January, 05, 2015 by The Nation

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Job creation my target, says Ambode

Oyegun: APC ’ll reject flawed polls

NEWS

Page 27

•N25b employment fund coming

•Party chief seeks fair play

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3086 MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

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Boko Haram seizes military base in Borno town

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

Continued on page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Tokunbo vehicles’ 35 % levy begins April 30 HE 35 per cent levy on imported used vehicles (aka Tokunbo) will begin on April 30, the Nigerian Automotive Council (NAC) has said: In a statement, the council said: “The automotive policy has five elements, one of which is market development. Under market development, tariffs are increased on Fully Built Unit (FBU) vehicle imports. These tariffs are to be reduced gradually over the years, as the vehicle assembly and local content operations gain momentum.

NEWS

Page 6

•Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga

OKO Haram has seized Borno State town Baga, a key multinational military base, officials and eyewitnesses said yesterday. Senator Maajin Lawan (Borno North) said troops had abandoned the base in the town of Baga after it was attacked on Saturday by the insurgents

Residents of Baga, who fled by boat to neighbouring Chad, said many people had been killed and the town set ablaze. Baga was the last town in the Borno North area under government control. It hosted the base of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad and

Niger. Set up in 1998 to fight trans-border crime in the Lake Chad region, the force more recently took on Boko Haram. Boko Haram attacks towns and villages on an almost daily basis, abducting people, including young Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: OYO GETS N500M RECOVERED BY EFCC, SAYS AJIMOBI P7 ONDO PDP ‘STILL IN CRISIS’ P7

•LET’S PRA Y: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (fifth left) with (from left) All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC’s presidential running mate PRAY Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, APC’s presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) General Overseer Pastor Enoch STORY ON PAGE 4 Adeboye and Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire at the Lagos State yearly Thanksgiving Service in Alausa...yesterday.

INEC bans use of govt cash, resources for campaigns

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

Commission issues Code of Conduct to political parties From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ANDIDATES must not use government property during campaigns ahead of next month’s general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said. This is part of the Code of Conduct which the parties have signed. “All political parties shall separate party business from government business. No political party shall use state vehicles or other public resources for any electioneering campaigns or any

DOS AND DON’TS

•No party should issue any inciting statements •No intimidation of opponents by any means •No use of govt fund, resources for campaign •Parties must ensure there is no clash of rallies •Parties must file details of their rallies •No destruction of opponents’ posters other party business,” INEC said in its code. This is not unconnected with the

practice of candidates seeking re-election using government vehicles, aircraft and Government Houses and of-

fices in raising funds and holding meetings. But INEC did not list sanctions against those who run foul of the code. It also did not say how it will monitor compliance. An INEC official described it all as a moral issue. “Since the parties have signed the code of conduct documents, it is expected that that will abide,” he said. Besides demanding notice of all rallies from parties, INEC has also banned parties from using inflammatory lanContinued on page 4

•NIGERIA’S FUTURE BRIGHT, SAYS JONATHAN P6 POPE NAMES 20 CARDINALS P59

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS OUTLOOK 2015 •President Goodluck Jonathan (right) performing the traditional rite of wine presentation to his niece Inebharapu in Otuoke, Bayelsa State ...at the weekend. With them is Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right) PHOTO: NAN

•From left: Pastors Niyi Owoade, Bayo Oladeji, Ibrahim Yakubu, Joel Olabode, Mali Audam and Tunde Olorode during their induction at the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

• Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (second left), his wife Ekaette Unoma (second right), Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker, Sam Ikon (left) and Akpabio’s deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe at a One-Day Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Service organised by the Government at Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Naira, power The success or failure of banks will depend on the status of the naira, power sector funding and oil & gas projects as well as biometrics. Lenders will have to brace for oil price slide and the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which has impacted on lending cost to key sectors of the economy, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

HE naira has been on the ropes for months - no thanks to crude oil prices, which in the last six months have dropped by over 50 per cent. It did not come to many as surprise, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently devalued the naira and tightened monetary policy. To confirm low oil price will take a longer time to disappear; the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has opted not to cut output. These policy shifts are putting the naira at risk, raising probability of further monetary policy tightening this year. The currency was devalued by 8.38 per cent, raising the official exchange rate of the naira from N155 to N168 to the dollar — a N13 loss. For the CBN, these are parts of measures to strengthen the nation’s economy. The apex bank also raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 12 to 13 per cent, and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on private sector deposits from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. The MPR is the rate at which banks borrow from the apex bank to bridge their immediate cash shortfalls, while the CRR is a monetary policy tool used to either call up excess liquidity or release the funds needed to grow the economy. With these developments, the SubSaharan Africa Economist at RenCap, Yvonne Mhango, said this year may turn out to be a tougher year for the consumer. According to her, two of the four variables that explain consumer confidence in its regression model have been adversely impacted by currency devaluation and interest rate hike. Mhango said interest rates have been hiked and contradictory fiscal policy implies the prospects of wage increases for civil servants, in the short term, have dimmed. “Of the four variables we use to explain the consumer confidence index in our regression model (including oil output and real Gross Domestic Product growth), we find the index to be most sensitive to interest rate movements. Further upside risk to interest rates and the potential removal of the fuel subsidy imply that 2015 has the potential of being a tougher year for the consumer than 2012,” she said.

The naira to lose more value The naira rate at the parallel market (black market) is expected to cross the N200 border to a dollar as demand for the greenback persists, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Bismarck Rewane, has said. Speaking at the FDC monthly economic report for December, he said that N200 to the dollar rate is only a 15 per cent adjustment as against 45 per cent devaluation in 2009.

Gloomy pictures ahead

•Bauchi State Deputy Governor Alhaji Sagir Saleh (left) with Managing Director, Bauchi Radio Corporation, Alhaji Maigari Khanna (right) at the turbaning of Khanan as the Village Head of Katabarwa, Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State...at the weekend.

The dollar, Rewane noted, is expected to further strengthen in the near future, buoyed by increased demand for the currency upon expectation of higher interest rates in the US. “The dollar will also become more attractive as major central banks including the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the People’s Bank of China is expected to pursue expansionary monetary policies in order to boost their economies. An ap-

preciation of the dollar implies a further decline in commodity prices based on their inverse relationship,” Rewane said. Continuing, he said: “We also expect that commodity prices would continue to be affected by weak global demand, especially in China, which is one of the largest consumers of grains, energy and metals. “Oil prices, in particular, will continue to record the highest loss as OPEC fails to cut its production levels and US shale production further increases oil supply to the markets. “We expect to see economic growth and development slowing over the next year as the much needed revenue support is weakened. Though the devaluation of the currency will bring some respite to the naira and reduce external reserves depletion in the short term, the pressure on the currency might resurface if the decline in oil prices is sustained for a long period. “To help mitigate the impact of lower commodity prices on export revenues, the government must seriously take the call to reduce revenue leakages in the economy and at the same time boost production of non-oil export commodities.” Although, projecting the value of naira is currently clouded by several domestic and exogenous factors, Rewane said the fair value of the currency is expected to be between N180 and N195 to a dollar at the interbank market. He said the naira adjustment by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is timely and the depreciation of the currency has reduced over time because the official rate is closer to equilibrium. Rewane said: “A further depreciation of three to five per cent is also expected at the official market. This is due to anticipated impact of the global oil market spiral on external and fiscal buffers which limits the CBN’s ability to support naira. “In addition, if the US changes its monetary policy stance, there might be a reversal of capital flows and an erosion of some of the external reserves.” He reiterated Goldman Sachs’ forecast of last July that the naira will trade at N165 to dollar in three months, N175 to dollar in six months and N195 to dollar in 12 months. Speaking further, he said: “As 2014 drew to a close, oil prices still plunged even after losing over 50 per cent (now $56pb). The naira is on the ropes trading at N193 to a dollar and interest rates are strangulating at 22 per cent per annum. These are some of the issues that have made the second half of 2014 a rough and tumble period as well as one of the most interesting years in this decade for Nigeria. “Against this background that shows that cyclical economic downturns and recovery are inescapable, our findings reveal that the Nigerian macroeconomic environment will continue to be vulnerable to exogenous shocks in 2015. “This is mainly because oil prices and international capital flows will continue to be dominant features in the Nigerian macro-economic equation.” Also speaking, the Managing Director of Afrinvest West Africa Plc, Ike Chioke, said a strong positive correlation exists between the exchange rate and crude oil price in the country. He said: “Nigeria’s crude oil – Bonny Light, which traded at $110.2 per

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS OUTLOOK 2015

r sector funding to shape banks’ future •Local and foreign currencies

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

barrel in January last year, reaching $114.6 per barrel by June, is now trading at about $56 per barrel. “With the discovery of the Shale oil, crude oil prices are projected to moderate in coming years. In addition, the threat by the United States (US) to reduce oil imports constitutes a downside risk on crude receipts of OPEC members. Consequently, the CBN must establish a “real” and “sustainable” value for the naira as the opportunity cost of “substantial” support for the naira increases,” he explained in a report – Naira Trending Towards 2015. Chioke said dependence on crude oil (currently 70 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings) makes economic growth susceptible to oil price shocks. According to him, a decline in crude oil price would lead to a corresponding decline in oil receipts; “which will forestall the accumulation of external reserves, creating a negative signaling effect that leads to capital flight, thus depreciating the naira.” “The current over-reliance on oil receipts – oil receipts account for about 96.8 per cent of the country’s total exports – by the government poses a huge threat to the stability of the economy,” he noted.

Oil & Gas loans face increased risks Banks are also expected to have some challenges managing their loans to the oil and gas sector, as price drops further. Some bank chiefs see the drop in oil price as political. The Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Adeola, described the continuous fall in prices of crude oil as purely political. He said the fundamentals of the oil industry, do not justify the fall in prices. The bank chief alleged: “What has happened is purely political. The fundamentals in the oil industry does not justify the sharp fall in prices. It will get to a point, after all the political issues are resolved, the price will bottom-out, and will start bouncing bank. This is not the first time that oil prices will go down. In 2008/2009, it tested $47 per barrel not for too long, and it bounced back. This one will drag for a while, maybe six months or so, but it will bounce back.” Adeola said he does not want to discuss the politics of the US and the Gulf countries but the truth is that in advanced countries, banks do not panic when crude oil prices go down, because that asset is there and it is permanent. His words: “For as long as you have proven reserves, what you need to do is to restructure the tenor of your loans. So, if a facility is for five years and oil price goes down, I will not get my money in five years, but I will get it in

• Emefiele

• Adeola

10 years by simply restructuring the loans. “In Sterling Bank, we looked at oil accounts in our books and there is nothing to worry about. We stress tested them, and found that our customers can still do well even if oil price drops to $50 per barrel.” The intricacies of oil loans have prompted the CBN to act fast. The apex bank has warned banks of the dire consequences of the falling oil price on loan advances to the oil and gas as well as the public sector in the New Year. In a memo to banks, the CBN, through its Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, said the falling oil prices and the potential for a further decline had been a major concern. Many states have been unable to pay salaries as banks shut the tap amid dwindling and delayed allocations. Mrs. Martins said that considering the quantum of exposure to the oil and gas sector, combined with risk management deficiencies as revealed by the recent Risk Based Supervision, there is the need to proactively guard against a crystalisation of these risks. The memo entitled: Oil and Gas Industry Credit Risk Mitigation reads: “The CBN therefore considers it essential to ensure that banks have sufficient capital buffers to mitigate these escalating risk taking activities. Where exposure to the oil and gas sector (as defined by the International Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Sectors as issued by the CBN) is in excess of 20 per cent of total credit facilities of a bank, the risk weight of the entire portfolio in the sector will attract weight of 125 per cent for the purpose of capital adequacy computation.” Oil prices have declined from $107.89 per barrel in June last year to $85.06 per barrel in October, and trading at $57.33 per barrel. The possibility of further decline, Mrs. Martins said, should not be underestimated. The CBN director said that a proposed single-factor sensitivity stress test showed that at $70 per barrel, 25 per cent of oil sector loans would become non-performing while 15 per cent of the loans will be nonperforming in the public sector.

Budget versus subsidy Mhango said the Federal Government could save $2.5 billion or four per cent of this year’s budget by removing oil subsidy. She explained that given the downside risk to revenue and the near-depletion of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), the government may have little option but to remove fuel subsidy. She said previously, the probability of the oil price falling below $80/barrel was low but “today, we are adapting to the fact that this may be the new normal, following OPEC’s (which represents 40 per cent of the world’s production) decision to maintain current

•Some notes of the naira

•Rewane

production levels in response to lower oil prices. Lower oil prices may result in a further slowdown in foreign exchange inflows, challenging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) ability to defend the naira. “This means savings of $2.5 billion, or four per cent of 2014 budget consolidated government budget. We think the current low public debt levels of 11 to 12 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and revenue growth challenges imply government’s borrowing may increase in 2015, leading to an increase in yields, after being depressed in 2014.”

Power sector funding For the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the observed challenges in funding power projects are interconnected with the unexpectedly large revenue shortfalls in the industry, which needed to be fixed. That made the CBN boss to institute the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF), where N213 billion has been mapped out to settle legacy gas debts and shortfalls in revenue for operators to boost power supply. The CBN, he said, is collaborating with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Power and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to achieve the objective. Such feat, he said, would boost liquidity conditions in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and address hiccups that has characterised the posts-privatisastion of the power sector.

The NEMSF in perspective According to the CBN, the NEMSF will this year, be administered through deposit money banks and disbursed at the rate of 10 per cent per annum while the tenor shall not be more than 10 years. Also, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that complies with section 31 of CBN Act 2007 will serve as an intermediary between the banks and the electricity market players while the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shall reset the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) to ensure that it provides for the loan repayment including the costs of setting up and operating the NEMSF. The other power sector value chain players must also agree to specific service related commitments, which include committing gas suppliers to supply at higher volumes; generating companies (GENCOs) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) must commit to utilising the funds for equipment/infrastructure acquisition, refurbishment and/or upgrade. The rule also include that all parties licensed by the NERC to operate in the electricity market should sign performance bond agreements with the rele-

vant authorities including the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

Biometric banking Banking security will this year, continue to be a priority for many banks and regulators of the financial services sector. That prompted the CBN through the Banker’ Committee, deposit money banks and Nigeria Interbank-Settlement System (NIBSS) to inaugurate the centralised biometric identification system for the banking industry tagged: Bank Verification Number (BVN). For the CBN, the exercise is a continuation of the $50 million biometrics project it instituted with the Bankers’ Committee, Dermalog and Charms Plc and is expected to assign unique number to every bank customer for enhanced security of transactions.

CBN order The CBN mandated banks to enroll 30 per cent of their customers on the BVN by the end of last year, and 70 per cent by March this year. CBN Director, Banking and Payments Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun, said the apex bank will monitor lenders to ensure compliance. He explained that where an existing customer wishes to register the BVN with his/her bank, capturing his signature and photo identification document may not be necessary, as the bank is expected to have those records during account opening. Also, where an existing customer wants to do a change of name, after his/her enrolment, on BVN, due diligence should be done and appropriate legal documents obtained, before effecting the change. Fatokun said the new directive is aimed at fast-tracking the enrolment, adding that banks are to give more attention to the enrolment of their customers. It is expected that the apex bank will, in the coming months, monitor banks’ compliance in line with set guidelines.

Benefits to customers Biometric Project Manager at NIBSS, Oluseyi Adenmosun, said that BVN gives a unique identity that can be verified across the banking industry, making it easier for customers’ bank accounts to be protected from unauthorised access. It is expected to address issues of identity theft, and reduce exposure to fraud in the banking sector. The manager added that the purpose of the project is to use biometric information as a means of first identifying and verifying all individuals that have account (s) in any Nigerian bank and consequently, as a means of authenticating customer’s identity at point of transactions. Adenmosun said the BVN would

also provide a uniform industrially accepted unique identity for customers and authenticate transactions without the use of cards using only biometric features and PIN.

Government reactions to the headwinds Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, has been busy explaining what government is doing to wriggle out of the naira crises among others. She talked about plugging revenue leakages, increasing the drive for revenue as well as developing the non-oil sectors. The minister, who spoke at the International Institute for Finance (IIF) African Financial Summit 2014 held in Lagos, argued that with the right policies, Nigeria and other nations in the continent would be able to sustain growth despite the economic headwinds. She admitted that unfolding events over the last six months have cast a shadow on global economic recovery in the aftermath of the 2008/2009 financial crises. Her words: “Many countries on the continent depend on commodity exports as the main source of revenue. In Nigeria, our crude oil exports alone accounted for about 83 per cent of the value of our total exports in 2013, according to our National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). “It is now imperative to drive up domestic resource mobilisation, especially taxes. In several African countries, including Nigeria, tax revenue to GDP is below 15 per cent – the conventional International Monetary Fund threshold for satisfactory tax performance. There are many leakages and gaps to be plugged, and more effective tax administration could contribute to improving revenues.” Continuing, she added: “Aside drop in oil prices, the price of gold, which peaked at about $1383 per ounce in March, this (last) year, is now trading at around $1160 per ounce. Iron ore, which traded at around $130 per dry metric tonne at the beginning of the year, is now trading at around $76 per dry metric tonne, which is a loss of more than 40 per cent of its value this year. “Also, the prices of some agricultural commodities are on a downward spiral, with the price of cocoa falling by about 10 per cent from $3,252 per tonne at the end of September, to about $2,900 per tonne now. “We need to look into areas that for reasons that are not very clear, we have neglected and we need to change direction. We need to identify such sectors and create an enabling environment to attract private investments, while also channeling government’s spending into them.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS •Clergy men, during the Thanksgiving service ...yesterday. PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Buhari: religion shouldn’t divide Nigerians

ELIGION should not divide Nigeria but be an instrument of unity; All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday. Gen. Buhari spoke at the yearly Lagos State Thanksgiving Service held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. The service, initiated during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and sustained by Governor Babatunde Fashola, is held on the first Sunday in January. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, presides. Yesterday’s session was also attended by Gen. Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a pastor of the RCCG and his wife Dolapo. Fashola, Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Lagos Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Lagos State Governors Lateef Jakande and Gen. Mobolaji Johnson; APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, state chair-

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

man Chief Henry Ajomale and National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, among others, were at the service. Gen. Buhari said Nigerians should have a right to go to God as they wish. He pledged his commitment to security for all Nigerians if voted into office on February 14. He said: “I am honoured to participate in this annual thanksgiving service. This year’s thanksgiving service brings together all Nigerians from all states, Christians, Muslims and all religions in Lagos to thank the Almighty God. “Religion must never be used as an excuse to divide us, oppress others or gain unfair advantage. In all my life, I have expressed the belief that all Nigerians must worship God according to their wish. “The duty of government is not religion. Security for all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion is our commitment. On this day of thanksgiving, we shall all sit together like this, rejoice and thank God together for the Almighty God to give us the country of our dream.”

Fashola condemned those who have predicted negatively concerning the state and the country. Fashola said the state government deemed it fit to hold a thanksgiving service for sparing the lives of the people amid calamities rocking the country. He said: “Today, 264 days after, when girls have disappeared without trace, Bombs have exploded in mindless orgies of violence. “Nigerian towns and villages have been sacked. Our brothers and sisters have been displaced from their homes. Young children have died in stampede while looking for jobs. “Some of our brothers and sisters in the military have lost their lives while trying to defend you and I and the fatherland. I ask you all what else we can do than to give thanks, express our gratitude and praise God for surviving.” In the governor’s view it is important for people to know that they are alive not because they are better, but because of grace and mercy which should never be taken it for granted. “Our appreciation must be

reflected in our attitude of gratitude. In some parts of West Africa today, government has been forced to declare a lockdown of people and restrict movement in this season of festivity because an infectious disease caused by the Ebola Virus is yet to be brought under control. “These countries are smaller than Lagos. Lagos is, in fact, bigger than many of them combined. Yet the same virus afflicted us, we sadly lost 13 lives, but today we are not under lock down. “We can sit side-by-side, we can shake hands and we can move freely. Again, there was grace; there was a coming together across ethnic, religious and government levels to address a common problem.” Fashola said it was high time the people focused their common humanity and those things that they share together and focus less on those things that are different about them. “Our languages, our religion, our ethnic origins are accidents of our birth and not the essential content of our humanity. If our creator wanted us to be the same it is not Continued on page 59

2015: Ikwerre traditional rulers endorse Peterside

HE Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has received the endorsement of the Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Isiokpo, the spiritual and traditional headquarters of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality. The Council declared Peterside the sole governorship candidate of the Ikwerre nationality for the February 28 election. The Council comprises

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

first class and all Government-recognised traditional rulers in the four Ikwerre local government areas, which comprise Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Emohua and Ikwerre. The Council, which declared that its endorsement of Peterside was out of its resolve to uphold equity and justice by ensuring that the riverine section of the state produce, the next governor,

emphasised that by its action, no other governorship candidate would receive its endorsement. The paramount rulers enjoined all Ikwerre indigines to support Peterside. Addressing the Council and other Ikwerre stakeholders, Peterside, who was received by Eze Blessing Wagor, JP, Nye Weli Isiokpo, other members of the Council and a mammoth crowd of APC supporters, underscored the importance of Rivers people making the right and necessary deci-

sion in choosing the next governor. We, members of the Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, at this moment endorse you, Dakuku Peterside, and declare that all sons and daughters of Ikwerre nationality, the four local governments that make up Ikwerre nationality – Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Emohua and Ikwerre – should rally round you. Having said that, on behalf of the Supreme Council, I am presenting him to the people.”

Boko Haram seizes military base in Borno town Continued from page 1

boys and girls. Residents who fled to Chad said they had woken to heavy gunfire as militants stormed Baga early on Saturday, attacking from all directions. They said they decided to flee when they saw the multinational troops running away. Senator Lawan was quoted by BBC World Service as saying civilians ran “helter skelter - some into the forest, some into the desert”. Communications with the town were cut off and exact information about casualty numbers could not be confirmed, he said. “We are very dispirited,” the senator added.

Confirming that the military had abandoned the base, he said people’s frustration knew “no bounds” over the military’s failure to fight back. “There is definitely something wrong that makes our military abandon their posts each time there is an attack from Boko Haram,” the senator said Last week, Boko Harem abducted around 40 young men from a village also in Borno State. A resident told reporters that armed militants driving pickup trucks had ordered villages to attend a sermon, then began picking out men aged between 10 and 23. The village lies close to a forest

where the group is believed to operate bases. The capture of young men during raids on villages is consistent with Boko Haram’s tactics, though much is still unknown about the group’s strategy beyond its oft-repeated claim that it seeks to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. Boko Haram is still holding in captivity more than 200 schoolgirls it abducted from their school in Chibok in Borno State last April. ýThe abduction drew worldwide condemnation, after which President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to secure the area, including by deploying more troops. But

the promised troop numbers have failed to materialise, often leaving residents to rely entirely on vigilantes for protection. Boko Haram’s five-year uprising in Nigeria has claimed more than 13,000 lives and has seen dozens of people, including women and children, kidnapped by the Islamists. Baga was the scene of an alleged military massacre in April 2013. Human rights groups and media reports said that Nigerian troops had stormed the town after militants mounted a deadly attack on an Army patrol. Thousands of houses Continued on page 59

Vehicles’ 35 % levy begins April 30 Continued from page 1

“The Nigerian vehicle market is approximately 400,000 vehicles annually, with about 300,000 imported as used. Hence the government has to balance vehicle supply and affordability with the production by the assembly plants. “ The following are the measures in the policy to ensure vehicle supply and affordability, Complete Knocked Down (CKD) and SKD tariffs are 0%, 5% and 10% respectively. “Assembly plants to assemble affordable vehicles. Assembly plants will import two FBU at concessionary duty for every one CKD/SKD they assemble in 2014/15. It will be one to one in 2016/17. “New investors will also be able import FBU at concessionary duty in numbers to fill the gap between the supply by the assembly plants and demand.(v) Affordable vehicle financing scheme to be set up to enable new vehicles purchase by Nigerians. “The government earlier deferred the imposition of the levy on used cars to Decem-

ber 31st 2014 to enable assembly plants ramp up enough production to satisfy demand. “As you know, VON is assembling Hyundai and Nissan cars, PAN is assembling Peugeot cars, IVM has started assembling cars, and Dana Motors is assembling Kia cars. VW, Honda and Renault, among others, are expected to start assembly operations next year. VON, IVM and Kia also have cars costing N1.5mN2.0m. So the industry can produce the vehicles we need in 2015.” The statement added that arrangements for the establishment of the affordable vehicle finance scheme suffered delay of about four months due to the Ebola Virus Disease. “The staff of the collaborating bank, Wesbank of South Africa, delayed their planned trip to Nigeria to set up operations from September 2014 to January 2015. Hence, the new date for the start of operations of the financing scheme is April 2014. Accordingly, the CME/HMF has been asked to extend the levy deferment on used cars to 30 April 2015.”

APC to unveil Presidential Campaign Council today

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised a crack Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for massive grassroots mobilisation for its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. All the APC governors and many leaders of the party are automatic members of the PCC so that the party can give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a good fight in next month’s general elections. The party will today hold a

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) in Port Harcourt where the PCC will be unveiled to members. Top party leaders met on Saturday and Sunday to finalise the PCC list, which a party leader described as “an all-inclusive council.” The list of the PCC members was not available yesterday, but it was gathered that River State Governor Chibuike Continued on page 59

INEC bars use of govt cash, resources for campaigns Continued from page 1

guage or take any action which could incite violence. The INEC chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said: “All the parties have subscribed to the Code of Conduct and we expect them to abide by it during the campaign and the election.” The Code of Conduct also states: “No political party or candidate shall during campaign resort to the use of inflammatory language, provocative actions, images or manifestation that incite violence, hatred, contempt or intimidation against another party or candidate or any person or group

of persons on grounds of ethnicity or gender or for any other reason. “Accordingly, no political party or candidate shall issue any poster, pamphlet, leaflet or other publication that contains any such incitement. “All political parties shall take all necessary steps to coordinate their campaign activities in such a way as to avoid holding rallies, meetings, marches or demonstrations close to one another at the same time. “Accordingly, whenever the Continued on page 59

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THE NATION MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS Nigeria-India trade volume hits $17b

•The changed face of Osun: An aerial view of the newly constructed Second Bypass Road (Oba Adesoji Aderemi Road) as captured at the weekend.

We ’ll not disintegrate, says NLC secretary

HE prediction that Nigeria will disintegrate this year will fail, according to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC’s) General Secretary Mr. Peter Ozo-Eson. Ozo-Eson, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the country would overcome its challenges.

more severe than now, and we did not disintegrate. “I believe that this country is so united and has created ties that are not easily dissolveable; the prediction will not come through.’’ Ozo-Eson, who was optimistic that the country would overcome its challenges, however, decried the failure of pol-

His words: “I am confident that the prediction will fall flat on its face. Nigeria will not disintegrate in 2015. “Yes, we have these challenges. We, however, have confidence that Nigeria will rise up and deal with these challenges. “Nigeria had faced challenges in the past, probably

iticians to unite in the fight against terrorists. “We are worried that the country is at war, but the body language of our political leaders does not suggest it,” he said. According to him, it should not take decades before the government will summon the political will to combat the insurgency threatening national

The president Nigeria needs, by Kukah T ‘

HE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, believes next month’s presidential election is not about who wins. The winner, according to him, should be someone, who would be ashamed of the state of the nation and do the right thing. Kukah said this at the funeral of a prominent community leader and a retired military officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Waziri Zonkwa, at Ungwar Rana, Ashafa Ikulu Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The cleric explained that it did not matter who becomes the president, insisting that Nigerians were only interested in somebody, who would address the problems facing them. He lamented that 50 years after, the citizens were still talking about the same issues facing the country and blaming the leaders for their failure to move the nation forward. “This is a country, where people steal and go to other countries to set up businesses and buy houses. The issue of 2015 elections is not about who wins. But it is about somebody who is ashamed of the state of the Nigerian nation and strives

Rights’ group seeks cameras at polling units From Shola O’Neil, South-South Regional Editor and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

We must ask ourselves why we are still talking about the same issues 40, 50 years after. The election is not about prayers alone. It is about whether politicians can understand that politics is about service and allow free and fair elections to hold From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

to do the right thing. “We must ask ourselves why we are still talking about the same issues 40, 50 years after. The election is not about prayers alone. It is about whether politicians can understand that politics is about service and allow free and fair elections to hold. “Whether the country will stand or fall depends on whether the politicians will stop their greed. We cannot go on like this as a country. Everything in this country is done by arrangement; we can make progress, when everything is done by arrangement. “Nigeria is the only country that does not think and plan for the future. All the developed countries think and plan 10 years ahead. For instance, if America hears of hap-

‘

•Kukah

penings in other parts of the world, they think of how it is going to affect the Americans and begin to plan ahead,” the clergy man said. He described the late Lt. Col Zonkwa, who died at the age of 74, as a principled person that served the military and his people well. Also, former Kaduna State Military Governor Maj. Gen. Tanko Ayuba (rtd) and former Rivers State Military Governor Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot described the late Zonkwa as a humble, resourceful and hardworking person. Recalling, their days in the army, Gen. Ayuba said: “I know the late Lt. Col. Zonkwa since 1962, when we were serving together in the military. He was a private soldier and we grew together in rank in the Army. “His hard work, loyalty

and dexterity endeared him to many top military officers and commanders, who he served under. His lifestyle in retirement was characterised by humility and hard work. His death is a big loss to the people of Kaduna State and the nation”. Lekwot said the Southern Kaduna people were proud that the deceased served the community well and left indelible records. “We thank him for leaving excellent records behind. I met him in 1972, when I was a staff of the NDA. I discovered he was very resourceful and very enterprising. “His resourcefulness and doggedness led to his membership of the Southern Kaduna Elders Forum. In retirement, he went into business and was a successful business man,” Lekwot said.

PENGASSAN chief urges domestic refining of crude oil

HE Federal Government has been urged to demonstrate commitment to stimulating the local refining of crude oil this year. General Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Mr. Bayo Olowoshile, who said this in Lagos yesterday, noted that only domestic refining would end the crises in the oil and gas

sector. “The key focus of the government in 2015 should be to stimulate the local refining of petroleum, white products and petrochemical products. “Domestic gas production for energy, industry, agricultural and automotive purposes should be given ultimate attention in the New Year,’’ Olowoshile said in an interview with the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN). He said the government should cut the rate of importation of products by 50 per cent. “Job creation and manpower utilisation should also be a priority of the government at a time as this when crime rate has increased. “Many of our present challenges are tied to unemployment and government’s inability to channel the youthful

unity. The labour leader also added that the NLC was “very worried and frightened” about the social and political conditions in the country. The country, Ozo-Eson said, was getting into a situation that might undermine the survival of democracy that all Nigerians fought for.

HE trade volume between Nigeria and India reached $17 billion between April 2013 to March 2014, Indian’s Acting High Commissioner in Abuja, Kaisar Alam, has said Alam said India imported $14 billion worth of goods from Nigeria during the year, while Nigeria imported $3 billion worth of goods from India in the same period. He explained that India was now the largest importer of Nigeria’s crude oil, importing $12 billion worth of the product in the year under review. “India imported $14 billion worth of goods from Nigeria from April 2013 to March 2014, including $12 billion worth of crude oil,’’ he said. He also explained that with the reduction of U.S. import of Nigeria’s crude oil, India was now Nigeria’s largest trading partner. According to him, a large number of Indian companies and businesses had footprints in Nigeria with substantial investments. The envoy explained that the increasing trade relations between the two countries would boost trade volume in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. He said the relations between the two countries had always been friendly, noting that “Nigeria is a very important country to India.’’

strength of our young people into productive activities.” Olowoshile said a slice in importation of products would not only stabilise the economy, but also create millions of jobs for the country’s unemployed youths. He added that importation of finished products into the country was a “canker worm” that had left many Nigerians jobless.

HE National Assembly has been urged to amend the Electoral Act and include a provision to equip the police with body cameras with the aim of monitoring the country’s polling units during the general elections. The Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP), which said this in a statement by its Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, noted that the strategy would enable recording of activities as votes were being cast. CENTREP also wants the amendment of the Electoral Act to empower the courts to admit recordings from cameras at polling units as evidence to prosecute electoral matters. According to the Warri-based group, the elections next month would be a decider in the nation’s history. But it stressed that concerns had been expressed by stakeholders on how some political parties were planning to rig the exercise. CENTREP explained that the body cameras would ensure free, fair and credible elections, adding that recordings from the cameras would serve as leads to actual events in the country’s 119, 973 polling units. The statement reads: “We members of CENTREP, as part of ongoing efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society groups nationwide at ensuring a peaceful, free and fair 2015 general elections, do hereby call on the Federal Government to provide body worn cameras for all police orderlies, who are to man each of the existing 119,973 polling units scattered across the country on election day to avoid electoral malpractice. “We are not oblivious of the fact that each of the 119,973 police orderlies that are to man the existing polling units nationwide is to do so without bearing arm. “It would, therefore, be consistent with law and logical reasoning for these police orderlies as law enforcement officers billed to ensuring orderliness in their polling units to do so by policing and monitoring proceedings in their polling units by scientific means, as a way of collectively ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election. Recordings there can be used to timely determine electoral matters before election tribunals. “The above call has become necessary owing to several fears being expressed in many quarters of possible electoral violence occasioned by massive rigging by unscrupulous and desperate politicians and their supporters during the general elections. “To this end, and in a bid to remove any bottleneck that may jeopardise our above suggestion, we call on members of both Houses of the National Assembly to speedily and patriotically amend the Electoral Act before the general elections to accommodate the use of body cameras by all police orderlies to manning each of the polling units scattered across our nation and the use of recordings from same in determining electoral disputes for the sake of promoting peaceful, free and fair general elections in our polity and in the interest of our fledgling democracy.”

THE NATION MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS Kwankwaso, Atiku deny returning to PDP

Babangida didn’t endorse Jonathan, says associate

LHAJI Hassan Jallo, a close associate of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has denied the claim that the former military president endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for next month’s presidential election. According to him, what Babangida and Jonathan discussed were “security issues and the unity of Nigeria”. Jallo added that the former military president promised to support Jonathan in that direction, insisting that it did not mean that Babangida endorsed Jonathan for re-election. Jallo, who addressed reporters in Kaduna on the issue yesterday, said: “I am saying this

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

on behalf of IBB… So, don’t expect him to descend very low to come out himself and debunk this so-called endorsement of President Jonathan. I am saying this for him, and I believe the endorsement is the creation of the media.” Confirming that he was not at the meeting, he explained that available information showed that Jonathan was only there to consult with Babangida on the challenges facing the nation and the way forward. Jallo said issues relating to endorsement or 2015 elections were not part of discussions,

stressing that Babangida has not endorsed any of the presidential candidates. He maintained that the former military president “is a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”. According to him, the former head of state’s statement was misinterpreted for Jonathan’s endorsement in the general elections. His words: “President Jonathan is not the first to visit the former head of state. Other presidential aspirants and leaders have paid him visit, regardless of their political parties for one consultation or the other. “I want you to quote me very well that IBB has not en-

•Babangida

dorsed Jonathan or any other presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential race. “Jonathan requested to visit him. And he couldn’t have turned down a president’s request as an elder statesman. There is no man like IBB in Nigeria of today. I therefore urge media men to express professionalism in their reportage to avoid misleading the public.”

ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso will not return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his spokesman Baba Dantiye said at the weekend. According to him, last week’s statement by PDP National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo that the party was wooing Kwankwaso and Atiku to return to the PDP was “a vote of no confidence on the leadership of Kano PDP.” Kwankwaso is a senatorial candidate of the APC in Kano. Also, Atiku’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said his boss had nothing to do with the PDP again. He reiterated Atiku’s statement before the presidential primaries that the APC would be his last bus stop.

NARD: doctors are not on strike By Wale Adepoju

HE National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) said yesterday that doctors are not part of the strike embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Ramon Moronkola, said doctors in LUTH, Lagos State hospitals and nationwide are not on strike. He said: “We are always at our duty post and have been taking our calls. More than ever before, we are committed to the emergence of an efficient and sustainable health system to the benefit of all Nigerians.” He said doctors are challenged by erratic power supply, adding: “Consumables and equipment were locked away by the striking workers.” Moronkola said they have kept the hospital running to the best of their ability with the support provided by the management despite “the odds created intentionally and/ or by accident”. “We attended to over 50 patients during our clinics, which almost equals the number we normally see. This is applicable to other units in LUTH. The dental clinics and the children emergency room (CHER) are running almost to their full capacities. These are verifiable facts,” he said.

Sagay: don’t support debate on council autonomy

•Invited guests at the Lagos Annual Thanksgiving Service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

NIMC urges eligible Nigerians to collect ID cards

LIGIBLE Nigerians that enrolled for the national identity number at National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC’s) centres have been advised to collect their Identity Cards (ID). The General Manager, Corporate Communications of the commission, Mr. Abdul-Hamid Umar, said this in Lagos yesterday. The commission, he added, has notified people who enrolled and whose cards were ready through text mes-

sages. “Many Nigerians have been enrolled in the national identity data base; though we are far behind the expectation. “Nigerians, who have received text messages personalised to them, giving information that their ID cards are ready, should come to our centres for collection,’’ Umar said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The spokesman said the appropriate centres for the collection of cards had been

stipulated in such messages. Umar added that there were some Nigerians who had not come for enrolment in the national identity database. According to him, the commission was committed to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian was enrolled and issued ID card for identification. In a separate interview, Mrs. Titilola Ejiofor, an Assistant General Manager and Lagos State Coordinator of the commission, told NAN

that the commission had 21 enrolment centres in the state. According to her, the centres are: Lagos State Head office in Ikeja, Lagos State University, Ikeja Army Cantonment, Eti-Osa, Ojo, Somolu, Oshodi, Amuwo-Odofin, Ayobo-Ipaja and Agege local government secretariats. Others are: FIRS Ikoyi, Lekki Phase I, Bonny Camp, Nigeria Air-force Base, Ikeja, Lagos State Polytechnic, Yaba College of Technology and University of Lagos.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Christians for their prayers for the nation, he said: “This is a period the world is passing through challenges. We have a lot of potentials and I see a bright future for the country. Despite the challenges and bumps, Nigeria will move on and get to the promised land.” The officiating pastor, who is the Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Rev James Aye Oruwori, urged the congregation to avoid committing sins and keep a strong covenant relationship with God so as to fight all their battles. Recalling the encounter be-

tween David and Goliath in the Holy Bible, he said that the former’s strong covenant with God gave him victory. He urged Nigerians to remain calm ahead of the forthcoming general elections, saying that God had already taking a decision on the outcome. According to him, nobody can alter the decision. He said: “God has written his decision on the next election. No one can change it. He wrote the decision long ago. Election is the biggest thing we are expecting this year. We must stop exhibiting fear. We should be calm and abide by God’s decision,” he said. At the church service were

Our ideology has enhanced business growth, says PDP From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Jonathan: Nigeria’s future is bright RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured that country’s future is bright, insisting that it would get to the promised land, despite its challenges. He spoke at the first Sunday of the year service at the St. Stephens Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Jonathan was optimistic that things would turn around for better with the nation’s huge potentials. Jonathan said his administration would continue to tap into the potentials to move the country forward, noting that the world was equally facing challenges. Thanking the church and

ORMER Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Prof. Itse Sagay, has urged the state lawmakers not to support debate on local government autonomy. Sagay, who spoke in Lagos yesterday, explained that the recognition of local government as the third tier of government was not ideal. The proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, he alleged, was aimed at granting autonomy to local governments. “It is even wrong in the first place that local governments were given powers and functions directly in the 1999 Constitution. “Local governments in federal political systems are creations of the state and, therefore, ought not to enjoy powers in same measures that the constitution grants to the federating units,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by telephone. Sagay also noted that Nigeria’s federal political system was contrary to the principle of federalism, which recognised only two levels of government - the federal and state governments. He said autonomy for local governments would cause problems of governance for governors, adding that in advanced federations such as United States (U.S.), local governments were only mentioned in state constitutions. “It is ideal that local governments serve the agendas of governors since they are their creations and their agents in a way for overall urbanisation of the state. “State assemblies that will support amending our federal constitution to give independence to local government from the state do so at the detriment of their development. “With critical insight to the issue of local autonomy in Nigeria, there is no way two-third of our state assemblies will vote yes to amend our constitution on this subject,’’ he said.

•Jonathan

Governor Seriake Dickson; his wife, Dr. Rachael Dickson; Villa Chapel Chaplain, Rev. Obioma Owuzurumba; and presidential aides.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has, in the last 15 years, provided the enabling environment that empowered Nigerian entrepreneurs to flourish in business and economy. Its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who said this in a statement yesterday, noted that “meticulous application” by successive PDP administrations, of policies as enshrined in the party’s ideology and manifesto, has created and sustained an investment friendly environment and empowered Nigerian businesses. The statement said: “The growth of the private sector under the PDP has been phenomenal. This did not happen by chance. Our governments at all levels have been guided by our economic policy, which directs the creation of a dynamic economy in which market forces are combined with the forces of partnership, solidarity and cooperation for the benefit of the people. “The hallmark of the PDP administration remains the policy of transfer of wealth from the public sector to hardworking and enterprising Nigerians. This has not only revived and empowered the private sector, but it also expanded the nation’s economic frontiers with an unprecedented growth in small and medium scale enterprises, which has helped in providing employment for our citizens across the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS

Ekiti APC tackles NUT boss over ‘apology’ to Fayemi

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has berated the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kayode Akosile, for his comments that teachers do not regret voting against the party’s candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi. The party condemned Akosile for “disowning” some teachers, who apologised to Fayemi for working against his re-election. It said: “The NUT boss is misrepresenting the interest of the teachers.” In a statement yesterday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said Akosile’s statement “does not represent the view of teachers, who celebrated Christmas in hunger compared to the pomp with which they celebrated the previous Christmas under the Fayemi administration”. The APC challenged the

•Union: don’t drag us into politics From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

NUT boss to deny the various welfare packages teachers enjoyed during the Fayemi administration, including salary increment four times and promotion. He urged the NUT boss to explain what Governor Ayo Fayose did for teachers between 2003 and 2006 “apart from buying ankara for them after deducting the cost from their salaries”. Olatunbosun said: “Teachers’ salaries were increased four times. From N7,500 minimum wage that Fayemi met in 2010, he increased it to N13,000. “Teachers also got 33 per cent relativity pay and later the minimum wage was increased to N19, 300 with teachers getting their 27.5 per cent pecuniary allowance. “Akosile also forgot to

mention that under the Fayemi administration, teachers were paid 20 per cent of their salary as core subject allowance for those teaching core subjects and another 20 per cent as rural posting allowance as incentive for those posted to rural areas. “But today, all these allowances have been stopped by Akosile’s “teachers-friendly” Governor Fayose.” The APC spokesman said the NUT boss failed to say that 1,953 primary school teachers, whose promotions were pending since 2010, were promoted in 2012. “Another 2,300 were promoted last year even as 1,019 public schools (primary and secondary) were renovated by the Fayemi’s administration. “It is mischievous that Akosile did not tell us that Ekiti State won the best sec-

ondary school teacher and second best primary school teachers awards in 2013,” he said. Olatunbosun said some senior head teachers whose highest grade was pegged at Level 16 were elevated to Grade Level 17 as tutors-general. He added: “Fayose deducted N200million from teachers’ salaries under the pretext of buying Christmas gifts only to give them kwashiokor-infested chickens and other disgraceful items not worth N700. “Fayemi did not deduct teachers’ salaries but paid them on December 18. “He paid them leave bonus, 30 per cent of their salary as bonus and also paid 20 per cent core subject and rural allowance during Christmas. “Once again, APC has accepted the apology of the

teachers who are remorseful over the way they treated Governor Fayemi because they have realised that they were misled to do so.” But Akosile warned the party not to drag teachers into politics. He said the truth must be told irrespective of whose ox is gored. The NUT boss wondered how the APC spokesman, who is not a teacher, would know his members. Akosile said: “I wonder how he can claim to know Osho’s mother more than Osho himself. “Our statement is the correct reflection of the feelings of our members and we stand by it. “Once again, we say we have no regret voting against APC in the last governorship election. “We, as a union, do not want anybody to draw us into their dirty politics, but the truth must be told.”

