us”; “Akpabio, please give us the full benefits of our rights”, “Oron people say no to imposition”, “Akpabio return our mandate and don’t encourage hard feelings”, Oro nation needs 2015 governorship”, “Akpabio stop punishing us with our resources because Oron owns 80% of AkwaIbom resources and oil wells”, Akwa Ibom was created on tripod”, “Don’t waste our resources anymore on your cronies”, “Akpabio retain the goodwill and support of all”, and “We need visionary and productive leadership devoid of greed”. Addressing the crowd of protesters and onlookers, President of Oron

Lagos Branch, Mrs Felicia EssangOludare, she lamented that the Oron people have been pushed aside and have not been given a fair opportunity in the affairs of the state governance and rejected the outcome of the PDP governorship primaries which was held at the AkwaIbom International Stadium on December 8. She said it is the turn of the Oron people to occupy the governorship seat of Akwa Ibom. She said: “We own the oil wells in the state, yet we are not regarded in a favourable competition in the state. Henceforth, we will not allow our oil to be taken anymore because it is our turn and an Oron man is waiting to occupy the governorship seat next year. “No Oron man, no 2015, no governorship and that is our message.” Special Adviser to Governor Goodswill Akpabio on Media in Lagos, Jackson Udom thanked the gathering for the peaceful demonstration and promised to take their message to the appropriate authorities.

MEMBER representing Cross River State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Paul Adah, has said the commission does not make provisions for maintenance of roads it has executed. Adah said to that extent, the commission ensures that the qualities of road constructed under its supervision are made to be durable to stand the test of time. He said this at Utugwang in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State during the formal unveiling one of the road projects constructed by the commission in the south, central and northern senatorial districts. The road projects, which span over 12 kilometres, include the Utugwang-HRH Agba-Ukpirinyi road (1.25km), St Theresa-Kakum road (1.5km) Ukwel-ObuduBebuagba (1.5km), AshikemUfono-Bebuastwan road (2km), Bebuabong-Kakum village square road (1.5km) and Babuagba-Katung road (1.5km). The commission also unveiled the Calabar Municipal solar power light project in State Housing Estate, Obubra solar power street light, Etung Comprehensive Health Centre in Okoroba village, Yala solar power street light, Oba village solar power water project of 25 gallon capacity, among others. According to Adah, the roads can be used for over 20 years without any maintenance due to the thickness of the asphalt and quality of work done.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

E was enraged. His email bore it all. Yet all I sought to do was a review of the developments in the Southsouth after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries. What angered him was my use of the words “answered prayers”. As far as this angry reader was concerned, the governors and (not God) answered their own prayers by foisting their candidates on the people. For my “wrong choice of words”, he labelled me an” enemy of democracy” and my article “shameful”. What the reader’s email shows is the emotion that is attached by the people, politicians and their supporters to the electoral process. Akwa Ibom, one of the places where the electoral process is generating interest, was the reason my reader got mad at me. Many, especially aspirants, are still getting mad at the choice of Mr Udom Emmanuel to fly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship flag. There are 22 of them, who are not happy about the manner Emmanuel was chosen. They say the primary was rigged. They petitioned the party’s national leadership and followed up with a court action. They got a relief when the court ordered that no candidate emanating from the disputed primaries should be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court ruled that the case proper would be heard first week of January. By then, the deadline prescribed by the Electoral Act for the submission of candidates’ names would have lapsed. On this basis, the Emmanuel group approached the vacation judge. He saw reason and vacated the order. Now, his name is with INEC. Akwa Ibom is an interesting state. It tops the country’s Federal Allocation chart. What it gets from the 13 per cent derivation fund equals what other four states combined receive. Its politics, many will swear, generate so much hullaballoo just because it has so much cash. It is a place where the person in power can make or mar you. The outcome of a meeting between Governor Godswill Akpabio and the aggrieved aspirants last month further proves that power intoxicates. The way it started should have warned that nothing good would come out of it. Shouting match is the best way to describe how the meeting started. The shouting match was between Akpabio and an aspirant, Assam Assam, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The duo used to be very close to the extent that they had seen the inner recess of each other’s homes. Akpabio even nominated Assam as ambassador. He also ironically wrote the petition which saw his recall. The governor, I heard, was really livid with the aspirant calling him names several times. He had uncharitable words to describe him and kept saying something like: “you are talking to your governor like that.” He also referred to his role in removing him as ambassador. The aspirant too would not let the governor

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

New Year, old issues

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Forget the glitz on the beautiful streets of Uyo and other major towns, an average Akwa Ibom man still lives in abject poverty. Millions of them have not truly felt the state’s fabled wealth. So, my prayer is that this fight should be won by someone really out to serve the people •Ekpotu

have the final say. The duo kept giving it to each other. It was clear that each felt the other had betrayed their once shared bond. It was a tough job for the others to calm them down. So heated was the argument between the duo that the meeting which took place at the secretariat set up by the aggrieved aspirants in Abuja almost never got underway until about several minutes after Akpabio and his team, comprising ex-SSG Emmanuel and Senator Bob Effiong, arrived. When frayed nerves were calmed, an opening prayer was said. Jesus was asked to come and moderate and take charge. Christian hyms were sung. The atmosphere at the secretariat could have been taken for a Redeemed Christian Church of God’s praise and worship session. The only difference is that there was no drumming or any form of instruments playing in the background. Clappings took the place of

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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I conceived and delivered the Amnesty being enjoyed today (in the Niger Delta). (Militancy) was a serious security challenge and was not an external challenge but an internal challenge. Boko Haram started as an internal challenge but somehow it has accorded quasi external involvement

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––––Ex-NDDC chair Sam Edem

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drumming. I was told the governor was the first to speak after the prayer and worship session. He was said to have pleaded with the aggrieved to let Emmanuel fly the flag. They allowed him take his time. At the end, they made sure his prayer received negative answer. One major plank on which they based their objection was that Emmanuel did not emerge in a contest agreeable to them. Emmanuel was said to have added salt to their injury by making an allusion which they considered as comparing himself to Jesus Christ, who was earlier rejected but turned out to be the messiah. They felt this did not show humility. After the deadlock, they put their rejection of Emmanuel on paper. The governor actually requested for it. They got it published in this newspaper some 24 hours after the meeting ended.

Not only that, they also resolved to go on with the case in court hoping their prayer against Emmanuel is answered. They also demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan must be involved in efforts to bring the matter to a closure. Key among the reasons the 22 aspirants discredited the December 8 process include: the allegation that the delegate list was concocted by certain interests as there was no delegate election in the state; that accreditation for the election was done inside the Government House and not at the venue; that agents of the 22 aspirants were not accredited, thus, they were denied access to the election venue; that marked ballot papers were given to the purported delegates outside the venue to drop in the ballot boxes, and that the electoral panel was compromised. As the aspirants are awaiting Jonathan’s intervention, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is also trying to cash in on the situation and reap from the discord in the PDP. Its candidate, Umana Okon Umana, is said to have initiated moves to get the 22 on his side. So far, no concrete deal has been reached. The aggrieved aspirants have denied holding any talk with the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. But going by their denial statement, Patrick Ekpotu, Nsima Ekere—two ex-deputies to Akpabio— and the 20 others are not ruling out the possibility of talking with the opposition, if their party continues to ignore them. Umana, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), joined the APC after the PDP national secretariat zoned him out of the race. It remains to be seen if Umana’s prayer will be answered by getting these men on his side and increasing his chances of taking over the Government House. I hear he needs all the muscle he can muster to defeat Akpabio’s man. He also needs to rein in ex-Minister James Akpanudoedehe, who, I understand, feels the exSSG hijacked his structure to get the APC ticket. So, this New Year, Akwa Ibom is still beset with old issues. How they are resolved will be closely watched. For me, two things are of paramount importance on this matter and they are my final takes. One, Akwa Ibom’s wealth has not really trickled down to the people. Forget the glitz on the beautiful streets of Uyo and other major towns, an average Akwa Ibom man still lives in abject poverty. Millions of them have not truly felt the state’s fabled wealth. So, my prayer is that this fight should be won by someone really out to serve the people. Anyone who will get there and be gallivanting all over with the common wealth will never get there. Two, in the interest of the state, I have another prayer: violence will play no role in resolving the ensuing fight. The sort of madness witnessed during the last governorship race will be alien to this dear state, which has truly transformed from its village-like look over the years. Happy New Year!

BY MIKE ODIEGWU, YENAGOA

Between Dickson and Dame Jonathan

EITHER of them has openly admitted the feud. But, it is glaring that all have gone awry between the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson. The governor has tried to patch things up. In public statements, he claims his relationship with the First Lady is intact. In contrast to her sobriquet, Patience seems determined to shatter the existing fragile peace in the state of President Goodluck Jonathan. She has not hidden her ‘hatred’ for the governor, especially Dickson's frugal quality. The governor is known for not being free with cash and with such lifestyle, it seems a Herculean task for Dickson to earn the admiration of the president’s wife. Like the lioness, the first lady kick-started a project to remove the governor. As it was in Rivers State where she played many failed cards through the former Supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to remove Governor Rotimi Amaechi, so are the events unfolding recently in Bayelsa State. A school of thought believes that the disagreement is over the sharing of the state’s commonwealth. To this school, Dickson is not ready to satisfactorily dole out the collective wealth of Bayelsa. In fact, he has always said that the state’s money is meant for development and not to be shared. This, members of this school, said provoked the First Lady and cast a permanent

dent on their relationship. The First Lady allegedly kick-started a project to remove the governor. She wants to replace Dickson with her friend and Senior Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Matters, Dr. Weripamowei Dudafagh. Since the report leaked, the First Lady has been making moves confirming the development. Some have sworn that she influenced the posting of Commissioner of Police Valentine Ntomchukwu to the state with an agenda to play similar roles the former Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu played against Amaechi. The recent change in the state’s chapter of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is believed to have been carried out as part of the project-get-Dickson-out. The former state Chairman of TAN, Mr. Talford Ongolo and the executive members were unceremoniously relieved of their functions and replaced with loyalists of the First Lady led by the former Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu. The changes were effected to enable TAN lead the first lady’s Dickson-must-go project. To stand on moral ground in her war against the governor, Mrs Jonathan resigned her appointment in the state’s civil service as a Permanent Secretary. The resignation, which was uncovered last October, was an obvious sign that the relationship between the governor and the First Lady had finally broken down.

Though Dickson has been swallowing insults hauled at him by the First Lady, he has been fighting his war secretly. The governor has been cleansing and purging his cabinet of the First Lady’s loyalists and moles. In his first major cabinet shake-up in March 2014, the governor sacked seven commissioners who were believed to be loyalists of Madam Peace and Dudafagh. Early this week, Dickson sacked the Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, and the Special Adviser on Federal Government Projects, Chief Remi Kuku. The governor, through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, denied that the two officials were laid off because of the rift. Undoubtedly, the crisis is taking tolls on the state and threatening the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February general elections. The party, which hitherto paraded itself as a close-nit family, has now spilt into two: Dickson’s and First Lady’s camps. The two camps are separate and distinct as they try not to be found together in social and political gatherings. Persons found associating with loyalists of Mrs Jonathan are viewed as haters of Dickson and vice versa. Also enveloped in the web of this war is the reelection ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan, as he did in the case of Rivers State, has kept mute. There are indications that Dickson may toe the path of his Rivers State’s counterpart if he is pushed to the wall.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT Good Yuletide for Imo women From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

OMEN in Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas of Imo State shared about N3.6m and 1068 bags of rice during the holidays. The largesse came from the state Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere. The women, drawn from the two Council Areas, were hosted at the Lake Malinda, the Deputy Governor’s country home in Achi Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area. Addressing the women during the well attended occasion, Madumere, charged them to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates at all levels, adding that the APC is is the only party that has all it takes to make the needed positive change that will take Nigeria out of the woods. Recounting the impact of the Rochas Okorocha administration, especially on women, the Deputy Governor noted that “the free education programme of the state government has created an equal opportunity for both the rich and poor in accessing qualitative education”. He urged women to come out en mass and vote for the APC, noting that “women have always been the real agent of historical changes”. Madumere maintained that APC candidates are the real agents of positive change that Nigeria needs at its present state of despair. •Continued on page 39

EYOND your wish, even resolutions in the New Year, what matters most is your relationship with your maker. Is it good or is it pushed to the corner? Those were the issues which the Priest in-Charge, Christ Holy Church (CHC) International Umuahia District, Rev. Pastor Emmanuel Uloneme tackled as he addressed the parishioners. But it was not only the worshippers he was intereseted in; the priest equally wanted all residents of Abia State and indeed Nigerians to draw closer to God this year. Uloneme stated this at the church during a service to mark the successful cross over into the New Year. The minister who took his bible readings from Psalm 103: 1-6 and 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 and 19 said reminded his parishioners that God saved them from

•The beneficiaries and their largese

Cleric urges ‘ closer relationship with God From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

illnesses, evil manipulations and all kinds of sufferings in 2014 to give them the chance to turn a leaf and warned that they should not capitalise on God’s grace of 2014 to continue in their evil ways in 2015. According to the preacher, people especially Christians should live a life worthy of emulation in order not to attract God’s anger, but that they should live as good ambassadors of Christ to draw more souls to God. “Today, January 1 is a special day in your lives (his parishioners). Many died yesterday. Many died today, their bodies are lying in various mortuaries and these are

You should not forget all the good things that God did for you in 2014. He saved you from the plans of the enemies and their manipulations. That is why you must be serious with God in 2015. The year is unpredictable; nobody knows what it is going to look like and that calls for carefulness

people that also wanted to see this day like you all. You should not forget all the good things that God has done for you in 2014. He saved you from the plans of the enemies and their manipulations. That is

why you must throw away your evil ways and be serious with God in 2015. 2015 is unpredictable; nobody knows what the year is going to look like and that calls for carefulness in 2015. God has forgiven you in 2014 and for you to be free from the wrath of God in 2015, you must heed to Bible principles”, he said. He used the opportunity to urge Abia and Nigerian youths among others that of voting age to ensure that they perform their civic rights by voting for the candidates of their choice in the next year general election and avoid any form of thug-

gery and unconstitutional actions that could affect the smooth conduct of elections in their locality. Rev. Uloneme said, “No youth should be allowed to be used by any politician to cause trouble on the Election Day. If they (politicians) approach them, youths should be bold enough to resist them; ask them to go and bring their sons and daughters studying abroad to do the same job for them”. He was optimistic that 2015 was going to be better than 2014, adding that even as the country’s economy is faced with economic crunch, that God’s grace was going to bring progress and hope that the 2015 election from the national to the state level would go successfully. Some of the people in attendance who spoke to our report thanked God for seeing them through in 2014 and prayed that God’s mercies would see them through this year (2015). Highlights of the event were special thanksgiving session and words of admonitions from other members of the church who spoke on different topics.

Club inducts members in Awka •Continued from page 28

•Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Transport (ENMOT), Mrs Chika Nebo (left) addressing reporters on traffic control during the holidays in Enugu. With her is the Director of Traffic, Mr Emma Uchenwa

community that will show love and brotherliness and contribute to the socio-economic development of the community. According to him, “as pioneer members of the club, that dream started by Austine Agagboncha has not died and I believe if the upcoming people stay together like this, the community is in for more goodies in future” For the Chairman of the club, Collins Iloanya, their vision is to transform Awka and indeed, Anambra State and to impact on their members a new idea and bring generational change in the area. “We want to create an environment that even the 10th generation will not rival, we want to revive Awka Culture and tradition and that is why the club is called Ambassadors” “The club has already acquired a new land in the heart of the city worth over 10million naira and by 2015, it will have new secretariat where it will hold its meetings and not in any hotel again” ”We have chosen 30th of every December to hold our AGM, a date that cannot clash with any other thing as far as the club is concerned and that is why we have gathered here to inaugurate the new members,” Iloanya said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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Good Yuletide for Imo women •Continued from page 38 He appealed to the women to vote for Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who he said has “a track record of decency, performance and the requisite experience to end insurgency, which has in no little measure contributed to the present downturn in Nigeria’s economy”. According to him, “corruption has remained the hydra-headed monster that has stagnated nation’s economy which Buhari will curb as he has antecedent for zero tolerance to corruption”. He urged the women to disregard the campaign to brand Buhari as an extremist, stressing that the former Head of State has a track record of working with Ndigbo, who he had relied on, especially in sensitive areas of trust. The Deputy Governor stated that Buhari as the then Head of State had many Igbo sons on his cabinet. Madumere also known as Mr. Humility, advised the mammoth crowd to jettison the “unfounded claims that the APC is an ethnic party”, insisting that “the party is a balanced Nigerian party”. He concluded that in fulfillment

Some of the women who took turns to eulogize the Deputy Governor for remembering the women, promised to stand by the Okorocha-led administration

•Deputy Governor Madumere with Women Leader, Mrs. Eunice Nwanu, at the event of his promise to host the women for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, he has donated a total cash gift of N3.6 million and 1,068 bags of rice. In distribution, 627 bags were donated to Mbaitoli women while

441 bags to Ikeduru local government women. Commending the Deputy Governor for the gesture on behalf of the women, Mrs. Eunice Nwanu, assured that the women will do put in their best to ensure that Gover-

nor Rochas Okorocha and Madumere are returned. She urged them not to allow those who “ran the State aground” to deceive them in whatever guise. Some of the women who took turns to eulogise the Deputy Gov-

ernor for remembering the women, promised to stand by the Okorochaled administration. In another instance, the Deputy Governor empowered three indigent women with N250, 000.00 each. Madumere who made the donation to support his kinsman, Chief Sunny Onumaegbu , who built three houses for indigent women in the Council Area.

IRES during the festivities have razed stalls in parts of Aba, throwing the traders into grief. Articles estimated at over N205 million went up in smoke at Ehi Road by Old Court as well as Dan Fodio by Dan Dikko Road in Abia State’s commercial city. Investigations were still on as some described the inferno as mysterious. The Nation gathered that the two fire incidents occurred at midnight when the traders were either at home or had travelled to their villages for the Yuletide. Abia State Fire Chief, Mr. Victor Gbaruko confirmed the two incidents, saying his men were still investigating even as added that fluctuating electrical current and fireworks may be to blame. Gbaruko said his men who went to put out the fire were able to save property valued at over N800million at Ehi Road while the salvaged at Dan Fodio were estimated to be up to N250m. He said, “We have attended to about 10 fire incidents between the first of January till today (yesterday) and we are still counting.” The fire chief who confirmed another fire outbreak at Jubilee road during last week within the commercial metropolis said no life was lost in three fire incidents and however reiterated the warning for people to avoid keeping combustible or any material capable of igniting fire in their homes, offices or shops. He also advised that owners of warehouses should make their warehouses airy to allow circulation of oxygen to avoid possible of fire outbreak as a result of change in weather temperature or instantaneous ignition of temperature. Our reporter who visited the scenes of the infernos reports that traders whose shops were affected were lamenting over their losses as some of them who spoke amidst tears said that they lost everything they had in their chops to the fire even before the arrival of the firefighters. One of the affected shop owners at Ehi road, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Nwaokike a chemical dealer said though he had almost exhausted his goods, he lost over N300, 000 in the process.

•A burnt-down section of stalls at Ehi Road

Traders grieve over burnt goods ‘ From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

“I am expecting my goods to come in anytime soon, the few I lost were about N300, 000. Nobody saved anything. All our goods were gone in the fire. I was at home when I got a call that our shop is on fire and by the time I got here, just like other neighbours, all our goods have been consumed, no pin was saved”, Nwaokike narrated. Another shop owner who spoke in tears said he lost all he has laboured for in the past 15 years and wonder how he is go-

All our goods were gone in the fire. I was at home when I got a call that our shop is on fire and by the time I got here, just like other neighbours, all our goods have been consumed, no pin was saved

ing to cope in the face of austerity and hardship, even as he stated that he has been the breadwinner of the family.

The source disclosed that a neighbour who just offloaded a trailer load of chemicals could also not save anything even as

he stated that there was no electricity supply in the entire building and wondered how and where the fire could have emanated from. However, it was gathered that another fire incident also broke out near Bakassi Shoe Plaza at Ariaria International Market at the weekend, though information about the incident remained sketchy as at the time this report a source at the Aba Fire Service Station confirmed it and said that they were yet to ascertain the cause of the fire and estimate of property damaged.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Children at the party

3,000 kids celebrate ‘ in Anambra community

OME lasting impressions may have been made on the mind of eight-year-old Jane Ikwoaku from Ochuche in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. It was at a party hosted annually for children since the past 15 years. At the event, the children looked quite happy with their hosts, sharing food and drinks with Dr Pamela Dubem Obaze, wife of former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the administration of former governor, Peter Obi. At the party, held in their riverside Umuodu-Ochuche country home, no fewer than 3,000 children came and dined with the Obazes. Also, women who accompanied their children, and widows, went home with lots of gifts, including wrappers, bags of rice, among others. The party, introduced one and a half decades back by Obaze’s mother Mrs. Rose Mary Omuluzua who died some years back, started as a family thanksgiving for all the Lord did for them. Children ever since have been looking forward to it, for it offers them an opprotunity to meet their peers,

•Chiamaka collecting her gift at the party

RADITIONAL rulers from Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State have said who they want to succeed Chief Theodore Orji in the Government House next year. It is former Managing Director, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The traditional rulers made their position known during a meeting with the governorship candidate at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Eze Sunday Nwankwo of Umuaku,

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

share things in common and generally have a good time. The Obazes routinely oblige, sending them back home with joy in their hearts. The couple had been together after their marriage for years without an issue, but when God answered their prayers, they had a set of quadruplets on their hands two years ago. The children were all in a happy mood throughout the party which lasted for five hours singing, dancing and clapping. The Obazes’ bundle of joy who stayed with their fellow children were Ekenechukwu, Chinazaekpere, Chukwudalu and Chukwudumebi, three girls, one boy. One of the children who spoke with the Nation, feeling shy, also eight year old Chukwunonso Odika thanked God for the party, adding that they were given lots of gifts by the hosts. According to him, “I am happy to be here with my fellow children and I hope to come back here again; we thank our Mummy and Daddy and we are begging them to continue the

I am happy to be here with my fellow children and I hope to come back here again; we thank our Mummy and Daddy and we are begging them to continue the party for us

party for us” The Nation further gathered that the party which initially was meant for the people of Ogbaru has extended to other local government areas like Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Ayamelum. The husband of the host, Chief Dubem Obaze popularly known and addressed by his people as (Ifeakachi) nothing pass God, told The Nation that it is an annual event and will continue like that so far there is life. With the caliber of persons especially, women that attended the

event, and kinds of gifts that were shared, the Nation thought it was done under the auspices of a nongovernmental organisation (NGO). Some of the items for the children included scrabbles, Y-pad cases, magnetic learning kit, pencils, pens, assorted bundles of exercise books and many more toys. However, the Chief host of the party, Dr. Mrs Pamela Obaze, told the Nation that some people see it differently, while some others see it as politically motivated. “If it is politically motivated, it will not be for the children who are between one and 13 years, who have

no electoral value, it would have been for the adults”. “What I am doing is just a way of saying thank you to God for keeping us alive and lifting my family from sorrow to happiness, it was just not easy for my family” “So, this is giving back to the society, appreciating the work of God and I believe that God will continue to give us the strength and the means to continue such party for the children” “Yes, it is an annual event, but I believe that the memory of this will go a long way in their hearts and minds because they are the leaders of tomorrow” Mrs. Obaze said One of the women who helped in organizing the party for the children, Mrs Stella Otuku, told the Nation that so far there is life, there is hope, adding that it is good to show the children the right part to follow as tomorrow’s leaders. “The woman took over the event from the husband’s mother after her death and she has continued to make the children happy every festive period and what used to be Ogbaru party has gone beyond the area” Mrs Otuku said.

