January 21, 2015

NIGERIA DECIDES

Newspaper of the Year •Death wish advertisement: APC accuses Jonathan of violating peace pact •Jonathan campaign disowns defiant Fayose•EU observer mission for Nigeria •PDP promises rail line in Katsina•Ekwueme, others endorse President •How to donate to Buhari’s campaign, by Fashola •AND MORE ON PAGES 2-4,5,7,10,57&58 •Kokori, ex-senator urge support for Emerhor•INEC: we own seized boxes

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3102 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Police redeploy Mbu to Lagos, Ogun

N150.00

UN okays force to battle Boko Haram •150 schools shut in Cameroon •10,000 displaced

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By Precious Igbonwelundu and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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ONTROVERSIAL police officer Mbu Joseph Mbu got a new posting yesterday.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mbu was deployed to Lagos from Abuja to take charge of the Zone 2 Command. There are two states –Lagos and Ogun – covered by the command, with its headquarters in Onikan Continued on page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

•Mbu

HE United Nations Security Council yesterday demanded that Boko Haram “immediately and unequivocally cease all hostilities and all abuses of human rights and violations”.

In a statement by the President of the Council, the UN accused Boko Haram of carry-

ing out kidnappings, killings, hostage-taking, pillaging, rape, sexual slavery and recruitment of child soldiers since it launched its campaign in 2009.

It urged African countries to step up plans for a multinational force to fight Boko Haram—in the world body’s

first overall response to the threat posed by the insurgents.

The council issued a 13point statement strongly condemning attacks by Boko Haram, in particular those involving children used as suicide bombers, Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR COTTON, TEXTILE FIRMS P53 CBN TO DEFEND NAIRA P53

•ALL FOR B UHARI: Part of the crowd at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Kano...yesterday.

BUHARI:

SEE ALSO PAGE 4

PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

He got WASC in 1961, says army

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EGAL experts have advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to launch a legal battle over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates.

Gen. Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Pro-

From Yusuf Alli and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

gressives Congress (APC) in the February 14 election.

The PDP’s plan, The Nation learnt, is to go to court in a bid to stop Gen. Buhari on the ground that his certificates are

Don’t destroy military, APC warns PDP

not with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The army said yesterday that Gen. Buhari obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961. But, said the army, the original copies of his

certificates could not be found in his file.

It was also learnt that apart from the court, INEC can also determine Gen. Buhari’s fate.

If in the opinion of INEC Gen. Buhari can contest, no one can stop the APC candi-

date, lawyers said.

The PDP leadership and some Presidency officials sought legal advice on how to get Gen. Buhari disqualified, a source told The Nation, pleading not to be named beContinued on page 4

•LIFE P13 •POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P24 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •FOREIGN P59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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NEWS

NIGERIA DECIDES

APC accuses J

•From left: Lagos Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Executive Director, Diamond Bank Plc Mr. Victor Ezenwoko; Representatives of the students of the Lagos State Skills Acquisition Centres; Special Adviser to the deputy governor, Mrs. Risikat Akiyode and Head, Institutional Banking, Diamond Bank Plc Mrs. Chizoma Okoli when officials of the bank made a donation to the centres as part of the its Employee Volunteering Programme (EVP).

•Gen. Buhari

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•The Senator representing Lagos Central District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (left); Iyaloja-General of Nigeria Mrs. Afolashade Tinubu-Ojo (middle) and Iyalode of Lagos Alhaja Bintu Tinubu, when the Senator visited leaders of the LagosState Market Woman and Men Association in Ikeja, Lagos.

•left to right: Group Head, Cowry Banking, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Davidson Regha, President, Old Girls of Federal Girls Government College, Benin City, (FGGC) 1984 Set, Mrs Abosede Ozah Osho and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BGL Securities Limited, Mr. Albert Okumagba, at the presentation of an award to the Managing Director, Heritage Bank Limited,Mr. Ifie Sekibo by the FGGC in Lagos.

•Group Manager, Brand Operations, Procter and Gamble, Titi Adetunji (left), mother of the First Baby of the Year, Mrs Enilolobo Temitope (middle) and Chief Matron, EKO Hospital, Mrs Uzo Onwunalu when the Pampers visited the first baby at EKO Hospital, Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has violated the non-violence pact he signed with other presidential candidates in Abuja on January 14, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

The party alleged that the President erred by acceding to the incendiary, insensitive, reckless and provocative death-wish-for-Buhari advert sponsored in his name on Monday by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said the provocative publication could have triggered unimaginable reactions from its members but for proper education.

The statement reads: “But for our party’s ceaseless enlightenment of our members and supporters to shun violence of any kind even when provoked, and the peaceful disposition of the APC as a party, one can only imagine what could have happened in the wake of this demonic advert, laced with ethnic put down and a morally-repugnant death wish for a fellow being. ‘’We are therefore calling on all those who witnessed the signing of the pact, especially former UN (United Nations) Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, to take note of this very serious breach of the agreement and urgently call President Jonathan and his party to order. ‘’We are also calling on all Nigerians, as well as security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) to take note of the political desperation of the PDP and its supporters, while warning that we will hold President Jonathan and his party responsible if anything untoward should happen to the APC presidential candidate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the unprecedentedly-provocative advert was not the first time that the President and his supporters have broken the Abuja Peace Accord. ‘’Two days after the pact was signed, our party’s office at Ngo community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers was bombed, the second of such incident in the state, by PDP thugs. Then our party members were attacked severally in Sokoto by PDP thugs aided and abetted by the police, while the PDP Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero, has been inciting violence against the opposition in his state.

“The fact that the perpetrators of those incidents got away with their actions without any censure from the

• Mohammed

President emboldened another diehard supporter of the President to throw caution to the wind and embark on a course of action that has now exposed, for the world to see, the level of desperation by the President and his party ahead of next month’s polls.

“Never in the history of our nation has there been a more egregious act of desperation by a politician who would wish death to his opponent, with the action aided and abetted by otherwise respectable media organisations that chose to put financial consideration over professional ethics, morality and even national unity.”

The APC spokesman urged the media, which he noted, has always been in the forefront of the fight for democracy, to exercise the utmost restraint at this difficult period, calling its attention to the inciting role played by the hate radio, called Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLMC), in the Rwandan genocide in 1993.

Mohammed said President Jonathan, who has been saying his political ambition is not worth the blood of anyone, could have had the blood of many Nigerians on his hands had the APC supporters not been peaceful and cool in the face of this egregious act of provocation.

He said: “When we saw the advert on the front page in certain papers, we were taken aback not because we had any grand expectation of civil conduct from the indecorous and immoral Governor Fayose, but because no one could have imagined that PDP’s desperation would descend to the level of publicly expressing death wish for political opponents.

“That this is coming from the governor of a state is appalling and highly distasteful. No doubt Governor Fayose is the poster boy for what the PDP stands for: insensitivity, desperation and deception. Otherwise, how could any well bred person, whether or not he is a state governor, attempt to incite a whole section of the country against another in such brazen manner?

“PDP can choose to disrespect Nigerians, old, young and even past leaders. It has the prerogative to determine what issues are important to it and how it intends to run its campaign.

“But for us, this election is about security, employment for our youths, war against corruption, a buoyant economy and shared prosperity for Nigerians.

“We will not shift focus from these issues that affect Nigerians. We will continue to spread the message of hope to our people.”

The party thanked Nigerians for their collective condemnation of such abominable publication, saying that Nigerians have shown that despite

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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NIGERIA DECIDES

Jonathan of violating non-violence pact

•Akeredolu

their different political affiliation, religion and ethnicity, they are humane and reasonable people who cannot be set against one another by the trivialmindedness of some desperate poli-

•Fayose

ticians.

The statement further reads: “While appealing to all our members to remain peaceful, we must continue to stay focused on our common

•Fani-Kayode

goal which is to have a Nigeria that works.

“We must resist the ploy to instigate violence in order to force a postponement of next month’s election,

which is the grand plan of the PDP and its supporters. ‘’To those who are incredulous and affronted by the acts of desperation by the PDP, we say use

the most potent ‘weapon’ at your disposal, your vote, to express your outrage during the forthcoming polls.’’

PDP disowns Fayose’s death threat to Buhari

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HOSE interest was the ‘death wish’ advertorial sponsored by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose meant to serve?

The presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday distanced itself from the controversial advertisement published in two national dailies on Monday.

In the publication, Fayose listed three former heads of state from the Northwest, who died in office.

Listed were: former military Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, who was assassinated in the botched military coup of February 13, 1976.

Murtala hailed from Kano State; Gen. Sani Abacha, who died in office on June 8, 1998. Abacha also hailed from Kano; and former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died on May 9, 2010.

Yar’Adua hailed from Katsina State.

The Ekiti governor warned Nigerians against voting for the presidential candidate of the, predicting that if elected, Gen Buhari too may die in office and that Nigeria could no longer afford a state burial.

The publication drew flaks from many Nigerians, who described it as an embarrassment.

PDP’s response casual, off-handed, says APC campaign team •Insists on independent probe of threat on Buhari

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) yesterday dismissed the rebuttal by the Peoples Democratic Party over the distasteful front page newspaper advertorial by Governor Ayo Fayose, promoting a death wish on General Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement from the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC presidential campaign said that the denial of the PDP advertorial signed by the Ekiti governor From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Fayose’s party – the PDP, also rejected the advertisement.

The PDP reaction, the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, said the views expressed in the publication were personal to Fayose.

According to him, the message in the said advertorial did not in any way reflect the views of the PDP Presidential campaign organisation.

Questions regarding the advertisement should be directed to the gov-

by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, was “merely a case of a master dissociating himself from the errand boy after the message had backfired.”

According to the organisation, the response was “too casual and off-handed to impress anyone. It doesn’t sound convincing. The PDP needs to take this issue more seriously to underscore its commitment to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the non-violence pact entered into by the party and its presidential candidate.”

ernor, who signed it, he said.

Fani-Kayode said: “Governor Ayo Fayose is a distinguished leader of our party. A democratically elected governor and someone we have immense respect and affection for but he released this advert in his own name.

“That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to. What I can tell you on our part as the presidential campaign organisation is that it does not represent the opinion of the campaign organisation or indeed that of the President.

“It is his opinion which he is enti-

tled to and he is somebody that we have immense respect for, he is a leading member of the party. I have spoken with him and we respect him but for anybody to suggest that this is the position of the presidential campaign organisation or President Goodluck Jonathan,that will be most unfair.

“If we wanted to say something like that we will say it without any kind of apology but of course we will never say that because we believe in the sanctity of life. Age is not a function of how long you will live. It is important that we recognise the fact that age is not an indication of how

long somebody will live.

“We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect for the person of General Buhari in terms of his person and his health, though we believe it is important to always raise questions about facts, you know what these questions are, and we will continue to raise them.

“We do not wish him ill; we do not wish him dead, we wish him long life and we believe strongly that such sentiments can be aired by individuals certainly not in our name.

“Fayose never said that he was speaking on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan but for his own self and he said that he issued it in his name. And I have emphasised that that is his opinion and he is entitled to it.”

Fani-Kayode did not denounce the message in the controversial advertorial but simply said it was not made on behalf of the campaign organisation.

“I could only disown it if the statement was purportedly made on our behalf and in fairness to him, he never said that. What is important is to emphasise the fact that his position does not represent our position on this,” he stated.

‘Nothing must happen to the People’s General’ To Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the ‘death wish’ advertorial credited to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose must not be treated with levity. The one-time President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) says the governor must tell Nigerians what is being shielded from them. Below is the text of a statement he issued yesterday.

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HE ruling party, PDP, through its spokespersons, continues to assail the sensibilities of Nigerians with deeds and words in its bid to hang on to power by any means, both fair and foul.

The pervasive tendency among Nigerians favours ignoring the puerile tantrums of those who seem to find it difficult to come to terms with the reality of losing power and the privileges attendant on the exercise of same without responsibility in the last sixteen years.

What started as a campaign to showcase the achievements of the incumbent President of the country, transited to crude abuse and downright denigration of the candidate of the main opposition party in the forthcoming presidential election, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

The ludicrous charges bordering on his age, educational qualification, antecedents in politics

and adherence to his faith as a muslim, asinine and provocative, are regarded as permissible in politics.

Not a few Nigerians believe that politicians must concentrate on the problems of insecurity, corruption, economic instability and political violence.

No one is left in doubt that the ruling party is not ready to campaign based on socio-economic challenges facing the country in spite of its repeated avowal to do so.

The disinformation on the state of health of Gen Buhari, the release and liberal dissemination of falsehood on the purported diagnosis for a terminal illness is however deplorable to assert the least.

The latest crude assault credited to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, must be condemned by all well-meaning people.

Mr. Fayose’s advertorial on the suitability of General Buhari to contest on one hand, and his “warning” to Nigerians to choose between “Life and Death”, ostensibly referring to the overwhelming support currently enjoyed by the general in the country and the ever-increasing likelihood of his being elected to succeed the incumbent.

The base and uncouth verbiage does not befit anyone occupying the exalted office of the governor of a state. The mere suggestion of the possibility of Gen Buhari meeting a grim end if elected should not be taken lightly.

Mr. Ayodele Fayose must be made to explain what he means and the information that he possesses that other Nigerians may need to know.

Mr. Fayose’s reference to former Heads of State who died in office is instructive. The suggestion that Gen Buhari will die in office if elected must not be treated with levity. This is the time when all lovers

By Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu

of peace in this country must come out to defend her interest.

The DSS should cast aside the embarrassing garb of undisguised partisanship and avail itself of the benefits derivable from the “clairvoyant” governor.

He should be asked to explain to the whole world what he knows that is shielded from the rest of us.

May we seize this opportunity to warn those who may be planning something untoward to perish the thought? Nigerians will not accept any news of a sponsored “terrorist attack” which will achieve a contrived end.

The Gen was lucky to have escaped once. Many Nigerians lost their lives in the attack. The choice of who rules should be left to Nigerians.

It is uncharitable and very rude, to be mild, for some ill-educated persons to seek to direct their betters on the best way to govern this country.

Nothing must happen to the ‘People’s General.’

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

NEWS Huge crowds as Buhari campaigns in Kano

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•Kwankwaso speaking at the rally...yesterday. With are Asiwaju Tinubu (centre) Gen. Buhari (behind Tinubu) and Ganduje (behind Kwankwaso) and others.

PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court Continued from page 1

cause of what he described as the “sensitivity” of the matter.

But they were shocked to learn that it was all a wild goose chase.

The legal advice made available to the party indicated that Gen. Buhari cannot be stopped because Section 318 of the 1999 says any candidate can contest for elective office with a minimum of school certificate or its equivalent.

The section also does not say a candidate must pass or fail the school certificate examination or its equivalent, which could be a primary school certificate or the ability to read or write in English.

Also, if a candidate has served in the public sector for up to 10 years, this could be the equivalent of a school certificate.

A highly-placed source said: “The legal advice sought by PDP has confirmed that even if the party goes to court, it cannot stop Buhari. The party is

Police redeploy Mbu to Lagos Continued from page 1

on Lagos Island.

Mbu will replace Umaru Manko, a former Lagos State Police Commissioner who has been moved to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos. Inspector General of Police (IG) Suleiman Abba announced Mbu’s deployment along with 27 other senior officers.

A statement by force spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said Abba charged the officers to be more service-oriented in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities and urged the public to also partner closely with the force in its determination to ensure improved safety and security.

The other officers, who are expected to move immediately are: Tambari Y. Muhammed, Mohammed Abubakar, Aderenle Shinaba, Musa A. Daura, Johnson A Ogunsakin, Patrick D. Dokumor, Christopher T. Dega, Usman Akila Gwarry and Bala A Haassan.

Others are: Ikemefuna R. Okoye, Mohammed J. Gana, Sule Mamman, Adisa B. Bolanta, Edgar Tam Nanakumo, Sabo Ringim Ibrahim, Wilfred Eje Obute, Kalafite Helen Adeyemi, Ibrahim Maishanu, Jubrin Olawale Adeniji, Lawal Tanko, Ballah Magaji Nasarawa, Yahaya Garba Ardo, Buhari Tanko, Olufemi A. Adenaike, Umaru Abubakar Manko, Irimiya F. Yerima and Mark Adamu Idak-

Buhari’s certficate: APC warns against destroying the military

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that those who are bent on destroying its presidential candidate,Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on the basis of his certificates may end up destroying the country’s military.

Gen. Buhari will today speak on his certificate issue, spokesman of his campaign council, Mallam Garba Shehu said yesterday.

In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC warned that the PDP and the Jonathan Administration are playing a dangerous game by trying to compromise the military to satisfy selfish political objectives.

It urged the military, as a symbol of national unity, to beware of those who may be seeking to use it to achieve selfish and divisive ends.

It said the statement credited to the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Olaleye, at a news conference in Abuja that the Army is not in possession of Gen. Buhari’s certificates, is in direct conflict with what he said on Jan. 4 on the same issue.

in a state of confusion because it has to face the electoral battle with APC. The 1999 Constitution is explicit in its interpretation of Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution by Section 318.

‘’In an interview with The Punch on Jan. 4th, Brig.-Gen. Olaleye said: ‘Every serving and retired Army officer has at least a copy of his certficates and credentials kept in the Nigerian Army while that same serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and credentials’. ‘’Is Brig.-Gen. Olaleye now saying that he did not make that statement? If he did, what has happened between then and now to make him to recant? It will be interesting to know what has transpired between then and now,’’ the APC said.

But more worrisome, the party said, is the statement credited to Brig.-Gen. Olaleye that there was no evidence that the certificates of all those who joined the army in the early 1960s were verified by the Selection Board.

The party asked: ‘’Is he now saying that all those who were commissioned into the officer cadres in the 1960s did not have their certificates verified? Does this not confirm what we Continued on page 57

Section 131 states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty (40) years; (c )he is a member of a political party;

and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

“In Section 318, School certificate or equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate Continued on page 57

UGE crowds yesterday received All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign team to the Northwest.

Kano, the North’s commercial heart and Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, were throbbing with people as APC candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari sold his party’s programme.

The Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was filled to capacity. There were more people in the foreground than in the arena.

Supporters climbed different platforms, including telecom masts, to sight the APC leaders.

Gen. Buhari and his team, including Campaign Director-General Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Kabir Gaya, party Deputy Chairman Lawal Shuaibu, Chief Bisi Akande and party Chair Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were received by Governor

NAME TAMBARI Y. MUHAMMED,NPM,fwc MBU JOSEPH MBU MOHAMMED J. ABUBAKAR,NPM,fwc ADERENLE T. SHINABA MUSA A. DAURA, NPM,mni JOHNSON A. OGUNSAKIN PATRICK D. DOKUMOR, mni CHRISTOPHER T. DEGA, NPM,fwc USMAN AKILA GWARRY, fdc BALA A. HASSAN, NPM, fwc IKEMEFUNA R. OKOYE, fdc MOHAMMED J. GANA, NPM, fwc SULE MAMMAN, NPM, fwc ADISA B. BOLANTA, NPM,fwc EDGAR TAM NANAKUMO, NPM, fwc, SABO RINGIM IBRAHIM, NPM, fwc WILFRED EJE OBUTE, mni KALAFITE HELEN ADEYEMI, mni IBRAHIM M. MAISHANU, mni JUBRIN OLAWALE ADENIJI, mni LAWAL TANKO, fdc BALLAH MAGAJI NASARAWA,NPM, fdc

YAHAYA GARBA ARDO, fdc BUHARI TANKO OLUFEMI A. ADENAIKE, mni UMARU ABUBAKAR MANKO, mni IRIMIYA F. YERIMA MARK ADAMU IDAKWO, NPM, fwc

wo.

The Police Service Commission has also approved the promotion of Commissioner of Police, Adenike Fehintola Abuwa to AIG. Mbu’s tenure as Rivers State Police commissioner was turbulent. When he was transferred to Abuja before his promotion to AIG, he also continued in the

FROM AIG ZONE 1 KANO AIG ZONE 7 ABUJA AIG ZONE 3 YOLA CP KANO COMMAND AIG ZONE 5, BENIN AIG TRAINING & DEV. NIPSS, JOS AIG ZONE 8, LOKOJA AIG ZONE 9, UMUAHIA AIG ZONE 10, SOKOTO CP OGUN STATE AIG ZONE 12 BAUCHI AIG FORSEC FHQ COMDT POLAC AIG FORCE ANIMAL AIG BORDER PATROL AIG ARMAMENT FHQ ABUJA CMDT. STAFFPOL, JOS AIG INFO-TECH FHQ AIG MARITIME, FHQ AIG FEDERAL OPS,FHQ AIG INTELLIGENCE AIG CTU, FHQ SPECIAL DUTY FHQ NIPSS, JOS AIG ZONE 2, LAGOS NIPSS, JOS AIG ZONE 6 CALABAR

same fashion. An AIT reporter, Amaechi Anakwe, who described him as “controversial” on a television programme was arrested and detained for almost 24 hours. He was eventually taken to court but no charges were pressed. There was outrage as Mbu’s action was interpreted as an abridgement of freedom of speech.

Continued from page 1

and demanded an end to the violence.

On the eve of a key meeting in Niger of regional leaders, the 15-member council urged Nigeria’s neighbours to advance planning for the deployment of a multinational task force to drive out Boko Haram.

Chad is set to contribute a sizeable contingent to the force along with Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Benin. The multinational force has been under discussion since last year, but divisions over the scale and scope of its operations have slowed down the deployment.

The statement from the council came as Boko Haram fighters seized scores of hostages in a raid in neighboring

TO AIG ZONE 1 KANO AIG ZONE 2 LAGOS AIG ZONE 3 YOLA AIG ZONE 4 MAKURDI AIG ZONE 5 BENIN AIG ZONE 6 CALABAR AIG ZONE 7 ABUJA AIG ZONE 8 LOKOJA AIG ZONE 9 UMUAHIA AIG ZONE 10 SOKOTO AIG ZONE 11 OSOGBO AIG ZONE 12 BAUCHI AIG FORSEC FHQ COMDT POLAC AIG FORCE ANIMAL AIG BORDER PATROL AIG ARMAMENT FHQ ABUJA AIG MARITIME, FHQ AIG INFO-TECH FHQ 2i/C FCID, FHQ AIG PMF FHQ, ABUJA CMDT PSC JOS AIG CTU FHQ SPECIAL DUTY FHQ AIG TRAINING, FHQ DSG NIPSS KURU, JOS AIG.COMMUNICATION,FHQ AIG FEDOPS FHQ

He also confronted the BringBackOurGirls campaigner pushing for the freedom of the abducted Chibok girls.

Lagos APC spokesman Joe Igbokwe said: “Mbu must understand that this is Lagos. Since Lagos was created in 1967, it has been in the hands of the progressives. It is neither Rivers nor Abuja.

Rabiu Kwankwaso and his deputy, Umar Ganduje.

Ganduje is the APC governorship candidate.

Presenting the party’s candidate to the enthusiastic supporters, Tambuwal said: “I want to tell you that God is with us, for He has given us Buhari who will end corruption in Nigeria...If you come out and vote for us, by God’s grace, we will achieve all we have set to do.”

Gen. Buhari, overwhelmed by the massive crowds, slowly made his way to the stage and addressed the supporters in Hausa, reaffirming his commitment to restoring security, power supply, education and infrastructure. He also spoke on the vital importance of collecting the permanent voter cards and ensuring that votes are defended. “Ensure you stay behind and defend your votes,” he said to an enthusiastic audience who replied, sreaming: SaiBuhari!

Continued on page 57

UN okays force to battle Boko Haram

POLICE REDEPLOY OFFICERS RANK •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG •AIG

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

“This is a special state where the best minds live. It is the city of civil societies and the media.

“We know his antecedents.

We boldly welcome Mbu to Lagos but he should tread carefully and if he fails to heed our advice, we will run him down.

“But we will advise him to drop all the excess baggage he exhibited in Port Harcourt.”

Cameroon on Sunday.

The council expressed “deep concern that the activities of Boko Haram are undermining the peace and stability of the west and central African region.”

The statement was the first adopted by the council on the threat posed by Boko Haram, which is on the UN terrorists list. Previous statements focused on condemning specific attacks.

Ghanaian President Dramani Mahama also favours the deployment of a regional force to battle the sect. In an interview with a German radio station, the Ghannian leader said he would press for support from the African Union during its Summit next week.

As a result of Boko Haram’s attacks, more than 10,000 panic-stricken Cameroonians are fleeing border regions with Borno state for safer locations, government officials said yesterday.

Boko Haram has, in the past month, raided at least two dozen villages and towns in northern Cameroon. The group also Continued on page 57

Buhari for U.S. Monday

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RESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari will visit the United States on Monday as a guest of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. An invitation to the event shows that the retired general will engage in conversation at the centre between 2:30pm and 4:00pm local time. It will be the sixth session of the CSIS Nigeria Election Forum, which is a part of its Africa Programme.

“The event will provide a rare opportunity for a Washington audience to hear MajGen. Buhari address the many challenges facing Nigeria as it enters its critical elections period,” the invitation says

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NEWS

How to donate to Buhari’s campaign,

by Fashola

NANS supports Buhari

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) unfolded yesterday plans to raise funds to support the campaign of its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in accordance with provisions of the Electoral Act. Chairman of the Fundraising Committee and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), explained that since the campaign was masses-driven, the flagbearer had thrown it open to Nigerians so that the poor and downtrodden yearning for a change, could take ownership of the process.

Fashola, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, unveiled five platforms for the ‘General Muhammadu Buhari/Prof Yemi Osinbajo (GBB/PYO) Campaign Fund-raising’ drive.

But he clarified that, in accordance with the law, no anonymous donor was welcomed, stressing that the donation and funding would be democratic.

The first platform is bank payment. The governor said donors could make payments to the campaign fund account, codenamed: APCGMBPYO, using the customised tellers at any branch of First Bank, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Access Bank and Ecobank.

Explaining the rationale in the selection of the banks, Fashola said the banks had over 1,000 branches nationwide without partisan affiliations, which could attract

•Fashola (second right) speaking at the news conference...yesterday. With him are Mrs Orelope-Adefulire; Mr. Ambode PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES (right) and Mr. Edun.

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

any threat to their business.

The second platform is the electronic transactions. Fashola said online donation could be made by logging on to “www,apcgmbpyo.org,” adding that credit cards are acceptable. But he advised prospective donors to follow the instructions on the site.

The third is the Short Message Service (SMS). To use this platform, Fashola said donors should send APC to the short code: ‘35350’ on all networks to make a donation.

He added: “The maximum donation you can make by each message is N100.”

The fourth is the purchase of ring tones online. To use it, the donor is expected to download APGMBPYO ringtone to make a N100 donation on all networks.

The fifth is the scratch card. Explaining the platform, Fashola said: “A donor can purchase a ‘one card’ scratch card from any recharge card vendors and dial *979*22*PIN Number # and press send to donate. Cards are available in denomina-

tions of N100, N200, N500, N750 and N1,000. There are over 40,000 accredited vendors of the cards. The cards are already in use.”

He added: “As we make these contributions, we will acknowledge by text messages and letters. No amount is too small. But, no number of donors will be too large to ignore and their votes will always count. I urge Nigerians to contribute to the change so that they can have the opportunity to move the country forward.”

With Fashola at the news conference were: his deputy Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; two members of the fund-raising committee, Mr. Bola Oyebode; Mr. Wale Edun, a one-time Finance commissioner in Lagos State; Lagos APC Chairman Otunba Oladele Ajomale, his deputy, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, vice chairmen, Chief Funso Ologunde (Lagos West), Fuad Oki (Central) and Alhaji Garfar (East); Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe; his deputy, Abiodun Salam; Mrs. Toke Benson; the Organising

Secretary, Abdullahi Enilolobo and Ademola Sodiq.

Others were: members of the State Executive Council, including Ben Akabueze; Mr. Taofik Tijani; Mrs. Funmilayo Oladunjoye; Oyinlomo Danmole; Mrs. Sola Oworu, Lateef Ibirogba and Florence Oguntuase.

The governor, who said he was appointed to lead the committee by Buhari, said the flagbearer is the candidate of the ordinary man.

He added: “Gen. Buhari said he wants to involve the masses in his campaign and promote transparency during the electioneering. ‘’We want to give this nation back to the ordinary people. In the past, there were allegations that government was funding campaigns and that some moneybags were funding campaigns.

“If the ordinary people fund the candidate, they will have a voice in who rules them. This is part of the change the APC represents.

We can feel the desire of the people for a change. So, through the campaign funding, people will have the

opportunity to participate in the process. Youths are agitating for participation.

People in the Diaspora are showing enthusiasm, although they may not vote.

We are evolving a platform that will make people who can vote and those who cannot vote, to participate in funding the campaigns.”

Fashola said the money realised from the exercise would be used for publicity, printing of campaign materials and transportation.

In a veiled reference to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) explanation on their campaign funds, the governor said: “We will not use the money to build a secretariat.”

The governor, who flayed the PDP government for blocking the APC website, assured that the new one could not be tampered with by rivals.

Fashola dismissed as baseless the allegation that the local governments were funding the APC governorship.

He said the people making the allegation should provide proof.

EU deploys Election Observation Mission in Nigeria

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HEAD of next month’s general elections, the European Union (EU) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the presidential and legislative elections.

EU is expected to assess the polls’ level of compliance with international standards.

A member of the European Parliament from Spain, Santiago Fisas Ayxela is to chair the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM).

Ayxela will arrive Abuja

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

this week. A delegation from the European Parliament and EU diplomats in Nigeria will also join the mission on election days.

According to a statement by the mission in Abuja, nine analysts of the Core team arrived the country on January 6.

The Core team is in addition to the advance team deployed during the party primaries last November and

December.

“The EU EOM’s extended presence shows the EU’s commitment to the conduct of inclusive, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria. We don’t just focus on the election days, but on all aspects of the electoral process, including the arbitration of petitions long after voting is finished” Chief Observer Ayxela, said in the statement.

The EU EOM will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process.

This assessment will assess the legal framework, the performance of election administration, voter registration, candidates’ nomination and parties primaries, campaign activities, respect for fundamental freedom, access to and conduct of the media, voting and counting, the announcement and acceptance of results, and complaints and appeals.

The EU EOM is bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict neutrality and

non-interference in the process.

The mission undertakes its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

The EU EOM will publish its initial findings in preliminary statements, to be presented in press conferences two days after each election.

A final report will be published and recommendations made for improvements in future elections.

Mark, Niger governor make case for PDP

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ENATE President David Mark said yesterday the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the future of the country. He urged Nigerians to vote for the party at all levels.

Mark assured Nigerians that the party would take the country to loftier heights.

The Senate president, who spoke in Kontagora at the launch of the Niger State PDP governorship campaign, appealed for the understanding of Nigerians.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

In his address, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu described the PDP governorship candidate as the best the state could give to the people.

He called on everyone to support Nasko and other candidates by voting for the party.

The governor cautioned the people against violence and abuse, urging them to accept whatever result announced after the elections.

Nasko called on those with

grievances with the party to resolve them within the confines of the party.

He pleaded with them to reconsider their stand and return to the party.

“As a family we are better off staying within the party to resolve our differences - and there will always be family feuds anyway but we must of necessity forge ahead for our collective good. “ He promised to work towards the sustenance and continuity of the programmes that

had been established by the Governor Aliyu administration.

Nasko pledged to dedicate himself towards delivering dividends of democracy, asking the people to hold him responsible if he failed to fulfil his promises.

He told the people to ensure victory for PDP at the general elections, “The important thing is that we must not lose sight of our goal to lead our party to victory, “ he said.

•Mark

THE Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has thrown its weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Members of the association marched yesterday from Mile 2 to Balogun Markets, Lagos Island under the aegis of Lagos State Students Volunteer for Buhari/Osinbajo.

They urged Nigerians to vote for the APC. Addressing reporters at the Beko Ransome Kuti Park, Lagos, leader of the group Comrade Ahmed Agbabiaka said the students believe APC candidate would tackle corruption and save the country from collapse.

He said Nigeria’s major problem was corruption, noting that only a leader with genuine determination to fight corruption that could save the country should be supported.

“We are out for streets and market evangelism for Gen Muhammadu Buhari/ Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the governorship candidate of Lagos State.

Poultry farms quarantined in Lagos, Kano From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has raised the alarm on the unusual high mortality rates in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Kano and Lagos states.

It has started the “quarantine of infected premises and restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products into and out of the infected premises”.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in a statement in Abuja, said samples forwarded to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, tested positive for H5 Strain of Avian Influenza virus, otherwise known as bird flu.

Adesina said confirmation samples had also been sent to the International Reference Laboratory in Padova, Italy, for further characterisation.

“All state directors of Veterinary Services and FCT, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on the alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert a possible spread of the disease to other states.

“The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Inter African Bureau for Animal Resource (AUIBAR) and development partners have been appropriately notified in compliance with our statutory international obligations,” the minister said.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2015

NEWS

Keyamo insists Jonathan can’t fight corruption

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IGHTS’ activist Festus Keyamo restated yesterday his allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan was comfortable living with corruption.

Keyamo buttressed his claim with the fact that the President was surrounded by people of questionable integrity and for not seeing stealing as corruption.

He alleged the President’s stance explained why corruption had been tolerated to this alarming state.

In a statement, Keyamo faulted attempts by a director in the Jonathan campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to underplay his pending corruption-related trial.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

He denied Fani-Kayode’s claim that his (Keyamo’s) position was actuated by malice, noting that criminal prosecution was undertaken by the state and not individual.

Keyamo contended that the inclusion of Fani-Kayode in Jonathan’s campaign was an indictment on the administration and an attempt to undermine and trivialise the efforts by the anti-corruption agencies.

The statement reads: “Instead of being the catalyst in that fight, the President is now the cog in the wheel of progress in the fight against corruption. It is akin to a man who derides prostitutes in the day, but

sneaks into redlight zones at night.

“It is hypocrisy par excellence; it is blowing hot and cold at the same time; it amounts to probating and reprobating.

“Chief Fani-Kayode alluded to the fact that because the remaining counts in the criminal charge pending against him only contain a few millions of naira that he allegedly laundered, it is not a case to be taken seriously. ‘’Chief Fani-Kayode should bear in mind that the court, and not me, has actually ruled that he has a case to answer on the remaining counts.

“He should also remember that in a criminal trial, one count is as serious as 200 counts in a charge, so long as it contains al-

legation of infraction of the law.

“Unfortunately, Chief FaniKayode has just helped me to further make the point that the perspective of Mr. President in the fight against corruption is so warped that Mr. President only sees corruption in terms of the volume of the loot involved.

“No wonder, Mr. President went to Enugu the other day and claimed that it was wrong for Jim Nwobodo to have been convicted by the Buhari administration in 1984 because the money involved was so infinitesimal!

“It follows that everything the President believes in the fight against corruption has come together in the singular

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said he will pay N90 million monthly to 18,000 poor families in each state.

This will amount to N5,000 for each family that could show evidence of extreme poverty.

This, according to the Office of the Millennium Development Goals, would get people out of poverty and uplift the poor through the Conditional Grant Scheme.

Head of Information and Communication Department of the MDGs, Dr. Uyimwen Otabor, stated this yesterday at the palace of the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa.

Dr. Otabor said the N5,000 largesse would also ensure that a particular child in the benefiting family goes to school.

He told the monarch that the MDGs officials were in the palace to inform the monarch on the commencement of the distribution of 10,000 bags of fertilisers to farmers in the state.

Answering a query from the monarch on why the state MDGs were starved of funds, Dr. Otabor explained that only 50 per cent of the MDGs budget was released.

F

Patronise Nigerian textile, says Aganga From: Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

T •IBB collecting his national identity card...yesterday.

Jide Orintunsin, Minna

said over six million cards were ready for distribution as the scheme entered the distribution stage.

“We have started distribution of the cards to Nigerians nationwide. We started with Abuja, Lagos and

Rivers states. All Nigerians that have enrolled will get their cards before April”.

Explaining how the cards could be obtained, Onyemenam said an SMS would be sent to notify people as soon as their cards were ready.

Whoever got an SMS should go to where he or she regis-

tered to collect his card.

The DG also appealed to Nigerians to guard their identity cards jealously as a misplacement would attract some fee while the holder would need to prove to have genuinely lost the card to get a replacement.

JTF launches manhunt for suspected killing of soldiers

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HE Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, intensified yesterday the search for suspected murderers of two soldiers and a mobile policeman, who were killed around Egwa in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, last Friday.

However, the authority of the task force insisted that the troops were missing since their bodies were not found.

“We have not found their bodies so we cannot say they are dead, we can only say they are missing. That is why we are investigating what happened.”

From Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Warri

The team, comprising two soldiers, a mobile policeman and civilian boat driver, were feared dead in controversial circumstance in an encounter with suspected illegal bunkerers.

A high ranking officer of the JTF, who was contacted by our reporter on Monday night, denied that the bodies of the troops were recovered from the river after the deadly encounter.

Reports from the riverside communities around Egwa in-

dicated that security personnel and at least a gunboat had been deployed in the area in search of the masterminds of the incident.

A source said youths and ablebodied men in the area had fled to avoid being arrested by the troops. It was learnt that the major purpose of the military operation was to retrieve the weapons of the troops and possibly their bodies.

“Although we are declaring them missing, we know that they have been killed because this is the fourth day. If their bodies are in the water we expect them to have floated by now. The search

now is for their weapons and we are determined to get them,” another security source added.

Similarly, fresh facts emerging from the incident indicated that the soldiers were on unofficial assignment when the incident occurred.

A community source told our reporter that “the top official of the JTF in the area should explain what the purpose of the troops in the area was.

“If they are on a routine patrol as is being claimed, why did they use a private boat and a private driver? There is more to that incident than we know yet.”

Fed Govt to link Katsina with rail line

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HE Federal Government announced yesterday that it would establish rail line on Katsina-Kano and Katsina-Sokoto-KauranamodaBirninkebbi routes to enhance business activities in the NorthWest.

Vice President Namadi Sambo spoke in Katsina while

selves.

•The President does not believe in the seriousness of the work of anti-corruption agencies, hence he can ignore a charge as serious as money laundering pending against his director of Media and Publicity - the image and face of his campaign.

•The President is insensitive to public opinion on corruption, that is why he can still retain Femi Fani-Kayode as his director of Media and Publicity despite public disgust and disillusionment since I blew the lid off his cover about his pending trial for money-laundering.

“God save our country with this President.”

Jonathan gives N90m to 18,000 poor families

IBB: National ID’ll improve security ORMER military President Ibrahim Babangida yesterday said the issuance of the National Identity card by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will improve the nation’s security.

He stated this after collecting a his identity card from the Director General of NIMC Chris Onyemenam at his Hilltop home in Minna, Niger State.

Babangida, who said he was proud to be a Nigerian, said the national identity card scheme would regulate our activities.

“I am proud I have this one while I am still alive, please keep it up. And for those who have not succeeded in enrolling, try to make sure you do it fast.

“I think if there is something one should be proud of is being a citizen. If there is something that confirms you as a citizen then is something to be proud of,” Babangida stated.

The former military leader advised Nigerians to ensure they are registered and given their identity cards.

Earlier, Onyemenam

act of appointing Fani-Kayode as his spokesman, and that is: •Nobody should be punished for corruption if the amount allegedly stolen is not too much.

•Nobody should be punished for corruption if the person can be vociferous in support of the government.

•Nobody should be punished for corruption if the allegation is mere stealing since “stealing is not corruption”.

•The President has no qualms working with people who are actually accused of and standing trial for corruption. He has no balls to tell them to take a back seat in the scheme of things until they clear them-

addressing people in the state during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign.

Sambo said that the establishment of the rail line would ease transportation of people and goods within the zone and across the country, adding that it would also reduce high cost of transportation currently

borne by the people.

According to him, the development will encourage social cohesion and unity among Nigerians.

He also said that the government had awarded contract for the dualisation of KanoKatsina road.

The project, he said, would

also boost socio-economic activities, especially in the two states.

Sambo said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had given the zone top political positions, including Vice President, Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser and Inspector-General of Police.

HE Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Olusegun Aganga has said if industries were to create jobs, military, para military and all schools in Nigeria should patronise made-in-Nigeria garments and textiles.

Aganga stated this at the National Cotton, Textile and Garment policy in Abuja, saying schools should be mandated to source their materials locally.

He said “the government is prepared to make sure Nigerians are employed, we will ensure our target is fully met.

“We are going to improve on employment by creating direct employment from 24,000 to 100,000 and indirect employment from 65,000 to 1.3 million by 2017.

“Presently, we have implementation and monitoring structures in place to ensure these targets are met. During the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) 22 months ago, it was agreed that the garment and textiles sector will be properly repositioned.

“The idea behind the policy is to diversify the Nigerian economy and its source of revenue through commodity base industrialisation.’’

“This is the first time we will have a policy that cuts across the entire value chain, we took a look at the policy and its enablers that are strong enough to make it competitive globally.”

‘Put pension on first line charge’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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HE Nigerian Union of Pensioners yesterday asked the Federal Government to put pension matters on a firstline charge as a mark of honour for those who served the country meritoriously. This, they said would stop the delayed payment of pensions.

The union appealed to the Federal Government to pay the balance of their 29 months’ arrears.

National President and General secretary of the union, Dr. Abel Afolayan and Elder Actor Zal said in a statement that the pensioners would remain indebted to the Federal Government if it paid the balance.

They hailed the government for the implementation and payment of the nine months’ arrears of the 33 per cent increase.

The union said this demonstrated the commitment of the Federal Government to its welfare and well-being, adding that “the said arrears is from July 2010 to September 2014, and having paid nine months, we urge the Federal Government to capture the balance of 29 months in the 2015 budget.

“Our members will ever remain indebted to the Federal Government if it paid the balance. Similarly, all unpaid gratuities and entitlements of pensioners should be as captured in the 2015 budget.’’

“We wish to make a case that the balance of 20.4 percentage pension increase which made the total 53.4 percentage increase, formally and officially approved by the Federal Government be immediately worked out and captured in the 2015 or in the subsequent budget.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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NEWS

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Ado Poly shut as strike persists

HE Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, was closed yesterday, following a protest by students.

The Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, ordered the closure, following the protracted strike by labour unions.

The police fired tear gas to disperse irate students, who took over the Ado-Ikare Highway.

The protest was triggered, following a congress by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Monday in which the lecturers resolved to continue their strike.