‘Ondo PDP crisis unresolved’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ondo State is far from over. Sources said old members of the party yesterday insisted that they would not have anything to do with Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Speaking to reporters in Okitipupa,a chieftain of the party and member, House of Representatives, Albert Akintoye, said the crisis would continue unabated, unless Mimiko desisted from imposing his candidates on the party. The lawmaker debunked the report credited to the party’s National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, that the crisis in Ondo PDP had been resolved. Akintoye said old members had resolved not to work with Mimiko in the coming general elections if the national leadership failed to withdraw the list of candidates submitted by the governor and recognise the Ogunye-led party in the state He alleged that Prof Oladipo’s statement was sponsored by Mimiko to deceive the masses and gave the impression that all was well in Ondo PDP. Akintoye reiterated that his endorsement by the Senate president, PDP national chairman Adamu Mu’azu and President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate in Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency for the National Assembly election must remain, if the crisis must be resolved. He said the party leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must abide by court decision which ruled that INEC must not accept the list of any candidate in the state different from the Ogunyeled PDP’s. The former Irele Local Government chairman insisted that the failure of INEC or the party leadership to do the needful on the matter might lead to mass defection of members Akintoye queried Mimiko’s audacity to reverse the decision of the President and national leadership.

Stroke patient burnt to death From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

60 YEAR-OLD stroke patient, Ige Oyinleye, was at the weekend burnt to death in his room in Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The fire was said to have been caused by a candle placed by his bedside. The Nation gathered that Oyinleye, a father of six, who had been ill for two years, relocated to Ita-Ogbolu from Akure, leaving his family behind. He was said to have been living alone in the house. His wife, Funke, sources said, brings food to the deceased daily from Akure, since her husband relocated to Ita-Igbolu. A resident in the community, Bayo Isiaka, said they rushed to the house when they discovered that smoke was coming out of the deceased’s room. He said they were able to save the building but met Oyinleye burnt in his room. Isiaka said: “We learnt that his wife was around to give her husband food. Before she returned to Akure, there was no light, the woman lit a candle which she placed beside her husbands bed, but she forgot to put it out before she left. “At midnight, the candle fell on the bed and you know since the man cannot walk, he was burnt with the bed”. Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he had not been briefed.

Traders adopt APC candidate

•Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State Seyi Makinde addressing party members in Oluyole Local Government Area.

Oyo gets N500m recovered by EFCC, says Ajimobi

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N500million from a governorship candidate in the state. He spoke at a programme organised by the government to herald the New Year at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Ibadan, at the weekend. “For those who did not know, two of the candidates have been charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for various charges bordering on economic mismanagement. “Besides, N500 million has just been recovered from one of them and that is part of the money we are using to build our model schools. “A former governor virtually grounded government business by his refusal to constitute the boards of parastatals for the better part of his administration; he also placed a ban on pilgrimage sponsorship,’’ he said. The governor challenged his opponents to a debate, saying they should come out and tell the people what they have done that qualifies them for the people’s mandate. “For those who had not been

•Governor challenges Alao-Akala, Ladoja, others to debate there before, I really do not have problem with them. But for other candidates who had been governors before, I challenge them to an open debate. “Let them come and tell the people what they did while they were there that qualifies them for a comeback,” Ajimobi said. The governor said his administration had provided free alternative shops for the traders removed from the streets by one of his predecessors. He said no administration was as close to Muslims and

Christians than his administration, adding that the magnanimity and generosity, which his government had shown to various segments of the society, was unprecedented in the history of the state. For instance, he said N550 million was distributed to traders, artisans as well as market men and women, the latest of which was the N300 million shared to 6,000 of them at N50,000 each on December 24 at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Ajimobi also urged the people not to forget the violence, thuggery and brigandage that pervaded the state between 2003 and 2011, adding that they should choose between the peace which his administration had epitomised and the violence which his opponents represented. “The peace which we have been enjoying in the last three and a half years must not be allowed to be truncated by those who do not understand any language other than violence. They are enemies of the people of Oyo State, who are masquerading as messiah. They surely have nothing to offer,’’ he said.

Obasanjo meets Southwest women leaders

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo will today meet with all Iyalodes (traditional women leaders) and other women leaders in the Southwest. The meeting, which is slated for his hilltop Abeokuta home, is causing panic among Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders. Though the agenda for the meeting was unknown yesterday, the notice of meeting sent out by the Iyalode of Egba, Alaba Lawson, said the women “are to assemble at Commerce House, Igbehin Hills, near Ibara Police Station, Abeokuta by 9am to go in a convoy to Baba’s house for the 10am appointment”. It was learnt that knowledge of the

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

meeting has caused ripples within the PDP with the belief that the former president is not favourably disposed to the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. The PDP leaders, it was learnt, believe that the meeting was aimed at garnering support for the All Progressives Congress (APC). A PDP source said: “As much as we are not privy to the meeting’s agenda, we are convinced that it cannot be anything than political and since baba’s body language as far as PDP is concerned is against our plan to have President Jonathan back in office, we are worried..”

ARKET men and women in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State at the weekend endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in Ogun East, Dapo Abiodun. In a meeting at Ikenne Town Hall, the traders declared that they do not engage in politics but they have shown interest because of the track records of the APC candidate. According to the Iyaloja General of Remo, Mrs. Mercy Owolana, Abiodun’s altruistic disposition attracted the group, which does not trust politicians because of their inconsistency. She said: “We gathered here to meet Prince Dapo Abiodun, our responsible and amiable son, because we have known him to be consistent. He doesn’t make empty promises. “He’s well known to us here and is capable of representing us at the Senate even better than those who did that in the past. “We came out to declare publicly today that all market women and men in Remoland have adopted Dapo Abiodun as their senatorial candidate for Ogun East. “We hereby call on all people of Remoland to join us in electing Dapo Abiodun as our senator in next month’s election.” Abiodun assured the traders that the first batch of beneficiaries of the interestfree loans he promised them would be released soon.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS Baby, four others die in Ogun accident •Seven injured

IVE people, including a baby girl, have died in an accident at Koba on the Abeokuta - Siun Expressway yesterday. The accident involved a Mitsubishi Space wagon, marked Lagos EPE 9225 XD, a Nissan Almeria, Lagos KSF 803CX and a Hilux Van, Lagos LSR 470BB. Seven others were injured, including the driver of a security vehicle belonging to the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, whose identity card read Yakubu Abiola Yussuf. The accident occurred at 5.30pm and drew a lot of sympathisers who stopped to assist the victims, before the arrival of traffic officials.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Operatives of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and sympathisers battled to free the remains of the drivers of the Nissan Almeria and the Mitsubishi Space wagon trapped in the wreckage of their mangled vehicles. It was gathered that the driver of the space wagon had just left the Kuto garage, Abeokuta, where he had picked Lagos-bound passengers. A survivor said the driver of the Hilux who was going to Abeokuta, veered off his lane and swerved into the opposite lane and collided with the space wagon.

2015‘ll bring more joy, says Ewi

HE Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has said the New Year will bring more joy and fulfilment to Nigerians. In his New Year message, the monarch thanked God for His mercies in Ekiti State and for the peaceful conduct of the governorship election. He prayed that Nigeria will witness the same peace during next month’s general elections. Oba Adejugbe called on the people to resolve to change for the better in the New Year.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

The monarch advised politicians to play the game by the rules and avoid any act that can disrupt the peace. He urged parents to take proper care of their children so they would not be used as thugs. Oba Adejugbe called for peaceful co-existence among the people for accelerated development. He added that the less privileged in the society deserve better treatment from the government.

Clark’s wife begins campaign

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ogun Central, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark, has begun a door-todoor campaign. The doctor-turned politician led her campaign team to many homes in Ibara, Abeokuta, telling residents about her programme and thanking them for their support. The Chairperson of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, who is also a former Commissioner for Health, promised her constituents that if voted into office she will use her contacts to attract projects that will affect the lives of the people. “I served you before and the records are there to show. You remember I worked hard to ensure that most of the general hospitals in our state got adequate funding. “I will do it even at a higher scale this time. I know who to meet and where to go to attract life-improving projects for you,” she promised. Dr. Sodipo-Clark promised to install a major power transformer that will make life better for residents of some parts of the state capital, who have been without electricity for the past three years. “The Ibadan Distribution Company, through my intervention and the support of President Goodluck Jonathan, shall put smiles on your faces this new year. Electricity shall be restored.”

Special Marshals on patrol

HE RS2.1 Lagos State’s Special Marshals have embarked on their national patrol on the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway to caution motorists and other road users against indiscipline in the New Year. The exercise, “Operation Zero Tolerance”, was organised to sensitise road users against driving contrary to road rules and regulations. The Special Marshals, according to the Coordinator, Toyin Kadiku, are the volunteer arm of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), created by statute and empowered to carry out patrol and other activities to ensure good road usage. He said they can arrest and book traffic offenders as well as prosecute them when necessary.

The Assistant Corps Marshal, Ota Unit Command, Sunday Omafu, has urged his men to be more committed, efficient and effective to ensure zero crashes on roads. He spoke while addressing officers in his office. Omafu said the rate of accidents on the highways has reduced due to high level of public education, massive deployment of personnel, full enforcement by the traffic managers, and the high rate of traffic compliance by the motorists. He said utmost discipline was expected from all road users, irrespective of their modality of transportation. He appealed to companies and vehicle owners to ensure their vehicles are in good shape before putting them on the road.

•Sympathisers on the scene...yesterday

Ekiti Mopol commander transferred over ‘stomach infrastructure’

EW days after Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, went agog with the sharing of rice, chicken and vegetable oil to residents as Christmas largesse, the ‘stomach infrastructure’ agenda of the Ayo Fayose administration has “claimed a casualty”. The Mobile Police (MOPOL) Commander, Gabriel Selenkere, has been transferred, following his refusal to allow mobile policemen queue in public to collect the Christmas largesse. The Nation gathered yesterday that “signals” for Selenkere’s transfer would reach Ado-Ekiti today from the Force Headquarters in Abuja. It was also learnt that Selenkere, a superintendent of Police, is not on good terms with the Commissioner of

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu. Selenkere, who hails from Bayelsa State, became a controversial figure when in the runup to the June 21 governorship election, opposition parties accused him of arbitrary detention of their members. He was personally involved in stopping a rally held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) members on June 8 when they carried out a symbolic “sweeping” of the footprints of the national leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including President Goodluck Jonathan, who were in the state a day earlier to campaign for Fayose. The MOPOL chief stopped the convoy of former Gover-

nor Kayode Fayemi and tried to arrest him. The Nation learnt that during the distribution of Christmas gifts to the public and other interest groups by Fayose and other senior government officials, the recipients queued in public to collect the largesse. Conventional policemen were among those who collected the Christmas gifts in the open but when it was the turn of mobile policemen, Selenkere ordered his men not to collect the gifts in “full glare of the public”. Selenkere’s action reportedly angered top government officials who saw it as “rude, unfriendly and insolent”. A police officer, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed Selenkere’s transfer.

He said: “It is true that he (Selenkere) has been transferred. In fact, the signals for his transfer will reach AdoEkiti today. “The issue of Christmas gifts shared by the government was part of it but you know he has many issues as well bordering on his line of duties. “It is true that he ordered MOPOL men not to collect the gifts and ordered them to go back to their bases, despite the fact that the conventional police collected. “He is also not on good terms with the CP but one thing you must realise is that the OC-MOPOL and the CP must have a good working relationship and as a junior officer he has to give way.”

Reduce petroleum products’ pump price, says Oyo APC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called for a reduction in the pump prices of petroleum products, in view of the crash of the price of crude oil in the international market. In a statement n Ibadan yesterday, the APC said President Goodluck Jonathan and his economic team arrived at N97 per litre of petrol in 2012, citing skyrocketing prices of crude oil in the global market. “Oil price has fallen by 49 per cent from 2013 prices and Jonathan administration still claimed it spent a whooping N971billion on its voodoo subsidy payment last year. “Does it mean that Nigeria has been buying refined petroleum products at the same

rate from nations with functional refineries, despite the crash in crude oil prices? How come Ghana was able to implement a 13 per cent reduction in the prices of same products in its local market? “As much as we know that the present administration would never be transparent in its economic dealings with the citizenry since it has prioritised promotion of corruption and pursuit of parochial interests. “We challenge the President and his economic team to be honest for once and implement a drastic reduction in the pump prices of petroleum products.” The party lauded Governor Abiola Ajimobi for what it described as the governor’s rare display of tact, vision and

‘We challenge the President and his economic team to be honest for once and implement a drastic reduction in the pump prices of petroleum products’ competence, which made the state’s economy to remain strong, despite the threat posed by persistent slash in the statutory allocations com-

ing from the Federal Government. “It can only take a tactful, visionary and pro-active mind to face the challenge of drastic dwindling allocations to a state like Oyo with weak Internally Generated Revenue base to keep the machinery of government afloat. “With a paltry sum of N2.9billion being received by a governor who is responsible for the monthly payment of N4.95billion in overhead cost, the task could be more than daunting. “We wish the previous administrations had been judicious with the many cash windfalls which they got while in power and thus lessened the burden on the present government.”

Oyo needs competent hands, says Makinde

HE governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said governments at all levels must look for alternative source of funds. He said the people must brace up for rough times economically if they allow the status quo remain after the February 28 governorship election. The status quo, according to him, “does not necessarily mean the return of the present administration, but, also installment of any of the previous ones jostling to come back, because there’s nothing new to bring into governance”. Makinde said the demand of the mo-

ment “requires diversification of the economy from oil to other sources, the blueprint of which I have prepared to ensure that federal allocation will not be our priority as a means of running the government”. The governorship hopeful assured that the welfare of the people would take a centre-stage, stressing that there’s no difficulty in running an enlightened state like Oyo if there is transparency and sincerity of purpose. “I don’t claim monopoly of knowledge, because, I have, in the course of my interaction with the people, identified resultoriented and goal-getting individuals

who I’m sure will be ready to offer their services to the state. “We are more blessed in this state to find ourselves in this parlous level which is why I have taken it upon myself to champion the cause of a new order, using the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform and with the people on our side, we will re-write the history of the state. “We will return the state to its pace-setter status by harnessing our resources, both human and materials. “I have not held any governmental position before, but, I can say with every sense of modesty that I possess all it takes to run a successful government.”

THE NATION MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS 45 vehicles destroyed in Lagos fire

SERAP: UN to avert execution of 54 soldiers A RIGHTS group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), said yesterday that the Office of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns, has concluded plans to stop execution of 54 soldiers on the death row. The group said Heyns has confirmed that “appropriate action, including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, is being considered regarding the imminent execution” of the soldiers. This followed a petition submitted to Heyns by SERAP in December last year, in which the group asked five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to request the Nigerian government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences”. SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, who revealed the new development in a statement yesterday, added: “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions both on the telephone and via email. “Johel Dominique has confirmed that the special rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country. “We have also confirmed to the special rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers, to file the petition.

Ex-DG for Founders’ Day By Tokunbo Ogunsami

THE former Director-General of the French Village, Badagry, Lagos State, Prof. Ade Ojo, is to attend the 20th Founders’ Day of Jextoban Secondary School, Lagos. The event, which comes up on Friday, will hold at the school’s multi-purpose hall, Km 36, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibafo, Ogun State, by 10am. Spokesman Abayomi Solesi said: “The Founders’ Day celebration, tagged: ‘Celebration of God’s Faithfulness’, is to thank God and appreciate His faithfulness in the last 20 years.” He said individuals and corporate bodies, who had supported the school, would be appreciated. Guests expected are the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Federation Weekly Law, Taiwo Kupolati, a lawyer and others.

Otti’s name missing on INEC list

HE Abia State branch of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of the candidates for the governorship election, with the name of former Chief Executive of Diamond Bank Plc Dr. Alex Otti missing. A source said this might have been as a result of the double primaries by his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

By Precious Igbonwelundu

•From left: The Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Shade Tinubu-Ojo, Chief Oprah Benson, Chief Abah Folawiyo and Chief Kemi Nelson, at the Lagos State Annual Thanksgiving Service in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Moahmmed, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, his wife and Gen, Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), at thanksgiving...yesterday. PHOTOS:NIYI ADENIRAN

Kashamu faults Mbaka on Jonathan

HE Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu, has faulted a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, following his call on President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon his re-election bid for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). Mbaka, who heads the popular Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, said this in his New Year message. Kashamu said he wondered why the cleric would abhor a healthy contest for such an escape route, stressing that it was unthinkable that a supposed man of God would advise a democratically-elected Presi-

By Wale Ajetunmobi

dent to abandon his constitutionally-guaranteed right for a former military head of state to assume leadership through the back door. He said it was regrettable that a cleric could make such a statement. Kashamu added: “It was not good that at a time when all well-meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigeria should rally round the President to defeat terrorism, a cleric can be talking as if he is a politician. “Thankfully, the best that Rev. Mbaka can be said to be is a man of God and not God Himself. He has said his own, but God has the final say. “Nigerians know that insecurity was orchestrated by

those who believe that the nation’s leadership is their birthright. Once they can not get it, they must bring down the whole house. “From recent revelations, it is clear that some northern elements are recruiting their wards into the Boko Haram sect for pecuniary gains. “We, Nigerians, are not fools. The sympathisers and masterminds of Boko Haram will not be allowed to benefit from the problems they created in the first instance.” He said while the Federal Government intensified efforts in the rescue of the Chibok girls, Nigerians should not lose sight that the girls were abducted because of the irresponsibility of the Borno State government.

His words: “It is sickening that everyone is blaming the Federal Government as if there are no levels of government and interventions. The Jonathan administration has taken the lead in the fight against insurgency and the efforts to rescue the abducted girls. It should be supported and encouraged, not vilified. “The general elections should not be made to look like a referendum on the efforts of the Jonathan administration to combat insurgency. It is more than that as shown in its respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech, agricultural transformation, revamping of rail transportation, steady growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.”

FORTY five vehicles were razed yesterday in Lagos, following an early morning inferno at a mechanic village. The incident, which occurred at Ebute-Meta at 2:15am, consumed second hand vehicles parked at the “village”, which is known for converting steering wheels from right to left hand drive. Although the cause of the fire was unknown, it took the combined efforts of fire service personnel from Sari Iganmu and Ilupeju to contain the outbreak. Fire outbreaks were recorded in eight other locations, including an incident at Alaba, which destroyed 16 rooms. There was also an outbreak at a four-storey building on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi. Lamenting the incessant outbreaks, the state director of fire service, Rasaq Fadipe, appealed to the people to be cautious. He said: “We have responded to nine cases today. At 3:55am, an inferno razed a building with 18 rooms at Okobaba; about the same, we got a call of an outbreak in Badagry. “There was also the mechanic workshop at Ebute Meta, which started at about 2:15am; another building at Alaba with 16 rooms was razed. “We responded to fire calls at Sari Iganmu, Orile, Akerele in Surulere as well as Iju road.”

Annual prayer THE annual seven-day revival service of the Melototah Church of Zion begins today. During the programme, which features prayer sessions, seminars and counselling, intermittent services will hold at 5am, 9am, noon, 3pm and 5:30 pm daily. The grand finale comes up on Sunday with services at 8 am and 4pm. The event will take place at the church auditorium, 18/20, Ikale Street, Papa-Ajao, Mushin, Lagos. Ministers of God are expected.

Bakare votes for transition govt

HE Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has restated the need to establish a two-year transition government to forestall danger in the general elections. Addressing reporters yesterday on the state of the nation, he said without peace and tranquility President Goodluck Jonathan could not go ahead with the elections. In his statement, titled: “The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How to avoid catastrophic Euroclydon”, Pastor Bakare urged the Federal Government to protect the lives of Nigerians. He said Jonathan should head the transition government, noting that he could not step aside as the case might be. The cleric stressed that the President should not participate in the election after the

By Musa Odoshimokhe

expiration of the transition government. The idea of a transition government is not new, but many have comdemned it as a needless window to keep Jonathan in power, after his administration’s failure. Pastor Bakare said the complaints, which followed the collection of the permanent voter cards (PVCs) and other shoddy performances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that the commission was not prepared to conduct the elections. Said he: “How else can one explain the invasion of the office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Department of the State Security (DSS), acting a script written to repress opposition parties? “Besides the problem associated with PVC, if the reported

hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in terror areas are considered with respect to their status as part of the electorate and if terror stricken towns are considered in terms of polling units involved, we are faced with massive disenfranchisement.” Pastor Bakare noted that the new tactics by Boko Haram to adopt teenage girls increased the risk factor in massive political rallies and polling stations across the North and, to a lesser extent, in the South. “We might have succeeded in organising some governorship elections in the South and the aborted governorship election in Adamawa State by massive deployment of military and Civil Defence forces. However, we cannot ignore the threat ahead of the general elections.” He said the country needed an electoral umpire whose head would no longer be appointed

by the President and whose funding would be drawn from first line charge on the federation account. The clergyman said with the proposed diversification of the revenue base from oil to taxation and the devaluation of the naira in an economy that was import dependent, inflation was imminent. “The so-called average Nigerian, who has no place on the dinner table will bear the brunt. It is even doubtful that he can access the crumb that falls from the master’s table.” He said with the depletion of the country’s foreign reserve and the looming economic downturn, “we are faced with a volatile transition process and the looming catastrophe ahead.” Pastor Bakare stressed that the church had compromised its role in the build-up to the election.

•Pastor Bakare His words: “It is necessary to point out one more sign of the gathering storm that has to do with my constituency, the church, and its interaction with the political space in 2015. “What will be the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), organisations that have been massively behind the President and who are likely against APC as the PFN’s roundthe-clock circulated prayer bulletin reveals?’’

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

CITYBEATS Why I became a robber, by suspect A

MEMBER of a three-man gang which specialised in house-to-house robbery in Lagos is claiming to have embraced crime to get money for his mother’s treatment. Emeka Edward, 20, said he needed money to settle the woman’s medical bills after she delivered her last child through a Caesarean section. He is being held by the police with an other suspect, George David (27). Their accomplice, simply identified as Kelvin a.k.a Intelligence, is at large. The police accused them of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearm. According to the police said, last December 5, members of the gang invaded a street in Alaso area on Africa Independent Television (AIT) Road, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, where they carried out a house-to-house robbery. Luck ran out against them following the escape of a woman they met in the first house when one of them attempted to rape her. She was said to have raised an alarm which alerted other residents who chased the robber at Alagbado and arrested Emeka. The suspect was handed over to the Police at Alagbado and was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Based on Emeka’s confession, SARS Officer-in-Charge (O-i-C) Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, last December 11 led detectives to a hideout in Agege where George was arrested. But efforts to get Kelvin failed. The detectives ransacked a hotel in Agege where Kelvin was lodging but he was not found. However, they recovered one AK47 magazine with 7.65mm live ammunition. In his confession, Emeka said:

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

By Ebele Boniface

“I am a bricklayer. I dropped out at Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 due to financial problem caused by my father’s sudden death. I live at 25, Kadiri Adibambo Street, AIT Area in Alagbado. I live on the same street with my friend, George. “My journey into police net started when my mother told me that she was sick and needed money for a surgery while giving birth to her last child. It was my effort to get the money that put me in this trouble.” On their mode of operation, he said: “My friend, Alfa called me to visit that area. When I got there, I met him with another guy. They told me that they were going to do one job which would fetch them good money. They told me that the job was house-to-house armed robbery. I joined them because I needed money to help my mother. “When we entered one building we met one woman and three of her children. Kelvin who was holding gun ordered them to lay face-down. They started ransacking the house, but George wanted to rape the woman. The woman jumped up and attempted to run away. George held her wrapper and the woman dropped it and ran into the street, shouting “thief, thief, thief,” which attracted residents in the area who trooped out and gave us a hot chase. George and Kelvin escaped. I was identified, arrested by the people and handed over to the police. It was the first time I would participate in robbery”. George, who hails from Iseleukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, said: “I used to ride tricycle (Keke Marwa) from Kola to Alaso in the Alagbado area. I am from the same village with Kelvin, who claims to be a student of Ogun State University. He said he wanted to travel to

•The suspects

‘

They started ransacking the house, but George wanted to rape the woman. The woman jumped up and attempted to run away. George held her wrapper and the woman dropped it and ran into the street, shouting ‘thief, thief, thief,’ which attracted residents in the area who trooped out and gave us a hot chase

South Africa and showed me his visa. I sold my tricycle I bought for N600,000 for N80,000 to assist him on the planned trip.

’

“He had been robbing and police had been looking for him. I also sold my TV and Ipad to help him. I knew Emeka and I used to buy sachets of

Chelsea drink for him. I was the one who invited him to join us in the robbery. “Kelvin used the butt of his gun to hit one of the boy’s head because they were not cooperating. I did not want to rape the woman. I held the woman when she wanted to run away and she intentionally removed her wrapper to enable her escape from my grip.” The command’s spokesman, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ken Nwosu, confirmed the case, saying: “Two of the suspects were arrested and they have already confessed to some robberies in Lagos and its environs. The third gang member simply identified as Kelvin a.k.a Intelligence is on the run but serious efforts are ongoing to apprehend him and charge them to court.”

We aren’t compatible, man tells court •’I don’t want him too’

•Baale of Obanikoro, Chief Kabiru Buraimoh, presenting food items to a widow,Mrs Adepeju Kaffo,during an end-of-year party held for widows at the Bariga Local Government's secretariat in Lagos State.

42-year-old man, Suraju Shorinmade, has prayed the Customary Court at Alagbado, Lagos, to dissolve his fouryear-old marriage. He is alleging that his wife, Mariam, is diabolical and troublesome. Shorinmade said: “My wife and I often quarrel. The painful thing is that she doesn’t react immediately until after three days. I once saw tira in her purse with my name boldly written on it. She claimed that she collected it from her alfa for protection. I lost my tooth to an iron rod when my wife’s younger brother was trying to defend her during our last fight. Since she left home, she has never asked after our children. We are not compatible; I want a separation.” Mariam, 31, is not contesting the case. She told the court: “Even before we married, we had always argued over unnecessary issues. Whenever I refused to sleep with him, he beats me up mercilessly. When I asked my husband if I wasn’t beautiful enough, he slapped me. He prefers to sleep in his younger wife’s house.

‘

I once saw tira in her purse with my name boldly written on it. She claimed that she collected it from her alfa for protection

’

By Basirat Braimah

“My brother didn’t use a rod on him. He hit his mouth against a slab. Suraju is too violent. I have scars all over my body. Since he took our children to spend the weekend, he hasn’t brought them back. I also don’t want him but I can’t leave my children with him because they are still young.” The marriage was sealed under Native and Customary Law and has produced two children. The court’s president, Mr. Olubode Sekoni, ordered the parties to maintain peace and obey the law. He adjourned the case till January 29 for further hearing.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Printer dies in Lagos A

S a printer, he had three plans for 2015 - to lift his business; develop his land and reward his clients. But four days before 2014 ended, the Odogbolu, Ogun State - born Nojeem Adeleke Osiyemi died. In his early 40s, he was hale and hearty when he drove a few friends in his car to celebrate with his wife in the Coker area of Mushin where an end-of-the-year carnival was being held by some youths. “For him (Leke), it was fun all through at the carnival, being a very jovial and friendly person. He shared jokes and took some drinks with friends. Nothing suggested he was not alright,” said a source. As night crept in, Leke as he was fondly called, was said to have complained of “some strange complications” in his stomach, following which friends suggested that he returned home to take care of himself. The source explained: “When his condition grew worse, he picked his car key and made to drive home; surprisingly, the engine did not start. He had to quickly pick a commercial bike that

‘Mad’ woman seeks reunion with family’

‘

For him (Leke), it was fun all through at the carnival, being a very jovial and friendly person. He shared jokes and took some drinks with friends. Nothing suggested he was not alright By Dada Aladelokun

’

took him away.” He reportedly headed for a private clinic owned by his friend where doctors and nurses battled to save his life. But he died shortly after 12 am on December 27. The news of his death spread across Ilupeju/ Palmgrove where the late Leke was well known. Early on December 27, sympathisers gathered at Iseyin/Tawose Streets where he had his shop and his Shyllon street home. They expressed shock at his sudden death, asking why such a friendly man would

•The late Osiyemi

just die just like that. He has since been buried in his Odogbolu home. His Shyllon street home has since been locked. A neighbour, who is fondly called Pressy, said: “Leke’s death has further convinced me that this life is vain. The holy books are not wrong to have branded it vanity. How could such a promising man (Leke) just die like that? He was convivial, ever-smiling and respectful. He would willingly invite friends to have fun with him when the need arose. We shall all miss him.”

M E N T A L L Y challenged woman who identified herself as Blessing Okeke has expressed her wish to be reunited with her family. Speaking fluent English, Blessing (27), who claims to be from Orlu in Imo State, stays on Medical Road, Ikeja, in the day time. She said she attended a secondary school in Lagos where her parents still live. Her words: “I was born in Lagos and my father and mother are also living in Lagos. My father bears Okeke and mum, Abigael. On what she was doing at the spot, Blessing said: “I am just sitting down. I am just resting”, adding that she knew where the parents were staying and would be going to see them soon.” She asked this reporter for the day’s date and after being told, she declined to explain what she needed it for. “No reason. I just

•Blessing By Sulaiman Salawudeen

want to know now. I am not planning any marriage. I have a son and no husband”, she said, when asked why she demanded the date. Findings revealed that the woman, who sits close to a bank on, had been on that road for

about four months despite her obvious mental challenge. A male trader said Blessing does not beg for money nor harass anyone, adding: “She would stroll down every morning and sit down. It will be good if someone can assist her. She is relatively young.”

Muslim group preaches peace, fairness

HE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned the presidency, the ruling party, opposition and security agencies in the country on the need to observe decorum and strictly adhere to the principles of democracy.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

According to MURIC, these are the only ways to avoid throwing Nigeria into chaos before, during and after the 2015 general elections. A statement signed by its director, Prof Ishaq Ak-

intola, reminded the police that they belong to the Nigerian people and not to any political party. “We frown at the ugly incidents of the past in which the police stood akimbo as hooligans attacked members of the opposition, and acts of con-

nivance in which policemen protected members of the ruling party as they committed acts of impunity. The only way the Nigerian Police can build confidence in the people is not only by remaining neutral but by being seen to be transparently impar-

tial,” he said. Akintola warned the police and other security agencies not to toy with the idea of arresting or detaining members of the opposition on flimsy excuses and trumped-up charges. “That is the road to per-

•The Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa (3 rd right); his wife, Titi (2 nd right) and LASU’s Director of Pre-Degree Science, Dr Olowu Rasaq. Others are (from left): Head of Department of Botany, Dr (Mrs) Okubena Dipe-Olu (in blue); Student’ Union (SU) President Nurudeen Yusuf; Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Kabir Akinyemi, and former Speaker, SU, Balogun Hammed Funsho. PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

dition, dictatorship and totalitarianism. It must never happen again. Nigerians are restless at the moment and the whole country can be likened to the hen which perches on a rope: neither the rope nor the hen can be stable. It was the intimidation of the opposition members by law enforcement agencies which brought down the First and Second Republics,” he warned. Akintola also cautioned members of the opposition to remember that Nigerians have no other country. “What matters is our dear country, Nigeria. Efforts aimed at securing change of leadership and political control must therefore be made with due regard for maintaining peaceful coexistence, law and order. The opposition should refrain from character assassination or do-or-die politics. Nigerians cannot be fooled by those who build castles in the air. The opposition will be held accountable for promises made to Nigerians,” he stated. The group urged the Nigerian Army to stay out of politics, saying that is the only way to retain its integrity. Politicking, he said, is unprofessional for any military institution and the Nigerian Army should not be portrayed as the military wing of the ruling party. In addition, involvement of the Nigerian military will be an unnecessary and debilitating distraction in the war against insurgents, he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS

Itsekiri, Urhobo back Buhari’s presidential bid

S the February elections draw closer, more ethnic groups in Delta State have said they will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, instead of President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Urhobo expressed their preference for Gen. Buhari through the Urhobo Nationalist Movement (UNM), a pan-Urhobo organisation at an enlarged meeting at the weekend in Warri, Delta State. The group said the Urhobo, working on the resolution of the Uvwiamughe Declaration, had decided that the over one million Urhobo votes would go en-bloc to either the PDP or the APC, depending on which party gave its governorship ticket to an Urhobo candidate. Also, a section of the Itsekiri will today in Warri inaugurate a mass movement to support Gen. Buhari’s presidential ambition. It said the Itsekiri was marginalised by the Jonathan administration. Addressing reporters after the meeting, chairman of the movement Alhaji MumakaiUnagha stressed that the people would vote for APC because it conceded the governorship ticket to them. Mumakai-Unagha, who is also the national publicity secretary of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), said the Urhobo would remain in the opposi-

Candidate urges Muslims to pray for Nigeria From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

HE Edo South Senatorial District’s All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Samson Osagie, has urged Muslims to use the Eid-elMaulud (the birth of Prophet Mohammed) to pray for peace and security in Nigeria. The APC candidate addressed reporters on Friday in Benin, the Edo State capital. Osagie, who is the Minority Whip in House of Representatives, made a similar appeal to Christians last week during the Christmas celebration. The lawmaker said Nigeria had never faced serious security and economic challenges that needed urgent prayers than now. He said: “This is the time Muslims remember the birth of Prophet Mohammad through acts of worship, acts of kindness and goodness to children, the poor and the aged. “If Muslims and Christians embark on prayers during our time of worship, I am sure God will intervene and solve these problems.” Osagie hailed Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the developments last witnessed in the six years in the state. He said the development had improved the socioeconomic activities in the state, adding that APC had come to stay.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

tion for the next four years, if Jonathan won again. According to him, the Jonathan administration had not brought any development to the Urhobo. Mumakai-Unagha said the Urhobo had passed through thick and thin. On the Uvwiamuge Declaration, which recognised two political parties – the APC and PDP – the UPU chief noted that although they were in the majority, yet they

were suffering. He told reporters that the Uvwiamuge Declaration did not include the Labour Party (LP). He added: “We maintained that for Mr. President and the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to have directed the Ijaw, through Senator James Manager and Chief Government Ekpemipolo (aka Topolo), to work against Urhobo’s interest, means there is no going back. “It would be recalled that the President and Chief Clark allegedly directed Tompolo to

work for Delta North candidate.” The Itsekiri will today inaugurate a new group called Buhari Movement 4 Change (BMC) at Okere Road in Delta State. The group, which premised its grouse on the alleged marginalisation of the Itsekiri by the Jonathan administration, is being co-ordinated by a foremost Itsekiri activist, Prince David Iwere. The activist said recent actions of the Jonathan administration, especially “the unjustifiable indefinite post-

ponement of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ogidigben EPZ due to a mere threat by Tompolo and the dominance of Ijaw ethnic nationalities in the ruling PDP in political representation/appointment, has made it imperative for members of the group, whose political affiliation cuts across party leanings, to seek a better way forward for the Itsekiri of Delta State”. The group added that this informed its decision “to back Gen. Buhari’s 2015 presidential bid”.

•An accident involving a black Honda and a white Toyota Camry belonging to a diplomat on Sultan Abubakar Way Junction, by Olusegun Obasanjo Way in Abuja ...yesterday.

Police recover explosives, arms in Rivers

HE Rivers State Police Command has said it recovered objects suspected to be explosive devices from a criminal gang in Akabuka/Omoku area of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State. The command also said 15 members of the gang were arrested during a raid, following a tip-off that a hotel in the area was used as their base. A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by police spokesman,

•15 suspects arrested From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Ahmad K. Mohammad, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said the suspected robbers/cultists were arrested at midnight on Saturday when they were preparing to go out for an operation. The police said those arrested are: Vincent Odum, Odinaka Amaechi Ogbugo, Chisa Peter, Emenike Ayodele, John James, Vincent Ikeguru and Atumatu Isaac.

Others are: Oliver Odum, Gift Odika, Collins Georgewill, John Daniel, Uchechukwu Dimkpa, Emmanuel Solomon, Ogechi Okorobia and Obi Eze Okwu. The command said several items, including pump action and English made doublebarrelled gun, ammunition, walkie-talkie radio, machetes, military uniform, charm, among others, were found on them. Over seven persons, espe-

cially supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, were killed last November in their homes by gunmen. The police said they were investigating the killing. Mohammad reiterated the command’s commitment at ridding the state of criminals. He said: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the public that in its increased onslaught against criminals to usher in 2015, following a tip-off, raided a suspected criminals’ hideout.“

Peterside to fight insecurity, unemployment

IVERS State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, has said his administration will focus on job creation to end insecurity, if elected in next month’s election. Peterside spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at the opening of a secretariat built by the Generation of Peace (GOP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), supporting his governorship ambition. The lawmaker representing Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni in

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

the House of Representatives noted that poverty, caused by unemployment, was the reason for the spate of insecurity in the state. He promised to create more jobs to ensure a meaningful source of living for the residents. According to him, the modalities were in place to achieve the plans. Peterside said: “As a member of Generation of Peace, I will partner you in the following areas. We will work

for peace in this land. A hungry man cannot be a peaceful person. If we truly want peace, we must address those things that are the root causes of the crisis in the state, or anything else that is inimical to peace. “One of those things we must address is poverty. We will take steps to create jobs for our people. When our people are employed, they have less time for violence, less time for crisis. So, we must work very hard to create jobs for our people. “The modality has been put

in place for employment generation in the state. When there is the right environment for people to pursue their life’s aspirations, security, the right infrastructure, good roads, power and all other infrastructural systems, then investors, foreign and local, will be attracted into the state and jobs will be created. “When we are able to build industries, so many persons will be meaningfully and gainfully employed. When they are gainfully employed, no matter the pressure, they cannot be violent.”

Akwa Ibom choir breaks Guinness World record

NIGERIAN choral group in Akwa Ibom State has broken the world record for being the largest Christmas carol singers in the world. The record, which has been officially certified by the Guinness World Records and pasted on its website, www.guinessworldrecords.com, was broken by the Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir comprising a 25,272 man-choral group. At a concert in the Uyo Township Stadium on December 13, last year, the choral group broke the record with representatives of the Guinness World Records in attendance. The record consigned to the history books the former record of 15,674 carol singers, which was achieved a year earlier (on December 15, 2013) by a group called CENTI in Bogota, Columbia. The Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir sang a medley of: The First Noel, Joy to the World, O Christmas Tree, Hark the Herald the Angels Sing, Once in Royal David’s City and O Come All Ye Faithful, in an electrifying rendition for over 20 minutes. Guinness World Records adjudicator, Liz Smith, who announced the Akwa Ibom choir’s feat at the Guinness World Record headquarters in London, United Kingdom, congratulated the choir. She said: “It is now time to reveal the report of the official attempt to break the Guinness World Record of the largest group of carol singers. Our team of highly trained record specialists have reached a decision. The record to beat was 15,674. I can now confirm that your attempt to break the record has been successful. Congratulations on receiving a new Guinness World Records title. The title of the largest group of carol singers has been achieved by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir. You are officially amazing.” Breaking the news to Akwa Ibom residents, Governor Godswill Akpabio said: “This month, we broke the Guinness Book of World Records, for the largest number of carol singers ever in the world. This momentous feat was achieved when Akwa Ibom people drawn from all the nooks and crannies of the state, who came together in the spirit of love and brotherhood. I believe that if we imbibe the virtue of love and stand together in brotherhood in the New Year, we will keep setting records and the walls of division, which have been erected by some selfish politicians, would tumble down.”

All Progressives Congress rejects Cross River REC

HE National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Hilliard Eta, has called for the removal of the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River State, Mr Sylvester Okey Ezeani. Eta, who is from the state, told reporters at the weekend,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

that the party had no confidence in Ezeani to deliver free, fair and credible elections in Cross River because he was alleged to be a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said: “The good thing about public office is that it has

antecedents. For every other office that you hold, there must be antecedents for the ones that you have held before. Mr. Sylvester Okey Ezeani does not generate confidence because his antecedents do not allow us to have such confidence. “In fact, we dare to say and want Mr. Ezeani to take us to

court by saying that he is a cardcarrying member of PDP. We don’t want him in our state, except the President and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman are trying to tell us that they have posted a PDP person to do the PDP bidding in Cross River State. “We are saying that Mr.

Ezeani should be re-posted to another state. So, we want him out of our state. “I will go further to say that we don’t also want Justice Abdulahi Adamu, who incidentally is the judge of Calabar Appeal Court today because our matters will go again to his table.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

There seems to be no end to the criticisms that have assailed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign fund-raising that fetched a record N21.05 billion. The cash exceeds the mandatory N1 billion stipulated by the Electoral Act. Besides, the majority of donors are not identifiable. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the renewed push for monetisation of politics by the ruling party and its implications for the general elections.

