January 24, 2015

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THE NATION

NEWS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

•National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some members of Labour Party and Bibire Coalition, Ekiti State, after a conciliatory meeting in Lagos... yesterday.

•SEE STORY ON PAGE 7

'Over N74.4tr stolen by public officials in 25 years'

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IGERIAN public officials have stolen more than N74.4tr in the last 25 years, the CoChairman, Nigeria Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing National Risk Assessment Secretariat, Sam Onyeka, has disclosed.

Onyeka said until 1990, issues of money laundering were associated principally with drug trafficking.

He said although efforts were ongoing to recover parts of the stolen funds, much of the money was stashed in different bank accounts abroad.

He spoke during a briefing on his book titled: AntiMoney Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Nigeria, organised yesterday in Abuja.

Aftermalt of Shekau’s latest video: Military set to declare total war against Boko Haram

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ngered by the latest video of Boko Haram, the military yesterday drew final battle line with the sect by unveiling a “onceand-for-all comprehensive operation” in the North-East.

The full-scale ‘war’ will be heightened in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in the next few days.

Those who live in the affected areas in the NorthEast have been asked to relocate.

Already, troops have been given the marching order to eliminate safe havens and escape routes of Boko Haram in the country before the February elections.

The massive attack against the insurgents will be backed by troops from

•Vows to rout sect before February 14 Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Also, the Presidency has endorsed the military plan which might lead to a total declaration of war against the insurgents in the NorthEast.

According to findings, the military was disturbed by the alleged claim of the sect that it has enough weapons to take on Nigeria.

It was learnt that the military offered to confront the insurgents headlong to “settle the insurgency problem” once and for all.

A top military source said: “It is now fight-to-the-finish

between the troops and the insurgents. There will be a total blockade of all the routes being used by the insurgents.

“Neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Niger and Chad have bought into the latest offensive plan, having realised the danger in continuing to allow terrorists free movement across the borders.

“Nigerian military is reviewing strategy in the combat against terrorists to accommodate joint and combined operations with neighbouring military organisations.”

The source gave an insight into the new Action Plan

against Boko Haram, saying: “Massive deployment of air and amphibious assets are expected to feature in the operation. Preparatory to this mission, the Defence Headquarters has changed the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division which is the leading formation in the counter-terrorism campaign.

“The deployment for the mission is expected to facilitate the elimination of safe havens and escape routes of terrorists in or out of Nigeria.

“The arrangement has enlisted the support of the military forces of neighbouring countries towards ensuring

Jonathan commiserates with King Salman, Saudi Arabia people

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday joined other world leaders in commiserating with King Salman Ibn Abdulaziz and the people of Saudi Arabia on the death of his predecessor, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz.

In a condolence letter to the new Saudi Monarch, President Jonathan said that King Abdullah will be long remembered for entrenching the process of progressive reform in his country.

The President, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that he was confident that the existing cordial and mutually beneficial relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia will be maintained and further strengthened under King Salman.

He said: “I have received with great sadness, news of the death of His Highness, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz at the grand age of 90.

“On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences at the sad loss of this illustrious monarch and revered leader. Our thoughts go out to the people of Saudi Arabia and, particularly, the

New Saudi king seeks to reassure on succession and policy

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ING Salman pledged yesterday to maintain existing energy and

foreign policies.

He also quickly moved to appoint younger men as his heirs, settling the succession for years to come by naming a deputy crown prince from his dynasty’s next generation.

King Abdullah, who died early on Friday after a short illness, was buried in an unmarked grave in keeping with local religious traditions.

By appointing his youngest half-brother Muqrin, 69, as Crown Prince and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as Deputy Crown Prince, Salman has swiftly quelled speculation about internal palace rifts at a moment of regional turmoil.

Oil prices jumped in an immediate reaction as news

of Abdullah’s death added to uncertainty in energy markets.

Salman, thought to be 79, takes over as the ultimate authority in a country that faces long-term domestic challenges compounded by the plunging price of oil in recent months and the rise of the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria, which vows to toppled the Al Saud ruling family.

In his first speech as king, shown live on Saudi television, Salman pledged to maintain the same approach to ruling the world’s top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam as his predecessors and called for unity among Arab states.

“We will continue, God willing, to hold the straight course that this country has followed since its establishment by the late King Abdulaziz,” he said.

Mohammed bin Nayef becomes the first grandson of the kingdom’s founding monarch, King Abdulaziz, known as Ibn Saud, to take an established place in the line of succession.

All Saudi kings since Abdulaziz’s death in 1953 have been his sons and the move to the next generation had raised the prospect of a palace power struggle. King Salman also appointed his own son, Mohammed bin Salman, Defense Minister and head of the royal court.

The rapidity of the decisions startled Saudis, used to a delay of up to several months before top appointments following the deaths of their monarchs. The choice of Mohammed bin Nayef was seen by some as a reflection of his strong record in counter-terrorism in his role as interior minister.

Salman’s predecessor, King

Saudi royal family at this time.

“King Abdullah will be remembered for entrenching the process of progressive reform, enduring stability and economic consolidation in Saudi Arabia, while preserv-

ing the Kingdom’s place as the universally acclaimed centre of the Islamic faith.

“While the government and people of Nigeria share in your loss, we are hopeful that you and the entire people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

would be comforted by the enduring legacy of selfless service that King Abdullah leaves behind.

“As Your Highness ascends to the throne as King of Saudi Arabia and custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, I am con-

•New Saudi King Salman Abdullah died early yesterday.

“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning,” the royal palace said in a statement . fident that the excellent fraternal relations and productive partnership that have always existed between our two countries and peoples will be further strengthened and deepened in the years ahead,” Jonathan wrote in the letter to King Salman

that the plan to effectively block the terrorists for elimination while they are being pounded in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign is effectively attained. “ Responding to a question, the source said: “The operation is expected to terminate well before the February 14 elections so that Nigerians living in every part of the country can vote in their towns and villages.

“However, it is expected that innocent citizens living in the areas where the terrorists presently operate are temporarily moved to safe towns away from the theatre of operations.

The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, however declined to give details.

He simply added: “The military would not relent in its efforts to restore peace to every part of the country as quickly as possible. But details of such efforts would not be disclosed now.”

He however admitted that “all the countries bordering Nigeria are willing to complement the efforts in Nigeria as terrorism has remained a menace or threat to all in the region.”

The leader of the insurgents, Abubakar Shekau, had in a 36-minute video in the week boasted of more deadly attacks by the sect in the next few weeks.

He said: “Insha Allahu, we are going to do His work with these arms at our disposal. We are going to sacrifice our lives in doing God’s work.

“As you can see, we have thousands of AK 47 rifles, we have so much that we are still conveying them to our camp here. We have AA; we have different kinds of them that can be mounted on vehicles.

We Shell Car; we have RPGs; We have mag and so on.

“We cannot just mention them. We have dozens of vehicles and tanks that God has given us.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

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THE NATION

4 NEWS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

POLLS POSTPONEMENT CONTROVERSY

Outrage spreads over calls to shift elections •Arewa, Northern elders, Ohanaeze reject calls for postponement I

NFLUENTIAL northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the umbrella body of northern elders, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Apex Igbo socio-cultural oraganisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo have condemned the call in some quarters for the postponement of the 2015 general election scheduled for next month.

The two bodies believe that postponing the election would be tantamount to succumbing to the threats by the deadly Boko Haramý sect to destabilize the nation.

They added that any design meant to prevent the expression of popular will in February 2015 under whatever guise or excuse will be rejected and resisted by all Nigerians. ý “We have made our position known in our recent meeting that election must hold in February,” the Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, said.

Also speaking in an interview, NEF Secretary, Prof Ango Abdullahi, said: “We at the Northern Elders Forum have said that we are aware of sentiments being canvassed by anti-democratic forces that an unconstitutional interim national government or a similar il-

Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Chris OJI, Enugu

legal arrangement should be put in place to stop the forthcoming elections.

“We want to warn in the strongest terms possible that any designs to prevent the expression of popular will in February 2015 under whatever guise or excuse will be rejected and resisted by all Nigerians.

“We fully support the ongoing efforts to eliminate all kinds of threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency.

We wish to remind the nation that any effort to postpone the elections, limit its scope or truncate the democratic process will be a resounding victory for Boko Haram. Only enemies of Nigerian people, worse than Boko Haram insurgents, will wish this on our people.

“Therefore, the February elections must hold under the most secure and peaceful conditions possible, and we have no doubt that the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in a position to guarantee this, if it wishes.

“Our call is therefore for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to rise to the occasion and prove to Nigerians

and the world that he can provide the necessary and enabling environment to conduct credible elections.

We expect the President to openly and unequivocally condemn any sentiments or efforts to truncate the political and electoral process.ý” Also rejecting the call for the postponement of the elections, the Apex Igbo s o c i o - c u l t u r a l

oraganisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, described it as unpatriotic “and cannot be justified by any reasons whatsoever.”

In a press statement issued in Enugu and signed by its caretaker committee chairman, Chief Ralph Obioha, yesterday, Ohanaeze said that rather call for a postponement, the right thing to do was to call on the INEC

Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to resign immediately.

It argued that the slack in the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs) exposed Jega’s suspect leadership of INEC. Ohanaeze said in the terse statement: “Nigeria is being made to look like an unserious entity. If the nation of Zambia could conduct a national election

within 90 days of their president’s demise, what excuse can Nigerians tolerate that a body whose business it is to conduct an election and has been at it for the past four years when the last national election was conducted will now be seeking excuses on its inability to distribute PVCs? It is absolutely unacceptable,”

Saraki, Ahmed, oppose change in election dates

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Committee chair on Justice, Dr Ali Ahmad, have rejected call for the postponement of next month’s general election.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, had suggested that the elections be shifted to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to distribute the remaining permanent voter cards (PVCs).

Saraki, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, asked Nigerians to reject any attempt to shift the elections.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology said the proposal to shift the poll was a subtle way by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to avoid defeat.

He spoke at a campaign rally in Fufu, headqaurters of Ilorin South Local Government Area.

The former governor of the state asked Nigerians to reject the proposal made by the National Security Adviser, saying it is now evident that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery, having seen the handwriting of failure on the wall.

While asking the electorate in the state to reject the PDP and its presidential candidate, Saraki said the people should support the APC whose presidential candidate, Muhammad Bihari, hails from the same state as the late former President Musa Yar’Adua.

“It was the administration of Yar’adua that did some-

•Jubilant school teachers in Oyo State at a solidarity rally with Governor Abiola Ajimobi (arrowed) at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House... yesterday

Adekunle JIMOH, Ilorin

thing for Kwara. Since Jonathan came, there is nothing and we are glad that the APC candidate is also from Katsina State like Yar’Adua who had in his lifetime always desired that Kwara and Katsina would work together,” he said.

Saraki told the crowd that it was imperative to effect a change in the Presidency if the state would make significant impact on the lives of the people because there would be an end to impunity and alleged corruption at the federal level.

Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed spoke along the same line in his own message while the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani described the PDP deputygovernorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, who hails from the council area, as a political appretince who left his master before due time.

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CNPP asks Dasuki to apologise to Nigerians

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HE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday accused the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki of plans to scuttle the February 14 elections alongside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Expressing outraged over the statement made by Dasuki at the London thinktank, Chatham House, calling for the postponement of the Feb 14 scheduled election, the CNPP asked the NSA to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians.

The political body described Dasuki’s reason as “childish, bare face lie and a dummy meant to deceive the international community, portray Nigeria in bad light and scuttle regime change.”

CNPP challenged Dasuki to tell the world where the 30

Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Abuja

million permanent voters cards (PVC) “he bandied is located; for without holding brief for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is common knowledge that over 60 per cent of the PVCs have been collected nationwide by anxious Nigerians who earnestly yearn for regime change.”

In a statement issued in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Osita Okechukwu, said: “CNPP is worried that the NSA has joined some anti-democrats and less than patriotic groups like the Pastor Ayo Oristejafor brand of Christian Association of Nigeria, the Ijaw Youth Council, Federation of Middle Belt People and Ohaneze Youth Council to plant land mines to scuttle our fledgling

democracy.

“Dasuki’s statement clearly exposed his gross incompetence on his primary mandate to secure the country; hence the Boko Haram insurgency has escalated since his appointment on 22nd June, 2012.

“The NSA should tell the world what happened to the billions budgeted for defence in the past three years under his watch, since he has turned the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) into procurement agency of the Ministry of Defence.

“Our understanding is that elongation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure automatically elongates that of Dasuki’s less than successful tenure.

“A man who deliberately abandoned the late General Andrew Azazi’s concept, that Boko Haram insurgents are

located in the forest and should be fought with Isreali satellite images, drones and modern equipment. Had Dasuki adopted the Azazi concept, it could have been very easy to use satellite images to recapture the Chibok girls few days after their unfortunate abduction.

“Is it not a paradox that an NSA who procures equipment via the black market is condemning those who insist that the Nigerian armed forces are under-equipped and under-funded? Is it not corruption under Dasuki’s watch one of the reasons that made the Americans to stop supplying vital military equipment to Nigeria? We call on Dasuki to apologise to Nigerians for his anti-democratic tenure elongation canvas and for calling our soldiers he underequipped cowards.”

No gong back on Feb polls –Jega

HE Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has insisted that the 2015 general election will go on as planned.

Jega noted that the commission was working with an election timetable which was issued a year ago and was fully determined to implement thE timetable to the fullest.

He therefore noted that the commission at no time contemplated postponement of the general election.

Meanwhile, Jega has assured Nigerians that the commission will ensure that all registered voters get their Permanent Voter Cards before the February election.

Jega also maintained that

•Declines comment on Dasuki’s statement •Condemns Fayose’s death-wish advert Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

there was no going back on the use of PVC in the elections, stressing that return to the use of the Temporary Voter Cards as being called for in some quarters will set the country and the commission backward.

He also announced that INEC has so far produced 50 million PVCs which, according to him, have been made available for collection out of the 68.8 million registered voters, with 30 million already collected.

Jega noted that the commission was aware of the ongoing anxiety in the country over the PVCs. He however assured the gathering that INEC would do everything possible to ensure that all the cards are distributed.

He also hinted that in the worst case scenario, the commission will distribute the cards until the eve of the presidential election.

Prof. Jega also listed Plateau, Katsina, Kano, FCT, Edo, Cross River, and Bayelsa as states with high number of complaints related to PVC distri-

bution.

The INEC chairman spoke at a programme for mitigation of violence in election (MOVE) project launch organised by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Also in attendance was the President of the Court of Appeal, Justoce Zainab Bulkachuwa, and European Union (EU) first Secretary, Alan Munday.

He said: “A major source of electoral fraud in this country, is the manner in which politicians and\or their supporters either buy off voter cards or steal voter cards, which they

give to other people rather than the true owners to go and vote for them on election day. “ So we examined this when we were processing the voter cards and the law requires INEC to produce permanent voter cards.

“Before 2011, we produced temporary voter cards because there was no enough time to produce PVC for everybody.

Because of the authentication that would be carried out on the day of the elections, that Is why we don’t want to use TVCs because they cannot be read by card readers.

“So, we have done every•Continued on Page 5

THE NATION

NEWS 5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

POLLS POSTPONEMENT CONTROVERSY

•The remains of President Jonathan’s younger sister, Nancy Jonathan-Oloei, arriving for a funeral service in Otuoke, Bayelsa State… yesterday.

•President Goodluck Jonathan and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, at the funeral service of President Jonathan’s younger sister, Nancy Jonathan-Oloei, in Otuoke… yesterday.

PDP behind anti-Jonathan protests –APC scribe

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HE National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, yesterday said orchestrated attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan in some parts of the North were part of a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to frustrate the conduct of the general election in February.

He also accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, of flying an unpopular kite with his recommendation that the elections be postponed. He said Dasuki’s suggestion would lead to illegal extension of President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure beyond May 29.

Buni believes the insecurity in some parts of the north is sustained to prevent elections in the affected areas.

He said: “Added to this, they are instigating crisis, protests and stoning of the President at PDP rallies in some north-

•Says it’s part of ruling party’s ploy to shift poll Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation ern states to give the impression that there are security threats that may hinder peaceful conduct of the polls.

“Be mindful of the fact that PDP rallies are heavily secured by armed soldiers and policemen and are not accessible to APC members. It is the PDP chiefs that are organising the attacks on

thing possible to test the integrity of both the card readers and the card, and we fill so confident that using them will put additional value to the integrity of the election process.

“So the key challenge is how can we ensure that on the election day nobody was disenfranchised. That any person who had registered would have his voter cards produced and made available to him or her so that they can participate in the election.

“We know that there is a lot of anxiety in the country now because the rate of collection of the cards is slow and because there are some of the cards we have not produced yet. But we are doing everything possible to ensure that before the end of this month, all the cards are produced and made available for people to collect them.

“The collection has also been a problem. There are millions of cards available for people to collect. We have given people up to 31st January to collect their cards. But if push comes to shove, we can distribute up till the eve of the election.“ Jega would not comment on the reported call by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki that the commission should postpone the election, saying “I don’t want to comment on this. Like ev-

who are owed several months of salaries by the state government.”

Buni said suggestion by NSA Dasuki that elections should not hold in the states ravaged by insurgency in the North-East was “in tune with the tenure-extension plot.”

He added: “The NSA has confirmed the plot by government to extend its tenure by six months and then by another six months.

“The APC totally agrees with the position of INEC and Nigerians that the polls will be conducted as scheduled, especially the declaration that the commission is continuing with the distribution of the PVCs until February 8.

“The time line is enough to issue majority of voters with their PVCs, of which INEC has so far distributed more than75 per cent.”

“Even in countries that ex-

perience severe challenges of insurgency like Afghanistan and Iraq, elections were held successfully. Nigeria cannot be an exception.

On the plight of the internally displaced persons, he said: “IDPs should not be deprived of their inalienable rights to vote and be voted for. Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and failure to do that will be in breach of constitutional provision.”

Postponement call meant to cause disaffection

Says Buhari support group •PDP’s plot will fail —APC Reps

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HE Buhari Support Organisation, the umbrella body of over 300 voluntary organisation working for the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said

‘No gong back on Feb polls’ •Continued from Page 4

Jonathan to achieve their aim.

It is their project.”

He condemned a statement credited to Katsina State Governor, Mr. Ibrahim Shema, that cockroaches in politics should be attacked and killed, saying that it was one of the calls provoking violence against the opposition.

On the crisis in Bauchi, he said it was “sparked by hunger and the attendant anger by civil servants and teachers

erybody, we read it in the papers. I myself, many things have been attributed to me which I know I didn’t say. So until I can confirm and get clarification, it will be premature for me at this public event to start saying anything.

“In any case, anything I communicate is the commissions position and the commission has not discussed this matter and taken a position on it. So I want to be more patient on this.

I cannot comment on this for now.”

Jega also castigated the advert placed in some national newspapers by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, urging the media to act responsibly.

He stressed that the media should be able to reject some advertorials when the message is capable of inciting or causing provocation among the people.

He said: “There is a consensus on non-violence. Newspapers should exercise self censorship; not to take money and just put anything that is given to them. They have to be careful and ask, ‘If we put this message, what would be the negative implication of it in terms of Provokating people or inciting violence?’

“There are so many things that the media can do. Press freedom is absolutely necessary and there is nothing anybody can do to infringe on that right.

Tony AKOWE and Victor OLUWASEGUN, Abuja yesterday that the suggestion by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, that the forthcoming general election should be postponed was intended to overheat the polity and cause disaffection among Nigerians.

The organisation also said that the call was a tactical way of rigging the presidential election in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan, and called on former Nigeria leaders and the international community not to keep quiet but to speak out on the need to allow the elections to go ahead in other to preserve the sanctity of the nation.

The APC Caucus in the House of Representatives also yesterday claimed that the calls for postponement of the forthcoming elections were impelled by fears in the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan that he will lose the presidential election.Spokesman of the Buhari Support Organisation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, said at a news conference in Abuja yesterday that Nigerians are ready to exercise their right and vote out this current government, saying that Nigerians will resist any form of electoral impunity foisted on them.