ASUP, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) are protesting Akande's leadership style which they said was against their interest.

The placard-carrying students, who began their protest at 7am, called for an end to the strikes, which they said was affecting them.

Some of the placards read: "Mama Rector, Trade Unions, Help Our Future"; "We Want

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

To Graduate";"ASUP and Management, Don't Destroy Our Future"; "Our Mates In Other Institutions Have Graduated, Please We Want To Graduate", among others.

The students also claimed that their school fees were outrageous and complained that the polytechnic lacked electricity, water and that their hostels and lecture rooms were in bad condition.

They alleged that the polytechnic owed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) N2.5 million.

The protesters held up traffic on the highway for several hours but were prevailed upon by policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer of OdoAdo Division, Mohammed Jimoh.

Jimoh was joined by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) in appealing to the students to restrict their protest to the school gate but the students spilled into the high-

way, singing anti-management songs.

Their action forced the policemen to disperse them with tear gas.

NANS State Vice Chairman Oluwapelumi Ogunmekun said strikes at the polytechnic had disrupted academic activities in the last one year.

Ogunmekun alleged that the Student Union Government (SUG) had been compromised by the management, hence the invitation to NANS to "fight on behalf of the students".

But the SUG President Oladapo Ajibola denied the allegation, saying he was also part of the protest to ensure the resolution of the "crisis".

The Deputy Rector (Academics), Afolabi Bamidele, said the management was working to resolve the crisis and a solution would soon be reached.

He said the management met with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) officials in Abuja but argued that the students had to leave for all issues to be resolved.

Bamidele said: "We are making headway with the unions but one of the unions had a congress on Monday and voted that the strike should continue and we now feel that the students should go home so they won't be staying in the school doing nothing."

In a statement by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Information), the management ordered all students to leave their halls of residence by noon yesterday.

It reads: "Arising from the on-going industrial action by the trade unions of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, on behalf of the Academic Board of Studies, has declared, with immediate effect, a mid-semester break for its full time programme.

"Consequently, all full time students have been directed to return home and await further instructions.

"All residential students are therefore advised in their own interests to vacate the campus latest by noon."

Jonathan’s aide commiserates with NANS From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths and Students Affairs, Comrade Jude Imagwe commiserated yesterday with the officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students involved in a car crash last weekend.

He also warned Students Affairs Officers of universities and other higher institutions not to allow NANS Presidents to drive themselves again.

Imagwe, who visited the NANS president, Comrade Tijani Usman alongside other officials involved in the accident in the hospital, lamented the consistent involvement of students’ leaders in road accidents, saying it calls for concern.

“We want to urge the students affairs officers to ensure that students union presidents should not be allowed to drive union vehicles by themselves again.

“It is becoming worrisome when we begin to see students union leaders getting involved in accident.

“We remembered the death of the Senate president who died with five different people. This one again where the president of NANS driving himself and involving in accident.

“We sincerely wish to appeal to management of each institutions to stop them from driving themselves. Though they have the right but should be guarded. The president should not have business driving vehicle, they should be given drivers.”

Commending the management of the hospital, he said: “We want to appreciate the management for their quick response and for giving urgent attention knowing that most teaching hospitals are on strike. And we are happy that the condition of the president is stable.

“And on behalf of the president we express our condolences to the family of Archa Kalu, who died in the accident.”

Ndi-Igbo in 19 North’s states back Jonathan From Bukola Amusan and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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HE Eze Ndi - Igbo in 19 North’s states and Oyo, said yesterday it will support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan The group, in a communique in Abuja by its Coordinator, Northern Ndi-Igbo, Pampas Wahiwe, called on the Federal Government to ensure a violent free election.

It said that the unity, indivisibility and peaceful coexistence of the people was not negotiable.

The communique reads: “We are committed to the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, creed and religion.”

The group said it will mobilise it’s kinsmen to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the February elections.

“We urge all Igbos nationwide to remain in their various states of abode during and after the forthcoming election as this country belongs to all of us.

“To affirm their support and commitment for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan for continuity of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government,” the communique added.

• The solar energy power project built by the Lagos State Government for the State Model College, Meiran, at its launch...yesterday.

INSET: Governor Babatunde Fashola (fourth left); Deputy Governor MrsAdejoke Orelope-Adefulire (third left); All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode (fourth right); Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (right); Special Adviser on Eko Project Ms. Ronke Azeez (second right); General Manager, State Electricity Board, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa (second left).

Ambode promises a ‘24-hour economy’

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HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised the business community and corporate sector a “24-hour economy”, if elected.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Communications, Steve Ayorinde, the APC candidate spoke of his vision for a “clean, secure and more prosperous Lagos”.

The former accountantgeneral, who is also a Fulbright scholar, spoke to some select business community gurus and entrepreneurs at the Civic Centre at an event tagged: ‘An Evening with Akin Ambode’.

The APC candidate said he was glad for the opportunities to interact and share ideas on how best to develop Lagos.

The University of Lagos alumnus said if given the opportunity to serve, “Lagos will be open for business 24 hours a day and seven days a week making it a true 24/7 economy.

“For a mega city to thrive, we must have a holistic plan to make the city attractive and investment-friendly both do-

•APC candidate vows to remove duplicity in taxation mestically and internationally.

“The importance of Lagos and how its resources are managed have national implications either positively or otherwise. Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria and the seventh fastest growing city in the world.

“We are home to approximately 21 million people, and we are the economic heartbeat of this great nation and indeed West Africa.

“It is in the interest of this country that we all jointly and collectively play our part in ensuring that Lagos remains prosperous.

“I have spent a greater part of my life in government rendering public service and learning the rudiments of good governance. I derive joy in encouraging and seeing young people succeed and actualise their dreams. It inspires me, it energises me, and it gives me hope for the future.”

Ambode said the state’s GDP was estimated to be $91billion, which he added is higher than the GDP of 42 countries in Africa, including Kenya with $66 billion, Ghana

with $61.7 billion and Tanzania with $58.44 billion.

“Infact Lagos’ GDP is equivalent to the GDP of 19 African countries added together. I dare say that Lagos’ GDP could double the estimated amount, as these figures do not take into account the informal sector, which is believed to be just as large, if not larger than the formal sector.

“Lagos remains the only state in the country that has remained intact and undivided by any state creation exercise from the original 12 of 1967.

“It has moved downwards from a position of a state that shared 1/12 to a state sharing 1/36 of national revenue with disproportionate increase in population.

“Under my watch, there will be continuity in the provision of adequate security in Lagos State and I want to thank you, the business community, for your contributions towards the Security Trust Fund.”

He added that the discouragement of criminal propensity through the continuous

state-wide deployment of CCTV cameras and response teams to tackle criminal activities in the communities would continue in his administration.

On transportation, Ambode said stakeholders must join hands in finding a workable solution to the gridlock and reduce the travel times.

He assured that if elected, he would continue with State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (LASEEDS), VISION 20:20 and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Ambode said his administration would promote good corporate governance and respect the constitutional rights of citizens.

“We will ensure strict adherence to the rule of law and quick access to courts for dispute resolution and protection of investment rights and obligations on transactions.

“I recognise that tax is a sore issue anywhere in the world from time immemorial. For SMEs , we would ensure the removal of duplicity in taxation. We shall continue to encourage digitalisation of tax collection.”

Okorocha cautions Onwuliri on Fed Govt projects From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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HE Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, has been told to desist from “further spread of falsehood and deceitful claims” about Federal Government projects in Imo State and Southeast.

The minister, who was on a radio phone-in programme, after President Goodluck Jonathan’s rally in the state, cited the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Alvan Ikoku College of Education as some of the Federal Government projects in Imo. Onwuliri was chided for listing Aba/Owerri Road and Owerri/Port Harcourt Road as some of the projects executed by the Jonathan administration.

The Commander in charge of Media, Research and Strategy of the Rochas Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, noted that the minister insulted the sensibility of Imo people with her claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government did much for the state.

He said: “The attention of the Rochas Campaign Organisation has been drawn to the false and insulting claims by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, during one of her usual phone-in programmes on the particular radio station that has made itself a willing and available tool of blackmail against Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Rescue Mission administration.

“Prof. Onwuliri as usual, appeared on the radio programme 48 hours after the poorly-attended rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Owerri, which was boycotted by most leaders of the party. The minister did not only appear on the radio programme to paint a different picture of what happened last Saturday during the PDP poorly-attended rally in Owerri, but also made worrying and bogus claims in defence of the Federal Government over the prevailing fact that the state has nothing to show for its support for the PDP government at the centre for almost 16 years.

“The minister is known as someone who derives joy or comfort from her repeated insults and abuses on the governor.

Those who abuse or insult people with ease are only telling people one thing about themselves and about their background.”

Onwuemeodo, who is also the senior special assistant to the governor on media, said: “It is insulting to Imo people for Prof. Onwuliri to list FUTO, Nekede Poly and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri as Federal Government projects, when the challenge has been what Imo people have gained from the PDP-controlled Federal Government.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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NEWS Mimiko presents N130b budget From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko presented yesterday a budget of N130billion to the House of Assembly for consideration.

The budget estimate, according to the governor, was reduced by 23 per cent compared to last year’s budget of N168billion.

He hinged the reduction on the prevailing economic reality in the country and the “global economic downturn”.

Mimiko said N77 billion was budgeted for Recurrent Expenditure; N53billion was earmarked for Capital Expenditure.

The analysis of the budget estimate showed that the economic and social sectors have the lion share, with 30 per cent of the budget allocated to the sectors; law and justice have the least share with 0.66 per cent.

He said the government’s functions have been classified on sectoral basis for better understanding and in line with international best practices and proposed N16billion for the economic sector, N9.1billion for social services, N11billion for environment and regional development, N0.35billion for law and justice, N2.69billion goes to administration and N13.7billion for debt servicing.

Mimiko said efficient management of public fund would ease the state of the present economic pressure.

The governor said the state University of Medical Sciences would take off this year in Ondo, while the federal polytechnic recently approved by the Federal Government would also take off in Ile-Oluji.

He said the government would commit huge resources to the two projects.

Mimiko said the local government election, which was suspended five years ago because of what he called “legal encumbrance”, would hold in the 18 local governments.

Before the presentation, a lawmaker representing Owo Constituency 11, Olatunji Dairo, who was suspended rejoined the Assembly.

Dairo, the former Chief Whip, was suspended last October for an undisclosed “sin”.

He appeared before the committee set up to probe him and was recalled yesterday to join his colleagues.

Dairo thanked Mimiko and the Assembly for reinstating him.

UPN launches campaign rally From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) began its mega rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday with its governorship candidate, Rotimi Paseda, pledging to provide free healthcare and social security for the aged, if elected.

Paseda also promised to introduce free and qualitative education from primary school level to tertiary institutions to increase access to education.

The businessman who addressed a mass rally at Onikolobo, shortly after being presented with the UPN flag by the party’s Interim National Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Manzo, added that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s welfarist programme would be reenacted.

He said: “I will declare free education the first day of my assumption of office. The free education will be from primary school to the tertiary institution levels.

“We will put in place a social security programme that will take care of the senior citizens in our state. In developed countries, old people are well taken care of and we are going to do the same here.

“We have a manifesto to follow.

This is UPN the same party that our late father and leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, used to break many grounds- the Cocoa House, first television station and many others.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (third right); his Deputy, Mrs. Titi-Laoye Tomori; Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adedokun Adegoke (third left); Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye (second left); Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Afolabi Adedeji (left); Asalu of Asipa, Chief Oyediran Julius (second right); Baale Fadekimi of Asipa, Alhaji Kamorudeen Fagbemi (right) and others, at the land dispute reconciliatory meeting at the Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo.

INEC claims ownership of seized ballot boxes

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HE police in Ogun State have said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed its ownership of the 3,600 ballot boxes that were intercepted at the Odogbolu (Ogun State) stretch of the LagosOre Expressway.

This followed a stop-and-search operation by soldiers from the 35 Artillery Army Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.

It was gathered that the truck was coming from Lagos and taking the boxes to Akwa -Ibom State ..

It was learnt that when the soldiers could not be convinced about the legality of the boxes, the driver was arrested and taken to Igbeba

Fayose reckless, says David-West

command; we are waiting for the necessary documents to ascertain the claims of INEC or the so-called agent.

“Don’t let us say that we have recovered illegal ballot boxes. It is too early for us to jump to any conclusion now, but the information we have with us is that they are INEC properties and we are still waiting for necessary documents to clarify this.

“However, if they cannot produce the document to convince us, we are going to do what we should do. For now, the matter is still fresh and one shouldn’t jump into conclusion.

“We are still going to do the necessary follow up on the matter where the command would make further official statement on it.”

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Lagos PDP ‘mobiliser’ joins APC

FORMER Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam DavidWest, has called for the arrest, detention and prosecution of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for his newspaper advertorial, suggesting that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, could die in office if elected.

The former minister said wishing Buhari dead was not only reckless but irresponsible and criminal.

He said the advertorial showed that Fayose lacked discipline and the responsibility expected from people holding such exalted office.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

(Ijebu-Ode) Area Command.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the ballot boxes were in police custody and “meant” for INEC Office, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Adejobi said: “Around 8am yesterday, a team of soldiers (OP MESA) attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta who were on stop-and-search around Odogbolu (Ogun State) area of the Sagamu - Benin Expressway, intercepted a truck containing about 3, 600 ballot boxes.

“Upon interception, when they could not ascertain the authentic-

ity of the ballot boxes, they handed them over to the police at Ijebu Ode Area Command. The police, thereafter, began investigation.

“We have the 3, 600 ballot boxes belonging to INEC. “Some INEC and port officials have called to confirm that the consignment belongs to INEC and that the ballot boxes are meant to be delivered in Akwa Ibom State.

“For now that we cannot call the ballot boxes fake or illegal.

“The INEC official who spoke with the police said the contractor ,who was to deliver the items, will come to the police to deliver the relevant documents to clarify this.

“The items are still with us at this

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

He said if President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration failed to arrest and prosecute Fayose, it means that it did not respect the law of the land, because, according to him, what Fayose did was criminal in law.

“Governor Fayose did not talk like a governor. He should not be in the Government House.

This irresponsibility disqualifies him from being a governor. He should be immediately arrested, detained and prosecuted. President Jonathan’s supporters are not helping him by their utterances and actions.”

By Joseph Jibueze

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•Fayose

Oyo to build N975m Ogunpa modern market

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HE Oyo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ogunpa market traders to finalise the construction of the Ogunpa Ajumose International Market.

The market, which has been in a deplorable state for years, is one of the oldest in the state. It is located in Ibadan North West Local Government and boasts thousands of traders.

The reconstruction, which is to begin soon, is borne out of a publicprivate partnership of the government and Kamiluiz Nigeria Limited.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

The Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Waheed Gbadamosi, said the market was a disaster, which the government wants to prevent.

He said the construction, estimated to cost N975million, would be completed within six months.

The project is to be executed in areas such as Dugbe Alawo axis, Old Gbagi road, across Ogunpa River and categorised into four phases.

Osun PDP’s spokesperson sacked From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has sacked its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi.

The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bola Ajao, said it was necessary to do so since Odeyemi has shown himself as “an uncontrollable irritant.”

Last Sunday, Odeyemi, in a statement, accused the State PDP Chairman, Gani Ola-Oluwa, of being high handed and financially reckless.

A party stalwart, Abiola Ogundokun, said it was ungodly for any PDP candidate to attack Ola-Oluwa, who he said had done so much for the party.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, Ogundokun, who noted that Odeyemi lacked the ground to accuse the party chairman, said those who have control of the grassroots and truly working for the progress of the party could talk with authority.

He described Odeyemi as “an Almajeri politician looking for what to eat in politics”.

The phases include 325 lock up shops, 366 open stalls, 85 and 70 capacity parking lots, an ultra-modern health centre, a fire station and standard toilets.

He said: “This initiative is a product of the governor’s transformation agenda, he does not want traders on the road, hence the need to build a market of international repute.”

Gbadamosi further disclosed that in order to achieve this aim, the governor has enlisted the help of experts. “The technical committee has been set up, the experts have been invited and has done a lot on this project.”

The caretaker chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said: “This project is as a result of the transformation and repositioning agenda of the Ajimobiled administration. Ogunpa market is very sensitive and important to this government.

“We are not really demolishing because these stalls are temporary before, but we need the traders to shift to the road so that the engineers can work.”

He further informed that the Dugbe Alawo, Old Gbagi road, will be closed to vehicles so that the traders will use the road for their sales once work starts.

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leader and frontline grassroots mobiliser in Lagos, Ibrahim Odofin, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President of Ojomu Youth Forum and a former PDP chairmanship candidate in Eti-Osa Local Government urged the people to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Odofin, who runs a security company on Lagos Island, urged voters to reject the ruling party because the PDP-led government “is anti-masses and selfish.”

He announced his membership of APC at a meeting with the leaders of ethnic groups in Eti-Osa as well as commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators.

Odofin said he moved to the APC having realised the good plans it has for the people.

According to him, it is clear that the PDP-government has demonstrated its lack of ideas on how to move the country forward by failing to address power, corruption, infrastructure, and insecurity problems.

“Now is the time for people to really embrace change in the interest of the nation. I stand here before you today to tell you that I’m no longer a member of the PDP. I have left them because they don’t have any good plan for the country.

“Vote for all the APC candidates; vote for Akinwunmi Ambode as governor and all our members of House of Assembly and the National Assembly. We are all tired of the PDP and we must send them out with our votes.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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NEWS APC: Fayose is threat to national peace, security •Governor has no apology, says aide

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DAY after it accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of plotting to unleash thugs on the convoy of its presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), during his visit to Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has again accused the governor of planning to throw the state into chaos.

The party described the governor as a “threat to peace and security of Nigeria” for the advert he sponsored in some national newspapers, where he suggested that Gen. Buhari might die in office.

According to the APC spokesman in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the governor’s action undermined the Non-Violence Elections’ pact signed by all presidential candidates last week.

Olatunbosun, who addressed a news conference, alleged that the governor was planning to given fake uniforms of Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and the Army to thugs to pose as security agents during the Buhari’s visit.

The APC publicity secretary claimed that the factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi, has been saddled with the task of coordinating the planned attacks on APC members.

Olatunbosun urged security agencies to call the governor to order, saying his actions and utterances were heating up the polity.

He said: “Fayose represents danger and threat to peace and security in the state.

“Fayose by his actions is undermining the peace accord signed by Jonathan and our can-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

didate, Gen. Buhari. If our presidential candidate with the popular desire of the people for change has gone into agreement to ensure a peaceful election and a governor of a state is doing everything to ensure that peace does not reign.

“We wish to call the attention of the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the DSS, the National Security Adviser, royal fathers across the state and well-meaning Nigerians that Fayose is trying to extend the state of anomie to Ekiti.”

But the Special Assistant to the governor on Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, absolved Fayose of complicity. He said the governor has no apology over the controversial advertisement.

Ogunsuyi stressed that Fayose never wished Buhari dead but only reeling out statistics to educate the electorate on the need to vote wisely.

He denied the APC allegation that Fayose has procured DSS, Police and Army uniforms to be used by hoodlums to disrupt Buhari’s campaign, saying “the allegation exists only in the imagination of the APC and its leaders.”

Ogunsuyi said: “What the governor was saying is that at 72, one is getting old and he was of the belief that whoever wants to rule Nigeria should not be more than 60.

“Besides, it is not true that the governor has ordered the removal of posters and billboards of the opposition. We need not to do that because they had already been rejected by the people hence the resort to all these wild allegations.”

Chidoka to deliver convocation lecture at UNN

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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HE Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Benjamin Chidoka is expected to deliver the a lecture at the forthcoming 44th Convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.

The convocation, which takes place at the famous Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Nsukkaon Thursday January 22, 2015 commences with the Minister’s lecture at noon.

The topic of the lecture is titled; ‘Rebuilding the Nigeria Dream: Mapping the Building Blocks.’

Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, was an alumnus of the university.

The minister obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He thereafter proceeded to the School of Public Policy at George Masson University in the United States of America where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Transport Policy and Logistics.

He also holds a certificate in Global Strategy and Political Economy from Oxford University, UK and a Graduate Diploma in Maritime & Ports Management from the National University of Singapore In recognition of his expertise, he was appointed on July 23rd, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Minister of Aviation.

We have not adopted Jonathan, says Accord chieftain

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HE House of Representatives candidate for Akinyele/Lagelu constituency on the platform of Accord in Oyo State, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, has debunked the rumour that the party had adopted President Goodluck Jonathan for next month election.

He said there was no such plan.

Aderibigbe, who spoke with our correspondent in Ibadan, said no party should drag the name of Accord into the to adoption of any presidential candidate.

By Jeremiah Oke

According to him, the party had not presented any presidential candidate, to the electorate urging, Accord loyalists to be wary of people, who wanted to use the name of the party to sell their candidates.

“To the best of my knowledge, we have not adopted any candidate for next month’s presidential election. The fact remain that we don’t have a presidential candidate. That means we have not adopted anybody as our presidential candidate. No party should sell their candidate with the name of our party.

Suspected thugs attack Elechi’s son

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HE Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State has condemned the attacks on its members by thugs suspected to be hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The party’s Campaign Director in Ikwo Local Government, Mr. Sunday Agwara, spoke yesterday in Abakaliki.

He alleged that the hoodlums attacked the convoy of LP’s senatorial candidate in Ebonyi Central, Mr. Elechi N. Elechi, son of Ebonyi State

•Many injured, cars destroyed From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Governor Martin Elechi, at his hometown, Echie Alike, when they were returning from a campaign.

Agwara said the attackers converged on a shop owned by a staunch PDP member in the area, from where they launched the attack.

He said six cars, including a

police vehicle, were damaged.

The convoy, the LP chieftain alleged, was attacked at Amagu Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government and at Nkwuda Market in Ezza South Local Government, during which cars belonging to two development centre coordinators in the local government were damaged.

He said: “There have been unprovoked attacks on our members.”

Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu confirmed the incident.

He, however, said he had not received a detailed report.

The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Onwe Joseph Onwe, could not be reached for comments.

He didn’t reply the messages sent to his phone.

•From left: Dr Ekwueme, Chief Clark, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi and Chief Olu Falae...yesterday.

PHOTO: OBI CLETUS.

Ekwueme, others endorse Jonathan

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EADERS of the Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly (SNPA) rose from their fifth General Assembly in Enugu yesterday and endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan.

They urged Nigerians to vote for him.

“The Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly hereby endorses President Jonathan for the presidential election.”

The assembly, which held a closed plenary, rose about 6:50pm at the Golden Royale Hotels, Enugu after reading a communiqué by former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and leader of the Southwest delegation, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi.

In the communiqué, the leaders resolved that the South would resist any attempt by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put to use the controversial 30,000 new polling booths it created, which gave more advantage to the North.

On the National Conference held last year, the leaders called for its implementation in furtherance of the ideals of a strong, united nation.

During the plenary, the

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Southeast APC decries endorsement

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC), Southeast chapter, has decried the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA).

It said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast welcomes the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) to Enugu State, the capital of Southeast, for its 5th National Conference.

“Whereas we hail SNPA for choosing Enugu as venue of the event; however we wish to frown at the unpatriotic, undemocratic and divisive communiqué issued by the assembly at the end of the conference.

“It is condemnable that when patriots and From Chris Oji, Enugu

leaders of the three geopolitical zones in the South cried out over the fate of the country in view of the present political tension caused by electioneering activities.

The Southwest delegation led by Archbishop Gbonigi proposed a meeting between the Southern leaders and their Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) counterparts on the way forward.

The leader of the Southsouth delegation to the three-day

From Chris Oji, Enugu

friends of Nigeria are praying for successful elections, some less than patriotic elements are fanning the embers of disunity and discord.

“We had thought the elder statesmen will place the interest of our country above pedestrian partisan interest. It is very sad that while we are working towards a more united country, some elements are stoking fire on the fault lines.

“The ill tempered communiqué emanated from some ill considered and ignoble statements by Food is Ready elements and beneficiaries of the Jonathan’s gravy train; who view clearly the President’s chances of victory in the February 14 poll as very slim.”

conference, Chief Clark, attributed perceived intense opposition against President Jonathan by the North to alleged insistence that he should be out of power because he is from a minority ethnic group.

Dr. Ekwueme, who led the Southeast delegation, raised issues of urgent importance surrounding the botched attempt to create polling booths

by INEC, saying the fate the South would have suffered at the poll was the reason the assembly confronted the de-

velopment, leading to court action.

Also present at the session were the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey; two former Presidents-General of Ohanaeze, Justice Eze Ozobu and Dr. Dozie Ikedife; Chief Mbazulike Amaechi; Senator Roland Owie from Edo State; Senator Ewa Henshaw; Senator Femi Okurounmu; former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor- Akerele, among others.

Security operatives meet on elections

ECURITY operatives in Anambra State, including para-military outfits, met yesterday in Awka to deliberate on violence-free elections.

The meeting, held at Barnhill Hotels, Awka, was organised by Police Commissioner Hosea Karma. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was in attendance.

Also at the meeting were the Navy, Department of State Security (DSS), National Orientation Agency (NOA), the military, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

(NDLEA), Customs, Immigration, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others.

Candidates and party leaders were at the parley.

Karma said the command would arrest anybody who violated the law.

He assured that security operatives would be impartial and professional.

His words: "The Nigeria Police and other security agencies are determined to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order before, during

and after the elections.

"We have put in place measures and strategies to ensure security.

"Let us make Nigeria great by preaching peace, shunning violence and acts that can breed violence."

The state Director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, warned parties to desist from destroying the opposition's billboards, saying anybody caught would be punished.

He said his office had discovered that harassment and intimidation of non- indigenes were on the rise. Okeiyi

urged parties to engage in issue-based campaigns, instead of blackmail.

"You should leave out our students in this act. Anambra is a unique state, but the problem here is impunity. We want to change the face of elections in this state."

The Director of NYSC, Mrs. Robinca Isioma Odigwe, warned politicians not to engage corps members in shady activities during the elections.

She said: "Our concern is the safety of corps members. We have advised them to be careful during the elections.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Oba of Lagos to INEC: don’t alter Nigerians’ wish

Customs seizes N1.3m Indian hemp

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HE Headquarters Monitoring Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko Axis, has intercepted a wine-coloured Toyota Corolla car along the LagosIbadan Expressway.

The car was laden with three sacks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp estimated at about N1.3 million, The Nation learnt.

Following a tip-off, the patrol team, led by Yahaya Usman, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACC), trailed the vehicle to a low-risk area before interception to avert any operational hiccup.

The team’s leader expressed deep satisfaction with the Comp-

By Oluwakemi Dauda

troller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko and his management for their support and the confidence reposed in his team.

Usman said since inception, the team has contributed immensely to the seizure profile of the service to justify the essence of its creation.

He added that the collaboration and synergy which his team receives from the Controller Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DCC) Turaki Usman Adamu, had been overwhelming.

He vowed to remain committed to the anti-smuggling efforts of the NCS and promised to en-

•The substances...yesterday

sure strict compliance with the Federal Government’s fiscal policy on trade and commerce.

Usman urged the public to give the team useful information that would assist their operations.

“Smuggling, just like scavenging, is a global menace and the NCS will continually be at the vanguard of ensuring its drastic suppression in line with its statutory obligations and extant laws,” he said.

Alcohol, hemp-smoking crash marriage

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FTER about two years of irreconcilable differences orchestrated by the husband’s alleged excessive alcoholism and hemp smoking, a Lagos court yesterday dissolved the marriage between Segun Falaye and his wife, Celestina.

The Customary Court in Igando, a Lagos suburb, ordered that the couple should cease to be husband and wife immediately.

The petitioner, Celestina (33), a business woman, had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of her marriage, citing her husband’s heavy drinking and

hemp smoking habit.

“My husband takes alcoholic drinks excessively and gets drunk after which he falls inside gutter, misbehaving and disgracing me,” she told the court.

Celestina said after smoking hemp, her former husband had always behaved strangely.

“My husband is always mentally disturbed after smoking hemp …he always descends on me giving me serious beating,” she added.

She regretted that the man could not manage the business she established for him as it collapsed two months after.

Celestina said: “I opened a

bookshop for my husband, but he mismanaged it; the capital and the profit were spent on beer. He is lazy and does not want to work. He depends solely on me for feeding, paying the children’s school fees and for house rent.”

The mother of two pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, saying there is no love lost between them.

However, Falaye (40), who denied some of the allegations, said: “I am used to drinking, but not always. I have never taken Indian hemp before. I take alcoholic drinks moderately not excessively. I used to pay

the bills when I was working, but now that I have no job I cannot steal to fend for my family.

My wife controls and commands me like a baby, all because she pays the bills. My wife is aggressive; she gets angry easily and always.’’

He, however, urged the court not to grant his wife’s request for the dissolution of the marriage, saying: “I still love her.”

The court’s President, Mr Ruphus Adeyeri, who said all efforts to reconcile both parties were unsuccessful, ruled: “Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to go their separate ways.”

Save me from my violent husband, woman urges court MY husband comes home almost every night drunk. He beats me mercilessly at the slightest provocation. This is someone who claims to care about my well being.”

These were the words a 31year-old clerk, Gbemisola Samuel, before the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos yesterday.

“

By Basirat Braimah

Gbemisola had approached the court to seek for the dissolution of her 16-year-old marriage, alleging battery, lack of care and threat to life.

The petitioner, who resides at 152, Powerline Road, Jankara, Alakuko, also accused her husband, Paul Samuel, a labourer, of always sending her and the

kids out of the house.

She said: “He does not contribute to our children’s school fees let alone their upkeep. He once sent me out of the house naked, all thanks to a neighbour who accommodated me with our children.

“What prompted me to bring our case to court was because he abused my mother to the extent that she cried bitterly. I had

NIM holds youth forum on Friday

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HE Nigerian Institute of Management will hold on Friday hold its second Corporate Breakfast Forum in Lagos.

In a statement, NIM President and Chairman of Council Dr. Nelson Uwaga, gave the theme as Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

By Nneka Nwaneri

Senior Adviser/Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Africa Business Roundtable Dr. Nelson Olatunji Olaniyi is the guest speaker. The event will be chaired by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr.

Christopher Kolade.

The Institute, Uwaga said, chose the theme because of its concern about the rising unemployment. The statement reads: “The dearth of employment opportunities has led to a serious inertia on the part of the youths in terms of their innovative and entrepreneurial capabilities”.

to leave the house with our children because the beating was too much and I felt I might lose my life.’’

The mother of two urged the court to grant her the custody of the children after dissolving the union.

However, Samuel (45), denied the allegations, saying:”I don’t drink to stupor but I smoke cigarettes. I only beat her when she is wrong. At times, she doesn’t sleep at home. She often claims that her job is demanding which I have refused to believe.

“I still love her and I want the children back; please do not dissolve the union,” he pleaded with the court.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the parties to maintain peace and obey the law. He adjourned the case till February 26, for further hearing.

Warning for vehicle owners

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HE Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command and the Chairman/Operating Officer of (Tow To Go) Automotive Service Ltd, Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, Ikeja, Lagos, have warned owners of abandoned vehicles to remove them.

The affested vehicles are parked at Zone 2 Command Head-quarters; Ifako Division; Gbagada; Apapa Division; Area B; Tolu Division; Shagamu Road Division; Ikorodu; Shasha Division; Trinity Division; Oko-Oba Division and Tow To Go Automotive Services Ltd. They are to come with their original documents to remove or forfeit them.

•Executive Secretary, Apapa Local Government, Lagos State, Hon. Bolaji Dada (3rd left) with other top officials of the council during the Operation Keep Apapa Clean ... last weekend

THE Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to alter the wish of Nigerians at the February elections.

Akiolu said that INEC should not tolerate rigging or any other electoral malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible polls that would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

The monarch who urged the commission to ensure that all eligible voters would get their cards before the elections, assured it of the support of the traditional institution in the state toward credible general elections.

Akiolu regretted the insurgency in some parts of the country but hoped that it would soon end.

“I know that our military was not equipped in the past the way it should, but everybody has learnt from his mistakes,’’ the royal father said.

Alumni get new officers

By Olatunde Odebiyi

THE Lagos Branch of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) has ushered in a new set of officers that will run the affairs of the branch for the next two years.

The officers were sworn in after an election in Lagos during the pre-annual general meeting of the association.

The group’s President-General Worldwide, Chief Joseph Akpieyi, supervised the electoral proceedings and was assisted by Olorogun Charles Majoroh and Major General Napoleon Amarie.

The new executives assumed office immediately after the elections. Chief Clement Djebah, who was Vice President in the last administration, emerged the new president of the branch Other elected officers were: Mr Cyril Ogude (Vice President); Mr Efe Awhana (Secretary); Mr Felix Osuere (Assistant Secretary); Arch. Paul Karika (Financial Secretary); Mr Chidozie Onyemem (Treasurer); Mr Steve Ighofose (Publicity Secretary); Mr Gordons Egbedi (Ex-Officio); Col. David Binitie (Ex-Officio) and Sir Festus Obayiuwana (Ex-Officio).

TWOREM prays February 2 THE first edition in 2015 of the quarterly interdenominational prophetic impartations, declarations and revelations of The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) International a.k.a Prophetic & Solution Chapel, Lagos, tagged: BOJUWOMI (Lord, look down from your throne and bless me), will hold on February 2.

According to a statement, it will hold at Sekunderin Int’l Miracle Prayer Mountain, AdegbayiOlode, New Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, from 8am to 3pm with the theme: The Power of Focus.

Its Convener/Chief Host, Rev’d/ Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Baba Sekunderin), said special prayer would also be offered towards the success of the coming general elections, while also assuring that God has always intervened in the affairs of men with prayers of faith.

He will minister the Word alongside Prophet Folorunsho Macaulay and other anointed clerics, while gospel artistes like Evangelists Toyin Ilori (Akoko Mi To), Bukola Akinade (Senwele), Joy Oluwaseun (King Osuba), TWOREM Mass Choirs (Ibadan & Lagos) and others will be there.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

NEWS NIGERIA DECIDES

•Vice President Namadi Sambo flanked by Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) left) and Alhaji Shehu Shema of Katsina when the governors welcomed Sambo to the Katsina Airport for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (middle); Labour Party governorship candidate, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (second right); Chairman, Space FM, Chief Deji Osibogun (left); Tolu Adepoju of Space FM (second left) and Mr Felix Adenaike at the Governorship Debate organised

by Space FM 90.1 at Liberty Road, Ibadan,Oyo State.

•Benue State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzor at a rally in Makurdi...yesterday.

•Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Abgaje speaking at a Town Hall meeting with residents of Amuwo Odofin Local Government...yesterday. With him are his running mate, Alhaja Safurat Abdul-Kareem and founder, Resurrection Praise Ministry for Africa, Archbishop Samuel Benjamin PHOTO: NAN

•Members of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) in the Diaspora (Canada branch) dancing at a cultural outing in support of President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid in Ottawa... on Monday.

Dr Ifeanyi Ubah-led TAN is the major mobiliser for the President's re-election.

•From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Eti-Osa Federal Constituency Prince Babajide Akinloye; Lagos Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye; Balogun of Ajiranland, Alhaji Yekini Balogun and Iyalode of Lagos, Alhaja Bintu Tinubu when Senator Tinubu visited Ajiran’s Palace, Eti-Osa, Lagos...yesterday.

•From left: Public Relations Officer, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oyo State chapter, Alhaji Kazeem Kareem; Director-General, Seyi Makinde Campaign Organisation, Mr Kehinde Ayoola and a member PHOTO: NAN of the party, Mr Ashiru Badmus at a news conference in Ibadan...yesterday.

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and His Royal Highness Dr George Eghabor Omoaze I, the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno when the governor visited him to introduce to him the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the forthcoming election .

PHOTO: TAIWO OKANLAWON

From left: Presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof Remi Sonaiya; Chairman of the occasion Dame Priscilla Kuye; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe OkeiOdumakin; Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academics) , University of Ibadan, Prof Gbemisola Oke and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Aborishade, at a workshop on Enhancing Women Political Participation in Ibadan...yesterday

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Life

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Alakija transforms Molue into mobile art – Page 49

A lift for the less-privileged – Page50

•Grillo

Lions Club to build eye hospital in Abuja – Page48

Grillo: Auctions bane of younger artists’ – SEE STORY ON PAGE 14

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

• Some of Grillo’s colour glass works in his studio

Grillo: Auctions bane of younger artists

Art auction is the dream of most visual artists because of fame and monetary gains. But 81-year-old former president of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Prof Yusuf Grillo says auctions are more of a distraction than gains to younger artists, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports

F

ORMER Director School of Arts, Design and Printing of Yaba College of Technology, (YABATECH) Lagos Prof Yusuf Cameron Grillo, is one of Nigeria’s icons. His paintings are well ranked in art auctions in and outside the country. In 2010, his painting, Harvest, was sold for $30,500 at the Bonhams’ auction in London. Yet, he does not see auction adding value to the art.

“I have never been to any art auction even though some of my works have been sold at such auctions. Mind you, the works most times are offered for auction by collectors that bought the works. It has got to a stage that third year student artists are already thinking of getting their works into the auction in order to earn millions of naira. As a former art teacher, I don’t think that is okay,” he said.

Grillo said verification of art works, how collectors purchased art works, valuing of art works, the artists’ profile, technicality involved in the production and size of art works are some of the responsibilities of the auctioneer. He noted that beyond these, auctioneers in the country don’t pay artists any percentage of sales of their works. This payment, he said, is a standard practice across the globe, which auctioneers in Nigeria don’t abide with.

To him, auction derails younger artists and it has become all about money.

“Money is the root of all evil. Personally, I believe strongly that art and money are not good brethren. Visual art is one of the creative aspects of mankind through which artists create from nothing. Only God is the one that makes all things to be. But artists are next,” he added. He said at the beginning of creation, art was used primarily for spiritual essence and not for serious monetary gains.

Grillo who, studied art in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, is one of the leading masters in colour glass and mosaic works.

He has handled many commissioned works for public and private buildings such as churches, universities and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

At 81, he still handles colour glass works, which he described as a specialised craft like stained glass. According to him, the process of producing colour glass works opened fresh windows of opportunities for him to engage both his old paintings and the colour glass works.

“I paint slowly and sometimes it takes me up to a year to complete one painting. So, while doing colour glass work from my painting, it gave me another chance to revisit such painting,” he said.

He said he accepts only commissioned colour glass works that can give him satisfaction from the point of view of the client that understands him. He however noted that such skill cannot be taught in Nigerian art schools because the schools will not be able to pick the cost.

“In fact, it is not in the curriculum of art schools. We can’t teach colour glass and stained glass in our art schools because the budget is beyond the school. Even mosaic is not taught in art school. Many of these courses are taught outside the school during apprenticeship or internship.

“For stained glass, it is a specialised craft that uses melting process to get impression on glass. Unfortunately, we don’t have the facility here. Even at Igun Street in Benin, Edo State, the bronze casters don’t have facility for large size sculptures,” he added.

On past attempts at having such facility in the country, he said: “Soon after the FESTAC 77, the late Erhabor Emokpae and I dreamt of getting a big foundry to handle our works.

We even founded a small company that will produce the craft. But it was not a small matter. We realised that only government or multinational companies could do that.

If we can do it, we will attract patronage

• Grillo

form across Africa. I did a stained glass once and it was done in Britain and the work is at the VIP lounge of National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos.”

Asked if colour glass is under threat of extinct, he said: “It is not like to die because younger artists are into it now. David Dale is also into colour glass and mosaic works. My sons in the art who do colour glass works are bout 6. And I always appraise their works each time they bring them to me for assessment. It is good as a learning process for the younger artists.

The former President of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) recalled that time has changed for the art and artists to thrive as art markets and collectors have grown over the years.

“When we started, there was nothing on

ground in terms of promotion and marketing of art. The likes of the late Aina Onabolu, Akin Lasekan, Ben Enwonwu, were the first Nigerians to stray into art. At SNA, we started with nine members, he asked.”

Grillo, a pioneer member of the famous Zaria Rebels often avoids photographic realism in his painting. Instead, he stylizes and elongates the figures in his painting which are easily identified by their slimness, elegance and grace which, according to him, represent the contemporary ideal of beauty in an urban setting. His message for younger artists is that each artist should continue to work and criticise himself for development.

“Once the artist does not relent, things will pick, it may be slow,” he said.

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•Sambo

•Yero

•Buhari

•El-Rufai

The governorship election in Kaduna State promises to be a stiff contest between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). TONY AKOWE, reports that the two main parties and other smaller parties have lined up professionals for the race to occupy Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House.

Professionals battle for Kaduna Government House

T

HE race for the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the seat of government in Kaduna State could best be described as the race of professionals. Governor Mukthar Yero of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, are seasoned accountants. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is a quantity surveyor, while his deputy, Barnabas Bantex, is an architect. Like the APC, the Labour Party is equally presenting a surveyor as its candidate.

Given the popularity of the APC candidate and his deputy, the Kaduna governorship election promises to be tough contest between the ruling party and the main opposition party.

Yero/Bajoga: Accountants Both Governor Yero and his deputy are accountants. Yero became the governor of Kaduna State on December 16, 2012, following the death of his principal, Governor Patrick Yakowa, in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State. A close ally of Vice President Namadi Sambo who brought him to political limelight, Yero is believed to have been imposed on Yakowa by the Vice President as running mate.

Following the death of Yakowa, Yero became the youngest man to govern a state many believe is one of the most complex states in the country, at the age of 44. He came into office with a high-level goodwill, which cut across political divides. Before he became governor, the late Yakowa had awarded a large number of contracts under the government’s multi-year budget approach. On assumption of office, Yero pledged to carry on with all the projects initiated by his predecessor.

Many have however accused him of abandoning these projects scattered across the 23 local government areas of the state. Some of these projects that were supposed to have been completed since 2013 appear to have been abandoned. The government however continues to deny that they have been abandoned, even those located within the state capital. However, some government officials and party faithful have continued to come to the defense of the governor, saying that some of those who got the contracts and collected 25 per cent down payment from the government were actually not qualified to execute the contract.

Contrary to the belief in many quarters, Yero has a lot of advantage going into the election.

Many of the projects he is accused of abandoning are indeed still being executed by the government. His aides are quick to say that the remaining projects are captured the 2015 budget. He has also awarded a few road contracts across the state, some of which have been completed. He has embarked on a vigorous empowerment programme, using the state’s

share of funds from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

The few road contracts he has awarded notwithstanding, some people that believe that he has mismanaged the goodwill he received from the people when he became governor in 2012.