Controversy over N21b PDP campaign fund T

HE unprecedented Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fund-raising is still generat ing ripples. Even, under the power loaded former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ruling party managed to exercise caution, in utter sensitivity to wide condemnation and public outcry it would have provoked. On December 20, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was aglow with festivities. The National Party leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, presided over a special meeting of political investors. With him were his deputy and co-beneficiary, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, governors, legislators, and other party chieftains. Unlike the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign fund-raiser, which is moderated by the national mood, the PDP event, which observers have described as ill-advised, obscene, and aggressive campaign revenue drive, underscored the wheeling and dealing character of the party and its inept government, and their penchant for the abuse of the democratic process. While the PDP made donation to campaign fund the exclusive affair of government contractors and other Nigerians who have made money from government, the APC adopted the style of a mass movement. Through this approach, donors to the presidential campaign of the APC candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is to a large extent, verifiable. APC National Vice Chairman Senator Lawal Shuaib called for sanction for those who may have stolen public money for political campaigns. He said the opposition party will be a marked departure from the fraudulent trend of campaign funding. “In our own case, we intend to do fund raising, which is going to be very transparent. Whoever donates money, we will publish it so that the whole world will see. People are making donations through the website and through the account number provided. We are going to publish everything because we want to make our source of funding as transparent as Nigerians may not even have expected because we are talking about change. We want to change the ayatems and the practices and what has been the norm,”he added. In a public advertisement, APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the party has yielded to the decision of Nigerians to make voluntary donation. He made the bank account name and number public. “Our party, the APC, has recently been inundated with calls and messages from Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who are seeking to confirm the bank account details of the Buhari Support Organisation so that they can make their own financial contributions to the campaign of the APC presidential candidate,” he said. According to reports, more than N21.05 billion was realised at the “gathering of few and wealthy friends of the PDP government.” The timing of the event has been faulted by many Nigerians. A legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the huge sum was raised in the aid of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid at a time 14 state governments could not pay monthly salaries. Former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa frowned at the act of perfidy, saying that there was a naira rain at the Aso Rock Villa at a time many Nigerians could not afford three square meals. Other critics said the flamboyant hunt for campaign funds smacked of indifference to the plight of the distressed people ravaged by terrorism. Irked by the gross insensitivity, human rights activist Nelson Ekunjimi said the PDP Federal Government is raising money for re-election when the country is passing through multiple crises, which the President has failed to tackle. He said the sole pre-occupation of the ruling party is the general election at a time two states are being annexed by terrorists, who hoist their flags in captured towns and territories, thereby challenging the national sovereignty. Ekunjimi,

• Dr Jonathan

the Director of the Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI), pointed out that money was being raised to sustain Dr. Jonathan in power when internally displaced persons suffering from the Boko Haram insurgency are denied succour. “How do you want the parents of the abducted Chibok girls to feel? Can they be happy and enthusiastic about fund-raiser when the fate of their loved ones hangs in the balance? The insensitivity and aloofness is even underscored by the fact that the President did not deem it fit to mention the plight of the abducted Chibok girls in his new year message to the nation,” he added. The pattern of scandalous donation is shrouded in secrecy and controversy. The question is: who are the donors? Beyond their broad description as fair-weather friends of the President, top party chieftains, government contractors and businessmen, the actual identities of the donors are concealed. Critics have alleged that the few, whose identities were revealed, are government contractors and those whose sources of money are traceable to government. But, since the PDP has also converted the electioneering period into a season of investment and brisk business, political investors, who hope to garner returns on their investment, also dominated the festival of strategic revenue generation. The ceremony was chaired by the wealthy Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, one of the big names in the telecommunication subsector. His donation came in two parts. Apart from donating N1 billion on behalf of himself, he donated another N1 billion on behalf of friends, whose identities are not known. At that stage, the ceremony should have ended because the N2 billion has exceeded the presidential election expenses anticipated by the Electoral Act. A group, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), pointed out that the PDP deliberately contravened Section 91 (2) of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), which states that “the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1 billion.” Other donors clearly have partisan motives. A PDP sympathiser from Kwara State, Mrs. Bola Shagaya, friend of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, donated N5 billion. She is an active player in the oil and gas industry. The donation was on behalf of herself and her “unidentified friends.” Senator Jerry Gana, former university don, prominent politician and permanent friend of any government in power, donated N5 billion. The Niger State born politician has an enor-

• Muazu

mous investment in the energy sector as a beneficiary of privatisation. Concern has been mounting over the fate of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, which has been sold to private operators. But, people were confused when the government that sold the edifice proposed to arrange out a controversial bail out for the power sector to the tune of N213 billion. The 15 states on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission donated N15 million. Twenty-one PDP governors led by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio coughed out N1.05 billion. Each of the governors donated N50 m. In Musa’s view, this is scandalous. “If civil servants are agonising over the non-payment of salaries and their governors are participating in the donation jamboree in Abuja, it is worrisome,” he said. However, other donations by consortium of firms and operators in critical sectors are also scandalous. The motivation for a donation of N500 million by the power sector, which has generated more darkness than electricity in recent years, was unknown. So was the construction sector, which has contributed to the failure of government to adequately fight the infrastructure battle. The sector donated N500 million, despite the complaints by the operators that they could not complete the contracts awarded by governments because it has failed in its financial obligations. Sources said that pressures were mounted on other wealthy businessmen and big contractors who depend on the government for economic survival. Although many of them were not convinced, they yielded because they thought that non-compliance was risky for their business interest. In Musa’s view, the fund-raising reflected the monetisation of politics by PDP leaders, adding that it smacked of irresponsibility. He said the PDP has corrupted the electoral process by its plan to woo the voters with money. Musa said the motivation for raising the huge amount should be investigated by the anti-graft body. “It is money stolen from the government. The money could not have been donated by someone who earned it legitimately. They are monies stolen from the public fund. Can they say the money is from their pocket? My advice is that those who stole public funds should not go away with it,” he added. Besides, the long-term implications of the pre-election activities should not be glossed over. “Are they not donating because of what they hope to reap after the election? If a contractor is donating to the party of government in power, how can the government which accepts the donation frown when the contract is

‘Since the PDP has also converted the electioneering period into a season of investment and brisk business, political investors, who hope to garner returns on their investment, also dominated the festival of strategic revenue generation’

not executed? Can the government insist on contract execution by its corrupt ally, who is a contractor?”, he queried. Akintola, who shared this opinion, lamented that political leaders have elevated 2015 general elections over and above the collective survival of the country. He maintained that it is wrong for governors to donate huge sums to the campaign fund, when workers are protesting the non-payment of salaries. “My own concern is the way we elevate politics over and above the economy and security. Nigerians are suffering in millions. People are not living well. The standard of living has fallen. Twenty four states cannot pay salaries. They are begging workers to be patient. Yet, some people contributed N21 b. This amount can pay the salaries of workers in many states. “They should have human face. We are preparing for elections. We are nit concerned about the existence of Nigerians. Political parties are dancing on the grave of poor Nigerians.” For elder statesman Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the PDP’s penchant for monetisation of the electioneering is condemnable. The former Lagos State governor said the move to financially intimidate the oppositio is a bad omen for democracy. He said, if it is established that the money was not stolen from the public treasury, there is no cause for alarm. However, the former Works Minister said, if the source of the money is not clean, it is to the discredit of the government which is benefiting from questionable sources of money. “It is a dangerous sign for the future to monetise our politics to that extent. It is very bad,” he added. Jakande advised the opposition to avoid scandal during the electioneering. His words: “My advice is that other political parties should not emulate the PDP. They should do better. The masses are the most important people during elections. My appeal to the APC and other political parries is to mobilise the masses in a rational way without financial inducement.” APC chieftain Chief Rafiu Jafojo, who was Jakande’s deputy in the Second Republic, said it its wrong for the PDP to intimidate other parties with its capacity to raise huge money. He said the next election is not about “naira or dollar war,” but about issues. Predicting that the power of money will crumble during the election, he said Nigerians are now wiser. Jafojo queried: “What do they need the money for? Where is the money coming for? Who are the donors? Nigerians need the full list of donors.” Afenifere Deputy Leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi frowned at the fund-raising, saying that the N21 b is scandalous. He queried: “N21 billion for what? Do you want to purchase the votes of the people? The naira is in shambles. What is the money for?.” Fasanmi chided the PDP for wasting public funds on trivialities, adding that no amount of financial power can stop power shift in next elections. The elder statesman added: “It is scandalous in a nation that cannot pay monthly salaries to workers. They have monetised the process. It is not good for democracy. It is undesirable. People are taking notes. N21 billion for one person in a country where people can’t have three square meals? They are over-stretching people’s patience. “In 2015, their money cannot prevent progressives from taking power. Buhari and Osinbajo will rule this country. The next election is about the struggle for redemption, not about raining billions. No amount of billions can save the PDP from electoral catastrophe. People are ready. It will be one man, one vote. CSNAC asked Muazu to release the full list of donors. Its Programme Manager, Adeola Abiodun, said the group made the request under the Freedom of Information Act. He said the reports on the sources of the money donated and the identities of the contributors are vague. “Section 93 of the Electoral Act makes anonymous donation untenable,” he pointed out. The rights activist said the concealment of the important information undermines the legality and legitimacy of the electoral and democratic process. “It is necessary to provide the information to curtail the risk of corruption during the campaign,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

RACE TO 2015

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We as faithful members of the PDP remain hopeful that the party will show leadership and responsibility in ensuring that grievances of its members are always expeditiously addressed and policy of inclusiveness pursued in the overall interest of the party, essentially in an election period like this

‘

Next week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will close the window for the replacement of candidates. The 22 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State are hopeful that, as they return to the court today, victory will come their way, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

• Ekere

• Ekpotu

• Emmanuel

• Umana

As Akwa Ibom PDP aspirants return to court today U DOM Emmanuel, former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), passes through the fire again today. The case instituted against his emergence as the Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate by one of the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants, Ime Effiong Ekanem, comes up today before Justice Y. Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The suit has the support of all the aggrieved aspirants. Justice Halilu mid-last month ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise Emmanuel as the PDP governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State. The former SSG thereafter got a vacation judge to lift the order. Since the case was instituted, Governor Godswill Akpabio has tried to rein in the aggrieved, but they say his efforts are not sincere. The G-22, as the aggrieved aspirants are known, include two men who were Akpabio’s deputy, Patrick Ekpotu and Nsima Ekere. They were invited for a meeting in Uyo yesterday. But, last Friday they made it clear they would not be party to such a meeting. The aspirants noted that it was wrong for them to appear before an amorphous reconciliation committee while their complaints were still pending before a duly recognised appeal panel of PDP. The reconciliation committee, headed by Senator Effiong Bob, in a one-page advertorial, published on Friday invited the 22 aspirants to a peace meeting in Uyo on Sunday. The first paragraph of the invitation letter read:” The above Committee was constituted by the state Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday December 28, 2014 with the aim of meeting with all the Governorship Aspirants who were not successful in the last Governorship Primary Election held on December 8, 2014 with a view to harmoniously reconciling issues arising from the election.” The reconciliatory meeting failed to achieve its aim as members of the group, individually and collectively refused to meet with Bob and his committee, giving various reasons among which was that Bob was a biased umpire. They also feel the wordings of the invitation letter gave the impression that the committee had already taken a position by referring to the 22 aspirants as those who were “not successful in the last governorship primary election”. According to a member of the group, who would not want to be named, “Senator Effiong Bob is part of the problem, so, it would be inappropriate for him to chair a committee that would address the discord. He was in Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh’s camp, and then jumped to Ime Albert’s camp before he finally joined forces with both the governor and his anointed.” The aspirant added: “In fact, after the contentious primary, Senator Bob addressed several media interviews where he defended the exer-

‘The concern by many is that, unless the ruling PDP puts its house in order, it would most likely be throwing away the chances to retain the governorship seat it has held for 16 years. The PDP’s prospect of losing its hold in the state becomes more worrisome to its supporters, due to the obvious ground it is losing, shortly before, and also after the party’s primary election’

cise as credible free and fair. With such mindset what kind of resolution do you expect from such an individual? He goes about with the governor and Udom. He actually accompanied both of them to the meeting we had with the governor were they pleaded that we accept the outcome of the controversial and vexatious primary. Sincerely, we wouldn’t have been part of such a cosmetic meeting with a possible predetermined objective, so we individually turned him down when he called to invite us. See, we don’t have parochial agenda; our struggle for justice is solely for the overall interest and success of our dear party, PDP. And everybody who truly loves PDP should stand by us to see that the will of the people is not subverted.” The G-22, in a statement, spelt out their case against the Bob committee. The statement reads: “We take great exception to the contemptuous display of continuous impunity in the issue of PDP governorship primary election of December 8, 2014 in Akwa Ibom State. Our arraignment before the purported Central Reconciliation Committee negates the provisions of PDP constitution and guidelines, concerning the governorship primary election. “It is instructive to inform all that on December 9, 2014, in accordance with paragraph 20(g and I) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines for Primary Election, we have individually filed our complaints against the flawed electoral processes of December 8, 2014 with the stipulated appeal panel, the Gubernatorial Electoral Appeal Panel, consisting of all members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and headed by the National Chairman. This we clearly did within 24 hours demanded of us by paragraph 20(h) of the guidelines. “In the above circumstances, it is very preposterous to be summoned to appear before a panel of our traducers. It is on record that the members of the so called Central Reconciliation Committee were active participants and accessories before, during and after the illegalities surrounding the flawed primary election we have complained about. We can therefore not make ourselves available to be used to regularise a flawed process and achieve a conclusion we already know.” Before the attempt by the Bob committee, there was another meeting in the G-22’s secretariat in Abuja which lasted till the wee hours of Saturday, December 20. The meeting, a source said, was almost deadlocked from the beginning. A shouting match, said a source at the meeting, ensued be-

tween one of the aspirants, Chief Assam Assam (SAN) and the governor. There was palpable apprehension at the meeting, according to one the aspirants who would not want to be named, as a result of the fracas between Akpabio and Assam, who was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The governor pleaded with them to accept Emmanuel as the governorship candidate of the PDP, a position that was outrightly rejected by the group on the basis that “the process that threw him up was faulty, not transparent and toxic. The December 8 exercise was everything but democratic and this has resulted in several litigations which ought not to be had the process passed credibility test”. They insisted that President Goodluck Jonathan must be involved in any effort to resolve the impasse. As a result of the impasse, uncertainty has enveloped the polity. The topic of discourse at many public places centered on the coming elections, especially the governorship election in the state. Many openly expressed their displeasure over what they regard as the “arrogance and impunity” of some highly-placed political office holders in the state, who they accused of being behind the unhealthy political climate in Akwa Ibom State few weeks to next month’s election. The concern by many is that unless the ruling PDP puts its house in order, it would most likely be throwing away the chances to retain the governorship seat it has held for 16 years. The PDP’s prospect of losing its hold in the state becomes more worrisome to its supporters, according to followers of political developments in the state due to the obvious ground it is losing, especially after a series of events that took place shortly before, and also after the party’s primary election. First, it was one of the front role governorship aspirants and former Secretary to the State Government, Umana Umana, who left the party to join forces with the rival All Progressive Congress (APC), where he is now a governorship candidate, in a straight contest with his former party, PDP, come February. And many believe that should PDP not resolve the discord that arose from the December 8, 2014 primary, the tide might flow in favour of the APC as not a few PDP faithful have vowed to vote against their party. Few days ago, the media was awash with a report that the group had agreed to meet with

the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari , with a view to defecting, the group however, swiftly denied the allegation, describing the insinuation as a blackmail. Though they denied planning such a meeting, they said it was an option “that would not be thrown away in a hurry”. In a jointly signed statement released on Tuesday, December 23, last year, in Abuja, the 22 aspirants reiterated that their only request from the PDP leadership was for the party to redeem its credibility by nullifying the outcome of the December 8 exercise in the state, which they described as “ fraudulent, not transparent and a violation of the party’s rule on accreditation of delegates”. The aspirants vowed not to be “blackmailed or intimidated into jettisoning our legitimate quest for fair play, equity and justice in a democratic setting that ought to be rooted in fundamental human rights to fair hearing.” They went further to state “that while having meetings with any individual or interest group is within our legitimate rights, and something that would not be thrown away in a hurry, we as faithful members of the PDP remain hopeful that the party will show leadership and responsibility in ensuring that grievances of its members are always expeditiously addressed and policy of inclusiveness pursued in the overall interest of the party, essentially in an election period like this”. To Akpabio, the process which produced Udom was transparent. He congratulated the Chairman of the Electoral Panel of PDP, Mr. Bola Ayebowale, and members of the PDP for a successful conduct of the primaries, adding that Emmanuel’s victory was assured. The governor said more than 99 per cent of PDP faithful came out to vote, stressing that the state would do the same by giving Jonathan their full support in 2015. Akpabio added that the transparency of the election was an indication that peace thrives in the state. Speaking after the primary, Emmanuel said the people have ushered him into the next level, thanking Akpabio and the people for coming out enmass to support him. He lauded the PDP for the peaceful conduct of the primary. Oyebowale also said the process was transparent, explaining that PDP believes in a level-playing ground for all aspirants. To the aspirants, Oyebowale, Akpabio and Emmanuel can tell that to the marines. Feelers from party indicate the President and some individuals in the top echelon of the PDP leadership are showing interest in finding a way around the crisis, because whatever affects the party in the states will obviously underline the prospect of the president. But, as the January 16 window for substitution of candidates submitted to the INEC draws to a close, it is yet to be known if the PDP will explore it. It is also not clear what the court will decide. For now, it is Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

The evil called outsourcing •Banks have no basis for such inhuman policy

HE true worth of labour of most banking staff in the country remains an intriguing poser in view of the denigrating recruitment process most banks in the country have in place. The banks do so under the guise of outsourcing staff so as to cut cost. But the trend has created a Frankenstein monster styled as contract staff/casual labour and usually at the detriment of those recruited. The policy gives no career security, commitment or fulfilment to victims but favours just two parties – the outsourcing firms and the banks. The above was aptly amplified by the reported pathetic case of one Mrs. Dorothy Anya Igwe who was outsourced to an unnamed bank in Ojo area of Lagos State. Her story: She fell ill while on official duty and got official permission from the outsourcing company to visit the approved hospital. After getting well, she got a medical report of fitness from the approved hospital that she tendered on resumption of duty. But to her chagrin, her salary for the duration of her illness from April to September, 2014, was stopped. Her complaints reportedly led to her being relieved of duty. She was recalled months after but finally sacked after her continuing insistence that she must be paid her arrears of salary. Igwe was left in the lurch by the outsourcing company and the bank that denied her and also failed to pay her arrears of salary. There are several unreported examples of Igwetype ill-treatment in the banking industry. Perhaps, it is high time the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) beamed its klieglight on all reported labour abuses by the banks through this inhuman staff outsourcing. The policy is even insensitive to the peculiar nature of banking business as strategic positions such as bank secretary, operations officer, vehicle/ bullion van drivers and security operatives are among others that are outsourced from designated companies. These outsourced staff handle vital information in bank/customer relations and bank operations’ secrets that could easily be compromised since outsourced staff owe no allegiance or commitment to the banks. They can leak sensitive information that could give impetus to fraudsters’ operations against banks or which could lead to armed robbery attacks against the banks, with insider connection. The risks for banks involved in this oppressive recruitment approach lacks rational economic sense for its continuation. We therefore call on the CBN to come out and state clearly whether or not it supports this exploitative outsourcing of staff in banks and other companies in the nation. The Ministry of Labour and Productivity seems to have failed in setting the policy template necessary to improve employment conditions by discouraging discrimination among staff, not only in the banks but in other big corporate entities as well. Quite unfathomable is the fact that workers in the country are in the doldrums. It is unimaginable that the CBN and the labour ministry will tolerate an outsourcing employment regime that gives no conditions of service and

where the outsourcing firms, apart from paid consultancy service fee running into millions, also get a huge percentage from the salaries of the contract workers every month. Most banks declare huge profits annually, and based on what they declare, they should be able to employ desirable staff and pay them respectable remuneration, not the trifle under the guise of staff outsourcing that is known as a strategy adopted by companies in distress to cut staff cost and rationalise departments and operations. We know that some banks in some other countries have adopted outsourcing of staff as a cost-saving measure, the point is that their environments are different from ours: labour does not come cheap in some of these countries unlike here where labour is relatively cheap. Moreover, people who are not getting commensurate pay cannot be said to be employed in the real sense of the word; they are therefore susceptible to all the temptations that the unemployed are exposed to. What we are saying is that staff outsourcing is cruel, improper and uncivilised, not only in banks but in all entities that want the public to see them as respectable.

‘The risks for banks involved in this oppressive recruitment approach lacks rational economic sense for its continuation’

Nest eggs •Getting pensions right is a matter of will

VIABLE, efficient and sustainable pensions’ scheme is an indispensable feature of a modern economy. Not only are pensions a significant form of social security for large numbers of vulnerable people, they provide a humongous pool of investible funds that boost economic growth and prosperity. An efficient pensions’ scheme also enhances motivation of workers in their active years, thereby improving national productivity. It is because of its significance as a catalyst of national development that the absence of a functional, organised and effective pensions’ scheme had for decades been a key obstacle to the realisation of Nigeria’s transformational objectives. There are however promising indications that our once dysfunctional pensions’ scheme is systematically being modernised and sanitised with positive results. Years of reforms such as the Pension Re-

‘The progress recorded in pensions management and administration shows that reforms can indeed achieve their stated goals in Nigeria where there is the will to see them through. We commend and urge all stakeholders to continue to work towards strengthening and institutionalising the pension reforms to make them sustainable and irreversible’

form Act No. 2 of 2004 and the Pension Reform Amendment Act of 2011, which have been consolidated in the 2014 Pension Reform Act, are obviously beginning to bear fruit. An indication to this effect is the report that Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have paid N17.96 billion to 4,119 workers who lost their jobs this year. The money refunded to the sacked workers represents 25% of their contributions to the Contributory Pension Scheme of the PFAs when they were in service as required by the law. The purpose of this provision is to enable workers have some funds to live on or invest in business before they secure new jobs and sources of income. It is noteworthy that this succour for the affected workers was made possible because of innovations in the 2014 Pension Reform Act that addressed weaknesses in previous laws. For instance, the previous law required a sacked employee to wait until he or she could not get a new job for six months before accessing 25 percent of his pension contributions. Under the new law, the waiting period was reduced to four months to ameliorate the plight of workers. Again, previously sacked employees had to produce evidence of dismissal by employers before being qualified to withdraw part of their pension savings before getting a new job. Consequently, a worker who was forced to resign from work could naturally not produce a sack letter and was unable to claim this right. However,

the new law expands the scope of those who can benefit to include workers who are sacked, voluntarily retire, resign or disengage from employment. Furthermore, when sacked workers get a new job, they can go back to their PFAs for the application of the appropriate retirement benefit approach. It is also significant that the PFAs were able to pay the affected workers their dues promptly within the requisite time frame. This is an indication that the pension funds in their care are being efficiently and professionally managed. Thus, one of the objectives of the pension reforms, which is to ensure that contributions and investments made with pension funds are protected against risks and abuses by managers is being realised. To this end, the law provides for the initiation of criminal proceedings and appropriate sanctions against both employers who fail to deduct or remit pensions contributions and PFAs that engage in unethical practices. All too often we have had cases of financial institutions squandering funds put in their trust and bringing millions of unsuspecting depositors to ruin. The progress recorded in pensions management and administration shows that reforms can indeed achieve their stated goals in Nigeria where there is the will to see them through. We commend and urge all stakeholders to continue to work towards strengthening and institutionalising the pension reforms to make them sustainable and irreversible.

FRSC’s permanent ‘temporary’ Driver’s Licence

IR: When the idea of a new drivers licence was conceived Nigerians had reasons to fear as with any such process in Nigeria. Though the era of when any Tom, Dick and Harry whether qualified or not could acquire a drivers licence just sitting in the comfort of their homes can be said to be over, the process of acquiring it still leaves much to be desired. Almost a year since I got my temporary drivers licence, I am still to be issued with the permanent one. Yet, a few who applied months after me have gotten theirs. As things are going, I fear that my yet-to-beissued drivers licence would expire without me even seeing it! Curiously, one of the employees of Federal Road Safety Corps feels that considering when my data was captured he was "sure" that my permanent drivers licence should be ready. That those at the Vehicle Inspection Office may not take their time to check "very well". And true, there are many drivers licence there that their "owners" have not "come" to collect! Every two months, I am required to go to the licencing office to renew it. I see the same crowd forced every two months to do the same process. One man with a smile on his face said for almost two years he has been renewing his own. Some who are tired of complaining just shrug it off. Some don't even bother anymore to check whether their permanent one is ready, but just thrust their paper in front of the person who stamps it for renewal. Equally, the person who stamps it hardly looks up to see the person he is stamping their paper. It is all part of a boring routine. The idea of the temporary drivers licence to expire in "60 days" was conceived because it was thought that by that time the permanent one will be ready. Perhaps, they can learn something from the voters card. I suggest that subsequent issuance of temporary drivers licence should carry an expiry date that the permanent one would normally carry. After all, what really makes them "temporary" or "permanent" is not actually their dates, but the material they are made of! In addition I feel, three years validity for a well "scrutinized" drivers licence is too short. Four years would have been good, but five years would have been better. I see the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi, as a dynamic man, with the right zeal as his predecessor to push for innovations. I hope though that my permanent driver’s licence would see the light of day before it expires. • Dr Cosmas Odoemena, Lagos TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I am amazed; indeed in utter bewilderment. I never knew we have so many philanthropists in this country- so many good people. I had never in my wildest imagination thought of so such selfless people, ready to go hungry for the comfort of others. See how he sat in dust with the lowly. Did you see how humble and humane he is – dining with the poor and interacting with destitutes? But wait o! Why are all these coming a few weeks to 2015? If I remember clearly, it was like this just before 2011, 2007, 2003 and even 1999. What could 2015 have in common with these dates? What is 2015? It is another year of election, the General Elections in our cherished democratic Nigeria. Our politicians make very good actors. Is it not actors that shed off their real self to be something else on stage? Indeed the stage is here for our politicians and they are already in form to put up their best to convince; to sway the expectant audience. The stage is excited if not hot:

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We’ve seen these theatricals before Those who never came to their villages are back; who never knew their constituents now hold regular town hall meetings; familiarizing and identifying their needs. Those who never smiled now stop at public places, roll down their glasses and beam artificial smile, handing out cash. The better actors alight from their cars and buy those 'inferior' goods from the previously dirty market women, paying more than the goods are worth. My town which have not known light for years now have a few solar street lamps courtesy of our 'able' representative at the lower federal legislative chambers. But shall we run our businesses, light our homes and iron our rum-

pled clothes with 10 street-lamps mounted in the market place a few months to elections? A fellow constituent remarked "we have never seen him make any contributions at the legislative floor". Everyone around agreed. I do not disagree with them either. My people would ask, "Shall we let them chop garri with our brain?" Never! For your information, pretenders, Nigerians are now ready to flush out actors to vote in credible and selfless leaders who would not need this last minute rush to woo electorates. But my fellow electorates, remember, we are not flushing out waste in the toilet lest we need water but we are disallowing self- centered people into power so

Re: Babangida endorses Jonathan

IR: Penultimate week, all the major newspapers splashed the above as their lead story. This was as a result of the so-called visit to the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, by the President Goodluck Jonathan, but which was made public courtesy of the members of the journalistic profession. This writer is not surprised, like other Nigerians about the open endorsement of President Jonathan. This is because of the well-known antecedents of the former Head of State as a strong foe of General Muhammadu Buhari, taking into account how General Babangida overthrew the erstwhile Head of State in 1985. Since then, General Babangida does not believe in General Buhari, though they have reconciled the differences they have. The bottomline of this piece, is essentially that no matter what, General Babangida, cannot and is not in a position to direct the position of the north now. This is because he has lost the goodwill he has to speak on behalf of the north.

He has lost his esteem in the eyes of the people of this country more especially he failed in his capacity as a former leader of this country and as a soldier, to use the opportunity he has to comment or advise the government to adopt measure(s) to halt what is happening in the north due to the activities of terrorists especially in the North-eastern parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. The reason why General Babangida believes in the present administration is simply because he can still call the shots either they are proper or not than under General Buhari, who is a strong advocate of things to be done in the right way. It is pertinent to stress the point, that General Buhari will neither condone nor give room for corruption to thrive in whatever ramification. This time it is really the crossroads for Nigerians for a change and from all indications, the people are ready to vote Buhari. Things have degenerated to a level that requires the services of people like the General to move the

country forward. Nobody has the capacity to put asunder the change being advocated by the people, who have not seen anything meaningful done under the ruling party, especially under the current President onathan. The likes of General Babangida are the architects of the myraid of problems confronting this great country, ranging from corruption, lack of development and unemployment of teeming graduates. The fourth attempt for the presidency of this great country by General Buhari is consistent with the call by the people of the country, who want a radical departure from misgovernance, corruption, nepotism, etc. It is better for GeneralBabangida and his likes to be quiet as the people are ready to give them the shock of their lives in 2015. • Usman Santuraki, Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola.

we need our Permanent Voter's Card (PVC). One more thing Mr. Pretender, we will accept all the money and items you have to offer and still vote our conscience. After the elections, you can sue us for breach of contract. Lastly, for those who have concluded plans to snatch ballot boxes, or stuff away ballot paper under their wrappers, just make sure you have an appointment with your

doctor because you will be beaten to stupor, your intimidating profile notwithstanding. It happened in 2011 and will repeat in 2015 unless you have a rethink. And hungry fellows who may be contracted to snatch ballot boxes, you are not spared, just that you may not survive yours, hunger and money inclusive. Leave such work for their children; after all, they would be ones to gain from the corruption of their fathers if they succeed, although not this time. Pretenders 2015! Your tricks have worked for so long and won't work again. The spell is off our eyes. We shall vote right and protect our votes! • Uzoaganobi Ebuka Imo State

Celebrating US-Cuba’s new start

IR: Not many people saw it coming yet it did. In fact, not many would think this day will ever come but it did and that in itself is a sign that nations in conflict could resolve issues through diplomacy. President Barack Obama, after months of furtive negotiations with the Cuban government, announced a number of sweeping changes that would kickstart economic, political and diplomatic relations with Cuba. The announcement formed part of Obama’s post-2008 election policy shifts where a “new start” in relations was promised between the two countries. President Obama had in 2011 relaxed some travel restrictions but the implementation remained stalled so long as Alan P. Gross, a US government contractor arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 15 years in a Cuban prison was still held. The role played by the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis in the negotiations is remarkable. In fact, he helped to encourage the talks through written letters to both countries’ president and even hosted a meeting at the Vatican in October to finalise the deal. Both presidents even went as far as talking for the first time in over 50 years on the phone for more than 45 minutes to formally seal the deal. As a step forward, Cuba released Mr. Gross (released separately on humanitarian grounds because he was, according to officials, not technically part of the release deal) and the US in return freed three imprisoned Cuban spies

caught in 1998. Part of the deal will see the US easing restrictions on remittances, travel and banking. Cuba will follow up by allowing more internet access and releasing 53 Cubans identified as political prisoners by the US. Also, Cuba will be removed from the US terrorist list which will pave the way for a much deeper bilateral cooperation in the area of counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism among other related security issues. The most important highlight of this new policy is the resumption of diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies in Havana and Washington respectively. The new start in is a right step in the right direction. Now is the time to kickstart a viable process that will end the 54 years of political debacle that has divided families and wounded lives. This is not only victory for Latin America but also Cuba and the US. This is victory for American foreign policy and international peace. Despite growing dissatisfaction with this policy shift among the Republican dominated Congress and a number of Latin American states, it is hoped common sense will prevail. The new start is certainly a win-win situation for both countries; a laudable initiative and a very important opportunity for the US to change the world’s perception about its foreign policy decisions. The cold war has ended and so should the sanctions and embargo on Cuba. • Raheem Oluwafunminiyi, Lagos

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

COMMENTS

PART from its sheer symbolism, the publicised move by northern yam farmers to boost the campaign funds of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, with a donation of N5bn speaks volumes about the mass appeal of his remarkable Crowd Funding Project. Reports said Rev. Jacob Musa, Public Relations Officer of a group named Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Appeal Campaign Fund (BOPCAF), declared in a statement that the money would be raised by its members in Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Kaduna states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. More dramatically and spectacularly, according to the information, an unusual fundraiser based on yam selling was scheduled for Jan 4 at the Mararaban Demshin village yam market in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Musa said: “We have contributed five million tubers of yam to be donated in support of the funding of Buhari’s presidential campaign. The five million tubers of yam will be retailed at a special price of N1, 000 each towards raising the sum of N5 billion in support of the APC candidate.” Symbolically, tubers of yam hint at the natural cycle of sowing and reaping, possibly suggesting that the time has come for the Goodluck Jonathan presidency to get its comeuppance after a long night of irredeemably poor governance. Musa, who painted a picture of the Jonathan era, was quoted as saying that the group’s political involvement was a “campaign against poverty, crime, killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, castle rustling, rape, cultism, election rigging, looting of public funds, smuggling, terrorism and other social vices now prevalent in the society.” The clear difference between Buhari’s focus on the people for funding and Jonathan’s reliance on moneybags for re-

‘Probably the main the challenge facing the progressive camp in the countdown to the defining election is people mobilisation, which will likely come with the difficulty of spreading political awareness and enlightenment as well as delivering the crucial message of the need for game-changing political action within a population that is usually fatalistically absorbent’

N every contest, there is bound to be a victor and a vanquished; a winner and a loser. In principle, to jostle for a political office among a horde of aspirants, is to consent to the fact that one person is bound to triumph and the rest obligated by the rules of the game to accept defeat. Indeed this belief is a golden rule. It is not exclusive to politics. Even in the prominent faiths that we adhere and believe in, magnanimity in victory and gallantry in defeat especially, is what distinguishes real sportsmen from dilettantes and desperadoes. The outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in Adamawa State has exposed some politicians to belong to the latter category of sportsmen. A few disgruntled politicians and their hangers-on, who lost in the race for the PDP’s ticket, have succumbed to the pullhim-down-syndrome, hacking down the winner and throwing venom at the party’s hierarchy. The tracks of the journey that culminated in the December 10 Adamawa governorship primaries are sadly being missed in the hysteria of the bitter defeat that the unsportsmanlike aspirants are finding hard to swallow. The outpouring of vitriol being orchestrated by a few individuals at the flag bearer of the PDP, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, is a defective strategy. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Playing the victim by individuals who displayed crass sense of lawlessness and undemocratic tendencies from the very day the whistle was blown can be counter-productive for people who have always believed in eating their cakes and having it. The trait they showcase today – which is akin to the character of a bull in a China shop – was the same thing that marked their actions from the very day that Ribadu decided to join the PDP. But a political party is an assembly of like-minded people seeking the advancement of their nation, state or community. It is not a personal fiefdom. For a party that is known to be accommodating, some mischievous individuals in its Adamawa chapter are fighting as much as they can to keep Ribadu at arms length. The reason is not farfetched. For individuals who are so used to “business as usual”, and feed from the wreckage of Adamawa’s underdevelopment, the coming of a man of Ribadu’s inclinations will never be a comforting development. Enter the party primaries. The same people who are crying wolf where there is none now were the same people who kept throwing spanners in the wheels of the party, in the run-off to the primary elections in Adamawa State. The first misbehaviour was the production of a dubious delegates list which contravenes the rule of having the Congress Committee conduct the delegate congress and compile a list using the result. And, eager to push that illegality down the throat of the party and its leadership, those desperate politicians went ahead to publish that purported delegates list in what many now know to be in gross contravention of the electoral guidelines of the party. Moreover, when the national headquarters of the PDP sent a committee to conduct the state assembly primaries in accordance with the INEC and the party rules, the experience of the committee members became so harrowing and unbelievable because of the personalities that the committee itself blamed.

People Power Project sources, even if not definitively ideological, is at least promising in terms of individual orientation and direction. Buhari said: My strength mainly is the ordinary people. N100 is plenty of money for them and I know that they are going to make the sacrifice required for the change we are looking for, especially when I made them a promise to be transparent and personally responsible for the money.” It is a reflection of Buhari’s widely acknowledged immaculateness that the bank account details of the Buhari Support Organisation are officially in the public space: Acct No. 2026724405; First Bank Plc. He disclosed that the people had contributed N54.4 million so far. However, it’s a long walk to “Change”, that enchanting word which is the APC slogan ahead of next month’s presidential election. Although money by itself is unlikely to give Jonathan electoral victory, especially given his provable lowrung performance in office and associated weakness in the critical area of people appeal, there is no doubt that his reelection campaign war chest of at least N21bn raised at the December 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fundraiser in Abuja is truly intimidating. While the contest might be portrayed as a battle between the masses and the moneybags, the electoral clincher would hopefully be beyond Jonathan’s cash stockpile and the expected grassroots financial contributions to Buhari’s pursuit of presidential power. Fundamentally, the country’s historically significant 2015 presidential election represents an unquantifiable opportunity for the electorate to demonstrate not only discerning political consciousness but also confident mastery of its ulti-

mate sovereignty. In other words, the election is better appreciated as a People Power Project. It is interesting to note that Jonathan, perhaps in an indirect and self-serving manner, appears to have come to an impressive realisation of the supremacy of the vote or the primacy of the voters. He reportedly said to a visiting delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from Bayelsa State: “If Nigerians didn’t want me to be here, when I contested elections in 2011, I wouldn’t be here. But they voted for us and we are here.” Without exploring the purity of his alleged win in 2011, it is sufficient to highlight the solid implication of his reasoning, which is that the people have the power to vote against him and deflate his dream of a second term. The question, therefore, is whether this would happen, not whether it could, because it is always a democratic possibility based on people capacity. Jonathan further said: “I don’t expect praises now, until I leave office…People don’t often give credit when the man is still there. They often do it when he has left and another man is in charge. When they make comparison, they will begin to see the great things the former man did.” At least, to go by his words, it is a positive sign that he can accommodate the idea of official impermanence. Of course, he is entitled to his own self-rating, however exaggerated, or more precisely, however revealing of “hallucinatory realism”. What matters, in the end, is whether the people see Jonathan’s firstterm performance from his own conceited perspective. So, he could leave office sooner than he is clearly anticipating, if the people say so by their votes. Power to the people is a catch-phrase that must be actualised by the people themselves for meaningful change. It is noteworthy that Buhari said: “Currently, 82 support groups have been registered under the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) with over 475, 796 coordinators and total membership in the region of 8,492,226 across the length and breadth of this country.” Probably the main the challenge facing the progressive camp in the countdown to the defining election is people mobilisation, which will likely come with the difficulty of spreading political awareness and enlightenment as well as delivering the crucial message of the need for gamechanging political action within a population that is usually fatalistically absorbent. Indeed, how far the people are ready to go to protect the sacredness of their votes will be decisive. It is thought-provoking that Jonathan said in his New Year message: “After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic elements embarked on an orgy of violence, resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will not be allowed to happen this time around. This government will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections.” The question is: What if the people are triggered to defend their votes?

Adamawa: Halting the bitter cacophony By Austin Kwantagara It was something like an offshoot of a Nollywood blockbuster. The committee was intimidated, harassed, and even unlawfully imprisoned by top officials of their own party. In effect, the environment was not only uneven and dangerous for the conduct of free and fair primaries; it was the quintessence of the most heinous behaviour, so unbecoming of the status of people who have been in leadership in a state for that long. That horrendous experience of the Ambassador Tim Ihemadu-led committee has been well documented in the print and electronic media for posterity, as recounted by the committee, to the chagrin of the Adamawa people who, for mere selfish reasons have been made to look as most uncivilized, given bad name, and are now being described as backward when compared to the rest of the country all resulting from the actions of a selfish few. It was the nasty treatment meted out the Ihemadu Committee in an attempt to manipulate the process of coming up with the party candidates that first stoked the alarm. It was obvious, with the kidnapping of that committee during the state assembly primaries that those desperate to hijack the process were not in politics for the benefit of the people. Not only was a level playing ground denied the aspirants in Yola, but even the safety of officials that would conduct the election became ominously undermined and compromised. The National Working Committee of the party, therefore, tapped into its powers provided in the party’s constitution to move the primaries out of Yola. By way of answering those parroting a breach of constitutionality, it should be stated that the same constitution that directed the conduct of primaries at constituency headquarters, foresees the likelihood of special, yet unwarranted situations and therefore empowers the party hierarchy to name alternate venues of primaries, irrespective of location. It was for this reason that the party relocated primary elections of some 10 states to the Federal Capital Territory. Adamawa was therefore not an isolated case, as some disgruntled individuals would want the gullible and ordinary people to believe. As stated in the Electoral Act, the party duly informed aspirants and INEC, of the change of venue ahead of time. It is also why those who were crying wolf are not complaining of time, because they have been duly notified and given ample notice but angry with relocation to further their unholy mischief. The truth is that were it not for the harassment of the committee and the informed fear of loss of lives, since thugs were drawn into the business by the people who had no hope of winning, even if the ballot had been held in

Yola, the result would still have reflected the truth. Thus, one can say without any iota of equivocation that those who chose to stay away from the primaries in Abuja would still have shouted foul if they had lost in Yola too. As it was to be expected, the elections in Abuja were conducted in a very orderly manner under a most transparent and peaceful atmosphere. In fact, it is in the cacophony of voices after their loss that the defeated politicians showcased themselves as bad losers who are prepared to drag anyone with them to the abyss of bitterness. Theirs is a case of a stubborn corpse that refuses to go peacefully. But thankfully, some of the desperate politicians have come out to show their selfish agenda. In the past two weeks, some three to four of such wannabe politicians have jumped to little known party platforms in a do-or-die style of realizing their dreams. But even more dangerously are the few who have chosen to half-heartedly accept the verdict of the people by remaining in the PDP, but yet have not desisted from exhibiting anti-party tendencies. Importantly, however, the Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders are with the party’s flag bearer Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the process that produced him. The cacophony is coming from a few disgruntled losers and their cronies. Hiding under the toga of the hapless word, “stakeholders”, they are shouting themselves hoarse in a bid to demand dubious legitimacy. Those that are not happy with the outcome of the Adamawa governorship primaries are a very few individuals who for a long time have always had things their own way. Democracy, the saying goes, is a game of numbers and the people have indeed, spoken. As the general election nears, it is evident that the people of Adamawa State are ready to give their votes to the candidate that will inject meaning in their lives and their state and no bitter politician can change the destiny of a people to whom fate has brought an emancipator. • Kwantangara is coordinator of Neighbour2Neighbour for Ribadu.