Expressing disappointment with the National Security Adviser for the suggestion, he said: “We are totally taken aback by the suggestions made yesterday by the National Security Adviser to the effect

that the February elections be postponed.

“As the NSA, he is a very highly placed key figure and a close associate of Mr. President. It is expected that he should be very conversant with the security implications of such postponement and should rather advise to the contrary, even if that is what the boss would have preferred.

“These are all indications that the PDP does not truly want open democratic contest in which Nigerians will decide who leads them after this corrupt dispensation. We condemn in its entirety such careless, provocative and crisis-prone statement from such a high level of government.

“This is certainly the high point of the serial breaches to the Abuja accord by the PDP government. This suggestion is intended to overheat the polity by causing severe disaffection among the generality of the public with attendant disastrous consequences.

“A stitch in time, they say, saves nine. We therefore call on the PDP-led administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to allow the Nigerian people to freely express their choice and determination for a free and fair election devoid of any exogenous technical rigging and manipulation by shifting the goal post.

“Today, we appeal to the international community for assistance to advice President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to keep strictly to the terms of the Abuja accord and not

push his good luck too far.

Nigerians are prepared and ready to cast their votes come February 2015.”

The organization posited that any effort to postpone the elections would amount to rigging in favour of the incumbent.

“INEC have repeatedly maintained its stand that it is ready. They have in the last four years prepared and promised Nigerians that they are set to deliver.

“We call on all our elder statesmen and former presidents of this country to speak truth to power and let the needful be done to preserve the sanctity of our dear nation.

“We also plead with the sponsors of the Abuja accord to deploy their local and international reach and bring their wealth of experience to prevent the abortion of this well thought out plan for Nigeria to hold a peaceful national election in February 2015.

“We call on civil societies, trade unions, organised labour and associations of professionals to rise up to this occasion and assist INEC to deliver on their promise to conduct the February 2015 elections.

“We wish to draw the early attention of ECOWAS, the AU and UN to this plan to truncate democracy in Nigeria by a sitting government afraid of losing election for the first time in Nigeria’s political history, even though it happens frequently in other civilised democracies.

“Nigerians are poised to redeem their nation from 16 years misrule. They want

to embark on the process through democratic means as provided for in our constitution.”

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and leader of APC House caucus, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday said the plan to “unconstitutionally extend the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan” will not work, In a statement signed by his Research and Media Assistant, Wasiu OlanrewajuSmart, the lawmaker said the clandestine move by President Jonathan’s government to extend its tenure is stimulated by “fear of imminent defeat and an afterthought ready to die in the manner of Obasanjo’s third term plot.”

The lawmaker flayed the call of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who had on Thursday in London called for a postponement of the elections on the premise that the permanent voter cards had not been fully distributed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Gbajabiamila said the National Security Adviser only expressed his opinion because he does not have any constitutional role in the distribution of voter cards.

He said: “This was the plot all along. The NSA has no role to play in the distribution of permanent voter cards. Whatever they do and however they do it, they cannot go against the provisions of the constitution, which is sacrosanct and must be obeyed.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 2015

6 News

Attacks on Buhari’s pedigree backfire on Jonathan Continued from Page 1 over the school certificate issue when the facts are obvious, multiple party sources told The Nation yesterday.

Information yesterday from the United States of America (USA) where Buhari attended one of the most prestigious military institutions also shed light on his training there.

Sources said that the certificate saga which the campaign council had obviously planned to use to rubbish Buhari’s integrity has now backfired in the North and the immediate worry is that the dust raised by the controversy could cost the PDP more sympathy in the region.

“Most PDP leaders are worried that the issues being raised on Buhari’s eligibility may backfire on the party’s electoral fortunes,” one source said.

“I am aware that most PDP leaders and members from the North are just unhappy because the little goodwill for the party in the region may be completely lost.

“Already, the PDP is fast losing ground in the North since the attacks on Buhari’s personality and credentials started.

Some of those who had been sympathetic to PDP are now having a rethink.

“Some PDP leaders are already calling for a ceasefire on this certificate matter because it is portraying the party and its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, as desperate.”

Another respected PDP leader said: “Some of our leaders and members in the North are angry. They are trying to use the certificate saga to reopen old prejudices by the South that Northerners are largely uneducated or without certificates. In 1979, they did it to ex-President Shehu Shagari by deriding him as a mere Grade II teacher.

“This type of politics will certainly not help our party at all.

We have been making representation to the PDP leadership to halt this hate campaign.”

The PDP may also have breached Section 31(3-5) of the Electoral Act for joining issues with Buhari on the certificate matter.

Sources at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the PDP should have laid its complaints between December 25, 2014 and January 1, 2015.

The commission, in its timetable for the general elections fixed December 25, 2014 to January 1, 2015 for claims and objections.

It was learnt that the PDP has failed to comply with three issues in Section 31 of the Electoral Act. These are: • Refusal to comply with the seven-day period for claims and objections • Failure to apply to the INEC for a copy of Buhari’s nomination form • Ruling party yet to file any application before a High Court on Buhari’s credentials Section 31(3-6) says: “The commission shall within seven days of the receipt of the personal particulars of the candidate publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.

“A person may apply to the commission for a copy of the nomination form affidavit and any other document submitted by a candidate at an election

•Northern PDP leaders: we’re losing the little goodwill we have •APC candidate earned diploma from US War College Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and the commission shall, upon the payment of a prescribed fee, issue person with a certified copy of the documents within 14 days.

“Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a state or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.

“If the court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit of any document submitted by that candidate is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.”

A highly-placed source said: “The PDP is confused because there is no record showing that either the party or any of its leaders has applied for a copy of the nomination form of Buhari from the INEC. “Instead, the party is just playing to the gallery in the media to heat up the polity.

This is unfortunate for the nation’s political environment.

“As I am talking to you, the PDP is yet to comply with Section 31 of the Electoral Act on issues against Buhari.”

Meanwhile, the United States Army War College has opened up on how Gen. Buhari earned a Diploma from the elite institution.

The testimony by the college also confirmed that Buhari obtained a higher certificate beyond the minimum requirement of the West African School Certificate (WASC) required to be the nation’s President.

The college said the focus of the course was on Army professional education requirements.

The Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Army War College, Carol Kerr, made the disclosure in a January 23, 2015 response to an enquiry sent to the college by The Nation.

Kerr said : “The following is offered in response to questions you've forwarded to the Army War College. I am sending a single email so that you will all have the same information about the value of the 1980 diploma earned by Col. Buhari, and the role of international officers at the Army War College.

“Retired Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of Nigeria, is a 1980 graduate of the 10-month Army War College resident education program, at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. “Col. Buhari was a member of the third Army War College class to have included International Fellows. The Class of 1980 was the first student body to have a large enough number of International Fellows to sit one in every student seminar. The International Fellows Program was part of a major initiative to strengthen the Army War College curriculum by bringing broader perspectives of international partners into the

War College experience.

“The Chief of Staff of the Army invites International Fellows from select countries to attend the Resident Education Program and Distance Education Program each year.

These programs offer an opportunity for International Fellows to participate with U.S. students in seminar and to study, research, and write on subjects of significance to the security interests of their own and allied nations.

“The International Fellows establish mutual understanding and rapport with senior U.S. officers and foreign officers and enrich the educa-

tional environment of USAWC. “Since the International Fellows are immersed in U.S. culture, they have an opportunity to acquire firsthand knowledge of the United States and its institutions through study and travel.

“Since 1980, the International Fellows Program has expanded broadly. The Class of 2015 includes 79 international officers, representing 73 countries.

“Each student seminar group in the resident education program includes three to four International Fellows studying alongside US military officers of the Army, Navy,

Marine Corps, and Air Force, with representation from the US Coast Guard and selected civilians of several federal agencies.

“All US Army War College students are competitively selected for attendance - by their Service if a US military officer, or by their country's armed forces when the country receives an invitation.

“In general terms, the Army War College resident education program still has the same major themes, albeit in 1980 there was more focus on operations. The college was, and remains, focused on professional education for national

security professionals to serve society.

“Overwhelmingly the focus was and is on Army professional education requirements.”

The revelation by the college put paid to any agitation by the PDP. Section 131 says: “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."

•Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and APC gubernatorial candidate, acknowledging cheers from supporters at a campaign rally in Patigi ... Thursday PHOTO: NAN

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ORMER military Presi dent General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday rose in defence of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, on the genuineness of his secondary school certificate.

Gen. Babangida warned that any attempt to politicise the military would not be in the nation’s interest.

"It is a very dangerous thing to do," he told The Nation in an interview in Minna.

He said there was no way Buhari would have risen to the rank of a general in the army without possessing the basic educational qualification.

Babangida, who was reacting to the controversy sparked by the certificate in an exclusive interview, said the army, as an institution, subjects all its intakes to proper scrutiny, training and re-training.

He was shocked at the heat generated by the issue and advised those who feel aggrieved to go to court.

He warned that the military should not be ridiculed as it remains,in his opinion, the only institution of national unity and that it is passionate about acquisition of knowledge by its officers.

His words:"The military is one institution that believes in constant learning and training. You receive the initial training from the Staff College. After one year, you go for another round of inten-

...Babangida defends Buhari •Warns against politicising military sive training that is all encompassing.

"It is one institution that is concerned about knowledge, even in warfare. The military requires you to keep abreast of development in warfare, weaponry and education.

"Perhaps, military is the best institution that is concerned about training and knowledge and about discipline because no officer is considered for promotion without having the prerequisite

qualification and must pass the required examinations".

He cautioned the political class to desist from politicising the military, pointing out that any such attempt will be dangerous for the institution and the nation.

"The military remains the institution of unity. I will not support the idea of politicising the military,” he said.

The former military leader was, however, full of confi-

dence that the military will strive to keep above the scheming of the politicians "as it is capable and will resist any undue attempt to influence it.

"This is nothing but politics.

I think those aggrieved should know what to do. Anybody who feels aggrieved should go to court and let the court make a pronouncement that will settle everything".

Buhari’s wife leads APC Women Presidential Campaign Council

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HE wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in next month’s polls, Mrs Aisha Buhari, will lead the party’s 56-member Women Presidential Campaign Council to be inaugurated today in Abuja.

The alternate chairperson of the campaign council is Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo,wife of Buhari’s running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The wife of the governor of Nasarawa State, Mrs Mairo AlMakura, and Mrs Adejoke Adefulire, the deputy governor of Lagos State, are to serve as Vice Chair (North) and (South)

•Mrs Aisha Buhari respectively, according to the secretary of the council, Dr Nasir Ajoge Sanni.

The zonal leaders are: Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed (North Central), Mrs. Nana Shettima (North East), Mrs Hadiza Abdul-Aziz (North West),

Mrs. Nkechi Rochas Okorocha (South East), Chief Abiola Fashola (South West) and Mrs Judith Chibike Amaechi (South South).

Similarly a total of six zonal groups, one each for the six geo-political zone, have been named with Mrs. Toyin Saraki as team leader of North Central, while North East has Aishatu Dukku as team leader.

Mrs Kemi Nelson is expected to lead the South West team, while Hajiya Binta Muazu will lead the North West team.

Mrs Nkechi Okorocha will lead the South East team and South South will be led by Mrs Judith Amaechi.

THE NATION, SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 2015

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TRONG Indication emerged today from far away Lagos that a new deal to record a landslide victory for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen Muhammadu Buhari had been sealed.

How did this happen? A member of the House of Representatives and leader of the Ekiti Bibire Coalition in Ekiti State, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, have decided to work with the state All Progressives Congress, courtesy of the National Leader and ex-governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Bamidele, had consented not only to the idea of deploying his enormous political network in Ekiti to mobilize crowd for Major Gen Buhari who will visit Ekiti State today in furtherance of his electioneering campaign, but to ensure that he clinches majority of the votes during the presidential poll.

It will be recalled that Bamidele in 2013 formed the Ekiti Bibire Coalition to realize his governorship ambition within the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria which pitted him against the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, thereby forcing him to sever tie with the party and dissolved the coalition into the feebly existing Labour Party to contest the June 21 governorship election.

In the new political realignment, Bamidele had met with Asiwaju Tinubu where a deal to coalesce the two structures to

Feb poll: Bamidele pledges support for Buhari •Seals deal with Tinubu ensure landslide winning for Gen Buhari in the February poll was sealed.

Those at the meeting held at the Bourdillon palatial mansion of the APC leader included Chief Diran Adesua, former Commissioner for Works; Chief (Mrs) Yimika Olumilua, wife of former Governor old Ondo State; Bishop Gabriel Oloniyo; Hon. Ropo Ige, Director-General, Ekiti Bibiire Coalition; Chief Remi Oguntuase, Chairman, Ekiti Bibiire Coalition; Hon. Odunayo Ategbero, former Commissioner for Information; Akogun Bunmi Ogunleye, former Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission; Prince Akin Olayisade, former Chairman, SUBEB Ekiti State and Hon. Adebayo Morakinyo, former member, Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Before the extended meeting with the Bibire leaders, the Deputy National Chairman of the party and ex-governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni, had met with Bamidele and his supporters in Iyin Ekiti last Saturday where they got a green light that the deal

would be successful.

It was reliably gathered that Bamidele’s group had a fruitful deliberation with Tinubu and effort to deliver Ekiti for the APC presidential flagbearer is now the main agenda.

A source in the meeting revealed to us that Tinubu appealed to Bamidele to continue to strive hard to ensure that the APC regains its strength in Ekiti, describing him as a reliable compatriot that has the capacity to turn the fortunes of the party around.

The source said: “Tinubu said he believes that the two sides, both the Bibire Coalition and the APC can work together having shared the same political ideology and common agenda.

“I believe that the APC did not lose the Ekiti election because the Peoples Democratic Party and his candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose, were strong, but because Bamidele and exgovernor Kayode Fayemi allowed their ranks to be polarized.

“I still believe that if you return to the party, the PDP will run into trouble in Ekiti. My

PDP loses 30,000 members to APC in Sokoto

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BOUT 30,000 members of the Peoples Demo cratic Party(PDP) yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Sokoto state.

Speaking at a reception for the new members, Governor Aliyu Wamakko said it was an indication that the party's manifesto driven by a purposeful leadership had what Nigerians and Sokoto people desire.

"The wind of change is a wind for victory for those who wish the state and country well.

"Infact, I will not be surprised this is coming a day after our presidential campaign rally took place on our soil here in Sokoto", he said.

Wamakko further said: "The

Adamu SULEIMAN, Sokoto APC has come to stay, and this is a signal to the opposition that our party is determined and moving from strength to strength.

"Today, we have almost all the political allies of former governor Bafarawa in our fold. It is enough to give our opponents an indication of good omen coming our way."

Wamakko urged the people of the state not to be destracted from their focus for the APC which is hopeful of clinching all elective positions in the state.

Also a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Umaru Kawabo, said there was no alternative to

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change, saying “that the APC has all that is needed to win elections. This is the begining of the series of expected defections into the party", he mentioned.

A Sokoto community leader and APC active member, Mr. Okoro, said he was convinced that the wind of change was imminent and the solutions to the problems of Nigeria would come from the APC. "Jonathan’s government cannot guarantee our yearnings and expectations.

"We are seeing what Wamakko is doing in the state.

We believe that the APC presidential candidate is patriotic and committed to the course of the commoner.

"Buhari is a man of the people from what we saw yesterday. He will bring hope to Nigerians and Sokoto State", he said.

Earlier, Honourable Murtala Madugu, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said the PDP was in confusion, adding that "it has refused to see the phenomenal strides by Wamakko in the state. Instead of praising him, they are all abusing him.

This is why we dumped the party for the APC".

own concern now is how you can win Ekiti for Gen Buhari and that task must be achieved through all constitutional means, which is to go home and campaign vigorously”, Tinubu was quoted to have said.

Tinubu was said to have told the members of the coalition that their experiences and grassroots mobilization ingenuity are needed to launch the APC back to reckoning in Ekiti, the idea the members had rejected, saying defection en-bloc to the APC is not on the card for now.

A leader of the coalition, who spoke copiously about Tinubu’s generosity and sense of forgiveness and love for his protégés, had said the party would only work for the victory of Buhari in the presidential poll, having considered him the best of all presidential candidates that can liberate the country from the pangs of Boko Haram attack, obscene corruption, unemployment and other social ills that had eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics.

Knowing that the Bibire leaders were resolute to remain in their party and fight for the 2015 state and National Assembly elections where they had fielded candidates, Tinubu was said to have given them the option of being allowed to go home, ruminate over the option and consult widely to know the next line of action.

Tinubu was said to have told them another meeting will be held before the February elections to take a final decision on the future of the APC together.

“I want you to know that in my mind, I believe that we are all products of the same political family. We share the same background and ideology together. It was only political differences that divided us, but our minds still coincide and that is to ensure that the country is put back on the path of political and economic rebirth in the interest of all of us.

“The APC should be seen as our baby and I believe that by the time we hold the next meeting, we will reason together and know exactly where we are going”, Tinubu added.

The beauty of it all was that Bamidele and other Bibire leaders, however, consented to work for Buhari and they would be on ground today at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion with their teeming supporters to rally support for the APC presidential candidate.

Mbu promises to reply APC at appropriate time

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R Joseph Mbu, the outgoing Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 7, yesterday promised to respond to allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was deployed to Zone 2 for a political hatchet job, at the appropriate time.

Mbu made the remark in Abuja while reacting to questions during an interaction with newsmen.

Zone 2 comprises Lagos and Ogun states.

27 AIGs were redeployed to other zones, departments and formations across the country.

He said: “I reserve my comment on the spurious allegation by the APC in Lagos State; I will not say the APC in general.

“At the appropriate time, I will respond to this allegation.

“I am not going to Lagos to fight, but I will not tolerate lawlessness.”

Mbu also dismissed insinuation that he is a controversial officer, saying “I am not controversial.”

“I love my job; I am very proud of my job and I do my job very well. I am not afraid of anybody in the execution of my job.

“Anywhere I go, I am not a politician.The enemy of a governor or minister is not my enemy. The enemy of anybody is not my enemy.”

Don’t set nation on fire, APC warns Fayose as Buhari’s train hits Ekiti today

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday warned Gov ernor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State against disrupting or interfering in any way with the party’s APC presidential campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti today.

The APC declared that the governor’s plan to hold a parallel rally on the same day is a recipe for chaos.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, wondered why Gov. Fayose would schedule a rally today at Fajuyi Park, which is a major route to the venue of the APC presidential campaign rally. ‘’This is nothing but a deliberate act of provocation, and it is a dangerous game by a governor who has now become notorious for making incendiary statements and taking irrational actions.

Gov. Fayose should be told in clear terms that being the governor of a state demands huge responsibility, not brazen rascality,’’ APC said.

The party said its members and supporters, in line with their peaceful nature and the ethos of the APC, neither disrupted nor interfered with the PDP presidential campaign rally at Ado, and cannot understand why the governor will be plotting to trigger chaos and disrupt the APC presidential campaign rally.

It said:’’There must be a limit to mischief and waggishness, especially from a governor that almost set Nigeria on fire with an irresponsible, incendiary and repugnant advertisement wishing our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, dead. ‘’Since everything points to the fact that Gov. Fayose lacks the capacity to understand the implication of his actions, it is high time his masters called him to order before he sets the country on fire. A good starting point is to warn him against holding a parallel rally at Ado,” it said.

Fed Govt now pays N2.50 per litre as petrol subsidy, says minister John OFIKHENUA, Abuja

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HE Federal Government says it still subsidizes the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the tune of N2.50k per litre.

Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke said in Abuja yesterday that the crash of crude oil prices in the global market has not completely absorbed government’s subsidy on fuel.

She spoke on Political Forum, a programme of RAYPOWER FM. Responding to a question on whether government still subsidizes PMS,the minister said: "We are paying about N2.50 per litre."

She said government arrived at the new pump price of N87 from N97 per litre after considering that it could sustain it to give the citizenry some benefits.

Madueke said : "We still have subsidy to pay, but we said N10, we could stretch to N10 to give Nigerians a reduction we think gives them some impact in their daily lives."