The exit of many founding members of the party, especially supporters of the former governor, Ahmed Makarfi, is not a good sign for the governor. His critics argue that his inability to harness the goodwill will negatively affect his chances in the election.

There are those who that the part of the state designated as Southern Kaduna, which has been the strong base of the PDP since 1999, are not happy with the governor for allegedly denigrating their son, Yakowa, even in death. Nevertheless, he still has many followers in the area, as the large turnout during the recent annual Afan festival suggests. Yero will no doubt be banking on the support enjoyed by the party in Southern Kaduna to increase his chances of winning the election.

But, a major minus for him is the accusation by the people that he has not done enough to ensure their security, in view of the constant attack on them by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Several Southern Kaduna villages have been sacked by these invaders, resulting in the death of some residents. The response of the government to all these attacks has been that of condemnation. But, the people are not satisfied by that. The recent attack, just few days after a reassurance by the government, is perceived as a big minus for the governor. The promise by the Federal Government to establish a military base in the area could nevertheless reassure the people that help is on the way.

Yero has also made moves to placate the people with a promise to upgrade the Kafanchan campus of the state university to a full-fledged University of Technology. But, whether this will influence the people to vote for him is another matter.

El-Rufai/Bantex: Surveyor, architect The emergence of the APC is no doubt a major threat to the ruling party in the state. Even though the beginning was rough for the APC, because there were lots of infighting among members over who takes control of the party, many believe that they have been able to put their house in order. Several big names that had hitherto key members of the PDP have crossed over to the opposition party during its formative stage. The smooth conduct of its governor-

ship primary and the emergence of el-Rufai as its standard bearer has gone a long way in solidifying the party. Having served as the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) and later as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, el-Rufai is bringing his experience in the public service to bear in his aspiration to govern the state.

He began his campaign for the governorship seat from Yakowa’s home town and has a welltested politician, Bala Bantex, as his running mate. Controversial and down to earth, el-Rufai will be banking on the fact that the northern part of the state has a lot of sympathy for the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, Buhari will be prove to be a prime asset for el-Rufai’s campaign to govern the state. Buhari and his party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) won most of the elective positions in the northern part of the state during the 2011 elections and there is the belief that this may repeat itself.

If this happens, the APC candidate will be expecting to secure majority votes in about 13 local government areas of the state.

El-Rufai’s supporters believe that with a politician like Bantex who is well respected in Southern Kaduna as his running mate, he has the capacity to pull a surprise in the area. But, one of the things that may count against him during the election is the allegation that he walked out of the annual Afan festival in Kagoro on New Year day. The news making the rounds have it that he left the venue of the festival because he realised that the people were in full support of the PDP. El-Rufai’s critics have gone to town with the news that he may likely replicate his Abuja house demolition exercise in Kaduna, if elected governor. This allegation, which he and his supporters have neither refuted nor confirmed, has become a subject of discussion among the people, particularly because the PDP has been campaigning with it. This will no doubt affect his chances in the poll as majority of the electorates living in the cosmopolitan areas of the state live in unplanned areas. However, his no nonsense stand on issues will be both a plus and a minus for him during the election. While both Yero and el-Rufai are Muslims, some section of the Muslim community is believed to be afraid of voting for el-Rufai on the grounds that he will not protect their religion. Those who hold this view were said to have argued that while they believe that el-Rufai will deliver on his promises of democracy dividends, as against Yero, he will however not protect their religion as he will insist on “dealing” with anyone of them

‘Given the popularity of the APC candidate and his deputy, the Kaduna governorship election promises to be tough contest between the ruling party and the main opposition party’

who goes against the law.

Those who ‘ll shape the election A number of people both within and outside the state are believed to have the capacity to shape the election in one way or the other. One of such persons is former governor Makarfi, who still commands a lot of respect across the state, especially in the southern part of the state.

Though he is still a member of the PDP, majority of his supporters have since joined the APC and have been playing prominent roles. Although he emerged the sole senatorial candidate of the PDP, his commitment to the fortunes of the party in the state is not known; considering the fact that the relationship between him and the Vice President Sambo is not very cordial. Makarfi will no doubt play a prominent role in determining who becomes the next governor of the state. Even though some people, especially in the opposition, consider him a political liability, he and the Vice President will no doubt have a great influence on who becomes the next governor of the state.

Sambo has attracted a lot of projects to the state since assuming office as Vice President. Some of these projects, such as the proposed military base are however yet to take off. But, quite a number of the federal projects he attracted to the state have either been completed or are nearing completion. This will prove to be a major factor in the election.

Similarly, the personality of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari, will be a major factor in the general elections. There is no doubt that el-Rufai will get most his votes based on the influence of Buhari. Although Buhari is not from Kaduna State and has no voting right in the state, the fact that he lives in Kaduna and was the one who first publicly endorsed elRufai for the governorship is enough sign for the people. Another person who will be a major factor in the election is Suleiman Hunkuyi, former Commissioner for Finance under the Makarfi government. Hunkuyi is a grassroots mobiliser who is well respected across the state.

Another factor that will shape the contest in the state is the growing popularity of the APC, based on the allegation that the PDP has not done enough to tackle corruption.

Interestingly, the PDP and APC are not the only parties in the governorship race in Kaduna State. As a result, candidates of the other parties in the race will also shape the direction the pendulum would swing. One of such candidates is the candidate of the Labour Party and former Deputy a Governor James Magaji, who was a founding member of the APC in the state.

He left the APC for the Labour Party, to actualise his aspiration of governing the state. Though his strength is still largely unknown, Magaji was deputy governor during the Babangida transition.

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primary goal is to support the ‘ Our candidature of Gen. Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo. It is our firm belief that the duo has what it takes to give Nigeria a new direction

‘

Young professionals back Buhari/Osinbajo campaign

T

HE campaign by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over government at the centre this year has received a boost from an unexpected quarter. A group of young Nigerian professionals who are excited by the prospects of enthroning good governance in the country has thrown its weight behind the General Muhammadu Buhari/Professor Yemi Osinbajo ticket presented by the APC, saying the duo have what it takes to give Nigeria a new direction.

The professionals, who came together under the aegis of the Valour Group, have pledged to do whatever it can within the ambit of the law to support the aspiration. Spokesman for the group, Mr. Nicholas Nyamali, described his group as a non-partisan and nonreligious “political action committee” made up of young Nigerians who believe in the eminent qualities of Osinbajo as someone who can complement and work with Gen. Buhari to bring about a positive change to take Nigeria away from where it has found itself in recent times.

“Our primary goal is to support the candidature of Gen. Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo. It is our firm belief that the duo has what it takes to give Nigeria a new direction. They are people with integrity, a high sense of accountability and they can provide disciplined leadership. These are the qualities we think are missing in Nigeria today,” he said in an interview at the weekend.

Nyamali, a finance and investment expert from one of the Niger Delta states, said the group came into being spontaneously with the emergence of Prof. Osinbajo as the running mate to Gen. Buhari and that most of its members are friends and colleagues of the APC Vice Presidential candidate. According to him, they are doing this without the knowledge of Prof. Osinbajo and it is part of their contribution to inspire change in the polity.

Another member of the group, Mr. Alex Okoh, reiterated that the overriding interest of the group in initiating the move is to enthrone good governance in the country.

“We believe that a unique opportunity to enthrone good governance has presented itself with the emergence of the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari/Prof. Yemi Osinbajo ticket. We feel a sense of obligation to give them all the support they need, so that they can implement a framework of good governance in this nation,” he said.

Nyamali emphasized that what Nigeria needs at this point in time is a leadership that can muster the political will to tackle the multi-

•Nyamali

•Prof. Osinbajo

By Raymond Mordi, Deputy Political Editor

faceted problems facing the country. His words: “The current problems in the country today require a leadership that has integrity and the political will to stem the tide of corruption and impunity in the country. We think the current government lacks the will to do so and we believe fervently that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket has the qualities to provide this kind of leadership.” He added that Buhari and Osinbajo “are not your archetypal Nigerian politicians hankering for power for the sake of power; they are hungry to serve the people.”

The Valour Group spokesman said given his antecedents that Osinbajo is a man who has the heart to serve and that the combination of himself and Buhari would provide a strong leadership to the country. He added that the group is made up individuals who have known Prof. Osinbajo for over 20 years. “They are professionals in different fields of human endeavours and from different parts of the country who have interacted closely with Prof.

Osinbajo as friends, colleagues, associates, fellow church members, protégés and former students,” he noted.

Nyamali enjoined Nigerians to reflect about the kind of leadership the country needs at this point in time before deciding who to vote for. He said the outcome of the election would be decided by two factors: the needs of the country and the personal interests of individuals. He argued: “What are the needs of the country? It needs to deal with insecurity, corruption and impunity. How do we tackle these vices?

We need a man who has a strong will at the helm of affairs.” He added that voting should not be done on the basis of sentiment “because one is from a certain part of the country and therefore I must vote in a certain way or because the candidate is an adherent of a particular faith.”

He said ordinarily the people that populate his group are professionals who usually prefer to go about their business quietly and allow the politicians to do the politicking.

“But, we are coming out of our comfort zone to tell Nigerians about Prof. Osinbajo because we believe most Nigerians do not know who he is. Gen. Buhari is already well-known; we don’t need to dissipate our energy about him.

As people who have interacted closely with him as friends, professional colleagues, associates, fellow church member, students and mentees, he said members of the

group owe it as a duty to let Nigerians know the type of person the APC vice presidential candidate is,” the finance and investment expert explained.

As a Christian and a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), he observed that Osinbajo has the eminent qualities required as a vice presidential candidate. He noted that the vice presidential candidate is not just a lawyer, but one that has reached the height of his career as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He added that the APC chieftain is also intellectually fit for leadership as a Professor.

“But, by far his biggest selling point is his service to the community as a Christian and a Pastor.

One of the interesting things about him is that he strives to serve the people he comes into contact with.

For example, when he was the attorney-general of Lagos State, he was responsible for setting up the Office of the Public Defender, which provides free legal services to those who may not be able to defend themselves in court.”

The Valour Group spokesman said Osinbajo was also responsible for setting up the Citizens Mediation Centre, a platform where citizens can mediate over disputes without going to court. “These are people-oriented programmes he

‘The problems in the country today require a leadership that has integrity and the political will to stem the tide of corruption and impunity. We think the current government lacks the will to do so and we believe fervently that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket has the qualities to provide this kind of leadership’

initiated while he was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State,” he added.

As a pastor, he said Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, have set up several ministries that are geared towards providing for the needs of the people they come in contact with. He listed the ministries as follows: “There is the Mercy Cross, a programme that is designed to provide free healthcare and free health insurance for children under the age of five; Parents Without Borders, which provides an opportunity for members of the church to foster children in remand homes; Friendship House, a facility for single young people who have jobs in Lagos, but have no place to live. They are given accommodation for one year.

“Others are: Women Alive, which provides anti-natal, delivery and post-natal care for pregnant women who cannot afford to provide such for themselves; a Free Hospital Programme for the lessprivileged; the Life Changer Group, which comprise people he has brought together to help young men and women who want to advance themselves in terms of their career and education; the Liberty School, a school that provides free education and meal to primary school-age children of the lessprivileged; Friends for Life, which is used to cater for social misfits such as area-boys and commercial sex workers who turn a new leaf in their lives; Just Justices, which works to assist the needy that have legal cases and are unable to defend themselves; and the Soup Kitchen, which provides food for people who are hungry.

“These are things he did before he was chosen to become the running mate to Gen. Buhari. We think the personality of Prof. Osinbajo is what is required in the leadership of Nigeria. Gen. Buhari is already known as a man who is capable of providing a disciplined leadership to the country and ending corruption.”

Nyamali noted that INEC is faced some logistic problems, which are not uncommon in this part of the world. But, he equally believes the commission is trying to grapple with the challenges and therefore must be encouraged to overcome some of the lapses that it has experienced in recent times. “The problems are there, we cannot wish them away, but efforts are being made to tackle them. For instance, those whose names were missing from the register have been given the opportunity to register again and ample time has been provided for people to collect their cards,” he added.

Kebbi APC strategises against rigging

T

•Bagudu

HE All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has called on the party supporters in the state to jealously guard and protect their votes during next month’s general election without any fear.

Senator Bagudu made this call while campaigning in Argungu, Kangiwa, Bagudu and Suru local government areas. The campaigns in the four local government areas were attended by the candidates vying for elective positions on the

From Khadijat Saidu Birnin Kebbi

platform of the APC. The governorship candidate told the audience that, after casting their votes for the APC, they should ensure that their votes are counted and announced before they leave their polling units.

“Don’t be intimidated by the presence of security men who may be posted to the venue; don’t have any fear because you are doing the right thing by

protecting your votes against rigging,” he said.

Bagudu, however, cautioned supporters against violence, adding that they should maintain law and order during elections.

He also urged those who have not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so, as the card remains the only weapon for them to effect change both in Kebbi and Nigeria.

“If voted into power, the APC government would ensure a better Nigeria at the top with security as top on the agenda,” he added.

Bagudu promised to work towards the improvement of agriculture, especially rice production, by providing farming inputs. He has also promised to provide quality education, improved health care, provide employment opportunities for the youth and to work towards religious tolerance in the state.

Notable speakers at the rallies include Senator Adamu Aliero, the APC Kebbi Central senotorial candidate Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi and the APC Kebbi North senatorial candidate

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The farce at Osun election tribunal

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A broken pact •United States ambassador exposes Jonathan’s failure to fight terror F the statement by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, is correct, then it would imply that the Federal Government is not only adept at reneging on agreements locally, it is also an attitude it has carried to its dealings with the outside world.

Entwistle who spoke on a Channels Television programme, was reacting to insinuations that the United States was not willing to help Nigeria in curbing the activities of the Boko Haram sect. He said contrary to this, his country was willing to assist Nigeria in the war against terror, but it was the Federal Government that reneged on its part of the deal.

According to him, the U.S. was to provide world-class military personnel to train one battalion of the Nigerian Army to international standards on how to handle terror war while Nigeria was to provide the equipment. Unfortunately, while the American government actually brought in the experts, Nigeria could not provide the equipment, necessitating the cancellation of the deal because America could not continue to retain the experts in Nigeria without the equipment to work with.

“We had started the training, at the request of the Nigerian government, of its battalion up to a world-class standard.

We brought in the best military trainers in the world. But the agreement with the government was that we will provide the trainers in order to do this properly, while the Nigerian Army will provide the equipment needed to do the training”.

According to Entwistle, “It is a partnership. We were doing this together.

It is not something we are doing for you.

Training started, but sadly it got to a point that we had to stop because the

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equipment was not available and after several weeks of waiting, we could not keep the trainers here and the Nigerian government decided to end the training.”

This is a shocking revelation. Before this clarification, the impression out there was that the United States was not keen on helping Nigeria so as to make a prediction said to have emanated from the U.S. some years ago, to the effect that Nigeria would disintegrate this year, come to pass. The envoy had at another forum debunked the report, saying that even if there was any such report on Nigeria, the American government had no hand in it.

The circumstances leading to the termination of this deal do not portray the country as serious. We did not provide equipment because of corruption and indiscipline of the Jonathan government.

Yet we want to blame another country for our footloose ways. Who signed the deal on the part of Nigeria? It is unacceptable that they were not aware of what it entailed. They knew that we did not have modern equipment for the training and yet went ahead to append their signatures to the pact.

Why blame the Americans for the lack of progress made in the fight against Boko Haram, simply because they failed to accede to our request to sell cobra helicopters to us? Recently President Goodluck Jonathan blamed the past military for not buying weapons in the 1980’s as if we need to hack back to three decades ago for modern warfare. What weapons has he bought for the 21 st century?

The U.S. government has explained that it has procedure for selling such

sophisticated aircraft because of the abuses to which they could be put. And, in fairness to it, there is no doubt that the Jonathan government lacks the maturity and the political discipline to handle such.

It is astonishing that we always expect people to bend their rules in order to accommodate us. It is unfortunate too that in spite of the over three trillion Naira committed to defence in our budgets in the past three years, we still lack appropriate military equipment.

That this is happening at a time the country should have in stock the most sophisticated military equipment, considering the havoc that Boko Haram has wreaked on the nation in the last five years, makes the matter the more puzzling. We are tempted once again to call for a proper audit of our defence budgets in recent years. It is pointless accusing soldiers of mutiny when they lack the tools of war.

‘The circumstances leading to the termination of this deal do not portray the country as serious. We did not provide equipment because of corruption and indiscipline of the Jonathan government. Yet we want to blame another country for our footloose ways’

Rice and wrongs •The Jonathan administration’s abuse of waivers has moved to the farm sector

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CANDALOUSLY, the country is reportedly losing N20 billion to discretionary concessions and waivers, especially to lethargic stakeholders under the rice importation scheme and another N20 billion to smugglers of rice through the nation’s porous borders. The waivers/import allocation quotas impunity to favour investors who have no investments in the industry or rice mill by government is making a mockery of the policy.

Of the 28 beneficiaries on the list, only 16 have mills, while the other 12 that have no mills surprisingly account for higher imports than the true millers. The disparities in preferential import quotas, quantity of approved rice imports and the

‘The nation is far from self sufficiency in rice production contrary to the nauseating noise and rhetorical egoism of progress in the sector by Akinwunmi Adesina, the agriculture minister. The sensible path to toe is to jettison indiscriminate waivers while government should also allow rice importation through our ports to augment shortfalls’

corresponding size of performance bond to be submitted are quite alarming.

Those powerful armchair rice investors eventually trade their import allocation quotas to interested stakeholders at between 60 to 80 per cent levy, having got the same at 20 per cent levy, thereby short-changing the country with ripple effects of inflation and pauperisation.

This is serious discouragement to those who remain committed to the plan.

Why should new investors under the present regime, without milling capacity or investments in the country, receive higher allocation quotas unlike real rice millers that received negligible allocation or none at all? The strategy deployed in arriving at the supply gap equally becomes questionable because almost three million metric tonnes of rice was reportedly smuggled from Cotonou in 2013, while an estimated 1.5 million was accounted for last year. Again, why is it that the backward integration policy plan approved since May 2014 by the president was delayed till December?

The sincerity of government regarding the backward integration plan is in doubt. For example, it is bewildering that investors that merely expressed interests enjoy higher import quotas which they trade at higher prices to other interested importers. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s new rice policy is geared towards bridging the supply gap of import-grade rice of 1.5 million metric tonnes through

proper deployment of rice import quotas as determined by the Federal Government. Invariably, the policy was designed to ensure that existing rice millers and new investors receive a preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent while other importers pay a higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent. The current wave of indiscriminate waivers has made nonsense of this policy.

If the nation truly wants to be selfsufficient in rice production and milling, too much reliance on paper criteria, including theoretical Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP) by prospective investors will not suffice. For example, it was reported that last year alone, a total of 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice import quotas was issued to 25 qualifying millers, yet 2.74 million metric tonnes of imported rice found its way into the country in the same year through illegal routes. This is possible because of the low tariff on rice in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

The nation is far from self sufficiency in rice production contrary to the nauseating noise and rhetorical egoism of progress in the sector by Akinwunmi Adesina, the agriculture minister. The sensible path to toe is to jettison indiscriminate waivers while government should also allow rice importation through our ports to augment shortfalls. This will definitely go a long way in discouraging smuggling.

IR: The laws that created rooms for periodic elections into 1, 695 elective public offices in Nigeria, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered to conduct, also allow rooms for Elections’ Petition Tribunals (equivalent of high courts) to handle judicial petitions arising from the conduct of such polls. In the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999, as amended in 2011 and the Electoral Act of the Federation of 2010, governorship poll tribunal cases start at the tribunal (high court) and terminate at the Supreme Court (three steps).

The constitution envisages that contestants are likely to be aggrieved. And, in true democracy, such situations are given the best opportunity to be addressed, so that true democracy is not only achieved but also seen, by the majority, to have been achieved. This is where the constitution of Osun State Election Petition Tribunal could be situated.

Despite the open and widespread knowledge in Osun State and beyond that candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyiola Omisore was not a match to the incumbent governor Rauf Aregbesola as clearly demonstrated through the ballots on August 9, 2014, the former still went on to challenge what was and is still regarded as a clear victory to the incumbent.

From the beginning of the hearings at the Tribunal at the Osogbo High Court, to the tendering of exhibits through to the presentation of petitioner’s witnesses, it was nothing but a case of the absurd. We had the annoying, the abusive, the funny as well as even the entertainingly ridiculous, which I term the Awada Kerekeri scenarios.

It is rather unimaginable that a petitioner would claim irregularities in 85 polling units of the 105 of a local government area and call only three witnesses whose only evidence is, in most cases, by proxy, or hearsay, which he knows is clearly inadmissible in law. As a petitioner’s witness, by definition, you ought to be the first-hand witness to the event in contention.

You are not supposed to present third party information. And even then, calling three witnesses representing only three polling units of the alleged 85 in my native Ikire, Irewole Local government example is nothing but absurdity and a waste of time and deliberate plot to distract the government of Osun. What happens to the remaining 82 polling booths where you claim irregularity that made you lose the election? The picture painted above also represents what the petitioner was claiming in virtually all the other local governments contested.

More bizarre is that the petitioner called a witness in respect of unit 4 ward 6 of Ejigbo Local government area of the state to prove that the election result from this unit was invalid. Ejigbo has 68 polling units, and the petitioners are challenging 49. Interestingly, the result of the Unit 4 had been cancelled during the election by the Presiding Officer for malpractices perpetrated by PDP agent and supporters in the polling unit! Do these petitioners know what they are doing at all trying to invalidate an already invalidated result?

So, why seeking to invalidate an already invalidated result, if not to waste time and distract governance?

The above absurd scenarios played out in all the 17 local governments in contention by the petitioners.

From the above analysis done on a Local Government by Local Government basis, it is crystal clear that out of 965 Polling Units being challenged by the petitioners, they only called evidence in support of their petition in only 239 with the abandonment of 726 Polling Units pleaded in their petition. Assuming, without conceding, that the petitioners have led credible evidence in all the 239 polling units(which is not the case here), is that enough to sway the judgment in their favour?

The entire 239 Polling Units represent 7.94% of the 3,010 polling units in the state. This is definitely too insignificant to affect the result of the gubernatorial election.

To make matters worse, the petitioners tendered Form EC8A in respect of only 230 units which mean that even if their claim succeeds in respect of the 239 Polling Units in which evidence was led, the tribunal can only rule in their favour in respect of the said 230 Polling Units in which Form EC8A was tendered.

• Moshood Ayo Akinola, dolam2005@yahoo.com

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: It is easy to know when elections are coming in Nigeria. All manners of odd debates and funny posturing are always there to announce to you. If it is not about religion, the debate would have ethnic colorations or some other pedestal sentiments that easily penetrate the minds of the gullible (a large chunk of the Nigerian electorate is perceived to belong here).

Nigeria’s electioneering periods only depicts moments of Mutually Assured Deceit (MAD) between the politicians and the Nigerian electorate. The signs are everywhere across the country these days. You get all manners of promises and reference to achievements that only exist in the imagination of the campaigners. And the audience completes the cycle by pretending not to know that the flaunted scorecards and messages of hope merely hints at more days of dashed hopes.

When a sitting lawmaker comes

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Season of Mutually Assured Deceit (MAD) to seek re-election, and all he has to show as evidence of 'judicious’ use of his mandate are numbers of borehole sunk; the amount of money spent in purchasing WAEC forms for candidates; number of youths he bought Okada for; and the number of burial or marriage ceremonies he attended to spray money, without any mention of his activities as a legislator, we don’t need any other reason(s) to sack him with our votes. That (his basis for seeking re-election) serves as proof that he does not understand the mandate of his office, and so lacks the requisite capacity to function

there. Unfortunately, those things are what most of our lawmakers (both in the National Assembly and states Houses of Assembly) present to their parties to secure fresh tickets.

Some of them would, sadly, ride on that crest to a fresh term as lawmakers.

One new fad is the proliferation of emergency philanthropists. We now have more ‘foundations’ through which ‘kind-hearted’ Nigerians offer to attend to some of our many selfinflicted social deprivations. But we only get to know the real motive when the sponsors present themselves for elective positions

When Fayose and PDP play God

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IR: When I was growing up, my father, a frontline educationist, narrated a lot of masterpiece stories that I am yet to forget. Once upon a time, he told us in one of the ancient tales of an African king who ruled powerfully over his land, he wielded his power beyond imagination and had the ultimate decision on who will stay in the land or leave his territory. He even projected who has the right to live or die. Eventually, he prophesised that all his subordinates and aides would die before him. But unfortunately he died in his sleep the same night and left all his aides, subordinates and every member of his kingdom behind. This is how fate can choose to position itself, as no one has control over death and life miseries.

Looking at the advertorial on the cover pages of two of the Nigerian national dailies on Monday, January 19, I was quick to remember not just my father, but also his parables where the one narrated above readily came to mind.

The advertorial sponsored by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose depicted a situation where everyone that has ruled Nigeria

from the North-western part of the country died while in office. The advertorial went further to warn Nigerian to choose between ‘Life and Death’, with a Bible verse to corroborate the statement!

In fact, not few Nigerians have condemned the advert, but that has not addressed the question of who exactly owns life or power to live in Nigeria. Is it the Almighty God, the ruling PDP or by extension, the sponsor of the advert- the ever over-exuberant Governor Fayose?

To the best of my understanding, the power to live or die eternally rest with God. Most importantly, in Yoruba land, the part of the country where Ayo Fayose hails from forbids anyone to wish his fellow man death. It then becomes not only unconventional but also very outrageous for anyone to think about death for a political stakeholder at this critical period of our political history.

I waited eagerly for 24 hours for the ruling party to dissociate itself from the advertorial, so it can really confirm a bit of trust some Nigerians still have in the sensibility of the ruling party, but alas!

It never happened. The bottomline is that Nigeria as well as Ni-

gerians do not deserve the kind of politicking the nation is witnessing right now. The logic has moved beyond being friendly to a contest of hatred, acrimony and bitterness.

This is no way a pointer to a free and fair election devoid of pre, intra and post elections chaos, violence and controversy.

It is a good thing that the principal contenders signed a peace pact with the electoral body, to ensure a violence-free election, but the fact still remains that principal actors, leading political parties and their supporters cum sympathisers must eschew any form of utterance and position that will instigate the people to result to violent action or create issues that will promote irresolvable controversies.

While the media should be wary of becoming an unsuspecting tool in the hands of every mischievous politician, the major political parties must as a matter of urgency call its people to order, encourage a level-play field for every contestant where peace and justice can reign.

• Adesina Adetola Ikotun, Lagos

shortly after the foundations’ inauguration. Most of the initiatives creep slowly, but steadily into the public awareness with the mission to ‘bring smile’ to the faces of the people within specific communities.

They truly make some intervention.

But the supposed showers of humanity are extended to shore up the sponsor’s credentials for electoral campaign. They dry up as soon as they (the sponsors) fail to secure tickets to seek elective positions, or shortly after losing elections if they ever got the ticket to fly the flag of their political party.

February election will be the fifth since we began the current democratic experiment some 16 years back. So, Nigerians must realize that we have been beaten more than enough numbers of times. There is need to demonstrate some level of wisdom as we exercise our franchise this time around. We

must look beyond the surface in deciding who gets our votes in this round of elections.

Despite plunging the nation to perpetual state of mess through their many irresponsible acts, Nigerian politicians have always made ‘good’ use of the electioneering periods to prepare the ground to further deny the nation and its people the welldeserved better days. This is made possible by their packaged lies which are dished out at campaign grounds and through other means to sway unsuspecting members of the public into their side. They have their way most of the time because many Nigerians easily fall for sentiment than looking at issues with open minds.

February provides us with another opportunity to decide our future.

Thankfully, democracy avails us the right of choice. That right, however, comes with the responsibility to think through all the messages that struggle for our attention at this moment. Nigeria can only be great if, as individuals, we decide to reject the temptation to be part of the Mutually Assured Deceit (MAD) that has tormented us as a nation for this long.

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•Jide Jegede, Ibadan.

Petrol price: Nigerians seek not yet repose

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IR: The announcement of the N10 reduction of premium motor spirit (pms) pump price on Sunday night triggered a buzz on notable social platforms like twitter, facebook and BBM. It is a laudable achievement on the part of the federal government, albeit belated and not exactly impressive when putting other crucial factors into consideration. The price of crude dropped to $50 per barrel well over five months ago, at present in the U.S.A, a gallon of P.M.S which was sold at $3.50 now sells at $1.57, that is almost 45% reduction and we say we are oil-producing ?

Nigerians need not be reminded that when President Goodluck Jonathan came in, he met the pump price at N65:00 and consequently jerked it up to N97:00 under the ruse of subsidy removal amidst loss of innocent lives.

This reduction smacks of a Greek

gift, a Trojan horse to be precise, what with the election 27 days away.

It is an ill-timed, unfiltered, crass seduction of our sensibilities. President Jonathan wants my vote so he conveniently throws N10 in my face which I'll most likely pay heavily for come June; a badly timed political move indeed. Quoting from Robert Greene's "Art of Seduction" which says familiarity is the death of seduction. The electorates have seen enough to make us wiser.

However, a few questions bother me. By what indices did NNPC arrive at the N10 reduction in the pump price? Is the Federal Government still paying subsidy? Did the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke just awaken from a six-month-deep slumber?

Only one thread out of a thousand can go through the eye of a needle.

• Adelayi Adediran. O. D, Ondo State

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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COMMENTS

‘Our Girls, Our people’; Road Contractors/gov supervisors/ Ogere FRSC; N87/l; Prepare to Vote

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UR Girls and Our People are now being mentioned with hope of release even by government sources even though we are facing more and more Tony incidents suggesting Marinho Boko Haram’s impunity and malicious vengefulness using 10-year old female suicide bombers perhaps even sold to Boko Haram by their parents according to one report and the raids in The Cameroons and Potiskum. The politics of the election or no election in the three north-eastern states appears to revolve around the fact that they are non-PDP states and it pays the PDP government if the election cannot hold ‘because of safety concerns for the local people’. These local people are from many ethnic groups and religions. Yes, many have relocated to Maiduguri as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), but many more fled South and hold jobs as security and other staff, unrecorded by the Refugee Register of either RED Cross/ UNHCR or Government’s Agency –NEMA. The disgraceful petty-trading of casualty numbers between the federal government and NGOs is a pitiful dance around the dead and an insult to those forced to give up their lives for Nigeria’s survival now numbering in the tens of thousands not to talk of the unregistered IDPs. Who ever knew that the Niga-Sat could also be used to count the dead in the streets and the destroyed homes in vandalised villages and towns?

Seeing all the helicopters flying political VIP around the country, I have always personally wanted a helicopter, or even a Niga-Sat view of the misnamed Lagos-Ibadan Expressway during a six-lane wide 20-40km long traffic jams.

These almost constant traffic jams are most recently caused by federal government employed construction wizards, RCC and Julius Berger, either not being available to widen the very narrow areas when a breakdown or accident occurs forcing immediate closure of one of only 1 ½ or two lanes.

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INCE its outbreak in West Africa in March 2014, the Ebola disease has spread rapidly in the three most affected countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Today, with the total number of reported cases so far put at more than 21,373, the epidemic, the deadliest occurrence since its discovery in 1976, has gripped the entire world with fear and trepidation. By last Saturday, January 17, the World Health Organisation, WHO, reported that no fewer than 8,483 people had died from the disease in six countries - Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the United States of America and Mali. In fact, the virus has killed more of its victims than all other previous outbreaks of the disease since 1976 combined.

But if the capacity of Ebola to wreak havoc was underestimated or its casualty figure underreported, it cannot be so for the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria. This is because elections in Nigeria are worse than Ebola spread. If past antecedents are anything to go by, the general election in Nigeria, scheduled to commence on February 14, is capable of causing tremor and acrimony in the polity, especially if the people are dissatisfied with the results. In other words, going by the pronouncements of some of the dramatis personae, if the elections are not free, fair, transparent and credible, there is the likelihood that those who might feel shortchanged will resort to self-help in the form of violence and brigandage to protest the outcome as it happened in 2011.

The outbreak of deadly electionrelated violence in the northern part of Nigeria following the April

Since vehicles pass at the rate of 60-100/minute, the tail back can easily grow to 50 km within an hour. The reason why the tailback is not even longer is because Nigerian drivers always queue jump always overtaking on the shoulders and thus leaving behind and making fools of all those who stay in line. One must ask, having survived yet another massive traffic jam on Sat January 17, what exactly the government supervisors do to protect the interest of the millions of commuters on the road? The FRSC is preoccupied with ‘Stop and Particulars’ and has proven itself disinterested in maintaining traffic flow. Nowadays even stuck in a go-slow, one may be pulled off the road, and lose your place, for ‘Stop and Particulars’ by FRSC even though other vehicles are overtaking on the sides. This FRSC technique has far outstripped the menace of Police checkpoints in the psyche of the travelling public. No doubt many dream of this new menace. Personally I have been stopped in and around Ogere six times to date and I have witnessed hundreds of vehicles stopped at Ogere in particular and several other places in general including Epe and near Redemption Camp. The FRSC would do well to adhere more to the guiding principles of the founding fathers. The FRSC should encourage and disperse its staff with briefing on and strategies and instructions or directives to spend, and be seen to spend, as much time keeping traffic moving as they do hindering the free movement of traffic and citizens. Constant ‘Stop and Particulars’ checking is sapping the enjoyment of the drive for many law abiding citizens driving safely between ‘A and B’. FRSC gains nothing by joining those who target female drivers and expatriates driving without drivers on Sundays in for example Lekki or vehicles full of family members. Of course there are traffic offenders, most of whom can be corrected quickly, efficiently and cost effectively simply by a verbal warning or advice. In Nigeria, the abuse of the uniform and the ‘right to oppress’ are taken as rights by uniformed authorities. The new FRSC dispensation, in addition to deserved better emoluments, housing, promotion prospects and other perks for staff should also extract a ‘We Serve Contract’ and get a better educated workforce on the ‘Human Rights of Traffic Users’ ready to

serve the nation and its citizens on the road. Having an FRSC post checking vehicles on exiting all motor parks may be a way forward if FRSC wants to quickly fulfil a daily quota of checks demanded by the authorities. The FRSC was not founded to replace the police but to make our journeys safer.

The good work and dedication of many FRSC officers needs to be complemented by controlling and streamlining and refocusing the activities of those who fall short of the ‘keep traffic moving safely’ mantra.

The cut in the price of fuel from N97 to N87 is welcome.

The Public Complaints Bureau and the Consumer Associations need to investigate this ‘Government offer’ considering that the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by over 40% it requires us to question the mathematics to ensure we are getting the full benefit of this fall.

We thought the big multi-billion ‘Victims Fund’ was going to do something. Shame! Nigeria is wealthy enough to overcome its problems if the money is not stolen. To kill corruption, get every eligible voter, especially young voter, 18+ a PVC and to the polling booth on election day. Prepare all eligible complacent youth to VOTE, VOTE!!!

‘The cut in the price of fuel from N97 to N87 is welcome. The Public Complaints Bureau and the Consumer Associations need to investigate this ‘Government offer’ considering that the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by over 40% it requires us to question the mathematics to ensure we are getting the full benefit of this fall’

Election as Nigeria’s Ebola 2011 presidential election left more than 800 people dead in three days of rioting. The incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was elected in that election. The violence began with widespread protests by supporters of the main opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, who contested the election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Buhari, a staunch Muslim and Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, is from the northern part of the country, while Jonathan is a Christian from the Niger Delta in the south of the country.

There has been no love lost between the largely Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south over whose turn it is to govern the country as a result of the sudden death in office of former President Umaru Yar’Adua. Yar’Adua, a Muslim from the core north, succeeded former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian from the south, as president on May 29, 2007.

Shortly after being sworn in as president, Yar’Adua began a titanic battle to save his life from an acute kidney disease from which he had previously been in and out of hospital while he was governor of his home state, Katsina. The battle to succeed him started in earnest while he was on his hospital bed in far away Saudi Arabia, as some of the hawks at the Presidential Villa, refused to allow the constitutional

‘The talk about signing agreement of a violence-free election is mere semantics as it does not exist more than on the piece of paper on which it was signed. This is because it is not the political leaders who control this violence; it is their foot-soldiers whose livelihood may depend on the gravity of trouble they are able to ignite’

requirement which empowers his deputy, Jonathan, to assume office as acting President under the circumstances, to prevail.

For a long time, the country drifted precariously towards a constitutional crisis until the National Assembly invoked the “Doctrine of Necessity” on February 9, 2010. This formally empowered the Vice President to exercise full powers as acting President, as provided for under Section 145 of the country’s constitution. From then on, the Muslim north refused to be pacified. Not even the death of Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010 and the formal inauguration of Jonathan as Nigeria’s 14th President to succeed him could change things. The discord was whether another northerner should have succeeded Yar’Adua to complete his term as President or not. It was still simmering when the April 2011 presidential election was held. The implacable north quickly lined up behind Buhari and his CPC. As election results trickled in and it became clear that Buhari had lost, his supporters took to the streets of northern towns and cities to protest what they alleged to be the rigging of the results. The protests quickly snowballed into a violent conflagration and massive sectarian killings in some northern states.

Though the April 2011 elections were among the fairest in Nigeria’s political history, perhaps, coming behind only the annulled 1993 presidential election, but they have also been among the bloodiest so far. On May 11, 2011, President Jonathan appointed a 22-member panel to investigate the causes and extent of the election violence with a view to bringing to justice, those who orchestrated these horrific crimes and addressing the root causes of the violence. As usual, the panel’s report was tossed aside and allowed to gather dust while the nation carried on as if nothing had happened. It is therefore, not sur-

prising to note that the 2011 presidential election succeeded in dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.

With the 2015 elections less than four weeks away, there is no doubt that the nation has again been caught in the throes of another election fever as tell-tale signs everywhere across the nation’s landscape indicate. Reports have it that quite a number of Nigerians of southern descent are daily relocating either back to their home-bases in the south or out rightly out of the country for fear of possible eruption of violence during or after the forthcoming elections. Many politicians, chief executive officers, chairmen of companies, top businessmen and other wealthy Nigerians are also said to have started moving their families out of the county. As it is customary to him, one of my friends whose family is domiciled in the United States of America, left the country in the second week of December, 2014 to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities with his family. Usually, he returns to Nigeria early in the New Year, but this year, he told me, he would not be coming back until late in February. And, according to him: “That depends on what happens in February.” It is obvious from this last statement that my friend and many others like him have decided to keep a safe distance from the shores of the country in anticipation of the crisis that might come up in the aftermath of the February elections.

The simple truth is that Nigerians are skeptical, so also is the whole world, watching with bated breath and concealed anxiety over what the elections might portend for the country. This is understandable. The two front runners in the election - Jonathan and Buhari – were the same gladiators who engaged each other in the 2011 elections. Now, the stakes are even higher. Jonathan will not want to capitulate easily and be disgraced

Dele Agekameh out of office; Buhari too, will not want to kiss the dust for the fourth time. So, both of them will fight with their last breath. Their supporters are also caught in this frenzied trajectory. Here is the big problem. Who blinks first?

The talk about signing agreement of a violence-free election is mere semantics as it does not exist more than on the piece of paper on which it was signed. This is because it is not the political leaders who control this violence; it is their footsoldiers whose livelihood may depend on the gravity of trouble they are able to ignite. In other words, some people live by violence. The political gladiators know them; the security agents know them; those involved too, know themselves; we all know them. But by all means, we must stave off the looming Armageddon. We can only achieve this if our politicians will refrain from manipulating the election results. Electoral justice is the first condition for credible election.

Therefore, our politicians should learn not just to preach peace but to do justice. They should play by the rules and not rob the electorate of their decisions. If the coming election is mismanaged, the casualty figure arising from that may far exceed that of the Ebola virus. Prevention, it is said, is better than cure!

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Sometime in April 2014, over 70 Nigerians were bombed to death in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja. The next day, the president was captured on camera in Kano dancing at a political rally. A few days later, over 200 school girls were snatched from their dormitory beds in the night. The president is yet to visit their parents for ‘security reasons’. Late last year, almost 50 students were killed by terrorists. The next day, President Jonathan declared his intention to seek reelection at a time those kids were being buried. According to a Chinese proverb, “The fish begins to rot from the head”. Those who hope to harvest peace without sowing the seed of justice are only deluding themselves. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso’ •Jonathan For Prof. Segun Gbadegesin We appreciate your contributions to our enlightenment, But they’re becoming much of attacking the president than fair and unbiased as they should be. Anonymous We are told that Prof. Humphrey Nwosu wanted to announce results of “June, 12 election” and to return the rightful winner but was forcefully stopped by government of the day. What can we do to ensure such a thing does not happen if Prof. Jega decides to be fair in the February 14 election? Anonymous What is behind confab report not to implement as promised? ls this how Nigeria will move forward with propaganda of transformation agenda? Time will tell. From Chika Nnorom It is natural for a state to be governed in line with the policy of the political party at the state level, especially when such policy is people-oriented. But if what is now becoming the regular remarks about governor Fayose’s inexcusable discourtesies against the people of Ekiti State and the opposition since assumption of office is actually so, then it is just time he is called to order. Somebody somewhere needs to let him understand that he is there mainly for what the people want, and not to do according to the dictates of the PDP antipopulist policy or that of his selfish interest.

Those who were never approved of by the people but who managed to wangle their ways atop the peoples affairs should have been the most people-oriented in office, how reverse is rather becoming the case with Fayose actually calls for concern. From Emmanuel Egwu.

Former President Obasanjo by his present posturing is only playing with our intelligence as usual. He, no doubt, loves the country though with a method. As a military head of state, he appeared more nationalistic than all with the Land Use Decree & OFN which gain only started and ended in his Ota Farm.

Now he has turned himself “a beautiful Bride” you must marry to win election. He actually has contributed immensely to the rot in the nation and has undoubtedly become

C

HARACTER is greater than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think. – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

It will not surprise anyone in the least that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government will stop at nothing to bring Lagos State under its control.Despite its successes at the centre, the PDP contested the governorship of Lagos on four occasions, twice each with the duo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his successor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. The PDP lost miserably on all four occasions.