Monarchs back governorship candidate From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Isuochi. They said that what informed their decisions to support his candidature was simply because of the pedigree of Otti and their conviction that he would do better if elected the governor of the state. Some of the traditional rulers who spoke in turns, including the host,

•Dr. Alex Otti (right) with Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha at the event

Eze Nwankwo lauded the former Diamond Bank MD for not only taking the financial institution to an enviable height but also using his former position to provide job opportunities for unemployed Abia graduates. The traditional rulers who lamented that the Abia State Government was yet to pay them their three months salary arrears pleaded with

the APGA governorship candidate to treat them the way governors of their southeast; Enugu, Anambra amongst counterparts treat their traditional rulers when he emerges the governor of the state. In his response, Otti who thanked the traditional rulers for their warm reception promised that his administration was going to focus on urban and rural development programmes to spread dividend of democracy across the state. The APGA candidate who boasted of team of professionals among his campaign organisation said they were carefully chosen because of their backgrounds and antecedents, adding that he was optimistic that team was not going to disappoint the Abia electorates if voted in power. According to him, “We have been led in the past by people that don’t have vision. It is important for Abians to look for people that are self made and people with proven characters and records. We have carefully selected people that we know that will deliver this state. Through a careful study on Abia State by experts that we consulted, we have been able to identify some of the major problems facing the state which we shall tackle as soon as our administration comes on board”. The visitor who said he has so much respect for the traditional institution also assured them that his administration would take care of the traditional rulers needs even as he promised that development in all

parts of the state would be simultaneously. In an interview, Otti described the visit as part of his campaign programmes to reach out to the people at the grassroots, feel their pulse and sell his manifestoes to the people and convincing them to vote for him and his team. He expressed the hope that this year’s election was going to be a lot better than the previous elections going by the promise coming from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s boss (Atahiru Jega) has made to ensure a free and fair polls.

‘

We have been led in the past by people that don’t have vision. It is important for Abians to look for people that are self made and people with proven characters and records. We have carefully selected people that we know that will deliver this state

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) last Sunday hosted the yearly Thanksgiving Service at the Open Grounds of the Lagos House at Alausa, Ikeja. It is the last time he will be doing so as governor as his eightyear tenure ends on May 29. The event attracted A list personalities, writes MIRIAM EKENE-OKORO

•From right: General Buhari; Mrs Abimbola Fashola; Governor Fashola; Pastor Adeboye; his wife, Folu; Prof Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo

A governor’s last seasonal act I

T was his valedictory yearly Thanksgiving Service as governor of Lagos State. Last Sunday, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was in his element as he hosted the colourful event on the open grounds of the Lagos House at Alausa, Ikeja. The event attracted Politicians, Christian leaders and captains of industry. Among those in attendance were the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), and APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode. Guests began to file into the large field at 3pm. The background decorations, showcasing the predominant colours of the state caught guests’ attention, as they walked in. The entrance of Governor, Fashola, his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife, Folu and other top dignitaries about 4.30pm signalled the start of the service. It began with an opening prayer by Rev Ephriam Ademowo; it was followed by praise and worship by one of the invited artistes. The 15-minute praise and worship ignited the atmosphere as guests danced and gave thanks to God.

‘I can see some of the people who were with us then when the first thanksgiving service under the administration of my predecessor here with us today. And it gives me joy to see that we have continued with this trend’ Governor Fashola flowed with the mood. In his welcome address, he tested his vocal skills as he sang a song in “Yoruba titled Oye ka dupe meaning ‘we must give thanks, to the admiration of guests. He also noted the excitement of some dignitaries, particularly former Commissioner for Women Affairs and APC Women Leader Mrs Kemi Nelson, who danced to her heart’s content. Fashola was nostalgic, recalling when the first service was held during the administration of his predecessor. “I can see some of the people here today who were with us then when the first thanksgiving service under the administration of my predecessor was held. And it gives me joy to see that we have continued with this trend. “It was just like yesterday that we all gathered here on January 5, 2014 to give thanks in an annual

tradition that has now survived one and a half decades. “Today, 364 days after, when girls have disappeared without trace, bombs have exploded in mindless orgies of violence. Nigerian towns and villages have been sacked. Our brothers and sisters have been displaced from their homes. Young children have died in stampedes while looking for jobs. “Some of our brothers and sisters in the military have lost their lives while trying to defend you and I and the Fatherland. “I ask you all what else we can do than to give thanks, express our gratitude and praise God for surviving. “We are alive not because we are better, we are alive because of grace and mercy, and we must never take it for granted.” He said there were many things to be thankful to God for in 2014, adding that our appreciation must

be reflected in our gratitude. Governor Fashola said while some parts of West Africa today, are battling the deadly Ebola Virus disease, God gave the state victory over the disease. “These countries are smaller than Lagos, Lagos is in fact bigger than many of them combined. “Yet the same virus afflicted us, we sadly lost 13 lives, but today we are not under lock down. “We can sit side-by-side, we can shake hands and we can move freely. “Again there was grace, there was a coming together across ethnic, religious and government levels to address a common problem. “This lesson is important for all of us to remember in 2015.” In his sermon titled: ‘Jesus the Truth’, Pastor Adeboye charged the congregation to recognise that God is greater than any challenge that might confront them in the year. He enjoined Nigerians to embrace God and ask for His mercies, adding that it is the only way to ensure continued peace and harmony in the face of societal ills. He prayed for the continued peace and unity of Nigeria particularly the conduct of next month’s elections Pastor Adeboye urged the Almighty God to grant the nation the grace to conduct peaceful elections that would produce cred-

ible leaders. Wife of the governor Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade and wife of the House of Assembly Speaker, Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji read some Bible passages. Special prayers were said for the Governor and his family, Lagos State Government, civil servants, local governments and legislature, security services, children and youths and for peace to reign during the elections. Musical performance by the RCCG and DayStar Christian Centre mass choirs added colour to the service. Others present were some members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze; former governors of the State, Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson; Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohamed. General Overseer of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo; Most Reverend Samuel Chukwuemeka Kalu; Mrs Mercy Ezekiel. More pictures on page 43

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

S OCIETY A GOVERNOR’S LAST SEASONAL ACT

•Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji

•First Executive Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Abimbola

•First Military Governor of Lagos State BrigGen Mobolaji Johnson

•Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and her husband, Mr Abiodun Adefulire

•Chief Judge of Lagos Justice Funmilayo Atilade flanked by Mrs Toun Ajomale (left) and Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji

•APC Governorship Candidate Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle

•Cardinal Omolaja Odunmbaku

•APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left) and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora

•Yeye Oge of Lagos Chief Oprah Benson (left) and Hajia Abah Folawiyo

•One-time Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake (left) and APC Lagos Chairman Otunba Oladele Ajomale PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

END OF THE YEAR PARTY

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

• From left: Chairman, Bashorun Estate Residents Association (Zone 4) Akobo, Ibadan, Agba Akin Kehinde Olaosebikan; Commander Nigerian Air Force Detachment, Ibadan, Air Commodore O. A Adesanya; Prof Layi Shittu; his wife and DSP Kabiru Suleiman during the association’s End of the Year Party/Award in Ibadan, Oyo State capital

•From left: CFAO NIPEN Director Pastor Babashola Ajidagba; Mrs Omoniyi Ayeni (Company Secretary); Mr Steve Faderin (Chairman/Managing Director); Alhaji Sanusi Ibrahim (Director) and Mr Gabriel Omitogun (Director) at the 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of CFAO NIPEN at Best Western Plus Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

S OCIETY Dr Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, the Baagbimo of Ijebu and a lecturer at the University of Lagos, marked his 60th birthday last Saturday at the Grand Inn and Suites in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. AMIDU ARIJE and SAFIYYAH ABDUR-RAZAQ were there.

HE auditorium of the Grand Inn and Suites in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State was tastefully decorated in blue and butter colours last Saturday. The high table was set against a backdrop of glittering white and gold colours. The chairs were adorned in blue and white; the tables in blue and butter colours, with white lace covers. Gorgeously dressed guests came in exotic automobiles. It was all for Dr Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, the Baagbimo of Ijebu and a lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as he joined the sexagenarians club. January 3 will remain memorable for him and members of his family. Anchored by the trio of Alhaji Tunde Emilola-Gazal, Alhaji Adebayo Agbabiaka and Alhaji Gbenga Oladunni, the birthday bash began with a special prayer and recitation of the Qur’an by a team of Alfas led by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Alhaji AbdulRasak Salaudeen. It was followed by lectures by the Dean, College of Humanities, Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof Ibrahim Alani Seriki and Catholic Bishop of Ijebu Diocese, Bishop Albert Ayinde Fasina. Prof Seriki, in his paper, titled: The essence of life, explained that the essence of human creation is to worship God according to the Qur’an. “The purpose for which mankind was created is to worship God. To achieve this purpose, man must constantly maintain absolute faith in God and depend on Him in all his affairs,” he said. Bishop Fasina who spoke on Life is a Gift from God, said humans must be forever grateful. “Life is a gift from a benevolent God to whom we must show appreciation for such graciousness. The deliberate or unintended failure to show appreciation for such gift only shows the depth of man’s ingratitude. Our gratitude to God for the wonder of our being is determined by the quality of life we live,” the clergy said. After the lecture, the celebrator left the auditorium to change his clothes. Dancers from Itsekiri kept the hall lively with sterling performance. At the end of the interlude, the celebrator, Dr Yusuf, returned to the hall looking elegant in a striking cream coloured buba, agbada and sokoto. He donned a matching cream-coloured cap and red chieftaincy beads. The reception began in earnest. The event was chaired by a retired Chief Judge of Ogun State, Demola Bakre, who extolled the virtues of the celebrator. He said: “As a commissioner in Ogun State, Fassy was humble. He is versatile. He is an example of a good Ogun man. He mixes with the Yewas, Remos, Egbas and Ijebus. I am not old enough to be his father but he calls me Daddy.” After the chairman’s speech came the toast to the celebrator. The toast was led by the Giwa of Bobagbimo Akile Ijebuland, Otunba Deji Oshibogun. Before he gave the toast, he invited all members of the Bobagbimo Akile to recite the anthem of the group. They trooped out in their deep blue agbadas and matching caps. After reciting the anthem, Otunba Oshibogun gave the toast. “Fassy,” he said “is a very honest individual. Back in the days, he was always fighting for the oppressed. He is a Dangote of academics. The God that brought you forth would preserve your life. A toast to you at 60; may all your five senses never fail you.” After this came comments from other guests present. The first comment came from Senator Femi Lanlehin, who said the celebrator

‘Fanciful’ Fassy at 60 •Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona (left) and the celebrator, Chief Yusuf

•Wife of the celebrator, Princess Moriamo Yusuf

•Otunba Busurah Alebiosu (left) and Senator Mustapha

•The mother of the celebrator, Madam Roli Ewetan Atsukpeke and Prof Akinfeleye

•Prof Bello and his wife, Adedoja

•From left: Justice Bakre; Senator Lanlehin and Dr Yusuf

•Senator Gbenga Kaka

has always been fascinated by law. “He is always there for his friends and a very hardworking lawyer,” Senator Lanlehin said. Head of Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye described Chief Yusuf as a humble person. “He is not only a fanciful person,” Akinfeleye said; “he is very humble, very friendly, fantastic, fabulous and a fellow of so many organisations; he is also a fighter for justice. He is a celebrated finisher who is highly dedicated to academic excellence.” Dr Yusuf’s wife, Princess Moriamo, described him as her everything. “He is my brother and mentor. He is a very restless man academically

•Former Governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel

•Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Alhaji Salaudeen (left) greeting Catholic Bishop of Ijebu Diocese, Bishop Fasina

and community wise. He is very nice and lovely husband,” she said. Justice Bakre later supervised the cutting of the cake. The cake had four tiers of law books on top of which a lawyer’s wig was designed. The front of the cake depicted the scale of justice. The celebrator cut the cake with his wife, children, friends and members of Bobagbimo Akile. After cutting the cake, the celebrator opened the dance floor with his wife. After the first two songs, others joined in. Speaking with The Nation, Dr Yusuf, who was recently decorated as Baba Adinni of Obanikoro Central Mosque, expressed his gratitude to the Almighty.

He said: “I feel great and thank God for the little I have been able to achieve. For His benevolence, blessings for all He has done for me. I have not passed through any turbulence. An adage says, “May your road be rough”. It was rough for Jesus Christ. It was rough for the Holy Prophet Muhammad. If you ask the President, he would tell you it is rough; if you ask our governor, Ibikunle Amosun, he would tell you the same. As an ordinary citizen, I did not expect life to be a bed of roses. There are challenges in life. I have learnt to face them in good faith.” The sexagenarian urged Nigerian to be prayerful, persistent and to always pray to God for guidance.

“My wish for Nigeria is that Nigeria should return to the path of development, excellence, and a nation that is ready to hold itself among the comity of nations so that we would all have a fulfilled life,” he said. Dignitaries at the birthday include: Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona; his senior wife, Olori Iyabo; Senator AbdulRahman Olalekan Mustafa; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello; Prince Tola Oyegbemi; Ogun State Accountant General, Mr Seye Shefiu; Otunba Abdulfatai Arowolo; Otunba Busurah Alebiosu; Alhaji Umar Saro and Chief Imam Obanikoro Central Mosque, Alhaji Mukaila Eyiowuawi.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

S OCIETY LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (LAHA) HIJRAH LECTURE

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS Start right in 2015

•Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji (right) and his Deputy Hon Kolawole Taiwo

•Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Garuba Ibrahim

•LAHA Majority Leader, Dr Ajibayo Adeyeye (right) and Hon Bayo Oshinowo

•From left: Chief Missioner, Al-Fatiu Quareeb, Sheikh Sulaiman Adangba; Chief Imam Ramat Islammiyah Society, Sheikh Ishaq Tejidini and Missioner, Nawair ud Deen Society, Lagos Chapter, Sheikh Abdul Majeed Ayinla

•Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef and Hon Adefunmilayo Tejuoso

•Hon Ramatallah Akinola- Hassan

•Dr Abdurrazaq Alaro

•Hon Muiba Rufai- Adeyemi PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

AWARD

PRESENTATION

•President and Founder of Oodua People Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun (right) presenting a plaque to the new 1st Vice president, Alhaji Lateef Lawal (left) with them is Deputy President, Chief Wasiu Afolabi at the Inauguration of their new Executive at Century Hotel, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

•Executive Director/CEO, Zakat and SADAQAT Foundation Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, presenting a Laptop to Alimat Bamidele at the 1st Zakat Distribution Ceremony held at University of Nigeria, Nnsuka, Enugu State

WEDDING

•From left: Groom’s father, Chief John Odeyemi; bride’s mother, Mrs Olabo Osude; the couple, Akinloye and Adeola; groom’s mother Mrs Kofoworola Odeyemi and bride’s father Architect Adekunle Osude during an Engagement held at Yard 158B Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos.

APPY New Year to you and your wonderful family. I believe last year was a fulfilling year for you. May you change level positively and progress speedily this year. Year 2014 was a delightful year for us on this column. We examined several topics on the need to communicate effectively. We focused on types of speeches, making the audience our priority and making ourselves acceptable to our listeners. LANRE OLAOLU AMODU This New Year, I believe it is very important for us to have a (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. 07034737394 solid start with specific objectives @lanreamodu in mind. Communication is very important; you communicate beginning of the year, which whether you want to or not. Just some refer to as New Year resoas you make major plans at the lution, you should also have major plans for your communication and interaction with other people. By now, I'm sure you will agree with me that there is nothing casual about communication. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. If indeed we want this year to be far better than last year, we have to deliberately aim at effective and contribution-oriented communication. Today, therefore, I want to suggest a few areas in your life in which you should try to start right in 2015. •Personal Life: I dare to say that this is one of the most important areas in which you need to deliberately manage your communication. This area represents your comfort zone. It represents your life when you think no one is watching. It is your life when you let down your guard. It is your life when you think you are not being scrutinized or judged. The strange thing is that, it is also your life, which you don't want the public to know about. There are several people who become something else when they are with "outsiders!" They change so drastically that their families don't recognize them anymore. Some people are nicer to none family members because they want to put their best foot forward. Usually, loved ones are the victims of this kind of communication or failed communication. This kind of communication is selfish, however. Yes, it is selfish because they believe there is nothing their families can give them that they don't have already, so, they focus on outsiders who can be of "benefit" to them. Whereas, a lot of times, they have their families and loved ones to thank for whatever they become in life. On the other extreme, we have people who entirely focus on their families. Any benefit that should go to other people is diverted "home." Well, there are more people outside their families than inside, so, sooner or later, they will need help from others. So, what do I advocate? Be good to everybody. Be yourself inside and outside. Know that whatever you do or say communicates something to everyone around you. They either believe that you are a responsible and reliable person to deal with, or they feel that you are better avoided. Remember, if you don't have people's respect and trust, they will never listen to you as a public speaker. As a speaker, your first agenda must be to develop your character, and then you can focus on contributing to other people. •Business: ok, I agree that I am not your regular business consultant. I may not even have the slightest idea of how to do your kind of business. But I know that they say "customer is king!" Yes, you may tell me how annoying your clients or customers tend to be. In fact, I agree that sometimes, it seems like they actually set out from home to upset you. Nevertheless, that is all part of the 'fun' of having a business. Work will be so boring if you meet the same type of people every day. What if you decide to make difficult customers or clients a major target in your business? You can determine that you will make every customer smile about one thing or the other while being attended to. This, of course, does not make you a clown; it just means that you are going the extra mile to make your customers like you and what you have to offer. •Academics: For students, it is extremely important to develop an effective communication system this year. If you have worked really hard in the past and your results did not justify your efforts, then you need to change your strategy. I believe it is not enough to study a subject, it is perhaps more important to study the teacher. Some teachers don't like lengthy explanations in exams while some others would not be satisfied until you have used several pages. This crystallizes the fact that no two people are the same. You must learn to communicate with each teacher on his/her own terms. Again, some students are very intelligent in oral discussions but they are just not good enough in written work. If you fall in this category, task yourself to write five times more than you are required to in class and have people read it for you. As they correct you, learn what it takes to communicate your ideas to other people effectively. •Career: the workplace is a very dynamic place. It is very important that you learn to communicate with three valuable categories of people; your superiors, your colleagues and your subordinates. Mutual respect is one of the best ways to communicate friendship. When it comes to your superiors, they read both your verbal and nonverbal cues. They can tell when you don't like the job, when you don't like them, when you are being lazy, etc. The best way to impress your superiors this year is to change your attitude to your work; love what you do (even if you have plans to move on soon). Your colleagues are also very important because you work with them on the same team a lot. As for your subordinates, if you underestimate them, it is at your own expense. If you care for and respect them, they will go out of their way to help you if ever you need their help. Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

SOCIETY Eighty-two monarchs gathered in Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State to confer two chieftaincy titles, Ide of Ihiala and Obata Obie of Mbosi, on an illustrious son, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR writes.

