The Nation July 08, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Presidency: no hand in Ekweremadu’s case NEWS Page 7

•Clerk keeps mum on interrogation

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3269 WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

Ex-governor to lose assets to Fed Govt NEWS Page 7

•Nnamani forfeits cash, property •www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: BANKS LOSE N25.6B TO FRAUD, SAYS NDIC P54 EFCC TO ARRAIGN LAMIDO P6

Workers to governors: don’t blow N713b bailout cash NLC, TUC, others hail Buhari APC, PDP clash

‘Bailout funds not from ECA’

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HE AccountantGeneral of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, yesterday said the bailout funds for states would not come from the $2.1 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

He said the cash was sourced from the accrued...

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna, John Ofikhenua, Abuja, James Azania, Lokoja, Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, Damisi Ojo, Akure, Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo and Toba Agboola

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ORKERS were yesterday in high spirits over President Muhammadu Buhari’s N713.7 billion bailout for states to pay outstanding salaries.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), hailed the president’s action.

The NLC urged Buhari to ensure that the governors spend the money on salary arrears.

It warned against "a situation that the governors that could not manage their allocation properly will be rewarded by being given special recognition".

The General Secretary of the Congress, Dr. Peter Ozon-Eson, said: “Our appeal is that Mr. President should please prevail on the governors to ensure that when they get this money they should not blow it on other things. The first priority must be defraying the arrears of salaries and pensions of pensioners who have not been paid for 11 to 12 months. " Ozon-Esson, who is also the NLC chief

Business Page 4

NFF in talks with Oliseh

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ORMER Super Eagles’ player Sunday Oliseh is discussing with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in a bid for the Super Eagles coach, BBC Sport reports.

The 40year-old former midfielder, who captained Nigeria and won 63 caps, is set to...

Sport Page 41

Continued on page 4

Okonjo-Iweala lied, says forum

26 die in Zaria suicide bombing

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OMMISSIONERS for Finance yesterday debunked the claim by former Minister of Finance Ngozi OkonjoIweala that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) approved the withdrawal $2bilion from the Excess Crude (Foreign) Account.

•’Woman carrying baby was bomber’ From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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WENTY-SIX people, including a two-year-old, yesterday died in a blast in Zaria, Kaduna State.

No fewer than 32 others were injured when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at a crowded local government secretariat at about 9am.

The explosion occurred as residents welcomed the chairman of the interim management committee of Sabon Gari Local Government to his office at the secretariat.

Many other local government workers from WILL THE

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CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 4

News Page 3

UK remembers 7/7 bombings

T •A victim of the Zaria bomb blast on admission at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika, Kaduna MORE PHOTOGRAPHS ON PAGE 60 PHOTO: NAN State…yesterday.

EN years have passed since four coordinated bomb attacks tore apart subway trains and a bus in central London, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds...

Foreign Page 58

•LIFE P15 •SPORTS P23 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •POLITICS P45 •FOREIGN P58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS •Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode with the new State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni when the police chief visited the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday.

Reversal of textile ban: In whose interest?

The Federal Government has lifted the ban on the importation of textile materials and there is palpable fear among stakeholders on the possible backlash of the policy on the local plants. Some say it has rubbished the government’s N100 billion revival pill for the industry. Others insist it is not a death-knel for the sector, writes Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS.

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•Vice President (West), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Steve Ayorinde (left) presenting a cheque of N1 million on behalf of the NGE to Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye in Lagos. With them are: NGE’s Social/Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Funke Egbemode (second lelf); Deputy Provost, Mr. Jide Johnson and Acting Head of Department, General Studies, Maureen Popoola.

•Deputy Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Joshua Ajisafe receiving an Achievers’ Award trophy from Editorial Consultant, Lagos Network Newspaper, Mr. Femi Onayemi (left) at the Alausa Passport Office, Ikeja, Lagos. With them is Editor-inChief /Publisher, Otunba Gbenga Adebayo .

•From left: Chairman, Lagos Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Comfort Nwankwo; her vice, Mr Joseph Okonmah; Chairman, NIPR’s 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM)Planning Committee, Mr Olusegun Mcmedal; Acting Registrar, Pastor Joseph Yemi Adeniran and Secretary, Thelma Okoh at a news conference on the AGM/Public Relation Week at Dipiomat Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS.

HAT hope for the textile industry? Its future looks bleak, stakeholders believe. They say the industry may go into extinction by the Federal Government’s decision to lift the ban on the importation of textile and furniture materials.

The new policy has elicited mixed reactions since it was announced last week. Some have predicated the end of the industry, arguably the largest employer of labour in the country if properly coordinated. Yet, others say the policy has a potential to encourage competition between local fabrics and imported textile products.

The removal of textile and furniture from the list of prohibited items came under the Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) of the new Common External Tariff (CET), involving about 15 countries in the West African sub-region.

It is subject to review every five years.

The CET allows for free movement of goods and services within the sub-region.

What is baffling to some stakeholder is why would a government that has granted a N100 billion lifeline to revamp an ailing industry opens its borders for the importation of materials to compete in the local market.

But to some, it is too early to cry foul.

In a telephone chat with The Nation, Chairman, Adhama Textile, Kano, Alhaji Saidu Adhama, argued that there was never a time a blanket ban was placed on textile products.

According to him, only ‘African Prints’ textiles were banned outright.

It said textile products from other places could not be said to have been banned since they could be imported if the importer once the importer was ready to pay the duty.

Adhama contended that the issue at stake cannot be on lifting of ban, but on the correct payment of duty on such imported materials. He explained that even when the goods were banned, they still found their way into the local market.

He said: “There is no justification to continue deceiving Nigerians that they are banned when already the imported textiles has saturated the local market. For instance, in a period of six months, Asians, especially the Chinese, flood the Kano textile market alone with goods worth $4 billion.”

Adhama described the legitimisation of textile materials’ importation to allow government earn more revenue from the duty to be paid.

The problem of imported textile materials saturating the local market has remained a hydra-headed monster for both the government and operators in the sector. The recent clampdown on 75 warehouses near the Trade fair Complex, Zoo Road, Kano, by men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), gave credence to the fears of indigenous players in the textile sector.

In the aftermath of the raid on the 75 warehouses, housing textile materials worth about N400 billion, alleg-

edly owned by Chinese businessmen, were sealed. Sources close to the textile owners told The Nation that although the warehouses were sealed, the goods were not confiscated as the owners were told to pay the correct duty to the Federal Government coffers after which their wares would be released.

It was alleged that the Customs men, who carried out the raid, were lenient during the operation. One of the sources claimed fabric owners, who could not afford to pay immediately, got a soft landing.

Adhama suggested: “For those who could not pay the duty immediately, Customs divided their goods into three parts, released a part to them to sell and then use the proceed to pay before they can get the remaining part of their goods. This is a good approach.

“Now, at 35 per cent, do you know how much will accrue to government purse? If these goods enter our markets even when it was said to be banned, then it makes sense for government to unban and let people pay correct duty.”

The Nation gathered that the removal of the product from the prohibition list dates back to April 11, 2015. It is believed that the implementation of the policy became necessary, following the financial quagmire the country has found itself, especially the new administration; hence, the resolve of the NCS to implement the directive. The financial woes have been further compounded with the tumbling oil prices at the international market.

An industrialist and Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Stella Okoli, may have captured the country’s financial situation aptly.

She said: “Nigeria is earning much less from the sale of crude oil presently.

There must be a way of generating revenue to run the economy. This drop in revenue has made servicing our import-dependent nation and industries challenging.”

Adhama shares Okoli’s views.

“Since oil has lost its market value, there has been a revenue drop for Nigeria and that means NCS has to up its ante by generating more money for the Federal Government.

“The government wants to use this lifting of ban to generate money into its purse,” he said.

Adhama said the government was suffering a huge re loss for the period the ban lasted. He alleged that those closed to the corridors of power usually got waivers.

According to him, the indiscriminate granting of waivers accounted for revenue loss and complicated the enforcement of the ban on goods on the prohibited list.

Stakeholders are also not oblivious of the negative implications of the new policy, especially its effect on the sustainability of the capacity utilisation of local textile plants. They are promising to give the government a chance, even as they express their reservations.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS

• Some fabrics in a shop

•Mrs. Okoli

•Madugu

Nigeria is earning much less from the sale of crude oil presently. There must be a way of generating revenue to run the economy.

This drop in revenue has made servicing our importdependent nation and industries challenging.

The Vice President, Small and Medium Industries, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Ali S. Madugu, said with textile duty now put at 35 per cent, the NCS’ ability to enforce the policy to the letter was giving him concern.

He, however, believed there will be no problem once correct duties are collected on imported textile and furniture materials.

So pathetic was the situation of the textile industry that the Federal Government had to grant a N100 billion bailout. The relief, arranged to rescue the sector, has not had the desired effect.

The lifting of the ban may have driven into the coffin of the moribund sector by the same government trying to rescue it.

Experts agreed that Nigeria may have been a signatory to the Economic Community of West African Community (ECOWAS) Treaty, and as such, incapacitated to breach the treaties.

Yet, there is a need for caution so as not to endanger the domestic economy. In this lies a huge challenge for the local industry.

Mrs. Okoli described as regrettable that the once vibrant textile industry has gone comatose, despite the bailout granted the sector.

“How well did they (textile firms) utilise the bailout fund?”, she asked rhetorically.

But Adhama said it will take more

The Federal Government should know who is importing what and where they source their foreign exchange from; not that people will earn foreign exchange from this economy and repatriate it abroad

than funding to revive the textile sector.

If the records of the Bank of Industry (BoI) are anything to go by, only 60 per cent of the N100 billion have been disbursed.

Both Madugu and Adhama are of the view that the government should create incentives to cater for the interests of local textile industries to avail them the opportunity of competing favourably with their foreign counterparts, failing which, the bailout would have amounted to a waste.

Madugu argued: “The intervention fund alone will not restore the lost glory of the sector. The Federal Government is not forthcoming on the other requirement to make the sector survive. The situation on ground in respect of the textile industry is not that of NCS or BoI. It is the fault of the Federal Government who gives waivers indiscriminately without protecting local firms.”

Adhama and Madugu expressed the conviction that despite the textile market being saturated with over 85 per cent imported printed fabrics, most of them sub-standard fabrics from, the local players can favourably compete in the circumstance, if certain measures are put in place and policies implemented.

They urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to be alive to its statutory responsibility of ensuring that sub-standard textiles no longer

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There is no justification to continue deceiving Nigerians that they are banned when already the imported textiles has saturated the local market. For instance, in a period of six months, Asians, especially the Chinese, flood the Kano textile market alone with goods worth $4 billion

find their way into the country.

Besides, they are seeking protection for all textile products that can be produced locally; while other imported fabric should be made to pay proper duty.

The duty so paid, Madugu argued, should be channelled to the development of the local textile sector.

He said: “The Federal Government should know who is importing what and where they source their foreign exchange from; not that people will earn foreign exchange from this economy and repatriate it abroad.

“This won’t make the naira strong against the dollar. We are not afraid of competition; our quality is high here and we can compete favourably in terms of quality; but we cannot compete in price because importers do not pay the right duty on their goods.”

Textile manufacturers are optimistic that the creation of three million jobs was achievable with the right incentive for the sector to thrive.

But, to achieve this, they want the an enabling law guaranteeing them a market share of 25 per cent of the textile requirement of Nigerians.

“We in the textile sector want the federal government, Bank of Industry and the National Assembly, to pass a law guaranteeing us at least 25 per cent market share in the country. This will help us achieve the three million job creation target the government has promised. We are hopeful that with

the current effort of the BoI and the NCS, this can be achieved,” Adhama assured.

The Nation learnt that the bailout to the sector could not yield the desired result for a number of reasons, one of which was that at the time of granting the relief, the plants had already gone moribund, and needed to be renovated.

Besides, the operators had obtained loans to expand their businesses and immediately the bailout entered their accounts, the banks deducted their outstanding credit, thus leaving the manufacturer with little or nothing to trade with.

“How can you bail me out with money when the banks are waiting for me to deposit the money and seize it to liquidate earlier loans taken and injected into the business,” Madugu quipped.

Given the prevailing circumstances, there are concerns over the repayment of the bailout already granted manufacturers.

Madugu, who described the bailout as “a waste,” said the repayment terms of the facility will definitely be hampered by the unbanning of the goods because the sector will now be more open to ‘dumping’ from outside the shores of the country.

Experts also agree that BoI’s ongoing 44 financed projects under its Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) intervention fund with a N46.89 billion

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loan, and five projects under wood and leather sector intervention fund, for which N1.93 billion has been sunk, are now under threat.

The Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA) had earlier warned that such unbanning of textile materials may threaten the repayment of loans taken under the Textile Cotton Revival Fund.

The association argued that beneficiaries of the loan are being exposed to unfair competition through unbridled importation of textile materials.

It said there was no way the textile manufacturers could operate competitively to repay the loan if they were not protected.

The NTMA had earlier reeled out conditions to be met by the government in case it decided to lift the importation on textile materials.

Some of the conditions are: solving the challenges of the epileptic power supply, Low Pour Fuel Oil and a reduction in the price of gas.

Others include granting textile manufacturers a five-year tax holiday; stoppage of exportation of cotton; strengthening the Customs to manage the borders and a textile development levy of 10 per cent to develop the industry as a replacement of the Textile and Cotton Revival Fund.

Will the new policy endure? Only time will tell as there had been a reversal on the banning of textile materials in the past.

Unauthorised ECA withdrawal: Okonjo-Iweala lied, says Commissioners Forum

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EMBERS of the forum of Commissioners of Finance yesterday debunked former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s claim that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) approved the withdrawal of $2 bilion from the Excess Crude (Foreign) Account.

Reacting in a statement to Mrs. OkonjoIweala’s claim, the commissioners’ forum said: “This statement is far from the fact and it is misleading. The FAAC does not have the authority to approve withdrawals from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), therefore it could not have approved the withdrawal from Excess Crude (Foreign) Account the sum of Two Billion U.S. Dol-

From Onyia Chioma, Abuja lar ($2,000,000,000.00).”

It added “that the law setting up the FAAC, which pre-dates the ECA, says it cannot approve withdrawal and has not done so in the past.

“If anything, FAAC, as records of its meetings indicates, had often queried the activities on the ECA, and therefore did not decide any withdrawal”.

The commissioners’ forum said that FAAC noted and observed the “withdrawal from the ECA of a total sum of Two Billion U.S. Dollar ($2,000,000,000.00) in December. The then Minister of State, Finance and Chairman of FAAC,

when asked during the plenary of FAAC meetings of the respective months, explained that the former President gave approval for the withdrawals from the ECA to pay oil marketers subsidy claims as they had threatened to stop importing petroleum products.

He further explained that this action will be ratified by National Economic Council (NEC).

“FAAC did not, and could not have approved, nor taken the decision to withdraw the sum of Two Billion U.S. Dollar ($2,000,000,000.00) from the Excess Crude Account.”

The statement said the forum “would want to excuse the ex-Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, on this misrepresentation because she

was not in attendance during FAAC plenary and may not have been fully and adequately made abreast with every FAAC activity”.

The former minister has been locked in a war of words with some governors, who have been accusing her of being economical with the truth on the management of the ECA, especially alleged illegal withdrawals from the ECA late last year.

The governors accused Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala of making an unauthorized withdrawal of $2 billion from the ECA in December 2014 but the former minister fired back by saying that the withdrawal was done with the knowledge of the governors, who were represented at FAAC meetings by their commissioners of finance.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

NEWS Bailout funds not from $2.1 billion in ECA, say Presidency, AGF

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•President Muhammadu Buhari (right) receiving the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Achievements Award from the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Sunday Echono. With them is the Director Rural Development, Alhaji Abdulaziz PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN Musbau and others during the award ceremony at the State House, Abuja...yesterday.

Workers to governors: don’t divert N713b bailout cash PDP claims credit for plan

Continued from page 1

economist, said the congress was happy about the Federal Government's intervention, recalling that the congress presented the debt profile to the Presidential Transition Committee.

In the three-pronged bailout plan is the N413.7billion special intervention fund, the N413.7b ($2.1b) Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) proceeds and a N300b Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention loan.

Federal workers who are being owed are also to benefit from the plan.

But labour officials warned the state governments

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed credit for the bailout fund ordered to be released to distressed states governments by the President.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said a significant amount of the bailout came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account handed over to the Buhari administration by the last PDP-led government.

“This development is in clear contradiction to the earlier impression given by President against misapplying the cash.

Deputy President of the factional NLC Comrade Isah Aremu said: “President Buhari has been very vocal

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Buhari to Nigerians and the international community that they should not expect much from his administration in its first one hundred days because according him, upon assumption of office, he met a virtually empty treasury.

“We want to believe that given the President’s release of such huge amount, he may have realised that he was earlier misdirect-

since he assumed office in making a case for workers to be paid as at when due.

“President Buhari once said that it is a disgrace that Nigerian states could not

Continued on page 59

pay salaries. So, what he has done now is that he has commendably walked his talk.

He has also shown that if there is a will, there will alContinued on page 59

APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ woes

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HE President got some kudos yesterday from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party for coming to the aid of “the long-suffering workers” with a multi-billion-naira package that will ensure salaries are paid and make it easier for the states to meet their monthly salary obligations.

•Party scolds PDP In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was particularly delighted that the President had shown that he is truly the father of the nation by eschewing partisanship in approv-

ing the intervention fund for all the states, irrespective of which parties they belong to. ‘’We say this because when states were financially handicapped during the tenure of the last Federal Government, opposition states were hung out to dry why states belong-

ing to the then ruling PDP got generous bailouts,’’ it said.

APC said by his action, President Muhammadu Buhari has practicalised his deep understanding of the essence of governance which, more than anything else, is the about the wellbeing.

The party said worthy of Continued on page 59

The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris, yesterday said the bailout funds for states are not coming from the $2.1 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

He said the cash was sourced from the accrued Company Income Tax (CIT) realised from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) He said the funds in Excess Crude Account were intact and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to touch it.

The AGF made the clarification in a statement through Kenechukwu N. Offie, the Head of Press in his Office.

There have been allegations that the President emptied the treasury to rescue cash-strapped states, which are unable to pay their workers.

The statement said: “The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris has noted with great concern that the information in the public domain is inconsistent with the details of the amount distributed at the emergency Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held on

From Yusuf Alli and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Monday 6th July 2015.

“Consequently, it has become necessary to provide further clarification about the outcome of the said emergency FAAC meeting.

•That the amount distributed was not from the Excess Crude Account ECA but rather the accrued Company Income Tax (CIT) realised from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) N359, 374,355, 607.60 •That the amount that was distributed was less the cost of collection •The Federal government got 56.68% amounting to N181,745,674,112.72 •The State governments got 26.72% amounting to N92,183,834,705.62 •Local government councils got 20.60% amounting to N71, 069,872,564.96.

“The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, makes this clarification in order to provide Nigerians with the correct and authentic information about the outcome of the proceedings at the Federation Accounts Allocation Continued on page 59

Gunmen kill 14 in Plateau village

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UNMEN have killed 14 people in an attack on Sho village of Barkin Ladi local government of Plateau State, whose capital Jos witnessed suicide bombing on Sundaynight which killed 51 persons.

In the Monday night blast in Kano, one critically injured person has died. Another person taken to hospital injured, has been treated and discharged.

The gunmen stormed Sho village, Barkin Ladi LGA midnight and killed 14 residents.

The attack on Sho village was announced by the member representing Barkin Ladi constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Gyendeng.

Gyendeng lamented that members of his constituency were been killed on a daily basis by gunmen. He called on the federal government to do

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

everything possible to nip in the bud the activities of terrorists in the country.

Mark Lipdo, the founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation( NGO) also confirmed the killings.

He described the attack as inhuman which must be condemned He said “all efforts at peace building are being impeded by the terror attacks.”

Kano State Police spokesman Musa Magaji Majiya, said Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Idris had visited the scene to ascertain the extent of damage.

According to him, as soon as the police conclude preliminary investigations, the public will be briefed of its feedings.

No arrest has been made, he added.

26 die, 32 injured as suicide bomber strikes in Zaria A strange bomber

Continued from page 1

Lere and Ikara were also undergoing biometric verification, ordered by the state government, at the venue.

El Rufai said: “The city of Zaria today suffered a terrible act of infamy. Terrorists detonated explosives that killed and injured several persons at the secretariat of the Sabon-Gari Local Government Council. The casualty count as at 12 noon is 25 fatalities, including a twoyear old child. Thirty-two

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HE was like any other woman, a mother with a baby strapped onto her back.

The unknown woman showed up at the secretariat of Sabon Gari Local Government, Zaria where workers were undergoing biometrics. She detonated the bomb, killing 45 people.

There have been many woman sui-

injured persons are being treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and other hospi-

cide bombers, but none was seen to be carrying a baby.

An eyewitness, Yusuf Isah Hassan, popularly known as Shashi, said: “We were at the secretariat when the Sole Administrator was swearing in his councilors when we heard a loud sound which we found out to be a bomb blast.

“Most of the people affected in the

tals in the city.

“The Kaduna State Government has expressed its sadness at this mindless attack on our citizens. It has condoled with the victims and is coordinating the treatment of the survivors.”

The Chief Medical Director, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Prof. Lawal Khalid , gave the death toll as 26 Khalid told reporters in Zaria that 31 injured persons were brought to the hospital and one of them was in a critical condition.

He said the remaining 30

blast were women who were out for the screening.

“According to information gathered, it was a female bomber with a baby on her back who was telling the people to leave the way and on getting into the midst of other women, detonated the bomb. She and the baby she was backing died.”

victims on admission at the hospital were in a stable condition and responding to treatment.

The CMD lauded the residents of the area for their massive donation of blood, saying the gesture had helped to save the lives of the victims.

At the scene of the blast, El-Rufai sympathised with the victims and the residents of Zaria. He condemned the attack as an inhuman act of terror and urged the people to be vigilant.

The governor said better security would be put in place and urged the people

to shun large gatherings but, where that is impossible, to be vigilant and check people, vehicles and luggage.

El-Rufai also directed that beggars and hawkers be banned immediately as part of the government’s enhanced security measures.

He reiterated the ban on commercial motorcycles.

“The government hereby urges all citizens to report all suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies, and to afford these agencies their maximum cooperation,” the said in a statement.

The blast generated pandemonium in the state as the major road leading to the Kaduna State Secretariat, on Independence Way was deserted. The verification centre emptied hurriedly as people heard the news of the bomb blast at the Zaria verification centre as early as 9am.

There was a massive traffic jam on the ever-busy Yakubu Gowon - Independence Way road, Muhammadu Buhari Way by Independence Way and Golf Course Road. Traffic policemen warden had a busy time controlling the vehicles as horns blare endlessly.

The state security outfit “Operation Yaki” blocked all the entrances to the secretariat, locking people inside the premises. Many jumped the fence for safety.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS

Three feared dead in Rivers as cultists battle for supremacy

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USPECTED cultists in Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State have resumed their deadly fight. As at press time yesterday, three suspected cult members were feared dead.

Ubima community, the home town of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Sir Celestine Omehia, has been experiencing anarchy since last year.

Some villagers, who could not withstand the fight between the rival cult groups,

•Council chair: we’re doing our best to restore normalcy have relocated to neigbouring communities for safety.

A member of a cult group, Dewell, who pleaded anonymity, said the trouble started when one of its leaders, Chinedu Uwazurike, a.k.a Biggi, entered the territory of Axelander to buy Indian hemp and a rival group, was killed.

“Biggi is one of our members, he just came back from another town and decided to

get Indian hemp but he could not get it from a nearby shop. So, he went to a seller close to Axelander barracks. That was how they dragged him down from motorbike and started beating him until he collapsed and died.

“When youths of his village discovered that he has been murdered, they took his body chanting a war song.

They headed to the family of

the leader of Axelander but before they got there, the Axelander leader came out with his men and the youths ran away. With that anger they started shooting.

“But we have revenged by killing two of their members.The fight will continue because it is a disgrace on our side. The Axelander want to tell us that they have power by trying to convince some of our members to join

them, we will know who has the best weapons in town.”

But a member of Axelander, who pleaded anonymity while speaking with our reporter on phone, said Dewell has committed a lot of atrocities in the community, adding that its members were only waiting for time to explode.

He said they were not killers or ready to harm any members of the community

but noted that one thing they would not do was to allow other cult groups in the area to defy their rules’’ The Chairman, Ikwerre Local government Area, Bestman Amadi, said he had visited the community and assured them not to run away as he was doing everything possible to bring normalcy to the area.

Amadi said: l have visited the area. As I am talking to you security personnel are patrolling the area to restore normalcy.”

Firm petitions South African High Commission over visa refusal

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•From left: Mallam Adamu Wakil, Mr. Reginald Ikpeawujo, Dr. Musa Istifanous, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Musa Istifanus and Director, River Basin Operations, Mallam Musa Ibrahim after their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Agriculture and Water Resources at the State House, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

NLC vows to resist cut in workers’ pay

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday vowed to resist any cut in workers’ pay.

Its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, in a communique after the National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of July 1 in Abuja, accusedsome governors of mismanagement of state finances.

It said it would not tolerate the cut of the token pay of workers.

The NLC described the situation as unacceptable, and vowed to stop the governors from effecting any pay cut.

They said: “The Congress is amazed that having come out in the brazen way to mismanage the finances of their respective states, some governors are contemplating the cutting of workers’ salaries, as a way out of the financial mess they have found them-

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From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

selves. This will be completely unacceptable to organised labour, and we will do everything within our means to stop this from happening.

“The token of temporary reduction of political officers salaries, as a bait to force cuts in the wages of workers in the states will be unacceptable, because these political office holders hardly depend on their wages for their dayto-day survival. They do not use their wages to pay for their feeding, healthcare and other essential needs which are most times provided free for them by the state.”

Waba and Ozo -Eson attributed the non-payment of salaries to the irresponsible inclination of the country’s political elite on its insistence on maintaining a clearly unsustainable lifestyle and earnings at the expense of the growth and develop-

ment of the country.

The communique said the NLC drew attention to the problem of many states which spent billions of naira on electioneering campaigns rather than pay the wages and pensions of workers.

NLC said it also drew the attention of relevant authorities to the crisis of non-payment of workers’ wages, and the establishment of task teams to force the affected states to pay.

The congress said while these states expended hundreds of millions of naira to pay bloated severance allowances and benefits of political office holders in the states, workers’ wages have remained unpaid.

The communique also noted that: “Congress will not fold its arms and watch this manifest injustice against Nigerian workers and pensioners being endlessly perpetuated. It therefore resolved to mobilise

Nigerian working people and Nigerian masses against the continuing excesses of our political elite at all levels of our polity.

“NAC-in-Session further resolved to support and cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption policy and call on its members in all agencies of the public sector to provide any information at their disposal that might lead to the recovery of public funds stolen from the treasury.”

The congress, according to the communique, also reviewed the leadership crisis in the National Assembly and urged the All Progressives Congress ( APC) to call its members in the two chambers to order.

NLC added that Nigerians voted the APC into power with the hope that the party would bring about the “change” it promised by addressing the country’s socioeconomic challenges.

National Assembly crisis’ll soon be over, says Tambuwal

OKOTO State Governor Aminu Tambuwal yesterday said the crisis rocking the National Assembly would soon be resolved.

He spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tambuwal, who is a member of one of the committees set up to resolve the crisis, said his committee had held series of meetings to solve the matter.

He said: “We have commenced meetings and even today we are going to have yet another meeting and I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Peace and normalcy will be restored to the cham-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

bers of the National Assembly.

“And I assure that we will continue to support Mr. President for us to deliver on our promises to the Nigerian people.”

On whether he supported the reports claiming that Femi Gbajabiamila’s camp was insisting on the emergence of four principal officers based on All Progressives Congress (APC) position, he said: “It is not a matter of caving into it, I am a mediator and I am not at liberty to pre-empt what

should be the outcome of my report, therefore I am not in a position to confirm that.”

Asked for his reaction to the belief that National Assembly members were emboldened by the unique way he emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he said: “I should leave that to you to make your own judgement. I believe they are all matured people representing their various constituencies in the Senate and the House of Representatives and they should know what is best for the country and the party.”

He added that he was at the Villa to meet minds with the

HE Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Hartford Consulting, Mr. Adebayo Akinwunmi, has petitioned the South African High Commission “to re-consider its hard stance” on issuance of visa to its employees.

The firm, in a statement, said:”Both the Nigerian and South African companies involved in this project stand to lose huge funds should the project be cancelled”.

Akinwunmi added:”On April 16, 2015, my company applied for entry visas to South Africa for three of our staff to attend a scheduled training for April 27 – May 8, 2015, with a letter supporting our application from our partner: CQS (Pty) Ltd, Dunkeld West, South Africa. It was however, surprising that despite fulfilling the visa requirements, no visa was issued and the reason given was that the date for the training had passed.

“In making sure no excuses were given by the High Commission which was already foot-dragging on the visaissuance when the original training date drewnear, Hartford had preemptively informed CQS to change the date and was obliged which both companies adequately communicated to the High Commission with proof of acknowledgement.

“We are implementing a technology project in partnership with CQS. My team working with CQS on this project were scheduled to attend training in South Africa as part of the project and obligations of CQS but their visas were denied.

“This is a critical stage for the project hence this visa denial and the consequent inability to attend this particular training poses a major risk of cancellation to the agreement with CQS which will not be able to meet part of its obligations on the project which is to deliver knowledge transfer to effectively provide local content and support for the project. I personally contacted the Embassy and was put on hold for 35 minutes without success. I later wrote them and received a couple of emails acknowledging my mail with promises to get back to me. I am yet to receive further correspondence on the matter and it has been over three weeks now.”

NOA cautions travellers on Ebola From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians travelling for leisure and those undertaking religious obligations to be mindful of the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Ebola Virus in some parts of Africa.

Its Director-General, Mike Omeri, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) was sensitising intending travellers on the details of transmission and symptoms of these diseases.

He said the purpose of the sensitisation was to create awareness on the measures to avoid MERS and Ebola.

Omeri warned that Nigerians travelling to China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia should exercise utmost caution as some people in those countries have been diagnosed with the MERS in the last two months. He urged Nigerians travelling to Saudi Arabia to heed health warnings by the government reminding them that already Saudi authorities have warned against the consumption of camel meat or milk in the country.

Omeri said he had directed state and local government offices of the agency to alert intending travellers of the outbreak of these diseases.

‘Stop vilifying Tinubu’ From James Azania, Lokoja

A •Tambuwal

President on security and development of the country.

He said: “Mr. President is the leader of the party and as a governor of Sokoto state, I have come to see him and indeed to seek his advice and meet minds with him on issues on security and the continued development of the country.”

GROUP, Citizen Change Entrepreneurs (CCE), has cautioned those castigating the All Progressives Congress (APC) National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the National Assembly.

The group described Tinubu as “the democratic master key” for his roles in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the last presidential election.

It uged the President to remain undeterred by the rumbles at the National Assembly, saying no individual is greater than Nigeria.

The group added that Buhari must remain focused in his determination to tackle the challenges facing the country.

The organisation’s President-General,Omolori Abdulkareem Okene, said: “Condemning Tinubu at this point in time is uncalled for. He has done a lot worth praising.

Both APC and the PDP should not allow their personal interest to undermine the change the country struggled to achieved.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS

N1.3b: EFCC detains Lamido, sons

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday detained a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alh. Sule Lamido and two sons ahead of their arraignment before a court in Kano today.

The three detainees have also been flown to Kano in preparation for their trial in connection with an alleged N1.3billon worth of contracts.

They are being charged on a 24-count relating to alleged mismanagement of over N1.3billion.

Also, the EFCC has arraigned a staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja, Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C. N Orji of the FCT High Court, for an alleged N1.8 million bribery scam.

The suspect faces a twocount on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.

Investigation by our cor-

•Trial fixed for today From: Yusuf Alli, Abuja

respondent showed that Lamido and his two sons were detained after reporting for further investigation.

But they were informed that they would be flown to Kano for trial on Wednesday.

A source said: “The investigation of Lamido and his two sons has reached an appreciable level for their arraignment in a court in Kano.

“We have been interrogating the former governor on alleged award of contracts to some companies owned by his children. The value of the contracts was in the region of about N1.3b.

“We are also looking into allegation of money laundering against the ex-governor and some of his children. You know one of the sons of Lamido had been convicted for

a similar offence.

“The allegations against Lamido have to do with alleged mismanagement of funds, money laundering and abuse of office.”

A top official of the EFCC confirmed the relocation of Lamido from Abuja to Kano.

“The three people have been flown to Kano but our immediate challenge is that the case has not been assigned to any Federal High Court judge as I speak with you.

“But we are hopeful that they may be arraigned on Wednesday or Thursday.

They are facing a 24-count charge bordering on alleged mismanagement of over N1billion.”

Also, the EFCC has arraigned an employee of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,

Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C.N. Orji of the Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja.

The suspect is facing a two-count charge on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, the suspect’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed “a petition from one Rasheed O. Taiwo, who claimed that he paid a bribe of N1.8million to the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, Mr. Danladi Umar, through the accused.

But the chairman of CCT, Umar, had consistently denied demanding or receiving any bribe sum through the suspect or anybody.

The EFCC however said the petitioner, Taiwo, alleged that, “Umar who claimed to be presiding over a case in which he was involved, de-

PFN: Govt must give conditions for talks with Boko Haram From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

P •Lamido

manded a N10m (ten million naira) bribe as “settlement”, to give him a clean bill of health. ”The petitioner further alleged that, after several negotiations, he paid N1.8m as initial deposit, into the account of Ali Gambo Abdulllahi, in one of the new generation banks.”

The case has been adjourned to October 21 and 22 for commencement of trial.

CBN N8b currency fraud: EFCC alleges attempt to scuttle trial •Judge adjourns till Oct 12

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) has accused counsel to the accused persons standing trial in the N8 billion currency fraud of attempting to block witnesses and scuttle trial.

The counsel to the EFCC , Mr Rotimi Jacobs and counsel to 2nd and 3rd accused persons, Mr Olalekan Ojo, engaged themselves in a heated argument over the delay in filing applications and reply to such applications , contrary to the order of the court.

At the heat of the argument between the duo , the defence counsel stood up and called on the judge to order Jacobs to withdraw a supposed offensive language against him.

The EFCC alleged that the counsel to the accused “have a game plan by use of their antics to scuttle the trial” .

He argued that the defence counsel had a game plan to ensure that applications were not heard in a bid to ensure that the trial is scuttled.

Ojo told the court that the EFCC could not lay blame on anybody since the papers were served on him in the court on Monday and” we were able to file our response the following morning in less than 24 hours” .

The suspects in the first case heard yesterday are Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru, Toogun Phillips, Salami Ibrahim and Odia Emmanuel.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, had adjourned to yesterday to enable the parties complete all the necessary service .

However, contrary to the order of the court, some of the defence counsel either failed

•Some of the suspects arriving the Federal High Court in Ibadan...yesterday.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, grant their prayers until it dis- close of business , we went back Ibadan

to file applications as at when due or reply to the applications served on them .

On the second case involving Patience Okoro Eye, Joshua Afolabi, Sunday Ilori, Muniru Olaniran, Kolawole Babalola, and Fatai Yusuf, counsel to the 1st accused person (Patience Okoro Eye) ,Mr Awa Kalu (SAN) sought for a separate trial for his client, in a fresh application before the court.

Kalu drew the attention of the court to the fact that the Ist accused person is the only woman among the suspects and that she would want the court to allow her to be separated from the trial .

He said: “ It is her right to decide separately. There is no fast rule on this. An accused person can decide to be tried separately to examine the evidence against her without inter-posing it with evidence concerning another.”

In his short ruling, Justice Emmanuel said: ” The situation in which we found ourselves this morning is very unfortunate and not in the interest of the accused persons.

“For the 1st and 3rd accused persons requesting for separate trial , the court cannot

poses off all the processes before him.”

Jacobs said: “Well, in the proceeding where the defence counsel who were refused bail had their own game plan to ensure that applications were not heard and the trial is scuttled . That is the game plan and they have successfully done that . The judge directed us yesterday that everyone should file their processes yesterday, and we file our own but alas our colleagues did not file contrary to our agreement and the order of the court. So, who is to blame?

“The trial is being scuttled as I said, because we were supposed to be calling our witnesses more than two, three weeks ago . We came here with our witnesses and they brought series of applications to ensure that the trial did not commence . Our witnesses are ready to come and give evidence but they are trying to block those witnesses. So, we are waiting till October now.”

The EFCC counsel absolved himself of any blame, adding that: “The only application I received on Thursday was the 37c and that Thursday, when they served us at the

to Lagos and came on Monday to serve them because we knew clearly that the matter was coming up this morning but...

Well, its part of the game plan to respond this morning. “ On the 1st accused person , we prepared our own and we went to him to serve him and let us exchange papers. But he refused to collect our own yesterday because they did not want the matter to go on. And the strategy is that don’t let this matter go on before these judges and the strategy is that they will wait for the Appeal Court to decide those appeal .

“There is no amount of reforms that can sanitise if we still retain the old habit . So, the old habit is still there to have my way the moment they see the proof of evidence , see what is against their clients, no this matter must not go on.

And until we change our habit all these things will still be there”.

Ojo disagreed with the EFCC on the allegation levelled against him.

He said: “ It is the most unwarranted and unnecessary accusation. There is no diligent defence attorney that will fail to raise the kind of objection

we have raised , except a defence attorney that is indifferent to the success of his client .

We will maintain it and we will defend it that the pronouncement went beyond a necessary and tolerable response in a bail application .

Well, in the eyes of the prosecution, that may be.

“You know, we are coming from different background, his own is to secure conviction acting within the confines of the law and the law allows us.

Even the market woman is aware of the concept of fair trial, if an accused person is saying I will not get fair trial and he has raised that issue in a court of law, I leave it to the judgement of the entire nation whether that will amount to scuttling the trial, particularly when the basis could be found in black and white. Our application for disqualification is not based on frivolous ground.

“The judge will decide that we have done our best. And it is for us to do everything legitimately possible to secure fair trial for our client. If doing that is scuttling trial , so be it. It is to ensuring the integrity and purity of the stream of the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

ENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has said the Federal Government should only negotiate with Boko Haram if its members were willing to surrender and embrace peace.

Its National President, Rev Felix Omobude, spoke with reporters yesterday after a programme organised

by PFN at the Victory International Church, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to him, Boko Haram had burnt down 850 churches in the North.

Rev. Omobude said: ”I think it is right for the Federal Government to dialogue with Boko Haram only if they are truly ready to embrace peace. We condemn continued spate of bombings in places of worship by Boko Haram. Nobody can be justified for killing innocent people in the church or mosques.

We condemn it in all ramifications. Boko Haram are enemies of Nigeria and we must all come together to treat them as such.”

The cleric urged the government to provide necessary facilities for the security agencies to perform efficiently.

“I appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue of Boko Haram. I know they want a quick intervention to resolve insurgency. I believe they are working and with the cooperation of all sundry, we will see a change,” he said

ASUU hails UI ranking

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HE Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, yesterday hailed the university for emerging No. 1 in Nigeria and eighth in Africa.

Ajiboye said: “The ranking has placed University of Ibadan where it ought to be.

This is due to the calibre of manpower at the institution.

“It is the appropriate thing to do with the calibre of academic staff in the university. This ranking is not a surprise and it is long overdue. The institution will do better than that next year. We will be ranked among the best five next year and very soon we will be the best.

“This ranking is a challenge and it can be sustained with the judicious use of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) allocation to the institution and research funding.”

Wike, Fayose, others should stop harassing our members, says APC’s chairmen forum

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HE Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday raised an alarm over the harassment of their members in Rivers and Ekiti states .

The Forum said in Rivers, killings of APC party members were taking place daily.

“The unfortunate and peculiar situation from Rivers is

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

the fact that people are being abducted and killed with the bodies disposed off ,“ said Edo State chairman of teh party, Anslem Ojezua who spoke on the forum’s behalf in Benin yesterday.

Ojezua said: “ Wike and his PDP thugs want to make sure the inspection is literally not

possible for our party in Rivers. This is just to frustrate the effort of our party to substantial the petition. “ In Taraba, anybody that has some thing to do with our party is victimised by the governor and his PDP people.

“In Ekiti, the rule of law has been thrown over board.

Ekiti is gradually moving to a state of anarchy with the re-

ports emanating from our party secretariat through the chairman . Governor Fayose has turned himself to a thin god , creating fears into the judiciary and legislature .”

On the purported plan by some persons to embarrass Senator Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, the body said: “Nothing like embarrassment of the persons of

Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande at the National Working Committee of APC . It is not even possible for anyone to embarrass them.

“Chief Bisi Akande was the first National chairman of APC, so, if I say is the father of the party , I will not be far from the truth .

“Senator Ahmed Bola Tinu-

bu is the pillar of the party, APC . I can simply tell you that the possibility of a merger was conceived with him as one of the founding fathers of the party. Therefore, it is not conceivable that anybody can subject these two very respected leaders to any form of embarrassment , not within the party, not even anywhere in Nigeria. It is not possible.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS

Presidency: no hand in Ekweremadu’s invitation by police

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HE Presidency has denied involvement in the invitation of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by the police for alleged forgery of the Senate rules.

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, who said this yesterday on Kakaaki, a breakfast programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT), affirmed that Buhari would not subvert the rules of the National Assembly.

He said: “You do not know this president. This president will not orchestrate anything.

Nothing that will be unconstitutional and nothing that will amount to underhand deal.

“Straightforward, plain and decent. Maybe that was what he expected everybody to do. He didn’t think anybody was going to subvert the process. That is why the National Assembly is where it is. But no orchestration.

“This is not a president that will subvert the rules in any form and he thought every-

‘Deputy Senate President yet to be quizzed’

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EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday said he was yet to be quizzed by the police on the controversial 2015 Senate Standing Rules.

He added that no amount of intimidation or harassment would deter him from carrying out his constitutionally prescribed duties.

But security has been tightened around the Deputy Senate President.

Ekweremadu’s Media Adviser Mr. Uche Anichukwu, in a statement last night, said: “Contrary to reports that the police quizzed the Deputy Senate President on Monday, there was no such interface between the police and the Senate Number Two man yet.”

The statement said some media had “erroneously” reported that men of the police quizzed Ekweremadu over the petition From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

body was going to play that way. But unfortunately, it did not happen that way and we have what we have now.”

Adesina explained that Buhari would take his time to build strong institutions that would endure.

But National Assembly Clerk Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa yesterday de-

clined comment on the controversy about his invitation by the police for alleged alteration of the Senate Standing Rules.

Maikasuwa, who led National Assembly directors on a visit to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, refused entreaties by reporters to speak on the invitation.

Besides Maikasuwa, some principal officers of the Seventh Senate, including former Senate President David Mark,

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

by the Senate Unity Forum, alleging fraudulent alteration of the 2011 Standing Rules/Order.

The media aide said security had been tightened around Ekweremadu following alleged threats to his life.

The statement added that the Deputy Senate President vowed to defend the independence of the legislature.

“The fortification followed an outcry by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that his life and liberty were under threat. ”Senator Ekweremadu assured all Nigerians and concerned members of the international community that everything was under control and that all democratic steps were being taken to preserve the nation’s democracy and protect the independence of the legislature”. former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rule Ita Enang and the secretary of the committee were invited by the police.

The allegation of unauthorised alteration of the Senate Standing Rules was contained in a petition by a group of senators under the aegis of Senate Unity Fo-

rum, who asked the police to investigate the issue.

Approached by a horde of reporters after the visit to comment on the police invitation, Maikasuwa also kept mum.

Prodded further, the clerk smiled and walked quietly away from the anxious reporters.

He moved over to where the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, was standing for a brief discussion with him.

•Ekweremadu

After his discussion with Ndume, Maikasuwa managed to say: “I have said all I need to say in my opening remarks. I have nothing else to say.”

He walked away smiling.

Maikasuwa told the Senate President that they came to assure him of the commitment of the workforce to the National Assembly.

The clerk said the National Assembly workforce was fully prepared to partner with him for the smooth running and success of the National Assembly.

Saraki sought the cooperation of the clerk and the directors, saying his success depends largely on them.

‘Nigeria’s unity, panacea for growth’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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•From left: President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) Foluso Fasoto; First Deputy President, APBN Dr. Omede Idris; Senior Leadership Consultant, International Leadership Foundation Dr. Victor Koh and summit’s chairman Prof.

Anya Oko Anya at the APBN 2015 Summit in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Court orders Nnamani to forfeit assets to Fed Govt

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of multi-billion naira assets allegedly belonging to a former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, to the Federal Government.

Among the forfeited assets are undeveloped properties and transmission equipment of Rainbownet Limited; property of Hill Gate Investment Limited/Cuena Phones Limited; assets of Cosmo 105.5FM, and 22 duplexes at Ebeano Estate (now Fidelity Estate).

Others are Rainbownet’s shares in Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, with a combined account balance of N4.6 million; as well as money in its bank accounts worth about N34.8 million.

The balances are in different accounts with GTBank (N313,700); Sterling Bank (N986,958); Ecobank (N24.5 million); First City Monument Bank (N3.8 million) and Zenith Bank (N761,156).

EFCC said it was awaiting details of balances in Rainbownet’s 10 accounts with Access Bank.

Rainbownet’s undeveloped property forfeited include seven plots at Independence

By Joseph Jibueze

Layout; 567.96 Square metres (Sqm) at Abakpa; 574.96 Sqm at Emene and 2,951.98 Sqm at Achara Layout.

Others to be forfeited include thousands of square metres of properties at Abia State, namely Ogbor Hill (914.633), Abayi (one and half plots), Port Harcourt Road (1,856.449), Ariaria (640.32), Umuagari (573.263) and Assannetu (954.396), as well as Abakiliki, Ebonyi State (one plot).

Also, in Onitsha, Anambra State, are Barracks (one plot), Nkpor (1088.644), Awada (465.14), Fegge (one plot); as well as 2,200.06 square miles of land at Okpumo, Awka.

The company is also to lose 693.636 square metres of undeveloped property located opposite the War Museum, Umuahia.

Assets of Rainbownet Communications Limited, including Central Switch Room, Microwave Radio, Rectifier, Microwave Backhaul Transmission, among others at various locations in Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo states are to be forfeited.

The former senator was charged along with his former

aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms - Rainbownet, Hillgate Nigeria, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa later split Nnamani’s trial from his co-accused as he was abroad receiving treatment.

EFCC re-arraigned them on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes involving about N4.5 billion.

Part of the alleged laundered money was from the Excess Crude Oil Funds meant for some local government areas, including Aninri, Enugu South, Agwu, Igbo Etiti and Isi Uzor, which was allegedly transferred to Nnamani’s bank account in the United States (U.S.).

The crime was allegedly committed while Nnamani was governor between 1999 and 2007. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

However, after the trial was split, four of the companies on May 19 pleaded guilty to a 10count amended charge through their counsel.

The companies are Rainbownet, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile and

Renaissance University Teaching Hospital.

They were alleged to have failed to comply with lawful enquiries by the commission.

On June 11, Justice Yunusa adjourned to July 7 for review of facts and sentences after EFCC’s lawyer Kelvin Uzozie told the court that he was still trying to get a list of all the companies’ assets.

Yesterday, he prayed the court to convict the companies in view of their plea after tendering some documents, including the assets’ schedule.

He urged the court to make an order of the assets’ forfeiture, and for the commission to be involved in their management.

The companies’ lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeome, during the alucutus (plea for mercy), urged the court to temper justice with mercy since they were first offenders.

Justice Yunusa, who said a company can be treated as a natural person in law, ordered that “the property listed in the schedule be forfeited to the Federal Government.”

He adjourned till November 12 for the trial of the remaining accused persons.

IGERIA can only harness its economic potentials when its people live together harmoniously, irrespective of tribal, religious and political affiliations, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki said yesterday.

He spoke while receiving members of Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF), led by Mohammed Umara Kumali.

The Senate President Media Office quoted Saraki as saying that the country is blessed with abundant resources and that the only way to ensure their efficient utilisation was for all the geo-political zones to contribute their quota to the growth of the economy.

Saraki was also quoted to have said that every part of the country was important and should be encouraged to actively participate in the nation’s development.

He said: “It becomes a concern when any part of the country cannot meet up its obligation. Our objective in the Eight Senate is to encourage the diversification of the economy by developing other sectors like agriculture, mining, industrialisation and other viable areas with the aim of creating employment and a robust economic environment across the country.

“We must set out our priorities. We must show that there is a difference in our legislative activities. We must meet up with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who have sacrificed so much for us during the last elections.

“I am confident that this Senate will continue to partner and work closely with every stakeholder in our resolve to give the nation the dividends of democracy.”

Kumalia said his group came into existence three years ago with the aim of finding solutions to the myriad of challenges faced by the North.

He said the association has been engaging governments at all levels on how to contain the inter-ethnic and religious crisis, high level of illiteracy, exploration of oil in the North, agricultural development and insecurity.