Now, it’s almost another four years. The general elections are here again. Babatunde Raji Fashola the APC governor of Lagos State is rounding off most outstanding eight-year tenure, and the gladiators are presently at it again.

Akinwunmi Ambode, retired civil servant, Permanent Secretary and the state’s former AccountantGeneral emerged from the party’s primaries as the flag-bearer of the APC. However, in what appeared to be the result of a fast depletion of competent hands in the ranks of the PDP as a result of the fiasco of past contests, in a move spearheaded by no other person than Olabode George, the party went outside of its membership to recruit and manage its primaries for Jimi Agbaje to emerge

more of our problem than solution today. That APC must also know. From Emmanuel Egwu.

Like a fine writer you have been, you wrote and commented well in this piece. But I however disagree with you over the Jonathan men being the first to larch out abusive words on Buhari that attracted the reactions of the retired General’s supporters. Not so, reverse was rather the case. Even a casual observer knew how the media had been so inundated with all manner of indecent remarks from the APC camp against the president and his administration long before President Jonathan and his men were stirred into fighting back. But let us not dwell much on that save pointing out the unacceptable comments from both sides of the political divide with the mind of steaming the tide. Except that some of those speaking from both sides may be indirectly representing the collective voice of their parties, most of the comments from some individuals seem to be personal opinions and ought not be taken into account all that. Yet let the PDP/APC control their members for peace to reign. From Emmanuel Egwu.

For Gbenga Omotoso Thank you for your piece on Ekiti State. The governor has consistently showed himself to be lawless. His style of administration shows him a tout and incurably troublesome man.

Ekiti will witness a terrible set back on all fronts for the next four years. From Emma Onwubiko.

Aba Abia State.

Re- Curiouser and curiouser in Ekiti. Let there be peace. Do not throw off the settlement path. It is not all the Policemen that are bad as you’ve painted them. If the CP intercedes and the two groups embrace the peace initiative, does it portend the 19 member group to be idiots? Who knows tomorrow in terms of position-occupation? Let them embrace peace, please. From Lanre Oseni.

Sir please make good campaign issue over grant of 377 million pounds given to Nigeria by the British Government for weapons purchase to fight Boko Haram group in Nigeria in 2014 alone. The House of Commons also condemned the Federal Government’s lack of po-

litical will to fight insurgency. Anonymous What is happening in Ekiti State is an indication of high level of power intoxication in the administration of Fayose. One can imagine the body language of our police. I wish Buhari wins the presidential election to put an end to these shameful acts in Ekiti State.

God bless you .I always love reading your articles.

We just have to re-think all Nigerians no matter our differences; a lot of things are going wrong and we need a change in the leadership. By God’s grace there will be change come February 14, this year. Anonymous For Tunji Adegboyega Re: Lessons from Paris. I agree partially with your write-up. Nigeria’s government must motivate the security agents/agencies.

The law enforcement agents too must do their job excellently and secure the citizens. Law must be allowed to take its course. Any bank worker that steals money had stolen the depositors’ money, hence must be appropriately jailed or and penalised. Summary termination of lives of the mutinous soldiers would be an equal measure of their own rule(s) they violated, implying that, if they ran away from Boko Haramists, the rest civilians were free to be attacked, maimed and killed by the insurgents, not only in the north but in the south as well. Quite unfortunate, the crooks killed journalists in France despite provision of adequate infrastructure. Human beings are just complex, period. From Lanre Oseni.

I have never seen or heard in the history of the whole world where a particular country’s citizens are being killed daily and its president is playing politics with it. It is shameful and embarrassing for President Jonathan to have condoled with the government of Hollande of France when over 2,000 people were slaughtered in Baga (although our military said only about 150 were killed; but there is hardly any difference because France was shut down just because 17 people were killed).

If our leaders fail to get it right now, one day the system will crumble on their heads. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

•Buhari Thanks for your piece titled “Lessons from Paris”. Your commentary on the treatment of police personnel in France and in Nigeria hit the nail on the head. After the Nasarawa massacre and the shabby treatment their service to the nation gave them in return, the living are asking questions: will they be willing to put in their best where they are not appreciated?

Anonymous I just read your write-up on “Lessons from Paris”. Your observation and lessons learnt were fantastic. Keep it up. Nigeria will get there one day. Anonymous Really, we have a long way to go as far as good leadership is concerned; that is as revealed by the terrorists attack in France. The government and security agencies tracked down the criminals without politicising it. Time will tell whether we have learnt any lesson from the French government and its security agencies.

But it is interesting to note that the French government cares for its citizens unlike ours which is indifferent despite the enormous resources at our disposal. Our so-called leaders should emulate the French example over the terror attacks rather than keep playing politics with people’s lives. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

Sometime in April 2014, over 70 Nigerians were bombed to death in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja. The next day, the president was captured on camera in Kano dancing at a political rally.

A few days later, over 200 school girls were abducted from their dormitory beds in the night. The president is yet to visit their parents for ‘security reasons’. Late last year, almost 50 students were killed by terrorists. The next day, President Jonathan declared his intention to seek reelection at a time those kids were being buried. According to a Chinese proverb, “The fish begins to rot from the head”. Those who hope to harvest peace without sowing the seed of justice are only deluding themselves. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

Jimi Agbaje: Not different from the pack

By Lateef Raji as its candidate for the February governorship contest.

Agbaje is not new to Lagos governorship race. In 2007 after losing out in the then Action Congress, he went ahead to contest against Fashola on the platform of the DPA, where he returned a distant third behind Musiliu Obanikoro of the PDP with only 8% of the total votes cast.

This latest scheme of the PDP in recruiting Jimi Agbaje to their side is yet another of their desperation to get a foot-hold in Lagos and commence a reversal of the gains of the past years. They are calculating that what they could not accomplish in the last four elections even with the support of the federal government is realizable with a Jimi Agbaje.

With the mindset of a gambler, the PDP expects to reap a windfall for staking a token. The party is oblivious of a wide range of issues that are agitating the minds of the people. Is it the total abandonment of the state for well over a decade by the government in Abuja that will now endear the PDP to Lagosians in February?

Apart from its controversial primary (when the votes were eventually cast, the number of votes recorded far outnumbered the accredited delegates who were announced prior to the commencement of balloting, a situation that turned out to be a huge embarrassment to the party that prides itself as the biggest political party in Africa), one other issue that has to do with the candidate who though possesses the right qualifications and pedigree is that, he is entangled in the web of not too altruistic intrigues of his political godfathers, and blinded by unbridled ambition of governing the state at all costs.

Like President Jonathan of the same PDP, the candidate himself is not helping matters in his public appearances. With his recent declaration that the “South-south will wreck the Nigerian economy” if Jonathan could not secure a second term, he has shown that his progressive posturing is a smokescreen after all; that he is no different from the gabby gang of the PDP. And it confirms my suspicion that Jimi Agbaje is being over rated beyond his mental capacity, because it is difficult to see any intellectual justification in such an insensitive re-

mark. Such remark does not suit the temperament of a leader expected to take right and tough decisions on behalf of the good people of Lagos.

A popular maxim says that if you do not stand for something, you will end up falling for just anything.

Agbaje in his equally desperate bid to become governor has chosen to ride with a thinning crowd, and has thus fallen below the minimum of the depth we expect from our leaders in this part of the country. I am not advocating that people with burning desire to serve should not put themselves forward, but such should be imbued with a consistently defined personal philosophy.

The people are ever always wary of chameleon politicians.

One question begging for an answer is, how did Agbaje fondly called Jay Kay by his supporters find his way into the PDP, a platform reputed for being anti-people in outlook and action? The answer might not be far-fetched; he is driven by unbridled ambition. To Agbaje, the Machiavellian ethos is it; anywhere his ambition could be realized is okay. The end justifies the means.

Hence within a space of eight

years, Agbaje traversed four political parties, though this is his second foray into the governorship race. In 2007, he unsuccessfully sought the ticket of the defunct Action Congress (AC) from where he moved to the Democratic People’s Party (DPA). He soon switched camp to Labour Party and back to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before his current recruitment by the PDP top brass. Above all, Jimi Agbaje lacks public service knowledge. According to Fashola, Lagos is too important to be sacrificed for experiment in place of experience.

Henry Ford sums it beautifully: “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do."

From all indications, the current exercise will also go the way of the initial efforts that failed. Riding on the back of two rejected politicians, Bode George and Adeseye Ogunlewe is like being chained to a rail track with an oncoming train.

The outcome is obvious. Very soon, Agbaje will discover that the duo of George and Ogunlewe are more of an albatross than an asset.

•Raji is Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Information & Strategy.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

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

Phonace rewards customers

By Busola Adesunloye

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phone accessories store, Phonace Limited, said it has designed programme to reward the host communities of its retail outlets as well as its customers and patrons of its brand.

It explained in a statement that the gesture is geared at fostering better integration and community relationship while acknowledging the strength of the position held by these categories of stakeholders.

The brand is giving free vouchers valued at N1,000 each. The free vouchers is in line with the spirit of the yuletide season and is tagged “Phonace appreciates you” Speaking on the promo, its CEO, Erufor Omoko said given the acceptance, friendliness and support the brand has enjoyed in all its host communities, it is imperative and worthwhile to give back as a recognition and appreciation of the kind gestures of the communities. She added that the continued existence of the brand is owed to the trust and loyalty of the communities and consumers which include both individuals and corporate organisations.

She said: “It is our own little way of saying thank you to all of them for being there for us since the beginning of the year” she remarked The gift vouchers are being distributed at the firm’s outlets in Apapa, Surulere and Festac. The program which will be on throughout the festive season will last till end of this month.

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

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

SEC to review capital market policies

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ECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) may undertake extensive review of its policies and modus operandi with a view to aligning them with its core mission of investors’ protection and capital market development.

A source in the know of the workings of the new management of SEC told The Nation that the new management of SEC plans to review existing policies and frameworks to give a new verve to the operations of the apex capital market regulators.

The erstwhile executive commissioner, operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo took over as the acting director general of the apex capital market regulator on Monday January 12, 2015. He succeeded Ms Arunma Oteh, who completed her five-year tenure on Wednesday January 7, 2015.

According to the source, the new management would undertake broad-based consultation with key market stakeholders to ensure strong buy-in for

By Taofik Salako

its policies and bring all hands on the deck for the task of market development.

Some of the policies to be reviewed included the minimum capital base for market operators, the status of the NSE as a members-owned self regulatory organization (SRO), the public complaints and enforcement frameworks and application procedures and approval timelines.

The source hinted that SEC could further align its human resources with core specialties in the days ahead, which will give long-serving professionals in the Commission opportunities to man key market-facing subunits.

It should be noted that SEC had extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements for various capital market functions from December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015. However, the larger segment of the capital market operators had called for a review of the minimum capital base arguing that it violated the principles of risk-based approach that

should govern the capitalization of multi-operators market.

SEC had 2013 announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital mar--ket functions under a new minimum capital structure that was initially scheduled to take off by January 1, 2015. Minimum capital base for broker/dealer was increased by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million. Broker, which currently operates with capital base of N40 million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent. Minimum capital base for dealer increased by 233 per cent from N30 million to N100 million.

Also, issuing houses, which facilitate new issues in the primary market, will now be required to have minimum capital base of N200 million as against the current capital base of N150 million. The capital requirement for underwriter also doubled from N100 million to N200 million. Trustees, rating agencies and portfolio and fund managers had their minimum capital base

increased by 650 per cent each from N40 million, N20 million and N20 million to N300 million, N150 million and N150 million respectively. A Registrar will now have a minimum capital base of N150 million as against the current requirement of N50 million. While the minimum capital base for corporate investment adviser remained unchanged at N5 million, individual investment advisers will have to increase their capital base by 300 per cent from N500,000 to N2 million.

There is also the ongoing debate on the necessity and adequate framework for the demutualization of the NSE, a project that has been driven mainly in the past by the interest of the SEC. The source noted that the acting director general has a better understanding of the capital market operations and required frameworks and operating modalities and will bring this to bear on the operations and rules of the SEC in the weeks ahead.

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

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

• From left: Managing Director, Secure ID Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe; Executive Director, Corporate Banking Group, FirstBank, Adetokunbo Abiru; Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson; Chairman SecureID Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dotun Sulaiman and Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Biyi Mabadeje at the SecureCard manufacturing commissioning ceremony in Lagos.

Honeywell to integrate cassava flour in production

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HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Honeywell Flour Mills Mr. Olarewaju Jaiyeola has said the company is ready to integrate the 10 per cent high cassava yield flour in its production process in order to key into the Federal Government’s policy on cassava bread.

Jaiyeola who spoke shortly after a media facility tour of the company in Lagos, said the policy has brought the Ministry of Agriculture closer to flour mailers in the country in a collaborative effort that has yielded more economic benefits for the country at large especially in the area of employment generation.

According to him, the

Banks rush for govt bonds to shore up revenue

- P26

By Sina Fadare

government, for the first time, was able to support the policy with a holistic approach in terms of collaborative efforts with the private sector in the value laden chain that include the cassava farmers, the processors, the flour mailers and the master bakers which has been producing a wonderful result.

The CEO noted that Honeywell Flour Mill has started with 2.5 per cent cassava flour inclusion in production with a view to increasing it to 10 per cent next year, adding that the gradual process is necessary in order to have a solid back up plan for greater performance in not too distance a future

He said: "We believe so much in the policy and admired the bold step taken by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina by interacting with all the stakeholders in the industry with a clear vision and focus that it can no longer be business as usual syndrome that has crippled well intended policies in the past."

Jaiyeola who said though there were some challenges especially in the area of sourcing for raw materials, he noted that by the time all the value chains are operational such a problem will become a thing of the past.

"As long as people are convinced about the policy and could see the turn over

Nigerian equities can make 16% average return in 2015, says Vetiva - P28

for those people that venture into it, more investors will come in and the multiplier effect will solve the problem of unemployment," he said.

He gave kudos to Dr Adesina for his doggedness, consistence, creativity and commitment despite bureaucratic bottleneck and other man-made challenges which will soon fizzle out with time as soon as all things are in place "Today we have a minister who sit on a table with us and ready to take the first step by providing 500 hectares of land in all the six processing machine states which has been allocated to flour mailers as a back up in order to solve the problem of raw material," he said.

Blue Gate unveils Android TV

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

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LTERNATIVE power solutions giant Blue Gate has unveiled a new 55-inch Android Television.

Speaking on the product, its Business Development Manager, Dr. Tope Obayemi described the television as a practical product that brings internet function on a television screen for more engaging and exciting entertainment.

In a statement, he explained that with a Wi-Fi connection, users can stream live movies/TV programmes, access social media platforms, search engines, download and install Apps from Google play store right on to the television.

He said: ‘The Blue Gate Android television comes with frequently visited sites like Google, Face book, Twitter, Amazon, eBay, Wikipedia and others on the browser for easier navigation and provides enough memory to download desired Apps.” Elaborating further on the television, he said it seeks to empower users to define and create their own entertainment experiences as well as provide options for them to access information through the Internet.

He added: “ The Android TV seeks to put more control in the hands of the users by giving options on how to interact and access information from anywhere, office, home etc. Also with external accessories, users can Skype and video chat and enjoy the viewing experience in full-high definition.”

He further remarked.” The aesthetics of the TV is distinctive as it comes in an attractive, ultra slim bezel that you just want to pinch it to feel that slim feature.

According to the firm, it is equipped with easy to use, intuitive function, several connectivity choices for gadgets (smart phone and tablets) and a modern stand that makes the television too sleek to ignore.. Dr. Obayemi emphasised that every experience in life should be felt and count for something.

Hence the television and all its benefits is just one of those avenues of making every interaction including entertainment felt and colourful. He further explained that it is important in seeking to fulfill the Blue Gate brand philosophy of optimising customer satisfaction and experience to actually do so through all the firm’s range of products, which he hopes the new product would fulfill.

PFAs’ programmed withdrawal plan hits N228b - P38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Banks rush for govt bonds to shore up revenue B ANKS are increasing their stock of government bonds to replace their diminished revenue stream from the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF).

Findings showed that banks constitute up to 60 per cent in the cumulative N947 billion debts raised by the Debt Management Office (DMO) last year.

Head of Markets at FBN Capital, Olubunmi Ashaolu said the DMO’s final monthly auction of government bonds for last year was N54 billion. The bids came from the sale of three debt instruments.

He explained that these were all reopened issues amounting to 13.05 per cent for bonds maturing

Stories by Collins Nweze

in August 2016; 14.20 per cent March 2024 bonds and 12.15 per cent July 2034 bonds.

“The DMO only achieved its sales target for the long bond July 2034, and then at a price. Last year, the debt office has raised N947 billion (gross) from its auctions, and so comfortably within the target range in its quarterly calendars of between N800 billion and N1.11 trillion,” he said.

The CBN pegged the SDF for banks at N7.5 billion, remunerated at 10 per cent per annum.

Standing facilities are aimed at providing and absorbing over-

night liquidity, signal the general stance of monetary policy and bound overnight market interest rates.

The circular announcing the policy stipulates that banks and discount houses can only earn the 10 per cent interest rate under the SDF on placements of up to N7.5 billion.

CBN Director, Financial Markets Department, E.U. Ukeje, said the apex bank observed that banks and discount houses have preference for keeping their idle balances in the CBN as SDF, thereby constraining the process of financial intermediation.

He said the guidelines for the

operations of the SDF were reviewed to encourage banks to increase lending to the productive sector of the economy. The review, he said, means that the remunerable daily placements by banks and discount houses at the SDF shall not exceed N7.5 billion. This shall be remunerated at the SDF rate of 10 per cent per annum.

Ukeje said any deposit by a bank or discount house in excess of N7.5 billion, shall not be remunerated, pointing out that “these provisions are without prejudice to the subsisting Monetary Policy Rate

‘Why ECOWAS needs single currency’

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• From left: Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar; Former Minister of International Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Head of Service, Mr. Danladi Kifasi; High Commissioner, High Commission of Canada, Perry John Calderwood; High Commissioner of India, A. R. Ghanashyam at a dinner in honour of Mrs. Umar in Abuja.

N220b MSMEs fund’s ‘stringent’ terms scare MfBs

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ICROFINANCE Banks (MfBs), finance houses and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are not drawing from the N220 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fund because of stringent drawn-down conditionalities, The Nation has learnt.

An insider in Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) expressed the group’s challenges in drawing from the fund. The source said CBN’s demand that borrowers provide 100 per cent near-cash cover in treasury bills or fixed deposit has made it difficult for any finance house operator to draw from the fund three months after drawn-down started.

The source said there was no point providing total coverage for loans and still lend according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) directive.

The source said: “The demand that borrowers provide 100 per cent near-cash cover on loans is unacceptable. As I speak with you, no finance house operator has drawn from the loan because the CBN cannot force people to invest in treasury bills or keep fixed deposits because they want to borrow.”

The source claimed that as the

situation is now, only commercial banks are meeting the drawndown policy and are accessing the loans, a practice, he said, defeats the objective of setting up the fund.

Part of the CBN’s policy guideline on the loan requires 80:20 ratio for on-lending to micro enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and request that 60 per cent of the fund, representing N132 billion, be earmarked for providing financial services to women-owned businesses were said to be reviewed in the final guidelines concluded at last week’s meeting with stakeholders.

There is also a clause that participating financial institutions can only finance agricultural value chain activities, trade and commerce; cottage industries, artisans, among others.

The banking watchdog said to ensure that productive sectors of the economy continued to attract more finance necessary for employment creation and diversification of the country’s economic base, a maximum of 10 per cent of the commercial component of the fund will be channeled to trading and commerce.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said MSMEs are globally recognised

as the critical engines of economic growth due to their potential to create jobs, boost production, generate income and reduce poverty.

In spite of this recognition, MSMEs do not have adequate financing needed to play this pivotal role in its development trajectory.

A joint report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and McKinsey, showed that the financing gap of this critical sub-sector of the country, is about N9.6 trillion as of 2010.

The N220 billion, Emefiele said, is meant to address this gap and unlock the potential of the MSMEs as an innovative way of improving their access to finance, shoring up their potential for job creation and enabling them reduce poverty within the country.

Emefiele said the CBN would be committing human, material, and financial resources to monitoring both the disbursement and utilisation of the funds by the participating financial institutions. These stakeholders, he said, will be required to submit periodic returns on disbursements as well as an analysis of the social impacts of the Fund adding that the regulator will also undertake regular on and off site checks to ascertain veracity of the reports received.

(MPR) corridor.”

For the avoidance of doubt, he said “the SDF remains operative as a monetary policy tool, but patronage of the facility shall be subjected to the above modifications.”

The MPR corridor remains at plus or minus 200 basis points round MPR. Continuing, he said: “The SDF shall attract an interest rate of MPR minus 200 basis points, 10 per cent per annum up to the limit of N7.5 billion, while any deposit over and above the maximum will attract zero interest rate.”

N ECONOMIST has highlighted the benefits of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) having a single currency by 2020.

Gilles Dufrénot, an economist at the Banque de France, said in an online agency report, Inter- Reseaux that the ECOWAS countries are on the way to establishing a single currency by 2020. Nigeria, he said, is poised to play a major role in this process.

He explained that the “currency map” of West Africa comprises several different exchange regimes.

“There is a monetary union, made up of the eight countries of the Franc zone, whose currency is tied to the euro and a set of non-convertible national currencies whose exchange rates in relation to the dollar or the euro are fixed administratively to a greater or lesser degree,” he said.

He said since different exchange regimes coexist in a small area does not back trade between countries due to the high transaction costs involved (for example, fees for currency conversion and the insurance costs incurred by importers and exporters to cover exchange risks).

Also, for currencies not pegged to an international currency, the problems linked to the credibility

of their exchange policies and the uncertainties linked to volatile exchange rates discourage stable foreign capital and investment over the medium and long term.

He said the idea of introducing a single currency within ECOWAS is based on several historical observations. First, monetary unions tend to foster regional trade as long as they attain a critical mass. Second, regional trade is what drives economic growth, rather than transactions in the context of North/South specialisation. The reason for this is that regional trade most often involves the exchange of similar products, avoiding the pitfall of national industries evicted by imports.

Lastly, the global economy is likely to take shape around currency poles in coming years. It will be important for African countries to have their own poles, alongside international currency poles (the dollar, the euro and the yen). The timetable for implementing a single currency in ECOWAS is outlined as follows; first, the countries that are not members of the Franc zone will set up their own monetary zone called the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) in 2014, adopting a common currency, the West African Currency Unit.

IMF warns on falling oil price

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HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that risks to financial stability have increased, but remain limited, as oil price fall continues.

The international lender in a report: ‘Seven questions about the recent oil price slump’ said currency pressures have so far been limited to a handful of oil exporting countries such as Russia, Nigeria, and Venezuela.

It said that given global financial linkages, these developments demand increased vigilance all around.

“Oil exporters will want to smooth out the adjustment by not curtailing fiscal spending abruptly.

For those without savings funds and strong fiscal rules, budgetary and exchange rate pressures may, however, be significant. Without the right monetary policies, this could lead to higher inflation and further depreciation”.

“The fall in oil prices provides an opportunity for many countries to decrease energy subsidies and use the savings toward more targeted transfers, and for some to increase energy taxes and lower other taxes,” it said.

The report said oil prices have plunged recently, affecting oil producers, exporters, governments, and consumers. Overall, the IMF described this as a shot in the arm for the global

economy. “Bearing in mind that our simulations do not represent a forecast of the state of the global economy, we find a gain for world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 0.3 and 0.7 per cent in 2015, compared to a scenario without the drop in oil prices. There is however much more to this complex and evolving story,” it said.

Oil prices have fallen by over 50 per cent since June, over 40 per cent since September. Metal prices, which typically react to global activity even more than oil prices, have also decreased but substantially less so than oil.

“This casual observation suggests that factors specific to the oil market, especially supply ones, could have played an important role in explaining the drop in oil prices,” it said.

It said the fall in oil prices provides an opportunity for many countries to decrease energy subsidies and use the savings toward more targeted transfers, and for some to increase energy taxes and lower other taxes.

“In the euro area and Japan, where demand is weak and conventional monetary policy has done most of what it can, central banks forward guidance is crucial to anchor medium term inflation expectations in the face of falling oil prices,” it said.

27

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

MONEY Has the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lost the battle to rescue the naira? This is the question many are asking as the currency continues to depreciate despite CBN’s efforts to stabilise it, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

A

HEAD of next month’s elections, increased political risk, falling oil prices and lack of interest in investors’ frontier assets have put the naira under pressure.

The naira has depreciated to an all-time low of 188.48 against the dollar. Last week, the currency was 3.5 per cent down, the lowest since November 14.

This has depleted the foreign reserves.

Policy makers are contemplating either to allow the currency to move in a wider range against the dollar or raise interest rates.

But the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has promised to stabilise the currency without following either routes. He listed some of the challenges he is facing defending the naira, adding that the naira/dollar exchange rate has been under pressure over the last couple of months.

Explaining the difficulties in managing exchange rate stability, the CBN boss raised a poser: “What then can a Central Bank do to react to such a situation of falling reserves and pressurised exchange rates?

“One course of action would be to continue to deplete the foreign exchange reserves in trying to keep the official rate at a stable level. But there are several difficulties with this option.”

He said regardless of its critical nature in an import-dependent country such as Nigeria, the exchange rate operates like any other ‘price’ in the market.

The dollar/naira exchange rate is simply the ‘price’ of dollars in naira. The forces of demand and supply, he said, determine its movement. “When demand rises, the price rises. When supply falls, the price also rises as well. In recent times, Nigeria has faced a perfect storm of simultaneous dwindling supply of dollars and rise in demand. Both forces have led to a rise in the price of dollars, that is, significant reduction in supply of dollars to the market, even with constant output of crude oil production,” he said.

The other global factor, which has significantly reduced the supply of dollars in the market is related to the end of Quantitative Easing by the United States (U.S) Federal Reserve. At the height of the programme, the Federal Reserve was supplying a total of about $85 billion into the U.S economy on a monthly basis, through asset purchases.

This programme came to an end in October last year, thereby significantly reducing the supply of U.S dollars in the global economy.

Another difficulty which has contributed to the continuing depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserves, and its capacity to defend the naira is that the combination of a fall in oil prices and the end of the Quantitative Easing programme by the US Federal Reserve have led to a depreciation of most currencies in the world against the dollar.

Emefiele said an analysis of the year-onyear change in the exchange rate of 26 Emerging Market countries (including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, and Nigeria) indicates that their currencies have depreciated by about 8.1 per cent on average against the dollar.

Steps taken by the CBN The CBN has directed that all importations involving electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment, and invisible transactions will henceforth be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only.

In a circular to all authorised dealers, CBN Director, Trade & Exchange Department, O. I. Gbadamosi told stakeholders that the policy was to maintain the existing stability in forex market and strengthen the various policy measures, already initiated by the CBN. On the development, Head, Africa Strategy at Standard Chartered in London, Samir Gadio, said: “The importation of electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment, and invisible transactions importations shall henceforth be limited to the interbank market only.

“We’re seeing more foreign-exchange flexibility. Perhaps they do not want to burn FX

Will CBN win naira rescue war?

‘Analysts said that a gradual appreciation of the currency will require building confidence in the financial system and price of crude oil in international market. This is what is going to drive the exchange rate now and beyond. We cannot isolate what is happening in the global economy like the issue of diversification of energy sources’ • Emefiele

reserves unnecessarily. It’s a risky strategy though as the market will now look for the topside of dollar-naira and also because the lower rates will reduce the incentive to hold naira fixed-income assets.”

BDCs policy On June 23, last year, the CBN, among other things, raised the minimum capital requirement of BDCs to N35 million from N10 million. It raised the mandatory caution deposit to N35 million from $10,000.

Again, on July 7, the apex bank extended the deadline from July 15 to July 31, in response to appeals and intervention of Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) and both chambers of the National Assembly.

In a circular, CBN’s Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kelvin Amugo, said interest would be paid on the mandatory caution deposit of N35 million, based on the savings account rate. The CBN, Amugo said, would, on expiration of the deadline, cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the fresh requirements.

Meanwhile, the CBN had given approval to additional 102 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, bringing the total to 2,544 since the recapitalisation deadline lapsed in July.

The apex bank had last August, published a list of 2,442 licensed BDCs, which it said, had complied with its new capital requirements of N35 million as at July 31, last year.

There were 3,208 registered BDCs before the expiration of the deadline. The CBN had in June announced a new minimum capital

requirement of N35 million for the operation of BDCs, up from the N10 million.

To ensure that the forex dealers comply with the new capital requirements, the CBN had extended the deadline to July 31, last year. The forex dealers were previously given a deadline of July 15, last year. The apex bank had also stated that interest would be paid on the mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million, based on banking industry savings account rate.

It, among other requirements, also reviewed the mandatory cautionary deposit for BDCs upward to N35 million. The regulator had pointed out that on the expiration of the deadline on July 31, last year, that it would cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the new requirements, adding that “only BDCs that meet the new requirements would qualify to be engaged as agent by the licenced international money transfer operators for inward and outward transfer business in Nigeria.

Dollar sales to BDCs slashed The CBN has cut dollar sales to BDCs by 70 per cent from $50,000 per week to $15,000.

The N35 million caution raised from $20,000 represents a 1000 per cent hike among other conditions set by the apex bank in its June 23 guidelines for the subsector.

Managing Director, Kayewd BDC Limited, Rotimi Dada, who confirmed the new dollar sales to BDCs, said the action has cut dollar supply to the market, and reduced profit margins for operators while the overhead costs remain the same.

‘The other global factor, which has significantly reduced the supply of dollars in the market, is related to the end of Quantitative Easing by the US Federal Reserve.

At the height of the programme, the Federal Reserve was supplying a total of about $85 billion into the United States (US) economy on a monthly basis, through asset purchases. This programme came to an end in October this year, thereby significantly reducing the supply of US dollars in the global economy’

Speaking on the sideline of the ABCON public hearing in Lagos, he said operators had rents to pay, adding that they are not able to meet market demands for the dollar which is bad for the market. He said there is a multiplier effect of the policy, which makes it difficult for operators to buy dollar from commercial banks.

Dada said the CBN was acting a bit hasty by cutting the dollar sales to BDCs and that the regulator should consult with stakeholders on what needed to be done. He said the CBN should see the BDCs as macroeconomic factors that favour the economy.

Complex crises get worse The misfortune of the naira seems complex. The thinking is that massive inflow of forex from surging oil prices and the boom in the capital market were responsible for the appreciation of the naira in the past few years. Unfortunately, oil prices have nosedived and Nigeria capital market is in a shambles. The fall in the price of oil has major consequences on government revenue, aggregate output, capital formation investment, employment, trade and fiscal balance.

The 2008 global financial meltdown also contributed to naira’s freefall. Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria was unprepared for the shock. “The Nigerian economy believed to be one of the most resilient in the world was caught unawares by the global crisis,” he said.

Analysts said a gradual appreciation of the currency will require building confidence in the financial system and price of crude oil in international market. This is what is going to drive the exchange rate now and beyond. We cannot isolate what is happening in the global economy like the issue of diversification of energy sources.

Policy makers speak Sub-Saharan Africa Economist at Renaissance Capital and co-Author of the Fastest Billion Yvonne Mhango said the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira.

The official devaluation of the naira, she said, allows the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) to move within the range that straddles the interbank foreign exchange rate. “While the market reaction to the RDAS move in the near-term will be important, we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria.

“While Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability,” she said.

Head, Equities Market at FBN Capital Olubunmi Ashaolu said the CBN has by the policy, set clear cut objective on its monetary policy direction. He said the stock exchange positive reaction was an indication that local and foreign investors now understand where the naira is heading. “As long as there is clarity and good investment climate, the equities market will benefit,” he said.

He advised government to improve infrastructure, noting that such action would make Nigeria’s investment climate more attractive for foreign investors.

Rewane said the MPC’s decision has reinforced the CBN’s independence and autonomy.

He said the currency adjustment has a direct impact on the cost of imports and may undermine the MPC’s efforts at ensuring price stability in a hugely import-dependent economy. The devaluation, he added, would slow down external reserves depletion. “Since the naira is closer to equilibrium, the need to intervene will be less,” he added.

To the President of National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Chukwu Wachukwu, there are consequences wherever currencies are devalued. He said the naira devaluation would make government to jettison its sole reliance on oil and pay attention to other sectors of the economy. “We can’t just continue to depend on oil, we need to diversify,” he said.

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Nigerian equities can make 16% average return in 2015, says Vetiva I NVESTORS in Nigerian equities may earn an average double-digit return of about 16 per cent this year, in spite of the bearishness that started the year.

Quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have so far this year recorded negative average return of -16.22 per cent, according to the opening data this week. Nigerian equities had ranked among the worst-performing stocks globally in 2014 with average full-year decline of 16.14 per cent. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed 2014 at N13.226 trillion as against its opening value of N11.477 trillion for the year, indicating a loss of N1.75 trillion during the year.

Leading investment and finance company, Vetiva Capital Management Limited (Vetiva), stated that Nigerian equities have been significantly undervalued by the previous bearishness and would witness considerable recovery this year.

Analysts at Vetiva noted that while the performance of the equities market will correlate with the global oil price trend, a midpoint analysis suggests that Nigerian equities can make potential average return of 16 per cent this year.

Analysts pointed out that while valuations appear relatively cheap, sustained pressure on oil prices will likely continue to constrain investor re-entry into equities. Analysts thus anchored their 2015 return expectation for the All Share Index (ASI) of the NSE on oil price performance in the year.

According to analysts, using 16 year data, a correlation factor of 72 per cent between Brent crude prices and the ASI was established.

The assumption of Brent crude recovering to $70/bbl by year end indicates a 22 per cent recovery from 2014 end position; thus, factoring in 72 per cent correlation suggests that amidst much volatility, the ASI holds a potential 16 per cent return in 2015 to 40,201.56 points.

"Our scenario analysis indicate that at $100/bbl level, ASI would hold a potential 54 per cent return for the year, whilst at $20/bbl price level, the return potential is -47 per cent. Given that the market selloff in the final quarter of 2014 was broad based, we believe a market recovery in 2015 will equally be broad based," Vetiva stated.

"We expect a moderate recovery in oil prices in 2015, driven largely by a marginal improvement in global economic growth, which should support demand, but will still be overshadowed by supply, stemming any sustained rise in the oil price. Our sense, however, is that the prospects of a sustained recovery will be based on whether price weakness triggers substantial reduction in nonOPEC supply and/or a cut in OPEC production either at the June 2015 meeting or earlier. The former could be influenced by the risk of delayed shale projects if prices stay well below projected breakeven for too long, and the latter by the risks of running large budget deficits and lower growth prospects resulting from depressed oil revenues. Other risks that could trigger an uptrend in oil prices would be: supply disruptions in the Middle East, an aggressive build-up in China's Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR), and a more intense winter in the US These events however

need to be significant enough to alter oil market fundamentals by tightening supply in order to sustain the oil price rebound. In our core scenario, we expect the Brent to gradually rise from the current levels to US$60/bbl by first half of 2015, and up to US$70/bbl levels by year-end 2015," Vetiva noted.

The investment and finance firm outlined that analyses of key sectors on the NSE revealed tough operating conditions across board noting that while the banking sector is attractive with low valuations, banks would have to navigate a difficult operating environment decline in global oil prices. Banks' exposure to the oil & gas sector has come under the spotlight with fears of possible loan default even as the oil & gas value chain account for the biggest share, an average 25 per cent of banks loan portfolios. However Vetiva indicated that average non-performing loans for the banking industry would remain under the regulatory ceiling of 5.0 per cent at 4.6 per cent in 2015.

"Whilst we estimate gross earnings will grow marginally in 2015, we expect the pressure on efficiency to persist. Nonetheless, we forecast an average six per cent earnings growth for our coverage banks in 2015, driven by the low 2014 base for the top tier banks," Vetiva noted.

Analysts said the consumer goods sector will be challenged by further hits to consumer wallets amidst declining government spending. Already, the Federal Government has announced some austerity measures including a luxury tax on private jets and spirits, a generally more aggressive stance on the collection of taxes, with other measures expected to be announced during the course of 2015.

According to analysts, the biggest risk to consumer spending is the probable complete removal of fuel subsidy after the February 2015 general elections given the events that followed the partial removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and possible fallouts should oil prices rebound in the second half of the year. Other events that would contribute to pressured consumer wallets in 2015 include the hike in electricity tariffs under the Multi-Year Tariff Order and tariffs on car importation.

"We expect cost of borrowings to inch up in line with the tighter credit environment with attendant impact on earnings performance of consumer goods manufacturers in 2015. We expect low valuations in the upstream oil and gas space to trigger a couple of mergers and acquisitions in 2015.

Downstream operators will be net beneficiaries of the oil price decline as the all-in cost of refined products fall; we also expect that operators will enjoy wider mar-

•Mr Oscar Onyema

gins on non-regulated products.

We forecast aggregate earnings growth of 18 per cent for downstream majors, boosted by reduction in financing costs," the 2015 outlook report by Vetiva stated.

Analysts said macro headwinds will put a dampener on demand outlook for the industrial goods sector like cement and building construction, as government and private expenditure growth come under pressure. They nonetheless noted that the low 2014 base will provide modest room for growth as cement producers diversify energy supply risk. Vetiva estimated a 10 per cent growth for cement consumption in 2015.

On the fixed-income market, Vetiva expected 2015 to open to healthy domestic demand for fixed income securities given the strong and positive real returns on offer and flight to safety from equities by pension funds.

Analysts noted that along with strong domestic demand and relatively attractive re-entry levels, there is room for compression in yields in the second half of 2015 as macros become more benign.

They however added that risks to this outlook include a quicker than anticipated increase in the United States Fed funds rate which could incite market sell-off and a lowerfor-longer oil price which could leave the economy in a twin-deficit situation.

"In first half 2015, we expect the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) will

remain unchanged at 13 per cent but further tightening could come by raising the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on private sector deposits to 25 per cent if conditions deteriorate further. By second half of 2015, based on our expectation of a recovery in oil prices, we think monetary policy could be slightly relaxed with 100 bps reduction in the MPR," Vetiva stated.

Analysts noted the macro background to the financial markets' performance citing the February 14 elections and oil revenue as major determinants of the macro outlook.

"Amidst a global backdrop of still fragile growth and multiyear low oil prices, Nigeria will hold crucial elections in February 2015 in what is expected to be the most keenly contested in the country's nascent democracy. With oil revenues making up c.70 per cent of Government revenues and c.80 per cent of exports, low oil prices will no doubt challenge the Nigerian economy in 2015. Following from this, we expect growth to weaken to 5.5 per cent, driven by slower growth in net exports, government consumption expenditure and private household consumption expenditure amidst modest growth in investment demand," Vetiva indicated.

Analysts projected that inflation rate will average 8.8 per cent in 2015, higher than the average of 8.1 per cent recorded in 2014, largely reflecting pass-through ef-

‘We expect a moderate recovery in oil prices in 2015, driven largely by a marginal improvement in global economic growth, which should support demand, but will still be overshadowed by supply, stemming any sustained rise in the oil price. Our sense, however, is that the prospects of a sustained recovery will be based on whether price weakness triggers substantial reduction in non-OPEC supply and/or a cut in OPEC production either at the June 2015 meeting or earlier’

fects of higher domestic prices via imports, following the devaluation of the Naira to Dollar Analysts expected further devaluation in Naira noting that Nigeria is also at a risk of running a current account deficit.

"Taking into account the elevated risks to the naira, market uncertainty in the near term, and the risks of running a current account deficit, we forecast an interbank exchange rate of Naira to Dollar at N202/$ by end 2015, with the current account deficit of 0.81 per cent of GDP in 2015 as against surplus of 2.69 per cent in 2014," Vetiva noted.

The pace of world growth in 2014 was disappointing, particularly in the Eurozone, Japan, China and many other emerging economies.

The United States (US) economy held the bright spot, driven by an improving labour market, a modest housing market recovery and rising capital expenditures.

In 2015, Vetiva expects a modest improvement in global economic growth supported by central banks' efforts at sustaining the fragile recovery. The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO) estimates reflect this cautious optimism with 2015 global growth forecast of 3.8 per cent more upbeat than the 3.3 per cent recorded in 2014, albeit a downward revision from the 4.0 per cent forecast in the October WEO publication.

Other global themes are likely to revolve around low global inflation, periods of volatility associated with rising US rates and low commodity prices.

Analysts noted that the US economy is in a cyclical upturn and is one of the few economies expected to accelerate in 2015 on the back of an improving housing sector, strengthening household consumption growth, further growth in business investments and a narrowing fiscal deficit.

Reflecting this optimism, the IMF had projected US GDP growth at 3.1 per cent in 2015 as 2.2 per cent in 2014 although the pace of expansion could be tempered by slower growth in other regions, considering that projections for major trade partners such as Japan and China are modest at 0.8 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively compared to 1.0 per cent and 7.4 per cent in 2014.

"Following the completion of the asset purchase program in 2014 and recovery in the US economy, the question is - when will the Federal Reserve raise rates? The minutes of the recent FOMC meetings tells us that this depends on the pace of recovery in the labour market and the quickening of inflation. Market expectations are that the Fed will start tightening mid-2015 but only at a gradual pace. Overall, this points to lower global liquidity although we expect that monetary tightening in the US will be somewhat offset by expansive monetary policy in the Eurozone and Japan as these economies battle deflation," analysts noted.

The Benchmark Brent Crude oil price declined 48 per cent in 2014 to multi year low of $57.33/bbl.

This sharp decline which happened in the second half of the year was largely on the back of oversupply triggered by an increase in nonOPEC production-US, Canada and an unexpected increase in OPEC production-Libya, Iraq. Other factors were the modest growth in emerging economies which softened demand and strengthening of the US dollar.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

PAGE 29

The people of Ibadan and environs defied harsh weather conditions and literally poured into Mapo Hall last Saturday in their thousands to be part of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s second term campaign flag-off for the February 28 gubernatorial election. BISI OLADELE was there.

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu arriving Mapo Hall, Ibadan, for the campaign flagg off last Saturday.