She explained that despite the drop in oil prices in the international market since September, it was only at the end of December that the price of $56 per barrel was equivalent to N97 per litre pump price in Nigeria's petrol stations.

The minister noted that government had to observe the volatility of the market for another two weeks before it was convinced that there was stability .

She added: "You should bear in mind that we will still be covering subsidy cost for at least 40 days for those marketers who had already brought in stock to distribute. So we are distributing this at the lower prices."

Ogun guber poll: Five parties adopt Isiaka

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IVE political parties in Ogun State under the auspices of the Conference for Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) have adopted Prince Gboyega Nasir isiaka, the gubernatorial candiditate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as their consensus candidate for the February 28 governorship election in Ogun State.

The political parties, which announced their endorsement of Isiaka as their candidate at a press conference in Abeokuta yesterday included: African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Action Alliance (AA), People For Democratic Change (PDC) and African People Alliance (AAA).

In a statement jointly signed by chairmen of the five political parties, their spokesman, Engineer Mojeed Alao Kelani, Chairman of the APA, said the decision to adopt Prince Isiaka was taken by the political parties after a series of deliberations and thorough search conducted among the various candidates vying for the governorship position in Ogun State.

The group, which had in their mist, Chairman of Ogun State CNPP, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Ogun CNPP, Otunba Femi Soluade, as well as representatives of nine other political parties in the state, said they felt Ogun State was in dire need of a resourceful and purposeful leadership that can drive the machinery of government.

They claimed they were convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the integrity and quality of character possessed by the PDP candidate would guarantee equity, justice and fair play for all Ogun State citizens and would take the state to the next level in the area of social, economic and industrial development.

While observing that the present administration in Ogun State had engaged itself in urban development programmes by building bridges and roads, the parties expressed confidence in the manifesto of Prince Isiaka which they claimed has robust and elaborate development programme for the rural populace.

8

THE NATION,

News

Container crushes four to death in Lagos Innocent DURU O fewer than four people were yesterday crushed to death when a 40 feet container fell off a trailer and landed on two commercial buses at Ketu, a suburb of Lagos.

The accident which was said to have occurred in the early hours of the day took place on the lane of vehicles heading towards Mile 12 and Ikorodu areas of the state.

The accident, it was learnt, caused traffick gridlock in area forcing many road users to take alternative routes to get to their destinations.

Eyewitnesses gave different accounts about how the accident occured. A trader who identified himself as Sanni Mohammed said the accident was as a result of break failure on the part of the trailer.”We were just resuming for business that early hour of the day when we saw the driver pumping his brake and making all efforts to control the vehicle.

At that point, we sensed that danger was looming but before we knew what was happening, it rammed into the commercial buses picking passengers on the road. The container fell on two of the buses and killed some of the passengers. The casualty

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Crisis in Kwara LP over alleged imposition of governorship candidate A CHIEFTAIN of the Labour Party (LP) in Kwara State, Mr Abdulhakeem Amao, has accused the leadership of the party of imposition of Dr Mike Omotosho as the flag bearer of the party.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Amao, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant of the party, said the leadership of Kwara LP manipulated the outcome of its governorship primary in favour of Omotosho, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “I won the gubernatorial primary of Kwara LP which was witnessed by over 200 delegates of the party in November 2014.I was the sole aspirant and I became the flag bearer of the party following the unanimous decision of the delegates of the party.

“There were four officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) present during the primary and the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the outcome of the exercise is with INEC as we speak. I was then shocked to discover that my name had been replaced with that of one Mike Omotosho, who defected to our party a few weeks after losing the contest for the PDP’s governorship ticket.”

In his response, the secretary of Kwara State chapter of LP, Mr Abdulkareem Onagun said Amao’s allegations were not true.

“He did not get the ticket. He was supposed to fulfil some necessary requirements before he could become our flag bearer but he did not. He was asked to pay N6.5 million for nomination form but he did not pay. He kept promising us endlessly and because of that, the national leadership of the party in Abuja asked our state chairman, Mr Babalola Johnson to pick the form pending the time we would get another interested person that would be willing to pay for the nomination form.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

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Osun tribunal adjourned for judgment

HE Osun State Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned indefinitely to give judgement on a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the August 9 governorship poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore, against the victory of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, yesterday gave the adjournment after the adoption of the final written addresses of the plaintiffs and the respondents.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore is praying the tribunal to cancel the results of the election in some polling units in 17 local government councils of the state and declared him the lawful winner of the election.

•Govt, Osun APC react •PDP in jubilation, sends wrong signal Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo Counsel to Omisore, Alex Izilyon (SAN) while addressing the panel said the first respondent in the case, who is Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his party (APC) have not proved their defence beyond reasonable doubt that the said election is not manipulated in favour of the APC. Represented by Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Charles Edohor, Aregbesola urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of merit, baseless and wasting of time.

He also submitted that the petitioners were not able to establish the specific allegations of sponsorship of on air advertisement of campaign on election

Five injured, 10 vehicles vandalized as PDP thugs attacks Ambode’s campaign team

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ANDEMONIUM broke out yesterday in Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, when supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Lagos West, Mr Segun Adewale allegedly attacked members of an independent campaign team of All Progressives’ Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

No fewer than ten vehicles were said to have been vandalised during the attack while one person was allegedly killed and five others wounded.

Two of the victims are said to be lying critically ill in a private hospital as a result of the injuries sustained during the attack.

It was gathered that supporters of the APC governorship candidate were distributing sourvenirs to residents during a neighbourhood to neighbourhood campaign rally when the PDP members who were passing by in their vehicles suddenly confronted them and started shooting sporadically.

A resident who was holding one of the APC sourvenirs was said to have been shot dead while panicky residents run for their dear life.

An impeccable source who spoke in confidence said: “The APC members had embarked on a peaceful rally to solicit support for their candidates in the coming election when they were attacked by PDP supporters who were also passing by.As a matter

day, intimidation, molestation and harassment, over-voting, multiple voting and voting by proxy.

He added that the petitioner failed to prove lack of proper accreditation, voting by ineligible persons and disenfranchisement of eligible voters, arbitrary allocation of votes, irreconcilable entries, discrepancy and mutilation of results, lack of proper accounting of ballot papers, campaign and inducement of voters and non-stamping of Forms EC8A as well as other sundry allegation like multiple registration.

According to him: “We submit that the petitioners have not satisfied the provision of section 179(2) as to the requirements of the constitution for someone to be declared as governor.

“With these reasons and some other reasons fully canvassed in our written address, we urge your Lordship to dismiss this petition for lacking in merit with

Kunle AKINRINADE of fact, the PDP supporters who were heading towards Iyana Ipaja in their vehicles suddenly turned back and ran after the APC supporters.

“Before we knew what was happening, the PDP thugs opened fire on the APC campaigners leading to the death of an innocent resident while about five persons were injured; two of the victims are now in critical condition. Ten vehicles were vandalized while those injured have been taken to a hospital.”

One of Adewale’s aides, Mr Tosin Odunsi, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said the APC supporters actually ignited the confrontation before Adewale’s supporters retaliated.

“I was at the scene of the incident and no life was lost. We were actually returning from a campaign rally organized for our governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, when we ran into some APC supporters at Boys Town area of Mosan Okunola and they were making a mockery of our party.

My boss (Adewale) who was riding in one of the vehicles in our convoy asked us not to confront the APC supporters. However, our supporters retaliated when the APC supporters started shooting sporadically. So, our people did not attack APC members but we retaliated in self-defence. If you must know, our campaign office in Iyana Ipaja was destroyed by APC supporters about two days ago.

substantial cost.”

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye toed the same line of argument by the first two respondents in the case.

He said that the petitioners did not call any credible evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and faulted the claim of the PDP’s experts saying that all the documents used are INEC materials.

Meanwhile, security were beefed up around the court premises as armed policemen and operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) were deployed in the area to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Members of the PDP after the tribunal sitting yesterday were seen in major streets of Osogbo, the state capital in a wild jubilation.

They said the tribunal had given the judgement and that it

•One of the vehicles belonging to APC supporters vandalised by suspected PDP thugs

Ondo PDP crisis: 10 injured as security operatives shoot to disperse rally by rival faction ABOUT ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday sustained series of injuries from a rally organised by a faction of the party from the northern senatorial district of the state and allegedly disrupted by security operatives.

The victims, who were mainly women were said to have sustained injuries following alleged sporadic shooting by the security personnels deployed to the town to disperse the crowd

which had already gathered at rally’s venue, Oke- Mapo hall in Owo. PDP in the state had been factionalised into old and new members since the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP) to the party.

It was learnt that the rally was organised by old PDP candidates from the northern senatorial district which comprises of six local governments, Owo, Akoko North West, Akoko North East, Akoko South West,

Fayose signs budget passed by seven PDP lawmakers into law

EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday signed into law the 2015 Budget passed by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Assembly.

Fayose also signed three other bills into law, one of which was the Ekiti State Peace Corps (Repeal) Law which scraps the grassroots security outfit established by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration.

The remaining laws which received Fayose’s assent are the Ekiti State Change of Official Logo (Amendment) 2014 and Grant of Pensions (Amendment) 2014.

The governor had on December 15 presented a budget of N80.774 billion to the seven PDP lawmakers who jerked up the budget to N80.9 billion which was endorsed by the state chief executive.

The PDP faction carried out the act in the absence of 19 All Progressives Congress (APC)

•Scraps Fayemi’s grassroot security outfit lawmakers who maintain that the embattled Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin remains the head of the legislature and not factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi.

Speaking after giving his assent to the bills, Fayose ex-

plained that the 2015 Budget focuses on civil servants, education, citizens’ empowerment, health and overall development of the state.

He said the peace corps was scrapped because the motive for its establishment by the

outgone administration was suspicious.

Fayose added that the grant of pension law was amended to give pension to former governors and their deputies saying ex-leaders like Chief Segun Oni and other who served in that capacities are now beneficiaries.

You deserve second term, Oyo teachers tell Ajimobi PRIMARY school teachers in Oyo State on Friday trooped out in their thousands to express their support for the re-election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, saying that the governor deserved a second term in view of his monumental achievements since his assumption of office.

The teachers, who were from all the 33 local government areas of the state, converged on the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Ibadan to solidarise with the governor and express their unflinching support for his second term bid.

was in favour of their candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Members of the Buhari/ Osinbajo Campaign Organization coming from Ibadan into the town for a rally ran into the jubilant PDP supporters at their state party secretariat along Gbongan Road.

Windscreens of one of the buses belonging to the APC campaign team marked OYO 14B95OY were allegedly smashed by the PDP supporters.

One of the leaders of the group, Abdulafeez Ola Hamzat, who was in one of the buses said “they ( PDP supporters) jubilating when we ran into them .”

Many residents of the town were confused and were making calls to journalists and politicians to verify the authenticity of the PDP members’ claim of victory at the tribunal.

In a swift reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) faulted the claim that PDP had won the election petition tribunal case.

Speaking at the rally, spokesman of the teachers, Mr. Bisi Oladeji, said they could not but support Governor Ajimobi whom they described as a friend of not only the teachers but indeed, of the masses.

“You are a governor with a difference. We acknowledge your commitment to the welfare of the people and your love for us.

We are using this opportunity to pledge our unalloyed support for you in your desire for a second term in office,’’ he said.

Oladeji also commended the governor for the pervading

peace and security in the state, rehabilitation of schools, prompt payment of salaries and allowances; promotion of teachers, recent employment of 5,300 teaching and non-teaching staff, gazetting teachers’ employment as well as the raising of the bar of graduate primary school teachers from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 15 among others.

Governor Ajimobi, in his address, thanked the teachers for trooping out to openly express their love for him and his government.

Akoko South East and Ose. One of the conveners of the rally, Mr. Femi Adekanmbi, alleged that he was placed on a house arrest by the security agents on the day of the rally.

Although, INEC had pasted Mimiko candidates’ list but the old PDP candidates had always maintained that they are the authentic candidates since the court had ruled in their favour.

Speaking at a press conference, held in Akure, the state capital, the old PDP northern senatorial candidate, Dr. Olu Agunloye, alleged that Mimiko was the brain behind the disruption of the rally.He claimed that he was told by one of the security agents that they had been directed by the governor not to allow the rally to hold.

Agunloye, who showed journalists pictures and video of how the rally was disrupted noted that rather than PDP becoming a mega party in the state following the defection of Mimiko, the party had been losing its prominent members to opposition party on daily basis.

He said, “We mobilised members from six local governments and they arrived the venue around 10 a.m but about 140 Police and 25 Soldiers dispatched to stop the rally manned all the entrances to the ancient town and also at the venue. Immediately they discovered that we are about to start the rally, they started shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd at that process 10 people were injured and they are presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

COMMENTARY

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‘

The Chibok school girls have not been seen since April last year and no achievements can drive that under the table or earn the achiever responsible for their lives and security any or many accolades or votes in this February election

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2015 elections, looming disenfranchisement and security IGERIA’S 2015 presidential elections of February 14, which is lovers day all over the world appears too close for comfort given large number of Nigerians that are yet to get voters cards. More worrisome is the desperate attempt of the rulin party to disqualify the opposition candidate on educational qualifications and the reluctance of INEC the electoral authority to consider any hint of a possible postponement because of an apparent disenfranchisement of 50 % - about 30m- of the electorate, because of lack of voters cards. Add to this the unbelievable news report that a coalition of four Northern Civil Society Organisations have dragged the same opposition candidate to the International Court of Justice – ICC - over post election violence in the 2011 elections and you want to wonder why some people are so desperate that the change of government which appears imminent and unchangeable if the February elections hold in a conducive, should not be allowed to happen.

Unfortunately such people and their antics or strategy of mischief and digression are like a dog barking at the moon to go away at night. It is a folly and a crass exercise in futility.

They are trying to manage and stop change and experts in Strategic Management should tell them, if they will listen, that Change Management is an oxymoron as change cannot be managed or stopped. You may go along with change if you are wise but you cannot stop it and I am not talking about natural disasters like tsunamis or volcanoes alone. I am talking about the kind of political change imminent in Nigeria this February which has spawned a monster movement aimed at stopping APC candidate retired General Muhammadu Buhari from becoming the next president of Nigeria at all cost. The ‘Stop Buhari from contesting‘ campaign is an odious oddity in our political system created by those who are desperate to keep the incumbent president at his job because their lives depend on his continuing in office after 2015 lovers day and beyond.

Yet, the incumbent is busy campaigning all over the nation and has pitifully lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency has not allowed people to appreciate his numerous achievements and

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that really is an understatement. As it is also a tautology. What sort of achievements can allow, that under the watch of a president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces on whose table the buck stops, over 200 Chibok girls have vamoosed into thin air like the Malaysian aircraft that did the same thing last year? The Chibok school girls have not been seen since April last year and no achievements can drive that under the table or earn the achiever responsible for their lives and security any or many accolades or votes in this February election. Inability to find the Chibok girls and the growing capacity of Boko Haram to seize Nigerian towns on Nigeria’s soil and kill thousands of Nigerian with impunity makes a mockery and a misnomer of any achievements of this administration and that can not be wished away by a thousand campaign speeches all over the nation. That is the stark price on the 200 Chibok girls disappearance, and it is the electorate’s payback time at the February elections.

Going back to the issues highlighted at the beginning involving the lack of voters cards for half the electorate, it is pertinent to note the issue was raised by no less a person than our National Security Adviser but in far away London. I listened to the BBC interview when he said he could not see INEC getting the remaining over 30m voters card ready before February 14.

Given that concern he asked for a postponement but as allowed within the constitution. Which sounds responsible and fine by me. But some people are treating this sensible advice like a cancellation. Which is wrong and disruptive. Equally alarming was the reaction of the INC Spokesman that postponement was not on INEC’s agenda. That certainly is unbelievable given the fact that INEC had all along insisted that the Security experts will decide whether elections will hold in the beleaguered North East as INEC is not an expert on such issues. Obviously INEC is short sighted in seeing the security implications of disenfranchising about half the Nigerian electorate and should do a quick rethink before it is too late. Indeed the NSA is trying to save the neck if not the ass of INEC on this although such an important advice should have been given at home to his employers and not on foreign ground. The political parties too should close ranks to prevent a gross disenfranchisement to happen in this election as it will damage the credibility and legitimacy of any such elec-

• See Hardview & Knucklehead on page 56

tion results sooner than later.

Disenfranchisement in any election has always been a recipe for post election violence and that should be carefully avoided by all stakeholders in this election.

That again brings up for discussion the matter of the four Civil Liberty organisations that have taken the APC candidate to ICC at the Hague over post election violence in the 2011 elections. Together with those trying to make a mountain out of a molehill on Buhari’s school certificate credentials, timing is the weapon of confusion in both cases. Since 2011, why have these civil liberty organisations not gone to court till now that the retired general is a presidential candidate of a popular party and the 2015 election is less than a month away? Similarly with those raising the school certificate brouhaha one should ask - why now? After all, this same retired general contested in 2007, and 2011 and no such issues were raised. Obviously the APC candidate’s detractors have seen the handwriting on the wall that 2015 is different from earlier elections and is going to be third time lucky for the APC presidential candidate.

I certainly share their vision but not their fears as what they are manifesting is crass premonition that this election will be their nemesis as the APC candidate is very well on the way to victory.

I can however offer them some comforting ideas, if they will consider it and that is that they should exercise some patience for the elections to hold, and recall what happened in Kenya at the last presidential elections.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate were distracted like this over post election violence in the last presidential election - 2007/2008 before they were elected into office in 2013. They were charged for post election violence in the 2007 presidential elections although neither contested then for the presidency. They were indeed in opposing camps. They won in spite of this and both have gone to the Hague as sitting President and Vice President of Kenya, and Kenya is moving on marvellously. The APC candidate’s detractors should just take things easy on their hate mongering, as President Muhammadu Buhari will not be the first African president to go to answer spurious charges at the Hague. The February 14 elections will surely see to that. God willing, Insha Allah.

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16 KITI State Governor, Ayo Fayose, last Monday stirred controversy by placing an advert in some national newspapers suggesting that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, might die in office if elected president. Despite the outrage many Nigerians have expressed on Fayose and the advert , he has not seen anything wrong with it.

Immediately he was declared winner of June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, Fayose left no one in doubt that nothing has changed in his approach to public issues. He does things with impunity.

Before he was sworn in October, last year, Fayose made took some actions that portrayed him as someone that was obsessed with power even ever before he took the oath of office. On September 6, 2014, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, while still in office, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Ekiti State as part of measures maintain law and order. The former governor had explained that the curfew was necessitated by the widespread violence that greeted the murder of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Omolafe Aderiye, by gunmen.

Rather than encourage his supporters and admirers to abide with the directive of the government, Fayose, as governor-elect, went on air and called on the residents of the state to ignore the curfew, that they should go about their normal businesses. Justifying his action, the governor-elect said: “It is unfortunate that people have been put under needless pressure and I have discussed with the police and the army on the need to let people move around freely. As from today, I have released people to go about freely. There is no more curfew. No security agent will arrest you. Anyone who is harassed or arrested should call me.”

On September 23, 2014, the political thugs allegedly loyal to Fayose descended on a High Court Judge, Justice J.A. Adeyeye, beat and dragged him on the ground. The judge’s suit was also torn into shreds. There was a similar siege to the court premises on September 22, when the same thugs distrupted court proceedings apparently to avert the delivery of a ruling which they suspected could go against the governor-elect.

Thus, under the watch of the governor-elect, suspected political thugs, twice in four days, violently invaded and distrupted proceedings at the Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti. The record book of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, was torn to shreds by the thugs who also halted proceedings at the Ekiti State Election Petitions Tribunal housed in the High Court premises. The police officers on guard duty were helpless, while judges, magistrates and other members of staff scampered to save their lives, having witnessed how court properties were recklessly being vandalised or completely destroyed. The assault forced the CJ to order the immediate closure of all state high courts in Ekiti.

The ultimate goal of the unruly behaviour of Fayose’s supporters was to intimidate the judge handling the suit over whether he was

E

eligible to contest the June, 2014 governorship election.