NYSC to MDAs: don’t reject corps members From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday urged organisations, especially Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to always accept corps members posted to them for primary assignments.

In a statement in Abuja, the scheme’s director general, Brig.Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said corps members are posted based on their disciplines and within the limits imposed by the NYSC posting policy.

He told employers that the corps members answered the clarion call to participate in the national service out of patriotism and always looked forward to rendering services for the country’s progress.

Brig.-Gen. Olawumi said: “In view of the foregoing, all stakeholders, including employers, are requested to always give the young men and women of the scheme the necessary support and encouragement by accepting them whenever posted for primary assignment.

“It is noteworthy that rejection of corps members posted to organisations, resulting in some of them roaming the streets in search of places of service, is at variance with the ideals of the founding fathers of the NYSC scheme and should therefore be discouraged by all well-meaning Nigerians.

“On our part, we in the NYSC remain committed to contributing to the socio-economic development of our dear country through harnessing of the potentials of these patriotic youth and will continue to count on the support of all and sundry in that regard.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

8

NEWS

•ALL AREGBESOLA. Pro-Aregbesola supporters...yesterday.

ALL FOR AREGBESOLA

•AGAINST AGAINST AREGBESOLA Anti-Aregbesola supporters...yesterday.

•More pro-Aregbesola supporters...yesterday.

Violence averted as anti, pro-Aregbesola rallies hold

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IOLENCE was averted yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital,

as some civil society groups held protests over unpaid salaries.

Some groups held a proAregbesola rally. Others, under the aegis of the Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO), staged a protest, calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

A detachment of armed security agents, including the police and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, dispersed the protesters to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

The anti-Aregbesola group tried to garner support for the investigation of the petition by Justice Oloyede Folahanmi, calling for Aregbesola’s impeachment.

•APC hails people’s support From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

From 9am, the group marched from Ayetoro to Olaiya Junction, where they met the pro-Aregbesola protesters.

The security agents’ timely intervention prevented a clash.

CSCEO leader Adeniyi Alimi called for the people’s support for Aregbesola‘s impeachment.

He said the House of Assembly had begun investigating Justice Folahanmi’s petition.

Wale Adebisi of Osun Progressive Left, Amitolu Shittu of the De-Raufs and Waheed Lawal led the pro-Aregbesola protesters.

They exonerated the governor of any misdeed over the unpaid salaries, which they

described as a national challenge.

They condemned the opposition’s desperate moves to capitalise on the nationwide problem to create mayhem in the state.

On the pro-Aregbesola train were women, artisans, traders, and civil rights organisations, such as the Ola Oni Centre for Good Governance, State Civil Society Coalition, Committee for Democracy and Human Rights, Centre for Voters Awareness, Coalition Groups for Good Governance, Sharing Heart International, Climate and Environmental Awareness Initiative.

The protesters insisted that those championing the campaign of calumny are on a failed mission.

Some of the protsters car-

OOU students demand N80m compensation

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TUDENTS of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, yesterday demanded N80 million compensation for families of their eight colleagues, who died in an auto crash on June 26.

The Students Union Government (SUG) in a statement in Abeokuta by its spokesperson, Damilola Adelesi, demanded N10 million each for the families of the eight victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accident occurred when a container laden trailer driving against traffic on the Sagamu-Benin expressway crushed the commercial bus conveying the students.

“We demand that Celplas Industries Ni-

geria Ltd compensate the families of the deceased with N10 million each.

“We use this medium as a final reminder to all concerned parties of our demands and issue a fresh seven-day ultimatum, which starts July 7 to July 15,” the statement said.

The statement lamented that there had been no contact between the company which owns the chemicals in the container and OOU management or its SUG. NAN reports that the students had on June 29 staged a peaceful protest at the accident scene and later invaded the company, where they vandalised some trucks.

The students also demanded that the driver of the trailer be arrested.

ried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Don’t stigmatise Aregbesola over unpaid salaries”; “Osun is not the only state owing workers”; “Omisore, PDP funding violence against Aregbesola’s government”; “Salary issue is a national challenge” and many others.

Shittu told the people to be wary of “selfish politicians using the salary issue to create tension and make Aregbesola the enemy of the people”.

He added: “To the best of our knowledge, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has identified 23 states where salaries have not been paid.

“In fact, if you look at the local government workers, Osun is one of the states owing the least number of months with the payment up till February and we are aware that even that of March is

ready.

“There are states with up to eight months of unpaid salaries in councils. The same thing goes for civil servants.

“Why then is this crazy stigmatisation of Osun and its governor? We are here to say enough is enough.”

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) praised the people, especially residents, for “routing PDP’s attempt at creating mayhem in the state capital”.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, the party said the PDP mobilised a “dubious coalition of socalled civil society activists”.

The party said the PDP was ignorant of the Federal Government’s intervention to help states that have been unable to pay salaries “as a result of the massive looting of the treasury by the ousted

PDP government”.

The APC added: “Before the PDP-sponsored hoodlums, in the name of civil society ‘activitists’ knew what was happening, an intimidating crowd of jubilant APC supporters emerged from Alekuwodo and advanced towards the protesters waiting at Olaiya.

“On sighting the crowd, the PDP-sponsored ‘activists’ fled in panic.

“Shortly afterwards, the governor drove up to the jubilant crowd on his way to work at Abere. The scene was like a mini-rally.”

The APC hailed the people for “this emphatic demonstration of solidarity with the governor and his party, despite the vicious hate campaign and demonisation of the Aregbesola government”.

Tribunal adjourns hearing of motion

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HE Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, yesterday adjourned till Friday the petition by Chief Oyebisi Ilaka of Accord Party, challenging the victory of Senator Monsurat Sunmonu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The petitioner’s counsel, Olawale Olaoye, raised a motion to postpone the

hearing date, adding that he filed and served the motion on all counsel.

But Sunmonu’s counsel Wale Akoni (SAN) and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Oluwatosin Adisa said they had incurred cost by making available their witnesses.

The Chairman, Justice J.G. Abundaga, said the tribunal cannot overrule any motion brought before

it.

He enjoined all counsel to ensure that they respond to the motion soon.

Justice Abundaga, however, awarded a cost of N10,000 to the third respondent(INEC), as urged by its counsel.

Counsel to the first and second respondent had their cost request of N200,000 and N50,000 turned down.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

9

NEWS Professionals hail Tinubu

LUTH disowns strike

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

A

L

AGOS University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management has denied involvement in the on-going industrial action by its doctors.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, said it is not within the hospital’s power to pay the skipping allowance being demanded by the resident doctors.

“Ours is to prepare the payroll and send to the appropriate authority. It is really a surprise that despite the fact that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the national level and other notable bodies have stepped in and given directives to the doctors to call off the strike, the resident doctors are adamant.”

The CMD said despite the strike, the hospital has not shut down services.

“It is understandable that services won’t be as rapid as it used to be, patients have to wait a little longer, and major surgeries are being rescheduled as well.”

He noted that the hospital has attended to 300 patients, including those on admission, since the strike began on June 29.

“There is no minister or committee to look into their issue now. So, I’ll advise them to the Federal Government more time. The issue will be resolved soon.”

AIB investigates accident at MMIA

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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HE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has begun investigating a ground accident involving a Boeing 777-200LR belonging to Emirates Airline and a Boeing B737-400 owned by Hak Air. The aircraft collided at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday night.

AIB’s spokesman Tunji Oketumbi said the incident occurred at 9.30pm.

He said the AIB deployed a team of investigators to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The Emirates Airline aircraft marked A6-EWD was taxiing for take-off to Dubai when its wing tip cut into the B737-400 aircraft parked at the domestic wing.

The Emirates aircraft had a little damage on its wing tip, the Hak Air B737 sustained substantial damage.

The flight was aborted and the passengers were evacuated immediately.

The Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Dr Felix Abal, yesterday inspected the accident scene.

He promised that the investigation would be done speedily.

“Every incident is a safety issue that must be thoroughly investigated. This will help in preventing accidents and sustain safety in aviation. This investigation will be conducted with speed,” he said.

•Oyo StateGovernor Abiola Ajimobi (left) greeting the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the state’s socio-economic development...yesterday.

With them are the representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Chuma Ezedima (second right) and the National Programme Officer (UNIDO) .

Trailer crushes motorcyclist to death in Ibadan

A

COMMERCIAL motorcycle rider was crushed to death by a trailer at Iwo Road Roundabout in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, a day to his child’s christening.

An eyewitness said the motorcyclist, whose name was simply given as Kehinde, was pushed by a taxi driver , who was being pursued by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) into the path of the in-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

coming trailer.

He said: “The motorcyclist was on the right side of the road close to the bridge and had nothing to do with the VIOs. But there was a taxi being pursued by the VIOs, on the second lane (middle lane).

“In an attempt to dodge the inspection team, the taxi bashed the motorcyclist. The female passenger successfully jumped

off the bike with minor injuries. The trailer crushed the motorcyclist.

“The trailer driver was unaware of the accident, so he just continued his journey.”

The source said the VIOs sped off immediately after the accident, instead of pursuing the trailer.

Another witness, however, alleged that the VIOs were pursuing the motorcyclist and in the process he was pushed in the path

of the on-coming trailer.

After the accident, his colleagues stormed the Ikolaba VIO office but were denied entry by the police. Some of them were arrested.

It was gathered that his wife fainted when the news of his death got to her.

Kehinde’s remains have been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital morgue at Yemetu, Ibadan.

Iyaloja Ado-Ekiti released 12 hours later

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HE Iyaloja of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Waye Oso, has been released from police detention, 12 hours after her arrest.

Mrs. Oso told reporters in her office at Erekesan Market yesterday that she breathed the air of freedom at 10am.

She was arrested on Monday at 7.30 pm on charges that she allocated land for market stalls at Awedele area of Ado Ekiti to some women after collecting N93 million from them.

The Iyaloja was detained at the office of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Police Headquarters, Ado Ekiti.

Mrs. Oso fingered Governor Ayo Fayose as the brain behind her ordeal, claiming that the officers who arrested her told her they were acting on his (Fayose’s) order.

She maintained that her arrest and detention were politically motivated.

Mrs. Oso said: “I challenge anyone with evidence that I collected N93 million or sold market land illegally to come out.

“My arrest and detention were politically motivated.

I have heard before that some people had threatened to implicate me and what I went through was the execution of the plot.

“This land belongs to O’odua Group. It was Fayemi’s government that brokered the deal between us and the company.

•Market women protest ‘extortion’ •APC: arrest is impunity taken too far From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

“The money paid to us, which I did not receive directly, was spent on the clearing of land. No money was paid to me.

“I want to say that whoever paid to me should confront me. My arrest was just a ploy to rubbish my name.

“We had allocated the land three years ago, including the one given to ready-made cloth sellers. The question of defrauding anyone did not even arise at all.

“I didn’t collect money on wood, cement and block as being alleged by my detractors and the god of the market is hearing.

“I challenge anyone who said I collected money from him or her to prove it.

“O’odua Group did the survey, the plan and the Certificate of Occupancy.”

The Iyaloja added that she entered into a lease holding agreement with O’odua Group during the Fayemi’s administration for land allocation at Awedele with the promise that N3,000 would be paid yearly by traders to the company.

But some traders at the Erekesan Market accused Mrs. Oso of extortion.

The aggrieved traders, who spoke with reporters at the Ministry of Lands, Hous-

ing and Urban Development, alleged that they paid N19,000 to the Iyaloja without being allocated spaces.

Speaking on their behalf, Mrs Joke Aduloju , a cloth seller, alleged that her group paid N19,000 to Mrs. Oso but many of them were yet to be allocated spaces.

Mrs. Aduloju called on the government to address the issue so that they can meet the September 8 deadline.

“All the units in the market, including pepper sellers, sellers of ready made dresses, shoe sellers and many others paid the money. But some are yet to be allocated spaces.”

The representatives of Ibo traders, Richard Uzokwe and the youth wing, Richard Folamade, urged the government to take over land allocation at Awedele.

They appealed to the government to include some of the traders in its Committee on Land Allocation.

Commissioner for Lands Tayelolu Otitoju said the alleged payment to Mrs. Oso was illegal.

Otitoju said: “We don’t want crisis or chaos in Ekiti.

But I want to say that you have to go by the law on land allocation in this state.

“Going by the country’s land law of 1978, the state is empowered to allocate lands

and not individuals. So, you should be ready to pay for you to get spaces the normal way.

“Government is ready to allocate one space to a trader. We won’t allow anybody to cheat the system.”

Fayose, represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Demola Bello, said the market’s designs have been done.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the arrest and detention of Mrs. Oso. The party said: “Such show of naked power is impunity taken too far and a continuation of clampdown on influential individuals, who refused to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

Its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement, expressed indignation at the governor’s relentless humiliation of the Iyaloja over the years, noting “the governor has been in a running battle with the woman for being sympathetic to the APC”.

This, he explained, was farther from the truth as the land in question belongs to the O’odua Investment Company that operates outside the government’s purview.

He added: “Former Governor Kayode Fayemi established a private/partnership scheme with the O’odua Group of Companies that would empower vulnerable

GROUP, South West Professionals Forum (SOWPROF), has hailed All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu for saving Nigeria from economic and political pitfalls.

Established in 1993, SOWPROF hosts over 10,000 Yoruba professionals in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

A statement by its President, Segun Ajibulu, yesterday in Lagos praised the APC leader for risking his life and resources to liberate Nigeria from a ruinous path foisted on it by the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The statement reads: “Since 1999, Asiwaju has been a pillar of democracy. He put his hat in the ring not for himself but for the benefit of all.

“Tinubu has played more roles than any Nigerian to ensure the sustenance of democracy.

“In the campaign to make the Southwest a model region, we praise Tinubu’s efforts. We urge him not to relent in his efforts to unite the people.

“The future of the Southwest lies in an effective and professional civil service, creative exploration of untapped natural resources and regional integration.

“We are concerned with the fall in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We are worried that states are not able to pay salaries due to no fault of theirs. We are concerned that the civil service is weak and needs to be strengthened. The future of the people of the Southwest lies in economic and political unity of purpose.

“We need a system that will take care of those without the economic means to survive.”

•Mrs. Oso

women and youths in the state.

“Fayemi directed Ekiti Enterprise Development Agency (EEDA) with Seyi Ayeleso as the Director-General to help Ekiti women get a place within O’odua Complex.

This land belongs to O’odua Group. He wrote to O’odua asking for its approval and it was granted.

“O’odua and the women signed a 25-year lease agreement at no cost to them but they would pay N3000 per shop to O’odua on completion. All documents giving details of the above are still in EEDA office for verification.”

The APC spokesman expressed surprise at the manipulation of these facts to give the impression that Mrs. Oso had committed a crime, saying the government has no business with the market, until Fayose started seeing market development as a primary function of his administration.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS Suspected robber beaten to death in Edo

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SUSPECTED robber, who was apprehended by his brave victim, has been beaten to death in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The suspected robber gave his name as Peter Osaherumwen before he died on the way to the hospital.

A cut-to-size double-barrelled gun and two live cartridges were allegedly recovered from him.

It was learnt that three robbers stormed a home at 10pm on Monday on Erediauwa Street, Upper Sakponba, Benin.

The landlord was said to

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

have held one of the hoodlums, despite the shots fired at him.

Other members of the gang reportedly fled, leaving Peter behind.

A mob was said to have descended on Peter, beating him unconscious.

Some policemen rescued him.

He died on the way to the hospital.

Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), could not be reached for comments on the incident.

Ex-aide accuses Dickson of disappointing Bayelsa

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N “honorary” Special Adviser and member of the Board of Directors of Bayelsa Oil Company Limited, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, yesterday resigned from Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration ahead of the 2016 governorship election.

Ekiotenne, an elder statesman and one of the brains behind the Bayelsa Peoples Consultative Assembly (BPCA), said he quit the government because Dickson had disappointed the people.

The chief was a rallying point for Dickson at the inception of his administration.

He issued monthly statements and mobilised elders of Bayelsa to support the government.

But Ekiotenne fell out with the governor and joined his opponents to form the BPCA, which is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He told reporters yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, that Dickson derailed from the consultative approach to the development programmes and transparency objectives of his government.

The former aide alleged that the governor embarked on many projects in one fell swoop without considering priority, strategic needs and funding prospects.

Ekiotenne said: “The agelong adage that one finger cannot remove lice from the hair is very instructive. Thus, a lack of strategic planning, prioritisation and a result-oriented advisory system gave produc-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

tivity and sustained performance serious impairment.

“Productivity was expected to rise but there was a steady decline in productivity and good performance of government in almost all sectors. This has inexorably led us to the present state of gloom.”

The former aide said successive governments in the state, including Dickson’s administration, were carried away by the fat federal allocations and failed to develop the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors of the economy to promote Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He said: “Bayelsans believe that if consultations and strategic planning, including prioritisation had been sustained, we would not have found ourselves where we are today.”

The chief said the sorry state of affairs in Bayelsa and the need to find a solution to what he called “the quagmire” compelled elders and eminent stakeholders to form the BPCA. Ekiotenne, who is also the group’s spokesman, said its members had identified the APC as the only platform where the state’s political destiny could be fulfilled.

The former aide said the group was formed to address the political and social-economic issues.

He added that the group consulted widely with APC leader in the state and former Governor Timipre Sylva and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by Chief John OdigieOyegun.

Emmanuel allots portfolios to commissioners, SAs

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HE 20 commissioners and two Special Advisers (SAs) sworn in on Monday by Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel have been assigned portfolios.

Uwemedimo Nwoko is the Attorney-General/Commissioner of Justice; Mr. Akan Okon is the Commissioner for Finance; Dr. Matthew Ekaette is the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen is the Commissioner for Works.

Prince Godwin Ntukude Transport; Elder Aniekan Akpan - Education; Dr. Dominic Ukpong - Health; Uwem Ita Etuk - Lands/ Town Planning; Enobong Uwah - Housing and Urban Renewal.

Dr. Iniobong Essien - Environment and Mineral Resources; Aniekan Umanah - Information and Communications; Victor Antai - Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Em-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

manuel Enoidem - Investment, Commerce and Industry.

Ekong Sampson - Rural Development; Dr. Emmanuel Onwioduokit - Economic Planning and Development; Dr. (Mrs) Elizabeth Obot - Science and Technology and Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok - Culture and Tourism.

Dr. Glory Edet - Women Affairs and Social Welfare; Sir Monday Uko - Youths and Sports; Etido Inyang - Special Duties.

The Special Advisers have also been assigned their portfolios.

Enyinna Ekpenyong is for Bureau of Labour, Productivity and Manpower Planning and Anietie Etuk will head the Bureau of Political and Legislative Affairs.

The postings, according to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, takes immediate effect.

Emerhor, Delta APC petition INEC over lawyer’s denial of card readers

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ELTA State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last general elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has said there were moves to subvert the election rules in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a petition to the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Amina Zakari, the APC flag bearer alleged that INEC’s counsel at the governorship petitions tribunal, D. D. Dodo, denied the documented and publicised directive on the use of the electronic Card Readers for the April 11 elections.

The Delta APC had built its case around the non-compliance with INEC’s directive that the April 11 polls.

But in a letter to INEC, through their lawyer, S. M. Egbune, Emerhor and APC alleged that INEC’s lawyer at the tribunal in Asaba, D. D. Dodo, had abandoned the brief and official

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

position of the commission.

Egbune said Dodo filed responses that denied and contradicted the mandatory use of Card Readers for the elections.

In his reply to the tribunal, Dodo had said: “The respondents admit that by law and by the third respondent’s (INEC’s) directives and guidelines for the conduct of a free, fair, credible and transparent election, accreditation of voters is a condition precedent to voting by a registered voter on election day, but deny that the third respondent prescribed the mandatory use of electronic Card Readers for the accreditation of voters for the elections of April 11 in each of the polling units in each local government area.

“The respondents state that the Electoral Act is a comprehensive Act which deals with the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Electoral Act 2010 (as

amended) provides for the only mode of accreditation of voters, which is solely through the Register of voters. Accreditation at an election is regulated by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

“The introduction of Card Reader Machine is a mere instruction at the election to facilitate the accreditation process and does not in any way equate with or obliterate the express provisions of the Electoral Act, which are extant for all purposes.

“From inception it was contemplated that upon failure of the Card Reader Machine, other contingencies will be resorted to in order to ensure that election is duly conducted and that legitimate voters were not disenfranchised.

“The ultimate mechanism was a resort to the manual accreditation as provided for in the Electoral Act. The Respondents shall contend that with the challenges presented by the Card Reader Machine, the proc-

ess of accreditation proceeded as was expressly provided for in the Electoral Act. There were no acts of non-compliance which materially affected the result of the election.”

The petitioners expressed shock that Dodo went against INEC’s official position.

They recalled that INEC’s former Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega publicly reinstated the commission’s position, confirming the mandatory use of Card Readers.

They said Dodo was misrepresenting INEC and was acting outside the commission’s directives.

The petitioners said the lawyer’s action was putting INEC’s reputation, as a fair electoral umpire, at risk.

They urged Mrs Zakari to look into their complaint against Dodo in order to correct and defend INEC’s official position without let or favour to any of the parties to the election petition.

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (middle) with his wife, Iara, and Engineer Serge of A&K Construction during the governor’s inspection of the Central Hospital project, in Benin...on Monday.

N636b debt: Protesters urge Okowa to name culprits

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HERE was a protest yesterday in Warri, Delta State, following the alleged N637 billion debt profile former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan allegedly left behind.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa recently spoke on the huge debt his successor left behind.

The governor urged the residents to prepare for hard times.

But the protesters, under the auspices of Graduates of the Niger Delta (GAND),

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

slammed Okowa for allegedly revealing half-truth about the state’s debt profile and those behind it.

GAND’s President Progress Omo-Agege said Okowa and his kinsmen, Prince Sam Obi, who was acting governor for three months, should be investigated with previous administrations to ascertain those behind the huge debt profile.

The spokesman claimed that under Obi - who was in office between November 2010, when Uduaghan was sacked by an Appeal Court, and January 2011, when an election was held - the state incurred about N100 billion debt.

He urged Okowa to make more revelations on the true financial record of Delta State.

Omo-Agege said the group’s interest was to ensure that the state’s misap-

propriated funds were refunded without shielding anyone.

The group, which comprises various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, urged President Muhammudu Buhari “to beam his anti-corruption searchlight on Delta State to ensure that those behind the debt are brought to book”.

It said the governor was being economical with the truth when he blamed Uduaghan for the debt profile.

Edo PDP begins search for governorship candidate

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HE Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun the search for a credible candidate to present against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s governorship election.

PDP chieftains said to have shown interest in the race are: Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyikemwen and Mike Onolememen.

It was learnt that a special committee has been set up by the top hierarchy of the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

party to scout for a popular candidate.

A source told our reporter that all lawmakers, except Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, representing Ikpoba Okha/ Egor Federal Constituency, attended the meeting when the committee was set up.

The source said Ehiozuwa was barred from the meeting because of his alleged romance with the APC. But in a telephone chat, Ehiozuwa said he was not barred from any PDP meeting.

The lawmaker denied act-

ing the APC script at the National Assembly.

He said: “The National Assembly is not APC or PDP. You do what is in the interest of Nigeria and your constituency once you are a member.

“I am PDP member. The Captain Hosa they are talking about is no longer a politician. Everybody goes to his house, irrespective of party affiliations.”

Former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie, in an interview, had said he would join other well-meaning leaders of the PDP to scout for a credible candidate without connection

with PDP’s failed government.

He said: “The 2016 governorship will not be based on political platform; it is going to be about who the candidate is. For the PDP to be seen to have broken ranks with irresponsibility, we have to be sure that our candidate will not have any relationship with previous failures of the PDP government in Edo.” Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion said the next PDP governor would be a founding member of the party in the state.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

11

CITYBEATS Snake found in Lagos tanker explosions’ victims Magistrate’s chambers get N13.35m compensation T L

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

AGOS State government yesterday paid N13,350,000 to victims of fuel tanker explosions in fulfilment of its promise.

There were two of such explosions in Iyana Ipaja and Idimu on June 2 and 6.

Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode presented cheques for the amount to the victims at Igando rehabilitation Centre.

Ambode urged the beneficiaries to use what he called the government’s widow’s mite” to rehabilitate themselves.

“We know what the government has given is not enough but everyone of you should make good use of it. Please stay peaceful and remain focused. We want you to return home and rehabilitate yourselves as much as you could.

The good Lord would continue to be with you. We pray not to witness such incidence again. We share in your feelings and urge you to continue to give your support to this administration”, he said.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Dr Aderemi Desalu said 76 persons from the Iyana Ipaja incident were recommended for financial assistance. Seven of them who are landlords

HERE was panic at an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos,on Monday when a snake was found in the Magistrate’s chambers.

The incident occurred around 8:30am, support staff were about receiving Magistrate Akeem Fashola, who has just been posted to the court.

It was learnt that the magistrate sat on his desk, without knowing there was a snake beside his table.

“Oga was in the office and he had sat down for sometime. He stood up and went into the toilet to allow the cleaner continue sweeping when she got close to his seat.

“It was the cleaner’s scream that attracted all our attention.

She said as she was sweeping, her broom swept something that was heavy.

“As she looked up, she realised it was a green snake.

•Dr Adebule (middle) presenting a cheque to Mr Garuba Ajao. With them are the SSG, Mr Tunji Bello (second right) General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Managment Agency (LASEMA) Michael Akindele (left) and Executive Secretary, Egbe Idimu, Kunle Olowoepejo...yesterday.

PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

received N500, 000 each. Sixty four shop owners got N150, 000 each ; five tricycle operators, N50, 000 each.

Desalu said 369 persons were affected in the Idimu tanker fire, adding that 167 of them are adults.

“We brought members of that community to this camp.

We had a total of 369 residents including children. They

have been here for one month and would be departing very soon. We recommended N50, 000 but the governor magnanimously doubled what we recommended.

Meanwhile, the committee set up by Ambode to examine the immediate and remote causes of the explosion has submitted its report.

The committee chaired by Secretary to the State Gov-

ernment (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello presented its report to the governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ambode constituted the factfinding committee to prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers, found culpable in the incidents.

Ambode promised to work on the panel’s recommendations, saying the government would take steps to protect life and property.

Actor’s wife seeks marriage dissolution Middle age woman, Emma Ike, urged the Lagos Island Cus-

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tomary Court to dissolve her 12-year-old marriage, accusing her actor-husband of battering her.

Mrs Ike said her husband beats her over trivial issues, adding: “It was when my husband beat me mercilessly I believed that people truly saw stars whenever they were unconscious. It was my brother who took me to the hospital where I spent two months. There was also a day I was feeding our last child

By Basirat Braimah

with tea, my husband, out of anger took the tea and poured it on my head.”

She said the harsh reality of life began to dawn on her after her husband deprived her of being in charge of his school.

“I even persuaded his sister to bring four of her children to our school without paying a dime but instead of showing appreciation, she said I was a lavish spender and that was how I stopped being in charge of the school,” she said.

The petitioner said the school was shut when her husband couldn’t manage it properly.

“Each time we fight, he calls me a witch saying whenever he intends to start a project and he informs me it eventually fails. He also said if he hadn’t married me, I would have become a prostitute,” Mrs Ike said.

She said she left his house two years ago with two of her children when she could no longer bear his violent act anymore, adding that she be granted access to

their first two children.

“Since I left, he doesn’t allow me to speak with our first two children asking me to come home if I really want to see them. Even when I was in with him, he leaves home for months on the pretext of different appointments. I can’t face all this anymore. I need help,” The union produced four children between ages 4 and 13.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the respondent to appear in court and adjourned the matter till July 22.

Drama as Okada rider escapes life jail

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HERE was joy at an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday when a 19-year-old commercial motorcyclist Solomon Alu got a second chance to fight for his freedom. He had initially pleaded guilty to a seven-count charge of manslaughter.

Alu, from Ebonyi State, was accused of, among others, reckless driving, driving against traffic, not wearing a helmet, causing the death of one Phillip Alu and injuring Mrs. Ogunfuye Funmilayo when his motorbike was involved in an accident around Benson BusStop, Ikorodu, on July 1.

During his trial, the court was astonished when Alu, head bowed, shoulders sagging and in tears, pleaded guilty to each of the sevencount charge. The offence contravened Sections 19 and 20 of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State. To the court’s surprise, was representing

By Robert Egbe

himself because he had no lawyer.

In a voice, he muttered “guilty” to every count read to him. Even when he appeared to be struggling to understand some of the charges and they were reread to him, his answer was still: “guilty”.

After listening to him, Magistrate Makanju-Oshodi retired to her chambers. Under the Criminal Code, the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.

“I have nobody,” Alu told The Nation, when he was asked why he didn’t have a lawyer. “I have nobody. I am 19 years’ old”.

On why his family was not in court with him, he sobbed: “My elder brother is 22 years’ old. He is in Anambra taking care of our mother. She is ill. I’ve told him not to tell her I’ve been arrested.”

On the magistrate’s return, two lawyers, a man and woman, walked in.

“Are you the accused?” the man asked. Alu nodded.

“We’re here to take your case for free,” the lawyer said.

With the lawyer’s appearance, the magistrate allowed Alu to retake his plea. This time on his law-

yers’ advice, he pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate granted him N200, 000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum. She said the sureties should provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till August 6.

Another building collapses in Lagos

By Nneka Nwaneri

BUILDING, which serves as a warehouse collapsed on Monday night on Orile-Coker axis of Lagos.

The three-storey building, which has a few shops for merchants and goods such as various plumbing materials, tiles and ceramics.

Residents of the area, while reliving incident said the collapse was accompanied by shattering sounds and loud noise.

Although, no one was hurt when the incident occurred, but goods worth millions of naira were buried under the rubble.

Officials of the Lagos State Building Agency (LASBA), were at the scene to unravel the possible cause of the collapse.

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

And the snake at the same time, skipped to the other side of the office, near the cabinets, where it hid.

“It was at the point that we came in and killed the snake. We are really shocked because no one could explain how the snake entered the chambers,” a court worker said.

The Nation found that the court is not surrounded by bush.

Some litigants believe that it is possible the snake crawled in from the nearby International airport, which shares boundary with the court.

They appealed to the government to clear the bush around the airport and fumigate it to avoid safety.

At the time of filing this report, workers were fumigating the court premises, and rearranging the offices.

Ex-workers protest ‘injustice’ •‘They ‘ve no case’

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OME ex-workers of De Skyline Hotel in Ikeja have accused the management of sacking them without paying their entitlements.

The protesters, who are members of the Youth League for Change, marched through the nearby PWD, bus stop, waving placards with inscriptions: “Segun Awolowo stop victimising our ladies, stop harassing and sacking workers unjustly, salary is not a gift, we worked for it”.

Mr Sunday Abbah, who led the protest said it was informed by the non-acknowledgment of their petition by the hotel’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Segun Awolowo.

Awolowo owns three hotels (De Skyline Hotel and two Country Guest Houses) in Ikeja.

The protesters accused Awolowo of verbal insult, abuse, exploitation, intimidation and unlawful sack without payment.

A victim, Miss Hadijat Issa who was initially employed as a receptionist and later became the manager of the Hotel at Ikeja narrated her ordeal.

She said: “The problem is whenever Mr Awolowo comes back from abroad, he always sack his workers and employ new ones. When he came back in May, he called me to come and meet him at Skyline hotel, on getting there, I met him and the new Skyline Manager that was employed two weeks before his arrival. He ordered the new manager and me to stay at Skyline for one week for recruiting exercise. The following week, he called me to a meeting to flush out some workers in Country Guest House. It took him just one week to sack almost all the workers and replaced them with new ones. He told me that my administration is not good, that things were stolen and a customer checked in without payment”.

Natasha Okon who worked as a receptionist said “I started on January 30th .

After three weeks, I was transferred to Country Guest House. I was sacked in May. He just called me one day and

By Jane Chijioke

said ‘you are still here, you have not been sacked? Three days later, I went to work only for the security to bar me from entering. They will tell the gateman not to open the gate for you, that was how they sack there” Contacted, Awolowo’s lawyer, Louis Nwaugbala said: “I don’t want to talk to you; I have every right not to talk to you. Those people are involved in a criminal case”.

An officer at the Police Airport Command, Austine Osabase, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), urged the parties to resolved the issue amicably. He called Nwangbala, who denied knowledge of the petition sent to the management.

Nwaugbala told The Nation on phone: “If you hear from me, you have heard from the horse’s mouth. What they did (protest) is tantamount to taking law in their hands; if there are issues, there are processes to follow. Mr Awolowo is not even in the position to say anything; moreover he is not in the country. The last time he came to the country was last December. There is a particular customer of ours, a lawyer who works with the Ministry of Justice, Abuja. On that particular day, she wanted to go out and she was interrogated as to where she was going to and she answered that she will be back soon. These people took her keys and stole most of her belongings. She noticed it but had an urgent meeting in Abuja to attend to and she travelled back. She sent her sister down here to take over the case. One was even caught with stolen money in her underwear.

All these people are criminals and irresponsible.

“When Mr Segun Awolowo was briefed about this, he was not happy with the development.

I can categorically tell you that all what they have said are issues of lies. When you run a business and your things keep getting missing or stolen, what step will you take?” he asked

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

Ramadan 21, 1436AH

Be agents of positive change, Lagos speaker advises Muslims

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has appealed to Nigerians in general, and Muslims in particular to be agents of positive change.

Obasa stated this at a Ramadan Lecture organised by Citinet in Ikeja, where he delivered a keynote address.

He called on leaders to hasten the process of revamping the socioeconomic structure of the nation in order to effect real change in the life of Nigerians.

The speaker said the country needed to do away with the regime of impunity.

According to him, for real change to occur in governance ‘’our leaders, in their respective positions, must love Allah, obey His will, shun corruption, entrench respected institution of shura, allow rule of law, justice, and equity, transparency in governance, accountability and selfless service to govern their conducts in office.’’

The clamour for change in the running of the affairs of our nation, he pointed out, became necessary ‘’when poverty and injustice in the land had become the order of the day; oppression of the masses by the government through various methods pervaded the whole federation.’’

He stated that Islamic concept of change in governance presupposes the establishment of Rule of Law, khilafah (succession of God-fearing leaders) accountability, transparency, justice, equity and doing good and running away from all evils that can truncate dividends of democracy for our people.

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Al-I’tikaf

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HE world’s greatest teacher, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will never cease to be a teacher even in death.

He recognised communication as the greatest means of fulfilling temporal desire and attaining spiritual satisfaction and thus recommended it to the Muslim Ummah.

He was reported as saying: “If you want to speak to Allah, prostrate to Him and express all your wish and expectations in that position.

And if you want Allah to speak with you, just recite the Qur’an”. That is a great philosophy of communication. As servants of Allah, there is no better way of speaking to your Master than humbling yourself in a manner that truly depicts you as a loyal servant. One of the features of Ramadan fast is I’tikaf which simply means voluntary seclusion. It comes up during the last ten days of the sacred month. Its purpose is to completely abstain from all sinful acts and maximize one’s spiritual benefit.

I’tikaf or self seclusion is adopted by any Muslim who wants to get closer to the Almighty Allah through the spiritual realm. With I’tikaf, a Muslim can attain inner composure and equanimity even as he is absorbs in eternal reality.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) regularly observed I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. And after him, his wives and disciples adhered to that tradition as a means of purifying the heart and attaining peace of the mind.

I’tikaf is mostly done in the Mosque but it can also be done in a house especially by women if the house is clean and free of disturbance. While in I’tikaf the Mu’takif or recluse is expected to observe all the five daily prayers and other Nawafil (supererogatory prayers). He is also to engage in the recitation of the Quran and the glorification of Allah.

He seeks forgiveness and shows gratitude to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe for all the countable and uncountable good things of life with which he has been endowed. While in I’tikaf, one is not expected to move around beyond the vicinity of the Mosque in which he is secluded.

Foods and drinks are brought to him by his wife or relations. He goes to the toilet and takes bath as necessary. But he is not to go about in vehicles during the time of I’tikaf except by necessity. I’tikaf is a Sunnah and not compulsory for anybody.

Only those who have the time and the means can go into it. Daily paid workers who must provide for their families daily are not expected to go into I’tikaf. Wives and children must not suffer from lack of domestic provisions because the family head has gone into I’tikaf. And, women are not permitted to go into I’tikaf leaving their husbands and children at home except with the express permission of the husband. But where a woman is unmarried or is old and has no responsibility of providing for the husband or children, she can go into I’tikaf. People in I’tikaf can cook their foods and wash their dresses.

But a recluse is not allowed go to the market in a bid to provide for himself. No sick person should go into I’tikaf.

But if a person suddenly falls sick while in I’tikaf, it is necessary for him to break the I’tikaf and go to the hospital.

He may return into I’tikaf if he is well. Besides, a recluse can break I’tikaf to attend to any emergency in his home or in the neighbourhood.I’tikaf does not extend to the day of Idul-Fitr. It must be terminated as soon as Ramadan fast terminates. A woman’s I’tikaf terminates automatically with the commencement of her menstruation period.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (top left) acknowledging cheers from Jaleoyemi Youths Residents of Osogbo after the breaking of fast with them...yesterday

From left:Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Abdul-Rauf, Guest Lecturer, Chairman of the ocassion,Alhaji Umar Farouq Alao and Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Ologunebi Ajinose at the Muslim Media Practioners of Nigeria (MMPN) Ramadan lecture at Bodija Central Mosque, Ibadan...yesterday PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

Muslims urged to trust Allah PEAKING during the annual Ramadan lecture at the Central Mosque, Osogbo, the Mufasir l Quran of Osogboland, Alhaji Maroof Isola has urged Muslims to put their trust in Allah instead of an Alfa because Islam means total submission to Allah. He wondered why some Muslims put their trust in Alfa.

“You should only put your trust in Allah not in any man, not in any Alfa, if you think you have an Alfa somewhere, you will just destroy yourself” He claimed that as the number of alfas are growing, mischief makers among them are increasing. He urged Muslims to rediscover themselves as they could do what they run to Alfas to do for them.

“Some of these alfas that you

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You should only put your trust in Allah not in any man, not in any Alfa, if you think you have an Alfa somewhere, you will just destroy yourself

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run to are not better than you.”

Emphasising on the need for total submission to Allah, he noted that there is nothing that happens on earth either good or bad that Allah does not know about.

“Submission to God means God does all things, which means whatever happens, you should regard it as Qadar(destiny).

He , however, acknowledged the fact that Allah can use people as instrument of favour upon somebody to make His decision to come into reality and such people serve as Shaba(Instrument of favour). “ If you say there is no Sabbab(instrument of favour) and

you just want to submit to God, that person must be examined or you believe in Qadar without Sabbab, that person will soon be consulting oracles. Both Sabbab and believing in Destiny go hand -in hand.

He urged Muslims to work and pray not only pray without work.

He extolled the virtue of Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alh khamis Olatunde Badmus, saying his contributions to Islam has been massive, saying the dead and the living would be proud of him.

Speaking at the capacity filled venue of the lecture, Asiwaju thanked the congregation for their prayers, he announced that the task of giving the central mosque a befitting look is on course especially now that God has elevated members of the mosque to the higher place in the society.

As part of his oversight functions on Islamic Affairs,Asiwaju also used the occasion to inform the gathering that Mosque Committee for Osogbo Central Mosque has been inaugurated.

We sent not an prophet except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them. Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases. And He is exalted in power, full of wisdom.

Qur’an 14 vs 4 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS OLATUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland

He said the reason behind the inauguration is to constitute a new set of people to manage the administration of the mosque in line with the best practices all over the country.

He added that the immediate and major assignment before the constituted committee is the reconstruction of the town Central mosque which has been in the offing for the past 17 years.

He added that the committee which is Chairman by Senator Bayo Salami,Alhaji Gani Adekunle Alh.Bayo Jimoh,Immediate Past GMD of Oodua Investment, Mr Bade Adesina,a Finance Expert, Alh Lai Busari,Justice Kola Adegoke of Osun State High Court, Alhaji Maroof Isola, Mufasir of Osogboland Representatives from Alasaro and Magaji would make effort to give people of Osogbo architectural designed mosque which will have underground car park among many other state -of -the art facilities.

About a million naira was donated to different groups at the end of programme.

Among the Asiwaju entourage at the function are Senator Bayo Salami, Baba Adeen of Osogboland, Alh Gani Adekunle, Aare Musulumi of Osogboland, Alh Adebayo Jimoh, Giwa Adeen of Osogboland, Justice Moshood Kunle Adeigbe of Osun State High Court,Alh Kayode Afolabi,Permanent Secretary, Local Government Pension Board, State of Osun, Alh Nurudeen Adeagbo,Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, State of Osun, Ajibola Basiru,Former Commissioner for Special Duties, State of Osun, Arch Goke Omigbodun and Alh Muniru Adebayo.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015 T

Life

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

Text only: 08023058761 and 08112662687

•Chief Victor Nana and Gen Samuel Ogbemudia

Nana Living Museum gets century-old war relics SEE STORY ON PAGE 16

Light House Fest opens Sept 30

In support of textile designs – PAGE 17

– PAGE 18

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Can you imagine what the ancient city of Ebrohimi looked like before, during and after the invasion of the British in 1894? What of the Nana palatial residence, adjoining warehouses, town hall and the British warships? Take a trip to the Nana Living Museum Koko in Warri North Local Council Area of Delta State, and you will find many more, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

Nana Living Museum gets century-old war relics

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NE hundred and 20 years after, some relics on the infamous British invasion of the ancient Itsekiri city of Ebrohimi in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have been donated to the Nana Living Museum in Koko, Delta State. The donations, which include vintage photographs of Nana palatial residence, adjoining warehouses, stores, town hall, four British warships, (Phoebe, Widgeon, Alecto and Philomel) were made by a former Commissioner in the defunct Bendel State and a frontline Koko community leader Chief J.O.S. Ayomike at a ceremony in Koko.

The items were courtesy of an Oxford University researcher, Julia Binta Mmeg. They were received by the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, represented by Benin Museum curator Mr Theophillus Umogbai and Mr Wilson Onime of Nana Living Museum.

The event brought back sad memories of the British invasion of Ebrohimi in 1894, and the 1897 British Expedition in Benin Empire that resulted in the looting of priceless Benin bronzes and deportation of Oba Ovonmramwen to Calabar where he died.

But, there seems to be more to worry about in Koko, home to Nana Living Museum where the returned century-old photographs are being kept for posterity. According to Chief Ayomike, the 21-year-old museum deserves greater patronage. He said a 40KVA generator donated

by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at the inauguration of the museum in 1994 sits unused outside the museum and unconnected to the building because of old and decrepit wiring of the ancient building.

“So, the lighting of the museum is almost zero and this does not help the preservation of the ancient items within it,” he said.

He is also worried about the state of funding of the museum at a time the country is cash-strapped. “Now that our government institutions at all levels are cashstrapped, a way out should urgently be found to increase revenue from this museum. The state government and Warri North LGA should put heads together to take care of this museum, raise its profile through publicity and make revenue from it.

“So, they do about the same way the Mandela House in Johannesburg, Mahatma Gandhi’s House in New Delhi and such other places in the world. This is the only living history museum in Nigeria,” he said.

He decried the elimination of History as a subject from the schools’ curriculum, saying History as a humanity discipline is crucially essential for any society. He noted that History is the root of some disciplines such as museulogy, anthropology and ethnology.

“Even for Nigeria, still finding ways to develop, I am afraid leaders in government, universities, NGOs have to rethink this faux pas and restore History as discipline of study if we are to adopt social democracy as ideological progressivism in our development. Even Cambridge and Oxford, very old universities still teach History,” he added.

He also expressed worry over the sustenance of the pioneering efforts of scholars, such as Prof Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Prof Ade Ajayi, Prof Tekena Tamuno, Prof Fred Omu, Prof Obaro Ikime, Prof Philip Igbafe and Prof R.A. Adeleye.

A renowned historian and author of (The Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta), a biography on the late Chief Nana Olomu of Itsekiri, Prof Obaro Ikime, said it was not enough for the commission to declare structures or buildings national monuments, but that the commission must maintain and preserve such structures for future generations.

“Your organisations owe Nigeria that duty. May God help you to perform it,” he said.

He, however, urged the commission to create more relevant monuments such that will document historical events on how Nigeria’s first prime minister was gunned down in his official residence in Lagos in 1966 in Nigeria’s first military coup. “Nothing marks that house. What would it cost to erect a statue of Tafawa Balewa by that building, with a plaque at the base telling what happened? General Murtala Muhammed was declared a national hero. He was gunned down at a spot in Ikoyi, Lagos. Nothing marks that spot. It will not cost the moon to build a small monument there, with a plaque telling the story. Where was Col. Dimka captured? Is it marked by your commission?

Ikime who was represented by his wife urged the DG to lead in persuading the Federal government to create a national cemetery, which will become a national monu-

• Gen. Ogbemudia and Chief Edun Akenzua at the ceremony

• Chief Ayomike and wife (centre) at the presentation of the photographs at the museum

MONUMENT ment that will represent a slice of the nation history.

In his speech titled: Monuments as history, he said national cemeteries across the world are tourists’ attractions such as grave of Napoleon Bonaparte in France. On the non teaching of History in schools, he said: “We don’t teach history to our children-the only nation I know that doesn’t do so. While we, professional historians, keep struggling to persuade our government to make teaching of History compulsory in our primary and secondary schools, we can use the building of monuments to teach our peoples different slices of our history. I pray and beseech you, Mr. Director-General to give this matter your serious consideration. I will be willing to wait on you, if you so desire, to discuss the matter further,”

What would it cost to erect a statue of Tafawa Balewa by that building, with a plaque at the base telling what happened? General Murtala Muhammed was declared a national hero. He was gunned down at a spot in Ikoyi, Lagos. Nothing marks that spot. It will not cost the moon to build a small monument there, with a plaque telling the story. Where was Col. Dimka captured? Is it marked by your commission?

he said.

Former governor of Bendel State Dr Samuel Ogbemudia described the presentation of the photographs as an event that would inspire future generations to ‘magnify the exploits of their fore-bearers, noting that the museum is a monument to the vigour of a living people infinitely capable of resilience, renewal and creative adaptation. “Nana the great established an epoch. Ayomike and his peers are worthy baton bearers extending the Itsekiri race into eternity,” he added.

Director-General of NCMM Usman said it was worthy of note that the unfortunate outcome of the war would later provide the firm foundation for the establishment of the Nana Living History Museum. He said the efforts of the Oxford researcher and Chief Ayomike have further increased the awareness of the people of Koko community about the importance of the museum to the society and the absolute need to preserve it for the present and future generations.

“The presentation of these historical photographs and important documents today would help to boost the Nana Living historical monument as not only a museum but a nodal research centre in possession of vital historical and ethnographic materials for learning and development.

“As the custodian of the cultural and natural heritage of any community or nation state, the museum provides essential facilities for cultural education, entertainment and recreation through preservation, interpretation and promotion of cultural inheritance of humanity.

“Today’s event underscores this essential function of the museum. In no small measure, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments has helped the community and society in general in self fulfillment and •Continued on Page 17

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

In support of textile designs

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T a time the fortunes of textile industries in Nigeria are dwindling, Dr Rita Doris Ubah of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka has demonstrated the entrepreneurial potential of textile art.

Ubah has staged a solo exhibition at the Senior Staff club of the University of Nigeria, decorating the Club with art works principally made with fabrics.

The exhibition, titled: TJANTING Lives On had on display over 100 woven and knitted designs: knitted blankets, batik prints and shirts, appliquéd, quilted wall hangings produced in panels of geometric shapes and dyed by means of exploring secondary and tertiary colours; and knitted dolls.

Equally engaging at the show were various types of duvet, functional textile materials suitable for bed spreads, knitted hand and travelling bags, winter cold protective cloths and knitted kitchen towels.

The exhibition was creatively spiced with decorative pots called Aso-ebi series. The pots were painted with acrylic colours, fibres, pliable and supportive materials that gave them feeling of monumentality.

There were also sampled office chairs made with colourful fabrics. The artist said the skeletal parts of the chairs were abandoned by stockfish sellers. Sitting on the chairs were slippers designed with fabrics with high durability quotient.

“This work is an infusion of culture and modernity, the university is happy with Dr Ubah’s academic and artistic development,” the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Edwin Igbokwe said on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor.

He described the works as commercially viable products, and expressed the willingness of the administration to interface between the artist and the textile industry.

Prof Igbokwe announced a donation of N50, 000 as part of the university administration’s contributions to encourage hard

• Some of the exhibits

EXHIBITION work and creative excellence among its staff.

“This show has made me reminiscent scholarship and artistry that the University of Nigeria was known for. Dr Ubah has brought us back to life,” Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) added.

“What Mrs Ubah has done today is to reawaken our consciousness in textile industry, the young ones should learn from her and create job for themselves,” Mazi Okoro Ijeoma, Chairman of the exhibition said.