‘One can say without any iota of equivocation that those who chose to stay away from the primaries in Abuja would still have shouted foul if they had lost in Yola too’

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

COMMENTS

HE year 2015 is here with us. The advent of a new year means different things to different people. Generally however, the beginning of a new year is devoted for sober reflections among all classes of people and religions. It provides ample ambience for people to reflect on events of the past with a view to charting a better future. Characteristically, the commencement of a New Year is marked with what is now known as New Year resolutions. Such resolutions reflect on the activities of the past year with a resolve to part ways with bad habits and lead a better life henceforth. However, the extent to which these resolutions are observed to the letters would depend on individual strengths or weaknesses. Our main concern here is this recognition that it should no longer be business as usual when we transit from one year to the other. Its corollary is that the New Year should hold better prospects for all and sundry. For nation-states, the foregoing sentiments are equally relevant considerations. That is why governments prepare annual budgets to enable them take care of the challenges of statecraft on the eve of a coming year. For Nigeria, the year 2015 is particularly symbolic and challenging as well. A number of events have taken place in so many fronts to bring about this situation. And the picture has been a mixed grill of the good, the bad and the ugly. There was this prediction some years back from the United States of the prospects of Nigeria becoming a failed state this year. And as if to give vent to this, a number of challenges have arisen in this country since then to raise consciousness on the prospects of the predictions coming into fruition. The first signal emerged with the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency within this time frame. Their weird ideology of installing an Islamic state in the country, expelling nonMuslims and southerners from the north and constantly attacking churches in the north through sponsored suicide bombings raised the stakes and shook the faith of the people on the continued unity and indivisibility of the country. Not unexpectedly, this came with an increasing slide to parochialism and primordial sentiments. Ethnic and sectional sentiments came to an all-time high. Unfolding events began to have negative effects on the people’s confidence on the capacity of the state

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Here we are! to continue to provide for their collective interests. Life in some pars of the country degenerated to the atavism of the state of nature-nasty, short and brutish. Nigeria was drawn into an inevitable war against the Boko Haram insurgency with no end in sight. Thousands of innocent lives and property of inestimable value have been lost to the senseless war. It rages on and may assume a new dimension this year. Within the same time, the menace of Fulani herdsmen became a matter of serious public concern. There were constant incidences of the sacking of villages and killing of innocent people in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Nassarawa states among others. The schism was such that two former military rulers- Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida had to issue a joint statement deprecating the situation. They were more worried that even those they hitherto classified as patriots were increasing questioning the basis of Nigerian unity. That has been the environment in which this country operated for most part of the year that just ended. Such has been the situation with the Boko Haram insurgency assuming a very dangerous and complicated dimension. Accusations have been traded regarding the real motivation of the insurgents. But the most worrisome is that which links it to the unfolding political competition in the country. In this regard, we have in mind the issue of which of the geo-political divides should occupy the highest political office in this country-the presidency. The heat has been so much with some sections of the north and the south-south trading words. There have been threats of catastrophe from

UR dear country, on account of its tremendous potentials in human and natural resources, was the envy of the Third World including neighbours Ghana, South Africa and the Asian Tigers, when you were born 72 years ago. As you grew up, you must have watched with high-tension indignation, like other zealous patriots, how those less-endowed competitors gradually but steadily overtook the fearsome-looking Nigeria, ultimately establishing a commanding, near-unassailable lead in the marathon race of national development. Such indignation has caused you to seek on different platforms, the opportunity to put in your patriotic quota in reversing the ugly trend, typified, for example, by the callous manner Second Republic politicians compounded the nation’s woes between 1979 and 1983. But the agents and promoters of rot in uniform, agbada and babariga, pampered by intellectual gangsters, have always conspired to prevent you from doing for Nigeria what Jerry Rawlings, armed with your brand of zealous patriotism, courage, sincerity and discipline, did for Ghana. In a similar letter of mine (Lamentations to Jeremiah of May, 2011) to “the best president Nigeria never had” in the great beyond, I lamented about how the woes of the country which he laboured hard for an opportunity to fix had worsened since he departed. You will recall that after his yet unsuccessful attempt at the opportunity in 1983, he told the nation he would not personally press for it again. Rather, “when Nigerians need me, they will call for me,” he had closed. Unfortunately, by the time Nigerians realized he was the best president they could have had, it was too late! You will recall, also, the desperate attempts, before then, by those whose very essence and livelihood depended solely on profiting from the woes of their nation, to ensure he never

To your detractors, you are by far the oldest human being ever to aspire to lead a nation. The global icon, Nelson Mandela, fresh from 27 years in prison, became South Africa’s president at 76. Americans who elected John Kennedy president at 41 were the same people that made Ronald Reagan president at 70. Tunisians, progenitors of the recent Arab Spring, have just elected an 88-year old uncle of yours as president in continuation of their revolution.

both sections should any of these contending forces fail to clinch the presidency. The south-south feels President Jonathan should be allowed to finish a second term. The north thinks otherwise. The ruling party, the PDP has been badly ruffled by this power contest leading to defections from its ranks. With the defections and the emergence of the APC, a strong opposition is now in place. Party primaries have been concluded. And the presidential candidates of the parties have emerged with Muhammad Buhari as the APC rival to Jonathan. With this, it would appear the battle line has been drawn. And in this contest, two factors will dominate the language of political discourse- ethnicity and religion. The potency of the last factor is given credence by events leading to the picking of Buhari’s running mate. Obasanjo elevated this to the fore when he warned the party against a Muslim-Muslim ticket given extant developments in the country. And this came to pass. But that is not the end of its all. The two contenders are from the two dominant religions- Christianity and Islam. They also come from the two dominant geo-political divides in the country- south and north. Though this line of division may not be as perfect as has been presented, but that does by no means whittle down the potency of their envisaged roles in the unfolding political contest. The point being raised here is simple. And it is that the foregoing scenario will add up to heat up the political space when campaigns commence. The situation is such that the average Nigerian is apprehensive of events that will follow the coming elections. Ques-

tions are now being raised regarding whether Nigeria can survive this election given the utterances and posturing of politicians? Questions are also being asked as to whether our current path has been primed for the doomsday as represented by the predictions from the US. Many are apprehensive at the way things are going. Nigeria may be heading to the precipice unless the current posturing of politicians change for the better. Every indication point to the foreboding direction that the coming elections will be a do or die affair. There have been threats to form a parallel government, the soaking of the dogs and baboons in blood should elections be rigged and similar talks that tend raise fears as the elections draw nearer. When this foul and tense political environment is juxtaposed against the raging war against terrorism in the north-east, the fears being expressed are better contextualized. There is also the contentious issue of whether elections will hold in the war-ravaged states and how free and fair will such be given the prevailing environment. All these are potential sources of schism that will determine the fate of the country in this election year that has been predicted as a turning point in our nation’s existence. As things stand, the way politicians conduct themselves will hold the key to unfolding events. But in this vaulting ambition to capture power, they should spare the ordinary people the trouble of being dragged into a senseless war. Our people have suffered enough in the hands of marauding politicians whose prime motivation is selfish interest. If they have failed to put things aright all these years, they should not compound the misery of the ordinary people now.

‘Our people have suffered enough in the hands of marauding politicians whose prime motivation is selfish interest. If they have failed to put things aright all these years, they should not compound the misery of the ordinary people now’

Letter to General Buhari By Dele Akinola smelt that opportunity to do for Nigeria what he did for the Western Region. Then, raw falsehood competed violently with pure treachery. If River Kaduna overran its banks, sweeping away Aliyu’s hut, Emeka’s car failed to start in Abakaliki, or Aremu’s wife in Ogbomoso went into prolonged labour, Awolowo surely had a case to answer! This is why I did not start by congratulating you on your overwhelming endorsement by your party for the 2015 presidential election. Already, you have become, more than ever, the object of similar mischief, falsehood and treachery coming from your opponents and those who provide the intellectual fillip on the opinion and other pages of newspapers. You are such an intimidating and fearsome “semi-illiterate” that the super literates in the land have had to go on gruelling academic research in yet futile attempts to rubbish you. They accuse you of once threatening to “make the country ungovernable,” even though those who actually made the particular statement at the time of a tragicomic internal succession war belonged to the camp of your opponents. You are desperately labelled sponsor of Boko Haram, even when those who have been able to capture evil resources large enough to sponsor terror are as close to them as they are distant from you. They describe you, with several Christians on your intimate personal staff, as “unrepentant religious bigot, northern irredentist and political demagogue.” Yet the political heavyweight your military government packaged in a crate from London en-route Nigeria to answer for economic crime against the country was a fellow northerner and fellow Muslim. In other such attempts, they have found it a “visible fact” that you are not abreast of some imaginary “global issues of today and tomorrow.” Ordinary Nigerians on the streets however, know that the global issues you are allergic to are the mindless looting of the treasury, insensitive cornering of people’s commonwealth and “gluttonous accumulation of wealth.” You are described as one to whom “there are blue bloods and talakawas whose place in life is hewing wood and drawing water”! If you who have refused to steal from the rich, the not-so-rich and the talakawas could be so described, how then do we describe the demonic gluttons who gleefully corner talakawas’ pension funds in hundreds of billions while they

watch, callously, as the poor souls perish on the queues waiting for their rightful entitlements? In fact, dear General, some plots have been about sheer trivialities, some so ridiculous they begin to border on intellectual idiocy. That it took you seven days to announce the identity of your running mate has become an issue of campaign of calumny, as if the time taken in making a choice is of greater significance than making a right choice. They say the firmness and activeness of your military government could only be credited to your Second-In-Command as he was actually in charge. But if your deputy was actually the one in charge, why then was he Number Two? The truth of the matter, however, was that you were such a liberal and selfless leader who believed in sharing service and limelight with your deputy. Hence you chose a man with similar sterling attributes, as you have done again, to do more of the interaction with the public. To your detractors, you are by far the oldest human being ever to aspire to lead a nation. The global icon, Nelson Mandela, fresh from 27 years in prison, became South Africa’s president at 76. Americans who elected John Kennedy president at 41 were the same people that made Ronald Reagan president at 70. Tunisians, progenitors of the recent Arab Spring, have just elected an 88-year old uncle of yours as president in continuation of their revolution. Unlike most Nigerian political leaders, past and present, you have not been moving in and out of hospitals on account of ill-health. Yet they accuse you of lack of vibrancy. At 99, your mother, (her first three children are all older than you), Yeye Oodua, Mama HID Awolowo, still bubbles with such inspiring vibrancy that she still coordinates the affairs of the descendants of Oduduwa. General, your haters are not relenting. And they are not expected to relent even though, as fresh as their focus had been presented to be, they still have not been able to clear the cobwebs of economic rascality, institutional lawlessness and political brigandage in which the Nigerian nation has been entangled for decades. You should expect them to become even more desperate, dangerous and deadly in coming weeks. They will do all in their political and intellectual capacity to cajole and instigate the Nigerian people against you. But it is left for the people to decide not yours but their fate. Have a fruitful, glorious campaign, General, and a Happy New Year.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

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Job opportunities in aquaculture - P. 35

‘Cocoa industry is ready-made market for employment generation’ - P. 37

News Briefing

BoI stakes N1.1b on backward integration for card manufacturing

Banks’ total assets, liabilities hit N26tr BANKS’ total assets and liabilities amounted to N26.3 trillion last October, representing a 1.5 per cent increase above the level at the end of the preceding month, a report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said. –Page 26

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

‘Falling naira ‘ll worsen SMEs’ woes’ The falling value of the naira will worsen the woes of players in the small and medium scale enterpries (SMEs), the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Montage Cable Network, Mr Bamidele Adetunji, has said. –Page 26

Iron ore price halved in horror year IRON ore is set to end the year down almost 50 per cent, making it potentially the worst-performing major commodity of 2014. –Page 27

• From left: Head, Mainboard, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Tony Ibeziako; Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju; Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo- Waziri; CEO, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Olumide Oyetan; CEO, Stanbic IBTC Stock Brokers, Oladele Sotubom; and Head, Wealth Marketing, Stanbic IBTC,Dapo Martins, during Stanbic ETF’s listing in Lagos.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury Bills-10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

-242.1

-156

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

Foreign loans repayment crisis looms over naira devaluation

OMPANIES with dol lar-denominated for eign and domestic loans are in for a tougher period as depreciation in Nigerian currency and global strengthening of dollar raise a double-edged spiral cycle that may further weaken corporate earnings and returns. Following the continuing decline in global crude oil price, naira has suffered significant depreciation and is now trading substantially above the upper limits of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s official band naira opens today at N198/$. Leading finance and investment research firm, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, says naira may further depreciate at both the official and parallel markets, echoing sentiments by vast majority of analysts. According to FDC, Naira may shortly cross the N200/ $ rate at the parallel market while it could stabilise at a fair value of between N180/ $ and N195/$. At the official market, there could be further depreciation of between three to five per cent. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in late November had devalued the naira with official parity rate of N168/$ and a wider band of +-5 per cent as against the previous rate of N155 +-3 per cent. This indicated a new upper limit of N176/$ as against previous upper limit of N160/$. Nearly all banks have dollar-denominated loans in-

By Taofik Salako

cluding tier 11 capital and correspondent banking facilities among others. Several non-bank companies also have dollar-denominated loans, according to The Nation. Skye Bank has raised some $150 million tier 11 capital. Unity Bank has also raised $120 million Tier 11 capital. First Bank of Nigeria had raised $300 million in a subordinated Tier 11 capital issue in third quarter of 2013. The Tier 11 capital transaction had a seven-year maturity and is callable on the fifth year after the issuance date. It carried an initial coupon of 8.250 per cent on the nominal par amount, which resets at the call date to a new fixed rate without step-up until maturity. The Tier 11 capital treatment amortises over the last five years prior to maturity. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc, the holding company for Ecobank Nigeria and other subsidiaries, last week signed a loan facility agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The dollar-denominated loan facility agreement involved $100 million and will have a tenor of seven year. Sterling Bank plans to raise tier 11 capital of another $200 million in the first quarter of this year. Shareholders of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc mid last year approved a $750 million capital raising for the bank including dollar-based debt is-

sues. The Nation’s investigation showed that several quoted companies have dollar-denominated loans, including syndicated loans. Latest audited reports and accounts of several companies indicated they have substantial dollarbased loans. For instance, International Breweries had drawn down $25.2 million out of a total syndicated loan of $62 million. It carried interest rate of Libor+1.9 per cent. More than half of Oando’s total loans were denominated in dollars. Oando Group’s total loans stood at N255 billion by the last audited report. Presco Plc, a palm oil plantation and processing company, has outstanding foreign loan of N2.02 billion. It had started the process of a rights issue to raised new equity funds from its shareholders to offset the foreign-denominated loan and restructure its balance sheet. This has however been slowed down by the downtrend at the stock market. Head, Africa Strategy, FICC Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Samir Gadio, said the depreciation could be negative for banks and other companies with foreign loan. “In principle, the weaker Naira will be negative for banks that have borrowed in foreign currency through the Eurobond, international loan and swap markets because of the higher US Dollar costs in servicing their external

obligations,” Gadio said. He, however, noted that the depreciation of the Naira has been modest so far by global standards and as such there are no fears of any severe systemic issues in the banking sector at this stage. He added that that a significant proportion of the banks’ offshore borrowing is probably hedged against dollar receivables onshore, although not entirely as the dollar-based share of the banks’ loan book has increased in recent years. “Meanwhile, another concern is that bank loans to onshore petroleum companies may be affected by the sharp drop in the oil price,” Gadio pointed out. Head, research and investment advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Sewa Wusu, said banks and other companies with dollar-based loans would face financing pressure as they will be required to source more Naira earnings to fund their dollar-based loans. “They will definitely face pressure on their earnings; it means they have to source more funds to meet up the funding requirements of their foreign-denominated loans. Tier 11 capital of banks are at a cost and the Naira depreciation will put further pressure on banks’ earnings,” Wusu. Wusu, an economist, said the CBN will have no choice but to further devalue the naira if the oil price continues to decline.

HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has committed N1.1 billion to the backward integration in the smart cards manufacturing industry, thereby reducing importation of cards that could be manufactured locally. With a capacity to manufacture 100million cards yearly, BoI noted that card solutions for data security, physical plant security and integrity processing standards could now be accessed in the country. Speaking during a facility tour of SecureID Limited in Lagos, its Managing Director, Rasheed Olaoluwa, explained that the bank is committed to the manufacturing sector as the sector remains a growth driver and has huge potential for job creation. He said: “Manufacturing in Nigeria is taking a new edge. I am delighted at what I have seen today. SecureID Limited is the first integrated manufacturing company in Nigeria and Africa. What we witnessed today also happened in Nnewi recently at Innoson vehicle manufacturing plant where cars are manufactured in the country rather than just assembling the parts. “We are witnessing a successful backward integration of activities in the card industry through local production of cards. The company has established capacity and smart manufacturing techniques. As a customer of our bank, we have supported the business and this shows that the facility has been effectively utilised.” With a capacity utilisation level set at 70 per cent, Olaoluwa explained that BoI will continuesto raise its stake in industries that enhance job creation adding that the company, with improved capacity would employ at least 350 from the teeming unemployed population in the country. The Managing Director of SecureID Limited, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, said the company can produce chip and PIN-based smartcards that support payments and biometric identification, verification and authentication. According to her, the company’s local production of smart cards for the financial sector, telecoms and public sectors has reduced the level of imports and exposure to the foreign exchange market.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS ‘Falling naira ‘ll worsen SMEs’ woes’

HE falling value of the naira will worsen the woes of players in the small and medium scale enterpries (SMEs), the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Montage Cable Network, Mr Bamidele Adetunji, has said. According to him, the free fall of the naira is not business-friendly as it has the potential to throw the operators out of business. Speaking in Lagos during the unveiling of some of the new channels launched by the firm, Adetunji said the naira devaluation would affect SMEs that source their raw materials overseas where they are always expected to pay in foreign currencies. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to come out with strong incentives to support the SMEs whom he said are better economic agents for job creation and income generation in frontier and emerging economies such as Nigeria’s. On what Montage Cable Network has to offer to the viewers, Adetunji said the objective of the group in Nigeria is to redefine movie and entertainment business

By Lucas Ajanaku

by giving consumers what they want, stressing that the founders are committed to building an entity that will outlive them regardless of the challenges of the Nigerian environment. According to him, Montage values content more than anything else hence its decision to grow the company organically thereby giving the consumers their monies worth. The entertainment firm, which first launched its operation in the country in April, last year, has 35 channels covering movie, sport, news and entertainment among others, although it’s target was to offer over 75 channels before its first anniversary this year. Part of its strategy was the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with leading content developers across the world to generate quality contents that will meet the needs of its Nigerian audience. Beside, the company is also generating other local contents that would enable it compete with any other in the country.

Banks’ total assets, liabilities hit N26tr

ANKS’ total assets and liabilities amounted to N26.3 trillion last October, representing a 1.5 per cent increase above the level at the end of the preceding month, a report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said. It said funds were sourced, mainly from increased mobilisation of Federal Government deposit, increase in unclassified and foreign liabilities and reduction in foreign assets. The funds were used, largely, to increase claims on central government, central bank, reduce time savings and foreign currency deposits, and demand deposits. It said banks’ credit to the domestic economy fell marginally by 0.7 per cent to N13.8 trillion, compared with

By Collins Nweze

the level at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed to the 3.9 and 0.5 per cent decline in credit to the Federal Government and credit to the private sector during the review month. Total specified liquid assets of the banks stood at N6.4 trillion, representing 37.0 per cent of their current liabilities. At that level, the liquidity ratio declined by 0.8 percentage point below the level in the preceding month, and was seven percentage points above the stipulated minimum ratio of 30 per cent. The loans-to-deposit ratio, at 62.8 per cent, was 2.9

percentage points above the level at the end of the preceding month, but was 17.2 percentage points below the prescribed maximum ratio of 80 per cent. “Provisional data indicated that total assets and liabilities of the discount houses stood at N187.0 billion at end-October 2014, showing an increase of 20.4 per cent above the level at end-September 2014. The development was accounted for, largely, by the 43.5 and 24.9 per cent rise in claims on banks and claims on the Federal Government, respectively. Correspondingly, the increase in total liabilities was attributed, largely, to the 66.4 and 29.5 per cent rise in borrowings and

money-at-call, respectively,” the report said. Also, discount houses’ investment in Federal Government securities of less than 91-day maturity rose to N69.0 billion and accounted for 45.7 per cent of their total liabilities. At that level, discount houses’ investment in Nigeria Treasury Bills rose by 31.1 per cent above the level at the end of the preceding month. Thus, investment in Federal Government securities was 14.3 percentage points below the prescribed minimum level of 60.0 per cent. Total borrowing and amount owed by the discount houses was N58.4 billion, while their capital and reserves amounted to N28.6 billion.

How to make auto policy work, by IBD chief

HE National Automo tive Policy (NAP) is a beautiful idea, for it to have the desired impact, there must be increased local content, President/ Chairman, Institute of Business Development (IBD), Mr. Ifeanyi Mathew Obibuzor, has said. Speaking on the sideline of the association’s Business Development Week/Summit in Lagos, Mr. Obibuzor argued that if the auto policy must be implemented for the benefit of the sector’s investors and the economy, then more Nigerians must be encouraged to participate. He said the auto policy lacked sufficient local content. He said: “What is the local content of the auto policy? How many of our engineers are actually participating?” He added that in some projects worth billions of naira, not many Nigerian engineers are understudying the process so that they could take over. According to the him, what obtains at moment is that critical aspects of the jobs in the auto industry are usually done at odd hours when Nigerian engineers are not there to know what is happening or how the jobs are done. While insisting that the practice amounts to defrauding the economy and Nigerians in general, he therefore, said, “Government must be awake to its responsibilities and put a stop to defrauding the economy.” Obibuzor said since the auto policy is supposed to be comprehensive, the Federal Government must as a matter of necessity decide the level of local participation in its implementation. “The auto policy is a very comprehensive thing that should be done with deliberate plan and commitment,” he noted. He said: “If you want to

By Chikodi Okereocha

do automobile then anybody coming in must be given a choice. This level of this thing you must source it here; this level of engineers must be here; this level of technicians you train them. And in five years, every year you create a percentage of local content and monitor it for compliance. “Nigeria should take her destiny in her own hands by being able to have a critical mass of scientists and engineers that would design and manufacture machineries that will produce other machineries to catalyse industrialisation. Let there be commitment by government.” He advised the government on planning. “Where do we want to be in 2019, for instance? What are the critical things we want to do between now and 2019, a period of five years? By 2019, we review what we have done against what we said we want to do and see how far we are able to go. If we are unable to get there, we should ask ourselves why? What were the factors that debarred us from getting there? We review them and correct them. There must be a deliberate plan to prime how the country will develop,” he said.

• From left: Head of Civil Service, Mr. Danladi Kefasi, Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson and CEO Phase3 Telecom, Mr Stanley Jegede, during the Christmas Carol organised by Phase3 Telecommunications in Abuja.

Experts urge rework of 2015 budget

XPERTS have expressed concerns over the feasi bility of the 2015 budget benchmarked at $65 per barrel. They say the budget is dead on arrival following the global fall in the price of crude oil. Therefore, they suggest that the budget needs to be completely reworked to forestall any form of economic hardship that may likely follow. Crude oil revenue, which accounts for about 95 of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, has been on a steady decline of over 40 per cent to current level of $58 per barrel. The 2015 budget has been predicated at $65 per barrel. An economist, Mr. Tade Sanusi, said there is an urgent need to review the 2015 budget as it has become “obviously impracticable” to run

By Muyiwa Lucas

the economy on such projections. “From all indication, the budget is on the verge of failing and it is right to adjust it before we begin the implementation; doing otherwise will have serious negative effect on the country generally,” he said. Similarly, Mayowa Sodipo, a policy analyst, said it had become imperative for government to rework the budget and be realistic with its budget henceforth. He explained that with the current situation, the federal government would be running a deficit budget, which over time will further drive the economy into coma. Sodipo said the Federal Government has found itself in this precarious situation because it has failed over the years to listen to the various

calls for the diversification of the economy. Both Sanusi and Sodipo agreed that the glut in the oil market following the discovery of crude in many parts of the world, the new wave of alternative source and shale oil discovery, is now impacting on the country, a development they said should now drive government to open up other sectors of the economy. According to them, in the face of such dreadful challenges, the nation has no option but to put its economic house in order. They argued that the first thing to do is to diversify the economy in terms of other viable frontiers of international revenue earning. The second is that the nation must make the private sector its engine of growth in order to generate, export

goods and services. The last is that government should demonstrate the political will to fight corruption and mismanagement Sanusi said the negative impact of the fall in global oil prices would be felt in the country, admonishing that the country would need to brace up for tougher times. This, he said, should come in form of government reviewing its spending and building economic buffers through budgets based on modest oil prices. Such measures, he reckons, would save the country a lot of money. Besides, with the budget benchmark exceeding the commodity’s price, then it is an indication that there may not be any money left for other things like savings in the excess crude account,” he said.

Coscharis assures of quality as Quick Lane makes debut in Calabar

HE investment profile of Cross River State has risen with the arrival of Coscharis Group, a representative of some of the top brands in the automobile industry, in Calabar, promising world class services. Also the company has introduced the Quick Lane Auto and Tire Centre, a franchise of one of the brands they represent, Ford in its facility.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

Calabar is the second place in the country the service has been introduced, the first being in Lagos two years ago. Addressing reporters in Calabar, its Head, Dealer Network Development, Adenuga Olalekan said: “Buying a brand new vehicle is just like a young man that is wedding on the wedding day, the woman looks gorgeous and is beautiful but

whether she is going to remain that way for a long time to come is a question of maintenance. We as an organisation recognise the importance of after sales service of enjoying any new vehicle that you buy. And that informs our investment in after sales facilities nationwide. “Accidents are not act of God as we often made to believe in the country. Often times it is a product of human error. Road

accidents generate the largest number of accidents. ‘’We recognise that the human error in question involves either the use of substandard spare parts or trace the problem to poor maintenance or rickety vehicles. The objective if citing this facility is to be able to address these challenges. We want to through this facility produce certified parts to be able to maintain all the vehicles that

you have bought from us, so we can maximise the enjoyment. We have four key sections. He continued: “One I have mentioned is the one that provides certified parts for vehicles you have purchased. The other one is the Quick Lane which is not just Coscharis invention. It is a Ford franchise and established in several places around the world. It is just coming to Nigeria.‘’

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Ambode to focus on job creation, others

HE governoship candi date of the All Progres sive Congress (APC) in the Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has rolled out what he called, “a 24/7 economic agenda” that will transform Lagos to a mega city model. Unveiling his plans to reporters, Ambode promised to set up a Lagos Employment Trust Fund (LETF) with N25 billion over the next four years, adding that this will enhance access to finance of a minimum of N1billion yearly across the five divisions in the state. He said: “That will allow our youths and unemployed people have access to adequate finance for entrepreneurial ventures. We will protect the growth of our small and medium scale enterprises by providing tax incentives. We will implement government policies that will encourage the private sector to employ more citizens and foster economic development.” To boost internally generated revenue (IGR) in the state, Ambode said the government will improve the collection mechanism through e-governance. He also plans to pursue a fully integrated transport management system that combines roads, rail, water and walkways to ease the movement of residents in the city centres and the suburbs. “We will introduce and establish officially designated bus stops/routes in Lagos. We will improve on traffic with the construction of new roads and maintenance of existing ones, as well as placing directional signs in strategic places. We will also increase the use of our waterways through channeling and dredging,” he said. With the rising demand

• To scale up security funding By Adedeji Ademigbuji

for housing in the state, Ambode promised to create communities that are selfsustainable across the state. He also said his administration will improve on the current policy of home ownership through Lagos HOMS and provide ownership options, such as Rent to Own Programme (ROP). “This will allow for easy access and reduce congestion at the city centres. We will provide affordable housing schemes by collaborating, through Public Private Partnerships (PPP), to increase the available housing stock. “Our government will also improve on the current policy of home ownership through Lagos HOMS and provide ownership options, such as Rent to Own Program (ROP),” he said In the area of security, Ambode plans to increase funding to security in order to sustain the success recorded by the present administration. He said: “We will boost the State Security Fund to scale up the successes recorded so far. We will continue with the city lighting project by expanding the Independent Power Project (IPP) to enhance the security of lives and property across the state. In addition, our government will embark

Our senior citizens will also enjoy free healthcare from 65 years onwards.We will improve on the quality of Primary Healthcare system and make it more accessible, thereby reducing the overdependence on our general hospitals. We will activate emergency services in all our hospitals

‘R&D accounts for 0.01% of global expenditure’

HE Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) says Nigeria’s investments in Research and Development (R&D) accounts for 0.01 percent of global expenditure. Its Director-General, Ms Gloria Elemo, said this while presenting a paper titled: “Investment in Research and development: A panacea for sustainable job creation in Nigeria.” She said Nigeria ranked 94 out of 134 nations in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) in 2010 without a university ranked in the world’s top 500. Mrs Elemo pointed out that there are huge opportunities and possibilities for wealth and sustainable job creation if the government at the local, state and federal level continues to partner with the private sector in the uptake and commercialisation of most of its R&D results. She said: “In FIIRO for example, we have developed more than 250 technologies from locally available raw materials and 50 of these have been scaled up to pilot plant production and packaged ready for

on the acquisition of the latest advanced security communications technology that will track and monitor the daily activities of the state.” Ambode also promised to encourage collaboration between the private sector and the government such that the partnership will help government identity areas of growth. “We will encourage the creation of a Corporate Social Responsibility Trust Fund (CSRTF) by the private sector, to be managed by a Board of Trustees charged with the responsibility of identifying growth opportunities yearly and financing such opportunities to further boost economic development across sectors and communities in the state,” he promised. Top on his agenda too education. Ambode plans to provide free education up to the senior secondary school level to ensure that no child is denied the right to education. He also plans to provide one meal per day to students to guarantee a healthy learning environment. He prmised to seek collaboration with the private sector to ensure the sustainability of the state bursary and scholarship initiatives for tertiary institutions, capacity development for the informal sector as well as skill acquisition through technical and vocational training for residents of

commercialisation. “The Federal Government has a huge role to play by enacting policies and legislations that will encourage production of consumer goods from indigenous raw materials. The support given to the partial substitution of wheat flour with cassava flour in bread and confectioneries will for instance revolutionalise the entire cassava value chain,” she said. She said the 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion policy, if passed into law, has the potential of generating more than three million jobs down the line across the entire value chain. “I believe it is a policy that should be given a serious and speedy consideration by the national assembly. “Nigeria has aspirations to be one of the top 20 world economies by 2020 creating two key issues – a need for massive investment in science, technology and innovation over the next decade and strategi opportunities for researchers in R&D and new product development. FIIRO is poised to play a major role in achieving the year 2020 projection,” she said.

•Ambode

the state. “We will encourage the private sector to partner with government in this regard as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. We will also deepen skills,” he said. He also said health sector will not be left unattended to since health is wealth. To make this happen, he promised to introduce free medical care for children

from birth to age six and pregnant women on both pre-natal and ante-natal care. He said: “Our senior citizens will also enjoy free healthcare from 65 years onwards.We will improve on the quality of Primary Healthcare system and make it more accessible, thereby reducing the overdependence on our general hospitals. We will activate emergency

services in all our hospitals.” On agriculture, he said his government will build on current administration’s efforts by opening up the untapped aquatic and seafood resources in the state. “We will provide incentives for agricultural processing companies, thereby providing employment for our bulging youth population,” he added. While the current administration has changed the face of tourism, culture and sports, Ambode promised to increase the avenues to showcase the distinct and diverse culture of the state through the establishment of museums and heritage centers. He added that water parks for children and youths will be created in the state by utilising prominent natural resource in the state. “To make our state a tourism destination in Africa, we will also develop our waterfront by providing recreational facilities and encourage investors to invest more in tourism infrastructure. “Our unique cultural heritage will be promoted and enhanced to attract tourists globally. This will also create a secondary market for job creation. We will create community sport centers to encourage our youth development,” he said. He also unveiled plans to lift the arts and entertainment sector (Nollywood) by providing grants to filsm producers in the movie and music industries to encourage growth in the sectors. To acheive this, Ambode promised to revive the Lagos Film Office and encourage investors to build theatres, cinemas and art galleries across the state. “We will partner with the entertainment industry to develop sustainable structures and frameworks to support interested and upcoming youths,” he promised.

Benin Disco installs 36,000 pre-payment meters

HE Benin Electricity Distribution (BEDC) installed 36,000 prepayment meters in 2014. Its Executive Director, Commercial, Mr. Abu Ismail-Ejoor, made this known at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) stakeholders’ forum on the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) in Benin City. The Chairman of NERC, represented by Mary Awolokun, Commis-

sioner, Engineering, Standards and Safety, said the commission was touring all distribution companies to meet with the customers and get their feedback on the CAPMI implementation in all the Discos. She said the commission would ensure that meters were made available to customers under the advanced payments scheme within the statutory 45 days allowed by the commission for all Discos to do so.

According to Awolokun, the commission will sanction distribution companies that fail to supply meters to their customers within the time frame. Ismail-Ejoor said metering of customers was key to the company’s operations. He said in the last one year, an average of 3,000 meters monthly were installed by the firm, adding that this was a significant step in bridging the metering gap and eliminating estimated billing from its

billing platform. Ismail-Ejoor said though the company was eager to increase its installation capacity to see that more meters were installed within the statutory 45-day deadline, it had been hampered by some addresses supplied by customers. He said in the first quarter of this year, BEDC would migrate its customers on the pre-payment meters to online real time vending system, which would allow its customers to purchase electricity tokens round the clock.

Iron ore price halved in horror year

RON ore is set to end the year down almost 50 per cent, making it potentially the worst-performing major commodity of 2014. Driving the decline has been surging output from iron ore mines in Australia and elsewhere that has flooded the global market with supply even as China, the world’s biggest buyer of the resource, is slowing down. A slight uptick in iron ore ¬prices this week has been overshadowed by its dramatic yearlong slide, which could even outpace the fall in oil. Some analysts believe the steelmaking ingredient will continue falling in the new year.

Last week, iron ore prices dropped to a fresh 5½-year low amid an uncertain outlook for demand. Rising supply from Australia, which accounts for around half of all the iron ore traded by sea, has underpinned the market’s slump. “A lot of people were calling for a rebound heading into the back part of this year, but that hasn’t ¬really materialised,” said Stan Shamu, a Melbournebased strategist at brokerage IG. Other analysts note iron ore prices often do rise in the last months of the year as steelmakers buy before the northern hemisphere winter, but restocking this year has been muted.

Certainly, stockpiles of raw material at China’s ports have recently declined, indicating that there is still some demand for ore, and industry analysts say appetite may yet recover heading towards the Lunar New Year holidays — before which Chinese steelmakers also typically top up inventories. The price of iron ore bounced from last week’s low of $US65.60 a tonne to $US71.15. It started the year above $US134 a tonne. The fall last year was by far its sharpest annual decline since the Steel Index began publishing a spot price for the commodity in late 2008, at a time when appetite for the bulk com-

modity was intensifying due to Chinese demand. The derivatives market for iron ore is still maturing, with prices historically negotiated annually between miners and steelmakers. While iron ore is the world’s most-traded commodity after oil, it isn’t included in major commodity gauges like the Bloomberg Commodity Index, which tracks 22 markets including oil, copper and coffee. Among those selected commodities, energy contracts have been some of the worst performers so far this year, as crude oil prices fall to five-year lows on oversupply worries. Brent oil ¬futures were down about 47 per cent last year.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

Leadway pays N10billion claims L

EADWAY Assurance paid about N10billion in claims in the 2013 financial year. Speaking on claims paid in the past by the company, she stressed that it has about 45 years of service in the industry and understands that the value of promise to customers is in the claims that it pays. “Industry statistics attest to the

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

fact that we have the highest claims paid value and loss ratio that is far above industry average. For the audited financial year ended 2013 alone, we paid over N10.9 billion in claims. ‘’According to verifiable industry statistics from the Nigeria Insurance Digest of the

Nigerian Insurers Association, over N6.1billion in claims was paid in 2012 for its General Business alone representing the highest in the industry, with the next highest payer paying N2.8billion. “This, indeed, is why we are in business. We will however not be coerced or maligned into paying an unjustified or fraudulent

CIIN targets NYSC members

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has set out plans to attract members of the National Youth Service Corps into taking its examinations to achieve the target of raising 5000 professionals. CIIN’s Director Education, Ayeni Ebun, who made this known said an initiative code-named NYSCCIIN is one of the concepts designed to attract young people into taking the institute’s examinations. He added that initiative and others would help raise the number of professionals in the industry. He said: “There is a concept we called NYSC- CIIN initiative, which was designed to catch professionals young. Under the initiative, we hope to go to Iyanu Ipaja orientation camp of the NYSC in Lagos and the Sagamu NYSC camp in Ogun State to sell our products to the

youth corp members. “We will organise a programme for them to educate them on insurance and they will be given certificates for attendance. We trust that by the time the youth corps members will be finishing with their services, we would have introduced them to insurance and would have some of them enrolled in our examinations.” He noted that the institute would also take the hunt to universities, adding that the drive to catch the young ones at the secondary schools level would also be intensified. “We are also undertaking student drive in some universities that offer insurance. We called the concept Student Enrollment and Institute Promotion. We are to go to those universities to tell them the importance of insurance.” He added that they want them to

to their insurer, the final step in enrolment, and the figure doesn’t “fully capture the total number of plan selections for coverage beginning January 1,” the government said. “With the latest enrollment figures, they are clearly within striking distance of their target,” Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Menlo Park, California-based Kaiser Family Foundation, said in an e-mail. Coverage under the Affordable Care Act this year has eroded since May, when eight million people had signed up. Some customers found alternative sources of insurance or became disenchanted with the programme. ‘Enormous Surge’ The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 13 million people should be paying for plans sold under the law in 2015, a figure that would require “an enormous surge” of

• CIIN President, Bola Temowo

know the importance of being an insurance professional, which is more important than just acquiring the degree in insurance.

enrolment in the next six weeks, Levitt said. The Obama administration has said the CBO’s estimate is too high, and that the law’s coverage expansions will take more time than the budget agency expects to mature. Enrolment has been smoother for 2015 than last year, when the government had only 2.2 million people signed up after three months as it struggled to salvage the healthcare.gov system, which was crippled by software flaws. “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the enrolment website, awarded Dublin, Ireland-based Accenture Plc (ACN) a five-year contract extension yesterday, worth about $564 million, to continue running healthcare.gov, according to federal records. • Culled from Bloomberg

Steve Webb threatens new law to end ‘shocking’ pension’s rip-off

TEVE Webb, the Pensions Minister, says he is ready to change the law to force pension firms to end rip-off fees if they fail to scrap “jaw dropping” charges of up to three per cent per year He told The Telegragh that Pensions companies have been told they must draw up urgent plans to end “jaw dropping” charges to more than a million customers, after a major report found £26 billion worth of savings is at risk from rip-off fees. Webb, the Pensions Minister, said he was ready to change the law to stamp out high charges if companies responsible fail to take action as he was not prepared to wait for them to give cus-

tomers a better deal. He will be calling representatives from the major pension companies to urgent talks in the New Year in an attempt to reach a voluntary solution. But firms that refuse to end the charges will be named and shamed and will face new laws to protect customers’ retirement savings from the “shocking” fees, he warned. A year-long inquiry into the pensions plans offered to staff by companies found savers were exposed to 38 different fees that depleted their funds. Researchers found almost a quarter of all the money held in workplace pensions run by insurance companies – or £26 bil-

• MD Leadway Assurance Hassan Odukale

Golden First settles U.S. mortgage fraud claims for $36m

Obamacare enrolment hits 7.1m, says U.S BOUT 6.5 million people signed up for health insurance using the federally run healthcare.gov system by December 26, the United States government said. Including 633,000 people, who signed up for Obamacare plans by December 15 using enrolment systems run by 13 states, the total now in coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is at least 7.1 million. The state figures, reported separately today by the Health and Human Services Department, don’t include people automatically renewed in their last year’s coverage in California, New York and six other states. Federal officials aim to have at least 9.1 million people paying for coverage sold under the law in 2015, up from 6.7 million in October. The 7.1 million signed up so far haven’t necessarily paid their first premium

claim and will insist on our legal rights against any defamation of reputation. ‘’The industry is one that we are carefully building up with the help of each stakeholder.Therefore, there must be concerted efforts to ensure the growth of insurance rather than propagate further distrust and suspicion,” she said.

lion across 1.5 million separate pots – was at risk. In some cases savers were paying more than three per cent a year in annual fees. Calculations showed these people stood to lose as much as two-thirds of their money to fees over the course of their lives. Webb welcomed the report, from the Independent Project Board of regulators, consumer watchdogs and industry representatives, for exposing the scale of the problem. But he rejected the review’s proposed two-year timetable for action as “much too slow”. Instead, he announced that he would call the major pension companies to urgent talks early in the year.

LOOMBERG has reported that Golden First Mortgage Corp. agreed to a $36 million settlement of U.S. claims that the company which allegedly saw 60 per cent of government underwritten loans go into default since 2002 defrauded a federal mortgage program. Prosecutors claimed Golden First, which underwrote about $707 million worth of loans beginning that year, falsely certified that it conformed to government lending standards, according to a complaint filed last year in Manhattan federal court. Owner David Movtady agreed to pay $300,000. “This settlement holds Golden First and its owner, David Movtady, accountable for lying to the government about compliance with HUD requirements and approving bad loans,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, referring to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development. In the settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman, Golden First and Movtady said they submitted loans that were ineligible for Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance, and failed to comply with U.S. regulations, including the requirement of an adequate quality control program. Under the FHA program overseen by HUD, the government pays claims to lenders when homeowners fail to make payments on their mortgages. The FHA paid more than $12 million in claims for loans underwritten by the Great Neck, New York-based lender, according to the government’s complaint. The U. S. claimed Golden First accepted fabricated pay stubs and other false documents from loan applicants. More than 60 percent of all loans it underwrote since 2002 went into default, according to the complaint.

Anaemic growth warrants easy monetary policy, says Lagarde Accommodative monetary policy will remain necessary for as long as global growth remains weak, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde, has said. With the global economy in a fragile state, central banks from Europe to China have cut interest rates in 2014, and the possibility of printing money to buy government bonds looms large in some places. “Accommodative monetary policy will continue to be necessary while growth remains anemic, although we must pay very close attention to the risk of potential spillover,” Lagarde wrote in an opinion piece for Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore. Six years after the 2008 financial crisis, the global economy risks falling into a prolonged period of slow growth and scant job creation, Lagarde said, calling for fresh political impetus to activate measures agreed by G20 countries last month. Lagarde said progress had been made in regulating financial services but that countries must now pursue reforms and improve banking supervision. She called for tighter control over “shadow banking”, or non-

•Lagarde

bank credit and off-balance sheet bank lending, and said more effort was needed to “fill the shortfall” of data on the financial sector and allow for better regulation. To rebuild public trust, the financial sector needs to change culturally and “behave ethically”, Lagarde said. A boost to global trade could help unlock investments in 2015, she added, saying she was confident that a worldwide agreement on climate change is possible by the end of the year.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

ISSUES Relief may soon come the way of insurers, as the Federal Government focuses on the sector for economic development, reports OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO.