As he was still waiting to take oath of office, Fayose stirred another hornet’s nest when he alleged that the outgoing government had piled up a debt profile of nearly N84 billion for his administration. “They took N31 billion in the first instance and paid about N10 billion and they took another N22 billion loan and the state is having N552

part of the money spent on the maintenance of federal roads in the state and the Federal Govenment had refused to reimburse it.

Since he took over, Fayose has mellowed down on the issue of debt.

After being sworn-in as governor, the first act of impunity carried out under his close watch was the impeachment of the Speaker, Ekiti House of Assembly Dr. Adewale Omirin by seven out of 26 members. Instead of being neutral in the crisis, Fayose pitched his tent with the minority goup in the House. He recognised one Dele Olugbemi elected as Speaker by the seven members. The minority approved the list of commissioners earlier sent by the governor, but which were not approved by the Omirin regime.

Fayose presented the 2015 budget to the minority law makers. It was instantly approved. The Omirin group could not hold sitting in the Chamber for their safety. The governor that swore to abide by the constitution had violated it brazenly. In all these, the silence of the PDP and Abuja was outstanding; the main reason many feel that Fayose may have been acting on a well-tailored script from the seat of power.

In less than two months in the saddle, Fayose trimmed down the 36 ministries in the state to 26. He said: “I had to reduce the 36 to 26 because of finance.

The recent fall in oil price is worrisome and indicates that tough days are ahead.” Some civil servants in the state lost their jobs as a result of the merger of ministries.

Besides, Governor Fayose had abolished the new Local Council Development Areas created by his predecessor and laid off staff. The social security for senior citizens in the state introduced by Fayemi was axed by Fayose. Each of the beneficiaries was entitled to N5,000 per month. If these measures were taken to ensure prudent management of state funds, how would Governor Fayose justify the huge amounted he has committed to President Jonathan reelection bid through the placement of adverts in the newspapers running into several millions of naira?

As he was about to face the electorate for the governorship battle, a penitent Fayose then appealed to the people to forgive whatever mistakes he might have made during his first three-year rule (2003-2006).

He had said: “They should give me a chance so that I will turn around the fortunes of the less-privileged in the state. I want them to know that I am Ayo Fayose, 12 years older, more responsible, more experienced and I will listen. I am finally now exhibiting a moral compass about leadership and governance.”

So far, however, there seems to be no element of repentance or remorse visible in Fayose yet. Controversy is the game!

Enter Mr Controversy Leke SALAUDEEN

million monthly deficit and the repayment is still 2020.”

The state government debunked the allegation, saying the total debt profile was not up to one-third of what Fayose quoted. It went further to explain that much of the debts were

Segun AJIBOYE (Assistant Editor) and Innocent DURU

Pg. 33

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

FIXTURES

Saturday Blackburn vs Swansea City Southampton vs Crystal Palace Chelsea vs Bradford City Derby County vs Chesterfield Preston North vs Sheffield Utd Birmingham City vs West Brom Cardiff City VS Reading Tottenham vs Leicester City Sunderland vs Fulham Man City vs Middlesbrough Liverpool vs Bolton Sunday Bristol City vs West Ham Aston Villa vs Bournemouth Brighton & Hove vs Arsenal

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

AFCON 2015...AFCON 2015...AFCON 2015... AFCON 2015...AFCON 2015... AFCON 2015... AFCON 2015...

THE NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

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Wife of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, is the founder of Women's Helping Hands, a non-governmental organisation passionate about empowering battered women and victims of sexual abuses. She spoke with SUNDAY OGUNTOLA on her husband's aspiration, her family life and the Nigeria of her dream. Excerpts:

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Female First Class Redeemer’s ‘var HE town of Ede in Osun State received royal visitors along with the cream of academia, when newly relocated Redeemer’s University, celebrated its 6th convocation recently. It was the first to be held on the grounds of the permanent site of the university in Ede. And expectedly, the university authority rolled out the red carpet to receive its august visitors.

As the guests turned out mostly resplendent in beautiful academic attire, two ladies stood out; they were the synosure of all eyes. The unusual thing about them was not just that they were twins; it was also because both of them bagged the prestigious First Class degree of the university.

The twins were among the 28 graduands who came out with the envious First Class

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•Mother-in-Israel, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye (middle) flanked by the twins who baged First Class Honours, Oluwafunmike and Oluwafunmito Adeleye at the convocation of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State...last week

•Chairman, Board of Trustees, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (left) with Vice-Chancellor, Professor Z. Debo Adeyewa

•Deputy Governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Titilayo Laoye-Tomori

n Paul UKPABIO n

honours category. It was obviously their day, as everybody wanted to shake hands with and hug them. And they savoured the moment to theirfill in their infectiously broad smiles.

The elated Vice-Chancellor recalled that last year, a set of twins also recorded the same feat during the university’s graduation ceremony.

All eyes were also on the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), General Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate.

The colourful academic procession into the newly constructed main auditorium of the campus was indeed a beautiful sight to behold and spoke volume of the standard and place of merit in Redeemer’s University com-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

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twins steal show at sity convocation munity.

The Visitor to the university, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, was represented by Pastor J. F. Odesola, his Personal Assistant. But physically present was Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, who received a loud cheer on arrival. On hand to represent the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was the Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Titilayo Tomori, while Professor B. Adebisi represented the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission Professor Julius A. Okogie.

Also present were all the VCs of all the Nigerian private universities and some VCs of federal and state universities.

It was a day of honours and to witness it all were an array of royal fathers, including the Ooni of Ife , who was represented by Oba Pero, Abire of Ife; Oba Adebowale, Alowojoye of Ile-Ife and the hostmonarch, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa 1), the Timi of Ede.

Professor Debo Adeyewa, the VC of the university, could not hold back his excitement as he received all the 598 graduating students presented to him. Among them were 28 who bagged First Class; 201 with 2nd Class Upper Division; 266 with 2nd Class Lower Division and 103 in other divisions.

And the ladies came out very strong, not just with fascinating beauty but academic flourish. The best graduating student this year was Miss Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello. She finished from Sociology with 4.93 CGPA. As rewards, she received numerous cash gifts and the university’s scholarship for a post-graduate programme.

The ladies altogether recorded an enviable feat: 20 of the 28 First Class Divisions went to them! That information received a thunderous applause as they filed out to receive the ‘golden handshake’ from the ‘Mother of Israel’, Pastor Folu Adeboye.

The joy of the day was wrapped up in the festivities and merriment

•The wife of the VC, Mrs Olabisi Adeyewa

•Members of the Governing Council.

that took over the grounds of the university campus after the in-door ceremony.

The best graduating student, Ibukunoluwa Bello, told us a little about her lifestyle while she was on campus. “I didn’t have a boyfriend throughout my stay there,” she declared. Though slim, tall and pretty looking, Ibukunola Bello said she denied herself the luxury of a boyfriend during her stay on campus. The Sociology graduate said: “It was something that I did not consider necessary to do, and I did not even think about it. Though I would not say that it is the reason that I came out top, but I just did not consider it.”

Ibukunola said even if she had a boyfriend on campus, she still would have passed in flying colours. “But like I said, I didn’t consider having one. But I was very involved in other curriculum activities on campus and I was president of this and president of that most of my years in the university.”

•The best overall student, Miss Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello

•Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa I)

•The host VC, Professor Z. Debo Adeyewa (first left) and VCs of other universities

•From left: Mrs Yinka Ogbonmide, Emmanuela Oboh, Mrs Alima Oboh, Tolu Ogbonmide and Boluwatife Ogbonmide

PHOTOS: Biodun ADEYEWA

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An evening of banters, accolades as ex-CDS Petinrin marks ENULTIMATE Friday, the home of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, located in the heart of Lekki Phase One, Victoria Island, Lagos, played host to an exclusive number of family members and friends, as he clocked 60 with style.

It was a happy day for the ebullient officer, who though retired, appeared not tired. The ‘birthday boy’ was simply clad in a boyish-styled, sky blue designer shirt and light-brown trouser, with a pair of dark-brown crocodile-skin leather shoe. He excitedly anticipated the evening party.

His guests arrived, most of them chauffeur-driven to the venue. Their long line of choice cars parked down the road, re-announcing the event, along with the melodious music of T-Soul Band, welcomed the guests to the home of the Petinrins.

At 60, Air Vice Marshall Oluseyi Pet inrin’s friends are equally successful people. At the party

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•Petinrin

•From left: Engineer Funsho Akinwande, Otunba Samson Osoba, Chief Dr. Olasupo Alli Balogun and Otunba Doyin Ogungbe

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n Paul UKPABIO and Biodun ADEYEWA n

was Dr. Phillip Babatunde Obada, the husband of former Deputy Governor of Osun State and Minister of Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Rear Admiral Francis Akpan; former Chief of Army Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia; President of Island Club, Otunba Ademola Dada; Chief Dapo Olawumi, former President of Institute of Directors Nigeria; Mr Chike Nwanze; Squadron Leader Olusegun Coker (rtd), Group Captain Olalekan Shodeinde, Dr Gbolahan Alli-Balogun, and a host of others.

It was a time for merriment, parting of the back, jokes and much banters as the senior citizens celebrated the evening with the ‘birthday boy’, Oluseyi Petinrin.

The celebrant’s wife, Appolonia Petinrin, was indeed the perfect hostess. It was obvious that

•The celebrant with his wife, Appolonia Petinrin

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•Architect Ayo Ayeni (left) and Chairman, Obafoot, Chief Adedeji Adelowo

•From left: Rear Admiral Francis Akpan; Olufemi Kufeji, Chief Dapo Olawumi, former President of Institute of Directors Nigeria; Mr Chike Nwanze; President of Island Club, Otunba Ademola Dada; Petinrin, the celebrant; former Chief of Army Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia; Dr Felix Babatunde Obada and Group Captain Olalekan Shodeinde at the Petinrin 60th birthday party in Lekki Phase One, Lagos...penultimate Friday this is a natural role she has played very often over the years, as she went about her husband’s friends, ensuring that their tummies were filled with the best of Petinrin’s food and choice wine.

Though the ‘roll call’ of guests was mixed, it was mostly a reunion of Generals of sorts. And his guests would not leave until they had said nice things about him in the most hilarious ways.

According to former Chief of Army Staff, General Ogomudia, “Petinrin is a wonderful man, a professional officer, a good pilot, loyal, dedicated, and hardworking. Above all, he relates well with people.”

To Rear Admiral Francis Akpan rtd, “Petinrin is a gentleman, a loyal friend and a friend who keeps faith in friendship. We joined the Nigerian Defence Academy together on the 1st of July 1974, and since then, we‘ve kept the friendship. He chose the Air Force and I went to the Navy. And despite the fact that we were in different places, we kept our relationship.”

Also, Otunba Felix Francis Alao, former Executive Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, said: ‘’He has enormous power in his system and he remained absolutely silent, gentle operator, who applies intelligent in

•Moyo Adewuyi (left) and former Executive Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Otunba Felix Francis Alao

•From left: Akinola Alli-Balogun, Wahab Alli-Balogun and Architect Kunle Bello every step that he takes. He is a man of outstanding brilliance. He had outstanding leadership qualities right from school; people like us were not surprised that he rose to the highest pinnacle of the military profession.

We are proud of him. I think, if he agrees; Nigeria still needs the service of Oluseyi Petinrin. I wish my friend good health, successes and long live’’.

Dr. Phillip Babatunde Obada, the husband of former deputy Governor of Osun State and Minister of De-

•From left: Dr Gbolahan Alli-Balogun, Squadron Leader Olusegun Coker (rtd.) and Dr Layi Ogunbambi

fence, Erelu Olusola Obada, topped the accolades: “The celebrant of today was the Chief of Defence Staff when my wife superintended over the affairs of the Nigeria Military. I know him personally; a very good officer, very brilliant, disciplined, and upright and I also know him to be a good Christian. He has a good and nice, beautiful lady as wife and one who has given him much support.’’

It was late in the night when the last of the guests departed with good memories of an evening well spent.

•Oluwatoyin Bolatito

•Etan Ogbeni (right) and Air Vice Marshal J. E. Aprekuma

PHOTOS: Biodun ADEYEWA

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A traffic warden on duty

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with

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THE NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

Hepromisedmeparadise,butallIgotwashell!(3)

The secrets of family increase (4)

THE NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

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‘

We really need to win this contract.

The Chairman has givenus a mandate to do all it takes to win it and if that includes seeing your uncle over it, then we have to do that. He has even promised to make me the M.D of the company if we clinch the contract. You know the present M.D will be leaving us Soon. So, dear, let's meet Uncle Thomas, ok?

,

with Pastor Faith Tel: 01-7341546-8

Oyedepo

To be continued next week

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

NEWS

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

& OTHER STORIES ‘How syndicate killed my son and officials to withdraw N1m from CRIME

57-year-old father of 10 has commended the Lagos State Police Command for apprehending a suspected member of a robbery gang responsible for the death of one of his children. Mr. Mercelemiu Mba, a farmer and native of Ihueze Neye, Alaniri Local Governmenr Area of Enugu State, said the arrest of 65-year-old Joseph Akpan, whose alleged role in the gang was to get bank officials to collaborate with the gang, was a major breakthrough by the police in the state.

Akpan was said to have masterminded the transfer of huge sums of money from two bank accounts belonging to Mba’s late son, Chinedu, with the collaboration of some bank officials. A police source told our correspondent that the matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, who immediately ordered the transfer of the case from Lion Building to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

CP Aderanti also ordered the officer in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), to personally handle the matter and fish out another member of the gang named Benson, who was said to have supplied the documents with which Akpan withdrew money from Chinedu’s bank accounts, as well as other members of the syndicate who are still at large.

Police sources said that while Mba stayed in Neye, Enugu State, with eight of his children, the late Chinedu lived in Gindiri, Plateau State, with the fourth child, Tochukwu. After a few days of investigation, Kyari and his men’s efforts were said to have yielded some results while investigation is still ongoing.

Narrating the events that led to the arrest of Akpan by SARS operatives, Mba said: “On the 9th of September last year, at about 8pm, I was in my house at Neye, Enugu State, when I heard my son, Obinna, shouting, ‘Daddy, Daddy, have you seen it?’ He shouted for more than three times as he was answering a phone call from Gindiri.

“I asked him what the call was all about and he said that armed robbers had shot Chinedu. I told him to calm down; that even if Chinedu had died, would he (Obinna) kill himself? I said he should let us hear the details on the phone to know whether he was taken to hospital or not.

“I then called one of my relations, who

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lived very close to Chinedu, to know whether he knew about the shooting, but there was no response.

“Luckily, one of our town’s men named Ndubuisi Nwangene, who lives in Gindiri, said they (villagers and police) said they had taken Chinedu to the hospital but he died there and they were preparing to deposit the corpse in the mortuary. Then the phone went off. We cried throughout the night.

“The following morning, our people in Gindiri said I should drop whatever I was doing and come to Gindiri to see what was happening. They said the door had been locked because the whole house was ransacked and scattered and that for security reasons, nothing should be touched until I come.

“I decided that my two sons, Obinna and Uchechukwu, should go to Gindiri, with an instruction that they should bring Chinedu’s remains home, and they did. The corpse was brought back by representatives of the Hausa community, the Emir of Gindiri and the Christ Embassy, who also footed the transport cost from Gindiri to Enugu State.

“God had blessed Chinedu in Gindiri and he became rich. I later planned to go back to Gindiri with Obinna to strengthen the security at Chinedu’s compound. The guard was paid N20,000 every month and we paid him the November salary so that he would continue to guard the place until the family would take control of everything.

“I also instructed Obinna to start selling some of Chinedu’s property in order to reduce the burden of transporting the entire property home. Along the line, we found the teller with which Chinedu was paying money into his two accounts in two banks.

“We took the teller to the two banks to check the balance of his accounts. The banks’ staff sympathised with us and asked us to go to court to get a letter of administration. We took the letter of administration to the two banks and they gave us his statements of account.

“At one of the banks, the balance in his account was N6 million plus, while at the other, the balance was N1 million. We paid the court N400 for the processing of documents. The court also advised me to pay

•Akpan N3,000 for publication in one of the national newspapers for due process. I asked why and they explained that if Chinedu owed anybody, they would know that he is now late, while anybody who owes him could come and pay 21 days after the said publication.

“After that, I would be given the power/authority to withdraw my son’s money from the two banks. I then went back to Enugu State, while Obinna stayed back at Gindiri.

“A few days later, Obinna called me on the phone and told me that the letter had been released. I got to Jos on December 21 and went with Obinna to collect the letter of administration.

“We could not go to the bank on that day because before we got to Mangu town, the banks had closed. We went back to the

banks the following day and submitted the letters.

“On January 5, we went to the two banks to withdraw money but the cashier said we should go; that he would do it for us and we would receive the Union Bank alert. We later went back to tell them that we could only find N5 million plus in the account.

“We went back the following day to tell the bank our experience.

The cashier welcomed us warmly and took us to the manager. The manager asked me whether I had seen any of Chinedu’s phones since he died and I said no, adding that maybe those who killed him also collected his phone because they had been tampering with his account.

The manager said we should go to Abuja to see the person in possession of my son’s phones.

The bank gave us a policeman to accompany us to Abuja. When we got to Abuja, he handed us over to the Abuja Police. Later we were put in the plain for flight to Lagos.

“On getting to the airport in Lagos, we were handed over to another policeman who took us to Union Bank’s headquarters on Lagos Island. From there, I was taken to the Lion Building Police Station on Lagos Island. That was on the 9th or 10th of January 2015.

“The Divisional Police Officer, Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent of Police, called my son and me to his office. There she ordered them to bring two suspects from the cell and asked me whether I knew both of them and I said no. The DPO then said I came with my son, Obinna, and the other man also came with his son. He then asked who between us was Chinedu’s genuine fa-

Family, police disagree over cleric detained F

n Kunle AKINRINADE n ists in Mowe, Ogun State.

The herbalists were said to have duped Adeshina of huge sums of money.

A family source, who spoke in confidence, said: “He told us that he knew Adeshina about three years ago when he came to him for prayers. He explained that Adeshina, who is based in Abuja, approached him sometime in February 2014, for a ‘quick money making rituals’. He claimed he told him that he could not do such rituals; hence, he referred Adeshina to some herbalists in the Mowe area of Ogun State.”

The herbalists were said to have demanded for the sum of N240,000 from Adeshina, who subsequently paid N100,000; N80,000 and N30,000 respectively into Abdulateef’s bank account for onward transfer to the herbalists.

It was gathered that contrary to Abdula-

,

AMILY members of a Lagos-based cleric, Abdulateef Abubakar, allegedly detained at the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FEDSARS) office on Adeniji Adele Street, Lagos Island, have denied that he was involved in robbery.

But the spokesman of FEDSARS, Olalekan Ogundare, told our correspondent on telephone that Abdulateef was not in the custody of the anti-robbery squad.

The 35-year-old cleric, who lives in Ita Faaji area of Lagos Island, was allegedly arrested about 10.30 pm on Friday January 9, 2015, following allegations of robbery levelled against him by one of his clients.

Abdulateef was said to have been accused of conniving with others to ‘rob’ one Adeshina of N60 million.

It was, however, gathered that the embattled cleric had told some members of his family that Adeshina had approached him for money making rituals, following which he introduced him to some herbal-

My son is a not a thief and has never been involved in robbery. As I speak, we have been barred from talking to him each time we visited FEDSARS office.

Even his wife was not allowed to speak with him when he took some food to Abdulateef a few days ago

teef’s advice to Adeshina to be circumspect in his approach towards the deal, the herbalists were said to have paid a visit to Adeshina in Abuja for the completion of the rituals in December 2014.

“They were said to have instructed him to put a huge sum of money in a box and he was asked to wait for seven days before

,

opening it, with a promise that the amount would have doubled,” the source added.

The scale allegedly fell from Adeshina’s eyes when he found no money in the box when he opened it on the seventh day.