Mazi Ijeoma lamented the neglect of the

textile industry which used to be one of the largest employers of labour in the country.

He said the exhibition should serve as wake-up call on the government to resuscitate the textile industry to provide employment to teaming Nigerian youth.

Director of Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, (ACCAI-UNN) Prof. (Mrs) Antonia Achike observed that the fabrics were climate sensitive, “we need them to cope with changes in climatic condition”, the Director said.

Ubah mounted the exhibition barely one year after she joined UNN. But that was not her first. She had staged

similar shows, eight times in Lagos, under the Green Spring School. Uba said her interest in THE arts grew out of her love for aesthetics and the desire to be different.

“I believe in creating things different from what other people have, and I love colours and fabrics”, she said She recalled that her interest in arts started at the age of three when she won handwriting scholarship at Regina Mundi Nursery School, Asaba. She further developed her talent by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Fine and Applied Arts, Master of Arts (M.A) in Fine Arts, and a Ph.D in Artistry and Textile.

Museum gets century-old war relics •Continued from Page 16

sustainability through exhibitions, educational programmes, establishment of community museums and skill acquisition. Interestingly, the Nana Living History Museum is one of such by-products,” Usman said.

He recalled that other donors’ gesture also bears close affinity and is in tandem with some other symbiotic synergies which the commission has nurtured with local and foreign organisations. According to Usman, the latest of such is the Smithsonian Institution/ NCMM international exhibition titled: Chief S.O. Alonge: Photographer to the Royal Court of Benin, Nigeria, which is on-going at the National Museum of African Arts of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, US. The exhibition, he said, will travel to National Museum Benin City in 2016.

• •From left: Chief Victor Nana and Gen Samuel Ogbemudia and Prince Edun Akenzua

Munitions of war captured on the fall of Ebrohimi in 1894 Arms • • • • • •

106 canon, from 3-prs to 32-prs 445 heavy swivel blunder-buses, about half of them brass 640 long dane guns 1,151 short flint-lock and cap guns 17 cases of short swords 5 large swivel mountings for small cannon

•

10 revolvers, various calibrEs.

Ammunition • • • •

1,640 kegs of powder, over 14 tons 500 zinc cylinder case-shot, filled 500 bamboos cylinder case-shot, filled 1000 or more bamboo cylinders, ready for fillings, of all calibers, to suit the

• • • •

cannon 14 kegs small round shot 540 gallon iron pots of balls of various sizes 2 cases Snider ammunition, about 1,600 rounds 5 cases machine gun ammunition, containing 36 feeders filled ready with 43 rounds in each- 1,548 rounds

• • •

1 case, containing 5 empty feeders for machine gun 2,500 rounds solid drawn machine gun-ammunition 300 rounds Ely revolver cartridges, various calibrEs.

•source: Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

The Midweek Magazine Light House Fest opens Sept 30

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

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HIS year’s Lights, Camera, Africa!!! Film Festival will run from Wednesday, September 30 to Sunday, October 4 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The festival is titled: Future Forward, an assembly of bold and energetic pieces of African and independent cinema that portrays the intrepid spirit that characterises the force that propels the organisers to succeed.

A statement by the organisers said the spirit is illustrated on the continent through constant movement in various fields of endeavour. This movement, it said, is marked by a purposeful quest for achieving a higher self. It is illustrated by a country that has elected a new political dispensation.

This is what The Life House continues to be inspired by as curtains close on a half-decade and open for a new one. It is not the end of an era but the commemoration of an epoch in which we have illuminated Lagos and in turn have been invigorated repeatedly by the energy, the dynamism & the essence of the city.

“In our short history, we have experienced change, we have witnessed progress and we have grown. Social media has become indispensable and as we use its power and reach in our activities, we are modifying the traditional and reenforcing our commitment to adopting the organic.

In a year fraught with race problems, migratory issues and resurgent fundamentalism, there is reason to acknowledge the problems and yet celebrate the human spirit and resilience - the courage to strive, the capacity to thrive. It is our world and we are the world’s future. The present is far from ideal but true to the resilient human spirit we will forge forward.

Excited and hopeful for the future, this year also marks a turning point for the Lights, Camera, Africa!!! Film Festival as it gathers stories from its own journey over the last few years and projects into another phase in its growth,” it added.

This year’s event will include workshops, panel discussions, talks and family-friendly sessions. It will also feature visual, literature and musical showcases, fun after-parties and the very popular festival bazaar during our five-day fiesta.

• Participants at one of the sessions

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

FESTIVAL More importantly, the film programme at the festival will continue to partner the African Film Festival New York during this year. This partnership has at its core a mission to expose African and global audiences to good quality independent African cinema to stimulate discourse on issues and experiences rooted in the African experience. We are also proud to be partners of the Ford Foundation and to receive their financial and strategic support. We continue to thrive and delight in the longstanding relationships with a number of organisations including Goethe Institut, the Royal African Society (RAS) London, Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), British Council, Alliance Française, VAN Lagos and The New Black Film Collective.

Our alliances are with scholars, directors and personalities, such as Peace AnyiamOsigwe, Tunde Kelani, Toni Kan, Ed Keazor, Chika Anadu, Sandra Krampelhuber, Ebele Okoye, Shaibu Husseini, O.C Ukeje, and Jahman Anikulapo.

• Other participants

BSN honours Kolade, others

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•Chairman, Skye Bank, Dr Olatunde Ayeni, presenting the award to Dr Kolade. With them is Rev Ajiboye

ORMER Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) Dr Christopher Kolade, has been honoured by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) at its 11th Luncheon and Awards at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Others also honoured were wife of eminent legal academic and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (Prof Taiwo Osipitan), Mrs Cecelia Olapeju Osipitan and General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church of Nigeria, Rev Felix Meduoye.

BSN’s General Secretary Rev Dare Ajiboye said they were honoured for their excellence in service and contributions to nation building.

In his response, Kolade, who lamented corruption in the country, wondered why it is so rampant. “Why is corruption prevalent in the country?

Why is it that when you want to do something well, people will be on your neck to do something else?” he asked.

He also asked if those who are corrupt actually read the Bible.

By Joseph Eshanokpe

AWARDS He said Christians must not succumb to corruption for the fear of losing their jobs or means of livelihood. He said in the midst of temptation, they should fear God and trust him for His protection and care.

The octogenarian urged Nigerians on three things: read God’s words, pray for assistance for others to read the Bible and believe God for his promises.

Mrs Osipitan, who is Managing Director, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, promised to assist BSN to achieve its core mandate. Her husband, Taiwo, who was guest of honour, urged Christians to give Bibles as gifts during celebrations.

At the event, Permanent Secretary, Mnistry of Home Affairs and Culture,Lagos State, Mrs Grace Ebun Olademeji, represented Governor Ambode Akinwunmi.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Double jeopardy • Nigeria risks health hazards by consuming smuggled poultry products and also loses billions annually to smugglers T should not be surprising that smuggling of poultry products has continued unabated in the country despite the health hazards in consuming them and in spite of the huge resources this is costing the country. The reason is simple: local supply cannot catch up with demand for the products. Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, who made this known, also disclosed that Nigeria loses about N532bn annually to smuggling of poultry products. “While the local demand for frozen chicken is above two million metric tonnes annually, Nigerian farmers are only able to produce 300, 000 metric tonnes, leaving a wide gap of more than 1.7million metric tonnes.” Since nature abhors a vacuum, this gap must be filled, somehow.

But this situation cannot continue forever, if not for the impact of smuggled poultry products on the country’s economy, but because of the dangers they constitute to human health. According to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), research has shown that poultry products smuggled into the country were partly responsible for several cases of digestive and intestinal health issues among consumers. Also, according to Dr. Oduntan, it has been discovered that the products “contain high level of bacteria”. In addition, toxic chemicals and solvents are used in preserving the frozen chickens so that their importers can get them into Nigeria to be sold at cheaper prices.

Moreover, a newspaper report said that a recent study carried out by Nigerian sci-

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entists in various markets in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt confirmed fears that smuggled chicken products contain substances that are dangerous to health. According to the research finding, “imported processed chicken and turkey were preserved with high level of formalin, a chemical that could be injurious to health when consumed in high quantities”.

Indeed, one of the researchers, a nutritional enzymologist, Dr. Okhiomah Abu, said that the poultry products imported into Nigeria “contain toxic and heavy metals that could worsen the occurrence of food-borne diseases”. According to him, these heavy metals are concentrated in the kidney and livers of the chicken, which becomes injurious to health. Yet, another researcher, Prof. C.I Alamira, has also carried on some studies which, according to him, showed that processed products like chicken and turkey “were loaded with harmful microbes such as Salmonella, which has been linked with life-threatening food-borne diseases”. In fact, he stated that Salmonella infection has been the leading cause of food-related deaths among those eating processed meat.

It was in realisation of these dangers associated with consumption of smuggled processed meat, chicken and turkey that NAFDAC has agreed to embark on a nation-wide campaign to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers of consuming them.

We have nothing against this; except that the poultry products produced locally fall far short of demand. So, the admonition that Nigerians should switch to Nigeriaproduced chicken cannot amount to

much. Not even the suggestion by stakeholders across the “poultry value chain” that the Federal Government should take far-reaching measures “that could end the menace of smuggling as it was killing local industries” can change the situation unless the supply side is addressed.

It is indeed unfortunate that we can allow this quantity of smuggling of poultry products in the country. The discrepancy between local consumption of poultry products and what is locally produced constitutes a huge gap that must be bridged by supporting local producers of poultry products as a first step towards checking smuggling. The Nigeria Customs Service too has to be strengthened and made more alive to its responsibilities. But its job would be better facilitated when there is significant increase in the quantity of poultry products produced locally. When we have enough of the products at home at affordable prices, smuggling will be minimised ; so will the health hazards.

‘The discrepancy between local consumption of poultry products and what is locally produced constitutes a huge gap that must be bridged by supporting local producers of poultry products as a first step towards checking smuggling’

Soldiers in jail • The 277 soldiers being detained in Jos army barracks should be prosecuted or released

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HE detention of 277 soldiers at the Rukuba Barracks in Jos, Plateau State, for about six months amounts to a gross violation of their constitutionally enshrined right to fair hearing and liberty. While the supreme law of the land provides for the arrest, detention, trial and sentence of offending citizens, there are clear procedures to follow. These have been grossly violated by the military authorities.

A distinguishing feature of democracy is scrupulous adherence to the Rule of Law. No one or group of persons or institution, private or public, is allowed to circumvent the laws of the land, in a bid to avoid a slide into anarchy. When there are offenders, they are to be brought to justice through just means.

The story of the soldiers being held by the authorities of the Nigerian Army for various undisclosed offences is an indi-

‘We call on the government to consider a thorough review of the administration of justice procedures with a view to guaranteeing the dignity of man and ensuring that citizens in all circumstances are availed facilities for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. The 277 soldiers languishing in the Jos military facility should be speedily brought to trial and duly convicted or freed’

cation that there are still vestiges of the impunity that reigned during military rule. The men were said to have committed offences during the ongoing efforts to combat terrorist attacks in the NorthEast region of the country. We acknowledge the resolve of the armed forces to ensure that the insurgents do not seize control of Nigerian territories, and are checked in their murderous activities, but, even at that, we insist that the laid down rules of engagement are adhered to.

This is not the first time that soldiers would be arrested over their conduct at the battle front in the war against terrorism. Some had been earlier tried and sentenced to death for disgraceful and dangerous acts that could compromise the security of state and lives of other fighting men. They were arrested and put to trial following reverses at the battlefield against successes being recorded by the Chadian and Cameroonian military against the Boko Haram terrorists. The subsequent death sentence was the only outcry that followed the procedure adopted. No one complained about the panel or the trial itself. But, in this case, all men of goodwill have a duty to caution the military authorities against adopting processes that run contrary to the constitution.

Of course there are military laws meant to deter soldiers from sabotaging war efforts or dodging responsibilities. However, we are not aware of any law that empowers any military formation to detain officers and men for as long as 180

days without trial. Depriving them of the right to movement for so long amounts to torture that has been internationally forbidden through statutes. It is horrendous to realise that in the post-military Nigeria where draconian laws such as the Decrees 2 and 4 of 1984 have been abrogated, suspects could be kept behind the bars for so long without being told their offences.

Every accused has a right to legal representation of his choice where he could afford one, and where not, he is to be availed one by the state. In the case of these men, they have been reportedly denied access to lawyers who would have helped in keeping them on course during interrogation and prepared their defence.

They have also been kept away from their loved ones. Yet, all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Thus, these men are innocent Nigerians at the moment and should not be treated like condemned criminals.

At a time the searchlight of the international community is being beamed on the Nigerian armed forces, nothing amounting to deviation from military convention and protocols is acceptable.

We call on the government to consider a thorough review of the administration of justice procedures with a view to guaranteeing the dignity of man and ensuring that citizens in all circumstances are availed facilities for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. The 277 soldiers languishing in the Jos military facility should be speedily brought to trial and duly convicted or freed.

Private Universities and TETFUND

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IR: Running a university, be it public or privately-owned is not a tea party. It demands a brilliant vision; to institute and execute the right processes and procedures and getting them right, even from the beginning as Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google admonished. Correct projections must be made and pro-active measures and mechanisms put in place to oil the machines of the day-to-day administration.

Similarly, solid and stable infrastructure, high quality manpower, state- of- the- art libraries and laboratories are equally needed, all with the aim of producing top-range manpower as the engine to drive the nation’s economic growth. Obviously therefore, much money is required to achieve the lofty aims of the proprietors and chief promoters of such universities. It should be noted, that establishing private universities is not for profit but to place Nigeria in the comity of nations, when it comes to meeting international standards on education delivery and economic prosperity.

In the light of this, it is curious, if not unjust that private universities in Nigeria are being denied access to the much-needed Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). Incidentally, part of the fund comes from the private sector, even as research findings from such citadels of learning are meant to benefit the entire nation. It is glaring fact that graduates produced from both the public and private universities enter the same perilous labour market.

As rightly noted by much-respected Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, the Vice Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State who doubles as the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrar of Private Universities (CVCRPU) the repositioning of privately-owned universities for improved performance and service delivery would remain a mirage without adequate funding.

Incidentally, that formed the theme of the 2015 Annual General Meeting of the body at the main auditorium of the prestigious Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL) recently.

Said he: “For private universities to be repositioned, resource verification for new programmes must be enforced and accreditation requirements (for existing programmes) must be met. Doing this will relieve private universities of the burden of dual resource verification and accreditation, with the attendant pressures.”

This clarion call could not have come at a more auspicious time because, Nigeria has witnessed massive capital flight running into billions of naira not only to Europe, North America and South Africa, but also to neighbouring countries along the West African Coast. Unfortunately, some of these universities are either not approved by their host countries or are substandard by Nigerian standards. In addition, the fees charged by these universities are higher than what their Nigerian counterparts are currently charging! The import of this ugly development is that many parents in Nigeria lack confidence in our education system.

TETFUND should therefore come to the rescue.

Nigerians should be worried that back in the early seventies four of our universities ranked amongst the best ten on the African continent but the reverse is the situation today. This is another food-for-thought for our policy makers and those who implement them.

• Ayo Oyoze Baje, 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

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The coordinated vicious attacks on the former Governor of Lagos and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a direct result of the frontline role he played in ending the 16-year reign of the PDP. The attacks both in the traditional and Social Media are orchestrated by those who blame him for everything happening to the party, especially the crisis triggered by the National Assembly leadership election.

The attacks have become stronger since last Friday, when he was needlessly pilloried for not attending the NEC meeting of the party in Abuja, called to resolve the National Assembly leadership crisis.

There is no doubt that the attacks are being orchestrated by those who have not forgiven Asiwaju for the visionary role he played in bringing about the merger of opposition parties into the APC, which then went ahead to win power at the centre.

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Why they are after Tinubu ‘But for Asiwaju’s uncommon vision and extraordinary politics, such a merger could never have been consummated, not to talk of winning power at the centre in less than two years of its registration

by INEC. Add that to APC ‘s unprecedented feat of becoming the first party to unseat a ruling party, and you can then begin to understand why those who had their long snouts tucked into the nectar of power under the PDP will never like the APC visioner. Come to think of it, no PDP member or supporter will ever see anything good

in Asiwaju.

Asiwaju’s unprecedented success in politics has also been the source of anger and hatred directed at him by those who were very comfortable with the status quo, especially since the beginning of the current political dispensation in 1999.

Recall that when Obasanjo embarked on his onslaught against the South-west in 2007, only Lagos State under Tinubu survived. But for his survival then, which he then leveraged upon to retake power from the PDP in the region, there would have been no APC today, because the ACN - the key

legacy party of the APC - would never have been born.

The PDP, lacking visioners like Tinubu, never for once imagined that some opposition elements will put their differences aside and opt to work together for higher interests, like it happened in the case of the APC, to unhorse them.

That was why, in their moment of power stupor, they boasted that the PDP will rule for 60 years.

It is therefore not strange that the man, Tinubu, is being attacked and blamed for every perceived wrong in Nigeria, in the APC or for allegedly seeking to grab every imag-

Ikenga community needs Obiano’s attention

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IR: The Ikenga community Lagos Branch sends “Save Our Soul” (SOS) to the Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to come to its aid.

Ikenga is one of the ancient communities in the southern Anambra State in Aguata Local Council Area. Surrounded on the west by Igbo-Ukwu, east by Ekwulobia, north by Isuofia and to the south

by Ezinifite, it is the food basket of Aguata in particular and Anambra State in general. This ancient town has, today, produced quite a number of technocrats as well as academics for ndi Anambra.

Ikenga has been playing pivotal role in Anambra economy.

Yet, Ikenga town remains the only community out of 14 communities that make up Aguata Local

Government that is in lack of social amenities aside her self-help development projects. Their agricultural yields suffer decay as a result of insufficient attention given to it by the authorities.

The past administration of Peter Obi embarked and completed many road projects in many communities in Aguata but Ikenga wasn’t among the lucky.

We commend the Obiano administration’s effort and steps taken so far in achieving success in the area of security. Before now security has been the dread of many travellers into the state. The nightmare this visited on the people coming in and out of the state was enormous such that many ndi Anambra in Diaspora dreaded to visit their communities. Those who were

bold enough to visit at times end up in sheltering in hotels outside their communities. The provision of CCTV in major markets of the state to rid Anambra State of market urchins is a most welcome development as it has made Anambra one of the most peaceful states in the country.

Today, the state capital Awka has taken its pride as an emerging mega city.

The people of Ikenga want to be counted among the communities that benefitted from the giant strides of the current administration. Most pressing of our needs include roads that will connect us with the outside world. The roads suggested are Igboukwu – Ikenga – Ekwulobia – Uga road taking its bearing from Nnewi – Ekwulobia

road at Igbo-Ukwu Market. We also have the Nnewi – Ekwulobia road at Isuofia through to Prof.

Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s country home to Ikenga – Ezinifite – Unubi linking Onitsha – Uga – Arondizuogu road.

Ikenga people loves you and have so much confidence in your administration and believe that you shall after reading this, commence the process of constructing one of the two major roads above.

• Chief Ike Anakor Onyekesi President Ikenga Town Union Lagos Chief J. J. Chuks Unegbu (Akajiugo) (Uzuakpunnwa Ndi-Igbo N’ala Ibadan & Oyo State.

inable post in his party.

But there is no cause for alarm.

Every great man in history has gone through the same motion of being pilloried, being misunderstood or being simply hated for their greatness. It is not about to change with Tinubu, but like it or not, his place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed.

He has earned that and no level of attacks can take it from him.

Tinubu should take solace in the words of another great man of his time, Albert Einstein, who said: ‘’Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.’’

• Danladi Daniels, Lagos

Fafowora’s tribute to Alo IR: Please permit me to make some correction in the tribute to Mrs. Olugbolahan Abisogun Alo, written by your columnist Dapo Fafowora published in The Nation of July 2.

His claim that Miss Ebun Adenubi [now Prof. Mrs Elebute] is not correct. Prof. Mrs. Elebute is Oyinade ADENUBI [NOT EBUN] Secondly, Prof. Olumiyiwa Awe could not have been Gbolahan’s contemporary. Prof. Olumiyiwa Awe made First Class degree in Physics [London] at the Ibadan campus in 1957 and proceeded to do his Ph.D. degree in Cambridge from 1957 to 1960 when he earned his Ph.D. Obviously he could never have been Gbolahan’s contemporary who entered Cambridge in 1958 to start her first degree and finished it in 1961.

Thank you.

• Name Supplied.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUL Y 8, 2015

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COMMENTS

Our Girls; Educaretrust@21; Jega GCFR?; Chicken-change Senate statesman-less politics; Power ‘Buhari effect’?

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UR Girls are still missing since April 15, 2014. And another 150 innocent souls have been murdered.

No doubt Nigeria needs many more local Tony town and city Non-GovMarinho e r n m e n t a l Organisations (NGOs) catering for 50million youth inadequately served for 30 years. But NGOs do not build themselves. ‘We the people’ do with love, care and funds from family, friends and followers. NGOs allow people to let others be their proxy service to humanity. The first generation NGOs like Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Boys’ Brigade, Man-o-War [and Peace] were abandoned instead of being promoted to line items in budgets. They constitute a volunteer army needing direction. Such NGOs need daily public support and media recognition as role models. Motivational friends, business and a part of the N3-5bilion CSR budget are needed for youth NGOs to succeed. ‘Many hands make light work’ and in spite of funding difficulties, the Educare Trust@21 story continued with contributions by Dr Roselie Ann ModderOyefeso, Principal Mr Ajekigbe and a 21 year old ‘Diaspora’ Lagos sector contribution by Patron Mr Bode Emanuel, Dr John Abebe, Mr Remi Okunlola, Etubon Anthony Ani, Chief FRA Marinho, Mr PK Tabiowo, Professor TA Ogunbiyi, Mr Raymond Kotey, Mr Sola MacGregor, Mr Seni DaSilva, F.I Damola, Michael Murray-Bruce and Dr Charles Hammond under Ms Sade Young’s watch.

Educare Ttrust@21 has not yet ‘made it’ in spite of generous financial and intellectual support. Our failures highlight the need for every ward, LGA, state and the federal government to have their own independent ‘WARD YOUTH CENTRE POLICY’ setting up small cheap Youth Centres in every ward as soon as possible to educate against social ignorance and counter cults, gangs and terrorist sects. Once started each Youth Centre, named after the locality, can be added to in annual budgets and by individuals and local business.

In an NGO, every minute counts and a volunteer or peer

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HE history of his life is replete with many scars of ‘war’. Like or hate him, Femi Fani-Kayode, lawyer, politician is a good writer and wonderful debater. He is neither shy from stoking the fire of controversy nor afraid to do battle with real or imagined enemies. He is also resplendent in good fashion attires.

Whenever he appears in public either in his well-tailored suit, blazer or custom-made native ensemble Kaftan or Agbada- with his designer sun shades to match, he always stands out.

Femi has been in the news for all his adult life. In the last seven years, he has been in and out of courts battling to save himself from those who were bent on railroading him to Siberia. But last week Wednesday, July 1, the outspoken and controversial dude had cause to smile.

On that day, the two surviving counts of a 40-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2008, were decided in his favour. Consequently, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos discharged and acquitted the former Minister of Aviation and one-time Minister of Culture and Tourism of the charges of money laundering brought against him.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia, noted that the case of the prosecution was “feeble” and without cogent evidence on which a finding of guilt could be based. It is also important to mention that the original charge brought against Fani-Kayode in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed carried 40 counts of misappropriation of public funds

role model or parental figure or a conversation with an abuse victim may save a life, redirect a child in crisis, save years of youth suffering, give valuable volunteer inspiration, give career guidance, simply be a shoulder to cry on for an orphan, a place to ‘feel free’ from child abuse at home or bullying in school, a haven from a troubled home, a light in the darkness of ignorance or a sanctuary from cultism. What price do you put on NGOs being there to help? Send us your N1000/ month pls!

In 1998 or so, a youth joined ET. He became computer savvy and expert in making film clips for ET’s education project about life-skill messages like anti-smoking, anti-bullying, anti-HIV/AIDS. These went on NTA, BCOS influencing many.

He went to university and is working with a bank. His name is Funso Ogundele. Another young boy has a glad-to-sad story. He joined ET and went to University of Ibadan for medicine helped by ET including Professor Dipo Otolorin.

He qualified but TRAGICALLY has not completed his housejob yet. After supernumerary ‘work-for-no-pay’ six months and two postings he and others were told to leave. He has been unable to complete the House job. His name is Dr Femi Temilola -awaiting six months House job posting. This is a disgraceful abandonment by the medical profession of its own Hippocratic Oath and responsibility to newly-qualified medical doctors. The regulatory body must stop hospitals taking newly qualified graduates over seniors needing ‘House Officer’ jobs. Enough of medical bureaucratic bottlenecks, discrimination and favouritism. A ‘COMPULSORY TAKING OF SENIOR PRE-REGISTRATION DOCTORS FOR HOUSE JOBS LAW’ is needed. Another youth made a very exciting composite painting of Professor Wole Soyinka@70. He is Daniel Iyoha. Young Seun Kayode and Seun Ajakaiye joined ET and used ET’s drama platform to take up University Arts Theatre courses. Many youth seize the opportunities presented by ET as stepping stone empowerment to success, integrity and knowledge and become peer role models for millions. I met a senior security officer who remembered visiting ET in 1998 to see a computer for the first time. Do you have an ET story? Share it on educaretrust@hotmail.com, http://www.facebook.com/educaretrustnigeria. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and must help others. ET graduates must complete the circle and give back, collectively and

individually –experience, corporate connections and small regular amounts. Just 500 ET graduates giving N5001000=N250-500,000 of service to Generation Next.

Educare Trust needs your help, donations and a vehicle, a bus. And ET needs Endowment Funds and funds to run ET activities-N250-300,000/month. You can leave ET or other NGOs something in your will. Our lawyer Mr Funsho Ogunkeye will be willing to help. Can you or your company take one of 12 months to annually give us your CSR contribution? Which NGO do you and your shareholding company support?

Sadly most of ET’s ‘change’ ideas remain ideas. Nigeria refuses to solve the poor reading problem with a ‘ONE STORY BOOK PER CHILD’ plan with a ‘BOX LIBRARY’ of 30 books in a plastic container/classroom. Every PTA in primary and secondary school should provide exciting book mini-libraries immediately. Any ‘change’ takers?

The out gone Chairman of INEC Professor Jega deserves GCFR or GCON. Buhari-ism is working but allowed National Assembly to give Nigerians ‘chicken-change’ statesman-less Senate politics. Has the fear of Buhari forced Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to stop TOSSing [Temporarily Out of Service] electricity? The increased power supply saved billions in June in generator fuelling and maintenance costs, reduced air and noise pollution and the June ‘fuel subsidy’ of households and businesses by several billions.

‘Sadly most of ET’s ‘change’ ideas remain ideas. Nigeria refuses to solve the poor reading problem with a ‘ONE STORY BOOK PER CHILD’ plan with a ‘BOX LIBRARY’ of 30 books in a plastic container/ classroom. Every PTA in primary and secondary school should provide exciting book mini-libraries immediately. Any ‘change’ takers?’

‘Born-Again’ Fani-Kayode and money laundering of several amounts totalling about 100 million naira or more. When Justice Ajumogobia took charge of the case, the court dropped 38 of the charges in November 2014 as the facts and evidence were not enough to sustain a charge. The last two counts of laundering the sum of 2.1 million naira are those for which Fani-Kayode has now been absolved.

The EFCC team, led by Festus Keyamo failed to prove all the elements of the alleged crime arising from the Money Laundering Act. The court identified that the allegation was concerned with conducting transactions exceeding N500, 000 in cash without going through a financial institution, which is prohibited under the Money Laundering Act. To establish its case, the EFCC called Police Superintendent Agbaje (amongst other witnesses) who was a former aide of FaniKayode during his time as the Minister of Culture and Tourism. The witness testified that he received sums exceeding that allowed amount from Fani-Kayode with instructions to deposit the same in the latter’s account. Evidence of deposits made into Fani-Kayode’s accounts was also tendered.

The court however found that the prosecution’s case could not be sustained as, first, the oral evidence of the witness in court contradictéd his earlier written statement and in such cases, the court finds such witnesses to be unreliable. Furthermore, there was nothing in the

‘This self-acclaimed poet and historian must now revisit his own history and see where he needs to do better. Poets are known to be great self-critics and “Mr Olukayode” must now find the discipline to do just that going forward’

prosecution’s case showing the source of the money, nor proof that amounts exceeding N500, 000 was received by Fani-Kayode in cash.

There remained a doubt as to whether the sums in Fani-Kayode’s accounts were not received in tranches and the court decided on the side of the defendant.

In its judgment, the court highlighted that the source and motive of receiving the money is irrelevant since the issue was about cash transactions exceeding N500, 000 without going through a financial institution. This seemed to aid FaniKayode’s case as the testimony by one of his witnesses that the alleged sums were received from tenants occupying some of the former minister’s properties was also considered doubtful by the judge.

As always, Nigerians may decry the judgment as another failure by the anti-corruption agency to put together a credible case. Some may even cry judicial foul play in acquitting the former minister. However, it should be pointed out that the court acknowledged Keyamo’s dexterity in prosecuting the case and differentiated him from other less diligent prosecutors. It appears only that the powers that be at the time, gave a mandate for the prosecution of the former minister even without enough substance to sustain a conviction. The yearnings by the public to see corrupt officials tried and convicted may also lead to hurried charges lacking depth.

Now, a casual observer may well see some merit in Fani-Kayode’s insistent claims throughout the case that the charges were politically motivated. Given the way the case has finally turned out and the sequence of events in the case, a view that the charges were hurriedly drafted to satisfy some political exigency during the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua’s administration cannot be faulted. The

verdict is now in and ‘the innocent man’ has been acquitted.

At last, Femi has enjoyed a victory after suffering huge criticism in the run up to the last Presidential election in which he was at the head of the media campaign team put in place for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

Jonathan lost woefully in that election. Femi’s campaign appointment at that time, which came after his brief romance with the thenopposition party, the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, drew a lot of flak from people. He was described as a two-faced, inconsistent player in the political arena with wavering ideologies. His often unreserved comments in the media have led to much criticism.

Perhaps, basking in the euphoria of his latest victory, Femi has announced his desire to change his last name from Fani-Kayode to Olukayode as a tribute to God for delivering him from his legal entanglement. Coming from a man whose ideology and political stance has changed severally over the years like a chameleonic metamorphosis, this may be a tad comical. Beyond that, however, it is hoped that the change will resonate throughout his person too and his knack for insensitive remarks in the press will be lessened at the same time. His brazen comments about other political figures who are not in his chosen camp and unsavoury remarks on other issues including the much publicised condemnation of the Igbos, have put a label of a loose cannon on the otherwise well educated man.

The man may have an unbridled tongue and a penchant for attracting controversy, but the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has determined that at least, in respect to the charges brought against him, he is innocent. Whether the EFCC goes on appeal or not, which is

Dele Agekameh doubtful, this is the reality for now.

Often in the business world, it is common for a company to change its brand name to distance itself from some negative publicity or project a new, better image for itself. It is the hope that if the former Minister does make good on his name change, then, we will see more of the reasoned educated man, cultured in speech and expression and less of the political chameleon and controversy magnet that Fani-Kayode has come to be known to be.

An important lesson here should not be lost. In spite of all the dirty hate propaganda Femi mounted against President Muhammadu Buhari’s candidacy during the last electioneering campaigns, he still got a good deal from the court last week. It was the Russian Writer, Count Leo (Nikolayevich) Tolstoy (1828-1910) who, in What I Believe (1884) wrote: “There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil.” This selfacclaimed poet and historian must now revisit his own history and see where he needs to do better. Poets are known to be great self-critics and “Mr Olukayode” must now find the discipline to do just that going forward.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

COMMENTS While frogs are eaten elsewhere, they are forbidden in other places. While some beings embrace Islam, Christianity Judaism, others embrace ‘nothing’. If by the Supreme Court judgment of the U.S. A. gay marriage became lawful, so be it. We should accept it as their new culture notwithstanding the level of its acceptability even in the U.S.A. However, such a democratic culture MUST NOT be forced on a country that detests it. One mistake the U.S.A makes is that (gay-association) is a democracy and must be allowed everywhere. No. Democratic governance is different from democratic culture.

While gay has now been legalised in the U.S.A., and some other countries, it is optional elsewhere. But we do know that the world is spherical! Will that begin to change in the U.S.A.? From Lanre Oseni.

•Dogara

For Segun Gbadegesin Re:Change and NASS. ‘Uncle‘ Gbadegesin ; you always come up with nationalistic and thought provoking piece .Unfortunately most of the people aspiring to lead Nigerians at NASS to the realm of change are yet to be enlightened and weaned on the diet of change . Nigerians now desire and deserve deep -thinking leaders at the NASS and not self-centered plus patriotically careless representatives as we have now.”Good thinking, good product”. The world is waiting and watching .Please pray for Mr. President.

From Ladipo O. David . Gwagwalada.

If they need change for Nigeria and Nigerians, why are they fighting, was that while we voted for them to be doing? They should put their house in order and end these crises because we are suffering especially we poor people. Buhari should not allow anybody to undermine citizen’s right. From Sola Ajay, Gbonyin, Ekiti state Great presentation is your article titled ‘CHANGE and NASS’, very timely too.

The unity of APC members is Not negotiable in order to achieve desired change we all voted for and avoid mad (Mutually Assured Destruction) please.

Anonymous “ACN is the major legacy party of APC with core progressive principles, with its achievements in the South west; it needed an alliance of likeminded groups to capture the centre”. From Ade Okopi, Ibadan.

Sir, you may be right but where is South East and Southsouth in APC’s arrangement. You said there is conspiracy against Southwest, the Southeast and South-South what is against them. A war?

Anonymous Those lawmakers that caused crisis in green chamber are the enemy of Nigeria.

The crisis in APC over leadership positions is very unfortunate. The fracas was planned to distract government of President Buhari not to deliver good governance he promised Nigerians.

Whatever their differences which we know are a quest for positions, let lawmakers make peace before July 21 resumption date in the interest of Nigerians. Nigerians are in expectant of change as APC promised during their campaigns; let not few people distract it over their selfish interest. All hands must be on deck. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia “Change and NASS” article is one of the most incisive I have read on the subject matter that I have decided to describe it as “The APC Conundrum “. The party played a deft one by dictating the list of principal officers to Saraki and Dogara. They smoked them out; you have said it all. Now is the time to cut them loose! How can Hon Dogara be ‘APC’ Speaker with a reported 39 APC representatives, as against 174 for Hon Gbajabiamila? On June 9, 2015, we witnessed change in Nigeria, on the floor of the House. I am so proud of those guys.

Is it an irony that reactionary representatives from oil producing Akwa Ibom gave their decisive votes to Dogara?

Anybody accusing Tinubu of empire

building is a clown! There are two fundamental classes of politicians in Nigeria-Reactionaries and Progressives.

We know where Tinubu belongs.

Anonymous Its flabbergasting and in bad taste that for selfish ambitions and may be 2019 in view, Saraki and Dogara and their cotravelers could trade off their party and its change mantra. The bedrock for the struggle that endeared the people to vote massively for APC. Having fraudulently got their ways, to put salt to injury, wants to impose their cronies as principal officers at the NASS with a caveat they don’t want their rivals in sensitive positions. Really? So, NASS has become their fiefdom? What do they take Nigerians for? Saraki did not see PDP Deputy Senate President as a threat but has party members? There is more to it than meet the eyes. They should be told in clear terms that nobody is indispensable. Nigeria is no Kwara in his family’s pocket. If he is afraid of his past to protect even as Nigerians know his antecedents, we don’t give a damn. Nigerians need change and end to corruption. Be it known that Sarakis, Atikus and their ilk can’t be the president of Nigeria in their life time as their past would continue to haunt them. From Dr Mike.

I am completely disappointed in Senator Saraki and his selfish group. I condemn him of betraying the APC and Nigerians that produced him as senator. That was never the type of change we voted for.

Thanks fellow Nigerians. From Kwembe Ferdinand, Benue state Change and NASS. Do Saraki thinks, being a wannabe Senate president through in noxious means, will guarantee his selfish-2019-ambition?

(Nigeria President)? Despite the hue, cry and rejection of his party, that he is not eligible to contest for the Senate presidency, he formed alliance with PDP and won curiously. Does that give him tremendous advantage? Did he think downgrading his party, which he ran and won under its platform during last elections, is the best for him? Or he left PDP for APC to pursue his Presidential ambition? But he should bear it in mind that, it’s only God that can give power to whom he likes, no amount of tactics, antics and teaks will earn him what doesn’t belong to him. With all these sacrilegious, obnoxious acts and tragicomedy from Saraki, I don’t think the change is expected to occur can come true.

I beseech God to grant you new wisdom and increase your superlative genetic endowment. From Surveyor Amidu Saheed, Ifo. I don’t seem to believe Lawan was Tinubu’s candidate. He could have actually been Buhari’s or the party’s. The Saraki -led group only used that as an excuse to prosecute their shameful, selfish and perfidious act. Why didn’t they decide to opt out of the election instead of aligning with the opposition. Was that in the interest of the party? Or was it a case of cutting your nose to spite your face!? More questions than answers. From Julia, Uyo For Prof. Olatjnji Dare The truth of the matter is that impunity took the centre stage of past administration, which is very bad and unfortunate .From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia Good evening. What is part of Western

Region I.e. Mid-Western (Edo & Delta) now South-South. Are they situated after Niger Bridge? They are now part of Ibo Region. Why? From Prof. Obiyemi.

Your story on the back page of The Nation, dated June 30, 2015, the processes allow unprofessional conduct amongst the workers and they are exposed to health related disease. From Max Sir, while Abba Moro’s perfidy was trending, I never once recalled the 2008 incident you now refer to. The joke is obviously on us. How many wonder bank founders are now in the state and national assemblies, and even government houses? In 2008, who was the minister for Interior? How was the issue resolved by Yar’ Adua? From Mikefe Tanno In the last week of May, Abba Moro in connivance with David Paradang recruited more than 5000 Nigerians mostly of Benue and Plateau extraction into the Immigration Service without employment letters. Today June 1, there is no money to pay salaries as the appointment letters of these new recruits are being backdated to read, December, 2014.Why is President Buhari so slow?

Anonymous For Tunji Adegboyega Re: Amor Vincit Omnia (The Nation, July 5, 2015) Tunji,, going through your above piece twice for clarity, I was devastated like a victim of epileptic seizure. I arrived this now ‘turn-around’ world some 70 years ago. We, the grown-ups then knew that for a child to come into this world, it must involve sexual acts between an adult male and female until we got to Form 3 in a Biology class in the secondary school.

Our parents then were so neat and discreet that nobody could ever suspect them or catch them in the at.. However, things have currently fallen apart with caution thrown to the winds by the current generation due to acculturation and bastardisation of our traditional religion with the influx of foreign religions – the latter that have adversely changed the moral and ethical standard of our people. If one may ask, where was it written in the Holy Bible that a man should marry a man without getting the Sodomic result?

Imagine some reckless and lecherous parents sleeping in the same room with their children? Worse still, doing it with impunity! What then will be the future of such children? God and even the normal setting of the universe is against gay marriage. Were we not born to procreate?

Have we even seen even animals of the same sex mating each other?. America with its always number one in all things has come again but this time, on a wrong path. Its sane citizens should keep on exhausting all necessary avenues to upturn this horrible and sacrilegious law in their country. And to those engaging in this sinful but destructive path in Nigeria, they should stop it and embrace sanity instead of being beastly in attitude.

Finally, President Muhammadu Buhari should not accept any maneuvering from any quarter to tamper with the existing laws banning lesbianism and gay marriage in the country. From Ch. Soji Oloketuyi, 18, Ijabo Street, Igbemo-Ekiti.

While frogs are eaten elsewhere, they are forbidden in other places. While some beings embrace Islam, Christianity

• Saraki

Judaism, others embrace ‘nothing’. If by the Supreme Court judgment of the U.S. A. gay marriage became lawful, so be it. We should accept it as their new culture notwithstanding the level of its acceptability even in the U.S.A. However, such a democratic culture MUST NOT be forced on a country that detests it. One mistake the U.S.A makes is that (gayassociation) is a democracy and must be allowed everywhere. No. Democratic governance is different from democratic culture. While gay has now been legalised in the U.S.A., and some other countries, it is optional elsewhere. But we do know that the world is spherical! Will that begin to change in the U.S.A.? From Lanre Oseni.

For Dapo Fafowora Sir, good day to you, I read your article reducing cost of governance dated 18/615.

It is very educative and interesting. I hope you have copied President Buhari and Lai Muhammed because this is their formative embryonic stage. APC must reduce to beariest minimum in governance. Thanks.

Anonymous Cutting the cost can be most effective if the spending of public and political of holders is drastically reduced to make those offices less attractive except for accomplished people ready to serve. Tackle ghost workers headlong and it will surely reduced 50% or spending. Today I can say authoritatively that there are no government offices today that do not have over bloated workforce to help boost the spending of their heads. Government boards of medical and education institutions apart from politicians in the military are the most corrupt and are mostly headed by traditional rulers, intellectuals and clergies of our dominant religions.

Thank you. Anonymous.

Amb. Dapo Fafowora, The Nation, June 18, well-done for your well research suggestions and advice. God bless you.

Anonymous I was a student at FGGC Abuja when Abisogun Alo was principal. She was wonderful. She made me who I am today and I will never forget her. She was a kind hearted loving woman who called all the girls each to her house to tell us we could achieve whatever we wanted to achieve if we believe and worked hard. I was in form 1. That scene in her bedroom is still with me. I thank God for her life. From Sola Olawoye, Ophthalmologist University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

God bless you sir, for your covenant and humble piece (Reducing cost of governance). To deal with reality. A good citizen of this country need to be worried and concerned about the situation of our state. Equally Nigeria leaders’ need a rethink on this. Change of attitude is expected from them, by reducing their outrageous and expensive allowances and others. They should perform their functions with high sense of humor and exhibit the highest level of professional excellence in all their official engagement without being extravagant. Functions of lawmakers should be on part time. Surveyor Amidu Saheed, Ifo.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

25

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Why infant mortality of firms is high,

by Aladekomo

By Lucas Ajanaku

R

ETIRING Group Managing Director, Chams Plc, Sir ‘Demola Aladekomo, has identified the refusal of businesses to list on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as one of the reasons many of them die in infancy.

Speaking with The Nation, he said most firms refuse to list on the NSE because they don’t want to open their books to members of the public.

He said this development stalls the institutionalisation of corporate governance and inevitably leads to the early demise of businesses.

He said: “One of the major advantages of listing is reporting your results. If you are not messing around with your books, if you do not have anything to hide, if you want to be very transparent, if you want to be held on to your projections, your budgeting performance by the public, then you should list.

“For us in Chams, we decided to be open, more because we do not have anything to hide. We believe that it is by exposing ourselves, by letting the whole world knows what we are doing that we can improve.

“You would have seen it in our results. In 2010, 2011 and even 2012 when things are really tough and bad, we were declaring results that were like a disgrace to us, but faithfully every quarter, I think it was only in a period that we didn’t report for some three quarters, I think it was in 2010 and immediately we corrected that, we were reporting all our results and it really helped us,” he said.

He said the independence of the Accounts Department ensures transparency, arguing that if there is no independence, some people will be messing up things. He said opening up the business for the public has helped the firm to achieve its enviable position.

He said: “Because our accounts department is highly independent, exactly what you do is what you report, so nobody is messing around with any figure.

“For us, being opened has really helped us. For one, our stakeholders can trust us knowing that we are not hiding any figure. It also makes corporate governance very easy for us. If we had been a private company during those periods of turbulence, if we didn’t publish our results, it would have been so easy, even the members of staff we won’t need to declare anything to them,” he said.

He added that everybody would have been wondering what is happening, the results would just be may be between the managing director, the chairman, a couple of board members and the head of finance.

Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital.

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs

confirms 80 capital market firms may opt for Bovi deal with Glo mergers, acquisitions, restructuring F

N

OT fewer than 80 capi tal market firms may opt for business combination and restructuring, according to a source in the know of compliance with the new minimum capital requirements at the capital market.

According to the source, the compliance reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have so far indicated that while most capital market operators may scale through by the September 30, this year deadline, some 80 capital market firms may have to undertake mergers and acquisitions or downsizing of their operations to stave off the threat of

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

liquidation.

The source said more than 300 operators have complied with the new minimum capital requirements for their functions, leaving about 170 operators.

Almost half of these operators have already been determined to be inactive and will likely be the first set of operators to be weeded out under the first compliance check.

The Nation on Monday reported that SEC has given capital market operators seeking to undertake mergers and acquisitions or any reclassification of their functions a dead-

line of July 31 to formalise such arrangement and file the necessary information with the apex capital market regulator.

In a July 4 circular to capital market firms, the apex capital market regulator directed operators, which might have opted for mergers, acquisitions or any other form of business combination as a vehicle to meet the new minimum capital requirements to file their notifications with the Commission not later than July 31, this year.

The directive also applies to capital market operators proposing reclassification or reduction of their registered functions, including those seeking to downsize from

stockbroker to sub-broker, broker-dealer to either broker or dealer and from multiple functions to a single function among others.

The Nation recently reported that some capital market operators were considering mergers and acquisitions as viable alternative plan to stave off the threat of liquidation.

Market sources had said there had been intense discussions around consolidation, a reference to mergers and acquisitions, in recent months as the new management of the apex capital market regulator insisted it would not rescind earlier decisions on the new minimum capital base.

•From left: Managing Director, YTGO Limited, Mr. Richard Morgan; Managing Director, Pinnacle Project Managers, Mrs. Abigael Oyewobi, and Sterling Bank Plc Branch Manager, John Street, Mr. Dipo Akinyemi, at a workshop supported by the bank in Lagos.

Dock workers threaten to shut ports over unpaid salaries M

EMBERS of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have threatened to shut operations at the ports on or before July 20, this year if their eight months’unpaid salaries are not cleared.

The aggrieved workers, who are members of dock workers branch of MWUN, comprising tally clerks and on-board security men, are also demanding that access roads to the ports be fixed.

Its President-General, Comrade Anthony Nted, who spoke with reporters, said the dockworkers were owed over eight months’ salary arrears by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) through the stevedoring contractors.

He said tally clerks and onboard security men are dockworkers duly registered

by Nigerian Maritime Ad-

Consumers reject price hike by companies - P 26

By Chikodi Okereocha

ministration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

He said while the former are statutorily empowered to perform the duty of tallying all import and export cargoes being discharged into the seaports or loaded into ships in the seaports and terminals, the latter provide security on-board ships.

He noted that in the past, payment of dockworkers was promptly made as at when due “until a few highly influential persons in connivance and collaboration with past and present management personnel of NPA created a body known as cargo surveyors to unjustly take over the statutory functions of the dockworkers.”

Nted said the result was

that the money for dockworkers’ wages was now diverted to the payment of cargo surveyors.

“The management of NPA pays this body (cargo surveyors) millions of naira monthly to the neglect of tally clerks and on-board security men,” he alleged.

According to him, the leadership of MWUN had in line with its commitment to embracing dialogue and consultation in tackling all workers issues and challenges, held several meetings with NPA management, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, and Federal Ministry of Transport to ensure a peaceful resolution of the matter, but the NPA management reneged on the promises it made.

He also accused NPA man-

How a college contributes to entrepreneurs’ success - P38

agement of ignoring specific directives from the Ministry of Transport, including a letter asking the landlord of the ports to harmonise the payment of the dockworkers.

While pointing out that NPA’s position as at last year was that its budget was exhausted, Nted said MWUN, after exploring all avenues of peaceful resolution, recently issued a 14 days ultimatum to NPA to effect full payment of all outstanding wages or face industrial action at the expiration of the July 20 ultimatum.

He said apart from payment of dockworkers’ outstanding salary arrears, MWUN insists that tally clerks and on-board security men cannot be unjustly substituted with cargo surveyors. The union therefore, demanded that “cargo surveyors be withdrawn from all our seaports without further delay.”

AST rising standup comic, Bovi Ugboma has confirmed signing a multi-million naira deal with information communications technology solutions provider, Globacom.

The professional comic and actor who had initially kept mute while speculative reports were flying around on the social media last week, decided to post a picture of himself signing the Globacom contract on his Instagram handle.

In the picture he posted on Instagram, Bovi was seen signing a document in front of Globacom banners. Under the picture he wrote: “Me, dotted lines and my lawyer’s right hand @zinougboma.

My lines have gone hulk.”

Already, his colleagues and fans have started felicitating with him. A fellow Globacom ambassador and one of Nigeria’s best comics, Bright Okpocha popularly called Basketmouth posted on his Instagram handle: “Double Impact!! A man who bought a 2015 brand new house in Lekki.....and gets endorsed by Globacom 48hrsafter ... Congratulations bro @officialbovi”.