OR three years, he politely turned down the offer. But after due consultations, the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, accepted the offer. Last December 30, he heeded the call of his community, Mbosi, and the 10 towns in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, to receive two chieftaincy titles. The event attracted the crème de la crème from the business world, diplomatic corps, politics, entertainment, banking and aviation. The event had the trappings of royalty, as the lawyer cum businessman pulled who-is-who in Anambra and beyond to his community, contributions. Decked in red attire with other accoutrements of royalty-staff of office, a red cap decorated with feathers to match-Onyema with his wife, Alice, marched to the palace of the traditional ruler of Mbosi to perform the traditional rites. They were welcomed by Ozo, title holders and some villagers, who blew flutes and traditional gun shots to herald their decoration as one of the most influential chiefs in the community. Amid tight security, guests were welcomed into the Onyema’s expansive country home, which is a study in architecture, as music supplied from various cultural dance bands rent the air. To demonstrate the celebrator’s detribalised nature, the chieftaincy awards on Onyema drew the cream of personalities from other parts of the country, including the former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr Chris Ekiyor and the President of Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma, a long-time friend of the celebrator. There was representation from Kogi State, where Onyema’s wife, Alice hails from. A battery of elegantly dressed women from Igala decked in white blouses and red wrappers complementing jewellery. Middle aged men were visible at the event to support their son–in-law. The monarchs made up of all Igwes in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state gathered at the event, witnessed by over 70 other traditional rulers from the South-East, to decorate Onyema for his sterling contributions to the development of the community. Speaking on behalf of the Igwes, The Ezeoha of Isseke, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife said Onyema deserved the honour. The Oluoha of Ihiala, Igwe Cosmas Okechukwu, also noted the contributions of Ide Onyema to the peace and stability of the community. Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Hon Kingsley Kuku, described

Honour for the home boy •From left: Ide Onyema; his wife, Alice and Heines

•Alhaji Danjuma

•Hon Kuku

the chieftaincy title to noteworthy. Waxing proverbially, Kuku said like the prophet, who is not honoured by his people, the Ihiala community had reversed the trend by recognising one of their own. Kuku urged Onyema to see the title as a clarion call to do more for his community. The Special Assistant on Special Duties to

BIRTHDAY

Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman, Chief Henry Ugbolue, described, Onyema as a distinguished indigene any community would be proud to have and. Ugbolue said Onyema is a worthy Nigerian who contributed immensely to the return of peace in the hitherto restive Niger Delta region in the demobilisation and reintegration of ex- agitators in the region. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotions, Onyema thanked the traditional rulers for the honour. He said it took three years to convince him to accept the chieftaincy. “I always like to assist my community in my own way without making noise in appreciation of the blessings God had bestowed on me,” he said. He promised to use the Ozo title to uphold justice and truth in his Mbosi community. He said: “I am grateful to the entire community for the honour. I am grateful to God

for His blessings upon my life and how he has assisted me to give back to my community, which truly appreciates. I will use this opportunity to further strengthen the bond between me and my people as far as it does not infringe on my Christian faith.” His wife, Alice, described the chieftaincy title as a call to service. Ace comedian, Okey Bakassi and Nollywood Star, Mr Kanayo O. Kanayo were on hand to compere. Superstar musician, the Limpopo King, KCEE led an array of other musicians who performed at the event. Also at the event were representatives of the United States Embassy led by Tom Heines; officials of Air Peace led by the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Toyin Olajide. Others were staff of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN); former managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Timi Aliabe , was represented. The celebrant’s friend, Chief Obi Kings, the Gburu Gbururu of Ihiala LGA was also present. Besides, members of the religious community were not left out.

CONJUGAL BLISS

Mrs. Abiodun Bulugbe, Senior Librarian, Lagos State Polytechnic cutting cake of her 40th birthday in Mowe, Ogun State. With her is her husband, Pastor Steve Bulugbe, Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province, RCCG Rivers Province 1, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. •Former Miss Funmilayo Oladejo and her beau Opeyemi Agunbiade during their wedding at Ibadan, Oyo State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, LAGOS DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof. S/N 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77.

NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON:

S/N

Okpe Augustine Otitibi. Late of No.15, Lagos State, Igoli Ogoja, Cross River State. Who died intestate on the 6th day of June, 2012. Asuquo Effiong Akwala. Late of 42, Muhammed Shetin Street, Ago, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of November, 2013. Babatope Ojo Adeyiolu. Late of 17, Olufemi Ojo Street, Olowo-Ira Ojodu Berger, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 9th day of January, 2014. Deinsah George otherwise known as Deinsah George E.A. and Deinsah S.A.. Late of 16, Adegoke Street, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 2nd day of March, 2013. Madam Okoduwa Elizabeth . Late of 16A, Abata Street, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 28th day of February, 2012. Dosunmu Iyabode Bilikisu otherwise known as Dosunmu Iyabode Bilikisu. Late of No. 15, Ajeniya Street, Obalende, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 17th day of June, 2013. Mr. Oseni Ogunbanwo Oduniyi. Late of 40, Orisan Street, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 23rd day of August, 1954. Nurudeen Olayiwola Anjorin. Late of No. 42, Olabiran Street, Somolu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 18th day of November, 2013. Mr. Onwuatuegwu Emeka Anthony. Late of 22nd Road, Block 13, Flat 29, Festac Town, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 13th day of October, 2013. Udeagha Emeka otherwise known as Ideagha Emeka Benneth. Late of 20, Apex, Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 28th day of June, 2010. Onanuga Omoniyi Lukman. Late of 13, Agbomalu Court, Off Freeman Junction, Lagos Island, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 5th day of January, 2014. Aghenta Ehibhiatior Dora Mrs. Late of 40, Ayilara Street, Ojuelegba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 23rd day of April, 2011. Olabamiji Tirimisiyu otherwise known as Olabamiyi Tirimisiyu Akanji. Late of 264, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 6th day of September, 2006. Alhaji Yekini Oladapo otherwise known as Yekini Olufunmishe Oladapo. Late of 25, Ijaoye Street, Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 5th day of January, 2012. Adams Margareth. Late of No. 5, Ekperi Close, Ifako L.G.A, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 19th day of October, 2013. Osho Atinuke Kudirat otherwise known as Elizabeth. Late of No. 7, Wewe Street, Sari Iganmu, Orile, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 9th day of October, 2010. Alhaji Lamidi Aderegba Ladipo otherwise known as Ladipo Lamidi. Late of No. 19, Ilasamaja Road, Mushin, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 30th day of December, 2009 at Lagos. Williams Ibezim Ndukwe. Late of No. 17, Fagbenro Street, Idi- Araba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 19th day of May, 2014. Patricia Anyanwu Chidiac. Late of No. 8A, Azare Crescent, Apapa, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 3rd day of May, 2009. Mr. ElabanjoTunji Kayode. Late of No. 2, Italaga Street, Ijebu -Ode, Ogun State. Who died intestate on the 23rd day of November, 2012 at Ogun State. Ayodele Idowu otherwise known as Idowu Ayodele. Late of No. 25, Okanlawon Ajayi Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of February, 2011. Ekoh Matha otherwise known as Ekoh Nneka Martha Silver Udeh. Late of No. 50B, Tijani Street, Alabraka Ajangbadi , Lagos. Who died intestate on the 9th day of September, 2013 at Lagos. Stephen Okorie. Late of No. 13, Akinola Street, Igba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 27th day of July, 2013. Mr. Amusa Amao Raji otherwise known as Raji Amoo Amusa. Late of House 13, Close 7, Satellite Town Lagos. Who died intestate on the 24th day of January, 2009 at Lagos. Ogunyale Nurudeen. Late of No. 19, Emmanuel Street, Bariga, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 14th day of January, 2013. Olabode Musibau Alao. Late of No. 12, Odofin Street, Amukoko, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 4th day of September, 2013 at Lagos. Mrs. Okuwobi Kemi. Late of 7/10, Dumont Avenue, New York, USA. Who died intestate on the 28th day of August, 2011. Lucky Agdahowa otherwise known as Agdahowa Osamudiame Lucky. Late of No. 11, Adisa Ogunbona Street, Mowe Ibafo. Who died intestate on the 8th day of July, 2014. Inspector Joseph Suru. Late of No. 16B, Airways Road, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 17th day of September, 2013 at Lagos. Mr. Egemba Japhet Chinonye of No. 4, Oyegunle Street, Oworonsoki, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of the June, 2014. Busari Moshood Aderounmu. Late of No. 30, Olohungbale Street, Badia, Ijora, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 30th day of May, 2007 at Lagos. Mrs. Idowu Adebisi Sekinat. Late of No. 6, Memudu Aremu Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 30th day of October, 2009. SGT. Out .E. Effiong. Late of Camp 4, Block 17, Flat 4, Ojo Cantonment, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 4th day of March, 2014. Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed. Late of No. 21, Fagbenro Street, Idi Araba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 25th day of October, 2014. Mr. Kolawole David. Late of No. 18A, Awe Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 4th day of February, 2012. Sani Muhammed Moriki. Late of No. 8, Ovuru Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 8th day of June, 2013 at Lagos. Mr. Zakari Afodogie. Late of No. 1, Ogba Madam Street, Shibiri Ojo, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 27th day of September, 2012 at Lagos. Aneke Regina. Late of No. 113A, Awolowo Road, Falomo Ikoyi, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 27th day of January, 2014. Busoye Moroof Ganiyu. Late of No. 38, Ajayi Street, Onike, Yaba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 12th day of July, 2014 at Lagos. Alake Simon Chinonye. Late of No. 4, Chinonye Street, Ilufe, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 1st day of December, 2013. Apostle Stephen Uchenna Okpara otherwise known as Uchenna Opara. Late of No. 1, Dada Street, Iba Estate, Ipaye, Lagos. Who died on the 25th day of August, 2014. Ikenne Odogbo. Late of No. 5, Ashimowu Bakare Street, Itire, Lagos. Who died on the 13th day of December, 2013. Chief Julius Omokhikhieme Omoighe. Late of No. 44, Obalende Road, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of September, 1988. Ekpo Udom otherwise known as Ekpo Udom Udo. Late of Road 6, Block 46, APT 2, Navy Town, Ojo Lagos. Who died intestate on the 9th day of November, 2011 at Lagos. Mrs. Unaeze Rita Chime Nee Oparaocha otherwise known as Mrs. Unaeze Rita Chimebere. Late of No. 20, Olufowobi Street, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 17th day of December, 2012 at Lagos. Akinyele Titiola Adedoyin. Late of No. 5, Abibatu Street, Dopemu , Lagos. Who died intestate on the 25th day of September, 2008 at Ogun State. Linus Nwosu. Late of No. 14, Olatunji Idowu Street, Okota, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of September, 2011 at Lagos. Olele Dominic otherwise known as Trado Net Standard Concept Nigeria Limited. Late of No. 5, Adepetu Street, Off College Road, Ogba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 24th day of January, 2014 at Lagos. Arogundade Adekemi Stella. Late of No. 9, Amusu Street, Badia Ijora, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 18th day of February, 2014. Nwachukwu Chijioke .S. Late of No. 22, Willough by Street, Ikorodu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 1st day of February, 2014 at Agbor, Delta State. Kudirat Salaudeen .Late of No. 8, Aro Street, Ijora - Oloye, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 17th day of June, 2014 at Lagos. Akeem Adefowope Olorode. Late of No. 17, Olu Odedegboro Street, Ojota, Epe, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of May, 2014. At Egan, Lagos. Obi Jude Obiechine. Late of No. 23, Imam Memudu Street, Coker Orile, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 18th day of April, 2014 at Lagos. Mrs. Busayo Soyemi. Late of No. 8, David Niyi Ishola Street, Meiran Alagbado, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 26th day of March, 2009. Uwakwe Sunday .N. Late of No. 2, Oseni Street, Ira Ilaje, Volkswagen, Okoko, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 5th day of August, 2014 at Lagos. Mrs. Abe Oluyemisi Ayodele. Late of No. 11, Temitayo Obe Close, Mowe Ibafo, Ogun State. Who died intestate on the 24th day of April, 2014. Olowu Olayeni. Late of No. 12, Alhaji Tokan Street, Alaka Estate, Surulere, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 3rd day of May, 2011 at Lagos. Dr. Mogaji Nurudeen .Late of No. 9A, Oroke Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 16th day of October, 1991 at Lagos. Odeku Akinsola. Late of Pakuro Village, Mowe, Ogun State. Who died intestate on the 12th day of April, 2011. Adugbole Dare otherwise known as Adugbole Dare Rufus. Late of 2, Samba Street, Lawanson, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 8th day of January, 2013. John -Oluwole Babatunde Sofoluwe. Late of 35, Folarin Street, Mushin, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 24th day of June, 2012. Veronica Chukwuma otherwise known as Vero Chukwuma. Late of 512 Road, C. Close, Block 5, Flat 10, Festac Town, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 20th day of May, 2013. Olayeni Omotayo Debo. Late of 3, Irebawa Close, Matogun, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 26th day October, 2012. Allen Kashimawo otherwise known as Muhammed Kolawole Allen Kashimawo. Late of 1643 , Brooklyn, Avenue, New York, USA. Who died intestate on the 30th day of December, 2012. Fini Kudirat Oyindamola otherwise known as Finni Kudirat Oyindamola. Late of Plot 128, Block 285, Flat 4, Iba Estate, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 21st day of August, 2013. Hakeem Disu otherwise known as Hakeem Adeoye Disu. Late of 18, Uwadegoke Street, Isherin Oshun, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 23rd day of August, 2014. Mr. Ogunlana Yekinni Ayinde. Late of 2, Sobande Street, Akoka, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 2nd day of January, 2012. Alhaji Kasali Olayiwola Adekeye. Late of No. 56, Olaiya Street, Oshodi, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 12th day of September, 2014. Likosi Rasaki Aremu. Late of Block 50, Flat 5, Ijeh Low Cost Housing Estate, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 28th day of February, 1987 at Lagos. Nwankwo Patrick Emeka. Late of No. 22, Joseph Nwabia Street, Iba New Town, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 16th day of May, 2014 at Lagos. Mrs. Obianke Racheal Nkonyeasua otherwise known as Osunbor Racheal. Late of No. 4, Tunde Shabi Street, Abule Egba, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 12th day of January, 2014. Anthony .O. Akpeme otherwise known as Akpeme Anthony Ghenemarme and Ekene Anthony Oghewemphu. Late of No. 27, Okunowo Street, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 20th day of August, 2006. Nadine Chidiac otherwise known as Miss Nadine Zeina Chidiac. Late Cotonu, Akpokpa, Benin Republic. Who died intestate on the 3rd day of June, 2012. Mr. Oluwatoyin Oluwafunsho Akanbi. Late of No. 24, Fadipe Street, Shomolu, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 19th day of February, 2013 at Lagos. Silvanus Chukwuemeka Ezendu otherwise known as Okpala Akunna. Late of 38A, Lagos Crescent , Crystal Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 17th day of March, 2013 at Lagos. Nwoye Godwin Christian Okwudili. Late of No. 1, Kola Rewire Street, Ejigbo, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 30th day of April, 2011. Shola Oniyangi otherwise known as Shola Saad Oniyangi. Late of No. 5, Alasela Street, Ogonbo Ajah, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 27th day of April, 2013.

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

1. Okpe Boniface and Okpe John of No. 19, Jacob Taiwo Street, Oshodi and No. 15, Lagos State, IgoliOgoja, Cross Riaver State. Brother and son to the deceased. 2. Jerry Akwala and Kingsley Akwala. Both of Muhammed Shifin Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. Two of children to the deceased. 3. Dr. Adewale Adeyiolu , Samson Adeyiolu and Seyi Adeyiolu. All of 17, ,Olufemi Ojo Street, Olowo Ira, Ojodu, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 4. Deinsah Mary Etikapor and Deinsah Ukarowi Olotu Peter. Both of 16, Adejoke Street, Surulere, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 5. Oluwatoyin Adepoju Mrs. And Habibat Abdullahi . Both of 16A, Abata Street, Orile-Iganmu , Lagos. Children to the deceased. 6. Mr. Olayiwola Dosunmu and Mrs. Abiola Dosunmu of No. 9, Ayanbode Street, Ogba, Lagos and 15, Ajeniya Street, Obalende, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 7. Taju Oduniyi, Adeniyi Gbadero, Olayinka Oduniyi and Azeez Oduniyi of 5, Kufisile Street, Opposite Oba, Isheri Palace, Isheri Olofin Lagos, 24, Oyerokun Street, Surulere, Lagos, 1, Yinka Oduniyi Street, Agbele, Ikorodu, Lagos, and 10, Mogushen lane, Itu-Nla, Ikorodu, Lagos. Son and grand children to the deceased. 8. Mrs. Omowunmi Dorcas Akintobi , Mr. Oluwaseun Owolabi Anjorin and Mrs. Abiodun Adegoroye of 27, Reality Avenue, Estate, Lekki, Lagos and 90, Olaiya Street, Off International Airport Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 9. Miss Juliet Ebele Onwuatuegwu and Miss Lucy Nkechi Onwuatuegwu. Both of 22 Road, Block 13, Flat 29, Festac Town, Lagos. Sisters to the deceased. 10. Udeagha Elizabeth Uzoma , Udeagha Duncan Kenechi and Udeagha IkedichiIyke . All of 10, Apex Okokmaiko, Lagos State. Widow and children to the deceased. 11. Adewale Olabisi Ismamiyah and Onanuga Memunat Oyindamola. Both of 13, Agbomalu Court, Off Freeman Junction, Lagos Island, Lagos. Widow and mother to the deceased. 12. Mr. Samuel Asebhofor Aghenta and Mr. David Aigbe Aghenta of 40, Ayilara Street, Ojuelegba, Lagos and 1, Baiye Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 13. Olabamiji Yusuf and Ghazal H. Opeyemi. Both of Muak Villa , Abere, Oje Compound, Ajah, Lagos. Son and nephew to the deceased. 14. Alhaji Taofeeq Oladapo and Miss Naimot Idowu Oladapo of No. 2, Omolankee Onigbogbo , Maryland, Lagos. 15. Godwin Adams and Joy Owamagbe. Both of No. 5, Ekperi Close, Akute L.G.A. Ogun State. Widower and daughter to the deceased. 16. James Olufunmilayo Osho and Oluwagbenga Samuel Osho. Both of No. 7, Wene Street, Sari Iganmu , Orile, Lagos. Widower and son to the deceased. 17. Alhaji Taofeek Adekunle Ladipo, Mrs. Mutiat Omojoke Adeniyi, Mr. Semiu Olugbenga Ladipo and Mrs. Kafilat .O. Dauda. All of No. 19, Ilasamaja Road, Mushin, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 18. Mrs. Noran Ijeoma Williams and Mr. Daniel Chikezie Williams. Both of No. 17, Fagbenro Street, Idi Araba, Lagos. Widow and one of the children to the deceased. 19. Rev. SR Iheoma Bernadette Obasi of No. 8A, Azare Crescent, Apapa, Lagos. Lawful Attorney to the deceased. 20. Mrs. Taiwo Abolore Elabanjo and Mrs. Keji Adebowale of No. 222, Herbert Macaulay Yaba, Lagos and No. 7, Railway Line, Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos. Widow and 1st daughter to the deaceasd. 21. Christopher Owoyemi Ayodele and Eng. Lateef Banwo.Both of No. 6, Kalejaiye , Lowa Ikorodu, Lagos. Son and brother to the deceased. 22. Mrs. Rita Ilo and Mr. Paul .C. Okoli. Both of 5th Avenue, D Close, House 10B, Festac Town, Lagos. Sister and brotherin-law to the deceased. 23. Mrs. Beatrice Nwafor and Mr. Chima Okorie of No. 483, Ikorodu Road, Ketu, Lagos and No. 33, Arikawe Street, Ketu, Lagos. Sister and brother to the deceased. 24. Mrs. Afusatu .A. Raji, Mr. Abdulai Abiodun Raji, Mrs. Murufat Ajoke Okuwa and Mr. Wasiu Oyawale Raji.All of House 13, Close 7, Satellite Town, Lagos. Widow, children and half brother to the deceased. 25. Moyosola Ituaand Adebisi Hassan. Both of No. 6, Sowonuola Street, Off Ogba Road, Agege, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 26. Mrs. Olasunkanmi Olabode and Mr. Babatunde Azeez Olabode. Both of No. 21B, Odofin Street, Amukoko, Lagos. Widow and one of the children to the deceased. 27. Babajide Sanni of No. 5, Alhaja Adayanijo Close, Sangotedo, Eti-Osa, Lagos. Widower to the deceased. 28. Mrs. Agdahowa Ganiyat Adewunmi, Miss Akinolu Nimota Adefunke, Mr. Agdahowa Osamidiame Emmanuel. All of No. 11, Adisa Ogunbawo Street, Mowe Ibafo. Widow , son and sister-in-law to the deceased. 29. Mrs. Patience Osanyinbi, Mr. Oluwasegun Osanyinbi of No. 16B, Airways Road, Ijesatedo Surulere, Lagos and No. 5, Survey Avenue, Maplewood Estate, Agege, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 30. Mrs. Daria Ego Egemba and Miss Chibuzor Portia Egemba. Both of No. 4, Oyegunle Street, Oworosoki, Lagos. Widow and daughter to the deceased. 31. Fatimot Busari Mrs., Lukman Busari Omowunmi and Bilikis Busari of No. 30, Olohungbale Street, Badia, Ijora, Lagos. Widow and children to the deceased. 32. Idowu Gbenga Daniel and Ojudun Abiodun of No. 6, Memudu Aremu Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 33. Emmanuel Out Effiong and Catherine Out Effiong. Both of Camp 4, Block 7, Flat 4, Ojo Cantonment, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 34. Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed and Alhaji Ahmadu Mohammed of No. 21, Fagbenro Street, Idi Araba, Lagos and No. 1, SuluBolaji Street, Lagos Island, Lagos. Brother to the deceased. 35. Mrs. Elizabeth Mojisola Kolawole and Mrs. Margret Bose John. Both of No. 18A, Awe Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos. Widow and daughter to the deceased. 36. Rabi Sani and Bana Sani. Both of No. 8, Ovuru Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos. Daughter and cousin to the deceased. 37. Mrs. Adaku Victoria Afodogie, Abdul Salam Ifeanyi Chukwu Afodogie. Both of No. 1, Ogba Madam Street, Shibiri Ojo, Lagos. Widow and children to the deceased. 38. Ako Itodo and Valentine Aneke. Both of No. 113A, Awolowo Road, Falomo Ikoyi, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 39. Busoye Felicia Funke and Busoye Temitope Abiodun . Both of No. 38, Ajayi Street, Onike, Yaba, Lagos. Widow and son to the deceased. 40. Chinwe Chinonye Alake and Iloagu Chukwujindu. Both of No. 4, Chinonye Street, Ilufu, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 41. Mrs. Okpara .A. Okpara and Mr. Okpara .D. Okpara. Both of No. 1, Dada Street, IpayeIba Estate, Lagos. Widow and son to the deceased. 42. Mrs. Kelechi Odogbo and Mr. Patrick Odogbo. Both of No. 5, Ashimowu Bakare Street, Itire, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 43. Prof (Mrs.) Juliana Othibhor Omokhodion and Mr. Loveth Omoigbe. Both of 4th Avenue, 401 Road, C Close, Festac Town, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 44. Mrs. Grace UdomEkpo and Mr. Timothy Ekpo. Both of Road 6, Block 46, APT 2, navy Town, Ojo, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 45. Mr. Jude Oparaocha and Mr. Cyriacus Oparaocha. Both of No. 32, Nurudeen Street, Opposite Ojo Barracks, Lagos. Younger brothers to the deceased. 46. Olalekan Akinyele and Folashade Taiwo. Both of No. 5, Abibatu Street, Dopemu, Lagos.Widower and sister to the deceased. 47. Emeka Nwosu and Mrs. Susan Nwosu. Both of No. 4, Samuel Ekunola Street, Okota, Lagos. Elder brother and sister inlaw to the deceased. 48. Uchenna Natasha and Cleopatra Okeke. Both of No. 8, Laola Street, Akoka, Lagos. Widow and sister to the deceased. 49. Arogundade Samuel Adedeji and Alegbe Taiye Aderonke (Mrs.) of No. 9, Amusu Street, Badia, Ijora, Lagos and No. 22, Beach Road, Owode, Ajegunle, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 50. Mrs. Mariam Chinasa Nwachukwu , Mr. Sylvester Chukwudi Nwachukwu and Stanley Kelechi Nwachukwu of No. 22, Willoughby Street, Ikorodu, Lagos. Widow, father and brother to the deceased. 51. Salaudeen Ganiyu and Babatunde Salaudeen. Both of No. 8, Aro Street, Ijora, Lagos. Widower and son to the deceased. 52. Abiodun Jamiu Olorode, Olalekan Yesiru Akeem and MissTemitope Rebecca Akeem. All of No. 17, Olu Odedegboro Street, Ojota, Epe, Lagos. Junior brother and two of the children to the deceased. 53. Mrs. Faith Obi Chiemezie, Mr. Angus Chika Obia of No. 23, Imama Memudu Street, Coker Orile , Lagos and No. 5, Oremeji Street, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 54. Mr. Tolulope Soyemi , Miss Olufunmilola Soyemi and Miss Oluwadoyinsola Soyemi .All of No. 8, David Niyi Ishola Street, Meiran Alagbado, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 55. Mrs. Gift Uwakwe and Chuks Uwakwe. Both of No. 20, Oseni Street, Ira Ilaje, Volks Okoko, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 56. Pastor Abe Adeniyi Oduntan and Miss Abe Victoria Ayomide. Both of No. 41B, Akinola Street, Ladi-Lak, Bariga, Lagos. Widower and daughter to the deceased. 57. Mrs. Margaret Olowu and Mrs. Dunni Abdulahi .Both of No. 12, Alhaji Tokan Street, Surulere, Lagos. Widow and daughter to the deceased. 58. Olayinwola Aramide Mogaji, Olayinka Waheed Mogaji and Abimbola Funmilayo Mogaji. All of Block 133, Flat 3, Ojokoro Estate, Meran, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 59. Adefenwa Yewande Odeku and Aderonke Ololade Odeku. Both of 276, Muritala Muhammed Way, Alago-Meji, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 60. Bamidele Ajoke Oyinloye Adugbole of 2, Samba Street, Lawanson , Lagos. Widow to the deceased. 61. Mrs. Beatrice Chinwe Sofoluwe and Dr. Obiora Oluseun Sofoluwe. Both of 2B, Ojoh Lane, Off Layinka Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. Widow and son to the deceased. 62. Mr. Benjamin Chukwuma and Mr. Nnamdi Chukuma. Both of 512 Road, C Close, Block5, Flat 10, Festac Town, Lagos. Widower and son to the deceased. 63. Olayeni Olanike Olajumoke and Olayeni Inioluwa Precious. Both of 12, Bisi Olatunji Street, Ojodu, Lagos. Widow and daughter to the deceased. 64. Tawakalitu .O. Kashimawo, Oluwarotimi Kashimawo, Adeniyi Kashimawo and Adegboyeya Kashimawo. All of 24/26, Liberty Road, Ebute, Ikorodu, Lagos. Widow and children to the deceased. 65. Miss Finni Latifat .M., Miss Busurat .O. Abudu, Mr. Yekini .O. Abudu and Mr. Saliu .B. Abudu. All of Plot 128, Block 285, Flat 4, Iba Estate, Lagos. Daughter, sisters and brothers to the deceased. 66. Mrs. Abiola Kafayat Disu and Miss Modupe Fatima Disu. Both of 18, Uwadegoke Street, Isherin Oshun, Lagos. Widow and one of the children to the deceased. 67. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oladejo , Mr. Bolaji Ogunlana, Mr. Alade Ogunlana and Mrs. Taibat Fetuga. 68. Sulaimon Owolabi Adekeye and Rashidat Adebola Falore. Both of No. 2, Kayode Falowo Road, Magodo, Lagos. Children to the deceased. 69. Mr. Sunday Ogundeyibi , Mrs. Beatrice Subulade Ogundeyibi of No. 10, Araromi Street, New Makoko, Yaba, Lagos and Babatunde Crescent, Unity Estate, Phase II, Ibafo, Ogun State. Brother and sister to the deceased. 70. Agnes Chizoba Nwankwo and Micheal Nwankwo. Both of No. 22, Joseph Nwania Street, Iba New Town, Lagos. Widow and brother to the deceased. 71. James Obianke and Mrs. Joy Oketoyin of No. 4, Tunde Shabi Street, Abule-Egba and No. 16, Olaonipekun Street, Area 1 Estate, Alagbado, Lagos. Widower and sister to the deceased. 72. Mrs. Akpeme Roseline Oriteweyinmi Palmer and Miss Valerie Ewomazino Akpeme. Both of No. 5, Fagbo Close, 11th Avenue, Oluyole Estate, Lagos. Widow and daughter to the deceased. 73. Michel Lolo Chidiac and AzizouIzaacChidiac.Both of BP 01, Parakou, Cotonou, Benin Republic.Father and brother to the deceased. 74. Mrs. Oluwatosin Omobolanle Akanbi, Mr. Opeifa Francis Mobolaji, Mrs. Folake Temitope Akanbi , Mrs. Modupeola Oyenike Akanbi. All of No. 24, Fadipe Street, Shomolu, Lagos. Widow and children to the deceased. 75. Mrs. Mary Ngozi Ezendu and kanayo Joseph Ezendu. Both of No. 38A, Lagos Crescent, Crystal Estate, Amuwo-odofin, Lagos. Widow and son to the deceased. 76. Angus Osondu Nwoye , Dr. Ngozi Uju Nwoye and Mrs. Ngozi Nwoye. All of 68, Samuel Ekunola Street, Okota, Lagos. Brother and widow to the deceased. 77. Mrs. Bolanle Hajara Oniyangi and Ibrahim Motolani Saad Oniyangi. Both of No. 5, Alasela Street, Ogonbo, Ajah, Lagos. Widow and one of the children to the deceased.