Hope rises in insurance sector W

ITH the fall in crude oil price and plans to diversify the economy away from oil revenue as major source of income, the Federal Government is now looking at the insurance sector as one major area to grow the economy. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, indicated Federal Government's renewed interest in the sector at a recent conference in Abuja with the theme: The Role of Insurance in a Nation's Economy. It was the first time such a conference was initiated by her ministry. Before now, the minister has never attended any insurance sector meeting and conference personally like she does in other financial service sectors like banking, pension and capital market. But at the summit organised at her instance, she had interactions with key players from insurance and re-insurance companies; insurance brokers and agents; underwriters, actuaries and loss adjusters; various consumer groups; two local and foreign investors in the sector; and regulators and government officials. Perhaps, to underscore the importance the minister attaches to the sector, she said President Goodluck Jonathan was waiting for a report on the outcome of the summit to take the next step.

For operators and stakeholders in the insurance sector, the conference was timely. It came at a time operators were agitating for government's intervention to grow the sector. Apart from raising hopes that government may have started recognising the fact that the Insurance sector is a critical part of any nation's economy and has the potential to galvanise the optimal performance of other sectors, the intervention also brightened hopes that the botched N1 trillion gross premium income targets may be attained or even surpassed. Dr Okonjo-Iweala hinted on such possibility. In her opening remarks, she said: "Mr. President is very excited at the potential of this sector, and is looking forward to reviewing the outcomes of this conference.

Our objective today is to examine ways of invigorating the industry in our country for the next decade to ensure that it contributes to our national economic growth. The industry is an important component of the financial system in any country. Insurance helps in mitigating risks and thereby provides utility for individuals and corporations." She said from economics perspective, riskaverse agents facing uncertainty are better off with insurance, as it helps them in their consumption and also improve their planning. "As Finance Minister, I can tell you that a vibrant insurance industry promotes savings and investments, increases the overall financial assets in an economy and drives development of capital markets. In times of natural disasters

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such as floods, hurricanes, droughts, insurance companies also help in providing financing to mitigate the social costs of catastrophes," she added. The minster further said the insurance industry is a major contributor to job creation across the world. According to her, a vibrant insurance industry results in direct job creation for agents, brokers, underwriters, actuaries and so on; and also indirect jobs for many other industries whose risks are covered by the industry. "So the industry is an important sector; moreover it is big business. In developed economies, insurance companies are large financial players, they are among the largest institutional investors; they are major shareholders in Fortune 1003 companies; they own some of the largest international banks; and they are big investors in the bond markets and private equity funds around the world’, she stated. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala recalled that the insurance sector had grown steadily in the past decade because of work done by NAICOM and various stakeholders. She disclosed, for instance, that total premiums have quadrupled in the past 10 years growing from N75 billion in 2005 to more than N300 billion today. She noted that not surprisingly, there has been strong external interest in the sec• Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

ISSUES

•President Jonathan

•Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

•Daniel

•Wiggle

Hope rises in insurance sector • Continued from page 29

tor with the entry of foreign investors such as Old Mutual and Sanlam from South Africa. She said just last week, AXA of France reportedly acquired a majority stake in Mansard Insurance for $246 million. She therefore, stressed that Nigeria has an insurance market filled with opportunities and many foreign investors are going to get even more interested in the coming years. She believes that there are even more opportunities going by the way Federal Government introduced insurance products in the growing mortgage and housing sectors. She, however, said in spite of the investor interest in the sector, the insurance sector in Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, must be growing even faster. She said:"When we benchmark ourselves against other emerging markets, we realise that we still have a lot of work to do. The current insurance penetration like the ratio of premiums to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is only 0.4 per cent in Nigeria, compared to 1.1 per cent in Ghana; three per cent in Kenya; and for the BRICS, Brazil is four per cent; Russia 1.3 per cent; India four per cent; China three per cent; and South Africa 15 per cent. "Moreover, for Nigeria, when you look at assets in our overall financial system, insurance also accounts for only three per cent of total assets, compared to 12 per cent from pension assets and 79 per cent from banking assets. This is different from other emerging markets such as Brazil and Mexico, where insurance assets accounts for about six per cent of total financial assets; and for India where insurance contributes about 14 per cent of total financial assets." As promising as Nigeria's insurance sector is, there are several challenges to be addressed. Some of them, according to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, include lack of consumer trust, a fragmented industry with some weak and insolvent players, low enforcement of compulsory insurance policies, lack of professionalism by some agents and brokers in the industry, and a general shortage of skilled professionals in the entire industry. She said while the government has carried out reforms in the banking and pension sector, the insurance sector is next and would take off soon. While articulating Federal Government's vision for the sector and where it sees the industry by 2020, she said the first part of the vision would be to grow the gross written premiums of N300 billion today to N1 trillion in the next three years, and to N5 trillion within the next decade. "So, we should be attaining gross premiums of about $30 billion in a decade from today," she said, adding that the second part would be to deliver jobs in the industry. As the minister pointed out, the insurance sector is a powerful engine for job creation in the economy. She, however, regretted that today, there are only about 30,000 people working in the industry. "This sector should clearly be creating many more jobs for us. So the second objective of our vision would be to grow the number of direct jobs created in this industry from the current 30,000 people to 100,000 people in the next three years, and to more than 300,000 people in the next decade," she declared. The third part of the vision, she disclosed, would be to widen access by growing the

number of insurance policyholders in the country. "We are a country of 170 million people, but with only three million policyholders. Let us also work to achieve a minimum of 10 million policyholders in the next three years, and 30 million policyholders in the next decade," she said.

Team work, the way to go Dr Okonjo-Iweala insists that to develop the sector, all hands must be on deck. "We cannot develop this sector alone. All of us stakeholders will all need to work together to realise the potential of this industry," she argued. Continuing, she said: "Clearly, the Federal Government has an important role to play in this sector. We need to get better at enforcing compliance for some compulsory classes of 10 insurance such as for motor vehicle insurance and group life insurance. We also need to clarify various regulations. For example on banc assurance, the use of corporate agents and we need to work on strengthening the supervisory powers of NAICOM." She said too often, at such gatherings, stakeholders talk a lot but do not come up with concrete plans. "I would like to encourage you to be open and honest in sharing your perspectives and feedback. But I would not want us to get stuck only in rehashing the difficulties but to proceed to focus on the concrete actions which can help this sector to realise its full potential," she stated. The minister's appears to enjoy the support of the President on the need to leverage on the potential in the sector to grow the economy. Indication to this emerged few days after the conference when President Goodluck Jonathan, in his acceptance speech at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Convention held in Abuja, confirmed that his administration is working to revitalise the sector. The President said: "Compared to other emerging economies, our insurance sector has not achieved its full potential. Today, only three million of our citizens are insurance policy holders, and overall insurance penetration is less than 0.5 per cent of our GDP. We want to transform this sector, just as we have done for our banking and our pensions industry. Our goal is to grow the total insurance premiums in our country from N300 billion currently to N1 trillion in the next three years and to increase the number of direct jobs created in this sector from about 30,000 people today to over 100,000 people in the next few years."

Stakeholders react For Director-General, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Kola Ahmed, the

‘

Federal Government was re-focusing its attention on the sector because of the crash in fuel price, which is affecting the economy because petroleum is the nation's main source of income. "It is a blessing in disguise for the sector and I want to believe that the government means well this time around because of the seriousness with which the programme was packaged and the attention given to it by the minister, " he told The Nation. Ahmed disclosed that various committees were set up during the summit, which had more than 50 per cent chief executive of insurance companies in attendance. He added that the minister made it known that all the committees set up must start work immediately and that they have the backing of the government. He noted that the operators spoke out and mentioned the issue of government not being supportive of the industry by not paying its insurance premiums, not insuring assets and properties as expected. "I believe that with the present state of the economy, especially with what is happening in the oil market, which is affecting our economy and the fact that the government has tried everything with the banks which seems to have reached their saturation point, their focus on insurance sector will bring a change to the sector and the country generally," he said. Similarly, Chairman, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and Managing Director, Linkage Insurance, Godwin Wiggleon, said: "The President is trying to transform every sector of the economy. He has done it in agriculture, stock exchange, and banking and even in entertainment, but he has now seen insurance as a vital sector that can boost the economy. I see a better future for the sector and we should be looking at a different sector from this year 2015." The Managing Director, FBN Life, Val Ojumah, also thinks that the government is turning to all sectors of the economy to find out what they need to do to turn the nation's economy around. He noted that with the general elections around the corner, government will do all it can to contribute to every sector. Earlier in his welcome address at the summit, Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, said the event was unique because it was organised under the auspices of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy to set a threeyear agenda for the transformation of the insurance sector. Speaking on past reforms in the sector and their outcome, he stated that the first notable initiative for the reform of the industry was the Financial Systems Strategy, code-named FSS 2020 developed in 2007 to position the financial services sector to drive the vision of making Nigeria one of the most 20 developed economies in the

This sector should clearly be creating many more jobs for us. So the second objective of our vision would be to grow the number of direct jobs created in this industry from the current 30,000 people to 100,000 people in the next three years, and to more than 300,000 people in the next decade

’

world by 2020, and the financial centre of choice in Africa. He said following the aspects of the strategy that relate to the sector, NAICOM developed and launched its MDRI with the objectives to build capacity for NAICOM staff and stakeholders in the industry, develop the insurance agency system; build confidence and integrity in the industry, create awareness and secure the support of government and relevant agencies and ensure public compliance with various compulsory insurance requirements of the law. According to him, a significant element of the MDRI was a target of N1trillion gross premium income by the year 2012. He however, said implementation challenges and the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on the sector impeded the attainment of the initiative. He said notable among the negative impacts were the huge losses suffered by insurance companies as result of the near collapse of the capital market and decline in the growth of personal lines as a result 2009 changes in the financial services industry. He added that as at the end of year 2013, the gross premium income of the industry only grew to N300billion from N101billion in 2007. Although, the 2013 achieved gross premium income puts Nigeria as third from fifth position in Africa, "we know and I am convinced that we can do a lot better." On key challenge to the growth of the industry, he said: "It is how to get sufficient number of potential customers to buy insurance. This decision is influenced by factors such as the image of the industry, financial literacy, economic constraints and attitude of the consumers, amongst others. There is also a mutually reinforcing relationship between the industry's growth and the level of national economic development." According to him, in advanced economies, personal lines insurance for example, has acquired a cultural status and is given priority as a means to mitigate various risks and reduce incidence of poverty. But it is not the same in Nigeria. "The major question to answer therefore will be what to do in Nigeria to break barriers and release the potential that ought to come with demographic advantage," he said. The commissioner expressed hope that the interaction in the summit would result in workable programmes that will not just address these challenges, but also identify initiatives that will radically transform the industry to enhance its relative contribution to the nation's economy. He stated that before now, the Federal Government did not genuinely accept insurance as an important tool to the development of the country owing to its past dealings with the sector. He said although group life insurance is made compulsory for employers to provide for their employees by the Insurance Law created by the same Federal Government through NAICOM, government has continued to flout the law as it did not provide the policy for its workers in 2012 and 2013. In the years that the Federal Government bought the policy, he said it did not pay insurers premiums as and when due and at the moment, it owes them premiums worth billions of naira it purchased to cover its workers. As a result, many workers did have valid insurance cover. It was not until last year when NAICOM enforced the "No Premium, No Policy" in the sector that the Presidency began to gradually pay premiums. However, with this refocusing, the consensus of operators and stakeholders in the insurance sector is that a new dawn may be in the horizon for the insurance industry, one that would position the sector to contribute to national development, particularly that the challenges arising from the plunge in oil price.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

MONEYLINK

Currency in circulation drops to N1.53tr

HE currency-in-circulation declined by 0.9 per cent, on month-on-month basis, to N1.53 trillion in October, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said. The apex bank which disclosed this report, said the figure, which is for October last year, contrasts the growth of 3.1 per cent recorded at the end of the preceding month. The development, relative to the preceding month reflected, largely, the 4.6 per cent fall, in its currency outside bank component. The CBN said total deposits at the end of the review month amounted to N6.9 trillion, indicating an increase of 4.2 per cent above the level at the end of the preceding month. It reflected largely, the 13.9 and 6.3 per cent rise in deposits of “Others” and banks, respectively. Of the total deposits, the percentage shares of the banks, Federal Government and “others” were 50.9, 44.2 and 4.9

Stories by Collins Nweze

per cent, respectively. Reserve money (RM) rose by four per cent to N5.07 trillion, reflecting the trends in bank deposits. Also, available data indicated that the money market rates were relatively stable during the review period. “The banking system was awash with liquidity surfeit, occasioned by maturing CBN bills, Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) credit posting for the maintenance period, Joint Venture Cash (JVC) call and fiscal injections through statutory revenue released to the three tiers of government. “CBN bills of diverse tenors were floated at the Open Market Operations (OMO) segment to mop up the liquidity surfeit in the system. In the review month, Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) was more predominant

Skye Bank strengthens support roles

KYE Bank has engaged the services of Optimum Continental Services, Strategic Outsourcing Limited and Integrated Corporate Services Limited, to manage its support function staff. The lender took the decision as part of its initiatives to position the bank for excellent service and superior performance in the coming years. It noted that efficiency and excellent customer service will be key to winning in the market place in the years ahead, acknowledging that the support functions are pivotal to the ability of the bank to meet its growth objectives and be managed by professional human resource companies that have extensive skills and competence in this regard. To assure the welfare of the staff that are mostly on the lower cadre,

the bank insisted that a non - negotiable condition for taking over the support staff by the human resource companies is that the staff will enjoy the same terms and conditions as they did, when they were employed by their former employer, Skye Bank Resources Ltd. The bank said under the new arrangement, the affected officers consisting of drivers, security officers, tellers and other support staff, have been absorbed automatically by the new employers on the same terms and conditions they enjoyed prior to now. It is expected that the management companies who are industry leaders and experts in human resource management, would enrich the quality of the officers by relevant training, skills transfer and enhanced welfare packages.

as there was liquidity surfeit in the banking system. There was no request for repurchase transactions, same as in the previous month,” the report said. Provisional data indicated that the total value of money market assets outstanding in stood at N7.53 trillion, showing an increase of 2.2 per cent over the level in the preceding month. The development reflected the 1.8 and 2.7 per cent increase in outstanding Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds and Nigerian Treasury bills, respectively. Total deposits at the CBN at the end of the review month amounted to N6.9 trillion, indicating an increase of 4.2 per cent above the level at the end of the preceding month. The development reflected, largely, the 13.9 and 6.3 per cent

rise in deposits of “Others” and banks, respectively. Of the total deposits, the percentage shares of the banks, Federal Government and “others” were 50.9, 44.2 and 4.9 per cent, respectively. Reserve money (RM) rose by 4.0 per cent to N5.07 trillion, at the end of the review month, reflecting the trends in bank deposits. The money market rates were relatively stable during the review period. The banking system was awash with liquidity surfeit, occasioned by maturing CBN bills, Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) credit posting for the maintenance period, Joint Venture Cash (JVC) call and fiscal injections through statutory revenue released to the three tiers of government. CBN bills of diverse tenors were floated at the Open Market Opera-

• CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele tions (OMO) segment to mop up the liquidity surfeit in the system. In the review month, Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) was more predominant as there was liquidity surfeit in the banking system. There was no request for repurchase transactions, same as in the previous month.

Sterling Bank’s customers pledge continued loyalty

USTOMERS of Sterling Bank Plc have assured the lender of their continued patronage in 2015 based on satisfied and richcustomer experience in 2014. Some of the customers who spoke in Lagos and other parts of the country, hinged their position on the provision of quality banking and financial advisory roles they got from the lender in 2014. They praised the reward system instituted through activities such as the Automated Teller Machines activations, Retail Mobile Clinic, and Children Shopping Dash programme, its contributions to financial literacy programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives especially in the area of health and the environment. All these will continue to serve as the right motivation to sustain our relationship with the bank this year.

Chief Executive of Ofelpaco Nigeria Limited, Dr. Felix Obiagbo, described the bank as a reliable financial institution committed to the growth of the businesses of its customers in particular and the economy in general. “We are into fast food business. We have UAC Franchise and we run four outlets in Port Harcourt. With the support of Sterling Bank, the company has continued to grow. For instance, we started with just one outlet 10 years ago and we now have four as we speak. Sterling Bank has remained our pillar of support in this business through the provision of credit facilities, which helped to grow our business. Its business combination with other financial institutions has strengthened its capacity to meet the demands of its customers,” he said. The General Manager of Zerock Group, Jean Matter, and Mr. Sunday

Oduyale, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Esbee Limited, said that their business relationship with Sterling Bank had been a major catalyst to the continued growth of their organisations. Matter said his firm has continued to enjoy excellent relationship with Sterling Bank since it began operations in the country. “The bank is very responsive in terms financial support while we have also ensured that we play according to the rules of the business to enable us continue to enjoy the support of the bank”, he said. The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications Mr. Shina Atilola assured that the year 2015 will see the bank consolidating on the gains of 2014 to the advantage of its customers who have continued to enjoy unparalleled and qualitative banking experience from the bank over the years. Other stakeholders including the shareholders will not be left out, he assured.

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

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

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

GAINERS AS AT 31-12-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE STERLNBANK 2.42 MANSARD 3.05 WAPIC 0.61 AFRIPRUD 2.90 AGLEVENT 1.25 VONO 1.07 EVANSMED 2.18 OMOSAVBNK 0.88 WEMABANK 0.92 FIDSON 3.74 UPL 4.05

C/PRICE 2.54 3.20 0.64 3.04 1.31 1.12 2.28 0.92 0.96 3.90 4.22

CHANGE 0.12 0.15 0.03 0.14 0.06 0.05 0.10 0.04 0.04 0.16 0.17

LOSERS AS AT 31-12-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

TRANSCORP FCMB OANDO SKYEBANK TOTAL CONOIL IKEJAHOTEL UAC-PROP PORTPAINT UBA CUTIX FIDELITYBK COSTAIN NASCON

3.60 2.66 17.15 2.80 150.00 40.11 3.89 9.98 4.09 4.50 1.36 1.69 0.77 6.46

C/PRICE 3.25 2.49 16.11 2.66 142.50 38.11 3.70 9.50 3.90 4.30 1.30 1.62 0.74 6.22

CHANGE -0.35 -0.17 -1.04 -0.14 -7.50 -2.00 -0.19 -0.48 -0.19 -0.20 -0.06 -0.07 -0.03 -0.24

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: November

7.9%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) Money Supply (M2)

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$36.8b

US Dollar

167

168

$61.12

Pounds Sterling

261.9395

263.508

Euro

206.2617

207.4968

171.546

172.5732

Yen

1.3838

1.3921

CFA

0.2944

0.3144

242.3484

243.7996

Yuan/Renminbi

27.1505

27.314

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

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

CBN EXCHANGE RATES December 29, 2014

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

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

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

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

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

13.08

13.33

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

Dec. 18, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

13.65

T-bills - 182

13.88

T-bills - 364

13.65

Bond - 3yrs

13.81

Bond - 5yrs

13.85

Bond - 7yrs

13.83

EQUITIES

THE THENATION NATIONMONDAY, MONDAY, JANUARY JANUARY 5, 2015 5, 2015

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

EQUITIES

Nigerian equities will remain bearish, say analysts N IGERIAN equities will remain on the downtrend in the months ahead as quoted companies grapple with macroeconomic challenges and investors gauge the continuing impact of the declining crude oil price and political transition on the economic outlook. Investment pundits said quoted equities would in the immediate months continue on the downward trend, although share prices may recover in the latter months of the year. Nigerian equities lost N1.75 trillion last year, representing average fullyear decline of 16.14 per cent. Analysts at Bismarck Rewane’s Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) in their latest review stated that quoted equities would struggle with local and global challenges this year, leaving the market mostly on the negative in the first half. “The Nigerian stock market may be in for a prolonged stay in the bear territory due to mounting global and domestic uncertainties. In 2015, a lower return trajectory is anticipated since the market is in for a bumpy ride and some companies would be left behind,” FDC stated. According to analysts, the stock market is expected to dwindle further all through the first half and subsequently bounce back in the second half of the year. Analysts noted that the likely increases in the United States and euro zone interest rates raises the threats of capital flow reversal and erosion of funds from the equity markets, which, in addition to growing macroeconomic risks, may result in a series of adjustments and prompt a cohesive movement of sectors and stocks prices. “The year 2015 is expected to be a mixed year for the equities market as the outcome of a plethora of external and internal events unfold. A possible interest rate hike in the United States and the possibility of a sustained period of low oil prices are significant risks. The outcome of the 2015 elections would also determine investors’ participation and sentiments. The anticipated loosening monetary stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

(CBN) post elections will also have its impact on price and currency stability,” FDC stated. They pointed out that returns in 2015 will depend on selecting the right companies in the right sectors, rather than relying on a broad-based approach that depends on the gathering momentum of the overall market position. They said the performance of the market might be coloured by the general elections starting on February 14. According to analysts, in addition to the global oil market dynamics, the prospects of the Nigerian economy in 2015 hinges on the electoral calendar, and this will mainly determine the macroeconomic outlook during the year. “With stocks currently trading at their multi-year lows, we expect an upward trend in the beginning of the year. The anticipated loose monetary stance will be expected to channel additional liquidity to the stock market. However, Investors sentiment

will be weighed down by political tensions leading to the 2015 general elections. The tension between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its major opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to lead to a lull in the equities market as investors, mostly foreign evaluate the electoral process and outcome whilst fearing post-election violence. Foreign portfolio investors are expected to remain wary of the local bourse until the elections are concluded and possible violent fallouts curbed,” analysts pointed out. They noted that with oil prices projected to trend between $50-$70, the global crude price will be negative for the Nigerian economy and in turn the capital market, with the oil stocks expected to bear the brunt of declining oil prices given the thinning out of the sectors profitability. Besides, analysts noted that as the US economy gains traction, there could be an increase in interest rates in 2015, which is expected to have a negative effect on emerging and frontier economies. This will lead to heavy portfolio reversals, as investors will

Stock Exchange extends deadline for Dangote Cement’s capital restructuring

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has granted Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the core investor in Dangote Cement (Dancem) Plc, a two-year extended timeline to reduce his majority shareholding in Dancem in order to deepen public participation in the shares of the cement company. The NSE had earlier given Dancem October 2014 to comply with listing regulations that require all quoted companies to have minimum free float of 20 per cent. The management of Dancem had applied and presented compliance plan based on which the NSE approved compliance deadline of October 2014 for the company. The Nation’s check indicated that NSE has extended the deadline for Dancem to October 2016, following the failure of Dancem to meet the October 2014 deadline. Dancem’s free float, according to NSE official document, remains below free float benchmark at 9.07 per cent, implying that Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) may have to sell some 10.93 per cent equity stake to the general investing public. DIL had earlier sold some equity stake to improve Dancem’s free float from a low of 4.93 per cent to the current position of 9.07 per cent. The South Africa’s government, through its wholly owned investment company, Public Investment Corporation of South Africa (PIC), had acquired 255.61 million ordinary shares

• Dangote to sell down majority equity stake of 50 kobo each of Dancem. By the expiration of the October 2016 deadline, Dancem is mandatorily required to have completed partial divestments or dilution of the core investor’s shareholdings to free 20 per cent equity stake for public holding, unless the management of the NSE grants fresh waivers and extensions for the companies. In the extreme instance, a company with deficient public float may opt to delist its shares. The reduction in shareholding is to enable Dancem to comply with the free float rule at the NSE. Companies listed on the NSE are required to maintain a minimum free float of 20 per cent and 15 per cent for companies on the main board and second tier board respectively. Dancem is quoted on the main board. It is NSE’s most capitalized stock. Free float, otherwise known as public float, refers to the number of shares of a quoted company held by ordinary shareholders other than those directly or indirectly held by its parent, subsidiary or associate companies or any subsidiaries or associates of its parent company; its directors who are holding office as directors of the entity and their close family members and any single individual or institutional shareholder holding a statutorily significant stake, which is 5.0 per cent and above in Nigeria. Thus, free float’s shares do not include shares held directly or indi-

rectly by any officer, director, controlling shareholder or other concentrated, affiliated or family holdings. Stock markets maintain minimum public float to prevent undue concentration of securities in the hands of the core investors and related interests, a situation that can make the stock to be susceptible to price manipulation. Besides, it provides the general investing public with opportunity to reasonably partake in the wealth creation by private enterprises. Six other companies are also expected to comply with their scheduled deadlines for improvement of their free floats to 20 per cent. These included Nigerian Insurance (GNI) Plc, Chellarams Plc, Nigerian Ropes Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN), Capital Hotel Plc and Aluminium Extrusion Industries Plc. NSE’s report indicated that GNI currently has 16 per cent of its issued shares in the hands of the general investing public while Chellarams and Nigerian Ropes has 5.20 per cent and 13.96 per cent respectively. Capital Hotel currently has 2.23 per cent of its issued shares in the hands of the general investing public, implying that the core investors will need to sell down about 17.77 per cent to the general investing public or undertake a dilution through new capital issue. Union Bank has a free float of 13.98 per cent while Aluminium Extrusion Industries has 17.55 per cent.

opt for safety and security in a much developed market. This may lead to a selloff in local equities as foreign investors exit. However, this may be cushioned by increased participation of local investors as stocks become increasingly attractive. “The state of security in the country especially in the north eastern part of Nigeria continues to be worrying. Its effect continues to weigh on the profitability of consumer goods companies as consumer spending in these areas remains weak. It has also increased the cost of doing business in these areas. Profits that will be declared, if any, in the financial year 2014 by most companies are likely to be below investors expectation. Most sectors; banking, consumers, oil and gas, conglomerates will not be insulated,” analysts said. Analysts said the macroeconomic outlook will likely change significantly depending on the outcome of the general elections, pointing out that 2015 will be distinctly divided into different phases including preelection phase, handover phase and post-election phase.

In the pre-election phase, policymaking will be overshadowed by political campaigns and the elections in this period. As a result, most macroeconomic indicators are likely to be influenced by speculative market activities to hedge any unfavourable outcome. The intensity of political activities towards the election could increase security concerns and result in the hike of consumer prices, dampen economic output as well as growth. This is likely to have negative impact on investors’ confidence and increase dollar demand pressure. Analysts noted that the immediate period after the elections would still be overshadowed by concerns as parties debate the election results. These challenges will likely affect the macro environment and policies options while the level and intensity of uncertainties will heighten the level of insecurity in most part of the country. Hence, movement and transport of goods and services become difficult leading to an uptick in the inflation rate to above 10 per cent and poor economic output. Investors’ confidence is likely to also decline and lead to an increase in currency pressures as the naira slides to N190-195/$ at the interbank market. “In general, the Nigerian macroeconomic environment is expected to be mixed and highly influenced by developments in the global oil and financial markets. However, the medium and long term prospects of the Nigerian economy depend on developments in the oil section, political events as well as enforcement of tax compliance to boost revenue,” analysts stated. ‘’One of the positives apart from the obvious that the Nigerian economy has to be less dependent on oil is that prices in the stock market may have hit rock bottom. Current stock prices appear attractive at the moment, but we advise cautious investing with a focus on long term value as opposed to speculating and searching for short term gains. We also expect some volatility over the coming months until after elections. A return to normalcy, the stability in oil prices and the Naira will return some calm to the markets’’.

GTI Securities, GTI Capital beat recapitalisation deadline

TI Securities Limited and GTI Capital Limited had more than the minimum capital requirements for their capital market functions by the initial deadline of December 31, 2014. A list of capital market operators that met the new minimum capital requirements for their various functions published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed that GTI Securities and GTI Capital were among the operators that met the earlier deadline of December 31, 2014. GTI Securities Limited, a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), is a broker-dealer member of the GTI Capital Group while GTI Capital is an issuing house. SEC last week extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements for capital market operators to September 2015. The management of GTI Capital Group at the weekend indicated that the confirmation of the capital base of both GTI Securities and GTI Capital by SEC underscored the financial strength of the financial services group. GTI noted that it would continue to improve on its bespoke services to cater for the needs of the investing public. In a statement, the management of the securities firm said the company is poised to serve the investing public better with more customer-centred products and services and efficient communication sys-

tem. It noted that GTI Securities, a member of the GTI Capital Group, is focused on its core competence of trade execution and advisory and it has been positioned for greater market penetration and enhance strategic focus in stockbroking business. “The new and transformed GTI is now poised to serve you better, as it is founded on the principles of financial possibilities for all your investment requirements and we are committed to ensuring that you fully maximize the rewarding investment opportunities present in the capital market through our formidable research team,” the investors’ note stated. According to the company, part of its value-added investment services included improved research reports, which provide daily market insights and regular business and economic news, stock analysis and recommendations and sectoral reports which give clients insights into the various sectors of the economy and assist them in making informed investment decisions. “We also offer free investment advisory. As a valued client, we will be willing to meet with you, at any point in time, to plan your investment portfolio across various assets classes based on your needs and in line with your investment objectives. We will also from time to time, be contacting you on your investment portfolio, to ensure proper re-alignment for improved profitability,” the firm stated.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Taxation Electronic Filing of Returns, An Outcome of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) (2)

PROCEDURES FOR e-FILING AT A GLACE STAGE A 1. OBTAIN “e-filing Access Application Form” from any FIRS Tax Office nearest to you or download from FIRS website: www.firs.gov.ng 2. Complete the form by nominating Officers or Agent that will represent your organization on tax matters 3. You will indicate on the form the access the nominee should have either to declare (file returns), view only or declare and view rights. 4. Upon returning the completed form to FIRS Tax Office where your tax matters are handled, the FIRS will use the information on the form to issue system generated Username and Password 5. The username and password are the only key that gives you access to the e-filing site to transact tax business with FIRS. 6. You are required to change your password upon first log-in 7. The platform is user-friendly, hence you will be promptly able to navigate your way through to filing completion 8. You can check your account balance, change relevant registration details and connect to tax office using customer centre to make enquiries. Note: FIRS e-filing works best on google chrome or any version of internet explorer not less than version. STAGE B 1. After a successful login, you are positioned in your Home page in which you can see a summary of the declarations (i.e. tax returns) which need to be filed.

2. You are required be in custody of either hard or softcopy of the return you want to file. 3. To start your declaration, you have two choices: 4. On the Home page either click on the View all declarations to be filed hyperlink or on the Taxpayer Service tab 5. The Tax Declaration page opens by default in the collapsed form 6. Click on “view all tax declaration” then click on the tax type for which you want to file and the tax period which are yet to be filed are displayed. 7. The expanded form is displayed and the “File now” hyperlinks are shown, for the relevant tax period 8. Click on the “File now” hyperlink, 9. The return page opens and relevant form lines are displayed. Then, Enter Line Details. 10. In this page you can enter the amounts for the required form lines in the filing currency previously authorised for the tax account for which you are filing or you can upload csv file 11. When you finish, click on the “Submit declaration” button. This brings you to a confirmation step where you can verify whether the entered amounts are correct or not. 12. If you are sure, then click on “Yes”. For the returns to be submitted 13. Following this action, your declaration will be submitted to the tax office and the page showing “End Declaration Process” step is displayed. 14. Click on the hyperlink “here” and you are led to the View Filed Declaration page which gives you a summary of your declaration and

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed

Mashi

15. Document number is displayed at the top right hand corner. 16. Copy the document number which is required at the bank to settle the tax liability. For more Information on e-filing, please contact: • itas.change@firs.gov.ng • itasproject@firs.gov.ng • 08115900301 • 08115900021

• From left: Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Dr. Musa Babayo, presenting an Award to the Ag. Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Alhaji Kabir Mashi, for FIRS’ contribution to the educational sector at Taxpayers Forum held at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• A fish market

Aquaculture is a vital source of nutritious food and economic opportunities. Across the country, there are moves by both the Federal and state governments to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry that would breed high quality fish on commercial basis. This initiative has prospect of increasing jobs, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Job opportunities in aquaculture B

ETTER days are here with technology -savvy young people forming part of the agro-entrepreneurs, trained by the Department of Aquaculture, University of Ibadan. After graduation, not only would they help transform the agricultural industry by using modern approach to improve the safety and quality of local produce, they expected to build a specialised food production sector focused on environmental sustainability, food safety and value added marketing. One of them is Miss Tomi Ayo, who is scheduled to complete her studies in a few years. Unlike most of her classmates, who may eye white-collar jobs, she intends to return home to set up a fish farm. She is just one of those well-educated, technology-savvy young people who will graduate as fisheries entrepreneurs and expected to move into urban and rural areas to become “new farmers”. Employers are looking for fisheries graduates with specialisations in inland aquaculture, freshwater aquaculture,

mariculture, industrial fisheries, fish processing and post-harvest technology, fish nutrition, pathology, environment, ecology and extension workers. There are openings for fisheries and aquaculture graduates within the private and public sectors. There are a number of fisheries graduates doing business in field of aquaculture, export and import. Aquaculture is a growing field with good job prospects. In addition to employment in fisheries, graduates may also find career opportunities in areas such as recreational (sport) fishing industry, food and agriculture based industries, quarantine, and private consulting. The industry requires enthusiastic and hard-working individuals. There are many opportunities to improve efficiency, use of new technologies, and sustainability throughout the supply chain. As the country’s population inches towards 200 million by 2050, there will be a need for more food and jobs – which a growing aquaculture industry can help meet. But it

needs to be practised responsibly. Unlike traditional farmers without access to market information, farmers, such as Ayo, are going to take advantage of the internet in doing fish business with social responsibility, creativity and a better sense of the market. She is not only looking forward to being successful in aquaculture, but inspiring others to do same. Youths’ attitude towards agriculture and aquaculture has changed; they no longer see them as an activity for the old. To them, they are now money-spinners. With the demand for fish growing throughout the country, aquaculture presents a potentially lucrative business and job opportunity for the youth. The industry is growing rapidly in response to a growing population combined with a decreasing availability from wild harvests. At University of Ibadan, Department of Aquaculture, technologies and refined methods have made fish farming highly efficient,

reducing risk, improving profitability and drawing young Nigerians who want to make a living from aquaculture. The students are provided with an opportunity to develop and refine the necessary fish farming skills to manage fish business optimally. Speaking with The Nation during a visit to the university, a pioneer instructor and senior scientist at the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin said the institution is empowering young people to become successful fish farmers. He sees a dynamic and competitive aquaculture sector that produces enough fish to feed the local population and open up new job opportunities for the youths. He has trained many young people just as he is training existing farmers on modern fish farming techniques and how to handle tasks and processes involved in the cultivation of freshwater and marine •Continued on page 36

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

JOBS

Job opportunities in aquaculture •Continued from page 35

lives, and the care of their environment. In addition to raising eggs in a hatchery operation, feeding the stock, preparing algal cultures and maintaining an optimal environment, they are taught to collect and record growth, production and water quality data, and check stock for disease and treat them when necessary. As graduates of its programme, students may be employed in any of the hatcheries within the industry, or as technicians in support of the industry in the fields of fish health, feed and nutrition, environmental management, cage and net manufacturing, processing and research. According to him, the aquaculture programme is providing young people with new sources of income, allowing improved access to food and education, while alleviating pressure on fisheries and marine biodiversity. He said aquaculture offers tremendous sustainable growth potential for Nigeria to create more jobs, support associated industries and inject the much needed export earnings into local communities and the economy. With the efforts of the university and others, he sees aquaculture growing the economy as a wave of promises about job creation and economic revitalisation increase. As Nigerians become more and more reliant on seafood imports to meet demand, experts such as Prof. Omitoyin maintained that the agric sector offers an opportunity to be exploited if the aquaculture industry in particular can grow and develop. For experts, aquaculture is having a multiplier effect on the economy. According to a Professor of Fisheries at the Lagos State University (LASU), Martins Antekhai, aquaculture can become increasingly efficient with output increased dramatically and supporting jobs through-

out the seafood supply chain with increasing number of private operators offering year-round, living-wage jobs. Antekhai said the fish farms have created national wealth and jobs and generated foreign exchange from exports. These businesses, he explained, have created jobs for people in feed plant, ice-making, fish marketing and transportation, and the provision of other services. He explained that for every direct job in fish farming, three jobs have been created in support industries such as the provision of feeds, fingerlings, supplies, equipment and transportation. This covers the complete cycle of aquaculture: from raising the fingerlings, to building the floating cages, raising the fish in the cages, distributing them to markets and restaurants where they are prepared and served. The Chief Executive of Agro Nigeria, Richard Mbaram, said fisheries and aquaculture are a vital source of jobs, nutritious food and economic opportunities. He emphasised that unlocking the potential of aquaculture could have long-lasting and positive benefits. He added that there are so many job multipliers for aquaculture, covering production and processing, distribution, retail, and services to enable domestic seafood production and create jobs. The booster, according to him, is

the Federal Government’s policy, which asked fish importers to pursue backward integration by investing in aquaculture to help meet the country’s growing demand for seafood, while creating jobs and restoring healthy ecosystems. He sees government’s position fostering public-private partnerships on projects that showcase innovative sustainable practices, jump start investments and create employment opportunities. In a few years, new profitable markets would herald a promising future for aquaculture. For this reason, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, said Nigeria has no business importing fish, given her huge natural and renewable resources. He said it was in view of this that the ministry is promoting increased fish production through the Aquaculture Value Chain. This is in pursuit of the goal of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). He said: “The Value Chains are to create an enabling environment for increased and sustainable production of over one million tonnes of fish within the next four years, generate employment and pursue gradual reduction of fish imports.” Adesina said the Aquaculture Value Chain, under the four-year implementation plan, would increase the annual production of fingerlings in the country by 1.25

• Adesina

billion tonnes. He said it would also produce 400,000 tonnes of fish feeds; and generate additional 250,000 tonnes of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of Value Added fish products. “Fish farming is a business venture with lots of potential invest-

‘For every direct job in fish farming, three jobs have been created in support industries such as the provision of feeds, fingerlings, supplies, equipment and transportation. This covers the complete cycle of aquaculture: from raising the fingerlings, to building the floating cages, raising the fish in the cages, distributing them to markets and restaurants where they are prepared and served’

ment opportunities and a veritable tool for increased fish production, poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods,” the minister said. The increasing demand for sustainable seafood is creating new markets and opportunities for business growth in fishing and aquaculture. Experts believe the aquaculture sub sector will need to be strengthened with the much needed technical manpower and competent extension personnel with effective transfer of technology. This will address productive issues and availability of critical inputs for culture such as fish seed, high productive breed and medicine, which require the employment of more aquaculturists, farm managers, exporters, traders and breeders.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

HE interview is one of the most important elements in the job search process. When an employer invites you to an interview, he/she is indicating an interest in bringing you on board. The interview gives both of you the opportunity to exchange enough information to determine if you are a good “fit” for each other. Think of an interview as a highly focused professional conversation. You should use the limited amount of time you have to learn about an employer’s needs and discuss the ways you can meet these needs. In many cases, you will interview at least twice before being hired for a position. Once in a brief screening interview and at least once again in a more serious meeting when you may also speak with many of your potential coworkers. The job interview is a strategic conversation with a purpose. Your goal is to show the employer that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can successfully fit into the organisation and its culture. The interview is also your opportunity to gather information about the job, the organisation, and future career opportunities to figure out if the position and work environment are right for you. Most employers do not hire people based on merit alone. Personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills count heavily in the selection process. After your cover letter and résumé,

Making a success of job interview By Olu Oyeniran

the interview is your best opportunity to wow the employerregardless of your background and experience. To do this, use every possible strategy to develop effective interviewing skills. The best way is to prepare a selective presentation of your background, thoughtful answers to potential interview questions, well-researched questions about the organisation, and an effective strategy to market yourself. Also consider your career goals and what the available job offers so that you can discuss both of these topics with employers. Interviewing is a skill that improves and becomes easier with practice. Check with your school career center or your local Employment Service office to see if it offers workshops and individual videotaped mock interviews for practice.

Research It is to your advantage to carefully research the job and the organisation. There are many ways to do this. You can request printed materials from the employer, such as annual reports and job descriptions. This is an entirely appropriate request, so don’t hesitate to make it. Use your library and career center resources. Ask colleagues, friends, and faculty about the organisation, and about any personal

contacts at the organisation they might have. Look at the organisation’s home page. Knowing about the job will help you prepare a list of your qualifications so that you can show, point by point, why you are the best candidate.

Practice, practice, practice Prepare a succinct, clear answer to each of the questions in the interview questions section. Practice answering questions with a friend, or in front of a mirror. Ask your friend to give you constructive criticism on your speaking style, mannerisms, and poise. As you practice, avoid colloquialisms, such as “like” and “you know.” Make sure you don’t script all your answers-you’ll sound as though you’re reading cue cards! It’s important to prepare yourself for talking with complete strangers.

Find out the logistics of the interview The more you know, the more focused your answers will be. Find out when the interview is scheduled, what to expect during it, and how long you will be there. Also find out if you will be talking to just one person, or to several.

Be prompt and professional Always arrive early. If you don’t know where the organisation is located, call for exact directions in advance. Leave some extra time for any traffic, parking, or unpredictable events. If you are running late, call right away and let someone know. The best time to arrive is approximately five to 10 minutes early. Give yourself the time to read your résumé one more time, to catch your breath, and to be ready for the interview. Once you’re at the office, treat everyone you encounter with respect. Be pleasant to everyone as soon as you walk in the door.

Dress for success Wear a professional business suit. This point cannot be emphasissed enough. First impressions are extremely important in the interview process. Women should avoid wearing too much jewelry or make up. Men should avoid flashy suits or wearing too much cologne. It is also important that you feel comfortable. While a suit is the standard interview attire in a business environment, if you think it is an informal environment, call before and ask. Regardless, you can never be overdressed if you are wearing a tailored suit.

Be organised Carry a portfolio notepad or at the very least a manila file folder labelled with the employer’s name. Bring extra résumés and have the names, addresses and phone numbers of references, in case the employer asks. Also, bring a list of questions for the employer. You may refer to your list of questions to be sure you’ve gathered the information you need to make a decision. Do not be preoccupied with taking notes during the interview.