Other celebrities who have confirmed being signed on as new ambassadors of the fastest growing telecom network include Odunlade Adekola, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Hadizah Blell (Di’ja) and megastar, Ayodeji Balogun (Wizkid). Others who are believed to have also signed a contract but are yet to confirm it include Ayo Makun, popularly called AY, Patience Ozokwor, popularly called Mama G and O.C. Ukeje.

Globacom brand ambassadors who are being retained by the company include Fulani-born trado-hip hop crooner, Sani Danja; foremost gospel musician, Sammie Okposo; another stand up comic, Helen Paul; Peter and Paul Okoye popularly known as P Square; popular Nollywood diva, Funke Akindele of Jenifa fame and her colleague, Ini Edo. Also in the league are Bezhiwa Idakula (Bez); popular comedian Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth); African Rapper Number One, Jude Abaga (MI ); Koko master, Dapo Oyebanjo (D’banj), Wande Coal, Chinedu Okolie (Flavour); Omawumi Megbele; Ego Ogbaro and veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede. Others are John Okafor (Mr. Ibu); Ime Bishop Umoh; Chinwetalu Agu and Damini Ogolu (Burna Boy).

Greek debt crisis: Markets dip after ‘no’ vote - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

26

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Consumers reject price hike by companies C

ONSUMERS have rejected companies’ plans to increase prices in a rare show of their economic power.

According to Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Chief Economist Razia Khan, firms are finding it difficult to pass price increase to consumers amid increased pressure on their profit margins.

This is contained in the bank’s Business Sentiment Indicator (BSI) released on Monday.

Khan said headline inflation for June might increase to 9.1 per cent from nine per cent last May. If accurate, this will be the seventh consecutive monthly increase in inflation since November last year, and the highest level in two years.

“We believe the softer BSI for June indicates ongoing economic challenges. Inflation is likely to remain

Stories by Collins Nweze

a problem. Despite weak demand, with firms reporting some difficulties in passing price increases on, input prices reached a new series high in June. Rising costs continue to pressure margins. Moreover, businesses still point to weak foreign exchange (forex) availability as a constraint on activity,” Khan said.

The BMI showed that the prices received indicator fell by 5.2 per cent month-on-month in June to 58.4 from 61.6 in May, indicating a still-weak demand environment.

Future expectations also dropped to its lowest level since January 2015, down 2.4 per cent month-onmonth to 61 per cent.

“Price pressures in Nigeria have been increasing in recent months, with forex depreciation adding more pressure. Current conditions

reached a new series high for the third consecutive time in June, rising 7.6 per cent month-on-month to 82.1. In contrast, firms appear less concerned about future inflation risks. The future expectations index fell to only 50.4,” she said.

Khan said with the impact of a weakening naira expected to continue to feed into higher prices, the imposition of new forex controls for imports by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June, is likely to drive up the prices of selected imports, and seasonal pressures in the months ahead, with the tendensy for rising inflation.

For the economist, the BSI indicates that confidence reached its lowest level since February, suggesting that some of Nigeria’s postelection euphoria is starting to fade. “This is a new development.

The bigger picture still indicates that elections and a recovery in oil prices will likely play a role in lifting sentiment in the second quarter. The three-month average BSI reading of 61 for the second quarter is consistent with some economic recovery, up from the slightly weaker 59.2 in first quarter. Both prints are lower than the average of 63.3 in 2014, when oil prices were higher,” she said.

She said recovery in the second half of the year is plausible, adding: “This is consistent with our thinking that 2015 will be a ‘year of two halves’ for the Nigerian economy, with a weak first half giving way to more robust activity in second half.”

For her, the strength of the future expectations indicators in Nigeria suggest that businesses remain optimistic on the likelihood of an economic turnaround.

“Most future expectations indicators are holding up well above the 50 break-even level, suggesting businesses continue to anticipate the resumption of stronger growth even now, despite the economy’s many challenges,” she predicted.

For instance, firms are still optimistic about near-term financial conditions. Also, companies reported slightly more optimistic financial positions in June. The current conditions indicator increased 1.6 per cent to 74.6 in June from 73.4 in May. Future expectations reached a new series high of 97.6.

However, interest rates paid remained unchanged. The current conditions indicator for interest rates paid fell 1.4 per cent to 57.4, continuing the trend seen in May. This was despite the harmonisation of the public and private cash reserve ratios by the CBN, a move interpreted as a modest tightening of policy. The future expectations indicator rose slightly, up 0.8 per cent to 52.7.

She predicted that further forex restrictions for 41 different import categories, announced by the CBN in late June will likely lead to further deterioration in this month.

“The future expectations indicator remains just above the 50 level, at 51.6, signaling that Nigerian businesses are still optimistic about an eventual re-opening of the interbank forex market,” she said.

‘FRC’s hearing’ll propel good corporate code’

F

• From left: Group Executive, Commercial Banking, FirstBank, Mrs. Cecilia Majekodunmi; Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Francis Ikenga; Chairperson, Women Group of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Agnes Shobajo; Group Executive, Institutional Banking Group, FirstBank, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu and Secretary, Women Group of LCCI, Mrs. Dele Ogunjobi during the women’s visit to the bank in Lagos.

INANCIAL Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) Chair Hajiya Maryam Ladi-Ibrahim has said the public hearing on the Draft National Code of Corporate Governance is good.

“It is for wider consultation and airing of divergent views on the matter,” she said.

To her, stakeholders’ contributions will equip the Council to come up with an acceptable national code to enhance corporate governance as is the case in other places.

She spoke in Lagos at a public hearing on the national code of cor-

Too much cash our biggest headache, says Visa chief

D

ESPITE calls by stakeholders for consumers to em brace electronic payment under the cash-less banking regime, use of huge cash has continued unabated, Visa Country Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Ade Ashaye, has said.

“There is a lot of cash in Nigeria.

I think it’s not just Visa that faces that challenge, it is the entire industry. Everybody is hoping it improves,” he said, adding that the challenge is how to take cash out of the environment and make people embrace electronic payment.

He said the Point of Sale (PoS) infrastructure in Nigeria marches any other in Africa, and that fundamentally, a large part of it has to do with the cash-less policy. “Under a continuous education, whether it is on how you can utilise your cash, or make budget, requires constant and continuous use of education. Putting infrastructure in place and ensuring that the infrastructure is there for you to use, is also a serious matter,” he stated.

He urged banks to create products and services that really meet the need of consumers. “When they are able to do that, you will see plenty benefits,” he added.

Ashaye told The Nation that Visa will continue to support banks in driving financial inclusion, saying “we have to look at how financial institutions are able to utilise all the things that Visa has provided

• Ashaye

to serve their customers.”

Ashaye likened it to a phone inventor. “When you build something, the first time you learn something. The second time you build it will be better than the first. That is the same with mobile money.

What Visa has leant will enable it know what to do that would add more value and encourage more consumers to use it,” he added.

The Visa boss said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recognised that mobile money needs some adjustments and is working on achieving such demands. “The problem is, if you recognise that it is not working for you, and you don’t make a change. I don’t see

that in Nigeria. What I see is a situation where the regulators are working on inter-operability, and where something does not work, they very quickly come back and see how to make changes,” he said.

He said Visa was the first brand to come with Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV).

“Security for us has been paramount. The whole industry is moving to interoperable plan. It is the trust in Visa that is also important.

Visa was recently announced as the fifth biggest global brand. Visa is recognized in terms trust and reliability,” he said.

Ashaye said there are global standards in Visa which applies anywhere in the world. “Wherever you are in the world, those standards will be met. Many issuers are getting into what we have done in Nigeria, that is chip and pin. In the United Kingdom, we have people issuing contactless cards which can work without actually being physically dipped into the terminal,” he said.

He said when a chip and pin card is issued, it will meet the chip and pin card global standard. Also, contactless cards are issued to meet Visa’s contactless card standard because depending on what one chooses to do, the standards are there. “For anybody who meets those standards in Nigeria, it will be the same for anybody that meets those standards in the rest of the

world,” he added.

Ashaye explained that card security depends on what one wants to do. “Where Nigeria leads is that all Nigerian cards are EMV compliant. Security is everybody’s concern. If you are cardholder, and you share your Personal Identification Number, even if your card is EMV compliant, somebody else can take your card and use it if they have your Personal Identification Number (PIN),” he said.

He said that whereas the issuers, Visa and acquirers can take responsibility to ensure that transactions are secured, cardholders should also ensure they keep your cards and PIN safe.

On Visa’s partnership with Airtel, he said the aim is to drive financial inclusion and access to finance via debit cards. “If paying with your mobile phone is normal, and your mobile phone is connected to your Visa account, and you have access and capability to do all the things that Visa allows you to do, you should be able to push and bring more people into the formal economic environment,” he said.

On cybercrime, he said that Nigerian banks are coming in with the best technology but added that technology alone does not prevent crime. “You have to ensure that your consumers understand what they should, or should not do. Fabulous technology that banks are implementing needs to be backed up with basic education,” he said.

porate governance for Not-ForProfit entities in Nigeria.The council had recently organised similar a one-day public hearing for relevant professional and regulatory bodies in the country.

She said: “The uniqueness of this public hearing is that it provides a platform for the robbing of minds and exchange of views to equip us with the perspectives that can enhance the national that is in tune with best corporate governance, not just in Nigeria, but around the world.”

Ibrahim, who enjoined participants to speak “frankly and objectively,” reiterated that the public hearing would further enhance the discussion and acceptability of the final document.

Noting that the council had received many written comments and contributions from institutions, including relevant professional and regulatory bodies, the chairman said: “This is not to say that immediately after this public hearing, whatever we have becomes a national code. We want your frank contributions to enhance further work which will equally be further exposed to you.”

Outlining the stated objectives of FRC, she maintained that effective corporate governance would require a proactive focused state of mind on the part of everyone that was charge with responsibilities and stakeholders who must be committed to business success.

She disclosed that the Federal Government inaugurated a steering committee in 2013 led by private sector to propose a national code of corporate governance to guide reporting activities of entities like private, public and not-for-profit in Nigeria.

However, mixed reactions still continue to trail the national code of corporate governance being proposed for public, private and not-forprofit organisations as was demonstrated by owners and members of non-governmental organisations.

They warned that the proposed national code of corporate governance might be dead on arrival if the council failed to include members of relevant entities in its committee.

27

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

MONEY

Restricting forex use for economic growth What are the long term economic implications of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) ban on importers from accessing foreign exchange (forex) for some commodities? It will boost the economy, say experts. But they are appealing to CBN to support the building of sustainable infrastructure to make local production attractive, increase export earnings and create jobs, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

I

T was a decision long awaited by those who have the interest of the country and the economy at heart. For those who understand why the foreign exchange reserves and naira value have been down, it was welcome.

So, when Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele banned importers from accessing forex for 41 items, especially those irrelevant to job creation and real sector growth, it was seen as a way out of the quagmire.

The CBN boss had campaigned against frivolous importations. “The only thing that will reduce pressure on our currency is by producing those things we are importing today. We will try as much as possible not to hurt your business, but we need to be able to work together,” Emefiele told the Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators and bank chief executive officers at a forum in Lagos in January, as the impact of declining oil price started having grave implications on the naira and reserves.

For instance, the naira is now exchanging at N230 to the dollar at the black market, while the reserves, standing at $29 billion, can only provide four-month import cover.

Still, a large part of the reserves is being used to provide forex for the importation of private jets, rice, textiles, tomato paste, poultry products and 35 other items.

Providing forex for the importation of some of these items, which can be produced locally, is limiting government’s efforts in importing critical machines needed in power plants and road construction, among other amenities. Therefore, the CBN, in a circular dated June 23, said the implementation of the policy would help to conserve foreign reserves and facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries as well as generate employment.

The circular, which was signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange, CBN, Mr. Olakanmi Gbadamosi, said it was imperative to exclude importers of some goods and services from accessing foreign exchange in order to encourage local production of the items.

“The implementation of the policy will help conserve foreign reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation.

For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the importation of these items are not banned, thus importers desirous of importing these items shall do so using their funds without any recourse to the Nigerian foreign exchange market,” Gbadamosi said.

Zenith Bank Managing Director/CEO Mr. Peter Amangbo said the CBN’s forex policy, including the ban placed on some commodities from accessing forex from the official window, could be positive in the long-run because there are local substitutes for each of the affected products. “CBN acted well.

When you have scarce resources, you allocate it to areas of importance. We’re not in a hopeless situation,” he said.

Likewise, former Executive Director, Keystone Bank, Richard Obire, said the latest policy is expected to encourage importers to look inwards and begin local production as the prices of the affected items will shoot up in the market because of high cost of buying forex from the black market.

He said in the long run, the benefits of the CBN’s decision, will outweigh whatever temporary pains it may have at the moment.

“Those who decided to produce those goods locally and export them, will earn foreign exchange instead of depleting the reserves.

In the short-to-medium terms, it will be painful but subsequently, it will improve the overall economy,” he said.

He said even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that the CBN should protect the reserves because of the huge benefits of such decisions on the naira. “If the CBN keeps funding these items, the demand for the dollar will rise and this will affect its push for infrastructural development needed to boost the real sector,” he said.

He said the policy can be used to achieve developmental objective, adding that using the available capacity to produce locally,

• Emefiele

• Amangbo

• Obire

will reduce overall demand for forex and when the local production is enhanced, more people will find jobs within the economy.

However, for exporters, the policy means increased cash flow and higher profit margins.

The Managing Director, Dairy International Limited, Peter Anjorin, who exports Nigeria timber to China and Vietnam, captured the excitement that came with the decision. “This policy will create more millionaire-exporters than ever before. I was so impressed with the news that I called my associates together to wine and dine with me,” he said.

Anjorin said the CBN needs to help the real sector by supporting the development of key infrastructure to reduce cost of production.

He urged that the effort of the CBN to boost infrastructure should be sustained. He said the CBN’s plans on real sector growth, including the N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) established to unlock the potential of the real sector to engender output, value added productivity and job creation, should be sustained. The facility would support large enterprises for start-ups and expansion of the financing needs of firms of up to N500 million and a maximum of N10 billion.

“The real sector activities targeted by the facility are manufacturing, agricultural value chain and selected service sub-sectors. The facility is expected to improve access to finance by Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and the services sub-sectors of the Nigerian economy; increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis,” he said.

There is also the N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility was aimed at settling certain outstanding debts in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The facility covers legacy gas debts and the shortfall in revenue during the Interim Rule period (IRP). It is expected that

this will guarantee the take-off of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM). Already, N56.68 billion disbursed to five generating companies and five distribution companies.

These steps, he insisted, should be sustained to reduce the high cost of production, and make local exporters to get the needed benefits from the policy.

An operator, Michael Obinna of SunDavies International, said by supporting local production, the CBN will enable local producers to improve volume of export. “When the volume of export is increased, there is need for expansion and earning of higher forex.

This will create opportunity for the exporters to increase their capacity and create more jobs,” he said.

He regretted that many real sector operators are boosting job opportunities in other countries and depriving their citizenry of jobs by making some frivolous importations why also calling on the government to speedily diversify the economy.

“How can Nigerians be importing cement, margarine, palm kernel, vegetable oil, poultry products (chicken, eggs and turkey), Indian incense, tinned fish in sauce (Geisha, Sardines), cold rolled steel sheets, galvanised steel, roofing sheets, wheelbarrows, head pans, metal boxes and containers, and enamelware which can be produced locally.

It is a good thing that the CBN is correcting this anomaly,” he said.

But an economic analyst, Biodun James, said while the move may douse some of the demand pressure in the short run, there is a lot of expectation that the CBN will further devalue the local currency. “Market is still expecting a lot from the CBN in terms of foreign exchange policy. The apprehension that the CBN will devalue again has not subsided because the reserve is still under pressure,” he said.

“We see this policy move as confirmation that forex supply remains extremely tight.

But more worrying is the fact that it suggests that the Central Bank remains reluctant to devalue the naira,” said Yvonne Mhango, sub-Saharan Africa economist at Renaissance Capital, an investment and re-

search firm.

She said there was need for Nigeria to seriously rethink her forex policy to spur investment and quicken economic recovery.

But the CBN has also taken other steps meant to preserve the reserves. The regulator has said it will investigate travelers breaching the rule on $10,000 maximum cash or negotiable instruments across the borders.

CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, said that henceforth, the transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall not be allowed unless such funds are declared at the borders.

He also said those that go contrary to the law will have to forfeit the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonments to term of not less than two years or to both.

He expressed CBN’s concerns on the increasing trafficking of huge sums of foreign currency across the borders. He said the practice is in defiance of the extant dictates of Section 2 (Sub-Section 3 to 5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).

The law, he said, stipulates that transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000.00 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Customs Service.

Also, the Nigerian Customs Service shall report any declaration made pursuant to SubSection (3) of this section to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Any person who falsely declares or fails to make a declaration to the Nigerian Customs Service pursuant to section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, F34, LFN, 2004 is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to forfeit the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonments to term of not less than two years or to both,” he said.

Mu’azu said that on receipt of any notice of declaration from the Nigerian Customs Service, the CBN will investigate the source of fund and seek justification for the possession of such volume of cash to ensure that no money laundering activity is involved.

“Those affected will also be expected to provide evidence of payment of taxes and duties related to the cash transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the general public is hereby notified that the CBN (in collaboration with other relevant regulatory and security agencies) will promptly apply appropriate sanctions and penalties for contravention of the provisions of this Act,” he said.

The apex bank also ruled out possibility of BDCs providing forex to importers of products on the classified list.

‘We see this policy move as confirmation that forex supply remains extremely tight. But more worrying is the fact that it suggests that the Central Bank remains reluctant to devalue the naira.

There is need for Nigeria to seriously rethink her forex policy to spur investment and quicken economic recovery’

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Seplat to distribute N3.5b bonus shares to directors, others

S

EPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc will issue bonus shares valued at more than N3.5 billion to directors and senior management staff of the oil exploration and production company, according to a document obtained yesterday.

Seplat will issue the shares under its Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) at nominal cost to the company and distribute the ordinary shares to executive directors, non-executive directors and top management staff.

Seplat’s share price opened yesterday at N336.05 per share.

The LTIP consists broadly of two components including share incentives related to the company’s successful global initial public offering and annual share bonus.

Under the global IPO bonus scheme, the company will issue ordinary shares to its executive directors and senior management as a reward for their contribution to achieving a successful global offer as stated in the prospectus dated April 9, 2014.

A total of 7.75 million ordinary shares qualify as global offer bonus shares out of which 3.87 million shares vest immediately but will be held till 2015 and 3.873 million shares will vest after two years.

Also, the company will also issue unspecified ordinary shares under its annual share incentive scheme. The annual bonus scheme is a perform-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

ance-related deferred annual bonus award by reference to performance against objective performance targets during the previous financial year.

Also, as part of the global offer bonus, Seplat will issue shares to all non-executive directors who have served on its board for at least nine months as at the date of the global offer. Under this incentive, the nonexecutive directors are eligible to subscribe to ordinary shares of the company with an equivalent value of 200,000 pounds based on the United Kingdom’s global offer share price at the nominal value of the shares based on the global offer share price.

According to the plan, the legal and beneficial ownership of the shares will vest in the non-executive directors from the subscription date, with a restriction on the sale of the shares, such that the directors cannot sell or encumber any of the shares until the first anniversary of the global offer at which point they may sell up to 50 per cent of the scheme shares while any of the remaining 50 per cent cannot be sold until after the second anniversary of the global offer.

“It is the intention of Seplat to issue the LTIP shares at nominal cost to the company as part of the agreed employee incentive scheme in consideration of their services to the

company over a period of time. The company will pay the cost of the shares at nominal price from its profit and allotment will be made from the company’s authorised share capital and will not be bought on the floor of the NSE,” according to the document notifying of the intention of the oil company to issue and list the shares.

The shares would be issued from the unissued shares of Seplat at nominal price and allotted to the employees and trustees at nominal price too.

A source in the know said that Seplat has already informed authorities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of its intention to issue and list the shares. Seplat currently has 553.31 million ordinary shares listed on the NSE with a market value of N185.94 billion at the opening of the market yesterday.

Seplat had explained that the LTIP was approved and disclosed in the prospectus that was issued in April 2014 and the revision was made to the earlier approval in June 2014. The company stated that at its annual general meeting held in June 2014, shareholders approved the LTIP for the company’s staff.

According to the company, the LTIP is intended to increase the employee productivity, morale and loyalty by focusing their performance more on long-term goals by tying employee performance to rewards.

• From Left: Wife of the Governor of Anambra State Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano and Regional Bank Head of UBA, Mr. Jerry Azih, during the presentation of books to Mrs Obiano's pet project- Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), in support of girl-child education campaign in Awka, Anambra State capital

After a highly successful global IPO of $500 million, Seplat had made history mid April 2014 as the first upstream company to be listed on the NSE. It also simultaneously listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The initial offer size of the IPO was expected to raise gross proceeds of approximately $500 million, equivalent to £300.9 million and N82.5 billion. It was however oversubscribed. It subsequently increased its capital base by about N5.78 billion with the absorption of the oversubscription from the IPO by adding 10.03 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to its shares.

The company attributed the additional shares to oversubscription and allotment that resulted from the IPO. Seplat was founded in 2009 by Shebah Petroleum Development

Company Limited and Platform Petroleum (Joint Ventures) Limited for the purpose of investing in Nigerian oil and gas opportunities. Maurel& Prom, a French independent oil company, subsequently acquired a 45 per cent equity interest in SEPLAT; this interest was later spun-off to form Maurel & Prom Nigeria S.A, which is now known as Maurel & Prom International.

In July 2010, SEPLAT acquired a 45 per cent participating interest in, and was appointed operator of, a portfolio of three onshore producing oil mining leases-OMLs 4, 38 and 41, which are located in the Niger Delta.

In June 2013, the company entered into an agreement for the acquisition of a 40 per cent participating interest in the Umuseti/Igbuku marginal field area located within OPL 283 in the Niger Delta.

Conoil wins outdoor advert awards

C

ONOIL Plc has been declared the overall winner of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) annual exhibition and poster award for the year.

According to OAAN, Conoil’s advert on its flagship engine oil, Quatro was adjudged the best in outdoor advertising in Nigeria. The company’s Quatro outdoor advert was also declared the best in the petroleum industry.

On the award, the management of Conoil said the awards are a reflection of the quality of the company.

“The award is a reflection of our dedication, initiative and talent as Team Conoil. It is yet another proof of our trail-blazing position in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, and the nation’s business community in general,” the company stated.

The award was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, and had in attendance, captains of industries, top federal and state government officials, media and advertising gurus.

The OAAN Exhibition and Poster Award is the industry’s highest platform that rewards and promotes creative excellence in outdoor advertising.

The panel of judges for the highly competitive award was drawn from among the sub-sectors relevant to the practice of advertising in the country including Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), OAAN, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), the Academia, Brand Journalism Desk and the Con-

sumer Protection Council.

This year’s edition was the ninth in the series and had over 110 entries submitted for the various categories from telecommunications to banking, diary food and beverages, non-alcoholic drinks, oil and gas, household products and automobile. Others include pharmaceuticals/cosmetic information/computer and technology (ICT), alcoholic drinks, electrical/electronics, public service and real estate.

According to the organisers, Conoil‘s advert won the grand poster award because of its creativity and originality, the ease of product identification and effective illustration of its visual. The judges also considered the relevance of its message, its simplicity, credibility and impact.

The theme for this year’s event, “Be Bold”, was chosen, according to OAAN, “because of our conviction that creativity is largely a product of ingenuity and it takes thinking out of the box to come up with a message that will connect the mind and the pocket of the viewer with the product.”

OAAN’s goal for the outdoor medium in the 21st century is to constantly look for new ways, new forms and new structures to promote freshness, relevance and creative visibility while working assiduously towards impeccable professionalism.

Outdoor advertising has grown significantly in Nigeria from its crude beginning and has become a platform for marketing communication. The industry has grown notably in terms of format and types of structure.

Frost & Sullivan honours Fidson Healthcare over growth IDSON Healthcare Plc has been honoured for its definitive vision and strong management, which led to a growth rate of 26 percent in 2013, cementing its leadership in the Nigerian pharmaceutical market. The company was declared winner of the 2014 Nigerian Frost & Sullivan Award for Growth Excellence Leadership. The award ceremony was held recently in United Kingdom.

According to Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Danielle de la Mare, the Nigerian pharmaceutical market was estimated to be approximately US$1.19 billion in 2013, with year-on-year growth of 12 percent.

Fidson’s audited report for the same period shows revenue growth of 29 percent, from N7.2billion in 2012 to N9.2bn in 2013. Fidson grew its gross profit by 26 percent, from N4.1bn in 2012 to N5.1billion to 2013, while its operating profit increased by 60 percent and operating margin by three percent.

Furthermore, Fidson is building a NGN7.5 billion biotech plant that will add a new product line – intravenous fluids – to its product portfolio while doubling its production capabilities of existing product

F

lines by 2015, thereby facilitating economies of scale. It will also enable Fidson to invert its manufacturing capacity and imports ratio from 40:60 to 60:40. Fidson is one of five local manufacturing companies shortlisted for the WHO Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) compliance.

“Meanwhile, Fidson has forayed into the IV infusions market, as it expects to increase its turnover by 20-25 percent in the next two to three years from this product pipeline,” observed de la Mare. “It also plans to expand geographically into West Africa within a few years, after it further entrenches its presence in the Nigerian market, which constitutes approximately 65-70 percent of the West African market.”

Significantly, Fidson prices its products at retail value and leverages its economies of scale to compete with cheaper imports.

The company has been able to bring down its factory overheads, passing on the savings to customers and simultaneously building its reputation as a company that is compliant with global standards, such as ISO 9001.

Frost & Sullivan Global President and Managing Partner, Krishna Srinivasan said: “The most exciting companies to partner with, or invest in, are those that have an inspirational zeal for growth. Fidson Healthcare has demonstrated such a focus in the Nigerian pharmaceutical market by investing smartly, competing effectively, and carving out a unique, sustainable market position.”

Fidson has also shown keenness in leveraging technology, as is evident from its use of security technologies in product packaging to combat the spread of counterfeit drugs. Each Fidson product has a branded sticker on it with a number that the consumer can text toll free to verify the authenticity of the product.

The company estimates that it currently has a market share of approximately 9-10 percent, while its closest local competitors have nearly 8 percent. If this growth rate can be sustained or enhanced when the biotech plant becomes functional, the company could well become a fierce regional competitor in the future.

• ICAN President Otunba Femi Deru, laying the foundation stone for the 350 capacity lecture theatre at the Polytechnic Ibadan.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

PAGE 29

The Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumini Orisagbemi (centre), Oba Ogungbemi (left) and the Olu of Itapaji, Oba Abdulkareem Adebanjo (right) at the peace meeting.

•Some of the placardcarrying protesters calling for the removal of Oba Ogungbemi as the Olu-Iye of Iyemero.

The people of Iyemero in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State are pushing for the dethronement of their traditional ruler, Oba Ebenezer Agboola Ogungbemi, accusing him of sundry offences. But the monarch, who denies all the allegations against him, is calling for a truce. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

Community revolts against Ekiti monarch I

INSIDE

YEMERO is one of the remotest and most peaceful communities in Ekiti State. It is located on the northern fringe of the state and very close to both Kwara and Kogi states with huge agricultural and forestry resources.

It is very close to Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara state and Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi

State. It is a journey of a minimum of one hour and thirty minutes from Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

The community came to limelight during the Segun Oni administration when it was made the centre of attraction for commercial production of cassava and ethanol project.

But presently the town is on the edge as the indigenes are up in arms against their king, the Olu-Iye of Iyemero, Oba Ebenezer Agboola

Ambode, Muslim leaders seek good governance for national growth

PAGES 30-31

such as Lagos, Kadun a , Sokoto, Ilorin and Maidug u r i where Ogungbemi. They are calling on Govhe was ernor Ayo Fayose to depose the monpresident arch for what they called “acts unbeof the • IPU President, Lawrence coming of his revered position.”

Yoruba Fatoyinbo, addressing reporters CommuniOba Ogungbemi who was installed during the peace meeting. as the Olu-Iye of Iyemero on March 11, ty and Ekiti 2000 was the Aro (second-in-command to Community in the king) before he mounted the royal seat of Borno State. his community.

Having assumed the royal seat 15 years An accountant by profession who retired as a senior official of the agency that is now known as the ago when he was in Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and served in cities , Continued on pages 32-33)

When Indian experts, Lagos hospital partnered for humanity

PAGES 30-31

‘Female circumcision most prevalent among Yoruba’ PAGES 34-35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT In the last four years, Agege, Lagos suburb-based P &G Hospital has brought free medical services to the people. This year, medical experts from JAYPEE Hospital in India spent one week offering comfort to the sick. SEUN AKIOYE reports

When Indian experts, Lagos hospital partnered for humanity

F

OR about a week, the consulting rooms at P&G hospital wore a busy look. Patients with varying ailments ranging from the common to the severe trooped into the hospital seeking expert opinion on their ailments. In one of the rooms, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, an orthopedic and joint replacement surgeon, patiently asked an elderly woman about her knee problems, conducted several examinations, wrote down some prescriptions and offered his counsel to the grateful woman.

In other rooms, other doctors and consultants were engaged in similar exercise, conducting medical examinations and offering expert advice to patients free of charge. For four year, Kunle Sonaike, the medical director of P & G hospital has conducted free medical services for the people of Oko Oba Agege and beyond, bringing experts in various diseases from India to Nigeria.

“We do this once a year, bringing experts from India to treat people here for free, most of the ailments for which people travel to India are treated here and the special cases that need expert care in India are referred,” Sonaike said.

The visit of specialized doctors from JayPee hospital which is described as “the jewel in healthcare delivery” was facilitated by a renowned medical assistant company, High Beam Global based in Delhi, India. According to Abhik Moi-

tra, the President and Director, the company is in the business of helping individuals and organizations to bring out options and outlook for immediate, cost effective private medical treatment in India.

“Our aim is to make it hassle free for people around the globe to travel for world class and affordable medical treatments to India,” Moitra told Southwest Report.

But Sonaike has other motives for providing free medicare for his community; he wanted to create awareness about cancer and other ailments which are often attributed to spiritual attack and the diabolical.

“But we are trying to change all that. People know now that these are medical conditions that if presented early can be solved. That is why we have decided that once every year we will bring experts who are our partners from India to this community to also see and treat people for free, we have been attending to people free for a week now and we have seen quite a number of patients,” Sonaike said.

The Indians are also coming to build capacity for Nigerian doctors with the aim of building a multi specialty hospital in Nigeria which in due course will be able to handle cases hitherto referred to India.

“Our motive is humanitarian, but we are also trying to build capacity here. We are coming to create a giant hospital in Nigeria, we will build

capacity here, Nigeria has skillful doctors already but doing a surgery needs more than a good doctor, we are starting a process partnering with P & G hospital and we hope to start from there,” Moitra said. The other doctors agreed with him.

But Nigeria has major challenges in creating a post surgery support system.

“The first thing is to have a good intensive care programme, there are people who have died due to poor post surgery treatment, that is why we need to create the right environment,” Sonaike said.

We receive 25 Nigerian patients every month For many years, India has been the preferred destination of Nigerians for medical tourism especially for heart diseases and other complex sicknesses.

But India did not become the favoured medical tourism destination overnight.

In 1993, the government overhauled the health sector initiating a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. The government also encouraged many of its over 30,000 doctors practicing in the United States back home and creating supportive policies.

Today there are about 120 countries including the developed world sending patients to India and in the developing world, Nigeria tops the list of countries with the highest medical tourism in India. According to the figures from the Indian Ministry of Health, in 2013, 35,000 patients came from Nigeria to India, the figure dropped drasti-

From left: Former MAN National Missioner Sheikh Najmuddeen Binuyo; Sheikh Eleshinmeta; Akoju; Alhaji Yusuf; Dr. Yusuf and Ariwajoye 1 of Shasha Kingdom Oba Babatunde Nasiru Ogunronbi, at the lecture.

•Dr. Sonaike

cally in 2014 with only 18,900 patients. Through the facilitation of High Beam Global, there have been more than 12,000 Nigerian patients in India in the last five years.

“Every month, we have at least 25 patients from Nigeria come to India through us for medical treatment,” Moitra said.

All the medical doctors on the trip has had robust engagements with Nigerian patients, Ashutosh Marwah a Pediatric Cardiologist who has treated many Nigerian chil-

dren for heart problems said the high birth rate in Nigeria ensures that there are more cases of heart problems involving children in Nigeria.

“I have seen complex heart conditions close to 100 from Nigeria and because you have younger population so the cases are more. Also, you have more women giving birth after 40 years which is a high risk index.

But the trend is that most of the cases that we have seen are presented when they become complex especially cancer and cardiac cases,” Marwah said.

A cross-section of members of the association.

Ambode, Muslim leaders seek good N

IGERIANS have been urged not to see governance as “a one month show”, but a collective effort between leaders and followers.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, President, Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) Alhaji Sulaiman Yusuf, the association’s National Missioner, Alhaji Sheikh Sulaiman Eleshinmeta and Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf of the University of Lagos spoke at a Ramadan lecture organised by the National Council of MAN in Lagos.

By Bola Olajuwon

They said the lecture, titled: ‘’Governance, leadership and followership: Imperative for Nigerian National Development”, was apt and relevant, following the crisis facing the nation’s democracy.

Ambode, who was represented at the event by Mr. Olalekan Akoju, said no matter how committed and forthright a leader may be, his success would be determined by the amount of support he enjoys from the people.

The governor added: “The importance of followership as a pre-

requisite for progress and development is clearly alluded to in the Holy Quran, when Allah enjoined obedience not only to Him and His messengers, but also to those in position of authority.”

He said he was committed to serving the best interest of all people, creating job opportunities for the youth and ensuring the general wellbeing of residents in a safe and secured environment.

He appealed to Lagosians to play their part by performing their civic duties, including payment of taxes and obeying the laws of the land.

‘’For instance, when people pay their taxes, government is financially empowered to provide social amenities that make life more comfortable and meaningful for the people,” Ambode said.

He enjoined the association’s members to continue to pray for his administration’s success.

MAN President, in an interview with Southwest Report, said Nigerians were embarrassed by the National Assembly crisis.

His words: “It takes us back to what we had in Ibadan in those days when people threw chairs

When people pay their taxes, government is financially empowered to provide social amenities that make life more comfortable and meaningful for the people and tables. Our politicians need to learn more, they need to be toler-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

31

SOUTHWEST REPORT Women to Oyo govt: do more on family planning

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•From left: Abhik Moitra, Sanjay Gupta, Ashutosh Marwah, Varvn Aggarwal and Manoj Kumar

But if the partnership between P & G and High Beam Global progresses, then some categories of major surgeries will be done before the end of the year at the hospital, says Sonaike. This prospect should be good news for thousands of medical tourists who get swindled by unscrupulous agents every year. “The reason why High Beam is involved is because many Nigerians go to India without expert guidance which is what High Beam provides. They have the best specialists and they are here to help,” he said.

Sonaike said Nigeria must attract back home the thousands of Nigerian doctors in the US and Europe.

“We have to get them back, this is why our vision here is to help create the best private teaching hospital in Nigeria, we have seen it in India and we can do it here, most of the ailments that travels to India can and should be done here.”

So what do the Indians think about Nigeria? Gupta who was one of the Indian Diaspora doctors said: “The impression is that Nigerians are hum-

ble, great hospitality, patient people.

You have great command of English even better than Indians and will some economic reforms you will be good.”

Gupta also has an optimistic view of Nigeria’s medical future: “ The attitude is there and the skills too, already the doctors have started to do some complex open heart surgeries and joint replacements, soon the expertise will flow back to Nigeria,” he said with a smile as another patient waited for his attention who will be treated free of charge.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan OMEN in Oyo State have urged government to between 35 to 40 new clients every strengthen its support to- month for family planning. During wards family planning.

NURHI outreach like this we used The women urged the Oyo State gov- to have like 50 new clients coming ernment to partner theNigerian Ur- for family planning,” she said ban Reproductive Health Initiative Mrs Baruwa dispelled the ru(NURHI). mour that there is a side effect assoThey appealed to government to ciated with family planning, stressprovide technical assistance for pri- ing that most women that have ismary health care centres in the state sues with it do not go to professionto run its family planning initiative. al health officers for family planThe women and the Chief ning.

Nursing Officer of the Bode, Also, some women who Ibadan Primary Healthcame for the NURHI outcare Centre (PHC), reach at Apata Primary Mrs Wumi Baruwa, Health Centre told spoke at a family Southwest Report planning outthat that the interreach organised vention of by NURHI. NURHI had led Women were to increase in the given the oppornumber of womtunity to ask en seeking such questions on the services in their health initiative. communities.

Mrs Baruwa Mrs Bola Baurged the state batope said they government to were given orienta•Mrs also key into the tion and counselling Baruwa methods being used on family planning by the Non-Governmethods and other health mental Organization issues.

(NGO) to achieve its objective.

“I want to commend NURHI She lauded the activities of NURHI for renovating the family planning in sensitising women at the grass- unit and for the training of workers. roots on the importance of family “If we can get NGOs like this that planning,noting that the efforts of the will assist, the health sector will imNGO had helped to create more prove greatly,” Babatope said awareness among rural women.

She advised women to plan their “The awareness created by the families for sustainable healthy living.

NURHI has now allowed health Mrs Afusat Jinadu said she preworkers to counsel women on fami- ferred the implant family planning ly planning easily. Unlike before it method, stressing that NURHI had was not easy to convince and counsel changed her perception of family them easily. planning.

“We used to have more women She urged government to assist participating now everyday in one NURHI in order to create more family planning technique or the oth- awareness among women about er; atleast 20 weekly, while we have the essence of family planning.

A cross-section of Assalatu women of the association.

governance for national growth We are at a crossroad now because we all know that the economy is bad and so, the lawmakers need to sit up and work closely with the President to ensure the economy is revived, services, infrastructure are improved upon ant and they need to be faithful to the cause they are pursuing.

“One of the things we discussed here today was selflessness. The moment leaders do not imbibe selflessness; there will be issues on ground. Nigerians expect our lawmakers to take issues of leadership and trust seriously.

“Lawmakers must understand how to reach a compromise. Nigerians are expecting better performance and that was why they voted for change. The way our politicians started was a setback. They need to prove otherwise so that the people can rekindle their hope in them.

“On the part of the citizens, we need not to be idle. We have to continue to engage our leaders. Let them know what we have on our minds. Let them know this is not what we voted for and they should sit up and do the right thing.

“Many people are out there and they have not been paid their salaries. That is the kind of thing we should engage our leaders on.

“We are at a crossroad now because we all know that the economy is bad and so, the lawmakers need to sit up and work closely with the President to ensure the econo-

my is revived, services, infrastructure are improved upon.”

The guest lecturer noted that the theme of the lecture from an Islamic viewpoint means that leaders and followers should come together and form a good government.

He added that it was important for Muslims to educate themselves about the significance of the holy book always and during Ramadan.

Quoting from Holy Quran, he said: “To form a government warrants leadership, which is the mechanism for administering the affairs of all creatures. It brings hu-

manity closer to Allah and far away from perils through social justice, welfare improvement and security.

“Leadership is a trust from Almighty Allah who says ‘I would place a leader on earth’’ Q2:30. The leader placed on earth was Adam - the ancestor of mankind whose duty was to guide his children, who produced the leaders of families, communities and nations.

“For stable governance, both the leaders and the followers are counselled by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to be patriotic when he said: ‘Love of one’s country is part of faith in Allah’.

“To avoid disagreement between the leader and the followers, Allah says: ‘’Obey Allah’s commandment, obey His messengers and obey those who are in authority. If you differ in anything, refer it to Allah and to his messengers. That is the best and most commendable in the end. Q4:59.”

The university lecturer advised politicians to “get their acts together as quickly as possible because Nigerians are yearning for positive change”.

He urged them to put aside personal ambitions and ensure that the interests of the masses are protected.

Dr. Yusuf told the citizens to keep monitoring the activities of leaders to make them accountable.

The association’s national missioner prayed for peace and growth of the nation and the citizenry.

The lecture was attended by members of MAN branches, its executive members and Muslims from all parts of the country.

32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

33

SOUTHWEST REPORT

One of the protesters, Titilope Ayeyemi and her son who were among the subjects detained on the alleged order of the monarch.

•A cross-section of Iyemero indigenes listening

vices (DSS) who ordered the arrest of the hoodlums to forestall reoccurrence.

Oba Ogungbemi maintained that his chiefs collect their monthly stipends at their monthly traditional meetings for which they also sign “with the exception of one chief who for reasons best known to him had stayed away from these meetings in the last ten years”.

The royal father who gave a background information on what led to the “rebellion” against him claimed that his reign had witnessed unprecedented development in physical infrastructure and social amenities most of whom he used his connections to facilitate.

He said: “It is worthy of note that with every sense of responsibility, I make bold to say that I met Iyemero Community in a pitiable and deplorable condition as basic amenities such as good motorable roads, electricity and portable water were virtually non-existent.

“In addition, as at that time, the government school, in the community had been closed for almost twelve years.

“However, to th glory of God and benefit of mankind, my reign has witnessed spontaneous and positive development albeit through my personal efforts and great sacrifices on my part.

“Putting it mildly, my reign has brought Iyemero out of darkness and total obscurity.

“Under my rule, Iyemero has witnessed development such as provision of modern motorized borehole, accessible and motorable road, electricity and rehabilitation and reopening of the secondary school in the community among others.

“Without an iota of doubt, all these were made possible through the special grace of God and personal sacrifices on my part while tapping on my connections and goodwill garnered over the years.

“I wish to categorically state that I have never at anytime sold any piece of Iyemero land. However, the previous administration actually requested for a parcel of arable land for cassava cultivation and production and this was released following due consultation with the Olu Iyemero-in-Council and other key members of the community.

“Thereafter, the State Ministry of Agriculture embarked on massive cultivation of cassava on the said land and it is well known fact that government does not pay for the acquisition of land but nonetheless pays compensation on economic trees found on such acquired land.

“The said compensation was shared among the traditional owners of the land, the Ilisa family at Iyemero and Ayede.

Furthermore, I have never arrested or detained any member of my cool unity since my assumption of the throne for about 16 years with the exception of some hoodlums and well-known thugs who once invaded my palace premises armed with dangerous weapons with the aim of causing me grievous bodily harm.

“Fortunately, I escaped and promptly lodged a complaint with the State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security who ordered the arrest and interrogation of some of the thugs to forestall reoccurrence.

The monarch stormed Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, June 30, with his queen (the “Contrary to the allegation of non-payment of the monthly stipends of Olori) and a retinue of his supporters where he addressed a news conference chiefs in the community, all of them receive and sign for their monthly dismissing all the allegations. stipends at the traditional monthly meetings in the palace hall with the Oba Ogungbemi revealed that he had initiated peace moves to reconcile exception of one chief who for reasons best known to him has stayed away with his aggrieved subjects calling for his removal from throne and from these meetings in the last ten years. progress is being made to resolve the feud for peace to reign in the “In addition, I have been holding the traditional monthly meetings relicommunity. giously as this is where I deliberate with my chiefs both male and He described the allegations as “spurious, unfounded and female and issues are given due considerations, resolutions made baseless.” and decisions taken on very important community matters.

The royal father said the allegations were concocted to “As a man of peace and knowing full well that there cannot tarnish his reputation and turn his subjects against him be any development in a atmosphere of rancour and mistrust, describing himself as a “lover of peace who loves his I wish to categorically state that I believe very strongly in subjects and has contributed immensely to the ecothe unification of the four constituent groupings or quarnomic and social development of the community”. ters that make up Iyemero.

Oba Ogungbemi denied sale of community “My reign has brought social and economic prosland, felling of economic trees, harassment and perity to all the youths who engage in lumbering detention of chiefs and youth leaders and refusactivities, they now built modern houses and drive al to pay chiefs’ allowances. flashy cars.

The Olu of Iyemero revealed that he had “Against this background, Iyemero must out commenced the implementation of the resoaway falsehood, vengeance and bitterness if lutions reached at the June 27 meeting to we must move forward as a people and it is ensure the return of peace to the beleaguered my express hope that the leadership of IPU community while a follow-up peace meetwill be courageous to do what is right and ing was held last Thursday. just.

The traditional ruler accused some “As we do this, I appeal to all individuals who senior officials of IPU of turning the may be aggrieved to remember that infallibility subjects against him saying the prolies with God who is a perfect being, who cannot and test that rocked the community was can never be found with fault or mistakes.” a culmination of the “gang-up and The traditional prime minister of the community, conspiracy” against him.

Chief Samuel Adebiyi, described the crisis in the town The Oba denied selling the commuas a gang up by few aggrieved individuals , whom nity land illegally clarifying that he rehe alleged of desperately working for the Oba’s depleased a parcel of arable land to the state osition. government for cultivation and producAdebiyi, the Aro of Iyemero and a retired Colonel of tion of cassava in commercial quantity afthe Nigerian Army, said : “Government doesn’t pay comter due consultation with the council of pensation for a land taken from any community, but they chiefs. used to pay compensation for the damaged crops and economHe added that the compensation on the ic trees. economic trees on the acquired land was “So, the N5 million paid for the land taken by government shared among the traditional owners of the for commercial cassava production was shared to the Ebira said land, the Ilisa family at Iyemero and farm owners and the Ilisha family, who were directly affectAyede. ed by the project.

While denying the arrest of and deten“Infallibility belongs to God, is the only person tion of his subjects, Oba Ogungbemi who cannot make mistakes. We are calling disclosed that some hoodlums on them to eschew violence because and thugs who invaded the nothing can be achieved under the community about five years atmosphere of crisis and turbuago with the intent of causlence”, he said. ing him grievous bodily It remains to be seen harm were arrested by how the crisis is resolved the Police. but Oba OgungbeHe revealed that mi’s reconciliation he escaped and gestures might be lodged a comthe saving plaint with the grace for him Commissioner to win back •Oba Ogungbemi addressing a news confence in Ado of Police and the love Ekiti where he denied all the allegations the Director of and loythe Departalty of ment of h i s State Sersubjects.

Community revolts against Ekiti monarch Continued from page 29

stalled by former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, Oba Ogungbemi is fighting the battle of his life to keep his throne against forces that want to cut short his reign accusing him of sundry offences.

The members of the community staged a public protest on Saturday, June 27 before and after a peace meeting chaired by the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi who came to reconcile the Iyemero monarch with his subjects.

They accused Oba Ogungbemi of withholding allowances due to his chiefs, illegal arrest and detention of his subjects and illegal sale of some parcels of community’s ancestral land to the tune of N5 million without their consent.

The royal father’s subjects also accused him of illegal felling and sale of community’s economic trees, use of divide and rule tactics, highhandedness, dictatorial tendencies and lack of interest in the development of the town.

The Iyemero people who carried many placards protested round the community calling on Fayose to initiate steps to depose Oba Ogungbemi before the already tense situation goes out of hand.

Some of their placards read: “Gov. Fayose, We Don’t Want Ebenezer Agboola as Olu of Iyemero Again”, “We Are Tired of Our Oba, He Must Go”, “Iyemero Youths Reject Ebenezer Agboola As King”, “EFCC, Come and Probe Olu of Iyemero”, “We Reject to Die in Prison, Agboola Must Leave”, “Agboola Is Not Fit to Be Our Oba Again”, among others.

Various interest groups, including traditional chiefs, town union leaders, women leaders, youths, students some of whom were allegedly arrested and detained for challenging Oba Ogungbemi’s alleged excesses who spoke at the parley, said they could no longer guarantee peace in the community if he still remains king.

The peace meeting, which was also witnessed by the Olu of Itapaji, Oba Abdulkareem Adebanjo, collapsed as the Attah was making his closing remarks when the youths who had sat quietly throughout the proceeding brought out their plac-

ards and chanted war songs against their monarch (the Olu).

Oba Ogungbemi’s subjects insisted that they were tired of his ‘oppressive’ reign and heckled their monarch as he was seeing off Oba Orisagbemi who was leaving to attend another function in his domain (Ayede).

The Attah who sued for peace said Iyemero remains his second home since it was from there the people of Ayede located in Oye Local Government Area moved to where they are presently.

Oba Orisagbemi urged his brother monarch to listen to his subjects, reconcile with them and pay the chiefs whose allowances are being allegedly withheld for peace to reign.

President of Iyemero Progressive Union (IPU), Mr. Lawrence Fatoyinbo, welcomed the intervention of the Attah describing his intervention in the Iyemero crisis as one of the reasons why God brought him to the throne.

Fatoyinbo expressed regrets that things are “turning upside down” in Iyemero as the people of the community are not seeing the development they had envisaged which he attributed to the leadership style of the Olu of Iyemero.

The IPU boss explained that the feud had pitted the royal father with his chiefs and subjects. According to him, whoever that says there is peace in Iyemero is deceiving himself since the matter had been taken to the Attah at least three times in the recent past.