Ibadan stands still as Ajimobi flags off second term campaign I

INSIDE

T was expected to be another usual political campaign. And Mapo Hall in the heart of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the historic political campaign headquarters in the Southwest, was the venue. But residents of the ancient city and even politicians got more than they expected when crowds of party faithful, supporters and even ordinary folks began pour-

Lagos Muslims pray for peaceful polls PAGE 32

ing into the venue in their hundreds last Saturday and within a short time the gathering reached an unprecedented height as Mapo Hall was filled to capacity a clear three hours ahead of the scheduled time for the commencement of the rally.

For more than eight hours that the event lasted, the crowd endured traffic snarl, the scorching

sun and threatening stampede to listen to, and hail Ajimobi and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Southwest states who came to drum up support for another term for the Oyo State governor.

Ajimobi had been criticized continuously by opposition within and outside the party, leaving residents and political watchers to expect

Oyo lifts College of Nursing with N250m PAGES 34

only a scanty crowd made up of a handful party supporters and few that would want to witness what some critic had predicted would be his ‘disgrace’ at Mapo. But the governor pulled a great surprise with the surging crowd of people who defied all odds, including a harsh weather to be counted among those showing their love for him.

Though the programme was slated

Day of horror in IkareAkoko PAGE 36

for 10:00 am, all roads leading to the venue were under heavy traffic from 8:30 am as Ajimobi’s supporters poured in from all directions.

By 10:00 am, Mapo Hill, on top of which the historic hall is located, was already playing host to a population that dwarfed the crowd which attended the campaign rally

•Continued on page 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

30

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT

Ibadan stands still as Ajimobi flags off second term campaign •Continued from page 29 of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, barely one week earlier.

From Oje, Yemetu, Idi-Arere to Agbeni and other routes to the venue, traffic gridlock held down many motorists and commuters as vehicular movements became increased by the minute.

Without road blockade by security agencies, roads within 3,000 metres radius to Mapo Hall were blocked with traffic, and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Ajimobi had to alight from their vehicles and trekked to the venue, leaving their drivers to sort themselves out. Ordinary motorists spent pretty long time navigating through the thick traffic.

By 9:00 am, groups, associations, market women, traders, musicians, professionals, commercial drivers, itinerary drummers and ordinary folks had occupied the hilltop venue waiting to receive their leader. The association of market women and other traders had declared the day work-free as they closed their shops in solidarity with a governor they said “recognizes and transforms” their business.

The first set of dignitaries to arrive were APC leaders in Oyo State including Dr Busari Adebisi, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, commissioners, special advisers and other political appointees as well as candidates for the February 14 and 28 elections. Next were Ajimobi’s wife, Florence; wives of Osun State Governor, Alh. Serifat Aregbesola; her Ogun State counterpart, Mrs Funso Amosun; wife of the immediate past Ekiti State Governor,

•A mammoth crowd at the flag-off of campaign held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Saturday. Inset : Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second right), Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (right) and Chief Bisi Akande (third right), Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi (middle), Oyo Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo (third left), APC Leader and former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (second left) and APC State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke (left) at the flag-off of the Oyo State gubernatorial campaign held at the venue

Mrs Bisi Fayemi and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

Dressed in the customized Ankara uniform glittering in the yellow and maroon official colours of the state, the appearance of supporters gave a colourful view of the celebrants and the crowd.

The chorus of: “Continuity in Oyo State,” “Change Jonathan” rent the air each time the Master of Ceremony, Babatunde Olaniyi (Ti o common), shouted APC! For Ti o common, there are only two parties contesting in the February elections in the state: peace and brigandage. He said while Ajimobi represents peace the opposition represents brigandage and cluelessness.

Party supporters and residents also sometimes giggled and at other times gyrated where they stood in response to the danceable tunes dished out by the Ibadan-based popular fuji musician, Alh. Rashidi Ayinde (Fuji Merenge). He thrilled the audience continuously.

The presence of popular Yoruba Nollywood actors and actresses led

by Saidi Balogun, also added glamour to the rally with some of them addressing the mammoth crowd, urging them to vote for Ajimobi to continue his good works.

Leaders of the Igbo and Hausa communities residing in the state also made the gathering and officially declared their support for the second term ambition of the governor. By 2:00 pm, the crowd had spread to Beere, Oja’ba, Agbeni and adjourning areas.

The President of the Association of Market Men and Women in the state, Alh. Adisa Oladapo said members of the association were supporting Ajimobi because of the peace he had enthroned in the state. He added that the governor was working hard for the progress and development of the state without looking back, stressing: ‘One good turn deserves another.’

According to him, no governor has treated traders well like Ajimobi in the state. He disclosed that his administration constructed modern neighbourhood markets, gave them shops free-of-charge and

added N20 million trading capital to traders at Scout Camp Market alone.

He also lauded Ajimobi’s administration on cleanliness of the environment and the urban renewal project, saying they rid the state of epidemics. “My people and the entire people of Oyo State don’t be ungrateful. Let us all vote for Ajimobi.”

He said.

The physically challenged also spoke of how Ajimobi’s administration accommodated them by employing and empowering them throughout the 33 local government areas in the state. So were representatives of the 20,000 youths employed under the state’s Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State dubbed “YES-O.” They asked the jubilating crowd to imagine the joy which the jobs brought to 20,000 homes, urging voters to return Ajimobi to power on February, 28.

So were representatives of students, motor dealers, teachers, and popular musician, Abolore Akande (aka (9ce) who also performed at the gathering.

•Governor Abiola Ajim at Mapo Hall, Ibadan o

Wives of Aregbeseola, Fayemi and Ajimobi took time to address the rally. They all emphasized the need to give Ajimobi chance for a second term.

At exactly 2:25 pm, Ajimobi and the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, rode into Mapo Hall premises in an open-roof blue Ford bus. While Ajimobi appeared on the front opening, Tinubu stood tall behind him in another opening. Their arrival threw the rally into a session of a terrific ecstasy. The crowd hailed the governor and Tinubu uncontrollably. They screamed, jumped and jubilated at their leaders. In return, Ajimobi and Tinubu gyrated with joy on the podium to acknowledge the cheers.

Following them were National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Eng. Segun Oni; former interimNational Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Osun and Ekiti State governors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Kayode Fayemi. They all decked the yellow and maroon colour Agbada uniform with matching cap.

By 2:45, Aregbesola rode into the

Monarch, council chief yearn for community policing

T

HE issue of community policing became the centre of discussion on Monday when the people of Alimosho, the most populated local government in Nigeria gathered for a stakeholders' forum.

The 2015 Local Government Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy Stakeholders Forum was meant to discuss among other issues, budget for the year, security, forthcoming general elections, taxes and development of the communities.

The early arrival of the stakeholders including members of the Community Development Committee (CDC), marketers, traditional rulers, members of the youth council, council officials and party leaders paved way for smooth kick off of the event.

The arrival of the monarch, Oba of Sasha Oba Nasiru Babatunde Ogunrombi enlivened the atmosphere.

Amid political songs, banters and shout of party slogans, the newly installed Executive Secretary (ES), Jelili Sulaimon mounted the podium amidst cheers from the gathering. .The forum, Sulaimon said, was in fulfillment of the promise by the council administration to carry along stakeholders before critical

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

decisions are taken.

"This, you will all agree with me is the way forward in making our local government embrace international best practices in governance," he said.

While thanking them for their presence, the council boss said the attendance attested to their unwavering commitment to the development of the council.

"As we all know, local government is the first level of government the citizens come in contact with within their locality; it is the closest to the people at the grassroots and as such it becomes imperative to involve the citizens and residents of the council and other relevant stakeholders in the conceptualisation of the budget and the economic policies as it affects the citizenry," he said.

According to him, in the past, economic policies were made the exclusive privilege of the government functionaries, saying when there was disconnection between the people and the policies, programmes and projects of the government which were supposed to serve the people then it becomes a burden.

Government alone, Sulaimon said, cannot fashion out the needs of the community, hence the neces-

sity for the meeting to receive input from all stakeholders so that at the end of the day "we shall have a budget that meets the yearnings and aspirations of the people."

He implored stakeholders and residents within the local government to pay their taxes and levies for the government to have enough resources to cater for its programmes and projects.

Oba Ogunrombi hailed the Executive Secretary for starting on a good note by consulting with the people before implementation of his policies.

Sulaimon's action, he said, was in line with the policy of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

This, the monarch said, will aid accountability in the running of the affairs of the council.

He enjoined the people to be law abiding always.

Alimosho, he said, is the heart of Lagos just as Lagos is the heart of Nigeria, hence wherever it takes to ensure peaceful co-existence in the area should be done.

The monarch called on the residents to support the new council boss.

The CDC chairman, Chief Shola Ogunyombo said the ES has done well within the short time he assumed office. He described as commendable the performance of coun-

•From left: Oba Ogunrombi; Sulaimon and the council manager, Mrs Qudrat Bello

cil boss in the three weeks he has spent so far in office.

"We have told him our needs particularly the grading of roads and he

has visited some of the roads on the list submitted to his office and promised to expedite action on them," he said.

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•Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second right) addressing a mammoth crowd at the flag-off of the Oyo State gubernatorial campaign held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Saturday. With him is his wife, Florence.

compound in another blue Ford bus, acknowledging cheers from the crowd from Oje to Mapo.

His arrival changed the tempo again. The crowd hailed the Osun State governor continuously.

Rashidi Ayinde praised him with thrilling songs which kept people dancing for minutes. The governor, in his characteristic manner, responded with quick dance steps to and from across the stage. They hailed his success in the August, last year governorship election.

Fayemi opened the floor. He told the crowd that he was born and bred in Ibadan, stressing that he has always known how Ibadan looked like. He urged residents to repay Ajimobi’s giant strides with massive votes in next month’s election, saying Oyo State has never had it this good.

Oni spoke next. He said Yoruba never lagged behind but that the PDP has done everything to put the Yoruba nation at the back burner in spite of the huge support the party received in Yoruba land in 2011. The former Ekiti State governor urged voters to return Ajimobi and vote for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election.

s Qudrat Bello

Oyinlola also took his turn, describing the PDP as a party of deceit. He said God has already wrested power from Jonathan. He emphasized the need for the people of the state to vote for Ajimobi to enable him complete his projects.

In his own speech, Chief Akande recalled that some people were criticizing them when they were establishing the APC last year. He said they wondered why they were working with the Hausa, Ibo and other ethnic groups, believing that it would be an effort in futility. But today, he said, everybody sees what they were not seeing before. “All Nigerians can now see that it is the best party.” He said.

He also highlighted Ajimobi’s achievements and urged the people of Oyo State to vote for continuity.

He said: “Ajimobi has transformed Ibadan and other towns in the state.

Some people are angry with this.

Abiola is our son. When we were here in Ibadan administering the state, Ajimobi was abroad seeing good things. That is what he is doing here.

For those who do not like these developmental projects, go and appeal to them. He will still do more if reelected.”

When he took his turn, Aregbesola said the PDP is always seeking power to oppress Nigerians. He said hard work and commitment helped APC survive.

“It is painful that Ekiti went back into servitude. Fayemi tried and they know that they cheated us. Can you compare Osun State of today with the Osun State of the past? Is the Ibadan of 2010 the same city we are seeing now? So are Ogun and Lagos states.”

He described this year’s election as a fight for freedom.

Aregbesola accused the PDP of using proceeds from fraudulent deals on sale of kerosene to fund President Jonathan’s campaign and to enrich their cronies through the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN).

According to him, the Federal Government deliberately sells a liter of kerosene to cronies at N40:90 while they in turn sell to marketers at N95 per litre. The huge difference, the governor said, is one of the sources of PDP’s stupendous wealth.

He challenged the PDP to sue him to court over the fact. “Let’s chase them out with our votes on February 14 and 28.” He urged the crowd.

Tinubu, who spoke next, highlighted the reason Nigerians must vote for the APC next month, listing the continuous stealing of 400,000 barrels of oil daily and poor performance as among the major reasons.

The former Lagos State Governor accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading poverty through its poor performance and corrupt practices, saying the only solution is for Nigerians to reject all its candidates in the coming election and vote for the APC’s instead.

He urged Oyo State voters to allow their conscience to guide them in determining the best candidates that deserve their votes. According to him, the great feat of the Ajimobi administration, the APC governorship candidate, is unparalleled in the state.

He listed the rebuilding of Agodi Gardens, dualization of roads, massive infrastructural development and welfare packages for the people as among the reasons Ajimobi deserves their votes.

The former Lagos State governor accused the Federal Government of diverting 400,000 barrels of oil per day and President Jonathan, who claimed to be in firm control of the country, feigned ignorance of what he called serious economic sabotage.

“They steal 400,000 barrels of oil every day. Yet, President Goodluck Jonathan said he could not see this and he claims he is still in charge. He is no longer fit to rule this country.

Let us send them packing on February 14 by voting for APC at the national level and for Ajimobi on February 28,’’ he said.

He described Ajimobi as sensible, reliable, focused, visionary and consistent, judging by what he termed the governor’s unprecedented achievements in the last three and a half years.

“Governor Ajimobi has demonstrated that he has vision, capacity and capability to make people the cornerstone of his administration.

This is what Ajimobi represents in Oyo State and he has been consistent with it.

“Today, when you drive through Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, you see beautiful scenery, clean environment, good road network, new flyover, Asejire Waterworks, Agodi Gardens, new markets, you will be proud of having somebody like him in the saddle. Indeed, Oyo is now a huge construction site,’’ he said.

Tinubu said it was regrettable that in spite of all entreaties to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja to team up

with Ajimobi to develop Oyo State, he (Ladoja) insisted on floating a party that lacked regional or national spread.

Describing the Accord Party governorship candidate as an ingrate, he said that he had nothing to offer the people of the state, having demonstrated gross incompetence during his tenure as governor.

On mounting the podium, Ajomobi pooh-poohed criticism of his administration, saying he has outperformed his predecessors, two of who are also in the February 28, 2015 race.

Ajimobi listed six major projects undertaken by his administration, which he said were unprecedented.

He also pointed out that no fewer than eight big companies have opened shops in the state due to the investor-friendly nature of his administration’s policies.

These include the largest cooking oil factory, largest bread factory, largest Shoprite store, 100,000 production capacity chicks producing factory and Nigeria’s largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) service providing firm.

Besides, Ajimobi listed his achievements to include recruitment of 20,000 youths, construction of modern markets for traders with provision of interest-free trading capital, free buses for civil servants and students as well as improved welfare package for workers and restorers.

Governor Ajimobi said that it was during his administration that citizens now sleep with two eyes closed because of the pervading peace and security which had attracted at least the industrial giants to the state.

He also added that the construction of the first flyover by any civilian administration at Mokola in Ibadan was undertaken by his administration.

Ajimobi also noted that his administration was the first to implement and pay the 142 per cent increase pension arrears, coupled with mass employment of teachers.

If re-elected, he promised to deliver more dividends of democracy, one of which would be the employment 40,000 youths and widening the scope of the ongoing social and infrastructural revolution in the state.

He challenged his predecessors to show their own score cards.

By the time Ajimobi wrapped up his speech, at 6:10 pm, the crowd was still on their feet savouring the joy of listening to their leaders.

to play the game by the rules, saying winning an election should be through rigorous campaign and not by violence.

Other stakeholders reiterated the need for an effective community policing to ensure a violence-free society.

•Cross-section of the participantsa t the event

On the forthcoming election, he said community policing will go a long way to curb crimes within the vicinity.

He enjoined parents to monitor their wards.

"This is the time politicians may want to use them to achieve selfish

desire; the youth should shun whoever asked them to commit crime during and after the elections," he said.

Chief Ogunyombo urged politicians

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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Muslims under the banner of the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) stormed the expansive Blue Roof of the Lagos Television (LTV) in Ikeja, Lagos last Sunday to pray for peaceful elections holding in Feb ruary. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there

Lagos Muslims pray for peaceful polls

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HEAD of the February general elections, Muslims in

Lagos last Sunday turned out in their thousands to seek the face of God in prayers for peaceful polls.

The event held at the Blue Roof of the Lagos Television (LTV) in Ikeja, Lagos, and organised by the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) brought together various Islamic organisations and central mosques in Lagos.

The gathering featured sermons and keynote addresses by various Islamic scholars and academics.

Anchored by the duo of Dr Ahmad Rufai of the University of Lagos and LTV Presenter Jubril Folami, the prayer session featured presentation of Islamic demands to the governorship candidates in the state.

The governorship candidates were led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; his running mate, Dr Idiat Adebule; running mate of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) Alhaja Safurat Abdulkarim and the National Conscience Party (NCP), Mr Ayodele Akele.

The event began with prayer, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran.

JMF Chairman of Board of Trustees, Senator Habeeb Fashinro, in his welcome address, stated that the event was organised to offer prayers for a peaceful poll in the country.

“We are also praying for the best candidate to emerge. The person who will improve the lives of Nigerians and move the country forward,” Senator Fasinro said in an address read on his behalf by Professor Tajudeen Gbadamosi, formerly of the University of Lagos.

“Being a community of Godfearing and law-biding citizens who also believe in the efficacy of prayers, the Muslims of Lagos

•Cross-section of women during the prayer

•From left: Senator Fasinro; Justice Olorunimbe and Prof Noibi

•From left: Sheikh Lawal; Prof Gbadamosi and Mr Ambode

State have assembled here today to pray to Almighty Allah for peace to reign from now on, before, during and after the general elections,” Senator Fashinro added.

He said the Muslim community rejects the pockets of violence in certain parts of the country ahead of the crucial poll.

“We believe that Nigerian Muslims are vital stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Muslims are in the majority in this country and

anything that happens in Nigeria will affect more Muslims than any other group,” he said.

Missioner of Nadwat-Ahli Society of Nigeria, Alhaji AbdurRahman Awwal led the congregation in Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) before special prayers were coordinated by the duo of Sheikh Tijani Gbajabiamila and Sheikh Mujitaba Giwa, who stood in for the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim.

An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Najeem

Jimoh, in his short sermon, called on elected and appointed leaders to see their positions as trust placed on them by Allah.

Jimoh, the Amir (President) of The Companion, (an association of Muslim men in Business and Profession) urged leaders to make judicious use of the trust so as to earn the pleasure of Allah.

He enjoined the electorate to use of their voting power to elect the best candidate for the society.

“It is imperative for the elector-

Cleric warns against religious sentiment in politics

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HE Head of Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Nigeria and Overseas (C&S), His Eminence Adegboyega Alao, has advised Nigerians not to allow religious sentiment to influence their votes in the upcoming general election.

He charged them to vote wisely for a candidate that they know is ready to serve the country genuinely.

Speaking at a press conference to herald the Church 85th Annual General Conference held at Sacred C&S Church, Saint Christianah Olatunde Ogo-Olorun Model Parish District in Ondo, Ondo State, Alao said Nigeria is at a critical stage, noting that if the country fails to get it right this time around, it may spell the end for the nation.

The Cleric cautioned Nigerians not to allow some desperate politicians to mislead them with sentimental issues, saying, “hunger does not know if you are a Christian or Muslim, unemployment does not know if you are Yoruba, Hausa, or Ijaw, insecurity does not know if you are an Igbo or Hausa but what should be in our minds is that we must vote for a President that can provide food for us, give us protection, give us jobs, and someone who is ready to transform the country”.

Alao, who lamented the high rate of corruption in the country, suggested that Nigeria needs a President, who according to him would restore discipline back to the nation.

He explained that the country is al-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ready decaying because of bad leadership, noting that was why elections are always over heated by politicians who always want to remain or get to power by force.

His words, “the polity is daily being over heated by politicians especially by those who history would not forgive if things go wrong; those who have been bent on governing at all cost; those who ought not to forget the past mis-

takes of others; those who ought to forget what could be the consequence of a do or die electoral victory; those who would be most vulnerable for election malpractices and rigging.

• Commissioner for Information and Strategy Hon Lateef Ibirogba; former Lagos State Independent Electoral Commissioner Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso

•Dr Adebule

•Prof AbdulKareem

•Alhaji Jimoh

•Alhaja AbdulKarim and Akele

ate not to vote on sentiment, inducement or family affiliation.

Your voting power must be used to select the best; godly person who will rule with the fear of God and develop the people and the society,” he said.

Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof Is-haq Lakin Akintola, on behalf of the gathering read out the demands of Muslims to the governorship candidates and deputy governorship candidates at the event.

Among the Muslims’ demand are: female pupils wearing Hijab to schools; female civil servants wearing Hijab to work; declaring Fridays half working day; allowing Muslim students to conduct assemblies at least twice weekly in public primary and secondary schools in the state among others; employment of Arabic and Islamic studies teacher without age conditionality; creation of Sharia division in Lagos state Judiciary to take care of pure Islamic issues like

marriage, disputes; abolishment of cremation of Muslim Corpses and ensure equal treatment of religious leaders and clerics.

Responding first, the governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Ayodele Akele, assured that his administration if voted into power will not discriminate against any religion.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaja Safuratu AbdulKarim also assured that a

PDP government will not discriminate against any religion, saying that she had noted all the demands raised by the Muslim community and will table them before her principal for necessary action.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Dr Idiat Adebule, assured the gathering that APC will not take Muslims for granted.

•Sheikh Abou

The APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, stated that his party recognised the importance of Muslims and other religious adherents in the state.

“We have in my running mate, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, an experienced woman well versed in both religious and public service administration. She is a devout Muslim who always seek for the best not only for her fellow Muslims but also adherents of other religions. All these demands are

well noted and we are going to sit down at our level, study them and take actions that will be beneficial to all of us,” he assured.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos State, Mr Orebiyi assured those present that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is ready to conduct a free and fair election.

According to him, there are over six million Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for voters in the state, out of which just over four million PVCs have been collected while there are about two million left to be collected.

“Please if you have not collected your PVCs, I advise you to go and collect them now as we will not allow you to vote without your PVCs,” he said.

In a keynote address, Prof Daud Noibi, the executive secretary of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), urged the electoral body and the security agencies to be “impartial.”

“The security agencies,” he said, “must know that we only have one country, theirs is the most tedious of all tasks during this period for the country. They must be above board and be seen to be above board and act as such. Their neutrality is key. What you say to one party must be repeated to other parties.”

He urged candidates of the political parties to consider addressing the grievances of Muslims.

“The intention of this gathering is one of prayers; however, it would be hypocritical not to reiterate the concerns and agitation of the Muslim community to you,” he said.

In attendance were the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh abdul Afeez Abou; Rtd Justice Ibrahim Ishola Olorunnimbe; Sheikh Thaoban Adam; Sheikh Sulaiman Farouq Onikijipa; Prof. Amidu Sanni of the Lagos State University; Prof Fatimah AbdulKareem; Lagos Mainland Chief Imam, Shiekh Thabit Lawal; JMF Sterling Committee Chairman, Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike; former Lagos House of Assembly (LAHA) member and Chief Imam LAHA Mosque Hon Abdulhakeem Abdullateef among others.

Path to effective inter-religious dialogue

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USLIM and Christian leaders responsible for inter-religious dialogue have been enjoined to lead the way in promoting effective religious harmony through attitudinal change.

A former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka Prof.

Murtadha Bidmos, said this at a lecture titled: “Peaceful Co-existence in a MultiReligious Society,” at the 33rd Triennial National Conference of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos.

Prof. Bidmos lamented that since early 1970s to date, religious leaders have consistently used the inter-religious dialogue fora to vent their anger against each religion as well as condemning the patronage each other enjoy from government at all tiers.

According to him, “the patterns at such fora are tripartite: accusations/ counter accusations, adoption of resolutions and the permanent burial of resolutions on shelves.”

He also claimed that the religious leader, beyond such a meeting, also occasionally used the mass media in a cold war manner for posting messages, “which are decisively packaged in a rough and pedestrian language”.

He explained that there had never been a time when an attempt was made at drawing a modus operandi for the implementation of resolutions at such meetings.

He stressed that government sometimes succumbs to pressure to address some of the claims as manifested in the setting up of a Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board as well as the appointment of a Muslim joint chairman for the national confab organised by President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.

The former university Don hinged importance of inter-religious dialogue on the fact that “societies are heterogeneous, where dialogue is required to communicate”, adding that even in societies that were homogenous, “dialogue is equally required for communication.”

He argued that nobody has the monopoly of wisdom, except God, adding: “Therefore, dialogue is required in all human circumstances to iron out issues of contention and of common interest”.

He urged Muslim and Christian dialogists to consider an attitudinal change as a remedy and therapy.

“Since doing wrong things is a matter of attitude, they should heed the Quranic injunction, which recommends change of attitude or change of whatever condition they found themselves in as a means of healing the kind of ailment that has so far inflicted them,” he said.

He also listed the passion for wealth and position such as clamouring for government’s attention, sponsorship on pilgrimage, membership of parastatals

and ministerial appointments as parts of reasons that dragged the religious dialogists into unhealthy rivalry.

He enjoined the dialogists to apply heart cleansing exercise, incorporate shared values in the curriculum at all levels of education and wage war against commercialisation of religion, “which has made a lot of “men of God” throw decorum and courtesy into the winds as they use every occasion to solicit for offerings in the mercenary manner.”

He added: “The pragmatic way to stop this obnoxious practice is by introducing a professional training for Imams and any calibre of men of God. This, of course, must be backed up with the issuance of ethnics and methodology in form of a code of conduct that must be strictly enforced.

“This methodology of conducting Inter-Religious Dialogue will effectively divert the attention of dialogists from the culture of accusations/counter accusations. This becomes imperatives as a proof of their being true and worthy “jihadists” and “missionaries” in the cause of God. “The beneficiaries of this new methodology are the dialogists themselves and the nation.”

The MAN president, Alhaji Sulaiman Yusuf, in his address, said the association had over the years made remarkable landmarks and improvements since its inception in 1959 by

•Yusuf (left); MAN National Missioner Alhaji Imam Sulayman Titilope; Chairman, conference local organizing committee, Alhaji T.A. Tyson and National Legal Adviser Justice Lateefat Folami at the MAN conference.

eminent Muslim educationists, legal luminary and politicians, the likes the late Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, Sheikh Abdul Afeez Abou (OFR), Justice Bola Babalakin and others.

Yusufu explained that the aims and objectives of the association include catering for the spiritual, moral and social needs of all Muslims, and cooperating with other Muslims organisation for the propagation of Islamic faith.

Others, he said, include promoting education and scholarship among the generality of the Muslims, building and monitoring Islamic Institutions

such as Islamic centres, hostels, schools and promoting activities whose ultimate goals will include the empowerment of Muslims and others in the society.

In pursuit of these aims and objectives, he said the association is a member of Muslim Ummah of the South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN), an adjunct of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

He added that it also organises the Annual National Dawah Camp for students in Secondary School and tertiary institutions; the Annual National Ramadan Public Lecture as well

as addresses burning domestic or international issues Iike the Boko Haram saga, abduction of the Chibok School Girls, “where we outrightly condemned as outrageous, barbaric, criminal and un-Islamic, the activities of the insurgents and we exonerated the Muslim Ummah.”

A former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Alhaji A.O.G. Otti (FCIB, FCIS, OON, OFR), was formally invested as one of the founding fathers of the association at the event.

New national executive members of MAN were also elected at the event.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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Sixty-six years after its founding, Nigeria’s premier School of Nursing and Midwifery, Oyo State owned College of Nursin witnessing its first major overhaul courtesy of a N250 million lift from the state government. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports t

Oyo lifts College of Nursing with N250m •wears new look

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ITUATED on a large expanse of land big enough to accommodate two modern sized tertiary institutions, the College of Nursing and Midwifery at Eleyele in Ibadan, Oyo State capital is one of five tertiary institutions located in Ido Local Government Area of the state.

One notable aspect of Ido Local Government Area is its privileged position among the 33 local governments in the state to house the University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, School of Hygiene, Federal Cooperative College and the Oyo state College of Nursing and Midwifery, while other local governments, safe a few, could hardly boast of one tertiary institution.

When the Oyo state College of Nursing and Midwifery was sited at the old prefabricated Army Barrack in Eleyele in 1949, it was meant to set the pace for other tertiary education, especially in nursing education and practice in Nigeria.

However, the College despite its significance in health care delivery in the country has not been given the required attention by successive governments in the state since its establishment.

There is no doubt that the College has passed through pains to still maintain its old self as the first and oldest in the country. Indeed, it has suffered many years of neglect and abandonment, with decay in infrastructure and instructional facilities.

While the students lacked sufficient manpower in some of the core courses, the workers were poorly motivated until recently when the state government decided to give a lift to the institution. The N250m support from the state is in addition to efforts of the old students of the college to assist their Alma Mata return to its old glory.

Oyo State commissioner for Health Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who is in charge of the Ministry supervising the College explained the effort being made to invite old students of the school living and working outside the shores of the country to partner with the state government in upgrading facilities at the College to meet the challenges of the future.

He told The Nation that the effort is beginning to yield fruits following his visit to United Kingdom and the United States of America to meet the Alumnus of the College and during some of the meetings he underscored the importance of their assistance to the College.

Besides, he stated that through the able leadership of the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, the College for the first time in many years got the attention of the government, which graciously pledged to release the sum of N250million for immediate renovation of the hostels, offices, library and upgrading of the institution from School of Nursing to College status and onward certification and accreditation of the College by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

“And all these were in fulfillment of the promise made by Governor Abiola Ajimobi who visited the College during his campaign tour that when elected he would ensure that the institution reached its enviable status by upgrading its facilities .

And truly the governor has begun to release part of the N250 million needed to renovate all the facilities.

The male and female hostels for-

•The Commissioner of Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesi ( second left ) with members of the Alumni Association and Provost of the College, Mrs. G.O. Owolabi ( second right} while inspecting the facilities.

•One of the Hostels toilets bef

•Part of the college blocks before renovation

merly an eyesore have been renovated and wearing a new look. The administrative blocks, library and other blocks are now being worked upon. The government has also concluded plans to build more hostels in an effort to increase the intake of students from 50 to 100 or more because this is the first College of Nursing and Midwifery in the country and it should truly be a pacesetter in terms of facilities, manpower and the quality of students it turns out every year to meet the needs of preventive and curative nursing practice in and outside the country. And that we are certainly going to achieve with the efforts to lift the standard of the College “, he said.

A visit to the College showed that over 80 percent of renovation works have been done and the students were thrilled by the lift. Some of them who spoke with The Nation said they now study under a conducive environment unlike in the past when staying in the College was worrisome and difficult.

Before the renovation the physical infrastructure in the College were in poor state. The toilets were either blocked or out of use as a result of the extensive damage and ageing. In the hostels, all the electrical fittings have worn out, with damaged windows and doors. The offices were having to cope with old torn leather furniture, while the staff had to use of available outdated computers many of which were not functioning.

But, today the College is equipped with modern facilities and split air conditioners in the offices.

“We are not only happy to study here, but very proud to be students of Oyo state College of Nursing and Midwifery. It is the first and leading College of Nursing in the country and we are happy to have new hostels, toilets, lecturers and a conducive environment to study and excel. We appreciate the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi and we love him for the good work he has done in our institution”, one of the students who simply gave her name as Boluwatife said.

In her submission, the Provost of

the College, Mrs G.O. Owolabi spoke glowingly of the enviable records of the College over the past sixty six years particularly its exploits in nursing practice by its students around Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and other continents of the world.

But, she noted that since 1949 when the College came into existence, the staff and students have never had it so good in terms of all round renovation of facilities and autonomy, until now.

“This year 2015 the school should clock sixty six years. It was established on the 1st of April 1949. It is the first government owned school of nursing in Nigeria.

The products have been performing excellently. At least, some report especially from the United States of

•One of the Hostels toilets after renovation

America, United Kingdom, the Caribbean Islands and other continent of the world says they have been performing excellently. Even some of our products in Nigeria have been performing extraordinarily well, both in state owned and private health institutions.

“They tell us that the quality of our training here is excellent. Despite the few challenges that the school has been facing over the years, the students have been performing. They have been contributing their quota both in preventive and curative aspect of medicine, in and around the world improving the quality of the products being churned out of the school every year.

The school has enjoyed tremendously from this administration being led by Governor Isiaq Abiola

Ajimobi in terms of upgrading the physical infrastructure and ensuring that we have enough lecturers vis-avis upgrading the school from the present School of Nursing and Midwifery to a college. That took effect on March 14, 2014 during the inauguration of the interim governing council members and subsequent meeting.

“It will interest you to know that in terms of infrastructure, several millions of naira was released by the governor for the renovation of all the seven hostels; six female hostels, one male hostel. And as you can see the administrative block is still under construction. All the furniture, as old as over 50 years were changed in all the offices. All lecturers both at the department of nursing and that of midwifery all had their furniture

Commercial driver kills banker

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-46-YEAR OLD Sterling Bank employee, Mr Daniel Olugbenga Adebayo, was killed last Tuesday morning by a commercial bus on his way to office at Dalemo Bus Stop, along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, Sango Ota, Ogun State.

The deceased, a father of four was allegedly crushed, according to an eyewitness around 5.30am on that fateful day by a hit and run driver while trying to cross the expressway.

The eyewitness told The Nation that the commercial bus with registration number FKJ-352 XN, was coming from Sango-Ota rammed to him where he was standing at an effort to overtake a LAGBUS which was picking passengers on the road and in the process, crushed the victim to death.

He said “When the incident happened, we all rushed to the scene of the accident to rescue him but on getting there, the man has died immediately.

“Then, we started contacting his relatives through the phone

By Olalekan Ayeni

numbers we found on the diary he was holding.

“We parked his remains out of the highway and guided it with some tyres for incoming vehicles not to matched on him.

According to his widow, Mrs Rekiat Temitope Adebayo, the driver of the commercial bus, absconded but later reported himself at the Sango-Ota Police Station, saying that the LAGBUS that caused the accident also ran away while nobody was able to pick the code or registration number.

The deceased has since been buried in his residence.

Late Adebayo said she never knew how and her children would cope, noting that her husband is so loving and caring.

Adding that, he never joke with his family, that he was a man that goes to extra length to keep his family, ‘oga mo ti gbe oooo’, she said in bad mood.

His burial attracted huge crowd from the community, as they said his goodness, loving and caring

•Mrs Adebayo (second left) being consoled by neigh

will be a great loss to the community.

The Iyana Ipaja Branch’s Manager of the Sterling Bank where the deceased served until his

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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ege of Nursing and Midwifery at Eleyele in Ibadan is UOFU reports that the institution is wearing a new look.

When Awujale received Buhari •Royal blessings for Tinubu, Amosun

T

f the Hostels toilets before renovation

changed. Our ICT Centre was equipped with internet-enabled computers. Aside from that, there was aggressive renovation of the school library.

“We have air conditioners and the alumni in the United States also gave us 250 textbooks. It will also interest you to know that the Commissioner for Health attended one of the alumni meetings and he said they are to do more to partner with the state government, especially those who have their first degrees in Nursing, to improve what we have on ground presently in terms of man power. We are also trying to make sure that our faculties are properly staffed and we have more than enough staff on ground now.

“And for the first time in its history, the school was given a kind of

autonomy after being upgraded to a college, to present its budget. All that the school possessed in terms of what we need, in terms of capital projects, salaries of our staffs and so on, which is a little over N1 billion was presented for onward approval by the House of Assembly and the Governor. So we are hopeful that the coming year, we’ll be able to execute some of these capital projects and the school will be able to stand on its own to pay its salary and be at par with other colleges in the state like College of Agriculture, The Polytechnic of Ibadan and other colleges under the Ministry of Education alike.

As a matter of fact, the school has experienced transformation that is visible both in terms of structure, manpower and we are really optimistic that this will help the products of this institution.” The provost said.

HE meeting was meant to be a presentation of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhamodu Buhari and his running mate Prof. Yemi Oshibajo to the Paramount ruler of Ijebu Land, The Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona by the presidential campaign train, led by the national chairman of the party Chief John Oyegun but turned out to be a recognition of the role of the national leader of the party senator Bola Hammed Tinubu in unifying the Yoruba nation.

Awujale also prayed for Tinubu, the Ogun State governor Ibikule Amosun and his wife Chief Mrs. Funsho Amosun for ensuring rapid development across the 20 local governments of the state saying his 55 years on the throne has witness many government in the state but the present one is unique.

The monarch said Tinubu’s activities in ensuring that Yoruba nation speaks with one voice cannot be over emphasised adding that his activities shows that he was ready to face any challenges without giving a damn.

“Leadership is all about sacrifice. A leader who cannot sacrifice is not worth to be a leader; therefore, I want to thank Tinubu for his effort.

“Although, he used to play Lagos pranks at times, but he is a man that faces many challenges. He doesn’t run away from challenges. He doesn’t give a dame to anything. We started Yoruba agenda here with him and ended it in Ondo state during the military juntas.

“Fearless people like him are great.

I love somebody like him. I like them.

Tinubu has always been a man of my heart and when he makes mistake, I am the most critical of his actions.

“Therefore, I want to say thank You for what you have been doing for Yoruba nation to be what it is today.

That we are all gathered here today as a family, it is the effort of the Jagaban because Yoruba nation can speak with one voice now.

“I pray that God in His infinity mercy gives you good health to continue to be useful in the development of the Yoruba race and Nigeria at large.

May God help you to continue to remain in the social service and continue to contribute positively to the development of this land the way you have been doing.”

The monarch also seeks for the support of the federal government in case the presidential candidate of the party wins the election. He said he was hopeful that General Buhari will win the election because he has all it takes to

•Oba Adetona

become the president of Nigeria.

In his request, the Awujale said top on the agenda of the Ijebu nation is the agitation for Ijebu State which Ijebu have been clamouring for in the past.

He said his people have the human and natural resources to be a state.

“The most important thing on our agenda is the agitation for Ijebu State.

We want you to help us to see to this as soon as you win the election. Our people are very hard working and we have all it takes to be on our own. We also want the federal government to come and establish in our state because we lack the presence of the government here in Ijebu. For instance, we need federal medical centre where our children can be trained as doctors and nurses, but it seems government has no time for us.

“We have places where government can explore our natural resources at the Ogun water side. There is oil in abundance in Ogun waterside but government has no time for us to develop it. Our General, please consider the Ijebu nation as soon as you win the election.”

On the governor Ibikunle Amosun administration, Awujale said he has contributed immensely to the development of the state as a whole and he deserves royal blessing. He said all the development witnessed in the state today have been brought of joy to the people of the state. “I want to congratulate the governor of the state for his effort in ensuring the state is what it is today. If you don’t know him, you will believe he is a tough man but he is not tough. He is a kind man. I pray that God should be with you to be able to deliver the message that God sent you to the people of the state. I also want to use this time to thank Yeye Funsho Amosun. She is a wonderful woman. I made bold to

say she is a wonderful woman because she is one. If she is bad, I will say it here now that she is a bad woman. I thank both of you and Allah will be with both of you for your effort.

Earlier, General Buhari had enumerated how he intended to make Nigeria great again. He told the Awujale that he would use men of integrity at a strategic position of the economy and massively invests in agriculture sector.

Buhari, who was accompanied by other party stalwarts like the national chairman of APC, chief John Oyegun, Ogun State governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, Buhari’s running mate, Prof.

Yemi Osibajo, former governor of Lagos State and the national leader of the party Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former national chairmen of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Audu Ogbe and Senator Banabas Gemade, Prince Tony Momoh, former governors of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo and Engineer Segun Oni, and former Governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki.

According to the APC presidential flag bearer, the party has identified insecurity, unemployment and corruption as the immediate challenges facing the country which must be tackled as soon as he assumed the presidency.

“It makes a lot of sense for the APC to identify these vicious cycles and go along to make sure to tackle insecurity in the country and stabilise the economy.

“Naturally, businesses will boom and you will create more employment opportunities when you solve the power conundrum. With steady and affordable power supply, the economy can truly become industrialised.

•Colleagues of the deceased at Sterling Bank during the funeral

being consoled by neighbours

death, Mrs Nike Adetula, described his death as shocking.

She said the deceased is so gentle and punctual on duty.

Adetula, prayed to God to con-

sole his wife, children and family members and grant him eternal rest.

The Zone II Commander, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and En-

forcement Corps (TRACE), Commander Adekunle Ajibade, when contacted described the incident, as unfortunate and great loss to the family and the community at

large.

He consoled with the family and prayed that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Ajibade, urged the motorists to

always maintain discipline while on the road to guaranteed safety of lives and properties.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

36

THE SOUTHWEST REPORT January 13, 2015 was a sad day for the people of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Area of Ondo State as dare-devil robbers unleashed terror on the community during a bank robbery. DAMISI OJO reports that it was a tale of horror, sorrow, tears and blood.

He said peace has finally returned

Day of horror in Ikare-Akoko •Bank robbers kill 20, ravage police station

F

OR the people of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Local government Area of Ondo State, Tuesday, January 13, 2015 was a day they will never forget in a hurry.

The day opened like every normal day and it progressed well until about 4 pm when dare-devil armed who had arrived the town unnoticed hours before descended on the community killing no fewer than 20 residents including four policemen during a bank robbery operation.

The community which is the commercial nerve centre of Akoko land in Ondo State had since the unfortunate incident, been thrown into serious mourning, grief and sorrow as almost every family in the town was affected by the unfortunate incident. Those who did not have their relatives killed in the robbery attack had many of them injured; a development which made the town to wear a mournful look.

The robbers, it was learnt, took the people of the town by surprise having arrived unnoticed hours ahead of the commencement of their operation which reportedly started at 4,00pm and lasted for close to three hours.

During the robbery operation, an undisclosed huge sum of money was carted away by the robbers who stormed a branch of a new generation bank in the town and later moved to the Police station located along Owo Road, where they attacked the Police and in the process killed four officers and left three others severely injured.

At the end of the operation, it was gathered that 15 people including four policemen were killed by the daredevil robbers who disappeared into thin air afterwards, as efforts to apprehend them by both the Police and the community’s vigilante group proved abortive.

Sources in the town informed that the armed robbers in a well planned operation had divided themselves into two groups with one group blocking the police station along Owo road and the other group attacking their targets along Jubilee road in the town.

While the policemen were killed in their station while trying to mobilize to confront the policemen, other victims of the attack including a former chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Kenny Gold were killed at the scene of the operation.

Most of the victims, the sources said were killed while trying to withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) placed at the entrance of the bank. Two undergraduates of Ibrahim Babangida University,Lapai, Niger State were felled by the robbers’ bullet while attempting to withdraw money from the machine. One of them was named as Bode Bello.

Another set of victims, it was learnt were killed within the bank premises while transacting normal banking business.

The robbery incident was said to be the second within a year in the affected new generation bank. The first time the robbers came they struck at night at the bank’s former branch and blew the place into pieces with dynamite.