Know yourself You will make the interview process easier for the employer if you volunteer relevant information about yourself. Think about how you want to present your strengths, experiences, education, work style, skills, and goals. Be prepared to supplement all your answers with examples that support the statements you make. It is also a good idea to review your résumé with a critical eye and identify areas that an employer might see as limitations or want further information. Think about how you can answer difficult questions accurately and positively, while keeping each answer brief. •Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

THE CEO Prof. Malachy Akoroda is the CEO of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), which recently celebrated its 50th years of existence. The agronomist, in this interview with SINA FADARE, says adequate funding of the cocoa institute is the panacea to cocoa revolution in the country. Excerpts:

OW will you describe the journey in the last 50 years of CRIN service to the na-

tion? Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) since 1964 has been given a mandate to do research on the crops assigned to it and the first crop was cocoa. That was why it was called CRIN but with passage of time, other crops were added, the name was not changed despite other crops added. Though we now research into cashew, kola nut, coffee, yet the name is still maintained. The progress has been in two areas, knowledge and materials to farmers. How these are combined to create wealth is the success story of the institute. If we are talking about knowledge, the institute has provided this through research along the passage of time, if we are talking about materials, CRIN has over the years build scientific methods and techniques to create new varieties, new grafting methods, so that farmers will use less resources to achieve the same goal. This has been going on over the years. We have been mastering how to do better in production, the market and even the area of export. We have mastered the problem along the line and we have a team of researchers backed up by technicians and administrative supports who are dedicated and ready to achieve the best despite the challenges on ground. We have extensions where all these experiences are passed to the farmers through trainings, discussions, and visits. The 36 states of the federation are our constituency. Cocoa covers 22 states, cashew covers 36 while kolanut covers another 14 states, tea and coffee cover three . Some states have several of these crops, some have only one, but there is no state that does not have any. The implication of this is that if we are able by means, men, money and materials, to cover all the states, it would be triple for some crops and even much more for some. The question is how much resource do we have to take care of the job given us. The job is a continuous exercise. If we have a high breed cocoa that can be fruitful in 16 months, are we then to fold our alms? No, our research is non-stop. Non- stop research means non-stop funding, nonstop funding means continuous recruitment. Some of our researchers got retired, some went on sabbatical while some transferred their services to other part of the country, they need to be replaced. CRIN has challenges, achievement and a future. Recently, the minister of agriculture asked me to prepare a 50-year future plan for the institute and l have done so. I will not be on ground but will always be a part that will make the plan a reality. What that translates to is that the next 50 years, will produce 10 executive directors every five years, they can implement the future plan. In China, 19 emperors build the China wall, they agreed on one word and they were building it one after the other. Why can’t 10 executive directors do the same in CRIN according to the vision? The vision is simple, better cocoa, cashew, kolanut, coffee and tea across Nigeria. We have partners, people who share same vision with the institute, we collaborate with them in the area of training and business , they bring money and we work together. We have about 66 researchers with 24 of them having PhD degrees and others with master’s degree, researching in various works. As they go for training, short or long, they bring more knowledge and new innovation which will be

‘Cocoa industry is a ready-made market for employment generation’

•Akoroda

verified by local investigations. It is this investigation that we want government and indeed our partners to fund, so that we can further extend the borders of knowledge. It is not easy for us to do it alone,

no soldier buys his own bullet, we cannot buy materials with our own money, and somebody must sponsor us.We have been assigned to do research, and we are ready for it. We have supporters, we have

researchers.We need funding at higher level. Why? We have travelled a long road. And the higher we are going the more equipment we need, and the more refined training we need. We do not need

‘We have been assigned to do research, and we are ready for it. We have supporters, we have researchers.We need funding at higher level. We do not need the elementary training because we have passed the elementary stage, we are now in the tertiary and quaternary level, and the higher we go, the better for the country’

the elementary training because we have passed the elementary stage, we are now in the tertiary and quaternary level, and the higher we go, the better for the country. What is the future of Cocoa in the face of all the challenges facing cocoa farmers in the country? Cocoa is grown by 50 countries in the world, Nigeria is number four. But number four with a shaking leg is not good enough ; we must stabilise and concretise all that we are doing, so that no country will shake us. We want to be number one. This is possible because we have the size, the knowledge, the power and the oil money •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

THE CEO

‘Cocoa industry is a ready-made market for employment generation’

•Continued from page 37

to do it.Because cocoa is important as a medical food, many people drink it daily, without knowing what they are drinking. Cocoa is very good and its health benefit is immeasurable, especially in the area of brain development. We as producers must consume part of it, until we begin to support local consumption of cocoa, the price will always be dictated by only the exporters of the commodity. There is going to be a short fall of cocoa in the year 2020, because about 1million tonnes, of cocoa beans would be needed by China that wants to consume chocolate. How will they get chocolate when they do not grow cocoa? It is only a tropical country like Nigeria that must step up its production to be able to meet up with such demand, but at what price? We must look at the price that is consumer-friendly, farmer-friendly and the value chain should be enriched. When all are happy, then cocoa industry in the country would become a global issue. But as it is now, the cocoa farmers need adequate financial support to be able to grow, process and sell dried beans, but the rate at which the farmer is getting credit facility to run its operational work is discouraging. The current rate of about 24 per cent on loan taken is not encouraging. That cannot be agricultural loans for farmers, it is a loan for people who sell and buy goods in three months interval. Cocoa is not a three-month interval crop, it is a crop that could last a minimum of 25 to 50 years. Therefore when you are planning loans for farmers in cocoa, you should not be thinking of three months. It is an annual circle of 12 months. And therefore when you are planning to give loans to farmers, you should be thinking of repaying period of 1 year. Single digit is sufficient to maintain a farm that is considered the median for Nigerians. The most frequent or common cocoa area in Nigeria is about two to five acres. It will cost about N1.5 million to sustain one acre, if you multiply that by two acres you would be talking about N3 million. Why will they give a cocoa farmer N250,000 thinking that they have assisted him, it is just like a biscuit to an elephant. A loan that would be given to a farmer should be sufficient enough to take care of his farm. How best do you think that cocoa farmer could be assisted, in order to increase their production? There are three things involved in agriculture, knowledge, material and capital. Capital has to do with land and equipment, tools, seeds and money. Skill, techniques, the ability to use resources in the most efficient and effective ways, minimising waste and losses so as to achieve the best. That kind of knowledge is not on ground; you have to be taught, you have to be trained, and you have to be educated by those who know the latest technology. The last stage is government policy which should be consisted and be able to monitor chemicals and spray which farmers are using for maximum production. If a farmer produces what is very poisonous, he will not eat it alone, the market will buy it and many people will die. So protecting farmers in whatever input they buy is protecting the nation. That is where the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should team up to make sure that what the farmer gets are not fake products. How do you think Nigeria can regain its lost glory in the production of cocoa? The demand and supply of the equation is well known to all, if you advertise and you create awareness for people, they will get to know what cocoa is all about likewise cashew, kolanut, tea and coffee. CRIN produce green tea, which is good for people’s health, high immune system and steady body circulation. Now that is research, the ability to bring these wide ranges to the audience through education and advertisement. That is not the job of CRIN, that is the job of the ministry of education, agriculture and information, all combined, using common fund. To improve the consumption of cocoa, government should team up with the cocoa industries and institute and then, educate people on minus and plus on cocoa; coffee, cashew, tea and kolanut. If the government can borrow a leaf from the company that is producing Ndomie and within a few years it has become a house-

•Akoroda

hold food, if such effort is put in cocoa production, it will follow such growth and wide acceptability by consumers. Scientifically, cocoa has been found as a stress remover, the more cocoa you drink the more composed and relaxed you are, good lives start with cocoa. The original intention of cocoa was for the priest to relax and drink it in order to see vision. Now when it came to this side of the world, we started exporting it but not drinking it. A country like Switzerland manufactures a lot of chocolates,it doesn’t grow a single tree of cocoa. What are you doing at the level of CRIN to multiply most of the researches the institute has done? Most of the companies in Nigeria are owned by foreigners, the environment at home did not encourage the growth of home industry, starting from poor energy, poor road network and unstable government policy.

What we are saying is that, the buying capacity is low and therefore, the ability to purchase is less. Those people earning higher wages prefer foreign goods because most of them were trained abroad. CRIN is in the front burner of the agricultural transformation agenda and a lot of researches have been developed like cocoa bread, liquor, cocoa detergent, etc. If you calculate the products per naira, our own is better and that is a truth that nobody can doubt, we may not be there yet, but the future is bright and promising especially in the area of agriculture which can accommodate the problem of unemployment. If the government can fund the cocoa sector, it is a readymade avenue for employment generation. Farmers in Nigeria can be helped in cocoa research institute. Partners, companies, government, agencies, foreign and local can team up with cocoa institute, we have been doing that and we will continue doing it. We have a few projects we are doing with

‘If you calculate the products per naira, our own is better and that is a truth that nobody can doubt, we may not be there yet, but the future is bright and promising especially in the area of agriculture which can accommodate the problem of unemployment. If the government can fund the cocoa sector, it is a readymade avenue for employment generation’

foreign partners to research more into cocoa a see how we can improve on it. And we think that that is a new way to go, we cannot run this project alone, there must be partnership, collaboration and linkages.It is a team work; by doing this, they learn from us. We learn from them and both have a vision to make cocoa a better crop. Where do you think CRIN would be in the next 50 years? In the next 50 years, CRIN will have substation in every state, because there is no state in Nigeria where we do not grow any one of our crops; whether coffee, cashew, cocoa, kola nut and tea. We need a sub-station there, so that a few of our people can be there helping people at the local level. Transportation in Nigeria is a headache; roads, fuel, diesel and many accidents. To avoid all these, we need substation in every state, we need to work towards that. We need top class researchers, a top class researcher is a man who has love, to do research at no cost to him. It is like priesthood, you enter it by your own conviction, you did not enter because your father said you should enter, If not you will fall out. We want researchers who love scientific exploration and whatever salary they are paying them, they are happy with it. No priest will resign because his salary is small. Researchers are like priesthood, researchers are interesting in whatever they are doing, even if he is there and has little impress to work with,he works round the clock, that is the kind of people we want, group of people we must recruit to make things happen. We have a lot of innovations that we cannot keep in the institute here, people should know about them . Therefore, we should be able to link up with outside world in terms of information dissemination to the farmers on how when and where to plant their crops. We should be able to have our network of radio joining with international one on regular bases according to the season of the year. When cocoa farmers want to plant we should be telling them not to plant, this is the season to plant, you should try this you should do this whether they can read or not, they can glue to their radio in their farms to listen to the latest information in their local language. I do not think reading is an obstruction to doing cocoa work, if CRIN is well equipped, we can help the farmers, to do what they want to do week by week. We know that science is the warfare against ignorance. And in the warfare of science against ignorance, the strategy, the logics and the tactics should be in place. The way we go about the business is according to government rules, but government rules tie us because speed is not part of government rules, timing is not part of government rules they bring the money whenever they find it. Whether your season is starting or closing is not relevant. The money may come on December 25, you are to go and start planting when the dry season has come, that is how it is. We want in the next 50 years a stabilised fund for research that does not shake with the seasons, big enough to allow people research without thinking where the next money will come from. People can make a long range of planning, in the next three to four years with money short to enter into basket from various sources, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), foreign grants and from government. We want to begin to look at proposal writing. There is a lot of money in the world for people who want to do research, but we need to train our people to capture vision of writing proposal and making argument to demand money for research, not to buy clothes and shoes. Once you can capture the mind of the people, donors, and can put money into good use, you will get people supporting you. I want to say that the next 50 years is going to be a long road of working hard, to use the little resources that comes into our hands for the maximum benefit of the researchers and developers. CRIN must not stay alone or in isolation. It must work with other similar institutes in the cocoa world. There is one in Trinidad and Tobago, and Cameroun. There should be a forum where people will gather together to discuss the advantages in cocoa science, and people of like mind come together to discuss the advantage, challenges and area of common interest so that at the end, the issue of cocoa will be in the world front burner.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

BUSINESS Gasoline prices fell at the end of 2014, but it doesn’t mean they will stay that way for 2015. For now, the only way to guarantee that one won’t be spending a ton of monthly budget on gasoline is buying one of the most efficient cars in the market.

2015: 10 most efficient automobiles model

• NissanLeaf

S you might guess, most are of the electrified variety, though one plug-in hybrid did make the list. Here are the 10 most e f f i c i e n t automobiles of the 2015 model year, according to the EPA ratings on Fueleconomy.gov. Only vehicles with a 2015 model count for this list. Any ties in fuel economy ratings were decided in favour of the vehicle with the higher city rating. 10. Chevrolet Volt Chevy has a 2016 Volt in store for the Detroit Auto Show, but for now the 2015 model is efficient enough to claim 10th place for the 2015 model year. With 63 miles per gallon in the city and 61 miles per • 500e-Fiat gallon in highway driving ( f o r combined electric a n d g a s use), t h e Volt remains a standout in economy. Its 38 miles of electric range give it the longest range of any plug-in hybrid for 2015. 9. Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive At 85 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in the city and 82 miles per gallon in highway driving, the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive is a remarkable performer for a vehicle with 251 pounds-feet of torque. To guarantee the electric B-Class reduced emissions over its life cycle compared to a gasoline B-Class, independent testing agency TÜV made a detailed analysis of the two cars. The results proved emissions were reduced by 24 per cent on the EU electricity grid and 64 per cent on a hydroelectric grid. Electric range for the B-Class is 87 miles. 8. Ford Focus Electric

• B-CLASS

Ford’s low-volume electric model remains one of the country’s most efficient vehicles. The 2015 model is rated at 110 miles per gallon equivalent in the city and 99 miles per gallon in highway driving. Electric range is clocked at 76 miles. New 2015 F o c u s Electric models do not improve upon the p r i o r m o d e l year’s numbers, but the prices a r e lower n o w than they have ever been. A Focus Electric now sells at $29,170. 7. Kia Soul In terms of overall economy, the 2015 Kia Soul EV ties the Focus Electric at 105 miles per gallon equivalent. For this list, the Soul EV gets the edge because of its impressive 120 miles per gallon in the city. After all, even with a range of 93 miles, these cars are basically city vehicles. Until they cross the 300-mile benchmark, we’ll continue to give the benefit of the doubt to electric vehicles with excellent city economy. For the record, a 2015 Soul EV gets 92 miles per gallon equivalent on the highway. 6. Smart Electric Drive Coupe (tie) People can make fun of Smart cars for a variety

of reasons, but fuel economy is not one of them. Two Smart models tied for fifth and sixth place among the most efficient automobiles of the 2015 model year. The Smart Electric Drive coupe is rated at 122 miles per gallon equivalent in the city and 93 miles per gallon on the highway. (If driving this car on the highway, please be very careful.) It all adds up to a combined 107 miles per gallon equivalent and 68 miles of range. 5. Smart Electric Drive Convertible (tie) Drop the top on your cute little Smart Electric Drive and you have another fuel economy star. Just because you have the wind blowing through

• Chevy-Volt

your hair doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a kilowatt of efficiency. You still get the 107 miles per gallon equivalent and 68 miles of range. You just do it in a sexier package. Who needs a Ferrari or a 2015 Mustang convertible? OK, maybe there are millions of people who prefer these cars, but in your Smart cabriolet you’ll never pay for gas again. 4. Nissan Leaf In terms of efficiency, availability, value, and performance, there is no comparison for the Nissan Leaf. Holding down fourth place with 114 miles per gallon equivalent

combined, the Leaf remains one of the two most-efficient

• 2015-Chevrolet-Spark

cars that people can buy in auto markets across the country. (Others known as compliance cars often just sell in Oregon and California.) Perhaps this combination drove the Leaf to shatter the electric vehicle sales record in the United States in 2014. 3. Fiat 500e Speaking of compliance cars, the Fiat 500e i s “available only in California a n d Oregon at select F i a t studios.” F o r t h o s e with access, the little guy gets a remarkable 116 miles per gallon equivalent combined, which makes it secondbest on the U.S. market. City driving is rated at 122 miles per gallon, while electric range is set at 87 miles by the EPA. Highway driving yields 108 miles per gallon, according to the EPA. 2. Volkswagen e-Golf With a combined 116 miles per gallon equivalent, the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf tied the Fiat 500e with its overall rating. For this • Continued on 40

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

MOTORING

10 most efficient automobiles model • Continued from 39 list, it gets the edge with the 126 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving and its conservative estimate of 83 miles in electric range. Bravo to the e-Golf for opening up availability to at least 10 U.S. markets. 1. Chevrolet Spark EV General Motors book ends the list of most efficient 2015 cars with the Chevy Volt and Chevy Spark EV, the best performer in economy for the model year. Like several cars on this list, the Spark EV is one of the compliance cars that give GM a way to sell

more cars in California, US largest auto market. Available in Oregon as well as the Golden State, a Spark EV is rated at a combined 119 miles per gallon equivalent and gets up to 82 miles of electric range. Where do EV standouts Tesla and BMW stand with their respective 2014 models? The 2014 Tesla Model S is rated at a combined 95 miles per gallon equivalent, which would best the Mercedes B-Class ranked ninth for 2015. As for the BMW i3, its 124 miles per gallon combined rating (137 city MPGe) make it the most efficient vehicle for sale. It just doesn’t have a model wearing a 2015 badge.

• Kia-Soul-EV

GM caps 2014 with new truck, SUV recalls

ENERAL Motors capped a troubled year by recalling nearly 84,000 vehicles in the United States, the company said, lifting the number of total 2014 recalls to 84. The latest call for drivers to return flawed cars covers GM’s popular fleet of trucks and sport utility vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years, as well as vehicles from 2007 to 2014 that may have been repaired with defective parts. Potentially affected vehicles include certain Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups as well as Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light duty and heavy-duty pickups, and Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT. According to the company, there appears to be an issue with the ignition that may force it to get stuck, although no crashes or injuries have been associated with those models. The remaining two recalls covered 56 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickup trucks built between September and October of 2014. A separate order covered 152 of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC 1500 pickup trucks over concerns the rear axle shaft may fracture while the vehicle is being driven. Less than 500 vehicles are expected to be impacted by the new recall. According to GM, the total number of vehicles affected worldwide are just over 92,000. While significant, the last recalls of the year are on an order fall smaller than the 2.6 million vehicles GM was forced to recall, after an ignition-switch problem created a legal and public relations firestorm for CEO Mary Barra. More than 40 deaths were linked to the problem, and the recall was delayed after a decade of internal discussions about the problem.

Video captures woman driver’s disastrous petrol station blunder

LOSE Circuit Television (CCTV) footage captures woman driver’s disastrous attempts to line up her 4x4 with fuel pump at petrol station And embarrassingly, it takes her an astonishing five attempts to park her car with the cap on the correct side. Captured on CCTV footage, a security worker was heard laughing as he records the woman makes blunder after blunder. The clip, posted on YouTube, has racked up more than six million views in less than four days. It begins as the woman drives into a

station in Leicester, United Kingdom and emerges from her vehicle only to spot the cap is on the wrong side. But hilariously, she drives around and emerges again on the wrong side, repeatedly failing to spot her mistake. It takes five tries over a three-minute period for the woman to realise her error, perform a three-point turn and finally fill up her tank. But at least she got there in the end. The rounds The woman driver comes into the petrol station and quickly realises her fuel cap is on the wrong side

She proceeds to drive around to the other side, only to come out and realise her cap is still on the wrong side Third time lucky? She comes around yet again but still doesn’t spot the problem. The footage, captured on CCTV, shows her go around a third time and a security work can be heard giggling Her fourth attempt is yet another fail, but her amusing blunder racked up six million views on YouTube But the fifth time proved the charm as the woman finally spots her mistake and does a three-point turn

SAFE DRIVING

ITHOUT doubt, vehicle technology is dynamic and keeps changing globally. As more comforts are being added, more dangers are also inherent in the comforts. I will still analyse a few of the new vehicle technologies later in this column but before then, there is a disturbing point I would like to hammer upon here. Nigeria has become an ‘anything goes’ nation where all manner of vehicles and products come in without thorough pre – use analysis by the stakeholders. For example, brand new vehicles without airbag are still being brought into the country. Brand new vehicles without anti-lock braking system (ABS) are still finding their way into Nigeria. More disturbing is that the new vehicles with the socalled new technologies are not being subjected to thorough safety analysis by stakeholders such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Federal Road Safety Commission, Association of Driving

Vehicle technology and safety Instructors of Nigeria, and Vehicle Inspection Officers among other stakeholders before being shipped into the country for sale. After I did a personal analysis of one of such vehicles, I found out that most of the selling points of the auto manufacturer in the area of technology upgrade actually stand to fuel the rate of distraction and not comfort in Nigeria. Distracted driving is a more serious challenge in Nigeria than the developed countries. The fact that the developed countries appreciate a particular technology upgrade does not mean it will have the same effects in Nigeria. An average Nigerian driver (professional or private) is not exposed to proper training and re-training programmes. Hence, the poor safety culture among drivers in Nigeria. In the same vein, the rate of traffic law enforcement and compliance in de-

veloped countries is higher than in Nigeria. Hence the high rate of traffic law violation even among the highly placed in Nigeria. Whenever technology upgrade is being considered, the peculiar situation of Nigerians must be taken into consideration to prevent it from being counter – productive. The truth is that any technology upgrade or in – car facility that makes a driver too comfortable or easily takes his or her attention away from the path of travel for more than one second promotes distraction thereby contributing to the risk of road traffic crashes and fatalities. The Federal Government must establish a system where samples of any new vehicle to be introduced into the Nigerian market will be subjected to thorough and unbiased pre – market analysis by the key stakeholders in the Transport and

Driver Education sectors to know their suitability to the target Nigerian users. On the other hand, there is an urgent need for the government (Federal, State and Local) to improve on the provision of good roads and road furniture to enhance the functionality of some of the new vehicle technologies. For example, the provision of road markings readable to the vehicle sensors, appropriate traffic signs, CCTV cameras for traffic violation monitoring and several other infrastructure. As the vehicle technology is changing, Nigerian Governments and their relevant agencies must also be proactive in the acceptance or rejection of such technologies in Nigeria. We must have and enforce vehicle standards as it obtains in the United States of America among other developed nations. It is time to begin to think of having “Nigerian Specs”

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

even as there are American Specs, Europe Specs, etc. Nigeria must not become a dumping ground for all sorts of technologies whether needed or not. Let the auto manufacturers come to Nigeria to do the Need – Analysis before manufacturing any vehicle for Nigerian markets. The new auto policy in Nigeria must also take this point into consideration.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

KANO STATE GOVERNMENT KANO STATE BUDGET OF CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS, YEAR 2015 ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOV. RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO FNSE OF KANO STATE ON THE OCCASION OF PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR 2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL TO KANO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON WEDNESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2014 COURTESIES ASSALAMUALAIKUM.

It is with gratitude to Allah (SWT) that I present the year 2015 Budget Speech to this Honourable House. 2. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen: Permit me to begin by once again registering our condolences and heartfelt sympathy on the passing away of many prominent and illustrious citizens of Kano State in the outgoing year, 2014; among whom are our revered Emir Alhaji Ado Bayero, Galadiman Kano Alhaji Tijjani Hashim; Talban Kano Alhaji Garba AD Inuwa; one time Deputy Governor Alhaji Ibrahim BibiFarouk; Elder Statesman Malam Magaji Dambatta; Chairman Elders Committee Alhaji Datti Wudilawa, Alhaji Bello Abubakar Wudil, the Special Adviser on Political Matters Alhaji Yusif Chiroma Kutama, Hajiya Bara'atu Dantata, prominent businessman Alhaji Baba Nabego and many others too numerous to mention. We pray Allah SWT reward them and grant them Jannatul-firdaus. 3. I would also like to ask for our continuous prayers for the victims of the various senseless attacks across the country; especially the victims of the unfortunate incidents in the NNPC Mega Station on 28th July, Federal College of Education, Kano on September 17th, Kano Central Mosque on Friday, 28th November 2014, and the most recent one in our busy Kantin Kwari Textile Market on December 10th 2014. 4. May I also use this opportunity to congratulate and commend the good people of Kano for the support they have always given our administration particularly over the successful conduct of the Local Government elections where our party recorded 100 percent victory. Also, worthy of mention is our successful outing at the just concluded APC Presidential Primary elections in Lagos and the subsequent emergence of our Party's Presidential flag bearer (General Muhammadu Buhari). Certainly, these success stories couldn't have been recorded without the support and corporation of the good people of Kano. 5. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the outgoing year also witnessed momentous events that have brought about significant changes in the attitude of our people to governance; as a result of these changes we have recorded successes in many strategic sectors of the State. These accomplishments would also not have been achieved without the support, cooperation and encouragement of this Honourable House and the good people of Kano. 6. Right Honourable Speaker, today's event is special as it is my last annual budget presentation before this Honourable House. In that regard, I find it pertinent to use the opportunity to spotlight the secrets of our administration's fiscal strength that formed the bedrock of our successes in the last three and a half years. 7. Distinguished Members, 42 months ago, when we took the oath of office, our social and economic infrastructures were in near total collapse. There was flagrant abuse of public office; gross indiscipline among the citizens; the civil service was bloated and in disarray; youth and women unemployment was at its peak, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education were in a sorry state and the internal and external debt profile of the State was massive. 8. However Mr. Speaker, with humility and pride, I am glad to report that our administration was able to address most of these challenges through the introduction of the following innovative fiscal measures: " Slashing the cost of operating the government by appropriately adjusting the overhead cost of all State MDAs thereby saving overN500 million monthly. " Our insistence on cashless policy has also saved huge amounts of public funds. " We developed the informal sector database and reformed the Board of Internal Revenue for enhanced revenue generation. Thereby, the monthly collection of State IGR has skyrocketed from slightly higher than N400million toaboutN2billion. " We abrogated the abuse associated with Security Votes. " Eliminated over 20,000 ghost workers and 8,000 pensioners from the public payroll through conducting biometric data capture project. " And made it a policy in the past three years that 70 percent of our Budget Estimates goes to service Capital Expenditure whereas the Recurrent stood below or slightly higher than 30 percent, while the budget performance stood at about 80 percent. " The weekly publication of our Executive Council Resolutions on National Dailies has further assured the people of Kano our prudence and accountability in governance. 9. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; those were some of the critical steps, we took to restore our State's fiscal stability and I am happy to inform this Honourable House that Kano State is today in a much stronger social and financial position than it was 42 months ago. 10. Mr. speaker, having attained such feats through taking these realistic steps, we are determined to ensure that the fiscal control mechanisms will remain in place to enable Government complete all the on-going projects and programmes. The Year 2014 Approved Budget Performance 11. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; a year ago I presented

Rabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u Musa Kwankawaso

before this Honourable House, a Budget sized N225.149billion and tagged it "Budget of Consolidation" with recurrent allocation of N71.121billion equivalent to 32 percent and capital estimates of N154.027billion equivalent to 68 percent. In summary the general performance of the 2014 Approved Budget stood at 73 percent from January to September. 12. Mr. Speaker, permit me to quickly give a brief account of the accomplishments recorded by the 2014 Approved Budget: Infrastructure 13. Our commitment to the provision of necessary infrastructure for the socio-economic development of all sectors of the State is what informed our administration's huge investment in infrastructure development in the financial year 2014.The Works, Housing and Transport Ministry as well as the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning were allocated the sum of N80.01billion and these resources have been utilized in completing the following major projects: " Silver Jubilee and Ibrahim Taiwo Road flyovers are both at final stage of completion (finishing touches), " Hadejia Road, Gwarzo Road, Sheik Ja'afar Mahmud Adam Road, Dan'Agundi - Panshekara junction Road and dualisation of Zungeru road, Kiyashi Avenue and Medile - Guringawa Road are completed, " The first phase of Kwankwasiyya, Amana, and Bandirawo cities have been completed, " The first, second and third phases of our street light projects within the metropolitan area have all been completed, " Construction work of Challawa Bridge, Bagauda Trailer Park, Overhead Pedestrian Bridges at BUK Old Site, Kurna BabbanLayi, BUK Road, at Kura Town in Kura Local Government and reconstruction of some of our City Gates have also been completed. " The first and second phases of covering our drainages with concrete rings overlaid with interlocks have been completed. " The road networks of the North West University, Cafeteria and the Senate Building all at the permanent site are all completed, " The new Deputy Governor's Office Complex, the 1,200 Capacity Coronation Hall where we shall Insha-Allah install our new Emir early next year as well as the general facelift work of the Government House have been completed. " We have constructed 30 Shari'a and 26 Magistrate Courts at the cost of about N800 million. While work is on-going on 16 additional Magistrate Courts. " About 2,000 Prototype Model Houses for the poor and victims of flood disasters in Warawa, Makoda, Kunchi and Madobi Local Governments have been completed. " The permanent sites of some of the 26 Institutes we established like College of Arts & Remedial Science Tudun Wada, Entrepreneurship Development in DawakinTofa, Informatics and Sports both at Kura, Corporate Security in Gabasawa, Hospitality and Tourism in Kano, Film Academy in Tiga and Horticulture, Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries Institutes in Bagauda have all been completed. " The Challawa Bridge project have also been completed, " Our 44 Garment Industries with all the needed machineries installed is ready for commissioning. " The Constituency Projects across the 44 Local Government Areas have also been completed. " The 37 Micro-Finance Banks have been successfully established across the State. " The KofarNa'isa Sport Complex, Sani Abacha Stadium, Wudil Technical College relocation work, First Lady College at former Magwan Restaurant, Jumma'at Mosques at Amana &Bandirawo, New Governors Lodge at Kwankwasiyya city have reached advanced stage of completion. " The Kwankwasiyya Freedom Tower at Mahaha Sport Complex for the celebration of New Year, Maulud and other State and National events has been completed. 14. Other projects that have reached advanced stage of completion include: " Independent Power Projects at Chalawa and Tiga Dams which is at 80 percent completion is billed to be commissioned in 2015, " The 1.78kilometre Murtala Muhammed Way flyover, which is the longest to be constructed by any State in Nigeria, is at an advanced stage of completion. " Gadon Kaya and Kofar Kabuga under-pass roads the first of its kind in Nigeria are scheduled to be completed in early 2015. " The channelization and building of a super highway over the 7km Jakara River popularly known as Wuju Wuju Way have also reached advanced stage. " Work on extension of the Kano State House of Assembly Office Complex to the tune of over N160 million has reached advanced stage. " Dan Hausa Road, Commissioner Road, Bello Kano Terrace, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Roads will soon be completed. " We are intensifying efforts towards the completion of the ongoing work on Court Road - France Road - Zungeru road in Sabon Gari. " The construction of 5 KM dualised roads with streetlights and drainages in all 44 Local Government Areas of the State is steadily progressing. " The construction of Kwanar Mandawari to Aisami to Aminu Kano Way, Sheik Mahmoud Salga Way from Jakara - Goron Dutse Way, KwanarYan'taya to Dandishe, Hadejia road - Dakata to Bela, Karaye - Rogo, Doka - Riruwai, Hawanganji - SabonLayin Kara, Badari-Kadare roads in Gwarzo Local Governments, Janguza - Durum - Kabo - Karaye roads. Dualisation of New road and Ashton road Airport roads in SabonGari are all progressing. " Construction of pedestrian bridges and city gates across our major roads is also on going. Education 15. Mr Speaker, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am certain that no one in Kano or outside the State doubts our administration's commitment to the education sector due to our huge investment into

44 the sector. 16. The implementation of the Free Education Programme for all Kano State people at all levels of education which commenced this year, has been recording tremendous successes as indicated below: " The free school uniforms and feeding programme for primary school pupils that have so far been funded with overN4.5 Billion has further increased our school enrolment figures from 1 million in 2011 to about 3 million in the year under review. " We have so far constructed over 3,000 classrooms and fenced well over 250 schools. " We have procured and distributed instructional materials to basic schools worth about N400 million. " We have put in place deliberate measures to enhance the quality of staff within the education sector by embarking on skill acquisition training for 16,000 teachers, 5,500 headmasters, and over 800 school support officers. " Over 25, 000 unqualified teachers of the UBE are being trained by NCE awarding institutions at the cost of N1.3Billion naira. " 32, 800 teaching staff were promoted across the Local Government Education Authorities. " We established 44 Schools for Islamic Studies and 44 Technical Schools, " Towards the implementation of the free education policy at Primary and secondary school level the sum of over N1.8 billion was spent. " We have completed the conversion and rehabilitation of some abandoned public buildings like the old psychiatric hospital at Aisami, Magwan Water Restaurant, Gidan Ruwa at Kofar Nassarawa and old Cotton Ginnery at Chalawa into Girls Secondary School, First Lady College, Government Girls Secondary School Mubi and Chinese College respectively. " We have furnished and equipped 300 laboratories of Physics, Chemistry and Biology in 100 schools at the cost of over N1.2Billion naira across the State. " We have re-introduced Primary Boarding Schools, the first has already taken off at Minjibir and we are also in the process of establishing two more, one in each of our Senatorial Zones. " Furthermore, 100 Secondary School Libraries and computer rooms have also been furnished and well equipped at the cost of over N1.7Billion naira. " We have constructed 400 Houses to accommodate our staff teaching outside the metropolis. " In fulfilling the free education policy at the tertiary education level we have spent well over N1Billion in sponsoring 34, 489 Students in higher institutions of learning across the country. " We have invested over N12 billion as foreign scholarship scheme to train over 2,600 students in 14 countries across the world, specialising in Medicine, Pharmacy, Piloting Marine Engineering and other courses critical to our manpower needs. " I am pleased to report that, a good number of these students have been offered admission for their PhD's, whilesome have taken up appointments in their countries of study, others have returned home and are now gainfully employed into our tertiary institutions and other sectors of our economy. " During the year under review various projects like Lecture theatres, Senate Building, ICT building, road networks and other infrastructure to the tune of over N8 Billion were executed in the various higher education institutions as follows: " Northwest University - N6 Billion " Sa'adatu Rimi College of Education - N829.9 million " Kano State University of Science and Technology Wudil - N719.9 million " Aminu Kano School College of Islamic and Legal Studies - N325.3 million " Kano State Polytechnic - N198.9 million and " Audu Bako College of Agriculture - N154.5 million In order to ensure continuity and sustainability, 13 out of the 26newly established institutes are affiliated to either the Kano State University of Science and Technology Wudil or the North West University as follows: Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil 1. Kano Informatics Institute Kura 2. Kano Livestock Institute Bagauda 3. Kano Irrigation Institute Kadawa 4. Kano Poultry Institute Tukwi Danbatta 5. Kano Fisheries Institute Bagauda 6. Kano Hospitality and Tourism Institute Kano 7. Kano Sport Institute Karfi 8. Kano Corporate Security Institute Gabasawa North West University 1. Kano Entrepreneurship Institute DawakinTofa 2. Quranic& Western Education Kano 3. Kano Journalism Development Institute Kano 4. Kano Reformatory Institute Kiru 5. Kano Film Institute Tiga 6. Furthermore, we have converted the Murtala Mohammed Library Complex in the Department of Library & Information Sciences and the Pfizer Hospital at Dawakin Kudu have been converted to Faculty of Basic Health Science are both affiliated to the North West University. Health Sector 17. Mr. Speaker, a lot has been achieved in the health sector which include among others, a decrease in maternal mortality rate in the outgoing year following the re-introduction and strengthening of free maternal and child health care services by our administration. 18. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, having realised that the major challenge facing our health sector is the dearth of personnel; we introduced short and long-term measures as follows: As part of the short-term measures: " Government has as a matter of urgency recruited over 750 healthcare personnel including medical doctors, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, nurses, pharmacists and other paramedics, " We recruited 16 Medical Doctors from Egypt and " 10 expatriate teachers have also been recruited to teach in our new Schools of Nursing and Basic and Post Basic Midwifery. While as a long-term measure we have: " Paid the complete fees of the 200 medical students and 100 pharmacy students sponsored to read medicine abroad throughout the duration of their studies, so as to avoid any disruption. " Sponsored 50 Nurses to read B.SC Nursing Education in Egypt so as to teach in our Health based schools. " Mr. Speaker it gives me immense pleasure to inform this Honourable House that the Pfizer Research Centre at Dawakin Kudu has been converted to Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Centre for Disease Control under the North West University. I am also glad to report that we have appointed a Dean for the medical college and a Director for the Disease Centre. Furthermore, we are presently admitting our first batch of students for the medical college. Under the States Ministry of Health we have established 5 new health training Institutions namely; College of Nursing Madobi, School of Basic Midwifery Madobi, School of Basic Midwifery Gezawa, College of Post Basic Midwifery Gezawa, and School of Health Technology Babeji. I wish to state that academic activities have already commenced in some of these Institutions. Mr. Speaker, other undertakings recorded under the sector also includes: " Embarking on fierce fight against malaria and Polio Virus jointly with our partners (Dangote, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations and DFID) spending over N1.4billion, " Upgraded and renovated most General Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres to cottage hospitals as follows:Gwarzo General Hospital, Bichi General Hospital, Dambatta General Hospital, Rano General Hospital, Dawakin Kudu General Hospital, Gaya General Hospital, Minjibir General Hospital, Gezawa General Hospital, Muhammad AbdullahiWase Specialist Hospital, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau, Yadakunya Leprosy Hospital, Dental Centre Kano, Abubakar Imam Urology, Kwankwaso Cottage Hospital, Sir Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Kiru Primary Health Centre, Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital, Infectious Disease Hospital and etc. " Spent over N1billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of some State owned hospitals and provision of medical equipment and infrastructural facilities,

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 " The first phase of the permanent site of the Drug and Medical Consumables Supply Agency at Madobi has been completed. " The Intensive Care Unit of Nassarawa Hospital has since been commissioned, while the new Intensive Care Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital was constructed at the cost of over N150 million and equipped with over N135 million will soon be commissioned. Women and Youth Empowerment 19. It is the determination of this administration to implement policies that would have direct bearing on the lives of our people. To this end, Government has in the last three years through our youth and women empowerment programmes trained and empowered over 360,000 people (mostly youth and women)through the CRC and the 26 Institutes we established. They have been given various skills and trades as follows: " Chalk production, " Football making, " Fish farming, " Barbing, " LafiyaJari " Amana Luxury Taxis " Amana Bus and Taxi scheme " Livestock farming, " Horticulture, " Butchery, " Automobile Mechanics, " Vulcanizers, " Modern Bee Keeping, " Photography and Video coverage, " Plumbing, " Trained and empowered women with special needs(divorcees, widows, HIV, deserted women, VVF patients and the girl child), " Corporate Security Guards, " Meat haulers and etc. 20. The gradual erosion of family values and rise of social miscreants and crimes due to broken homes is what informed our decision to introduce mass wedding programme. So far, 2,461 (Zawwara) widows and spinsters from across the state including Muslims and Christians have benefitted from this initiative. 21. In addition, we introduced different programmes aimed at empowering the women and repositioning them to play the critical role of managing the family, training and raising up of disciplined and responsible youths. We have also introduced a Marriage Counseling Unit that will ensure good understanding of rights and privileges of the spouses. 22. Mr. Speaker, in the last three years, our administration has taken decisive measures to ban the unwholesome sale of drugs and other medical consumables in all parts of the State, especially the Sabon Gari market. This has led to the confiscation and destruction of fake and illicit drugs worth over N4 billion. 23. To effectively fight the war against drug barons we have established a strong Drug Taskforce Committee comprising all relevant stakeholders as well as setup of the Consumer Protection Council. 24. In order to further rehabilitate and re-integrate our youth, we introduced four special institutes namely, Kano Reformatory Institute, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Corporate Security Institute and Kano Entrepreneurship Development Institute. These Institutes have so far graduated over 6,000 youth. 25. Furthermore, under the Ministry of Women Affairs we have also introduced special programmes and projects that are targeted at women: " Established and equipped 20 cottage industries and handed them over to 20 local Governments in the State. " Renovated and rehabilitated VVF Center, Kwalli, Gyadi-Gyadi Vocational Center; and Goron Dutse Remand Home. Mr. Speaker, we have given these youths and women access to finances as follows: " Provided N1 BILLION commercial Agricultural facility to support commercial farmers in the state. " Provided loan facility in collaboration with Bank of Industry to support Small Scale Enterprises with a N2 Billion soft loan scheme in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria. " Established 37 Micro Finance Banks at least one in each of the 37 LGA of the state and also provided a N2 Billion loan facility in partnership with Central Bank of Nigeria. Agriculture and Natural Resources 26. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, our administration has been scaling up efforts to increase agricultural productivity through the development of agricultural Skills Acquisition Institutes, fertilizer procurement and distribution as well as opening up markets for agricultural produce. I am happy to report that sequel to our efforts in this regard the following successes were attained: " 10, 372 women and youths were empowered in our newly established 7 Agriculture related Institutes and over N2billion naira has been spent on their training and post training packages as well as provision of infrastructural facilities in the Institutes. " In the last three years through the direct purchase and effective distribution of fertilizer to farmers, and later in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture through the GES program Government has spent well over N5 Billion. " 2,000 metric tons of Organic Fertilizer was also procured and distributed. " We also established the first Farmers Radio. " The Kano Audu Bako Zoological & Wildlife Agency was given a face-lift and also established Kano Botanical Garden in it. " Mr. Speaker, as a testimony to our achievements in the agricultural sector, Kano State has repeatedly won the National Agricultural Show thrice since we took over. Under the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) we have: " Distributed 80 units of tractors to five (5) Farmer Cooperative Groups. " Improved livestock production, Government has renovated/rehabilitated Kadawa and Dambatta Livestock Artificial Insemination Centres and procured food supplements at the five livestock centres as well as conducting a geo mapping survey of grazing reserves. " Distributed 74 units of subsidized rice threshing machines to selected farmers and Rice Processing clusters. Environment 27. Distinguished members, it is a common knowledge that poor management of environment and natural resources promotes unwholesome effects on land degradation, water and air pollution as well as changing climatic conditions. 28. In view of the above, our administration has increased efforts to address environmental issues by embarking on the following measures: " We have procured 80 points of refuse evacuation and disposal and provided dustbins at strategic locations of the metropolitan area. " We have converted some refuse dump sites that pose health and environmental hazards as follows; Court Road and Layin Naira da Kobo at Kurna dump Sites covered with subtle material and converted into a football pitch. While Koki, Lungun Makera and Dakata T/Wada dumpsites are converted to schools.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 " Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, you will agree with me that today Kano is an environment friendly State and therefore wish to commend the people of the State for their corporation and support. Furthermore, I wish to urge them to do more towards making our streets and all public places clean and hygienic. " We are cleaning up and repairing existing drainages, de-silting of drains, construction of trapezoidal stone pitched drains etc. Some of these sites include, Sabo Bakin Zuwo Road at Tarauni, Aminu Kano Way, along KofarMazugal road, Gidan Murtala - BUK Road and the covering of the Jakara River. Mr. Speaker, these interventions have reduced the spread of malaria and other diseases as well as reduced the frequency and intensity of annual flood. " Land reclamation and construction of drainage and culvert at Rikadawa, Madobi Local Government and Sarbi Minjibir Local Government Area was also executed. " Revalidation of Erosion Control in Tunga, Kwanyawa and Gunshi Villages was carried out. " Production of millions of assorted tree seedlings as follows: Moringa, Neem, Jatropha, Eucalyptus, Ornamental Plants (Flowers) and different types of fruit trees at 9 nurseries. While Government is doing its own part I want to urge the public to also participate in the tree planting campaign. " Vector and Mosquito fumigation across mostparts of the metropolitan Local Governments including other places of social gathering. This has culminated into serious reduction of malaria cases in the state. Rural and Community Development 29. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, to ensure fairness in distribution of critical infrastructure among local governments in the State including remote rural areas. Our administration embarked on vigorous drive towards the development of our rural communities as follows: " We have procured and installed transformers, 33KVA feeders and 132KVA transmitter substations amounting to over N1.5 Billion across the State. " Under the revamped Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) over N2.9 Billion has been spent to construct and rehabilitate various types of Boreholes across the State as follows: " 1,269 Hand Pump Boreholes " 100 Solar Powered Boreholes and " 20 Motorised Boreholes " We have selected 37 major markets across the state and constructed 74 modern toilets with motorized boreholes at various locations like near Triumph and Post Office to improve the sanitary condition of our markets. " We are constructing modern a Butchers shed at the IBB Way Abattoir, while the one at Post Office road has been completed. " Have provided and installed transformers in 412 communities and connected them to the national grid. Science and Technology 30. Mr. Speaker, this sector is increasingly providing support to other sectors through the provision of inputs to education, health, businesses, agriculture and Research outfits. During the year under review, we have expended the sum of N250 million for various projects and programmes, which include among others, provision of bandwidth and galaxy for enhanced Internet access; databank update and establishment of prototype laboratories. 31. Our Government also pursued ICT policies towards complementing the education sector and enhancing youth empowerment. This led to the establishment of Kano State Institute of Information Technology, which is globally deemed as the driving force for job creation, skill acquisition, generation of wealth and revenue to all sectors of the economy. By approving a master franchise agreement with British Computer Society (BCS), United Kingdom a solid structure for the continuity and sustainability of the Information Technology Institute was established. 32. In addition to the above, 378 students of the Informatics Institute have been sponsored at the cost of over N500 million to attend a one-year top-up course leading to the award of degree at the Kampala University, Uganda and I am pleased to inform this Honourable House that the first batch of 197 students have successfully graduated with flying colours on the 10th of December 2014. Water Supply 33. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; this administration remains committed to ensuring that all citizens of the State have access to potable drinking water and sanitary services. 34. From the inception of our administration to date the sum of N16, 432,811,322.10 have been spent with most of the projects at over 90percent stage of completion. The most prominent out of the 84 projects undertaken include: a. Supply of 600mmdiameter Ductile pipes (42kms) from Watari to Mil Tara - N2Billion b. Supply of DI1,000mmdiameter(15km) Chalawa-GoronDutse - N2Billion c. Supply of 600mmdiameterDI Pipes and fittings for Joda-Gezawa (24kms) - N1Billion d. Supply of 400mm diameter DI Pipes and fittings for Watari-Tsanyawa Pipeline Projects (34kms) -N1Billion e. Rehabilitation of 23 tube wells along Chalawa river -N221million f. Construction of 1 No 15MVA, 33/11KV injection substation at Tamburawa and 2 No 33KV dedicated power line from Garu substation to Tamburawa and Chalawa - N140million g. Procurement of 400mmdiameterDI Pipes and fittings for Kafinchiri - Sumaila Pipeline projects 22.8km - N800million h. Laying and commissioning of 600mmdiameterD/Pipes and fittings from Watarito Mil Tara (42kms) - N117million i. Laying of 1,000mm diameter DI Pipes from Chalawa to Goron Dutse (15kms) - N199million j. Supply of 1,000mm diameter DI pipes and fittings for Tamburawa Hadejia Road Pipeline Projects (23.1km) - aboutN3Billion k. Laying and commissioning of 22.8km of 400mm diameter DI pipes and fittings from Kafinchiri to Sumaila Town - N134million. l. Laying and commissioning of 24km of 600mm diameter DI pipes and fittings from Joda to Kwanar Danja - N135million. m. Development of 100 Hectare irrigation project at Magaga - N169million. n. Rehabilitation/upgrading of Kafinchiri Regional Water Supply Schemes - N145million o. Completion of Garun Malam Water Supply Project -N135million p. Supply and installation of 2 No High lift pumpsat Chalawa - N149million q. Supply and installation of 4 No 1500 KVA gerators at Chalawa - N219million r. Supply and installation of one 1,650KVA generator and complete accessories for 2 No. Generating sets at Chalawa and Tamburawa -N155million s. Supply and installation of 2 No Cat Engine parts at Chalawa - N168million. t. Supply of Generating sets of various capacities at Gari, Kura, Thomas and Kafinchiri - N100million u. Construction of lagoon at Chalawa No 11 Raw Water intake - N122million. v. Pipes relocations due to road works N135million w. Supply and installation of 8 No. Raw water pumps with control panel for the new Chalawa intake No 11 - N304million x. Laying of 33.6km of 400mm ductile iron pipe at Watari-Tsanyawa- N178million y. Supply of chemicals and Alum at Chalawa, Tambuarawa and Bagwai - N1.1Billion. z. We have resuscitated WRECA Headquarters to the tune of over N200 million. Information, Internal Affairs, Sports and Culture 35. This sector continues to live up to its mandate of efficient information management in tandem with Government desire to promote free flow of information for our people to be abreast of all government policies and programmes. 36. Our administration also accords desired consideration to the development of sport activities in the State. The Nigeria Premier League Cup won by Kano Pillars Football Club this season for the third consecutive time is a clear testimony to the commitment of our administration in the field of sports. 37. Within the period under review, Kano state has excelled in National and International sports competition especially in Football, Basketball, Handball, Boxing, Para soccer, Volleyball and Taekwondo