Fatoyinbo revealed that the crisis in the community had been taken to the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser in charge of Chieftaincy Matters without being resolved.

According to the IPU chief, the people had protested against their Kabiyesi for the way he has been administering the affairs of the community but the union intervened and advised them to table their grievances before the Attah to help find a solution.

Fatoyinbo wondered why Oba Ogungbemi was a former IPU President and under whom he (Fatoyinbo) served as Secretary for many years no longer listens to his subjects saying “Iyemero community is at the crossroads and don’t know the way out again” hence the intervention of the Attah.

He declared that the people of Iyemero no longer want Oba Ogungbemi as their ruler and they had forwarded a petition to Fayose to effect his dethronement for peace to return to the beleaguered community.

Fatoyinbo said: “The Olu of Iyemero is running a one-man show, he doesn’t take advice and he is not ready to work with IPU. Even though he was not the rightful person to occupy the throne, we still accepted him and gave him the benefit of doubt but he has failed to justify our trust.

“He has not been paying the chiefs under him their allowances for the past ten years despite collecting the money from the government. We want him to know that we have a way we can report him to EFCC and it is unfortunate that many of the chiefs had died without collecting what is due to them.

“He sold Iyemero landed property to the tune of N5 million without the consent of the community claiming that the whole land belongs to his family.

“We don’t want him any longer, we have written petitions to Fayose because the governor is the only answer to this issue.

“We have asked him to set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the matter, we have also taken the matter to the Elekole of Ikole before the latest intervention of the Attah of Ayede.

“You heard what the representatives of various interest groups in Iyemero said at the meeting. We have lost confidence in our Oba because he cannot change again”.

After Fatoyinbo’s remarks, the Attah, Oba Orisagbemi said he was deeply concerned about the crisis rocking Iyemero noting that “there is no way you will be a true Ayede son without having relations in Iyemero”.

He described Iyemero as the home of all the people of Ayede saying the crisis can be resolved if all parties show willingness to resolve it and accommodate themselves.

Oba Orisagbemi, who warned against “externalising the Iyemero crisis”, urged his brother monarch, Oba Ogungbemi, to listen to his subjects and be wary of people who are benefiting from the crisis.

He noted that if the crisis goes out of hand and the community is in cha-

os, people will be referring to the reign of the Oba Ogungbemi as the time negative things happened.

Oba Orisagbemi explained: “There is no town where a king is deposed that witnesses peace, when there is crisis and people are dying, this will strike terror and far in the minds of your subjects.

“War is not a good thing and if it starts, nobody can predict when it will end. Wherever you take this matter to, you will still have to come back home and dialogue. We the ‘Iye Outside’ will not allow you the ‘Iye Inside’ to destroy the image of this community.

“What are we struggling about?

We should always remember the six feet, when we are going to die because life is vanity. There must be mutual respect among us and those of us who are here (to make peace) have no power to remove your Oba for you but if he listens, it will be in his own interest.”

After giving his opening remarks, Oba Orisagbemi gave the floor to some stakeholders in Iyemero to speak on their grievances and first to speak was Mrs. Esther Aduke Ayeni.

Mrs Ayeni said: “This Kabiyesi (Oba Ogungbemi) does not listen to advice of his people. We asked him to join hands with us to reconstruct our environment, he said no. He kicked against our advice to him to renovate the market.

“If he wants his subjects to benefit, he must be ready to listen to advice but he doesn’t listen to advice and he believes so much in himself.

His wife controls him and he hates what we want and works against our interest. Most of our children are graduates who have no jobs to do at all.”

Next to speak was Mr. Sunday Caleb Omotoso who said the Iyemero monarch does not mean well for his subjects. He accused Oba Ogungbemi of being dictatorial and blocking his ears to the cries of the community.

Omotoso said: “This Kabiyesi withholds the allowances of the chiefs under him, I reported the matter to the IPU President. The Oba asked me that when I was a civil servant, am I not receiving my salaries?

“I replied him that when he was the Aro, was he not receiving his allowances? He denied the chiefs their right. Apart from this, he also rewrote

‘

This Kabiyesi (Oba Ogungbemi) does not listen to advice of his people. We asked him to join hands with us to reconstruct our environment, he said no.

He kicked against our advice to him to renovate the market. If he wants his subjects to benefit, he must be ready to listen to advice but he doesn’t listen to advice and he believes so much in himself. His wife controls him and he hates what we want and works against our interest. Most of our children are graduates who have no jobs to do at all.

‘

the history of our town when he claimed that Isaye and Opada are from the bush near Eruku.

“Later, we discovered that our lands are being sold illegally, I challenged him that he was selling our land illegally and the Olu of Itapaji said the matter might snowball into war.

“We heard that four bulldozers were taken to Eda to fell trees for limbering from far places like Benin and Ogbomoso and I challenged them that they shoul stop.

“He is detaining our youths in po-

lice cells, it was our fathers that installed him and we don’t know the way out now. Our Kabiyesi is very bad, the lands of Iye that he sold, he must restore them.

“Nobody is conspiring against him, he is the cause of the crisis. He claims that many of us are strangers that we should leave the land for him and there was tension in the town.

“I was in my home when he brought SARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad) men to arrest me claiming that I sent thunder to him. I told him that I am a church elder and I am not a Sango worshipper and that was what I told the Area Commander.

“He claimed that he spent N12 million on our community secondary school and that is a blatant lie. I was among those who moulded the blocks on this school and what he said cannot be the truth..

“In this community, we are pushed to the wall and if you push a goat to the wall, it will bite back in self-defence. That is what we are going through under our Kabiyesi.”

One of the indigenes allegedly arrested at the behest of the monarch was Ms. Titilope Ayeyemi who claimed that she was arrested and detained with her son when the policemen invited by the Olu-Iye stormed the community to make arrests.

She said the policemen did not even consider the fact that her child was a minor as they were slammed into the cell alongside other indigenes who were accused of fomenting trouble.

One of the chiefs, who spoke at the peace meeting, was was a kingmaker, High Chief David Jimoh Awolumate, the Odofin of Ilaro Quarters in Iyemero.

He alleged that he was given N500 as allowances for five months by Oba Ogungbemi and the boy that was sent to deliver the money to him deducted ‘Okada transport fare’ from the money.

“Our children being detained by the Kabiyesi is not good when they are not armed robbers. God will save us from this oppressive king,” Awolumate said.

Other indigenes representing the community’s stakeholders spoke at the parley saying they are tired of the reign of Oba Ogungbemi urging for intervention before the situation snowballs into an intractable crisis.

Having listened to those who spoke, the Attah of Ayede, Oba Orisagbemi gave his embattled brother monarch, Oba Ogungbemi some pieces of advice that can bring solution to his troubled kingdom.

The Attah said: “The Olu of Iyemero, I want to tell you to humble yourself because whoever that tells you not to humble yourself is your enemy.

How much is the chiefs’ allowances?

“As many of them that are alive, give them their due, give them what belongs to them and don’t let them use it against you because the people outside will not have a good impression about you if the news spread around.

“I want to advise the IPU President to choose a committee in collaboration with the Olu of Itapaji and the Regent of Ilusajumu to work out modalities and come back to brief your community.

“But in the immediate plan, I want you (Oba Orisagbemi) to ensure the payment of the chiefs who are still alive. Let that be done immediately.

The highest allowances traditional chiefs earn in Ekiti is N2,500.

“The vacant chiefs’ positions must be filled, don’t see anybody as your enemy and have a large heart. Give the IPU President the honour he deserves and involve him in he day-today running of he community.

“Hold dialogue with the children of your predecessors, I call on all of you indigenes of Iyemero to embrace peace and allow peace to reign.”

But the Olu-Iye of Iyemero is defending his name and integrity against the legion of allegations levelled against him by his subjects who are calling for his sack from the palace.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

Akure bishop advises Buhari

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HE Bishop of Akure Diocese (Anglican Communion), Dr Simeon Borokini, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint professionals into the board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure proper management of the nation’s oil sector.

Also, the Cleric urged Buhari to set up a probe panel to investigate the activities of the dissolved board of the NNPC. This, according to him, would justify the dissolution of the board.

Declaring open the third session of the 11th synod of the Akure Diocese, Rev Borokini lamented that corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of all sectors of the nation’s economy.

He urged the Federal Government to take a decisive stand on fuel subsidy to prevent corrupt practices in the oil sector.

His word: “This government should take a definite decision on the issue of fuel subsidy now to save Nigerians from the agonies experienced always due to fuel scarcity.

“Government should not only make a pronouncement on subsidy removal but also put in place appropriate machinery to prevent further corrupt practices currently prevalent in the oil industry where tax payer’s monies are embezzled or paid for services not rendered.

“The government should en-

This government should take a definite decision on the issue of fuel subsidy now to save Nigerians from the agonies experienced always due to fuel scarcity.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

sure the effective management of the NNPC and review the composition of the Board of Directors of the corporation. The board should be headed by professionals and not politicians. The present wastage needs to be checked so as to improve accountability and optimise the economy.”

Bishop Borokini also enjoined the Buhari- led government not to have any sacred cow in the fight against corruption, stressing that his anti-corruption war should affect all sectors of the economy.

He recalled that the last general elections threatened the peace and unity of the country, and thereby enjoined Buhari and all the 36 governors in the country to uphold

democracy and ensure that the nation is not divided by politics, tribe or religion.

He said: “God saved Nigeria from evident chaos and collapse that would have resulted from the tensed atmosphere before, during and immediately after the 2015 elections.

“The peace of the country was highly threatened with insecurity of life and property, Boko Haram and bombings in the North East and kidnapping in the South East, now fast spreading to the South West.

“Communal clashes, religious and political intolerance were on the increase, with corruption, apathy and lawlessness having a field all over the country.”

While calling on Nigerian leaders to trust in God, Bishop Borokini also enjoined Nigerians to support the rulers in all things which are just and morally good.

He stressed that “we should pursue all things that promote peace and unity among each other at the national, state, local and community levels.”

The Anglican Bishop challenged the three tiers of government to take more proactive steps to secure the lives of Nigerians in all parts of the country and safeguard their fundamental human and constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

He said each state of the federation should be allowed to have a say in the management of the natural resources available in its area, while the Federal Government acts just as the umpire.

Activists advise Lagos on water policy

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WO rights activists, Akinbode Oluwafemi of the Environmental Rights Action and Shayda E Naficy of the Corporate Accountability International, have advised the Lagos State government not to privatise water.

The duo, in a an article published on brettonwoodsproject.com, said: “Today in Lagos, 90 per cent of the city’s 21 million residents lack daily access to safe water. Millions rely on costly or unsafe water sources, such as poorly regulated wells and boreholes. For many Lagosians, water arrives not through pipes to their homes, but through shared standpipes – or worse, or in jerry cans or cellophane bags from sources unknown to them, at a mark-up charged by those few who have access. For many, this presents an impossible choice between paying for clean water or paying for food, transportation, school fees, or clothing costs.

“The World Bank holds much of the blame for the current state of affairs. For almost three decades it has promoted the privatisation of water systems in Nigeria, strongarming water policy and impeding the development of adequate public systems.

“The World Bank Group must abandon its harmful corporatisation and privatisation policies in favour of funding for the development of robust, accountable, and well-functioning public water systems “In 1988 and 1999, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm, advised the Lagos state government to “reform” the water sector and privatise Lagos State Water Corporation, the body charged with providing water to Lagos’s residents. Likewise, the Bank’s first National Urban Water Sector Reform project, instigated in 2002, drove privatisation which it misleadingly called “public private partnership” (PPP). The Bank’s plan failed miserably: it crowded out any

effort to build a functioning public water system; profit-oriented water corporations had no interest in building the infrastructure we need.

After the Bank’s plans fell through, its central recommendations were nevertheless folded into a 2004 law.

Pushed through in secrecy despite opposition, the legislation corporatised Lagos’s water utility, paving the way to privatisation by prioritising bill collection, metering and profitability rather than universal access.”

They added that: " Newly elected Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to work for safe and affordable water, rekindling hopes for a new official policy that will promote public water systems that work. We look forward to collaborating with him in the coming years to stop the failed World Bank policies and fulfil the human right to water. Together we can develop a water system that is democratically accountable, publicly managed, and delivers to all Lagosians the clean, affordable water we need to live."

Ondo town seeks city status

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ROMINENT sons and daughters of Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State have converged to see how the ancient town can be proclaimed a city before December.

The Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo Jilo III, during the 500th anniversary celebration of the town last year, set up a committee on Ondo City vision 2015 to actualise the objective of transforming Ondo into a modern city.

At a news conference at the Osemawe’s palace and attended by members of the committee, Oba Kiladejo and prominent high chiefs, the Committee Chairman, Ondo City Vision 2015, Chief Fidelis Akinwolemiwa, said Ondo has all facilities on ground for its to be proclaimed a city.

He listed the facilities, such as palace and Heritage Museum, a Cathedral and Central Mosque, a University and other allied educational facilities, road networks that make all of the city easily accessible with functional transportation, modern health facilities among others.

He boasted that Ondo has a three dualised roads,

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Mega schools, Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, Mother and Child hospital, University of Medical Science, Adeyemi University of Education and Wesley University of Science and Technology.

Akinwolemiwa added that: “ The granting of community and commercial radio licenses has also lent credence to the fact that several efforts from many front would help propel Ondo kingdom to enviable height.

We applaud this laudable achievement and will do everything possible to see that the radio projects take off without any hitch.

Akinwolemiwa said there were sub-committees on Ondo kingdom Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industry and Agriculture, Technology innovation and education units, Infastruture development and government liaison, cultural renaissance, board of funding, green up unit, proclamation and Monitoring and Evaluation sub-committees He hailed the traditional ruler and Governor Olusegun Mimiko, an indigene of the town, for their support in transforming the town.

‘Female circumcision most prevalent among Yoruba’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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F all the regions in the country, more women are circumcised in the Southwest, it has emerged.

The co-ordinator, Good Health and Community Development (CSJGHCD), Mr Abiodun Oyeleye, revealed this at a one-day conference on reduction of harmful traditional and cultural practices.

The conference was organised

by CSJGHCD with the support of Australian Ggovernment under Direct Aid Programme (DAP) at Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Mrs Roseleen Akinroye, said more than 125 million girls and women have been cut in 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

According to her, as many as 30 million girl are at risk of being cut before their 15th birthday if current trends continue.

She noted that UNICEF has been working with government and civil society partners towards the elimination of female genital mutilation.

The UNICEF representative said: ”The 2013 NDHS reports that 25 per cent of women in Nigerian undergo circumcision of which 82 per cent had it before their 5th birthday although with regional variations from state to state. The highest prevalence of 76.6 per cent is fou nd in Osun State and this is higher than the prevalence of 55 per cent for the Yoruba people. Although 11 state government has passed the law prohibiting female genital mutilation, but enforcement is still lacking in Nigeria, as no parent or

•A cross-section of the participants at the event

circumcisers has been prosecuted.

Many reasons have been adduced for the continued perpetuation of the act, which include: reduction of sexual desire in females, ensuring husband’s sexual pleasure, promoting social integration and initiation of girls into womanhood.”

Mrs Akinroye suggested that the practice could be curbed through legislation, increase awareness and provision of prevention and protection services.

Oyeleye said 55 per cent of women who have been cut in Nigeria are Yoruba. Igbo women are next with 45 per cent.

According to him, 32 per cent of urban women are circumcised, as compared with 19 per cent of rural women.

Lagos, Ogun FRSC rewards officers for rejecting bribes

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O fewer than 334 officers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) serving in Lagos and Ogun states were rewarded for rejecting bribes from motorists who violated traffic rules.

The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commander, Nse-Obong Charles Akpabio said the officers stood to the truth.

The FRSC chief urged the officers to continue with their loyalty and committed to the service. ‘’You must shun any act that will drag the name of the Corps to disrepute. FRSC has good image. It is no longer a matter of you even resisting bribe, but a matter of you exposing those among you who usually involve themselves in the dirty act of extorting road users,” he said.

He urged the Sector Commands to increase their surveillance patrols, noting that the corps had declared war against bribery and corruption and would ensure the pol-

Mr. Adebajo receiving commendation letter from Mr Akpabio. With them are Ogun State Sector Commander, Mr Adegoke Adetunji (CC) (right) and State’s Coordinator, Special Marshal and Partnership, Elder Emmanuel Fagbenro.

icy was sustained.

He explained that the new thinking of the corps would ensure that there was adequate consultation with its officers and men, adding that the hardworking ones would be adequately rewarded and those found wanting would be copious-

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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SOUTHWEST REPORT 195 Ogun prison inmates undergo training From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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T least 195 prison inmates in Ogun State have completed an eightweek “transformation training,” to enhance their ability to adjust effectively and also become better persons in the society.

The beneficiaries from the Oba Prison and Ibara Prison - both in Abeokuta, were tutored on moral regeneration and consientisation of the prisoners using biblical principles and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The transformation training, which also include vocational skills transfer, is a programme of the Prison Fellowship International and implemented yearly by its Ogun State chapter.

The state chairman of the Fellowship, Dr Elege Emmanuel, in an interview with reporters in Abeokuta, said the task of reforming prisoners should not be left to the government alone.

According to Pastor Emmanuel, 275 inmates benefited from the programme last year.

He said the body has come to the conviction that the “government cannot handle the work alone, making the assistance of the Prison Feålowship and that of well meaning Nigerians pertinent”.

He lamented the congestion being experienced in most Nigerian prisons fuelled by the increasing number of people who violate the laws. He blamed it on the breakdown of family discipline and neglect by the society and government.

Pastor Emmanuel said some of the inmates of the five prisons in Ogun State were suffering from different ailments.

He said the fellowship needed the services of lawyers and doctors to meet the health and legal challenges facing inmates.

Ogun to equip local govt workers From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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‘

Implementation of the laws prohibiting FGM in all the Southwest States, Development of alternative source of income for circumcisers and strong advocacy campaigns against the practice “There are also urban-rural differences in the proportion of women who had cutting with flesh removed 65 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. In Nigeria, 68 per cent of women and 57 per cent of men who have heard of female circumcision believe that the practice is not required. Overall, men are

‘

more likely than women to think that female circumcision is required by their religion,” he said He also called for implementation of legislative provisions and stern measures to prohibit the practice.

“Implementation of the laws prohibiting FGM in all the South-

west States, Development of alternative source of income for circumcisers and strong advocacy campaigns against the practice,” Oyeleye said The representative of the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Latoria Dabiri-Mpamugo, said his country shared the concern over the harmful traditional and cultural practices which take place against women and girls in Southwest.

“Australia has joined global efforts to combat these harmful practices,including supporting the unanimous United Nations General Assembly resolution in December last year calling for intensified efforts to eliminate FGM wherever it occurs,” she said.

HE Ogun State government plans to improve the lot of local government workers.

The plan was revealed when the Centre for Management Development(CMD) submitted its report on the Capacity Building, Needs Analysis and Assessment of the 20 local governments in Ogun State.

The project was carried out for the Ogun State Local Government Service Commission(OGLSC) after it was launched last October by the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Olatunde Okewole.

CMD conducted a rigorous study on how to develop the capacities of its staff and institutions.

Submitting the report to the OGLSC last week, the CMD’s Director-General, Kabo Usman, said the project was borne out of the need to support Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s five-point agenda.

Amosun’s five point agenda includes qualitative and affordable health care, free education, infrastructural development and urban renewal, improved agriculture and industrialization to engender jobs and wealth creation.

According Usman, the study was paticipatory in nature and involved inputs from a selected sample of staff of OGLSC and critical analysis of individual, team among others.

Okewole pledged to implement the report to enhance the capacity of the staff of the local government areas to deliver on their mandate.

According to Okewole, the Commission would always partner with CMD on ways to continually develop the human capacity required to further develop the state in line with Amosun’s five-point agenda.

Communities, schools get agric training From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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ly sanctioned.

He ordered the Sector Commanders to ensure they organised road safety clubs in schools and to ensure all weekly activities reports of the commands were submitted to his office weekly.

He also appealed to vehicle

owners to stop allowing underage to drive vehicles on the highway.

He added that no vehicle owner was expected to drive with worn-out tyres, especially during wet season.

He urged trucks owners to install speed limiter on their vehicles before September 1. He noted that

any haulage vehicles without the device would be arrested and impounded.

The Itori Unit Head of Operations, Mr Olumide Adebajo (CRC) who spoke on behalf of the recipients, thanked the Corps for the award.

O fewer than 10 communities and five secondary schools in Ondo State have been trained by the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme of the Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) for food production.

The training was on information disseminations, capacity building on poultry management, fish pond management and cassava multiplication.

The project, which is a World Bank sponsored programme known as WAAPP-FUTA, started in 2013 but took off last year.

FUTA Vice Chancellor Prof Adebiyi Daramola spoke at the opening ceremony of the training programme.

He expressed concern that the abject poverty and hardship being experienced in the nation with its attendant problems of hunger, misery, disease and starvation may not abate until the necessary mechanisms are put in place to address these daunting challenges through effective food processing strategies.

According to him, the ever-increasing gap between population growth and food supply was the most serious threat to the survival of humanity.

Daramola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Prof. Tolulope Akinbogun, noted that addressing many of these challenges brought about the training by the WAAPP- FUTA initiative with the goal of increasing food supply by bridging the gap between the domestic food supply and the total food requirement.

He said: “With these programmes in place, it becomes imperative that food insecurity should be a thing of the past. I think there is need for Nigeria to have Food Research Agenda that will be pursued since a well-articulated and founded research agenda will deliver the necessary capacities for knowledge-based development.”

The Coordinator of WAAPP – FUTA, Prof. Taye Amos, noted that the most critical challenge for governments globally was how to feed the world’s over 7 billion people and reduce poverty.

According to him, the trend in world hunger has not abated with sub-Saharan Africa the worse hit.

He said this was because 40 per cent of its population live on less than $$ 1 per day and one in three people being undernourished and that since one in every four persons in the sub region is a Nigerian, the need to look at the food situation is very critical.

Amos pointed out that many authors have observed that there is high rate of increase in food prices due to deficit in local food production saying that WAAPP-FUTA is one of the steps towards mitigating the observations.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

36

SOUTHWEST REPORT

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GROUP, Igbo Progressive Leaders’ Council , has urged those using the crisis at the Ladipo Spare Part Market, Mushin, Lagos Mainland, to fan the embers of ethnicity to refrain from such act.

Speaking through its PresidentGeneral, Eze Uche I Dimgba, the group described as unfortunate the fact that some elements have read political meanings to the local crisis within the market.

Eze Dimgba, in a statement, said: “We have noticed with gross dismay the divisive move of certain groups and some individuals, who parade themselves as enemies of unity in Nigeria and we wonder what really their mission is.”

Dismissing the erroneous belief that Ladipo market belongs to the Igbo, the group said the issue at the market has nothing to do with support or lack of it for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

Dimgba accused those he called ethnic jingoists as hiding under partisan politics to cause divisions amongst the traders and their hosts, pointing out that it was not only the Igbo that did not vote for the APC in Lagos.

His words: “They are just heating up the polity and causing friction between Ndigbo and their host community. The issue at stake has nothing to do with the support of the Igbo for the Peoples Democrat-

Ladipo Market: Igbo group warns agent provocateur •From left: Political Leader Igbo Vision of Nigeria Chief Vitalius Onwuelezi, Eze Dimgba, Director of Finance, Igbo Progressive Leader in Council, Chief Ugo Onugu and Chiaman, Igbo Vision in APC Lagos, Chief Uche Baba Tata at the news confrence thanking Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for appionting an Igbo man as head of the Lagos State Electricty Board in Lagos.

PHOTO : DAYO ADEWUNMI

ic Party or not.

“It is purely the traders’ problem with their landlords. The Lagos State Government should not be brought into the picture.

“Leadding our people out to match to the streets for solidarity over every little thing that could

have been solved amicably without much ado, is not a trait of good leadership. We therefore warn our people to be careful of who they follow and why they are following such people.

“We wish to categorically state that electioneering campaign is over.

Whichever party you belong to, whether you lost or won, from whichever divide you are from, we calling on all Igbo to desist from anything that will cause trouble, or misunderstanding in Lagos.

“Over the years, the Igbo in Lagos have maintained a peaceful co-exist-

ence and will continue to enjoy same. We hereby warn desperate politicians who are hell-bent on dividing the Igbo into hundreds of uncoordinated groups for selfish goals to desist from promoting negative propaganda against the government of Lagos State.”

Ongoing projects will be completed, says Amosun

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•Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle) and members of Ogun State Co-operative Federation (OGCOFED), at the state’s Co-operative Day held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta...yesterday

Free WASCE forms for students in Epe

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HE Renaissance Social Development Group, a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), on Monday distributed West African Senior Certificate Examination (WASCE) application forms to 128 secondary school students in Epe, Lagos State.

The Chairman of the NGO, Mr Abiodun Muritala, said the gesture was to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode`s 52nd birthday, and to assist the beneficiaries from the different wards of the area in their academic pursuits.

He said the group believed that education was the only pathway to sustainable development.

The chairman described Ambode as an illustrious and outstanding son of Epe, adding that the distribution of the forms was to highlight the governor’s great passion for education.

Muritala explained that, though, the group started as a social club where indigenes could network socially; the yearnings of Epe indigenes for more development had informed the group’s transforming into a development one. ``No investment in education is a waste, we are aware of the economic situation of the coun-

try and we want to support our youths in the area of education. ``Epe needs more development, that is why we are involved in promoting the capacity building of our people so that they can in turn help to build the ancient city,’’ he said.

Ambode, represented by Mr Olufemi Onanuga at the event,commended the group for supporting the youths through educational development.

The governor said that he was impressed by the gesture and urged other associations and individuals to emulate the NGO. ``I congratulate the group for supporting our youths; I also urge the private sector and other stakeholders to support educational development in the state. ``Government alone cannot deliver all the improvement in the education sector, that this why individuals and groups have to support us,’’ the governor said.

He pledged that his administration would do its best to further raise the standard of education and economic development of the state.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended the group for its kind gesture.

Master Rabiu Lawal from Ibeju- Lekki, thanked the group for the gesture saying, it would greatly help him pursue his academic career vigorously. ``With this form, I do not need to disturb my parents about WASSCE because it will take away some financial burden from them. ``I am happy at what the Renaissance has done for me and pray God will continue to help them,’’ he said.

Also, Miss Edith Joshua from Epe said that the group had relived her of some of her problems.

She commended the group for deeming it fit to give back to the young people in the area, adding that the gesture would bring about development to the area.

``I have been thinking of how to get money to purchase the WASSCE form, but now, all my worries have gone, I am very happy,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that traditional rulers, top government officials and other illustrious indigenes of Epe graced the event.

•Ambode

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has promised that all ongoing projects will be completed.

Amosun, who spoke at the State’s Ramadan Special Iftar, tagged, “ Sustaining the Gains of 2015 Elections: Muslims on Call”, held at Arcade Ground, OkeMosan, Abeokuta, solicited for continued prayers for the success of the present administration in spite of the economic reality in the country.

He promised that all the on-going projects would be completed, adding that all arrears of deductions would also be offset by the end of July.

“This time, we need prayers from the good people of the State to sustain the tempo of our programmes and policies. We have started and we are determined to work more.

"As a government, all on-going projects in our three senatorial districts would be completed without leaving any stone unturned. We have promised to offset deduction arrears by the end of July. This administration would not rest on its oars.

"Let me assure you that we would not fail in fulfilling all campaign promises. We have started and we are determined to work harder this second term.”

Amosun added that the initiative to raise the bar of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had been helpful in running its affairs.

The governor also called on Muslims to use the Ramadan season to show love, affection and kindness without any form of discrimination.

“We have based everything on planning. The bar of IGR we were able to raise, helped us in achieving the development we can see this far in spite of the economic reality in the nation.

It behoves on all Muslims to use this Ramadan season to show kindness and affection in order to make its purpose fully realised, “he affirmed.

The guest lecturer and Chief Imam of the University of Abuja, Prof. Taofeek Adesina AbdulAzeez, described the 2015 general elections as a watershed and called on Nigerians to be patient with the government in fulfilling its promises.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

37

THE NATION INVESTORS

Half-year review: Between contrarian and declining stocks The Nigerian stock market closed the first half with a six-month negative return of -3.46 per cent as quoted equities struggled with post-election apathy and macroeconomic concerns. In this half-year review, CAPITAL MARKET EDITOR, TAOFIK SALAKO, highlights the market’s performance, especially several stocks that beat the market.

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OST investors in Nigerian equities ended the first half with holes in their pockets.

The losses by individual investors weighed in on the overall market position, which closed the first half with a negative return of -3.46 per cent, equivalent to a loss of N397.14 billion. Nigerian equities lost early steam in the second quarter after post-election delay and uncertainties wiped off impressive gains from the spontaneous reactions to the successful conduct of Nigeria’s national elections.

Smarting from a three-month negative return of -11.81 per cent in the first quarter, quoted equities rallied after the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections.

With the April 11 gubernatorial and state assemblies elections following the same pattern as the presidential election, quoted equities recorded average gain of more than 9.3 per cent in April as turnover at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) swelled up to N103.5 billion within the period. Month-on-month market analysis showed that the stock market built on the positive momentum that trailed the successful conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections on March 28 and gubernatorial and state assemblies’ elections on April 11 to regain its upbeat. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities, which opened April at N10.718 trillion, closed the month at N11.787 trillion, representing a gain of N1.07 trillion, about 9.97 per cent. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), also indicated a month-onmonth average gain of 9.3 per cent during the period, rising from the month’s opening index of 31, 744.82 points to close at 34,708.11 points.

The ASI, a value-based index, tracks the prices of all quoted companies and it is thus directly related to market sentiments. Aggregate market turnover in April stood at 10.72 billion shares valued at N103.54 billion in 107,932 deals.

Most analysts attributed the performance in April to the renewed optimism occasioned by the successful conduct of the general elections.

Exotix, a global investment firm, described the successful conduct of the election and the emergence of Buhari as “unprecedented positive”.

Analysts at Exotix noted that the political transition enhanced the potential of Nigerian equities among the frontier markets. “We have advocated for some time a shift in favour of Nigeria for frontier portfolios, arguing that the litany of concerns are in such plain view that the capacity for negative surprise is low and that these concerns are arguably largely reflected in a trailing price to book multiple towards the low end of its five-year range,” Exotix stated in a post-election review.

But the optimism was soon dwarfed by concerns over delay in appointments of key government functionaries and lack of clear policy directions amidst other macroeconomic challenges. While the lurking risk of insecurity remains, the schism that has since hunted the new ruling political party heightened investors’ concerns. By the end of June, all key value-based market-wide indices at the NSE were in the red.

The ASI declined by 3.47 per cent from its year-opening point of 34,657.15 points to close the first half at 33,456.83 points. Aggregate market capitalization of all quoted equities dropped from the year’s opening value of N11.478 trillion to close the first half at N11.421 trillion, representing a decline of N57 billion on the face value. However, the actual loss was about N397.14 billion

when compared with the opening value and the decline in the ASI. The extent of depreciation in market value was masked by distortions from new listings. Without such distortions from new listings or delistings, both the ASI and market capitalization usually trend the same way.

But the negative overall market situation only masked appreciable performance by several sectoral and individual stocks. Sectoral indices recorded mixed performance. The NSE Industrial Index closed the period with the highest gain of 6.18 per cent. The NSE Banking Index followed with a gain 4.81 per cent. On the other hand, The NSE Consumer Goods Index went down by 6.73 per cent. The NSE Insurance Index declined by 3.98 per cent. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks, dropped by 2.38 per cent. The NSE Oil & Gas Index depreciated by 3.04 per cent while the NSE Lotus Islamic Index, which tracks Islamic-compliant stocks, dropped by 0.66 per cent.

Declining stocks Several stocks were underperformed the overall market position. Using a benchmark rate of 15 per cent, 13 companies recorded loss of more than 15 per cent. Evans Medical, which recently raised new equity funds from shareholders, recorded the highest loss of 46.93 per cent. Academy Press followed with a negative return of -22.88 per cent.

Wapic Insurance lost 21.88 per cent while Diamond Bank, Sterling Bank and Julius Berger Plc dropped by 21.33 per cent, 21.26 per cent and 20.05 per cent respectively.

Other major decliners include Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, with a six-month negative return of -16.62 per cent; International Breweries, -18.66 per cent; Jos International Breweries, -21.70 per cent; Union Dicon Salt, -15.13 per cent; Nestle Nigeria, -15.30 per cent; Eterna, -17.79 per cent and Forte Oil, which dropped by 17.41 per cent within the period.

Contrarian stocks Using the same 15 per cent benchmark rate, there were more advancers than decliners. Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, a lowpriced drug-manufacturing company, led 21 other stocks above the hypothetical cut-off mark of 15 per

cent. Neimeth recorded a six-month gain of 78.21 per cent. Presco, a palmoil plantation major, almost doubled with a gain of 42.86 per cent.

Vitafoam Nigeria, which recently announced it would be acquiring its subsidiary and age-long rival-Vono Products, rallied 40.45 per cent while University Press and NPF Microfinance Bank rose by 39.57 per cent and 31.25 per cent respectively.

Other top gainers included UAC of Nigeria, which rose by 25 per cent; Nascon Industries, 28.62 per cent; PZ Cussons Nigeria, 27.94 per cent; Unilever Nigeria, 27.09 per cent; Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, 21.10; United Bank for Africa, 16.05 per cent; Union Bank of Nigeria, 15.18 per cent; Aiico Insurance, 16.05 per cent; NEM Insurance, 15.38 per cent; FCMB Group, 20.48 per cent; Berger Paints, 24.89 per cent; Lafarge Africa, 26.70 per cent; Cutix, 20.77 per cent; Beta Glass, 27.79 per cent; Total Nigeria, 15.79 per cent; Red Star Express, 27.41 per cent while Airlines and Logistics Services recorded a capital gain of 22.35 per cent within the six-month period.

Still a concentrated market Analysis of activities during the period showed that activities at the Nigerian market remained concentrated in few stockbroking firms.

Top 10 stockbrokers accounted for more than half of total turnover volume during the period. The top 10 stockbroking firms traded 51.17 billion, representing 50.43 per cent of the total number of shares traded during the period. CSL Stockbrokers, an indigenous firm, led the activity chart with a turnover of 10.37 billion shares. It was followed

by Rencap Securities Limited, which posted 8.77 billion shares and Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, which traded 8.57 billion shares. In terms of turnover value, the top 10 stockbroking firms accounted for about N732.8 billion, representing 66.6 per cent of the total transaction value in the first half. Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, a member of the Stanbic IBTC Holdings, topped activity chart with N152 billion, representing 13.70 per cent of the total value of transactions. Rencap Securities Limited followed with N133 billion, representing 11.99 per cent of the total value while CSL Stockbrokers followed with a value of N122 billion.

Analysts’ perspectives Market analysts said the performance of the market in the first half mirrored the macroeconomic challenges and concerns over future policy direction in the meantime.

President Buhari was sworn in on May 29 but so far he has not made any ministerial appointment or key appointment such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Buhari’s party, which has the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly, has been bogged down by wrangling over the appointments, with all appointments so far against the decisions of the party hierarchy. This political risk has been exacerbated by the sloppy foreign exchange by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Analysts at Afrinvest Securities said they saw the recent prohibition of foreign exchange for some 41 items as a dodgy devaluation of Naira noting that while the pressure at the interbank foreign exchange market is expected to ease, the transferred effect will become visible at the unofficial market, and the spread between foreign exchange rate at the interbank and bureau de change and street market will widen markedly.

According to analysts, this may further pressure inflation rate and banks’ trading income due to further reduction of interbank liquidity. Reduction in banks’ income could adversely affect the stock market, where banks are the dominant players and trend setters.

“Lower exchange rate will pressure the earnings of consumer goods companies and also reduce the income of the banks. Hence, the equities market may likely react negatively to the news in the coming week,” Afrinvest Securities stated. “Expectedly, foreign investors who may have shown interest in playing in the Nigerian market after the successful general elections and a peaceful handover may be held back on concerns over exchange rate dynamics in Nigeria,” Afrinvest Securities added.

National coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PROSAN), Mr. Oderinde Taiwo, said the continuing delay in the announcement of cabinet positions of the new government is adversely affecting the performance of the capital market.

According to him, the continuing

‘Foreign investors who may have shown interest in playing in the Nigerian market after the successful general elections and a peaceful handover may be held back on concerns over exchange rate dynamics in Nigeria’

delay on the appointment of ministers would continue to affect the capital market as investors need to know the policy direction of the economy.

He said both foreign and local investors will only invest in a market if they know the policy direction.

“You can see that immediately the new president of Nigeria emerged after the 2015 election, the stock market moved up and now the market has been going down because of the uncertainty caused by continued delay in the appointment of ministers and policies pronouncement,” Taiwo said.

Managing director, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri noted that the policies of the government would determine the return of the foreign investors and possible improvement in investment in the capital market.

According to him, the economic policies of the new government will make the capital market attractive or unattractive for investors, both local and international investors. If the government comes up with policies that make Nigerian instruments very attractive and then stabilises the exchange rate or the exchange rate is at a level where foreign investors believe it will not depreciate materially further, then foreign investors will increase stakes on the Nigerian market, which will shore up the market performance. Foreign investors account for more than two-thirds of turnover at the NSE. “Investors may continue to show soft interest in equities due to the lack of clear-cut direction from the government,” analysts at Afrinvest Securities stated in its opening market review this week.

According to analysts, the market performance in this third quarter would also be driven by the first half results, which are expected to start trickling in. Afrinvest advised investors to take a medium to long term strategy in making investment decisions as the first half results are not expected to be too impressive.

But in spite of the topsy-turvy and the hangover from the negative performance in 2014, analysts at Vetiva Capital Management Limited said investors in Nigerian equities may earn an average doubledigit return of about 16 per cent in 2015.

In its outlook for 2015, Vetiva stated that Nigerian equities have been significantly undervalued by the previous bearishness and would witness considerable recovery this year. Analysts at Vetiva noted that while the performance of the equities market will correlate with the global oil price trend, a mid-point analysis suggests that Nigerian equities can make potential average return of 16 per cent this year.

Analysts pointed out that while valuations appear relatively cheap, sustained pressure on oil prices will likely continue to constrain investor re-entry into equities. Analysts thus anchored their 2015 return expectation for the ASI of the NSE on oil price performance in the year.

According to analysts, using 16 year data, a correlation factor of 72 per cent between Brent crude prices and the ASI was established. The assumption of Brent crude recovering to $70/bbl by year end indicates a 22 per cent recovery from 2014 end position; thus, factoring in 72 per cent correlation suggests that amidst much volatility, the ASI holds a potential 16 per cent return in 2015 to 40,201.56 points.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

38

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, is helping youths find employment in agriculture. It has also developed entrepreneurship education to help people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge to individuals, communities and businesses. Many young people, who once viewed agriculture as a dead-end, now see it as a business potential and are reaping its benefits. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

How a college contributes to entrepreneurs’success

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OME agricultural entrepreneurs are enjoying the fruits of their labour. But the story of their successes involves formal agric entrepreneurial education.

One of them is Afioluwa Mogaji.

He is Chief Executive, X-Ray Farms Consulting and AF Marketing.

Named by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a ‘Champion for Change’, Mogaji obtained a National Diploma in General Agriculture from Federal College of Agriculture, Akure(FCA), Ondo State before going for higher qualifications.

A new generation agricultural expert, coach and consultant in the livestock and crop production , Mogaji, known nationwide as African farmer, is one graduate of FCA, who is passionate about leveraging agriculture to reduce unemployment and promoting enterprise development among rural and urban farmers. He has taken up farm projects and have managed to turn them into successful businesses and a model enterprise in the agric industry.

Within the industry, his enthusiasm has been remarkable, propelling him to success in his entrepreneurial endeavours.

In 2009, he hosted the entire members of Nigerian senate committee on Agriculture and Water resources on his 250 acres irrigation farm in Iseyin, Oyo State. Also, he received a delegate from the Minister of Agriculture in the same year.

Last year, he represented Nigeria in the United States on “US Foreign Policy and Food Security programme “ sponsored by the Department of State and became a Fellow of International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP).

He is a recipient of many awards including “National Youth Merit Award (Most Outstanding Youth in Nigerian Agriculture 2009) and N.Y.S.C Honours in Jigawa State, Award for self financing and introduction of practical modern beekeeping to Jigawa State. He built this foundation from FCA. Benjamin Olayiwola is another proud graduate of the college. He is a successful poultry entrepreneur.

He holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in animal production technology (Poultry Production Option) from FCA. Starting from the ground up was no easy feat. But he took advantage of his training as well as the knowledge of specialists within the field. Today, Olayiwola runs a very profitable business which consists, raising broilers and producing eggs daily.

He is happy with his

•Odedina

progress and he is an advocate of agroentrepreneurship.

He feels it is a sustainable solution to most of the challenges which the nation is facing.

Olayiwola is coping with business challenges because the school instilled in him that virtue of good and hard labour, and taught him a lot about dealing with people and running his own business.

Studying at FCA, helped to pave the way for Oluwatosin Adesuyi, Chief Executive, Prisky-Jetty Nigeria Limited, to succeed during the early years of his career.

He obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in horticulture and landscape design. He graduated in 2002. He started with an horticulture enterprise.Today, he has distinguished himself in horticulture and landscape design. He is part of a new wave of horticultural entrepreneurs seeking to modernise the way people garden. His approach is to get people to grow healthy, more productive plants. Putting his horticulture know-how to work, and using his competitive instincts has helped Adesuyi to succeed. He loves it so much that he has transformed the methods of agriculture in some towns using his expert knowledge.

In time, he learnt that business was more about skills, tact, networking, and creating goodwill instead of just profits and money.

For him, FCA, was a great school to go to.His education gave him a great start to his career. The plant knowledge he gained at school is something he uses on a day-to-day basis.

He has many future goals for his company, including teaching others how to build their own landscape.

He has never regretted his investment in horticultural farming.

Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, Dr Samson Adeola Odedina, said agriculture is going to create huge opportunities but that there is need for dynamism and professionalism.

As young entrepreneurs are joining the fray, he said commodities are being

turned into value-added products and premium prices can be demanded from various retail outlets.

He said there has been increased interest in food processing, adding that many Nigerians are trying to get products from developed recipes into the marketplace.

According to him, most of these entrepreneurs have difficulty locating information on processing techniques, ingredients, equipment, regulations, and most importantly, marketing.

He said FCA has built

this into its courses. With partners, he said the college offers courses in the fields of seed and plant material, plant health management, post-harvest technologies, farm machinery and implements, and biotechnology.

This is not all. Odedina said would-be agri entrepreneurs are offered opportunities to use its facilities.

The main intention is to help these entrepreneurs by handholding them till they are able to firmly set their feet in the business,” he said.Odedina said the goal

of the college is to educate a new breed of entrepren e u r i a l - m i n d e d agriculturalists to take up the vast opportunities in agriculture.

According to him, agriculture provides adequate opportunities with good returns and youths should be sensitised to water-saving irrigation strategy, latest farm technology, export-based avenues and post-harvest treatment as part of valueaddition for transforming agriculture into a successful entrepreneurship.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Greek debt crisis: Markets dip after ‘no’ vote

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UROPEAN and Asian stock markets and the euro have all fallen after Greece rejected the terms of an international bailout in Sunday’s referendum.

The euro fell 0.4% against the dollar and 0.5% against the pound after the vote, which many believe could lead to Greece’s exit from the eurozone.

Japan’s Nikkei index fell more than 2%, while Paris’ Cac 40 and Frankfurt’s Dax dropped 1.5% and 1.3% respectively, a more muted reaction than forecast.

In London, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.6%.

“Markets have yet to be convinced in full either that the (Greek) exit door will be open or that the extent of any contagion from this could be irreparably damaging to the system,” said Neil

Williams, chief economist at Hermes Investment Management.

In early bond trading, the reaction was similarly soft. The interest rate on German bonds fell slightly as investors rushed into perceived safe haven assets, while yields on Italian, Spanish and Portuguese government debt ticked higher.

Greek bonds have not been traded on regulated platforms since last Monday, but indicative prices suggested the yield on two-year bonds would be 49.77%, with the yields on 10-year bonds at 17.4%.

On the stock markets, bank shares were some of the biggest fallers, with Barclays down 1.7% and Italy’s Unicredit falling 3.9%. Trading in Monte dei Paschi shares was suspended after they fell 5.7%.

Analysts said the falls were

linked to fears that the crisis could increase losses from bad loans and potentially drive up borrowing costs for governments.

But most banks have already made sure their exposure to Greek assets is limited.

Overall, European banks have reduced their exposure to Greece by over 80% since the 2011-12 crisis, according to Huw van Steenis, a banking analyst at Morgan Stanley.

His research shows that the threat of serious contagion in the banking has reduced since the initial Greek crisis.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras has said that Greece will go back to the negotiating table, adding that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment published last week confirmed that a

restructuring of Greek debt is necessary.

Without more emergency funding from the ECB, there are fears that Greece’s banks could run out of cash within days, potentially forcing the government to issue another currency to pay pensions and wages.

But some European officials have already warned that creditors could take a “No” vote to mean that Greeks had rejected further talks.

Germany’s Deputy Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, told local media that renewed negotiations with Greece were “difficult to imagine” and that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had “torn down the bridges” between Greece and Europe.

Kathleen Brooks, UK and EMEA research director at currency firm

FOREX.com, warned that she expected the euro to fall further.

“I don’t think that the market really thought there would be a ‘No’ vote. However, now that Tsipras’s bluff has been pulled, essentially Athens has the upper hand over the European authorities. We believe that this makes the euro extremely vulnerable to speculative attack in the coming days.”

And most analysts said that for the moment they expected markets to remain volatile.

“The risk of a Grexit has certainly increased. This will make for a traditional ‘risk-off’ in line with what we saw last Monday, with more risky assets going down and money floating to safe havens,” said Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets.

UK car sales hit record high in June

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HE Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said there was a 7% rise in new car sales in the first six months of the year, taking the total to more than 1.3 million.

In June alone, there was a 12.9% surge in car sales compared with a year ago, amounting to 257,817 sales.

About 15% of buyers chose a UKmanufactured vehicle, the SMMT said.

That was the highest level in five years, it added.

However, it said it expected slower growth in the next six months.

Low interest rates, attractive finance deals and the launch of new models continued to encourage consumers to buy new cars, the SMMT said.

It also reported a strong surge in

demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles in June.

The Ford Fiesta remained the topselling car last month, as it has all year, selling 12,543 units in June and 71,990 in the year to date.

Behind the Fiesta, the Vauxhall Corsa was the second best-selling car, with 9,561 unit sales in June and 50,125 in the year to date.

“It is still a great time to buy a new car in the UK, and it is encouraging to see more consumers choosing British models. This is important for the wider economy, with 799,000 people now employed across the UK automotive sector, including retail,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“We anticipate a flatter second half of the year, as the market finds its natural running rate.’’

Social Safety nets expand in developing countries, says World Bank •From left: Former Assistant Special Adviser, Public Relations to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Olusanya Awosan; MD, IXPN, Mr Mohammed Rudman; Real Admiral Godswill Ombo; Director, Special Duties, Mrs Funmilola Akiode; former minister of Communications, Chief Olawale Ige, author and veteran journalist, Mr Aaron Ukodie; his wife Bola and Chairman, Teledom International, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, at the launch of Ukodie’s three books in Lagos.

•From left: Omotunde Adenusi, Brand Manager, Star; Hubert Eze, Sales Director and Chidike Oluaoha, Senior Brand Manager, Star, at the launch of Star Triple X, at the Star Triple X Experience Centre, Polo Park Mall, Enugu.

Philip Morris to cut stake in indonesian unit

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S. cigarette giant Philip Morris International Inc (PM.N) plans to sell a stake worth at least $1 billion in Indonesian unit PT HM Sampoerna Tbk (HMSP.JK) to comply with free-float rules, two people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Philip Morris currently owns 98.18 percent of Sampoerna, Indonesia’s biggest cigarette maker by market value and which is worth $23 billion.

Philip Morris has short-listed Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse AG, JPMorgan, Citigroup and Mandiri Sekuritas to sell down its holding

by at least 5.68 percent, to make the publicly available shares in Sampoerna equivalent to at least 7.5 percent of its total share base, one of the sources said.

Both people declined to be named due to the confidentiality of the matter.

The stock exchange requires all listed Indonesian firms to have a free float of at least 7.5 percent by Jan. 30, 2016. It was not clear when Philip Morris planned to sell its stake, the sources added.

Sampoerna shares rose 0.8 percent on Monday, outperforming the broader Jakarta stock exchange

.JKSE, which was down 1.2 percent.

The company has previously said it was exploring ways to comply with the new free-float requirement.

Citigroup declined comment, while Goldman, Credit Suisse and JPMorgan did not give an immediate comment. Mandiri Sekuritas was not immediately available to comment.