Adeshina subsequently threatened to deal with Abdulateef for allegedly conspiring with the herbalists to swindle him of

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

55

olukunle87@yahoo.com

connived with bank his account’

,

ther. the problem of the company not being “None of us could answer the quesable to pay monthly salary and we He asked me tion because it was a surprise to me to were asked to go. When I left the comwhat was his see somebody pretending to be me. pany, I started trading in second-hand Under that confused state, the DPO clothes, shoes, coats, ties, towels and phone number. asked me where I kept my late son’s anything I could market to make life God so kind, I phone and I told her that the day they worth living. I used to come from killed my son, they also took his Akwa Ibom State to Lagos to travel to went with my phone.

Seme to buy goods. ‘’He asked me what was his phone “I was living a responsible life and I son’s brother, number. God so kind, I went with my had not had any police case until I met Obinna, who dic- one Benson who deceived and used son’s brother, Obinna, who dictated the number to her. She asked Obinna I was arrested because of the fraud tated the number me. to call the number and the moment he committed in the two banks. He deto her. She asked ceived me by telling me that after the did, it was the phone the police collected from the fake father and son I would have millions of naira to Obinna to call the fraud, that rang. Immediately, the fake father start big business and change my level number and the and status. and son confessed and the phone was recovered from him. ‘’First, Benson took me to Ilorin, moment he did, it Kwara “When the police asked the fake faState on January 6, 2015. There ther to explain how he came about was the phone the he took me to Henry George Hotel. the phone, he said it was one Mr. BenBoth of us lodged in one room, which police collected son, now at large, that gave him the cost him N7,000 per day. Even while phone. He was asked where the said we were in the hotel, people who from the fake faBenson was and he said he had run dressed like bankers visited him and ther and son that handed some official papers to him to away. I then frontally told the man that he was the one who killed my fill. rang. Immedison, Chinedu, with his gang members “On January 7, he took me to a bank who were at large. ately, the fake fa- (name withheld) after giving me one “I had wanted to fight the man form to fill. The form was already ther and son there but the police advised me to be signed. I was supposed to collect the patient and I ended up crying. At that confessed and the form from the bank but I did everypoint, the DPO alerted SARS and they in the hotel room. Each form was phone was recov- thing came to pick the fake father and son. I filled to collect N500,000. The total followed them to give my statement. money he wanted me to collect was ered from him “I wish to bring it to the knowledge one million naira. of the police that somebody had al“He said with the form, I would be ready made two withdrawals of N500, 000 each. The able to transfer the money from that bank to another money was paid into the account of one lady identified one into an account addressed as Victoria Abikele. I as Lady Victorial Abikele. It was transferred from one filled my name as Chinedu Mba and I went to the bank bank to another one. Over one million naira has been with Benson. When Benson noticed that the bank had stolen. discovered, he disappeared.

“I am after justice. We as a family are happy that our “The cashier asked me to see the manager. The mancase is now with the reputable institution of justice ager started delaying me. I did not know that he was called Lagos SARS, and we know that SARS is capable alerting the security men in the bank to arrest me. I was and will fish out everybody that has something to do arrested and taken to the police station. with this case, no matter how highly placed.’’

“As a matter of fact, it was a banker that gave Benson The suspected fake father, Joseph Akpan (65), a nathe information. The insider suspect even visited us in tive of Asuntanyo Asutanuyo, Akwa Ibom State, who the hotel. He got the information from the system. I was retired as a private security man, said: “I was working arrested and taken to the bank headquarters from with a security company, which posted me to the Colwhere I was taken to the Lion Building Police Station.” lege of Fisheries and Marine Technology at No. 2 WilThe spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, ment Point Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, opposite Bar Mr Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police Beach Police Station.

(DSP), confirmed the incident, adding that efforts were “I was a contract staff and posted there as a supervibeing made to track down the fleeing members of the sor on monthly salary of N20,000 in 2011. There was syndicate.

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for alleged ‘robbery’

•Abubakar

his money.

“When the man (Adeshina) found out that he had been duped, he rushed down to Lagos and caused a scene at the residence of Abdulateef, threatening to deal with him.

Policemen from FEDSARS had visited the abode of the herbalists, but they did not find anyone there.’’ the source said.

Abdulateef’s mother, Alhaja Ramota Abubakar, told our correspondent that FEDSARS operatives have continued to detain her son and had refused to grant him bail.

“My son is not a robber. I was told that he was picked up by men of FEDSARS about 14 days ago following a phantom robbery allegation. I have pleaded with one Inspector

John aka Alagba, who is in charge of the matter, yet our request of bail for him has been turned down. ‘’My son is a not a thief and has never been involved in robbery. As I speak, we have been barred from talking to him each time we visited FEDSARS office. Even his wife was not allowed to speak with him when he took some food to Abdulateef a few days ago.”

FEDSARS’s spokesman, Ogundare, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said: “ We don’t have the person you mentioned in our custody. I have checked all entries concerning the name of the person you mentioned and the time of arrest but I could not find it in our file.”

Ex-militants write presidency, EFCC over unpaid allowances n Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt n group of former Niger Delta militants in Akwa Ibom State have under the aegis of Ukanafun Freedom Fighters have written to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing authorities of the amnesty programme of withholding their allowances.

Ukanafun Freedom Fighters were among the ex-militants who enjoyed overseas training programs of the Federal Government amnesty programme alleged that no money was paid into their accounts during and after their training.

Speaking to The Nation in Port Harcourt, the leader of the group, Mbang Friday Odudu, who spoke on behalf of Etim Sunday, Idiong Ndifreke, Daniel Monday Uduak and other aggrieved ex-militants, said the group was worried over the attitude of the amnesty office towards their plight.

Odudu, who is presently battling to save the life of one of his children whom he said was seriously sick, explained that many of his members who were abandoned after the amnesty •Odudu programme died due to lack of assistance to cater for their needs. He said the remaining members of the group may be forced to go back to the creeks if the situation persists.

He said: “Let me tell you what I passed through in the hands of the managers of amnesty programme.

In 2010, we were asked to lay down our arms for the peace of Niger Delta and with the seriousness shown by the Federal Government towards the amnesty programme, we decided to surrender. I was one of the strongest militants in AkwaIbom State. After submitting our weapons, we were given non-violence training at Abubara, Cross Rivers State. It was in that camp that they asked us to fill a form and indicate any country of our choice for empowerment training.

“Like my colleagues, before I left Nigeria for South Africa, we were told that the Federal Government had opened an account for us. Of course some ex-militants received their money through their accounts but my colleagues did not receive any kobo through the account, and till today, the amnesty office is yet to tell us why we didn’t receive money like other ex-militants. Because of the non-violence training

A

that we acquired we chose an approach that could reflect the training we had received. That is why we wrote to FG’s Amnesty Office demanding to know why they refused to pay us. But their response to our plight does not show they are serious about solving our problems. After fruitless efforts to ensure that we are paid, we decided to present our plight to public office holders, including Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State.”

Odudu expatiated further, saying: “It was after we sent out letters to the Speaker of National House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Senate President David Mark, that we were invited to Abuja. The Senate President immediately directed the committee in-charge of Niger Delta affairs to treat our case as a matter of urgency.

The committee later invited the amnesty office for questioning. After a week we were told that our money would soon be ready. Again, nothing came out of that intervention as we have not been paid as we speak.

As God would have it, we later met the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Project, Mr Kinsley Kuku in Akwa-Ibom State. After sharing our predicament with him, he asked us to write our names down and we immediately complied, yet nothing came out of it. That is why we have decided recently to inform the President about it and we have also written to EFCC. We are not happy, but we pray that something will come out of our peaceful request because we have almost exhausted our energy.

“My daughter is seriously sick now; I have been running from one place to another looking for fund to assist my family, but nobody is willing to assist me. When I came back from South Africa in 2012 where I trained as a welder, I was hopeful that I would be able to collect the allowances the Federal Government had saved for me, which I intended to use as part of my start up capital for a business in line with the skill I have acquired but I was disappointed. How do I feed? How do I take care of my family?, ” he added.

Kuku could not be reached immediately for comments as he did not pick several calls to his phone.

He also did not respond to a text message sent to his phone.

Police warn vehicle owners WNERS of abandoned vehicles parked at Ijebu Ode Police Area Command, Igbeba, Ogun State, have been warned to remove them within 14 days or lose them to a public auction.

The abandoned vehicles include

O

Toyota Carina (registration number KR 875 EKY); Opel Wagon car (registration number AE 398 SRA); Passat car (registration number BDG 380 AJ); Passat wagon car (registration number BT 662 EPE) and Nissan Pathfinder (registration number LND 360 BE).

56

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

COMMENTARY

Not in my name T is virtually impossible for me to put into words the shock, devastation and horror I have felt since hearing the news of last week’s attack on the towns of Baga and Doron Baga in the North Eastern Nigerian State of Borno by insurgents and Islamic militants. A heartbreakingly catastrophic attack that left over 3,700 structures in North Eastern Nigeria destroyed, a whole town that was almost wiped out, and thousands of innocent Nigerian families murdered in cold blood.

Since learning of the details of this horrendous attack in Borno State, it has virtually been impossible for me to watch the news, read the papers or face the reality of the horrors innocent Nigerians went through. I know that I am not alone in feeling this devastation.

The more frequent these mass murders in Nigeria become, the sicker one feels to the pit of their stomach. How anyone can justify the cold-blooded murder of innocent men, women and children is beyond me. Apart from the disgust and anger that Nigerians feel; the fear, the foreboding we have of more violence -- is so thick in the air, you could almost slice it. Granted, it’s no secret that the country is at its most unsafe, but even with our present anemic security situation, nobody could have imagined that our society could descend to such a low where barbarians go as far as butchering whole families in their villages, in their homes and wiping out whole populations in towns.

That, these insurgents continue to wreck this catastrophic havoc, wrongly, using the name of Islam is wicked, vicious, sinful and evil.

These acts of violence has put the entire country into a heightened state of fear and suspicion and warrants peace-loving Muslims to come out and condemn the acts in the strongest term possible.

Any Muslim that understands the spirit of peace in Islam knows that there is nothing and nowhere in the teachings of Islam that condones the kind of violence where one is given a carte blanche to murder innocent families who were celebrating their day of significance in a place that they considered to be their sanctuary. Any Muslim that knows the overwhelming message of hope, justice, faith, and peace among human beings of the Holy Qur’an is completely devastated.

When one sees the phrase in the Holy Quran, which ‘unambiguously’ states that innocent people, regardless of their race and faith, must not be killed in any circumstance, one wonders which interpretation gives credence for some to commit such aggression. It is clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran that, “if anyone kills an innocent human being “who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people.”

Even during wartime, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) told his followers not to harm non-combatants. It was understood, if The Rasul’s followers (PBUH) had to go to enemy territory for war, the soldiers were not to harm elderly people, women and children and also must not destroy farms and fruit trees as people may suffer because of the shortage of food. In His teachings, he emphasized the right to life of people, animals, birds, and even ants. And if it is prohibited to harm even an ant, what could make anyone think that it is all right to kill a fellow human being?

The expression in the Holy Quran, “there is no compulsion in reli-

I

gion” is known to even those who continue to insist that Shari’a law must be applied in the whole of Nigeria. But Nigeria is not made up of only Muslims and, even if it was, one section of the community does not have the right to decide the fate of the rest. If the Holy Prophet (PBUH) provided assurances to non-Muslim minorities living in Muslim majority countries and ordered Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim majority countries to abide by all laws and the rules of the country, there is no reason for any Nigerian Muslim not to abide by the law of this land. Our ardent belief is that Allah is a just Allah. Our Islamic belief is that Allah welcomes those who believe in Him and leads righteous lives, by whatever name they call themselves, should be enough reason for us to co-exist peacefully. In the Holy Quran, it is written: “Surely, those who believe those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who believe in GOD and believe in the Last Day, and lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [Quran 5:69] When small minorities of the Muslim population interpret the teachings of the Holy Quran in a manner that is unknown to the majority of the other Muslims, it affects us all. And it makes life worse for Muslims who are striving to live by the peaceful teachings of Allah and peacefully co-exist with their Christian brothers, sisters and neighbors.

If the purpose and genesis of the violence and intimidation that we have seen so far in Nigeria is to achieve some sort of political gain or a part of some convoluted conspiracy theory, then it really is heartless, because it is horrifically and mortally affecting innocent civilians who are merely trying to survive day to day. While those in government, the happy-go-lucky opposition members and others continue to protect themselves in bullion vans and bulletproof homes, the victims will continue to be the poor who are already suffering. ‘Violence begets violence’ and the only possible outcome of such aggression will be the furtherance of more violence. Perhaps the saddest part of this awful saga is, now that violence has become so deeply entrenched in our every day reality, Nigerians have almost become desensitized to it.

Our humanity, as a people, has been reduced to a level of barbarism that cannot be dealt with in any position of serious negotiation. Using the fear of death and destruction to motivate people to do what one

wants furthers this epidemic and cycle of violence. Pointing an AK47 in a person’s face and forcing them to do something will probably motivate them to do it at that time, but it will quickly devolve into something much worse. The death and destruction in Nigeria today has forced us to enter into a deep abyss that none of us could have ever imagined.

The people who continue to exact this kind of violence must have families of their own that they love and protect. They need to put themselves in the position of the victims and imagine, just for a moment, the pain people feel when they lose their families in such a violent way.

We are all brethren — descendants of the same Adam and Eve, from the lineage of the same Prophet Abraham/Ibrahim. We have been created of distinct peoples, beliefs and tribes ‘that we may recognize one another.’ There is no reason for us to hate, kill and main one another. Both of our sacred books, The Holy Quran and the Holy Bible, speak of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

In the Holy Quran it says: “Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered” [Quran 2:136].

The Holy Bible says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” [Corinthians 10:31-32].

Our lives must be held sacred. Our unity must be held strong. Life is granted by God alone and no person has a right to take it without justifiable cause. We have NO room for a religious war in Nigeria. We must all pray and speak up on behalf of those targeted and hurt in these heinous attacks.

As for those who continue to unleash violence, may they know that every last drop of blood that (God forbid) comes from any reprisal attacks is fully and squarely on their hands! May they remember that, sooner or latter, in this life and in the Hereafter, they will have to answer to the Almighty and pay for every last life that they have directly or indirectly claimed. I pray for those who continue to unjustifiably murder and exact terror on innocent Nigerians to NEVEREVER know peace, in life or in death!

As I reminisce and mourn for the innocents and lives unnecessarily taken, my thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives to the wicked barbarism of a handful of extremists. I offer my heartfelt condolence to the families and friends who continue to suffer the great loss of their fallen loved ones.

As for those who continue to unleash violence in my Islamic name, I, as a very proud Muslim, hereby stand up and declare, “Yes they act but… not in my name!”

“Dear God, Oh Allah! Please, Oh please, bring healing to this nation, and make it a peaceful land again.”

Now, a President with quotable quotes!

RUTH told, most of the things you would be reading here today do not originate from Knucklehead. As the country inches towards another general election, one can’t help but notice the comic relief that Nigerians from all shades of life continue to inject into a discourse on the dynamics of an election that has thrown out different issues. It does not matter which side of the divide one belongs, there is always that refreshing satire---that comments that lights up the atmosphere and makes burst into tearful laughter. There is that post that justifies laughter as catharsis and eases the tensed and almost morbid fixation of some persons to Nigeria’s politics of hate and bitterness. Here, I confess a fascination for some of the jokes especially the popular ones on the social media which poke fun at the two leading presidential candidates---President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

I marvel at the way Nigerians draw humour even from the most serious situation. Take, for example, an interesting post on the wall of a friend titled “My last political post here.” Evidently unfazed by the orchestrated noise over Buhari’s certificate saga and the political mileage some persons had hoped to gain from such, the lady declared with some tinge of humour that: “if you like, tell me that Buhari went only to Almajiri school, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me that Buhari never attended any school before, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me Buhari was actually raised in the bush by wild animals only, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me Buhari is actually an alien from Mars, I will vote for Buhari. Tell me that Buhari is actually 100 years old, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me that Buhari has AIDS, Ebola, Marbug, Hepatitis, cancer of all his organs, kuru and mad cow disease, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me Buhari jailed every single Nigerian that was alive during his tenure, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me that during Buhari’s tenure, people had to apply to government and get approval before they urinate, defecate, eat or drink, I will still vote for Buhari. Tell me that Jonathan Nigeria would be better than paradise in four years if I vote Goodluck, I will still vote for Buhari. Save you words, your energy, your keyboards, time and leave me alone!”

You would be making a grave mistake if you thought the post above should be the height of the cult following that Buhari has been able to attract less than four years when he was obviously a paperweight candidate in the 2011 election against an incumbent Jonathan.

There have been several equally laughable posts. For me, the one that got me rolling on the floor was a twitter joke in which Buhari was said to have allegedly wondered why the eggheads at the leading party continue to make an issue out the certificate brouhaha instead on focusing on the defining factors that would sway voters. The post read: Buhari: “It is a tragedy to see the ruling party focus on pettiness and lies, rumours of cancer, foreign treatment and certificate the know exist.” In response, one Bedoun fired a retort: “Sir, forget and never talk about it. We will vote for you even if you are not alive on election day!” O blimey!

But, on a serious note, I really don’t understand why the ruling PDP is wasting vital time on Buhari’s decision to tender an affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission in place of his secondary school leaving certificate which was the reason for his enlistment as a commissioned officer in the Nigerian Army in 1961. It beggars belief that the highly-respected Nigerian military has allowed itself to be dragged into a matter that should have been left for politicians to fret and heckle over or, at best, left in the hands of the court. Without

T

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 going into the silly suggestions and tendentious statements credited to some babbling opportunists even after Buhari made public his certificate, it is important to highlight what the 1999 Constitution (as amended) defined as Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent.

Section 318 Part IV of the Constitution states: “School Certificate level or its equivalent” as follows: (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 and –(i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten 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, and (d) Any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

By deductive reasoning, shouldn’t follow that a letter that was duly signed by a Principal of a school and accepted by a revered institution like the military to enlist a student as commissioned officer must equally justify the fact that, at least, Buhari has the “ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English Language” to the satisfaction of INEC? Or must Buhari necessarily adopt the vacuous oratory, diction and intonation of a Femi Fani-Kayode before those hounding him would acknowledge that he has a semblance of education? By the way, let me state without any equivocation that FaniKayode suffers a debilitating form of verbal diarrhoea in addition to violently dealing a fatal blow to learning and character by insisting that Buhari should be stripped of whatever he had worked for in the military. It is disheartening that all he could come up with is a jejune allegation of perjury against a man who had pleaded that the discourse should shift to germane issues like the scandalous rate of unemployment, insecurity and corrosive corruption. Sometimes, I just ask, how did we end up having clowns paddling this ship of state?

Now, away from the hard talks. Like I said, one intriguing thing one has taken away from the campaign train is the humour Nigerians continue to make out of the speeches. In the past, a leading columnist had condemned President Jonathan’s inability to entertain the nation with quotable quotes. Today, I doubt if that columnist wouldn’t be biting his fingers for being hasty in his judgment. There are quite a num-

ber of quotes bearing the special imprimatur of the Number One Citizen. In fact, there is this particular collection currently trending on the social media which, I believe, is meant to douse the tension in this challenging times. Of course, it is difficult to ignore the glaring mischief in the compilation. Yet, the humour is undoubtedly refreshing.

Below is what the ‘unknown’ author dubs the President’s quotable quotes in the last few weeks: 1. “Go to the ministry of Agriculture to see the level of development in the Agriculture sector”---GEJ (My take: Sir, do we need to go to the Ministry of Agriculture before we know that the cost of food/foodstuffs today, is almost three times the prices before you became president?) 2. “Buhari and other past leaders did not buy arms for the military”--GEJ (My take: Sir, did our military use slings and stones to fight the ECOMOG war?” 3. “I am talking to those of you who are between 23 and 25 years”---GEJ (My take: Sir, are you saying those of us who are way above 25 years old should go ahead and vote for Buhari?) 4. “I will create two million jobs annually if am re-elected”--GEJ (My take: Sir, how many jobs did you create in 6 years?) 5. “I will send 1st class graduates abroad to do their Masters degrees”---GEJ (My take: Sir, you finally agree that our schools here are not good enough for people to study?)