45 as indicated below: I. Kano Pillars Football Club was crowned as the winner of National Premier League in 2012. It also won the maiden edition of Super 8 Tournament hosted in Niamey, Niger republic. II. As a premier league winner, Kano Pillars represented Nigeria at the African Clubs Championship League in 2013 and reached the second round in the competition. III. Kano Pillars Football Club won the Glo/Nigeria Premier League Trophy in 2013 and represented Nigeria at the Africa club championships league in 2014. IV. Kano Pillars Football Club reached semi-final and 4th place at the 2012 Nigeria Federation Cup. Basketball I. Kano Pillars Basketball team emerged the 2nd best team at National Premier Basketball League in July 2012; II. Represented Nigeria at the Continental Zonal Qualifier in Monrovia, Liberia and emerged winner in September, III. Became winners in the Men's National Division II Championship December 2012, IV. Became champion of 2013 National Premier Basketball League and also became the champions of West African sub-region and winners of National Premier Basketball League, 2013. Handball Kano Pyramid, the State Handball team emerged winner at the National Handball champion in 2011 and represented Nigeria at the African Handball winners champion Cup in Morocco they emerged 4th. Other Games/Sports I. Kano State Scrabble Team came 1st position at National tournament 2012 II. The State Para-Soccer Team emerged victorious at National Champion, Abuja, 2012 III. The State TaeKwando Team was adjudged the best in 2012 IV. Kano State Para-Soccer team won the first position at West Africa tournament, Niamey Niger Republic 2013; V. Kano State Para-Soccer Team also won the first position in the National Para-Soccer Tournament 2014. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, our administration will continue to support and encourage sports to ensure that the State is represented in national and international sport competitions. To this end Mr Speaker, some of the priority projects and programmes executed under this sector during the year ending include: " The distribution of goal post, footballs and jerseys to over 1,000 football clubs across the State. " To promote sporting activities and take the mind of our youth away from criminal and other social vices we established and constructed a state-of-the-art sports complex known as the Mahaha Sport Complex at the cost of over N3 Billion and a Sports School at Kofar Na'isa. This is in addition to the Sports Institute at Karfi. " Publicizing the laudable achievements of the present administration through production of Kano State Today and its Hausa version Jihar Kano A Yau magazines " Production of publicity materials such as posters and stickers for the sensitization/mobilization campaign of the public aimed at ensuring massive voter turnout. " We are in the process of digitalizing the State-owned Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV) and Radio Kano broadcast equipment. PROFILE OF THE 2015 BUDGET 38. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Members, Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to spell out the details of our expenditure policies and projections for the 2015 fiscal year. 39. The year 2015 Budget is tagged ''Budget of Celebration of Success'' that reflects our shared vision and common agenda for all citizens of Kano. In the last three and half years we have proved that, good governance is attainable in Nigeria. The popular slogan "Kano My City My State" is today a common phrase that is proudly used to identify with the successes we have so far recorded. 40. Honourable Members as we are celebrating the successes achieved in the last three and a half years, we are conscious of the fact that, the macro-economic outlook driven by global oil prices, which suggest a contraction in the national economy, will affect our resource inflow in the year 2015. However, it is our determination to serve the people of Kano State and therefore wish to register our resolve to complete all on-going projects in the 2015 fiscal year, by re-energizing our internal revenue drive, cutting back on expenditures except where it is absolutely necessary and we are more determined than ever to block all leakages of public funds. 41. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen; in line with our commitment of completing the numerous projects undertaken by this Government, we allocated about 90percent of the total projected Capital development funds for the 2015 Budget towards the completion of on-going projects. 42. Mr. Speaker, on Friday 26th of this month I had a meeting with members of the Kano Elders Forum where concerns were raised as to the dwindling price of oil in the world market and how this affects our State. In view of this we set up a committee to look into our options and proffer alternatives. 43. Furthermore, in our quest to invest more in the development of the State, the 2015 fiscal year will focus on: " Consolidating on the gains in infrastructural development by completing all projects and pro grammes we initiated. " Continue with the present administrative Reform of the Board of Internal Revenue and develop ment of informal sector database for more revenue generation. " Continue with the existing land administration reforms and systematic land registration in part nership with GEMS 3 DFID supported programme. " Mobilizing resources through exploitation of sources of grants from Federal Institutions (MDGs, SUBEB, TETFUND and etc) and development partners like Dangote, Melinda and Bill Gates foundations, bilateral and multilateral sources (JICA, DFID, USAID etc). 44. " " " " " "

Mr. Speaker, the specific broad socio-economic policy objectives for the 2015 Budget will be to: Achieve efficient and effective spending of State funds. Ensure completion of on-going projects. Continue with the policy of economizing recurrent costs and making more money available for capital projects. Ensure robust Internal Revenue Generation to address shortfall of revenue from Federation Account Provide adequate funding for security of lives and property of our people Continue with the policy of centralization of Government parastatals Revenue Accounts.

45. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the 2015 proposed budget estimates is N210,761,327,885 comprising of N135, 548,957,885 that is 64 percent Capital Expenditure and N75, 212,370,000 which is 36 percent Recurrent Expenditure. However, the 2015 Budget is slightly lower than that of 2014 by 7%. 46. The 2015 Estimated Revenue for the proposed Budget is as follows: a. Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) - N45, 672,617,411 b. Statutory Allocation - N52,200,000,000 c. Value Added Tax (VAT) - N10,600,000,000 d. Other Receipts - N5,410,532,069 e. Total Capital Receipts - N96,878,178,405 Total Estimated Revenue (All Sources) N210, 761,327,885 47. The total proposed recurrent expenditure for 2015 fiscal year is N75, 212,370,000. The personnel cost is N47, 765,200,000 taking into account of the new employment in the State, as well as provision for annual increments, promotions and advancement, while the overhead cost stands at

46 N27,447,170,000part of which will cover our free education, foreign and local scholarships. 48. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen: Let me at this point present the proposed breakdown of the capital sectoral allocations as follows: I. Infrastructure: N86.03billion II. Education: N18.0billion III. Health: N4.95billion IV. Water Supply: N3.66billion V. Agriculture: N2.86billion VI. Environment: N1.53billion VII. Rural & Community Development N0.529billion VIII.Women and Youths N0.270billion IX. Science and Technology: N0.263billion INFRUSTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT 49. Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, this sector remain number one focal area of our administration considering the huge investments Government has made in the sector. In order to consolidate on the achievements recorded in the last three and half years, the sum of N86.03billion is set aside for the various projects. Some of the major projects to be completed in the coming year include, the completion of 86 number on-going projects at the cost of N73 billion, and 8 number new projects at the cost of N13billion. Some of the major on-going projects to be completed include: " Fly Overs at Triumph- Yankura to Murtala Mohd way, " Independent Power Plants Project at Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dam, " The two under-pass roads at Kabuga and Gadon Kaya, " Kwarin Gogau to Jakara Channelization (Wuju-Wuju road), " Dualisation of Danagundi- Sharada to Gadan Madobi, " Completion of 5KM tarred roads in each of the 44 Local Government Area Headquarters, " Provision of Infrastructures and houses in the first phase of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo cities, " Completion of Janguza- DurunKabo to Karaye, " Completion of Karaye-Rogo to Makarfi road, " Execution of Constituency projects across the State, " Completion of Sports complex at Kofar Naisa, " Continue with the maintenance work of our Street and Traffic lights as well as installing and completing new ones. Distinguished Members despite the anticipated limited resources in the incoming year, we intend to commence work on the following new projects: " Construction of Under- Pass way at Sharada/ Panshekara road junction at the cost of N980 million " Construction of Gadar Madobi - Yako - K/Dangora asphaltic road at the cost of N3 billion " Dualization of Sharada ShiekJafar road junction -Phanshekara road at the cost of N1.5 billion " Power evacuation from Tiga and Challawa gorge Dams (IPP Project) at the cost of N5 billion and " Independent Power Project at Wasai Dam, Minjibir N1.2 billion. EDUCATION 50. Mr. Speaker; as you are aware, education still remain cardinal pillar of our Government and in line with our policy thrust of giving the sector the prominence it deserves, the sum of N18billion is set aside for execution of various projects and programmes, which will include 104 on-going projects at the cost of N14.4 billion and the sum of N3.6 billion is allocated for the new projects. Some of the on-going projects and programmes to be continued include: " Construction of 1000 Class rooms, " Completion of 44 number School of Islamic Studies one per each Local Government Area, " Completion of 44 number Technical Schools one per each Local Government Area, " Continue with our free education policy, " Continuation of supply and furnishing of Science Equipment to Senior Secondary Schools, " Continuous improvement of Infrastructure and Instructional Material in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools and " Continuous infrastructural development at Northwest University, Kano State University of Science and Technology Wudil and other tertiary Institutions in the State as well as other projects which we started. " The Provision of learning materials and accreditation requirements for various courses in our Tertiary Institutions and the Establishment of a second Secondary School in Niger Republic sited at Damagaran. HEALTH 51. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, in our relentless effort to provide qualitative and sustainable health care delivery system in the State, the sum of N4.9billion is earmarked to this sector for the execution of 44 number on-going projects at the cost of N3.9billion and 14 number new ones amounting to N1billion. Some of the projects lined up for completion include the following: " Renovation and rehabilitation of our various health institutions, " Procurement of specialized medical equipment, " Malaria control programme, " Continuation of partnership with Bill And Melinda Gate and Dangote Foundation on the Support of Routine Immunization, " Continuation of Free Accident and Emergency Services and " The Continuation of Free Anti Natal Care Services to all Pregnant Women and " Completion of the renovation works at our General Hospitals in Wudil, Kura, Tudun Wada and the Nuhu Bamali General Hospital. WATER SUPPLY 52. Distinguished Honourable Members; as a water Engineer and knowing the importance of water to life; the provision of portable drinking water to our people remains a priority for this Administration. In this regard the sum of N3.66billion is allocated for the financing of 17 number on-going Projects and Programmes. The projects slated for completion include: " Completion of Pipe laying of 400mm Ductile Iron Pipes from Watari to Tsanyawa, " Completion of Pipe laying Ahmadu Bello Way to Murtala Mohd Round About at KSIP " Completion of Pipe laying of 1000mm Ductile Iron Pipes from Tamburawa to Eastern Bye- Pass to Hadeja Road, " Kundila Maiduguri Road - NNPC at Eastern Bypass " Continuous Purchase of Water treatment chemicals, " Continuous Reinforcement of Trunks and Reticulations System, " Continuous partnership with European Union/UNICEF on the improvement of Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene and " Continuous improvement of various Regional Water Supply Schemes across the State. AGRICULTURE 53. Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, surely there is no better path to greatness than a focus on agriculture. This is why the sector is allocated the sum of N2.86billion to finance 32 number on-going projects at the cost of N2.1billion and 2 new projects amounting to N760million. Among the on-going projects we have: " Procurement and Distribution of Fertilizer, " Procurement, Storage and maintenance of Assorted Grains as Buffer Reserves, " Continuous Development of Agric related skill acquisition Training Institutes, " Continuous partnership with the Leventis Foundation to maintain the Agric School at Panda and " Agricultural Micro Credit Facilities for Medium and Small Scale Agriculture Businesses.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 ENVIRONMENT 54. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, this sector has a total Capital Provision of the sum of N1.5billion out of this amount, the sum of N870million is set aside for the completion of 41 number ongoing projects, while the sum of N660million is slated for the execution of new projects. Some of the ongoing projects include: " Ongoing construction of Drainages in Kano and other towns and villages " Continuation of Gully erosion/flood control project across the state " Continuation of Urban Landscaping and Beautification and " Continuous Vector Control Programme. " Honourable Members, under this sector, Government has embraced the New Map Project in collaboration with the World Bank.Mr. Speaker, it is worthy to note that it has always been the policy of this Administration not to receive any foreign or local loan and I am happy to inform this Honourable House that we have uphold this policy in the past three and half years. Service Delivery 55. Mr. Speaker, over the years our administration has continue to embrace reforms and legislations that would improve our service delivery for the general welfare of the people of the State and geared towards putting Kano in its rightful place as a modern mega city. Towards this end, we embarked on the generation of grassroots data through: " House Numbering, " Street Naming Exercise and " State Identity Card Project. We also enacted the following laws: " Ban on Street begging and developed special programmes that will cushion the effect of this law. " Enacted a Law Banning Almajirici and Street begging " Ban on commercial motorcycle " Enacted Educational Trust Fund Law " Enacted Security Trust Fund " Enacted the Law Banning Stray Animals on Streets 56. Honourable Members, our administration has trained and assisted 952 youth hawking on our streets and have concluded arrangements to accommodate them in 172 Trade Clusters across the 8 metropolitan Local Government Areas of the State. Therefore, Government will no longer tolerate the unwholesome habit of hawking on our streets. In this regard, from January 2015, we will be enforcing the Kano State Street Hawking. CONCLUSION 57. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Honourable Members Ladies and Gentlemen as I earlier stated, this is a budget of celebrating accomplishments. It is a budget about coordination, cooperation and goodwill in an effort to create a better Kano. With this common understanding, we shall continue to transform our State. We are happy to have built modern and lasting infrastructure, we are delighted and happy to have deliver services, created jobs, minimised poverty, increased incomes and ultimately improved the overall quality of the life of the people of Kano State. 58. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen: Let me at this juncture convey our utmost gratitude to Kano citizens from all walks of life, the Members of the 7th Legislature, the Judiciary, Members of my Cabinet, Heads of Government parastatals, political office holders and civil servants for their goodwill, support, encouragement and cooperation they gave this administration since our assumption to office in 2011. 59. As our journey in the stewardship of this great State is coming to an end, it is my conviction that, the last three and a half years of our administration has changed the face of our dear State, which translates to a better life for Kano people on the enormous infrastructure and human empowerment undertakings we executed. 60. Mr. Speaker we are leaving Kano on a much better socio-economic footing from what it were in 2011. Today, the people of Kano have developed a positive attitudinal change. They now cultivate new habits of respect for the rule of law and developed consciousness in taking pride of being Kanawa through the "My City my State" slogan. Kano people have also taken pride in taking up jobs that were not considered significant a few years ago. Today, our male and female youth are proud to enrol into Corporate security jobs and our graduates are now fulfilled entrepreneurs that engage in businesses they otherwise wouldn't have ventured into. Mr. Speaker, we are proud to be responsible for our people's attitudinal change and their respect for the rule of law. 61. Distinguished Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am proud to announce that through prudent and determined efforts we now have a new team of seasoned and tested citizens of Kano as the various candidates in the forthcoming general elections. In this regard, the APC Gubernatorial candidate of Kano state; Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Gandujen Kwankwasiyya) together with Professor Hafiz Abubakar as his Deputy represent new hope for continuity, progress, and transparent governance for the good people of Kano State. As foundation members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement this team have resolved and agreed to work with the Kwankwasiyya ideology for continuity, progress, and prosperity of Kano State for years to come. 62. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it is my conviction that if the wining team of Dr. Ganduje & Prof. Hafiz (our Government in-waiting)is able to complete the on-going projects and continue with our programmes in the face of dwindling resources our political future in Kano and Nigeria will be guaranteed. 63. At this point Mr. Speaker, I find it crucial to call on the people of Kano to take ownership of all public infrastructures. People should avoid wastage or vandalization of public utilities. We must pay our monthly water bills, ground rents and re-certify our Certificates of Occupancy at the Kano Geographical Information System (KANGIS). Our people should also respect building rules and regulations by obtaining building permits before they alter their buildings to avoid the wrath of the law. 64. In the same vain, I call upon the people especially the Youths to resist being lured into political violence and behaviours capable of generating discord by undesirable politicians during the forthcoming general elections. On the other hand, I appeal to all politicians to always place in their hearts first the interest of their people above personal gains. 65. Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, while craving the indulgence of this Honourable House for accelerated consideration, it is my pleasure to formally in the name of Allah the Most Merciful and Most High present an aggregate Budget of N210, 761,327,885 for the 2015 proposed Budget of Celebration of Success with capital estimate of N135, 548,957,885 representing 64% and recurrent allocation of N75, 212,370,000 representing 36% before this Honourable House for your deliberation and approval. 66. Right Honourable Speaker, as I have presented this Budget of celebration of success before this Honourable House, I wish to call on all the House Members, Public Servants, and actors in the private sector and civil society organizations, to play their respective roles towards its successful implementation for a better Kano. 67. I thank you all for listening and may Almighty Allah bless the Government and good people of Kano State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Wassalamu Alaikum WarahmatullahiTa'alah, Wabarakatuh.

THE NATIONMONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

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As we prepare for the election, all hands must be on deck to ensure a hitch- free election and smooth transition. Individual ambition should not be allowed to plunge Oyo State into a needless crisis

RACE TO 2015

‘No room for electoral violence in Oyo’

Sambo reconciles aggrieved Kebbi PDP chieftains

ICE President Namadi Sambo has reconciled ag grieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have protested the outcome of governorship and National Assembly primaries in Kebbi State. Sambo, who held peace meetings with the chieftains in BirninKebbi, the state capital, advised them to bury their differences and work for the success of the party at the polls. The Vice President , who spoke with reporters after the meeting, assured that peace has returned to the chapter. He said: “After the meeting with PDP stakeholders and all the aspirants in the state, we have now reconciled and the aspirants have agreed to work toward the progress of the party. “All the aspirants have won the election as none will be left alone. We would give every member a true sense of belonging.” Sambo praised the Federal Government for its development efforts nationwide, stressing that it has provided six states with standard airports.

From Khadijat Saidu Birnin Kebbi

He commended Governor Saidu Dakingari for improving the education sector, adding that the healthcare policy of the state government had improved health care delivery, especially for women and children. He said the establishment of a federal university in the state has demonstrated government’s determination to improve tertiart education. The Vice President promised that the Federal Government would establish a rice processing mill in the state, in recognition of the state government’s efforts to boost commercial production. Sambo added: “President Goodluck Jonathan has directed me to extend his gratitude to PDP members in the state for their cooperation and amicable resolution of disputes.’’ Dakingari commended the Vice President for resolving the crisis in the party. He called on PDP members to work toward the development

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• Sambo

of the party. The governor promised that efforts would be intensified to ensure victory for the party in the general elections. He said: “If we remain united and work together, we would defeat the opposition.” The PDP governorship candidate, Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki, promised to work closely with aspirants, who contested with him in the primaries. He also enjoined members to workd for the success of the party at the polls.

YO State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Senator Teslim Folarin has called on the politicians to shun violence and mudslinging during the elections. He said, if the primary motive of contesting is to serve the people, elections should not be a do-or-die affair. The former Senate Leader said: “We must do nothing to promote violence and refrain from encouraging thuggery and hooliganism. What will be will be.” Folarin, in a statement by his media aide, Victor Oluwadamilare, said added: “As we prepare for the election, all hands must be on deck to ensure a hitch- free election and smooth transition. Individual ambition should not be allowed to plunge Oyo State into a needless crisis because ,when two elephants fight, it is the grasses that suffer. “In everything we do or say, we should consider our people’s interest and wellbeing, since development only thrives in a peaceful and serene environment.” The flag bearer advised youths, who are being used as political thugs by bad politicians for their inordinate ambitions, to desist from their nefarious activities. He said it is a deservice to democracy for them to create mayhem. Folarin wondered why politicians are recruiting thugs when their children are studying in comfortable zones abroad. He said it is wicked to to use the children of the poor as sacrificial lambs. The former Senate Leader urged his supporters to gird their loins as the state prepares for the poll. He told the visiting PDP members from Ibadan Southeast and Southwest local governments led byAlhaji Rabiu Anisere that victory is possible, if they work hard. The PDP members, who are supporters of who are supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and former Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja, promised to work for his victory at the poll. Anisere said that they decidd to support him because the crisis rocking the party is over. Folarin, who expressed gratitude to them, urged aggrieved members to forget the past and focus on the future. He said that there was no rift between him and Akinjide, and Arapaja, who are credible leaders of the party. • Folarin

Agbaje to Lagosians: Prepare for peaceful poll

•National Chairman Unity Party Of Nigeria (UPN) Dr Frederick Fasehun (middle) flanked by National Welfare Officer Dr Nneoma Nnamah (left) and Deputy National Secretary Prince Samson Ndubuisi (right) at a press conference organised by the party on the general elections in Lagos.

AGOS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Mr. Jimi Agbaje has asked Lagosians to prepare for credible and peace ful elections. He urged the people to support his bid to rule the state, assuring that he will implement people-oriented programmes, if elected as governor. Agbaje lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for putting in place structures that will improve the electoral process. In his new year message, the politician urged Nigerians to demonstrate a commitment to violence-free and fraud-proof polls. He said: “Everyone must realise that the elections will usually come and go. Therefore, politicians and citizens must work towards holding elections that will not end in bloodshed or lead to the dislocation of the life of ordinary Nigerians. The roadmap towards peaceful elections is through electoral sanctity. The wishes of Nigerians, as expressed through the ballot box, must remain inviolable and sacrosanct.” Agbaje said politicians must imbibe the attitude of President Goodluck Jonathan, who has always maintained that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. He enjoined to be optimistic about a better Nigeria, where the country will triumph over its challenges. Thanking God for the progress made by the country, he advised the people to support the President in his bid to move the country forward.

• Agbaje

Vote for continuity, Elliot urges electorate By Musa Odoshimokhe

•From left: Allwell Ademola, Vicky Elliot, Desmond Elliot, Uti Nwachukwu, Kemi Afolabi and Tayo Odueke at the Surulere Day, held at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos to drum support for the Surulere Constituency 11 candidate of the All Progresives Congress (APC) in the general election.

OLLYWOOD actor and House of Assembly candidate in Surelere Constituency 11 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Desmond Elliot has urged Lagosians to vote for continuity during the governorship election. He said Governor Babatunde Fashola has performed well, adding that the pace of development must be sustained. The politician described the Fashola Administration as the best in Africa, pointing out that its has fought the infrastructure battle and restored hope to the people. Elliot added: “That is why Lagosians must vote for continuity. There should be no gap in order to complete the on-going projects. Lagos has been used on many occasion as an example of good governance, not only in Nigeria, but other parts of the world. “On my part, if elected, I will ensure that the social needs of the people of my constituency remain paramount. I will equally support bills that will protect the rights of artistes to have decent income from their works.” The flag beaer Elliot said that Nigeria will be better, if the APC forms the next government at the centre.

THE NATION MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2015

RACE TO 2015

‘

To win Lagos, we must be united. We want a government that will constructively engage the Federal Government

‘

In this interview, Richard Anthony, lawyer and conflict mediator, speaks with BISI OLANIYI on the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and threat to oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta by the Boko Haram insurgency.

‘Niger Delta under threat by Boko Haram’ I

S the Boko Haram insurgency politically motivated or a religious issue? We should look at Boko Haram insurgency, as it is now, from the angle of conflict. We should not look at it from only one aspect. We should look at it from all the aspects, in order to effectively address the issue. We should look at it from the religious, political and developmental aspects. I will not want us to limit it to religious and political angles. We should look at Boko Haram suicide bombings holistically. Are Boko Haram suicide bombers not holding other Nigerians to ransom with their activities? Boko Haram insurgency is a thing of concern to most Nigerians, as we move towards the 2015 general elections. It is an issue that needs to be addressed more seriously, including other issues arising from the Boko Haram insurgency. If you are the President of Nigeria, how will you address the issue? It is beyond one man’s thinking to address the issue quite effectively. It is an armed violence that has its roots both within Nigeria, West Africa, Africa and internationally. So, it requires collaborative efforts in addressing it effectively. Governments within Africa can actually collaborate to see how Boko Haram issue is addressed, to ensure it does not escalate. There are fears that the general elections may not hold in the Northeast because of the insurgency. What is your reaction? The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is sincere in fighting Boko Haram, which is now transcending borders. So, it is wrong for anybody to say that the President is not concerned about the Boko Haram issue, because if it is not properly addressed, it will affect the sovereignty of Nigeria. Anything that threatens the existence of this country also threatens the Presidency. Is President Goodluck Jonathan really working hard to end the insurgency? Nigerians need to take ownership of the struggle, especially on how to proffer solutions to adequately address the menace of Boko Haram. Boko Haram insurgency has been traced to corruption in Nigeria. Are the

anti-graft agencies effective? It has been researched globally that corruption actually fuels insurgencies in countries. Large-scale corruption can actually lead to violence, because funds that would have gone into social and economic developments would go into the pockets of a few persons. It is true that corruption can lead to uproar and uprising in nations, thereby requiring different approach. So, we need to be sincere in addressing the issue of corruption in Nigeria. The institutions that are supposed to prosecute corrupt persons must live up to their responsibilities. Often times, we tend to blame the President for ineffectiveness in tackling corruption, but we should also know that as a nation, we have a responsibility to ensure that our antigraft agencies are strengthened. Some leaders from the Northern part of Nigeria are being accused of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgency. How do you react to this? We need to look at it from global perspective, because if we look at what is happening in ISIS (a dangerous militant/terror group, whose aim is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria) and Al-Qaeda (a global militant Islamist organisation, founded by Osama bin Laden, Abdullah Azzam, and several other militants), the trend in crude oil theft and narcotic trade is global. The funds are transferred through the financial sector. How are they transferring these funds? How do they get the arms and ammunition? These are global and critical issues that need to be addressed. Our airports and seaports must not be porous. The institutions and persons in charge must be alive to their responsibilities and there is need for stakeholders’ engagement. Won’t it be necessary to dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents? We must look at this issue from different perspectives. For every violent situation, people need to dialogue. I am for the process of negotiation between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram suicide bombers. The Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring that the military protects the sovereign integrity of Nigeria are also

‘We must look at this issue from different perspectives. For every violent situation, people need to dialogue. I am for the process of negotiation between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram suicide bombers. The Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring that the military protects the sovereign integrity of Nigeria are also steps in the right direction’ • Anthony

steps in the right direction. Bold steps need to be taken to address the issue of insurgency effectively. Negotiations and the military aspect need to go simultaneously. How can the Federal Government of Nigeria address the issue of over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) suffering from the insurgency? That is a potential explosive issue for this country, because the issue of IDPs needs to be taken care of properly, We need to address the issue effectively, towards the 2015 general elections. We should not create vacuum that will lead to crisis after the 2015 general elections. It has created a legal aspect for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve, because we have to look at the issue from Law, from different perspectives. Firstly, we need to look whether the Boko Haram issue is an international or non-international arms conflict, in which case, different legal requirements will apply. From my understanding, the Boko Haram issue is an international arms conflict, because from researches by renowned research institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, among oth-

ers, Boko Haram has been linked to the ISIS and the Al-Qaeda, which makes it an international arms conflict. From the perspective of the violation of war crimes, hostages are taken of women and children, civilians are killed in their thousands and child soldiers are recruited. These are international issues that are guided by international laws, making it an international arms conflict. To consider the issue of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) critically, especially with Boko Haram as an international arms conflict, we need to apply humanitarian aspects of the international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the international refugees law. To protect the rights of the IDPs, we need to find out if they are properly documented, because documentation will enable us to know the actual persons who are internally displaced. The rights of eligible voters who are internally displaced are human rights. So, they must exercise their rights to vote, as guaranteed by international laws and the constitution of Nigeria. We cannot disenfranchise them. They have a right to vote. Won’t the persons who are being displaced up North through Boko Haram

insurgency will be moving down South, especially to the Niger Delta, and what is the implication? The implication is that most of the IDPs will not be able to vote, if they are not documented, because most of them would have lost their Temporary or Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in their former places of abode/residence. The law stipulates that you must vote at the unit where you registered. If the IDPs do not have access to their voter cards, how will they vote? Most of the IDPs are not documented. Documentation is very critical for the IDPs to exercise their voting rights. How can the IDPs be compensated by the Federal Government? The constitution of Nigeria guarantees the Federal Government to protect/provide security for all Nigerians and take care of their welfare. The constitution also allows Nigerians to settle and own property in any part of the country. If the property is vandalised, destroyed or burnt, the affected persons should be compensated by the Federal Government. The IDPs need some level of assistance from the Federal Government. It is constitutionally guaranteed for the Federal Government to provide such assistance for the people. INEC has just put a committee in place to look at how the IDPs can vote during the 2015 elections. How do you react to the initiative? It is a step in the right direction, especially for INEC to critically look at the issue of IDPs, in order not to disenfranchise them. INEC must conduct elections in 2015 and declare the results, without leading to violence. It will be unconstitutional, illegal and immoral not to allow the IDPs to vote during the 2015 elections, considering their plight and for not being the cause of Boko Haram insurgency. Members of the INEC’s committee of experts on IDPs must look at the issue from both the local and international laws and requirements, because the rights of the people to vote are guaranteed under the international laws.

Lagos PDP primaries defective, says Obanikoro • I went to court to protest injustice By Emmanuel Oladesu

• Senator Obanikoro

ORMER Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has reflected on the governorship primaries, insisting that the process was defective.

The former Minister of State for Defence said he embraced reconciliation because the interest of the party is greater than the ambition of members. But, he said he went to court so that thye mistake will not be repeated in the future. Obanikoro spoke on a live television programme in Lagos on the flawed shadow poll, his rejection of the results and recourse to litigation to protest the injustice. He maintained that the number of votes were more than the number of accredited delegates, adding that the discrepancy dented the image of the chapter. Explaining why he went to court to protest the flawed process, he said: I fought

against a process that was not transparent to make the necessary correction. I went to court to correct that. The number of votes was 867. The delegates were 806. Our vision is for a greater Lagos. We needed to clean up the process. Whatever we do today can serve as a precedent. We want those coming behind us to have a worthy legacy to emulate. “We went to court and the leadership of the party intervened. I can assure you. We are not going to have a repeat of that in Lagos State. We have taken this to the highest level of our party leadership. We will not have a repeat of this where figures will change without explanation.” Obanikoro, who said politicians must not sacrifice the collective interest of their parties on the alter of personal ambition, warned against the danger of faulty primaries. He said, for the first time in the history of the Lagos PDP, mem-

bers did not defect to another party in protest because of the flawed primaries. The former minister, however, clarified between what he described as a process that is tainted and a process that is illegal. He said: “Can you build legally on an illegal land? When we say something is tainted, it does not mean that it is illegal. We can remember the election of George Bush and Al Gore in the Unites States. The Supreme Court said otherwise. The society is bigger than individuals. Look at the election of Kennedy and Richard Nixon. But, the leadership preserved the country for patriotic reasons.” The politician said a flawed primary cannot always be avoided because of human errors. He added: “There is no perfect condition of humanity. It is continuous. We must continue to find solution.”

Obanikoro dismissed the rumour that he agreed to support the flag bearer, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, because he was promised a ministerial position. He said President Goodluck Jonathan reserved the right to determine the person that will become a minister. The former minister spoke on the challenge of next year’s election, stressing that the PDP can only win the battle, if it is united. He stressed: “To win Lagos, we must be united. We want a government that will constructively engage the Federal Government.” Obanikoro also highlighted conditions for a hitch-free elections, saying that post-electoral violence can be averted. He added: “The leadership on both sides must embrace peace and their body language must lead to that. We need peace and tranquility to move Nigeria forward.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

182TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

n average of over 4,525 approvals were granted for the execution of memoranda at the rate of twenty five (25) per each of the previous one hundred

and eighty one (181) sittings of the Kano State Executive Council under the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE in the current second (2nd) term of his administration. Such approved and already executed memoranda are on projects,schemes,programmes and policies undertaken by various MDAs that cut across all sectors and positively impacted on the transformation of the lives of the citizenry in State for the better. In fact, most of the campaign promises and resolutions made by Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE to positively transform the performance and delivery of services by Government inherent in activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are already implemented and mostly completed to 100% level leaving only few to be at levels not less than 70% level to completion. Again, those of continuous nature are adequately sustained. Volumes, certainly beyond this medium, can be written on these are available in relevant and easily retrievable records. Cognizant to this, the State Executive Council progressively held its one hundred and eighty second (182nd) sitting on Wednesday 31st December, 2014 (9th Rabi'ul Awwal, 1436AH). Towards completion of the envisaged positive total transformation of State, twenty one (21) memoranda from nine (9) MDAs were tabled for deliberation of which Council approved the execution of eleven (11) cutting across five (5) sectors with an expenditure of One Hundred and Fifty One Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Six Naira, Seven Kobo (N151,267,646.07) covering seven (7) projects while the remaining four (4) were on policy issue as follows; 1. THE EDUCATION SECTOR "Knowledge is Power". So the saying goes, as upheld by the present administration in its relentless efforts to provide total transformation of the education sector in all ramifications from its inception in 2011 to date and even beyond as all policies are sustained and intended for continuity at all levels under the public spirited and oriented policy of the delivery of services related to the education sector free of charge. Achievements recorded under the sector is superlative and these gingered the Kano State Executive Council considered and approved the execution of three (3) more memoranda in respect of the education sector at its one hundred and eighty second (182nd) sitting as follows; a) Presentation on the Preparation for the Launching of E _ Learning at Governor's College, Kano:Digitalization; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are the current "International Best Practices" in terms of Information/Data Generation, Storage and retrieval , Analysis/Evaluation, etc. Activities related to E _ Learning provide training for the skills generally required in the highly relevant and proficient practice of ICT. As such, the Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments endorsed the cited request which was originally submitted from the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate and presented it to Council for consideration. Essentially, Council was notified that, Mr. Ahlin Byll - Cateria former Executive Secretary Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) came to Kano from Switzerland and submitted a proposal on the launching of an E -Learning programme at the Governor's College, Kano with his assistance. Details were presented to Council for consideration along with the financial implications of the project to the tune of 48,800.00 Pound Sterling equivalent to N12,000,000.00 Council acknowledged the presentation and approved for the preparation and commencement of E-Learning Project at the Governor's College, Kano. b) Request for Funds to Enable Relocation of Heavy Machinery; Equipment; Tools; Furniture from the Wudil Site of Government Technical College (GTC) Wudil to its Current Site at the Converted Old/Former WRECA Workshop Tiga, Bebeji Local Government Council Area:The former WRECA Workshop located at Tiga in Bebeji Local Government Council Area is amongst the under - utilized Government owned facilities converted into

use as viable schools. Others are the Gidan Ado Bayero (Temporary Site for the Northwest University, Kano); Psychiatric Hospital at Yadakunya (GGSS Jan - Baki); Magwan Water Restaurant (First Lady's College); Drug and Medical Consumables Stores (Governor's College); etc. In fact, the formerly under - utilized WRECA Workshop situated at Tiga in Bebeji Local Government Council Area is currently conRabi’u Musa Kwankawaso verted for viable use as the site for Government Technical College (GTC) formerly situated in Wudil, Wudil Local Government Council Area. To enable final transfer of GTC Wudil to its current site, the Ministry of Education submitted this request for consideration by Council. Details were presented along with the financial implications for the project to the tune of N11,173,462.50 which was requested for release. It may be recalled that the administration of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in his first tenure 199-2003 established the first State university then named Kano University of Technology ( KUT) sited at Wudil Teachers College. The Wudil Technical college is adjacent to this university and with increase in number of students intake the need to expand school became inevitable. Hence, the technical college was annexed to the university to provide room for the necessary and required expansion. This informed the decision to move the Technical College to the WRECA workshop at Tiga. Council noted, considered and approved as requested. c) Presentation on the Employment Drive for the 501 M Sc. Graduates and Others at the Kano State Government Owned Tertiary Institutions:The Kano State Government owned Tertiary Institutions require proper and adequate academic staffing for which an Executive Council Committee was enacted to screen, identify and employ those suitable amongst returnees that benefited the 501 Sponsorship Programme for studies abroad. The Committee executed its mandate judiciously and submitted this presentation for consideration by Council. The details were summarized and presented as follows; o That all relevant persons were employed and posted to various schools/institutions as directed. o That physical verification of the persons and their credentials based on their respective acceptability was conducted. o That the concerned institutions were instructed to issue Letters of Offer for employment of the first (1st) Batch posted to their schools. Accordingly, Council acknowledged the presentation appreciatively. 2. THE HEALTH SECTOR The prominence accorded to this sector by the present administration transcends all expectations as the number of achievements recorded under it is impressive especially in the provision of the required infrastructure, medical consumables, relevant professional personnel, etc. The two (2) memoranda approved for execution by the Kano State Executive Council at its one hundred and eighty second (182nd) sitting only added to the series of public spirited/oriented approvals granted for execution under the health sector. They include the following; a) Request for Funds to Enable Procurement and Use of Wheel Chair and Patient Trolley with Stretcher at Sir Sunusi General Hospital, Kano:The Accident and Emergency (A & E) Unit of Sir Sunusi General Hospital is currently under general renovation which prompted submission of this request for consideration by Council originally from the Ministry of Health as endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Details on the three (3) items required estimated to cost the sum of N1,668,315.60 which was requested for release were presented to Council for consideration. Thus; S/N Description of Item Quantity Unit Price (N) Amount (N) i. Wheel Chair 10 34,216.00 342,160.00 ii. Patient Stretcher with Trolley 10 124,671.20 1,246,712.00 iii. Vat 5% 79,443.60 79,443.60 Total 1,668,315.60 Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 b) Request for Funds for the Provision of Additional Office Furniture Required by the State Agency for the Control of AIDs (SACA) and the State Primary Health Care Management Board (PHCMB):The Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request and presented it to Council for consideration on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Financial implications of the two (2) requirements estimated to cost the sum of N10,549,577.97 which was requested for release and presented to Council for consideration as follows; S/N Description of Item Amount (N) i. Supply of additional office furniture to State Agency for Control AIDs (SACA) 2,265,182.97 ii. Supply of additional office furniture to State Primary Health Care Management Board (PHCMB) 8,284,395.00 Total 10,549,577.97 Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the requested sum for the commitments. 3. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR Collective efforts are garnered across all sectors to empower the citizenry in State towards self actualization/reliance as better citizens. Such include provision of access to professional/academic education (via sponsorship); acquisition of employable skills; capacity building for serving civil servants; take - off capital for small and medium scale (SMS) entrepreneurship; etc. The list of beneficiaries under this sector is impressively too long for itemization in this medium. In this respect, Council approved the execution of yet three (3) more memoranda under the empowerment sector at its number one hundred and eighty second (182nd) sitting. Thus; a) Request for Funds to Enable Reinstatement of Payment of Monthly Allowances to Kano State Indigenous Sponsored Students of Basic Midwifery at Kano and Dambatta:Provision of access to professional/academic education is among the sub - sections of the empowerment sector given prominence by the present administration. Access to the acquisition of professional capacity/education in the health care delivery sub - sector of the health sector is considered a priority. Cognizant to this, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request from the Ministry of Health and presented it to Council for consideration. Specifically, Council was notified that two hundred and seventy eight (278) Kano State Indigenous Students are currently studying at different levels in the Schools of Midwifery Kano and Dambatta. To encourage them, it was recommended to Council to grant approval for the release of monthly allowances in the sum of N1,390,000.00 to all of the students at the rate of N5,000.00 each (N5,000.00 x 278 = N1,390,000.00). Council noted, considered and approved as requested and equally, Council approved the extension of the same gesture to Madobi and Gezawa Schools of Post Basic Midwifery. b) Request for Funds to Enable Take - Off of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Entrepreneur Development Center (EDC) for the Northwest Zone in Kano:Presenting the details related to this issue, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism, requested Council to approve the provision of 18 seater air conditioned Bus and the release of the sum of N17,900,000.00 for the cited issue. It pertinent to note that, the first (1st) batch of five hundred (500) participants are to be drawn from Kano State indigenes, the programme is in line with the policy trust of the present administration towards empowering of its citizenry to became self reliant and boosting the economic prosperity of the State. Details were summarized and presented as follows; S/N Description Amount (N) i. Registration fee; N5,000.00 x 500 2,500,000.00 ii. Feeding; N500.00 x 500 x 42days 10,500,000.00 iii. Transport; N6,000.00 x 500 3,000,000.00 iv. Graduation Materials (T - Shirts, Face Caps, etc.) 900,000.00 v. Logistics (Publicity, Security, etc.) 1,000,000.00 Total 17,900,000.00 Accordingly, Council, considered and approved the release of the requested sum for the undertaking. 4. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE SECTOR Infrastructural Development and Maintenance under the present administration in State basks and prominently signifies the superlative performance of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE's second (2nd) term in office. The achievements recorded surpassed the expectations of every citizen. Edifices abound across Kano State that indelibly stamp the Kwankwasiyya Legacy in the physical development sense, in continuation with these Council approved the execution of two (2) more memoranda under the infrastructural development/maintenance sector. Thus; a) Request for Funds for the Purchase of Satellite Imagery and Other Specialized Equipment:Taking into cognizant of the dynamic nature of planning associated to land develop-