Sampoerna sells some of the most popular cigarette brands in Indonesia, a country where smoking remains widespread. It said it had a market share of nearly 35 percent last year.

A

GROWING number of developing countries are investing in social safety nets to improve the lives and livelihoods of billions of poor and vulnerable people, yet around 55 percent of the world’s poor or 773 million people with acute needs still lack safety net coverage - especially in lower-income countries and in urban areas-and countries must take action to close this coverage gap, says a new World Bank Group report.

According to The State of Social Safety Nets 2015, more than 1.9 billion people in 136 low- and middleincome countries are now on beneficiary rolls of social safety net programs. In Africa alone, the number of countries setting up social safety net programs has doubled over the past three years, as evidenced by rigorous evaluations that prove these programs work. But three quarters of the poorest people in low- and lowermiddle income countries, and more than one-third of the poorest people in middle-income countries, lack safety net coverage and remain at risk.

The report follows the recent joint statement by the heads of the World Bank Group and the International Labor Organisation (ILO), endorsing the goal of universal access to social protection - including safety nets- by 2030. The Third Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa next week is an opportunity to ensure that the international community has the means to make this vision a

•President World Bank Group Jim Yong-Kim

reality.

“The World Bank Group and the ILO share a vision of social protection for all, a world where anyone who needs social protection can access it at any time,” said Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President and Guy Ryder, Executive Director, ILO, in their joint statement. “The new development agenda that is being defined by the world community - the sustainable development goals (SDGs) - provides an unparalleled opportunity for our two institutions to join forces to make universal social protection a reality, for everyone, everywhere.”

These programmes include cash and in-kind transfers targeted to poor and vulnerable households, with the goal of protecting families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises; ensuring that children grow up healthy, well-fed, and can stay in school and learn; empowering women and girls; and creating jobs.

Samsung merger plan unfair, say investors

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MSUNG has built a name for itself among consumers around the world as a leading manufacturer of smartphones, televisions and home appliances.

For investors, though its reputation is not so stellar.

The latest issue for Samsung shareholders is a proposed $8 billion merger of two company affili-

ates: Samsung C&T, a construction and engineering company, and Cheil Industries, a holding company that issued shares to the public for the first time in December and that has interests in amusement parks, retail fashion, biopharmaceuticals and life insurance.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

40

BUSINESS AFRICA union mulls legal action Egypt business first expansion in South African over Glencore layoffs five months S B USINESS activity in Egypt’s private sector excluding oil grew slightly in June, ending five months of contraction, though inflation and currency depreciation remain a concern, a survey showed on Sunday.

The Emirates NBD Egypt Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 50.2 in June from 49.9 the previous month.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion and below 50, contraction.

“June’s PMI reading fits well with our view that the Egyptian economy should gradually pick up momentum heading into the second half of 2015,” Jean-Paul Pigat, economist at Emirates NBD, said.

“However, the survey also shows business activity and job creation remaining relatively tepid.”

Output, new orders and new export business all increased but only

slightly. Input costs continued to rise sharply, which respondents attributed to the weakness of the Egyptian pound.

The central bank depreciated the pound by 1.3 percent , sending it to its weakest level since December 2012.

The currency has lost around 30 percent of its value since a 2011 uprising which was followed by years of political and economic turmoil.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pledged to revive the economy by implementing long-awaited reforms, launching state-led mega projects, and enticing foreign investors and tourists scared away by the upheaval.

Foreign firms are signing deals.

BP finalised a $12 billion energy deal with Egypt at an investment conference in March and Germany’s Siemens sealed a $9 billion energy deal during Sisi’s recent visit to Berlin.

“Looking ahead, assuming some of the high-profile projects announced at the March investor conference break ground over the coming months, we would expect to see a further acceleration in new orders and output in the second half (of the year),” said Pigat.

Yet, there are signs of growing frustration with Sisi among ordinary Egyptians, whose standard of living is constrained by rising inflation and continued unemployment.

The PMI survey showed hiring dropped for the sixth time in seven months.

CyberSynchs unveils back-up service

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S

By Olatunde Odebiyi tional brand give us the opportunity to support Africa’s most populous market swiftly and with customer confidence. We look forward to providing customers with our unique data service, which we believe is much-needed in this digital age,” Winbush said.

The firm said it is focused on global expansion bringing one of the largest mobile data back up and synchronisation systems to the users across the country. This, according to the data synchronisation firm, will provide much needed storage and protection of users’ data in case of loss, theft or malfunction of a mobile phone.

Winbush said the service, which works with any phone and 98 per cent of operating systems, allows users to synch their most common types of data – contacts, photos, videos, calendar entries, text messages, GPS location and more- to the web over the air. Storage

plans are available in increments of 3GB, 5GB and 10GB and can be billed monthly, biannually or monthly, the firm explained.

The firm offers innovative applications that enable data synchronisation, sharing and transfer through the hybrid cloud between mobile devices, PCs, TVs, digital cameras, camcorders, gamers and wireless head phones.

“CyberSynchs was founded with the vision of providing state-of-theart technology, leadership innovation, and a cost-effective means of safeguarding vital personal data through its proprietary universal back-up system,” he said, adding that CyberSynchs maintains an innovation-centric corporate entrepreneural culture designed to promote and continually develop the best breed of technology solutions to meet market needs. Through its secure website the company offers subscribers the freedom to manage their personal content from the web anywhere in the world, allowing maximum accessibility, manageability and control.

Shoreline plans $2b bonds to buy energy assets

HORELINE Group, a Nigerian company with interests from oil production to rope-making across six African countries, plans to sell $2 billion in debt to buy crude and gas assets on the continent, which may include purchases in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.

The debut issue of as much as $500 million of five-to seven-year Eurobonds will probably happen before the end of the year, Chief Executive Officer Kola Karim said in his office in Lagos.

He was speaking after a twoweek roadshow in the United States and Middle East, arranged by two international banks he declined to identify.

“The winner of this market is going to be the guy who has access to not only local, but international capital,” said Karim, wearing a striped, cream Nigerian traditional outfit. “I’m bullish about

gas and gas infrastructure. If this country is going to grow that’s going to be huge,” he added.

Shoreline is seeking to profit from an energy deficit in Nigeria, where homes and businesses rely on generators rather than grid power, which works for only a few hours a day if at all. That’s created a gap that can be filled by Karim’s company, whose operations span infrastructure and engineering, power and telecommunications.

large parts of the coal processing plants and associated support services at the mine and would consider reopening them if market conditions improve.

“We are consulting with our lawyers as to what recourse we will take against DMR if they fail and Glencore succeeds with retrenchment,” NUM Deputy General Secretary William Mabapa was quoted as saying.

Optimum produces about 10 million tonnes of coal annually, half of which is sold to power utility Eskom while the rest is exported.

Officials from Glencore and the DMR were not immediately available for comment.

Govt urged to regulate oil and gas

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HE Federal Government has been urged to put in place appropriate legal framework that will regulate the oil and gas industry.

Participants made the call in a communiqué after a workshop with the theme, Gas development: On-shore and off-shore, a level playing field of the future in the industry, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun near Warri in Delta State.

In the communiqué, participants urged the government to enact laws to regulate the oil and gas industry to enable the optimal exploitation of the opportunities in the oil and gas sector, stressing that PTI has the capacity to train the appropriate manpower for gas development in Nigeria.

It challenged players in the sector to team up with PTI for technical skills development by way

•From left: Registrar, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mrs. Josephine Akinyemi; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe; Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, NOUN, Prof. Victor Adedipe, during the formal handling over of the renovated section of NOUN classrooms at McCarthy Street Sttudy Centre in Lagos.

LOBAL leader in universal data synchronisation, CyberSynchs has announced the availability of its services in the country, adding that it has partnered one of the leading operators to ensure that phone users in the country are saved the pains of data loss occasioned by the loss of mobile phones and subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Amos Winbush who spoke during the official announcement in Lagos, said mobile phones, personal computers (PCs), and other mobile devices have become part of man’s daily lives, adding that if anything bad happens, people become worried.

CyberSynchs will roll out a national “Are You Synched?” marketing campaign to support the product launch with visibility across both social media and traditional media.

“Our partnership with the customers across Nigeria is a ground breaking one for CyberSynch.

Nigeria’s vast network and excep-

OUTH Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers is considering suing the government if Glencore cuts over 600 jobs at its Optimum Coal unit, it said.

NUM said in a statement that Glencore had, failed to comply with its social and labour plans regarding severance packages and it was therefore up to the department of mineral resources (DMR) to “enforce compliance”.

Glencore said it would proceed with a plan to close some of its Optimum Coal operations because of weak prices.

The Swiss-based company said it would place on care and maintenance some opencast operations,

By Joseph Eshanokpe

of staff exchange programme and other forms of infrastructure support to enable the Institute proffer requisite programmes in line with industry requirement to harness the business opportunities in gas sector of the economy.

It noted the need for more awareness through consistent and frequent advertisement to showcase the potential of gas business in Nigeria. It underscored the imperative for the government to develop gas infrastructure (Gas pipelines) to harness benefits derivable from the exploitation of Gas investment in the country.

It added that the government should provide financial incentives, such as tax holidays and insurance to attract investors to the sector.

‘Opening gold wage offer needs OUTH African union UASA fine-tuning’ said while gold producers

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tabled a “good opening offer” in pay negotiations last week, it still needs work.

Labor groups will meet Monday with the Chamber of Mines, which represents AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., Harmony Gold Mining Co. and Sibanye Gold Ltd., after consulting with their members on the initial proposal, Franz Stehring, head of mining at UASA, said by phone Monday. The producers offered wage increases of as much as 13 percent, plus a share of profits.

The proposed five-year deal is “too long,” said Stehring, adding that virtually unchanged housing allowances and increases not linked to inflation were also issues. The centralised negotiations in Johannesburg with producers also include the National Union of Mineworkers, which represents most gold miners and is demanding an 80 percent increase in basic pay.

“The answer to the chamber from our side will be ‘go back and redo

your figures,’” said Stehring, whose UASA comprises about 7 percent of the 95,000 employees involved compared with 52 percent for the NUM. Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which represents 30 percent of employees in the industry, are firm about their demand of 12,500 rand ($1,007) a month, Manzini Zungu, a spokesman for the union, said in a text message.

The companies have guaranteed employment if their profit margin at operating-unit level, after the allocation of all costs, doesn’t fall below a margin of 6 percent.

The offer by producers is unprecedented from previous wage negotiations by starting with “a guarantee in terms of job retention,” Dawie Mostert, a senior vice president at Sibanye, said at a presentation Thursday.

“The essence of what we’re trying to do here is job retention on the back of a sustainable industry.”

South Africa’s jobless ignite creative power with solar kits

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MOTORBIKE accident two years ago in the Cape Town suburb of Milnerton left Pascal Kassongo with a leg fracture, multiple cuts and a writtenoff bike, crippling his courier business.

Two weeks in hospital, followed by several more of physiotherapy and recovery, drove the father of four into near destitution.

Too weak to buy and deliver goods to clients, his opportunity to earn 300-400 rand ($24.40-$32.60) a day was gone.

Originally from Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Kassongo fled the war there in 2007, and had only a few friends he could call on for help in South Africa.

One of them was a pastor who took him to Scalabrini, a centre that helps migrants settle and find an economic foothold in South Africa.

As well as receiving regular food parcels, Kassongo was recruited for the “Amandla!” Project, whose name means “power” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages.

The scheme trains unemployed people, especially migrants, to run small businesses using a solar-powered kit called Ecoboxx.

The Ecoboxx is a lightweight, portable power supply, charged with two solar panels, that can provide 50 hours of power. It comes with two LED lights, a USB-driven fan, hair clippers and a charging cable for cell phones and other devices.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

NATION SPORT EXTRA Having spent four years dwelling on their painful penalty-shootout defeat to Japan in the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, USA needed just five minutes to sweep away the frustration when the two sides met again in Sunday’s Canada 2015 showpiece.

That was all the time it took for Carli Lloyd, who missed a spot-kick in that fateful shootout, to fire the Americans into a 20 lead and on the road to a third world title.

Having scored her side’s winner in the quarter-final defeat of China PR and then the opener in the semi-final victory over Germany, the insatiable Lloyd saved the best till last, following up her opening twogoal salvo against the Nadeshiko with a sensational third goal 16 minutes in: a dipping strike from the centre circle.

Not surprisingly voted the Live Your Goals Player of the Match, the attacking midfielder also ended the tournament with the adidas Golden Ball in her hands and the adidas Silver Boot tucked under her arm for good measure, reward for a stunning few weeks’ work that brought her six goals and one assist.

Despite being weighed down by all that silverware and her winner’s medal, Lloyd summoned up the energy for a post-match chat with FIFA.com.

INTERVIEW... INTERVIEW... INTERVIEW... INTERVIEW... INTERVIEW...

• Members of the USA women team celebrate winning the championship football match against Japan during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver on Sunday night

Lloyd: It’s a historic performance Y

OU started the final as if you had it all mapped out in your head. Did you ever imagine scoring a hat-trick like that? (laughs) Oh yes. I pictured it a few times, but I have to say I never thought it would work out so well.

I’m so happy with the ways things have ended. It’s what the team and everyone who’s been involved in this win deserves. We’re so proud.

It’s unreal and it still hasn’t sunk

in. It’s hard to believe that everything could have gone so well.

Was it just one of those rare days where everything you touched turned to gold?

It’s a bit like that, something that maybe just happens once in your career, when everything you try comes off and nearly every shot goes in the back of the net. Performances like that – and not just mine – come down to a lot of hard work and hours and hours of training

• Carli Lloyd poses after winning the Silver Boot

and preparation for the big occasion. We always visualise games and what we want to do on the pitch, and you learn to be focused for the whole tournament. We were on a mission today. I wanted to win the World Cup, and with the support of the team I just did what had to be done to make that happen.

Your coach Jill Ellis said she had to pinch herself after the first quarter of an hour because she couldn’t believe what was happening.

Were you surprised at how well you were playing?

It’s pretty amazing and we didn’t believe we could do something like that. We’ve shown in every match that we were ready and we’re very proud of our victories, but we made in history in getting off to a start like that against the world champions, and we took the trophy home.

Japan are an integral part of your career now. You missed a penalty against them in the shootout at the Germany 2011 final. You then scored twice against them in the final of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament London 2012.

And now you’ve scored this hattrick.

That’s right, though that penalty miss is a long time ago now. That’s the way it is. That’s what happens.

I never really dwelt on it and I just turned the page and looked to keep moving forward in my career.

We’ve spent every day trying to get better, and that’s what’s brought us here.

After a performance like that, is it true to say that this is the greatest team American women’s football has ever produced?

I’m convinced it is. What we’ve done is just legendary. We started so well, especially up front, but we stayed focused and solid. We stuck to our gameplan and we scored five goals in the final. It wasn’t an easy road but we finished first and unbeaten in the so-called group of death. We weren’t the best, and we

• Lloyd poses after winning the Golden Ball came into the tournament second in the world ranking. We knew that nothing was going to be easy.

What we’ve done is remarkable. It’s a historic performance.

After all your exploits and awards in this tournament, you’re now front-page news around the world. Are you ready for the spotlight?

I think my career has gone up a level, that’s for sure. There’s always room for improvement, though, and I know I have to keep on working hard.

You were just one goal or one assist away from winning the adidas Golden Boot.

I know what I’ve got left to achieve. I’ll be going for it at the next World Cup. Does a day like today make up for all the disappointments you’ve had and the sacrifices you’ve made?

No, I don’t really see it like that. I think the bad times are important too. That’s what makes you stronger and better able to aim high. Obviously, it’s great to have the good times but I also think you learn more during the bad.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

Durban film festival selects Afrinolly's Shorts for screening

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OR the first time in the years that Nigerian filmmakers have been attending the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), South Africa, a total of four of the country's four short films will be screened in one edition of the film event.

The films; Timothy by Ejiro Onobrakpor, Henna by Ishaya Bako, Once by Jay-Franklyn Jituboh and The Dutiful Wife by Soji Ogunaike are courtesy of Afrinolly's Cinema4Change project, in partnership with Ford Foundation.

DIFF is considered the biggest film event in Africa, only next to the biennial Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO), Burkina Faso.

In support of Afrinolly's drive to reposition the Nigerian motion picture industry, Ford Foundation had provided a grant to train and mentor young filmmakers through the Cinema4Change project. The beneficiaries were engaged in a stiff competition that produced a series of films designed to drive Social Change in West Africa.

The four which were part of the seven proposed for DIFF, is among a total of 71officially selected by the festival organisers.

In The dutiful Wife, a 30 minutes drama, Ibidun has what every woman wants: the love of her husband, Francis; the security of his wealth; and the honour of his status as a leader in the Church. This is the very reason she has no choice but to keep quiet about the secret he hid from her before they got marriedFrancis is impotent.

In Henna, IshayaBako whose documentary, Fuelling Poverty was banned by the Nigerian government in 2013 for criticising the nation's economic lapses, tells the story of Reina, a 13-year-old girl with dreams of a better life in a village where girls are married out at a young age. In the 22-minute drama, Reina refuses to stop at being terrified but seeks to turn her dream into a reality. Her voice must be heard.

Once, 26 minutes, by Jay-Franklyn Jituboh beams the satellite on the

RMD seeks prayer for friend

By Joe Agbro Jr.

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• The Dutiful Wife

relentless Panshak. Panshak is a 10year-old boy, and his closest friend, Abubakar is an 11-year-old Muslim boy. Panshak and Abubakar do almost everything together but when Abubakar starts to push him away, Panshak tries to find ways to be like him so as to get closer to him again.

In the fourth film, Timothy, by Ejiro

Onobrakpor who is currently on training at the Relativity School, Hollywood, Timothy in the 20minute film, would run whenever his father tried to inject him against malaria. The night he ran, Obajimi let the candle burn in hope that his son would soon return but something went wrong.

OLLYWOOD actor, movie producer, lawyer and politician Richard Mofe-damijo was 54 years old on Monday. He was born on July 6, 1961.

His fans all across the globe on social media congratulated and felicitated with the veteran actor.

But rather than splurge on celebration and take all the best wishes his fans showered on him, RMD, as the actor is popularly called, used the day to visit his friend in the hospital.

Though, he did not disclose the name of his friend, the type of illness or where his friend was.

Taking to Twitter, the celebrated Nigerian actor, wrote; ‘Thanks for the kind words and prayers but please pray for my good friend who I’m visiting (hospital) right now that God will restore his health.’

AFRIMA excites with special edition of Industry Nite

• Niniola perfoming at Industry Nite with AFRIMA recently held in Lagos, Nigeria

T

HE last edition of the weekly industry Nite concert in Lagos witnessed an unusual boister-

ousness.

Apart from the huge crowd spurred by the hype generated by AFRIMA

Karen Igho welcomes baby boy

for the all-night show, the event featured several artistes who treated fans to exciting performances.

Among the performers were Phyno, Lil Kesh, Joel, Cynthia Morgan, Sean Tizzle, Adekunle Gold, Ninola, Simi, Aramide, Mr. 2Kay, Jeffrey, project fame winner, Charass, Sunkanmi, Harmony, Tjan and Rayce.

In partnership with Beat 99.9FM, the Spice Route, Victoria Island, Lagos venue was filled to capacity, as artistes and other stakeholders bonded freely.

The show was meant to create more awareness for the ongoing AFRIMA entry submission which closes on July 20.

The show also had artiste managers, industry veterans, media executives and Nollywood acts in Nigeria who came out to identify and celebrate AFRIMA and African music.

They included 2Face Idibia, Timaya, Iyanya, Skales, Olu Maintain, Azadus,

Sheyman, EedrisAbdulkareem, Presh, Baci, Saeon, JJC, Sheyman and filmmaker KunleAfolayan.

Others are Keke Ogungbe, MD, Raypower/Kennis Music; Chris Obosi, MD Beat FM/Classic FM/ Naija FM; Howie T, MD Baseline media; Afro beat maestro, Dede Mabiaku; Femi Olajinbiti, country Manager, Bacardi; Efe Omorogbe, MD Now muzik and Seun Soyinka, MD Quotent edge.

Anchored by BEAT FM's Olisa Adibua and Jimmie, the show was broadcast live by Raypower FM, and had DJ Spinall on the Wheel of Steel.

The 2015 AFRIMA main awards ceremony will hold in Nigeria from November 13 to15, promising live performances and television broadcast to major media stations and countries around the world. The show is in partnership with the African Union, AU and ONE.org.

Bovi in double joy

F

ORMER winner of Big Brother Africa reality TV show, Karen Igho Rakos has delivered of a baby boy. She married her husband YaroslavRakos seven months.

Reports say that the former OAP gave birth at the Mount Sinai Roosevelt hospital in New York on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Karen won the sixth edition of the popular show in Africa, tagged BBA Amplified, which held in South Africa in 2011.

Karen, who was the first African female and Nigerian female to win the reality TV show, got $200,000 for her effort.

She relocated to the United States with her hubby after her marriage on December 14, 2014.

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

P

• Karen Igho with her baby

OPULAR comedian Bovi Ugboma, called Bovi, is presently one of the comedians on top of his game.

The comedian, who recently acquired a multimillion naira home in Lekki, also got endorsed by Globacom Nigeria, joining colleagues like Basketmouth, AY, Helen Paul and others on the Glo account.

Basketmouth took to his Instagram page, to congratulate his colleague: “Double Impact!! A man who bought a 2015 brand new house in Lekki… and gets endorsed by Globacom 48hrs after…Congratulations bro@officialbovi.”

The comedian who is also the Face of Vitafoam, began his career in April 2007, starring in the popular sitcom Extended Family, which he produced, wrote, and packaged.

•RMD

Ayo Adesanya marks 20 years as actress

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

C

ROSS-over actress, New me I see positivity and Ayo Adesanya, who this has been made possible has spent two de- just because you are cades in the Nigerian mo- here….thank u for that spetion picture sector, recently cial support." released new pictures to celAccording to reports, her ebrate her achievements as first appearance on televian actress. sion was in The mother of one, who TunjiBamishigbin's soap opwas once married to pro- era titled Palace. ducer Goriola Hassan, wrote on • Adesanya her Instagram page; "When I look back at the years I have been doing this I am always grateful….20 years of being c a m e r a friendly…I am always grateful …20 years of hearing the word action and cut…am always grateful despite the turbulence in between, God gave me a second chance and I came back fully just few years back….when I look back at this

45

WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

BAUCHI POLITICS Bauchi State Governor Abdullahi Abubakar has asked his predecessor, Isa Yuguda, to explain the state’s debt profile. But, the former governor says his successor is witch-hunting him and his aides. Correspondent AUSTINE TSENZUGHUL writes on the predecessor-successor crisis in the Northeast state.

•Governor Abubakar receiving the handover notes from Yuguda at the Governor’s Office, Bauchi, the state capital.

•Some of the cars recovered by the committee.

Abubakar, Yuguda bicker over Bauchi’s debt profile F

OR eight years, former Governor Isa Yuguda ruled Bauchi State. On May 29, he bowed out of office after the expiration of the two terms. When he was governor, he was powerful and influential. But, barely a month outside power, his successor, Governor Abdullahi Abubakar, a lawyer, is asking him to properly render accounts.

Yuguda, a former Minister of Transport, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his view, the governor, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is trying to wage war against the opposition.

When he assumed the reins, the governor declared that governance will not be a tea party.

He promised to clean the Augean table, adding that indiscipline, recklessness and laxity would not be tolerated. “Our administration is a product of people’s resilience . We are committed to upholding their yearnings for improved living standards. We will strengthen weak institutions and revive essential facilities,” he stressed.

Abubakar alleged that “ the previous government literally lived at the expense of Bauchi state’s populace for eight years.” He said the previous government was reckless. “We have taken over a government owing a cumulative external and domestic debts to the tune of N125 billion, made up of N48,743,196,021:79 domestic loans, foreign loans at $87 million (N18,915,644,597,04), contractual liabilities of N42,556,123,229,05, workers’ gratuity arrears of N7,741,016,737,19, and

local government workers’ gratuity arrears of N1,670,407.774:00,” he alleged.

The governor said he inherited three months unpaid workers’ salary arrears, totaling N5.2 billion. There are other worrisome disclosures. “ I met an absolutely empty treasury. Bauchi State treasury had next to nothing of funds,“ Abubakar added. He also said that, for eight years, the Yuguda government got N864 billion, besides ecological funds. “Yet, there are decayed infrastructures,” he fumed.

When Abubakar assumed office, he was inundated with complaints about lack of essential farm in-puts, including fertilizers. Many farmers cried foul, saying that the previous government neglected them.

According to sources, the new government needs N572 million as subsidy for intending Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year. The empty treasury, they said, is crippling the feeding of students in boarding schools.

Allegations of maladministration against a predecessor does not translate into performance for the new governor. Therefore, Abubakar has unfolded what he described as “ quick win programmes.”

The elements include the reduction in the cost of governance, financial frugality and bridging the loopholes. The governor has laid a good example by reducing his salary and that of his deputy by 50 per cent. He has also reduced the number of domestic aides. He has also disclosed that there will be downsizing of political appointees.

In April, Abubakar set up a 41-member Tran-

sition Committee, which he tagged: Committee on the Recovery of Government Property.

It was headed by Air Commodore Ahmed Tijani Baba Gamawa. The committee was charged with the duty of recovering government property allegedly carted away by government functionaries under the last administration. The governor said the recovered vehicles will facilitate the discharge of official duties by government officials. The committee was also mandated to recover institutional lands, movable and unmovable assets illegally taken away by government officials.

Last week, it was disclosed that the committee has recovered 71 assorted luxury vehicles, including Sports Utility vehicles(SUVs).”Of this number, 25 vehicles were recovered,” said Tijani-Baba Also, the committee retrieved 15 Toyota Camry, 24 Peugeot 242 and Peugeot 306, three Range Rover HSE Sports, two Honda Civic IVTEC, one Peugeot 407, seven Land Cruiser Prado, two Honda Jeeps, one C 35, two ChevRolet Optra L.S, two Nissan Buses, four Toyota Land Cruiser TXL Jeeps, three Toyota Hilux, three Ford Range Pick-ups and three Peugeot Station Wagons. The cost of the vehicles was not disclosed. But, a car dealer in Bauchi, who pleaded for anonymity, said they cost billions of naira “because the 15 jeeps (SUVs) are not up to 26 months in use”.

Also, some generating sets were recovered.

Eighty electric transformers hastily purchased at over N 245 million in April were recovered.

Of the 80 transformers, 70 were allegedly sold to local government councils, communities and individuals at the cost of N50,000:00 each.

According to dealers, a transformer costs about N5 million. The immediate past administration allegedly awarded contract for the installation of the 70 transformers at N92 million.

The chairman of the panel said: “We have recovered over 100 plots of land illegally acquired. These plots are located at the current premises of Bauchi Specialist Hospital (former BACAS premises) ,Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programe and the Ministry of Information land Kyaure along Bauchi / Jos road.”

But, it is not yet Uhuru for the committee.

Gamawa said: “We are yet to start looking into the accounts books of the past administration. But, I can tell you that Bauchi’s common wealth was mercilessly plundered”.

Sources said that the committee has identified some land grabbers. They have now been asked to stop further development on a large parcel of land belonging to the Specialist Hospital in the state capital. It also directed those who bought 95 plots of land belonging to Bauchi State Agricultural Develoment Programe in Bauchi to keep off as they risked been labeled as “trespassers on government land”.

Abubakar has vowed to bring culprits to • Continued on page 46

THE NATION WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 2015 We have gotten a clearer picture of the extent to which Bauchi State has been plundered and gravely short changed. We have commenced a diligent process to recover resources that have been converted into private use by officials and even non-officials of the previous administration

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POLITICS

Chief Dikivie Ikiogha was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State and a close ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan. In this interview with MIKE ODIEGWU, he explains why he and other founding members dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

‘Why we’re dumping Bayelsa PDP’

W

HY are you and other founding members of the Bayelsa PDP to the APC? The movement out of the PDP is due to several reasons. One, the way the PDP conducted itself during the preparations for the recent general elections distabilised the party. For instance, the primaries were for the highest bidder. Two, the governors own the party.

The party was practically owned by few individuals and they have the right to say this is the man that will go and they went all out, using the state’s resources to make sure that their candidate carries the day, irrespective of what happens.

Therefore, the issue of internal democracy is a major reason; the manner the power drunk chieftains of the party carried themselves leaves much to be desired. During the election, of course, we saw the highest level of deceit and betrayals.

Many party chieftains had one leg in the APC and the other in the ruling party.

There is a crisis in this state in particular.

So, there is no trust; people don’t trust themselves; they cannot work together and up till now, political party matters are in court. So, people don’t want to belong to where there is division.

Considering the abysmal performance of the PDP at the national and the state levels, people don’t have lost confidence in the party, especially in Bayelsa State.

They want to move on. Another thing is that people also appreciate change. The PDP has been in power for the past 16 years and in this state we have little or nothing to show for that. So, the people want change.

What sowed the seed of discord in Bayelsa PDP? It is greed and arrogance. This caused the crisis nothing else. There was no serious matter involved. It is simply greed and arrogance.

Arrogance on whose part?

Arrogance is one trait that made PDP to fail, even at the federal level. I know of somebody who said that once you pick the PDP ticket

then you have made it and because of that some people became power drunk. When they come into position, they become power drunk; ‘without me, no other person’; arrogance, pride and then greed wanting to eat alone. These are part of the things that caused crisis in Bayelsa PDP. Given your relationship with the former president, it is surprising that you are leaving the PDP for another party...

Maybe, people are getting it wrong or they are looking at it from a different perspective. Well, I do not have anything against the former President. Our relationship remains very cordial and I feel that my political destiny is not tied to anybody. It is not tied to friendship or to even my wife or my mother or my father. Here is a man that we started together. We have been able to raise him to the level of president and he has finished what he needs to do and has come back home. Must I not chart my political course?

I need to chart a course. If because of him, I was in the PDP, because of him I couldn’t move because he was the President and I needed to give him the support as a friend, until he was no longer there, must I continue to be blind to say even, if he is no longer there I should remain?

The point is that I have seen a better association, a place that I feel that I can belong to exercise my political opinion and make my suggestions for the betterment of the people and to change the life of the people and I feel that the platform of APC is better for me and if I have not been able to take that decision years ago because of him, now that he is no longer there, what stops me?

The insinuation in some quarters is that you decided to dump the PDP because you were denied ticket during the primary.

Could that be the reason?

You can hardly see what is in somebody’s heart, until he speaks. You will agree with me that, for me to go and contest House of Representatives seat will show you how passionate I am to serve the people. I stooped

•Ikiogha low to contest, considering my political experience, my age and everything you thing of. I contest the primaries to test the internal democracy in PDP and to demonstrate my readiness to serve the people. But the party didn’t allow fair play and I was denied the ticket. But denying me that ticket is rather a blessing in disguise, it has nothing to do with me. I would have gone to another political party and win the election straight but I felt I shouldn’t do it because I had a friend who was the President.

I am still saying that I left the party because I found out that the party is full of deceit, betrayal, greed, everybody fighting for his own selfish interest, no democracy. In fact the main functions and features of political parties were being eroded in PDP and that made me to get out.

Your explanation may sound curious because you were in the PDP for 16years.

A decision must be taken at any time, whether 10 years to come, 10 years ago or at anytime. A decision must be taken but in this

case, there was a confirmation of my leaving the PDP. They confirmed it during the presidential election result and the activities that took place. It was finally confirmed that people can collect money and go and sit down in their houses without working for the election.

They didn’t go out to work for the election result, they didn’t campaign, it was obvious, so why must I still belong. A decision can be taken at anytime, it can be later, it can be before. Anytime you feel like taking a decision you take.

The PDP has that they are not going to miss you because you don’t have electoral value.

We are not arguing. Why are they now reacting and blackmailing people everywhere?

Why are all those boys fretting. I call them boys because most of them are boys that we brought to the party. When we were forming the party they were not there. We brought them to the party. Some of them speaking are people we handpicked to make executives of the party, so they can say we are spent. When we are spent we will continue to remain. If we are spent why are they worried? If we are spent force why are they bothered? Leave us we have taken a course and we are going ahead, the future will prove us right and will prove them wrong whether we are spent or not.

We know you to be a grassroots politician and mobiliser. What is the chance of winning the governorship election for the APC? Well, my prayer is that there should be free and fair elections. But, I know that even though the PDP has been on ground for 16 years, APC is sure to win the governorship election. How we would go about it, I may not be able to tell you but all what I know is that the APC will capture the day. But all that also depend on who the APC is presenting.

The PDP depends also on who they present, but I am sure that the APC with a good candidate will win the election.

Are you saying that, if PDP should field the Governor Dickson, they will lose and why do you think so?

I have said that depending on the candidate that APC will present and also PDP but which ever way APC is going to win.

Whether it’s the Governor, because incumbent is the one that is more difficult isn’t it?

But we are saying whether it’s the governor or any other person, APC is going to take the day.

Abubakar, Yuguda bicker over Bauchi’s debt profile • Continued from page 45 book. He said: “We have gotten a clearer picture of the extent to which Bauchi State has been plundered and gravely short changed. We have commenced a diligent process to recover resources that have been converted into private use by officials and even non-officials of the previous administration.”

The governor has now resolved to cut down the expenditure in minis-

• From left: Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President Mrs. Priscilla Kuye (SAN), daughter of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Mrs Hafsat AbiolaCostello, Woman Arise and Campaign for Democracy leader Dr. Joe Odumakin, former Lagos State Governor Admiral Ndubusi Kanu and former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Comrade Ayodele Adewale, during the MKO Abiola 17th remembrance anniversary at his residence Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

PHOTOMUYIWA HASSAN

tries, departments and agencies. This has enabled the government to save N800 million on the Hajj expenditure. He also promised to unfold structural and policy adjustments that would generate funds.

Abubakar’s policies have been criticised by PDP chieftains, who accused him of vendetta. But, he vowed to continue with what observers have described as the financial sanitation. There is bickering in

the state and critics are sowing the seed of discord. But, the governor said he will not be discouraged by foes. He urged the people to support his administration.

Abubakar said: “We are ready to deliver selfless services to the people, no matter whose ox is gored, and no diabolical machinations will deter us from this journey of promise.”

Gamawa also assured that the committee will not look back. He

said: “We have been given a state assignment to recover these government properties and we owe Bauchi people and God a duty to put in our best. We have recovered 57 assorted vehicles, two from a local government chieftain. Other people have been calling and bringing their cars.

But, we go to others to recover the cars. We do not have a limit of cars to recover, but we are targeting about 150 or more. For now, we are

on vehicles, land, movable and unmovable assets. We are yet to go for the money and other things taken by individuals and or in the name of organisations”.

The committee chairman lamented that laid down procedures were completely thrown away.

He said: “Those who were using these vehicles were supposed to return them to the pool, for a certain committee or surveyors to assess their value in Naira, before those interested could apply and perhaps, buy”.

“But, this process was not followed. Some of those that went away with their cars applied to the governor on May 27,2015,and the governor approved same day. Their applications did not pass through any person or process. This is illegality and we are say no to that. It is Bauchi people’s property and they should returned to them. Things must be properly done.”

Abubakar, in his maiden address on June 1, vowed to recover public property. He said: “Our government shall recover such illegal acquired funds and properties and use the same in developing our dear Bauchi state”.

However, Yuguda has fired back.

He said: “The governor has no right to reverse what I did in my capacity as an executive governor of Bauchi State”. Also, his associates have accused the governor of victimisation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

47

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

To fight the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called for the strengthening of criminal justice systems. It unveiled the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) in Abuja, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

•Guests at the launch

‘Strengthen criminal justice systems against illicit drug traffickers’ W ORRIED by the danger posed by the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is leading a campaign titled: “Let’s develop our lives, our communities, our identities without drugs.”

With nearly 200,000 drug-related deaths and 1.65 million infected with HIV in 2013, it is calling for the prevalence of science and evidencebased practices in the delivery of prevention and treatment of drug use.

Against this backdrop, UNODC Country Representative Mr Koli Kouame has called for sustained concerted efforts in the war against drugs and related organised crimes in Nigeria, noting that access to evidence based prevention and treatment can sometimes be the difference between life and death. He added that these approaches are the foundation for all our efforts.

“Robust action is needed to strengthen criminal justice systems, break-up the criminal networks who deal in misery and suffering, and to nurture health and human rights-based responses.

“At present, only one in six people who use drugs globally has access to treatment. Women face numerous barriers to treatment–while one

•UNODC unveils Drug Control Master Plan ADVOCACY

in three drug users globally are women, only one in five drug users in treatment are women.

Africa, particularly West and East Africa, also remains vulnerable to the trafficking and the consumption of illicit drugs,” he said.

These trends, he noted, are part of organised crime’s attack on the security, health and development of an already-fragile region, saying; “The nexus of organised crime and terrorism—including the apparent role of drug trafficking—is a serious threat”.

To commemorate this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the agency unveiled the National Drug Control Master Plan, 2015 to 2019 in Abuja. It had in attendance the Chairman of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, the Programme Management, Polleak OK Seei, who represented UNODC Country Representative, among oth-

Church holds exhibition

T

HIRTY colourful works created by children and teens will be on display between July 11 and 12, at the St Andrews Anglican Church Gallery, Ojota, Ogudu, Lagos.

The exhibition tagged What colour is God, is organised as part of the church’s 2015 Harvest of Increase celebration to be hosted by the Apostle of Peace (AOP) society.

The Chair/Programme Director of the Harvest 2015, Eze Afieroho, made this known at abriefing organised last week at the church office in Lagos.

Afieroho said “this exhibition align with our vision as a society and is an important opportunity to showcase who God is to the community, kindling the creativity of our children and to provide the flavor of what the church intend to achieved when the proposed children and teen church is completed.”

He noted that “AOP inaugurated in 2013 is one of the rapidly growing societies in the church that is committed to spreading the good news and reaching out to the community through various social welfare program; like the Food Bank during festive periods, Health/Wellbeing program and the Water project to the Ogudu community.

Afieroho stressed that the programme encourages curiosity, critical thinking and ongoing collaborative investigation with the main objective of bringing the society back to God.

By Adeola Ogunlade

VISUAL ART “The project is beyond being a part of the church’s 2011 harvest programme,” according to the Vicar of the church, Ven Kelvin Tope-Tapere said that it will also teach our young people the power of creative thinking as a medium to reflect the quality God imputed in them. Every human mind is imputed with God’s kind of capacity for creativity; a blessing when used rightly and a curse when wrongly used.”

He said that the the children developed art works around the theme of God’s nature as love, purity, kindness and mercy with support from professional artists and the Sunday school teachers.

The consulting artist, Adubi Mydaz Makinde, said that the exhibition will serve as a medium of reach and big inspiration to the immediate church community and society at large. ’What Colour Is God’ art project[1] has already exposed the participating children/teens to a world of creativity and the beauty of teamwork. “As the facilitator, my main goal is to help discover and unlock hidden talents amongst them as well as show to the world that when and if led well in the way of God, children are indeed the greatest part of our future”, he said.

ers.

This year’s commemoration was peculiar because, according to Kouame, it coincided with the official unveiling of Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP), “the formulation of which was supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the framework of a European-Union funded project, Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria”. The unveiling, according to him, will officially signify the commencement of its implementation by the relevant stakeholders including ministries departments and agencies of government, faith-based organisations, educational and professional institutions, and civil society organisations.

Kouame said: “The Master Plan was endorsed last May 22 by the former President Goodluck Jonathan. UNODC is particularly proud to be associated with the formulation of the Master Plan which was led by the Inter-Ministerial Drug Control Committee of Nigeria. As we

T

REK African Women Awards (TAWA) is inviting nominations for women achievers in diverse fields in the 2015 edition.

TAWA, which is in its 2nd edition, seeks to recognise achievements of women in the continent in the fields of media, entertainment, fashion, politics, brands, business, management and charities. It is billed for Friday 18th September, 2015 at MUSON Centre, Lagos.

According to the organisers, individuals, corporate organisations and personalities can nominate themselves, adding that the public can also vote for as many persons or corporate brands as possible provided they have solid information(s) to back up their choice.

“TAWA is a continental showpiece to acknowledge and celebrates various African women, First Ladies, women corporate brands, personalities and the media who have surpassed several levels of excellence and set an example of being a role models and exemplary personalities.

TAWA’s criteria, the organisers say, are focused on the personality, creative ability, successes and how her work impacts the society.

“She has been able to influence people to achieve set goals; due to her past achievement and influence she has earned; she has helped the less

congratulate the government and people of Nigeria for this important achievement, we use the opportunity of the global focus on the drug problem to reiterate the call for sustained concerted efforts in the war against drugs and related organised crime in Nigeria.

“The launch of the Master Plan would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the European Union which has fully funded not only its formulation but remains committed to supporting its implementation in partnership with the government of Nigeria over the next five years.”

NDCMP, he said, outlines activities that will help reduce the incidences of illicit cultivation, production, use, and trafficking of narcotic substances under four main pillars, which include law enforcement, drug demand reduction, access and control of narcotics and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes, and coordination.

“The Master Plan provides an integrated and comprehensive roadmap for multi-sectoral interventions to address a wide array of drug related issues in Nigeria, in line with international drug control conventions. It outlines activities that will help reduce significantly the incidences of illicit cultivation, production, use, and trafficking of narcotic substances in Nigeria and indeed the sub-region,” Mr Kouame said.

Women Award calls for entries

By Evelyn Osagie

privileges, community, associates, colleague, to grow and achieved goals; he or she has set a pace of being seen and called a role model for others to learn from; must have shown a level of determination to her set goals and ability to achieve them; driven by values, beliefs and principles that shape the future for the better; and she has used her visibility and position to influence policy that advance and promote advocacy on issues affecting the wellbeing of women, children/youth and the community,” TAWA organiser say.

Submissions, comprising updated profile, achievements and individual or corporate social responsibility(s) in the society, should be forwarded online to the TAWA website: http:// www.trekng.com, or email to Trekmagzine@gmail.com, according to TAWA team. They added each completed entry form must be accompanied by all relevant supporting materials, stating that the deadline for submissions is July 30, and only achievements or CSR carried out between May 1, 2014 and May 30, 2015 are eligible for consideration.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Succour for Boko Haram victims

S

UCCOUR came the way of victims of Boko Haram insurgents who received some relief materials from Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. The company, in fulfillment of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), donated 100 mattresses and 100 pillows to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Borno State through an Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), The Oasis Association.

Speaking during the donation held at the Borno State Liaison Office on Victoria Island, Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, said the gesture was a token to make life more meaningful for those displaced by the insurgents and alleviate their sufferings.

He noted that the donation was particularly for the victims in Borno State, which he described as Vitafoam’s way of giving back to the society.

He said that Oasis contacted Vitafoam to partner them by assisting in this regard.

“We believe that we are just contributing our part. We have been supporting the victims of many disasters over the years and we have consistently spent millions of Naira annually.”

He said that for any human being to think of doing anything in life, the first step is to have a place to rest and that is why mattresses and pillows are very symbolic. He added that the significance of the donation is better appreciated against the essence of comfortable sleep as a necessary condition for thinking better.

Adeniyi noted that the company has being highly involved in the area of CSR because the company is a good corporate citizen. “We have been of help during the crisis of flood in Nigeria, during health challenges and other series of circumstance that threatened human lives. Today is a

By Olatunde Odebiyi

CHARITY consonance to our policy in ensuring that human being live a worthy life.

“On annual basis, we spend an average of 100 million on CSR and we would continue to support people that have challenges,” he said.

Adeniyi who pledged the firm’s continual support to the needy as good corporate citizens, noted that Vitafoam’s operations in the Northern part was affected by the activities of Boko Haram thus leading to some loss of revenues. “But then, the government could not address the level of destruction caused by the insurgents alone because the damages are so much.

Other corporate bodies therefore have an obligation to to assist the Internally Displaced People without further delay. This is why Vitafoam has been involved by today’s donation.

While he thanked Borno State government for giving Vitafoam the opportunity to assist the victims, Adeniyi assured the shareholders of increased value saying that all the company’s activities are aimed at increasing shareholder value ultimately.

The President, The Oasis Association, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Soewu (rtd) said that the NGO comprises of professionals from various backgrounds driven by selfless desire to assist humanity. “We are driven by the desire to help humanity and not for any material gain. Our material

•From left: Technical Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Abatcha Abagana; Adeniyi; DunamaBalami; Soewu; and Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Vitafoam, Mr Olatunji Anjorin, during the donation.

benefit is spiritual. We believe that whatsoever we do would be rewarded by God and that has being our driving force,” he said.

According to him, the NGO has being involved in diverse disaster internetions in the past. ”We have supported victims of bumb explosion at the Ikeja cantonment in Lagos some years ago and annually, we design a specific programme that we want to focus on to render assistance.

‘We are driven by the desire to help humanity and not for any material gain. Our material benefit is spiritual. We believe that whatsoever we do would be rewarded by God and that has being our driving force’

BRIEF

Festival calls for entries From Yami Matthew

T

HE organisers of Plateau International Film Festival (PIFF) have announced its call for entry for the 2015 edition scheduled to hold in October in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The previous edition, which was declared open by Steve Gukas, the Festival Ambassador and a welcome address by Fred Amata, featured activities like film screening, workshop, panel discussion, exhibition theatre performance and more.

To celebrate its 5th anniversary the festival is considering relationships that would extend beyond the three-day event as it seeks partnership with reputable organisations, other film makers and film festivals in order to favour its winning films and artists.

Anne Abok, the International Director of media village and meCHAT, believes that this year’s festivals will attract more international interest and participation because of the theme and the work that have gone into the planning. ‘’ We will be having an international jury to ensure that winning the films reflects an international edge. We truly want to celebrate quality films that are instrumentals to the positive developments of our society,’’ noted Abok. ‘’This is our chance to redefine PIFF for the next years. So, much energy and excitement go into creating a three-day event that we are confident the creative community can extend to the entire country and beyond,’’ said Project Coordinator of PIFF, Deborah Ododo.

Interested Film Directors, Producers, Writers, cinematographers, Editors, Actors are called to send in their films, documentaries public service announcements and Animation Productions.

“Last year, our focus was on health. We assisted victims of tuberculosis, hepataitis and other related ailments. This year, the focus is on internally displaced people,” he said.

Soewu commended Vitafoam’s management for the quick response to the request to assist victims of the insurgency in Borno State.

He pledged the NGO’s commitment to ensure that human beings are supported whenever there is crisis.

The Head, Borno State Liason Office, Lagos, Mrs Racheal Dunama-Balami, who recieved the items donated on behalf of the Boko Haram victims in Borno State, thanked the management of Vitafoam and Oasis for the wonderful support, saying it has confirmed that we are all our brothers keepers. She promised to deliver the items to Borno State government.

‘Consider traditional rulers in security matters’

P

ROMINENT Yoruba culture activist Aare Latosa of Ibadanland Adegboyega Mabinuori has blamed the increasing spate of crimes in the country on failure of leaders to provide adequate security for the people. He stated that Yoruba culture gives room for peaceful co-existence of people in the society because the norms and traditions of human existence in the race do not encourage any form of criminality or vices.

He decried the spate of kidnapping, robbery, killing and corruption in the society, noting that these vices thrive due to the neglect of tradition and proliferation of foreign culture, religious beliefs and style of living. “Nobody dare use ogun or sango to swear and do evil, such person won’t escape it none of our deities harbour evil or criminality,” he said.

Mabinuori spoke at this year’s Ibudo Asa Adulawo cultural event organised by The Centre for African Culture and Tradition held last week at the National Museum, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The two-day event, which had as theme Culture and Tradition a Panacea for an Effective National Security, is a unique cultural event, which sought to promote and further enhance the effective usage of Yoruba culture and tradition in solving the nation’s problems, particularly security issues, which are threatening the unity and stability of the country.

He called for strict adherence to culture and tradition as practised by the ancestors in order to live long and enjoy peaceful atmosphere devoid of any form of criminality, which he said, can be achieved.

“The potency of Yoruba deities and gods cannot be doubted and we have to go back to the roots so as to enjoy a better society,” he added.

He, however, urged federal and state governments to incorporate community leaders and traditional rulers in the security

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

FESTIVAL affairs of the nation as ‘these people are closer to the people, know what goes around and it is easy for them to easily identify strangers and invaders. If every community is secured, the nation’s security will be guaranteed.’

Assistant Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. P O Shomide said that in order for a country or community to be effectively secured her culture and traditions must be understood, respected and sustained.

“People generally are nation’s assets which ensure their own national security depending on commitments to collective sense of being and understanding. Culture and tradition, therefore, cannot be jettisoned in view of desired national security,” he added.

The curator National Museum, Ibadan Elder Amos Olorunnipa said the role of Yoruba tradition and culture in securing the society and maintaining a peaceful society is great. “In the olden days our society was peaceful because of the effective usage and respect for tradition but it is unfortunate now that we have lost most of these things. We are in this situation of insecurity as a result of neglect of culture and tradition,” he said.