The banks in the town also closed down for days, as a result, in order to guarantee their safety.

A resident of the town Mr Wale Gidado said the armed robbers had stationed some of their groups with a military vehicle in front of the police station while another group was ready for action at the bank area along Jubilee Road in the town.

As one group was attacking the bank with dynamite and grenades in order to get access, Gidado stated that the other group was engaging the policemen who were on duty to prevent them from mobilizing their men to the scene of crime. The operations, he said

•One of the banks attacked by the robbers

•Scene of the attacks at the Police Station in Ikare

went on simultaneously in the town as gunshots were reverberating within the ever busy Jubilee road, where the bank was located.

Since the incident Ikare-Akoko has been enveloped with grief and mourning as the people of the town continue to mourn the brutal killing of their people who died in the unfortunate incident, vowing that they would revenge the untimely death of their loved ones.

As a result of the incident all business and commercial activities have since been halted in the town in honour of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.

The people of the town who lamented the invasion of the community by armed bandits numbering about 10 also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba to improve security in and around Ikare-Akoko. They also planned to employ the services of men of the local vigilante group to forestall such occurrence in the future.

The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Akadiri Momoh who condemned the incident urged the Police to investigate the robbery incident which led to the killing of his subjects, just as he urged the law enforcement agents to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act were brought to book.

The monarch who said he had met with other traditional chiefs of the town on the ways to ensure that peace reigns in the ancient town, confirmed that the death toll had risen to over 20 as according to him many of the victims of the robbery attack died after

the armed robbers had left the town.

He hinted that since the incident prominent personalities including Senator Bode Olajumoke had visited the town.

Also primary and secondary schools in the town were closed down for two days, while all the markets in the town were also vacated for two days as a mark of honour to those who lost their lives in the robbery incident.

The community, it was gathered has concluded arrangements to use traditional means to seek revenge from the armed robbers who perpetrated the dastardly act. A resident of the town

R

who preferred anonymity said traditionalists have been meeting on measures to take against the robbers.

Meanwhile, the state Police command has expressed its readiness to ensure that the dare devil armed robbers who operated in the community are arrested and brought to justice, stressing that the town would not be left in the hands of robbers.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police command, Mr Wole Ogodo said the Police are still on the trail of the armed robbers and would not hesitate at ensuring that justice was done.

to the ancient town and Police officers will continue to mount surveillance in the area to forestall breakdown of law and order.

He urged the people of the state and the town in particular to remain calm as the Police are on top of the matter and would ensure that justice was done.

Following the attack, it was gathered that customers of the affected bank in Ikare-Akoko now travel to either Owo, Omuo or Oka-Akoko to transact banking business pending the time bank management would be sure of adequate security.

The January 13 incident according to the locals who spoke with’ The Nation was the fifth time such would happen in the community where banks were devastated. And it was the most bloody as people were being killed like fowls along the route to Iboropa and Akunu by the robbers who shot sporadically as they made good their escape with their huge loots.

An Ikare-Akoko Community leader and business man, Oseni Foyeolona described the situation as a very serious economic set back now that the nation economy is fragile. He symphatised with those who lost their loved ones in the robbery incident.

Another Muslim leader and vice chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ondo State,Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani called for fervent prayers to forestall future occurrence, calling for an Army Barracks to the sited in the town by military authorities. Also, chairman, Akoko North East Local Government Area, Hon Lekan Bada called for more security in Akokoland.

An indigene of the area and secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Rotimi Rahman who came to Ikare shortly after the robbery incident described the situation as a commotion.

According to him, dead bodies littered the community, stressing that he was bereaved because the two undergraduates killed at ATM point were his brothers.

He urged the state government to provide adequate security in IkareAkoko to tackle such development in the future.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko while paying condolence visit to IkareAkoko said his administration would work with security agencies to apprehend the robbers.

He described the incident as unfortunate, saying all necessary measures were being put in place to forestall future recurrence.

Mimiko was also at Oke-igbede police station which was vandalised by the bandits.

The Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke promised that the robbers would be apprehended, while the Olukare of Ikare,Oba Akadiri Momoh thanked the governor for his response to the incident.

FRSC commander urges compliance with traffic rules

OAD users have been urged to comply with the traffic rules to bring crashes on the roads to zero level this year.

The Mowe Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Commander (ACC) Oludare Ogunjobi, made the plea during an interview with The Nation at his office on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, an Ogun State suburb.

Eradication of crashes, he said, would be achieved only if road users, neither motorists nor pedestrians, comply with safety rules.

He said FRSC’s vision for 2015 is to ensure crash-free roads, noting that its statutory functions are to ensure safety on the highways, to strategise on ways to minimise or eradicate accidents and educate motorists and the public on the importance of discipline on the highways.

Ogunjobi thanked God for the reduction of crashes across the country

By Olalekan Ayeni

during the last yuletide, especially on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

He said the feat was achieved through the massive deployment of the FRSC’s personnel and application of some techniques, which include regular visits of his officers to the motor parks in the area, robust public campaigns/enlightenment of drivers and passengers, zero tolerance with full enforcement of traffic laws.

Public enlightenment without enforcement, according to Ogunjobi, is just a mere drama, saying: “He made it difficult to any overloaded vehicle to pass the road before or during the festive period.”

Other techniques, he mentioned, were: “Regular campaigns beyond the road programme, especially checking of drivers’ health); pretrip inspection (that is, checking of

vehicles’ conditions) before allowing them to embark on journeys; passengers watch programme; that is, officers would dress on mufti as passengers, board a vehicle at a park, pay fares and monitor the drivers.’’

If he discovered any disobedience to traffic laws, he would order the driver’s arrest.

Ogunjobi said he instituted a zero tolerance policy on extortion/ bribery for his personnel through patrols by a surveillance team.

He said he always rewards his men for effectiveness and efficiency.

He urged motorists to cooperate with FRSC and other traffic managers to ensure the safety of lives and property.

He also urged them to shun the following: wrong overtaking, over-speeding, dangerous driving, making or receiving calls while driving, harzadous parking.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

37

THE NATION INVESTORS

Haldane McCall to list N13b REIT IPO on NSE •IPO extends till January 28 T HE directors and parties to the initial public offering (IPO) by the Haldane McCall Real Estate Investment Trust (HMK Reit) have committed to listing of the IPO on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) immediately after the successful completion of the maiden offer.

This came as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the acceptance period for the offer by two weeks. With the extension, application period for the MHK Reits, which was earlier scheduled to close by Wednesday January 14, 2015, has now been extended till Wednesday January 28, 2015.

HMK Reit is offering 2.6 billion units at N5.15 per unit. Minimum subscription is fixed at 10,000 units and multiples of 2,000 thereafter.

Already, the HMK Reit has made provision to take up additional 15 per cent of excess monies in the event of over-subscription. This could increase the offer size to N15.4 billion.

The two-week extension was due to public holidays during the offer period. SEC had decided to provide the investors with more working days to enable them participate fully in the IPO. Parties to the IPO confirmed that application has been made to the council of the NSE for the admission of the 2.6 billion units being offered for subscription to the daily official list of the NSE. Units of the Reit will thus be tradable on the floor of the NSE on the conclusion of the Offer.

Besides, parties to the IPO have also made application to the Exchange to appoint a market maker to ensure that units of the Reit are available for trading as at when re-

Stories by Taofik Salako

quired. The HMK Reit qualifies as securities in which Pension Fund Assets can be invested under the Pension Reform Act, 2004 and securities in which Trustees may invest under the Trustees Investments Act, Cap T22, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

According to the details of the offer, the sponsor of the Reit, Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited, shall hold five per cent of the Reit while 95 per cent will be held by the investing public. The net proceeds of the IPO will be used as consideration for the purchase of the initial assets of the Reit thus the sponsor will receive a combination of units equivalent to five per cent and cash payment.

HMK Reit plans to distribute a minimum of 90 per cent of the income earned in any financial year to unit holders at the end of every financial year.

Parties to the IPO included FSDH Asset Management, the fund manager; Suru Worldwide Ventures Limited, the sponsor; Goldbanc Management Associates, the lead issuing house and GTI Securities, one of the stockbrokers to the offer. FSDH Asset Management is also the fund manager to the UACN Property Development Company Reit (UPDC Reit).

According to the prospectus, the HMK Reit, which is constituted under a Trust Deed as a close- ended real estate investment, aims to provide unit holders with regular and stable income, and sustainable long-term growth in dividend pay-

ment and net asset value per unit.

The Reit is expected to invest in a portfolio of high-quality residential and commercial real estate properties that are already generating income, other potential high yield real estate assets, real estate related assets and money market instruments.

The Fund Manager indicated that the HML Reit will focus investment activities on, and use the proceeds of this offering principally for the acquisition of a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial properties located in the metropolitan area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

"Going forward, real estate acquisition would be based on informed research and investment guidelines of the Reit backed by the investment committee. The portfolio of assets of the HMK Reit consists of residential properties located in prime areas of Lagos state specifically Ikoyi and GRA Ikeja while the commercial properties are located in GRA Ikeja and Ikeja Central. The properties have a net lettable area of 24,055 square metres and a projected average occupancy rate of 93.33 per cent," the fund manager stated.

The prospectus noted that tenant profile of the HMK Reit's properties consists of corporate clients of repute cutting across various sectors of the economy pointing out that the diversity in client base mitigates against high vacancy rate and assures of consistent income for the Reit and distribution to investors.

"The HMK Reit presents an opportunity to discerning investors to balance their investment portfolio and to partake in stable and consistent stream of real estate income which a Reit provides as 90 per cent of income is distributed annually," the fund manager stated.

According to the prospectus, the special features of the HMK Reit included many enhancements that assure investors of regular and undisrupted receipt of returns on investment at all times through the life of the Reit.

These enhancements include insurance of Reit assets against losses.

The insurance classes with regard to the assets include fire policy, public liability insurance and Business Interruption risk due to damage by flood, fire and windstorm which would lead to loss of income for the period during which the property is undergoing repairs.

Also, there is guarantee of Reit income as Zenith Bank Plc has guaranteed that in the event that there

is a shortfall below 60 per cent in rental income, it will pay 16.40 per cent of the rental income to the Reit investors.

The parties to the IPO outlined that the HMK Reit is attractive given the stable and regular income distribution from diversified portfolio of real estate and real estate related assets across residential and commercial properties.

They noted that rent from the commercial properties which allows the Fund Manager concen-, trate on the management of the Reit, existing long term leases with tenants, bank guarantee of part of the rental income, diverse corporate tenant profile with staggered rental renewal periods which prevents mass vacancy at any one period, immediate refund of already received income on the properties, reduced transfer costs of assets due to the DOT structure being adopted for the transfer of a portion of the assets being acquired, access to first class properties in prime areas at discounted prices and appointment of a primary market maker to ensure liquidity of the units by facilitating continuous trading on the units of the Reit on the NSE and T in the Nigerian Stock will make the Reit to be competitive and rewarding to investors.

Capital market chiefs call for review of monetary policies •Urge govt on incentives

M

MAJOR trade groups in the Nigerian capital market have called for a review of the existing monetary policies and provision of various incentives to encourage savings and investments as part of measures to ensure the development of the Nigerian capital market.

At a media briefing at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, the statutory body regulating the stockbroking profession; Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), the main body in the primary market and the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), the umbrella body for stockbroking firms said the existing monetary policies are hurting the capital market and the economy and should be reviewed.

Representatives at the briefing included chairman, AIHN, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi; chairman, ASHON, Mr. Emeka Madubuike; president, CIS, Mr. Albert Okumagba; and General Secretary, ASHON, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale. They noted that the current high interest rate is adversely affecting the performance of the capital market and the national economy since a high interest rate discourages long term investment and lowers demand generally; whereas a low interest rate regime stimulates demand and helps with capital formation for long term investment.

They cited United States Federal Reserve Bank (FED) and United Kingdom’s Bank of England (BoE), which had used low interest rate to stimulate demand for commodities and the capital market and the economy as a whole. The two countries brought interest rate to close to zero so as to encourage borrow-

ing for consumption and investment purposes. The result of the exercise is a strong growth in the US and the UK. “From the foregoing, it is clear that the current nominal anchor for interest rate in Nigerian, the Momentary Policy Rate (MPR), currently at 13 percent is not only discouraging demand but is also a disincentive to investment in this environment, especially when inflation rate, currently 8.0 percent has been successfully kept at below 10 percent in the last two years. While it is arguable that the reduction in interest rate may lead to an uptick in inflation, it is noteworthy that inflation in Nigeria has been found to be more structural than monetary; hence the high interest rate, which discourages long term investment in infrastructure, may actually lead to more inflation than curb it over time. Therefore, having successfully kept inflation in check, now may be a good time to start considering a reduction in interest rate,” the capital market chiefs argued.

They pointed out that another worrisome effect of the high interest rate is the lack of flow of credit in the financial system noting that since the banks can invest in Treasury Bills and FGN Bonds with yields ranging from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, they can easily make profits without risking their money.

According to them, since the Standing Deposit Rate (SDR) at which banks places funds with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stands at an all-time high of 10 per cent despite the fact that banks pay only 3.9 percent as interest rate on savings deposit, the opportunity to make a risk-less return of more than six per cent would not encourage lending by banks to the detriment of real sector companies and the capital market.

•From Left: Chairman, Association of Issuing Houses in Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi; Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Albert Okumagba; and General Secretary, ASHON, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale, during media briefing by coalition of market operators on Nigerian capital market and economy in Lagos

Mansard acquires majority equity stake in pension firm

M

ANSARD Insurance Plc has acquired the majority equity stake in Penman Pensions Limited, making the pension firm a subsidiary of Mansard Insurance. Mansard Insurance is one of the leading quoted insurance companies.

A transaction note obtained by The Nation yesterday indicated that Mansard Insurance, which recently became Nigerian arm of AXA-the world largest insurance company, has completed acquisition of 60 per cent equity stake in Penman Pensions Limited.

The completion of the acquisition followed the approvals of the relevant regulatory agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission (Naicom), National Pension Commission (Pencom) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The new acquisition increases the number of Mansard Insurance’s subsidiaries to four having already made significant inroads into asset management, health insurance and property segments through its wholly owned subsidiaries-Mansard Investments Limited and Mansard Health Limited. Mansard also owns majority equity stake a property joint ventures, APD Limited.

AXA recently bought 77 per cent majority equity stake in Mansard Insur-

ance Plc, in a major market-entry push that promises to profoundly impact the Nigerian insurance industry. AXA is the world’s largest insurance company and already has a substantial presence in Africa including Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.

AXA took over 77 per cent equity stake held by Assur Africa Holding Limited (AAH), the core investor that had purchased the former Guaranty Trust Bank insurance subsidiary. GTBank had sold its insurance subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc, in compliance with regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

AXA had entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Assur Africa Holdings, which held the 77 per cent equity stake in Mansard. AAH is made up of Development Partners International (UK), Africinvest Inc (Tunisia), Netherlands Development Finance Company (Holland), German Investment Corporation (Germany), French Development Finance Company (France) and ASPV Limited.

However, the acquisition only resulted in the change of beneficial ownership of the 77 per cent equity stake in Mansard Insurance while the legal ownership of the shares remains.

AXA viewed the acquisition of a ma-

jority stake in Mansard Insurance as s step to further strengthen its presence in Africa. It will also, at this entry point, become the fourth largest insurance player in Nigeria.

Deputy chief executive officer, AXA, Denis Duverne, said the acquisition is a unique opportunity for AXA to enter the largest African economy with leading positions in all business lines and to get exposure to the fast-growing Nigerian retail insurance market.

“AXA will benefit locally from the knowledge of an experienced and successful management team and from a profitable platform. Thus, this transaction represents a further step in our acceleration strategy, which is at the heart of our Ambition AXA plan, and is in line with our belief that insurance is instrumental to foster economic development, by providing communities with protection and risk management expertise,” Duverne said.

AXA noted that Mansard is the fourth largest insurance provider in Nigeria with operations in both property and casualty and life and savings, pointing out that Mansard is well established in commercial lines, which represents nearly two thirds of its revenues, and has been developing successfully its retail business over the past three years.

38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS P ENSION

PFAs’ programmed withdrawal plan hits N228b T HE number of retirees, who chose Pro grammed Withdrawal plan option for pension payments after retirement under the management of Pension Fund Admistrators (PFAs), has continued to grow as total lump sum on Programmed Withdrawal has increased to N228.09 billion from inception of the scheme to the end of the second quarter, last year, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, has said.

The PenCom boss, who made this known to reporters, disclosed that a total premium of N7.74 billion was approved for payment to insurance companies.

She said retirees under the Programmed Withdrawal plan increased from 86,628 in the first quarter of last year to 92,373 in the second quarter, representing an increase of 6.63 per cent, She added that the total number of retirees in private and public sectors has shown that the public sector cumulatively accounted for 74,119 retirees while the private sector cumulatively accounted for 18,254 retirees, representing 80.24 per cent and 19.76 per cent

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

respectively.

She explained that retirement by Life Annuity plan in the period under review received a boost from the retirees as a result of the sensitisation programmes to create awareness embarked upon by the Commission.

She stressed that this is evidenced by the increase in the number of retirees on annuity plan from 9,212 as at the end of the first quarter to 11,115 as at the end of the second quarter, representing an increase of 20.67 per cent.

Based on this result, she said a total premium of N7.74 billion was approved for payment to insurance companies on behalf of the 1,903 retirees in return for an average monthly pensions amounting to N26.32 million She said: “In general, 89.26 per cent of the retirees were on Programmed Withdrawals while the remaining 10.74 per cent were under Life Annuity.

“Also in the second quarter, the Commission granted the approval for the payment of N3.48 billion, being 25 per cent of Retirement

Saving Account (RSA) balances to 9,549 RSA holders of which 8,685 were from the private sector and 864 from the public sector.”

She further said that approvals were given by the Commission on Death Benefits “During the quarter, approvals were given for the payment of N6.12 billion as death benefits to the Next-of-Kin (NOKs) of 2,475 deceased employees. A cumulative sum of N59.12 billion had been paid to the NOKs of 22,611 deceased employees from inception to the end of the second quarter.

“The Commission continued its sensitisation programmes and engagement of employers as part of measures to deepen compliance and implementation of the Group Life Insurance Policy,” she added.

Programmed withdrawal refers to periodic or regular withdrawals of funds which may be on monthly, quarterly basis etc. An RSA holder upon retirement or attaining the age of 50 years whichever is later can request for the balance in his RSA to be paid out to him via programmed withdrawals. The periodic payment is not expected to be less than 50 per cent of the RSA holder’s annual terminal

remuneration as at the date of retirement, provided there is sufficient balance in the RSA. You can also withdraw money from your Voluntary Contribution (VC) Account via programmed withdrawals. The withdrawals will, however, be subjected to Personal Income tax where it is made before the end of 5 years from the date the voluntary contribution was made.

Annuity is a periodic payment for life from insurance company. A retired member may choose to access his retirement benefits by buying an annuity for life from a Life Insurance Company approved by the National Pension Commission. Under this option, the amount required to fund the annuity purchase will be transferred by GTB-AM Pensions from your RSA to the Insurance Company, and the Insurance Company will become responsible for making payments to the member in accordance with the terms of the Annuity Purchase.

Sell your pensions for cash in retirement, Steve Webb says

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From left: Managing Director, Greensprings Insurance Brokers, Tunji Oluyemi; Managing Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie Efekoha; 3rd Prize Winner of Essay Competition, Olaniyi Opeyemi of the Polytechnic, Ibadan; 1st Prize Winner, Abiola Atinukeola Gbemisola of the Polytechnic, Ibadan; 2nd Prize Winner, Nwannennaya Chukwuemeka, and President, Chartered Insurance Institute on Nigeria (CIIN), Bola Temowo, at the Annual Tertiary Institutions Essay Competition Award Prizes/Staff Awards and the New Year party by Consolidated Hallmark in Lagos.

Student gets job offer for winning CHI insurance competition A STUDENT from the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Gbemisola Abiola, has emerge winner of the fourth edition of the Annual Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Essay Competition.

Its Managing Director, Eddie Efekoha said by emerging winner, Abiola gets automatic employment with the company aside from N250, 000 cash prize.

Efekoha said the automatic employment benefit for the first prize winner entry to work with CHI was instituted by the company to encourage and recognise talents in tertiary institutions.

He added that apart from the essay compe-

tition being organised for students in the tertiary institutions it is also organised for staff of the company.

He said the company believes it will also encourage research and reading culture amongst students, especially those studying insurance.

It is increasingly generating more interest across higher institutions of learning spread across Nigeria with the likelihood of higher stakes in cash prices for the first, second, and third categories.

He added that it will help against the backdrop of the unemployment situation in the country.

He said the topic for assessing the winners was, “Impact of Microinsurance on Social Economic Development in Nigeria”.

He said while they sent letters to almost all tertiary institutions in the country, they were only able to get entries from two schools as most of the schools were on strike. The two schools were University of Lagos and the Polythecnic of Ibadan.

Nwanya Chukwuemeka from the University of Lagos emerge second with a cash prize of N150, 000, while Opeyemi Olaniyi from the Polytechnic Ibadan emerge third to claim the cash price of N100, 000.

EIOPA’s solvency II-style pension proposals criticised

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ESPONSES to EIPOA’s consultation pa per on further work it carried out on the solvency of Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provisions (IORPs) have been submitted over the past week, The Actuary has reported.

EIPOA is the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority.

These include submissions by actuaries Barnett Waddingham and umbrella pen-

sions body for the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).

This consultation focuses on various difficult elements of the Holistic Balance Sheet (HBS) and identifies where further work is necessary in order to better specify or bring more clarity on some elements of it and on how it could be used in practice.

Following the consultation and an im-

pact study, EIOPA intends to provide advice to the European Commission on EUwide solvency rules for pension schemes.

One of these areas is the valuation of legally enforceable sponsor support. The overarching principle is market consistency when valuing liabilities and assets.

The HBS is discussed as both a potential driver of capital requirements for pension schemes and as a risk-management tool.

HE United Kingdom Pension’s minis ter Steve Webb, wants to extend free doms announced in the Budget to give up to five million existing pensioners the chance to trade in their annuities for cash.

Millions of retired workers would be given the power to sell their pensions, under major plans to relax annuity rules being drawn up by ministers.

Up to five million pensioners would stand to benefit from the proposals, if they would rather have money in their bank accounts than a guaranteed income every year.

Reforms announced in last year’s Budget will mean working people, who retire in future will be able to cash-in their pension savings for a lump sum which they will be free to spend as they wish.

But an estimated five million pensioners, who have already retired will miss out because they are locked into their contracts until they die.

Steve Webb, the Pensions Minister, said he wanted to change the law to enable these pensioners sell their annual lifetime incomes known as “annuities” to the highest bidder at any time after they have retired.

Pensioners may decide they would rather have cash than a guaranteed income stream to give money to children, to pay for home renovations or to invest.

The plan will be particularly appealing to those, who have more than one pension as a result of working for several employers, and who would prefer to have money “up front” than to receive a small amount from a lowvalue pension each year.

The reform would also create a new market in “second hand” pensions, as insurance firms and other companies buy up individuals’ annuities, bundle them together and sell them on in bulk.

Webb said he had been urged by pensioners to introduce the reforms, while several major pensions companies and insurers had also expressed “considerable interest and enthusiasm” for the plan.

“I want to see people trusted with their own money wherever possible,” he said. “I have already heard from people around the country who would like to see this change made.

“I want to see if we can get these freedoms extended to those who are receiving an annuity, but who might prefer a cash lump sum.

“No one would be obliged to do so, but for those who would prefer upfront capital to regular income, I can see no reason why this should not be an option.”

An estimated 400,000 people who retire each year use the money they have saved while working to buy an annuity – an insurance product which pays an annual income for the rest of their lives.

For many people, it is the biggest financial decision they will ever make.

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SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Beekeepers make profit producing more than just honey and beeswax. Money comes from bee pollen, pedigree queen bees, propolis, royal jelly and more.This is the campaign Mr Bidemi Ojeleye, Chief Executive, Centre for Bee Research and Development, Igbeti, Oyo State, is mounting to get more Nigerians involved in the money spinning business. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Making profit from beekeeping I

F one doesn’t mind the occasional stings, beekeeping as a home business could become a pleasurable and profitable enterprise, Chief Executive, Centre for Bee Research and Development, Igbeti, Oyo State, Bidemi Ojeleye, has said.

Beekeeping is a good way for someone to get some money out a hobby, said Ojeleye , who has already recouped his investment in bee keeping , including his own honey extractor, by selling at local farmer’s markets.

With a single hive and some equipment of N20,000, a home beekeeper could harvest about 100 pounds of honey, or 36 quarts, every six months. At the going price of up to N1000 for litre of honey in today’s market, that’s more than enough to recoup the initial investment.

Ojeleye has over 4000 hives in different places in Igbeti. He owns commercial hives consisting of wooden boxes, each containing 10 wooden frames around a plastic sheet with hundreds of small hexagonal cells, similar to the wax cells in a natural hive. The cells become breeding chambers for the next generation of bees and to store honey for food.

To make it, he said one needs some level of expertise and there’s a lot to learn. There are opportunities for bee keepers to make money.

This is because honey isn’t the only commercial product from a commercial beehive.

One can make money from extracting wax which bees create to cover the honey and brood cells,

though it is a laborious process.

For example, bees wax is used in candle making, shoe polish, vehicle and floor polishes, varnish, gum, carbon paper, electrical appliances, fabric industry, cosmetics, wax crayons, metal casting and food processing and packaging. In beekeeping industry,he said it is used for the preparation of comb foundations.

However, in addition to honey, production of bees wax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, pedigree queen bees, package bees, and renting out honey bee colonies for crop pollination are some of the potential areas of apicultural diversification, he said.

He explained that the challenge however is that government has not supported the production of other bee products that can provide the beekeepers with additional wealth and increase the productivity of the colonies.

Ojeleye said everything produced by bees can be turned into cash.

While most farmers harvest honey twice a year, he harvests four times a year, attributing his higher harvests ratio to proper maintenance.

Using money from honey, the enterprising beekeeper has built a house and bought a car. This has motivated him to encourage people to go into agriculture-related professions in rural areas, while hosting a mega honey bee-keeping conference in Igbeti for farmers and researchers.

For those who don’t have enough money, Ojeleye said they can start with N15,000. They can start with two wooden hives, but with more, they will make more money, he said.

•Bees

With his experience, Ojeleye said beekeeping is a veritable means of livelihood.

He said school fees is not a problem for a thriving farmer, as income generated from a few number of hives situated within a good forest area, can help him send his children to school and buy other basic necessities with money made from the sale of honey.

Having spent over 30 years in the business which he learnt while on a visit to Kenya, Ojeleye is so versed and well equipped to teach everything_ from beekeeping to product development, to marketing essential skills that help people earn money. He trains farmers on budgeting and costing issues.

His success shows that when done the right way, bee farming can be better paying than many white collar jobs. The veteran beekeeper has

no kind words for the current education system which prepares students for white collar jobs and portrays farming as a career for failures.

Where other people see danger in the vicinity of a colony of bees, Ojeleye sees friends that provide huge dosages of elixir during his lean moments.

Because of his love for bees, he has been able to study their ways such that he can easily understand them and ensure that there is no enmity. His love affair with his bees is not unique, as almost every other beekeeper in the area seems to have an affinity with their bees.

He has a huge vision for his project as he wants to produce high quality, branded honey.

Another beekeeper, Jimoh Hammed, said he has been in apiculture as a side business from farming and trying to establish strong

bond with his bees.

Trained by Ojeleye, Hammed, believes beekeeping is a viable business and there is money to be made through it.

He said a lot of suspicion and traditional myths surrounding the use of honey has seen people paying scant regard to its true value.

One area people fear is the bee sting. Although it hurts, Hammed explained that the venom extracted from bees is used to heal bee bites.

Besides, he is now used to the bites and has developed that much resistance to their stings.

He says if someone is bitten by a bee, a signal is sent to the other bees and they will come to attack the same person, but they have learnt to break the signal between the bees and their communication with the queen bee by rubbing the bitten spot with green leaves or shrubs.

What it takes to be successful catfish farmer

Catfish is the largest aquaculture industry today. But a few are making money from it. Phil Onuoha shares his tips with entrepreneurs in Lagos. DANIEL ESSIET was there.

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INCE the 1990s, the catfish industry has grown rapidly and now has an economic impact in the hundreds of millions of naira produced every year in the country. While a few Nigerians are reporting success stories, others give tales of losses and discourage people from going into it.

But Chief Executive, Youth Liberation Foundation, Mr Phil Onuoha, said people are failing because they are implementing the wrong blue print. This, he explained, starts from the operational environment.

He explained that commercial cat fish farming is time-consuming, expensive, high-risk business that requires careful planning, a good understanding of fish biology, and sound business management skills.

Without a careful study of the economic considerations, especially product demand, financing, production costs and marketing, one should not invest in a commercial fish farm.

He advised fish farmers to start small by growing a few fish and expanding to large-scale commercial operations only after they gain the necessary skills and experience.

Generally, he explained that the prospect for catfish farming depends on the economic and water resources available, and the type of fish selected for growing.

Growing catfish, he said, is ideally suited to a pond environment.

Two fundamental requirements for starting a successful fish farm,

he mentioned, are sufficient land and a good supply of high- quality water. The amount of land and water available limit the type of rearing facilities and number of fish that can be reared.

In choosing a catfish specie , Onuoha said it should be capable of reproducing in captivity; producing numerous and hardy eggs and larvae (young); have wellknown culture requirements; be adaptable to many types of culture systems; be easy to handle, harvests and transport; be readily available as eggs, fingerlings, and adults; have a high market demand and exhibit high feed conversion rates; According to him, fish farming consists of nursery and the growout pond operation. The nursery operation is the basis for the growout operation and as such, it cannot be operated without the nursery.

The nursery involves the inducement of the female fish to lay eggs, which are then fertilised, incubated and hatched. The ones are

known as fries. These fries are then nurtured from between three and four weeks into fingerlings which is the size suitable for use in the fish grow-out operation.

For one to get the most profit for a catfish harvest, he said, it is necessary to determine buyer requirements when planning the season’s production.

A huge percentage of fish deaths have been related to water management issues. Pond design should take into consideration the pH of water (acidic water kills fish real fast, basic water is suitable for fingerlings and neutral water is required for fries (really tiny fishes) It is also important to stimulate the growth of plankton by introducing manure into the pond before stocking with fingerlings.

Oxygen requirement for fishes is dependent on an effective water management system as too much plankton growth results in competition for oxygen among plankton and catfish.

Water should be replaced from time to time ,though this can be a

‘Without a careful study of the economic considerations, especially product demand, financing, production costs and marketing, one should not invest in a commercial fish farm’

challenge in places where water availability is a problem.

One problem the producers face is catfish feed. The largest operating cost also is feed. Catfish producers, he said, sometimes buy feed from many different suppliers, often with disastrous results because feed companies did not know the nutritional requirements for catfish.

He said farmers must make sure they buy feeds with the correct protein, carbohydrate, energy, vitamin, and amino acid requirements to develop a well-balanced feed formula for catfish.

According to him, the number and size of fish stocked in a pond are important.This is because the management level, stocking date and initial size determine the time required for fish to reach market size.

The preferred stocking rate in commercial ponds, he explained, should be based on the maximum safe and economical feeding rate, the desired size of fish at harvest and the food consumption rate reached at the maximum feeding rate.

Onuoha mentioned too that the manner and time of feeding, as well as the amount and type of feed, can have a profound effect on the growth and size variation and the quality of the catfish produced.

In most cases, he said a large variation in the size of catfish produced usually is the result of underfeeding. In underfeeding, the

larger, more aggressive catfish eat a larger share of the feed and become bigger at the expense of the smaller catfish. This also happens when feed is offered in only small areas of the pond since the larger, more aggressive catfish quickly learn where the feed will be put in the pond and are there waiting for it. Thus, to produce catfish uniform in size, and to maximise profits, he said, it is important that catfish are fed with the proper amount of feed daily and the food is distributed as evenly over the pond as possible.

Stressing the importance of record keeping, Onuoha said the farmers should be able to estimate the number of fish and the weight in every pond at any given time if he wants to be successful at raising fish. If the weight of fish in a pond is under estimated, not enough food will be fed, resulting in poor growth, poor-feed conversions, and increased time required to get the fish to harvestable size.

If the weight of fish in a pond is over-estimated, the result will be overfeeding, poor feed conversions, and verylikely, severe water quality problems.

He explained that healthy catfish convert quality feed efficiently when fed properly under good water quality conditions.

The food conversion ratio (FCR) is the total pound of feed given the fish divided by the weight gained for any period of time. The feed conversion ratio increases as fishes grow.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Richest 1% ‘ll dominate global wealth in 2016, says Oxfam

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HE richest one per cent are about to control a majority of the world’s wealth. That’s according to anti-poverty charity Oxfam, which said the slice of global wealth held by the world’s most affluent reached 48 percent last year, up from 44 percent in 2009. Their share will likely exceed 50 percent by 2016, Oxfam said in a letter addressed to attendees of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week.

“The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering,” Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam’s executive director, said in the statement. “The gap between the richest and the rest is widening fast.”

The world’s richest added $92 billion to their collective fortune in 2014, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The biggest gainer was Jack Ma, the co-founder of China’s e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. U.S.

billionaires Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg are also among the top gainers, the index show.

As the wealth gap widens, governments from U.S. to China are proposing new taxes on their most affluent citizens. More than a billion people live on less than $1.25 a day, according to Oxfam.

President Barack Obama plans to limit profits Americans make from investments and impose capital-gain taxes on inherited assets. Beijing’s tax officials recently started asking citizens to report their earnings overseas, according to the New York Times.

One-fifth of global billionaires “have interests in the financial and insurance sectors” and saw their cash wealth climb 11 percent in the past year, Oxfam said. The Oxfam study uses data from Credit Suisse’s global wealth report and Forbes.

“Oxfam is concerned that the lobbying power of these sectors is a

major barrier in the way of reforming the global tax system,” according to the statement. The group proposes a crackdown on corporate and individual tax dodging, more investment infree public services, and a shift in taxes toward capital and wealth to help fix the problem.

Obama wants to increase top tax rate on capital gains and dividends to 28 percent from 23.8 percent. The rate was 15 percent when he took office in 2009. He would also impose capital-gains taxes on asset transfers at death, ending what the White House calls “the largest capital gains loophole.”

Chinese tax agencies have quietly started to enforce the regulation which would require citizens and companies to pay taxes on their global income, the New York Times reported earlier this month. New rules effective Feb. 1 will ban international investments deemed to be tax shelters, according to the report.

Bank losses from Swiss currency to continue

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HE $400 million of cumulative losses that Citigroup Inc. (C), Deutsche Bank AG and Barclays Plc (BARC) are said to have suffered from the Swiss central bank’s decision to end the cap on the franc may be followed by others in coming days.

“The losses will be in the billions — they are still being tallied,” said Mark T. Williams, an executive-inresidence at Boston University specializing in risk management.

“They will range from large banks, brokers, hedge funds, mutual funds to currency speculators.

There will be ripple effects throughout the financial system.”

Citigroup, the world’s biggest currencies dealer, lost more than $150 million at its trading desks, a person with knowledge of the matter said last week.

Citigroup, the world’s biggest currencies dealer, lost more than $150 million at its trading desks, a person with knowledge of the matter said last week. Deutsche Bank lost $150 million and Barclays less than $100 million, people familiar with the events said, after the Swiss National Bank scrapped a three-year-old policy of capping its currency against the euro and the franc soared as much as 41 percent that day versus the euro.

Spokesmen for the three banks declined to comment.

Marko Dimitrijevic, the hedge fund manager who survived at least five emerging-market debt crises, is closing his largest hedge

fund, which had about $830 million in assets at the end of the year, after losing virtually all its money on the SNB’s decision, a person familiar with the firm said last week.

FXCM Inc., the largest U.S. retail foreign-exchange broker, got a $300 million cash infusion from Leucadia National Corp. after warning that client losses threatened its compliance with capital rules. FXCM, which handled $1.4 trillion of trades for individuals last quarter, said it was owed $225 million by customers.

The SNB’s move “shocked people all over the world,” Timothy Massad, chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in an interview in Hong Kong. The regulator is “continuously” monitoring the situation, he said.

Shorting the franc was a popular trade and most firms would leverage their positions some 20 times or more, said Williams, who consults for hedge funds. With such leverage a 5 percent move against the position wipes out all the value, yet the trades were seen as relatively low-risk by models used by financial institutions because volatility of the franc was reduced by the SNB’s cap, he said.

Citigroup had reported an average total trading value-at-risk, a measure of how much the company could lose in trading in one day, of $105 million in the third quarter, of which $32 million was attributed to foreign-exchange risks.

Emerging-market stocks fall on regulatory crackdown

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• Executive Vice Chairman(EVC) Nigerian Communications Commissison(NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, (left) receiving the The Sun Newspaper Public Service Award 2014 from Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, former Managing Director of The Sun Newspaper while in the middle is the Director, Finance Services (DFS), Mrs Abigael Sholanke, and Director, Public Affairs (DPA), Mr.Tony Ojobo, both of the NCC during the awards at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Oil trades near $50 after first weekly gain

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IL declined from a oneweek high in London and New York as Iraqi production advanced to a record, compounding a global supply surplus.

Prices slid as much as 2.2 percent in New York and London after their first weekly gain in two months. Iraq is pumping at an unprecedented pace of 4 million barrels a day, Oil Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said. Oil extended losses after Chinese shares

plunged the most since 2008 as regulators cracked down on margin lending.

Crude slumped almost 50 percent last year as the U.S. pumped oil at the fastest rate in more than three decades while the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries resisted calls to cut supply. Iraq’s oil production rose to a 35-year high in December and could break more records in the coming months, according to the

International Energy Agency.

“With supply exceeding demand it still seems highly likely that the market will fall further,” Christopher Bellew, senior broker at Jefferies International Ltd. in London, said by e-mail. “Rallies above $50 have proved very short-lived and my expectation is for the price to move in a sideways range until the next move to the downside, which I expect to take the price to $40 or lower.”

ITIC Securities Co. and Haitong Securities Co., China’s two biggest listed brokerages, dropped by the 10 percent daily limit in Shanghai after they were suspended from lending money to new clients. A gauge of technology companies headed for the highest close since November after India’s Wipro Ltd. reported betterthan-estimated earnings. The ruble rose after Standard & Poor’s delayed a decision on whether to cut Russia’s sovereign rating to junk. The Ibovespa snapped a two-day rally.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 0.3 percent to 954.25 at 10:57 a.m. in New York, its second day of losses. The gauge is down 0.2 percent since the start of the year as a plunge in Brent crude outweighed a biggerthan-forecast increase in Chinese exports. Crude, which slumped almost 50 percent last year, dropped from a one-week high in London and New York today as Iraqi production rose to a record.

Chinese regulators moved to cool down the stock market by tightening norms for trading with borrowed money. Their action came after outstanding margin loans in the country almost tripled since June and bank lending to companies for investing in financial markets surged to the highest on record.

“A tighter grip on margin

lending is having a big impact on the market,” Maarten-Jan Bakkum, an emerging-market strategist at ING Groep NV in The Hague, said by e-mail. “It shows once again how much the Chinese market has been driven by liquidity and technicals. Risk remains high there. The rest of the emerging world is not really affected by this.”

The Shanghai Composite Index, which had rallied 67 percent in the 12 months through last week, plunged 7.7 percent today. That was the biggest retreat since June 2008 and pushed the 30-day volatility on the measure to the highest level in five years. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland stocks traded in Hong Kong tumbled 5 percent, the most since November 2011. The yuan weakened 0.2 percent versus the dollar.

Citic, Haitong and Guotai Junan Securities Co. were suspended from lending money and stocks to new clients for three months, the China Securities Regulatory Commission said on Jan. 16. The regulator punished nine other brokerages for offenses including allowing unqualified investors to open margin-trading accounts. The China Banking Regulatory Commission banned banks from lending to companies for trading.

Euro climbs on ECB skepticism as SNB fallout dents Dollar, Franc

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HE euro advanced the most in more than a month against the dollar amid speculation any additional stimulus measures announced by the European Central Bank at its policy meeting will fall short of analyst forecasts.

The greenback also declined amid speculation traders, hurt by the Swiss National Bank’s decision to remove its trading limit against the shared currency, are paring the market risk they are prepared to take. The Swiss franc dropped at least 1.1 percent against all 16 of its major peers, trimming its surge in the wake of the central bank’s removal of the 1.20-per-

euro floor. The Danish central bank said it wouldn’t follow Switzerland abandoning its currency peg after it cut interest rates today. ECB policy makers will meet on Jan. 22 to discuss introducing new stimulus, including quantitative easing.

There are “some signs of short covering prior to the ECB on Thursday,” said Neil Jones, head of hedge-fund sales at Mizuho Bank Ltd. in London, referring to the unwinding of bets the euro will weaken. “My sense is some players believe a lot, if not all, of the QE announcements are priced in. The ECB may disappoint in terms of size.”

The euro gained as much as 0.6 percent to $1.1639, the biggest jump since

Dec. 16. It fell to $1.1460 on Jan. 16, the weakest level since November 2003, and was the worst performer among the dollar’s 16 major peers in the week through Jan. 16. It traded at $1.1609, up 0.4 percent, at 2.48 p.m. in New York.

The shared currency rose 0.5 percent to 136.61 yen after touching 134.71 on Jan. 16, the least since Oct. 16. It jumped 2.6 percent to 1.02028 Swiss francs after plunging 17 percent last week to close at 99.41 centimes.

The krone was little changed at 7.4330 per euro after the Danish bank cut its deposit rate to minus 0.2 percent, matching a record low, from minus 0.05 percent and lowered its lending rate to a record 0.05 percent

from 0.2 percent. Based on closing prices, it traded at the strongest since 2004 before the cut.

“We have the necessary tools to defend the peg,” KarstenBiltoft, head of communications at the Copenhagen-based central bank, said by phone. Asked whether Denmark could ever consider abandoning its currency peg, he said, “Of course not.”

ECB President Mario Draghi will announce a 550 billion-euro bondpurchase program this week, according to 93 percent of respondents in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. That tops the 500 billion euros in models presented to ECB officials

this month. “Market expectations now are stellar,” said AttilioBertini, head of research at CreditoValtellinese SC in Sondrio, Italy. There must be “no disappointment.”