A.O.SOLADOYE(MRS) AG : PROBATE REGISTRAR

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 2015

COMMENTARY

FEMI ABBAS ON

IGERIA’S Federal Government openly traded off its dignity in what amounted to a betrayal of conscience penultimate Tuesday night (December 30, 2014). This occurred at the United Nations Security Council meeting where voting on a proposed resolution to stop the perennial Israeli occupation of West Bank area of Palestine took place. The proposed resolution was to be an historic anticlimax of the 66-year-old Israeli/Palestinian conflict with a view to paving way for a two-nation solution. If passed, the resolution would have ventilated a peaceful atmosphere for the Middle East and by implication, the entire world. In the YES or No voting of the 15 member-nations of the Security Council, nine votes were required as the simple majority to determine the liberation of the Palestinian people from the political and economic siege of Israel.

Voting pattern Out of those 15 member-nations, eight voted in favour of the liberation while two voted for continuous Israeli siege on Palestine. The eight nations that voted for the latter’s liberation were Argentina, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Luxembourg and Russia. Those that voted against liberation were the United States and Australia. The five remaining countries that opted for abstention were Lithuania, South Korea, Rwanda, Britain and Nigeria. Incidentally, two years prior to this stage of determining the fate of the Palestinians (2012), Nigeria’s permanent representative at the United Nations, Prof Joy Ogwu, had glowingly supported the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood and reiterated Nigeria’s recognition of the State of Palestine. That was one year after Nigeria confirmed her diplomatic relation with Palestine on October 31, 2011. And definitely acting on the instruction of her home government, Professor Ogwu at that time voted in favour of the admission of Palestine into UNESCO as a full member-state, despite a fierce opposition from the US and Israel. During her speech at the UN General Assembly in 2012, Prof Ogwu underscored the right of the Palestinians to live in freedom thus: “It was quite fitting that the international community had given Palestine a non-member observer state status in the United Nations. This was not only timely but also right and just.” She then went ahead to pledge Nigeria’s commitment to working towards Palestine’s admission into the United Nations as a full member state.

Dramatic u-turn But dramatically, when the matter came up on December 30 2014, Nigeria suddenly made a u-turn that held the entire diplomatic world nonplussed. Rather than living by her words as a dignified nation, she shamelessly cheapened out and threw her conscience to the winds apparently in return for a clandestine agenda yet to be fathomed. Thus, to the amazement and perhaps disappointment of most members of the Security Council, including those that voted to block the Palestinian right to a home, Nigerian government betrayed that glory as its negative decision became pivotal to UN’s rejection of the long awaited resolution that would have brought peace to the Middle East. The implication of this is that with the blocking of peace in the Middle East in which Nigeria played a principal role, the rest of the world, including Nigeria cannot sleep with both eyes closed for now. This is because, the Middle East conflict especially between Israel and Palestine has been the major determinant of global peace or otherwise since 1967 when Israel, aided by the imperialist West, further occupied the Arab lands which she has since consistently refused to relinquish thereafter despite all efforts. Before the voting, the anxiety created by the impending abstention of certain member-states had put a global diplomatic focus on Nigeria being an African champion of liberation movements in the past. It will be recalled that Nigeria’s role in championing the cause of liberation especially for African countries before now was legendary.

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Fed Govt’s betrayal of conscience

•Prof Ogwu The tenacity of such role (during the cold war years) as a vital part of Nigeria’s foreign policy that aided the independence of countries like South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Algeria and others had once pitched the country against the imperialistic tendencies of some Western countries.

How Nigeria broke relation with Israel It was against such imperialistic tendencies that Nigeria’s Federal Government under General Yakubu Gowon broke diplomatic relations with Israel for 19 years from 1973 to 1992 when the Military President Ibrahim Babangida restored that relation. In those years, religion was not at all in consideration as the issue of liberation was seen purely as a humanitarian affair which deserved human feeling rather than sheer political contention or religious sentiment. If religion had been at the front burner of Nigeria’s foreign policy, General Yakubu Gowon, a Christian, would not have taken Nigeria into the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in observer status in 1969 and General Ibrahim Babangida, a Muslim, would not have restored Nigeria’s diplomatic relation with Israel in 1992 after 19 years of break (since 1973). Thus, through her consistency in human face foreign policy, Nigeria had earned tremendous prestige in the comity of nations and this had earned her the appellation of ‘Giant of Africa’ which she still enjoys today as a special privilege. Now, by deviating from that highly prestigious foreign policy and by pitching its tent with the imperialist countries the government seems to have sacrificed conscience on the platter of unwarranted and irrelevant religious sentiment which is a reflection of the situation at home in Nigeria under the current regime. This may be linked to fortuitous diplomatic visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to Nigeria among other African countries in June 2014 in preparation for the unfortunate betrayal for which the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked and praised President Goodluck Jonathan for a job well done. Nevertheless, Nigerians are urged to overlook the embarrassing diplomatic goof and wait for another chance bearing in mind that no diplomatic policy is permanently static. God bless our country!

Clarification on published fables In a front page lead story (without a byline) published in Sunday Tribune of December 28, 2014 and entitled ‘Division Within Core North Widens’, the Ibadan-

‘The implication of this is that with the blocking of peace in the Middle East in which Nigeria played a principal role, the rest of the world, including Nigeria cannot sleep with both eyes closed for now’ based newspaper claimed that “the elite and opinion leaders among the HausaFulani stock are split down the line about who to support between the two major contenders (President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari). The newspaper went further to state that “the elites who lined up behind General Buhari included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa‘ad Abubakar, who is leading some northern Emirs; 11 Arewa turks, led by former minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; four core northern Governors led by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and a loose coalition of clerics said to be linked to various street groups across the northern region ……..”

Fabricated news story Under the same news headline, Sunday Tribune came up with a sub-heading entitled ‘South-West Muslim Council Backs GEJ’, and quoted one Mallam Hakeem Adelani who it called the Secretary-General of the ‘Muslim Council’ as saying that since ‘Yoruba Muslims were not goats and rams’ they would rather vote for Jonathan than Buhari’. The quoted fake secretary was also reported to have said that a mosque-tomosque campaign would soon commence in the region to sensitise the Muslim Ummah towards the clandestine political agenda of some evil politicians who want to use the name of Islam for their evil machinations. The concern of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) here is not about Nigeria’s political murky water in which some dirty elements in the society are swimming, but about the smearing tendency of some dirty minds in the region who think they can drag Islam and some highly placed Nigerian Muslims into their murky water. In view of the above, therefore, the following clarifications are necessary: The Role of MUSWEN The Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) is the main umbrella of all the Muslim organisations in the Southwest and it does not have the so-called ‘Muslim Council’ (of no particular state) on its membership list. MUSWEN is the only Muslim body authorised to speak for the entire Muslims in the Southwest through its Executive Secretary, Prof D.O.S. Noibi or its Media Consultant, Alhaji Femi Abbas. Any other person or persons claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Southwest Muslims without the authorisation of the above mentioned duo can only be a fraudster using a Muslim name to tarnish the image of Islam in the region. The fictitious name called Hakeem Adelani said to be the Secretary-General of the Council is not known to MUSWEN or

recognised by any of its member organisations in the region. MUSWEN is neither a political body affiliated to any political figure or party in the country nor is it involved directly or indirectly in Nigerian partisan politics. As a credible religious body which fervently believes in freedom of expression and association, MUSWEN has never and will not be involved in partisan politics let alone influence the electorate’s voting rights along religious line. The frivolous statement published by Sunday Tribune in the name of the Southwest Muslims is therefore a mere fabrication by enemies of Islam aimed at subjecting the name of the highly revered religious body to ridicule. Consequently, MUSWEN calls particularly on all Muslims in the Southwest and the country in general to ignore the insensitive and irresponsible statement reported in the cited Sunday Tribune and credited to a fictitious Mallam Hakeem Adelani who may be non-existent in reality. Meanwhile, MUSWEN hereby calls on the Federal Government once again to urgently address all forms of insecurity in the land with particular attention to the socio-economic sources of unrest by taking bold and practical steps towards stamping out corruption and indiscipline through the leadership’s personal examples and thereby strengthen God’s consciousness in all Nigerians. Finally, MUSWEN admonishes all Nigerian politicians to refrain from heating up the polity through incendiary utterances and public actions in their campaigns towards the elections that will begin in February 2015 and remember that there can be a Nigeria to be called their country only if there is peace. God save Nigeria!

The ranting of a dubious cleric “A man who does not wear dignity as a dress cannot proclaim dignity by demand through sheer bravado” By an Arab poet. Self-respect is like a glass house. Anybody who values it will surely not throw out a stone from it. And when a pig decorated with a valuable ornament takes it to a refuse place it must not be a surprise. Refuse bin is the natural habitat of the pig. Nigerian Muslims should not be bothered by a recently published ranting of a so-called Nigerian cleric leader of the Christian faith whose antecedent is very well known. In the two parts publication in a Nigerian national newspaper last Friday and last Monday, the self-glorified irritant turned himself into a Mr. know all and quoted the Qur’an copiously out of context giving it a drunkard’s interpretation to incite Nigerian Christians against Nigerian Muslims. The megalomaniac wanted Nigerians to believe that the only way of ‘curbing insurgency’ in the country is to either wipe out the Qur’an from existence or edit it to suit his own satanic thinking. In his devilish search for a solution to insurgency, after a long, unwinding rigmarole typical of an evident ignoramus, he concluded that unless the Qur’an is edited to suit his own parochial way of amassing devilish wealth in a typical capitalist manner, the world would not know peace. To him, Qur’an (which has been in existence for over 1400 years) is the main cause of the five year old insurgency in Nigeria. Such an evil conclusion by a criminally avaricious agent of devil cannot surprise any sane person. Some recent exposures about his clandestine activities have confirmed his satanic tendencies. Rather than compounding a fundamental national problem like insurgency with a satanic solution this self-appointed public tutor should have explained to Nigerians his own role in the recent illegal currency trafficking that caused a face-off between Nigeria and South African. The total amount of money said to be involved in that devilish deal was $15 million. This is not the right time for any diversionary tutoring. But since people who are not related to relevance often recourse to irrelevances as a proof of their existence, the diversionary tactics can be understood even as the commercial cleric needs to be pitied. However, for the benefit of relevant information and knowledge about the divine Book called the Qur’an, a full reaction to that provocative, inflammatory outburst will be published in this column in a foreseeable future, in sha’Allah.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

The Lagos Countdown, which ushers in a New Year, is not all about fun and razzmatazz. It is a tool designed by the state government to sell the Bar Beach to the world, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI, who was at last weekend’s colourful events, which ushered in 2015.

Lagos Countdown: Selling Bar Beach to the world A

TRUE brand experience is more than an interaction, say brand experts. It is that moment in time when a customer not only sees the brand promise but is able to live it in ways that drive deep affinity and loyalty. At last Wednesday’s Lagos Countdown to usher in 2015 the state government explored this tool to market the Bar Beach waterfront in Victoria Island, Lagos, as a world destination brand. To the event’s organiser, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), there is more to the Lagos brand than the slogan, Eko O Ni Baje. Delivering the experience is what makes the slogan create an impact beyond the sloganeering. “When you ask executives this question, many say that branding is the best way to attract customers and foster loyalty. But there’s really more to the story. There’s actually a more effective way to attract and retain customers – and it has to do with the experience you deliver,” a brand expert who observe the Lagos Countdown, said. With the use of social media, CNN and other media channels to relay the experience of audience live at the Lagos Countdown, whose grand finale was held at the Bar Beach on cross-over night, the impact of the countdown in delivering what participants called “the Lagos Experiential marketing” cannot be undermined. “These experiences don’t just impact those individual in Lagos but also those who watched it on CNN, social media and more; those who came tell their friends and family. As one study found, traditional marketing activities often can’t match the power of these word-of-mouth recommendationsexperiantial,” says an expert. As a result, the Bar Beach played host to an estimated 200,000 participants for 2014 edition of the countdown as against 100,000 recorded in 2013. According to LASAA, who put up the event for the Lagos State government, part of the aim of the countdown is to brand Lagos for global positioning in tourism with the aim of deepening its commerce. This aim appeared to have been achieved with the just concluded Lagos Countdown which according to report made available to The Nation, recorded trade and commerce transactions in excess of N2 billion between December 1 to the crossover night, December 31 through January 1, 2015.

• Fun seekers

The experience The event explored music, christmas and New Year festive seasons, musical artistes and celebs to create a good experience about Lagos using the Bar Beach as the setting. An enchanting cascade of lights, fireworks and pyrotechnics, all combining to transform the entire Bar Beach, in Victoria Island, Lagos, into a melting pot of culture, entertainment, leisure and commerce. A participant in the countdown, Funmilayo Ademulegun, narrated her experience, saying she prayed to be alive, hale and hearty to witness the 2015 edition. Ademulegun said shortly after the crossover was announced with thunderous fireworks, she took some minutes to reverence God and thanked Him for all He has done for her in the course of the out gone year. Afterwards, she said she looked for a strategic location to enjoy the fireworks. “The dark sky became lit. The fireworks were coming round after rounds and it was splendid to behold. I cannot forget in a hurry the excitement that came with the fireworks, the music performance and the entire merriment will linger in my memory for the rest of the year,” she said. Also, a United State of America diplomat (name withheld) who was at the event described the grand finale of the countdown as “electric”. He said he would invite his

• Fireworks

family from to Nigeria to experience the next edition.

Fashola’s dream about Bar Beach This, perhaps, informed the reason the Lagos State Governor Babtunde Raji Fashola’s clamour for repeat of the countdown every month. According to him, “for me, the work is not finished. What we have done here for about a month now must now happen here, every month; from then on, every day. That is when the story will be complete. When there will be commerce and sport, when there will be signing, when there will be buying and selling and when the whole world will fly into this city and the state and to this country and say that I am going to Lagos State Bar Beach water front. That is the dream.” Fashola said the importance of the countdown is primarily to boost trade and commerce in the Bar Beach area where the annual event takes place and to make the area a globally acknowledged tourism destination not only for Nigerians, but for the entire people in the world. The governor who participated in many of the countdown events, including the sea food

festival and the festival of light, said the standard of the countdown and its potential continues to improve, noting that the Lagos State Government aims to improve on the annual event until it becomes a daily affair.