6. “If I jail every person in government, who would be left to run the government?”---GEJ (My take: Sir, I guess it was Femi FaniKayode that spoke through you here because I can’t believe you said this!) 7. “How much did Jim Nwobodo steal that Buhari regime put him in jail”---GEJ (My take: Sir, please tell us how much one needs to steal before it can be called corruption!) 8. “If I go to Chibok, they will kill me”---GEJ (My take: Sir, if you, the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, is scared to go to some parts of the country, then we are all in trouble. Don’t you think so?) 9. “Henry Okah was contracted by some Nigerians to kill me”---GEJ (My take: Sir, we are interested in knowing the people who want to kill our President because an attack on our President is an attack on all of us. So, please mention the names of those who want to kill you sir!) 10. “My advisers are misadvising me”---GEJ (My take: Sir, Nigerians didn’t vote for your advisers. You were the one that appointed them!) ‬‬‬‬11. “Buhari that can’t remember his own phone numbers is saying he will change the economy of the country”---GEJ (My take: Sir, this statement from you is too petty and highly un-presidential!)

12. “I am coming up with strategies to fight corruption”—GEJ (My take: Sir, how about strategies to fight stealing?) 13. “I will minimize terrorism if am re-elected”---GEJ (My take: Sir, you have been president for almost 6 years ooo!) 14. "My Generation have failed you"--GEJ (My take: Sir, since you agree that you have failed, don't you think you should be preparing to leave rather than fighting to remain in Aso Rock?) 15. "The monies spent to run the office of the First Lady are from NGOs"---GEJ (My take: Mr. President! Mr. President!! Mr. President!!! How many times did I call you? Let me pretend as if I didn't hear this one!")

And there comes the icing on the cake: “GEJ to provide 2 million jobs per year if re-elected. To get more jokes, send Bros Jona to 2015!”

On a final note and as Nigerian popular comedians are wont to say each time they make a caricature of prominent figures in the political space, ‘na joke I dey joke ooo!’ This is just something to laugh over and not to be taken too seriously especially when it is written by Knucklehead me. For the records, I do ‘give a damn’ about this caveat emptor please!

THE NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

NEWS

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Don’t disrespect Jonathan, Shettimah appeals to Borno residents as President visits today F

OLLOWING the pelting of President Goodluck Jonathan's convoy in Bauchi state during a campaign rally on Thursday, Borno State Govvernor Kashim Shettima on Friday made a passionate appeal to his APC supporters and the people of the state not to disrespect the president as the PDP campaign train arrives the state on Saturday in the state.

Shettima who made the strong appeal in a statement he personally signed in Maiduguri made available through his Media Associate Isa Gusau, called on the people to eschew any political differences and accord the president his respect as the President of the country.

The statement reads: "From what I have read or heard in the media, so far, there has not been any issue of such in any APC controlled States visited by the President and Borno should not be an exception. We have political differences and our differences are legitimate and based on the principles of our political parties and what we stand for. But we must remember that His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as citizens of this country, we have an obligation to respect his office and his person.

"Our millions of citizens who

Duku JOEL, Maiduguri

support the APC in Borno State and our Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and anyone that supports me or any of our National and State Assembly candidates in the State, should shun any act of violence, intolerance and unlawful political behavior before, during and after the President's visit and should remain law abiding citizens of Borno State as our laws, norms and values demand.

“Disrespecting the President's convoy will not

help the APC and General Buhari in any way, rather, it will provide ample basis for his and our political opponents to blackmail him and the APC. Any true admirer of Buhari should translate his or her admiration to massive support for him when he visits Maiduguri to launch his Presidential campaign at a date that will soon be made public.

Buhari is not coming on Saturday (tomorrow) as earlier planned due to some adjustments made to make his activities more successful," Shettima said.

The statement also noted that

• Shettima it is more meaningful to ensure getting a permanent voters card than engaging in any form of violence as a supporter of the APC in the state.

"Supporters of Buhari and the APC should not be involved in violence but should rather ensure they all obtain and secure their Permanent Voters Card to cast votes for him and all candidates of the APC during the forthcoming general elections.

President Jonathan is expected in Maiduguri to flag off his Presidential campaign in Borno State, I call on all APC supporters and those of Buhari never to show any act of disrespect to the President and members of his entourage.

"Anyone who supports the PDP and the President's re-elec-

tion bid should freely support him in exercise of his or rights.

Anyone who doesn't share the PDP's ideology and that of the President has the option of minding his or her business without any compulsion and this is legitimate but there must be no acts of intolerance. It is the right of every Nigerian to associate with any of the registered political parties in this country.

It is the right of every Nigerian to support any candidate of his or her convictions. Our rights as associates of any party end where the rights of our opponents begin and theirs end where ours begin.

NGO praises Shema for allowing college to release Buhari's results group, CITAR-NGO, yesterday praised Governor Ibrahim Shema for allowing Government College, Katsina to release the results of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

It said it was a unique political development for the governor to have allowed the college to follow due process without interference.

The group made the commendation in a statement by its Executive Director, Mohammed Yakubu (Jikan Wakili).

The statement said: "In the

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Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern light of the furore created by the General Muhammadu Buhari certificate saga, we wish to strongly commend the conduct and maturity of the government of Katsina State in the way it maintained total neutrality by allowing due process to take its course.

"Gen. Buhari, who is from Katsina State, is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the Katsina State government is under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The issue of Gen. Buhari's secondary school certificate has been a

subject of intense debate and controversy especially between the two leading political parties in the presidential race scheduled for February 2015.

"Our commendation of the government of Katsina State stems from the prompt manner that Buhari's former school,

Government College Katsina, which is under the direct supervision of the Katsina State Ministry of Education allowed due process to prevail and by so doing allowing the school to release Gen. Buhari's results.

"We note with pleasure that even though Gen. Buhari

belongs to the APC while the Katsina State government is under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the State government did not interfere with the independence of the school or the Ministry of Education in processing Gen. Buhari's request for his school certificate results to be released.

Northern Igbo leaders ignore Asari Dokubo eadership of Igbo community in Northern Nigeria have disowned Asari Dokubo over his recent call on Igbo people and members of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), serving in the region to return home.

The Igbo leaders said, even though Asari Dokubo is enti-

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.• Say we won’t leave the North Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna tled to his opinion as an ex militant, he does not occupy any position to speak for the Igbos, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, as they are

at home in Northern Nigeria.

President of Igbo Delegate Assembly for 19 Northern States and Abuja, Chief Demian Inyamah told the Saturday Nation in a telephone interview that, as much as they condemn the alleged attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, the investigation and punishment of the culprits should be left to the security agencies.

According to him, "Igbos in the North are united and we speak and act with one voice.

We are not subject to distractions from outside. People will not build their own empire and expect us to react to their own gimmicks. Asari Dokubo is talking as Asari Dokubo, Igbos in the north have taken their own position.

"We have been here for a very long time, some of us are even married to Hausas and Yoruba and other tribes.

So, we cannot because some politicians are talking tough and we will now think they have power over life and death, do they? They don't have power over life and death, what we need in this country is a little bit of understanding of the situation.

"As at today, there is no cause for alarm in the North.

The stoning of the President's convoy in Katsina is an issue that can be addressed by the security agencies. If the number one citizen in the country is stoned anywhere and the police do not do anything, it is unfortunate. So, Dokubo should not add salt to injury by making irresponsible statement. This country must remain united under God. "We the Igbos in the North have paid our dues and we cannot be caught unawares or pushed around by anyone again. We trust our lives in the hands of God and government has to do its own bit.

Therefore, we are not leaving the North because Asari Dokubo who is not one of us is saying so," the leader said.

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NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

My sister died of heart related ailment, says Jonathan n Augustine EHIKIOYA, Yenegua n RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan confirmed yesterday that his younger sister, Mrs. Nancy JonathanOlei died of heart-related ailment.

Nancy was interned yesterday in her Otuoke, Bayelsa State hometown.

The president, who was giving the vote of thanks at her funeral service at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, recalled that since his tenure as deputy governor of Bayelsa, Nancy used to go to India for treatment.

He said: "Nancy that died is my immediate younger sister, though we are not of the same mother. I was very sad when she died because I knew she had been passing through pains for a very long time.

Sometimes I felt God has been

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•Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle); Delta State PDP guber candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and the Managing Director of Rainoil and Chairman of the fund raising dinner, during the state PDP gubernatorial fund raising in Asaba, Thursday.

Bauchi APC campaign office set on fire OODLUMS early yesterday set fire to the campaign office of All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bauchi State,Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar.

The attack came less than 24 hours after thugs pelted the campaign train of President Goodluck Jonathan with sachet water and stones in the city.

The PDP accused APC of instigating the attack on its campaign train.

Alhaji Abubakar,the APC governorship candidate said yesterday that the PDP was behind the arson on his cam-

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paign office.

The online outfit,Premium Times said the assailants struck at Abubakars’s office at about 2am yesterday in three Hilux pick up vans.

He called the incident as “unfortunate, barbaric and undemocratic.”

“We in APC are not violent people and we are guided by the simple principles of issuebased campaign and not violence. Our peaceful conduct is already giving us an edge over our opponents and we can never resort to violence at any point of our campaign,” he was quoted as saying.

Boko Haram: US’s Kerry due in Nigeria tomorrow •Nigeria does not need UN, AU, says Dasuki S Secretary of State John Kerry is due in Nigeria “in a couple of days” as part of a Washington push to counter extremist groups, including Boko Haram.

In an emotional speech at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos,Switzerland on the horrors inflicted by extremist groups Kerry said that in the fight against “terror”, there was “no room for antiSemitism or Islamophobia”.

“Violent extremism has claimed violence at every corner of the globe and muslim lives most of all,” Kerry said even as the National Security Adviser (NSA) Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) claimed that Nigeria does not need the help of the United Nations (UN) or the African Union (AU) troops to take on Boko Haram.

“There is no room for sectarian division. There is no room for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia,” Kerry said.

“In the weeks to come we… have to strengthen our efforts in Somalia, intensify our efforts to

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end violence in Nigeria, that’s why I m going there in a couple of days,” he said.

After the speech, a spokesman for Kerry confirmed that he would be in Abuja tomorrow and meet with President Goodluck Jonathan.

In his speech, Kerry said countries must devote more resources to fight global extremism but the battle would falter if it becomes consumed by sectarian division or Islamophobia.

Speaking against a backdrop of deadly Islamist militant attacks in France, Pakistan, Nigeria and elsewhere, Kerry said: "These kinds of actions can never be excused. And they have to be opposed. With every fibre of our being, they have to be stopped.

"We have to take risks, we have to invest more resources," he said.

Kerry described Islamic State militants, who have seized wide swathes of Iraq and Syria, as "a collection of monsters".

really kind to her.

"She started developing problems with her heart when I was deputy governor, then I started asking questions. I asked my personal physician where could we treat her; that she had problems with her iota valve. My doctor told me the nearest place to treat her was Ghana.

"So, I said we have so many teaching hospitals in Nigeria and none can attempt to work on a human heart. I was worried. But today I am happy that the University of Ibadan is handling open heart surgery."

"We battled with her health and she was taken to India on, and on and for over three years she had been down. When her immediate younger brother died, she could not even attend the burial."

Tension in Bayelsa as Jonathan's aide’s campaign posters flood Yenagoa ALPABLE Tension enveloped Bayelsa State yesterday after major streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, were dotted with the governorship campaign posters of Presidential Assistant on Domestic Matters, Dr. Weripamowei Dudafagh.

The home state of President Goodluck Jonathan has been enmeshed in controversies following alleged moves by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to remove incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson and replace him with Dudafagh.

It was learnt that the emergence of the posters was in connection with the plot to deny Dickson a second term.

It will be recalled that some youth groups in the state had threatened to disgrace Mrs. Jonathan if she accompanied her husband to the Presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for February 5th in

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•Beware of enemies of Bayelsa –Dickson n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n the state.

The groups, whose threats and identities are being investigated by security agencies, accused Mrs. Jonathan of working against Dickson to ensure that Dudafagh, who is said to be her political godson, becomes the next governor.

Surprisingly, Dudafagh's posters, which also bore the first lady's photograph, had the logo of the All Progressives' Grand Alliance (APGA).

The development suggested that the presidential aide may defect to APGA in a similar way some loyalists of the first lady, who lost the PDP tickets, joined APGA. Sources said that Dudafagh's governorship ambition was propelled by the fact that a former occu-

pant of his office, Senator Andy Uba, became governor of Anambra State.

One of the sources who pleaded anonymity, said that Dudafagh may have chosen APGA after realising that it would be difficult for him to dislodge Dickson from PDP. But Dickson, on Friday, warned the youths against joining forces with enemies of the state to undermine security.

The governor made the call during the inauguration of Mr. Boma Spero-Jack as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters and Inikio Bonny-Ayah on Youth Mobilization.

He said: “I want to call on all the youths to be very careful with the stories they are told; they should be careful with the people they associate with. They should be careful with the encourage-

ment that people give to them within and outside the state.

“A lot of people want to use the youths to undermine the security of our state and make this state a laughingstock. But, we are determined to ensure that our people remain in peace.

"I have a mandate to work with the security agencies and with the good people of this state to ensure that we keep this state on the track of development, prosperity and restoration.

“One of the most important achievements of our government is the issue of security. But as we are going into the electioneering period with the drumbeats of politics everywhere; some of them are discordant, while some are completely unreasonable. As they begin to step up, you will know that, all of these will have an impact on our security.”

Thieves return 983 stolen PVCs in Edo

OME thieves who stole 3,661 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State have returned 983 of the stolen PVCs. It will be recalled that a total of 4,658 PVCs were stolen at distribution points in nine local government areas of the state.

The thieves were said to have dumped the cards at two polling units and called INEC officials to go and collect them.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Barr. Mike Igini, disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders forum, held at the National Orientation Agency office in Benin, the state capital.

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Barr. Igini urged the thieves to return the remaining PVCs to enable the rightful owners participate in the elections.

He said, "I received anonymous calls, saying that they were going to return those permanent voters cards.

As I speak to you, as at yesterday, we have received the stolen cards from Orhionmwon local government area.

That is good news.

"While 661 cards were recovered from Urhonigbe North, 322 cards were retrieved from Urhonigbe South polling units.”

Igini informed the gathering that the commission was also set to receive 1,426 PVCs for inter and intra state transfers, and added that a total of

1,046,960 PVcs have been distributed in the state.

He noted that the major challenge facing the commission was not the collection of the PVCs, but how to mobilise the over one million eligible voters in Edo State to participate in the elections.

The Edo REC also disclosed that a total of 1,861 card readers have been received by the commission, and expressed displeasure that none of the political parties in the state had registered their agents with the commission since they were notified a year ago.

Leaders of the various political parties present at the event signed a pact for violence-free elections.

APGA chieftain urges Abia to vote for Otti I’ll help accelerate Kebbi development, Buhari promises ITH the general elections barely three weeks away, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Kenneth Ubani, has maintained that the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Alex Otti, would emerge as the new governor.

Ubani, who is also a notable businessman in Aba, said the people of the state, both home and in the Diaspora, are supporting the candidature of Dr. Otti, former Managing Director of Diamond Bank.

“Today in Aba metropolis, it is near impossible to connect the various business districts by road, because the roads are not motor-able anyway.

“Therefore, we the residents of Aba are fed up with the situation; and that’s why we want a change. We the business men in Aba have resolved to vote Otti for that change, because we know that any vote for the PDP in the next election is a vote for the old order, which we are determined to do away with,” he said.

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HE All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate , General Muhammadu Buhari has promised that Kebbi State will be given all the attention it deserves with a view to accelerating its development.

Gen.Buhari who addressed thousands of supporters at Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi,on Thursday night said that an APC federal government headed by him would address the socio-economic problems currently facing the state and the nation.

Emphasis,according to him,will be laid on employment,agriculture ,security and the fight against corruption.

"We will adequately improve the welfare of our security personnel and

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n Khadijat SAIDU, Birnin Kebbi n

provide them with modern weapons to counter insurgency," he told the crowd who had waited for him all day until his arrival at 10.09pm.

With him were the APC national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, House of Reps Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and other top APC national and state officials including the Kebbi State APC governorship candidate Senator Atiku Bagudu .

He commended the crowd for their patience waiting for him and said he would not disappoint or fail them.

Buhari also promised to improve the welfare of the military and other secu-

rity personnel in the country " We will adequately improve the welfare of our security personnel and provide them with modern weapons to counter insurgency."

The national Chairman, Odigie Oyegun described Buhari as an apostle of change and urged the people of the state to vote for APC. Odigie-Oyegun later handed over the APC flag to Senator Bagudu,the governorship candidate .

He formally received Senator Muhammadu Magoro,Senator Adamu Aliero,Gen. Tanko Ayuba, former Speaker of the State Assembly, Habib Jega and eight other state legislators who dumped the PDP to join the APC.

NEWS 59

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

PDP, INEC plot to rig in Anambra, Ngige, APC allege T

HE Anambra State chapter of the All progressive Congress (APC) and the senator representing Anambra central senatorial zone in the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, have raised the alarm that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is working in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the presidential election in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, both Ngige and the APC have vowed to resist any attempt to subvert the wishes of the • Continued from back page

paramount ruler of the Itsekiri,Olu of Warri,Ogiamen Atuwatse 11 yesterday assured the Itsekiri that the project was very much on course and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Ogidigben, would be commissioned in due course.

The President,sources also said,explained that he did not turn up for the November event not because of the threat by the Ijaw but to avert bloodshed.

Although journalists were not allowed into the palace while the 21 minutes meeting lasted,it was gathered that the president promised to return to Warri on February 4 to consult with the Olu

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n people in the state.

Nigige spoke at the weekend in Awka, the state capital, while inaugurating the 12-man presidential campaign council (PCC) for General Mohammadu Buhari in the state, led by Hon. Chima Okafor.

According to Ngige,” we are not oblivious of the fact that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDP government are working together in this state to suppress APC. Our party is not

afraid in any way because our product is a marketable one in Buhari. ‘’ Buhari has come to liberate this country by tackling insurgency and corruption. That is the reason why they are afraid. But they will to kill all of us to win the election. ‘’Any attempt to stop us will be stoutly resisted on that day. This is what they did in 2011 in this state.

But this time around, that door will be closed. We have it on good authority that part of their plan to defeat the APC in the state is by not

having election here.’’

Speaking further, Ngige said that the APC is targeting to get about 60 percent of the total votes in the state, adding, “we will deliver Anambra to APC.’’ Meanwhile, the state presidential campaign council (PCC) coordinator has said that no form of intimidation by any person or group would stop the party from coasting to victory.

Describing the APC as a moving train, he said the people should know that God is involved in the

mission to rescue the people from what was going on in the country.

“When God is working, you do not ask questions. The APC must stop this impunity in the land. Our candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari is tested and trusted in Nigeria.

“I feel that with the help of everybody, we must deliver. And that is why the team is working day and night to match the forces of darkness, not only in this state, but in the entire country,“ Okafor said.

Feb poll: Jonathan woos Itsekiri •Says multi-billion dollar gas project wasn’t put off because of Tompolo n Shola O'NEIL, S'South n Regional Editor and Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri on the forthcoming elections.

One source said:"He came to pay respect to the Olu and to try to remove all doubts about his sincerity towards the Itsekiri nation, especially as it concerns the EPZ issue.

He said he didn't put the last groundbreaking ceremony off because of the Ijaw ‘s threat that he shouldn't come, but because the time

was too short for him to make consultations on the matter.

"He said he was going to discuss with the Minister of Petroleum Resources as soon as he returns to Abuja to take an appropriate date for the groundbreaking and he assured g the Olu that the ceremony would take place before the end of Governor Uduaghan's tenure in office."

He departed the palace at about 6:00pm.

However, It was gathered that Atuwatse II bluntly told the President that the Itsekiri would not concede any piece of their land to the Ijaw or any other ethnic group for whatever reason.

"Ogiame told him that he and his Itsekiri would not take anything that belongs to other people and in the same

vein vowed that they would not be cowed into giving out their God-given inheritance to please anybody or interests."