Citigroup Inc., Deutsche Bank AG and Barclays Plc, the three biggest currency traders in a Euromoney survey, lost money when the SNB scrapped the euro cap on Jan. 15, according to people with knowledge of the companies, who asked not to be identified because the figures haven’t been made public. Retail foreign-exchange traders from New Zealand to New York also said they were hurt by the currency’s moves.

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SHOWBIZ More tributes pour in for Nollywood actor Muna Obiekwe

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HE death of a popular Nollywood actor, Muna Obiekwe, on Sunday, generated ripples, when a Twitter handle purportedly run by the actor debunked news of his demise.

While earlier reports indicated that the talented actor died in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos, the Twitter account had denied the report.

After colleagues of the late actor confirmed his death and attacked the operator of the fake account, an apology tweet was released on the fake Twitter handle.

“Anyway, sorry guys for the deceit; Muna Obiekwe is truly dead and I am signing out from this account... sorry guys,” the account operator wrote on Sunday night.

However, colleagues of the light-skinned actor have continued to express shock at his sudden demise. Nollywood actress, Cynthia Agholor said although she wasn’t very close to him during his lifetime, she could say he was very kind, humble and gentle. “Nollywood has lost a charismatic star. I pray God gives the family and all of us in the in-

Shakira shows off baby bump

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our first child into the world.

Thanks to your generosity, our first World Baby Shower for UNICEF was an incredible success,” the family said in a statement published

by E!.

They said further: “Now that we are expecting our second child, we want to invite other expectant parents to host their own World Baby Shower. You don’t have to be a celebrity to make a difference—the birth of your child can be a blessing that also saves thousands of children’s lives around the world.”

Shakira, 37, announced she was pregnant in August, and told Spain’s Europa Press that she is planning on going back to work on a new album once she gives birth. “Next year, I think after the baby is born, I’ll start producing my new album,” she said, adding that the work is “a Spanish album, which is what, has me most excited right now.”

D’banj, Genevieve back together

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ULTRY actress, Genevieve Nnaji and star singer, Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, have not been seen together for a while, sparing them the usual rumours of romantic ties. However, the entertainers are back together. This time, it is to fight for the less privileged in Africa, through a project tagged ‘One Campaign’.

Nnnaji, who was recently appointed an ambassador of the campaign, has joined D’banj to promote ‘One Campaign’, to decry extreme

• D’banj

dustry the fortitude to bear the loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” she added.

Another Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, tweeted; “RIP Muna Obiekwe. This is so disheartening.

Well, God knows best. Adieu dear colleague.”

Rapper and music producer, Michael Stevens, aka Ruggedman also said via Twitter: “RIP Muna Obiekwe. You have played your part in the biggest industry called life and have taken a bow. May your soul rest in peace.”

“It is a shock to all of us. Just last month, we lost Clem in Asaba. It seems the thing has now shifted to the younger generation. His death is a big loss to the industry. I am presently on location in Enugu and everybody here is in a foul mood.

Muna was a very nice person and a humble one at that. I pray that his soul finds rest wherever he is,” said fellow actor, Emeka Rollas.

Also speaking on his death, Nollywood director, Charles Inojie, noted that “anybody who knew Muna would attest to the fact that he was a very gentle person.

• The late Muna Obiekwe

He had a very subtle way of settling disputes. You would never find Muna where there is strife. No doubt, his death is a huge loss to the industry. He has left behind a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.”

Reports say that the actor, who has been battling renal related ailment, collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital where doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.

American Sniper springs box-office surprise

• Shakira and Gerard

OLOMBIAN pop star, Shakira Ripoll, made newspaper headlines on Monday, when she released a series of photos, showing her bulging belly.

But unlike stars who pose nude when pregnant, the singer’s display of her sizeable baby bump, was part of UNICEF’s World Baby Shower campaign, in which people can buy ‘inspired gifts,’ which consist of lifesaving items for babies, that are donated to new families living in extreme poverty.

Interestingly, the singer, in the photographs, posed with her soccer star boyfriend, Gerard Pique.

Through the campaign, Shakira and Pique, encouraged parents across the world to host World Baby Showers in an effort to provide medicine, food, vaccines, and other vital supplies to families in need.

“In 2013, we welcomed Milan,

By Ovwe Medeme

By Mercy Michael

poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.

‘One Campaign’ is an international, non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy and campaigning organisation that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support effective policies and programmes that are saving lives and improving futures.

• Genevieve

A

FTER nabbing six Oscar nominations on Thursday, Clint Eastwood’s record-breaking American Sniper has been predicted for a record score of $100M debut, as the film continues to astound at the North American box office, where it earned an estimated $90.2 million for the three-day weekend. The film is said to have made double, what it was expected to do.

That’s the largest opening of all time for the month of January, as well as one of the top grosses ever for an average budget film and an R-rated modern-day war film. The film is playing in 3,555 locations.

Earning a coveted A+ Cinema Score in every category, the film which was directed by Clint Eastwood and released on January 16, is said to be galvanising moviegoers in the United States.

Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow are said to have partnered on American Sniper, a film based on the real-life story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and set over the course of the war in Iraq.

Among the film’s Oscar nominations are Best Picture and Best Actor (Bradley Cooper).

American Sniper first debuted Christmas Day, in four theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas (Kyle was from Texas). The $60 million movie, earning nearly $4 million in its limited run, continues to be unique in appealing to both art house audiences as well as more politically conservative moviegoers.

To date, Gran Torino ($29.5 million) is Eastwood’s top opening as a director, while Kevin Hart’s Ride Along, released a year ago on the same weekend, boasts the top opening for January with a three-day debut of $41.5 million. Its four-day take was $48.6 million.

Once again taking advantage of the MLK holiday, Hart returns to theaters this weekend in The Wedding Ringer, from Screen Gems. In

Timaya explains re-union with K-Solo

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OPULAR Niger Delta singer, Timaya, has explained through his manager, Prince Nnamdi Orlu Uzor, why he invited his ex-producer, K-Solo, to work with him on a song.

“First things first, we never had any issues with K-Solo; we only needed to try various options in business, and now we discovered it has been a long time that music lovers felt the vibes of Timaya and K-Solo, which is why we invited him to come over and create good music for our fans to enjoy,” he said.

Timaya’s debut and second albums were produced by KSolo, but for some time

By Mercy Michael

now, both artistes have not been working together.

With Timaya, you could never run out of drama, especially knowing how much the singer likes to talk about money. A couple of days ago, he was on Instagram, advising his fans on what leads to poverty and what paves way for wealth.

According to the singer, his fans should abstain from complaining because, to him, such breeds poverty, while a heart of gratitude brings wealth. He wrote: “Complain is poverty while gratitude is riches….”

• Timaya

By Ovwe Medeme

an unexpected development, the Rrated comedy is finding itself in a close race with family film Paddington for the No. 2 spot over the four-day MLK weekend (Sniper is no doubt taking adults away from Hart’s movie).

Going by pundits’ prediction, Wedding Ringer should beat Paddington for the three-day weekend with an estimated $20 millionplus from 3,003 theaters for a projected four day debut of $24 million, the best showing for an Rrated comedy opening in January.

However, it won’t match the $27.8 million debut of Hart’s About Last Night over Valentine’s Day and President Day weekend in February 2014.

That movie was likewise rated R, while Ride Along was rated PG-13.

Ava DuVernay’s Selma, heading into its second weekend in nationwide release, is another Oscar contender hoping for a box-office bump. It also hopes to benefit from the MLK holiday.

Selma, which stars Nigerian-British actor, David Oyelowo, is poised to come in No. 5 over the holiday weekend with a four-day gross in the $10 million range from 2,235 theaters, bringing its domestic total north of $27 million through Monday.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

48

The Midweek Magazine

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Mother sets newborn on fire

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• Lion Onasanya (1st right); Otunba Gani Adams and others at the event

Lions Club to build eye hospital in Abuja T HE Lions Club International is to build eye hospital in Abuja.

District 404 A1, Nigeria Governor Olaitan Omolaja made this known at the investiture of Olugbenga Onasanya, as president of the Lagos Unique Club.

The event, which held at the Nigerian Army Officers Mess, Yaba, Lagos attracted eminent people from various parts of Lagos State.

Omolaja said the eye hospital would be constructed on 10-acre of land, adding: “ The Abuja eye hospital is going to be a landmark in this country. It is strictly planned to take care of myriad of eye challenges, and ultimately, eliminate the scourge of blindness that is becoming worrisome in the country.

By Innocent Duru

PHILANTROPY

“I can assure you that with the support of our international association, the eye hospital will be the biggest in Africa. The 10-acre land was given to us by the federal government. The plan has been done, the architectural drawing has been completed and we are in the process of securing approval from the Abuja municipality to start the project.”

Delivering his inaugural speech, Onasanya

said he was keen on contributing his quota to better the lives of the less-privileged. “ We are not here just to witness my public presentation as the president but to instal other officers of the club who will work with me to enable me share my dream with you with a view to contributing your quota, so that together we can better the lot of the less privileged in our communities.

“The sick, the physically challenged, those who cannot afford a meal per day and abandoned people in the society need our support to have their lives enhanced. The total budget for our projects and activities for this Lion’s year is N10 million. As lions, we live by the international purpose and code of ethics which makes us prudent, effective and above board,” he said.

EKO 2015: Yoruba in Diaspora converge on Lagos

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O fewer than 2000 Yoruba in the Diaspora will converge on Lagos for the first Oodua Peoples Union world congress tagged Eko 2015. Venue of the congress which has as theme, Team Leadership and Role of Leadership in effective Service Delivery is Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja on Monday, January 26. 2015.

According to convener of the congress and National Coordinator Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams “efforts are being made for the successful hosting of the over 2000 Nigerians in Diaspora who have signified their interest to attend the world congress of the Union in Lagos. He said the

union is leaving no stone unturned for the success of this congress in order to benefit the nation and the participants.

“It is going to be one of the largest convergences of Yoruba in Diaspora in recent times and we are bracing up to ensure that such a gathering is not only productive to the nation but enrich participants by engaging in discussion that will help in sharpening their leadership instincts and sense of responsibility,” he added.

Otunba Adams explained that “Eko 2015 is about leadership training. It is not just a forum for social interaction, wining and dining. It is all about sharpening the leadership content in our mental and behavioural ar-

moury for personal enhancement, community advancement and national aspiration.

Hence, we came out with the theme Team Leadership and Role of Leadership in effective Service Delivery.

He said discussants and guests lecturers for the event have been carefully selected in cognisance of the theme and cosmopolitan outlook of the participants.

“We have selected two guest speakers who are eminently capable and distinguished enough for the thought changing theme. Prof Kolawole Raheem of University of Education, Winneba in Ghana and Prof Olajumoke Familoni, Lead City University, Ibadan Oyo State will lead the participants through the discussion,” he said.

Iroyin Owuro hits the newsstand

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•From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode chatting with Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi Macfoy and Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Imam Abdullahi Shuaib during an interactive session organised by Muslim Community of Lagos at Ansar-Ud-Deen National Secretariat, Surulere, Lagos.

ORUBA newspaper Iroyin Owuro has hit the newsstand.

With a librarian/journalist, Asafa Salam, as its editor, the weekly publication was unveiled last December.

According to its publishers, it is a generalnews medium with bias for the socioeconomic and cultural development of the Yoruba and Nigerians.

One of its publishers, Mr Yinka Alabi, explained that Iroyin Owuro came on stream to fill the gap created by newspapers published in the English Language.

He said millions of people who cannot read or write in English or are not in mainstream communities had been more or less isolated.

“But we want to fill the gap here. We want to report people, events and institutions the way the media published in English do. We are set for the revival of Yoruba culture and language, but we will report politics, economy, entertainment, sports and business in a factual, up-todate and inspiring manner,” the publisher said.

New Jersey woman who authorities say put her newborn baby in the middle of a road and set the child on fire was charged Saturday with murder.

Burlington County prosecutors said Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, of Pemberton Township was jailed on $500,000 bail. It wasn’t known if she has retained a lawyer.

According to Associated Press report, police responded to a Friday night call about a fire in the middle of a residential road in the township, about 30 miles east of Philadelphia. Officers found the baby in flames and put out the fire. The child reportedly was alive and breathing at the time she was flown to a hospital in Philadelphia, said Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. She died about two hours later, he said in a news release. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Authorities believe the mother doused her baby with an accelerant then set her on fire, Bewley said. They do not have a motive. The woman was taken into custody Friday night.

Prosecutor Robert Bernardi said details of the baby’s birth were still being investigated. The baby’s age has not been disclosed. Bernardi would not comment on whether the mother has a criminal record or if she has been involved with child welfare officials.

Dave Joseph, 45, of Pemberton Township told The Burlington County Times that he saw a young woman get out of her car and light something on fire in the middle of Simontown Road. He said the woman told him she was burning dog waste. Joseph said the woman appeared calm and soon tried to flee the scene, but residents stopped her.

“It was just mind-boggling,” Joseph said.

“It was a nightmare even if you have a strong heart.”

Author visits Port Harcourt Oprah’s Book Club author Father Uwem Akpan will be in Port Harcourt, UNESCO Book Capital 2014, for the reading and drama sketch of his book: Say You’re One of Them.

The event will hold at the Atlantic Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The book is a collection of five poignant short stories set in Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. It addresses war, prostitution, child trafficking and religious conflict. “…Fr. Uwem sets out to build fictional edifices on the skeletons of identifiable crises of social dysfunction in five African nations...”

Akpan’s book is the Book-of-the Month for this month. He is one of 12 authors whose books were selected by the World Book Capital for discussions, as part of the programmes to encourage reading and writers during Port Harcourt’s tenure as World Book Capital. The Book-of the Month for February and March are Children of the Revolution by Dinaw Mengetsu and The Virtuous Woman by Zaynab Alkali.

Copies of the books are available at major bookshops and at Rainbow Book Club 20 Igbodo Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

Five foreign artists for Un-speak British Council, Lagos and Centre for Contemporary Art Lagos will host an exhibition of five international new media artists contextualised by London-based gallerist and curator Bea Herhold de Sousa.

The group exhibition titled: Un-speak which will hold at Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Yaba will feature works of Declan Clarke (Republic of Ireland), Nooshin Farhid (GB/Iran), Hetain Patel (GB/India), Janek Schaefer (GB/Poland/Canada) and Stefanos Tsivopoulos (Greece/Iran).

It will present works which tell stories that raise questions on the accuracy of archives and transmitted communication in relation to personalised memories. This goes across film, sound and performative practice and will have Andrew Esiebo explore the concept from a Nigerian perspective.

It will open at 2pm on January 31 and run till February 26. Esiebo’s talk will hold at British Council Gardens. 20 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos on February 4 by 4pm.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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The Midweek Magazine

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• Alakija at work

Alakija transforms Molue into mobile art U

NTIL eight days ago, an old Mercedes Benz 911 bus popularly known as Molue with yellow and blue strips was a regular sight on some routes in Lagos. With a School Boy tag atop its front roof, the all-metal bus conveyed commuters most times, leaving behind memories of the hustle and bustle of Lagos.

Last Saturday, after the unveiling at Quintessence, School Boy transformed into a mobile art for some select art enthusiasts in Lagos courtesy of Polly Alakija, a United Kingdom (UK) based artist who turned the bus into an object of painting. The following day, it was driven round some roads in Lagos starting from Park View Estate in Ikoyi, to raise awareness for the fundraising in support of the Ebunoluwa Foundation’s Eruobodo Home for Special Children in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The project is a collaboration between Quintessence and Alakija and the art work on the Molue will be used to form a series of limited edition prints by the artist.

Promasidor Plc Managing Director Mr Keith Richard was the compere at the event that attracted art enthusiasts, such as Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, Aduke Gomez, Oti Bazunu, Alan and Ekaba Davies, Bukola Oye, Victor Ehikhamenor, Goethe Institut Director, Mac-Andre Schmachtel, Wilfred

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

PROJECT Ukpong, Bisi Silva and other members of Lagos Jazz Series, We Love Lagos team, who are lead supporters.

According to Alakija, the series has included other iconic painted objects such as VW Beetle car, a Tricycle (Keke NAPEP), a water tanker and a Bedford truck. She said some percentage of the profits on sales

‘The Molue is instantly associated with the hustle, bustle and vibes of Lagos reflected so well through music and the intrinsic need to dance. Our Molue depicts Sina Apaye’s Parkhood Dancers who he trains every evening in Freedom Park, Lagos’

would go to Eruobodo Home for Special Children.

“The Molue is instantly associated with the hustle, bustle and vibes of Lagos reflected so well through music and the intrinsic need to dance. Our Molue depicts Sina Apaye’s Parkhood Dancers who he trains every evening in Freedom Park, Lagos This park on the site of former colonial prison is the venue for able bodied people to enjoy their own good health and vitality.

We have the freedom of movement. For some, their body is a prison,” Alakija said at the ceremony.

She added that the prints would be enriched with excerpts from Olasupo Shasore’s book, Possessed as background to the Molue image in the limited print of 25.

Expectedly, Alakija dwells on the yellow and colour in Aso-oke format while the Osa Straight tag at the tail end of the bus reminds viewers of the route as well as the unfortunate accident that claimed lives when a Molue plunged into Lagoon few years ago.

The black lines depict leather strings of the talking drum while School Boy remains the central figure of the mobile art.

• Alakija

Beyond fund raising, the project is another means of documenting history, particularly the mode of transportation in Lagos.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

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The Good Shepherd Society of the Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja GRA in Lagos has laid the foundation for the Christian Mission for the Deaf Church in Somolu. SAFIYYAH ABDUR-RAZAQ was there.

A lift for the less privileged

I

MAGINE a church where sign language is a means of communication.

Praise and worship will be conducted without singing and drumming. That church is being built by the Christian Mission for the Deaf Nigeria (CMDN) in Somolu, Lagos. Last Friday, the foundation of the permanent site of the Christian Mission for the Deaf Church in Somolu, Lagos was laid.

The event began with a collective recitation of the national anthem after which a brief history of the church was read by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Christian Mission for the Deaf Nigeria (CMDN), Elder Silas Eke. He traced the history of the CMDN to 1960 when a Deaf American, Dr Andrew Foster started Christian evangelism among the deaf in Nigeria and established schools in Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu.

“The schools in Kaduna and Enugu”, he said, “were closed down during the civil war but have been reopened together with several other schools. In 197o, the Lagos branch of the church was opened by Dr Foster in Yaba.”

The Chairman of the church, Amos Akeju, said the site was acquired in 2005 and the old building 2was used for Sunday service, midweek and weekend fellowships.

“We continued to pray to God to help us in developing the site. It was during this period that God brought the former president of the Good Shepherd Society, the late Sir IKV Ezeonyido to our church one Sunday.

He heard the special announcement that we were collecting the money for a permanent place of worship and he made a donation to the church that day. He also informed his society and they have been our partners since then.”

Bishop of Lagos West Anglican Communion Rt. Rev James Odedeji laid the foundation and told the audience that when a man sows a good seed, he reaps God’s blessings.

“This is the time we have all laboured for.

We are in God’s hands and this place by the grace of God would soon be completed. This is a good investment, an eternal one. And our contributions would be an opportunity for us to write our names in the Book of Life,” Bishop Odedeji said.

President of the Society, Ossie Nwankwu,

•Mr Nwankwu (right) laying the foundation

PHILANTROPY said the assistance being rendered to the CMDC is an evangelical contribution to the society.

“Jesus Christ is a good shepherd and he taught us to be a good shepherd, so we have to look out for our not-so-privileged members. We are also using this opportunity to sensitise members of the public to come and

Mother of quadruplets dies after birth

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WOMAN died hours after giving birth to quadruplets at a Phoenix hospital, US a close friend of the family has said.

Erica Morales, 36, never got to hold her newborns before she passed away early last Friday morning after a Csection surgery at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Centre, Nicole Todman said.

“They were transporting her from the surgery to whatever room, and she was still unconscious at that point. So, no, she never got to see them,” Todman said.

Morales was about seven months into her pregnancy when she delivered three girls and one boy Thursday, according to Todman. She has been one of the few able to visit the premature newborns and said they are doing well.

“They’re beautiful,” Todman said. “They have tubes in their mouths and their noses.

They’ve got little monitors and wires all over their body.”

The infants will likely remain hospitalised for the next two months while doctors help them to get stronger and each reach a goal weight of 5 pounds, Todman said. Currently, they all weigh between just above 2 pounds to just above 3 pounds, she said.

Morales was initially hospitalised for high blood pressure. Complications ensued before Morales was taken into surgery, Todman said. She does not know what led to her passing.

“I don’t even care to know,” Todman said.

“It doesn’t matter why. She’s still gone.”

Hospital spokeswoman Toni Eberhardt declined comment Saturday, but she re-

leased a statement from the hospital: “Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the family during this very difficult time.”

Morales, a former real estate agent who more recently worked for the University of Phoenix, and her husband, Carlos, who works in manufacturing, had been trying to conceive a baby for two years, Todman said.

She said Morales tried everything from acupuncture to fertility treatments. Morales suffered a miscarriage before becoming pregnant last June.

Todman, who has been best friends with Morales since childhood, said Morales was more nervous about being a new mother than raising four children at once. Because of her previous miscarriage, Morales was apprehensive about getting too excited about the babies’ arrival. She mainly focused on doing things correctly throughout her pregnancy such as eating enough, Todman said.

“Her focus of her pregnancy was to make sure she did everything to make sure they were healthy so she was able to bring them into this world — and she did,” Todman said.

On Friday, Todman started a GoFundMe fundraising website for Carlos Morales and the infants on Friday. The site had received more than $29,000 in donations as of Saturday afternoon.

“I’m so grateful for the overwhelming support and the wonderful comments, and so are Carlos and Sandra, Erica’s mother.

They are so entirely grateful,” Todman said.

• Culled from AFP

do God’s work”, he said.

He said the society also provides guide sticks annually for the School for the Blind in Oshodi as well as funds for the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria.

The CMDC church building, he said, will be a three-storey structure that would house an auditorium, classrooms, recreation facilities for the deaf and information and counselling for the deaf and their relatives.

‘Jesus Christ is a good shepherd and he taught us to be a good shepherd, so we have to look out for our not-so-privileged members’

Pa Okelola is dead

T

HE death of Pa Benjamin Oloyede Oluseye Okelola (JP) has been announced by his family. He died on November 25 last year. He was aged 102.

The late Pa Okelola was the Baba Ijo of St. James Anglican Church, Tigbo Ogan, Balogun Onigbagbo, Iporo, Abeokuta, Otun Balogun Okenla Ifo Christians.

A release by the family said the christian wake will hold on January 22 at his residence, Ogan Town, Ifo Ogun State, at 5.00pm, while final burial ceremony and church service will come up on January 23 at St James Anglican Church, Ogan, Ifo Ogun State at 10.00am.

Reception follows immediately at St. James Anglican School field, while outing service holds at the same church on Sunday, January 25 by 10 am. He is survived by his wife, Madam Victoria Olufumilayo Okelola, children, grand children and great grand children. Among them is Chief Oluranti Solanke (Nee Okelola) JP.

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EBOI Brazilian descendants of Popo Aguda Lagos Island share a unique heritage.

To sustain the Meboi heritage that dates back to the 18th century, the descendants organised a cultural show in honour of the late Benedicto Ramos, one of the progenitors.

Recently, the Meboi show was held to honour one of Meboi’s matriarchs, the late Mrs Elizabeth Titilayo Ramos at her Fagba in Lagos. Also in 2013, it was held in honour of Mrs. Joana Abeke Benjamin.

As a cultural show, which impacts in the life of its people, the organiastion staged a show at the Osun State Trade Fair exhibition in 1995 on the invitation of the former military governor of Lagos

•The late Okelola

Brazilian descendants celebrate in Lagos

By Toyin Olasinde

State, Brigadier Olagunjoye Oyinlola.

In 1977, it was held at the Brazilian Embassy during its independence anniversary. The trustees of the organisation include former Managing Director Eko bank Mr Tunde Fasina as grand patrol, Mr Owolabi Martuis, Bolaji Abayomi, Madam Dayo Macharkay, Mrs. Turi Akinrele, Rear Admiral Oni (rtd), Mr Taiwo Olawale and Doyin Oriola.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

The Midweek Magazine Minister pledges support for tourism

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

F

EDERAL Government will support private investment in culture and tourism, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Chief Edem Duke has said. He called on-well meaning individuals and groups to invest in the development of the creative sector. He noted that tourism, apart from offering good returns on investment; create jobs and other opportunities for the investor and the community.

He spoke at the new Smoking Hills Golf Course and Resort in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State. The 18-hole Golf Course is owned by Chairman of Elizade Nigeria, Chief Micheal Ade Ojo. Duke, accompanied by Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr Akin Adejuwon, noted that the tour to Ilara Mokin afforded him the opportunity to appreciate some of the attractions that Chief Ojo has developed to find ways of helping in promotion and development of tourism.

Ojo, took his guests round the course and resort and the Elizade University. “This is one private university that I have seen that is built like universities you will find in Europe,” Duke said.

The minister described experience of the visit as ‘overwhelming’ noting: “the environment, the undulating hills, the smoking hills and, indeed, the experience is completely overwhelming. I think this is a programme and a project, which not only the Federal Government will provide the support in terms of infrastructure, working with the state government, but we will do our utmost to ensure that, that is possible. When I see the opportunities here for tourism, hospitality and cultural development, I see the synergy not only of this golf course but also a synergy and a circuit that can be built around most of the tourist sites in Ondo State and neigbouring states like the Ikogosi Warm Spring, which is not too far away from here. And I see the various towns and communities around here providing the source for the development of local cuisine and the service industry that will bring value. I also see the university providing the opportunity for young people to grow into golf and the potential of having an inter university circuit. I see a great

•From Left: Vice Chancellor Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Prof Valentine Aletor, Duke and Chief Ojo

TOURISM opportunity in this resort, not only to grow championship golf tournament and golfers but also an opportunity for professional retreats by organisations that will like to develop strategy sessions and then go out to play a game of gulf and enrich their own experiences’’.

The Minister also acknowledged the possibility of other events in the state running into days so that tourists can experience the warmth and splendour of the golf course and resort. ‘’I see the opportunity of the Mare Festival held annually here in Ondo State growing into a one week festival, where after being a part of the festival, you can come to the golf resort and even drive to the Ikogosi Warm Spring and enjoy some of the other offerings around Ondo state,”

he said.

He praised Chief Ojo for his interest in the promotion of education, tourism and culture. He acknowledged Chief Ojo’s support for the yearly Mare Festival in Idanre, Ondo State and for his support for the production of Kunle Afolayan’s big budget movie October 1, which was shot on location in Ilara Mokin.

‘I want to most especially commend Ojo, who has truly stood out as one of the leading lights in Nigeria business community. And I have always said to people, that no matter what kind of business you are in, the most enjoyable retirement is in leisure and entertainment. So it is a great opportunity to be here at Ilara Mokin.’’

Ojo thanked the Minister for the visit and expressed the hope that with the visit, a lot of support would be extended to the tourist centre and to the community.

Maybe Tomorrow holds Sunday

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ANT to know what happens when two long lost friends who had fought side by side during the civil war suddenly reunite? A police interrogation room is surely not the best of venues for such an encounter, especially when one is the suspect and the other is the chief interrogating officer.

This is the teaser in Maybe Tomorrow, a highly suspenseful drama that speaks about our past, present, written by Soji Cole and directed by Ibukun Fasunhan.

Theatre enthusiasts can find out how this interrogation went as the play produced by Eclectique Theatre, a production outfit aimed towards creative approaches to stage plays opened last Sunday at Terra Kulture.

Those who missed last week play have the opportunity of watching the high-paced again this Sunday by 3pm and 6pm. The play, which is centered around two characters “Kenule Ododo” and “Adolphus Wariboko” played by two of the gifted stage actors, Patrick Diabuah (Laitan of Saro the Musical 2) and Kenneth Uphopho (director of Saro the Musical 2). It also features Samuel Animashaun and Ossai Franklin as “policemen”.

As the election draw near, the play is advocating change.

Fasunhan, the stage manager for SARO, and the producer and director of ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ said his choice of directing the play was influenced by this preoccupation. The play highlights the issues currently facing the Nigerian society, and how best to resolve it. It takes the audience through several satirical and comic moods with creative directing and acting styles, which vitalizes theatrical experience.

It also discusses various issues facing the Niger Delta, and the issue of complacency on the part of the Niger-deltan youths, and exploitation of the masses. The play is apt for this period due to some issues of bad leadership it highlights in the play.

He said: “I was inspired to choose this play, based on the civil unrests facing the country, and the fact that stage producers for the past years, have filled the stage with comic plays, instead of addressing some basic issues in the society. Maybe Tomorrow is a play that I have always admired since the playwright gave it to me to read four years ago and since I have no power to fight, I draw my sword in the theatre with Maybe Tomorrow, hoping it is sharp enough to effect a change in the society. As such, being the first play I would be producing, I see it as a matter of necessity to contribute my own quota to addressing these issues by staging Maybe Tomorrow, which leaves the audi-

•A scene from a rehearsal session

By Evelyn Osagie

LITERATURE ence with their thinking caps on.

Fasunhan is a stage manager, director, actor and a writer.

As a stage manager, he has stage managed over thirty productions such as Saro: The Musical, Make We Waka (2014 British Council Lagos Theatre Festival), and Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, amongst others. He has also directed plays like Osofisan’sMany Colour Make the Thunder King, Women of Owu, No More the Wasted Breed, and Ade Adeniji’sDevil’s Song amongst others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Theatre Arts from the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria. He is the artistic director and producer of “Eclectique Theatre”, a theatre company aimed towards new and creative approach to theatrical performances.

Diabuah studied Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos.

He is unarguably one of the best stage artiste in Lagos

having featured in quite a large number of productions which includes Saro, Death and the King’s Horseman, Kakaadu, Love and Colours in Delphi, Rubiewe, Trials of Brother Jero, Lion and the Jewel,Anatomy of a Woman and ‘Shattered’ at the just concluded Lagos Theatre Festival organized by the British Council. He has more than 100 plays to his credits, and also to his stage talent is music.

Uphopho has been part of the theatre renaissance in Nigeria for over a decade now. As an actor, he has appeared in over 100 stage productions such as The Gods Are Not To Blame, Wedlock Of The Gods, The Wives, Things Fall Apart and a host of many others. Kenneth is the Creative director at PAWS (Performing Arts Workshop and Studios), where he trains actors, produces and directs theatre. Kenneth has also co-produced and managed major events such as The Muson Festival, A Season of Soyinka, Black Heritage Festival, World Dance Day, International Theatre Day, Festival of Plays, and A Harvest with Soyinka. He is recently commissioned as Artistic Director/Producer for the 2014 British Council Lagos Theatre Festival.

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

53

BUSINESS EXTRA Budget 2015: ‘No going back on oil benchmark’

T

HE Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday said the Federal Government had no plans to review the oil benchmark for this year’s budget.

A statement endorsed by her spokesperson, Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, said the government will not review the benchmark because of the existence of volatility in the oil market.

He said:“We are not reviewing the budget benchmark price at the moment. The price of oil is still quite volatile and we do not know how it will pan out.

“We are taking a scenariobased approach in handling the 2015 budget.’’

According to him, there are additional measures to take care of the sliding oil prices.

He also said the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was currently at the National Assembly.

“We have been working together with our lawmakers to ensure that we steer the country in the right direction during this period,’’ Nwabuikwu said.

Govt approves low interest funding for cotton, textile manufacturers

T

HE Federal Govern ment has approved a new funding mechanism that will ensure that cotton, textile and garment companies get longterm, low interest loans to finance their operations.

This is part of the new National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy (CTGP) aimed at revitalising the cotton, textile and garment industry.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, broke the news during the launch of the CTGP and the inauguration of a 17-member Implementation, Monitoring and Review Committee for the CTGP in Abuja yesterday.

He said the Policy, which is a product of prolonged and comprehensive consultation with all the stakeholders in the industry, is expected to address all bottlenecks inhibiting the development of the industry.

Besides, it will improve the quality, quantity, production capacity, marketing and competitiveness of the

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

players across the entire value chain; control the influx of fake and sub-standard textile and garments into Nigeria; and improve the competitiveness of CTGP across the nation, among others.

Aganga said: “Extensive stakeholders’ consultation gave birth to the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on 17th December 2014. ”In 2010, the Federal Government introduced a N100billion Cotton, Textile and Garment Revival Fund, managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI) to reverse the ugly trend of progressive collapse of the textile industry.

The BoI in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has appraised the performance of the fund, indicating that a substantial portion of it has been successfully disbursed.

“We have, however, obtained presidential approval

for some aspects in the policy such as the conversion of the loan, given to the BOI by the Federal Government for on-lending to CTG companies, into Federal Government’s equity in the bank.

“This will make it possible for BoI to elongate the period of this fund which was billed to end in 2017. It further puts the BoI in a position to review the interest rate downwards.

“Already, a number of the beneficiaries of the CTG Fund have had their loan tenor elongated while their interest rates have been reviewed downwards. This will go a long way in alleviating the burden on CTG companies, especially those in the northern part of the country.”

The minister explained that the Federal Government had given priority attention to the revitalisation of the CTG industry due to its huge job creation potentials.

He added that as part of the new policy, all military and para-military institutions and government-owned

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

T

•Dr Aganga

institutions would purchase only made-in-Nigeria fabrics in order to boost local patronage and support the growth of the value chain across the entire CTG industry. ”This is the first time in the history of the country that we have a comprehensive policy that cuts across the entire value chain from farm to fashion. Also, the policy addresses the major problems militating against the sectors like power, smuggling and counterfeiting,” he said.

World Bank votes $200m for Fadama III From James Azania, Lokoja

T

HE World Bank said it has voted $200 million for the execution of FADAMA III projects across six states of the country.

Its Task Leader, Abimbola Adubi who was in Kogi State for the World Bank/Federal Government supervision mission on the implementation of FADAMA III additional financing project in the state yesterday spoke in Lokoja when he paid courtesy call on the state Governor Idris Wada.

According to him, the World Bank is committed to the success of the projects in the country, adding that the mission is anchored on monitoring, evaluation, review and implementation of the process by identifying challenges and how to overcome them.

He said:“The Crop Processing at Alape is part of the additional financing of the project. The key area of production in FADAMA III are production of cassava, rice, sorghum and tomatoes and horticulture. The six states for the project are Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Enugu, Anambra and Kano states.

World Bank will support the project with $200 million.”

He said for the effective disbursement of fund by the bank, the beneficiary states must sign the financing agreement form and return same to the bank through the Federal Government and also pay their counterpart funding. He added that the World Bank believes that development can be achieved through agriculture.

Responding, Governor Wada assured the global bank chief that the state will continue to create the enabling environment that will ensure easy access to essential farm inputs and equipment such as fertilizsers, agro-chemical and tractor services.

• From left: Managing Director and Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo, Hon. Minister for Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Ikemuefuna Mbagwu and Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Ken Opara at the Fidelity SME Forum…yesterday.

T

JP Morgan’s threat: we will defend naira, says CBN

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned that it will defend the naira against speculative attacks following the devaluation of the nation’s currency and the threat from JP Morgan of a possible downgrade to negative status.

Addressing reporters at the end the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Meeting for this year, the Governor of the CBN Mr. Godwin Emefile said: “What is paramount on our mind is that our external reserve must be defended, the exchange rate policy must be defended; we will ensure that every economic activities continue to take place; anybody who needs foreign currency to transact business in the country will be allowed to do so but for legitimate purposes, but we will not tolerate speculative attack on the currency.”

He noted that officials of the CBN “will be engaging the JP Morgan team to provide our figure to prove our level of liquidity.

“I am very optimistic that they will see reason with us;

From Chiejina Nduka, Abuja

we are committed to remaining on the index; we will do everything possible to continue to remain on the index because we know the adverse impact that the exclusion from the index will cause the country,” he said.

The CBN governor the bank was monitoring the market to the extent that “we feel that the inter bank market will continue to support trading activities of both Nigerian and foreign investors and at any point, when we discover that the market is unable to absorb or provide the liquidity that is needed, the CBN will come up and intervene in the market to provide the liquidity that is needed for legitimate transactions to go on.”

JP Morgan wants to place Nigeria on negative watch for the next three to five months because of its assertion that the foreign exchange as well as the local bond market is illiquid.

However, the CBN disagrees with this position that the market is not liquid.

He said: “At the initial stage of reducing the Net Open Position from one to

Oil marketers seek increased margins, payment of N250b subsidy

zero, it did not mean that there was no trading, there was intra-day trading during that period but what we only insisted on was that the banks must close their position to zero because of the volatility we saw in the market.

HE Major Oil Market ers of Nigeria (MOMAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to increase its margins in the distribution of petroleum products. The marketers also asked for payment of its outstanding subsidy of N250 billion as at end of last year.

The MOMAN consists of Mobil, Oando, MRS, Total, Conoil and Forte Oil. Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, told reporters in Lagos that the group has written several letters to increase the margins of its members because salaries of their workers have increased, cost of building retail outlets and other things have gone up, adding that the margins are no longer adequate.

But he said the Minister of Petroleum Resources has directed that a committee be set up to look into these margins adding that the upward review of the margins has become imperative as it has been fixed at N4.60 per litre since 2007.

Olawore also stated that MOMAN as at end of 2014 was being owed N250 billion in unpaid subsidies noting that N95 billion of the N250 billion was the cost of foreign exchange (Forex) and interest on loans while the real subsidy for the marketers is N155 billion.

The marketers expressed worry over the N200 billion earmarked for subsidy in the 2015 budget as they considered inadequate for the year because it is not up to the N250 billion from last year.

He said: “The minister has the right to increase or decrease the pump price of fuel emphasising the fact we do not object to N87 per litre and we will comply. Also our members have conformed to the ministerial directive and have adjusted their pumps to N87 per litre.

About 85 per cent of our members have complied reflecting N87 per litre at their outlets.

Abuja as at Monday has complied by about 80 per cent.”

He said the marketers got to know about any increase before it is announced but this one nobody heard it.

“I have been involved in all the price increases either directly as a member of the working committee or as a member of the Board of PPPRA, but this one, I didn’t hear about it. It was kept as a gift and a very good New Year gift,” he said.

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-01-15

NASD OTC to trade on Gencos, Discos, mutual funds

T

HE NASD Plc has adequate capacity for investors to trade on shares of the unbundled power generating and distributing companies, mutual funds, private equities and venture capital as the overthe-counter (OTC) market looks forward to increasing and diversifying its product base this year.

Speaking yesterday at a media briefing on the review and outlook of the OTC market, managing director, NASD Plc, Mr. Bola Ajomale, said the NASD plans to introduce new products this year with a view to deepening the turnover and value of trades and securities on the OTC. The NASD is an over-thecounter platform that trades on unlisted securities. It is licensed by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ajomale said the OTC market provides vast market for secondary trades in all kinds of securities.

“The OTC market can capture all legitimate capital market flows, especially secondary trades. These are either multilateral as through an open market or bilateral. Since we have a Bilateral trading platform, we can handle investment trade flows on all infra-

• Plans to introduce new products

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

structure projects. Our basic requirement however is that the security be registered with the SEC as a public investment instrument,” Ajomale said.

He added that the platform will also provide liquidity to unquoted mutual funds, especially close-ended mutual funds noting that the platform is already talking to some mutual funds for possible listing.

“As an OTC market, we have an interest in all forms of secondary market capital flows so private equity and venture capital is only one of our interests. We believe we can offer more transparency to this end of the market and create the much needed data that will prove that the capital market is much deeper than understood,” Ajomale said.

He pointed out that NASD has created awareness about the potential of the OTC market and would go on to consolidate on the gains in the new year.

According to him, the number of unlisted public limited liability companies that are registered with the SEC has

increased and these will also flow to the OTC market.

He noted that while the OTC anticipates growth in its existing equities market, it is working to introduce other asset classes for trading on its platform.

“We are going to build more relationship with all the participants in the market, including the shareholders of all unlisted companies; this will increase the level in the number of trades as well as demateralisation. We will promote awareness and extend knowledge to shareholders to ease their participation in the OTC market through their brokers,” Ajomale said.

He said the NASD would also focus on showcasing the opportunities of the NASD OTC market to shareholders, issuers and market operators in states within Nigeria where certain attractions exist.

According to him, part of the plans of the OTC market is to strengthen relationship with the management of all unlisted securities while expanding the scope of formal capital market coverage through bilateral capital market deals in infrastructure and venture capital.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-01-15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

Stakeholders okay MPC’s 13% interest rate retention

S

TAKEHOLDERS have insisted that the outcome of yesterday’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting was largely expected, with the body voting to keep interest rates unchanged at 13 per cent, The MPC, while keeping rates and reserves requirements unchanged did emphasise its commitment to supporting and defend the naira and the external reserves for legitimate transactions. The committee noted the increasing pressure on the currency but sought to reassure the markets about its willingness and capacity to keep

Stories by Collins Nweze

the currency at its equilibrium rate of exchange.

Managing Director, Head - Africa Research at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan said although upside inflation risks are seen, there is little justification to tighten further yet.

She said given investors’ concerns over falling oil prices and foreign exchange risks as well as liquidity in the foreign exchange market, few portfolio investors would likely increase their exposure to Federal Gov-

ernment of Nigeria bonds.

The moves to reduce trading Net Open Positions appear to favour more (near-term) stability in the foreign exchange market – mainly because trading volumes in the interbank market have declined.

However, she explained that with elections due next month, the authorities will focus more on local conditions for now.

“Stabilising the foreign exchange rate is even more of a priority, and the tighter restrictions on interbank trading will likely stay in place.

Whether we see further tightening

of policy in March or beyond will depend on both foreign exchange moves and economic fundamentals,” she said.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane said the MPC decision is not surprising as any move would have been politically inexpedient and wrongfully misinterpreted.

“However, the jitters are likely to continue in view of the apparent shallowness of the forex market in Nigeria and the currency pressure will not abate,” he said.

IMF cuts global growth forecast to 3.5%

T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) made the steepest cut to its global-growth outlook in three years. Its forecast released yesterday said the world economy will grow 3.5 per cent in 2015, down from the 3.8 per cent pace projected in October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its quarterly global outlook released in the United States U.S. The Washington-based lender also cut its estimate for growth next year to 3.7 per cent, against the four per cent estimate in October.