Sponsorship Fashola expressed appreciation to all the sponsors of the annual festival who believe in the dream. “I must thank all our sponsors for their faith, for their trust and for their investment in our dream and this is an investment that I believe is yielding result not only by what I see but also by what is happening. A lot of enterprise, commerce is taking place on this 1.5km stretch and it’s been happening since the first day of December. We have had a fish festival here, we have had a big soccer event here and all of this is gone on. For me, this is a real economy. The economy, instead of giving our people a handout; through strategic thinking and partnership; we give them a hand up so that they can be whoever they want to be on their own efforts and their own initiatives. I want to thank all of you who have made it possible.” Just as expected and as reflected in the slo-

gan for the 2014 event, “Lagos Countdown Like Never Before,” the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Noah, had in several interactions with journalists said the slogan was carefully chosen because 2014 event “will surpass those held previously.” Noah noted: “When you put up a show of this magnitude, you consider the lighting, the fireworks, stage and the crowd. Our friends from the United States and the United Kingdom who partnered with us helped us with the lighting, stage setting and fireworks.” Due to the hype, the frenzy and smooth organisation of the 2014 countdown, the international community included Lagos among the top 10 tourist destinations for crossover events; even as the ground finale of the countdown featured on CNN for the first time. Lots of people travelled from far and wide to witness the crossover, even as they were thrilled with melodious music and great fireworks which lasted for about 25 minutes. Justifying the volume of capital which changed hands during the countdown period, George Noah noted that though the money didn’t come directly into the coffers of the state, it exchanged hands among Lagos residents and helped improve their lots as they participated in trade and commerce during the countdown. Also, lots of cash, it was gathered, exchanged hands in advertisement, trade and commerce, hotels and accommodations, transportation and movements etc. Speaking on the uniqueness of 2014 Countdown, Noah said: “Countdown is about commerce, it’s about brand development and the rest. 2014 is a unique countdown. We have almost four weeks to start our countdown but in other places, it is just once. New York does not feature 30 artistes; it is only in Lagos this happens.” In addition to offering a viable platform for commerce, he said the event encouraged brand development, job creation, leisure, entertainment and tourism. 2014 Lagos Countdown served as institutionalisation of an enduring crossover tradition that signified the end of one year and the celebration of the beginning of another in a splendid fashion.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

The outgoing year was a beehive of activities as trends and innovations made by different brands and manufacturers made 2014 very fulfilling for shoppers, reports TONIA ’DIYAN

2014: Shoppers’ year of bumper harvest T

HE outgoing year was ‘a promisekept’ as advertisers would say. Reason: Top brands made inroads into the market just as consumers had a surfeit of choices to make in the long run. The past year, like every other year, saw more sophisticated platforms for conducting business on both national and international scale through trade fairs and exhibitions organised at different times across the country. The experience was more than just a marketing tool, because each time these exhibitions were held, the entire market place was at the shopper’s fingertips and as a source of market information the shopper’s need was met in a centralised way.

Attraction According to a centre manger in a Leisure Mall, Feyi Shoyinka, the attraction to shopping in the mall last year was the low pricing regime embraced by retail outlets in the mall. “Pricing is the main attraction here and I think the mall’s retailers or tenants have keyed into this,” he said, adding that retailers, especially the foreign ones, know the market and the right competitive pricea factor that ensured their continued survival in the market place. In 2014, the mall was able to prove that it has advantage over the open\ traditional market, stand alone and high street stores; hence, the volume of business transactions that go on there and the improved revenue enjoyed by the space owners in the malls. Providing excellent opportunity to assess opinions from clients and determine market potential, in 2014, trade fairs and exhibitions conducted research and evaluated competitions, they were able to develop commercial structures by identifying new agents and distributors, as well as initiate joint ventures and project partnerships. In all, they rendered world class shopping experiences to individuals and businesses. As the year wrapped up in November and the Christmas sale was ushered in, a new trade exhibition was introduced to shoppers in a big form. It was the Kubechi’s Closet Fair at the City Mall, Onikan Lagos. The fair was a networking platform and a miniature couture that attracted lots of ladies and young men at the same time offering rare collections together with amazing deals. In December, churches joined the shopping frenzy, particularly Christmas shopping. Some of them organised trade exhibitions using their premises and auditorium, and making huge sales. A good example is the Fountain of Life Bible Church. At Christmas, the church organised a fair tagged ‘The Annual Market Place and Family Fun Fair’, combining trade and fun. Its aim was to empower the church and the small businesses in its environs. It recorded attractive response as people turned out for the programme.

Growth and achievements In August, the potentials and opportunities in the Nigerian business space attracted investments from all climes. Modernisation of business arena came; more businesses were conducted in very conducive atmosphere. Shopping malls also became big social network avenues going beyond being just a business complex. They become platforms for social networking, especially among the upwardly mobile and fun seeking youths. Shopping malls brought about more socialising or bringing people together to benefit from themselves and the stores. Besides, the ultra modern shopping facilities built with unique and distinctive features fitted with innovative benefits to shoppers. For the youth, the presence of top international brands, which took spaces at such malls, also contributed to the modernisation of the mall concept. The malls have been able to pass for a tourist attraction centres, boosting the country’s revenue generation, especially on the side of

•Ikeja City Mall, Lagos

value added tax (VAT).

Improving customer experience Retail shopping is about convenience, comfort, security and providing a delightful experience for shoppers. Shopping places generally said they were able to offer unique experiences in the sense that they were more like community centers with a large variety of business merchandise. From time to time, they looked at what they could improve on; what they should change or add. For instance, the management of the some of these places conducted surveys to sample the expectations of customers. The surveys covered areas such as the type of goods expected to be seen and their choice of products. According to operators, shopping places grew about 80 per cent last year. They say this is a good development. People stayed longer in these places, particularly the malls. More people visited these places on a daily basis, a lot more cars came in too. Retailers did better depending on how much marketing and advertising they could do for themselves. In August, Ladipo motor spare part market went online. The international motor spare parts market opened its online portal because of clients who are too busy to come to the market to purchase their genuine motor spare parts. Chairman, Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Center, Mr. Ajibade Olajoku said the activities of fraudulent middle men necessitated the new move. According to him, www.youseeam.com will link prospective buyers with sellers in the market. Also in November, Infinix launched its zero smart phone devices and partnered Konga. Speaking on the smartphone, its Managing Director Mr Benjamin Jiang said it is available and affordable in the market.

Christmas sales made waves Majority of sales outlets across the cities gave all forms of bonanzas and freebies to woo prospective buyers. They however made brisk sales bringing forward their clearance sales. Last year, sale of Xmas decorations started making waves in markets and stores early around the first week of the festive month with prices varying according to designs. However, the year saw low sale of Xmas hampers as against the usual boom expected at such occasions.

Innovations that gained a foothold At the first quarter of the year, e-payments made slow, steady acceptance by shops when they saw the need for a world beyond cash

where cashless transaction assisted in growing their businesses, improving the lives of their customers and removing risks associated with carrying, using and handling cash. At the end of the year, pessimistic retailers about the whole idea of a cashless economy in the country were those who encouraged their customers to pay using the ATM cards and the point of sales (PoS) machine at the point of payment. Observations by The Nation Shopping in 2014 had it that 60 per cent of retail shops in the Lagos metropolis owned a PoS machine. On the other hand, few still had ample reasons to hold on to their conventional ways, not because the policy is not good, but because they gave room for doubts on its workability for their kind of business or location. Most shoppers avoided carrying cash last year; kudos to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that had been doing a lot in terms of awareness for a cashless society. The aim to shop with e-payment solutions to enable people keep within the CBN daily cash limits, thereby saving money instead of spending cash uncontrollably was achieve in the Nigerian retail industry last year. In November, Nigerian’s foremost, indigenous quick service restaurant Mr Biggs birthed a new outlet at the E-wing of the departure lounge, close to the British Airways counter, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The all-new-look eatery was positioned to serve the increasing needs of international travelers at the MMIA availed travelers the opportunity to grab a fast meal before boarding their flights without hassles. The challenge of getting affordable hygienic meal to cater for the needs of travelers was taken care of by the entrant of Mr Biggs at the airport. Managing Executive for UAC Restaurants, Mr Derrick Van Houten, said “the beehive of activities at yuletide prompted this outlet in November 2014, in order to relieved travelers the stress of having to plan their meals before arriving at the airport.” The brand also went ahead to make available the Mr Biggs @ School Fest package where schools enjoyed the presence of the brand at their end of year parties with a token of N1000 per school. Also in 2014, the brand emerged the 2014 Most Trusted Brand in the quick service restaurant category; it was a brand health award. Also in November, Mr Chef gave out a Hyundai Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), N1.5 million cash, a LED television set and a double-door refrigerator. It was at its first lady reality show held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre- Onikan, Lagos. According to the Executive Director of

Bayswaters Industries Limited, makers of Mr Chef Products, Mr Piyush Nair, “last year, we were able to demonstrate our commitment to women empowerment, we contributed to the sustenance of a familyoriented society and the building of a strong Nigeria at large using our reality TV shows,” Nair said. The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) renewed its efforts to protect the Nigerian consumer from unwholesome practices of manufacturing concerns, both multi-nationals and locals, the council succeeded in putting various big companies in its watch list in 2014. For instance, it ordered the producers of the most consumed soft drinks in the world to subject their manufacturing processes to the council’s inspection for a period of 12 months to ensure compliance with laid down safety standards and regulations, having been found to have dropped the ball lately. Its Director-General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, confirmed the development during a media briefing on the ‘Investigation into Violation of Product Quality Standards by the NBC and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited’, in Lagos. In September, PZ offered 2,000 Ibadan traders free medical check-up to activate one of its premier products, Hot Robb, at the famous Gbagi Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where traders were massaged on the joints and other parts of the body with Robb, there was blood pressure (BP) check, free consultations and enlightenment on health-related issues .

Online shopping In Febuary, Konga redefined e-commerce in Africa, a revolutionary offering which gave select Nigerian businesses the opportunity to make their products and businesses available online to millions of Nigerian shoppers In June, Jumia celebrated its best month of performance and highest sales since inception. This, according to the company, was the result of unrelenting hard work and dedication from the team. To compensate members of the team for their efforts, there was an award ceremony to recognize, motivate and empower team members. To continue the celebration of the team’s achievement, a team bonding event was also held to further enhance a team spirit within the Jumia sales force. Also in June, Hellofood.com gave Port Harcourt residents the opportunity to order food online from their favourite restaurants in Port Harcourt.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-01-15

Seplat, Afren mull merger, acquisition

EPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc and Afren Plc are contemplating merging their operations, in a move that will consolidate the listing of Seplat on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and indirectly brought the Londonlisted Afren to the Nigerian stock market. Regulatory filing at the NSE obtained by The Nation indicated that Seplat and Afren has started exploratory talks on possible merger and acquisition, although the deal is still at a very early stage and shroud in uncertainties. Seplat confirmed that it has made a highly preliminary approach regarding a possible combination with Afren. However, the company stated that there can be no certainty that an offer will be made or as to the terms of any offer. Afren, an international in-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

dependent exploration and production company, has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and it is ranked within the FTSE 250 Index. Seplat has dual listing on the NSE and LSE. According to Rule 2.6(a) of the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, Seplat has up till 5.00 pm on January 19, 2015, to either compulsorily announce a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. However, this deadline can be extended with the consent of the UK Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

Seplat has indicated that it cannot at this stage provide further details due to the highly preliminary status of events. It however assured that further announcements would be made as soon as the need arises. Afren prides itself as a dynamic, entrepreneurial organisation with a portfolio of world-class assets located in many worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prolific and fast-emerging hydrocarbon basins in Africa and the Middle East. It has substantial operations in Nigeria. Afrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities span the full-cycle value chain of exploration, appraisal, development and production. It divides its operations into three core business units, Nigeria and other West Africa, Afren East Africa Exploration and the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-01-15

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

MONEYLINK

External reserves may drop to $30b, say analysts

NALYSTS at Financial De rivatives Company (FDC) see external reserves dropping to $30 billion from current $34.5 billion in the coming months. Its Chief Executive, Bismarck Rewane said the naira under pressure, could cross N200 to a dollar and that further depreciation of three to five per cent at the official market is expected. He explained that said the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) will be reduced cumulatively by 1.5 per cent per annum adding that economic growth is weaker but outlook remains positive. Rewane had said the reserves which stood at $37.87 billion as at April 3, had about $10 billion of which is in hot money. He said reversal of capital flows into the economy will intensify, further depleting external reserves. Hot money is the flow of funds (or capital) from one country to another in order to earn a shortterm profit on interest rate differ-

Stories by Collins Nweze

ences and/or anticipated exchange rate shifts. These speculative capital flows are called “hot money” because they can move very quickly in and out of markets, potentially leading to market instability. Rewane said there would be further external sector imbalances in a run-up to this year’s elections even as equity market imbalance is likely to increase with stock market correction continuing. He said spill over from RussiaUkraine crisis poses downside risks for neighbouring countries and Europe with 20 per cent of European Union (EU’s) energy consumption is from Russia with 32.5 per cent of Nigeria’s imports coming from the EU. He said countries that have tried to prop up their currencies stood the risk of depleting their foreign exchange reserves adding that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is estimated to spike

to 7.22 per cent during the past quarter as against 7.72 per cent recorded last December. GDP rebasing is expected to boost Nigeria’s estimated size by about 40 to 70 per cent and is almost certain to push it ahead of South Africa to become Africa’s biggest economy. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) changed the base year for calculating Nigeria’s GDP to 2010 from 1990 to reflect changes in the economy of Africa’s most populous nation, and more accurately assess the size of its current output. Most governments overhaul GDP calculations every few years to reflect changes in output and consumption, but Nigeria has not done so since 1990, meaning sectors such as the internet, telephoney and even the “Nollywood” film industry have had to be newly factored in to give a truer picture. He said Nigeria’s GDP growth is accelerating but hampered by

CBN, IOCs’ $600m sales lift naira

HE naira advanced the most since November 2003 as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and International Oil Companies (IOCs) increased sale of foreign exchange. The naira rose 3.8 per cent to 179.55 per dollar. The naira appreciated 2.2 per cent this year, the most among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg after the Somali shilling. The CBN sold $451 million at its auction on Wednesday, the most since November 26. Oil companies offered about $200 million between January 5 and 7, according to Adebayo Omogoroye at

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. “There’s a lot more supply and demand is very thin. The central bank was very strong in the auction,”Omogoroye, head of trading at the Lagos-based lender, said by phone. Buyers have been put off after a CBN announcement in December forcing them to use foreign exchange within 48 hours or sell it back to the institution. Demand was also hit by a ruling that banks clear foreignexchange positions daily, having previously been allowed net-open positions of 1 percent of shareholder funds. The CBN is reviewing this, its Gov-

ernor Godwin Emefiele told Bloomberg. His comments have helped to boost liquidity, according to Robert Hagenaars, a fixed-income trader at Zenith Bank U.K. Ltd. “Interbank market activity is picking up, with investor confidence incrementally rising due to strong indications that the central bank will reconsider” the zero net-open position limit, Hagenaars said in a note. The naira fell 13 percent last year as falling oil prices battered Nigeria, which relies on crude for almost all export earnings and 70 per cent of government revenue. Brent crude futures fell 0.1 per cent to $51.11 yesterday.

insecurity, which currently has five to eight per cent negative impact on nominal GDP. Also, data from the CBN showed that gross external reserves as at December 31, 2013 stood at $42.85 billion, representing a decrease of $ 0.98 billion or 2.23 per cent compared with $43.83 billion at endDecember 2012. The reserves have further dropped to $38.79 billion as at March 12 after dropping by $3 billion in one month. The reserves were at $42.77 billion on February 3, and dropped to $39.72 billion on March 3. It has further dropped to $37.8 billion

• Rewane

in March 28. Analysts said the reserves declined as imports of fuel and foods soared.

Firm marks decade of service to economy

OURTEVILLE Business Solutions Plc is marking a decade of service to the economy. The subregional business solutions development company, quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) has over the past decade, recorded consistent year on year growth in clientele base and key financial indices. Speaking at the ninth Annual General Meting of Courteville Business Solutions, its Chairman, Murtala Salami said the firm has since inception, the firm has provided exceptional e-service delivery models that are industry standard. He also lauded the firm’s corporate governance and service delivery benchmarks. “In less than five years of operations, Courteville Business Solutions Plc became a publicly quoted company. In November 2008, with its Operation and Management systems certified to be compliant with International Standards under the ISO 9001:2008 approved standards, CBS became the only company so certified from the business solutions development sector of the economy,” he said. He said the 10 years anniversary will

be a one-week celebration starting tomorrow and ends January 17th. Activities lined up for the event include; a two kilometer “Walk For Life” from the Company’s head office to University of Lagos (UNILAG) gate and back to the head office tomorrow. “On Sunday, a thanksgiving service will hold at RCCG, Commercial Avenue, opposite the Head Office. A Seminar themed “Empowerment Strategies to Developing, Social Entrepreneurship” will also take place in Lagos on Monday. “On Tuesday, the commissioning of the Head Office by the Company’s Chairman will take place while on Wednesday, staff of Courteville will pay a visit to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care at St. Finbarrs Road, Akoka, The Old People Home at Yaba and a Public Primary School in Yaba, where food items and educational materials would be distributed respectively,” he said. He said that Thursday has been tagged “Cultural day (African dressing) and Raffle Draws “ where staff would dress in their cultural attire and customers would have a chance to pick draws and win exciting gifts, this would take place at the company Head Office.

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 05/01/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 1,116.70 1.7777 1.2569 0.6899 1.1047

GAINERS AS AT 08-01-15

SYMBOL LIVESTOCK CUTIX VONO TOTAL FBNH CUSTODYINS CAP UBCAP INTBREW NB WAPCO

O/PRICE 2.05 1.24 1.12 146.51 7.81 3.42 35.30 1.52 21.00 139.82 80.02

C/PRICE 2.15 1.30 1.17 152.13 8.00 3.50 36.00 1.55 21.25 140.70 80.50

CHANGE 0.10 0.06 005 5.62 0.19 0.08 0.70 0.03 0.25 0.88 0.48

LOSERS AS AT 08-01-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

ACCESS FCMB GUINNESS NASCON OANDO HONYFLOUR NAHCO GUARANTY SEPLAT UACN NESTLE FIDELITYBK UAC-PROP

5.74 2.22 141.74 6.46 16.15 3.46 4.97 21.96 317.24 30.60 945.82 1.60 9.48

C/PRICE 5.19 2.01 128.52 5.95 15.01 3.22 4.65 20.71 300.00 29.05 898.53 1.52 9.01

CHANGE -0.55 -0.21 -13.22 -0.51 -1.14 -0.24 -0.32 -1.25 -17.24 -1.55 -47.29 -0.08 -0.47

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: November

7.9%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$47.12

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

05-01-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 06-01-15

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

Jan. 5, 2015

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 FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS Isiaka: PDP’ll win in Ogun

•Ajimobi (second right) receiving an award from Chief Bode Amoo. With them are Akintola (right) and the President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero ...yesterday

Farmers endorse Ajimobi’s second term

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration has earmarked N500 million for distribution to farmers to ensure food security and make the state self-reliant in food production. The governor announced this at the 20th coronation anniversary of the Baale Agbe of

Oyo State, Yusuff Akintola, in Ibadan. At the event, farmers in the 33 local government areas formally endorsed the governor for a second term. Ajimobi, who said the distribution of the money would begin this month, expressed the importance of food for survival and healthy living.

He said his administration had continued to provide support for farmers, citing the procurement of 456 tractors for farmers. The governor added that the administration would clear farmlands for farmers free of charge, provide seedlings as well as silos for storing and preservation of farm produce.

He also said his administration would train women in farming, adding that government had provided hectares of land for a soya bean manufacturing firm to assist in boosting the state’s economy. On the modalities for distributing the money, Ajimobi said contrary to the former practice whereby local governments

were responsible for the distribution, the leaders of the farmers would be in charge of the disbursement and administration of the funds. Akintola hinged the endorsement of the governor on the unprecedented achievements of the administration, which he said had resulted in the general transformation of the state.

Obasanjo: I’m in PDP but can’t die for party

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former President spoke when the presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Martins Onovo, visited his Hilltop home in Abeokuta. He said constructive criticisms were healthy for the nation, hinting also that whoever is averse to them, particularly public officials, should understand that both the critics and the subjects are co - stakeholders in the Nigerian project. His words: “Let me make my own position clear, I am a card carrying member of PDP because that is the party on which platform I became the president of this country. My first pre-occupation is what is best for Nigeria, Nigeria first, party second and any other thing third. “Nigeria first means I will sacrifice anything for the interest of Nigeria and I can sacrifice my own life for the interest of Nigeria. I can’t sacrifice my life for the interest of a party, I’ll sacrifice my life for the interest

•NCP candidate visits ex-President From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

of Nigeria. “If what you’re trying to do is in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians accept and vote for you, who I am not to accept you as President of Nigeria, I will. It is your duty to campaign, inform, woo and to convince the electorate but whatever may be the outcome of the election after you have done all that, once the election is free and fair, undisturbed and uninterrupted, then you have to accept the verdict of the people. “Then what do you do in such circumstances, if you are in government and you are doing what is right and you are given good governance, you can do a lot of things but you don’t have to necessarily be in government to serve your people. “You can still do it (as a private person), the founder of your party was never in any government and yet, he served the people of this country.” Obasanjo said the founder of

DPO, seven others injured as thugs attack APC chieftain From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

IGHT policemen escaped being killed by suspected thugs in Efon Alaaye, headquarters of Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State, during an attack on an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Joseph Alake. Narrating his ordeal to reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, Alake said the thugs invaded his house at 8am and fired gunshots, which threw the community into panic. Alake said the town’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and seven other policemen, who came to rescue him, were attacked. The APC chieftain said he called the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, and the Area Commander of Ijero, whom he said mobilised policemen to his house. Lakanu confirmed the attack at a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders and candidates of political parties. Alake said: “These people came in at about 8pm with weapons. They fired gunshots and threatened to burn my house because of my political affiliation “The SARS and the Area Commander s rescued me and took me to Ijero, where I spent the night. I would have been killed but for the quick intervention of the police,” he said. Lakanu, who praised his men for their professionalism, described the incident as frightening and barbaric.

the NCP and human rights lawyer, the late Gani Fawehinmi, was a genuine critic. He said: “I believe he was a genuine social critic, you may not agree with all he said or how he went about it but he was definitely a genuine social critic. “So, if you, as the flag-bearer of the party he founded believed that you should follow in his footstep of integrity and genuine critical analysis and committed analysis and criticism of the situation in the country, I think nobody will fault you. “In this part of the world we have a saying that if people sleep and they put their heads on the same pillow, they are in danger and that means there should be some people that should be critically looking and watching and be able to speak up when they should speak up. “No matter what others may say because people may come up and say Nigeria doesn’t belong to anybody, I

believe that is a stupid saying, Nigeria belongs to all of us because anything that doesn’t belong to anybody, anything can happen to it. For me Nigerian belongs to all of us and we are stakeholders in this country. Onovo decried the nation’s rising debt burden, saying it was $70billion. He said the data was gotten from the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abuja. The NCP candidate said: “We are aware that you left about $67 billion in the excess crude account and the foreign reserves. “It’s unfortunate and we also think that many Nigerians are looking for fundamental change and we are hoping after getting there, with your blessing, we will build on some of your developmental initiatives. “We think that Nigeria needs a fundamental change and not superficial change, that’s our view and we have decided to come and tell you our mission in politics. What

Ondo PDP aspirants to join APC

GGRIEVED aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State have said they will join the All Progressives Congress (APC). A communiqué by the leader of the group, Mrs Olaitan Oladeinde, said their action followed the nonmobilisation of members ahead of next month’s elections. The communiqué said: “From our observation, the party has been hijacked by those who had parted ways with it, using another political platform to achieve their selfish ambition, and returning to the party to nail its coffin. “We spent huge amounts of money and wasted our time to campaign and

From Damisi Ojo, Akure mobilise people for the stagemanaged primaries, which eventually yielded no result. “We wasted our money and risked our lives to the national secretariat in Abuja to protest the outcome of the primary election in the state, but nothing fruitful came out of it. “We have reviewed the recent development within the party and resolved to massively pull out of PDP. “Our commitment and loyalty to the party over the years have been betrayed. It is so unfortunate that we are finding ourselves in this mess, but we are resolute and will take a definite position on this development soon.”

we are here to do and how we intend doing it and to seek your blessings for the efforts we are making.”