51 ment, the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted this request for consideration by Council. Details on the current (2014) Satellite Imagery required summarized to sixteen (16) items (inclusive of other specialized equipment) estimated to cost the sum of N24,413,340.00 which was requested for release and presented to Council for consideration. Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the purchase of the requested items at the sum of N24,413,340.00 on contract basis to be supervised by the Ministry. b) Request for Funds to Enable Continuation of Laying of Various Types/Sizes of Ductile Iron Water Pipes at Three (3) Locations in Kano State:In line with the policy of the present administration to provide potable water to all nooks and corners of Kano State, Council approved the release of the trimmed sum of N70,000,000.00 to enable the State Water Board execute the cited project as follows; i. 600MM diameter water supply ductile iron pipes to be laid from Kwanar Maggie to NNPC Mega Station/Eastern Bypass (3.2KM). ii. 400MM diameter water supply ductile iron pipes to be laid from Kwanar Sako to Kanwa in Madobi Local Government Council Area (2.5KM). iii. 600MM diameter water supply ductile iron pipes to be laid from Government House Roundabout to KSIP Roundabout (3.0KM). 5. THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR The typical trend of this sector to showcase and portray the commendable performance of the present administration was upheld by Council at its one hundred and eighty second (182nd) as approval was granted for the execution of one (1) prominent memorandum under the information/communication sector as follows; Request for Funds for the Commissioning Ceremony of Kwankwasiyya Freedom Square and the 1436AH Maulud Celebration:The Government having successfully completed the 100 Hectare MAHAHA sports complex also constructed the first monumental tower at KWANKWASIYYA FREEDOM square located within the sports complex. The tower will be used to commemorate all public functions and activities which are normally celebrated at certain periods. Having successfully launched the new year celebrations at the square, the Ministry of information submitted a request for staging Maulud celebration at the square. These August activities are considered relevant by Council which approved the release of the aggregate sum of N15,562,950.00 for their execution considering the eleven (11) items required according to the details presented. UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 182ND KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING RESUMPTION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS STUDENTS FROM END OF THE YEAR VOCATION IN THE STATE Council noted the brief from Hon. Commissioner for Education on the resumption of Primary and Secondary Schools students from end of the year vocation in the State as follows:o Boarding students are to resume on Sunday, 4th January, 2015 o Day students are to resume on Monday 5th January, 2015 In a related development Council urged the general public to adhere with instructions. SIGNING OF LAW IN RESPECT OF RABI'U MUSA KWANKWASO COLLEGE OF ADVANCED & REMEDIAL STUDIES, TUDUN WADA, KANO STATE Council witness the signing into Law of Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso College of Advanced & Remedial Studies Tudun Wada Kano State, by His Excellency the Governor, the establishment of the College is aimed at providing basic requirements for the State indigenes to gained admission into various Universities which will in turn boost the educational standard of the State in particular and Country at large. PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR 2015 BUDGET TO THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF KANO STATE Council noted the successful presentation of the year 2015 Budget to the State House of Assembly by His Excellency the Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso. The budget was tagged "Celebration of Success" aimed at completion of all ongoing capital projects as well as execution of new ones. The size of the year 2015 is N210 billion and categorize as follows:o Recurrent expenditure - N75 billion o Capital expenditure - N135 billion

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports andCulture www.kn.gov.ng/new

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS

Explosion kills two in Adamawa

BLAST, suspected to be from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) killed two people yesterday in Dahlehi community in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrilla, confirmed the development in an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, the state capital. He said the incident occurred when some youths lit fire to warm themselves because of the harmattan cold. They were said to have mistakenly added a leather object they picked by the roadside containing a strange object. He said the object, which was suspected to be an abandoned IED, exploded, killing

two of the youths. Jibrilla said: “The development was followed by an explosion, which killed one person on the spot while the second died before admission at the Yola Specialist Hospital. “Two other injured youths are now on admission in the hospital.” The local government chairman advised the public

to be vigilant and report any strange object to the authorities. NAN reports that Maiha Local Government was one of the Local Governments recovered recently from insurgents by the military. Police spokesman, Othman Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident but did not give details.

Middle Belt forum chief warns Asari-Dokubo

ORMER Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid AsariDokubo, came under fire yesterday for his comments on the February general elections. Some Northern leaders are angry with him for saying President Goodluck Jonathan had already won the presidential election, when then poll had not be conducted. The Northern leaders recalled that the former militant leader threatened that the nation would be on fire, should Jonathan lose at the poll. Asari-Dokubo said recently Dr Jonathan had already won the election, adding that he owed no one an apology for

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

the comment. Some prominent Nigerians, who condemned the statement, include a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West. Addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja, a Northern leader and Patron of the Middle Belt Forum, Ambassador Yohanna Margif, warned Asari-Dokubo to guide his utterances because of the trying times Nigeria was passing through. The Northern leader said the former militant’s utterances could ignite a crisis that would not beneficial to the country.

He said Asari-Dokubo’s use of a militant’s language and threats to Nigerians over President Jonathan was a slap on the faces of other Nigerians. According to him, although he has the right to support Jonathan for the Presidency as a Southsouth man, many other Nigerians too have the right to do so for any of their candidate. Margif queried AsariDokubo’s rationale for his unguided utterances. He said: “In what capacity does Asari-Dokubo have to make such comments? He should not use a militant’s language and threats against Nigerians since no one has

monopoly of violence.” The Northern leader urged Jonathan to call AsariDokubo to order, adding that the former militant leader’s declaration implied that he already knew the President would rig the elections. He said: “According to him, the same Asari-Dokubo, earlier last year, declared that the President had lost the support of his political base, the Southsouth and the Southeast because of the failure of his government to deliver on its promises. He said it would be tough for Jonathan to win the presidential election in 2015, if he decided to run, based on the poor showing of his administration.”

Buhari for Akwa Ibom tomorrow

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, will tomorrow hold a rally at the Uyo Township Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. In a statement yesterday by APC State Chairman, Dr Amadu Attai, and the Secretary, Elder Efiong Etok, the party said the rally would be attended by APC elders, chieftains and supporters, including Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Director-General of General Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation. It added that APC National Chairman John Odigie-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Oyegun and other chieftains of the party would also attend the rally. Highlights of the rally, the statement stressed, include the presentation of the party’s flag to Mr. Umana Okon Umana, as the party’s governorship candidate. Also, a group, Buhari/ Osinbajo Solidarity, has backed the popular call for a positive change in the political leadership of the country and Akwa Ibom State. The group rose from a meeting in Uyo with a call for synergy to enhance the enthronement of a people-oriented government on May 29.

Wike to actualise Ogoni dream

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has promised to work with the Ogoni in Rivers State to actualise their dream. Wike spoke yesterday at the 22nd anniversary of the Ogoni Day at Bori. The PDP candidate noted that as an administrator with a strong belief in development, he would ensure that all the programmes for Ogoni development were realised.

He also promised to develop Ogoniland and other ethnic nationalities in the state, if he was elected governor next month. Wike said: “We are committed to the development of Ogoniland and the entire Rivers State. “The emerging Rivers State Government, under the platform of PDP, will address the challenges being faced by Ogoniland. I will personally lead the struggle to develop Ogoniland.”

Bayelsa reviews anti-oil theft policy

C •Picnikers at Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos ...yesterday

HE Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, yesterday blamed the prolonged outage in Borno State on sabotage and insurgency. In a statement in Maiduguri, the state capital, by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olawale Rasheed, the minister of state said the Federal Government had made several attempts to restore power supply, which was cut off last June in a suspected terror attack on the Damboa power sub-station.

Fed Govt blames Borno blackout on sabotage, insurgency He said: “The Federal Ministry of Power has repeatedly moved to reconnect Maiduguri to national grid but insurgency and sabotage have delayed the realisation of that goal. “In the last seven months, when the power lines and sub-station at Damboa were attacked, the ministry, through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN),

made at least seven attempts to rectify the problem. But on each occasion, the officials were attacked.” The statement said two other attempts to restore power were successfully accomplished with parts of Maiduguri enjoying power supply. It noted that the power supply was short-lived as the lines were again vandalised

less than five hours after. The statement said the development prompted the ministry of power to seek assistance from the military on reconnection. It stressed that Wakil, at a meeting with military chiefs, requested for special security cover which was granted and this led to the latest attempt by the ministry to reconnect the state.

Rep drums up support for Buhari, Ahmed

MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, has urged Kwara residents to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in next month’s general elections. Mustapha, who is representing Asa/Ilorin West in the National Assembly, also urged the people to ensure the return of Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed to the Ilorin Government House by voting massively for APC during the elections. Mustapha noted that Gen.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Buhari, being a disciplined person, had the wherewithal to tackle the nation’s hydraheaded problems. The lawmaker spoke this in Ilorin, the state capital, when he distributed food items to residents of his constituency.

The beneficiaries included the handicapped, non-indigenes, especially the Igbo community. Mustapha said Gen. Buhari would not condone indiscipline and corruption from any quarters , adding that he would use the nation’s resources judiciously.

The lawmaker urged Kwara residents to re-elect Ahmed because he had implemented people-oriented programmes and policies in the past three and a half year. He said the governor had completed all the projects he inherited from his predecessor and initiated new ones.

395 IDPs in Niger, says SEMA

LHAJI Mohammed Shaba, the General Manager of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), has said 395 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are residing in

the state. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Minna, the state capital, that most of the IDPs were from the Northeast. Shaba said: “We have 107

IDPs from Kalaah Hong Madagli in Adamawa State, who are living in Gurara Local Government Area and 288 IDPs from Gwoza in Borno State, residing in Shiroro Local Government Area.

HIEF James Jephthah, the Managing Director of Izon-Ibe Security Company, has said the Bayelsa Government had reviewed its security policy to check crude oil theft in the state. Jephthah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, that the policy review was to check pipeline vandalism in the creeks and on the waterways in the oil producing state. NAN reports that the state government recently incorporated the security firm, which it jointly owns with the private sector, to protect oil installations within the state

with a view to stopping oil theft. Jephthah said the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the oil-rich state, contributed to the decline in oil derivation revenue accruing to the state. Jephthah explained that when vandals destroyed pipelines, oil companies were compelled to shut down production, thereby reducing the volume of oil produced in the state and, by implication, the revenue. He said: “Izon-Ibe Security Company was set up by the present administration with the responsibility to provide security for oil installations and check oil theft.”

PDP begins campaigns in Edo

HE Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun the campaigns for its candidates in next month’s general elections. At the campaigns’ kick-off in Akoko-Edo and Estako West, PDP State Chairman Dan Orbih accused the state government of financial recklessness. Orbih said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had turned the State House in Benin into

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

a “theatre of expensive shit”. The PDP chairman urged Edo residents to vote out the APC. He said: “They don’t mean well for the people. “Corruption and impunity have become the norm in Oshiomhole’s government; hence, he continues to think of ‘creative’ ways to bleed the state. “Voting in a PDP-controlled House of Assembly will stop this haemorrhage.”

G22 shuns PDP reconciliation

HE 22 aggrieved Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants have rebuffed overtures to resolve the stalemate that arose from the December 8, 2014 governorship primary of the party. The G22, as the group is called, yesterday ignored the well publicised invitation by the Central Reconciliation Committee of PDP in the state. The meeting, which was to hold at 4pm at the party’s secretariat on Edet Akpan Avenue in Uyo, the state capital, did not hold. None of the aggrieved aspirants

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

honoured the invitation. After waiting in vain, the chairman of the reconciliation committee, Senator Effiong Bob, left the venue at 5.45 pm. When reporters asked him what the party intended to do next or why the meeting did not hold, the senator said: “I am just coming in from Abuja. I have nothing to say.” The senator was immediately driven off. Efforts to get reactions from others at the party’s secretariat or the aggrieved aspirants were unsuccessful.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

NEWS Boko Haram seizes military base in Borno town Continued from page 4

were burned and over 100 bodies were recovered in the aftermath, according to community leaders who spoke to Human Rights Watch. Nigerian military officials said only armed militants were

killed. The incident cast a shadow over Western cooperation with Nigeria’s military. The US has supplied arms and training to Nigeria, as well as intelligence support, primarily in pursuit of Boko Harem. Britain and France have also

assisted Nigeria since the high-profile capture of the schoolgirls from Chibok. Dozens of those captured have since escaped, but 219 are still believed to be in captivity.

INEC bars use of govt cash, resources for campaigns Continued from page 4

date, venue or timing of any such activities of different political parties clash, their representatives will meet to resolve the issue amicably without resort to intimidation, force or violence. “All parties are required to file with the commission, the details of their public rallies and meetings in any particular area. “No political party or any person or group of persons acting in its name shall obstruct, disrupt, break up or in any way whatsoever interfere with a meeting, rally march,

demonstration, or any campaign activity of another political party. “In this regard, no party or any person or group of persons acting in its name shall try to obstruct or prevent any person from participating in the activities of another party. “Every political party shall expressly forbid its supporters from shouting its slogan, wearing its identifying colours or other paraphernalia to the rallies and any public gathering of other political parties. “All political parties shall instruct their members and supporters that no arms or any

object that can be used to cause injury shall be brought to a political rally meeting, march, demonstration, or any other political function. ” No political party or candidate shall prevent other parties or candidates from pasting their posters or distributing their leaflets, hand bills and other publicity materials in public place. “Furthermore, all parties and candidates shall give directives to their members and supporters not to remove, destroy the posters and other campaign materials of other parties or candidates.”

Buhari: religion shouldn’t divide Nigerians Continued from page 4

difficult for him to do so,” Fashola said, adding: “Your faith is not better than mine, and if you think it is, I cannot quarrel with your opinion. You must respect my right to practice mine. That is why we gather today in the Centre of Excellence to thank and praise God together, Christians of different denominations, Muslims with different affilia-

tions and traditionalists, because we are all grateful. That is the Spirit of Lagos.” The governor solicited support for APC candidates, saying: “I hope you will choose wisely. I hope you will choose experience. I hope you will not experiment.” Pastor Adeboye, who gave the exhortation, urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the nation. He expressed optimism that 2015 will set Ni-

geria on a path to greatness. Adeboye whose sermon was titled Jesus the Truth, enjoined Nigerians to live upright in order to sumont the challenges that may arise in the curse of the year. He admonished Lagosians not to nurse any fear that Governor Babatunde Fashola has completed his two term tenure in the state, saying that God overseas the affairs of the state.

APC to unveil Presidential Campaign Council today Continued from page 4

Amaechi remains the campaign Secretary/ DirectorGeneral. The APC will campaign in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State tomorrow. The party’s leaders in the state said Gen. Buhari is expected. A top source gave insight into the structure of the PCC, which he said is made up of a chairman, alternate chairman, deputy chairman, vice-chairman( North), vice- chairman( South); secretary/ directorgeneral; two Deputy Direc-

tors-General (Operation and Coordination) ; six assistant directors-general for each of the geopolitical zones and other Council members. The source said: “Our party will hold a NEC meeting on Monday (today) in Port Harcourt to consider the PCC list, fine-tune it and after that release it to the public. “We arrived at the list after extensive consultations with leaders and the nature of the 2015 electoral contest. “The list is all-inclusive to cater for all tendencies in the party. The APC wants to join

forces at all levels to ensure a total defeat of the PDP at the poll.” Another source hinted that the party might decentralise its campaign to cover up for the about 40 days left for the hustings. The source added: “If you look at the PCC structure, the party has engaged six Assistant Directors-General for each of the geopolitical zones. This will enable the party to decentralise its campaign. “We want to cover as many states as possible in an aggressive campaign for votes.”

Pope names three Africans among 20 Cardinals

OPE Francis has named 20 new cardinals, including three from Africa -Ethiopia, Cape Verde and Mozambique. Fifteen of the new appointees are under 80, making them eligible to enter a conclave to elect the Pope’s successor. Pope Francis said the appointment of cardinals from 14 countries from every continent in the world showed the Vatican’s “inseparable link” with Catholic Churches around the world. They will be installed on February 14. Pope Francis also said yesterday that he would lead a meeting of all cardinals to discuss reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s administrative body, on February 12 and 13. It is the second time Pope Francis has announced the appointment of new cardinals from a wide variety of countries. Last January he named 19 new additions, including churchmen from Haiti and Burkina Faso, which a Vatican spokesman said reflected his commitment to the poor.

Appointing cardinals is the most powerful way for the Pope to shape the Catholic Church. He has now chosen over a quarter of all cardinals able to vote for the next Pope. With his appointments, Pope Francis appears to be trying to reflect the diversity and growth of the Church in developing nations. In his pre-Christmas address to cardinals, Pope Francis sharply criticised the Vatican bureaucracy, complaining of “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “the terrorism of gossip”. He wants to see an overhaul of the Church, bringing it closer to ordinary people. He has previously said the Roman Catholic Church must strip itself of all “vanity, arrogance and pride” and humbly serve the poorest in society. The 20 new cardinals ·Archbishop Dominique Mamberti (France) ·Archbishop Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento Clemente (Portugal) ·Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel (Ethiopia) ·Archbishop John Atcherley

Dew (New Zealand) ·Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli (Italy) ·Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon (Vietnam) ·Archbishop Alberto Suarez Inda (Mexico) ·Archbishop Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar) ·Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij (Thailand) ·Archbishop Francesco Montenegro (Italy). ·Archbishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet (Uruguay) ·Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez (Spain). ·Bishop Jose Luis Lacunza Maestrojuan (Panama) ·Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado, (Capo Verde). ·Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafia (Tonga) ·Archbishop emeritus Jose de Jesus Pimiento Rodríguez (Colombia)* ·Titular Archbishop Luigi De Magistris (Italy)* · Titular Archbishop KarlJoseph Rauber (Germany)* ·Archbishop emeritus Luis Hector Villalba (Argentina)* ·Bishop emeritus Julio Duarte Langa (Mozambique)* ·Cardinal emeritus, without voting rights

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS U.S. mulls putting NKorea on terrorism sponsor list

RESIDENT Barack Obama says the United States is reviewing whether to put North Korea back on its list of state sponsors of terrorism as Washington decides how to respond to what he calls an “act of cybervandalism,” not one of war, against a movie company. Sony Pictures Entertainment, which said it cancelled the theatrical release of “The Interview” after distributors refused to show it, pledged to find a way to get the film out. “How it’s going to be distributed, I don’t think anybody knows quite yet,” a Sony lawyer said. The comedy involves a plot to assassinate North Korea’s leader. Obama is promising to respond “proportionately” to an attack that law enforcement blames on North Korea. “We’re not going to be intimidated by some cyberhackers,” he said. The president said the U.S. would examine the facts to determine whether North Korea should land back on the terrorism sponsors list. “We’re going to review those through a process that’s already in place,” Obama told CNN’s “State of the Union” in an interview broadcast Sunday. “I’ll wait to review what the findings are.” While raising the possibility of a terrorism designation, Obama also asserted, “I don’t think it was an act of war. I think it was an act of cybervandalism that was very costly, very expensive. We take it very seriously.” Obama’s description drew immediate scorn from two Republicans who are longtime critics of his foreign policy. “It is a new form of warfare, and we have to counter with that form of warfare with a better form of warfare,” said Arizona Sen. John McCain. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called it “an act of terrorism” and favored reimposing sanctions and adding North Korea to the terrorism list. The U.S. needs to “make is so hard on the North Koreans that they don’t want to do this in the future.” North Korea spent two decades on the list until the Bush administration removed it in 2008 during nuclear negotiations. Only Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba remain on the list, which triggers sanctions that limit U.S. aid, defense exports and certain financial transactions. But adding North Korea back could be difficult. To meet the criteria, the State Department must determine that a country has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism, a definition that traditionally has referred to violent, physical attacks rather than hacking.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Libya terror suspect Anas al-Liby dies before US trial

N alleged al-Qaeda leader has died just days before going on trial in New York over the 1998 US embassy attacks in Africa. Abu Anas al-Liby, 50, died in hospital on Friday, his wife and lawyers say. He is reported to have had liver cancer. Mr Liby was seized in a US raid in Tripoli in October 2013. He was to stand trial on 12 January over the 1998 embassy attacks, which killed more than 220 people in Kenya and Tanzania. Mr Liby, whose real name was Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, previously pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges. His wife, Um Abdullah, accused the US government on Saturday of “kidnapping, mistreating and killing an innocent man,” according to the Associated Press news agency. She said her husband died from complications following liver surgery, AP reports. When he was seized in 2013, Mr Liby had been on the FBI’s most wanted list for more than a decade, with a $5m (£3.1m) bounty on his head. He had been indicted by a New

•New York Mayor Bill de Biasco (centre) with wife Chirlane McCrain (right) yesterday.

York grand jury in 2000. US Secretary of State John Kerry was forced to defend the capture after Libya called on the US to explain the raid on its territory. Many people in Libya were angry about what they said was a breach of the country’s sovereignty. Mr Liby was detained by US commandos on 5 October 2013 and interrogated on board a US warship before being handed over to FBI

agents. He was first put on a US Navy ship for interrogation but brought to the US when his health began to deteriorate after he stopped eating and drinking, US officials said. Mr Liby, who was also known to be suffering from hepatitis C, was accused of being one of the masterminds of the al-Qaeda embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998.

Palestine: Don slams Fed Govt UN vote

CTING Head of Actuarial Science, University of Lagos, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf has likened the last-minute decision by Nigeria to abstain from voting at the United Nations (UN) Security Council session last Tuesday to support for state terrorism. A “yes” vote by Nigeria would have paved the way to compel Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip which dated back to1967. The resolution drafted by the Palestinians and backed by Arab countries would have also paved the way to a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital The Palestinians needed nine votes in the 15-member Security Council but fell short of one when at the crucial moment Nigeria’s envoy Joy Ogwu, abstained from voting. China, France and Russia were among the eight countries that voted in favour of the text. Other countries who supported the resolution are Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan and

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Luxembourg. The UNILAG lecturer described as shocking to hear the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu specially commending President Goodluck Jonathan for voting against the resolution that would grant statehood to the Palestinians. This, he said, is a case of carrying hatred too far. Dr Yusuf said: “One may ask: whose interest is the President protecting? Is it that of the Palestinian Muslims and Christians who share same religion affiliations with Nigerians or that of the Jews who persecute both Arab Muslims and Christians? This unjust gesture can achieve nothing but incur the wrath of Muslims against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party of the President in the coming elections and encourage further backlash from Boko Haram insurgents. I will not be surprised if Abubakar Shekau taunts the Muslims for supporting the

Nigerian government in his next video.” Dr Yusuf, who spoke at the weekend during the AQSA Day programme organised by the Muslim Awareness International (MAI), at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, said apart from seeking divine intervention to dismantle the blockade and grant total freedom for the Gazans and other occupied territories, many Muslim and Christian bodies—all over the world need to keep the struggle alive and bring hope to them (Palestinians) that the world had not forgotten them. The second guestspeaker, Sunday Olubejide, a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA), Lagos, said mechanisms must be established to deter future destruction of the civilian and donor-funded infrastructure in Palestine. Olubejide, who holds a Masters degree from the Institute of African Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies Programme of the University of

Tunisian presidential candidates clash over poll

UNISIA’S Beji Caid Essebsi has claimed victory shortly after polls closed in the country’s first free presidential election. His rival, caretaker President Moncef Marzouki, dismissed the claims however, saying “nothing is confirmed so far”. Polls closed at 18:000 local time (17:00 GMT) but official results are yet to be released. Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region. Mr Essebsi appeared on local television on Sunday, saying, “I dedicate my victory to the martyrs of Tunisia”, he said. “I thank Marzouki, and now we should work together without excluding anyone,” he added. However, a spokesman for Mr Marzouki said the claims were “without foundation”. Mr Essebsi, who represents the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party, won the first round of voting last month with 39% of the vote.

Two other men were accused over the attacks. Khalid Al Fawwaz has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and was due to stand trial on 12 January alongside Mr Liby. Meanwhile, Adel Abdul Bary admitted helping to plan the attacks in a federal court in New York in September. The Egyptian, who was extradited from the UK in 2012, faces a maximum of 25 years behind bars.

Voter turnout had reached 36.8% after four and a half hours of voting, Tunisia’s election authority said. Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia’s first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. Moncef Marzouki is more popular in the south and interior of Tunisia His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. After casting his ballot, Mr Marzouki said Tunisians “should be proud” of themselves “because the interim period has come to a peaceful end”. A polling firm says Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old official from Tunisia’s previous regimes, has won the nation’s presidential runoff. Sigma Conseil’s exit polls in

•Beji

Sunday’s election gave Essebsi 55.5 percent of the votes and outgoing interim President Moncef Marzouki 44.5 percent. The polling company had produced reliable results in Tunisia’s two previous elections. Official results in the runoff aren’t expected for 48 hours. Essebsi, a former interior and foreign minister, would now be responsible for Tunisia’s defense and foreign policy. His party, Nida Tunis,

dominated October’s parliamentary election and would lead a coalition government. The party declared victory almost immediately after polls closed Sunday and celebrations began at the Tunis headquarters. Marzouki’s campaign said the result was too close to call. The election completes Tunisia’s transition to democracy after the 2011 overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Ibadan, said Israel must be held accountable for violations that resulted in destroyed properties. “It is important to note that accountability for violations is not limited to criminal investigations and prosecutions, but also includes reparations, compensation and restitution. The principle of “no-profit” for violators of international law should be applied. As a first step towards building the environment necessary to reach guarantees of non-repetition, the economic incentives in the cycle of destruction and reconstruction in Gaza must be removed. Donors must maintain the right to choose the companies providing materials and services for Gaza reconstruction efforts and should apply duediligence measures to ensure they are not procuring from companies engaged in rights violations, such as Israeli companies actively building settlements, the Wall, or quarrying within the occupied West Bank,” he said. MAI Director, Luqman Balogun, an Engineer, said the theme Rebuilding Gaza, was chosen to join the rest of the world, particularly countries such as Sweden, Spain, Qatar, United Kingdom and France, who have contributed millions of dollars towards rebuilding Gaza; as well as recognising the state of Palestine. While we commended them, Balogun believed more still needed to be done in ensuring that Palestine is free from Israeli’s aggressions that had led to the death of many innocent people (both Muslims and Christians). He noted that the genocide and crime against humanity committed by the Israelis was encouraged by the silence of various governments and the United Nations (UN) on previous atrocities committed by the occupying regime. “And to save humanity from similar occurrence, the Muslim Awareness International (MAI) is calling on well meaning people of conscience in the world not only to speak out against this dastardly act, but take all necessary steps to prevent Israel or any other entities from repeating such atrocious act,” he said. Balogun chided Nigerian government for failing to support Palestinian course.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

SHOWBIZ Sony Hack: Man claims threat against CNN was prank

Tennessee man has said that a purported message from the group that hacked Sony Pictures, threatening CNN, was a prank. Interestingly, David Garrett Jr., who has written articles about Homeland security for Examiner, has taken credit for the message, which multiple news outlets picked up Wednesday. The message, posted anonymously on Pastebin, led people to believe the group Guardians of Peace would target CNN and anchor Wolf Blitzer. News organisations reported that the FBI issued a bulletin warning that news organisations might be targeted by the hackers, though it is unclear if the bulletin was related to the threat against CNN. In a series of tweets, as first reported by Mediaite, Garrett said the message was a prank. He also posted a screenshot from a nowdeleted Dec. 20 Facebook post in which he apparently talked about posting to Pastebin. On the Facebook account from the above screenshot, he elaborated: “See, what I did was, I took the message CNN claimed the hackers posted on pastebin. And there was no proof it was them,” Garrett wrote. “So I took it and replaced every mention of FBI with CNN, as a joke. And then, of course, I had to add Wolf Blitzer or it wouldn’t be complete. Then all these so-called ‘journalists’ don’t get my

humour.” The Sony hack, which began on November 24, last year, l e a k e d sensitive personal and business information Wolf Blitzer about thousands of employees. In response to reports the FBI had issued a bulletin warning news organisations could be targeted, The FBI National Press Office said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, “As part of our ongoing publicprivate partnerships, the FBI and DHS routinely share information with the private sector and law enforcement community. The FBI and DHS are not aware of any specific credible information indicating a threat to entertainment or news organisations; however, out of an abundance of caution, we will continue to disseminate relevant information observed during the course of our investigations.”

All set for Heaven’s Hell premiere

FTER about two years of being in the works, Heaven’s Hell, a psychological drama, set in Lagos, will premiere on Friday, January 23, producers have announced. According to the producers of the movie, the new flick is out to effect a change in the African movie industry, with a message supporting the fight against woman and child violence. Written by Tenyin Ikpe Etim, Uyai Ikpe Etim and Katung Musa Aduwak, Heaven’s Hell tells the story of two housewives and best friends; the loquacious and miserable Alice Henshaw, the pleasant and compliant Tsola Aliu and

• Bimbo Akintola

By Ovwe Medeme their husbands, the affluent and kind Edward Henshaw and the egotistical and brilliant Jeff Aliu, whose lives are held together by rocksolid friendship and unwavering love, yet laced by betrayal, deceit and a lurking darkness. Among the artistes featured in the movie are Nse Ikpe Etim, Bimbo Akintola, Damilola Adegbite, OC Ukeje, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Chet Anekwe, Kalu

• Nse Ikpe Etim

Ikeagwu, Femi Jacobs, Gideon Okeke, Treasure Obasi, Bimbo Manuel, Wole Coker, Waje as well as Sarah Majekodumi. The Nigerian and foreign partners of the flick include One-O-Eight Media, BGL Asset Management Company Limited, Hashtag Media House and Del-York International. The movie is directed by Katung Musa Aduwak and co-produced by Katung and Tenyin Ikpe Etim.

Fashion, football debate continues on Game On

CULMINATION of a series of passionate debates and rivalry between fashion and football lovers in Nigeria, Game On TV reality show, rebounds with a second episode, Sunday, on NTA and AIT television stations. The show kicked off last week with both teams led by fashion icon, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and his football counterpart, Daniel Amokachi. During the first episode of the show, the first challenge saw both teams visiting the popular Balogun market in Lagos to demonstrate their passions by persuading traders and the general market community to accept either profession as representing the never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian. Incidentally, team football came tops, as they were voted the winning team by members of the community and went on to celebrate at the GET arena in Lekki, Lagos, courtesy of sponsoring brand, Malta Guinness. Sequel to their loss, Team Fashion had to vote out Modupe, whom they considered their weakest link on the challenge. Meanwhile, Lanre

• Daniel Amokachi

Da Silva Ajayi encouraged her team saying, “We need to put all we can into the next challenge. The game has just begun and I am very sure we will win it despite this setback.” Although Team Football was quite jubilant over their victory, The Fashion promised to show their resilience in the subsequent episodes. Episode two of Malta Guinness Game On was a wedding challenge which had Team Fashion design wedding dresses for the bride and chief bridesmaid. The bride and her chief looked adoring in their lace embellished dresses which appeared effortlessly put together by the fashion team. Team Football on the other hand, had to impress the crowd at the wedding with an enter-

• Lanre Da Silva Ajayi

taining routine which ended with the groom scoring a goal. Guests present at the event voted in favor of Team Fashion, even though a sampling of opinions after the event appeared to favour Team Football. Team Football eventually voted off Coach Ben, who the team unanimously said was less involved in the week’s challenge. Captain for Team Football, Daniel Amokachi, tried to motivate his team in the face of their loss. He said: “In football, if you can’t accept defeat, you can’t work to the next game and win.” Interestingly, it is a level playing ground, as both teams are now down with two members.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3,086

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

HOULD I thank God or accident that I am alive? My beak scratches my plumage into high gloss. Inside this cage, I cannot gloat. But I rejoice that I survived two major cups. The cup of Christmas and the cup of New Year. I join you humans to say, Happy New Year. But I say that with a survivor's guilt. Some of my fellows tumbled from your greasy stews into your grateful stomachs. You are a rare breed of human vanity. Your rich know how to throw parties and your poor are past masters at acting rich. For Nigerians, vanity knows no class distinction. If you caught me, I might have digested by now, or become the gooey waste in the belly of your earth. But I don't count on my survival, although I thought things looked a little bright for me when some bad news started to trickle in for you humans, especially the variety called Nigerians. We learned that your buying activities were looking bad. People were getting poorer, and that meant more of us would live. Earlier in the year when those who pray to another God celebrated their annual day of mirth called Sallah, I wept with foreboding. My hairy cousins started to disappear. Your money called Naira with which you do things was healthier then - sick as it was just like the rams that disappeared. I knew I had to eat as much corn and other grains. As one of your prophets said, eat and drink, tomorrow we die. I knew it was a matter of time. I had to lay as many eggs as fertility permitted, and I did a lot in that department, believe me. Some of us died during that Sallah festivity. The poorer ones of your race came to buy us. I thought the holy book prescribed rams? I hate those poor folks. The rich went for the hairy cousins with huge palates for grasses. How they skidded out of sight, baaing away as their hooves limped behind their potential devourers. But when November threatened, I was afraid until I observed that fear gripped our predators more. If you noticed, quiet jubilation stirred cages all over the country. Well, most of you could not get it, except those who specialise in the psychology of chickens. You guys are too busy humanising our quirks to probe us. You call the coward chicken, you seek our blood for sacrifices, our feathers as ornaments, our flesh as feast, our eggs for pastries. You forget we have lives too. We love and hate, and mourn and play. We learned that our owners moaned two things. They kept talking about oil, but that made us sad. They said the price was falling, and we thought it was bad news. If the price of whatever oil fell, whether palm oil, or vegetable oil, we were doomed, or we were fried. It would save your buyers more money to buy us. Later they said it was black oil, and we were puzzled. Were they going to sell oil already cooked? Was that a new trade? Even

RIPPLES NIGERIANS PAY LOWEST TAXES –TAX EXPERT

Why not? Their ‘TAKE-HOME PAY’ can’t even TAKE THEM HOME.

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Chicken rebellion

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•A chicken

that would be bad news because it would mean recycling our fluid of tragedy. But it became clear when they said it was crude oil and only the nation sold it. They said the price was falling, and that meant many of your buyers would have less money. That was the good news. That followed another: that the Naira was losing value. We always hate that piece of paper. Once it passes between the visitors and our owners, one or two of us disappear. So, it was doubly good news. One of us, the cock with reddish-black plumage, wondered if they had not saved enough? Humans saved for hard times, unlike animals. Except goats who chewed cuds. One hen cawed, "this set of humans called Nigerians love life too much. Their leaders said they had what was called sovereign wealth fund and invested lots of billions from excess crude account with foreigners and another tranche of money of about ten billion dollars that could buy all the chickens on earth were missing in their pocket." All of us looked at the Witch Hen, and won-

Our owners complained in their murderous ways that it was a "bleak Christmas." What is bleak about what makes us survive, although it was bleak for us because they reduced the quantity of grains in the cages? Better to starve and live than end in those cauldrons of delicacy they call stews

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dered how a fowl could know so much. She cawed all night breaking down the terms for our poultry minds. She said while all of us were busy cawing, crowing and pecking away, she listened to the visitors and owners and picked a thing or two. Witch Hen said it meant life would be bad in December and there was a chance many of us would survive. Nigerians had little money to waste on mortals like us.

HARDBALL

“J

ELILI the trader" was a common jibe to, in good humour, tease the heroics of Prof. Jelili Omotola (Allah bless his soul and grant him eternal rest!), former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, in liberalising commercial activities to put Unilag on an improved footing, fund-wise. Despite the jibe, Prof. Omotola's exertions were noble; and the university is arguably better for it today, long after the good professor had answered the final call. But there is another Jelili that lives, in the public space too, but seems, by his pronouncements, unable to vault to his late name sake's nobility. He is Jelili Adesiyan, minister of Police Affairs. This living Jelili, it was, that threatened to maul Isiaka Adeleke, former governor of Osun State, if perchance they met. He bragged, clearly referring to his "fix it" skills: "who is the elephant hunter beside the hunter of humans?" The grim irony of such ultra-savage thinking was clearly lost on him, minister of Police Affairs of the Federal Republic. Not much earlier, Jelili became a cry-baby in parliament, when told to say what he knew about the death of Bola Ige, former minister of Justice and federal attorney-general. He broke down and wailed like a baby, swearing he knew nothing about it. Fair enough. Just suffice it to say the cry-baby of yester-

I asked, does that mean those who lead the humans are not better than us chickens. What we have we eat and go out as waste, and life is good. We think nothing of tomorrow. Why do humans have to worry about tomorrow? Witch Hen said because the humans make life difficult for themselves like paying rents, buying cars, paying people to treat them when they are sick, buying material to cover their head, body and feet, cooking and baking bread and building markets and making cages like the one we are in right now. I asked again, is it that the breed called Nigerians want to be like us fowls or animals now that they cannot save or make themselves make more money? How come in other places they do things well? Are these people going to lose control of us then? Witch Hen could not answer, but promised to listen more and get back with us with an answer. Unfortunately, I may never get the answer. Witch Hen was whisked away a day before Christmas. Maybe they thought she knew too much. Witches are not supposed to last anyway. I still wondered, if the humans were losing their money, it meant they could not buy us. We noticed that more of us survived this year when the carnage of New Year and Christmas came. Our owners complained in their murderous ways that it was a "bleak Christmas." What is bleak about what makes us survive, although it was bleak for us because they reduced the quantity of grains in the cages? Better to starve and live than end in those cauldrons of delicacy they call stews. As New Year came, traffic eased in the market. We are happy we survived. We learned that one man who prides himself on leadership by feeding stomachs distributed a lot of us free. At least, he should have fed them well before they died. The fowls looked so frail and lean. This came from a man who once owned a controversial poultry operation and could have been one of us. It was foul profit for him. Now that everything looks bad this new year for the humans, it means we shall survive as chickens. They don't have much money to buy us. The only thing I fear though, is that when everyone starts complaining of hunger, will the leaders not magically recover the billions that can buy all the chickens in the world? Then they will imitate the poultry governor and distribute all of us free. I doubt they will find the money. But in case they do so or take their habitual loans, I am going to rally all fowls for a chicken rebellion. If you humans don't know your rights, we chickens do. After all, one of you who won a prize wrote a play called A Dance of The Forests where millions of ants mounted a rebellion against humans for encroaching on their bushes. With our beaks, preening, bird flus like avian and about 140 other afflictions, we shall fight for a chicken republic.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jelili the braggart day has become the braggart of today, in-between acquiring the notoriety of attempting to commit the Police, under his charge, to help muscle the vote in the Osun gubernatorial election, which the people's resistance and vigilance however defeated. Just a few days ago, Mr. Adesiyan, playing the super-patriot (isn't patriotism the last bastion of the scoundrel?) was in Lagos, at the head of Yinka Odumakin's newfound company, at the launch of Watching the Watcher, Odumakin's new book. Adesiyan bragged to no end, that he had instructed IGP Suleiman Abba (fresh from badly burning his fingers in the Police invasion of the National Assembly) and the director-general of DSS to arrest anyone who was fomenting alleged treason in the land. His idea of "treason" was public commentaries on soldiers court-martialled to die for mutiny, who nevertheless countered that the state had not adequately armed them, therefore could not logically have charged them with refusing to fight, according to their service oath. Adesiyan threatened the arrest of Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi and probably former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for al-

legedly making inciting statements on security matters. Phew, this Jelili clearly thought this was a police state and not a democracy! Inasmuch as no one should trifle with security matters or encourage mutiny in the army, is it fair in a democracy for the ruling agents to clamber on security scare mongering, to criminalise the citizens' right to ask probing questions? If the Army headquarters end up court-martialling an indecently high number of mutinying soldiers -- and still counting -- is it not legitimate query to halt and re-examine the basics, lest the mass sentencing to death is a symptom covering the real root of the crisis? Of course, the security scarecrow is a great mask, hiding blind panic by the Jonathan Presidency. Not unlike the Biblical Saul whose the kingship had left but still clutched at the straw of seeking to destroy the innocent David, the Jonathan court, smelling crushing defeat in the coming election, is now barring its fangs on the opposition, which it fears would be its nemesis. Well, you can't spank a child and expect it not to cry. Still, Adesiyan's sick cocktail of bragging, vulgar abuse and old wives' tale would just not do.

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