It said there are diminished expectations almost everywhere except the U.S. more than offsetting the boost to

expansion from lower oil prices. The weakness, along with prolonged below-target inflation, is challenging policy makers across Europe and Asia to come up with fresh ways to stimulate demand more than six years after the global financial crisis.

Central bankers and government officials including Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and the Bank of Japan’s Haruhiko Kuroda may talk about options when they convene this week at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

“The world economy is facing strong and complex cross currents,” Olivier Blanchard, the IMF’s chief economist, said. On the one hand, major econo-

mies are benefiting from the decline in the price of oil. On the other, in many parts of the world, lower long-run prospects adversely affect demand, resulting in a strong undertow,” it said.

The IMF cut its outlook for consumer-price gains in advanced economies almost in half to one per cent for this year. Developing economies will see inflation this year at 5.7 per cent, a 0.1 percentage point markup from October’s projections, the fund said.

The growth-forecast reduction was the biggest since January 2012, when the fund lowered its estimate for expansion to 3.3 per cent from four per cent amid forecasts of a recession in Europe.

FirstBank achieves PCI DSS recertification

F

IRSTBANK has achieved the recertification of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) in 2014.

The certification is renewable annually as demanded by the standard and regulators following a rigorous audit of the Bank’s payment card security processes environment.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), is a set

of requirements designed to ensure companies that process, store or transmit credit/debit card information, maintain a secure environment thereby guaranteeing the protection of cardholder data throughout the transaction process. The standard also facilitates the broad adoption of consistent data security measures globally.

The Bank met the six different se-

curity pillars required to achieve the PCI-DSS compliance which led to the award of a level 1 PCI certificate and the subsequent re-award after extensive audit by a leading Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), ControlCase, from the United States of America, in partnership with its local partners Digital Encode, an information security management firm.

• CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

UBA partners Vodafone on communication solutions

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has become the first Nigerian-based multinational to join the ranks of Vodafone Global Enterprise customers.

Vodafone Global Enterprise is part of the Vodafone Group, dedicated to simplifying the management of global communications for the world’s largest multi-national companies.

UBA, with operations in over 19 countries and over seven million customers, has continuously demonstrated the ability to leverage its capabilities and IT infrastructure to exponentially grow its business across Africa. The move puts UBA among over 1700 of the world’s largest enterprises entrusting their communications services to Vodafone Global Enterprise.

Vodafone Global Enterprise has an industry-leading track record in delivering total communication services to the world’s largest multinational corporations. These services are underpinned by our fully integrated fixed and mobile network, cloud-based hosting platforms, Machine to Machine ca-

By Lucas Ajanaku

pability and professional services.

With hubs throughout Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas, Vodafone Global Enterprise has extensive experience of working with complex multinational needs.

Managing Director of Vodafone’s Nigerian operations, Guy Clarke, explains that this will provide UBA with a stable and scalable network which is critical for the bank’s growth and expansion plans. “The partnership is expected to support the bank’s goals of becoming more agile and responsive to its customers,” Clarke said.

Speaking on the partnership, UBA’s GMD/CEO, Phillips Oduoza said: “We are proud to have entered into this partnership. It is a reflection of our commitment to build a world class seamless organisation that is able to drive growth in the critical sectors of the African economy. Our customers are the ultimate beneficiaries as this will result in improved processes and efficiency in the handling of their transactions.”

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 FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

125.78 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,733.56 1,100.79 112.49 121.16 1.67 1.29 1.32 0.95 1.17

125.70 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,733.56 1,100.03 111.89 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17

C/PRICE 20.75 9.03 4.00 34.14 131.50 0.55 0.59 25.99 2.69 3.78 2.47 2.93 82.00

CHANGE 5.28 5.00 4.99 4.98 4.37 3.77 3.51 3.46 3.46 3.28 2.92 2.81 2.76

LOSERS AS AT 20-01-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

OKOMUOIL RTBRISCOE UNIONDICON DANGFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL EVANSMED COSTAIN SKYEBANK LEARNAFRCA NESTLE ACCESS FBNH SEPLAT

25.46 0.80 13.92 3.88 3.11 2.28 0.64 2.30 1.34 855.00 5.25 7.70 311.00

C/PRICE 23.90 0.76 13.23 3.69 2.96 2.17 0.61 2.20 1.29 830.50 5.10 7.50 305.00

Transaction Dates 13/01/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: December

CHANGE -6.13 -5.00 -4.96 -4.90 -4.82 -4.82 -4.69 -4.35 -3.73 -2.87 -2.86 -2.60 -1.93

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

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES January 14, 2015

8%

Monetary Policy Rate

GAINERS AS AT 20-01-15

SYMBOL O/PRICE GUARANTY 19.68 UBN 8.60 UPL 3.81 UACN 32.52 GUINNESS 126.00 ABCTRANS 0.53 NEM 0.57 STANBIC 25.12 ETERNA 2.60 UBA 3.66 STERLNBANK 2.40 MANSARD 2.85 WAPCO 79.80

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

167

168

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$35b

US Dollar

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$45

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

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

13-01-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 14-01-15

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

1M

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

3M

13.08

13.33

6M

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

185.50

0

Jan. 13, 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

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

57

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

NEWS PDP lawyers to party: you can’t stop Buhari in court Continued from page 4

or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or “(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for a minimum of 10 years; and “(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and “(iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and “(d) Any other qualification acceptable by INEC.” Another source said the PDP has realized its folly because it did not seek legal opinion before raising false alarms that

Gen. Buhari is unqualified to contest.

The source added: “The PDP leaders have realised that all their alarms over Gen. Buhari’s certificate amounted to nothing.

“Out of shame, they have decided to keep their findings under wraps.”

Another reliable source in PDP said: “We have been briefed that there is little we can do to stop Gen. Buhari.”

In Abuja, the Army on former Head of State Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s academic records, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate obtained the West African School certificate (WASC) in 1961.

The Army however added that the original copy, Certified True Copy, or statement of Buhari’s WASC result could not be found in his file.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye who who addressed a press conference at the Army Headquarters said: “Records available indicate that Major General Muhammadu Buhari applied to join

the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961.

“His application was duly endorsed by the principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the Service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented.

“However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the entry made on the NA Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former Head of State obtained the West African School Certificate in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects.”

He listed the subjects to include: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and English Literature.

“Neither the original copy,

Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file.

“I hope this explanation will put to rest the raging controversy surrounding the secondary school credentials of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army”.

The Army spokesman said the military holds Gen. Buhari in high esteem and would not be party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office.

“Suffice to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of our dear country in December 1983.

“The media hype on retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as well as the numerous requests made by individuals and corporate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service record,” Gen. Laleye stated.

Buhari’s certficate: APC warns against destroying the military Continued from page 4

said that in trying to destroy Gen. Buhari, the PDP and the Jonathan Administration will end up destroying the army as an institution? Or is it only Gen. Buhari that was commissioned into the army in the 1960s.’’

The party also quoted Gen. Buhari as saying in an affidavit on 24/11/2014 that ‘’All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/ 2015 are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as at the time of this affidavit.’’ ‘’Those who are behind the latest controversy should now tell Nigerians what happened to Gen. Buhari’s certificates between the time of his affidavit and now,’’ it said.

APC said in any case, even if the Army now says it does not have the certificates of Gen. Buhari, he is still very qualified to run for the country’s highest office, as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Repub-

lic of Nigeria.

The party quoted Section 131 (d) of the Constitution: ‘’A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent’’ APC said the meaning and interpretation of ‘’School Certificate level or its equivalent can be found in the Constitution under part IV, Section 318.

In that Section, a ‘’School Certificate or ot equivalent’’ is defined quite succinctly thus: (a) A Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) Education up to Secondary School Certificate Level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent.

The party said since Brig.Gen. Olaleye has now confirmed that Gen. Buhari indeed applied to join the Army from form six, that the principal of the school he attended even attested to his suitability, and that the form he filled contained his

Secondary School Certificate results, there is no scintilla of doubt about his qualification to run for president as stipulated by the Constitution. ‘’However, we know that the PDP and the Jonathan Administration have constituted themselves into a court of law and will like nothing more than the disqualification of our candidate so they will face no challenge in next month’s election.

This is wishful thinking,’’ it said.

The APC said the PDP and the Jonathan Administration should expend their energy on how to revive their “floundering” campaign instead of seeking the disqualification of its (APC) candidate.

On the “contradictions” in the statements credited to the Army spokesman, the party said: ‘’It is true that our once globally-respected military has now been made comatose by the PDP-led Federal Government, but we believe things have not reached the level where the same military will be

engaging in actions that amount to self destruction, just to satisfy some political interests. ‘’We believe things have not reached a level where we, as a nation, will now be giving the impression that a man who rose to become a Major-General in the Nigerian Army does not have requisite qualifications? ‘’What really is happening in our country if some politicians have now decided to engage in an action that will amount to dragging the military into politics, dividing an institution that is a symbol of national unity, trivialising the service of those who fought to keep Nigeria one and ridiculing the same country it is supposed to be ruling? ‘’We have said it before and will like to repeat: Enough is enough about this distraction orchestrated by the PDP and the Jonathan Administration whose electioneering campaign for next month’s polls has suffered a train wreck,’’ the party said.

UN okays force to battle Boko Haram Continued from page 4

kidnapped dozens of people during an attack on Mabass village on Sunday.

The insurgents are looting food and livestock, and a humanitarian and food crisis looms, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation Rene Emmanuel Sadi, said yesterday.

Students and teachers are among those who have fled their homes. More than 10 schools were deserted after attacks Sunday, adding to the about 140 schools that have shut their doors because of the insurgency bleeding over into

Cameroon, said Cameroon’s Minister of Education Monouna Fotso. The government is trying to accommodate the affected students, Fotso said.

There is a moral obligation for safer schools to admit the children despite limited resources and space, said Bernadette Appi, a teacher at a primary school in Maroua, where some children have been moved.

Boko Haram attacked Mabass village, in the Far North region of Cameroon, early Sunday and staged its largest kidnapping yet in Cameroon, according to the government. The military said up

to 60 people were kidnapped, though about 30 eventually escaped.

Chadian troops began arriving in Cameroon on Sunday to support Cameroon’s army in the fight against the militants.

The Boko Haram insurgency has killed thousands and driven 1.6 million people from their homes, including across borders into Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Also at the Hague, Netherland, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court condemned the escalation in “appalling levels” of violence in Nigeria’s northeastern Islamic uprising and warns she

will prosecute members of any party to the conflict most responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A statement yesterday from Fatou Bensouda said her office is continuing to investigate allegations Boko Haram extremists are killing large numbers of civilians, using girls and boys to participate in the conflict and forcing massive numbers of people from their homes.

She also warns the government of Nigeria of its obligation to prosecute crimes that “deeply shock the conscience of humanity.”

Massive crowd as Buhari campaigns in Kano Continued from page 4

Babaoyoyo!

Kwankwaso said he was optimistic that Gen. Buhari would be sworn in as the president.

Tinubu said: Nigeria sai Buhari, Kano sai Ganduje, Kano Central Senatorial district, sai Kwankwaso. Thank you. God bless you.”

The team moved to Jigawa at about 4:30pm.

In Dutse. Gen. Buhari said

his administration would utilise aviation, seaport and railways to generate revenue and job opportunities as alternative to oil.

He promised to revive the agricultural sector, if elected, to provide food and enough raw material to agro-allied companies.

He said: “As I have been saying whereever I go, if elected into office, my government will revitalise agri-

culture from subsistance to commercial through provision of modern techniques of farming.”

He said the devaluation of the naira, socio -economic backwardness, insecurity, and lack of social amenities will be a thing of the past Gen. Buhari said he would fight corruption headlong and would give opportunity to the less privileged to enjoy free education.

Odigie-Oyegun said Nigeria must be brought back to life again.

“What we are saying is that there will be peace in Nigeria, once more, if Buhari wins.”

The gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Talamis, said once Gen. Buhari is voted in as the president, there woulf be no more corruption.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

58

NEWS

Tinubu, Osinbajo donate N10m, food items to Kaduna crises victims

F

ORMER Lagos State Governor and National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday evening donated N10 million to victims of the 2011 post-election violence in Kaduna State.

The vice-presidential candidate of the APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo also donated hundreds of bags of rice and other food items to the victims.

The event, which was held briefly at Hotel 17 in Kaduna shortly after Buhari’s campaign rally, was titled: “Professor Yemi Osinbajo, APC’s vice presidential candidate cel-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ebrates the dignity of life with victims of Kaduna State crises”.

Tinubu said the money was his contribution to the victims, adding that the donation had nothing to do with the APC. He appealed to the victims, who were drawn from Christian and Muslim communities, to remain prayerful to God and avoid any form of violence before, during and after next month’s elections.

The national leader also urged them to ensure that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was voted out to

give way to what he called, “the party that knows that people are suffering, and is ready to alleviate their suffering”.

The APC founding leader said: “I am making a personal donation of N10 million to Kaduna crises victims. It is not from APC account. It is from me to you so that it can cushion your suffering.

“Please, vote for APC. Let’s strike a deal. Are you ready to vote for APC, and not to vote PDP? Please, say yes, if you agree to vote for APC during the election.”

There was a thunderous yes, from the crowd, “yes, we will

vote for APC, sai Buhari, Sai Buhari, and Kaduna, Sai Mallam El-Rufai”.

Osinbajo appealed to the people to relate peacefully, irrespective of ethnic and political differences, saying that APC is not a religious party as the opponent wanted Nigerians to believe.

The crowd sang along with him, “Winner oo, winner ooo, winner ooo, we don win o, pata pata, we don win oo”.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari said there would be security if APC was elected into offices.

He appealed to APC supporters not to take laws into their hands even when provoked.

Ngilari: postpone Adamawa election till May

A

DAMAWA State Governor Bala Niglari has called for the postponement of the February 28 governorship election in the state.

He argued that with the renewed onslaught of insurgency in the state, it was becoming impossible for election to hold.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, said he was not properly disposed to give an immediate response to the request.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Ngilari and Jega spoke yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on Internally Displaced Persons and the 2015 general elections organised by INEC. Ngilari said: “In Adamawa, I can truly tell you that seven local government areas are under siege. The supposed peace we have is just the peace of the graveyard. To say that the security situation in these local governments are sufficiently

stabilised so that we can have these elections on the 14th of February 2014, to my mind, is fierce.”

There were shouts of “no no” from the audience and after pausing for a while and with Jega asking the crowd to allow him finish, the governor continued:”That is my position.

Anybody is entitled to his views. I am the chief security officer, even as I speak now, this morning, Mr. Chairman, there was an attack on Uba on the Borno side, which directly af-

fects us in Adamawa.”

“Therefore sir, it is my submission with due respect, that we passionately request that before the expiration of this government in May, it will only be fair if we can consider moving this election to about April.”

Jega explained that the commission would only do elections in areas that were safe.

While noting that the turn out might be low, the INEC chair said it would not affect the declaration of a winner.

Punch man loses wife

T

HE wife of The Punch’s Editorial Board Chairman, Mr. Segun Adediran, Rachael, is dead.

She died on January 13.

Her funeral rites start on Wednesday, January 28, with Service of Songs at First Baptist Church, Iju, 30/ 34 Alamutu Street, Iju Station, Agege-Lagos by 4.00pm. Funeral service will

hold at the same venue on Thursday, January 29 by 9.00am.

This will be followed by internment service at Agboye Baptist Church Cementry, Agboye, Oyo, Oyo State the same day by 4.00pm.

Mrs Adediran was survived by her husband, Segun, three children, Bolarinwa, Afolabi and Olafimihan.

‘Polls must hold in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa’

B

ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has declared that holding elections in the embattled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states is not a privilege but a constitutional right of the people.

Shettima spoke with reporters shortly after the inaugural meeting of the Northeast Presidential Campaign Council of the All

Progressives Congress (APC) at the Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi.

He said: “When people talk about not holding elections in this part of the country, it is not a privilege but a right that we should participate in the elections as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and as contained in the electoral act as amended.”

Jonathan to inaugurate rail coaches in Makurdi

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will tomorrow inaugurate five 68seater air-conditioned passenger coaches in Makurdi, Benue State.

Nigerian Railways Commission ( NRC) Managing Director Adeseyi Sijuwade said the new coaches would be deployed on the Eastern Line to service Makurdi to Gombe.

He spoke with reporters in Lagos.

Sijuwade promised the corporation’s commitment to

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

providing a rail service in which all Nigerians would be proud.

Sijuwade said: “All these equipment are brand new, a development that necessitated the Corporation’s team of engineers to embark on comprehensive testing of the coaches and other equipments preparatory to their deployment.”

He said the latest addition brought to 11 the number of air-conditioned coaches in its fleet.

Thugs clash, destroy govt property

S

USPECTED thugs yesterday destroyed property at the Government House, Kaduna.

They were believed to be loyalists of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, who failed to be nominated as caretaker committee chairmen in the 23 local government areas.

The clash forced the government to shift the inauguration of the chairmen to Murtala Square.

Kaduna State PDP’s Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Mansur denied there was any •Dean, Students Affairs, Dr Kayode Alese, Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Registrar Dr Mrs. Modupe Ajayi and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Professor Adedayo Fasakin after the opening ceremony of the Orientation programme for new students of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA ... on Monday.

DPR closes down 10 petrol stations in Kwara

T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday closed down than 10 fuel stations in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital for allegedly not selling petroleum motor spirit (PMS) at N87 per litre.

The Operations Controller of DPR, Amos Jokodola, who led members of the enforcement team of the department during the monitoring of petrol stations in the state capital, said the excuse given by the affected stations for failure to comply with the government’s directive was not acceptable.

Jokodola said: “Our outing has been very challenging because two issues with the

Borno, Yobe yet to comply with new price

T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega stations and members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Borno and Yobe states are yet to comply with the new pump price of N87 a litre.

Filling stations in Maiduguri and Yobe still sell petrol at N97 and in some cases From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

marketers and even with the majors. Some of the majors complained that their technicians have not arrived from their headquarters to effect the price reduction, which we considered not to be an acceptable excuse. Some stations that fall under that cat-

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

even over N100.

Some fuel attendants, who spoke with our reporter in Maiduguri, said they were yet to get clearance from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) or their mangers on the reduction in the fuel price.

egory, Oando, MRS and others have been sealed completely, and they will remain sealed until they reduce the pump price to N87 per litre as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The other challenge that we have with some independent marketers is that some got stock on Saturday, calcu-

lated at the old price. And they felt we should give them time to dispose those stocks before they reduce the price.

We said no! The Federal Government’s directive is that effective from Monday morning, all filling stations across this nation should reduce the pump price from N97 to N87.”

Agriculture the only way forward, says NDDC’s MD

A

GAINST the backdrop of dwindling revenue from crude oil, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan-Abia, has said agricul-

ture is the way forward.

He spoke on Monday at the launch of a two-week Agricultural Entrepreneurial Training of Farmers at the Vika Farms in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing the trainees drawn from the nine states of the Niger Delta, Dan-Abia said the commission had always recognised agriculture as the way forward for Nigeria. He noted that the Federal

Government did not wait for the crash in the price of crude oil before coming up with various agricultural programmes, which had set the stage for Nigerians to go back to the farms.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

clash.

He said: “I am aware that the inauguration of caretaker committee chairmen was shifted from State House to Murtala Square because of unexpected crowd that stormed the venue.

I am not aware of the clash.

“Secondly, all of those appointed are credible party members. The governor has made wider consultations before selecting them. Those appointed have served PDP diligently. But what I know is that, you can never satisfy all.”

Kwara police parade Fulani herdsmen for alleged robbery

T

HE Kwara State police command yesterday paraded three suspected Fulani herdsmen for alleged robbery.

The command added that the suspects specialised in using rearing sticks to snatch motorcycles from people.

Parading the suspects in Ilorin, the state capital, Commissioner of Police Salihu Garba said other exhibits found on the Fulani herdsmen included machete and dagger.

Also paraded was a suspected member of a cult group,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

arrested at G110 Gambari Road, Ilorin with a pistol without magazine, 13 rounds of live ammunition, two pieces of foreign currency, one BlackBerry handset and charms, adding that the suspect confessed to being a cult member.

Said Garba: “On January 12, 2015, one Kareem Masih and Ibrahim Mashi, both male of Budo Aiki farm settlement were robbed at Gwanara by Fulani men who armed themselves with rearing sticks, cutlasses and knife.”

Five feared dead in cult clash in Delta

E

CONOMIC activities were disrupted yesterday in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State following clashes among rival cult groups.

Five persons were feared dead with several others injured, including a father of three.

Residents of Agbor-Obi scampered for safety following sporadic shootings.

It was learnt that suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity allegedly killed

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

a member of a rival cult group to avenge the killing of their colleague.

Eyewitnesses said two other cult groups, including Barga and Ero, were allegedly fighting members of the Black Axe in a supremacy battle.

Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command DSP Celestina Kalu confirmed the killings, adding that four persons have been confirmed dead.

59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Ghanaian president backs regional force against Boko Haram •Mahama

P

RESIDENT John Mahama of Ghana has called for an African Union-mandated force to ‘deal with the menace’ of Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

He stated this during a visit to Germany over the weekend.

Speaking in a press interview, he said that considering the current activities of Boko Haram it is important .... to deal with it more comprehensively by looking at it collectively, either through a regional force, or through some kind of multinational force. We are going to go to the AU and ask for a discussion on terrorism in Africa with particular reference to

Boko Haram and I believe that if the AU gives us the mandate then we will go ahead and set up a regional force to assist Nigeria and Cameroon deal with the menace.

If the African Union endorses our suggestion, the chiefs of security will come out with an operation plan and identify in which way the regional force will be deployed.

How big should this force be and how many soldiers would Ghana be willing to contribute?

I’m not sure. Often before an operation like this the heads of security - based on the threat level or based on what the task is - are able to determine how many troops will be needed. Off the top of

my head - I’m not a soldier - I can’t tell how many troops would be needed. But if the African Union endorses it, then the next step would be for the regional heads of security, national heads of security to meet and determine what the structure of the force should be.

On his meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Ghanaian leader said the whole world can empathize with Nigeria and countries affected by Boko Haram because of some of the dastardly attacks. You remember the Chibok girls, more than 200 of them abducted; recent attacks in Baga have led to hundreds of deaths; suicide bombings in market places are taking precious lives.

And so the whole world is willing to assist. I think the assist-

ance that we will require from our international partners will be more in terms of logistics and equipment and finance. I don’t envisage seeing European boots on the ground in northeastern Nigeria. I guess that at a regional level the countries can mobilize enough troops to be able to do the job.

He noted that “in the case of Mali - France committed troops. Aside from that - if I remember correctly - Ghana’s contingent in the Mali AFISMA [African-led International Support Mission to Mali] was airlifted by German troop transport planes and so we have a record of that kind of cooperation already, and I’m sure that we can do the same again.”

Yemen rebels ‘storm presidential palace’

S

HIITE militiamen seized the presidential palace in Yemen’s capital Sana’a on Tuesday in what a minister said was a bid to overthrow President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi and his US-backed government.

Witnesses said the heavily armed gunmen were also clashing with troops outside the residence of Hadi, who was reportedly inside receiving visitors at the time of the attack.

“The Yemeni president is under attack by militiamen

who want to overthrow the regime,” Information Minister Nadia Sakkaf said on Twitter.

The fresh unrest came after the Huthi militiamen, who have tightened their grip on Sana’a since overrunning it unopposed in September, surrounded the prime minister’s residence at the end of a bloody day on Monday.

The United Nations Security Council is to hold closed door consultations about the worsening crisis on Tuesday, with special envoy Jamal

ISIS threatens to kill two Japanese hostages

Benomar to report on the latest developments.

Pitched battles had erupted on Monday near the presidential palace and in other parts of Sana’a, before a ceasefire was agreed between ministers and a Huthi representative.

At least nine people were killed, including fighters from both sides, and 67 wounded, as the militia seized an army base overlooking the complex and took control of state media.

Yemen has been wracked by unrest for months, raising fears of a collapse of Hadi’s government, a crucial ally in Washington’s fight against al-Qaeda.

Prime Minister Khalid Bahah escaped to his residence, where he has lived since tak-

ing office in October, after his convoy came under fire from Huthi fighters.

Huthi gunmen took up positions outside the residence late on Monday and were in control of all three of its entrances, government spokesman Rajih Badi told AFP. After a lull overnight, fighting re-erupted on Tuesday near Hadi’s residence in western Sanaa when the Huthis attempted to set up a new checkpoint close by and were confronted by troops, the witnesses said.

They reported heavy clashes inside the complex in southern Sanaa, one of the few public buildings to remain outside the control of the Huthis since they overran the capital.

•Pope Francis has not ruled out a meeting with the Dalai Lama PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES AFP

Pope Francis leaves door open to Dalai Lama meeting

P

OPE Francis left the door open on Monday to a meeting with the Dalai Lama, denying that he refused to receive the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader in December over fears of upsetting China.

“The usual protocol of the secretary of state is not to receive heads of state and high ranking personalities when they are in Rome for an international meeting,” he told journalists as he flew back from Manila.

The Dalai Lama was in Rome last month for a summit of Nobel Peace Prize recipients.

“When there were FAO meetings (the Food and Agriculture Organization summit in November), I did not meet anyone,” the Pope said.

“Some newspapers said that I did not meet with him out of fear of China. This is not true.

He asked for an audience some time ago. A date has been fixed. But not for the moment. We are in contact,” he added.

Asked about efforts to forge closer ties between the Vatican and China, he said: “The Chinese are polite, and we are also polite. We are doing things step by step.”

The Chinese “know that I

•Demands $200m ransom

T

HE else being that the pair will meet the same gruesome fate as other captives held by the terrorist group, others who were shown in ISIS videos kneeling in orange jumpsuits in front of masked, black-clad men — just like the Japanese hostages identified as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa — shortly before being beheaded.

Another move that theoretically could change things would be if Japan’s government halts its alliance with those fighting against ISIS, which calls itself the Islamic State. Tokyo hasn’t participated in airstrikes aimed at the Islamist extremist group, though its leaders have supported those who have, as well as the Iraqi government.

“Although you are more than 8,500 kilometers away from the Islamic State, you willingly volunteered to take part in this crusade,” the masked man on the video posted Tuesday says, addressing his comments to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But Abe, who is currently visiting the Middle East, didn’t seem about to bargain Tuesday.

He stood by a pledge, made in a speech Sunday in Cairo, for funding to help build “human capacities, infrastructure and so on” for those affected

by ISIS’ armed campaign.

“The pledge aid is very important to the refugees in need and has nothing to do with the Islamic communities or the radical militants,” the Prime Minister said. “... We will contribute to the (region’s) peace and stability, in cooperation with the global community.”

As to the ISIS threat against two of his nation’s citizens, Abe called it “unacceptable.”

ISIS has asked for ransoms before, and apparently has been paid them. But rarely are such demands made publicly.

Even rarer — unprecedented, in fact — is when the militant group puts its captives on video and threatens them, then lets them go.

Instead, ISIS has made a public show out of its threatening and killings of Western hostages, starting with August’s beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley.

In his remarks yesterday in Jerusalem, Abe — who dealt with another hostage crisis involving Islamic militants in January 2013, when 10 Japanese citizens were caught up in the terrorist seizure of a natural gas facility in Algeria — said he had ordered Japanese officials to do the utmost to try to save the two men. He stopped short of explicitly ruling out the payment of a ransom or negotiations with the their captors.

•A Nepalese politician throws a chair inside the Constitution Assembly in Kathmandu during PHOTO: REUTERS protests from Maoist lawmakers over a new constitution. .. yesterday.

am ready to go there (China) or to receive (Chinese officials) at the Vatican,” he said.

As his plane returned to the Vatican from Manila, the pontiff sent a telegram to Chinese president Xi Jinping, as he does for each country he flies over.

“I assure you of my prayers for you and the people of China, invoking abundant blessings of harmony and prosperity.”

In December, sources said the Vatican decision reflected concern over what would inevitably be a furious Chinese reaction, and a desire not to jeopardise efforts to build bridges with Beijing or risk retaliation against the country’s small Catholic community.

The Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with China since they were broken off by Chairman Mao in 1951.

Argentine prosecutor’s death sparks protests THOUSANDS of Argentines took to the streets in protest on Monday following the death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman.

Mr Nisman was found shot dead in his apartment in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

He had been investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in which 85 people died.

Officials said there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in his death, but demonstrators shouted “No more lies!” and demanded a thorough investigation.

Mr Nisman’s body was discovered just hours before he was due to give evidence to a congressional committee outlining his accusations against Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Alberto Nisman, 51, was due to give evidence on Monday before a congressional committee.

Deadly DR Congo clashes over Kabila

F

OUR people have been killed in protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo over claims that President Joseph Kabila is seeking to extend his 14-year rule by delaying next year’s elections.

Protests continued yesterday in the capital, Kinshasa, following Monday’s fatal clashes between opposition supporters and security forc-

es.

Protesters say government plans for a census are a ploy to delay elections.

Mr Kabila is constitutionally barred from contesting the poll.

The government admits the poll could be delayed, but says the census is vital to ensure free and fair elections.

Hundreds of angry young men are burning tyres in sev-

eral neighbourhoods, looting shops and throwing rocks at cars, our reporter says.

In the poor area of Masina on the city’s outskirts, police tried to disperse protesters by shooting into the air, she adds.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said two policemen and two “looters” were killed in Monday’s clashes in Kinshasa.

Demonstrators called on

Mr Kabila to step down when his term expires and carried placards which said: “Don’t touch the constitution”.

Hundreds of people protested also protested on Monday in Goma, the main trading post in the east.

The protests coincided with a debate in the Senate, the upper parliamentary chamber, over government plans to hold a census before elections.

60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

AFCON: Ten-man Ivory Coast holds Guinea I

ADVERT

VORY Coast fought back to Right-back Serge Aurier aldraw their Africa Cup of Na- lowed the ball to drift over his tions opener with Guinea, de- head and when Guinea worked spite having Gervinho sent off the play to the opposite flank, early in the second half.

Guinea took a 36th-minute lead when Mohamed Yattara volleyed in.

Ex-Arsenal striker Gervinho, who had hit the bar in the first half, was dismissed on 58 minutes for a slap.

Ibrahima Traore almost doubled the lead when his shot hit the bar, but Ivory Coast acquitted themselves when Seydou Doumbia slotted low into the corner.

That outcome seemed unlikely when Gervinho was given his marching orders - he had been by far the game's best player, while his team-mates had looked well short of their potential.

Boasting the attacking talents of Wilfried Bony, now one of Africa's most expensive players since his ÂŁ28m move to Manchester City, plus his new club-mate Yaya Toure and Gervinho, the Elephants were expected to win comfortably.

But Guinea showed all the character that had got them to the finals - they qualified despite not being able to play matches at home because of the Ebola crisis in their country - to hold their own.

They survived a scare when Gervinho's superb run ended in the winger's shot being palmed on to the bar brilliantly by keeper Naby Yattara, but were otherwise untroubled in the first half.

And they punished some sloppy Ivorian defending to strike the first blow.

Traore fired in a cross which the defence could only nod down for Mohamed Yattara to smash into the roof of the net.

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

H

E was not the youngest editor in the history of Nigerian journalism. His more politically famous elder brother, the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, set that yet unbroken record when he became the editor of the Ibadan-based Southern Nigerian Defender, one of the newspapers in Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s nationwide stable, at age 21 in 1944.

Peter Enahoro, aka Peter Pan, however, came a close second when he became the editor of the better printed, more influential and more enduring Sunday Times at age 23 in 1958.

As if to make up for coming only second best to his elder brother as the country’s youngest editor ever, he stuck to journalism as a career and eventually established himself as probably Nigeria’s best columnist ever and one of its best editors and newsmagazine publishers.

Peter Osajele Aizegbeobor Enahoro was born exactly 80 years ago today in Uromi, Edo State, then part of Western Nigeria. He received his secondary school education from Government College, Ughelli, between 1948 and 1953. Thus, with no more than a secondary school certificate he launched himself into one of the most successful careers in Nigerian and African journalism.

The long rested West Africa, at one time one of the most influential African newsmagazines published out of London, once described him as the “enfant terrible of Nigerian journalism for more than three decades.” This was in the introduction to a two-page interview with him, which it published in its edition of June 10, 1996.

My Oxford English Dictionary defines “enfant terrible” as “a person whose controversial attitude shocks others.” This characterisation of Peter Pan couldn’t have been more spot-on. For, he seemed to have been an iconoclast as a young man from day one, judging from the way his journalism career at Daily Times almost came to grief even before it truly got going. This was at least the testimony of no less a journalism icon than the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose, easily the most successful journalist and newspaper publisher in post-independent Nigeria.

The story of Jose’s rise from copy boy to the management of Daily Times of Nigeria Ltd and eventually his transformation of the company at one time into the biggest and possibly wealthiest in Africa - again, like Enahoro, with hardly more than secondary education to begin with - is the stuff of legends.

It was from him than Enahoro took over as editor of Daily Times in 1962 after he (Enahoro) had successfully edited Sunday Times for four years from 1958.

“Before I became the Editor (of Daily Times),” Jose said of his successor in his great 1987 autobiography, Walking a Tight Rope: Power Play in Daily Times, “Peter Enahoro and Nelson Ottah, both sub-editors, had been fired

by Percy Roberts for being troublesome.”

Roberts was then the British expatriate in charge of Daily Times before Jose.

On taking over, he said, he pleaded with Roberts to reinstate the two and he acceded.

“Both,” Jose said, “later proved excellent leader writers and columnists.” Enahoro, he said, went on to become not only an excellent columnist but “the best so far in the history of journalism in Nigeria.”

To which one of Nigeria’s best columnists and humourists, the veteran Dan Agbese,

RIPPLES FED GOVT SLASHES PETROL PRICE BY N10, FUEL NOW N87 PER LITRE

Only N10?... I bet this is ‘AUTHORITY STEALING’

‘The cut in the price of fuel from N97 to N87 is welcome. The Public Complaints Bureau and the Consumer Associations need to investigate this ‘Government offer’ considering that the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by over 40% it requires us to question the mathematics to ensure we are getting the full benefit of this fall’ TONY MARINHO TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.10 NO.3102

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

‘Peter Pan’ at 80 ’

concurred 25 years later. “Enahoro,” Agbese said in his excellent 2012 book, The Columnist’s Companion: The Art and Craft of Column Writing, “was a brilliant writer and columnist.

His capacity for vivid verbal pictures remains unequalled by any writer or columnist in the country.”

To back this appraisal, Agbese reproduced a column Enahoro wrote as Peter Pan, his pen name, in the Sunday Times of October 23, 1960.

The title of the piece alone spoke volumes about Enahoro’s dexterity with the written word; “Take it Satch – That’s All There is in Armstrong.”

Enahoro then went on to narrate the story of his close encounter in a Lagos hotel with Louis Satchmo Armstrong, the late legendary American jazz musician who was on a musical tour of Nigeria that year.

“Even without his horn,” Peter Pan began in the opening sentences of the column, “he certainly was the loudest man for a quarter of a mile – at which distance one came to the Exhibition centre.”

He then went on to describe in vivid but simple figures of speech what a charming and happy-golucky man Armstrong was.

His concluding paragraphs couldn’t have been more rib-cracking in their humour. They could also not have been more graphic and creative in their description of the man. “I have,” he said, “been asked what my memory of Louis Armstrong is. First of course is his roaring thunder of a voice. Every time I drive on a gravel I will remember him.

“Then is his jet-stream humour, much of which I will forget early. On account of I don’t dig that kinda hep talk ma sef. Cause ah never been down to New Orleans meebe.” This was obviously a humourous dig at the man’s Afro-American slang and a reference to his native city.

Six years into his journalism career in Daily Times, Enahoro was forced to flee into exile. As Jose told it in his autobiography in question, it all started with the country’s first military coup on January 15, 1966. Enahoro, he said, appeared “very pleased” with the coup, as most of the new rulers were his friends and he reflected this pleasure in his column by often praising the coup makers.

When the tables turned following the countercoup of late July by Northern military officers, Enahoro, naturally, felt unsafe and after a while sought and was granted permission to move to London on a six-month leave without pay by the Times management. He never returned.

Instead he resigned in August 1967 and eventually settled in Germany where he took

Enahoro is, however, not only justly famous for his way with the written word – and with the spoken word as well, to which anyone who has met him will testify – he could also be too plain speaking as was the case in his interview with West Africa which I mentioned at the beginning of this piece

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up a job as an editor and producer at Deutsche Welle, the country’s equivalent of the BBC. It was from there that he moved in 1976 to Africa magazine published in London by the late Ralph Uwechue, as editor. From Africa he moved to New African, also published in London, as editor and director. Eventually he founded his own newsmagazine, Africa Now, in London.

Of the three, only New African is still alive.

But long before the death of his own magazine, he returned home from exile in the early 90s and at different times, chaired the National Broadcasting Commission and headed his alma mater, the Daily Times of Nigeria Ltd, as its sole administrator.

With his active days as a journalist now completely behind him, it can still be safely said in agreement with both Jose and Agbese that Enahoro remains the greatest columnist in Nigerian journalism. And with only two slim books, You Gotta Cry to Laugh and How To Be A Nigerian, to his name, he can also be said to be one of Nigeria’s greatest writers.

Both books are classic satires about Nigeria

HARDBALL

E

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose ought to know that there are a thousand ways to die, speaking literally and figuratively. So, it doesn't follow that 72-year-old Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is necessarily closer to death than 57-year-old President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Fayose's chronological calculation, which highlighted Buhari's age as an unquestionable evidence of closeness to the grave, is both simplistic and senseless. In reality, to stretch the argument, Fayose himself could land on the other side before the two older men, even though he is 54-year-old.

Another counter-point to Fayose's controversial political newspaper advertisement of January 19 is that, quite apart from exhibiting a lack of good manners, he demonstrated crooked thinking. His argument: Murtala Mohammed from the Northwest died in office; Sani Abacha from the Northwest died in office; Umaru Yar'Adua from the Northwest died in office; so, Muhammadu Buhari from the Northwest may likely die in office if elected president.

The ad said: "Will you allow history to repeat itself?

Enough of state burials." Fayose conveniently glossed

and its people and are as insightful about Nigeria’s sociology and politics even today as they were when he wrote them ages ago. They are also a study in simplicity and precision in language and style.

Take, for example, his insight in the second book into the typical Nigerian’s penchant for noise making. “In the beginning,” he said in the opening paragraph of Chapter 6 on the subject which he entitled Noise from the Soul, “God created the universe; then He created the moon, the stars and the wild beasts of the forests.

On the sixth day, he created the Nigerian and there was peace. But on the seventh day while God rested, the Nigerian invented noise.”

Or take for another example, his guide to Nigerian oratory in Chapter 8. The Nigerian, he said, “begins his marathon address with a familiar apology: ‘...I do not intend to waste your time.’ Then he goes to do precisely what you expect him to do – waste your time.”

Or take for a third example his own take on the subject of sex in Nigeria. “Marriage,” he said in the introductory paragraph of Chapter 16 on the subject, “they say is an institution, sex is incidental. In Nigeria, sex is an institution and marriage is an incidence.”

You rarely get to read stuff like these anymore these days.

Enahoro is, however, not only justly famous for his way with the written word – and with the spoken word as well, to which anyone who has met him will testify – he could also be too plain speaking as was the case in his interview with West Africa which I mentioned at the beginning of this piece.

Asked, for example, what he thought of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) led by his elder brother, Tony, he said: “Believe me, NADECO is a paper tiger.” The coalition, which was a thorn in the side of General Sani Abacha’s regime, he said, had after all, given the general one month to hand over power to Chief MKO Abiola, whose putative victory at the June 12, 1993 presidential election had been annulled by Abacha’s predecessor, General Ibrahim Babangida, but Abacha had called their bluff. “Two years later,” Enahoro said, “he is still in power and it is NADECO’s relevance that is in doubt.”

He was, in the interview, also very unflattering about several of the coalition’s other leaders.

There were people in it like Beko RansomeKuti, he said, whose sincerity he acknowledged.

However, others like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and Wole Soyinka, were, he said in effect, only dubious.

“The trouble with Fawehinmi,” he said, “is that he is encouraged to take himself too seriously.” Akinyemi, he said, was only bitter with Abacha because the general had refused to accede to his request to be re-appointed foreign minister, whereas Soyinka was “given to staging melodramas.

“Remember the toy pistol incident? The escalation from that prank is that, with the Nobel Prize in hand, he is playing out the fantasy of being a politician of weight in Nigeria. He is not.”

It was, indeed, a “No holds barred” interview, as West Africa entitled it.

Happy 80th birthday to the enfant terrible of Nigerian journalism and here’s many more returns.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Stinking thinking over the circumstances in which the three former political helmsmen died, but this doesn't make his reasoning any less silly. It is puzzling that Fayose presented his thought process as logical; the illogicality was way beyond logic.

Ironically, although designed to promote the second-term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, Fayose's advertisement could actually be interpreted as a message to the electorate to vote against him. The ad said: "NIGERIANS BE WARNED! Nigeria... 'I have set before thee LIFE & DEATH. Therefore, choose LIFE that both thee and thy seed may LIVE.' Deut 30 vs. 19" This sounds like exactly the kind of message that should galvanise the electorate into electorally unseating Jonathan. It is the undesirable continuation of Jonathan in office that represents death, and not the possible election of Buhari to replace him. Is it not the Jonathan administration that has terrorised the people by deepening the country's abysmal socio-economic conditions?

It is noteworthy that Fayose's language of crude desperation fits into the PDP's developing approach to next month's general elections. Consider the ridiculous comment by the Director of Media and Publicity of the party's Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, at a news conference in Abuja. He was quoted as saying about Buhari: "We are constrained to urge him to prove to the Nigerian people that he really is as fit as a fiddle, as the spokesman of his PCO has said, by taking a brisk walk or even jogging around the perimeter of the stadium before any of his rallies."

Clearly, Fani-Kayode's suggestion is a reflection of the PDP's level of unseriousness, not to say ludicrousness. Since what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, wouldn't it be a nice idea for Jonathan to do the same before his rallies? Or perhaps it would be more helpful if both presidential candidates had a pre-election contest involving brisk walking and jogging. Fayose and Fani-Kayode enjoy stinking thinking.

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