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, has said the party will win next month’s general election. Isiaka, who spoke at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, where President Goodluck Jonathan started his re-election campaign, said he was convinced that the President will win the election with a wide margin that will be difficult for the opposition to contest. Isiaka, who was presented with the party flag by the National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, said: “Nigeria is fortunate to have him as president. Despite provocative statements and unwarranted attacks by the opposition, he remains level-headed and this explains why he has the best human rights records in Nigeria. “People should not be carried away by the noise of the opposition, President Jonathan will be re-elected by Nigerians.” The investment banker turned politician said he was convinced that PDP will return to the Ogun State Government House. “We are appealing to our people to endure till May 29. But I want to also appeal to them to go and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote.”

No pet project for Fayose’s wife From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

IFE of Ekiti State Governor Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose yesterday marked her 51st birthday at the State School for the Blind, saying she would not carry out any pet project during her husband’s tenure. Mrs. Fayose promised to support her husband in the welfare programmes he has been executing since his return to power on October 16, last year. “I have no special project to embark upon. Our governor is concerned with the welfare of the people of the state and there is no need for me to embark on any special project. Ayo Fayose is my project,” she said.

Oyo APC condemns Alao-Akala over attacks on members •LP: It’s untrue From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has slammed former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala for “assaulting” its members at Bodija and Yemetu areas of Ibadan on Wednesday. Alao-Akala is the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in next month’s election. APC, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, accused the former governor of having a prepared script made up of political violence, rigging and inducement of voters. “Before 7pm on Tuesday, three APC members - Muhideen Adeleke, Abdullahi Alao and Sali Ayoade- were attacked by a group of armed thugs. This happened on Awosika Street at Bodija, where these victims had gone to paste some posters of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Abiodun Awoleye, who is the APC candidate for Ibadan North Federal Constituency. “We have facts that the attackers acted on the order of the former governor whose house is on the street. The thugs who pounced on the APC members called for reinforcement as a crowd of miscreants harboured by the former governor emerged from his house and turned the whole place upside down. “To lend more credence to our claims, Alao-Akala had earlier in the day stopped his motorcade in front of the APC Secretariat at Yemetu and this afforded the street urchins on his entourage an opportunity to insult, threaten and abuse the occupants of the building. “We need no one to remind us about Alao-Akala’s robust record of political violence, rigging and corruption, we warn him to turn a new leaf and be fair to the innocent people who have always been victims of his excesses. “Oyo State has rediscovered peace and tranquility made possible by the APC administration and they would never be forced to surrender the feat to the agents of darkness who parade themselves as politicians again.” LP’s Publicity Secretary Razaq Folorunso challenged the APC to provide evidence to back its claim.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS Mbaka goes into seclusion From Edozie Udeze and Chris Oji, Enugu

NUGU Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has gone into spiritual seclusion. After his New Year message on the state of the nation, which generated controversies, he stayed away from the public. The reason, according to sources, was to enable him devote more time to spiritual uplift and to avoid distraction. When our reporters yesterday visited his parish, Christ the King, at GRA in Enugu, efforts to interview him were unsuccessful. The security guard was not forthcoming about the whereabouts of the Catholic priest. Investigation, however, showed that he was inside his chapel praying. The security man was probably acting on an instruction, as he asked our reporters to write their names and reasons for their visit. It was only a few workers of the church, who were allowed to enter the premises. They were, however, not willing to respond to enquiries. A source told The Nation that besides threats (verbal and written) against Mbaka, he felt it was time for prayers for the nation. Some of his parishioners, who came for the Thursday counselling, were stranded. After waiting for five hours, our reporters left, with a word by the security guard that the cleric might be available today.

Ex-registrar dies at 78

FORMER Registrar of the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Mr. Olagoke Ajayi, is dead. He was 78. The author of the book, “Contemporary Management Issues and Challenges”, he taught and practised Public Administration and Management in the public service for almost four decades, especially at the NTI and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry, Lagos State. He wrote articles in management journals, including “A case for Total Quality Management in the Nigerian Public Service” and “Employee Motivation: Major Challenges for Employers”. In a foreword to one of the late Ajayi’s publications, a former Minister and ex-boss of the Economic Commission for Africa, Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, described him as someone whose dual roles as a scholar and a seasoned practitioner reflected vast knowledge and experience, derived from a wide reading and critical observation of daily events in work places and large societies. The Ilesa, Osun State-born alumnus of the University of Ibadan in the 60s is survived by two children, grandchildren and relations, including a Lagos-based auto dealer, Mr. Sunday Ajayi.

•L-R: Chairman, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oyo State, Mr. Sunday Adelaja, governorship candidate, Seyi Makinde and his running mate, Alhaji Sulaiman Abdul-Lateef during the presentation of Abdul-Lateef to supporters at the party’s secretariat, OkeAdo, Ibadan...yesterday. PHOTO: BY FEMI ILESANMI

•Executive Secretary, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Deaconess Modupe Ojodu flanked by the Council Manager, Mr. SegunAjayi (left) and Chairman, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Amuwo Odofin branch, Comrade Tope Lawal, during Deaconess Ojodu's maiden interactive meeting with workers at the Freedom House, Council Secretariat, FESTAC Town, Lagos...yesterday.

Buhari’s campaign hits Abia, Ebonyi today

HE Southeast presidential campaign of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will start in Abia and Ebonyi states today. His rally will hold in Anambra tomorrow. Senator Chris Ngige has been appointed the Southeast coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee. Speaking with reporters yesterday in Awka, the lawmaker representing Anambra Central said the grand finale of the rally would hold in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Monday. He said analysis showed that APC would win the presidential election in 28 states, leaving eight to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

•Rally holds in Anambra tomorrow •Ngige: APC ‘ll win 28 states From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

During the campaign, especially in Anambra State, Buhari and other APC chieftains will visit the Awka monarch, Obi Gibson Nwosu and Catholic and Anglican clerics. Ngige said governorship flags would be given to the party’s candidates in Abia, Anyim Nyerere; Imo, Rochas Okorocha; Ebonyi, Julius Acha and Enugu, Okey Ezea. He said in Anambra State, the National Assembly candidates of APC would be introduced at Emmaus House and presented to the people

at Buhari’s rally. They are Senator Ngige (Anambra Central), Afam Victor Ogene (Ogbaru Federal Constituency), Emeke Nwogbo (Awka North and South) and Forte Dike (Ihiala Federal Constituency). Ngige said: “Our campaign is an issue-based campaign where people will be told how the changes by our standard-bearer, Gen. Buhari, will affect their lives. “Issues of security, unemployment, economy and welfare of citizens, as enshrined in the constitution, will take the centre stage. “We want to change the

country. That was why we brought the person who had done it before as a head of state, Works minister and PTF chairman. “If Buhari did not impose religion on the people at a younger age, is it now at his old age he will do such a thing?” He used the forum to officially declare his ambition to re-contest the Anambra Central seat. According to him, besides Senator Nathaniel Anah, no other lawmaker from Anambra could beat his record. “I think I have served the people well. In terms of bills, I have moved and co-sponsored bills. I gave jobs to many, attracted projects to the state and gave scholarships.”

PDP governors give Jonathan new conditions

OVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are believed to have made new demands on President Goodluck Jonathan in return for their support in the February 14 election. The demands are assuaging those aggrieved; a commitment to run an all-inclusive government, if the President is re-elected; and an assurance to redeem his campaign pledges to any state or geopolitical zone. It was gathered that some of the governors and party leaders were unhappy over the way the results of gover-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

norship and other elective offices primaries were overturned by some forces in the Presidency. A PDP source said the governors bared their minds to the President on Monday and Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The source said: “We cannot pretend that some of our governors are certainly unhappy. For instance, Governor Sule Lamido has grouses against the Presidency on his son and the non-fulfillment of 2011 campaign promises to his people. “Also, Governor Martin

Elechi cannot just understand why the Presidency watched while a cabal from Abuja hijacked the primaries and disorganised PDP in Ebonyi State. “In Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was virtually forced to sacrifice his senatorial ambition to avoid bloodshed. “Some PDP governors are skeptical that they might be abandoned after the re-election of Jonathan. They want assurance that they will not be left in the lurch since most of them will be completing their second term in office. “The governors wanted

commitment for those who will be leaving office but who are not contesting for any office. They include Governors Liyel Imoke, Sullivan Chime, Martin Elechi; Emmanuel Uduaghan; Sule Lamido; Olusegun Mimiko, Bala Ngilari; Abubakar Danladi and Deputy Governor Muktar Shagari. “Some governors who are vying for senatorial ticket are also looking at Plan B from the presidency, in case they are defeated. They include Governors Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang; Isa Yuguda; Aliyu Babangida; Theodore Orji, Gabriel Suswam, Saidu Dakingari, and Ibrahim Shema.”

Boko Haram: Cameroon seeks support as Chad claims 3,000 •Baga attacked again

AMEROON yesterday called for international support and a coordinated response against Boko Haram. Cameroon’s President Paul Biya appealed to the diplomatic community after the release of a Boko Haram video message threatening his country. He spoke at a meeting with diplomats serving in his country. President Biya said a key agreement for Nigeria’s neighbours to set up a regional force to coordinate the fight against Boko Haram has not been implemented. He said the international community should have mobilised to fight terrorism that he described as a threat to peace and stability in all countries of the world. Biya said the African Union and other international organisations should have proposed a global response to this global terrorism threat. He said Boko Haram terrorism could only be dealt with by handling the issue globally and from an international perspective. Cameroon shares a boundary with Borno State and soldiers have clashed with Boko Haram militants along the border. Cameroon has gradually built up its forces in the border region and last month President Biya ordered his air force to attack the militant group. That provoked Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, to threaten Cameroon with the same fate that has befallen Nigeria. Algeria’s ambassador to Cameroon, Toufik Milat, described the threat as “empty.” President Biya has vowed to go after the group until it is totally wiped out. But the war is taking a huge toll on Cameroon’s economy, especially in the north, which relies on Nigeria for 80 per cent of its basic necessities and as a market for agricultural products that are now stockpiling. Biya told the diplomats he appreciated the assistance of the United Nations, Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia, and the United States, but he did not specify the type of assistance Cameroon has received

Alaafin’s daughter sues for peace From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

NE of the daughters of Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Folashade, has urged politicians to avoid violence. She is contesting the Oyo State House of Assembly seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Atiba Constituency. Folashade, an expert in marketing and a management consultant, addressing reporters yesterday in Ibadan, enjoined Nigerians to shun acts that could lead to killings during and after the elections. She said: “We are aware that in 39 days’ time, presidential and parliamentary elections will hold. The tempo is rising and this calls for caution, considering the insecurity.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS

HE 22 aggrieved Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants have called for the sack of the party’s National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu. The aspirants, in a statement by Senator Helen Esuene, Patrick Ekpotu, Nsima Ekere and 19 others, said Mu’azu blocked all attempts to seek redress over the conduct of the primaries, which produced Mr Udom Emmanuel. They said the sack of the National Chairman would improve the party’s chances in the election. The aspirants gave the party till January 11 to resolve the dispute or risk losing them. Their statement reads: “It is rather unfortunate to report that 30 days after the acknowledgment of the appeals, the Alhaji Muazu-led Electoral Appeal Panel is too busy to deem it expedient and sufficiently responsible enough to attend to its duty under the Guidelines of the party. “At the submission of the appeal referred to above, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who asked the NWC Meeting Room to be open for us to wait for him, disdainfully declined seeing us after 5

Kalabari chiefs back Peterside

22 Akwa Ibom PDP aspirants seek Mu’azu’s sack •Give party Jan. 11 ultimatum •Defection not ruled out By Precious Igbonwelundu

hours without the courtesy of an apology and at the instance of Mr Uche Secondus, the greatest beneficiary of the pecuniary largesse from Akwa Ibom State! “The attitude of the Alhaji Muazu-led NWC as catalogued herein fits his resolve to cause the failure of PDP in the general elections in the manner of his failed attempt to produce a successor in Bauchi and be a Senator in 2007. In this light, it is sad to report that despite our efforts to seek the intervention of the President as the National Leader of the party, the National Chairman and his cohorts have persistently constituted themselves into irritating hindrances. The alarm patriotically raised by a chieftain of PDP, Dr Katch Ononuju, shortly after the inauguration of the party’s presidential cam-

paign organisaiton in Abuja on January 6, 2015 as reported at pages 1 and 2 of the Nigeria Pilot of January 7, 2015 is instructive. He said: ‘PDP and President Jonathan must beware. There are fifth columnists very high places in the party’. ”The despicable role of the National Chairman, Alhaji Muazu, in his general management of the affairs of PDP, especially as pertains to the PDP Primary Elections in Akwa Ibom State, typifies the honest description and almost belated warning of Dr. Katch Ononuju. Alhaji Adamu Muazu himself painted the gloomy picture of his role and management of the party in these words reported at page 2 of the Punch Newspaper of Wednesday, January 7, 2015: ‘We say that members of the PDP should not be used and dumped again. People leave the party

because of lack of equity or injustice. A lot of people who left (our party) did so because of injustice in our party. The party is full of injustice. The membership of the APC, LP, APGA and others are increasing because of this. All these members are from our party. We must find out what is wrong and correct it’. “We, as victims of the maladministration of PDP under Alhaji Adamu Muazu, attest to the fact that with 22 unattended appeals by 22 Governorship Aspirants (who contributed over N330million to the coffers of the party) before a Panel headed by him, clearly stands him out as “what is wrong” that must be corrected!” Three of the aspirants, Nsima Ekere, Esuene, and Ambassador Asam Asam (SAN) also spoke yesterday when they visited the leader of Akwa Ibom State caucus in the Senate, Senator Ita Enang in Abuja. Esuene said: "We are here because we have been driven

•From left: Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio; Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimmy Agbaje and Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship candidate, Emmanuel Udom, at the presentation of Udom to Akwa Ibom indigenes in Lagos State. PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

K •Esuene

to the wall. It is most unfortunate that after 31 days of waiting, we have not been given even a mere courtesy by the party. "Today we have come to the National Assembly to let Nigerians know what is happening in PDP. It is everybody's expectations that the party leadership should have behaved better. "This G-22 has not been fairly treated by the party. As loyal members of the party, we did not consider it an option to move out of the party but if are pushed to the wall, we will have no option than to go where we are needed. If out of 23, it is proper to sacrifice 22 people for one person, no problem, we will go where we are needed."

Dickson warns opponents against treason •Governor dares First Lady’s camp

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday threatened to deal with anyone promoting division in the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor said he would ensure that security agencies arrest and prosecute anyone promoting treason and subversion in the state. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor identified the leadership of the state chapter of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) as the

MEND to PDP: we’ve no link with APC

HE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said it has no link with the All Progressives Congress (APC). It debunked the insinuations by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, who queried the group’s support for APC. MEND described Metuh’s statement as very callous and irresponsible. The former militants’ group stressed that it stood by its Tuesday’s endorsement and support for APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the man to lead Nigeria out of its present calamities in the hands of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP. In an online statement yesterday by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, MEND said Metuh’s question to the leadership of the APC to explain their connections with the group further confirmed and vindicated its views about President Jonathan, his “inept government” and the PDP. The group said it had never been approached for anything

•Ex-militants carpet IYC •‘We’ll continue to support Buhari’ Don’t rely on MEND’s endorsement, Jonathan tells Buhari

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that the people of the Niger Delta are supporting him for the February 14 election. He was reacting to a statement by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) which endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan cautioned Gen. Buhari not to rely on such endorsement. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, reads: “We have noted with amusement the vituperations against President Jonathan by the renegade faction of MEND, headed by the convicted terrorist, Henry Okah, in a statement issued to endorse the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari. “While we thank all people of the Niger Delta, including the former militants whom MEND claims to represent but who have already dissociated themselves from the statement issued by the faceless Jomo Gbomo and reaffirmed their unflinching support for President Jonathan’s re-election,

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

we will like to state that the latest assault on the President by Okah and his stooges did not come as a surprise to us at all. “It was very much to be expected, coming from an individual and group that have never hidden their vengeful personal animosity against the President and who have even gone to the extent of launching murderous assaults on venues at which the President was present on two occasions. “It is most regrettable indeed that rather than show remorse for the terrorist acts against his fatherland, for which he is now rightly serving a term of imprisonment in South Africa, Okah continues to pursue a pointless personal vendetta against President Jonathan, who continues to advance and protect the interests of the people of the Niger Delta, which Okah and his group threatened with their misguided actions.” It added: “The vituperations against President Jonathan in the MEND statement, endorsing Gen. Buhari are mischievous, baseless and deliberately styled to denigrate the good works of the President.”

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

by the APC, as Metuh had insinuated. It said: “MEND finds it

laughable, the recent statement by Mr. Eric Omare, the Publicity Secretary of a mere

tribal assembly and political praise singers, known as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), stating that ‘MEND is a ghost’. We clearly understand

ALABARI-Ijaw chiefs and their people have urged their kinsmen and other well-meaning people of Rivers State to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside, in next month’s election. The call has strengthened the ultimatum issued to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Chief Edwin Clark-led Southsouth Elders’ Forum to substitute its governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre man, with a candidate from the coastal area or an Ogoni indigene. The Kalabari chiefs said they considered APC’s adherence “to the principles of upland/ riverine rotation and the principle of senatorial zoning” before endorsing Peterside. They spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Through their spokesman, Dr. Broadfield Michael Jack, the Kalabari chiefs said: “The candidature of an Ibani-Ijaw person, Dr. Peterside, who is from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, inspires hope in all other ethnic nationalities in Rivers State, irrespective of size.”

their frustrations at our stance, as it obviously came as a shock to them. “Nigerians should ask this man (Omare), if he was referring to ‘ghosts’ when he lauded MEND for declaring a temporary ceasefire, six months ago. MEND, once more, urges Nigerians to ignore the empty threats of this so-called ‘ex-agitators’ and the IYC. Their reckless utterances only ridicule and confirm the colossal failure of the ‘amnesty programme’. “We advise the IYC members to use their idle time in telling and showing Nigerians and Niger Delta residents what the Jonathan administration has done or achieved in Nigeria and the region (Niger Delta) in the last six years in office, apart from giving them handouts called ‘monthly stipends’.” MEND also insisted that President Jonathan had forfeited the confidence Nigerians reposed in him and his government, adding that he might fool all the people some of the time - even fool some of the people all of the time - but would not be able to fool all the people all the time.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

agents of division in the PDP. He reaffirmed his support and commitment to the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he would not allow enemies of the state to disorganise the restoration in the state. The warning came a few days after Dickson sacked his Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, and his Special Adviser, Mrs. Remi Kuku, for alleged links with his detractors. Ebikake and Kuku were said to have joined a group of women hired by TAN to taunt Dickson at the just-concluded wedding of President Jonathan’s adopted daughter in Otuoke. The Nation had reported that TAN was hijacked by the loyalists of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to lead the Dickson-must-go project.

‘Okowa is man to beat’

GROUP, the Delta Democratic Alliance (DDA), has restated its support for Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in the February general elections. Speaking in Abuja yesterday through its DirectorGeneral, Mr Sunday Onyewonsa, DDA said Okowa remained the only candidate with popularity among the ethnic groups across the state. Onyewonsa noted that while candidates of other political parties were products of ethnic agitation and pursuing ethnic agenda, Okowa emerged from the crucible of “real politik”, making him the most formidable of the governorship candidates.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS

Plateau residents groan under harsh weather

ESIDENTS of Plateau State are groaning under severe cold weather. Plateau State has always been the coldest part of the country, because it is on top of a high altitude. The weather has worsened from the first day of the New Year, with the residents said they had not witnessed in a long time. The weather forecast by the Nigeria Meteorological Department put the temperature of Plateau State at eight degrees centigrade, the lowest in the last decade. The harsh weather is forc-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

ing residents to regulate their time of coming in and out of their houses. Night crawling has reduced among the residents and most people return home as early as 6pm. The situation appears to have forced the residents into a self-imposed curfew as they avoid coming out of their homes until 8am each day. Part of the state witnessing the worst weather condition is Jos, the state capital; the military barracks in Rukuba in Pankshin Local Govern-

ment Area, and parts of Riyom Local Government Area. Residents of Jos were warned daily by the state government to take precautionary measures against the extreme cold weather. It was learnt that the harsh weather occur periodically with accompanying fatalities. Residents always warm their drinking water as taking “normal” water is too cold for them. During the day, people rush to the popular Terminus Market at the city centre to buy thick socks and

thick hand gloves with thick winter jackets as their new sleeping gowns. The new bedtime dress cuts across ages. Residents who take alcohol at night now go for gin, whisky, rum, vodka, among others. The sale of beer is at its lowest. Families have resorted to using electric room warmers to enjoy their sleep. Those who cannot afford electric room warmers go for charcoal pots, which they light and place at the centre of their rooms to keep the temperature warm. Medical experts have warned the residents to always keep themselves warm both day and night. They have also been warned against playing with cold water because of several risks to their health.