President Jonathan landed at the Osubi on the outskirt of Warri metropolis, in a military Augusta Wetland (AW) 101 aircraft at about 4:45pm and took another helicopter to Nana College, where he was re-

ceived by Governor Uduaghan, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager, and member of the House of Representatives representing Warri Federal Constituency, Daniel Reyieneju.

It was later learnt that the President had earlier made a stop at the Warri GRA home of Pastor Oritsejafor, where he was said to have held a closed-door meeting with the clergy alone for about 25 minutes.

Oshiomhole gives 150 fire victims N20m n Osagie OTABOR, Benin n DO State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has promised to give N20m to 150 traders whose goods and stores were burnt in a fire incident at the Uromi main market.

Governor Oshiomhole made the announcement when he paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the market.

It will be recalled that a mysterious fire gutted the market last month, destroying a large part of the market.

Oshiomhole praised the local government Chairman, Sam Oboh, for building a new modern market, and promised to assist for a quick completion of the market.

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Group holds leadership training programme HE first annual leadership training and world congress of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) will kick off on Monday, January 26, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Lagos.

The programme, with the theme ‘Team Leadership and role of leadership in effective service delivery’, is expected to attract large members of the group from across the country and in the Diaspora.

Nigerian-born Professor Raheem Kolawole of the University of Education, Winnebe, Ghana and Prof. Olajumoke Familoni of Lead University, Ibadan, Oyo State, will other powerful resource team to deliver lectures at the programme.

According to the convener of the group, Otunba Gani Adams, the exercise is part of the efforts of the group to forge the way forward for the Yoruba nation.

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• Continued from back page The marketing officers in such offices would be grinning, knowing that any idea anchored on Okocha will fly like hot akara in any Nigerian village. Little wonder Delta FA has been the most innovative in the country, with its businesses driven by the private sector. Amaju, its president, tells anyone who dares to listen that accounting for cash received from firms is part of the body's DNA. However, what happened in Delta was small.

Now Amaju and Okocha need to understand that marketing is beyond fame and who you know. There must be a discerning template that will answer all the questions that the firms will ask them. And such templates can be created by those who are in the business. Light weight guys cannot handle such processes because they would be thinking of what will come into their pockets, not what the sponsor stands to gain from the sponsorship. What NFF has is a marketing partner who understands the rudiments of the trade.

Besides aggressive marketing for sponsorship, NFF must probe the internal revenue generating system in the Glasshouse. The cash coming from inter-club and intra-club transfers is one of the biggest revenue items of soccer-loving countries.

But, in Nigeria, it is a racket for shylock NFF chiefs need to get the clubs to pay their dues on the gate takings of games hosted by them. Except the NFF insists on collecting its royalties, domestic league clubs won't take gate fees

•Woman leader, Akwa-Cross Progressive Union, Mrs Christy Okache; Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Inyang and Vice Chairman, Mr John Ofana, at a news conference to sensitise the people to pick their PVCs, in Port Harcourt...Friday PHOTO: NAN

Okocha and soccer’s future collection seriously.

Did I hear you ask if Okocha is equipped for the job? Yes, in terms of exposure and the fillip his presence as the head of the football association will bring in any business transaction. No firm will flinch to give Delta FA good cash, knowing that Okocha won't want to tarnish his reputation. Is Okocha ready for this job? Why not? What does it take beyond nursing dreams and getting technocrats to crystalise your vision into working documents to be presented to the bodies concerned with such an exercise?

If Okocha is really serious - I know he is - he would attend seminars and get the best brains in the world to fashion out a blueprint that would make Delta FA the model for the 21st Century football administration.

Again, imagine an NFF where Nwankwo Kanu is a member along with other cerebral Nigerians; I can't wait to see this happen. The problem with our game rests with getting cash to do its business. There is also the phobia of the corporate world not trusting eggheads of the NFF to judiciously use cash. Many firms still rue the lack of proper accounting at the Glasshouse, just as their chiefs lament the NFF's inability to convince them why they should invest in the game.

Of course, no company would want to do business with a body that is eternally enmeshed in controversies. No firm will be willing to give money to a body that doesn't think it is expedient to account for cash received until it is asked to do so. Indeed, it is about time we stop this idea of allowing a few disgruntled people hijack our football administration and turn it into a casino.

Football is big business - not Nigeria. Why? We have refused to head-hunt people who can do the job. We must therefore get Okocha to go through the mill that would terminate in his being the next NFF president, if we must bring our game to be in sync with global best practices.

Thank you Amaju for deeming it fit to allow Okocha take over from you. Not many leaders would allow such succession exercise.

What we need to make the NFF buoyant is for the public to trust its members. It is what the public discusses about the calibre of people on the board that helps the big firms to associate with the Glasshouse's businesses.

Already, NFF has a credible marketing partner who has brought most of the cash that the body has relied on to run its business; only the government has provided more. We need to stop this tendency of relying on government money.

NFF needs to organise more international

friendly matches in Nigeria to attract more cash and, invariably, showcase the teams that it wants the corporate world to support financially.

Thank goodness, Nigeria has an international friendly game against Brazil at the magnificent Uyo International Stadium. I look forward to seeing how the new NFF would handle the build-up to the game and eventual packaging of the event before, during and after the match, irrespective of the result. I will look out for the look-and-feel around the stadium. I would like to see how the NFF packages its sponsors and the mechanism put in place by NFF to shut out ambush marketers.

I also hope to hear the NFF tell the public how much it spent on organising the game and how much it realised from the gates. This is the RCM that would-be sponsors would looking out for to see if it would be worth their while to put their cash into the game.

I expect to see radical changes in the composition of the team. I expect to see new players who would be the integral part of the Super Eagles' campaign at the Russia 2018 World Cup. The matches of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Equatorial Guinea tell the story of the need for Eagles coaches to discard those benchwarmers in the team. The pace of the games has been amazing and I have been asked by concerned Nigerians what my views are, had Nigeria qualified for the tournament. Big question indeed.

THE NATION,

60

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

RIVERS STATE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION The under-listed persons have been appointed as members of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party State Campaign Organization: Chief Freddy Alabraba Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche Ambassador Desmond Akawor Chief David Briggs Barr. Deima Iyalla Chief Kobani Bere-Ogota Chief (Barr) Oris Onyiri Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke Sammy Okpoko Kenneth Kobani

- Campaign Adviser - Deputy Campaign Adviser - Director General - Deputy Director-General Rivers West - Deputy Director-General Rivers East - Deputy Director-General Rivers South-East - Director of Admin and Finance - Director of Transport and Logistics - State Presidential Campaign Coordinator (1) - State Presidential Campaign Coordinator (2)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CO-ORDINATORS ABUA/ODUAL LGA Chief Akenpheul Sam - Co-ordinator Sunny Eziezi - Alternate Coordinator - Women Co-ordinator AKUKU TORU LGA Benibo George Barr. Ibim Dokubo Mrs Nimi Thom-Manuel AHOADA EAST LGA Stephen Ihua-Maduenyi Olodi Nathaniel Mrs Helen Nkechi Otis AHOADA WEST LGA Avor Green Reason Onyia Joy Wowoh NDONI LGA Paul Ayagwung Ebirien-Agana Bartimaeus

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator - Coordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator - Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator - Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

ASARI TORU LGA Mpaka LongJohn Barimibo Ofori Mrs Wanimi Princewill

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

BONNY LGA Rudaford LongJohn Ambassador Charles Jumbo Harriet Hart

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

DEGEMA LGA Pastor Agiobu A. Victor-Fubara Chief Pakaye Elekima ELEME LGA Ejor Ngowa Ejor Tobin Dibiah

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator - Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

EMOHUA LGA Arthur Uchendu Chief Damian Ejiohuo Mrs Loveth Nyenke

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

ETCHE LGA Chief Ephraim Nwuzi Mr Emma Nwughazor Constance Adiele A

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

GOKHANA LGA Louis Alawa Daughter Baby Bor Paulina Kegiri

- Co-ordinator - AlternateCo-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

IKWERRE LGA Ken Ejiowhor Okey Okah Mrs Nimi Tom-Manuel

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

KHANA LGA Baridah Nbaanee Ben Ekpamana OBIO/AKPOR LGA Barr. George T. Ariolu Hon. Chidi Amadi

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator - Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

OGU/BOLO LGA Christian Itamunola Ibiboye Jieyemiema Mrs Beauty Kio

- Co-ordinator - AlternateCo-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

OKIRIKA LGA Akuro Tobin Harrison Dim Doris Wanabiakori Alawa

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

OMUMA LGA Chisom Nwaiwu Ifey Onyemachi Mrs Rose Egbulefu

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

ONELGA LGA Hon. Shedrack Chukwu Hon. Chris Ochiejie Jane Chinwo

- Co-ordinator - AlternateCo-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

OPOBO/NKORO LGA Akiesogbo Theodore Fubara Hon. Dagogo Eli-Legg Jack Madam Ayawari Toby

- Coordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

OYIGBO LGA Sunday Kanu Nwachukwu John Mrs Christie Ekekenta

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

PORT HARCOURT LGA Chief Chike Nyeche Woluchor Aribiton Okiri Mrs Azubuike Nmerukini

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

TAI LGA Chief Monday Ngbor Hon John Bazia Miss Princewill Nwarawa

- Co-ordinator - Alternate Co-ordinator - Women Co-ordinator

MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE Barr Emma Okah - Chairman Shedrack Akalokwu - Deputy Chairman Opunabo Inko-Tariah - Secretary Jerry Needam Sampson Fibersima Cyril Hart Livingstone Weche Alison Ochonma Eze Basil C. Oluo Dr. Harcourt Dike Mr. Marshall Obuzor Mr. Tony Anucha Dominic Saata Barth Emuk Pere Dr. Sylva Opusunju Prof. Dan Ogum Dr. Charles Eneyo PROTOCOL COMMITTEE Opuada Willie Pepple Tonye Oniyinde Stephen Ikah Hon. Paddy Wali Hon. Christopher Allaputa Hon Field Nkor Cliff Berewari Hon. Belema G. Nonju Hon. Ambrose Oluji Mike Okoro Hon. Boma Agi Chief Maxwell Aforole Chief Andrew Egbelu Nana Harry Mr. Emmanuel Micah Amonibia Akoko John Arue Hon. Zik Nwikiri Hon. Dimiary Frankline Mr. Gbene Lekuezini G.O.C Chukwumati James Nemene Nordee Patrick Akandu Warmate Wright Okiti Patrick Paul L. Paul

- Chairman - Secretary

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THE NATION,

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

RIVERS STATE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION Hon. Ambrose Oluji Harrison Nwenu Jerome Eekpa Dagogo Leopard Bellgam Benjamin Ibietonye Alabota Helen Christy Wilcox C.N Ogbuleka William J.C Hon. Ipalibo Braide Oselema Alalibo Enitoun Iyalla Soton Raymond Aminu Reuben E.A Njoku Emma Gugwor Samuel Nwafor Owanate Lilly Tari Sir, Fabian Nenwi Boma Solomon Wisdom Nordee Lekien Kananura Barr. A. Fiberesima Elder Agwu Chiokwu Kingsley Orubiyi Mrs Siya Eferebo George Amangala Francis Amadi Honest Amadi Collins Amadi Mrs Roseline Oriekwo Furo A. Ogolo Hon. (Mrs) Gracious Adiele LABOUR/EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE Chief T.A. Amadi - Chairman Barr. Otonye Briggs - Secretary Damain Ejiowhor Hon. Clapton Ogolo Chief Thomas Chu Chief Bapakaye Orabere Chief kis Bobmanuel Belgeni Joseph Kwata Morrison Micah Mr. Edward Branga Comrade Sunny Johnbull Ebedu Friday Onwuegbuchi Mr Wisdom Ewoh Echomgbe Ejike Charles Mene Lan Okoro Vincent Furo Kitoye Eke Oforji Gerald Chief I. O. Walson Comrade Oyagiri Monday Chief G. Okpokiri Sir Iduonku Ikata Benjamin Eneoha Victor Fubara Chief Ibiba Ambie Gergewill Chief Toku Adokiye Odum Paul Kobani Sir Victor Halliday Patrick Nwuche Lawrence Chinwo Hon. Peter Gabriel Hon. Aza Nwadibia Augustin Nwigbarale Ene Dateme Chief Emaah Jaks Chief Emmanuel G.P. Jaja Chief Faith Amaso Lawrence Amadioha HRH Eze Christian Ideozu Chief India Okoh Chief Eugene Chuku Hon. Nnamdi Ihute Dr Maxwell Eremie WOMEN MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri - Chair person Chinyere Adele - Secretary Mrs Jubilant Atemie Mrs Iberembo Ibekwe Mrs Debora Wilson Mrs Queen Temple Mrs Tina Allison Mrs Patience Osarojiji Stella Dan Jumbo Hon Matilda Tonye Koko Madam Ayanwari Toby Doris Wanabiakori Mrs Dennis Ada Fiabema Mrs Scholastica Osarojiji Mrs Ibiere Amachree Mrs Casia Ogosu

Adaure Odu Jackson Soi Ironside Baridi Oodee Gift Dimkpa Mr. Chizi Nyeomasilu Barr. Agi Gospel Chikwe George Ajie Banigo Adiyi Jack Mr. Sunday Kurubo Engr. Festus Nmegbu Hycienth Olue Engr. Thodo Erekosima Bright Jacob Nancy Princewill Chief (Mrs) Emily Ede Phillip Abiobio Opela Daniel Paul Wegu Prince Isaac Umejuru Sam Nwafor Iyalla Iyalla Daima Woodman Mr. Rowland Sekibo Deele Dedam Mrs Evelyn Orisa Tonye Cookey-Gam Elliot Orupabo Hon. Kammy Ngelale Umbube Nwi-akere Emmanuel Ada Kobani Davidson Bupo Justice Eke Elder Clement Iheanyi Chief Dateme Tom Soku

Mrs Onoma Jeremiah Mrs Juliet Ikisa Mrs Emilly Ede Mrs. Joyce Ibiene Wokoma Mrs Daina Ikulugham Josephimm Ubah Stella Davies Mrs Spibifaa Ezekiel Harry Madam Nna Anette Akoto Mrs Rose Egbulefu Hon (Mrs) Bifeobogho Engr. (Mrs) Okpete Ovai Mrs Ngo Bob-Manuel Mrs Agriba Bibi Mrs Biobele Samuel Gloria Akor Helen Christy-Wilcox Luwide Mary Joy Walaka Tom Vivian B. Elenwo Hon. Ubah Josephine Mrs Asia Ogolo Hon. Grace Bell-Gam Happiness Nauka Princess T. Ogbonna Beatrice J. Dala Mrs Christy Wilcox Mrs Omoni Dappa Mrs Tumini Allison Mrs Ibiye Jacob Mrs Emi George Mrs Rose Egbunefo Hon. Susan Adaeke Mrs Ngozi Ogbonda Joyce Apikeru Precious Mimim Lady Emilia Amadi Mrs Mariam Ogbondah Madam Ajiminayanate Douglas Mrs Data Lily-Tariah Mrs Auty Lekara Hellen Nkpaakpa Lali Green YOUTH MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE Hon. Bright Amaewule - Chairman Wilson Iyalla - Secretary Tekenah Oba Mr. Fyneface Dikibujiri Mr. Cliff Berewari Baedee Maxwell Nule Mr. Opuada Opusunju Odum Odum Celestine Tambari Uegora Mr. Jimoh EwohEmma Logbu Achese Sunday Palmer Kingsley Chiso Young Nwafor Isreal Livingstone Okwueme Precious Nwaduwa Umenta Emeka Chisom Edhu Oye Igenewari Joe Amachree Obinna Ikem Churchill Akpe Promise Nwakwo Odiki George Dennis Asawari Itaijia Sirha Ibrahim Jack Robinson Ibisoye Golden Ikputu Hon. Johnson Nwogu Torgio Teka Igoni Willie-Park Obuibi Brown Kio Tams Samuel N Idoezu Sam Amadi Great Birabee Hon. Boniface Woke Randdy Minimah Chinedum Echem Mr. Kenneth Robinson Hon. Ntiego Odimabo Hon. Chibuzor Anele Promise Igoma WELFARE COMMITTEE Hon Boma Iyayi Hon. Tony Okeah Grant Orugbani Albert Amachree Barr. Erastus Awortu Mr. Kevin Agbor Hon. Emmanuel Sueiza Alabo Opaks Harry

- Chairman - Secretary

SECURITYAND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE Brig. Gen Elton D Amah (rtd) - Chairman Dr. Soaribi Tolofari - Secretary Brig. Gen Iworiboye Dick-Oruonabere Captain Mike Williams Ken Amaewhule Dennis Amadi Hon. Barr. Innocent Edi Enyinna Loddy Hon. Lucky Bien Aminadokiye Daka Chief Lucky Ayuwu Innocent Obu Chief Emeka Adiele Hon. Nwokolo Nte Hon. Asiyemea Kala-Otaji Promise Second Charles Mbaba Elvis Amadi Chief Aduko DJ Lekie Giagbara Senibo Senibo Nengia Sir Victor Ibimina Jumbo Isaac Ibiberebupakabo Geoge Igwe Chief Billy Owhonda Hon. Tonye Walmot Chief Jonathan Amadi Databoye Moro Jacob Frank Ohoma Jonathan Prince Azubuike Chief Allen J Abbi Chief O.M.A. Awoh Diepriye Toby Francis Ebenizer Nakara Doosu Echeta Omunakwe Polycap Emerengwa RESEARCH AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE Barr. John Kalipa - Chairman Dr. Kennedy Ebeku - Secretary Dr. Igbiks Tamuno Dr. Oboada Alafonye Uriah Dr. Christian Ogbowu Dr. Mbadiwe Woko Dr. Moses Neebee Dr. Nkadum N.M. Dr. S.G. Ibulubo Dr. Lloyd Ukwu Dr. Scott Akpila Dr. Onengiye Georgewill Dr. Joe Amadi Dr. BenOtuya Dr. Akuro Gobo Dr. George Nwakwo Engr. Maxwell Nwigogbor Dr. Anamakiri O. Dio Engr. L.A. Amadi Victor Dagogo Barr. Uche Amadike

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THE NATION,

62

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

RIVERS STATE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION LEGAL COMMITTEE Barr. Chinwe Aguma Emeka Ichoku Tonye Ibisiki Danwi Oboh Obi Njoku Theophilous Owhor Chief (Barr.) Tam Princwill Emma Wonodi Henry Ogonda Echezu Ogbonda Barr. Golden Tamuno ThankGod Okpara Monday Onyezonwu Mono Okono Saturday Minanyo Gogo Daso Jack Marvin Awara Kemka Gbasam Tubotamuno Dick Opuene Thomson Atekebo Dagogo Tamunonegiyuofori Barr. Chima Obinna Barr.A.C. Morka

- Chairman - Secretary

CONTACT AND MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE Prince Felix A. Obuah, Rivers State PDP Chairman - Chairman Barr. Chike Nmerukini - Secretary All Rivers State Local Government Areas PDP Chairmen All candidates of the PDP in the State The Rivers State PDP Women Leader All PDP Women Leaders of the State All State Youth Leaders of the party All GDI Local Government Co-ordinators All Women for Change co-ordinators Engr. Basoeni Lolomari Hon. Robert R. Eneotu Barr.Osi Olisa Hon. Kennedy Worgu Prince Gerald Oforji High Chief Kroham Joel Karibi Bobmanuel Hon. Pastor Emilia Nte Prince Ohochukwu Obiandu Emeka Ononwu Johnson Owaji-ma Opurum Akaralo Vincent Furo Macsteve Davids Hon. Glory Chuku Otonye Briggs Jonathan Tams Senibo Boma Brown Chief Ibiba Georgewill Prince Nyeche Mr Frank Woke Chief Martins Kunugbe Chief Christopher Amadi Hon. Adokiye Horsfall Chief kay Izidor Mesua Nwibari Barr. Osima Gina Hon. Nnana Alaibi High Chief Augustine Okpokiri Chief Okechukwu kah Omoni kemenjima Iganima Pepple Hon. Tonye Philmoore Edwin Adah Victor Chukwubi Hyacinth Amadi Samuel Dappa Hon. Inye Briggs Chief. E.J. Worukwo Barr. Milla Oforibika Joseph Dibia Joseph Dibiah Hon. Belief Tamunokuro Alhaji Afonya Brown Chief Obagbama Dighobo Mr Gabriel Muele Uebari Mr. Kingdom Njoku Jonathan Nwogu Chief George Benz Ken Amaewhule Franklin Ichila Johnson Gbarakwe Chief Cosca Ogosu Aroloye Briggs Hon. Chima Okene Ibiboyi Jieyemiema Hon. Gogo Offiaja Hon. Ken Aliba Anselem Chukwu Hon. Monday Abalukwe Charles Ihua Maduenyi