Continuing, she said: “Today here are people who even hide under Yoruba culture and tradition to swindle, dupe members of the society, do evil and engage in criminality.

All this need to be checked and I want to use this medium to appeal to our leaders and proponent of tradition and culture to please.

Identify and stop the nefarious activities of people in that categories”.

Olorunipa also stressed on the need for the organisation and museum to have a working relationship that will ensure proper research and documentation of historical

•Snake Charmer performing at the event

facts and records for the promotion and advancement of Yoruba culture.

The chairman planning committee of the event Asiwaju Akinade Nurudeen said that the choice of the topic is appropriate and ‘if the submission of the speakers were considered it would do our country a whole lot of good and enhance a functional and peaceful society.

Highlights of the event included the crowning of Omidan Asa 2015, conferment of Cultural Ambassador Award on Ibadanbased Fuji musician Taiye Adebisi popularly known as Taiye Currency and cultural display from Ijala chanters, Ewi exponents, snake charmers and beauty peagants.

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

What do you want in life?

POEM

Random Blues (Blues for the Senate King 1) From Niyi Osundare

T

HE captivating title of this book will surely draw readers to it. The book is basically the biblical storyof Bartimaeus, the blind man in Jericho, who while begging heard the voice of Jesus and his disciples, shouted on top of his voice till he was noticed and attended to by Jesus Christ. There and then he received healing after being blind for about 25years. It is a book written out of inspiration from God by Pastor Gabriel Ogunbiyi, woven around the need for human to accept God’s ways so as to benefit from his abundance. The book is divided into nine chapters and 57 pages. With forward by Evangelist TounSoetan.

Chapter four is quite a moving story of Bartimaeus, he shunned the crowd to be heard, and many were sternly telling him to keep quiet but he kept shouting ‘Son of David have mercy on me’ the lesson here is the need for Christian faithful not to allow the crowd to shout them down when seeking help from God, indeed the crowd may not be right at times or most times, but for one’s convictions. The book teaches about our communication with the Lord (chapter eight), specifically what exactly do we want from God. According to the author, it is a simple question that in most cases generate mundane and needless answer from people.

The story of Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) before his encounter with Lord Jesus (chapter one) is that of Loneliness, Stagnancy, unloved and branded with negative names. These, unfortunately, is the attribute associated with a blind person. For Bartimeaus, it was a glorious day after being at a spot for 24 years, when he heard the voice of Jesus Christ.

This is a book for everyone, every chapters is supported with prayers to serve as a guide for readers.

The lessons inherent in the book is unquantifiable. The story line flows like a thriller and the packaging is commendable. Above all, the book showcase strong believe in miracles, and indeed that before God nothing is impossible.

He wanted it so desperately to be the King of Senate He left the Path of Honour behind Haba! He wanted so desperately to be King of Senate He left the Path of Honour behind He stabbed noble Faith and Trust in the back And put the Traitor’s knife on the bonds that bind Power-intoxicated, blinded by ambition He only cares for three big people: “I, Me, and Myself” Say, Power-drunk, blinded by ambition He only cares for three big people: “I, Me, and Myself” A renegade old book with phoney letters Vacuous, thumb-stained on History’s shelf

BOOK REVIEW From Uzor Maxim Uzoatu Title:

What do you want?

Author:

Pastor Gabriel Olukayode Ogunbiyi

Reviewer: Adedeji Badejo Publishers: The Vine Media Communications Ltd Pagination:

62

Foundation pledges support for education

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OUNDER and chairman, GEMS Education and the Varkey Foundation, Mr Sunny Varkey, has to give more than half of his wealth to charity to support teachers across the world provide a quality education for all children.

The Varkey Foundation has pioneered an ambitious programme to train 250,000 teachers across Africa that is winning plaudits from government and non-government leaders across the region. The aim is to impact 10 million children. Already, 12,000 teachers have been trained in Uganda in the last two years.

The foundation also runs Ghana’s first interactive distancelearning project - Making Ghanaian Girls Great! (MGCubed).

The project will impact more than 4000 marginalised girls (aged 9-14 years) in 72 schools within two regions in Ghana (Greater Accra and Volta) and offer them an enhanced quality of education to improve their lives and transform their future.

He signed the Giving Pledge, the initiative founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates to help address society’s most pressing problems by inviting the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropic or charitable causes.

Varkey said: “Fifteen years on from the Millennium Development Goals, huge global education challenges remain unmet. Around 250 million children of primary school age cannot read and write and, at current rates of progress, it will take until 2072 to eradicate youth illiteracy.

“New 2030 targets on education are being drawn up and I hope Governments around the world will sign up to them.

But the hard truth is, that without a rapid deployment of major resources, we won’t make a real difference to the lives of the millions of children that cannot access a good quality teacher and a good quality education.

“This is the greatest challenge of our time by which we will be judged by future generations. Time is running out for so many that could contribute so much.

“The giving pledge community is a group of exceptional individuals, and I hope to rally them and others to this vital cause”.

Varkey will join 136 billionaire individuals and couples who have signed the pledge. These include Mark Zuckerberg, co founder, chairman and chief executive of Facebook, Richard Branson, chairman and founder of Virgin Group and Ted Turner, founder of CNN. The goal behind the pledge is to talk about giving in an open way and create an atmosphere that can draw more people into philanthropy. He will become a signatory of the giving pledge at an annual event where those who take the pledge will come together to share ideas and learn from one

CHARITY another and outside experts about how to give most effectively in order to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

“I am delighted to sign the Giving Pledge. I was fortunate that I grew up in a family where charity was ingrained in us from a very early age. Even when my father earned a small amount, a large portion was shared with the community we lived in, sometimes at the cost of our own comfort.

“To this day, our underlying philosophy remains that good giving ‘pinches’, meaning that the sacrifice you make has to be felt. Therein lies the appeal of the Giving Pledge to my family.

“I have also always believed that education is key to fixing so many of the world’s greatest problems: violence, poverty and health. These two pillars of charity and education have always guided me, and out of them came the Varkey Foundation, which focuses on capacity building interventions for teachers and school leaders, and championing their work through initiatives such as the Global Teacher Prize. “Through the Giving Pledge we hope to shine a spotlight on the millions of children that do not have access to a quality teacher and quality education,” he added.

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: “When we started the Giving Pledge five years ago, we had no idea we’d get this many people to come together. It has really grown, first in the U.S. but more recently all over the world.

“We hope to intensify philanthropy and encourage people to get started younger. It’s exciting to see people becoming bolder and more thoughtful in their giving. This is about building on a wonderful tradition of philanthropy that will ultimately help the world become a much better place.”

The Varkey Foundation’s projects include teacher training and pupil education programmes in Africa, which has trained 12,000 teachers to date, and aims to impact upon the lives of 10 million children. It also produces original research such as the Global Teacher Status Index.

Last year, the Varkey Foundation launched the Global Teacher Prize. Widely referred to as the Nobel Prize for teaching, the US$1 million award is the largest prize of its kind. It was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

His feet never know the way to the house of Honour “Integrity” is visibly missing in his diction of Deceit Yes, his feet never know the way to the house of Honour “Integrity” is visibly missing in his diction of Deceit He sold us cheap in the commerce of the backroom caucus Coming back later with a falsified receipt Cocky without conscience, rude without restraint He traded away a victory won with our sweat and blood Say, cocky without conscience, rude without restraint He traded away a victory won with our sweat and blood A discredited enemy behind his tarnished banner He trampled the people’s Hope in the shameful mud The fruit never falls from its tree True scion of a cold and crooked clan Ha ha ha, a fruit never falls far from its tree True scion of a cold and crooked clan Broken banks, broken dreams, and broken lives He’s a fitting heir to a dubious pedigree

Street fighter

By Habib Akewusola

Elevated servants Waving party banner, Hello future Today I am a legislator.

Undress elegant caftan Into red champion shorts, Sliver diamond ring replica Of Ali’s boxing gloves.

Follow the leader With rusted equipments Piled in stock.

Cry me a fountain, Can I run from my Surname?

Contents of your dust bin Exchange destinies, Fighting for my rice I sell out only right, Decide, fore number’s is Human’s wife.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

FALL OUT OF ABUSE OF THE LAW

An Okada rider knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on Ikorodu Road, Lagos PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-07-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-07-15

UBA raises N11.5b as rights issue records full subscription

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has raised N11.5 billion new equity funds as shareholders of the bank fully picked their rights, boosting the support for the bank’s medium-term growth plan.

UBA had sought to raise new equity funds from existing shareholders through a rights issue of one ordinary share for every 10 ordinary shares at a price of N3.50 per share.

The allotment and completion documents for the rights issue have been approved of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The new equity fund came on the heels of similar successful debt capital raising by the bank. UBA had in December 2014 raised N30.5 Billion TierII capital through the issuance of seven-year fixed rate unsecured notes, maturing in 2021.

The additional equity would support the bank’s capital base ahead of the full implementation of BASEL II, which requires higher capital buffer for banks, to accommodate credit, operational and market risks

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

livering our performance guidance for the year,” said Mr. Ugo Nwaghodoh, group chief financial officer for the bank.

The directors of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc are optimistic the bank is set for a stronger performance this year as first quarter earnings showed considerable growths in the top-line and the bottom-line.

Key extracts of the threemonth unaudited report and accounts of UBA for the period ended March 31, 2015 showed that the top-line rose by 22 per cent while pre and post tax profits rose by 36 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. Gross earnings rose to N83.1 billion by March 2015 compared with N68.1billion made in the first three months of 2014. Profit before tax grew by 36 per cent to N18.4 billion in first quarter 2015 as against N13.5 billion in comparable period of 2014. After taxes, net profit grew by 35 per cent to N17 billion in first quarter 2015 as against N12.6 billion in the comparable period of 2014.

inherent in the business of financial intermediation.

Group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said the new equity fund provides further leverage to exploit growth potential in its markets.

“On behalf of the management of UBA, I appreciate the shareholders for their strong commitment towards the growth of our dear bank and for the unwavering confidence reposed in us in building a great Pan-African institution,” Oduoza said.

He assured that the bank would will remain true to its promise of delivering superior and sustainable return to all stakeholders over the near to long term, just as it is committed to the development of the African economies where it operates.

“This additional equity provides further capital buffer for us to grow our business over the medium term, with a strong positive outlook on deDAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-07-15

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

BUSINESS EXTRA

Banks lose N25.6b to fraud, says NDIC T T

DMO to raise N70b bonds

HE incidences of bank fraud and forgeries, es pecially those committed through electronic means, has continued to increase in Nigeria’s banking system, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said.

According to its 2014 annual report, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) “reported 10,612 fraud cases in 2014 compared with 3,786 cases reported in 2013, representing an increase of 182.77 per cent with a combined value of N25.61 billion.

Also, the expected/actual loss to banks as a result of fraud and forgeries increased from N5.76 billion in 2013 to N6.19 billion in 2014

From NduNduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

representing an increase of 7.57 per cent. This the NDIC said was “mainly due to the astronomical increase in the incidence of web-based (online banking)/automated teller machine (ATM) and fraudulent transfer/withdrawal of deposit frauds.”

In spite of this huge losses due to fraud, the NDIC said the country’s banking industry remained sound as at the end of last year.

“The banking industry’s financial soundness indicators revealed that the industry remained generally sound during the year under review. The banking indus-

try recorded significant growth in assets of 11.84 per cent, credits to the economy grew by 25.73 per cent, and deposit liabilities rose by 7.45 per cent, while unaudited profits of the industry showed a growth of 11.31 per cent in 2014,” the report noted.

The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of DMBs declined by 1.26 percentage points from 17.18 per cent in 2013 to 15.92 per cent last year, but exceeded the minimum capital adequacy threshold of 10 per cent.

However, the NDIC noted that the Asset Quality of the banking industry significantly improved during the period under review.

The banking industry total loans and advances stood at N12.63 trillion in 2014, showing an increase of 25.73 per cent over N10.04 trillion granted in 2013 while the industry’s volume of non-performing loans increased by 10.26 per cent from N321.66 billion in 2013 to N354.84 billion in 2014.

The banking industry nonperforming loans to total loans ratio improved from 3.20 per cent in 2013 to 2.81 per cent in 2014 and was within the regulatory threshold of five per cent. The observed improved asset quality the NDIC said “could be explained by the improved process of loan underwriting

as well as the continued purchase of non-performing loans (NPLs) by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The unaudited profit-before-tax (PBT) of the banking industry last year was put at N601.02 billion, representing an increase of 11.31 per cent over N539.97 billion reported in 2013 while Return on Assets (RoA) and Return on Equity (RoE) declined marginally by 1.70 per cent and 1.76 per cent from 2.33 per cent and 20.71 per cent to 2.29 per cent and 20.34 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Yield on earning assets declined to 11.71 per cent in 2014 from 13.10 per cent in 2013.

FCMB partners Kwara on economic Development

Osun, insurance firms sign MoU

A

S part of efforts to reposition the state’s economy, Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has said the state government is working on strategies that will encourage commercial banks to play greater role in the financing of its economic development programmes.

Governor Ahmed who gave this indication when the Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Ladi Balogun and his management team, paid him a courtesy visit added that commercial banks would be expected to expand its funding window of agriculture as agribusiness in the state.

“Agriculture is gradually been de-risked; so it is making it quite enabling for prospective investors to come in here to see how to take advantage of what we have on ground.

“We have tried to make it as private sector driven as possible. We have quite a few individuals who have invested in processing which of course creates a lot of room for backward integration that a lot of farmers now go into structured large scale farming culture,” the governor added.

The governor said the prevailing economic challenges in the country makes it expedient to explore various strategies in financing economic development.

Responding, Mr Balogun said the bank was exploring new ways of assisting the state government in improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

According to him, the bank was ready to take similar initiative of co-operating with the state government in financing agriculture.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T

•From left: Past President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Chief Michael Olawale-Cole; newly elected President, Prince Dapo Adelegan; Immediate Past President, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu and the Obiri of Aiyepe, Oba Adebisi Okubanjo during NBCC’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

NCC justifies interception of phone calls, others

T

HE Nigerian Commu nication Commission (NCC) has defended its position on the need for legal frameworks for interception of communication of mobile phone subscribers, service providers and other stakeholders in the industry.

The draft on the regulations is however generating heated debate and raising suspicion among industry players.

The NCC said it has become imperative for government and the regulatory authority to protect Nigerians through interception of communcations that are considered not only harmful, but also infringe on the fundalmental rights of the citizenry.

Its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at a stakeholders meeting during the Public Inquiries on the

From Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations and Licensing Regulations in the industry, insisted that the regulations are meant to protect the citizenry considering the high level of insecurity pervading the country.

Juwah who was represented at forum by an Executive Commissioner in NCC, Dr Okechukwu Itanyi maintained that the forum was to ensure that “ the opinions and contributions of stakeholders are considered in developing a sound regulatory framework for the telecommunications industry.”

However, participants at the forum kicked against certain aspects of the interception regulations expressing fears that it would infringe on the

fundalmental rights of citizens and business communications as those saddled with the responsibility could abuse and exploit the privilege for other purposes.

They also argued that interception of communications could expose citizens to danger, particularly as those working in the offices of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Attorney General of the Federation and other security agencies could use information intercepted for various advantages.

But Juwah allayed their fears, saying international best standards and practises woud be the watchwords of those saddled with the responsibilities.

He said: “The draft Lawful Interception Regulations aims to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communica-

tions in Nigeria as well as the collection and disclosure of intercepted communications.

“In the same vein, it also specifies the nature and types of communications to be intercepted, penalties for non-compliance and measures to safeguard the privacy of citizens as contained and guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution.

“The regulations shall complement the Act and the respective licences issued by the commisson and will state the obligations of law enforcement agencies and operators in connection with the interception of communications.

“The Commission is certain that these regulations will provide the guiding standards and principles for an effective regime on lawful interception of communications and licensing in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.”

Insurers get deadline on payment of claims

T

HE National Insurance C o m m i s s i o n (NAICOM) has given insurers in the country three months deadline to settle all outstanding claims due to the insured or risk revocation of their operating license The regulator said the deadline ends by September 30, this year, warning that failure to comply will be met with the application of the provisions of extant laws.

The body said it is giving

HE Debt Management Office (DMO) says it plans to raise N70 billion worth of bonds in two categories on July 15.

The DMO, in its bond circular posted on its website on yesterday, said the two categories include a 20-year and a fiveyear bonds.

It said it would issue N30 billion worth of 20-year bonds and N40 billion for the five-year bonds.

It said the two categories of bonds would mature in July 2034, and February 2020 respectively.

The DMO said the two categories of bonds would open with different coupon rates.

“The 20-year and five-year bonds will have coupon rates of 12.45 per cent and 15. 54 per cent,’’ it said.

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

this warning because few insurance companies still refuse to pay claims thereby damaging the image of the industry.

This was contained in a circular signed by Mohammed Kari, Deputy Commissioner, Technical, to all insurance companies on delayed or unsettled claims due to insured dated July 6.

It read: “You would recall that the Commission col-

lated claims details from all insurance companies and complaints on delayed and unsettled claims from members of the insuring public in its efforts to verify the persistent complains of the consumers of insurance products about the attitude of the providers that has brought the image of the industry to disrepute.

“Our study of the records and complaints received has confirmed the truth of this situation which, happily, is

perpetrated only by a few, whose sad posture stains the efforts of the many.

“In the continued effort of the Commission to sanitise the industry of this unpalatable tags and restore the confidence of the insuring public, all insurers are hereby directed to note that.”

The Commission however warned that henceforth, all claims must be handled strictly in accordance with the provision of the Insurance Act, 2003.

“As a palliative gesture, the Commission shall allow a grace period until the 31 September, 2015, for companies to clear all backlogs of outstanding claims as provided by the Insurance Act. “From 15 October, 2015, the Commission shall evoke the full application of punitive sections of the Insurance Act, including but not limited to, sections 8 (1) (m), 70(1) (b) and 7012) without further recourse.”

HE Osun State govern ment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with insurance companies and brokers in the state on third party insurance for vehicle registration and renewal.

The agreement was designed to ensure that vehicle owners comply with relevant laws in respect of the insurance of their vehicles and curb rampant fake insurance certificates in the state.

The agreement was also to ensure that vehicle owners have confidence in dealing with insurance companies and also foster unique pattern of the operation of the insurance companies and brokers across the state.

Performing the signing of the agreement on behalf of the state government, the Acting Chairman, Osun State Internal Revenue Board, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, said the agreement e-insurance would ensure that vehicles owners do not patronize touts and unexisting insurance companies and brokers.

According to him, it will also assist in detecting easily stolen vehicles through insurance security code and widening the tentacle of revenue automation of the state.

While substantiating the rationale for the agreement, Oyebanji said it would create an ascertainable legal basis for the conduct of relationships between the parties that is, the Insurance Companies and the insured persons in the course of the establishment and the operation of e-insurance.

He said: “The essence of the ‘Third Party Insurance for Vehicle Registration and Renewal is to make vehicle owners to be confident in dealing with insurance companies and brokers in the state and confirm the validity of their third party insurance certificates through electronic means.

“It would also enable the various insurance companies and brokers to come together to have a unique pattern of operation that people of Osun would repose their confidence in and at the same time avail the people of Osun the opportunity to insure their vehicle assets.”

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BUSINESS EXTRA •From left: Special Guest of Honour, Nigeria Marital Expo (NIMAREX) 2015, Admiral S.O Afolayan (rtd); member, Chief Isaac M. Jolapamo; Chairman, Barr Margaret Orakwusi and Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna JaloWaziri at the NIMAREX 2015 exhibition in Lagos

Nigeria loses $83.3b to illicit cash outflow, says AfDB T

HE African Develop ment Bank (AfDB) yes terday said Nigeria has lost about $83.3 billion to illicit financial outflow.

Its Country Director, Dr. Ousmane Dore who spoke at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD’s) MultiStakeholders meeting on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) out of Nigeria, in Abuja, said the loss accounted for 5.6 per cent of total goods traded without proper invoicing in the last 51 years starting from 1960 to 2011.

The AfDB chief added that the recent Global Financial Integrity Report also ranked Nigeria seventh among top 10 highest illicit capital outflows in the developing world and first in Africa.

According to him, Nigeria in many decades experienced a very serious problem with

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

trade misinvoicing, in the form of over-invoicing of imports and under-invoicing of exports for the purpose of shifting money out of the country.

He said: “Between 1960 and 2011, Nigeria experienced cumulative illicit financial out flows totalling $83.3 billion or 5.6 per cent of a total goods trade through trade through mis-invoicing only.

“Export under-invoicing takes the larger share of $44 billion while the balance of 39.3billion was due to import overinvoicing.

“In the literature, exchange controls has been identified as a basic driver of trade and misinvoicing in developing countroes, especially Nigeria, because they tend to create

black markets in foreign exchange where foreign currenciess can be bought and sold at a preminum over official rates.

“For many in Africa, this has been a reality for decades.

Depots, corrupt government officials and corrupt heads of state move billions of dollars from government coffers into lucrative, opaque bank.

“Others are illegal activities such as bribery, drug trafficking and similar illegal activities.”

Earlier, CDD Director, Idayat Hassan said the nation has sufficient resources to meet its developmental needs.

She said the illicit funds could be used to provide about 870,000 school, 400,000 hospitals among others.

However, she attributed widespread illegal financial flows to governance chal-

lenges in the sense of weak institutions and inadequate regulatory environment, lack of transparency and accountability.

According to her, the situation, for many years has strained capacities of the governments in various ways and discourages wealth creation to implement development policies.

She said if the nation had judiciously used its resources, Nigeria would have achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the country prepares to transit to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“What has become obvious is that we have to redirect our efforts to fighting IFFS in Nigeria....for every $1 of foreign borrowing, on the average, more than $0.50 leaves the borrower country in the same year,” she added.

‘FAAC did not approve ECA withdrawal’

T

HE forum of Commis sioners of Finance yes terday debunked the claim by the former Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) approved the withdrawal from Excess Crude (Foreign) Account the sum of $2 billion.

Reacting to Okonjo-Iweala’s claim, the commissioners’ forum in a press statement said: “This statement is far from the fact and is misleading”.

From Onyia Chioma, Abuja

The Forum stated unequivocally “that FAAC does not have the authority to approve withdrawals from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), therefore could not have approved the withdrawal from Excess Crude (Foreign) Account the sum of $2 billion” adding “that the law setting up FAAC, which predates the ECA, says it cannot approve withdrawal and has not done so in the past.”

The forum said it had often querried the activities of ECA

at its meetings, adding that it could therefore not have authorised and any withdrawal.

Th commissioners said FAAC noted and observed the withdrawal the controversial money in December, adding that the then Minister of State Finance and Chairman of FAAC was asked during the plenary of FAAC meetings what happened but said former President Goodluck Jonathan gave approval for the withdrawals to pay oil marketers subsidy claims as they had threatened to stop importing

petroleum products. He further explained that this action will be ratified by National Economic Council (NEC).

“FAAC did not and could not have approved nor taken the decision to withdraw the sum of $2 billion from the ECA,” the forum said, adding that it “would want to excuse Okonjo-Iweala on this misrepresentation because she was not in attendance during FAAC plenary and may not have been fully and adequately made abreast with every FAAC activity.”

Dangote to expand cement capacity in Cameroon with new line

D

ANGOTE Group plans to expand the capacity of its Douala, Cameroon cement plant from the current 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to over three MMTPA by investing in a similar plant in the vicinity of Yaounde.

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who spoke during a recent visit to Cameroon where he met the Prime Minister Philemon Yang; Minister of Industry, Mines and Technological De-

By Chikodi Okereocha

velopment, Emmanuel Bonde, and Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, thanked the government for creating an enabling environment for cement production in the country.

He said the company was already in the process of signing a contract for the construction of the additional cement production line, in anticipation of a growing demand for cement occasioned

by massive investment in infrastructure.

Dangote said: “The successful completion of Dangote Cement’s 1.5 MMTPA plant in Douala, Cameroon, made the country self-sufficient in cement production, as plans have commenced for the export of the product to neighboring countries soon.”

He also informed the Prime Minister that the Group has already imported 220 trucks and trailers to resolve the present transport issues hence

cement can now be delivered directly to customers.

He noted that the effects of the importation of the trucks will be availability of cement at the right places, which may lead to price stabilisation. Besides, it will create over 5000 direct and indirect jobs.

After Dangote’s foray into cement production in Cameroon, where other operators are also active, local production of the product is now set to outpace local consumption, which presently stands at 3.2 MMTPA.

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

MONEYLINK Stanbic IBTC IT security gets global certification

Mobile money transactions hit N700b

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said a total transac tion of N700 billion has been recorded through the mobile money banking system from 2012 till date.

Speaking during a workshop on mobile money and emerging payments systems master class in Abuja, its Director, Banking and Payment System, Mr. Dipo Fatokun said: “The apex bank has so far licensed 23 mobile money operators in the country.” He added that the operators currently conduct transactions valued at about N30 million monthly.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Payment and Systems Department, Mr Musa Jimoh Itopa, he said: “In addition, there are over 80,000 mobile agents where people can also go and conduct mobile money transactions.”

He said to ensure the safety and stability of the mobile money system, “the apex bank has entered into collaboration with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corpora-

T

From Nduka Chiejina, Asst Editor and Onyia Chioma, Abuja

tion (NDIC) to insure the fund.”

“The NDIC deposit policy doesn’t cover these funds. So we have to work with NDIC to see how we can institute a pass through insurance whereby even though the money is sitting in one account, it represents the deposits of various subscribers.

“We have instituted a pass through insurance which will recognise the contributors to that pool so that every single individual who has contributed in that pool will be recognised and compensated in the event that the bank is liquidated,”Fatokun said.

He added that this measure has put confidence in the subscribers that their money is safe.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, represented by the Deputy Director, Legal Depart-

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

ment, CBN, Mohammed Damai Suleiman, said for effective licensing of mobile money transactions in the country, the CBN had reviewed the regulatory frameworks and guidelines for mobile money services in the country.

The main objective of the review, he added is to provide enabling environment for the adoption of mobile payment services.

Fidelity boosts SMEs’ lending with N30b bond issue

F

IDELITY Bank has raised N30 billion ($151 million) through an unsecured bond at 16.48 per cent, to fund increased lending to small businesses and retail clients, financial advisers to the issue told Reuters.

According to the bond prospectus, the fixed-rate bond due 2022 was fully underwritten and will be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Fidelity Bank can redeem the bond after five years, it said.

Fidelity, whose other borrowings including a $300 million debut Eurobond amounted to N90.73 billion as

.•Naira trades at N233 on parallel market

N20.4 billion naira via a rights issue.

Meanwhile, the naira was yesterday at a new record low of N233 to the dollar on the parallel market, weaker than N232 on Monday owing to a shortage of the greenback, traders said.

The naira has been on the ropes on the parallel market since the central bank introduced new measures two weeks ago restricting importers from sourcing the greenback from the interbank market, shifting dollar demand to the black market. The naira ended at 196.95 to the dollar on the interbank market on Monday.

Stories by Collins Nweze

at December 2014, has a capital ratio of 22.6 percent.

Rival lender Skye Bank has said it will raise N50 billion naira via a rights issue by the third quarter to expand its loan book, after it sold 100 billion naira worth of commercial notes in March. Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the unit of South Africa’s Standard Bank, has filed an application to the Nigerian bourse to raise

HE ability of Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, to safeguard deposits and ensure integrity of its systems has again been reaffirmed with the award of the ISO/IEC 20000 IT certification to the bank.

The certification, which is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) blueprint for financial institutions, came after a rigorous standardisation process on information security by the bank.

The ISO/IEC 20000 IT certification speaks to the bank’s improved quality and consistent IT services designed to enhance attainment of corporate goals as well as offer

best-in-class services driven by robust technology.

The ISO/IEC 20000 IT is an international standard for IT Service Management. The certification describes an integrated set of management processes for the effective delivery of services to the business and the bank’s customers. It identifies risks to vital information and ensures appropriate strategies to reduce such risks. Coming on the heels of the recent award as the Most Extensive Compliance Company by the Corporate Affairs Commission, the certification reinforces Stanbic IBTC’s strong business ethics, declared Mrs Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

Heritage Bank promises innovative services to customers

M

ANAGING Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Ifie Sekibo said that the bank is committed to introducing more innovative banking services. He made this pledge while speaking on ‘Innovation in Financial Services Delivery’ at the annual Cashless Card Expo of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”

The bank, he said, transformed the interior of banking halls, and was the first bank without an in-house Data center. “We are the first to deploy deposit machines in all branches, and also launched the first real transparent MasterCard in Nigeria. In addition to these, Heritage Bank transformed small and medium enterprise (SME) banking.”

Heritage bank, he noted, is a product of innovation, and hence encourage deployment of innovative platforms. “We bounced back on the waves of innovative thinking, we

thrive on an innovative ecosystem, we encourage and deploy innovative platforms”, he said.

Sekibo pointed out that innovation is inevitable for the banking industry. This he said is due to changing dynamics across the globe which has penetrated banking. These changes, he noted are driven by forces of globalisation, self service mobile devices and regulation, adding that the impact of these changes on the Nigerian banking landscape is reflected in the sharp increase in the growth of electronic payment services between 2012 and 2014 in the country.

He noted that, “The volume of epayment in Nigeria grew from N18.1 trillion in 2012 to N35.1 trillion in 2014. While transactions through PoS increased from N48 billion in 2013 to N312 billion in 2014, Instant Pay transactions increased from N3.8 trillion in 2012 to N19.9 trillion in 2014”

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

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.2457 1.3572 0.7762 1.1739

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2393 1.3572 0.7637 1.1739

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

NEIMETH STANBIC VONO PHARMDEKO STERLNBANK CONTINSURE WEMABANK CILEASING FO UBCAP ABCTRANS ACCESS

1.34 24.55 1.24 2.15 2.07 0.96 0.97 0.50 192.00 1.35 0.50 5.33

1.47 25.75 1.30 2.25 2.16 1.00 1.01 0.52 198.00 1.38 0.51 5.40

0.13 1.20 0.06 0.10 0.09 0.04 0.04 0.02 6.00 0.03 0.01 0.07

LOSERS AS AT 07-07-15

O/PRICE

UBA EVANSMED BERGER NASCON LIVESTOCK UBN DANGSUGAR ETERNA DANGFLOUR OANDO TOTAL

4.58 1.00 11.24 8.00 2.28 9.35 6.65 2.45 3.44 15.69 157.00

C/PRICE 4.28 0.95 10.68 7.61 2.17 8.91 6.34 2.34 3.29 15.05 151.00

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -0.28 -0.05 -0.56 -0.39 -0.11 -0.44 -0.31 -0.11 -0.15 -0.64 -6.00

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

$28.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 07-07-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m

400m 350m

399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

57

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

NEWS Lalong signs 2015 Appropriation Bill into law

P

LATEAU State Governor Simon Lalong has signed into law, the 2015 Appropriation Bill after its passage by the House of Assembly.

The budget estimate was inherited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, as it was not passed before the last government left office on May 29.

The inherited budget estimate was passed by the as-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

sembly and signed into law by the APC administration.

The budget stands at N215.4billion.

It contains a capital expenditure of N119.8 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N95.6 billion.

Lalong said: “The budget is to be funded from internal and external revenue sources, internal loans and government bonds.”

APC protests frustration of petition by INEC

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was frustrating its petition, despite paying N10million to make photocopies of ballot papers.

It urged the Gombe Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to ask INEC to comply with its order to inspect and have access to vital electoral materials.

The Deputy Chairman of APC in Gombe State, Mr. Ishaya Karau, expressed the concern of the party in a statement in Abuja.

He urged INEC to create a level-playing field for the parties, as ordered by the tribunal.

Karau said: “Twice, INEC has asked us to pay some fees for Certified True Copy of some electoral items. We have so far paid more than N10million, but the electoral commission does not allow us to have access to the vital evidence.

“It is the responsibility of our party and governorship candidate to inspect and ensure forensic examination of relevant election materials.

“We want to plead with the tribunal to ask INEC to respect its ruling that APC and its candidate should have access to election material.

“The way INEC has been mounting obstacles against APC is worrisome because time is vital to the hearing of any election petition.”

He said the party wanted to inspect and make photocopies of some ballot papers at Kumo in Akko Local Government, but INEC was not forthcom-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ing.

“We are disturbed by the delay tactics of INEC to evade compliance with the order of the election petition tribunal.

“Instead of allowing the APC to use its equipment for photocopying and forensic examination, INEC offered to make its machine available.

We insist that it is not the responsibility of INEC to do so.”

The APC and its candidate asked the court to either declare him the real winner or nullify the results of the April 11Governor Election.

They asked for the following: “An order declaring him and the APC as the winner of the Governorship Election of April 11 in Gombe State, having polled the highest number of votes of the total cast in the election.

“An order compelling the third respondent (the Independent National Electoral Commission) to withdraw from Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the Certificate of Return as the validly elected governor of Gombe State in the Governorship Election.

“An order compelling INEC to present to APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, as the validly-elected governor of Gombe State in the governorship election.”

In the alternative, APC and its candidate, Yahaya, sought an “order nullifying the governorship election conducted in Gombe State on the grounds of corrupt practices or noncompliance with the Electoral Act 2010.”

Police parade fake doctor

Gombe APC suspends chair, 17 excos for anti-party activities G OMBE State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the chairman and 17 executive council members for alleged anti-party activities during the April 11 governorship election.

The Secretary, Alhaji Manu Salau, who spoke yesterday, said the exco members engaged in anti-party activities, following the defeat of the candidate they sponsored for the governorship primaries.

He said: “That was why they vowed to ensure that the party and its governorship candidate were defeated by all means.

“They were promised a handsome reward, which includes giving the governorship ticket to one of the overambitious aspirant in 2019.

“When we received the news of the anti-party activities of the members and stakeholders, a high- powered committee was set up to investigate them in line with the disciplinary procedure of our party.”

Salau said a query was issued to the indicted exco members on May 16 and they were given 72 hours within which to reply, which they failed to do.

He said a query was also issued to their alleged sponsors, namely Senator Bayero Na-

Party expels Goje, 11 others

T

HE Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje and 11 others.

The Chairman, Alhaji Magaji Doho, who spoke yesterday at a news briefing, said the politicians were expelled, following anti-party activities, which led to the party’s failure in the governorship election.

He said: “Having gone through campaigns, politicking and the like, we observed that some individuals acted, contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution by constituting a parallel executive.

“After the governorship poll, we wrote a report on why we lost the general election to the national chairman, which we believe the National Working Committee would have worked on.”

Doho said the APC, in view of the facts and other things happening in the state, “on July 1 expelled Senator Goje because of his activities and his disloyalty, contrary to its constitution.

“The members, who operated a parallel executive, are hereby relieved of their posts, because they violated Article 21 (1, 2, 3) of the party.”

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

fada representing Gombe North, Khamisu Mailantarki, a member representing Go-

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

He said Goje’s conspirators are Ishaya Karu, deputy chairman; Salau Kachala, secretary; Umar Safudeen, assistant secretary; Barnabas, financial secretary and Danjuma Babayo, organising secretary.

Others include the Zonal Vice Chairman, Gombe South, Adamu Pata; the Zonal Vice Chairman, Gombe Central, Margaret; the Zonal Women Leader, Gombe South, Walin Awak; Aliyu Fada; Hajiya Larei, the zonal women leader, Gombe Central and Hajiya Lumbi, the deputy women leader.

Doho said the committee would proceed with its investigations, as it was determined to ensure that selfish and egoistic individuals did not destroy what they suffered to build.

He said one of the reasons they expelled Senator Goje was because he usurped President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign visit to his own advantage and restricted the President to the tour of his own constituency, at the expense of the governorship candidate.

Doho said the party “neglected Gombe South because Goje doesn’t want them. The same thing he did with a substantial part of Gombe North.”

mbe, Kwami Funakeye Federal Constituency.

Others are Malam Murtala Aliyu, a governorship aspirant on APC’s platform and

F

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

a climax last Tuesday when four people died, following an attack and reprisal by the communities.

The fifth victim died on Monday morning in a hospital, following injuries.

Houses, two vehicles (a Sha-

ron and a Golf Volkswagen), 18 motorcycles and domestic animals were set ablaze.

A source said quarrel ensued between the communities last Tuesday when the people of Tswachiko were accused of farming on the land in violation of a directive by the paramount ruler of the area, the

Tribunal fixes August 3 to hear Tarzor, Ortom suit

T •Okpe From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

sonated his friend because he wanted to uncover the mess in the health sector.

The suspect, who was paraded yesterday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, is expected to be arraigned soon.

Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu.

Salau said the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Karu Ishaya, would serve as the acting chairman until further notice.

Five killed in communal clash in Niger IVE people have been killed and 11 injured in a clash between two villages in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, over farmland dispute.

Residents of the two villages, Mazza and Tswachiko, clashed over a land for more than four years until it reached

T

HE Nigeria Police has paraded a fake doctor for impersonation and other offences.

Until his arrest, the suspect, Martins Ugwu Okpe, a Level 13 officer, worked in the Federal Ministry of Health as a doctor, impersonating his friend, who is a doctor, George Davidson Daniel, for nine years.

The Federal Civil Service Commission asked the inspector-general of police to initiate the process of investigation and prosecution of Okpe after discovering that he got employment in the civil service by impersonating his friend.

The 44-year-old suspect, who hails from Benue State, admitted that he never attended any higher institution.

He claimed that he imper-

•Governor Lalong (middle), signing the Appropriation Bill …yesterday. With him are the Speaker, House of Assembly, Mr. PHOTO: NAN Peter Azi (right) and Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden.

HE Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed August 3 to hear the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzor, against the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Samuel Ortom.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Elizabeth Karatu, chose the date after the conclusion of the pre-hearing session yesterday.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Tarzor, who lost to Ortom, through his counsel, Tunde Joy Adeshima (SAN), is challenging the election on the grounds of qualification, claiming that he was not properly nominated by the APC. The PDP candidate is relying on the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which said Ortom did not emerge through the primaries.

He urged the commission to produce the report before the court.

The governor and the APC, the first and second respondents, in the petition through their counsel, Adeniyi Akintola and Sebastine Hon (SAN), raised the issue of jurisdiction by the tribunal to hear the petition.

The lawyers said the petition was an abuse of court process because the issue raised was a pre-election matter.

Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu.

This reportedly annoyed the people of Mazza village and they allegedly attacked the Tswachiko people on the farm, resulting in the death of a youth.

The source said the Tswachiko community launched a reprisal by invading Mazza village, killing three people and wreaking havoc.

The Emir of Agaie, who visited the farmland and the two neighbouring villages yesterday, decried the killings.

He ordered the indefinite suspension of the chiefs of the two villages and banned farming on the disputed land until further notice.

The monarch ordered the redeployment of the district heads in the emirate. This, he said, would restore sanity.

Police spokesman Baba Elkan confirmed the incident. He said investigation had begun.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

58

FOREIGN NEWS

London pauses to remember 7/7 bombings

T

EN years have passed since four coordinated bomb attacks tore apart subway trains and a bus in central London, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more.

The United Kingdom marked the somber anniversary yesterday with a national minute of silence.

Londoners stood, heads bowed, in memory of those lost and laid flowers by London Underground stations and in the square where the bus bomb exploded.

Buses and trains also came to a halt, where possible, for the moment's silence in recognition of the losses suffered on the public transit network.

A formal service of commemoration was held at the landmark St. Paul's Cathedral, bringing together survivors of the blasts, the families of those killed and

first responders who worked to help those trapped in the tangled wreckage, not knowing if more bombs might explode.

The bishop of London, the Right Rev. Richard Chartres, said it would have been easy for the shock after the bombings to erupt into anger, but this didn't happen. "London had been attacked, and our unity was in our grieving," he said.

Prince Andrew and London Mayor Boris Johnson were also present for the service, which included reflections on each of the four bombing sites.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Johnson laid wreaths there yesterday morning in a commemoration timed to coincide with the detonation of the first device.

And Prince William attended an afternoon service

• London mayor Boris Johnson (left) and Beitish Prime Minister David Comeron carry wreathes at the July 7 memoral in Hyde Park, London, as Britain remembers the July 7 attacks ... yesterday PHOTO: PA

at the memorial -- made up of 52 tall stainless steel pillars, each representing one of the victims.

Survivors and witnesses to the horror were among who spoke at the open air service, more intimate than that at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Paul Dadge, who was photographed helping one of the injured passengers in what became an iconic image, told those gathered that although terrorism had the power to destroy individual lives, it would never win.

Survivor Tim Coulson

Time is running out for Greece

G

REECE will request a new European bailout today as it runs short of time to prevent a deepening financial crisis forcing it out of the euro.

Greek officials met their counterparts from around Europe for a series of meetings yesterday, but the 11th hour efforts could be too late.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed that the clock is running down fast as she arrived for talks in Brussels.

Greece needs cash -- fast. Its

I

banks have been shut for a week, and cash withdrawals have been capped. It has pension payments to make.

Greeks voted overwhelmingly to reject Europe's most recent offer of help in a referendum on Sunday. Europe had been pushing Greece for more spending cuts and tax increases. Greeks want a new bailout deal to include easier terms and the cancellation of some of their debt.

Other countries using the euro have already stumped up billions in emergency

loans for Greece over the past five years, and they worry about throwing good money after bad.

Finance ministers from Finland and Slovakia made clear that cancelling more Greek debt -- following a similar exercise in 2012 -- was unacceptable.

Both sides say they want the same thing -- to stop Greece becoming the first country to crash out of the 16-year old currency.

At the very least, Greece needs a strong statement from

Europe Tuesday that there's a chance of a deal. Otherwise, the European Central Bank will keep a lid on funding for Greek banks, and events will spiral out of control.

The banks would remain shut. The peak tourist season would be at risk. Officials may have little choice but to start printing IOUs to pay public sector wages and pensions, perhaps as early as next week.

The dreaded "Grexit" scenario of Greece dumping the euro and printing drachma would loom large.

Iran nuke deal remains elusive after RAN nuclear talks top diplomats huddled deadline other busted through their secin Vienna in search of a break-

ond deadline in a week yesterday, raising new questions about the ability of world powers to cut off all Iranian pathways to a bomb through diplomacy. The talks, already in their 12th day, were prolonged until possibly Friday.

"We knew it would have been difficult, challenging, and sometimes hard," said Federica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy

chief. She said the negotiations would continue despite hitting some "tense" moments, and the State Department declared the current interim nuclear arrangement with Iran extended through July 10.

As the latest target date arrived for a deal setting a decade of restrictions on Iran's nuclear program, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and

through.

There, in a baroque, 19thcentury palace, Kerry gathered early yesterday with the foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The larger group met with Zarif later in the day.

Russia's Lavrov and China's Wang Yi had to leave for a gathering of emerging economies in the Russian city of Ufa starting today, and the EU's Mogherini said different min-

P

attract those who have become distant, in humbly bringing close to us those who feel far from God and the church.”

Pope Francis is urging all of Latin America to channel the same urgency that brought them independence from Spain two centuries ago to spread the faith and bring together their ideals in a world torn apart by

war and individualism.

Francis chose to celebrate his final Mass in Ecuador in Quito’s Bicentennial Park - an apt location given that Ecuador was where the first cries of independence against Spanish rule rose up in Latin America in 1809.

Francis told an estimated half-million people gathered

A

• Pope Francis

the middle of a night. Militia group al-Shabab, which operates out of Somalia, has confirmed to the BBC it carried out the attack.

Mandera County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo told AFP that people were sleeping when the gunmen struck.

“They just came and hurled explosives in the houses,” he said.

Kenya Red Cross said it was sending an aircraft to the

China professor held for selling drugs in UK and U.S.

A

chemistry professor has been arrested in China accused of making psychoactive drugs that were sold to the UK, Canada, the United States and Australia.

Police said he sold at least 193kg (30 stone) of methylone last year after discovering a gap in the market when he went to Australia as a visiting professor, Xinhua news agency reported.

Seven others were arrested in connection with the raid in Wuhan.

It follows the arrest of a Xian professor for making illegal drugs. Xinhua reported in May that that professor, with the surname Lu, had been arrested and dubbed China's real-life Walter White after the Breaking Bad character.

It is not clear whether the cases are linked.

The professor arrested in Wuhan, whose surname is Zhang, started a company in 2005 which ostensibly produced medical coating and solvent, Xinhua reported.

Police said he "found while acting as a visiting academic in Australia that some psychoactive drugs were in heavy demand, but hard to find there. He decided to make those drugs when he got back to China for profit".

He recruited people to produce "hundreds of kilograms" of drugs and sold them overseas through mail order, police said.

A • Kerry

isters were likely to depart and return.

yesterday that in a world divided by wars, violence and individualism, Catholics should be “builders of unity,” bringing together hopes and ideals of their people.

He said: “There was no shortage of conviction or strength in that cry for freedom which arose a little more than 200 years ago.

Al-Shabab kills 14 workers in Kenya T least 14 people have been killed and several others wounded in a gun attack near a military camp at the Kenyan border with Somalia.

It is believed the victims were workers from a local quarry in Mandera county in the north-east of the country.

Residents told the BBC they had heard two explosions, followed by heavy gunfire in

The bombings remain the deadliest terrorist attack ever in Britain.

The men responsible were ringleader Mohammed Sadique Khan, 30; Shahzad Tanweer, 22; Hasib Mir Hussain, 18; and Germain Lindsay, 19.

India woman set on fire by police

Pope Francis enjoins Catholics to be models for evangelism OPE Francis is telling faithful in Ecuador that being model Catholics is the best form of evangelization.

During his homily at a park in Quito, Francis said: “Evangelization doesn’t consist of proselytizing.

Rather, it’s about using our own testimony (of God) to

concluded by reading out the names of all those killed.

The bombings happened the day after the International Olympic Committee announced London would be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

scene to fly the injured to hospitals in Nairobi.

An al-Shabab source told BBC’s Mary Harper the group was behind the attack.

In December 2014 alShabab killed 36 quarry workers in Mandera town.

On that occasion they attacked while the workers were sleeping and shot the non-Muslims dead after separating them from Muslims.

woman in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has died after alleging that she was set on fire by two policemen inside a police station after she refused to pay a bribe.

Neetu Dwivedi, 40, told a magistrate before her death that the policemen asked her for 100,000 rupees ($1,578).

She had gone to the police station to free her husband, who had been detained for questioning in a crime.

The accused policemen deny the charge and say she tried to immolate herself.

The policemen have been suspended and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the case.

The incident took place on Monday in Barabanki town, senior police official Abdul Hameed told BBC Hindi.

Mrs Dwivedi, who sustained 80% burns, was admitted to hospital in the state capital, Lucknow, where she died on Tuesday morning.

In her dying declaration before a magistrate and reporters, she alleged that she was abused and humiliated by her attackers when she refused to pay the bribe.

Mrs Dwivedi's son, who is a journalist with a Hindi newspaper, has said he wants justice as his "mother will only rest in peace when the guilty are punished".

The incident comes barely a month after journalist Jagendra

U.S. judge recognises old school friend in dock

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WO school friends, a judge and a man suspected of burglary, were 'reunited' briefly during a court hearing in Miami, US. Standing in the dock, Arthur Booth, who was arrested after he was chased in a car by police, broke down in tears when he recognised his former class-mate.

"I'm sorry to see you here," said Judge Mindy Glazer. "I always wondered what happened to you."

Judge Glazer set Mr Booth's bond at $43,000 (about 9million Naira).

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Bailout funds not from $2.1 billion in ECA, say Presidency, AGF Continued from page 4

•Dapo Oshinusi, Board member, MainOne; Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne; Dr. Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communications and Technology, and Asue Ighodalo, Director, MainOne, at the fifth anniversary of MainOne in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ woes Continued from page 4

commendation is the fact that the special intervention fund approved by President Buhari was packaged without any external borrowing, despite the paucity of funds occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the unprecedented profligacy of the immediate past administration that dried out the pot of national resources.

It said so early in the life of his administration, Buhari is walking his talk by showing that with prudence, financial discipline, plugging financial leakages and a deep sense of patriotism, even the nation’s dwindling resources can still be more effectively utilised for the benefit of Nigerians, rather than be looted by thieving public officials who abuse their offices.

APC described as “uncharitable” and a clear indication that shame has taken flight the situation in which those

who created the rot that is now being cleared by President Buhari are the same ones daring to point accusing fingers at the government that inherited their rot. ‘’The PDP that spent the past 16 years plundering and pillaging Nigeria has boasted that the Nigerian people will soon come, cap in hand, to beg them to return to power.

What delusion! What arrogance! Who presided over the looting and the mismanagement of public funds that made it impossible for the nation to absorb the shock of the falling oil prices? Who depleted the Excess Crude Account (ECA) without authorization? Who has degraded the standard of living of Nigerians?’’ the party queried.