Aliyu admits running govt of deceit, says APC

HE Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said Governor Babangida Aliyu has confirmed running a government of deceit in the last eight years. Aliyu, last Monday said “politics is about lying”. But the government said the governor’s statement was taken out of context. In a statement in Minna, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa, APC said the governor’s

•Aide: governor misquoted From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

statement confirmed APC’s position that Aliyu had been running a government of deceit. By his utterance, Vatsa said, the governor had made public the true manifesto of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the residents. APC said: “The utterance of Governor Aliyu is an indication that all the years of his

25,000 IDPs live in Gombe, says SEMA

BOUT 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Northeast are residing in Gombe State, with at least 15,000 of them living in the state capital. A permanent secretary in the state, who is also in charge of Administration and Finance of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Laraba Kawu, gave the figure yesterday in Gombe, the state capital. She spoke after the kick-off of the distribution of food items and other materials worth millions of naira to 375 victims of insurgency displaced from their homes by the Presidential Committee on Disaster Victims Support Programme. Hajia Kawu, who represented Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and SEMA, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for responding to the problems of the victims of insurgency in the Northeast. The permanent secretary urged the beneficiaries to use the items well. The materials were presented by National Emer-

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

gency Management Agency’s (NEMA’s) Director-General Sani Sidi through the Head of Gombe Operations Office, Saidu Ahmed Minin, at Tudun Wada Primary School in the state capital. Sidi said the committee would impact on the lives of the IDPs, who fled their homes because of insurgency attacks. He assured the committee that NEMA, through collaboration with other relevant organisations, would always ensure that relief materials get to the IDPs. The Yerimah of Gombe, Abdulkadir Abubakar, hailed the Federal Government for forming the committee. Items distributed included 1,500 units of 25 kilogrammes of bags of rice, 25 kilogrammes of bags of beans, 10 litres of groundnut oil, palm oil, sanitary pads and blankets. Each IDP got four bags of 25 kilogrammes of rice, two bags of 25 kilogrammes of beans, two gallons of cooking (groundnut and palm) oil, some sanitary pads and blankets.

Wada warned against return of sacked council chairmen

GROUP, Kogi Democratic Forum, has warned the Idris Wada administration not to allow the 21 sacked local government chairmen to return to office. The council chairmen were removed from office late last year via a Kogi State High Court order. The group, in a statement yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, said any attempt to re-

From James Azania, Lokoja

turn the chairmen to office through the backdoor could result in the breach of the peace. The statement by the forum’s President, Comrade Anokobe Yusuf, and Secretary, Comrade Joshua Onuh, said it got information that some of the sacked council chairmen had boasted that they would soon return to office.

administration had been a ruse and about lying.” The governor’s statement, the party noted, “has sent a signal to the people of the state that his government, his party and himself cannot be trusted to serve the interest of the people, because he has publicly chastised one of his former commissioners for not lying to win the party’s last primary election”. APC added: “Nigerlites are tired of lies and windowdressing. This is the time for change; the wind of change is blowing through Niger State. No amount of votebuying and manipulations can stop this wind from sweeping away the evil spirit that has turned our Government House into evil forest,

where our fate is tied to the hands of few individuals operating like cabal and always desire to be worshipped.” The government accused the APC of taking the governor’s statement out of context. A statement yesterday in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, said APC’s reaction was a mere expression of its twisted understanding of the governor’s statement to perpetuate hate and bitterness in Niger politics. The statement said: “It is indeed very sad and sadistically hostile to allow politics eclipse what is left of rational reasoning on the issue of the Niger State governor’s free and very candid opinion of the trend where politicians are seen as liars.”

Gombe explains decrease in budget

HE decrease in the 2015 Gombe State budget as against that of 2014 has been ascribed to the state government’s determination to be realistic in the projection of the current year’s income and expenditure. Finance Commissioner Hassan Muhammadu spoke at the breakdown of the N86.7 billion budget, tagged: Budget of Accomplishment. He said the financial plan was prepared in line with the Dankwambo administration’s desire “to complete all ongoing projects/programmes and the global decline in oil prices, which will have negative impact on the state and nation at large”. He said the priorities of the

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

2015 budget include education, youth empowerment and poverty alleviation, agriculture and health. Others are: environment and portable drinking water, works and infrastructure, and creating enabling environment for foreign and domestic investors. “By focusing on these seven key areas, the state will leave no stone unturned to better the lives of the people,” Muhammadu said. Comparatively, the recurrent expenditure, which represents 50.67 per cent of the budget, was slashed down from N46,897,212,488 billion in 2014 to N43,971,097,168.82 billion, a 6.23 per cent decrease.

Danladi reconciles with Umar

ARABA State Reinstated Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi and his sacked predecessor, Garba Umar, have reconciled. Danladi yesterday said he had not only reconciled with the former acting governor but that his (Umar’s) loyalists, who had been against him and Governor Danbaba

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Suntai, were working with him. The acting governor, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Syvanus Giwa, added that he would continue to dialogue to bring closer all members of Umar’s camp.

‘APC is peace-loving’

HE Kano State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the party is always disposed to peaceful co-existence and unity among all Nigerians. He said nothing would prevent the party from ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections across the state. Ganduje, who is Kano State deputy governor, was represented by his running mate,

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Prof Hafiz Abubakar, at a stakeholders’ meeting with Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba on how to avoid rancour before, during and after next month’s general elections. He said the state government was impressed by Shinaba’s efforts to make Kano State the home of peace with the synergy between the police and the other stakeholders.

•From left: Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, and Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, at the inauguration of the Auchi-JattuAfashio six-lane dual carriageway in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State ... yesterday.

Shortage of Buhari’s scratch cards hits Adamawa

HE Chairman of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in Adamawa State, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, has said the N3 million Buhari Scratch Cards supplied to the state were exhausted within 24 hours.

Waziri addressed reporters yesterday in Yola, the state capital, on the scarcity of the cards. He said: “The N3 million cards so far supplied to the state, last week, have been sold to supporters in less than 24 hours.

“Fresh supply is now on its way and, by the grace of God, the cards will be available on Friday.” Waziri said as soon as the cards arrived, the organisation would announce the designated selling points to interested buyers.

The chairman said the prices of the cards was from N100 to N10,000. He said the cards were being sold to generate campaign funds for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari.

Onjeh: I’ll give Mark a run for his senatorial seat

HE Benue South All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Daniel Onjeh, has said he will give Senate President David Mark a good electoral run in the February general elections. In a statement yesterday, the APC candidate said: “The

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

APC ticket for the Benue South Senatorial District was fiercely contested between my opponent and I, but finally the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party considered the recommendations of the party’s National Assembly

Appeal Committee and resolved the lingering issues in my favour as the candidate for the Benue South in the February 14 senatorial election. “I congratulate my opponent! No doubt, his dogged fight has in no small measure deepened the roots of internal democracy in our great

party and strengthened my elbows ahead of my historic battle of David and Goliath. “The die is cast! I will slug it out with Sen. Mark; I am poised to give him a run for both his money and status. My team has mapped out a comprehensive strategy to win the election.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

NEWS We’ve failed, says Jonathan as campaign kicks off in Lagos Continued from page 4

dustry again. “We assembled some young Nigerians that have attributes and developed what we call the Electronic Wallet, through

which farmers get their fertilisers directly and no one cheats the government anymore. Is that not the way to stop corruption? “If someone tells you the best way to stop corruption is to arrest your uncle or father and show him on television, it will not stop corruption. It will even encourage corruption. We are shooting armed robbers but armed robbery is still with us. Has that stopped armed robbery? “We must set up institutions to prevent people from even touching the money and that is what we have been doing and we are succeeding. Since we came to power, Nigerians no longer sleep overnight at fuel stations, while those who hoard fuel benefit. “Since we came on board, have you had to bribe somebody to get fuel? Have you suffered to get fuel? Is that the kind of country you want to go back to? “They say the military is corrupt. When this insecurity crisis came up, we had nothing. So, to get weapons very quickly, we used some vendors to purchase, but now, what we do is government to government. Any procurement for the Armed Forces is done at government levels and so, there is nothing like corruption. Is that not the way to fight corruption? “We are reducing corruption. I will not go further on this because the heads of the agencies will address Nigerians for you to appreciate what we are doing.”

Jonathan defended his administration’s style, saying: “They said the government is weak and has no plan…I came in with Yar’Adua (late Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua) and he advocated for due process. So, I stand by due process. Any country that does not obey the rule of law is a jungle. They said we do not plan and our economy is now the biggest in Africa. Without plan can we achieve it? “Our trains were not moving for many years but now most of them are moving. Can we achieve that without planning? We have been able to conclude the privatisation of the power sector and our generating capacity is almost doubled. Can you do that without planning? “The government feels that Nigerians are very dynamic people. Very creative and industrious but most of them do not have money. Having in mind that we are almost 200 million people and we cannot carry everybody at once, we came up with the You-Win concept to give grants to young Nigerians to manufacture things and in the next few years, they will be exporting their products. “Can you do that without planning? And they say we have no plans for the country. They should come and tell us the plan they have for Nigeria. “I believe that the young Nigerians, not people like me because we are finished. My generation has failed. We did not take Nigeria to the moon. Look at what countries that we were at par at Independence are doing now? For us to get to the moon, it takes a special candidate.” On his achievement in the education sector, Jonathan said he created 12 Federal universities one in each of the states that had non - adding that he built Almajiri schools to give dropouts in the

North the opportunity to be educated. “They say we have no plans but we produced Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). Other countries have it. It is to enable countries reserve a little of the money that comes into the country so that every income is not squandered. “In addition to the SWF, there are some stolen money that are returned from time to time. They have been getting these stolen money before and no one knows how they spent the money. The ones that are coming in within this period we have not even started spending. “We agreed with the states on how to spend it. We agreed that because we have security challenges, 50 percent of the money be channeled to security since the money was primarily for security reasons and were siphoned through security means; 25 percent for development and 25 percent for future generation. “That is a decision we have taken even before we start spending the money. They should come and tell you what they used our money for… The government has been widely denounced for not providing jobs for the youth. Jonathan said: “So far, we have created a number of jobs but we are not there yet. I have set up two presidential committees on job creation headed by the Vice President and made up of people in government and those in the private sector. The board is working very hard to ensure that at least two million jobs are created every year. “Only two days ago, somebody stood in Port Harcourt and said he was going to catch corrupt people and put them in Kirikiri. The same mouth he used to say he was not going to probe anybody. Contradictory statements; can you trust such people? Are

they not deceiving you? “All what they want to use power for is to lock up and imprison their enemies. I do not have any enemy to fight. I have no enemies to fight. My interest is Nigeria’s interest and for young Nigerians to develop. Not to fight enemies. “We must stop corruption but I will not do that by catching people and putting them in confinement or killing them. I think we have advanced beyond that stage.” He also spoke on women, saying: “Somebody told Nigerian women he will give them position in his government. Ask him when he was Head of State, how many women were in his cabinet? Not a single one. So, Nigerian women should either cast their votes to go back to the kitchen and remain there or vote to liberate themselves.” On MEND, he said: “I read in the newspaper that MEND has dumped Jonathan. I am from the Niger Delta, the leader of MEND is one Okah who is in South African prison. South Africa is not Nigeria else people would have said the President influenced it. “Okah is a South African prison because October 1, 2010, when we were to celebrate our Golden Independence, he was procured by some Nigerians to assassinate me and Okah bombed Abuja. Their plan was to assassinate me but intelligence investigation from South African Intelligence and Nigeria Intelligence systems robbed him in while planning to assassinate me. “He is now in jail in South Africa and they say ‘MEND dumps Jonathan’. Will Okah that wanted to assassinate Jonathan support Jonathan? And I am told that Okah is supporting some people. I am told

that Okah, in a South African prison for killing Nigerians, is supporting some people. Count me out.” Other leaders of the party and governors spoke at the rally. Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has described President Jonathan as the most criticised, abused and insulted leader in this country. Mimiko, who is the Southwest Co-ordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Committee said in spite of the unwarranted attacks, “Nigerians across the country can feel the impact of his administration in agriculture, power, education, and resuscitation of rail system. Chairman, PDP National Campaign Committee, Senator Ahmadu Ali stirred controversy when he said: “PDP is the agent of change. We fought for democracy when others fled the country. We have remained in power for 16 consecutive years stressing that that is the more reason why Nigerians should vote for PDP in February.” To the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, belives Nigeria will be better under Jonathan if re-elected on February 14. His re-election, he said, would enable him consolidate on his achievements. Akpabio said: “We cannot afford to hand-over power to those who will send us to prison. Jonathan is a democrat, Nigerians should let him continue in office”. PDP leader in Lagos State, Chief Bode George described next month general elections as a decisive one. He advised Lagosians to vote for PDP at least for a change. Vice President Namadi Sambo thanked the people of Lagos for hosting the take-off of the par-

ty’s national campaign. He thanked the youths for supporting the transformation agenda of Mr President adding that the PDP administration will introduce more poverty alleviation programmes if re-elected. Senate President David Mark noted that the PDP-controlled Federal Government has impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians through improved power supply, job creation, infrastructure development, and revitalization of the education sector. The highlight of the event was the presentation of flags to President Jonathan as PDP presidential candidate and all governorship candidates. Lagos PDP governorship candidate Mr Jimi Agbaje, said they would work for the party’s success at the poll. It seems the presentation of flags has foreclosed reconciliation or addressing petitions written by aggrieved governorship aspirants in states like Oyo, Ogun, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Sokoto. At the rally were Governors Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe) and Idris Wada (Kogi). Former governors in attendance include Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Mahmoud Shinkafi (Zamfara) and Peter Obi (Anambra). Others are Senators James Manager and Hosea Agboola’ Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Chief Bayo Dayo, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Hajiyya Bola Shagaya and Mrs Olukemi Mimiko.

INEC distributes 38.7m PVCs Continued from page 1

2015 poll. By the time we release the final register of voters next week, we will be able to tell the nation the actual figure. “We are working round the clock to ensure that all those who were registered collect their PVCs. We are hopeful that most of them will have their PVCs. “Eligible voters have up

to January 31 to collect their PVCs. In fact, we are thinking of adding more days in February to enable Nigerians get these cards. “The Electoral Act only stipulates when INEC can display register of voters. There is no time-limit law for the distribution of the PVCs.” Kayode in an accompanying letter to the table, said: “The difference in levels of

turn out by people for their PVCs is not the making of INEC since the commission has put in place the same procedure across the country guaranteeing equal access to persons waiting to collect their cards.” “These figures are far from being final for the 2015 general election since PVC distribution by INEC continues until close to elections.”

Our plan for Niger Delta, by APC candidate Buhari Continued from page 1

ple to obtain their Permanent Voters card and ensure they vote for APC. “I am grateful to Bayelsa and I promise you that we will administer a corruption-free administration. Anybody who steals government money will be made to return it,” he said. Sylva, who was warmly received by the crowd, asked the people to cast their votes without tribal sentiment. “A bad brother is not as good as good friend,” he said. The former government in his first public outing since he was denied reelection by the PDP, urged the people to vote out the PDP. He said: “Bayelsa, you are known to lead the way against oppression, against ineptitude. Today, we must take that leadership. Let us, as Bayelsa people, lead the rest of Nigeria to vote out the PDP. “Today, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is here in person and I want to assure you that I have gone to the east of this country, I have gone to the west. I have gone to the south and north of this country and I bring you good news. One assurance is that Gen. Buhari has won already”. The governor whose speech

was interrupted by applauses from the crowd, asked the people to join the winning train. He said: “Go and tell your sisters at home. Go to the creeks of the state. In less than six weeks, we will have the opportunity of exercising our fundamental human rights of voting. That opportunity we must use wisely. “This time, you will use your hands to vote APC and Gen. Buhari into office and welcome prosperity into your home. You will welcome good governance into Nigeria once again.” Amaechi said the next election would be based on merit and challenged President Jonathan to show his scorecard in the region and the state. He said the Niger Delta, after years of clamouring for resource control, got an opportunity to control the entire country through the election of President Jonathan. He, however, regretted that Jonathan, who was also a product of the struggle has only succeeded in rewarding the region with poverty, hunger and lack of development. He said: “They said President Jonathan refused to develop Rivers State because he is quarreling with me. Why has he refused to develop Bayelsa or is he also quarreling with Governor Dick-

son? What has Bayelsa people benefited from this government? Nothing.” Amaechi said instead of the resources going to public cause they were being diverted into private pockets observing that only few people from the state were enriching themselves through the Presidency. But he said: “But our President, Gen. Buhari, has promised to give you your resources back.” Odigie- Oyegun who was overwhelmed by the crowd that trooped out to identify with APC in President Jonathan’s state, said the PDP ruined the country in 16 years. He said: “Why do we want change? After 15 years of PDP, the engine of PDP moto has knocked. The tyres of the motor have flattened. Do you want to enter a motor without engine and tyres? The crowd roared in negative as he outlined the plans of the APC in power, education, job creation and other sectors. The chairman presented flags to APC’s senatorial candidates for Bayelsa East (Chief Timpre Sylva); West (Eddy Julius) and Central (Preye Aganaba). The party received a former majority leader in the House of Assembly, Mr. Oguma David who defected from the PDP to APC.

THE NATION FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Suspects ‘rob service station’

Charlie Hebdo attack: Kouachi brothers are top suspects

RENCH police are hunting for two French brothers suspected of carrying out the massacre at the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people died. Said and Cherif Kouachi are considered “armed and dangerous”, a police bulletin says. Photos were also released of the two suspects, who are French citizens of Algerian-origin resident in Paris. French media say Cherif, 32, was jailed in 2008 and had long been known to police for militant Islamist activities. Cherif, who also went by the name Abu Issen, was part of the “Buttes-Chaumont network” that helped send would-be jihadists to fight for al-Qaeda in Iraq after the USUK invasion in 2003.

He had grown up in an orphanage in Rennes, northwest France, and had trained as a fitness coach before joining his brother in Paris, Liberation newspaper reports. In the capital he worked as a pizza delivery man. Police detained him in 2005 just as he was about to board a plane for Syria - at the time the gateway for jihadists hoping to fight US troops in Iraq. In 2008 he was jailed for three years, for his role in sending militants to Iraq, but 18 months of the sentence was suspended, Liberation reports. A Parisian neighbour, Eric Bade, described Cherif as “well-behaved, friendly, polite, clean-looking and above all, which is very important, he was willing to help old and disabled people”. Speaking to the BBC, Mr

Bade said Cherif “wasn’t aggressive - he wasn’t a crazy zealot, he was a calm person”. The brothers had allegedly frequented a mosque in the Stalingrad district of Paris, where they came under the influence of a radical imam called Farid Benyettou. He reportedly encouraged them to study Islam at his home and at a Muslim centre in their neighbourhood. A key figure in the ButtesChaumont network was Boubaker al-Hakim, a militant linked to al-Qaeda resistance against US forces in Iraq, a French expert on Islamists says. Jean-Pierre Filiu, an expert at Sciences-Po University in Paris, says a French court jailed Hakim for seven years in 2008, at the same time as Cherif, along with Farid Benyettou, who got six years.

T •The Kouachi brothers - Cherif (left) and Said

That action broke up the jihadist network they had created. In a blog article (in French) Mr Filiu says Hakim had recruited militants to fight in Falluja, an Iraqi city that became an al-Qaeda stronghold in 2004. Hakim is also wanted in Tunisia over the murder of two Tunisian left-wing opposition politicians in 2013 - Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi. Hakim claimed the murder in the name of the so-called Islamic State

Magazine to publish next week

RENCH satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will go to print next week, in defiance of Wednesday’s apparent militant Islamist attack. Ten journalists and two police were killed when masked attackers opened fire at its Paris headquarters. Columnist Patrick Pelloux said the decision to continue to publish will show that “stupidity will not win”. It will have a print run of one million copies, com-

pared with its usual 60,000 a week. It will be half its usual length at eight pages long. “It’s very hard. We are all suffering, with grief, with fear, but we will do it anyway because stupidity will not win,” Pelloux told the AFP news agency. The attack happened during the magazine’s daily editorial meeting when masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles before exchanging shots with police in the street

outside and escaping by car. It is believed to be the deadliest attack in France since 1961. Magazine editor Stephane Charbonnier, 47, was among those killed, along with his police bodyguard. Charbonnier, known as Chab to his friends, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection. The motive for Wednesday’s massacre is not yet clear, however the satirical weekly

has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo’s account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The magazine’s offices were burned in an apparent arson attack in November 2011, a day after it named the Prophet Mohammed as its guest editor for the week’s issue.

Sri Lanka rivals await presidential election results

RI Lanka’s presidential hopefuls are awaiting results from the most closely fought election in recent history. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has dominated politics for a decade, but faced an unexpected challenge from his health minister Maithripala Sirisena. Election officials said voter turnout was high and no complaints had been made, and observers said there were relatively few violent incidents. Mr Rajapaksa is credited by many with ending the civil war in 2009.

Troops routed the Tamil Tigers after more than two decades of fighting. But rights groups accused both sides in the war of atrocities, allegations the government denies. Both Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Sirisena are Sinhalese, the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka. They were allies until November, when Mr Sirisena announced his surprise candidacy. The former health minister is tipped to gather most of the votes from the minority groups, with whom Mr Rajapaksa is deeply unpop-

•The two rivals were close allies before the current election

ular. But he will also need a substantial number of votes from the Sinhalese, who have generally backed the long-time president in huge

numbers. Election officials will count ballots through the night, with a definitive result expected at about midday (06:30 GMT).