Chief Prince Weli-Wosu Dr. Johnson Elechi Graham Nsiegbe Mr. Christian Agu Chiokwa Chief Chris Orji Chief Egerton Akpara Hon. Brownson Nkpene TRANSPORT/LOGISTICS COMMITTEE Engr. Opubo Dokubo - Chairman Chief Ogbams Ojimah - Secretary Mr Justice Siganni Mr Kingdom Okere Kelechi Epele King Didia Chief Gerge Boaz Tamunotonye C. Jaja Oghu ovinah Mr Kingsley Ita Engr. Isaac Oyagiri Johnson Jackbara Kagban Ofiks Precious Jeremiah Chibom Onyeso Engr. Okiye Evans Engr. Nwekeala Hon. Vote Eke Hon. Enaanapu Eloghom Igumane Osungwo Jacob Amadi Chief Biokpo Bestman Surv. Amaebari Burabe Barimene Lebee Bipingoka Jackbara Hon Obele Ekee Chief Charity Deemua Susan Kevin Wami Afimisidi Sodienye Opusunju Sarturday Giadom Senibo Joel Tolofari James Naphatali Britain Ewor Hon. Risi Godwin Hon. Chigozie kpara Minabere Orabere Hon. Achinike Wonodi Hon Ndubuisi Kalagbor Chief Igbikialabo Festus FINANCE/FUND RAISING COMMITTEE Dr. Henry Ogiri - Chairman Prof. Mrs Ndidi Onyuke Okereke - Alternate Chairman George Kelly - Secretary Rt. Hon. AustinA. Opara Dr. Membere Otaji Barr. Dumo Kelly White Chief Hanny Woko Jeffery Anuwo Amasenibo JD Ibanigo Bright Ikonwa Buruwari Alapa Asinyefaa Uranta Chief Obo Oba Arc. Tam Jamabo Emenike Onunwor Hon. ThankGod Lily Kingsley Onyegbule Prof. Gloria Obuzor Ibifaa Jack Hon. Jacob Nwala Chief Elias Davies Ezu Chibudom Chukwudi Dimkpa Hon. Sam Eke Prof. Stephen Amadi Prof. Jason Osai Mina Patrick Hon. Felix Ayayi Mike Amakiri RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTEE Deacon Akie Fubara Bishop Bujjdizila Wobo Rev. Nna Wordu Rev. Barr. Steve Marcus Father Lawrence Baghba Appostle Joshua Brown Deacon Peter Amadi Rev. Canon Lee Jen Akwabala Pastor (Mrs) Nancy Gabriel-Whyte Pastor Chamberlin Peterside Alhaji Abdulahi Ganago Barr. Agbai Tom Adi Rev. Dr. Daso Peter Barr. Evang, (Mrs) Juliet Wordu Pastor Iseobo D Walter

- Chairman - Secretary

Mr. Ajugo Kingdom Kpaniku Goodluck Amaechi Stephen Hon. Nengiye George Ipalibo Sogules OKoya Idari Adiela Chibuzor Solomon Bob Orikoha Ugochukwu Igey Major A Fred Ateng Tony Waribo Gabriel Mietanuno Jaja Sunny Tamunoibi Bagbi Bagbi Harry Diepriye Emmanuel Ozoemenem Eluanwi Siabe Christian Tordee Dr Johnson Elechi Adams Utong Dean Sanddy Emmanuel Alali Umor Nonye Emeh Gloria Kalio Mrs. Udo Ezele Hon. Sam Akpakum Ata Esuiku Prince AW Ekine Iyawu Bukky Yomi Willig Brendan Mene Mrs. Ebi Ejor Chief B.F. Farah Chief Chaleye Charles Chief Sunny Dressman Tamunomiebi Ibisiki Gedion Ukaha Alabo (Engr.) Pastor Fiala Davies CIVIL SOCIETY, NGOS, CBO’S AND SUPPORT GROUPS COMMITTEE Barr. Nimi Walson-Jack - Chairman Barr. Eddy Mark - Secretary Mr. Ayodele Tamunotonye Igwumu Comrade Lekan Kole Mr. Isaac Joshua Hon. Tubonemi Aggo Mr. Sololmon Manigbo Mr. Jerry Akuro Chief Gad Harry Ekpirikpo Comrade Anayo E. Francis MC Hezekiah Mike Fiberesima Hon. Lucky Nwaoburu Chief Hon. M.A Osaji Eze Nwokocha Chinedu Ohahuru Mr Ikasi Wali Eze Chadwick Hon. Davies Amadi Dormene Mbea Tonye Saturday Monday Saah Peter Abbey Wisdom Odum Mr Mike Wali Weneka Chinda Dagogo Emmanuel N. William-West Ibiye Nwosu Silver E. Onyegbule Blessing Nwogu Stanley Awuya Azubuike Jacob Frank Elder A.A Pollyn Roland J. Ajie Chief Dr. Ojum S. Hon. Sammy T. Jumbo Abraham Reason Oribiye Kienabere Chief S.O Ogugu Sunny O. Maduenyi Israel L. Okwueme Engr. NJ Chukwu Comrade Boma Tom-George Hon. Nengi Adoki Hon. Lucky Ibieyeomia Mr. Oduye Tom West Caywood Brown Foundation Barr. Barivure Kpobe Letam Ngbuelo Hon Pekin Kelo NON-INDEGENES GROUPSCOMMITTEE Chinyere Igwe Emeka Onowu

AND - Chairman - Secretary

RELATED

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THE NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

NEWS

63

Buhari’s educational qualification is no issue • Continued from Back page his military career to the topmost rank of full general, and the many key command posts he had held in the Army from 1963/64 up to July 1975, the previous political combined with military appointments which retired General Buhari had held to-date include having been Military Governor, North Eastern State of Nigeria, August 1975–March 1976; Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, March 1976–June 1978; Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, July 1978–June 1979; Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, December 1983–August 1985; Member, Council of State, being one of the country’s highest advisory bodies, since August 1985 and up to-date; Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund, 1995 1998. Although most of these appointments, particularly the last set, could be described as political and as having been made and received under a period of military rule, there can be no disputing that performance at the duties involved would have required of any occupant of those jobs and offices to possess considerable experience and judgment, as well as the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language, plus the possession other qualifications beyond the level of Primary Six School Leaving Certificate. Would anyone say retired General Buhari did not possess even these minimal qualifications?

But ultimately is that combination of qualities just stated not what the educational requirement prescribed for election to the office of the President reduces to?

The latter set of questions, arising from the fourth point just made, leads naturally to the fifth and last observation and, perhaps, also the most crucial point that I must make for capping the foregoing counter-argument of my intervention in the debate regarding the alleged “certificate scandal”. It is that retired General Buhari more than satisfies the constitutionally stipulated educational criteria requiring him as a candidate to have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”. For, although Article 131 (d) of the

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states among other requirements for election as President that “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of President” if s/he “has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”, that provision is not meant to be taken in the literal sense or taken out of context, but rather interpreted according to the meaning originally intended by framers of the Constitution.

The meaning of the phrase “School Certificate level or its equivalent” is to be found in the Interpretation, Citation and Commencement part of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which begins from Part IV, Article 318 (1), and is meant to have been read alongside Article 131(d). In that Interpretation part of the Constitution can be found defined what the framers of the Constitution meant and intended by that provision, which ought to be read by anyone seeking a fuller understanding of the phrase regarding “School Certificate or its equivalent”. Curiously, I have not seen or heard anyone make reference to this part of the Constitution in the raging controversy regarding Buhari’s alleged “certificate scandal”.

To quote from Part IV, Article 318 (1) of the Interpretation section of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) expressing the meaning given by the framers in full, then, by the constitutional provision in Article 131(d) requiring any candidate for election to the office of President to have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”, the framers of the Constitution are understood to have meant the possession of any of the following credentials: “(a) a Secondary School Certificate 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 for a minimum of ten years, and (ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totaling 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; and (d) any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Thus, constitutionally, the ultimate test about retired General Buhari’s educational qualification rests on whether or not he possesses “Primary Six School Leaving Certificate” plus “the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language”. In the currently raging debate on the matter, one has not heard anyone on the contending side of the argument state that even this minimum qualification the retired General does not possess – that is, if we discount everything else about his professional career life, including the Mons OCS qualification, the various tests and examinations he had written and passed in the course of his advancement through the ranks and up to at least the level of colonel, the many courses and training he had attended at home and abroad both while in service and since retirement, all the previous military and political posts held to-date, the sheer experience, and above all the record of exemplary public service.

Given all the foregoing, it is hoped that this matter about retired General Buhari’s educational non-qualification for election to the office of the President in 2015 will have been finally settled and permanently laid to rest. It is in fact a non-issue for campaign purposes and irrelevant to the forthcoming 2015 Elections.

Possibly, the INEC authorities, including those working in their Legal department, already know this.

•Adekanye, PhD, FSSAN is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science & CivilMilitary Relations

My agenda for my constituency,

by Ondo assembly aspirant HE candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ondo State House of Assembly in Akoko North West constituency 2, Otunba Olumide Araoyinbo, has said that grassroot development would be his major concern if he is elected in next month’s general elections.

Araoyinbo, a security expert, said he decided to contest the election after making wide consultations with both political and traditional leaders in the constituency.

“I did not just wake up one day and decided to run for election. I made very wide consultations with our leaders, both political and traditional, and they all said I should go ahead.”

He said his focus would be to use his wealth of experience as a security expert and businessman in the assembly to attract development to the constituency.

According to him, the people of the constituency have suffered various neglects by successive administrations and need a vibrant

T

representation in the assembly.

“The time has come for us start sending people who will give robust and good representation in the assembly. Prior to this time, our people have not really got what they deserve. But the time has come for to take our future in our hands.”

Promising to ensure the provision of basic needs for the people, Araoyinbo said: “If you look round, you will see that our communities are lacking in the area of infrastructure. I go round and feel that we deserve better. That is the reason that I am putting myself forward and I hope our people will start to get the best of representation starting from May 29.”

Addressing a crowd of supporters, he urged them to ensure peace during the election, saying, “I plead with everyone to make sure that we conduct ourselves in peaceful manners during and after the election. We want the best for our communities and that is what we shall get with peaceful conducts.”

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3105

—Biodun Jeyifo

OPEN FORUM

O

VER the last one month or so the news media, including the various social network platforms, have been inundated by the controversy over whether or not the presidential candidate of the opposition party retired General Buhari possesses the minimum educational qualification to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the impending February 2015 Elections. The controversy reached its crescendo over this past weekend when a top member of the governing party’s campaign organisation and himself a legal practitioner called a world press conference to publicise the matter about this alleged “certificate scandal.” Ordinarily, as a thoroughbred academic, and not given to intervening in patently partisan political debates, this writer would have kept quiet and allowed the political process, including waiting for the Supreme Court ultimately, to pronounce on the matter. But the obligation one feels one owes to the Nigerian public as a whole makes it incumbent upon one to share one’s knowledge and expertise regarding the matter. I submit that the so-called non-possession of educational qualification up to “School Certificate level or its equivalent” alleged against retired General Buhari is a non-issue for the 2015 Elections, as the allegation is incorrect, not sufficiently constitutionally informed, and therefore irrelevant to the campaign for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2015 Elections. The reasons for asserting this are as follows.

Firstly, whereas retired General Buhari might not have possessed a Second School Certificate but obtained OCS Mons qualifications from England before being commissioned into the Nigerian Army officer corps, and whereas all Nigerian Army officers of his generation and those before him who had attended Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, were also most unlikely to possess Secondary School Certificate (and in sharp contrast to their counterparts who having gone to Sandhurst were in all likelihood to have had Secondary School Certificate), this does not mean that, through attendance at courses and training in other recognized institutions in the course of their professional career, such officers had not subsequently added other educational qualifications that placed them way beyond the level of the Primary Six School Leaving Certificate holder.

Secondly, Buhari’s entry into the Nigerian Army officer corps (combatant) coincided with the time of introduction of the quota system of selection (May 1961) which was intended among other things for accommodating some of the lesser-qualified candidates from the North, rather than have the officer corps dominated wholly by candidates from the South. Before 1961, Nigeria had main-

The plain fact is that identity politics is in total confusion in the PDP. True, much has been made by Jonathan's most determined and militant supporters that as an Ijaw man from the oil-rich Niger Delta he is entitled to two full terms in the presidency

Buhari’s educational qualification is no issue

‘

I submit that the socalled non-possession of educational qualification up to “School Certificate level or its equivalent” alleged against retired General Buhari is a nonissue for the 2015 Elections

’

•Buhari Prof. Bayo Adekanye tained considerably high educational standards for selection into the Army officer corps.

Up to that year, a potential officer was required to possess the minimum academic qualifications of Credits in four subjects, including English Language, at the West African School Certificate level, or for their equivalent four Ordinary Passes at General Certificate of Education (GCE, London). It was also during that period that were recruited for “combatant commissions” the six university graduates to be recruited into the officer corps, namely Chuckwumeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Victor Banjo, Olufemi Olutoye, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Oluwole Rotimi, and Adewale Adegboyega. After May 1961, however, and with the introduction of the quota system, the alternative qualification of Teachers’ Grade II Certificate, or the Royal Society of Arts (R.S.A.), Stage II Certificate, was stipulated, obviously to accommodate some of the lower-qualified Northern candidates; although, as it turned out, candidates from the South also benefitted from the considerable lowering of standards that resulted from operation of the quota system. The practice of recruiting graduates into the corps was discontinued by

the Balewa government, and to stay discontinued for many years after the Civil War (1967-70).

Thirdly, by the end of the year of independence in 1960 the Nigerian Army had as many as 17 members of the emergent national officer corps possessing Mons OCS qualification or its equivalent. Among the senior officers (combatant) of retired General Buhari’s generation or the generation a little before who, like him, had had Mons qualifications or their equivalent were Olusegun Obasanjo, Olu Bajowa, Joseph Garba, Ibrahim Babangida, George Innih, David Mark, Mohammed Sani Sami, and Sani Abacha.

Among the Army senior officers (combatant) of retired General Buhari’s generation or the generation a little before him, who had gone and passed through the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS) training or the equivalent, were Chuckwuma Nzeogwu, Yakubu Gowon, Illiya Bissala, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Murtala Mohammed, Alani Akinrinade. Of course, apart from the university graduates given “combatant commissions” already referred to, there those who, having been recruited from the other professions and commissioned into the various technical arms and support services such as medical cum dental, signals, electrical and mechanical engineering, teaching, accountancy, and law, would have come in with

much higher academic and professional qualifications. Officers in the latter category, who went into the armed forces medical corps for example, included Henry Adefope and Adeniyi Austen-Peters.

But it would be disingenuous to claim that any of these categories of officers, particularly those with OCS Mons qualification or its equivalent, did not have educational qualification that went beyond the Primary School Leaving Certificate level, especially if they had spent more than 20 years in service and risen through the ranks from the first and second lieutenant grade through captain and major to colonel and brigadier and ultimately to general. Nor is it impossible that a retired general of Buhari’s generation or the generation before his, having initially possessed OCS Mons type certification or its equivalent at the entry-point of gaining a commission, would have even after retirement obtained additional educational qualifications such as diploma from one college/accredited institution or the other, a university degree, masters, or even a PhD. This is best illustrated by the most celebrated case of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, an initial ex-Mons graduate, retired general since 1979, and subsequent holder of a number of higher degree certificates including one Diploma and a Masters from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and currently registered as PhD candidate at the country’s premier University of Ibadan, an accomplished author, twice head of state (including being the first President of the Federal Republic during this second post-military restoration era), and a world statesman, besides being a successful and big-time farmer.

Fourthly, while in service Buhari had added to his vita other educational and professional qualifications, through attendance of numerous training courses. He had also written a number of promotion examinations to earn his advancement from lower-officer cadre (beginning from cadet, second and first lieutenant) through the middle ranks (captain, major) up to the rank of colonel (that is, if we discount his promotion from colonel through brigadier to general. In fact, a cliché from the civil-military relations literature has it that in peacetime there is no real criterion for measuring a soldier’s ability especially after the level of colonel, since promotion after that level is inclined to be by seniority, tempered by sycophancy and nepotism. Besides, in the Nigerian case, by the time Buhari reached the rank of colonel, most issues about promotion as well as retirement within the Army especially after level of colonel tended to be regulated by largely political considerations). Since retirement from the force, Buhari has had many honours, distinctions, and awards conferred upon him for various meritorious services.

Apart from the steady rise he enjoyed in

•Continued on Page 63

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Okocha and soccer’s future

I

'M really excited. We are beginning to emu late what most football-loving countries do in preparing a potential for key offices in their soccer administration. Charting a new dawn for anything isn't a one off task. We need to identify charismatic people, expose them to assignments as assistants to competent people and then allow them grow on the job.

Football administration in Nigeria today is comatose because at the state level, jobbers, influence-peddlers and lackeys of the ruling party occupy key positions with one goal in mind - share the proceeds, not minding if the game is on its knees.

With such empty vessels at the state levels, nothing happens at the grassroots. Structures meant to discover talents become moribund and funds meant for the local government areas are either been misappropriated or spent on funding meetings that have produced no results.

In the past, several primary and post primary soccer competitions were held. In fact, prominent citizens sponsored competitions either in their names or on behalf of the kings of the local government areas. Indeed, the state FAs sent their coaches routinely to teach the games masters or physical education teachers the rudiments of the game. These retrained personnel then teach the kids. Such programmes were not restricted to soccer. All other sports got the same treatment, depending on the plan for such catchment areas.

I recall being introduced to cricket for the first time on January 27, 1972 as a class one student in Government College Ughelli. This orientation didn't start with using the conventional cricket bats and balls played using jute mat on concrete pitches. At GCU, we improvised with carved wood as bats and empty tins of milk served as the balls. God help you if the edge of the tin cuts your fingers or your palms while trying to catch it.

But it was fun and GCU became famous for

playing cricket in the old Midwest and Bendel states. Don't ask me what the practice is today. Indeed, at GCU, we knew the sports kits to come with every term. I digress!

When the Delta State Football Association (DFA) elected Austin Okocha as its vice chairman, my inner instinct struck me that we are on the verge of actualising a dream of grooming a former Nigeria international for the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In the last four years, Okocha has worked meticulously with NFF President Melvin Amaju Pinnick in Delta State. Amaju is smart.

He must have reckoned that running the game should be anchored on robust marketing initiatives. And there couldn't have been a better person to serve as one of the faces of the game in Delta than legendary Okocha.

Please, make no mistakes about my intentions here. I don't want to pitch Okocha against Amaju. Rather, I feel that they enjoy a symbiotic relationship in the way that they

think the game should be administered here.

I also know that Amaju is not s it-tight leader.

He is ambitious and would love to do bigger things with the ideas that he has. Amaju doesn't like one to do two terms as NFF president. I will be shocked if he does.

That Amaju and Okocha worked seamlessly as key men in Delta football in the last four years shows that they have struck an understanding on how to work in tandem to make the game grow, which is sacrosanct.

I digress!

There isn't any firm in Nigeria desirous of identifying its goods and services with Nigeria football that wouldn't throw its doors open, if the management chieftains are told that the delegation has Okocha.

There would be temporary pandemonium in such complexes if Okocha steps out of the vehicle to be ushered into the office. Anxious soccer lovers in such offices would rush for autographs and photographs with Jay Jay.

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