APC said the multipronged package approved

by Buhari includes the sharing of about $2.1 billion sourced from the LNG’s payment to the Federation Ac-

count; and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging between N250 billion to N300 billion, as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

Also, the President has approved a debt relief programme that will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 billion. The implication is that the life span of such loans will be extended, while reducing the states’ debt-servicing expenditures, thus leaving the states with enough resources - which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks - to meet their monthly salary obligations, among others. ‘’History is repeating itself before our very eyes. Some 31 years ago, Buhari, then as a military head of state, also inherited a huge national rot similar to what has been bequeathed to it by the PDP, and

had to approve N480 million for the payment of arrears of workers’ salaries. Truly, the President is a man of destiny,’’ the party said.

It said that with thousands of workers made destitute by the frittering away of the commonwealth under a rapacious and wasteful PDP government now being given a new lease of life, their purchasing power being boosted and the nation’s economy being reflated, the change which the President and his party promised the nation has just begun. ‘’We thank Nigerians for voting the APC into power at the centre and for believing in us even when the horizon became hazy, not out of our making but because of the misdeeds of the past. By their relentless support for President Buhari and the APC, Nigerians have indeed demonstrated that what is worth fighting for is worth defending,’’ APC said

Committee meeting held on Monday 6th July 2015.

“The public is also invited to please note that no withdrawal was made from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and that the current balance still remains $2.1 billion.”

Also yesterday, the Presidency denied approving sharing of the balance in the Excess Crude Account.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said: “Reports in sections of the media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states and local governments are incorrect. ”For the purpose of greater clarity on the matter, the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are as follows: ”•The sharing of the $2.1 billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);

“•A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250 billion to N300 billion.

This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and “•A debt relief programme designed by the Debt Management Office which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

“The measures approved

by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the ‘liquidation’ of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.

“No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and last week’s meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account should be left untouched at this time.”

PDP claims credit for plan Continued from page 4

ed on the actual financial state of the nation at the time he took over. In this regard, we expect the President, as a respected statesman to do the needful to correct that erroneous impression.

“Furthermore, we expect President Buhari’s APC administration as direct beneficiary of this savings initiated by past PDP administrations to appreciate the strategic importance of always saving for rainy days and as such guarantee prudent and transparent management of the nation’s resources now under its care”,

the party said.

The party charged the APC as a party in government to put its house in order, desist from what it termed injecting confusion and distracting the President from settling down to form a government and face the enormous challenges of governance, especially the implementation of his long list of campaign promises to Nigerians.

It added that Nigerians are no longer interested in insults, tirades and propaganda but in actions and policies that would move the nation forward, a stance which it said, the APC has failed to recognise.

World’s oldest man dies in Japan at 112

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AKARI Momoi, certified as world oldest living male by Guinness World Records, died on July 5 in Japan, an official said at Saitama City, North of Tokyo, where he had lived for many years.

Saitama city officials said the

super-centenarian was recognised as the world’s oldest male at the age of 111 this year.

He died of kidney failure in a care home in Tokyo.

The officials said that Momoi, a former high school principal who was born on February 5, 1903, had received a certificate

from Guinness World Records confirming the achievement in 2015.

He was born in Minamisoma, Fukushima, an area badly hit by the deadly 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

According to U.S.-based

Gerontology Research Group, the title of the world’s oldest living male was now passed to Japan’s Yasutaro Koide, also 112 years old and just over a month younger than Momoi.

The research group said he was born on March 13, 1903.

The world’s oldest living

person recognised by Guinness World Records was Susannah Mushatt Jones, a resident of the New York, who turned 116 on Monday.

Born on July 6, 1899, Ms Jones became the record holder at the age of 115 years and 346 days, as of June 17.

•Momoi

Workers to governors: don’t divert N713b bailout cash Continued from page 4

ways be a way.

“Now, the defaulting governors must learn from the President’s approach - that you don’t have any excuse not to pay workers’ salaries.

He has shown that no reason can justify why workers are not paid.

“The governors must also prioritise their needs henceforth in a way that workers are given priority and not rely on the President to give them bailout from the Federation Account”.

Aremu said labour was happy that Buhari already living up to his mandate, adding that what is important now is for it to be sustained.

He called on the Federal and state legislatures to rise up to the challenge of making good laws and exercising their oversight functions creditably.

The National Union of

Pensioners (NUP) urged the Federal Government to include state pensioners as beneficiaries of the bailout.

The General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, said:”While we commend the historic effort of the Federal Government, it is equally instructive that we demand the bailout to include the payment of pension arrears in all the states of the federation.”

According to him, pensioners are owed arrears of pensions and gratuities for many months in many states.

Zal urged Mr. President to instruct the governors to use this fund judiciously and ensure that all pensions’ arrears are settled without further delay.

He went on: “Consequently, we appeal to the Federal Government to do same to all pensioners in the country who are being owed backlog arrears of their pensions. Es-

pecially, the 42 months arrears of the 33% pension increase, gratuities and death benefits of federal pensioners across the country. “ The Federal Government should release the N218 billion needed by Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to clear all those backlog of unpaid pension at once.”

Kogi State NLC Chairman Comrade Onuh Edoka praised the initiative and expressed the hope that the state governments would not misapply the fund.

He said other entitlements being owed the workers over the years should be paid.

“When we are talking about salary indebtedness other entitlements of the workers, such as leave bonus, which is an equivalent of one month salary, and arrears of promotion owed to workers, should be considered.

“Those are all indebtedness to workers in the case of the fund for bailout, which is coming and which the state governments are supposed to consider.

“In essence, Kogi is owing more than one month salary, considering the other entitlements that are supposed to go to workers.

“First and foremost, the organised labour in Kogi are indeed grateful for the bailout. And we promise to put up a committee, which will be led by the NLC in Kogi State to liaise or facilitate that the indebtedness to Kogi workers are paid, and we are equally appealing to the state government to judiciously utilise the fund for what it is meant for, or any attempt to divert to any other purpose will lead to industrial crisis in Kogi State.

“However, we have no doubt in the ability of the governor as a God-fearing governor, that he will use

the money for the purpose meant for, as to sustain the industrial peace in the state before now.”

The Kwara State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also hailed the plan. The Chairman of TUC in the state, Comrade Olumoh Kolawole thanked the president for coming to the rescue of the governors. He was optimistic that the state governments will use the funds judiciously.

“I believe and hope that all the state governments, including Kwara State that is owing workers two months salaries, will use the monies as expected,” Kolawole added.

The Ondo State Chairman of the NLC, Mrs Bosede Daramola, described the step as “a welcome development” which has brought relief to workers in the public sector.

Mrs Daramola urged the affected governors to pay

their “pauperised workers” as a matter of urgency, especially those in need of medication.

The NLC chair warned the governors not to divert the money on projects.

She called for the payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements to workers and pensioners.

The leader of the Trade Union Congress in Osun State, Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji, urged the government to spend the money to offset the workers’ salary arrears.

According to him, the cash is for workers’ salaries.

Olatunji advised the state government to look inwards and design a strategy to increase its internally generated revenueý (IGR) to forestall salary delay, adding that the bail out is only a short term measure.

He expressed gratitude to the President for coming to the rescue of states.

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Community leaders protest relocation of inmates

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OMMUNITY leaders in Anambra State, under the aegis of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), yesterday, marched on the streets of Awka protesting the Federal Government’s relocation of 47 suspected Boko Haram insurgents to Ekwulobia prisons.

They said the development

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

had made investors flee the state.

The protesters chanted war songs and carried placards with inscriptions: “Ekwulobia is not a maximum prison”; “Investors are fleeing”; “Enough is enough, Southeast does not need Boko Haram suspects”; “We will not fold our arms and

watch”.

Speaking through its National President, Dr Jude Okolo and Secretary-General, Mr. Peter Nwagu, the group said it received with shock, news of the relocation through the Nigeria Prisons Service.

They said the relocation was not well thought out, ill conceived, ill considered, grossly insensitive, condemnable and

unacceptable to Anambra people, nay Southeast region.

“The Ekwulobia prison is a minimum prison located in the middle of a densely populated community and surrounded by tertiary institutions; it is inadequate for such inmates of high security risk.

“There is no military presence in the case of recurrent prison breaks associated with

the insurgents.

“This is a flagrant disregard for prison conventions and best practices worldwide. The courts in Anambra have no jurisdiction to try them for offences committed in other states, so why bring them here.

“The continued presence of these inmates is a trauma too many for Ndi Igbo. It is incom-

prehensive that a minimum security prison in a densely populated community with no military presence should be considered suitable to house these dreaded detainees.

“We urge the Federal Government to rescind this decision and take steps to relocate these detainees from Anambra” they said.

•Okorocha (middle), Chief Judge of Imo State Justice Nnadi (left), Justice Monteiro (right) and others after the conference in Owerri... yesterday.

Activists remember Abiola

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EVENTEEN years after the murder of the acclaimed winner of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, activists gathered at his residence in Lagos on Tuesday to commemorate his death.

Chief Abiola died mysteriously on July 7, 1998. Many believe he was killed, but the military government later claimed he had died of cardiac arrest.

The activists were led by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, the President of Women Arise, and they praised his legacy, which they described as “indelible”.

They were hosted by children of the late businessman and politician, including Hafsat Abiola-Costello and Abdulmumuni Abiola. Also at the commemoration were some Nollywood professionals such as Kunle Mak-Tokunbo also known as Dejo Tunfulu, and Ayo Bahdmus.

A pro-democracy activist, Comrade Femi Aborisade ,said leaders of successive Governments in Nigeria who have failed to implement Abiola’s Hope ’93 ampaign manifesto were all culpable in his murder and the hope he represented.

Buhari wades into farmers, Fulani clashes

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to finetune strategies towards ending farmers/herdsmen clashes.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Sunny Echono, spoke with State House correspondents after updating the President on the activities of the ministry, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the blueprint formulated during Buhari’s tenure as the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) would be considered to resolve the crises through creating grazing reserves and stock routes.

Echono said: “Incidentally, the President received a detailed report on this when he

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

was at the PTF on how to resolve this problem and this blueprint is going to be made available to us, together with experts and others who have also worked on the subject, including the recent National Economic Committee resolution chaired by one of the governors.

“We will look at all these and come up with proposals that will address the problem. We are looking at delegating stock routes with monuments and establishing grazing reserves. We are also looking at the ranches across the country. We will address the reality of the farmers’ challenges in terms of the cost of pastures.”

Madam Omobulejo passes on

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HE death has occurred of Madam Phebean Adebisi Adesemowo Omobulejo (aka Iya Ijebu). She died on June 23. She was 73.

According to a funeral programme by the family, Christian wake will hold tomorrow at the School of the Handicap, off Oba Erinwole Awolesi Road, opposite Moye Hotel, Sagamu, Ogun State, from 4:30p.m.

On Friday, there will be a funeral service at 10am at The Redeemed Christian Church

•The Late Madam Omobulejo

of God, Solid Rock Parish, at the back of Molaroid Awolesi, off Oba Erinwole Road, Sagamu.

Entertainment of guests follows at the School of the Handicap.

She is survived by children and grandchildren, among who is Mr. Adegoke Osinowo.

Judiciary paramount to our development, says Okorocha

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the judiciary and the court remain the pivot upon which the wheel of development must rotate. He said where judiciary is right, development is right and where judiciary is wrong, development is wrong.

Okorocha spoke at the

launch-off of the seventh judicial retreat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice at Full Moon Hotels, Owerri.

The governor advocated proper funding for the judiciary by Heads of Governments of ECOWAS nations.

He reiterated that the re-

gion’s inability to attract substantial foreign investments was due to the flexible laws which had not given investors the needed confidence.

Governor Okorocha said the ECOWAS court needed to strengthen the judicial system across the region and Africa.

He also urged the court to enact a law that would allow for one lingua franca among member-nations for easy communication.

Leader of the delegation and President of the Ecowas Community Court of Justice, Justice Maria Silva Monteiro thanked the governor for attending to them.

Tribunal strikes out case against Useni

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HE Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has struck out the case brought against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni (retd.).

CCT’s Chairman, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, in a ruling yesterday, attributed his tribunal’s decision to lack of diligence exhibited by the state in the prosecution of the case, initiated about 15 years ago, against Useni, an ally of the late Gen. Sani Abacha and now a senator representing Plateau South.

Useni was in May 2000 charged with violating the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)/Tribunal Act for allegedly failing to submit a written declaration of his assets

•Attributes action to lack of diligence prosecution From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

and liabilities; those of his spouse and children under 21 years to the CCB on assumption of office as the FCT Minister on December 2, 1993 and when he left office.

He was accused of allocating land in the FCT to himself, friends, family members and companies in which he had interest, an act the prosecution said made his interests to conflict with his official duties and responsibilities in contravention of Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act. Useni was also accused of participating in the management of private businesses,

profession or trade while being a public officer as the FCT Minister. He was said to have participated in the management of Tim Tall Motel and Jebut Oil. When the case came up yesterday, the prosecution lawyer, Peter Danladi, sought an indefinite adjournment on the grounds that he needed time to confer with the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF).

He said since the President was yet to appoint an AGF, he could not predict when one would be appointed with whom he could confer on how to further deal with the case.

Defence lawyer, O. V. Odje-

mu, objected to the prosecution’s request, arguing that the call for an indefinite adjournment on the part of the state was an indication that it was unserious with the prosecution of the case.

He urged the court to strike out the case.

Justice Umar rejected the prosecution’s request for an indefinite adjournment, saying it was “unacceptable.”

He said the case had suffered several adjournments, including an indefinite one, at the instance of the prosecution.

Justice Umar struck out the case and said “when the prosecution is ready to proceed, they can come back.”

Cadet died of disobedience, says NDA

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HE Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has said a cadet, Elshadai Kwasu (NDA/10037), died of disobedience.

A top military source in the academy, reacting to the accusation by a Wing Commander with the Nigeria Air Force, Danladi Angulu Kwasu (rtd) that the NDA deliberately drowned his 19-year-old son, Elshadai, in a 100 metre-deep lake, during a training session; said yesterday that he died out of disobedience to instruction.

Kwasu, a lawmaker representing Zangon Kataf Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, alleged that about 20 cadets had died in swimming exercise due to negligence and the NDA did nothing to change the situation.

But NDA said no cadet died in Kingimi dam as alleged by

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

the father.

The military source, who preferred anonymity, addressed reporters. He said NDA was an institution established to train men and women to fight.

Said he: “The rope that was tied to officer cadet Kwasu was his safety, unfortunately, when he got into the water, he removed the rope, even his course mates told him not to. But he did and that led to his death.

“There are systematic ways of training here and that particular training where we lost the cadet is part of the confidence training. Cadets do not use life jackets because if they do, the aim is defeated. It is after that step that they use life jackets when they are in the boat crossing the river.

“Over 100 of his course mates had made that jump into the river and came out alive. If there were no safety measures, I’m sure we would have had more casualties. We have conductors, and they were present when the incident happened. It is not fishermen called ‘Sarkin Ruwa’, who retrieved the body. But they supported our conductors.

“NDA has a law guiding it that if a certain percentage of casualties is exceeded, a board of enquiry will be set up because in any institution, the responsibility for safety lies on the instructors and the students.”

On the allegation that over 20 cadets have died, he said: “We have not had a case of anybody dying in that river. This is the first time. People have drowned in NDA, but not in that place.

The people he quoted there are different. Some died in Port

Harcourt inside a naval boat, one died in a river, he went there himself and they met him sitting inside the water, dead.”

On the video the father claimed NDA refused to release to him, he said: “We had a team from the Army headquarters, who came to observe our training and videoed it. They were not there the next day when officer cadet Kwasu took his diver. So there is no video.

“Why would anyone want to kill Kwasu’s son, I did not even know it was his son? NDA has double checks to make sure that accidents are reduced to the barest minimum.”

The Commandant of the Academy, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Idris, who was scheduled to address reporters on the matter yesterday, was said to be awaiting go-ahead from the Defence Headquarters.

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NEWS EXPLOSION IN ZARIA

•Members of Jama'atu Nasiril Islam First Aid Group, Red Cross and Security Agents evacuating corpses from the scene of an explosion by a suspected suicide bomber at Kaduna State Workers' Screening Exercise at Sabongari Local Government in Zaria, Kaduna State...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

•Scene of an explosion by a suspected suicide bomber at Kaduna State Workers' Screening Exercise at Sabongari Local Government Secretariat in Zaria, Kaduna...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

MTN wraps up Project Fame auditions

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•Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai (middle) and Commissioner of Police Alhaji Umar Shehu-Usman, at the scene of the blast...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

FRSC redeploys 40 senior officers From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has redeployed 40 senior officers.

Among those redeployed is Ahmed Hassan, who is now the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of the Special Marshals and Partnership Department at the National Headquarters in Abuja.

A statement by the Corps Public Education officer, Imoh Etuk, said six Assistant Corps Marshals and 33 Corps Commanders were affected.

The redeployment affected new Zonal Commanding Officers and Sector Commanders at the various formations.

Etuk said: “The redeployments, which is coming on the heels of last week’s decoration of recently promoted senior officers of the Corps with their new ranks, also witnessed the movement of Corps Commander Susan Ajenge from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sector Command to Niger State as Sector Commander; Corps Commander Sunday Oghenekaro, former Sector Commander of Rivers State, moves over to the FCT in the same capacity.”

Corps Commander Chidi Nkwonta, who has been on secondment, is the Sector Commander of Benue State; Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, formerly Head of Sports Section at the Training, Standards and Certification Department, is in charge of Media Intelligence and Strategy in the office of the Corps Marshal.

Also, former Corps Provost Officer, Corps Commander Edward Zamber, becomes the Sector Commander of Ondo State and the Deputy Corps Provost Officer, Corps Commander Ayodele Kumapayi is the new Sector Commander of River State Sector Command.

The Corps Public Education Officer said the appointments take immediate effect.

UUTH’s CMD urges doctors to end strike

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HE Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Prof.

Etete Peters, yesterday urged the striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend their nationwide strike.

Peters said this would enable the Federal Government to implement the resolutions reached between it and the doctors.

NARD, last week, ordered its members to go on an indefinite strike to protest alleged poor funding of its members’ training by the government.

The CMD addressed reporters after meeting with UUTH’s Association of Resident Doc-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

tors.

Peters urged the doctors to resume work in the interest of the masses.

The teaching hospitals, he said, had been operating bellow capacity, following the industrial action.

He added that each time there was a strike, poor Nigerians suffered the impact.

Peters said: “The care of patients is paramount to the medical orientation. Strikes are legitimate but should be done to a legitimate limit. Once you make your point, go back to work. I have appealed to them to review their stand and resume work immediately.”

T was a tale of mixed fortunes for Project Fame hopefuls as the auditions for the 2015 edition of MTN Project Fame, Nigeria’s biggest and longest running Music Talent hunt competition was wrapped up in Ultima Studios, Lagos.

The auditions, which, held last week saw music enthusiasts arriving from all over the country seeking to vie for a ticket that will qualify them for the next round of the competition.

The Lagos audition was the fifth in the series with the initial auditions having held in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan

and Accra, Ghana.

Not surprising, the nation’s commercial nerve centre had the largest turn out as the fame seeking music enthusiasts turned up in droves seeking to convince the judges that they were good enough to make it to the next round of the competition. However, some of the aspirants, having tried their luck in the auditions held in the other cities, turned to Lagos to achieve their dreams of fame and fortune that Project Fame promised.

While the auditions in other cities across the country were held over two days, the Lagos auditions stretched for 3 days

as the registration formalities and pre-audition screenings took the first two days while the screening proper took place on the third day.

Indeed, the pre-audition exercise in Lagos was an intensive exercise. During the two days of the exercise, the teeming crowd were pruned down by a host of some key stakeholders in Nigeria’s music industry including prolific producer, Tee-Y Mix, ace songwriter, producer and singer, Cobhams Asuquo, Owuro crooner, Shola Allyson and voice coach and member of MTN Project Fame Faculty, Ben Ogbeiwe.

Edo gives ‘illegal’ occupiers of govt land seven-day notice E DO State Government has given a seven-day notice to illegal occupiers of government land in Benin, the state capital, and Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.

Also, the government has told house owners, who converted their residential buildings to other uses, to revert to the original design or have such buildings demolished.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Benin on government’s resolutions at the end of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Frank Evbuomwan said: “The State Executive Council has decided on the fol-

lowing issues. The first is that people have been building on government land illegally, specifically at Evboriaria, Auchi and some other areas. The Exco has decided that those buildings will be demolished, unless those who have built on those lands are able to come forward to show reasons or documents to prevent the state government from doing so. “...We are giving all those developers and owners of buildings seven days’ notice to contact the Commissioner for Lands and Survey and the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, af-

ter which we will have no choice than to reclaim government’s land.

“The second issue has to do with those who have illegally converted their buildings to commercial use, particularly residential areas in GRAs Etete Layout, Ugbowo and so on. People have converted residential buildings to churches, drinking bars, night clubs, car wash, restaurants and so on. Unless those people have approved plans, they have seven days to revert those buildings to residential use, after which the government will be left with no option than to demolish them. Those who

have approved plans should please come forward with them within seven days and the government will take steps to correct this anomaly.

“Finally, government is also worried about the high level of noise pollution in our city. Specially, we are addressing those who sell cassettes, churches, mosques and other people who choose to put their public address systems outside and disturb the public peace. This action is herby prohibited by the state government.

“Nobody is allowed to play any loud speaker or soundenhancing device outside their premises and outside the confines of their businesses or houses.”

Edo community protests five-month blackout

A

CTIVITIES at the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) were disrupted yesterday when residents of Iwogban in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State protested five months of blackout.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions.

They barricaded the company’s gate.

Spokesperson for the protesters, Comrade Joy Im-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

uetiyan, said the blackout was caused by a faulty transformer servicing the community.

The spokesman said the community contributed N150,000 to the electricity company to fix the transformer, adding that it did not get value for its money.

Besides the faulty transformer, she said BEDC’s officials said the transformer would be fixed after some people would have paid piles

of previous electricity bills.

She said only 33 persons were on credit meter in the community, adding that five persons owed most of the debt.

Imuetiyan said: “How could BEDC ask us to generate revenue for them? They cannot put everybody in darkness because few persons are owing them. Many of us are using pre-paid meters.

“After paying the N150,000 sometime last year, they (BEDC) took the transformer

away and brought it back weeks later, with an assurance that all was well with the facility.

“We were taken aback when the transformer exploded weeks after the company supposedly fixed it.”

Spokesman for the company, Mr. Curtis Nwandei, confirmed that the community was owing the company.

He promised to provide details of the debt but did not do so at the time of going to the press last night.

Ayade declares war on criminals

C

ROSS RIVER State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday pledged to strengthen security agencies to fight criminals.

The governor addressed officers and men of the state’s Quick Response Squad at its Emergency Response Centre in Calabar, the state capital.

He assured them that his ad-

ministration would provide the logistics security agencies needed to make the state safe.

Ayade, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, solicited the cooperation of service commanders to ensure that the state remained the safest and most investor-friendly.

He said: “The modalities to be adopted, even as we restruc-

ture our security outfit, will make activities of criminals a thing of the past.

“We are also putting in place the legislation whereby kidnappers will face the death penalty because we want the state to be safe for everyone.”

Ayade said the new security outfit, Operation Skolombo, which will start operation soon, would

rid the state of criminals, who he said were mostly non-indigenes.

The governor had visited the radio communication section of the outfit, which he said was in a deplorable state.

He assured that its various units would be reactivated to ensure an effective service delivery system.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

62

NATION SPORT

Kompany: Signings key for Man City

• Kompany

V

INCENT Kompany is confident Manchester City will make the signings needed to enable the club to regain the Premier League title from Chelsea this season.

City have been relatively quiet in the market with 18-year-old Turkey international Enes Unal their only signing of the summer so far.

They had two bids rejected for Liverpool and England midfielder Raheem Sterling last month, with the second worth around £40m, but have so far not followed up with a third.

The club have had their restrictions on transfer spending lifted

by UEFA after meeting their Financial Fair Play targets and are therefore free to spend as much as they see fit.

When asked how important recruitment is to sustaining success, City captain Kompany told

Sky Sports News HQ: “I think it is key to the success of any top club.

“It is maybe not always the amount of players that come but I think every top club in the world will be looking to add two or three quality players to make the team that little bit stronger.

“If you don’t do it, you are obviously exposed to other teams becoming stronger. I am hoping and I am confident we will make the right signings.

“There are not so many top players and a few clubs will probably be after the same players.

“I think we have an attractive proposition here because we have the facilities, the increased capacity of the stadium and everything we want to achieve in the future.

“But some clubs have got the history. Players choose different things at times - you can’t guess.”

City surrendered their title last season to Chelsea in disappointing fashion as the Blues cantered to victory in Jose Mourinho’s second season back in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Central defender Kompany admits last season was well below the standards the club have set in recent seasons and they are determined to ensure there will be no repeat this time around.

“It was a disappointment for City and it was a disappointment for every single player at the club,” Kompany said.

“But it shows what the club wants to achieve because we finished second so there a lot of clubs behind us still but Chelsea kind of ran away with it.

Messi opens up on Copa heartache IONEL Messi has told of the pain of losing the Copa America final after the football superstar faced criticism in his native Argentina.

Messi finally posted a statement on his facebook account late Monday having hidden his devastation at losing another major final since the 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Chile on Saturday.

"There's nothing more painful in football than losing a final," Messi said.

"But I don't want to leave it any longer to say thank you to everyone who has always supported us and continued to during the tough moments."

Messi, 28, has now lost one World Cup and two Copa America finals and still has to win a major international event despite his success with Barcelona.

Argentina, beaten 1-0 by Germany in last year's World Cup final, have now not won a major title for 22 years.

Messi left the pitch ashen faced after the latest defeat and unconfirmed Spanish media reports said he turned down the player of the tournament trophy. The trophy was withdrawn before the presentation ceremony in Santiago.

Messi and the other Argentine stars were criticised by the country's media for their performance. Members of his family

L

• A dejected Messi takes his runners-up medal off after failing to inspire Argentina to victory during a heated game

‘I can’t be Pirlo´s heir’ Drogba reveals tough defenders he faced

D

• Pirlo

• Marchisio

C

LAUDIO Marchisio insisted he was not the man to cover for Andrea Pirlo, after signing a fiveyear deal with Juventus.

Pirlo's stint at Juve officially ended when New York City revealed they had signed the 36-year-old, with the Italy international set to ply his trade for a club outside his homeland for the first time in his career.

Marchisio, who has been tied to Juve since age seven, said it was not his aim to fill the void left by maestro Pirlo.

"I cannot be Pirlo's heir because I am very different from Andrea," Marchisio told a news conference.

"That would apply even if I had played in the same position. I would like to spare a few words for Andrea, for everything he gave us and because he really made us grow as a team.

"He was a very important player for me.

"In these few last years I saw

him playing in front of the defence and he really helped me.

"I do not have his characteristics, but I have learnt a lot from him and as a result everything was easier."

While Monday's media conference saw Marchisio's and coach Massimiliano Allegri's respective futures at Turin assured, the same cannot be said for Paul Pogba.

When asked if Pogba would remain at Juve, president Andrea Agnelli replied: "In football nothing is certain.

"I remember many years ago when there were rumours about Christian Vieri leaving Juventus, my uncle called Luciano Moggi and he replied: 'Do not worry.

Vieri will not be sold for any reason.'

"Two days later Vieri went to Atletico Madrid.

"You see, in football, players are held down only from September 1."

IDIER Drogba says Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Carles Puyol are the three toughest defenders he has faced during his career.

The 37-year-old scored the winning goal against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup final and was sent off for slapping Vidic in extra time of the 2008 Champions League final that Chelsea went on to lose on penalties.

Drogba also faced Puyol eight times during his career but only managed to score three on three occasions during Chelsea’s Champions League matches against Barcelona.

In an interview with Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport, Drogba was asked by the former United defender to name the toughest defenders he’s played against.

“I’ve always said you and Vidic,” Drogba replied. “I will say when I was scoring against Manchester United I was really, really happy because I didn’t score much against them.

“So for me to score against you

• Drogba

guys, it means that I had a good game!

“So, you two and Carles Puyol.

Because he’s tough and a very good defender, but he’s a gentleman.”

Drogba arrived at Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 and the Ivory Coast international admits he needed to change his playing style in order to become a success at Stamford Bridge.

“The thing is I had to adapt to this game the Premier League.

This wasn’t my game when I was in France. I was always at

the limit of offside and running in behind,” said the striker.

“And when I came to Chelsea I became a target man, linking the game with Frank Lampard, with Arjen Robben, so I had to change my game to adapt to them because they not only could dribble but they could score goals.

“When I came at the beginning I thought I’d be the one, I’d be the king, I’d score the goals, but you realise you’ve got other people who can make the difference, so you’ve got to share.”

Baines to miss pre-season tour

E

NGLAND defender Leighton Baines will miss Everton's pre-season visit to Singapore as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

The 30-year-old left-back under the knife in May and missed the final two games of the Barclays Premier League season as well as England's Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia.

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez

revealed at the end of last season that Baines had been struggling with the problem for the past three years but said the surgery was "straightforward".

Fellow left-back Bryan Oviedo will also miss the trip as he recovers from a broken toe meaning England Under21 international Luke Garbutt, who recently signed a five-year extension, will have a chance to shine in Asia.

Republic of Ireland international midfielder Darron Gibson will also remain behind at Finch Farm as he attempts to return from a broken foot.

New signings Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu have been included in a 24-man squad.

Everton kick-off their preseason fixtures at League One club Swindon on Saturday before travelling to the Far East to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy.

Martinez's side will face Stoke on July 15 before a second game against either Arsenal or a Singapore Select XI three days later.

were also abused by Chilean fans at the match, according to Argentinian media.

Some observers have warned that Messi could walk away from the national side.

"One day this boy is going to get tired and will not want to come to play for the team," former Argentine international Matias Almeyda, now coach of the Banfield club, told Fox Sports television.

"He's the best player in the world and he is not treated in the way he deserves," Almeyda added.

Messi had a brilliant season with the all-conquering Barcelona but Almeyda said "it is very difficult (for Argentine players) to repeat for the national team what they do for their clubs."

MATCH-FIXING

Conte set to stand trial

I

TALY coach Antonio Conte has been ordered to stand trial after being accused of sporting fraud in relation to an investigation into match-fixing.

The 45-year-old served a fourmonth suspension in 2012 for allegedly failing to report attempts to fix two games during his time in charge of Siena.

The Court of Cremona have now requested that Conte and 103 other people must stand trial over the alleged match-fixing.

The news has not come as a surprise, with speculation rife in Italy for some time that the former Juventus boss might stand down as Azzurri boss in order to focus on clearing his name.

However, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio stated on June 30 that there is no chance of Conte quitting his post before his contract expires after Euro 2016.

“Carlo will stay," he stated.

"We have certain guarantees for people in this country and they apply to Conte too - an indictment is not a conviction."

Conte spent a solitary season at Siena, leading the club to promotion at the end of the 201011 campaign before taking charge of Juventus, whom he represented as a player.

The former midfield ace sparked a remarkable revival in Turin, leading the Bianconeri to three consecutive Scudetti before resigning last summer following a dispute over the club's transfer market strategy.

• Conte

63

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Don’t expect much from AAG – NTF boss

Fenerbahce gets 2.5m euros for Emenike loan move T • Eagles’ star to pocket 3.5m euros per annum • Striker joins new club on Thursday

S

UPER Eagles’ striker Emmanuel Emenike has brought has added value to his parent club following his one year loan move to United Arab Emirates club, AlAin. The 28-year-old striker extends his Fenerbahce contracted by one year and made a loan move to Al-Ain in what it is understands that Al-Ain will pay 2.5m euros for his one year loan service.

NationSport understand that apart from other bonuses, Emenike’s annual wage in UAE will be around 3.5m euros for the duration of 12 -month, 1m euros above what he was earning in Fenerbahce.

Meanwhile, the former Spartak Moscow has promised to live up to expectation from his new club and hopes to lift the club.

“For me, it is all about new challenges; I want it because I want to prove something from it. The expectation is obviously high and I wish to live up to the big expectation. I believe my experience over the years is good enough to speak for me in the league. Nothing has changed in me, my scoring ability is much intact and with time, I will be able to light up UAE with goals.”

However, Emenike has told AfricanFootball.com he hopes to justify his lucrative loan move to Al Ain of Dubai by scoring goals.

Emenike, who has not featured in Fenerbahce’s pre-season training thus far, expressed gratitude to the Istanbul club, while relishing the fresh challenge Al Ain present.

• Emenike

“Being a Fenerbahce player is something I will cherish for the rest of my career. Now, I have to move because I need a new challenge in my career and leaving now is the best decision taken,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

“I am using this moment to express my gratitude to the club Fenerbahce and everybody who believes in me in one way or the other.

Fenerbahce is a great club and I wish them all the best

in the new season.”

Emenike will be a direct replacement for Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan, who is on his way to China.

He continued: “I am happy to make the move to Al Ain and I believe my legs will prove me right in UAE. “I am looking forward to new challenges in UAE, as well as to get more playing time under my belt and score many goals. For every striker, it is important to score goals

and I am already looking forward to that challenge.

“I believe it is the best decision for me, to face a new challenge and as well as to prove I can score goals anywhere I find myself.

“I have not lost anything in my scoring ways. Nothing has changed in me, my scoring ability is very much intact and with time, I will be able to light up UAE with goals.”

He will join his new club on Thursday.

More Flying Eagles bound for Portuguese club

M

• Abdullahi

U S T A P H A Abdullahi and Abdullahi Alfa have joined a list of Flying Eagles stars who are set to move to Portuguese second division side CD Aves.

Already, Aves have tabled offers to Zaharadeen Bello and Akinjide Idowu.

Bello, Idowu and Mustapha Abdullahi featured at the recent FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand, while Alfa failed to make the cut.

Enugu Rangers defensive midfielder Emeka Eze, who

was on the country’s squad to the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in 2013,is also being linked with the club.

Left fullback Mustapha Abdullahi was on trials in Spain, while defensive midfielder Idowu was tested by several Swedish clubs.

AfricanFootball.com gathered that the arrangement is for the club to sign them for a token with their representatives promised a hefty sell-on fee when they do well in Europe and are then sold.

‘Tornadoes won’t make cup mistake’

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IGER Tornadoes head coach Abdul Bidemi Biffo has said his side will avoid mistakes against Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Lobi Stars.

The Nigeria National League (NNL) side will battle the Pride of Benue in Wednesday’s Federation Cup round of 32 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Biffo said his side will muster the needed strength to outmuscle the former champions.

“We are confronted with the heavyweight of former champions and a FA Cup traditional side, so we cannot afford to make any mistakes on Wednesday.

“We will double our efforts to match them in every department of the game and will do

• Biffo

everything we can to come of the match unscathed.

“Our target is to inch into the round of 16 move up the ladder knowing that four matches will be standing between us and a continental ticket.

“We do not have any injury worries right now, so will be fielding our best legs. We are positive they will deliver the goods,” said the former Giwa FC head coach to supersport.com.

The Minna-based side ousted Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) side Zabgai FC in the round of 64 while Lobi Stars edged Junior Spotlight to pave the way for the round of 32 clash.

CD Aves are in the Portuguese second division after they last played in the top flight in the 2006/07 season.

They already have a Nigerian defender, Junior Pius, who is on loan from FC Porto.

HE delay in commencement of camping for the 11th All Africa Games has reduced Nigeria’s chances of enviable position in the overall result of the team.

According to the President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) and member of the Ministerial Organising Committee of AAG, George Ashiru told NationSport yesterday that at a time when other nations are competing globally to be in shape for the multi-sports tournament, Nigeria is still battling with camping.

“I want to say that delay in the kickoff of the camping should reduce Nigerians’ expectation at the games because with less than two months to the commencement of the games, we are still battling with camping when other nations that are also aiming for good outing are now ready in order to be in top shape for the games. I want Nigerians to remember that our athletes will compete with some of these athletes that are competing in various competitions all over the world when some federations have not even selected athletes that will represent the country,” he said.

Although, he blamed this on change of government but said that whatever the country achieves at the games should be accepted and serve as springboard to the build up the Rio Olympics.

At the 2011 edition in Mozambique, Nigeria finished

RESULTS C/League - Qualification Levadia 1 - 1 Crusaders FC Santa 1 - 2 Lincoln TNS 4 - 1 Torshavn Folgore 1 - 2 Pyunik Inter’l - Club Friendlies Kawasaki 0 - 6 Dortmund Silkeborg 2 - 4 Soenderjysk Dinamo 1 - 1 Prague E. Frankfurt 4 - 0 FC Wacker Freiburg 0 - 1 Spartak Moedling 3 - 1 Grozny Anzhi 1 - 1 Maccabi Brugge 2 - 1 Panathinaikos Hansa Rostock 1 - 1 Bremen Lokomotiv 2 - 2 Qarabag Luzern 3 - 0 Winterthur

• Ashiru fourth with two gold, one silver and seven bronze medals behind Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal which finished first, second and third respectively in the event and the NTF helmsman admitted that some of the Francophone countries in Africa are among the best in the world.

“I don’t think we should be thinking of rubbing shoulders with some of these top nations in Africa, we should just thinking of taking a cue from them because they compete regularly in most of the major tournaments, while we have not even started training for the games.

Also most of the athletes we are hoping to take to the games are competing for the first time at the games and it will be tough for us to set target for them. We will just be hoping for good outing,” he added.

Delta Queens facing hardship

F

ORMER Nigeria women League champions, Delta Queens of Oleh are facing the worst period of their existence as a football team as it was alleged that the state government has abandoned them.

Feelers from the team's camp in Oleh, Delta State, reveal that some players are being owed salaries in upward of five months and that nobody cares for their welfare.

NationSport source disclosed that the situation is so terrible now that they can barely honuor their league games, adding that they go to away games on match days or leave immediately after matches in

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja cases where they go a day before match due to paucity of funds.

"We are facing hardships at Delta Queens, it is so bad that so us cannot wait for the season to end so that we can go to other clubs where our career will be better secured. It is so bad that we no longer believe our coaches who have been telling us to exercise patience.

The players said that they will soon embark on a strike to let the world know what they are going through since emissaries sent to the newly elected governor has yet to pay off.

Etor dreams big win for U-23 against Congo

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• Alfa

By Olalekan Okusan

-23 national team striker, Daniel Etor has exuded confidence that their Congolese counterparts would fall next weekend in the first leg of the CAF U23 Championship qualifier slated for Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Etor is among the 25 players invited by Dream Team VI head coach, Samson Siasia for the final round of preparation for the qualifying match billed for July 19.

The Enyimba marksman told SportingLife that everyone is the U23 team is looking forward to the first leg with high expectation.

"We know that it would be wrong to underrate any team and it is because of this that we are preparing very hard for the match. We want to win the first leg well so that the second leg will be a mere formality," Etor told SportingLife.

The former Niger Tornadoes player has however allayed

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri the fear of injury after he was substituted in the second half of the Enyimba FC league tie against Abia Warriors last Sunday.

Etor told SportingLife that he only felt heaviness in his thigh but that he has overcome it and has resumed training with the U23 team.

• Etor

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3269

‘This self-acclaimed poet and historian must now revisit his own history and see where he needs to do better. Poets are known to be great self-critics and “Mr Olukayode” must now find the discipline to do just that going forward’ DELE AGEKAMEH

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HIS year’s world congress and general assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI), the 63-year global press freedom advocacy organisation, took place in Amman, capital of Jordan, between May 19 and 21.

Few Nigerians may have heard of this organisation even though it partly funds the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, the country’s premier journalism trainer, and even though some of the most prominent Nigerian journalists and publishers including Alhaji Lateef Jakande who once presided over its affairs, Aremo Segun Osoba, Mr Sam Amuka, Mr Felix Adenaike, Malam Kabiru Yusuf and Alhaji Ismaila Isa, have been among its leading members.

Naturally the organisation believes that press freedom is “the right that protects all other rights.”

Consequently it has tried to defend press freedom everywhere in the world in several ways, including through its annual congress and general assembly where leading journalists, editors and media executives gather to discuss major contemporary issues.

Among the variety of issues discussed this year were the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the terrible civil war in Syria, the safety of journalists reporting in conflict situations, the implications of internet regulation for democracy and press freedom and reporting on religion. This journalist was on a panel of three – the others were Steven Pollard, editor of the London based Jewish Chronicle and Monjuru Ahsan Bulbul, the CEO of a private television station in Dhaka, Bangladesh who was a last minute substitute for Jeffrey Sharlet, a contributing editor of Harper’s Magazine and faculty member of the Centre for Religion and Media, New York University, who failed to make it to Amman – which discussed the last subject. The moderator was Ms Maria-Paz Lopez, a senior religious writer with La Vanguardia, Spain, and chair of the International Association of Religious Journalists. A little bit more about this presently.

Meantime a bit of my impression of Jordan.

For me a more classic study in contrast between the country and Nigeria will be hard to find.

Here’s a country in the middle of a harsh desert with no oil, no water, with a population of little over two million and in the frontiers of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict which is at the heart of socalled clash between the West and Islam. Yet a visitor to Amman and several of the towns and villages a few hours’ drive from it which we visited would be forgiven if he mistook them for towns and villages in advanced Europe or America. All the highways we travelled along were tarred, all the towns and villages we visited had electricity and water and not once did the lights go out throughout our stay in Amman.

Of all the barren country’s advances in spite of an almost total lack of natural resources none fascinated me like its ability to provide water to all its inhabitants. According to Nasiru Aminu, a senior diplomat at our Amman embassy and a friend, in all his several years in Jordan the taps in his house have never gone dry. Yet, the country, he said, relies almost entirely on harvesting rain water.

However, for me even more interesting than the ability of the country to satisfy the water needs of its inhabitants in the middle of a desert was the pattern of water supply among the poor, mid-

RIPPLES

WEALTHY CLERICS SHOULD PAY TAX, says Cleric

Yes...and TITHE, too!

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Some thoughts on media and terrorism

•A bombing victim

dle and high income neighbourhoods of the towns; the poor are supplied daily, the middle thrice weekly and the rich only once, said Nasiru. Here in Nigeria the reverse would’ve been the case.

The secret of Jordan’s relative wealth, said Nasiru, is its investment in the education of its people. This is evident from the country being a leading destination of medical tourism in the world, raking in more than two billion dollars annually. It is also the Information Technology capital of the Arab Middle East.

Jordan is, of course, no El Dorado. As a kingdom, and for that matter one on the frontiers of the Middle East conflict, its citizens can do with a lot more freedom than they have. I am certain, however, that few Jordanians, if any, would want to exchange their relatively gilded cage for Nigeria, the majority of whose citizens have been left free to live in abject and grinding poverty, almost totally abandoned by a state whose officials are generally too venal, selfish, power-hungry and incompetent, etc, to give a damn about public opinion.

Back to the IPI congress and general assembly, the liveliest session for me was none of the eight that were held between the morning of May 20 and the evening of the following day. The liveliest for me

was the pre-congress town hall meeting in the evening of Sunday May 19 moderated by the well known CNN International anchor and correspondent, Jim Clancy. The subject looked simple enough; “Who is a journalist?” However, not surprisingly, the answer proved elusive. The debate that followed the introductory remarks of the four panellists on the questions whether in today’s digital age where anyone with a computer or a mobile phone who can send pictures and stories to news outlets and bloggers can be called journalists was truly hot and in the end there was no single answer.

There was, however, one interesting remark from the floor which was that today’s so-called “citizen journalism” was making mainstream journalists lazy by giving them an excuse to abdicate their responsibility for cross-checking the accuracy of news items before publishing. This, said the gentleman who made the remark, bodes ill for the future of professional journalism. I couldn’t agree more.

Finally to the discussion on reporting religion of which I was a panellist. My submission was that the dominance of the Nigerian media by the private sector in spite of the heavy presence of government in the broadcast media – a private sector dominance which, for historical reasons, does not reflect the ethnic, regional and religious plurality of the country – has led to a reporting culture which is heavily biased against Muslims and Islam. This, I said, was in turn a reflection of the global media which has been essentially anti-Islam.

Nowhere is this bias as glaring as in the reporting of Boko Haram insurrection which has caught the attention of the world because, of course, Nigeria, with at least 160 million people, is one of the most populous in the world and the biggest in Africa, reportedly almost split in half between Muslims and Christians, and because, of course, Nigeria is a leading world oil producer. The evidence of this anti-Muslim and anti-Islam bias of the Nigerian media is pretty clear in the way it has grossly under reported the human rights abuses of ordinary law abiding Muslims by the military and security forces in their fight against Boko Haram.

Two recent reports by Adam Nossiter, the West

HARDBALL

H

IS overexcitement was an overreaction. He announced a name change, saying he would no longer be known as David Oluwafemi Fani-Kayode “but instead, it shall be David Oluwafemi Olukayode.” He explained in a statement: “Olukayode means ‘the Lord has brought me joy’ and today he has done precisely that. From this day, in honour of Him and as a small tribute to my love for and total dependence on Him, that shall remain my family name.”

He went on: “I am delighted, humbled and relieved by this verdict. In the last seven years, I have been subjected to the most malicious, vicious, sinister, well-orchestrated, insidious and devastating form of political persecution and wickedness.” He added: “The whole process almost destroyed my life, my family, my reputation, my health and my career. I thank God for his goodness, His mercy and for the fact that today, the whole nightmare has finally come to an end.”

He was understandably upbeat. Has the “nightmare” ended, as he would like to believe? His trial was related to an alleged cash transaction exceeding N500, 000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a

African correspondent of The New York Times, have captured this journalistic blind eye like no other. The first in May entitled “Bodies Pour In as Nigeria Hunts for Islamists” and datelined Maiduguri, made very grim reading.

“A fresh load of battered corpses,” Nossiter said in his introduction, “arrived, 29 of them in a routine delivery by the Nigerian military to the hospital morgue here. Unexpectedly, three bodies started moving. ‘They were not properly shot,’ recalled a security official here. ‘I had to call the J.T.F.’ — the military’s joint task force — ‘and they gunned them down.’”

Nossiter’s second story this month in the wake of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states makes as grim reading as the first, perhaps even more so. “The first independent accounts of the military offensive (since the emergency)”, said Nossiter, “spoke of indiscriminate bombing and shooting, unexplained civilian deaths, night time roundups of young men by security forces.”

You will search most of the Nigerian media in vain to see any expression of concern about this indiscriminate use of force by our security forces in their war against Boko Haram terrorism. Certainly you would not see the sort of vehemence with which the media rightly condemned the Odi and Zaki-Biam massacres of the Obasanjo’s era.

Yet what has happened in the North-eastern strongholds of Boko Haram is worse than the two combined, if only because both were one-off military invasions.

In a recent well argued defence of President Jonathan’s state of emergency declaration in the region, the respected constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze, called it “a masterstroke indeed.”

Without debating the merit of his position – this is a matter for possibly another occasion – it is obvious that the professor believes the consequential military operation against Boko Haram will bring a definite, if not quick, end to its terrorism, regardless of how the soldiers go about their operation.

The professor’s “masterstroke” only reminded me of what President George Bush Jnr said when he invaded Iraq. It was, he said, going to be a “cakewalk”. Today, we all know that it was anything but. Right here at home the late President Umaru Yar’adua said more or less the same thing when he sent the soldiers after the sect in 2009. This too has, sadly and tragically, proved anything but a cakewalk.

It seems to me the lesson of relying mainly on the use of indiscriminate force to solve a problem even as criminal as terrorism, whatever its variety, has not been learnt by our leaders and media pundits. Certainly the Nigerian media has not used its freedom as a shield that, to rephrase IPI’s principal objective, should be used to protect the rights of others.

•This article was first published on June 12, 2013 •Mohammed Haruna returns next week •For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Old wine, new label financial institution. Specifically, he was said to have received N2.1 million in cash, paid into his account by his aide while he was Minister of Culture and Tourism.

But a Federal High Court in Lagos on July 1 acquitted Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, of the money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Interestingly, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia found him innocent not necessarily because he was not guilty as charged, but because of “the absence of copious evidence before the court.”

In the judge’s words: “By the fact that the giver and source of the money are hazy and unproven, it remains the law that where there are doubts or insufficient evidence linking the accused person with the elements and ingredients of the offence, a court must discharge as a matter of law.”

It is noteworthy that the accused initially faced 40-count money laundering charges, which the judge pruned to two on the grounds

that the prosecution failed to prove “elements” of the other 38 counts. A report said: “Fani-Kayode, in the course of his public service, was also accused of stealing N19.5 billion aviation intervention funds and another N6.5 billion. He was later accused of laundering N200 million.” His celebration appears premature as prosecution counsel Festus Keyamo reportedly indicated that the EFCC might appeal the judgment.

The controversial politician who was Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the campaign ahead of this year’s general elections has not parted with controversy as his self-renaming drama demonstrates.

It is easy and convenient for him to claim a change of name. Given his antecedents, he probably needs to go further than that. More than giving himself another name, he urgently needs to reform his political personality and his earned reputation for fighting dirty to the point of nauseating obscenity.

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