A salad of old stories in a new year •Continued from back page

This vanity fair, this obscene waste of public funds which must run into billions by a rough estimation is being presented as a great achievement by officials of the State. In an austere time of fasttumbling oil prices, one would expect sober leaders to sharpen priorities, tighten belts and build capacities that would help diversify the state’s economy. Let us compare Akpabio’s chorale trophy to Cross River State’s Liyel Imoke’s masterstroke of making Calabar Nigeria’s first digital city. Working with MTN, Imoke’s government wired up Calabar, Nigeria’s foremost tourists destination for voice, data,

video and other technologydriven services. This of course portends huge business opportunities and economic advantage for the state. In a time of shrinking federal revenues, Imoke has by this singular act opened up the world for his people to surf and explore at a touch of the button. This is indeed, the manner of world record that we crave now. Buhari: of certificate and certification There has been what is obviously an orchestrated rumpus over the educational qualification of General Mohammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Buhari had deposed an affidavit in lieu of the physical academic certification

documents in filing his presidential form at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This method Buhari had adopted in his three previous shots at the top job with no eyebrows raised. Why is it an issue this time? This time is different, this time the race is close and this time, the big, bad party, PDP, is terribly jittery. Lest why would paper document be an issue for a man who had been a general in the Nigerian Army, who had been head of state and a military governor? If those pushing the Buhari certificate matter think it would rub him of any shine, on the contrary, it will help to clarify for us once and for all the question of people with

little learning and education carrying a whole portmanteau of certificates against well educated people with minimal certification. Nigerians would also have to decide whether to vote for a chain of mere paper certificates or for intelligence and integrity. LAST MUG: Maku and all the President’s men fall down: What does it say of President Goodluck Jonathan that all the men who left his cabinet to contest guber election fell face down? Well except of course Mama’s boy, Nyesom Wike. And now, to think that Labaran Maku, Jonathan’s erstwhile motor mouth, has decamped from PDP?! So it’s true that Humpty-Dumpty was pushed, eh?

group, Mr Filiu says. In 2010 Cherif Kouachi was named in connection with a plot to spring another Islamist, Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, from jail. Belkacem used to be in the outlawed Algerian Islamic Armed Group (GIA) and was jailed for life in 2002 for a Paris metro station bombing in 1995 which injured 30 people. Said Kouachi, 34, was also named in the Belkacem plot, but the brothers were not prosecuted, for lack evidence. Said’s ID card was found in the brothers’ getaway car which they abandoned after the shooting, AFP news agency reports, citing police sources.

HE two main suspects in the Islamist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris are said to have robbed a service station in the north of France. Anti-terrorism police have converged on an area near Villers-Cotterets where the gunmen were reported by French media to have stolen food and petrol. France has observed a minute’s silence for the 12 people killed at the office of the satirical magazine. Earlier, a gunman shot dead a policewoman south of Paris and fled. It is unclear if the attack in Montrouge, in which a second person was seriously injured, was linked to the Charlie Hebdo shooting, but French prosecutors say they are treating it as a “terrorist act”, AFP reports. The manager of the service station that was robbed on the RN2 road, in the Aisne region, at about 10:30 (09:30 GMT) said the attackers fit the description of the two men, and were heavily armed with Kalashnikovs and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Police hunt suspects north of Paris

HUGE police operation is under way north-east of Paris in the search for the main suspects in Wednesday’s deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine. Officers are searching areas near the town of VillersCotterets where the two men reportedly robbed a petrol station. The village of Longport has been sealed off, with house-to-house searches for the brothers, Cherif and Said Kouachi. France has been marking a rare national day of mourning for the 12 victims of the attack on the magazine in Paris. Officials say there is no evidence of a link between the Charlie Hebdo attack and a second gun attack on Thursday, in which a policewoman was shot dead in Mon-

trouge, a southern suburb of the capital. The gunman, armed with a machine-gun and a pistol, fled the attack scene in Montrouge. Officials have extended the highest security level already in place in Paris to the northern Picardy region as police, including special antiterror units, continue the manhunt for the Charlie Hebdo attackers. Meanwhile, vigils for the victims are continuing across France on Thursday evening, with the Eiffel Tower in Paris set to go dark at 19:00 GMT in tribute to those killed. Earlier in the day, a minute’s silence was held in public spaces. Twenty imams joined hundreds gathered outside the offices of Charlie Hebdo to express sympathy for the victims.

AirAsia QZ8501: Bad weather prevents tail retrieval

TRONG currents and poor visibility have prevented the recovery of the tail of an AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that crashed into the Java Sea. The rear part was seen by an unmanned underwater vehicle on Wednesday, the first significant debris found. Authorities believe it is upside down and partially buried, making removal difficult. The tail holds the crucial flight data recorders which could reveal the cause of the 28 December crash. AirAsia flight QZ8501 was going from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore during stormy weather when it disappeared from radar. The rear part of the plane has the AirAsia mark on it and is at a depth of about 30m (98ft), authorities say. Divers attempted to get to the location of the tail, an area some 30km (19 miles) from the initial search area,

but were not able to make any progress because of the strong currents. The BBC’s Alice Budisatrijo was on board an Indonesian warship tasked with retrieving the tail. She said divers planned to tie a rope to the tail section and then use an inflatable device to pull it out of the water. However, the currents were too strong for the divers to get near the wreckage. Yesterday, authorities confirmed to the BBC that another body had been found, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to 41. Search and rescue officials believe many more bodies could still be in the fuselage of the plane, which has yet to be located. Weather conditions, including high waves and strong currents, have been a constant obstacle for the search teams which involve more than 30 ships from various countries.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

SHOWBIZ

Sadiq Daba, Oge Okoye, Ivie Okujaiye in new Africa Magic drama

new television drama series, Hotel Majestic, was premiered Monday on Africa Magic. Starring Sadiq Daba, Oge Okoye, Ivie Okujaiye, the sitcom focuses on the Emeni family, as they fight each other to protect a hotel that has been in their family for decades. The hotel, which is situated in a beautiful and flawless riverside community in Nigeria, has been in the family since the late 1800’s, and is currently run by the children of the original owner, running into the fourth generation. Regional Director, M-Net (West), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, describes Hotel Majestic as yet an-

Mercy Johnson apologises to fans over poor dressing By Mercy Michael

By Ovwe Medeme

other addition to the content line up on Africa Magic. “This new and exciting telenovella features a fresh storyline and the cast, an impressive mix of established and up and coming names in Nollywood, brings to life, all the intrigue, suspense, ambition, betrayal and love that make it a must-watch,” Wangi said. Other cast members of the movie include the likes of Gloria Young, Tina Mba, Bukky Ajayi and Anne Njemanze. The telenovella also features Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominee Ivie Okujaye, playing Alero, in the lead role.

• Oge Okoye

Rift between Cynthia Morgan, Queen Ure heightens

• Cynthia Morgan

OLLOWING a court injunction preventing music artiste, Cynthia Morgan from using the song title, Popori, a title similar to the one first used by fellow singer, Queen Ure, tagged Porpori, there appears to be an uneasy calm, as the former is not taking the court order in good fate. Putting her words on the social media, Morgan said: “I was going to keep quiet about this socalled Queen Ure’s madness, now I see she isn’t worth it. First of all, I never knew that this lady existed because, obviously, she

• Queen Ure By Ovwe Medeme

is not my generation. I bet she started singing in the 1980s. My mum doesn’t even know you because you weren’t relevant in your time not to talk of now. First Poporiis a slang from the South where I hail from. Now madam, you are saying you own the word…You are a failed artiste.” Although Ure had claimed the word, Porpori, is her coinage, Morgan said her own version, Popori, is a common slang in the South-South which does not need to be copyrighted. She lik-

ened the word to ‘love’, explaining that it is ridiculous for anyone to claim ownership of the word, ‘love’. She also condemned the judgement in unprintable words. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagaos, had, on December 29, 2014 passed an injunction restraining the airplay and distribution of the song on account of copyrighted title. Queen Ure’s first video which was released in November 2012, was titled Porpori. Her 15-track album which she released the following month was also titled

‘What Tuface told me about women,’ by Saviour Oldskul

AVIOUR Akpiri, aka Saviour Oldskul, is relatively new to the entertainment world, but he has had the privilege of rocking the same stage with some of the biggest comedians and dancers in the industry. A member of the defunct comedy/dance group, Oldskul Naija, the entertainer said although he has performed alongside top artistes, one of his best encounters was working with pop singer, 2Face Idibia. In a recent interview, Oldskul, a graduate of Mass Communication from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, spoke about his journey into comedy, his encounter with 2Face among other interesting issues. “I remember the piece of ad-

By Adewoyin Adeniyi

vice 2Face gave to me the last time we were together. He said a lot about life and I almost cried. He told me that I have to be humble, loyal and gentle to females, because they can bring me down when they want. He also said I have to be very faithful to my woman, which I have always done. I love my woman so much that she will soon be my wife by the special grace of God. I pray that any other woman will not come and destroy what she has worked for and what we have built for some years now,” the artiste said. As a result of 2face’s advice, he said he had come to respect women so much, especially because they have really helped his career in a great way.

Porpori. Going by the title of the songs which sound alike, the court reasoned that Morgan, an artiste under Jude Okoye’s label, cannot continue with that title, as it amounted to passoff. Things however took a new turn Wednesday morning, when Morgan lashed at Ure on her Instagram page, stating her obvious displeasure. “You want attention, get your nudes out like you always send to young boys…I know your story and it is super,” she ranted.

AST year saw Nollywood star actress, Mercy Johnson, receiving several flaks from fans and fashion enthusiasts over what was considered the actress’ poor sense of style. Popular designer, Emmy Collins, was one of those who publicly scolded the actress, calling her ‘tacky’ for not dressing in a way befitting of a celebrity. His comment followed a circulated picture of Mercy that was tagged ‘sexy’. “Mercy Johnson looks so cheap here that if cheap were to be animated today, it would most definitely not want to be associated with Mercy Johnson…I don’t even know where to start or end; the N3k Tejuosho dress, akpola shoes, the ‘mgbekerish’ pose, the walls behind her, foot mat, et al, yet some bloggers deemed it appropriate to tag this picture right here “sexy”. Kai, sexy don suffer ni…” These were some of the words used by Emmy, to describe the actress in his article. Interestingly, Johnson, who is never known for throwing tantrums, decided to use the new year to address the issue. Rather than make excuses for her shortcoming, the actress has vowed to work on her sense of style. She pleaded with her fans to understand that she is just like any other human being, who learns from shortcomings and make improvements. She said: “As per the style, I have received all your complaints and I will try and improve, but please, do not forget I am just a down-toearth-girl-next-door. Thank you.” In the same New Year message where Mercy addressed the issue of her dressing, she thanked her fans, producers and marketers for showering her with love over the years, while also adding that her husband had been very supportive of her career. “I want to also say a very big thank you to my husband for giving me room to fly. Some men out there would probably have clipped my wings, but Odi is not some kind of man. I want to say thank you for being so supportive and understanding,” she said.

Producers rebrand Coke with names of celebritries By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

OCA-Cola Nigeria, in its launch of the much-anticipated ‘Share a Coke’ campaign, has revealed that it is complementing its iconic logo with popular names in Nigeria. These name imprints are expected to appear on all its packaging, including returnable glass bottles, disposable cans and PET bottles, from January 10. “By swapping our iconic Coca-Cola logo with personal names, we give all our consumers a unique opportunity to connect and share their personalised Coke with the people who matter the most to them- friends, family and loved ones, either in person, or virtually,” said Patricia Jemibewon, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited. Jemibewon, who was speaking during the media launch of the campaign at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Lagos, Wednesday, noted that ‘Share a Coke’ transforms the global Coca-Cola brand into a special, personal experience for consumers of the brand. She added that consumers who are unable to find their names in-store will have the chance to create their own personalised Coke, during the nationwide activation which will commence February 2. According to her, the campaign recognises Nigeria’s culture and diversity as 600 popular names have been selected from the rich array of names across the various regions of Nigeria. “‘Share a Coke’ does not only reinforce our ongoing commitment to refresh the world, but also to inspire shared moments of optimism and happiness,” she added. The ‘Share a Coke’ campaign was first introduced in Australia in 2011. Since then, the company has replicated the experience in over 50 countries around the world, including New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Great Britain, Turkey, Germany, Spain and Chile.

• Mercy Johnson

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘As we go to the polls, we shall experience spurious arguments by the Ebele gang; Okupe thinks Ebele is Jesus, Fani-Kayode thinks he epitomizes goodness even as Abati recounts all the ways he has made our lives better.’ VOL.10 NO.3,090

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

N the past week, I received numerous messages in my inbox, all about the forthcoming elections. These range from the clearly well-conceived and well-articulated State of the Nation Broadcast of Pastor Tunde Bakare, the passionate shepherd of The Latter Rain Assembly End-Time Church, to the confused partisan and jingoistic rants of some desperate defenders of the status quo. This latter group would have us remember past alignments and affiliations in which some groups, especially the Yoruba, were embarrassed and harassed and cheated out of their entitlement. But they thought they were being clever because they failed to point out that they were co-conspirators in the so-called humiliation of the Southwest. I defer discussion on this till next week. Today I would like to focus on the gathering storm and why and how we must ride it out. Let me start by expressing my profound respect for Pastor Bakare. He has demonstrated his patriotism beyond doubt or reproach. He has been consistent in his advocacy for true democracy and transparency in government. He has more than any clergy in Nigeria today spoken true to power. When some others cringe or move near the table inside the Rock for the crumbs that soil their mission and ministry, he remains steadfast. And when he was called upon to run for the second highest office in the land, he did not refuse because of the religion of the man whose ticket he complemented. And today, even when he is not on the ticket, he has openly endorsed that same man. That is consistency of the highest premium. Therefore when Pastor Bakare speaks, we know that it is out of the greatest concern for the good of the nation. And we are bound to examine the basis of his apprehension as dispassionately as possible. It is probably not a coincidence that The Washington Post ran an editorial on Wednesday January 7, 2015 with the title "Nigeria on edge", in which the paper expressed the same fear that has triggered the address of Pastor Bakare. According to the Post, "Africa's most populous nation (i.e. Nigeria) may be careering toward trouble." And it goes on to suggest that "the most immediate threats to the country's stability are not bullets from Islamic militants, but ballots." It is as interesting as it is frustrating for the theory and practice of democracy that Nigeria now faces a threat to its stability because it is in fact becoming more democratic. Why, in the name of decency, should the probability of a change of leadership at the centre constitute

HALL we say this is the year of our lives? The year American soothsayers long foretold would make or mar our dear country, Nigeria. How is it turning out for you dear reader? You must have noticed that the harmattan has turned out a little severer than in recent years. The north easterly, dusty, desert wind that often sweeps the west coast of Africa this season has been at once soothing and gruff. It has been like kind of celestial airconditioner but tinged with dryness. Does that portend any auguries for you? We are not going to start the year pondering the metaphysics of the weather and Nigeria’s politics, no. We are taking on issues as they unfold even in this new, tendentious year. Here is the first in a series of our sumptuous salad to be served fresh – even in a year like this.

The IBB insurgency Former military President Ibrahim Babangida has kicked off the year with an assault on Nigerians that is akin to a huge Boko Haram IED. In an interview granted a magazine owned by (you won’t believe it), the EFCC, Nigeria’s prime anti-graft agency, IBB argues his innocence as opposed to the widely held belief that his was a very corrupt administration. Not to be misunderstood however, he accepts his culpability but only in comparison to the current regime he contends makes him and his junta colleagues seem like angels. He may be right but there is need for some perspective. We must constantly remind him that our memories are not yet as blurred as his might be; besides is it not said by our fathers that he that dropped faeces by the footpath is prone to forget but he that stepped on it lives with the ugly memory. IBB remains the father, nay, founder of modern Nigeria’s graft incorporated. He was not only reckless and licentious with the treasury, he smudged nearly all that was good and noble in the

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Riding out the gathering storm (1)

•President Goodluck •General Jonathan Muhammadu Buhari

such a headache for a democratic system? In the past 16 years, one party has controlled the centre. The Post observes that this time around, "the contest will be close." This is because, "the APC, formed last year from a coalition of opposition parties, threatens its dominance." And the paper goes on to note that "This is a sea change in a political landscape already inflamed by northsouth tensions, an overly militarised political culture and pressure on the economy due to falling oil prices." In both interventions-from Pastor Bakare and from The Washington Post- I see a genuine concern for the good of the nation. And while the Post doesn't go as far as Pastor Bakare to suggest a postponement of the elections, it is clear that the concern for peace and stability is there. I cannot match Pastor Bakare's mastery of the scripture. Indeed, the passage he used has al-

ways been an enigmatic one for me. The fact that Paul was sent to Rome is not a mystery. He appealed to the Emperor even before Governor Festus could render a verdict. Therefore to Rome he must go. Then they had to ship for Italy knowing full well the time of the year with its weather hazards. From Cyprus, the winds did not favour them; the sailors did their best under the circumstance, slowing down and taking a different route until they got to Fair Havens. That is what sailors do; they must make the best of the wind that nature throws at them. There is a lesson there for us as well, I surmise. Fair Havens sounds like a good place to relax and reflect on the journey ahead, especially if there was a way of knowing or forecasting what the journey ahead might look like. Pastor Bakare did not fail to get us to understand the symbolism of it all. The passage reads that "it (Fair Havens) was not a commodious haven to winter in"; or as Pastor Bakare puts it, "the harbour was not suitable to winter in." Though the name Fair Havens implies a peasant environment, it was unsuitable at that time of the year. It was not safe for them. They would be exposed to the weather which they were not prepared for. Is Nigeria's present Fair Havens really commodious to winter in? Besides, there is something to the reasoning that "even if it is pleasant and fair, this is not our destination; and we must make haste to depart. We must run and make it to the destination that we desire." And though Paul volunteered the information revealed to him, it was not persuasive to the centurion and the ship owner. The relevant point here is that it was a civil discourse with even a prisoner of the state being given a

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

A salad of old stories in a new year

Nigerian ethos. Babangida must quit straining to absolve and exonerate himself from what have become historical facts. As he grows older and feeble, he would do better to come clean with Nigerians so that history would be kinder to him. Catharsis is the medicine IBB needs urgently; he suffers acute psychological torment for so many evil deeds he perpetrated while at the helm. You cannot help but sympathise with him. He is in need of emotional purification; he must find peace before he returns to his fathers. One last point, with a scoop like this, why don’t we convert EFCC to a publishing house and if I might suggest, we shall call its journal: HOT POTATO weekly. Governor Akpabio’s dubious record Vs. Imoke’s Digital City One cannot help but nurse strong reservations about Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio’s muchtouted achievements in nearly eight years. Yes, he has built a few brick-and-mortar structures;

he may have even out-performed his predecessors but at what price and what opportunity costs? His 2015 budget estimate is N492 billion, the highest in the land. It has

OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

say in the matter of when to set sail. Let everyone have a say in the matter of sailing forth in our present harbour of relaxation. The way to have a say is to have an election! Is Nigeria at a Fair Havens? Should she set sail and ride out the gathering storm? Or must she winter in at the harbour? Several arguments have been advanced for the need to winter in where we are instead of setting sail. I will try and tease out each of them. The major concern is that there is a gathering storm ahead, or as The Post puts it, Nigeria is on edge because there is (i) a North-South tension in the polity; (ii) a geopolitical monstrosity; (iii) a perilous economic structure; (iv) an anomalous constitution and (v) an ill-prepared electoral umpire. I think that (i) - (iv) go together because the tension noted in (i) is driven largely by the anomalies noted in (ii)-(iv). The North-South tension is nothing new and it is not going away anytime soon. It was planted there from the beginning of the republic by the colonisers who were convinced that it was how they can continue to dominate the country. This is why we have always had a geopolitical monstrosity, a perilous economic structure, and an anomalous constitution. The tension was certainly there at the 2014 Confab and didn't end with that gathering of eminent and rational Nigerians. The tension remains there because it works for the political elite at whose beck and call the masses react. But the proverbial falcon may now be ignoring the voice of the falconer as the masses are seeing through the peeping Tom. Did MEND just endorse Buhari for the presidency? One possible solution has been suggested by an egg-head and a good friend: "Let the two major parties pick their candidates from the same zone", he says. "And the tension would be over." This is a fascinating approach to zoning. But will it still be a national presidential election, though? Besides, I predict that if we go for this, it will sooner than later become clear that the tension has never been about North or South but about the brigandage of the partisan elite. For the parties will then show that they are the real problem, not the ethnics. This is nothing out of the ordinary. Politicians pursue their interests with a vengeance. This is why primaries are fought as if they were the main elections. If the two presidential candidates of the major parties were to come from the same town, not to talk of the same zone, it would not lessen the tension between the parties. (To be continued)

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 operated within this range in the last four to six years. The sum of these is sure to be higher than the budget of many African countries. If you add his huge debt portfolio you will begin to see why one is cautious in throwing in nary a word of commendation for Governor Akpabio. The point here is that where there are a few bridges and stadium and pavilions, there could have been paradise. Or, in order not to exaggerate, a verisimilitude of a Dubai if not one. The point again, is that there has been as much waste as there was revenue under Akpabio’s watch. To buttress this point, in marking the year end, Saturday, December 13, 2014, Governor Akpabio elected to stage a large jamboree at the Uyo Township Stadium. He assembled a 25,272-man chorale group flippantly tagged Unity Choir (UC) for the vainglorious purpose of breaking a world record. The Guinness World Record team was shipped in to observe and approve.

•Continued

on page 61

Imo politics: weep not, Okigwe zone

ET me disclose up-front that this piece concerns me. As an indigene of Okigwe zone in Imo State, one cannot help but be interested in the politics of his homeland in all its dimensions. This is why the recently concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) guber primary in the state would have many from my part of the state weeping inconsolably for a lost opportunity. Two of the three toprunners, Ifeanyi Araraume and Ikedi Ohakim who are of the same kindred in Isiala Mbano LGA garnered enough votes to trounce their closest rivals had they elected to work together. They would not; they did not. They shunned the path of pragmatism.

They forgot that common Mbano saying that when two or more men urinate in unison, on the same spot, they achieve a rich foam head! (Please don’t ask me the value of a rich urine foam head!) what a pity now. What would have been a great opportunity for Okigwe people had a formidable duo come together is now a mirage that would remain elusive for a long time. A formidable duo has become two miserable migrants fighting political eclipse. Their loss is the gain of Owerri zone and of Emeka Ihedioha, the wily Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and an emerging political force in Imo State. •For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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